Chapter Fourteen

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Sun Xinping, hearing Shen Jinfeng’s question on screen, was momentarily stunned, and the chat comments collectively froze for a moment as well.
“Damn, if Shen Jinfeng hadn’t mentioned it, I really wouldn’t have remembered that the latest models of Hua smartphones can connect to satellites even without a signal!”
“Yeah, that was one of the highlights when the new phones were released! But most people don’t go to places without signal, so few actually use that feature.”
“How’s Old Sun going to explain this now? It’s normal for an uninhabited island to have no signal, but no satellite signal? That’s just too fake!”
“This is the first time I’ve seen a virtual world set by a show risk being exposed within two days—unbelievable.”
“So why not just sink all the phones in the sea? Isn’t leaving one phone just inviting trouble (lol)?”
“Probably the showrunners didn’t expect Shen Jinfeng to be able to fix the phone.”
“The only lucky thing is, Shen Jinfeng doesn’t know the emergency number? I guess no one else does either.”

Sun Xinping’s eyes lit up.
So none of the participants in the show know the emergency numbers either!

But before he could let out a sigh of relief, Qin Ye reached out to take the phone. “Let me try. I should remember emergency numbers for most countries and regions.”

!!!

Sun Xinping’s eyelid twitched.

He didn’t hesitate and shouted at the technical team, “Quick, black out the phone! Make this phone break down!”

The technical team leader had been waiting for this order; as soon as the director gave the command, he swiftly blacked out the phone.

So just as Shen Jinfeng handed over the phone and Qin Ye reached out to take it,

the phone screen, which had just sparked a glimmer of hope, instantly went dark.

Qin Ye’s hand froze in midair, and he couldn’t help but complain, “Wait, is it faking a malfunction?”

He Erwang clasped his hands together, “No, my dear device, be strong! At least hold on a few more minutes!”

Gu Shengsheng leaned close to the phone screen, face full of disappointment, “How can they be so cruel—just giving us hope to snatch it away!”

Mo Fan turned to ask Shen Jinfeng, “Can you still fix it?”

Shen Jinfeng twitched the finger Qin Ye was holding, face cold as he took back the phone.

He took the phone apart and checked it, saying, “Not fixable for now. The water damage is severe, and the battery is broken.”

“Tsk tsk tsk, the showrunners really can’t afford to play this straight.”
“Damn, Old Sun, can’t you be more obvious? The moment the phone’s fixed, it breaks again!”
“Better watch out, the Hua phone manufacturer might sue you.”
“LOL, if they didn’t do this, the show would be exposed on the second day of filming.”
“If they didn’t do this, Hua phones wouldn’t be able to make satellite calls or send distress signals—the real lawsuit would come from Hua, hahaha.”

Sun Xinping wiped the sweat from his forehead as he read the mocking comments flooding the screen.

But before he could relax, he saw Shen Jinfeng comforting his teammates, whose spirits had again dipped.

“It’s not a major issue. I’ll try to fix it. At worst, we’ll gather materials and make a new battery ourselves over the next few days.”

“Ah?”
“What’s Shen Jinfeng saying? I don’t understand this niche language.”
“They’re going to make a battery themselves in this deserted place?”
“Well, scientifically speaking, it’s not impossible—if he can find the materials.”

Shen Jinfeng, in the center of the screen, continued explaining in this specialized jargon.

“Don’t worry, there are many ways to get out. Let’s first make a device to display a distress signal and use it for the time being.”

“If the phone can’t be fixed or the satellite distress function doesn’t work, we can make a simple telegraph, though it will take more effort to find materials. For that, we’ll need to make a sextant to determine our exact location...”

He clearly and systematically listed practical methods to escape the island.

He wasn’t doubting they could leave, only concerned with how smoothly and how long it would take.

The worst-case scenario was to build a boat. After all, Zheng He sailed the seas in ancient times, and this island was rich in resources; building a seaworthy ship wasn’t impossible.

The others were somewhat bewildered.

Gu Shengsheng asked Qi Xiu, “Didn’t you get full marks in physics on the college entrance exam? Can all this really be done? It sounds like a fairy tale to me.”

Qi Xiu reviewed his physics knowledge and inexplicably felt unsure.

But his trust in Shen Jinfeng was probably the highest among them all.

So he nodded firmly, “If the leader says it can be done, then it can be done.”

Shen Jinfeng looked at the group of teammates who gazed at him desperately, as if he were their last hope.

He paused, softening his tone, “Don’t be afraid. I will definitely get you all out of here.”

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Qin Ye stared steadily at the young man sitting opposite him, speaking confidently with a calm demeanor that radiated immense strength.

For the first time, he doubted his own understanding.

He had always thought of himself as outstanding among his peers.

Now he realized there are always people better than you, and worlds beyond worlds.

Qin Ye admired Shen Jinfeng, “Team leader, I believe in you.”

“You’re really amazing.”

Shen Jinfeng withdrew his gaze and nodded calmly.

After all, his original character was that of a big shot.

It was normal for him to know more things.

If the viewers knew his thoughts, they would surely scowl and ask: Normal my foot!

“Damn, he’s incredible, this character is perfect.”
“Can’t imagine his expression when he realizes he doesn’t actually know these things. Right now, he looks so composed and reliable.”
“Exactly. I almost feel like he really can do it.”
“Even Qin Ye was fooled. If we were fooled too, it’s not embarrassing at all~”

Even Sun Xinping looked at the technical team leader in disbelief: “Goat, what kind of persona did you implant in Shen Jinfeng? He seems to think he’s a scientist or something.”

What’s worse, Shen Jinfeng’s expression was too calm, his tone too confident.

Because so many unexpected things had happened, he was actually a little afraid Shen Jinfeng really did have it under control.

But listen to what he says—absurd things!

Fixing the phone was one thing, but making a battery himself?

And a telegraph?

A sextant?

Building an ocean-going ship?

...

The technical team leader was dumbfounded, “No, I never imagined someone on our show would have these skills.”

Sun Xinping: “...”

Xiao Li looked nervous, “Director, what do we do? We can’t let this keep going! We’re supposed to film for two months!”

Sun Xinping’s first thought upon hearing two months was: Perfect, that’s summer vacation.

Qi Xiu and Gu Shengsheng’s characters were just about to start university. Any later and it would be too much.

Ahem, but the urgent matter now was that it seemed they wouldn’t be able to film for two months at this rate.

He gritted his teeth and ordered the technical leader, “Since they’re so idle, make it harder for them.”

He looked at the calm and composed Shen Jinfeng on screen and bit his lip.

Love and hate, joy and worry.

Shen Jinfeng’s move caused the show’s popularity to soar again but brought huge problems for him.

Sun Xinping looked at Shen Jinfeng’s solitary, leisurely-looking bed deep in the forest and smiled darkly, “Goat, watch their physical endurance. Let’s give them a baptism of heavy rain tonight!”

“I won’t let you be comfortable!”

“Ah?” The technical leader was stunned, “It’s only the second day. Aren’t they supposed to still be getting used to the environment?”

Sun Xinping’s face twisted.

According to his script, the guests should still be weakly searching for food on the second day, not almost escaping the island with a fixed phone!

Seeing his expression, the technical leader dared not say more and busied himself with adjusting the controls.

But no one expected another twist of fate.

At that moment, on the live stream,

He Erwang heard Shen Jinfeng say they needed to gather materials and volunteered, “Boss, I’ll go with you to find materials!”

“Also, let’s pick some coconuts while we’re at it.”

“Tsk, you say you’re going for materials but picking coconuts is the real goal!”
“Tsk, is he really just wanting to pick coconuts? Maybe he just wants to climb trees and slide down again!”
“Tsk, maybe he just wants to slide! Maybe he wants to become a martial arts master and learn to catch falling leaves!”
“Pfft, you guys are too much, don’t be so harsh!”

Obviously, Shen Jinfeng saw through He Erwang’s true intentions.

He paused, then agreed, “Alright, we’ll set off soon.”

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Qi Xiu hurried to join, “I want to go too!”

This time, not only him, but Gu Shengsheng and Mo Fan, who didn’t go yesterday, also stepped forward.

“Boss, I want to go too!”

Shen Jinfeng was a bit troubled, “Alright, let’s all go together.”

He glanced at the only one who hadn’t spoken, Qin Ye, “You’re staying behind?”

Qin Ye narrowed his eyes slightly, incredulous, “Team leader, you’re really leaving me alone?”

Shen Jinfeng suddenly felt a bit guilty.

“Well, you know what, don’t stay behind either. Come with us.”

Qin Ye nodded contentedly.

Shen Jinfeng: “...”

Tsk, he got it.

The little mind games of a secret admirer.

Trying to prove one’s special place in the heart of the person they like.

For example, all the other teammates volunteered to go.

Qin Ye was the only one Shen Jinfeng had to ask to join.

Why does Shen Jinfeng know so much about this?

Because he’s done a lot of missions as a strategist for protagonists in many stories.

Damn, he fell into the trap!

Sure enough, Qin Ye was smiling happily now!

Though he must have been anxious moments ago.

Shen Jinfeng turned his face away with a click of his tongue.

“Let’s go.”

The group headed into the dense forest.

Suddenly, He Erwang remembered Qi Xiu’s confident prediction of a lucky direction yesterday.

Sometimes it’s better to believe than not—the coconuts were found yesterday, after all.

That meant Qi Xiu’s luck was pretty good.

“Qi Xiu, can you do a divination? Which way should we go?”

Viewers in the chat: “...”
“Wow, director, please control this! Superstitions can’t be spread in the live stream!”
“He Erwang really believes this? I wonder if he’ll get tricked going out alone.”

Xiao Li immediately looked at Sun Xinping, “Director, what now?”

Sun Xinping waved his hand, “Relax, they’re joking. How can a lucky direction be related to superstition?”

No sooner had he spoken, Qi Xiu began to theatrically move his fingers.

Far from the demeanor of a master in movies, it was casual and natural, like coaxing a child, bending and counting his fingers.

Qi Xiu smiled, “Let me see what today’s lucky direction is.”

Gu Shengsheng covered her mouth, asking He Erwang, “What are you guys talking about? I didn’t know Qi Xiu could do fortune-telling.”

They were classmates.

She looked at Qi Xiu, about to ask.

But Qi Xiu’s expression suddenly turned serious as he looked toward Shen Jinfeng to report, “Boss, it looks like there’s going to be a heavy rainstorm tonight.”

“Ah?”
“LOL, you asked for a lucky direction, not a weather forecast!”
“Hey, you’re about to be exposed! Yesterday it was divination, today it’s weather watching?”
“Don’t tell me the showrunners will actually make it rain tonight to go along with this, hahaha.”

Sun Xinping, seeing the chat filled with laughter, couldn’t smile.

A chill ran up from his soles as he exchanged a troubled glance with the technical leader.

Damn it, it really was going to pour rain on this deserted island tonight!