WS - Chapter 72

Chapter 72

Life, the more brilliant it is, the harder it is to forget.

In Song Shiyue's memory, seven years of Apocalypse life felt like an entire lifetime. The world before the Apocalypse had long since blurred in her mind, and the new world she'd arrived in just over ten days ago felt even more like an illusory dream.

Regardless of appearances, Song Shiyue was used to relying on herself and had never placed much expectation on others.

So when she saw Wang Daming and Feng Qianqian come to deliver Medicinal Powder, Song Shiyue was rather surprised.

And the excuse that "because we discovered a little secret of the Camp, we're giving out a safety reward"—neither Yu Nianbing nor Song Shiyue believed it for a moment.

But the Medicinal Powder in the box looked fine, and its quality was better than the powder that had been buried in the ground, inevitably mixed with dirt when dug up. Although they couldn't fathom the Production Team's sudden goodwill, the powder was accepted.

Don't be fooled by how Wang Daming acted all bold and fierce in front of Director Zhang, reeling off one reason after another to stop the guests from digging up the powder. But having received Director Zhang's order, when he stood before Yu Nianbing and Song Shiyue, he was the picture of sincerity, just hoping they would accept the items so he could go back and report to Director Zhang. Even when the two were suspicious and took a long time to accept, Wang Daming's hand holding the box tightened with nervous tension.

Feng Qianqian, who had come over with some leftover cloth scraps from earlier crafting, saw Wang Daming's reaction and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

The truth was, this temporary colleague wasn't as devious as Director Zhang had just implied. He was simply an extreme fence-sitter, always trying to ride Director Zhang's wavelength. What was interesting was that in Director Zhang's presence, Director Zhang held the power, so Wang Daming followed his lead. Here, where Yu Nianbing and Song Shiyue's presence couldn't be ignored, Wang Daming had shifted his weight again...

Since the powder had been accepted, there was no reason to refuse the small cloth scraps and needlework supplies Feng Qianqian had brought for making sachets.

Although Yu Nianbing had face wipes, the fabric Feng Qianqian brought was more suitable.

But both Yu Nianbing and Song Shiyue were mediocre at sewing, so they asked the other four, and in the end only Mu Xingzhou stepped up and said he could give it a try, which made the other five rather embarrassed.

The items were accepted, but Wang Daming and Feng Qianqian didn't manage to leave right away.

Mu Xingzhou had taken on the task of making the sachets, but he kept saying there were two steps that were a bit fuzzy and wanted to ask the Production Team's Feng Qianqian for guidance. According to how the Production Team operated the day before, this definitely would not have been allowed. But today the Production Team seemed to have changed its tune; Feng Qianqian only hesitated a little, then without even going back to ask Director Zhang, she nodded and agreed on her own.

You could say Feng Qianqian staying at least had some business. But Wang Daming staying was purely comedic.

Because the one blocking him wasn't any of the guests, but that Dog who had abandoned him since yesterday, seemingly forgetting who he was...

When Dog appeared before Wang Daming carrying a Woven Vine Basket half-filled with bones, he almost didn't recognize what that white, black, and green thing was. And when Dog used its mouth to drag over a large leaf piled with more bones and tossed it right at his feet, even if he did recognize what it was, he had no desire to acknowledge it.

At that moment, Wang Daming hadn't yet seen through Dog's true intent; he just thought Dog blocking the way was hindering his return to the Production Team's side. He knew that staying here would likely get him caught on the guests' camera, which he wasn't used to, so the sooner he left, the better.

But Wang Daming pretended not to recognize it and tried to walk around—how could Dog let him have his way?

While everyone was busy either making sachets or packing up, Dog and Wang Daming began a tug-of-war by the already extinguished campfire.

Unlike the cast's indifference and mild reactions, the StarNet audience was watching with keen interest, and some sharp-eyed viewers had seen through Dog's intention from the very start.

"Hahaha, why is Wang Daming avoiding him while coaxing Dog to come with him? Does he think he's won Dog's love again?"

"My Sister Song's Dog will absolutely never turn back!"

"The person above isn't right, this Dog will still turn back—when it needs a servant, hahaha."

"They say cats are masters, dogs are subjects. Look at this dog—even as a subject, it's a treacherous minister who flatters superiors and bullies subordinates!"

"Ah, this cracks me up. I really want to give Wang Daming a call and tell him that Dog pouncing on his legs isn't because he loves and misses him, hahaha."

"Please, Wang Daming, stop praising and coaxing Dog, saying it misses you. I'm really afraid when he comes out and sees this part, he'll realize he's just a pack mule in Dog's mind, and he won't be able to take the blow."

At first, Dog used a pile of bones on leaves to block the left path and used its body to block the right. Wang Daming felt both annoyed and touched.

Annoyed because he didn't want more screen time, but touched because Dog was quite clingy.

But after a while, even Wang Daming sensed something off. No matter how clingy, it shouldn't keep herding him to the left... That dog face pressing against his leg—the force was less like affection and more like a full-strength shove, and several times Wang Daming nearly got shoved onto his rear on the bone pile.

He had raised this Dog for several days after collecting it from the base, and it had always been quite obedient. Yet now, not even a full day after following Song Shiyue and the others, Wang Daming couldn't understand its behavior at all...

With Dog advancing and Wang Daming retreating, then Wang advancing and Dog holding its ground, back and forth many times, even though he worried about the camera catching him, Wang Daming was getting irritated.

Fortunately, Guan Yongyi, carrying water to finally extinguish the remaining fire pits, passed by and, seeing the situation, laughed and explained the earlier events, and only then did Wang Daming grasp what Dog was up to.

Alright, alright, so it eats meat over there, then brings back the leftover bones for me to carry...

What a food chain—big fish eat small fish, small fish eat shrimp!

Although Wang Daming had some affection for Dog, Dog's obvious attitude of "I need you when I need you, ignore you when I don't" still made him angry.

But Guan Yongyi found Dog increasingly amusing and said bluntly: "You don't need to carry them for it. Teacher Mu and I already agreed; once we finish packing for the road, we'll divide these up and carry them."

If Guan Yongyi hadn't said that, Wang Daming could have used the excuse that Dog was too clueless using people as pack mules, and even though he understood, he wouldn't have helped.

But since someone said so, and Wang Daming had always been a people-pleaser...

Now with both human and Dog in front of him, Wang Daming felt he was the weakest one there, so he forced a smile and said "No problem," then picked up the bones and headed back.

One person carrying the load, head down and shoulders hunched, walking ahead.

One dog carrying its woven vine bag, strutting proudly behind.

Guan Yongyi, water in hand, watched them go around the wooden house to the back, then shook his head with a smile and began the final fire-prevention check.

When Wang Daming reached the back, he immediately spotted Director Zhang leaning on a chair, brow slightly furrowed while looking at a floating screen, and his first reaction was that Director Zhang was displeased with him...

But when he walked behind Director Zhang, carrying a bit of grievance and hidden irritation, he discovered that what Director Zhang was frowning at was actually Mu Xingzhou's camera feed.

In the feed, two people were sitting on the ground; Feng Qianqian was guiding Mu Xingzhou on threading a looped drawstring through the fabric.

"Isn't it bad for Feng Qianqian to be on camera this long? Won't it look like our Production Team is interfering too much with the guests' survival process?" Wang Daming suppressed his own feelings and once again chose a topic to please Director Zhang.

"What?" Director Zhang seemed not to have heard clearly and shifted his gaze from the screen to look at him.

Wang Daming cleared his throat and repeated what he had just said.

"It's fine, this is pretty good. It seems giving the guests a little help appropriately can still add some appeal. Who would've thought Mu Xingzhou sings well and isn't bad at sewing either?" Director Zhang's brow didn't relax at all, but his words were full of satisfaction.

Wang Daming was stunned for a moment, momentarily at a loss for how to respond.

Director Zhang, however, glanced at the bones in his arms, his frown deepening: "Alright, since you said you'd help carry the bones, then go properly pack them up."

It turned out Director Zhang had seen the bone-carrying matter too; Wang Daming felt a little happy and was about to say something when Director Zhang spoke again.

"Seriously, you... forced into a corner by a mere dog..." Director Zhang's tone was low, like a quiet complaint to himself after saying what needed to be said.

But to Wang Daming's ears, it sounded like severe criticism.

Clearly, he was the one who followed Director Zhang's wishes—how could Feng Qianqian, who took the initiative to bring out fabric scraps, end up catching Director Zhang's eye instead...

Wang Daming felt some anger, but... his people-pleasing personality at the bottom of the food chain always swallowed his fury in silence. He could only take the bones and the Dog watching him, and go off on his own.

Over here, Wang Daming, disregarded by Director Zhang, was having a hard time. Yet little did he know that over there, Feng Qianqian, who was starting to earn Director Zhang's favor, wasn't as relaxed as she appeared on screen.

How the other guests' sewing skills were, Feng Qianqian couldn't say.

But Mu Xingzhou's... were indeed decent. At least making a simple sachet was no problem. If she hadn't been sure of this, Feng Qianqian wouldn't have so boldly brought over the cloth scraps and needlework.

However, being asked by Mu Xingzhou to stay and guide the sewing was indeed somewhat unexpected for Feng Qianqian.

What was there to guide? It was just making a looped drawstring around the fabric's edge...

Mu Xingzhou was asking questions he already knew the answer to.

Feng Qianqian could only pretend ignorance and give answers she had already given.

The two went back and forth with questions and answers about making the sachet several times. Then when Mu Xingzhou spoke again, it was like casual chat, asking a question unrelated to sewing.

"Assistant Feng, your sewing skills are quite good. How did you end up coming to this show as a director assistant?" Mu Xingzhou asked, smoothing the cloth in his hands as if casually.

From the moment she agreed to the guidance request, Feng Qianqian had guessed such a question would come. Even now, she didn't stop helping to arrange the fabric strap and answered with a smile: "Teacher Mu sings wonderfully, yet you've also come to this show to do sewing, haven't you? That just shows this show is truly interesting."

Mu Xingzhou nodded, his faint smile unchanged.

But on Mu Xingzhou's Livestream Page, the fans were somewhat exploding.

Feng Qianqian's answer, while seeming to address Mu Xingzhou's question, sounded not entirely friendly.

They had thought the Production Team finally had a good person, but now it looked like that wasn't entirely the case.

Although StarNet erupted with audience discontent, Mu Xingzhou on Wilderness Planet seemed unfazed. After a brief pause, he spoke again: "I was invited here to do sewing—what about Assistant Feng? Did you apply yourself to come to such a harsh environment?"

"Here, thread it through, it forms a closed loop, then put the powder inside, pull the drawstring tight, and it's done." Feng Qianqian didn't immediately answer Mu Xingzhou's question; instead, she directed him through the final step, then stood up from the ground, brushed the dust off her backside, and said with a smile: "I just heard that Wilderness Planet was a favorite of an acquaintance, and since there happened to be a chance to come have a look, I hitched the first ride. From what I see now, it's indeed not bad."

With that, Feng Qianqian didn't linger in conversation; she just gave Mu Xingzhou a friendly smile and turned to leave.

The gentle smile on Mu Xingzhou's face tightened for an instant, but quickly returned to normal.

The two neither spoke nor acted in secret, so their words naturally reached many ears.

Among them, Song Shiyue, with her good hearing, caught it most clearly.

Although she still didn't understand the real meaning behind their exchange, it was now basically certain that they had indeed known each other before.

A mercurial Production Team, an overbearing team leader, and some complicated relationships—the makeup of this group was truly interesting...

Thinking thus, Song Shiyue couldn't help but gently nudge Yu Nianbing, who was putting the remaining seasonings into sealable bags beside her: "What I said yesterday—try to stick together, don't forget."

Yu Nianbing's hand, just as she was pouring salt into a sealable bag, paused slightly, nearly spilling the precious salt. She steadied her hand, slowly looked up at Song Shiyue, then quickly lowered her head again to nod.

What's there to forget or not forget? Even without deliberately remembering, haven't we always stuck together anyway?

I had clearly decided when I woke up to keep some distance, but then after a meal... it's like this again.

Perhaps this is the limitation of reality shows—too many tasks that must be done together make it impossible to pull apart...

Then there's no helping it; after all, it's work.

Things like maintaining an appropriate distance and continuing life calmly will have to wait until filming ends.

So Yu Nianbing thought, her hands speeding up in packing the seasonings, and the corner of her mouth curved into a "reluctant" smile of having to stay close to someone for hard work.

Having confirmed once more that Yu Nianbing remembered to stay with her at all times, Song Shiyue had no idea what strange psychological justifications Yu Nianbing had constructed.

They had only stayed one night, but there were quite a few things to pack.

Mu Xingzhou was making sachets, Guan Yongyi was doing the final fire prevention check, Zhuang Jiachuan led Ning Chuyang to take down last night's tent. Song Shiyue and Yu Nianbing's task was to go through all the miscellaneous items and pick what to take.

Although the Camp had several nice pots, considering the weight, Yu Nianbing firmly opposed bringing them.

But among the dishes, there were two Stainless-Steel Lunchboxes and a bunch of chopsticks and spoons that could be brought. They weren't heavy and could serve as simple cooking tools at the Noon Rest Stop, so they wouldn't need to always go to the magical creek to find a Stone Pot.

For the remaining seasonings, they took the oil in a small bottle and transferred the powders into sealable bags.

The several packs of wet face wipes Yu Nianbing had brought in her clothing case, though not used for the sachets, were also taken along.

These were items originally available for use at the Camp, and they had asked the Production Team the previous night and could take them.

The bulk of the weight, however, came from what they had gathered the day before on the road.

Wild Scallions still with dirt, a large clump of Wild Ginger, a handful of Lemongrass left after much of it was used the night before for drying the meat, several Jicama, a small packet of Snake-Bone Powder, a lunchbox of beef tallow, and... the Jerky already divided into six large packs.

Even though the moisture had been roasted out, the Jerky's volume and weight were still not to be underestimated.

This time, Song Shiyue had divided it quite fairly; the six packs of Jerky were roughly the same size.

When dividing, Guan Yongyi passed by once, saw the fairness, and remarked that he could carry more so the girls could carry less.

But Song Shiyue refused.

This beef Jerky was important food; everyone should carry a share.

Although the odds were small, if they got separated, they would still have some backup.

Hope, that thing, had always only resided in oneself.

Song Shiyue didn't explain in detail to Guan Yongyi, but he had only said it casually anyway.

But Yu Nianbing, beside them, felt that Song Shiyue's firmness was rarely seen, that solemn seriousness not about the amount of Jerky, but more like a life's iron law...

However, that iron law would indeed prove its worth one day. That was something Yu Nianbing couldn't foresee.

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