Chapter 50: Wild Dodder (8)

After making up his mind, Duan Jiaze took the initiative to reconcile with Duan Jiayou. They were identical twins who shared the closest bond; even quarreling shouldn’t affect their relationship.

“You mean…” Duan Jiayou looked at his brother, “you want something to eat?”

“Chocolate, candies—you have those milk pastries or whatever, right? I know you do, just give me some,” Duan Jiaze said, regretting not bringing more snacks on the plane. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be so helpless now.

“Don’t you have your own food? We can’t waste ours; it’s best to wait until Fu Jingyan distributes theirs before eating our share.” Duan Jiayou had secretly stashed food precisely so that he and his brother could survive longer on the deserted island. Unless absolutely necessary, he wouldn’t bring out those precious supplies.

“I’ll trade what I have for yours.” Duan Jiaze clutched his stomach, adopting a pitiful expression. “Little You, I really crave something sweet…”

“Duan Jiayou replied, “I remember you had a whole piece of chocolate?”

Duan Jiaze replied, “All gone!”

Duan Jiayou fell silent.

It would have been strange if Duan Jiayou couldn’t discern that his brother was hiding something. They had only been on this deserted island for a few days—how could he have eaten an entire piece of chocolate so quickly?

Moreover, today Duan Jiayou again noticed an unusual state in Duan Jiaze’s body. Given their strenuous daily labor in this environment, how could he become so aroused? While trying to address the issue, Duan Jiayou nearly collided with Xuan Yiqing when she approached him seeking help. In that moment, Duan Jiayou truly felt like a pervert.

He didn’t want to endure it any longer.

Regardless of what secret Duan Jiaze wanted to conceal, Duan Jiayou decided he must uncover it all.

They were the closest of brothers; just because they were growing up, did it mean they should start distancing themselves from each other?

Duan Jiayou handed a small piece of milk pastry to Duan Jiaze and, after advising his brother to savor it slowly, began discreetly observing him.

As expected, Duan Jiaze didn’t take even a single bite of the milk pastry. Instead, he carefully tucked the food into his pocket and then resumed working diligently as if nothing happened.

On the deserted island, their living conditions were poor, but Duan Jiaze’s mood remained consistently good. On the way back to camp, Duan Jiayou even saw his brother stop before an unknown white flower. His elder sibling crouched down, admiring it with a joyful smile.

When scrutinized by Jiayou’s puzzled gaze, Duan Jiaze said, “Don’t you think this flower is very cute?”

Duan Jiaze’s eyes brimmed with affection. “Delicate, fragile, beautiful—and most importantly…” He gently played with the petals. “…in my hand, it becomes even cuter.”

Imitating his brother, Duan Jiayou also reached out to touch the petals and remarked, “It is quite cute indeed.”

“It’s mine.” With a swift motion, Duan Jiaze slapped away his younger brother’s hand. “Don’t ruin the flower.”

Duan Jiayou pressed his hand against his palm, a hint of displeasure flashing through his eyes. “The flower grows in the ground; your name isn’t written on it anywhere.”

Not only could he touch it, but even if he picked the flower, Duan Jiaze couldn’t hit him just for that reason.

“I say it’s mine, then it’s mine,” Duan Jiaze muttered, pulling Duan Jiayou along as they headed back to the campsite. “Nightfall is approaching, and tomorrow will be another new day.”

The house they were constructing had begun to take shape, with several rows of tree trunks embedded in the ground, enclosing a square area. On the floor lay multiple layers of large leaves they had collected, and after a hard day’s work, everyone sitting on them only wished to collapse completely without moving.

Xuan Yiqing spent yet another full day searching through the forest. From Bai Ling, she gleaned quite a bit of information about wild vegetables and fungi present there, but as she herself wasn’t adept at identifying such things, her entire day of searching yielded little success.

At this moment, Xuan Yiqing regretted the young lady’s frail health; otherwise, dragging Bai Ling along would have been far more efficient than searching alone.

“It’s alright,” Fu Jingyan comforted her upon hearing that Xuan Yiqing hadn’t found any food. “This island is vast, so it’s not easy for one person to search. Once we finish building our shelter, I’ll accompany you.”

Today, Fu Jingyan also constructed a kiln and produced some charcoal.

He distributed the charcoal among everyone and gave a demonstration, saying, “If anyone wants to clean their teeth, crush the charcoal into powder using a stone. Then, using your finger or finding some plant fibers to make a toothbrush, dip it in the charcoal and brush your teeth.”

This method of brushing teeth could potentially cause some damage, but given their wilderness environment, it was the most practical solution Fu Jingyan could think of.

Xuan Yiqing’s eyes brightened, her gaze towards Fu Jingyan warming further. “Fu Ge is amazing, thinking of such a way.”

She had been busy for days, with finding food occupying all her thoughts; brushing teeth hadn’t even crossed her mind.

Fu Jingyan smiled without responding. His consideration for these issues stemmed from his desire to improve the living conditions for the young lady.

Bai Ling, being much more delicate than the others, wanted to remain pretty, and naturally, Fu Jingyan aimed to fulfill her wishes.

Later that evening, after the young lady called out to him as usual, Fu Jingyan escorted her to the beach. By now, he had grown accustomed to preparing food and fresh water for her at night.

The stored supplies were meant to be distributed among everyone, but driven by his own bias, Fu Jingyan secretly withheld a portion, reserving it exclusively for the young lady.

Initially, Fu Jingyan believed himself to be upright and dependable, someone who would never betray the trust placed in him by others. However, when confronted with his personal desires, he made choices almost without hesitation.

Since deciding to nurture this flower, he found himself breaking countless principles he once held dear. Things he should not have touched, he did; rules he should not have broken, he violated. In Bai Ling’s presence, his principles seemed to lose all significance. Whenever he saw her, improper thoughts inevitably surfaced in his mind.

Ever since deciding to nurture this delicate flower, he had unknowingly broken countless principles.

He touched what he shouldn’t have, violated rules he ought not to, as if his moral standards held no significance before Bai Ling.

Whenever he saw her, improper thoughts would invariably surface in his mind.

Bai Ling was gentle and obedient, her entire being akin to a fragile snowflake, making Fu Jingyan constantly fear she might accidentally melt away.

Even when frightened, she only dared to tremble slightly. She wouldn’t run or cry for help, instead staying quietly here, by his side, so docile that it evoked immense tenderness.

Fu Jingyan felt that keeping Bai Ling close was sheer torment for himself.

He knew she wouldn’t refuse him because he held the medication she needed; she would always comply obediently.

Bai Ling’s petite body was strikingly beautiful, with a graceful neck, alluring butterfly bones, and a slender waist. Perhaps sensing his gaze linger too long, she bit her lip, tears welling up once more in her eyes.

Even her sorrowful demeanor possessed an ethereal beauty.

Fu Jingyan didn’t act on his desires; a shred of moral restraint still lingered within him. However, he couldn’t predict how long this thin veneer of ethics would last.

After feeding Bai Ling her medication, Fu Jingyan descended into the sea and swam for several laps.

When he emerged, drenched, he saw Bai Ling sitting nearby with his clothes neatly folded in her arms. Her obedient demeanor once again softened his heart.

The young lady’s gaze was evasive, afraid to meet his eyes.

Fu Jingyan gently touched her cheek before dressing right in front of her.

m577 couldn’t help but wonder if there were some rose-tinted lenses clouding Fu Jingyan’s perception of the host. As the only one aware of the host’s true nature, it felt like m577 bore the brunt of the deception.

“Fu Jingyan seems to grow bolder each day…” After Fu Jingyan entered the water, Tong Ling openly admired the male lead’s physique. “With just a few days of exercise, I can already feel his muscles getting more defined when he holds me, heh heh.”

m577 remained silent, unsure how to respond.

“Do you think Fu Jingyan might face health issues if he continues at this pace?” Tong Ling asked.

m577 chuckled, “It seems he’s determined to stay energetic for your sake.”

Tong Ling feigned innocence, “What are you implying?”

“I haven’t said anything; I’m a pure system and don’t understand what you mean,” m577 innocently replied.

Tong Ling couldn’t help but sigh with admiration, “As expected of my system—little M, you’ve grown.”

M577 was speechless.

Duan Jiayou knew that every night Fu Jingyan took Bai Ling to the beach, but he didn’t realize his own movements were being watched as well.

After Duan Jiaze found an excuse to leave, Duan Jiayou stealthily followed behind his brother.

It was evident even to the most observant eye that Duan Jiaze’s mood had improved significantly. Duan Jiayou saw his brother zigzag through the woods with clear purpose, then…

Then Duan Jiayou discovered the secret his brother had been hiding.

So it was this flower who had caught his brother’s fancy.

Compared to the nameless blooms by the roadside, she indeed seemed more delicate and captivating.

The precious food he sought from him—it was all for her.

Those chocolates he hadn’t dared to eat, meticulously hidden milk pastries… In the end, they were all given to her.

Watching the scene unfold before him, Duan Jiayou’s heartbeats nearly synchronized with his brother’s. A familiar intense emotion surged within him—had his brother been doing this behind his back every day?!

This is just outrageous, outrageous, outrageous…

This was just too much, too much, too much…

The discomfort of feeling excluded and abandoned, along with subtle jealousy and resentment, led Duan Jiayou to毫不犹豫地 form an idea—since his brother could do it, why shouldn’t he try as well? After all, Ricky was the first to betray him; therefore, there would be nothing wrong if Jiayou took some action.

“Someone is secretly watching,” m577 remembered this time to scan their surroundings and promptly alerted its host: “It’s Duan Jiayou.”

“It seems Duan Jiaze couldn’t shake off his brother after all.” Tong Ling wasn’t surprised by Duan Jiayou’s presence. As usual, she completed her food transaction with Duan Jiaze, then dismissed him despite his lingering reluctance.

Each day, Duan Jiaze became increasingly clingy. This time, when Bai Ling urged him to leave, he hesitated, clearly not wanting to go. “I feel so uneasy, Elder Sister Bai…” Duan Jiaze tentatively said, ”…When will I finally be able to…”

Tong Ling softly responded, “My body isn’t very strong, which is why I need nourishing food to recover.”

Duan Jiaze was well aware of how fragile the young lady’s health was, making this explanation entirely understandable for him.

He was the one feeding Bai Ling; if he couldn’t even fulfill this small request, he’d be truly inadequate.

“Then tomorrow…” While Duan Jiaze understood her perspective, he still stubbornly wanted to push for more. “Help me again…”

Duan Jiaze took hold of Bai Ling’s delicate hands, feeling that even the young lady’s fingers were incredibly lovely. “Tomorrow, I’ll definitely bring you something delicious.”

Tong Ling smiled softly. “Okay, I’ll wait for you.”

With excitement and anticipation for the next day brimming within him, Duan Jiaze left the woods.

Meanwhile, Tong Ling remained seated, dipping the towel into the basin and wringing it out before wiping her face and neck.

Even under the shade of trees, the sweltering heat made one feel irritable and uncomfortable.

Despite the harsh conditions, the young lady insisted on being clean and beautiful every day—it was normal for her to maintain hygiene at all times.

However…

“The peeper hasn’t left yet!” m577 doubted its host was unaware of the situation. “Lately, my eyesight has been failing, and I’m hearing things too. If this continues, I won’t get enough nourishment…”

“Chortle, you’re telling me you’re not getting enough nutrients when you haven’t done anything?” Tong Ling snorted coldly. “Will you leave quietly or…”

m577 curled up and obediently lay down. 【Your choice is fine with me.】

Just as Tong Ling gathered her hair to wipe the back of her neck, the figure hidden behind the tree stirred.

The warmth on Duan Jiayou’s body had yet to dissipate as he took step after step towards the girl sitting on the grass. As he got closer, the intense emotions that had gripped him earlier became more pronounced.

He finally understood why Duan Jiaze needed to avoid Bai Ling at the camp—if one got too close to Bai Ling, they couldn’t resist wanting to be intimate with her.

After arriving on the deserted island, although Duan Jiaze and Bai Ling appeared distant and indifferent, secretly, they had developed such an incredibly close relationship. When did things start between them? Aside from what he witnessed today, what else have they been doing behind closed doors?

Duan Jiayou wanted answers to numerous questions, so when the girl spotted him and mistook him for Duan Jiaze, he didn’t clarify anything.

“Why did you come back again?” Tong Ling hastily smoothed out her skirt and looked around, “Did nobody see us?”

Duan Jiayou approached the girl, his gaze subtly shifting as he asked, “Elder Sister Bai, are you very afraid of others finding out about our relationship?”

“Well… it’s supposed to be a secret. You don’t want anyone else knowing either, do you?” Tong Ling countered.

Just like Duan Jiaze moments ago, Duan Jiayou sat next to Bai Ling. He turned his head, scrutinizing her closely—from her lovely face to her delicate and graceful figure. He knew how fair and tender her skin was, as well as how strikingly charming her appearance.

This young lady had indeed changed significantly from before; him not being surprised at all that his brother would fall for her.

From the plane to this deserted island, Bai Ling underwent a remarkable transformation. Duan Jiayou was already quite intrigued by her and had considered getting closer to the young lady himself. However, what he didn’t anticipate was that his brother had secretly met with her, evading him early on.

Seeing the youth remain silent, Tong Ling spoke up, “If you linger here too long, your younger brother will notice.”

Upon hearing this, Duan Jiayou’s inner fire flared up instantly. He brushed aside the young lady’s long hair, a hint of malice flickering in his eyes as he asked, “So what if he discovers it? Are you afraid of him? My brother and I look exactly alike—what difference does it make?”

Tong Ling gently tugged her locks from the youth’s grasp, sat beside him, and softly tapped his cheek. “Silly Little Zuo, some things cannot be shared.”

“Do you want me to treat him like this?” Tong Ling lightly touched Duan Jiayou’s palm with her pinky finger, their hands intertwining before she placed them both over her heart.

Duan Jiayou trembled slightly; at that moment, all the jealousy, resentment, bitterness, and sorrow suddenly vanished.

His heartbeat quickened considerably, thumping loudly against his chest. Under the young lady’s gaze, a faint blush colored his cheeks.

Like his older brother, Duan Jiayou began harboring different feelings towards the young lady.

As soon as he clearly recognized these emotions within himself, his jealousy didn’t diminish—it intensified instead.

Now he understood how his brother felt when facing Bai Ling.

This is outrageous…

Why did she hide from him? Why was she selfishly avoiding his attention? Was he not worthy enough?

With reddened eyes, Duan Jiayou yearned to embrace the young lady, but her soft hand gently stopped him. “Little Zuo, not today.”

“Why not?” The thought of his brother secretly having an intimate bond with Bai Ling, unbeknownst to him, fueled Duan Jiayou’s desire to make up for what he had missed.

If his brother wanted something, so did he. It wasn’t unusual for them to share interests and affections towards the same people or things.

After all, why should he be blamed for falling behind? What harm could there be in wanting just a little more?

“The food is finished,” Tong Ling said firmly, “without it, I can’t continue.”

Initially taken aback, Duan Jiayou then burst out laughing. “So that’s how it is…” He found it amusing; he had assumed his brother somehow captivated the young lady emotionally, only to realize it was through food…

Thus, his brother’s proposal to exchange food wasn’t about affectionate gestures, but rather a straightforward trade for benefits…

Using those precious foods to bargain with the young lady, Duan Jiayou surprisingly didn’t find anything wrong with it.

“Elder Sister Bai, suppose… someone could give you better treatment—would you switch caretakers?” Recalling how Duan Jiaze had nurtured the young lady, Duan Jiayou felt a stirring within him.

Having food reach your mouth through different means could be quite intriguing. Duan Jiayou’s gaze swept over the young lady’s face; once tasted, one would inevitably crave more.

“Caretaker…” The girl’s eyes widened, and her cheeks flushed slightly with indignation. “What are you talking about?!”

“The person who cares for you, feeds you, and looks after you.” Duan Jiayou found the expression on the young lady’s face utterly adorable, and he leaned forward to pinch her tender cheek.

Tong Ling maintained her startled look as she forcefully pushed away the boy beside her. “Y-you’re not Little Zuo…”

Duan Jiayou’s lips curved upwards, and he pulled a funny face at the young lady. “Congratulations, correct answer!”

How could Duan Jiayou willingly let the young lady mistake him for his brother? In matters between them, he wanted to clearly participate under his own identity.

Neither the young lady nor his brother would be able to shake him off.

“If Ricky can take care of you, why can’t I?” Seeing the girl’s silence, Duan Jiayou moved closer to her. His hand once again grasped some strands of her hair, and as if intentionally playing mischief, he gently tugged on them with great satisfaction. “There isn’t much difference between me and Ricky; didn’t you even mistake us just now?” he said confidently.

The girl’s cheeks were flushed, tears hovering at the brink of falling, making her look both pitiful and alluring.

“Or do you think there’s something about me that falls short compared to him? If you can find any differences, then I’ll obey your every command,” Duan Jiayou continued. “Moreover, I can offer you more.”

They couldn’t abandon him.

On this deserted island, who else could provide better food than him?

“But…” Duan Jiayou smiled mischievously, “don’t tell Little Zuo about my visit yet.”

As punishment for betraying him, Duan Jiayou intended to make Duan Jiaze regret treating him this way.

Before leaving, Duan Jiayou placed a piece of candy in the young lady’s palm. “Elder Sister Bai, we have a deal. I’ll come see you tomorrow.”

Once the boy left, Tong Ling unwrapped the candy and popped it into her mouth, chewing thoughtfully. “Mmm… lemon-flavored candy, slightly sour.”

m577 was utterly dumbfounded by this turn of events: “How many people are going to feed you now?”

“Everyone is so caring; it’s truly touching,” Tong Ling sighed.

[The plot… What was the original plot…] m577 checked the device monitoring key plot points, which indicated that everything remained normal.

Compared to the original storyline, Tong Ling portrayed a more delicate and fragile young lady than before. Forget about doing any work—she spent all day lounging like a laid-back fish, undoubtedly becoming the biggest liability within the group.

Even while lazing around, she didn’t forget to burden others. Not only did she keep Zhu Zhan constantly busy and prevent Fu Jingyan from getting sleep, but she also managed to make the twins want to pamper her with food. As for the protagonist, she spent every day searching for sustenance in the woods, embodying the epitome of a dedicated survivor…

In the early stages, the plot had not deviated at all. However, as for future developments…

At this rate, with how the host was behaving, it would inevitably exhaust everyone and lead to food shortages.

[It’s clearly all wrong, yet also somehow right…]

M577 gave up resisting. Whatever—let the host do as he pleased; it no longer cared.

Upon returning to the camp today, Duan Jiayou was even happier than his brother, especially when Duan Jiaze reached out for some of his food. Inside, Jiayou couldn’t help but smirk.

“Sorry, Little Zuo.” Duan Jiayou spread his hands and shook his head. “I’ve eaten all my food.”

“How is that possible?!” Duan Jiaze knew exactly how much his younger brother had stashed away. How could Duan Jiayou have consumed everything by himself?!

“I was hungry, you know?” Duan Jiayou licked his lips, recalling the taste of the “food,” and his eyes curved in delight. “Sweets are truly delicious.”

“No…” The thought of being unable to find something good to feed the young lady made Duan Jiaze’s face grim. “Search again, there must be at least one piece of candy!”

“I already said there isn’t any.” Duan Jiayou evaded Duan Jiaze’s attempt to pat him down, his expression growing cold. “If you want food, go trade with Fu Jingyan. I won’t give you anything from here.”

Duan Jiaze paused, feeling a chill in his heart. “Little You, what do you mean by that?”

“We’re already in this situation; even as brothers, we must keep our belongings separate,” Duan Jiayou said calmly. “Food is very valuable; I can’t just give everything to you.”

“But we’re blood brothers—aren’t those provisions less important than me?” Duan Jiaze retorted angrily.

“Are you willing to share everything with me, big brother?” A mocking smile flickered in Duan Jiayou’s eyes. “If there’s something you yourself cannot do, why should you expect it from me?”

“I…” Duan Jiaze trailed off.

Although their quarrel didn’t reach the ears of others, upon returning to the camp, the twins’ relationship became noticeably more strained than before.

After several exhausting days, Fu Jingyan was so fatigued that he lacked the energy to mediate these issues. As usual, he distributed food to everyone. The bread had run out, and they were uncertain how many more days the remaining biscuits would last…

The group quietly consumed their rations and drank some wine divided from Fu Jingyan’s supply.

They had planned for a peaceful night’s sleep, but unexpectedly, a cold wind swept across the deserted island, followed by torrential rain.

Their unfinished shelter immediately got drenched, the bonfire extinguished, and the teenagers panicked amidst the darkness, unsure where to take cover as they stood one after another.

Tong Ling remained seated, shivering from the chill.

“Qingqing…” Tong Ling called out to the protagonist, yet before she could find her body through touch,

someone suddenly picked her up from behind.