“Sure,” said Yan Huan. She didn’t mind, since the tent was big enough for two. In fact, it was enough for three. However, she would never sleep with Su Muran. Who knows if Su Muran would slit her throat at night?
Zhou Zizhe volunteer to help Yan Huan with the tent. All these were simple tasks for him. Soon, the tent was set up. Yan Huan went inside with her bag, from which she took out her sleeping bag and some other stuff.
Zhou Zizhe walked over to help Su Muran with her tent. Just as he was about to start, he stopped.
“Miss. Su, would you rather share the tent with Yan Huan and Fang Ying? That way, you can look out for each other.”
“It’s fine, I’m not used to sleeping with other people,” said Su Muran, sorting out the stuff in her bag. Being serviced by others was nothing new to her.
What an outstandish actress, thought Zhou Zizhe.
However, he was a goody-two-shoes, which was why Yan Huan kept calling him Uncle.
Uncles are usually nice people.
After helping Su Muran with her tent, Zhou Zizhe went back to his own tent. Song Xihua had already set up his tent. They each had their own tent, minding their own business.
Song Xihua didn’t talk much, but was quick with his hands. Dallying wasn’t his style.
At night, they made do with simple food before sleeping. Of course, there was no danger. Even though it was deep in the mountains, they were on a path that had already been explored, its dangers removed. Therefore, they could get a good night’s rest.
That night, almost everyone slept soundly until daylight.
They freshened up, ate some stuff, and marched on.
Yan Huan stood up. Her feet hurt. However, she endured it without a grunt. She knew that her feet had blistered—it was familiar sensation, one she often felt when she was rushing from one set to another. A burning pain that made her reluctant to walk.
However, she had to walk on.
Fang Ying limped on, using a large branch as a walking stick. She felt as though she was going to faint. She swore to never participate in such a show again.
Although Yan Huan looked fine, it was actually her willpower pushing her on. Currently, walking had become intuitive. In her mind, walking was the only thing.
She turned and looked behind. There were only four of them left now. Su Muran had left in the morning by helicopter, claiming that she had a fever. Yan Huan didn’t believe it. However, it was a clever tactic. By doing so, she could get out of this hellhole while preserving her reputation.
Sadly, that option wasn’t available for them.
“I can’t do this anymore,” said Fang Ying, plumping herself onto the ground. “I can’t walk anymore. It hurts like hell.”
“Let me take a look,” said Zhou Zizhe, putting his backpack down. Then, he squatted down to remove Fang Ying’s shoes. Embarrassed, Fang Ying quickly shrunk away from him.
“Don’t worry, I used to be in the military. I know how to handle this stuff.”
Zhou Zizhe smiled at her, then removed her shoes and socks. Surprisingly, it was a hideous sight. Fang Ying was grimacing when her socks were removed, tears rolling down continuously.
“You have got blisters,” frowned Zhou Zizhe. “Girls have such tender skin. How did you get a blister after such a short walk?”
Fang Ying didn’t know what to say. My lord, she thought, do you have any idea how far we have walked? Not on wooden floor or gravel road, but solid ground! Three days! We have been walking endlessly for three days! Three days of continuous walking without proper rest! How could she not get a blister after this?
“I have to pop the blister to apply some ointments. Otherwise, you might get an infection.”
“Would that be painful?” Fang Ying couldn’t handle pain. If it was going to hurt, then she rather it stay like that.
Patting her head, Zhou Zizhe said, “Relax, it won’t hurt as much as it’s hurting now.”
Yan Huan placed the first-aid box she had obtained from the staff before Zhou Zizhe.
“Thank you,” said Zhou Zizhe. He opened the box and took out a bottle of alcohol, antibacterial cotton wool balls, and some medicine.
One by one, he pricked open all the blisters on Fang Ying’s feet, squeezing the pus out before applying ointment to it. Fang Ying’s eyes was teary from the pain, but she actually managed to hold in her tears. It seemed like the few days of hardship had made her tougher.
By the time all the blisters were removed, her eyes were red, like those of a rabbit.
Zhou Zizhe was a soldier, and a man above that. He couldn’t just leave a young girl behind.
“Come,” he sighed. “I’ll give you a piggyback ride.”
“But what about these?” asked Fang Ying, pointing to the two large bags on the ground.
Before she could finish her sentence, two hands went out simultaneously; one from a man, and another from a woman.
Yan Huan had wanted to carry both bags on her own. She had to. She couldn’t let Zhou Zizhe carry a person and a large bag at the same time. The rules for this shooting was strict; other than requesting for items like first-aid boxes, they were not allowed to receive any help from the crew. Otherwise, it would count as forfeiting. They had already made it this far, so giving up halfway wasn’t an option. Shame aside, none of them could accept a failure like this.
They had made it through three days. They will make it through the rest somehow.
However, another hand had reached out and took the bigger bag from Zhou Zizhe and put it on his shoulders.
Yan Huan stood up. When nobody was looking, she frowned gently in pain. Then, she continued walking with the two bags.
“You have good stamina,” said Song Xihua. He was talking to Yan Huan.
It was the first time Yan Huan heard him striking up a conversation. He had always been rather aloof. He didn’t extend a helping hand even when Su Muran wanted his help. It was clear that he didn’t want anything to do with them.
Yet, much to her surprise, he talked to her.
“I guess,” said Yan Huan, smiling. Her feet ached. Every step felt as though she was stepping onto sharp blades. However, she pretended that her feet weren’t hers. She pretended that the pain didn’t exist. In her previous life, she had suffered way worse. What she was going through now couldn’t hold a candle to those pain. This was a rough, thorny path, but she had to finish it. No matter how much it was going to hurt her.
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