The air at Chen Ying's camp was crisp and smelled of pine needles. The team had returned from a successful outing. They carried a small but impressive haul: three fat silver-scaled trout and a handful of freshwater shrimp.
"I think I'm getting the hang of this," Wu Haoran said, wiping sweat from his brow. "Ying-jie, did you see that cast? I didn't even tangle the line once."
Chen Ying gave a small, approving nod as she began gutting the fish with practiced, efficient movements. "Progress is better than perfection, Haoran."
Their peaceful morning was interrupted by the high-pitched hum of a drone. Usually, these drones delivered supplies, but this one carried a speaker.
"Attention, Survivors!" Director Zhao's voice was uncharacteristically cheerful. "Gather at the Beach immediately. We have a special guest joining the cast for a two-week stay. This is a global superstar, a chart-topping idol, and—for the next fourteen days—your newest teammate!"
"An idol?" Zhou Yaya's eyes went wide. "On this island? He's going to ruin his skin in two days."
Yang Zixuan leaned against a tree, a faint, cynical smirk playing on his lips. "It's a ratings grab. The studio must be losing viewers after the bear incident."
When they reached the beach, the Lowland team was already there. Wang Bai looked significantly better; the two-day rest had allowed her sallow skin to regain some color, though she still looked fragile. When she saw the sleek, black speedboat approaching the shore, her eyes lit up with recognition.
The man who stepped off the boat was striking.
He wore a designer windbreaker, oversized sunglasses, and had hair the color of midnight. This was Chen Jue, the "Golden Voice" of the generation. To the world, he was a self-made star. To Chen Ying, he was the third brother who had once followed her around like a puppy before the "white lotus" turned him into her harshest critic.
"Jue-jie!" Wang Bai cried out, her voice a high pitched trill. She ran forward as if her legs might give out, nearly tripping into his arms.
Chen Jue caught her, his cool idol persona melting into genuine warmth. "Xiao Bai! Look at you... you've lost so much weight. What has this wretched place done to you?"
He didn't even glance at Chen Ying. In his mind, he was here on a mission. His eldest brother, Chen Shao, had sent him a message: "Go to the island. Make sure she is taken care of." In Chen Jue's brainwashed state, "she" could only mean the "suffering" Wang Bai, not the "arrogant" sister who had supposedly bullied her for years.
The live-stream chat exploded.
[User 'Jue'sWife': "OH MY GOD! JUE-JUE IS ON THE ISLAND?"]
[User 'CloudNine': "Wait, why is he so close to Wang Bai? Are the rumors true? Is she his secret sister?"]
[User 'Anti-Ying': "Look at Chen Ying standing there like a statue.]
Director Zhao stepped forward. "Chen Jue, as our guest, you have the right to choose which camp you will join for your stay."
Chen Jue didn't hesitate. He didn't even look toward Chen Ying and her team. "I'll stay where I'm needed. Xiao Bai looks like she hasn't eaten in days. I'm joining the Lowland."
Chen Ying watched him, her expression a mask of cool indifference. Deep inside, the System let out a low whistle.
[System: Ding! New Target Spotted: Chen Jue. Brainwashing Level: 85% (Critical). Warning: This one is a lost cause, Host. He's basically her loyal puppy at this point. Want to buy a 'Muzzle' for 150 Points?]
'No,' Chen Ying replied. 'He's young and stubborn. He needs to feel the cold before he appreciates the fire.'
Life in the Lowland camp was a rude awakening for the young star. Chen Jue had spent the last five years in luxury hotels and soundproof studios. By the afternoon of his first day, the humidity was already making his designer clothes stick to his skin, and the "sour fruit" diet of the Lowland team made his stomach churn.
Chen Jue hadn't had a proper lunch and his stomach was growling but he still couldn't bring himself to eat more than one fruit.
"Don't worry, Jue-jie," Wang Bai whispered, leaning against him as they sat by their pathetic, smokey fire. "We've just had some bad luck lately. But now that you're here, I'm sure things will change."
The next day, Chen Jue woke up bright and early. There hadn't been any tasks or missions assigned for the day, so fueled by a desire to impress his "precious elder sister," he spent three hours under the blazing sun trying to fish.
He had no technique, but through sheer stubbornness, he managed to corner two small fishes in a tide pool.
"I got them!" he shouted, his face sun-reddened and scratched by barnacles. He brought the two tiny fish—barely enough for a snack—back to the camp. "It's not much, but we can share."
"Oh, Jue-jie! You're a hero!" Wang Bai squealed.
Since no one had any spices, they sprinkled some salt over the fish and cooked it on the fire. Chen Jue, now super tired and hungry, couldn't wait to have some.
But when it came time to eat, the reality of the Lowland's "survival of the fittest" set in. Zhang Rui, driven half-mad by hunger, grabbed the first fish as soon as it was charred over the fire. He tore into it like an animal, not even offering a bite to the boy who had caught it.
Wang Bai, usually so "selfless," took the second fish. She looked at Chen Jue with wide, watery eyes. "Jue-jie, my stomach has been so cramped... I feel like I might faint. You don't mind if I take this one, do you? You're so strong, I'm sure you can wait until tomorrow."
Chen Jue opened his mouth to speak, a hollow ache in his stomach. He looked at the tiny bones Wang Bai was already picking clean. He had spent hours in the sun for them, and they hadn't even offered him a tail.
"Sure, Xiao Bai," he muttered, his voice raspy. "I'm... I'm fine."
That night, the Highland camp was enjoying a fragrant stew of trout and wild herbs. The scent wafted over the ridge, carried by the evening breeze. Chen Jue sat in the dark, his stomach growling, watching Wang Bai and Zhang Rui huddle together to keep warm, completely ignoring the fact that he didn't even have a blanket.
The fans were starting to notice.
[User 'LogicFirst': "Is it just me, or did they just eat Jue's fish right in front of him?"]
[User 'Jue'sProtector': "Xiao Bai is 'sick' every time there's work to do, but she has plenty of energy to eat! My Jue-jue looks miserable."]
By the third night, the combination of exhaustion, malnutrition, and the damp ground took its toll. Chen Jue's forehead was burning. He began to shiver violently, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
"Xiao Bai..." he groaned, reaching out in the dark. "I think... I have a fever."
Wang Bai sat up, looking annoyed at being woken. She touched his forehead and pulled her hand away as if burned. "Oh, Jue-jie, you're so hot! This is terrible! What if you're contagious?"
She began to cry—loud, performative sobs that drew the cameras—but she didn't get him water. She didn't move him to the shade. She simply sat beside him, weeping about how "heartbroken" she was to see him suffer, while Chen Jue's eyes rolled back in his head.