The air seemed to stop flowing altogether.
Shao Yuye stared at that little ball, and his whole state of mind was… not good.
Yet the director, utterly lacking in tact, loudly announced:
“Shao Yuye and Qi Luozhou, you two will be on the same team from now on!
“Shen Wanwan and Jiang Yuan, you two are a team.”
At the side, Jiang Yuan covered his mouth, not daring to let Shao Yuye see how his grin was about to split all the way to the back of his ears.
Was this what they called ‘happiness knocking on your door’?
He didn’t fight or scramble, was obedient and well-behaved. This was the good fortune he deserved!
The livestream comments exploded with laughter:
[AHHHH God Zhou and Brother Ye on one team! This episode’s ratings are definitely going to explode!!!]
[‘Rivals’ becoming teammates—never thought I’d see the day! Hahahahaha!]
[Even though Brother Ye and God Zhou both lost their smiles, it’s fine—the smiles have come to my face! Go, ‘Rivals’!!!]
Qi Luozhou stood there, and his expression really couldn’t be called good.
Shen Wanwan also couldn’t help laughing, speechless at her Brother’s god-tier bad luck.
Jiang Yuan was just about to happily walk over to Shen Wanwan when Shao Yuye grabbed his arm.
“Hold it!”
He viciously pulled out a Double Rewards item card. “Again!”
Jiang Yuan obediently stopped beside him, muttering softly, “You can’t roll Shen Wanwan anyway, so just let me be on a team with her.”
[Hahahaha! Jiang Yuan, you’re bold! Telling such harsh truths!]
[I’m dying laughing! Brother Ye: I might punch you with these sandbag-sized fists, and you might actually die!]
Right now, the teams were Shao Yuye + Qi Luozhou, and Jiang Yuan + Shen Wanwan.
If Shao Yuye wanted to swap people again, then the small ball would have Jiang Yuan’s and Shen Wanwan’s names written on it.
After waiting five minutes, the production team brought the name-filled device back up.
[Another 50% chance!]
[It’s over, I have a bad feeling again…]
[Honestly, Brother Ye, maybe you should just give up? Really, listen to everyone, don’t waste the prop cards!]
But Shao Yuye had only one thought in mind: swapping Shen Wanwan back.
He slammed the button. The machine started churning again. This time it didn’t keep everyone waiting long. With a *pa-ta*, the pink ball dropped out.
—Jiang Yuan.
“……”
“……”
Both Shao Yuye and Jiang Yuan sucked in a sharp breath, their chests filling with air, puffed up as if they were about to burst.
Jiang Yuan stared in disbelief.
Good grief.
He got swapped back again?!
[Hahahahaha, Ah Ye, stop already! It’s back to Jiang Yuan!]
[I’m really crying laughing at Brother Ye’s luck! Really, the harder he tries, the unluckier he gets!]
[Everyone look at God Zhou’s expression, He’s happy again, hahahaha!]
Qi Luozhou’s tightly pressed lips finally loosened, curving upward once more.
[God Zhou really hates being on the same team as Brother Ye that much? Hahahaha!]
[I’m laughing to death, but I actually really want to see them on the same team!]
[Me too! Please, Brother Ye, think of another way to swap God Zhou back!]
[Are you people demons?]
The director shot Shao Yuye a provocative glance. “So? Got any cards left?”
With his eyes practically red from rage, Shao Yuye pulled out another one—a Time Rewind card, which could rewind to any point within the past half hour.
“Rewind to right after the swap card was just used!”
[I’m laughing to death! Director: I was just asking casually, why do you actually have one?!]
[I’m really about to laugh myself to death in this livestream. They say third time’s the charm. If Brother Ye still doesn’t draw Shen Wanwan this time, maybe you should just accept it!]
[Yeah, stop struggling. Let Jiang Yuan team up with Shen Wanwan, and you team up with Qi Luozhou. We love watching it anyway, (doge.jpg)]
[Hey upstairs, those abacus beads are flying straight into my face!!]
[Brother Ye don’t look QAQ it’s a bad comment!!]
At this moment, Qi Luozhou, who had been silent the whole time, took out a Nullification prop card and calmly specified:
“Make his card invalid.”
The attitude was crystal clear: he also didn’t want to be on the same team as Shao Yuye.
[You two haven’t even officially teamed up yet and you’re already fighting. If you really end up on the same team later, won’t the show effects go straight through the roof?]
[I’m really dying laughing, stop fighting already! If you’re gonna fight, go fight in the dance studio!]
Shao Yuye hadn’t expected Qi Luozhou to have this move. He glared at him. “I advise you not to meddle!”
Qi Luozhou snorted in disdain. “Who’s the one causing trouble for no reason?”
Shao Yuye thought, What’s it got to do with you? Eyesore.
But he no longer had any cards left to continue or redo things. Gritting his teeth, he glared at Qi Luozhou and said harshly, “Just you wait!”
Once he got his sister back—
He’d dump a whole bag full of debuff cards on Qi Luozhou!
The staff packed up the equipment, and the director kindly announced:
“The previous team swap is canceled.”
“Jiang Yuan and Shao Yuye, you’re still a team.
“Shen Wanwan and Qi Luozhou, you two are also still a team.”
The audience watched, both amused and speechless.
Shao Yuye’s bad luck was truly unmatched!
After finally getting a swap card—and even sacrificing two top-tier item cards—he still failed to team up with Shen Wanwan—
Might as well give up already!
[So neither ‘Petty Revenge Duo’ formed up, nor did the ‘Rivals’ right? I’m about to start making a fuss!]
[Honestly, the more you two resist, the more I want to see it! That’s right, I’m that twisted! Director, please, hurry up and find a way to make them team up!]
[It’s fine, there’s plenty of time in the future. Sooner or later, they’ll end up on the same team😈😈]
But for now, the team arrangements were already set in stone, and the challenge continued once more.
Shao Yuye and Jiang Yuan would head to Level 18, while Shen Wanwan and Qi Luozhou would have to clear Level 17 again.
When they got back onto the roller coaster, Shen Wanwan looked at Qi Luozhou.
“So you really don’t want to be on a team with him that badly?”
Qi Luozhou glanced at Shao Yuye’s unwilling retreating figure and said calmly, “You could also understand it as… I don’t want to be separated from you.”
Shen Wanwan raised an eyebrow with interest.
She noticed that whenever he said things like this now, he never looked her in the eye, like he was desperately trying to hide some emotion.
She leaned back leisurely, her tone full of understanding. “True. I am very popular.”
Qi Luozhou quietly turned his head back, and that faint, almost imperceptible smile returned to his lips.
He looked at her, smiled, and answered with a soft “Mm.”
She really was popular.
But fortunately, there was plenty of time ahead.
The live comments exploded with screams:
[AHHHHH——!!!]
[God Zhou, if you keep saying things like that, I’m really going to fall into the ship!]
[What do we do? The more I look at them, the more compatible they seem! When they’re subtle, they’re both super subtle; when they go straight, neither of them holds back!]
[I’m firmly sitting at the bottom of this pit for life, come join me on ‘WanZhou’ ship!]
[So… God Zhou, do you still remember Jiang Yuan at Daming Lake1?!]
[Uh, that said, Baby Yuan probably also wants to be on a team with Wanwan, hahaha!]
The roller coaster slowly entered the tunnel. Over on the other side, before starting a new round, Shao Yuye and Jiang Yuan were summoned by the production team for individual interviews. The livestream split into two screens, showing Shao Yuye and Jiang Yuan separately.
The production team deliberately stirred things up and asked, “How do you see Shao Yuye constantly wanting to switch teams after being paired with you?”
[Damn? Is the production team toxic or what—stirring trouble behind the scenes?]
[Ahh, Brother Ye doesn’t mean any harm! Jiang Yuan won’t take it to heart, right?]
“How do I see it? With my eyes,” Jiang Yuan replied.
“But I don’t really mind.”
With an easygoing attitude, he continued, “He wants to team up with Shen Wanwan more, so let him.
“Anyway, I’m fine teaming up with anyone. Of course, it’s best if it’s with a girl.”
[Wuwu, Jiang Yuan is way too nice!]
[I apologize for ignoring him before! He’s really such a good person!]
[I used to think Jiang Yuan didn’t stand out much. He’s nice, but not memorable. Now I’m just like: husband husband husband!!]
The production team kept pushing, “You got the partner-swap cards together, but he used all of them himself. Don’t you feel upset?”
At that, Jiang Yuan couldn’t stop laughing.
“Let him use them all.”
He had figured it out, Shao Yuye’s luck was probably even worse than randomly picking teammates himself.
That wasn’t a 50% chance, that was a 100% chance of landing on the other option every time!
Production team: “……”
The comments were flooded with ellipses.
[Brother Ye… Maybe you really should stop.]
In the interview room next door, facing Shao Yuye, the production team’s questions were just as sharp:
“You finally got a partner-swap card, but still couldn’t switch to Shen Wanwan. How are you feeling right now?”
Shao Yuye snapped angrily, “Can’t you tell?”
[Hahahaha! Brother Ye: Don’t mess with me!]
[Let’s just say—it’s absolutely awful!]
Production team: …*Ahem, ahem*.
“Do you still want to switch teams next?”
“Of course.
“I suggest you add a few more partner-swap zones on the big wheel—”
Shao Yuye crossed his arms, looking arrogant.
Halfway through, he suddenly remembered something. “Eh…”
Didn’t he have a card like that?
He hurriedly lowered his head and started rummaging through his things.
The production team asked again, “You keep wanting to switch to Shen Wanwan’s side. Aren’t you worried Jiang Yuan might feel hurt?”
[Damn, the production team is totally stirring things up on purpose, right?]
[Trying to create drama? Please have some decency!]
Shao Yuye didn’t even look up, his hands still busy.
“What’s there to feel hurt about? We agreed that once we switch, all the item cards and speed coins go to him. He’s pretty happy about it.”
Production team: “……”
Comments:
[……]
[For the sake of the ‘Petty Revenge Duo’ reunion, Brother Ye actually chose to leave with nothing. I’m crying for real!]
[Uh… going to Shen Wanwan with nothing at all—won’t she despise him for that…?]
[Hahaha she definitely will, but she’ll despise him while squeezing him dry and then earning all the item cards and speed coins back! Just imagining that scene—damn. Brother Ye, do you really love her that much?!]
Production team: “If you get another partner-swap card but still can’t draw Shen Wanwan, what will you do?”
At this point, Shao Yuye finally found the prop cards that increased the number of designated cards on the wheel, and he had four of them!
He placed all four cards at the very front of his card pouch, then leapt off the stool.
“So many boring questions.
“Alright, I’m not talking to you anymore. Don’t delay my challenge progress!”
Production team: “……”
[Brother Ye: Stop annoying me, I just want to switch teams!]
[I’m dying laughing! Brother Ye looks like his eyes are about to shoot fire.]
[Brother Ye, do you really love her that much? If you keep fighting for her, I’m going to get jealous!]
[Is there a possibility that what Brother Ye is really fighting for now isn’t Shen Wanwan at all, but just his competitive drive?]
[Hahahaha this damn competitive spirit!]
But unfortunately, even though Shao Yuye used up all his item cards, he still failed to obtain another swap card that day.
That night, Xiao Le called in excitement.
“Wanwan, it feels like more and more people are shipping you and God Zhou as a CP! Some marketing accounts have even started posting ‘exposés’ about you two—saying that a top-tier male celebrity from a hugely popular variety show has fallen for a female artist from the same show. Isn’t that obviously talking about you two? Hahahaha!”
The fact that fans were shipping her and Qi Luozhou actually surprised Shen Wanwan a little.
But since she and Qi Luozhou would inevitably get married in the future, even more explosive news was bound to come out anyway, starting the buildup early wasn’t a bad thing.
Shen Wanwan responded lightly with an “Mm.”
Xiao Le continued, “But there are also people saying it’s you and Brother Ye. Isn’t that ridiculous? Still, you’re really famous now! There are even tons of people writing fanfics about two top-tier idols fighting over you, hahahaha!”
Shen Wanwan froze for a moment.
She opened the trending topics. The topic #The harder Shao Yuye tries, the unluckier he gets# was still floating high at number one.
Fans were still laughing at his operations, but quite a few passerby fans had already begun questioning the relationship between the two of them.
[To be honest, Shao Yuye is competitive, sure, but being this obsessed with Shen Wanwan? Don’t you fans find that strange?]
[I’m telling you, there’s definitely something going on between these two.]
[Don’t hype him up as some high-quality idol now. When it all turns into ruins later, that’ll be fun to watch.]
[Don’t tell me everyone’s going to witness their relationship unfold on a variety show~]
Although the ‘Yu Yu’s were still desperately denying it, trying to prove that the two were nothing more than pure friends, the passersby clearly weren’t buying it.
Shen Wanwan lowered her gaze.
“I know.”
Xiao Le was stunned. “Know what?”
Wasn’t she just here to gossip with Wanwan?
Why did Wanwan suddenly sound so serious?
This episode of <Extreme Challenge> came to an end amid Shao Yuye’s regret—despite desperately trying to get a swap card, he still never managed to team up with Shen Wanwan again.
Everyone felt sorry for Shao Yuye, but they had also thoroughly witnessed just how cursed his luck really was.
How could someone be unlucky to this extent?!
Even though he and Jiang Yuan were far ahead in their stage and took first place, winning a Phoenix Island travel voucher from the production team—
That was clearly not what Shao Yuye wanted.
Qi Luozhou, who cleared stages with Shen Wanwan, was seriously living the good life!
As second place, they didn’t get any prizes at all, but Qi Luozhou had spent five whole days with his sister!
Shao Yuye took a deep breath. Thankfully, this episode was about to end, and Qi Luozhou was finally going to be separated from his sister!
What surprised everyone was that Bai Ling and Su Tingxuan came in third.
Thanks to that hidden-stage haunted house, Zhang Yiran and Jin Xiaoyu had been trapped inside for an entire week. Their progress had stalled completely, and they were overtaken by Bai Ling and Su Tingxuan instead.
They became last place for this level area and would be heading to Yangcheng Zoo to experience a day in the life of a zookeeper—shoveling animal poop.
Jin Xiaoyu covered her face in grief. “Should I go pray at some temple or something?”
Why am I always last?!
Zhang Yiran waved it off. “Ah, next time we just won’t enter the hidden stage!”
The barrage erupted in laughter.
The final segment of this stop was, once again, the crowd-favorite team-selection segment.
The director teased them yet again: “We’ll be using the same method as last time, drawing one lucky guest on-site to assign the teams.”
Jiang Yuan’s eyes widened. “Wow, that’s awesome!”
This was way more exciting than choosing freely. Everyone’s teammates would be decided entirely by that one person.
Shao Yuye was fired up too.
Random assignment!
If only it were him!
Jin Xiaoyu clasped her hands together. “I’m willing to go vegetarian for a year in exchange for a chance to choose teams myself!”
Zhang Yiran raised the stakes. “Two years! Pick me!”
Bai Ling’s expression turned serious as she silently prayed as well. She really hoped it would be her… Her luck had been awful lately, and she desperately needed a turnaround…
Only Shen Wanwan and Qi Luozhou remained calm.
They looked completely unconcerned about this precious opportunity.
The director spun the wheel. Everyone’s fate would be decided in this very moment.
As the wheel slowly came to a stop, the director announced in a ringing voice:
“The lucky guest for this episode is—
“Bai Ling!”
Bai Ling’s eyes flew open in delight. “It’s really me?!”
Everyone else showed looks of envy.
The director nodded. “Bai Ling, please head to the team assignment room to divide the teams for the next stop!”
Perched on her shoulder, 001 lamented regretfully: {Ahhh, damn it—why wasn’t it you or your Brother?!}
Shen Wanwan joked with 001: “What do you think? How will she split the teams?”
- Daming Lake in Jinan, China is renowned as the epitome of romance. It is the setting for famous Chinese fairy tale, The Legend of Xia Yuhe. The story was about the Qing Emperor Qianlong going on a southern tour, and met Xia Yuhe, an elegant and talented local woman from Jinan. The two fell deeply in love, enjoying poetry and playing the zither by the water. When the emperor had to leave, he promised to return for her. Xia Yuhe became pregnant with Qianlong’s child and waited for him for years, but he never returned. ↩︎