booktalesy Chapter 4: Selecting Equipment and Landing on the Island
Chapter 4: Selecting Equipment and Landing on the Island
Although he didn't pay much attention to the entertainment industry, he couldn't resist having a comrade-in-arms named Shen Jian who was a big fan of celebrities during his military service. During their time serving on the plateau, he heard a lot of gossip about the entertainment industry from Shen Jian.
The woman standing before him was Chen Duling, a rising star who had gained fame three years ago with a youth-themed film. Although Yuan Linghan couldn't understand why this up-and-coming actress would choose to suffer like this, he remained calm.
Seeing Chen Duling step forward and extend her hand, she said, "Mr. Yuan, I hope you will take good care of me in the upcoming challenges!"
"Ms. Chen, you're too kind. Since we're partners, I hope we can work together to complete the challenge."
"Okay, I'll do my best. But I have limited experience, so I'll need your help with the challenges ahead."
These words sounded very polite, but Yuan Linghan wondered to himself, does this up-and-coming actress really have any experience?
Although the production team provided sleeping bags, could she really adapt to sleeping on a deserted island before the shelter was set up?
After a brief self-introduction, the two participants were asked to choose ten everyday items. In addition to these ten items provided by the production team, participants were only allowed to bring clothing and unrestricted personal belongings, but were not permitted to bring food.
To Yuan Linghan's surprise, Chen Duling sincerely said, "Mr. Yuan, you have more experience than I do, so you should choose these ten items!"
"Let's discuss it together! I'll make the choice, and if you disagree, you can also express your opinion."
"good!"
Looking at the items prepared by the production team, Yuan Linghan carefully observed them before finally speaking, "Ms. Chen, I think we need these four items: a first-aid kit, a seasoning packet, a kitchen utensil bag, and a rainproof cloth. What do you think?"
"Can!"
Seeing Chen Duling nod readily, Yuan Linghan continued, "As for tools, what do you think of a multi-functional outdoor axe and a composite bow and arrow set?"
"OK!"
What truly surprised Chen Duling was Yuan Linghan's subsequent question: "We'll prepare one single-person outdoor tent. As for food, instant noodles, regular noodles, or rice—which do you prefer?"
When asked, Chen Duling asked with some confusion, "Why only bring one tent?"
"Because we're currently in a tropical climate, there will definitely be a lot of mosquitoes on the island if we rest outdoors. Taking two tents will take up an extra spot. Once the shelter is set up, it won't be a big problem for me."
Upon learning that the tent was prepared for her, Chen Duling wanted to refuse, but thinking about the mosquito bites she had suffered throughout the night, she ultimately didn't decline the kindness. Many of the other challenge groups, however, opted for two tents each.
Regarding food, Chen Duling ultimately chose the five kilograms of rice from a box of thirty packs of instant noodles, five kilograms of noodles, and five kilograms of rice. Of the remaining two items, Yuan Linghan ultimately chose the rope from the choice between the rope and the nails.
Seeing that only one item remained, he surprisingly chose a raincoat. His partner, Chen Duling, knew very well that the raincoat was also prepared for her. Although they had just met, Yuan Linghan's care deeply moved her.
In a subsequent interview before arriving on the island, when asked by staff why she chose Yuan Linghan, Chen Duling frankly said, "I read the information provided by the program team. First of all, he is from my hometown, and he also served in the army."
Do you think soldiers are more reliable?
"Yes! To spend thirty days with a stranger on a deserted island, I believe the person's character must be trustworthy first and foremost. I think someone who has been rigorously selected by the military should be trustworthy."
"Then why did you agree to participate in this desert island challenge?"
Faced with such a direct and insightful question, Chen Duling blushed slightly and said, "Netizens all say I'm a good girl, and I want to challenge myself by showing my weakness. Besides, I usually enjoy watching outdoor survival shows, especially videos of camping in the rain!"
"Are you satisfied with your chosen partner? If you were to rate it out of 100, what score would you give them?"
"I'm very satisfied with my choice. If I had to give it a score, I'd give it a 90!"
"The remaining ten points depend on his subsequent performance, right?"
Hearing the host's words, Chen Duling nodded shyly. To her surprise, Yuan Linghan, who was also being interviewed, gave her a score of 90. The reason for the remaining 10 points was that he was looking forward to her future performance.
After completing their pre-landing interviews and packing all the supplies they needed to bring, the two changed their clothes and boarded the boat. To Chen Duling's surprise, Yuan Linghan had changed into a set of camouflage training uniforms commonly worn by the military.
Chen Duling was somewhat disappointed that although she had specifically purchased a waterproof and breathable outdoor jacket, the production team confiscated it because the item did not meet their requirements. Of course, the other contestants received the same treatment.
Everyone knows that tropical islands receive a lot of rain, and with a professional outdoor jacket, you don't need to rely on a raincoat. But without a raincoat, getting wet and catching a cold makes it difficult to complete a month-long challenge.
Compared to those overseas wilderness masters who start with just a knife, the supplies provided by the show's production team are already exceptionally generous. Of the ten groups of contestants, it's currently unknown how many will make it to the end.
After sailing on a yacht for over an hour and then transferring to a landing craft, Yuan Linghan and Chen Duling finally landed on the island. Whether the other nine groups of contestants had reached the island remained unknown to them.
Watching the speedboat that took them to the island leave, Yuan Linghan looked at the island they were on and said, "Dudu, let's find a shady spot first and move all the supplies there. It's very hot right now, and it's easy to get heatstroke if we stay in the sun all the time."
"Okay, Brother Yuan!"
The change in how they addressed each other was something Chen Duling had suggested earlier on the boat. Calling him "Mr" one minute and "Miss" the next felt awkward to both of them. Since Yuan Linghan was a year older, Chen Duling also politely called him "Brother."
After the show aired, many of Chen Duling's fans wanted to replace her. However, many viewers who watched the live stream felt the two were a good match. If you were to rank the ten pairs of guests to see who had the best looks, it would definitely be these two.
Finding a shady spot, Yuan Linghan saw Chen Duling, who was drenched in sweat, and said, "Duling, you rest here for now. I'll go move the other supplies. Let's move the things over first, and then we'll discuss what to do next."
"Okay, thank you for your hard work!"
Just as Yuan Linghan had guessed, Chen Duling's physical condition was indeed somewhat weak. Fortunately, she was approachable and at least didn't put on airs like a big star in front of him. For that reason alone, he felt that a little hardship was nothing.
Seeing Yuan Linghan carrying a bunch of stuff over in two trips, and Chen Duling resting in the shade, she truly realized that without a partner to help her, she probably wouldn't have been able to last three days on her own to participate in this kind of program.
After resting for a while, Yuan Linghan noticed that Chen Duling pursed her lips several times, and then asked, "Dudu, are you thirsty?"
Although she seemed a little embarrassed, Chen Duling still said, "A little, but I can manage!"
"Why are you holding on? The weather is really hot and humid. If you don't drink enough water, you'll easily get dehydrated. Wait here for a bit, I'll go get you some water. I'm thirsty too."
After speaking, Yuan Linghan, under Chen Duling's watchful gaze, cut a section of rope, grabbed a multi-tool, and headed towards the nearby coconut grove. In his opinion, picking coconuts to quench his thirst was the most convenient way, rather than going into the mountains to find fresh water!