That night, the wind was even fiercer than it was during the day.
During dinner, there was faint thunder outside. By the time they got back to the room, thunder and lightning were crashing, and every bolt of lightning seemed to tear apart the night sky. Along with the typhoon and storm, the weather was so bad it was like someone was going through tribulation.
Zhong Ruanxing had always been very brave, but even she couldn't help but feel uneasy as she listened to the deafening thunder and lightning exploding outside the window.
Song JinXing was working in the study, so she didn't want to disturb him and just curled up in bed after washing up, playing games on the handheld console he had given her to entertain herself. After arriving on the island, the production team had confiscated the contestants' cell phones. Even though the livestream was suspended for the day, in order not to let online discussions affect the contestants' choices later on, the production team didn't return their phones to prevent them from going online.
Fortunately she had the game console to entertain herself. She was just getting into it when the lights in the room suddenly flickered twice. Right after, a deafening thunderclap sounded and the power went out in the entire manor.
The sudden power outage caught her off guard. Through the window, Zhong Ruanxing saw that a tall tree on the manor grounds had been struck by lightning. The fire was quickly extinguished by the heavy rain, leaving behind a pile of charred wood.
She was a little frightened, and used the light from the game console to look for candles.
Just as she was rummaging around, there was a knock at the door. She heard Song JinXing's low voice calling her name: "Xingxing."
Zhong Ruanxing ran over barefoot to open the door. Song JinXing came in carrying a candle holder. Using the candlelight, he found other candles in the cabinet and lit them. The room finally had some light. The flickering glow of the candlelight, along with the lightning flashing outside the window, really created a horror movie kind of atmosphere.
But with him here, Zhong Ruanxing felt that even if ghosts did show up, she wouldn't be afraid.
"The circuits were burned out by the lightning. They can't be repaired until tomorrow. There are a lot of people staying here tonight, and the backup generator can only provide basic electricity, so we'll have to use candlelight tonight."
The candle holders in the room also continued the European palace style motif, with smooth, flowing lines and intricate copper decoration that glimmered faintly in the candlelight.
After lighting all the candles, Song JinXing also went to the window and drew the curtains closed. The heavy curtains blocked out the terrible weather. The room took on a cozy feeling under the candlelight.
He turned around to look at her for a moment, then suddenly pointed to the sofa in the room and asked, "Can I sleep here tonight?"
Zhong Ruanxing blinked. "I'm not scared."
Song JinXing smiled. "I'm scared. Can you keep me company?"
Zhong Ruanxing couldn't help laughing out loud. She pretended to think about it for two seconds before saying haughtily, "Since you've sincerely begged me, I will magnanimously agree."
Song JinXing looked completely serious. "I will always remember this great favor."
Zhong Ruanxing felt that this man was getting better and better at acting.
Soon, Song JinXing brought over his quilt and pillow from next door. The room's sofa was spacious enough, certainly more comfortable than the foldout bed he had slept on during his hospital stay.
After blowing out the extra candles, leaving just one on the cabinet, the room darkened. But they could still clearly see each other's silhouettes.
Lying down, Zhong Ruanxing faced the sofa. Two meters apart, they looked at each other in the dim light. Both felt the other's eyes were very bright, shining with captivating light.
She suddenly asked, "Song JinXing, when did you start to like me?"
Song JinXing laughed softly. "A little earlier than you."
Zhong Ruanxing was a bit annoyed. "You don't even know when I started to like you. How can you say it was earlier?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Then when did you start to like me? Tell me about it."
Ha, he had tricked her again.
Zhong Ruanxing was so angry she flipped over, leaving him with a grumpy view of the back of her head.
After a while, she heard his gentle, earnest voice. "There wasn't a specific time. From the day we met, every interaction made me want to get closer to you. I wanted to hear you say good morning and good night every day. I wanted to get messages from you, to see you, to eat with you. By the time I realized these feelings were what people call liking someone, I was already deeply mired in them."
After a while, soft rustling sounds could be heard from the bed. Zhong Ruanxing slowly rolled over, and asked in utter seriousness: "Song JinXing, is this really your first time pursuing a girl?"
He smiled. "I just learn quickly."
Including how to sweet talk.
Zhong Ruanxing looked into his eyes. "Song JinXing, that previous confession doesn't count. On the final night of the show, I want a real confession."
His low voice gently sounded in the night. "I'm looking forward to that day's arrival as well."
...
The next afternoon, the rampaging typhoon finally left. The sky was still a bit gloomy, but the temperature had risen a lot. The production team spent one more night at the manor. Early the next morning, the bright sunshine completely drove away the dark clouds. The sky was blue, the sea clear, and the sky washed clean.
The mysterious island owner still didn't show himself, but every member of the production team was very grateful to him, bidding the butler farewell with thanks.
When Zhong Ruanxing left, she took away another large package of supplies Song JinXing had prepared for her.
When the group returned to base, except for the few huts still standing there, the scene could only be described as disastrous. The roof they had worked so hard to patch up before had been blown away too. The inside of the rooms looked like they had been soaked in water, wet all over.
The livestream had started again. Director Yan excitedly announced, "Today's task is to rebuild the huts!"
The contestants unanimously cried out in distress.
After experiencing the island's typhoon, the love survival reality show had thoroughly solidified its "survival" label. Not only could the audience watch the contestants build relationships while surviving, they could also ship their desired couples during team tasks. It was a win-win.
But no one could restrain the cheat code Zhong Ruanxing anymore.
No matter what the huts were lacking, or what difficulties the director devised to create predicaments, she could always swiftly get supplies from the island owner to get through crises.
There's a saying, "Don't bite the hand that feeds you." Director Yan gritted his teeth as he watched Zhong Ruanxing openly cheat by seeking outside help, yet he was powerless against her.
A survival love reality show with a difficulty rating of 5 stars was smoothly cleared by her with no pain.
But considering the continuously rising viewer numbers and ratings, the director bore with it!
Finally, after dominating the popularity charts for over half a month, "Love Instinct" reached the final night of the show.
Director Yan announced the final selection rules with his little microphone: "Each contestant will invite the person they have feelings for to the Confession Pavilion on the base according to the order drawn by lot. Express your heart there, then tell them which designated location you have chosen. After all contestants have confessed, everyone will go to their chosen location to wait. Contestants who mutually chose each other in the Confession Pavilion may go to the same designated location. If you hold hands and light the fireworks there, it represents your relationship has succeeded."
At this point, the barrage reached new highs as everyone guessed which two contestants would confirm a relationship tonight. Of course, based on past experience with love reality shows, it was also possible no couples would form.
The real life couple hidden among the eight contestants would also be revealed tonight.
Everyone looked forward to nightfall.
