After Transmigrating into a Book, I Ended Up with My Dream Omega - Chapter 8

Aside from Xia Xiangzhen, who had read about it in the novel beforehand, the rest of the group only learned the filming location for this episode once they were settled into their plane seats.

However, a detail emerged that was completely different from the novel’s description.

This time, the production crew wasn’t cruel enough to make the six of them take a flight with at least two layovers. Instead, they spent a fortune to charter a private plane directly to Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands.

Even with a charter, the flight from China to Honiara took eight hours. Combined with the three-hour time difference, it was already midnight local time by the time they arrived. They would stay one night in the city before taking a boat the next morning to the actual survival site.

Due to the time difference, when the broadcast began at 8:00 AM in China, it would be 11:00 AM in Honiara. The Chief Director planned to start filming from the moment they boarded the boat, so the guests only needed to be ready and waiting downstairs by 10:00 AM local time. This arrangement allowed them to get a good night’s sleep.

After a day of flying, no one had much of an appetite. After forcing down some food at the hotel to fill their stomachs, everyone went to bed.

Xia Xiangzhen, however, seized every moment to implement the snack-smuggling plan she’d devised on the plane. She pulled out the clothes she planned to wear the next day and put them on. Then, she took small, high-calorie treats like fruit candies and chocolate spheres out of their bulky packaging and stuffed a few into the elastic cuffs of her sleeves to see if they would fall out.

The results were delightful—no matter how much she moved, they stayed put. Since the crew likely wouldn’t check her sleeves, it looked like she could get some in.

Snickers bars were too bulky and would likely be discovered, so she gave up on those. Medicine probably wouldn’t be confiscated, so she placed those openly in her backpack. While she hoped they wouldn’t be needed, preparation was key.

Insect repellent…

Would they take that? If it wasn’t allowed, she’d just spray herself and Yin Xiaowei before it was confiscated.

Having packed everything, Xia Xiangzhen prepared to rest up for the challenge ahead. I hope our relationship can become more “normal” during this episode, was her final thought before drifting off.

The next day, almost everyone was woken up by staff and led to the cafeteria. Although it wasn’t ideal to eat too much before a boat ride, the six of them ate as much as possible. After all, this might be their last full meal for the next five days.

During brunch, the Director continued to emphasize the rules: “We are live-streaming the entire time, so there’s no editing to save you. Minimize your downtime—keep moving. If you’re working alone, talk to the camera. Most importantly, interact with each other.”

The Director’s gaze lingered on Xia Xiangzhen and Wei Lan before sliding over to Yin Xiaowei. These three seem unreliable for social cues, she thought. She then looked at Yu Yayue. Having noticed that Yu Yayue was the most socially adept of the group, she gave her a final instruction. “Yayue, I’m counting on you to keep the atmosphere lively.”

After the awkwardness in the airport lounge, Yu Yayue was actually losing confidence in her “social butterfly” reputation. But with the Director’s earnest request, she could only nod and agree.

Once the meal was over, the Director led them to the harbor. At 7:30 AM China time, although the stream for Wilderness Survival Season 2 was still dark, the number of viewers was climbing rapidly.

With time to kill before the official start, the six guests found ways to occupy themselves. Seeing Yin Xiaowei leaning against a railing staring blankly at the sea, Xia Xiangzhen pulled the insect repellent from her bag and walked over. “Sister Xiaowei, want some?”

“I have my own, thank you.” Yin Xiaowei glanced at the bottle before returning her gaze to the blue ocean.

“But you haven’t used it yet, right?” Xia Xiangzhen smiled. “Use it before we go to the island. What if it’s on the crew’s confiscation list?”

Yin Xiaowei locked her eyes onto Xia Xiangzhen’s face. “How do you know I haven’t used it?”

How else? I smelled it. But saying that felt too creepy, so Xia Xiangzhen replied, “I guessed.”

She held the spray out again. “Better safe than sorry. The Solomon Islands aren’t exactly known for icy tundra; they’re mostly volcanoes and plains, meaning we’re likely headed for a rainforest island. You won’t regret spraying now.”

Though Yin Xiaowei thought she had a point, she still declined. “I’ll use my own.”

“I already have it out. If you want yours, you have to dig through your bag. It’s just a bit of spray; there’s no need to reject me so firmly.” Fearing Yin Xiaowei’s wariness, Xia Xiangzhen pointed to the others. “I’m going to ask everyone else too, not just you.”

Feeling that she wasn’t being singled out, Yin Xiaowei held out her hand. “I’ll do it myself.”

“Sure.” Xia Xiangzhen handed it over and sat beside her. “Actually, you don’t have to guard against me like I’m some predator. I won’t do anything. I’m just normally, well… being nice to you?”

Yin Xiaowei actually agreed with that point. Xia Xiangzhen had been very “proper.” Even in the face of blunt rejection, her behavior never crossed the line; it was just simple kindness. It had even produced some positive results, like the increase in audition invites.

But Yin Xiaowei didn’t want to date right now—not even a relationship that didn’t involve “marking”—and most of all, she didn’t want to date an investor. It would make her feel like all the people who whispered that she’d sleep her way to the top were right. She knew her mindset was perhaps too naive, but she couldn’t get past that mental hurdle.

Yin Xiaowei pursed her lips. “I just want to keep my distance so I don’t give you any illusions that you can successfully pursue me.”

Xia Xiangzhen was speechless. She knew it would be a hard chase, but she couldn’t help asking, “Do you hate me that much? You won’t even leave me a single illusion?”

Yin Xiaowei stopped spraying and looked at her sincerely. “It’s not that I hate you. I just don’t want my actions to cause a misunderstanding. To have hope and then be disappointed is a very painful thing. Furthermore, I have no plans for a relationship. Even if I did, you aren’t the type I would consider as a partner.”

The answer was sincere, but Xia Xiangzhen felt as if ten thousand arrows had pierced her heart. Seeing that Yin Xiaowei had finished her front, Xia Xiangzhen took the bottle to help with her back. “Why? Did I do something wrong? Why am I not your type?”

Yin Xiaowei thought for a moment. “Timing and status. Those two things, for me, aren’t right.”

Timing and status? How are those not right? Xia Xiangzhen wouldn’t give up. “What about personality? Is my ‘mature and stable’ type okay?”

At this, Yin Xiaowei looked at her with pure surprise. “Is that how you see yourself?”

Yin Xiaowei felt that Xia Xiangzhen’s inner world was likely very different from the image she was projecting. To Xia Xiangzhen, that surprised look and question felt like a bolt from the blue.

She had worked so hard to lean into the “mature and stable” persona, and Yin Xiaowei hadn’t noticed at all! For a moment, she fell silent, truly contemplating this failure.

“What’s the viewer count?” the Director asked the assistant director monitoring the stream.

“40 million online, and rising.”

If they could maintain this, the show would be a massive hit. The Director was excited but quickly calmed the staff. “We’ve had a great start, but keeping them is the real challenge. Everyone, do your jobs perfectly. Watch the main stream and the individual guest rooms. If you see ‘water army’ trolls trying to stir up trouble, ban them immediately.”

She glanced over at Xia Xiangzhen talking to Yin Xiaowei. The “Gold Donor” seemed to be in a decent mood. Maybe if the first episode went well, she could ask for some staff bonuses.

The Director lowered her voice. “If we hold the numbers for the first episode, I’ll talk to our big investor about bonuses for everyone. Pass it on.”

The mention of bonuses instantly energized the crew. Meanwhile, Xia Xiangzhen—hit by Yin Xiaowei’s unintentional critical blow—was still in the middle of an existential crisis. Her finger mindlessly clicked the spray nozzle as she wondered: Should I keep this persona? Or should I just let myself fly free?