Chapter 21 — Do You Think My Mouth Is a Pacifier?

The five minutes allotted for voting came to an end, and Gao Minglang announced the results.

“Gao Tiange and Song Xiao will be the third episode’s bound couple; Qi Jun and Fu Jiaojiao are a pair; Yun Fu and Bai Zehan are together. Congratulations to Teacher Cheng and Xiao Ning for becoming a couple once again!”

“Goodness, so all our efforts just now were for nothing—only Teacher Cheng got what he wanted! That’s not fair!”

Qi Jun looked utterly desperate. How agonizing the next episode would be! Why did he have to share a room with Fu Jiaojiao?

Of course, Fu Jiaojiao noticed Qi Jun’s clear reluctance. “What are you so upset about? Being paired with you is embarrassing enough for me! Hmph!”

“There are still two hours before the plane arrives to take us off the island. All guests are welcome to chat among themselves. This concludes the live broadcast—please look forward to the next episode of ‘Love on the Journey.’”

As the guests dispersed, Gao Minglang quickly addressed the live camera, “Don’t go just yet, everyone! Now begins the special behind-the-scenes segment. None of our eight guests know the cameras are still rolling!”

The livestream comments burst forth—

“This variety show’s highlight is the director’s brilliant maneuvers!”

“The director is so devious!”

“I’m dying to see if a real drama will break out!”

Gao Minglang instructed the cameraman to follow the guests closely with a handheld camera.

“Jiang Ning, I really have something to say to you!” Bai Zehan hurried over to where Jiang Ning was collecting shells, his face anxious. “President Gu…”

Bai Zehan, worried that Gu Beicheng, who was never far from Jiang Ning, would intervene again, tried to appear completely sincere. “President Gu, I just want a word or two with Jiang Ning.”

Gu Beicheng raised his handsome brows, his eyelids drooping with a hint of seduction. His voice was low and husky: “Jiang Ning?”

Jiang Ning, paying them both no mind, was wholly absorbed in digging for cat’s eye snails at her feet and gave no response.

“Jiang Ning, are you deaf? President Gu is talking to you!” Bai Zehan, annoyed by Jiang Ning’s disregard, snapped at her. After all, Gu Beicheng was still his boss, and he needed to stay on his good side.

Bai Zehan forced a smile, bent slightly, and addressed the aloof man with utmost respect. “President Gu, Jiang Ning just has a terrible temper—she’s not very charming. If you don’t like her, I can introduce someone else for you.”

Gu Beicheng’s expression didn’t change. He glanced at Bai Zehan, his eyes narrowing, exuding a chilling aura from the depths of an abyss. “And who are you to introduce women to me? She doesn’t want to speak to you. Leave.”

“I—!” Bai Zehan choked on his words. He dared not contradict the man before him.

Why was Gu Beicheng still protecting Jiang Ning? Could it be they weren’t just acting after all?

Had Jiang Ning truly managed to win over such a powerful man? By selling herself to capture Gu Beicheng’s affection?

Bai Zehan looked down at Jiang Ning with disdain, his gaze venomous as he rolled his tongue against his cheek, preparing to spit at her.

Bang—

A long leg appeared in his vision, and the next instant a foot struck his chin sharply.

Bai Zehan, thrown off balance, fell heavily to the ground. As he looked up and saw Gu Beicheng slowly withdrawing his foot, he tried to speak, but realized his jaw wouldn’t move.

“Mr. Bai, what kind of disgusting games are you playing?” Jiang Ning slipped the cat’s eye snail into her pocket, lazily stood up, and nudged Bai Zehan’s shoulder with her foot.

“What’s wrong? Dislocated your jaw?”

“Beibei, you were too rough,” she added.

Though her tone was tinged with regret and reluctance, her fox-like eyes sparkled with delight as she looked at Gu Beicheng, her face beaming as if praising his handiwork.

“Does it hurt?” she asked.

“Ah, ah, ah,” Bai Zehan groaned, his face contorted in pain as he looked at Jiang Ning, as if protesting her words.

Jiang Ning crouched down and gave him a sharp slap. “Smack!”

“I wasn’t talking to you—stay out of it!” she squinted, her expression fierce.

“Beibei, Mr. Bai has a stubborn streak. Did your foot hurt?” she asked Gu Beicheng.

Gu Beicheng played along. “No, it didn’t.”

He could see that her hatred for Bai Zehan ran deep. As for the reason, he didn’t wish to know—everyone has secrets they’d rather keep to themselves.

Lying on the ground, Bai Zehan endured the stinging pain and tried to get up, glancing around only to find the area deserted.

How was that possible? Did Gu Beicheng have everyone else sent away?

Smack—

Jiang Ning struck him again, this time with her full strength. She curled her lips in a sneer at the man now sprawled on the ground, shaking out her right hand. “Speak.”

“Jiang Ning, you—!” Bai Zehan exclaimed in shock, realizing his jaw was fixed.

“Mr. Bai, you should thank me for setting your dislocated jaw,” Jiang Ning replied, her radiant face breaking into a teasing smile.

Stars danced before Bai Zehan’s eyes. He shook his head, pointing at her accusingly. “If it weren’t for you, would I be like this?”

“Say it—thank me.” Jiang Ning’s smile turned wicked, and she raised her hand threateningly.

Bai Zehan ground his teeth. “Thank you, Jiang Ning!”

“Get up. What is it you wanted to say?” Jiang Ning strolled lazily over to Gu Beicheng, holding out her reddened hand.

Gu Beicheng’s lips curved as he gently massaged her palm. “Next time, let me do it. If you hurt, I’ll feel bad.”

Jiang Ning’s heart fluttered at his words. She withdrew her hand and lightly patted his chest, her voice sweet. “Got it.”

Bai Zehan had had enough of their flirtatious banter. Only days ago, Jiang Ning liked him and waited for him to go public on the show. Had she merely been pretending all along? Did she know he’d had ulterior motives?

“Jiang Ning, I want to talk to you alone.” Bai Zehan glanced at Gu Beicheng, biting his lip nervously.

“Fine.” Jiang Ning followed him behind a large boulder.

She eyed him meaningfully. “Planning to frame me?”

Bai Zehan feigned ignorance. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Leaning against the rock, Jiang Ning lazily gestured at him. “Well, what do you want?”

“Jiang Ning, Gu Beicheng is a dangerous man. I’m warning you for your own good—after all, we did once share something.”

“Stop right there. I’ve never dated anyone in my life—don’t smear my name by suggesting otherwise.”

Faced with her every insult, Bai Zehan’s gaze darkened as he looked at the rock she leaned against, biting back his anger.

“Jiang Ning, I love you. Don’t be with Gu Beicheng—come back to me, please.” He gazed at her with feigned sincerity, inching closer, reaching out in an attempt to embrace her.

“Just let me touch you. Why can he kiss you, but you’ve never let me touch you?”

Jiang Ning stared at him in disgust, her tone scornful. “Because you’re not good enough. Gu Beicheng is.”

Bai Zehan’s face turned green. He opened his arms, attempting to grab her. “Jiang Ning, stop lying to yourself. You love me! You and Gu Beicheng are just putting on a show, aren’t you?”

“No, Bai Zehan. Did you bring me here just to spout this nonsense?”

Jiang Ning was thoroughly impatient. Bai Zehan’s persistence made her suspect his motives in getting close to her.

As Jiang Ning deftly sidestepped him, Bai Zehan grew anxious—time was running out, and if she wouldn’t submit, he’d just have to get rid of her.

Smack—

Jiang Ning grinned wildly, her gaze at Bai Zehan as cold as if she were looking at an ant ripe for slaughter. “Bai Zehan, you really don’t know how to live, do you?”

“You hit me again! You wretched woman, you must have a death wish.” Bai Zehan tried to pry her hand from his wrist, but her grip was shockingly strong.

“What, were you planning to drown me in the sea, or have an accomplice drop a rock on me from the boulders?”

While Bai Zehan was still reeling from having his plan exposed, Jiang Ning delivered a sharp kick to his knee.

Bai Zehan, his wrist still trapped, fell to his knees, eyes blazing with fury. “Jiang Ning, let go of me!”

She kicked him in both knees for good measure, and his legs gave out completely.

Dragging him to a shallow pool, Jiang Ning forced his head underwater. “You got close to me with an agenda, Bai Zehan. What do you really want?”

She didn’t know why she now possessed the strength to overpower him—perhaps being reborn had made her soul stronger, and her body had changed accordingly.

“Mm—cough, cough, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Bai Zehan sputtered as she held him down for over ten seconds, then yanked him up, leaving him a sorry sight.

“Not talking? Fine.”

This time, Jiang Ning held his head under for a full minute.

“Jiang Ning! What are you doing?”

Having waited in vain for Bai Zehan’s signal, Gao Tiange finally rushed down from the rocks. When she saw Jiang Ning’s ruthlessness, the stone in her hand clattered to the ground.

“So you really did want to kill me! The pair of you are pathetic,” Jiang Ning sneered, flinging Bai Zehan aside and getting to her feet, striding toward Gao Tiange.

She glanced back at Bai Zehan—he was utterly spent, gasping for air.

Gao Tiange backed up against the rocks as Jiang Ning advanced. “Jiang Ning! What are you doing?”

With beads of water clinging to her forehead, Jiang Ning seized Gao Tiange by the throat, looking every bit the vengeful spirit.

“What am I doing? I should be asking what you two are up to!”

These two—arguing moments ago, now plotting against her together. Best Actor and Actress indeed—their performance was convincing.

With one hand around Gao Tiange’s neck, Jiang Ning fished the cat’s eye snail from her pocket and squeezed it over the woman’s face.

The snail’s moisture sprayed in a fine jet, dousing Gao Tiange’s heavily made-up face. In an instant, her makeup ran in streaks, making her look like a ghost.

“Your foundation isn’t waterproof either,” Jiang Ning remarked dryly.

She released her grip, throwing a warning glare at the two who now glared back with venom.

“If you provoke me again, the consequences will be far worse than what you’ve experienced today.”