Chapter 3 — Mu Ran's Brilliant Move

Jiang Ning was about to find a seat as far away from Bai Zehan as possible.

There weren't many seats left on the helicopter, only those beside the web-series sensation Fu Jiaojiao and the second-tier actress Yun Fu remained empty.

Fu Jiaojiao stood up, waving her hand and calling out, “Ning Ning, come sit with me!”

Yun Fu, sitting in front of Fu Jiaojiao, exclaimed excitedly, “Jiang Ning, sit here with me!”

Both women spoke in unison—one voice sharp, the other soft and sweet.

Jiang Ning’s gaze settled on Yun Fu, and she gave her a doting smile, choosing to sit beside her.

Back in school, Yun Fu had always liked to stick close to Jiang Ning. Yun Fu was Jiang Ning’s junior at Imperial Capital University, both graduates of the film and television program.

“Jiang Ning, you’re still so fond of being late?” Fu Jiaojiao, sitting behind Yun Fu, leaned forward, her smiling tone laced with sarcasm.

Jiang Ning turned, her eyes narrowing, a cold gleam flashing as she retorted with a chill, “I’m not late.” She then turned back to Yun Fu, engaging in casual conversation.

Fu Jiaojiao had once been the person Jiang Ning trusted most, but she never imagined that Bai Zehan’s secret lover would be this friend, who had always acted in her best interests.

Jiang Ning glanced at Bai Zehan, who was chatting animatedly with Gao Tiange, a faint curve at her lips—this scoundrel truly was a master of time management.

Fu Jiaojiao stared at the back of Jiang Ning’s head, sneering, “Some people really do just play with whoever’s famous, isn’t that right, Jiang Ning?”

Jiang Ning scoffed, picked up her cup and sipped elegantly, refusing to respond.

Fu Jiaojiao, irritated by Jiang Ning’s disregard, stood slightly and whispered, “Jiang Ning, ever since you got a boyfriend, you rarely reach out to your so-called best friend.”

Jiang Ning spoke slowly, “Well, when you and my boyfriend were sweating together in bed, didn’t it occur to you to contact me then?”

She remembered correctly—by now, Bai Zehan and Fu Jiaojiao had long been entangled.

Her words caused everyone to look at them with subtle meaning in their eyes.

Weren’t Fu Jiaojiao and Jiang Ning supposed to be close friends in the industry?

Who would have thought their “intimacy” went so far, sharing even a boyfriend?

At the very front, Bai Zehan continued talking to Gao Tiange, but kept a constant eye on Jiang Ning.

Hearing the exchange between Jiang Ning and Fu Jiaojiao, his heart tightened.

His relationship with Jiang Ning had never been public, and he had no intention of ever revealing it. Even last night, when he said he wanted to marry her, he’d planned for a hidden marriage.

Bai Zehan clenched his fists, beads of sweat appearing on his forehead. Jiang Ning must have already discovered his affair with Fu Jiaojiao, and what about his connection with Gao Tiange...?

Bai Zehan gave Gao Tiange a gentle smile, then turned to Jiang Ning and said, “Ning Ning, once we reach the island, stick close to me. Conditions are rough—safety first.”

“Well, Best Actor Bai is quite the gallant protector of the ladies!” Another male guest, Qi Jun, let his gaze wander ambiguously between Jiang Ning and Bai Zehan.

“Ning Ning is Tiange’s junior, and Tiange and I are good friends. I should take special care of her. Other female guests, don’t get jealous.”

Jiang Ning ignored this slick and self-assured man—he was only interrupting, likely worried she’d expose their relationship.

What relationship? They’d broken up. Bai Zehan was nothing more than a loathsome scoundrel in her eyes.

Just hearing “Bai Zehan” made Jiang Ning feel sick.

Fu Jiaojiao scowled, casting an unwilling glance at Bai Zehan, then turned away, muttering, “A cheating woman and her dog—may they last forever.”

Jiang Ning raised her brow, “Why insult yourself?”

Fu Jiaojiao was momentarily speechless.

Yun Fu looked at Fu Jiaojiao with slight disdain, thinking to herself that this woman was truly shameless—exposed as the other woman yet feeling no remorse.

As the helicopter reached the skies above the deserted island, Assistant Director Chen Liang began introducing the main segment of the show.

“Hello everyone, I’m Chen Liang, director of the romance variety show ‘Love on the Journey’. We’ll soon land on the famous deserted island—Hundred Flower Island—and begin a two-day, one-night live broadcast of survival on the island. During this time, eight guests will compete, and the winner will have the right to choose their partner.”

“Eight guests? Gao Tiange, Bai Zehan, Jiang Ning, Fu Jiaojiao, Yun Fu, Qi Jun... Aren’t there two missing?”

“Yeah, that’s right!”

“Don’t worry, the production team has arranged for two guest stars—they’re stranded on the neighboring islands around Hundred Flower Island. Our first task on the island will be to rescue them.”

“Best Actor Bai and Best Actress Gao—what a pair!”

“I’m rooting for Qi Jun and Fu Jiaojiao!”

“I just want Jiang Ning to remain single forever!”

The helicopter hovered above Hundred Flower Island.

“Director, why aren’t we landing?” Bai Zehan gazed at the endless sea below, feeling dizzy.

Gao Minglang smiled meaningfully, “Jump down.”

“What? Jump down?”

Everyone cried out in surprise—were they really risking their lives right from the start?

“Relax, it’s perfectly safe. Just now, Best Actor Bai and Qi Jun were talking about ‘battle royale’—so the crew’s giving you an immersive experience, free of charge.”

Gao Minglang gave Li Liang a look; crew members started outfitting the six with gear.

Jiang Ning glanced disdainfully at Bai Zehan, who was trembling, “Director, Teacher Bai just claimed he’s an invincible warrior—why not let him jump first?”

In her previous life, before entering showbiz, Jiang Ning had been a hardcore extreme sports fan.

From this height, she could land safely with ease.

“Director, I... I... I have a heart condition. Skydiving is too extreme for me—I can’t do it,” Bai Zehan moaned, his legs weakened by the strong wind.

Chen Liang took the camera, live-streaming Bai Zehan’s current state.

“Invincible warrior? Invincible ‘trembling’ warrior, more like!”

“Is Best Actor Bai having a heart attack?”

“Should we prepare a wedding gift for Best Actor Bai?”

“Savage, upstairs.”

“Best Actor Bai just said he would protect Jiang Ning...”

Gao Minglang widened his eyes, calling out to Bai Zehan, “Zehan, what did you say? I didn’t catch it.”

“He said he can’t wait to jump.”

Jiang Ning had barely finished speaking when Bai Zehan’s eyes rolled back in terror, his legs giving out.

Gao Minglang glanced at Bai Zehan, shaking his head in disgust, “Who’s jumping first?”

“I will.”

The next moment, Jiang Ning spread her arms and leapt.

Seconds later, her parachute opened and she prepared to land.

Everyone in the helicopter was dumbstruck, the live stream numbers skyrocketing by hundreds of thousands.

On the screen—

“Jiang Ning unlocks a new skill!”

“What now? Anti-fans turning neutral!”

“Are female stars these daring nowadays?”

Gao Minglang never expected Jiang Ning to be so bold, “Who’s next? The first two to jump get priority in choosing their partner.”

“I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die.” Bai Zehan clung tightly to Chen Liang’s hand, eyes shut, trembling.

“I’ll go!” Proclaiming himself the prince of showbiz, Qi Jun stepped forward lazily.

With a carefree leap, he jumped.

A splash sounded.

“Qi Jun!”

“Qi Jun!”

“Director, Qi Jun fell into the sea!”

Gao Minglang was caught off guard—who knew Qi Jun would be so hopeless?

“I’ll send someone to rescue him.”

“Director, look!”

In the middle of the sea, Qi Jun was calling out desperately. He could swim, but his leg cramped.

“Jiang Ning! Jiang Ning’s going to save him.”

Jiang Ning swam agilely to Qi Jun, seized his shoulder, and pulled him to hers. “So useless—don’t try to show off.”

Qi Jun was dragged ashore by Jiang Ning, shivering and curled up.

Jiang Ning smiled radiantly, a gleam in her eyes, “I saved your life—don’t forget to repay me.”

Qi Jun looked up at the woman before him, haloed with light, gratitude shining in his eyes.

Jiang Ning turned and walked into the forest, quickly surveying the terrain, gathering a pile of branches, and pulling a lighter wrapped in a waterproof bag from her pocket.

A warm fire blazed, drying Qi Jun’s soaked body. He looked at Jiang Ning with a newfound depth in his gaze.