Chapter 42: Is This Even Reasonable?!

The unspoken understanding Qiao Yitong shared with Big Orange from her past life allowed her to grasp his meaning instantly.

“You want to go out and play?” Qiao Yitong asked.

Big Orange nodded and rubbed against her body, letting out a low, soft growl.

“Go on then,” Qiao Yitong said, gently patting his head.

On this Deserted Island, there was currently nothing that could threaten Big Orange’s safety.

Big Orange stood up and took two steps forward before looking back at Qiao Yitong with lingering reluctance. Then, with a flick of his tail, he sprinted off into the jungle.

• Ahhh, I want to pet the big kitty so bad! Who exactly is Qiao Yitong? How can she even tame a tiger? –

• I really don’t understand. I’m telling you, I’ve rewatched that video from Area C over and over, and I still don’t get how this tiger just ended up following her. –

• Can a wild boar leg really buy off a tiger? Can I try? –

• To the person who wants to try: didn’t you see the warning in the video released by the production team? Professional actions, do not imitate. –

• I showed the video to my cat. As the tiger’s ancestor, my cat says this is all acting, don’t believe it. –

The netizens were saying all sorts of things, and the memes were endless.

It was clear just how much of a shock Big Orange’s appearance had been to everyone.

Animal lovers were envious that Qiao Yitong could cuddle with Big Orange, while a group of zoologists were busy studying that video again and again.

What exactly were the habits of a tiger?

Could a tiger really be bought off with a single wild boar leg?

Were tigers naturally clingy animals?

Question after question floated before these zoologists until they were utterly bewildered.

Qiao Yitong, we beg you, stop interacting with that tiger, or else our unpublished papers will all have to be rewritten!

Qiao Yitong naturally had no idea that her actions would have such a massive impact on human society outside.

If she had known…

Of course, she still wouldn’t have refused to acknowledge Big Orange.

However, she likely would have considered everyone’s level of acceptance and refrained from being quite so excessive in front of the cameras.

After Big Orange ran off to enjoy himself, Qiao Yitong stayed in front of the Bamboo House and began processing the various plant spices that Lu Cheng and Deng You had brought back over the past two days.

In this world, nature’s gifts to humanity were incredibly abundant.

Plants that she had struggled to find in her past life were easily encountered here.

Furthermore, based on the original owner’s knowledge of this world stored in her mind, this world possessed a vast array of landscapes and climates.

Different terrains and climates nurtured different biological populations.

The world she was currently in contact with was merely a small corner of the globe.

Even so, the variety of plant species here was an immense surprise to her.

This made Qiao Yitong start looking forward to the flora of other regions even before she had left this place.

And now, with companions by her side, even as she stayed by the Bamboo House grinding these plants to create seasonings, others were helping her explore the island and uncover more possibilities.

Life in this world didn’t seem bad at all.

At the very least, it was much better than the world of her past life, where she had to remain constantly vigilant, fearing that someone might launch a sneak attack the moment she let her guard down.

There was beautiful scenery, delicious food, and genuine emotion.

All of this consisted of scenes she could only have possessed in her dreams in her previous life.

Although her ascension had gone wrong, it had brought her to the world of her dreams.

Only…

If Master were here, it would be perfect.

A faint trace of loneliness flickered in Qiao Yitong’s downcast eyes.

Meanwhile, deep in the jungle.

The impenetrable canopy of leaves sliced the sunlight into thin, fragmented lines that pierced through the dense woods, giving the area a mysterious and quiet atmosphere.

Lu Cheng remained alert to his surroundings while simultaneously keeping a constant eye on Deng You, who was following not far behind him.

He was truly fed up. This was the first time he had realized how invincible a person could be if they were shameless and had no sense of sportsmanship.

In order to prove themselves to Sister Tong, both of them were desperately trying to find plants that might be useful to her.

But every time he spotted some fruit that looked edible or a plant he hadn’t seen elsewhere and intended to pick it for his bamboo basket, Deng You’s hand would always be a step faster in snatching it away.

This time, the moment he saw something, he moved immediately, terrified that Deng You would beat him to it again.

But Deng You’s sharp eyes caught it, and he immediately shouted, “Don’t move!”

In this place filled with hidden dangers, everyone’s nerves were taut. Lu Cheng thought something had happened and hurriedly froze.

“What is it?” Lu Cheng asked.

“Careful, it might be poisonous.” Deng You pointed at the fruit. “The color is so vivid; it looks exactly like something toxic.”

Lu Cheng went silent.

“I wasn’t planning on eating it,” Lu Cheng said.

“I’m worried the toxicity is too strong. If it touches your skin and you accidentally get injured later, the toxin could enter your bloodstream. What if you kick the bucket?” Deng You said.

Lu Cheng snapped, “Can’t you wish me some good luck for once?”

Deng You glanced at him. “Suit yourself then. I won’t stop you.”

Lu Cheng’s eager movements stopped. After hesitating repeatedly, he decisively gave up.

Forget it, it was just a piece of fruit. There were plenty of unknown plants here; there was no need to add unnecessary risk to his life.

After all, even if he risked his life for this fruit and gained Sister Tong’s favor, it wouldn’t be worth it if he wasn’t alive to stay by her side.

Lu Cheng thought it over and gave up, lowering his head to search for other things.

To his surprise, he had only walked a few steps forward when Deng You, behind him, used two branches to knock the fruit right off the tree and caught it in his bamboo basket.

Lu Cheng stared.

After catching the fruit, Deng You pressed his tongue against the roof of his mouth and chuckled. “After all this time, you still haven’t learned your lesson?”

“Despicable,” Lu Cheng spat the word through gritted teeth.

“All is fair in war. Haven’t you ever learned that?”

Lu Cheng replied, “Classic.”

He lowered his head and continued walking forward, heading deeper into a dense forest they hadn’t explored before.

After crossing a small hillside, the sight before him left him stunned.

Then, pure joy followed.

The vegetation on this slope was lush, and growing in clusters all over the ground were… mushrooms!

Wild mushrooms were an absolute delicacy. In the past, he had traveled to Yunnan¹ with his father specifically to eat them. By pairing several varieties together and simmering them into a fresh soup, then adding some meat to bring out the aroma, you could create something truly special.

It was nothing short of a culinary masterpiece!

Delighted by the find, Lu Cheng immediately squatted down. Casting aside all concern for his image, he stuck his rear in the air and began digging up the mushrooms.

There were countless varieties.

Mushrooms differed greatly from one region to the next.

While Lu Cheng had some knowledge of wild mushrooms, it wasn’t much.

But he wasn’t afraid. Even if he didn’t recognize them, Sister Tong would.

In Lu Cheng’s heart, he held an inexplicable confidence in Qiao Yitong.

With this mindset, Lu Cheng gathered plenty of the mushrooms he recognized into the bamboo basket on his back, while taking only a few of the ones he didn’t.

His behavior drew another wave of disdain from the viewers.

• Friends, are you seeing this? The lesson here is: don’t be a hopeless romantic, or you’ll get tricked into picking mushrooms on a deserted island. –

• Help, I used to see those memes about digging up wild greens and thought they were just jokes. I didn’t expect to see it for real. Someone is actually digging up greens and mushrooms with their bare hands just to show off. –

• No, I want to know, does Lu Cheng actually like Qiao Yitong, or is he just playing it up for the variety show? –

• Hahaha, we don’t know if it’s real, but if he’s faking it, he’s working so hard that it’s actually impressive. –

• How could this be fake? He looks like he’s on cloud nine just because Qiao Yitong spares him a glance. He’s clearly head over heels. –

• Qiao Yitong has no shame, seducing men wherever she goes. –

• ???? –

• Which eye did you use to see Qiao Yitong seducing anyone? Isn’t it just a bunch of guys desperately flocking to her? –

• Hilarious. Is this another guy having a breakdown and talking trash? My Sister Tong is kind enough to take them in because she’s beautiful and good-hearted. Without them, she’d still be doing just fine, thanks. –

• What’s up with that person earlier? Are they sick? –

• Everyone, when you see these kinds of comments insulting Sister Tong, don’t give them any attention. Just block them. It’s obviously a bot account; I clicked on the profile and it’s full of bait posts. –

Deng You was also momentarily stunned to see so many mushrooms here.

But he quickly sprang into action, setting down his bamboo basket and rapidly picking mushrooms to toss inside.

This time, however, there was no way he could catch up to Lu Cheng.

Earlier, while they were searching for things, he had used trickery, deception, and outright theft to snatch quite a few rare plants from under Lu Cheng’s nose. Those plants already occupied more than half of his basket.

Yet, he wasn’t even sure if those things were actually useful.

The mushrooms in front of him, however, were definitely edible and would likely please Sister Tong even more.

It was almost certain that whoever brought back more mushrooms would get more of Sister Tong’s attention.

But he couldn’t just throw away the rare plants to make room for mushrooms!

Wasn’t he destined to have a smaller harvest than Lu Cheng today?

He hadn’t expected that after a whole day of scheming, he would end up outsmarting himself.

Deng You felt terrible. He followed behind Lu Cheng and began picking mushrooms in silence.

Lu Cheng caught sight of his expression and a grin spread across his face. After he finished picking his share, he squatted near Deng You and teased, “You still have to stack them. That basket is already full, can you even fit any more?”

Deng You rolled his eyes. Frustrated, he ignored him.

Seeing that sour expression made Lu Cheng feel immensely satisfied. He hoisted the basket full of mushrooms onto his back and began the walk back.

He even hummed a little tune as he went: “Simple people have simple luck, fate always smiles on me-“

Deng You: “…Classic.”

• I can’t take it, these two are going to be the death of me. –

• Hahahaha, don’t say it, they’re actually kind of fun to watch. –

By the end of the day, both men had a bountiful harvest.

When they returned with their baskets overflowing with various items, it truly gave Qiao Yitong a pleasant surprise.

“You actually found so many mushrooms?” Qiao Yitong was astonished.

“Yeah, we went a bit further south this time. We crossed a hill, and there were mushrooms all over the bottom,” Lu Cheng said as he poured them out to organize them. “Sister Tong, take a look and see which ones are edible.”

Qiao Yitong nodded and knelt down to start sorting.

The variety they brought back was vast. Furthermore, the resources of this world were indeed incredibly rich; many of the mushrooms were types she didn’t recognize.

However, as a Culinary Cultivator, distinguishing whether food was toxic was the most basic of skills.

For the varieties she didn’t know, she only needed to circulate a bit of Spiritual Power through them to immediately deconstruct their chemical composition.

The poisonous ones that were absolutely inedible were picked out and discarded immediately.

The non-toxic ones were placed to one side.

There were also some that were poisonous but could be eaten after specific preparation; she placed those in a separate pile.

Although some mushrooms were toxic, high-temperature stewing could greatly weaken their toxicity. Moreover, some of these varieties were exceptionally delicious, and it would be a waste to throw them away.

In this manner, Qiao Yitong categorized the mushrooms with lightning speed.

As she worked, it looked as though she only needed a single glance at each mushroom to accurately classify it.

This scene once again stunned the viewers.

• Wait, why is she so fast? I haven’t even seen what kind of mushroom it is before she’s already confirmed it and sorted it. –

• My family is from Yunnan and we make a living off mushrooms. I’ve been trained to identify all sorts of mushrooms since I was a kid, but there’s no way I could do it this fast. Why does she seem more professional than my grandfather? –

“Her speed is so fast I’m starting to wonder if she’s just throwing them blindly. Anyone here an expert?”

“I wouldn’t call myself an expert, but I have some experience. I just took screenshots and zoomed in on them one by one. I can confirm that her sorting is flawless. The ones she’s throwing far away are highly toxic; eating them would definitely land you in the hospital, or even the morgue. The ones she’s putting directly into the basket are completely non-toxic—the kind we usually eat. Zero mistakes.”

“No way? She actually knows her stuff?”

“Ahhh, Sister Tong is so amazing! How does she know everything? How is her knowledge base so vast?”

“This kind of thing… forget just casual memorization, even if I were specifically studying it, it would take me forever to remember it all.”

“Looking at their mushrooms, I can almost smell them. Dammit, I suddenly really want some chicken and mushroom stew.”

“Too bad Sister Tong and the others don’t have any chicken. They have wild boar meat, though. Sister Tong will probably stew the boar meat with them, right?”

“It’s a pity. Mushrooms this fresh deserve fresh meat to go with them. I can’t even imagine how good that would taste. Sister Tong’s wild boar meat is good, but it’s been processed for preservation, so the freshness definitely won’t be what it was.”

“Wait, look over there!”

As that bullet comment appeared, Big Orange’s figure suddenly emerged from the corner of the frame.

A tiger is, after all, the lord of the mountains.

Although Big Orange’s behavior around Qiao Yitong often made people briefly forget its identity, making it seem like nothing more than a docile and friendly giant cat, the audience still felt a wave of primal fear when it approached with a bloody prize in its mouth, walking with a composed, domineering stride.

“Ahhh! Our big kitty is back! Big Orange really is beautiful.”

“Help! Can the comments stop being so brainless? TikTok has really ruined people’s sense of reality. Do you honestly think a predator like that is just a ‘big kitty’ that will listen to orders? Look at the way it’s walking—it clearly just returned from a hunt. It’s still in predator mode!”

“I’ve heard that once a wild tiger tastes blood or goes on a hunt, its predatory instincts are fully awakened.”

“It looks like it’s carrying something in its mouth, but it’s too far away to see clearly.”

“It’s starting to speed up! Crap, it’s heading straight for Qiao Yitong and the others! The problem is, none of them have noticed yet! Help!”

“It’s over, it’s over! Is it going to attack them? Someone warn them!”

It wasn’t just the netizens who were worried. The moment Big Orange appeared nearby, the crew members stationed on the island grew tense.

Their sole mission was to ensure this tiger didn’t harm anyone.

Even though Qiao Yitong had vowed that everything would be fine, this wasn’t a pet—it was a literal beast of prey!

If it actually turned violent, what then?

Director Song’s heart was in his throat. The professionals with him were equally on edge, quietly moving into position with tranquilizer guns.

The broadcast director in the monitoring room kept a close eye on the situation, carefully ensuring the crew remained out of every camera’s frame.

They had to make sure no footage of the crew’s movements on the island was captured, while simultaneously monitoring every member of the cast.

“Director Song, do we move?” one of the positioned personnel asked.

Director Song was in a bind. He had promised Qiao Yitong that he wouldn’t act lightly and wouldn’t harm Big Orange.

But that was under the assumption that Big Orange remained safe to be around.

Hearing the question, Director Song gritted his teeth and stared at the live feed. “Wait a little longer. Keep observing.”

Although Big Orange’s aura was intimidating as it returned, it hadn’t reached the point of harming anyone yet.

Just as that thought crossed his mind, he saw Big Orange suddenly begin to accelerate on the monitor.

And its sprint was aimed directly at the group of people crouching on the ground picking mushrooms.

Director Song was terrified, his communication device gripped tightly in his hand.

At the same time, the personnel in position raised their tranquilizer guns, aiming directly at Big Orange.

The moment the director gave the order, they would fire.

Director Song’s mind was in a desperate struggle, unsure of when the best time to intervene would be now that Big Orange’s wild nature seemed to have flared up.

Big Orange drew closer and closer to Qiao Yitong.

The people crouching there finally noticed the commotion and turned around.

The moment they saw Big Orange’s silhouette, their pupils constricted.

What does it feel like to have a tiger charging straight at you?

At this moment, everyone present could have given a very detailed answer.

That sense of pressure and dread is something only those who have truly faced a tiger can understand.

Hearts pounded wildly; bodies were almost paralyzed with fear.

Lu Cheng’s hands and feet went cold the moment he spotted Big Orange. He bit the tip of his tongue hard to force himself into focus.

In the next second, he lunged to the side, throwing himself between Big Orange and Qiao Yitong.

But Big Orange, whose only goal was to reach Qiao Yitong as quickly as possible, didn’t care about him at all. With a flick of its tail, both Lu Cheng and Deng You were swept aside.

Lu Cheng, who had been sent rolling across the sand by the tail, scrambled back up immediately.

“Sister Tong! Watch—”

Before he could finish the word “out,” he saw Big Orange come to a halt.

The ferocity from a moment ago vanished instantly. The King of the Forest seemed to transform back into a docile house cat in the blink of an eye.

It dropped the object in its mouth in front of Qiao Yitong and began rubbing against her, circling her as if showing off and seeking praise.

As Lu Cheng scrambled toward Qiao Yitong in a panic, Big Orange “accidentally” used its powerful tail to sweep him away again.

Lu Cheng, having rolled on the ground for the second time in a row: “???”

He stared at Qiao Yitong and this impossibly gentle giant cat with a mix of shock and suspicion. Was he being… excluded?

Big Orange didn’t pay him any mind. Upon its return, it had noticed the mushrooms scattered all over the ground.

It stared at the mushrooms with its round eyes for a long time, then slowly turned its head to look at Lu Cheng and Deng You, the two who had picked them.

Picking mushrooms was a bit difficult for a tiger.

Eating these two humans would be easy.

That thought flickered through Big Orange’s mind again and again.

It was enough to make Lu Cheng and Deng You feel their skin crawl.

Wait… no, Brother Tiger, we didn’t do anything to provoke you, did we?

“Big Orange,” Qiao Yitong called out to it.

Hearing her, Big Orange turned back to look at Qiao Yitong. It saw the reproachful look in her eyes—was she blaming it for scaring those two humans?

Big Orange let its head droop and sprawled on the ground, looking utterly aggrieved.

“Be good,” Qiao Yitong said, reaching out to rub its head.

A soft, whimpering sound came from the little tiger’s throat, sounding like it was acting spoiled, or perhaps lodging a complaint.

While it whimpered, it used its paw to push the items it had brought back toward Qiao Yitong, then raised its head proudly.

“Awoo~”

That single movement left everyone frozen in place, nearly petrified and stiff with shock.

Wait, why did everyone feel like Big Orange’s current actions were so uncannily similar to what Lu Cheng and Deng You had been doing over the past couple of days?

Was it… asking for praise?

Soon, Qiao Yitong’s reaction confirmed their suspicions.

Qiao Yitong picked up the two chickens to inspect them. Aside from a single deep bite mark on their necks, the rest of their bodies were completely intact, which wouldn’t affect the quality of the meat at all.

And looking at its behavior, it seemed the tiger had run a long way specifically to bring these back.

Based on her observations, chickens only existed in Area C.

Had it run all that way just to bring them to her?

Qiao Yitong suddenly understood the meaning behind the look Big Orange had given her before leaving. A warmth spread through her heart, and she reached out to ruffle Big Orange’s head.

“Thank you, Big Orange.”

Qiao Yitong’s voice was very gentle. Upon hearing this word of thanks, the aggrieved expression on Big Orange’s face vanished instantly. Everyone could clearly see a look of joy and delight on the tiger’s face.

It wasn’t just happy; it even turned back to cast a proud, triumphant glance at Lu Cheng and Deng You.

Lu Cheng & Deng You: ???

• ??? Guys, am I overthinking this or did I misunderstand? Why do I feel like it intentionally brought back two chickens to compete for favor and get praised? –

• Although I find it hard to believe… it seems to be true. –

• It even looks like it’s showing off to Lu Cheng and the other guy. –

• Does anyone else feel this? One second I was scared to death thinking Big Orange was going on a killing spree, and the next second it’s acting cute. This contrast is insane! –

• Lu Cheng and Deng You must be totally dazed. They were planning to show off in front of Sister Tong, but Big Orange’s move has completely outplayed them. Hahaha! –

• Big Orange: Hmph, I brought back fresh chicken. It smells way better than those mushrooms of yours. Sister Tong will definitely praise me! –

• Help, I’ve already become a fan of Big Orange. It’s both domineering and cute, who could resist this! –

• Who was it just now saying that this tiger is a fierce beast, not a big kitty, and is a dangerous creature? So tell me, is this guy right here, who’s desperately competing for favor and begging for praise, “dangerous”? –

• Hello everyone, I am a wildlife behaviorist. Please tell me, am I dreaming? Why would a wild tiger try to please a human? Why would it exhibit the behavior of providing food to a human? Is everything I’ve learned wrong? Please tell me this show is fake, right? Or maybe the world is actually one giant lie, right? –

• It’s over, Qiao Yitong has broken another one. There’s no saving him, just carry him away. –

Amidst the public discussion…

Director Song, who had been observing from a distance, accidentally bit the tip of his tongue. The sharp pain finally brought him back to his senses.

He waved his hand to signal everyone that the crisis was over and told them to return to their positions to rest.

Meanwhile, the scene he had just witnessed replayed in his mind over and over again.

Even when he went to bed that night, he kept jolting awake from his dreams.

When he woke up with a start yet again, Director Song sat up in bed and gulped down an entire bottle of water.

Seriously, who exactly is this Qiao Yitong?

A tiger actively bringing her food? What is this! Is this even logical!

Translator’s Notes