Canned Souls 13

A few hours of walking was nothing for An Ning, the energetic idol. As the team's lead dancer, she had plenty of stamina and kept chattering away nonstop.

She'd get excited at the sight of a flower, get worked up over a little animal, and even had something to say about unfamiliar plants—she never seemed to run out of steam.

She even had energy to spare to look after A Qi, scouting ahead for him.

The two of them had gathered plenty, becoming the second group to eat.

A Qi could cook, and he was very good at it. He sliced the fish they'd caught into thin pieces and grilled them on the iron plate. The tender, boneless fillets curled up as soon as they hit the heat, and when he sprinkled on seasonings, the aroma of cumin burst forth, whetting the appetite.

Seeing An Ning so carefree in the present, and thinking about her future, he felt she was pitiful.

An Ning clearly loved her life as an idol right now; she was genuinely passionate about her career. But Dordona's family would never allow her to keep working after marriage.

Her future was already set. And what about his own?

At that thought, a heavy stone seemed to press down on A Qi's chest.

"Delicious! You're such a good cook," An Ning said, eyes squinting with contentment as she chewed. "Whoever marries you will be really lucky!"

"Let's talk about that later," A Qi said, poking at the fish, not wanting to discuss it.

After all three groups had eaten, the staff gathered them together. Host Jiang Fei clapped and said, "Congratulations to Lu Mingqiu and Yan Xianchuan for taking first place! You can now choose where to sleep tonight."

"The cabin," Yan Xianchuan said.

Lu Mingqiu smiled slightly, no objection.

"A wise choice!" Jiang Fei said. "Second place goes to A Qi and An Ning's team. Which will you pick: the tent or the sleeping bags?"

A Qi glanced at Dordona, who gave him a look signaling not to worry about her.

The two discussed briefly and settled on the tent.

The third-place team had no choice; they had to take the remaining sleeping bags.

"The midday sun is scorching," Jiang Fei said. "No need for more talk—let's reveal the afternoon challenge: hide-and-seek."

"After this morning's searching, you should have a preliminary understanding of the forest. Do you know how many rabbit holes and tree hollows there are on this island?"

"Find the surprises in the holes, use the clues to tell truth from false. The team that finds the most genuine surprises wins a feast."

"Let's go!"

****

As expected, Yan Xianchuan's pair took first place again in the afternoon filming and earned a grand meal as a reward.

The guests had arrived by airship, but the production crew had come on a cruise ship, which came in handy right then.

The table was laden with an extremely sumptuous spread—roughly a dozen dishes at a glance.

The two of them obviously couldn't finish it all. Lu Mingqiu suggested that the other two groups join them.

Yan Xianchuan had no objection; she didn't mind sharing a table with others.

After walking all day, Lu Mingqiu still wasn't flushed or out of breath; she looked perfectly at ease. But no one found it strange—because Yan Xianchuan had done all the work.

While others were slogging through the woods, she seemed to be on a leisurely stroll.

Host Jiang Fei announced the results and rewards, then Lu Mingqiu raised her voice: "Everyone, come join us for this feast."

"After a long day, you need a good meal to keep up your strength," she said. "Besides, with this much food, it'd be wasteful for just the two of us."

An Ning was the most excited. "Really, really?!"

"Really," Lu Mingqiu said, nodding with a smile.

No one would turn down a proper meal. The whole group followed the host onto the cruise ship.

The bullet comments were all praising Lu Mingqiu for being beautiful and kind. Not only her fans, but fans of the others as well. Even if Lu Mingqiu hadn't shared, no one would have called her stingy—in this society, putting yourself first was considered correct.

They all marveled at how famously good Lu Mingqiu was.

Everyone said thanks, washed their hands, and then sat down. From left to right: Yan Xianchuan, Lu Mingqiu, Dordona, An Ning, A Qi, and Xie Chuxiao.

The six formed a circle. After Xie Chuxiao sat down, Yan Xianchuan moved her chair closer to Lu Mingqiu.

Fans clamored about how sweet it was, saying she must want to be nearer to Qiuqiu.

Little did they know that Yan Xianchuan simply didn't want to talk to the movie emperor and was avoiding useless socializing.

She half-turned her head and body, preferring to look at Lu Mingqiu's pleasing face instead.

At the table, everyone chatted about the day's misfortunes—bumped legs, twisted ankles, empty stomachs, wrong turns. They traded stories as if enacting a day in the life of a jinxed fool.

Lu Mingqiu occasionally responded, presenting a picture of harmony.

Except for Yan Xianchuan. She had no interest in comforting others, no interest in showing off, and certainly no interest in joining the conversation.

While others complained, she ate; while others shared their woes, she ate. Her focus was single-minded: ears closed to the world, heart set on the meal.

Only when Lu Mingqiu occasionally mentioned her did she look up.

【So this Alpha hasn't talked to anyone else yet?】

【Now that you mention it, you're right.】

【What is 'individuality'? (leaning back in tactical pose)】

【I call this arrogance. So rude. Everyone here is famous. She's just a nobody. Who does she think she is?】

【Come on, log into your main account. Which fan is playing the innocent now? Not talking to your idol equals being arrogant? Should everyone who doesn't know him just be cremated?】

【If she didn't want fame, why join a variety show? Entertainment industry has its own rules.】

【Are you selectively blind? The show invited Qiuqiu and her for ratings. She only came to keep Qiuqiu company. She doesn't want to be in the industry. You didn't read the statement at all and just start bashing. Like your idol—determined despite disabilities.】

【Stop fighting, stop fighting. Those who know, know. It's just about stealing the spotlight.】

【A dog jumps the wall in desperation. Why bother with them? Better to look at Qiuqiu's face.】

At night, everyone had to follow the arrangements for sleep.

Those in sleeping bags slept in sleeping bags; those in tents slept in tents; those in the cabin slept in the cabin.

The cabin had fresh bedding. Lu Mingqiu was one of Danyou Media's shareholders, so she wasn't about to make things hard on herself.

The little room had only one bed, each with their own quilt. As darkness fell, the interior became pitch-black, and the livestream was cut.

Lu Mingqiu waited until the breathing beside her evened out into deep sleep. Then she quietly rose, carried her shoes barefoot, and slipped out of the cabin, walking farther away with her manager Su Hong, who was waiting outside.

"Yesterday's operation failed," Su Hong said in a low voice.

"What happened?" Lu Mingqiu's eyes sharpened instantly.

After clearing out a small Holy Healing Church outpost in Wucheng last time, Hei Ge had hacked into the base's servers and obtained a wealth of data, including the location of another outpost in direct contact with the Wucheng branch.

Lu Mingqiu couldn't get away, so this operation was jointly commanded by Hei Ge and Bai Ge. The twins were both experienced espers. They'd launched the raid the moment they got the information—there should have been no surprises.

"That outpost had extra personnel. And somehow, an Investigation Bureau squad was nearby—they arrived almost as soon as we started fighting," Su Hong said, her tone heavy. "Raspberry, Maple Leaf, and Bai Ge were all badly hurt. They barely escaped."

"Something's off," Lu Mingqiu said, lowering her gaze in thought.

That kind of remote place—how could an Investigation Bureau squad just happen to be nearby and arrive at the exact right moment? According to records, that small branch was just a supply transfer station, one of their insurance measures for hiding their tracks. It normally had few people.

Hei Ge and Bai Ge's squad had ten members. With proper planning, they could even raid a city-level Investigation Bureau office. It was impossible they couldn't take a tiny relay outpost.

Unless... it was a trap.

"Recall all members in Nanjin City. Cease all operations. No external communications. I'm heading back tomorrow to conduct a full personnel review tonight."

Lu Mingqiu's azure eyes seemed dyed by the night, as deep as undiluted ink.

She suspected a mole.

"Understood," Su Hong said with a nod. After a moment, she pulled two syringes from her pocket. "Today's medication."

Lu Mingqiu turned around, brushed her hair to the front, and exposed the back of her neck.

Su Hong raised her hand and wiped across her neck, peeling off a layer of skin-thin artificial dermis, revealing an unhealed one-centimeter cut beneath.

"You keep using your psychic power, so it heals too slowly," Su Hong said, picking up a syringe and injecting the medication beside the wound with practiced skill, slowly pushing the plunger.

The other didn't need injection; a clear liquid was dripped directly into the wound. Lu Mingqiu's brows tightened slightly, her lips forming a thin line.

"Slow as it is, it'll heal eventually."

After the artificial skin was put back, Lu Mingqiu let her hair down. "Keep an eye on things during this period. Don't let your guard down with anyone except Hei Ge and Bai Ge."

"Yes," Su Hong replied.

Lu Mingqiu returned to the cabin and glanced at the bed. Yan Xianchuan was still in the same position as when she left.

The cameras, which had quietly restored function during her absence, dutifully recorded the bed area, then cut the connection again after she returned.

No anomaly. She hadn't been woken.

Lu Mingqiu lay down and quickly fell asleep.

On the other side, Yan Xianchuan turned over. A distinct medicinal scent lingered at her nose, like a thin mist.