This chapter is brought to you by ^_^, thanks for the ko-fi! (ﾉ´ヮ`)ﾉ*: ･
Not only were the fans losing their minds over the reveal, even the guests of <Extreme Challenge> were stunned by the earth-shattering news.
@ZhangYiran: [Wait, you two were secretly dating right under our noses this whole time? How did I seriously not notice anything?! @ShenWanwan @QiLuozhou]
[HAHAHAHAHAHA!]
[Maybe reflect on why you never noticed, will you?!]
[I’m dying. Everyone else had already boarded the ship of love, and you’re still standing there going “makabaka.” Pay more attention!]
@JiangYuan: [I always thought the only person stopping me from partnering with Wanwan was @ShaoYuye. Who knew there was another one? @QiLuozhou]
Only now did Jiang Yuan realize why, when he’d wanted to team up with Shen Wanwan before, Qi Luozhou had told him to give up.
At the time, he’d assumed it was because Shao Yuye and Shen Wanwan were so close as siblings, and God Zhou was just telling him he had no chance.
Good grief.
Good grief!
Turns out…
The guy had been secretly protecting his future wife all along!
[HAHAHAHA! The title of ‘Ultimate Unlucky Guy’ really suits you!]
[Baby Yuan, just accept it. At this stage, trying to cut in would just be rude.]
@JinXiaoyu : [So… is nobody going to speak up for me? (photo.jpg)]
She attached a screenshot from Episode 5 showing herself waiting alone for Qi Luozhou to return.
After rewatching the edited version of Episode 5, Jin Xiaoyu finally understood why, during the first mission on the deserted island, Qi Luozhou had taken so long to come back despite already completing the task.
Because…
He had been off dating Wanwan!
No wonder she’d been shipping them so hard even while filming.
[HAHAHAHA! Xiaoyu, you only figured it out now?!]
[I’m dead. God Zhou: “Not on purpose… but how could a teammate be more important than my wife?” doge.jpg]
Among the regular cast members, the only one who remained silent was Bai Ling.
She quietly watched the overwhelming discussions online and couldn’t help feeling a sense of alienation.
The entire internet was blessing them.
Celebrating them.
With a helpless sigh, she set her phone down.
Shen Wanwan…
A girl loved by everyone.
How enviable.
The biggest beneficiary of the official ‘WanZhou’ relationship announcement, however, was none other than the production team.
“Old Jiang, you seriously ought to go burn some incense.”
“The fact that you managed to invite Shen Wanwan onto this show… you’ve hit the jackpot!”
The director of <Extreme Challenge> stared blankly at the explosive trending topics flooding the internet, so excited he could barely speak.
Back when he was preparing the show, as soon as the two top celebrities had both agreed to join, he’d already known—
Even if the variety show turned out to be complete garbage…
People would still watch it.
Originally, he’d thought the biggest selling point would be the rivalry between the two superstars.
Who would’ve guessed that Shen Wanwan herself would become the show’s true ratings magnet?
Top idol Shao Yuye?
Her biological brother!
Top movie emperor Qi Luozhou?
Her fiancé!
And even putting those incredible connections aside, her own charm, her constant battles of wits with the production team, and the countless times she’d left them speechless had long since become the biggest highlight of the entire program.
Back then, he had only chosen her after weighing every option, and because she’d invested heavily in the show herself.
Who could’ve imagined the program would achieve results this spectacular?
It really felt like heaven itself was feeding him success on a silver platter!
But…
They were already filming the final episode.
The show was about to end, and every guest had only signed contracts for six episodes.
If they didn’t seize this momentum now, then when?
The director hurriedly called Shao Yuye, asking whether he’d be willing to return for a special episode after Episode 6.
The reply he got was—
“I need to ask my sister.
“If she goes, I’ll go.”
Qi Luozhou gave exactly the same answer.
“It depends on her.”
The director’s hand trembled as he gripped his phone.
So all he had to do…
Was win over Shen Wanwan…
And he’d secure both of the nation’s biggest stars.
Immediately, he respectfully called Shen Wanwan herself, inviting her to continue participating in a special episode.
A carefree laugh came from the other end of the line.
“Depends on my mood.”
She hadn’t agreed.
But she hadn’t refused either.
Yet those four casual words left the director’s heart hanging in suspense.
Only now did he realize—
She was the one person he absolutely couldn’t afford to offend.
If only he hadn’t spent all this time trying so hard to outsmart her…
After the lively New Year celebrations, filming for Episode 6 of <Extreme Challenge> officially began.
Their previous escape from the deserted island had produced phenomenal results, with ratings soaring continuously.
Combined with the huge winter vacation audience, the earlier revelation that ‘Petty Revenge Duo’ were real siblings, and now the official announcement of ‘WanZho’,“ the show’s popularity had exploded to unprecedented heights.
It had become a once-in-a-generation variety show phenomenon that simply couldn’t be replicated.
This episode’s theme was: ‘Returning to Our Original Aspirations.’
“Our slogan has always been: Dare to compete, strive for first place! So this time, we’re going back to the feeling of our very first episode!”
No one expected that, the moment those words left the director’s mouth, the usually ‘honest’ Jiang Yuan let out a meaningful “Ohhh…”
“Oh, I get it.
“The production team must’ve run out of money.”
“…”
Having his bluff exposed on the spot, the director shot him a glare.
The budget for the last deserted island episode had practically exploded. There were so many ‘Hunter’s that the extras’ wages alone cost a fortune for a single day!
Not to mention all the manpower and resources. The director had meticulously planned countless challenges, but the guests escaped far too quickly, so most of them were never used. In the end, all they could do was release a behind-the-scenes special of the production team amusing themselves.
The livestream comments burst into laughter.
[This is the first time I’ve ever seen the production staff being the ones forced to clear the challenges by the guests.]
[ Hahaha! <Extreme Challenge> is so good! Outsmarting the production team forever!! ]
[You can replace anyone else on <Extreme Challenge>, but Shen Wanwan absolutely has to stay as a permanent cast member. I could watch her outsmart the production team ten thousand times and never get bored! ]
Although the audience loved every second of it…
The director finally waved the white flag and admitted defeat.
—That woman, Shen Wanwan, is cursed! I’m never challenging her again!
“Alright, everyone! Since this is the final episode, tell us, who do you most want to team up with?”
The eight guests stood in a straight line just as they had in the very first episode.
The women stood on one side, the men on the other.
The production team handed everyone a small whiteboard so they could write down the name of the person they wanted as their partner.
No one knew what trick the director was plotting this time, but everyone cooperatively wrote down their answers.
They started with the men.
The first to raise his board was Zhang Yiran.
The name written on it caught everyone completely off guard.
[Shen Wanwan]
[Ahhh! I thought Yiran would choose Jiang Yuan or Xiaoyu!]
[Good grief, why are you choosing Wanwan too?!]
The camera cut to Shen Wanwan.
She remained perfectly composed, looking as though this outcome surprised her not in the slightest.
Shao Yuye, however, turned his head in disbelief.
If he remembered correctly, Zhang Yiran was the only one on the show who had never openly said he wanted to be on the same team as his sister.
“What are you doing?!”
Zhang Yiran winked at him, then grinned at the camera.
“Nothing special! I just want to personally experience what it’s like teaming up with Wanwan and scheming against the production team!”
Of course, he would never admit that he’d been inspired by the way she and Shao Yuye had boldly turned back to slaughter the Hunters.
The director, who had just been indirectly stepped on again: “…”
[Hahaha! Other variety shows: the director bullies the guests. <Extreme Challenge>: the guests leisurely complete the missions while bullying the director instead.]
Next came Jiang Yuan.
When he raised his board, it also read:
[Shen Wanwan]
As both Shao Yuye and Qi Luozhou simultaneously turned to stare at him, Jiang Yuan chuckled.
“What? Am I not even allowed to dream a little?”
Looking sincerely at Shen Wanwan, he said,
“I know the chances are slim, but at least I’ve properly conveyed my feelings.”
Shen Wanwan smiled at him.
“There’ll be a chance.”
Jiang Yuan froze.
Her personality had visibly softened.
She wasn’t nearly as cold or aloof as she’d been at the beginning.
Was it because she’d reunited with Shao Yuye and gradually been influenced by his warmth and energy?
Beside him, Zhang Yiran protested, “Hey! Why did I only get a ‘thank you,’ while Jiang Yuan gets ‘there’ll be a chance’?!”
Shao Yuye immediately cut in, “Relax. What my sister really meant was: neither of you has a chance. Don’t nitpick over a couple of words in a polite rejection.”
“…”
Zhang Yiran and Jiang Yuan were both left speechless.
[Hahahaha! Brother Ye, do you have to be this ruthless?!]
[I’m dying laughing because of Brother Ye!]
[Zhang Yiran & Jiang Yuan: What terrible luck…]
Next was Zhang Song.
As expected, he had also written [Shen Wanwan].
“Sister, I still want to be on your team!”
Earlier in the show, Zhang Song had passionately confessed his admiration for Shen Wanwan right in front of Shao Yuye.
So now, hearing him say this, Shao Yuye actually felt, “That’s it?”
Soon it was the turn of the two men whose choices everyone already knew.
Shao Yuye raised his board.
Written on it, unsurprisingly, were the words: [Shen Wanwan].
“Of course I’m teaming up with my little sister!”
Qi Luozhou smiled gently as he lifted his own board and looked toward Shen Wanwan.
[Wanwan]
[Oh my gosh, God Zhou’s handwriting is so beautiful!]
[Ahhh! Could that marriage contract have actually been handwritten by God Zhou himself?!]
[Wow… if he really wrote it himself, imagining myself as the girl… I’d feel so treasured… I’m tearing up.]
[Ahhh! I can’t wait to skip ahead and see who Wanwan chooses!]
[Doesn’t matter. Whether it’s the ‘Petty Revenge Duo’ siblings or the ‘WanZhou’ couple, I’m happy either way!]