Chapter 26: Fatal Magic? One

Zhao Xue and Shen Xun were the last pair to be dropped off. As they landed, the director’s voice crackled through their earpieces: “If you can’t handle it, say the word and we’ll be there in no time. Enjoy the game, ladies.”

The helicopter blades whirred back to life, and the director departed with the crew, leaving Zhao Xue and Shen Xun alone in the vast wilderness, save for the silent drone hovering nearby.

Zhao Xue surveyed their surroundings. Her eyes landed on a crude, thatched bed built into a tree not far away. It wasn’t very high—the platform sat roughly at the level of her neck—and it lacked any shelter from the wind or rain. It was just a wooden frame covered in messy grass, sitting out in the open.

If she guessed correctly, this would be their home for the next twenty days.

Shen Xun followed her gaze. Zhao Xue furrowed her brow, looking genuinely apologetic as she turned to her partner. “I’m so sorry, Shen Xun. If it weren’t for my bad idea during the game, we wouldn’t be stuck in a place like this.”

Shen Xun looked away, her eyes downcast and her smile faint. “It has nothing to do with you, Senior. Besides, it’s getting late; we need to find food quickly.” She effectively shut down the conversation, clearly unwilling to engage in small talk.

The drone panned out, showing the “grass bed” suspended in mid-air to the live audience. The comments section lost its mind:

— LMAO, I just came from Team #1’s cabin. They have a wooden house, and these two get a ‘convertible.’ They’re literally sleeping under the stars (doge). — I bet Zhao Xue won’t last three days. This is brutal. Even the wooden lean-to the others have is better than this. — Predicting a forfeit! This is the worst accommodation in the show’s history. — The bed is so small. If they don’t sleep hugging each other, they’ll fall off the moment they turn over! (lewd face)

Shen Xun pulled out her knife, tucked her pants into her combat boots, and tied her long hair into a high ponytail. She zipped her jacket up to her chin, ready for the dense vegetation. Though the sun was hidden behind the canopy, the temperature was comfortable. Standing there, tall and composed, she looked like she was posing for a magazine.

Zhao Xue moved to follow her. Just then, the director’s voice returned via their microphones.

“Good afternoon, explorers. Listen closely: during these twenty days, you must search for hidden treasure chests containing points. The more you find, the better your chances of winning. Also, you must return to camp before sunset, or you will be disqualified for breach of contract.” With that, he went silent.

The woods were already growing dark; it was unlikely they would find any chests today. Shen Xun stopped and looked at Zhao Xue. “Senior, what should we do next?”

Zhao Xue looked at Shen Xun’s seemingly sincere face and suddenly grabbed her hand. Before Shen Xun could pull away, Zhao Xue put on a terrified expression. “Shen Xun, you decide. I’m a little scared… can I hold your hand?”

She gripped with surprising strength. Shen Xun realized she couldn’t break free. “Senior, if you act like this, it will be very difficult to find food for tonight,” Shen Xun said bluntly.

Zhao Xue looked hurt and slowly let go. “I’m sorry.” She was so beautiful that this display of vulnerability would have made anyone else want to give her the moon and stars. Shen Xun, however, barely suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. She could already imagine how Zhao Xue’s fans were tearing her apart online.

Indeed, the “Snowflakes” were out in force:

— It’s just holding hands! If Sister Xue held my hand, I’d die happy. Shen Xun is so ungrateful. — How dare she make my goddess look so sad! Get lost, Shen Xun!

Zhao Xue had brought nothing with her; all the tools were carried by Shen Xun. After being “rejected,” Zhao Xue maintained a look of deep distress, as if she’d been dealt a massive blow. In reality, she was having the time of her life. Shen Xun is so fun, she thought. She bristles at the slightest touch. How cute.

As they walked, Zhao Xue found every excuse to cling to her partner. Spotting a hairless caterpillar crawling on a tree trunk, she let out a sharp “Ah!” and latched onto Shen Xun’s arm.

Shen Xun felt the unmistakable pressure against her arm. Her expression didn’t change, but her body went rigid. Zhao Xue took note.

“I’m sorry! I just saw a bug…” Zhao Xue whispered, immediately letting go.

With no outlet for her irritation, Shen Xun could only offer a fake, polite smile. “It’s fine, Senior.” She thought Zhao Xue was being incredibly stupid. This was a survival show; this kind of behavior was professional suicide and would eventually ruin her reputation with the general public.

Shen Xun didn’t stop working, though. She knelt on the ground, setting up simple traps. She could feel Zhao Xue’s gaze burning into her back. As the sun dipped lower, she realized traps wouldn’t yield a rabbit by sunset, and they still needed water.

She slowed her movements, waiting for the light to fade completely. Finally, she stood up and turned to Zhao Xue with a sheepish grin. “Senior, we’ll have to go hungry tonight. The director said we have to be back before dark.”

She saw Zhao Xue’s smile falter. I knew it, Shen Xun thought. A pampered brat like her can’t fake it for long.

Zhao Xue sighed. “It’s okay, Shen Xun. You did your best. Just… maybe next time, don’t spend all your time only on traps.” She tried to sound nonchalant, but the displeasure in her eyes was obvious—a silent accusation as to why Shen Xun hadn’t looked for other food.

The cameras captured every micro-expression. Watching from home, Lin Fang gasped. She knew Zhao Xue couldn’t keep the act up, but it hadn’t even been a full day yet. Under the camera’s lens, these small cracks were being magnified.

— Is Zhao Xue for real? She did absolutely nothing and then blamed Shen Xun? — This ‘Sister’ has zero skills. Variety shows aren’t for empty vases, you know? — I actually feel bad for Shen Xun. She worked her butt off just to be complained about.

That night, the two lay hungry on the crude grass bed. The “mattress” was just a layer of thatch over hard wooden logs, making for a punishingly stiff surface. The drone continued to record, though most viewers had logged off for the night.

The island temperature plummeted. Zhao Xue felt the chill seeping in; she realized they might actually freeze. She looked at Shen Xun, whose eyes were closed. Her lips were pale from the cold, yet she remained perfectly still. She’s quite the actress herself, Zhao Xue thought.

They lay shoulder to shoulder on the tiny platform. Zhao Xue reached out and turned off her microphone, then reached over and did the same to Shen Xun’s, ignoring the younger woman’s startled look. Shen Xun didn’t stop her; she wanted to see what kind of drama Zhao Xue was about to start.

Zhao Xue leaned in, her lips inches from Shen Xun’s ear. She spoke in a breathy whisper. “Shen Xun, you did that on purpose today, didn’t you? You could have found food, but you wasted time on those traps.”

Shen Xun dropped the act. Her voice was ice-cold. “Isn’t the answer obvious? You have no idea how much I want to vomit just looking at you.”

Zhao Xue let out a cold laugh. She threw her arm and leg over Shen Xun, pulling her into a tight embrace as the other woman struggled to pull away. “It’s too cold tonight,” Zhao Xue whispered maliciously. “Let’s get some exercise.”

She pressed Shen Xun’s face into her chest, pinning her into the softness. The faint scent of Zhao Xue’s skin filled Shen Xun’s nose, causing a momentary, inexplicable panic. Before she could process it, Zhao Xue continued.

“Shen Xun, I actually miss the taste of making love to you. Seeing that cold face of yours melt into that expression… it’s truly addictive.”

Zhao Xue knew exactly how to push her buttons. Shen Xun’s anger flared instantly. “Damn it, Zhao Xue! Stop being so disgusting!” She struggled violently. “Let go of me!”

Zhao Xue held on tight, taking advantage of the fact that the drone couldn’t capture clear expressions in the dark. She laughed arrogantly. “Heh, I didn’t want to mess with you this much, but it seems Qin Chen has actually fallen for you.”

“I’ve been playing the long game with my ‘fish’ for years. How could I let you just take him away? You’re nothing but a stand-in he found because you look like me.”

Zhao Xue’s hand began to slide downward. Shen Xun’s body went rigid. She let out a low growl: “Zhao Xue, you’re insane! The drone is still filming!”

But it wasn’t just the drone. A few night-owl viewers were still watching. Seeing the two figures tangled together, they bolted upright, reaching for their screen recorders.

— Holy crap! Staying up late has its perks! — Is this something I can watch for free? — Every time I switch to Zhao Xue and Shen Xun’s stream, it feels like a completely different genre.

Just as Zhao Xue was about to loosen her grip, disaster struck. The bed wasn’t as sturdy as it looked. Under the force of Shen Xun’s struggling, the ropes binding the logs gave way.

Zhao Xue, still clutching Shen Xun, tumbled through the air. It wasn’t a long fall, but with the weight of another person landing on her, she let out a muffled groan of pain as they hit the sand.

Hearing the groan, Shen Xun stopped struggling. With her head still resting on Zhao Xue’s chest, she whispered a cold, mocking laugh. “Serves you right.”

By the next morning, the “passionate” midnight struggle and the collapsing bed had been clipped and shared by fans and haters alike. The drama trended instantly, bringing a massive wave of traffic to the small variety show.

#ZhaoXueShenXunMidnightPassionCollapsesBed #IslandDesireOnDesolateExploration