The sudden typhoon caused the livestream to be put on hold, but the audience seemed to already know about it. The topic #LoveInstinct crew encountered a typhoon# quickly made it to the top of the trending chart as everyone worried about the safety of the guests and staff.
Netizens discussed:
[Would the island owner agree to let so many strangers into his estate?]
[Of course he would! Facing natural disasters, humans should watch out for each other! He can't just watch people get swept away by the typhoon without helping!]
[Zhong Ruanxing is really brave, she made the decision right away and bought time for everyone.]
[Hope the crew sends a message that they're safe once they reach the estate.]
[Now it really became a survival dating show, the heavens helped tie the theme tightly!]
...
Facing danger to their lives, everyone acted quickly.
In less than ten minutes, the guests and the entire crew left the base and headed towards Hidden Star Island. The guests carried the large military backpacks given by the crew when they first arrived on the island, making it much lighter.
Before leaving, Zhong Ruanxing went to the chicken coop and took the hen she had chased halfway across the island. Animals have instincts and can sense natural disasters faster than humans. The hen was panicking and fluttering in the coop earlier, but now that it was in Zhong Ruanxing's arms, it quieted down obediently.
Xia Xi cried with a long face, "What about the baby bok choy I just planted?"
Bai Yinyue said expressionlessly, "Who cares about your bok choy now, hurry up and go!"
Probably due to the bad weather interfering with signals, the crew couldn't contact the island owner. Zhong Ruanxing stopped them from taking the route on the map and led them down the path she took previously to secretly meet Song JinXing.
Although some wondered how she knew the way so well, the increasingly violent winds left them no time to gossip. They could only quicken their pace against the howling winds.
But walking against the winds was too difficult. The gusts could probably blow away even slightly lighter people, not to mention the crew carrying heavy equipment. This slowed their progress.
Zhong Ruanxing kept turning back to check for stragglers.
After walking for about twenty minutes, shadows suddenly emerged from the woods up ahead. The winds were too loud to hear what they were saying, but the two groups waved at each other.
At this time and place, they could only be people sent by the island owner.
Someone beside happily said, "They must be people sent by the owner to fetch us! The owner really is a nice person!"
Soon, the people approached them. Zhong Ruanxing saw some familiar faces, including the bodyguards who were with her and Song JinXing before, the gardener who watered flowers at the estate, the maid who brought her breakfast, and many wearing masks.
The English and French-speaking crew briefly communicated with them before announcing loudly, "The owner sent them to fetch us. They said if we walk for another half hour, we can take the buses up ahead. Tour buses are already prepared."
Everyone cheered.
Zhong Ruanxing was happy too. Thinking of seeing Song JinXing soon made her even more impatient.
Just as she thought this, the weight on her shoulder lightened as someone grabbed her backpack. Zhong Ruanxing turned and saw a tall man wearing the same clothes as the bodyguards with a mask covering his damp, wind-blown black hair. His deep eyes looked at her with faint amusement as he said softly, "I'll take that."
Zhong Ruanxing reflexively relaxed her shoulders and let him take the bag. He patted the head of the hen in her arms and said, "Let's go."
Even with the roaring winds, Zhong Ruanxing could clearly hear her own thundering heartbeat.
She understood what he meant. Unable to stop herself from smiling, she nodded and quietly followed him.
With so many people walking in the rain and winds, no one noticed their intimate interaction.
Soon, they saw tour buses parked on the road. There were ten in total from the estate. Everyone worked together to load the equipment first before boarding in batches.
Since there were so many people, they couldn't fit in one trip. Director Yan let the guests board first.
Zhong Ruanxing didn't want to seem aloof at a time like this. She whispered to Song JinXing, "I'll go first then."
Song JinXing nodded, brushing the rain off her shoulder. "The butler has arranged everything. Go back and take a hot shower and change into dry clothes. Don't catch a cold. I'll come find you later."
Zhong Ruanxing nodded and boarded the bus cradling the drenched hen.
Only now did others notice their whispered conversation.
Bai Yinyue stared at the figure in the rain, finding him very familiar. Glancing and seeing Cheng Yaowen also staring grimly at him, she was certain.
It really was Song JinXing!
The island owner was actually Song JinXing! Wait, this island is called Hidden Star Island, right?
Bai Yinyue finally connected everything. Her talk about breaking up with Song JinXing and needing her own career was clearly nonsense she made up to fool people!
Song JinXing had come all the way to the island for her!
The more Bai Yinyue thought about it, the more upset she got. She glared fiercely at her love rival. Song JinXing noticed her gaze and still treated her politely unlike a stranger, nodding slightly at her, having seen her defend Zhong Ruanxing on the livestream.
Bai Yinyue turned her head away. "Humph!"
Xia Xi leaned over curiously. "What's wrong, Yinyue?"
Bai Yinyue didn't reply, only sneered coldly at Zhong Ruanxing hugging the chicken.
Zhong Ruanxing made a guilty expression. "Uh, hi!"
Bai Yinyue said indignantly, "And I thought you were being bullied!"
But the whole island belonged to Song JinXing! Who could bully her?
Zhong Ruanxing sighed sadly before putting on an innocent act again. "Without you, I really would be bullied. If not for you, I wouldn't know what to do."
Bai Yinyue: "..." She instantly crumbled, both exasperated and amused. "How can you use that on me too!"
Zhong Ruanxing winked at her. "Because it works so well! Tried and true!"
