Chapter 22: The Couple Charging Forward vs. Navigating the Muddy Swamp—His CEO Lu Will Always Drift Away…
The guests were all shocked by the spectacular scene before them.
When Xiao saw the five-meter-high climbing wall, he was already in a bad mood. He felt that he might have come to the wrong variety show. This was not "The Seven-Year Itch", but "I Am a Special Forces Soldier".
Destroy it.
Tao Miller can't swim, and although she was worried, she clung to Jiang Hengchuan's arm and acted coquettishly, begging him to save her.
Jiang Hengchuan's male pride was greatly satisfied under Tao Miller's dependent and adoring gaze. His expression, which had been rather unpleasant since the beginning of the morning, finally eased a little. Yesterday, his father had even come over with the director's phone, making him lose face. Now, he had finally managed to salvage some of his pride from Tao Miller.
Shu Bao'er's complexion was particularly unpleasant.
He's an idol; his face is his image. How could he play such an unseemly game? His haters will definitely screenshot it and use it to mock him!
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but stand up and question, "We're here to participate in a marriage reality show, not a sports meet. I don't understand how this kind of game can help our relationship. Isn't the production team straying a bit from the main theme?"
Shu Bao'er's fans rushed to speak up for him, but there were simply too many casual viewers watching the show.
[Hahahaha, if you're afraid of embarrassing yourself, just say so. Why give us such high-sounding reasons? We're not stupid!]
[Speechless. If you're scared, don't come. You come and then question it. If everything goes your way, what are we supposed to watch? If you don't want to participate, just quit. Nobody's forcing you.]
[What kind of prince syndrome is this? It's hard to judge. Young Master Xiao is so afraid of heights, but he didn't say anything, did he? You're the only one who's difficult to please.]
The production team wasn't easy to talk to either. After receiving instructions from the director, Tianyin immediately responded:
"It seems some guests have raised questions about our production team. We would like to clarify that all guests participated in the recording of 'The Seven-Year Itch' Season 2 voluntarily. During the process, the production team did not engage in any coercive behavior, including during all the games throughout the season. If guests are dissatisfied with the game arrangements, they can withdraw from the recording at any time, if they are able to. However, unless they violate any laws or ethics, guests do not have the right to question the production team's arrangements."
This statement practically throws the words "penalty for breach of contract" in Shu Bao'er's face.
Shu Bao'er recalled the contract terms she signed before the recording, especially that long string of exorbitant numbers. No matter how unwilling she was, she could only swallow her resentment.
[Hahaha, the production team is so tough! I love it! These whiny, bossy idiots need a steely figure like Ali to teach them a lesson~]
Watching Ali is so satisfying! And it makes me feel incredibly safe! There are absolutely no hidden rules! Because no matter if you're an idol, a black bean, or a soy bean, the production team will indiscriminately crush every brave soul who comes to participate in Ali! (Applause)
[Program crew: You've really messed with me!]
Seeing that no one had any further objections, Tianyin formally stated:
"Welcome everyone to the third game! Now we'll announce the game rules!"
"Did you all see the scenes the production team specially set up for you? That's right, these are the challenges you're about to face! The entire game consists of 7 challenges, with no time limit and no limit on the number of attempts, until you successfully retrieve the flag in the middle of the sea. Of course, if you can't keep going, you can quit the game at any time, but that will be considered a failure."
"During the game, one guest needs to be blindfolded, and the other needs to hold their hands. Neither guest can remove the blindfold or untie their hands without permission. The two guests need to become each other's eyes and hands, which tests their teamwork. How about that? Isn't it interesting? I believe everyone is eager to start the game. So, I will now introduce each game level to you."
"The first challenge is crossing the mud pit. One guest needs to carry another guest across the mud pit. The division of labor is decided by the guests themselves, but once decided, it cannot be changed, so please consider carefully. If you fall to the ground halfway, you will need to carry the other guest again to continue walking."
"The second challenge is a log bridge. Two guests need to face each other and cross the bridge together. See the mud and sand below? Don't forget, you just escaped from a mud pit in the last challenge. If you accidentally fall into the sand... the scene is too beautiful for the production team to imagine!"
"The third challenge is blindfolded archery. The blindfolded guest needs to shoot an arrow at a target five meters away. The guest with the hands restrained can give hints and help as many times as needed until the target is hit."
"Challenge 4: Climbing Wall. The climbing wall is 3.5 meters high, with climbing rocks and a rope for leverage. There are no requirements for this challenge; the two guests can discuss how to get over it themselves. As long as they can climb over the wall, they can even fly over it!"
"Challenge 5: Freefall. After successfully climbing the climbing wall, how will the guests get down? That's right, by jumping down! There's a giant water mat on the ground behind the climbing wall, and everyone needs to jump from a height of 3.5 meters."
"Before the game starts, professional coaches will teach everyone the correct landing posture. Of course, the water mats provided by the production team are 100% safe. Before the show was filmed, the production team conducted a thorough safety assessment of the water mats, so please rest assured. However, the correct landing posture can alleviate your fear and prevent accidental injuries. Please make sure to learn it well and protect yourselves and your loved ones."
"The 6th challenge is crossing the sea. In this challenge, everyone needs to successfully reach the small boat in the middle of the sea from the shore. For safety, all guests must wear life jackets. Lifeguards are also on hand on the shore and at sea to deal with any emergencies in a timely manner."
"Considering that some guests cannot swim, we have prepared two ways to pass this challenge: swimming or rowing. Please note that both guests can only choose one method at a time, and once chosen, it cannot be changed."
"The 7th and final challenge of the game is feeding the blindfolded guests. By now, everyone must be tired, so the production team has prepared a generous amount of fruit on the boat. The guests with their hands bound must use their mouths to pick up fruit from the plate and feed it to the blindfolded guests. After finishing the entire plate of fruit, they can remove the flag from the boat. Congratulations on successfully completing the challenge!"
"To stimulate competition, this game has adopted a competition mode. The four groups of guests are paired up, and each group competes simultaneously. The winner of the last game has the right to designate their opponent. How about that? Isn't it more exciting?"
"The order of appearance will still be arranged from highest to lowest according to the ranking of the previous game. If you don't remember your ranking, you can ask the other guests. The third game of the second season of 'Seven Year Itch' - Couples Rush Forward - is now officially starting!"
[Oh my god, this is the first time I've heard such a long set of rules, it almost made me sleepy! This has really turned into a competitive sport, hahaha! Except for the last one involving feeding, any one of the previous rules, if taken individually, would seem like a selection process for real men!]
[As they say, the production team really knows how to do things. This is the first time I've ever seen a dating reality show where a bunch of glamorous young couples are thrown into a mud pit to roll around in. It's truly an eye-opener and has probably set a precedent for competitive dating reality shows in China.]
So how on earth did these two completely contradictory concepts, "competition" and "romance," come together?! I'm speechless!
【Aaaaaah, this is a real mess?! No way! My movie star and CEO Lu! My handsome guys! Production team, you've done something terrible! Who taught you to treat such a group of handsome men like this?! [Knife][Knife][Knife]】
[Excited heart! Trembling hands! Ecstatic joy! I can already foresee the miserable state these people will be in, hahaha, I'm laughing for everyone in advance!]
The winners of the previous round of the game were still Wen Yinhe and Lu Huaijin.
After completing the warm-up exercises with the coach and learning the freefall posture, they needed to choose their opponents for this round.
Lu Huaijin's gaze swept casually across everyone's faces.
Xiao Ye looked down and picked at his fingers, Shu Bao'er looked up at the UFO, and Tao Miller looked around before simply closing his eyes and resigning himself to fate.
In short, no one could successfully make eye contact with him.
Lu Huaijin: "".
[Hahahaha, I can't laugh anymore! He truly lives up to his reputation as a man at the top of the food chain; who dares to meet his gaze!]
[Damn it, those three are impersonating me! I always look like this when the homeroom teacher calls roll!]
[President Lu, you should reflect on yourself. Why are you so authoritative?]
You can't really blame the guests for being timid.
Wen Yinhe and Lu Huaijin's performances are obvious to all, and anyone with a brain would not want to be compared to them.
Lu Huaijin clicked his tongue lightly and squeezed Wen Yinhe's fingers: "Do you have one you want to choose?"
Wen Yinhe knew that Lu Huaijin was having trouble making a choice, so he simply threw the problem to him. He smiled and squeezed Lu Huaijin's palm back, and thought for a moment: "How about we group them according to their rankings? The first and second place winners from last time can be in one group, and the third and fourth place winners can be in another group. That would seem fairer."
Unfortunately, last time, the runner-up was Du Ruopu and Shu Baoer.
Shu Bao'er's face stiffened, and she reluctantly moved out, pressed against Du Ruopu's back.
Xiao Ye and Tao Miller's expressions instantly relaxed.
That's great. As long as we're not grouped with the Best Actor and President Lu, it doesn't matter if they're always in last place.
A table was placed at the starting point of the game, with blindfolds and handcuffs on the table.
Wen Yinhe subconsciously reached for the blindfold, but it was snatched away by another hand the moment he reached out.
"I'll put on the blindfold." Lu Huaijin gripped the blindfold tightly in his hand, raising an eyebrow as he looked at him.
Wen Yinhe paused slightly as he extended his finger and softly advised, "Being blind is a terrifying thing. It makes you lose your sense of security, become timid, and easily get hurt."
"Is it scary?" Lu Huaijin toyed with the eye mask in his hand, his lazy and arrogant eyes showing no concern whatsoever. "There is nothing in this world that can scare me."
As he spoke, Lu Huaijin tilted his head slightly, and the moment he looked at Wen Yinhe, all the sharpness in his eyes disappeared. His gentle gaze was like a sheathed blade, firmly locking Wen Yinhe's mind and body: "Besides, with you by my side, you will never let me get hurt, right?"
Wen Yinhe paused slightly, then smiled gently, stroked the back of Lu Huaijin's head, kissed his thin, sharp eyelids, looked at him intently, and promised, "Yes, I will protect you."
Lu Huaijin smiled with satisfaction, then suddenly grabbed Wen Yinhe's wrists, grabbed a pair of handcuffs from the table with his other hand, cleanly and neatly cuffed Wen Yinhe's wrists, and then pulled hard on himself.
Wen Yinhe stumbled forward awkwardly and fell onto Lu Huaijin's chest. Her bangs brushed against her eyebrows, and she was already half a head shorter than the man.
He looked up and saw a handsome man with his chin slightly raised, his eyelashes lowered, his arrogant eyes half-hidden, and the corners of his eyes upturned with a playful smile and teasing, clearly on purpose.
【No way? They just handcuffed her like that?! I only blinked!!!】
[Ahhhhhh, that tug is absolutely perfect! It would be even better if the actor was wearing a choker and was pulling on the chain in front of it, sob sob~]
[Holy crap, this is amazing! What a magnificent, noble, and handsome ruler and the beautiful, strong, and pitiful little slave he bought! Please, author, write a story! QAQ (kneels down with a thud)]
[Mr. Lu, how come you're so skilled?! You must spend a lot of time with that movie star at home!!!]
Wen Yinhe chuckled softly, then leaned forward and kissed Lu Huaijin's delicate Adam's apple from bottom to top.
There was a tiny red mark on Lu Huaijin's fair skin, like a smear of powder that had been accidentally rubbed off.
It was a red mark left by his careful and restrained kisses last night, which he had left after Huai Jin impatiently forced him to do so.
Lu Huaijin took a deep breath, and some indescribable and wonderful memories were instantly stirred in his mind. He couldn't help but clench Wen Yinhe's hair tightly with his fingers, and his eyes narrowed slightly.
The next second, a soft "crack" sound came from beside my ear.
Lu Huaijin was stunned for a moment, then looked down and saw that the handcuffs that were originally on Wen Yinhe's wrists had somehow ended up on his hands.
Lu Huaijin: "..."
Beauty can lead people astray.
Wen Yinhe locked the handcuffs, took out the key, and kissed Lu Huaijin's cheek in a flattering manner. His lips were delicately curved, and a gentle smile lingered in his eyes, like a gently swaying, intoxicating wine: "President Lu, please protect me, okay?"
Lu Huaijin: "..."
Tsk, he seduced me.
[Ugh, oh my god, you two lovebirds are always bickering and being all lovey-dovey!]
[How can this not be considered a couple's rivalry in bed? ~ A rivalry in bed, hehehe (it's a little naughty, but very reassuring)]
[Was CEO Lu just mesmerized by the movie star? Hahaha! And then he got ambushed, so funny!]
[Who said the movie star can't do it? The movie star is absolutely amazing! Kissing the Adam's apple was absolutely ecstatic! It seems the movie star has been well-trained by President Lu over the years, hehehe~]
[This hands-on training is amazing! Who could resist personally shaping a lover from a blank slate into their most desired form?! Mr. Lu, you're having such a blast!!!]
[Waaaaaah, they both wanted to cover their eyes because it's the most dangerous thing to do! This darling couple is so considerate of each other! Their only concern is their partner's safety! They truly love each other to death!!!]
In contrast, look at the couple next to them.
Shu Bao'er tossed the blindfold to Du Ruopu without hesitation, saying irritably, "I don't want to fall, you wear the blindfold."
Du Ruopu paused his hand reaching for the blindfold, then silently took the one that Shu Bao'er threw at him.
Even if Shu Bao'er hadn't made the decision for him, he was still planning to take the blindfold himself.
They've been getting along like this for so many years.
If Shu Bao'er wants to do it, he will satisfy her no matter how tired or sleepy he is.
Shu Bao'er didn't want to do it anymore. Even if he was about to die from holding it in, he could only retreat to the bathroom alone and take care of it by himself.
Shu Bao'er had something come up and couldn't go home, so he had to throw away all the food he had painstakingly prepared, even though it was their wedding anniversary.
He never had the power to choose.
He should have gotten used to it by now.
But……
Du Ruopu couldn't help but turn his gaze to Wen Yinhe and Lu Huaijin, who were not far away.
The two men were like a pair of mortise and tenon joints, so perfectly matched and inseparable. Every glance they exchanged was like a converging river, blending naturally, intense and bright.
For the first time, Du Ruopu, an honest and upright man, felt confused about his relationship with Shu Bao'er.
[Waaaaah, I suddenly feel so sorry for honest people. The way they look at the movie star and CEO Lu is like they've never seen love before.]
Honest man, open your eyes and see! See what it really means to love someone, and what it truly means to be loved!!!
After putting on his blindfold, Wen Yinhe held onto Lu Huaijin's shoulder and slowly walked to the starting point. He then half-squatted down so that Lu Huaijin could easily climb onto his shoulder or back.
Not far away, Du Ruopu, who had put on a blindfold, had already carried Shu Bao'er, whose hands were cuffed, on his back.
The moment the countdown to Tianyin ended, Du Ruopu, carrying Shu Bao'er on his back, stepped into the mud pit first and rushed forward.
Shu Bao'er tightly gripped Du Ruopu's neck, and couldn't help but close her eyes in fear behind him. Her legs were also tightly clamped around Du Ruopu's waist, and her heels were stuck on Du Ruopu's hip joints, making Du Ruopu feel painful.
Du Ruopu gasped for breath, a heavy thud shooting through his temples. His neck was flushed, but he endured it without uttering a sound. His voice was hoarse as he asked, "Bao'er, which way should I go?"
Shu Bao'er didn't dare open her eyes and said irritably, "Just walk straight ahead!"
Du Ruopu swallowed hard, the veins on the side of his neck throbbing wildly from suffocation, as if they were about to burst from his skin. He still patiently coaxed her gently, "Baby, I can't see right now, I need you to show me the way, can you help me find the direction?"
Shu Bao'er opened her eyes impatiently, and when she saw that Du Ruopu was veering off course, she immediately kicked her legs in a panic: "Wrong! Wrong! A little more this way! Not that way! This way! Are you stupid?!"
Du Ruopu's neck was suddenly tightened, causing him to cough violently, and Shu Bao'er on his back swayed uncontrollably.
Shu Bao'er exclaimed and tightened her grip on Du Ruopu, the hard handcuffs slamming heavily onto Du Ruopu's chin, leaving a red mark on the man's strong jawline: "Do you even know how to carry someone? Can't you be a little more steady? I'm warning you! If you dare to drop me, you're dead!"
[Aaaaaah, I can't believe it! This is the first time I've ever seen someone give directions with their eyes closed! I'm stunned, bro! Which of you two is the one wearing the blindfold?!]
[Damn it, this side and that side! Whenever I ask my mom where I put something, she always says it's over there! So which side is "over there" anyway?! I'm really getting angry!!!]
[I can't take it anymore, I'm so angry! You almost fell because you were moving around on me! Why didn't you just sit still?! Why do you blame honest people right away?!]
[Help! It looks like this honest man is about to be strangled to death by his wife! Is she her own husband or an enemy? Even if she's scared, she doesn't need to use so much force! This is murder!]
[The honest guy's face was smashed red! So pitiful, waaaaah! Doesn't Shu Bao'er feel any pity at all?! Is he even her man?! QAQ]
On the other side, Wen Yinhe first had Lu Huaijin put his hands around his neck and on his shoulders.
Then, the moment Lu Huaijin's body pressed down on him, his strong hands lifted Lu Huaijin's thighs, and at the same time, his sturdy waist and legs exerted force, and he steadily carried Lu Huaijin on his back.
The two moved with perfect coordination, their movements flowing smoothly.
Lu Huaijin slightly adjusted his posture, and Wen Yinhe immediately carried him on his back and bounced him around to make it easier for him to get some support.
"Does this feel tight around your neck?" Lu Huaijin carefully draped his arms around Wen Yinhe's neck, not daring to use too much force, afraid that the handcuffs would hurt Wen Yinhe.
"No, hold on tighter," Wen Yinhe tilted his head slightly, his hair falling over the edge of the blindfold, his high nose bridge pushing the black blindfold into an arc, his skin as white as snow, "Hold on tighter, or you'll fall."
Lu Huaijin brushed his hair aside and kissed his smooth forehead, his voice soft and gentle: "If you can't hold on anymore, just put me down. We're not in a rush, we'll take it slow, okay?"
The comments section was almost unbearable to watch:
This comparison is just too stark!!! I've never seen such a disastrous control group!!!
Wen Yinhe carried Lu Huaijin step by step into the mud.
The feeling of the soft mud enveloping his ankles was disgusting. Every time he lifted his foot, he could clearly feel the mud forcefully adhering and dragging him. Pulling it out was extremely difficult. The deeper he went, the higher it sank, until Wen Yinhe's calves were almost half submerged.
By this time, the resistance to walking was enormous. My shoes were filled with mud, and my mud-covered legs felt as heavy as lead, making each step extremely clumsy.
Wen Yinhe thought he must look extremely disheveled at this moment.
However, from the perspective of viewers with an omniscient viewpoint—
The man's snow-white cheeks were now stained deep red by the scorching sun and heavy pressure, as if they had been burned by fire. His brows were furrowed, and his bright red lips were bitten until they bled.
Sweat streamed down his smooth forehead to his neck, seeping deep into his collar, leaving his delicate collarbone glistening with moisture.
His bare forearm muscles bulged, his shoulders were broad and powerful, and his thigh muscles taut and bulged alternately with the rhythm of his walk, their contours as solid as a rock, supporting his entire body and the most precious treasure in the world that he carried on his back.
The mud that covered his calves and clothes did not detract from his beauty; instead, it made him look like a work of art, exuding a mature and robust masculine aura.
[Aaaaaaah, what a powerful beauty! How can someone have such a beautiful face paired with such a strong body! Is that sweat? That's clearly my drool!!!]
[Waaaaaah, why do I feel like crying? The movie star is soaked in sweat, his legs and pants are all dirty, but President Lu is so well protected, not a speck of dirt on him. Just how precious is he?!]
[A filthy believer carries his deity, trudging through a world of mud... I can't take it anymore! The production team did this on purpose, waaaaaah! The symbolism is too strong!]
Lu Huaijin could clearly feel Wen Yinhe gradually sinking, his breathing becoming heavier and heavier, and his speed of movement becoming slower and slower.
He couldn't help but lift his sleeve to wipe the sweat from Wen Yinhe's forehead, and tenderly kissed the top of Wen Yinhe's head: "If you're tired, put me down. Let's rest for a bit before we go, okay?"
Wen Yinhe shook his head, sweat soaking the edge of his blindfold, sticking to his face and stinging slightly. He could feel Lu Huaijin's warm chest pressed against his sweaty back, giving him an indescribable sense of security and comfort.
He couldn't help but wonder, if feelings could be visualized, was it like when Huai Jin pulled him out of the mud bit by bit, just as he was carrying Huai Jin on his back, bearing a heavy burden?
and……
I don't want you to get dirty.
His CEO, Mr. Lu, should always be dignified, proud, and beautiful, no matter when or where.
Nothing in the world can be defiled.
Besides, it's just a little sludge.
Lu Huaijin paused slightly upon hearing this, pursed his lips, and then suddenly buried his face in the crown of Wen Yinhe's head, his voice low and muffled, the crimson tips of his ears burning brightly: "You really are... what am I supposed to do with you?"
Wen Yinhe chuckled and said, "President Lu, then give me a kiss."
Lu Huaijin peeked out from Wen Yinhe's hair with his two slightly narrowed eyes, then lowered his head and took a big bite of Wen Yinhe's fluffy head.
A bright smile spread across Wen Yinhe's lips, a sweetness spreading from his head to his heart, making even the mud beneath his feet seem lighter.
He gripped Lu Huaijin's legs tightly, his brows furrowed, and his muscles tensed up like a bowstring.
"Huai Jin, hold me tight."
The next second, Wen Yinhe released the power he had been holding back, and carried Lu Huaijin as he ran wildly through the mud.
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