The trek to the North-West Highlands was not the effortless stroll Chen Ying had hoped for.
In her mind, she was a seasoned warrior who had crossed deserts and scaled peaks. But her current body was a different story. Her skin was soft, her lung capacity was diminished from years of "slimming teas" recommended by Wang Bai, and her muscles began to scream after only twenty minutes of uphill climbing.
Beads of sweat rolled down her neck, stinging the small scratches on her arms from the dense foliage. Her breath became ragged, a sharp contrast to the steady stride of Yang Zixuan behind her.
[Warning: Host's physical stamina is at 15%. Heart rate is exceeding 140 BPM. Immediate rest is recommended.]
'I know,' Chen Ying snapped internally, her jaw clenched so tight it ached. 'Just keep the Heart-Protecting Pendant active. I'll handle the rest.'
She didn't complain. She didn't stop to ask for a break. Every time her legs felt like lead, she pictured the cold water of the ocean from her previous life and forced herself to take another step.
[Comments: "Is she... actually keeping up with the Film Emperor?"]
[Comments: "Look at her face. She's pale as a sheet, but she hasn't said a word about being tired."]
[Comments: "In the past, she would have thrown a tantrum after five minutes. Is she trying to act for the cameras?"]
Beside them, the "Sweet Idol" Zhou Yaya was struggling even more. Her eyes were red, and she was clutching her heavy backpack as if it were a lifebuoy. "It's so far," Yaya whispered, her voice trembling. "My feet... I think I have blisters already."
Wang Bai sighed loudly, her voice loud enough for the drone cameras to catch perfectly. "Oh, Yaya. I wish I could help you, but I'm so dizzy myself. Rui-ge is already carrying most of my things. Maybe you should ask Yingying? She seems so... energetic today."
Wang Bai was clearly trying to frame Chen Ying as heartless for not helping a "friend." Zhou Yaya looked at Chen Ying's cold expression and bit her lip, staying silent. Suddenly, Yaya tripped over a protruding tree root, tumbling toward a patch of thorny bushes.
Before anyone else moved, a hand shot out and grabbed Yaya's backpack, yanking her backward with a strength that seemed impossible for someone so pale.
It was Chen Ying.
The effort cost her. Chen Ying's knees buckled slightly, and she had to lean against a tree to keep from falling herself. She reached into her bag and tossed a small, crumpled roll of athletic tape at Yaya's feet.
"Wrap your ankles. Double-layer the heels. If you fall again, the production team will just send you home, and you'll lose your appearance fee," Chen Ying said, her voice raspy.
Yaya stared at the tape. She noticed something the cameras almost missed: the back of Chen Ying's own heels were bleeding, the white socks stained crimson.
'She's hurting more than me,' Yaya realized with a jolt of shock. 'But she gave me her tape anyway.'
[System: Ding! Subtle Kindness detected. Favorability with Zhou Yaya: -50 -> -20 (Status: Curiously Wary).]
[Points Earned: 10. Current Debt: 43 Points.]
Yang Zixuan stepped closer to Chen Ying, his voice low. "You're pushing yourself too hard. We can take five minutes."
"No," Chen Ying whispered, her eyes fixed on the ridge above. "If I stop now, I won't get up again. And I'm not letting Wang Bai see me fall."
The sun began its slow descent, painting the sky in bruised purples and oranges. On the Highland, the air grew crisp, but for Chen Ying, every breeze felt like a needle against her overheated skin.
[Warning: Physical Exhaustion at 92%. Muscle tremors detected. Recommend immediate rest.]
'Shut up,' Chen Ying thought. 'If I sleep now, we have no shelter. I won't die of pneumonia because I was 'tired'.'
Beside her, Yang Zixuan dropped the equipment. He looked at Chen Ying, his brow furrowing. "Sit," he commanded, his voice brook no argument. "I'll handle the heavy lifting. You just... tell me where the 'Highland' advantage is."
Chen Ying pointed with a shaky finger. "The slope... over there. It's naturally shielded by those boulders. And the ground is slanted—if it rains, the water won't pool under our tent."
---
Meanwhile, at the Lowland Site...
Wang Bai sat on a dry patch of sand, her face resting in her palms. "Rui-ge, I'm so sorry I can't help. My head is spinning so much. I think the humidity is too much for me."
Zhang Rui smiled dotingly. "Don't be silly, Bai-er. Just sit there and look pretty. I'll have our 'home' ready in no time."
The live-stream comments were a war zone.
[Username 'Bai-er's Shield': Our Queen is so brave for even staying on this island while feeling sick! She's an angel!]
[Username 'RationalHuman': Brave? She's literally just sitting there watching a man do all the work. Even the idol Zhou Yaya is trying to gather firewood!]
[Username 'RealityCheck': Chen Ying is literally bleeding through her socks and hasn't complained once. Wang Bai got 'dizzy' the moment it was time to move a pole.]
[Username 'Bai-er's Shield': REPORTED! Stop harassing our angel! Stay mad, haters!]