BXBX NOVEL Chapter 148 - 148: On Alert
After Xu An walked away, Jing MO turned to Xia Xin with a serious expression and said, “Keep your distance from Xu An; she’s not to be trusted.”
Xia Xin’s tone was tinged with jealousy, “She doesn’t seem interested in getting close to me. It looks like she’s more interested in getting closer to you.”
Caught off guard by her own words, Xia Xin paused. She thought, ‘Am I jealous? No, it must just be discomfort at seeing someone getting too close to my big brother.’
Lost in his thoughts, Jing MO didn’t notice the jealousy in Xia Xin’s tone. His gaze followed Xu An as she retreated.
On her way to find Zhao Nan, Xia Xin was intercepted by Xu Ping, “Miss Xia, could you lend me a hand? This equipment is heavy, and I need to transport them to a temporary tent. It’s not far.”
Always willing to help, Xia Xin agreed readily.
The equipment was indeed heavy. As Xia Xin picked them up, she focused intently on her path, vigilant not to trip over any stones.
Before she knew it, Xu Ping had led her away from the crowd. Sensing danger, Xia Xin set down the equipment, preparing to retreat.
Xu Ping, abandoning his equipment too, tried to block her. He said, “Miss Xia, leaving halfway through helping isn’t very honorable, is it?”
Eyes narrowing, Xia Xin scanned her surroundings for any weapon within reach. Noticing a wasp nest above Xu Ping’s head, a plan formulated in her mind. Using her control powers, she directed the wasps to sting Xu Ping, simultaneously diverting his attention. She said, “Mr. Xu, I suddenly remember having some other matters to attend to. I’m sorry, I can’t help you any further. I’ll find someone else to assist you.”
Just as Xu Ping lunged toward Xia Xin, he was stopped by a swarm of wasps. Seizing the opportunity, Xia Xin fled.
From behind a tree, Xu An emerged. Spraying some liquid on Xu Ping, the wasps dispersed.
Rubbing the spots where he was stung, Xu Ping’s eyes darkened. He said, “She’s highly vigilant. This failure makes any future moves difficult.”
Xu An’s icy gaze followed the direction in which Xia Xin had vanished and said, “Once the shoot starts, she’ll be under our control. We can handle her then.”
Xu Ping hesitated and asked, “Are you sure we should take action against her? It might be hard to explain to the young master.”
Already walking towards the camp, Xu An spoke without looking back, “Our mission is to bring her back, by any means necessary.”
The initial allure of this reality show was its outdoor setting. Each participant had to choose an animal companion for the journey. The selection ranged from kittens and puppies to donkeys and hedgehogs, and even a white stoat.
Knowing his pet dog Bobo’s temper, Jing MO opted for a hedgehog, to avoid any jealousy from Bobo upon his return.
Xu Zhi, ever the gentleman, let Xia Xin choose first.
Xia Xin’s eyes were drawn to the snow-white stoat, but Xu An suddenly suggested to the director, “For comedic effect and higher viewership, Xia Xin should choose the stubborn donkey.”
Convinced, the director relayed the idea, and Xia Xin, despite her preference for the stoat, had no choice but to select the donkey.
Seeing Xia Xin’s affection for the stoat, Xu Zhi picked it as his animal companion.
The nearby mountains of Azuralis were numerous, yet the director had chosen a wild, unexplored mountain. Without any man-made stone steps, the paths were all natural trails created by animals. A perpetual mist made the ground damp, and each step on the soft mud felt uncomfortable.
Moreover, the forest floor was rife with strange plants. Some had thorns pointing upwards from their roots, easy traps that could scrape or cut anyone who wasn’t careful.
The trio was tasked with surviving in the mountains for two days, equipped with tents and essential survival gear. Each of them would be accompanied by a camera operator to live-stream their adventure.
Looking down at the thick layer of mud caking the soles of her shoes, Xia Xin felt grateful for her choice of a donkey. If need be, she could even ride it.
The donkey snorted as if in agreement, “I’ll carry you, but only if you keep me fed. No food, no work.’
Smiling, Xia Xin stroked the donkey’s long neck and said, “You’re a little glutton, aren’t you? Don’t worry, I won’t let you go hungry..”