After the landlord collected the rent, everyone counted their remaining money ¥940. That meant over the next two days, they could only spend ¥470 per day. With three meals daily, each meal could cost no more than ¥160 about ¥20 per person. Hearing this, the living room fell silent. They had expected a travel reality show, but it felt more like a prank show. With tight meal budgets, having fun seemed impossible. The villa was in a remote location with nearby attractions but no supermarkets or markets no chance to save money by cooking.
It was clear the production team had malicious intentions.
Wei Yuanju, accustomed to hardship, tried to lighten the mood: “So it’s like we’re staying at a hotel and touring!”
Just then, Ji Chen spoke up. Hearing there wasn’t enough money, he searched the drawers for leftover red envelopes. Finding none, he instead discovered an envelope and a lottery container.
Wei Yuanju grabbed the envelope eagerly. Ji Chen opened it and read its content to everyone: In Travel on a Whim, there would be challenges due to the lack of money. The team had arranged several jobs for them.
Su Yayi joked: “This is a scam they brought me here to work under the guise of traveling!” The live comments were full of laughter.
“Working in a show about working to earn money. Nice!”
“I get it! The show is saying that workers are always going to work, no matter where!”
Amidst the audience’s cheers, Wei Yuanju and Ji Chen pulled out the lottery container. It held eight numbered balls, one for each person.
“Time to draw,” Ji Chen said.
Jiang Yu drew ball #2. Opening it, he read his task: work at a marine amusement park. He could choose either to learn a performance show and perform in the evening or dress as a cartoon character and interact with guests.
Su Yayi laughed: “That doesn’t sound hard!” Ji Chen pointed the container to her. She drew ball #1: help at a forest park. Her job was to feed animals and clean their droppings. Her face turned green.
Wei Yuanju asked: “What’s wrong?”
Su Yayi sighed: “Including cleaning up after animals.”
Ji Chen handed the container to Yu Shiqing. He drew ball #1 too same job as Su Yayi. Su Yayi brightened, only to remember she forgot to say she did want to do it with Yu Shiqing! But the ball was already swapped to Jiang Yu’s hand and he had done her a favor. She hesitated.
Then Jiang Yu spoke softly:
“I’ll swap with you. This one is easier and better for you.”
Su Yayi practically fainted with relief: “Really?”
“Mm,” Jiang Yu replied, giving her the #2 ball.
“Thank you, Brother Jiang you’re handsome and kind!”
Ji Chen asked Yu Shiqing his assignment. Yu opened his ball and read quietly: it’s the same as the one Jiang Yu gave to Su Yayi. She froze mid-sentence, realizing she’d just given her spot away inadvertently.
Jiang Yu looked at Yu Shiqing: “Fancy that?”
Yu Shiqing smiled: “Seems we’ll work together.”
Jiang Yu calmly: “Yes.”
They finished drawing: #3 was a two-person job at the dock, collecting seafood and selling it a paid job with free seafood lunch. #4 was two-person beach cleanup. #5 was solo cleaning the glass of an observation tower. Ji Chen was excited by #5.
Su Yayi was jealous or rather, disappointed. Ji Chen offered to trade, saying he’s Jiang Yu’s fan of four years.
Su Yayi jumped in: “Me too! I’ve been your fan for four years, Brother Yu!” Three newer cast members followed, leading to chaos. The live feed buzzed: “Mass idol-fandom in action!”
Jiang Yu, a singer and idol, has many fans. In contrast, Yu Shiqing hadn’t acted in four years until “Doomsday Rescue.” Some of the newbies didn’t even know him. Su Yayi said she became a film student after watching Yu Shiqing in Tomorrow’s Sunshine.
“May I take a photo?” she asked.
Yu Shiqing gently: “Of course.” She smiled, took her phone, and posed by his side. Meanwhile, Jiang Yu watched with a cold stare. The fan shook happily: “Thank you, senior!” Jiang Yu, not looking at him, walked over to Yu Shiqing. Yu Shiqing finished and smiled. Wei Yuanju controlled the moment, saying: “It’s late everyone, get some sleep. You’re up early tomorrow.”
Su Yayi happily said: “Okay!” She, Ji Chen, Wei Yuanju, and female newcomer Alpha Zhu Yulan stayed upstairs in four rooms. The two male newbies, both Omegas, plus Yu Shiqing and Jiang Yu, stayed downstairs in two double rooms. After everyone left, the three males nodded goodnight.
Yu Shiqing: “Good night.”
Returning to their room, Jiang Yu grabbed something from his bag and went to the bathroom. He returned and said: “Your turn.”
Yu Shiqing also took pajamas from the same bag. The livestream went wild:
“They share a suitcase, these two must be close!”
“Are they sharing a room?”
“Are those couple pajamas?!”
Yu Shiqing approached the bed after drying his hair Jiang Yu warned: “Dry your hair before sleeping.” Then Yu Shiqing grabbed scripts from the bag. Jiang Yu took a laptop and resumed writing a new song. After some time, Jiang Yu rubbed his nose and asked: “Sleep?”
Yu Shiqing replied: “After I finish this page.”
Jiang Yu casually poured him water. Yu Shiqing took it familiar gesture.
If Yu’s tired, Jiang Yu said, “Go to sleep.”
“I know,” Yu replied.
Silently, they worked stream viewers multiplied.
“Their behavior isn’t what I expected!”
“That’s Jiang Yu?? I never thought he had this other side!”
“What is their relationship? They look so gay!”
Maybe sensing the comments, Jiang Yu frowned, turned, and blocked the camera with a towel.
Behind the screen came rustling:
Jiang Yu: “Let me help.”
Yu Shiqing: “No need.”
Rustle.
Jiang Yu: “Don’t move.”
Yu Shiqing: “I’m not.”
More rustle.
Jiang Yu: “Now you can move.”
Yu Shiqing: “Okay.”
Then Yu Shiqing asked: “Is the mic off?”
Then everything went silent.
Live feed:
“…?”
“What on earth are they doing??”
