Chapter 51
Qin Ye had only heard of ghost orchids, the nobility among orchids, but he did not know their growth habits. Hearing Shen Jinfeng say this, he asked, “What’s wrong?”
Shen Jinfeng walked back to the ghost orchid, reached out, gently stroked its tender leaf, and said, “Ghost orchids are highly dependent on their environment. They like conditions with high humidity and abundant light, and can occasionally be seen near woodland swamps.”
“The area near yesterday’s tomb feng shui site could, relatively speaking, still provide the right environment for ghost orchids to grow. But this area—there isn’t enough humus here. Logically, ghost orchids shouldn’t be able to survive.”
Qin Ye frowned slightly. “Could there be exceptions?”
Shen Jinfeng stepped back to his side. “The world is vast, and nothing is too strange. It’s possible.”
“But, Qin Ye, don’t you think this forest is very strange?”
Or rather, this deserted island itself was very strange.
Qin Ye was silent for two seconds, then lowered his eyes to look at him and replied, “A little.”
He did not look at the priceless ghost orchid again either, instead glancing around at the surrounding environment.
“Based on the ancient tomb, we can judge that this area is either within our country or in a surrounding country. The combination of ocean and forest is already relatively rare. Because of work, I’ve done in-depth research on the environments of our country and surrounding countries, and I’ve never known of a place like this.”
“Unless this entire deserted island has never appeared on a map.” He made a joke that was neither too big nor too small.
The corner of Shen Jinfeng’s lips curved slightly. “You have a point.”
“Also, I don’t know as much about jungle knowledge as you do, but purely from a business perspective, it is almost unbelievable that a deserted island like this, rich in resources and without danger, hasn’t been developed in today’s highly industrialized society,” Qin Ye said.
“Even if this place is different from what we judged, and it’s very far from our country, somewhere overseas across the ocean.”
But that was only his guess. For now, he could not investigate the reason further. “Still, as you said, the world is vast, and nothing is too strange. We can only reach a conclusion after we get out.”
After all, Being Human truly was an unprecedented program.
For people who had no impression of this variety show in their minds, it was truly difficult to imagine the absurd answer that their consciousness had been pulled into a virtual world.
[Oh-ho, I really didn’t expect that besides Big Boss Shen feeling something was wrong with the show, Ye-god could also analyze it from a business angle? Mm, something is wrong indeed.]
[That makes sense. Such a beautiful environment, rich seafood that looks fresh and delicious, a forest full of wild fruits, and even coconuts—such a treasure land not being developed for tourism really isn’t scientific.]
[LMAO, so the reason the production team gave themselves away is that the resources are too abundant? It doesn’t look like a real deserted island?]
[Old Dog Sun: I really shouldn’t have had that bit of conscience. I should have left you all without food or drink! Delete all the fish data in the sea, delete the coconut trees, delete all these wild fruits too!]
[Pfft, a sea with no fish or seafood? Sister above, you really dare to say that. You couldn’t be Old Dog Sun himself, could you? If it were really like that, I’m afraid Big Boss Shen would have realized something was wrong on the first day!]
[Actually, Ye-god’s suspicion is still mild. The main one is Big Boss Shen. The production team’s skill level isn’t enough, and the data must have been randomly pieced together, right? They simulated ghost orchids worth fifteen million each, but they couldn’t even figure out ghost orchids’ growth habits and put them in an environment where they couldn’t possibly survive. I suspect that with flaws like this—uh, I didn’t notice them, but Big Boss Shen might have noticed quite a few.]
[Flaws that violate natural laws… one or two is fine, but if there are too many, seriously, I think this lousy show won’t be able to hold on! Technical team, hurry up and start checking and patching! I still want to watch the livestream for a few more days. Production team, can you work a little harder!]
On the screen, after listening to Qin Ye’s analysis, Shen Jinfeng did not say anything more.
“Let’s go. We’ll see if there’s anything else unbelievable around here.”
Qin Ye did not move. He stopped him, pressed his lips together, and paused for two seconds before speaking. “Wait.”
“You still haven’t told me your suspicion. You used the word ‘unbelievable,’ so you must have noticed something. Something similar to the doubts around those ghost orchids?”
Shen Jinfeng stopped in his tracks. He had not expected the secret admirer to be somewhat sensitive.
“You discovered something, but don’t dare tell me because you’re afraid I’ll worry?” Qin Ye looked at him deeply.
Shen Jinfeng raised his head slightly and saw the solemn yet determined look in the young man’s eyes. For a moment, he was dazed.
“I did tell you.” He pointed at the ghost orchids growing on the trees. “There are also some similar things. Do you remember the growth habits and suitable geographical conditions of some herbs I told you about yesterday when we went near the tomb?”
Qin Ye gathered his focus slightly and recalled Shen Jinfeng’s explanations while picking herbs.
For example, arrowroot was a typical tropical plant. It liked warm, humid environments, but feared direct sunlight and could only grow in fertile leaf-mold soil.
Peace lilies were similar.
In contrast, mint could not go without sunlight and needed at least six hours of light every day.
Purslane was similar and was even nicknamed sun flower.
…
There were many similar examples.
Among the various plants, fruits, and herbs they had picked, some loved sunlight and warm environments, while others could not withstand sunlight at all.
Some adapted to humid environments, while others flourished only in dry conditions.
Seeing his expression turn grave, Shen Jinfeng comfortingly patted his shoulder. “The weather can differ every ten li. This forest is vast and boundless. The sunlight it receives and its soil environment will naturally change by region. It’s also reasonable for it to accommodate crops with different growth habits.”
Only, if today’s ghost orchid had not been too absurd, all the threads in his mind would not have connected into one line and turned into suspicion.
What happened to the promised retirement world?
Shen Jinfeng felt his mood grow slightly heavy.
He had already been tired for 999 worlds. He just wanted to lie flat every day, not use his brain, eat, drink, play, and spend a lifetime in peace…
He really wanted to shake 888 back and make that stupid system explain things to him!
But as he had said—
The world was vast, and nothing was too strange.
Although this deserted island was somewhat strange, it was not yet strange enough to be listed as a world wonder.
Maybe it was just an accident.
Shen Jinfeng lazily lowered his eyes, his expression revealing no clues.
But his entire person somehow gave off a faint air of giving up and slacking off.
Only, in others’ eyes, it might be mistaken for “disappointment” or “worry.”
After all, in others’ eyes, since coming to this world, he had not behaved like someone slacking off at all.
Qin Ye hesitated for a moment, then reached out and gently rubbed the top of Shen Jinfeng’s head. “We’ll definitely get out. Don’t worry.”
“Just think of this period as a vacation?”
Shen Jinfeng’s body jolted like he had been electrocuted, and he abruptly dodged away from the touch.
What was this secret admirer doing?!
He lifted his head and glared fiercely at Qin Ye.
But what he thought was fierce only looked, to others, like his usually indifferent expression had gained a few livelier touches.
It also pulled him out of the state he had just been in.
Qin Ye’s hand froze in midair. He uncomfortably withdrew it, and the roots of his ears instantly reddened again.
Only then did he realize his action had been somewhat intimate.
But Shen Jinfeng usually touched He Erwang and Gu Shengsheng’s heads like this too. Oh, and Qi Xiu’s.
[! Fuck, Qin Ye, you brat! You really understand how to take advantage!]
[How was it? Was Little Captain’s head nice to touch? Have you been tempted for a long time? Ah, no, scheming for a long time?]
[Damn, what just happened? My CP gave me sugar! Ye-god, don’t be shy! Say something! Big Boss Shen only has eyes for you right now! Smile a little, seduce Big Boss, press your advantage!]
[I feel like Big Boss Shen is stunned. The way he’s looking at Qin Ye is like he completely didn’t expect it—fake bravado with panic hahahaha.]
[No, I’m telling you, don’t get more and more ridiculous. I won’t allow it! Qin Ye’s action completely ruined our Big Boss’s aura!]
Qin Ye noticed Shen Jinfeng’s gaze and pretended to calmly look back.
The two of them stared at each other for several seconds.
Shen Jinfeng saw the young man’s bright red earlobe opposite him, and his heartbeat slowly returned to calm.
He smiled faintly and beckoned to Qin Ye. “Lower your head.”
“Hm?” Qin Ye did not understand, but still obediently did as he was told.
The next second, a warm and powerful touch came from above his head.
Seizing the chance, Shen Jinfeng fiercely rubbed his hair several times, messing Qin Ye’s hair into a complete tangle.
He rubbed it back and forth several times. Only when he saw the young man’s baffled expression and stiff body posture did he stop in satisfaction and withdraw his hand.
“Quite comfortable,” he evaluated.
After saying that, he quickly turned around.
“We won’t keep going forward. Let’s go back. He Erwang has probably nearly picked that peach tree clean by now. We should go let him down.”
Qin Ye slowly straightened up and subconsciously touched his hair, which seemed to still carry lingering warmth.
But after hesitating for only a moment, he still did not reach out to smooth down his chicken-nest-like hairstyle.
Of course, perhaps, maybe, probably, the reason was that he could not see what he looked like right now.
[Fuck, production team, give Ye-god a mirror. Let him see how worthless he looks right now!]
[Still smiling? Still smiling? Qin Ye, you’re smiling so hard your cheekbones are about to ascend to heaven! I’ve been your fan for years, and I’ve never seen you smile like this!]
[Qin Ye, you’re done for. You’ve fallen into love!]
[All right, there’s no need to wash that hair for now. Too reluctant to.]
[At this point, the status of this husband-husband pair is completely clear. Qin Ye, you’ve been completely grasped!]
[Hahahahaha, I’m truly convinced. With this hair, fortunately his face is strong enough that he still looks handsome like this! Paired with his current expression like he drank fake wine, he has that messy, hazy feeling of someone who just woke up.]
[But I feel like Big Boss “retaliating” back means he also felt something, right? He seems to have taken the upper hand, but in reality, he fled in defeat. Even his back looks hurried. After greeting Qin Ye, he immediately turned and left without any intention of waiting, hahahaha.]
[I looked with a microscope. I swear! Big Boss’s face is a tiny bit red too!]
[…Convinced. What brand of microscope? I practically pressed my human eyes to the screen and only saw Qin Ye’s red ears looking even redder. Strongly suggest the production team test Qin Ye’s physical data right now and see what his heartbeat is!]
Qin Ye did not speak again, only quickly strode forward to catch up with Shen Jinfeng.
Only, this time, whenever he reached Shen Jinfeng’s side and was about to walk beside him—
Shen Jinfeng quietly sped up.
At first, it was not obvious.
After several rounds, Qin Ye also discovered it.
He coughed softly and uncomfortably.
Looking at the back that was always half a step ahead of him, a slightly “shy” smile appeared in his eyes.
Actually, he understood. This was the first time the two of them had touched each other intimately.
Shen Jinfeng must have become shy.
Even Qin Ye felt his heartbeat quicken. With Little Captain reacting so strongly, perhaps he still had not calmed down.
He was truly too, too cute!
If Shen Jinfeng knew about this “ridiculous” thought of his, he would probably think, at most, that the secret admirer was really good at imagining things.
In fact, he only felt that he needed to stay away from those devilish hands!
He was somewhat regretful that his own hand had itched for a moment, and by some strange impulse, he had touched back.
Yet he had not sternly stopped Qin Ye’s behavior.
Based on his understanding of the secret admirer during this period, he strongly suspected that this secret admirer had absolutely misunderstood!
He must have misunderstood that Shen Jinfeng had tacitly allowed it!
If they walked too close, what if this person touched his head again?
[What’s going on! They were sweet just now, and now the little couple is having a conflict!]
[One look and you can tell the sister above has never dated, right? This is flirting, shyness, the stress response of both sides blushing from even touching each other during the ambiguous stage! It’s even sweeter than the two of them touching each other’s heads just now, okay!]
But Shen Jinfeng and Qin Ye walked like this for several minutes. Qin Ye felt that while the atmosphere was beautiful, he sincerely hoped this road could be even longer.
He asked Shen Jinfeng, “Are we just going back?”
Shen Jinfeng nodded. “We should go change trees for He Erwang.”
Qin Ye pressed his lips together. “After we change trees for He Erwang, are we still coming out?”
Shen Jinfeng: “…Probably not. We’ve already walked around this side. In the time it takes him to pick peaches, we won’t be able to go farther.”
Qin Ye had nothing to say.
After continuing in silence for a minute, he still could not help speaking. “Then can we walk slower?”
He took two large steps forward and stood fully beside Shen Jinfeng.
He did not, as Shen Jinfeng imagined, “fail to read the room” and try to touch his head. Instead, he tugged at Shen Jinfeng’s sleeve.
“Little Captain, let’s walk a little slower,” he suggested.
Shen Jinfeng stopped.
Sigh.
He let out a heavy sigh in his heart.
The secret admirer’s thoughts were truly too easy to understand. He was just seizing every opportunity to spend more time with him.
Fine. He had originally promised that the two of them would come to the forest together, but it had not happened.
He was afraid that if he did not agree this time, the secret admirer would develop an inner demon over the forest.
“All right,” he agreed.
At the same time, he slowed his steps.
He would satisfy the secret admirer this once.
Shen Jinfeng did not realize that his heartbeat, which had not fully calmed down earlier, finally returned to normal now.
“Move aside.” He gestured for Qin Ye to make way.
Qin Ye had not expected his goal to be achieved so easily!
Sure enough, Little Captain had gotten his meaning and was also reluctant to give up the chance to be alone with him, right?
He only hinted at it slightly, and the other party understood.
They practically had a bit of tacit understanding between hearts.
Qin Ye’s mind was full of random thoughts. Fortunately, his expression remained “calm” as he moved aside.
Madam Yun often praised herself as an ordinary little genius of love.
In the past, he had never listened seriously.
But, sigh, he sighed in his heart.
Genes were truly powerful. He had not intended to deliberately learn, yet he had inherited Madam Yun’s essence.
Mm, if Madam Yun knew this thought of his, she would probably burst out laughing.
After Qin Ye moved aside and walked beside him—
Shen Jinfeng slowly took a step as if demonstrating.
By “slowly,” it meant about half of their previous speed.
By “took a step,” it meant about one-third of the distance of their previous stride.
After taking one step, he asked Qin Ye, “Mm, is this okay?”
“Eh, Qin Ye, what’s going on with you? Didn’t we agree to walk slower?” His tone carried laughter.
Qin Ye froze for a moment and lowered his head.
He discovered that his stride was fully twice as large as Shen Jinfeng’s.
He embarrassedly withdrew half the distance.
Then, with a serious face, he nodded. “Very good.”
Only, anyone could feel that he was extremely satisfied.
His eyes and brows were almost filled with the smug satisfaction of spring wind.
[At this moment, the feeling of being in love suddenly became concrete.]
[Only now do I know that when a person falls into love, even if his acting skills are as good as Best Actor Qin’s, the joy revealed in his eyes and his entire being cannot be controlled. It overflows through words and expressions.]
[Although, Best Actor Qin currently doesn’t remember he’s a Best Actor.]
[I feel like Ye-god’s mind right now must be full of: please don’t let this road end! Don’t let this road end!]
[Sure enough, men are quite childish when they date, especially the ones who used to look like flowers on a high mountain.]
[Can your focus not all be on Ye-god? Isn’t the key point that Big Boss responded to him? Someone as smart and quick-witted as Big Boss Shen—how could he not see through Ye-god’s little thoughts? But he chose to indulge him! They’re running toward each other from both sides!]
[…Actually, I didn’t feel that Big Boss Shen treated Ye-god that specially before. But at this moment, he is actually willing to accompany Qin Ye in being so childish! If this isn’t love, what is it? Ahhhh, screaming madly! Big Boss is such a steady, rational, calm, composed, quiet, effortless, confident person, yet he’s cooperating like a little duck learning to walk, moving step by step with Ye-god!]
[Good grief, sister, your vocabulary bank is so rich! That’s right, Qin Ye, you brat, love really has come. What good fortune! I’m so jealous I can’t breathe!]
[Solo fan doesn’t want to talk anymore… I only see that our Big Boss is so cute!!!]
For a moment, the entire livestream screen, including the bullet comments, was full of pink bubbles.
The netizens rushing over from the neighboring livestream were immediately dumbfounded.
[Good grief, I was wondering why Big Boss Shen and Ye-god still hadn’t gone back. They’re here flirting? Stop flirting. Flirt later! Please hurry back!]
[Fuck, Qin Ye, you love-brain! You’re even making Big Boss Shen walk slower! At this rate, how many years will it take for you to walk back? Hurry back!!!]
[Wuwu, Big Boss Shen, if you don’t go back soon, your underlings are going to lose their lives!]
[Huh? What are these newly appearing comments?]
[Qi Xiu and the others ran into wolves! The stupid production team actually put wolves into the virtual world! When I saw the wolf suddenly appear, I was almost scared to death!]
[What? There are wolves in this forest?]
After Mo Fan and the others encountered the wolf and began a standoff, and after the production team promised they were thinking of a solution, a group of frightened viewers who had temporarily caught their breath finally remembered to visit the neighboring livestream room to see what Shen Jinfeng and Qin Ye were doing, while also calling for help!
After all, based on the move Shen Jinfeng had revealed earlier, where one toss of stones could bring down all the doves—
It made people feel that if he were on site—
If several military knives were in his hands and flew out—
That wolf would probably… not live long.
Surely all of the vital points on its body would be struck instantly with a slap, and it would bleed from all seven orifices.
A human’s running speed definitely could not beat a wolf’s.
But a wolf’s running speed definitely could not beat Big Boss Shen’s knife!
Uh, no, that was not right either.
The viewers suddenly remembered Shen Jinfeng’s forest drifting technique, where he did not know qinggong but seemed even better than qinggong.
The world record for one hundred meters was a little over ten seconds, while the average running speed of an ordinary wolf was about one hundred fifty to sixty meters in ten seconds.
But Shen Jinfeng’s forest drifting technique felt like two or three hundred meters in ten seconds would be no problem.
It was almost like flying.
So Big Boss Shen could even run faster than wolves.
Cough, cough. Off topic.
[The two people with the highest combat strength are both here. This is truly despairing.]
[Although the production team posted an announcement saying they’ll solve it as soon as possible, I have a feeling that hoping for the production team is worse than hoping Big Boss Shen hurries back!]
[Can the sisters who have been in this livestream room come out and say how many meters Big Boss and the others have walked out?]
[Ashamed. I was too busy watching Big Boss being awesome and the little couple dating. Who paid attention to that much…]
[No idea. Feels like they walked more than a thousand meters? Probably less than two kilometers.]
[I’m dying of anxiety! I hope Mo-ge and the others can hold on until Big Boss gets back!]
[Fuck, I came back after going to the neighboring livestream. My god, it’s terrifying. They’re in a standoff with wolves, and the wolves look like they’ll charge any moment. I feel like my heart was suddenly clenched, and I can’t breathe.]
[My focus is different. At first, I was a little dissatisfied seeing a group of comments rush in asking Big Boss Shen for help. Just because Big Boss Shen has shown that he’s stronger, do these people think it’s only natural for him to give and fight? Are these people certain that Big Boss Shen won’t get hurt?
But after I went over there, I suddenly felt ashamed of myself. Because if I were Mo Fan and the others, I would definitely think the same too. But they were worried that Big Boss Shen would encounter danger after returning. They care more about their companions than anyone else. Even when Big Boss Shen isn’t there, they unite and face the enemy together. I judged a gentleman’s heart with a petty person’s mind…]
However, no matter how anxious the viewers from the other livestream were—
Shen Jinfeng and Qin Ye, temporarily immersed in an almost childish house-playing movement with a strangely innocent atmosphere, did not notice for the time being.
Because the commotion on Qi Xiu’s side was too big, the entire director team had no spare attention for this side.
Even earlier, when Shen Jinfeng found the ghost orchid and Qin Ye analyzed that something was wrong with the deserted island—
Sun Xinping actually knew about it too.
Because there were still dedicated staff watching this livestream room, reporting to him at any time if anything happened.
But right now, he simply had no energy to take care of it.
“Are you done yet?” He irritably grabbed his hair and, unable to control his strength, pulled out a handful.
Bean-sized sweat rolled down Goat’s forehead. “Almost, almost!”
But no one had expected that, at such a critical moment—
Several more wolf howls would come.
A pack of wolves appeared on the screen.
Sun Xinping’s fingertips trembled with fright. “This is almost?”
Dammit, where did this pack of wolves come from!
They had not even dealt with one wolf, and now a whole pack had appeared?
The appearance of the pack almost completely extinguished the lucky hopes of Mo Fan and the others.
Shen Jinfeng and Qin Ye, not far away, also heard it.
The two stopped at the same time.
They had walked for a while, and were actually only the last few hundred meters away from the peach tree.
“What sound is that?” Qin Ye frowned tightly.
Shen Jinfeng’s expression darkened. When he heard the second wolf howl, he instantly reacted.
His entire person immediately shot out like an arrow leaving the bow.
“It’s wolves.” His voice was left in the wind.
Qin Ye also immediately reacted.
He swiftly sprinted after him.
At the same time the viewers in Mo Fan’s livestream room screamed in fright—
The viewers in the two-person livestream room were also stunned.
[S-So fast. It feels like I barely blinked, and he flew out.]
[Damn, Big Boss, hurry back!]
[I-I came from Mo Fan’s livestream room to call for reinforcements, but the current situation… there are seven wolves over there. Big Boss Shen seems to have come out empty-handed, right? He didn’t even bring his military knife. W-What do we do?]
[Exactly. It feels like using stones against wolves won’t really work, right?]
[I… Don’t scold me for being selfish. I’m a Big Boss Shen fan, and I-I kind of don’t want Big Boss to go back, wuwu. But their relationship is so good. If Big Boss doesn’t go back or goes back too late, I don’t dare imagine how much he’ll blame himself.]
Shen Jinfeng did not know that the bullet comments were about to start arguing again. As he ran, he threw out the leaf rope, letting it fly toward a distant tree trunk and assist his whole body in rising into the air, increasing his speed several times again.
Behind him, Qin Ye, who had thought he was about to catch up: “…”
His running speed paused for a moment. He looked in shock and uncertainty at the figure in front of him that kept pulling farther away.
What the hell?
