Why don't I try using a compass?

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On site: “……”
In the live broadcast room: “……”

As the off-road business van sped away wildly, both the scene and the live broadcast fell into a heavy silence.

Su Yunjin was stunned.
Zhang Chuchu was stunned.
Guan Tongyue was stunned.
Zheng E was dumbfounded.

Zhang Xiaoxiao, who had been resisting filming all along, stood frozen for a few seconds before suddenly rushing out, shouting after the car, “What are you doing? Hey!!! Hey!!!”

The forest was empty and silent, with no response, and the car’s taillights vanished around the bend.

The post-production team even sent a few crow emojis to set the mood.

All of this happened in less than three to five minutes—from the staff picking up the phone, dialing, to quietly slipping into the car and speeding off—as if rehearsed.

Too fast.
Too unexpected.
It was like the ultimate mastery of the art of betrayal.

With Zhang Xiaoxiao chasing the car, at this moment, viewers in the live broadcast room could no longer hold back.

“I’m dying laughing—I actually found this hilarious.”
“Hahaha, damn, I always knew directors trick actors, but I’ve never seen it. Today is a first!”
“This is hilarious—the director is so shady. It’s obviously on purpose! How could they do this? I’m cracking up.”
“Leaving someone behind and just running off—I’m starting to feel sorry for Zhang Xiaoxiao.”
“Hahaha, so this is what it means to refuse any form of compensation. Damn, that’s really something else.”

It exploded.
The live broadcast room was thoroughly blown up.

A wave of comments flooded in one after another.

All previous worries, considerations, and emotions vanished in an instant.

Laughter.
So much laughter!!

The viewers laughed uproariously.

Meanwhile, in the backstage team of “Hot-Blooded Warriors,” Xu Zhang looked at the drone footage with a smug hum. “Trying to mess with me? They’re still too inexperienced!”

“But Director Xu, won’t this put them in danger?”

The executive director, watching Xu Zhang’s proud expression, couldn’t help but remind him.

After all, this was a variety show, not a death-defying stunt. The safety of the artists came first.

Is it really okay to just send all five of them into the forest?

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“What? If ordinary new recruits can handle it, why can’t they?”

Xu Zhang turned, a trace of contempt flashing in his eyes.

“We consulted with the authorities about this route; it’s the easiest one. There are cameras every few hundred meters for monitoring, plus a professional tracking system. If their route deviates, our team will immediately move in to rescue them.

Those new recruits were dropped in alone, forced to cross the entire forest on their own.

If regular civilians’ kids can endure this, why can’t they?”

Initially, Xu Zhang felt a twinge of guilt.

To prevent Su Yunjin from monopolizing the spotlight, he had changed his plan last minute and brought all five for special training in this forest.

But when Zhang Xiaoxiao declared a refusal to continue filming as if he owed Xu Zhang something, that guilt completely vanished.

He was kind to others, but others didn’t consider his feelings.

Refusing to film? Seriously, who comes up with this stuff?

What, do they want him, the director, to grovel and coax the artist? Or are they going to demand compensation and sue?

He hated trouble the most. Since the contract was signed, he had the right to enforce it.

So…

To hell with being a gentleman—everyone knows how to cheat and deceive!

Seeing Xu Zhang grow angry, the executive director dared not say more, and Xu Zhang wouldn’t make a fuss over such a trivial matter.

After expressing his thoughts, Xu Zhang kept his eyes on the backstage monitors.

At the scene, Zhang Xiaoxiao had only run less than a hundred meters before stopping.

Surrounded by forest on all sides, if he ran around alone, he would only face worse consequences.

Of course, Zhang Xiaoxiao dared to bet the crew would look for him.

But what if he slipped out of the camera’s view and they couldn’t find him?

He wasn’t reckless enough to risk his life just to make a point.

“I’m so mad, I’ll settle accounts with Xu Zhang when I get back!”

Zhang Xiaoxiao returned angrily, looking around for staff to vent to, but all that surrounded him were a few cameras and drones tracking their filming.

As for staff, not a single soul!

“Mr. Zhang, let’s just follow the route,” Zheng E said.

Zhang Xiaoxiao gritted his teeth in anger. Though he knew it was the only way, he still stubbornly said, “I won’t go. I’ll stay here. After seven days, I’ll leave.”

“Mr. Zhang, it’s dangerous for you to stay here alone if we all leave,” Zheng E continued to persuade.

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Zhang Chuchu also spoke, “Yeah, this is a forest. What if bears come out at night?”

“There can’t be bears here; this isn’t their habitat,” Zhang Xiaoxiao argued, still stubborn but casually glancing at Su Yunjin with his eyes—seeking her opinion.

It wasn’t that he particularly liked Su Yunjin; it was that when she helped him pack his backpack earlier, he had developed a slight sense of reliance on her.

Even though she was a girl, he couldn’t help wanting to know her thoughts.

“I agree with Teacher Chuchu,” Su Yunjin said. “It’s more dangerous at night. Though there may not be bears, there will definitely be snakes.”

She plucked a piece of shed snake skin from a tree and held it up. “Mr. Zhang, look, this is the proof.

Snake venom can act in just a few minutes. Without knowing the type of snake, being alone is essentially putting yourself in danger.

Besides, this route isn’t very long. Since Director Xu and the others placed all five of us here, it surely can’t be too dangerous.

At worst, it’ll be tough, but didn’t we learn some wilderness survival skills during training?

Now’s a good time to test them. Learning survival isn’t just about knowing, it’s about remembering it deeply.”

Guan Tongyue strode over to Su Yunjin, linked arms with her, and nodded firmly at Zhang Xiaoxiao.

Only then did Zhang Xiaoxiao stop letting his pride get the best of him and silently gather with Su Yunjin and the others.

“Let’s study the map first and figure out how to tell directions in the forest,” Zheng E suggested as the five gathered.

“I remember my teacher saying you can tell directions by tree rings: the dense rings face south, the sparse side faces north,” Zhang Chuchu recalled.

Guan Tongyue looked around. “But there aren’t any cut trees nearby.”

“What about the slope? More snow on one side, less on the other?” Zhang Xiaoxiao proposed.

Guan Tongyue didn’t even look and immediately shook her head. “There’s no snow here.”

“Use a watch! Does anyone remember how to use a watch to find directions? I learned it in elementary school,” Zheng E suggested, wearing a watch.

His idea was met with slight interest from Guan Tongyue, Zhang Chuchu, and Zhang Xiaoxiao, but the next moment, all their faces fell.

Guan Tongyue shook her head bitterly, “I don’t know.”

Zhang Chuchu: “I remember learning it too, but I forgot.”

Zhang Xiaoxiao didn’t even speak.

Seeing everyone fall into despair, Su Yunjin said, “How about I try using a compass?”