The time we were all dreading came, and we had no choice but to face it. Each team was assigned a tent, camping gear, and an emergency supply of ramen noodles—our choice of flavor, of course. We also had to select a protein and a dairy item, plus utensils for cooking them. At least we would be comfortable and fully fed, even if it meant being prime targets for the local insect population.
Halfway through setting up the tent, Lily paused, looked at me with those earnest eyes, and said, "I'm happy to have you as my partner because I don't know how to put up a tent."
"I'm elated to be your partner as well. I'm a huge fan of yours! But I thought you went camping with your family all the time," I replied, confusion creasing my brow.
Lily chuckled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Why do all that work when there are men around?"
"Preach, love, preach!" Yu Lin chimed in, sauntering by with a martini glass delicately balanced in her hand.
"Isn't it too early to be drinking?" I asked, unable to suppress a smile.
"Isn't it too tiring to be in my business?" Yu Lin shot back, her eyes glinting with mischief.
"Ahem," I scoffed, pretending to be affronted as she strutted away.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm thrilled to announce our second mission, which will kick off in 45 minutes, right at 7 PM. This mission will be live-streamed, complete with comments! Yes, ladies and gentlemen and stalkers, you get to show your idols just how much you care about them. And, as much as it pains me to say this, you'll have the opportunity to influence what happens during the mission," Yu Lin continued, her voice dripping with irony.
A wave of anxiety washed over me. 'Ah, ah, ahh! Nope! Not a chance! How could they do this to us? Is it too late to run away—or even just disappear?'
Yu Lin was undeterred. "Now, before you all start flooding my chat with nonsense, let me clarify: seven short, random requests will be completed by each team, totaling twenty-seven. Keyboard ninjas, water armies, and narcissistic wannabes, do not make this about yourselves! The administrator will ban you if you do. Vulgar and hateful comments will be promptly removed, and users will be banned from this stream and future ones. Just because you're behind a screen doesn't mean you're free from accountability. Mess with me, and you'll find out."
I couldn't help but admire her fearless demeanor. I missed Baobao. If he were here, he would've said something ridiculous to make me laugh. Instead, I was stuck with this steely version of him, who seemed as silent as he was stubborn. I hoped Baobao would return soon.
"I'll read as many comments as I can to satisfy as many netizens as possible, so don't bombard me with 'Why isn't she reading mine?' If your question was answered five times already, or if it's just 'I love you, blah blah blah'—do you really? I'll highlight comments that add something meaningful to the conversation. I loved one that said, 'I like her no BS attitude; it's a breath of fresh air the entertainment industry desperately needs.' Feel free to watch your beloved idols suffer as they attempt to build their tents and a campfire without our help."
Turning back to the task at hand, I noticed Lily surveying the logs piled nearby. "Do you need any help with the tent? If not, I'm going to grab some logs to start the campfire," she offered, her finger pointing toward the stack.
"I don't need any help right now, so go ahead," I said, grateful for her initiative.
As Lily ventured off, I caught a glimpse of Alastair shuffling logs to their side of the camp. He offered me an awkward smile in return for mine, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for him. Poor kid looked like he'd been dragged into this industry against his will, likely only here for his twin sister. A hint of jealousy stirred in me; their sibling bond seemed unshakeable, a source of strength amid all the chaos.
Lily returned with a couple of logs, efficiently setting them down and starting to arrange the campfire. I watched her, impressed by her confidence and skill. She looked like she had everything under control, turning what could be a simple task into something almost graceful. So much for not helping out during camping—I realized I might just have to step up my game if I wanted to keep up with her.
The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across our makeshift camp. I could feel the anticipation building—not just for the mission, but for whatever chaos awaited us during the live stream. As I straightened up from the tent, I took a deep breath, ready to embrace the unexpected twists this adventure promised.
YOU ARE READING
Transmigration: Cannon Fodder Can Surpass Female Lead
RomanceI remember I got stood up on our anniversary. I remember my boyfriend telling me he was busy to come and he was sorry that he couldn't. I remember going to our apartment to sleep. I remember the noise I heard, before entering our bedroom to see my b...
