The rain was getting heavier, making it almost impossible to tell night from day.
In the cave, all that could be heard was the pitter-patter of rain hitting the leaves and the howling wind.
Huo Yingying leaned against Shen Tang's chest, her face buried in it, her voice muffled as she spoke.
"Oh no, how unlucky..."
She couldn't help but take a big sniff. Wow, Shen Tang smells so nice...
With Huo Yingying breaking the ice, everyone else started chiming in with complaints as well.
"Didn't the director check the weather report?"
"To be honest, weather reports aren't always that accurate."
"When is the rescue team coming?"
"Well this is just great, we're really stranded on a deserted island now."
Zhao Zhe still managed to crack a joke: "What do you think, will our show become a hit?"
Shen Tang held up her script and nodded. "Don't worry, it definitely will."
He Yuan was more optimistic, already envisioning a bright future: "To be frank, I only have 50,000 followers on Weibo right now, 49,900 of which are bots my company bought. If this show takes off, I hope to gain some real fans."
Huo Yingying was still clinging to Shen Tang. "I may have over 100k followers, but most are zombie fans too, the rest are my dad's employees."
"Your dad's company sure has a lot of people..." He Yuan looked over jealously. "Now I know why I'm struggling to make ends meet, it's because someone else is living the good life on my behalf!"
Zhao Zhe immediately pretended to cry inconsolably: "Who?! Who stole my destiny as a rich second generation?!"
"Pfft!"
After this experience, everyone was much more familiar with each other.
With no cameras around, they could speak more freely.
Zhao Zhe thought about his past actions and apologized to Shen Tang with reddened face: "Sis Shen Tang, I'm really sorry. Earlier my manager made me try to piggyback off your popularity on purpose, and the truth or dare question was also the director's idea."
Shen Tang just smiled. "It's alright, though your manager sure is gutsy."
After all her reputation wasn't the best.
Huo Yingying hugged her tighter. "Sis Shen Tang, I don't think you're that kind of person at all. Those negative rumors about you online must have been people deliberately trying to smear you."
Shen Tang fell silent. "Well... not exactly. My manager does always make me stir up controversy on purpose."
Everyone else: "..."
Seeing their shock, Shen Tang went on to share some of the shady practices in the industry, as well as insider information about unspoken rules.
It was her way of holding an umbrella for them since she had already been rained on.
Of this group, only Huo Yingying came from a wealthy background. The rest were all rookie artists still naive about the industry. Learning these inside stories instantly dimmed the light in their eyes.
Shen Tang quickly stopped herself, unsure if revealing all this was good or bad.
Huo Yingying's heart ached for her. "Sis Shen Tang, these past few years must have been so hard on you..."
That one sentence almost made Shen Tang lose her composure.
Neither of her lives had been easy.
In her past life, refusing to compromise her principles led to being suppressed and bullied, unable to get good resources and never being able to become popular.
Although she was a D-lister in this life, her name recognition wasn't low. She made hot search topics several times a week, with horrible comments filling her Weibo posts.
She even had a dedicated anti-fan whose ID was "Did Shen Tang Quit the Industry Today" who persistently checked in every day waiting for her to retire.
Shen Tang held back her tears and forced a smile. "It's been alright. I'm pragmatic about it - I entered the industry to make money. Although I haven't made big money these years, it's still much better than a normal job."
That's right, she had already given up and was just going with the flow now.
Hearing this made Huo Yingying feel even worse.
She told herself that after this show ended, she would get her family to help support Shen Tang.
Zhou Hao had drank too much water and needed to pee, but with the heavy rains outside and his injured leg, he held it in.
After shifting positions several times with no relief, he really couldn't hold it anymore.
He scooted over next to Zhao Zhe and softly asked: "Could you help me get to the restroom?"
Zhao Zhe looked outside at the lightning and thunder with some fear.
"Or you could just go inside the cave..."
The cave stretched deep within and they hadn't explored it.
Zhou Hao's expression tightened.
With so many people around, there was no way he could do that.
Shen Tang turned her back to him with Huo Yingying still in her arms. "We'll cover our ears. Just go inside, it's too dangerous out there."
Blushing, Zhou Hao allowed Zhao Zhe to support him as they walked deep into the cave.
After about 30 feet or so Zhou Hao finally stopped.
Zhao Zhe politely turned his back. Zhou Hao hurriedly relieved himself, the dripping sound echoing slightly. He shivered in comfort.
Just after finishing and buckling his belt back up, he felt something brush against his shoulder.
Reaching back he touched something slimy.
Zhou Hao's heart lurched.
Oh my god, what is that?!
"Hiss hiss~"
Hearing a snake's tongue, Zhou Hao already had his last words in mind.
He wanted to call for help but extreme fear had stolen his voice.
Soon, sharp pain erupted from his neck as Zhou Hao let out a muffled grunt.
Zhao Zhe looked back sharply. "Zhou Hao, what's wrong?"
Zhou Hao cried out "I got bit by a snake!"
Zhao Zhe freaked out, "A snake?! Where?!"
He shined his flashlight on Zhou Hao and saw two bloody holes on his neck, but no trace of the snake itself.
"Crap, Zhou Hao got bit by a snake!" Zhao Zhe yelled loudly.
Shen Tang hurried over to check the wound.
Lying on the ground with teary eyes, Zhou Hao could only think one thing - thank goodness he had pulled his pants back up already, otherwise he'd never show his face again in this life.
"If I die, please tell my mother it was because I was unfilial. The password to my bank card is..."
Before he could finish his last words, Shen Tang spoke up. "It's fine, not poisonous."
Zhou Hao: "Really? You're not lying to me right?"
"It's fine, really not venomous."
After examining the injury, Shen Tang searched the area and found a snake's nest deeper inside, full of small snakes writhing densely.
The others noticed the scene and shivered.
Huo Yingying rubbed at the goosebumps on her arms. "Did we wander into a snake's nest?"
Shen Tang was also surprised to find so many snakes, but fortunately none were venomous.
"Anyone got cigarettes?"
The random question made everyone freeze up for a second.
Then they realized Shen Tang must be under immense stress to ask for a smoke.
"I've got some hidden away." Zhou Hao pulled out a few cigarettes from his pocket.
Shen Tang had a complicated expression. "You've got quite the nicotine addiction huh."
"Takes one to know one."
Soon, everyone realized they had misunderstood.
Shen Tang didn't want the cigarettes to smoke, but to soak the tobacco in water and sprinkle it around them.
Although the snake's nest was quite far, better safe than sorry.
"What's that for?" Zhao Zhe asked the question on everyone's minds.
Shen Tang kept busy as she explained. "Snakes don't like the irritation and smell. It can deter them from crawling over here. After all this is their home and we're the intruders. Best not to kill if we can avoid it."
There was one other key reason she kept unsaid - Shen Tang feared snakes and bugs too.
Just because she wasn't obvious about it didn't mean she wasn't scared.
With the circumstances as they were though, they couldn't exactly relocate. She could only try her best to improve their current environment.
Huo Yingying gazed at her adoringly. "Sis Shen Tang, you're so amazing to know all this!"
Shen Tang just smiled without explaining.
She'd rather not have had use for such obscure knowledge.