Chapter 429 – The Movie Emperor’s Beloved Neighbor – Jasmine Green Tea (12)
Heng Xingjian, Bai Tang, and the two little dogs all wore straw hats. From a distance, the first impression they gave was that of a family. Their relaxed demeanor didn’t look like they were challenging the wilderness at all—instead, it felt more like a spring outing. If they were carrying a basket, it would’ve looked even more so.
Since this was supposed to be an extreme challenge, they couldn’t stay together the whole time. With both teams gathered, all the attention was stolen by Heng Xingjian and Bai Tang, leaving the others with nothing worth watching.
Not long after the two teams split up, Bai Tang mysteriously took out two small flags. Unwilling to remain in the background any longer, Li Manpei spoke up, “Wasn’t there only one?”
Bai Tang replied, “I found this one in the grass.”
“Then why didn’t you say so earlier?”
“Does it make any difference if I say it now? Anyway, I’m on the same team as Heng Xingjian.”
Bai Tang clearly didn’t include Li Manpei as part of his group. The latter bit her lower lip, putting on an expression of grievance that she seemed forced to endure.
[“Look, Li Manpei is at it again.”]
[“Now that Gu Xinrong, that fool, isn’t here, who’s going to stand up for her? Don’t tell me she’s expecting Heng Xingjian?”]
[“Bai Tang’s words clearly show he doesn’t see her as one of them. Isn’t she allowed to feel upset?”]
[“No way… does anyone seriously think Li Manpei is naturally delicate and fragile?”]
[“A truly considerate and delicate girl would know her physical condition isn’t good enough and wouldn’t even join this kind of activity. Not causing trouble for others—that’s real thoughtfulness.”]
Li Manpei watched as Heng Xingjian affectionately patted Bai Tang’s head in praise, then said in a soft, fragile voice, “Senior Brother Bai is really amazing. Unlike me… I can’t do anything.”
If it were a modest man, he might have comforted the insecure and self-deprecating Li Manpei. But Heng Xingjian was clearly not someone with a normal way of thinking. He very cooperatively nodded, agreeing with her.
“Indeed, Tang Tang is really amazing.” Whether it was producing a blanket out of thin air or possessing special abilities, these were things ordinary people couldn’t compare to. Of course, even if Tang Tang couldn’t do anything, he would still be the best in his eyes.
Li Manpei choked on her words, then continued, “No wonder the Best Actor Heng has taken a liking to Senior Brother Bai. He’s really much better than me.”
Bai Tang said, “Yes, A Jian really does have good taste.”
Li Manpei: “…”
Bai Tang gave Heng Xingjian a sweet smile, and the man adjusted the boy’s straw hat for him.
Still unwilling to give up, Li Manpei pointed at something red in the distance and said, “Is that a small flag?”
Bai Tang looked over in that direction and shook his head. “Just a red garbage bag.”
Li Manpei’s face turned a shade paler. What does Bai Tang mean? He didn’t even go over to look—how does he already know it’s not a small flag? Is he implying I’m blind?
Although Bai Tang said it was just a trash bag, he still walked toward it. Just as Li Manpei thought he was about to embarrass himself in front of the audience, Bai Tang picked up the bag and handed it to the production team.
“I don’t know who littered in the mountains—this really pollutes the environment. We’ve got food in our backpacks, so we can’t put it together with trash. I’ll have to trouble the cameraman to help find something to store it in.”
The camera filming Bai Tang tilted up and down a few times, as if nodding in agreement with the boy.
The livestream audience nearly burst out laughing.
[“Tang Tang is way too cute—he even remembers to protect the environment when he’s out.”]
[“Did you see Li Manpei’s expression? Poor thing. Too bad there’s no sucker here to stand up for her.”]
[“Tang Tang shutting her down like that felt so satisfying, hahaha.”]
Just as the comments said, no one was trying to please Li Manpei now, so she could only rely on herself.
“Since it’s not a small flag, we should hurry and find one. Otherwise, if the other team gets it first, we’ll lose.”
Finding flags was the main objective, so they continued according to plan. Bai Tang and Heng Xingjian were still leisurely holding hands, while the production crew following behind them secretly felt troubled. The two little dogs were like navigation devices—guiding the way so well that all the traps set by the crew were avoided. They even smoothly found the third flag. If things kept going like this, what would be left to watch?
Fortunately, luck was on their side. The two dogs led them straight to the broken bridge mechanism that had been set up. This was the hardest obstacle in the entire show—watching Bai Tang and Heng Xingjian rack their brains to get the flag would definitely be entertaining.
As for why no one was looking forward to Li Manpei’s performance—well, sorry. Her “well-behaved top student” persona had already collapsed. The “well-behaved” part had turned into “scheming green tea,” and the “top student” into someone practically illiterate. The staff couldn’t say much, but the audience had eyes. It would already be good enough if she didn’t hold them back—no one was expecting anything from her anymore.
When they arrived at the broken bridge, a small red flag was planted on the other side. Its surface fluttered in the wind, eye-catching and impossible to miss.
“Woof, woof, woof…” One of the dogs barked a few times, startling Li Manpei out of her thoughts.
The camera shifted to her. She gave a soft, delicate smile and put on a troubled expression.
“The bridge is broken, but the flag is on the other side… what should we do?”
If one ignored her previous behavior and only looked at her now, she really could stir up a man’s protective instincts—making one not want her to frown, willing to go through fire and water just to see her smile again.
But still, the same problem remained—unfortunately, her devoted simp wasn’t on this team.
Bai Tang stared at the opposite side, deep in thought. If he were alone, he could easily get the flag. But with cameras around—and with A Jian there—there was no way he could just turn back into a little squirrel to retrieve it.
Heng Xingjian walked to the edge to examine the situation. The broken bridge was made of wood and had long fallen into disrepair. It had snapped in the middle, and the remaining planks were extremely fragile. With just a light press, a finger-width crack split open in the wood. Repairing the bridge was clearly not an option.
The drop beneath the bridge wasn’t very high, but it wasn’t low either. Climbing down and then back up from the other side to get the flag was possible—but it would take a lot of time and energy.
Heng Xingjian was calculating his chances of climbing across to retrieve the flag. If he ran out of strength halfway and fell, even if he didn’t die, he’d be seriously injured. That was the real difficulty of this challenge.
Seeing all three of them lost in thought—and even the two little dogs standing at the edge, staring into the distance—the production team couldn’t have been happier. A highlight moment for the show was finally in sight. If they edited together footage of the Best Actor and Bai Tang struggling and discussing solutions, then spliced it into a scene showing disagreement or even an argument, it would definitely draw in viewers. After all, there had been too much sweetness between them lately—this was supposed to be a survival challenge show, not a romance program.
Unexpectedly, the filming that followed went very smoothly. Bai Tang proposed the same plan Heng Xingjian had in mind: he would climb down, then climb up the other side to retrieve the flag. Li Manpei agreed, while Heng Xingjian opposed it.
“Tang Tang’s body is weak. I’ll go,” Heng Xingjian said. He hadn’t forgotten that the first time he met Bai Tang, the boy’s foot had been injured. It takes a hundred days to recover from muscle and bone injuries—although half a year had passed, he still couldn’t allow Bai Tang to face even the slightest danger.
“I can do it,” Bai Tang insisted. “I could climb the tree just now—my stamina is actually very good.”
Heng Xingjian replied firmly, “If I say no, then it’s no. Tang Tang, be good.”
Bai Tang said, “If I don’t go, are we supposed to let a girl do it?” He pointed at Li Manpei.
Li Manpei put on a shocked expression, then lowered her head in distress. “It’s all my fault… If only I were stronger, you wouldn’t be put in such a difficult position.”
Qiu’er: “Hey, Xiao A, look at this green tea b*tch.”
Xiao A: “I see it. Be good—we’re not learning from her.”
Bai Tang: “See? Other than me, there’s no one else who can go.”
Heng Xingjian said, “I can.”
“You can’t.” Bai Tang took off his backpack and grabbed Heng Xingjian’s hand, gently swaying it. “A Jian, you’ve been carrying me the whole way, and you’ve been making the fire and grilling meat—you’re already exhausted. But I’ve had plenty of rest, so let me go, okay~”
Heng Xingjian lowered his gaze slightly. Bai Tang intensified his acting cute, but his usually unbeatable trump card didn’t work this time. Heng Xingjian still firmly rejected his proposal.
For the first time in this world, Heng Xingjian took a hard stance with Bai Tang. “Tang Tang, you’re not allowed to go.”
Bai Tang wanted to keep persuading him, but when he looked into the man’s eyes, he saw pain and pleading. It made him freeze for a moment.
“I don’t want to lose you again.” Heng Xingjian pulled the boy into his arms, his whisper by Bai Tang’s ear filled with helplessness and unease.
Qiu’er added, “The male lead’s soul has always traveled together with Tang Tang through each world, and he’s always been conscious. It’s just that every time they transmigrate, his memories and awareness get sealed away. In the last few worlds, though, his consciousness has started to show signs of awakening.”
That also explained why the male lead had almost fallen into darkness in some worlds—his original power was something the laws of the Three Thousand Worlds couldn’t withstand.
“Then we’ll think of another way.” Bai Tang recalled how he had once accidentally triggered his lover and nearly caused him to lose control. His heart ached—Heng Xingjian always put him first.
Bai Tang’s nose stung. He hugged Heng Xingjian back, his voice slightly muffled with a nasal tone. “I’m sorry… I always make you worry~”
Heng Xingjian pinched the boy’s delicate nose. “I’m willing to.”
The cameraman captured this moment—these two lovebirds having a brief spat and then quickly making up—and couldn’t help but admire them inwardly.
As expected of a Best Actor Heng—he calmed his lover down so quickly. And Bai Tang was no less impressive; he had managed to win over the Best Actor Heng not long after meeting him.
Climbing over to get the flag became the last resort. Bai Tang came up with a new idea—he asked Heng Xingjian to gather some relatively straight branches, while he went to collect flexible vines to bind them together, making an extra-long pole. They could use it to hook the flag from the other side, then climb down to retrieve it, greatly reducing the risk.
The production team had already anticipated this method. Even after collecting all the usable branches nearby and tying them together, the pole still couldn’t quite reach the other side.
“Just need to stretch a bit more.” Bai Tang held up the pole and aimed at the opposite side, preparing to hook the flag. Before it could reach, however, Heng Xingjian snatched the pole from his hands.
“I’ll do it.” Heng Xingjian pushed Bai Tang behind him. He couldn’t stand the sight of Tang Tang leaning halfway over the edge, looking as if he might be blown off by the wind at any moment.
“Then be careful.” Bai Tang was also afraid Heng Xingjian might fall, so he held onto him tightly.
“I’ll help too.” Wanting to assert her presence, Li Manpei hurried over and grabbed onto Heng Xingjian as well.
Knowing Li Manpei wasn’t a good person, how could Bai Tang let her touch Heng Xingjian? He said, “No need. You’re not very strong—just rest over there.”
Unwilling to give up, Li Manpei saw this as the perfect chance to show teamwork and win Heng Xingjian’s favor. She blinked playfully and said, “I can’t just keep letting you take care of me. Don’t underestimate me, Senior Brother Bai.”
“Really, there’s no need.”
One insisted on helping, the other refused her help. It had rained the night before, and the soil by the cliff was still soft. As they moved, Heng Xingjian’s footing suddenly slipped a little, scaring Bai Tang so much that he didn’t dare argue with Li Manpei anymore.
Forget it. If she wants to help, then let her help—as long as she’s not trying to harm anyone. Bai Tang chose to think the best of it.
Seeing that Bai Tang no longer objected, Li Manpei became even more eager to show her attentiveness. She kept expressing concern for Heng Xingjian, “Be careful, take it slow. I’m holding onto you—you don’t need to be afraid…”