Chapter 018

Zhan Yue was a minor idol in the entertainment industry.

She had debuted in a girl group, but her career flopped almost immediately. It was only by taking minor roles in various productions to get her face known that she finally managed to carve out a small niche for herself in the talent-filled industry. But that was the extent of it. As a third or fourth-tier starlet, let alone becoming First-tier, even landing a lead role was a massive challenge.

The Wilderness Challenge was an opportunity she had fought hard to secure. As a woman, her physical strength was naturally inferior to the men, especially on a survival reality show. Therefore, before setting out, she had undergone high-intensity training, brushed up on wilderness survival knowledge, and prepared to give it her all, hoping to stand out among the contestants. Given the popularity of the Wilderness Challenge, if she could just get the audience to notice her, her career could reach the next level.

But there were so many people in the entertainment industry. Newcomers debuted in endless waves every day. There was no shortage of people who were both good-looking and talented, and the number of those who failed to become famous was countless.

Zhan Yue took out some wild fruit she had picked during the day and hadn’t finished yet, offering them up reverently with both hands. “Baby, can this be the payment for the fortune-telling?”

Qiao Man didn’t take them immediately. Instead, he looked up at Lu Jianxing and asked, “What does First-tier mean?”

Lu Jianxing thought for a moment. “She wants to ask about her Career Luck.”

Qiao Man realized what he meant. He studied Zhan Yue seriously for a long while before nodding. “Your Career Luck looks quite good.”

Zhan Yue was overjoyed. “Really?”

“But your love life is even better than your career.”

“Love life? Does that mean my future marriage will be very smooth?” Zhan Yue was greatly disappointed. “What use do I have for that?”

Zhan Yan looked at his sister, speechless.

“It’s very useful,” Qiao Man said seriously. “Take you, for example. You were abandoned by your parents at birth, but…”

“Wait, wait!” Zhan Yue couldn’t help but interrupt him. “I… I was abandoned by my parents at birth?”

At this, not only Zhan Yue, but even the viewers on the screen burst out laughing.

-I’m a Zhan Yue fan, so let me speak first. Who doesn’t know that Zhan Yue is a total mommy’s girl? She loves showing off her parents the most.-

-I remember she was on a variety show before that filmed her interacting with her family. Her home atmosphere was wonderful.-

-I’m so jealous of Zhan Yue. Her parents are a teacher and a doctor, her brother is a retired athlete, her family is happy and harmonious – she’s a winner in life!-

-Hahahaha, the fortune-telling Master has met his Waterloo¹!-

-Scared me for a second. I actually thought little Qiao Man could really tell fortunes. I knew it – this isn’t a web novel, how could a five-year-old being a divine fraud be possible?-

-I’ve wanted to complain for a long time. Why do those fortune-tellers always start by saying people will be unlucky? Aren’t they afraid of being exposed?-

-Not to mention, her biological brother is right there next to her!-

Zhan Yue smiled and took her brother’s arm. “Baby, although my brother and I don’t look much alike – he’s like Tarzan and I’m a little fairy – didn’t you know he was my brother when we did the self-introductions at the start of the show?”

Tarzan Zhan Yan: “…”

“I know,” Qiao Man said as if it were obvious. “But you aren’t biological siblings.”

“What?”

“You were adopted.”

“…”

Even as supportive as Zhan Yue was, she couldn’t play along anymore.

Whether she was adopted or not, didn’t she know that herself? Even if the Insect Repellent Talisman was really effective, he couldn’t just kick her out of her own family registry².

But one should be kind to those who give gifts, and that stack of Insect Repellent Talismans was still in her backpack. Sitting here for so long, not a single mosquito had bitten her, all thanks to Qiao Man.

Facing the child’s soft and cute little face, Zhan Yue opened her mouth, then resorted to nudging her brother hard with her elbow.

She made eyes at him: Brother, say something!

“This… that…” Zhan Yan spoke hesitantly. “Actually…”

Zhan Yue: “Hmm?”

Zhan Yan: “You really aren’t our parents’ biological child…”

Zhan Yue: “…Huh?!”

“When I was little, I went out with Mom and Dad and we found a baby crying by the side of the road. That baby was you,” Zhan Yan explained slowly. “It was too cold then, and Mom and Dad were worried something would happen to you, so they brought you back. Resources were limited then, and they couldn’t find your biological parents. After you stayed at our house for a few days, Mom and Dad couldn’t bear to send you to an Orphanage, so they adopted you.”

Zhan Yue: “…”

What!

The parents I’ve called Mom and Dad for so many years aren’t my biological parents!

The mystery of her birth was suddenly revealed under these circumstances, leaving Zhan Yue completely stunned.

“You… why did you never tell me?” Zhan Yue stammered. “I never knew anything about this!”

Zhan Yan said, “Our parents said that adopting you meant treating you as their own daughter, so there was no need to remind you. Besides, did you forget? When you were little, Dundun from Second Uncle’s family ran up to you and said you were a foundling…”

Zhan Yan continued, “You swung your fists and gave him a beating right then and there. Dundun cried so loudly. Later, Second Uncle and Second Aunt dragged him to our door to apologize, and you still weren’t satisfied, insisting he was spreading rumors.”

Zhan Yue: “…Did that happen?”

Zhan Yan: “Why would I lie to you?”

Zhan Yue: “…”

Zhan Yue held her head in her hands, falling into a daze over this massive life change.

The viewers in front of the screens also typed out long strings of question marks, beginning to doubt their own lives.

Who would have thought that while watching a wilderness survival show, they would witness a major family drama?

Zhan Yue wasn’t her parents’ biological child?

Zhan Yue didn’t even know it herself?

But Qiao Man had actually figured it out through fortune-telling!

The audience was completely dumbfounded.

Is this a script? If so, Zhan Yue and her brother’s acting is too good, right? If it’s not a script, how did Qiao Man know?!

Could it be… this child really can tell fortunes?!

The viewers’ hands were on their keyboards, but all they could type was a string of gibberish.

Zhan Yue quickly recovered from the shock. Regardless of whether she was biological or not, her feelings for her family were real. A lack of blood relation didn’t affect the deep affection she shared with them. She was an emotionally stable adult, and the bond built over so many years of living together was the reason for her firm convictions.

“Master, you’re amazing!” Zhan Yue’s eyes sparkled. “You could tell I was adopted just by looking at me?”

Qiao Man lifted his chin and said proudly, “I told you, I’m very capable.”

“Can you Taoists perform rituals too?” Zhan Yue asked longingly. “If you perform one for me, could I become a first-tier star?”

“No, you can’t,” Qiao Man said, his small face turning serious. “Some things are predestined. Trying to change them by force is going against the heavens. It would cost you your karmic merit and eventually backfire on you.”

Zhan Yue had only mentioned it in passing, but now she was startled. “I… I’ve changed my mind,” she said sheepishly.

“But even if you don’t become a first-tier star, you won’t do too badly,” Qiao Man said reassuringly. “If you do more good deeds and accumulate virtue, you’ll be rewarded.”

Zhan Yue quickly agreed.

Lu Jianxing patted the boy’s head and interrupted, “It’s getting late. Why don’t we all get some rest?”

The others nodded, added some wood to the fire, and returned to their respective tents.

As soon as they entered the tent, Qiao Man skillfully rolled into his favorite spot.

The boy squirmed in his arms like a small animal, leaning here and rubbing there, restless even in sleep. Lu Jianxing held him firmly. “Alright, stop moving. Go to sleep.”

Having slept too much during the day, Qiao Man wasn’t tired at all. After trying to fall asleep for a while, his voice drifted out from Lu Jianxing’s arms. “Xingxing, do you have any wishes? Like becoming a first-tier star?”

Anyone in this industry would have the ambition to reach the top; it was just that some were overt about it while others were more reserved. Lu Jianxing asked, “Why the sudden question?”

“I have so many wishes,” Qiao Man said. “I want to see my Master, and I want to see what you were like as a child. Xingxing, do you have a wish? I can help you.”

Lu Jianxing stroked the soft hair on the back of the boy’s head. “I don’t need your help. I can achieve them myself.”

He wrinkled his small face in frustration. “But I’m…”

“Just be a kid,” Lu Jianxing said, closing his eyes. “You can make requests of me, too.”

Qiao Man gave an obedient “Oh.”

A moment later, his head popped out of Lu Jianxing’s arms again, eyes bright and full of anticipation. “Xingxing, I want a Coke.”

Lu Jianxing: “…”

…

When they woke up the next morning, Qiao Man’s desire for a Coke hadn’t faded.

Cola was the first drink he’d had after coming down from the mountain. He’d never seen anything like it before, and he’d fallen in love with it from the very first sip. It had become his favorite food, alongside ice cream and cookies.

Especially on a hot summer day like this, how wonderful would it be to have a sip of Coke with ice cubes?

The next day was bright and sunny. The two teams packed their bags, said their goodbyes at the cave entrance, and left their temporary shelter one by one.

At a fork in the path, Lu Jianxing spread out his map and took out his compass, searching for the way to the summit. He was halfway through when he felt a small hand tugging at the corner of his shirt.

Lu Jianxing looked down to see the boy staring at him expectantly. “Xingxing, I want a Coke.”

Lu Jianxing: “…”

I did say he could make requests, but this is a bit much, he thought.

Lu Jianxing said helplessly, “We’ll have some when we get home, okay?”

Qiao Man’s head drooped in disappointment, leaving only the crown of his dark hair visible. Although he’d agreed, his dejected posture made it clear he was sulking.

Lu Jianxing explained patiently, “It’s not that I don’t want to give you any. We have to stay here for seven days, and resources are limited on the mountain. There’s no Coke to be found. Once we’re home, you can drink as much as you want.”

Qiao Man explained urgently, “There is! There’s some on the mountain!”

“There is?” Lu Jianxing was stunned. “There’s Coke?”

“Really, I calculated it.”

“…”

Qiao Man had never been wrong before. Since he said so, Lu Jianxing readily stuffed the map and compass back into his backpack. “Fine, you lead the way.”

“Okay!”

Qiao Man happily pulled his Luo Pan out of his backpack.

[???]

[Lu Jianxing, don’t be so ridiculous!]

[Finding fish and caves is one thing, but if they find a bottle of Coke in the middle of nowhere, I’ll eat my hat.]

[First it was Talisman Paper, then fortune-telling, and now he’s going to conjure up a Coke?]

[This isn’t Metaphysics anymore, it’s straight-up magic!]

Regardless of what the viewers said, Qiao Man and Lu Jianxing set off in search of the Coke.

Qiao Man led the way with Lu Jianxing following behind. They traversed rugged mountain paths, crossed winding rivers, scrambled down steep slopes, and climbed over jagged rocks.

When they got hungry or thirsty, they foraged for food and water on the spot. They walked for most of the day without seeing a trace of any Coke. Despite the many difficult paths they took, Lu Jianxing never questioned him, patiently following behind the boy.

A few hours later.

Qiao Man led Lu Jianxing through dense forests until they locked eyes with a staff member wearing a uniform printed with the Wilderness Challenge logo.

Qiao Man tucked away his Luo Pan and pointed excitedly. “Look, Coke!”

Lu Jianxing: “…”

The staff member holding a Coke: “…???”

The staff member was horrified. “What are you doing here?!”

Viewers: [???]

[!!!]

This was the biggest live broadcast accident since Wilderness Challenge began!

A contestant had found the production crew’s base camp!

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Translator’s Notes

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1. met his Waterloo: A common idiom in Chinese (滑铁卢) used to describe a sudden, crushing defeat or a significant setback for someone who was previously successful, referencing Napoleon’s final defeat. ↩
2. family registry: Refers to the ‘hukou’ (户口), China’s official household registration system. Being ‘kicked out of the family registry’ is a common idiom for being disowned or legally removed from the family unit. ↩