Chapter 516 - 350: Haven’t Dealt With One, and Another One Comes

Chapter 516: Chapter 350: Haven’t Dealt With One, and Another One Comes

Influencers usually have their own fanbases. A male-female collaboration like this could be effective, but if it were two guys, he felt most fans wouldn’t be very interested, except for those who were super into wilderness survival and hunting.

’My channel is about the experience, not hardcore survival. It would never satisfy that part of the fanbase. It’s more practical to just abandon the idea altogether.’

’If I film with a female influencer, accidents like today’s are bound to happen again and again. It’s just too much trouble.’

’It’s not just a test for me, but for Erica, too.’

’If I liked a girl, I definitely wouldn’t want to see her constantly spending time alone in the wilderness with different guys for "work," only to have to edit the footage later.’

’So, after these two "experiments," I think sticking to random selection is the most suitable method. The winners will most likely be ordinary people, both men and women.’

’This is undoubtedly the best approach—for the fans, for myself, and for Erica.’

While he was lost in thought, his ears twitched as he suddenly heard a faint rustling sound.

Turning his head, he saw Jin Meiyan emerging from the thatched shelter once more.

"What’s wrong? Can’t sleep?"

"Ni," the girl said, shaking her head. She came to a stop beside him. "I just said that because I felt like today’s recording should be ending, so I pretended to go to sleep. I’m not actually tired at all."

He glanced at the time. A little after one in the morning. ’That’s actually pretty early for someone from South Korea,’ he thought. ’Factoring in the time difference, it’s only early afternoon back in South Korea. Either way, it’s no wonder she’s not tired.’

"Oh, so that’s it. I was just about to ask if your clothes hadn’t finished drying. This makes more sense."

He had assumed Jin Meiyan had also come out to dry her clothes, so he casually tossed a few more branches into the fire.

"Oppa," Jin Meiyan hesitated for a long while. Unable to think of a good excuse, she decided to just ask directly.

"Hm?"

"This might be rude, but... can I ask how far things have progressed between you and Erica?"

Lin Chen was taken aback. Several thoughts flashed through his mind as he gave her a puzzled look.

"Are all you girls this into gossip?"

"Of course. Gossip is in a woman’s nature. And who can blame us, when Erica was so direct about her feelings for you on the show? She did a lot of things most Asian women wouldn’t dare. I really admire her for that—she does whatever she wants, unlike us, who have to worry about this and that."

Without the camera, she was clearly becoming more talkative.

"From what I understand, if a beautiful girl with a great body actively pursues a guy, the success rate is basically over ninety percent."

"This isn’t directed at you, Oppa, but most men really are creatures who think with their lower half. But after being around you two these past few days, I feel like your relationship isn’t that intimate, so I just had to ask. It’s been bugging me for days and I couldn’t hold it in... hehe."

Being unexpectedly praised as one of the "good guys," Lin Chen awkwardly rubbed his nose, though a part of him felt a little proud.

The woman in front of him was a South Korean internet celebrity, after all. She had the looks, the body, and over 100,000 fans. Earning the approval of a beautiful influencer of her caliber wasn’t an easy feat.

"There’s nothing I can’t talk about, really. I admit you’re right. For a while after the Panama shoot ended, she said she wanted to work with me and could even invest in me, so I came here with her."

"Getting to know her during this time, I found she’s not quite like many other Western women. I don’t know if it’s because she’s mixed-race, but you can see traces of an Asian woman in her, combined with the charm of a Western woman. And she’s been very forward with her affection for me."

"You probably saw it on the show. Every now and then, she’d use some absurd excuse to show off her shoulder or tease me. I’m a normal guy, after all. It’s hard to resist that kind of temptation, and I slowly started developing feelings for her."

"As for now, I don’t want to rush into a relationship. Where I’m from in Great Xia, we usually spend some time getting to know each other first before deciding whether to be together. So I set a one-month deadline with her."

"How many days are left?"

"Less than two weeks, I guess. But I don’t know if these days I’m out here working should count toward the deadline. I feel like it would be fairer if they didn’t."

Jin Meiyan paid no attention to the last part of what he said. Her mind was completely filled with the four words: *less than two weeks*.

’If I show my feelings for Oppa now, wouldn’t I be deliberately messing things up for them? Wouldn’t I become the third party?’

’But if I don’t show my feelings, and they decide to get together... with Oppa’s sense of morality and responsibility, he probably wouldn’t break up with her easily. The relationship would definitely last a long time and would most likely even move on to the next stage.’

’Then where would that leave me?’

For a moment, she felt trapped in a dilemma.

Before meeting Lin Chen, it had been a long time since she’d met a guy she was interested in first—and in just a matter of days, no less. Usually, it was the guys who made the first move on her.

’Two weeks... two weeks...’

She repeated the phrase in her mind.

’Since it’s so hard to decide now, maybe I should just wait and see?’

’Anyway, I still have to go out to sea with Oppa to film the whale-watching video, and he has his own work to do. Dragging it out for two weeks won’t be hard.’

’If they decide to get together after two weeks, I’ll leave immediately. I absolutely will not be the third party who ruins their relationship.’

’But if... isn’t thinking like this too selfish?’

She pressed her lips together, staring blankly at the orange-red flames.

In the past, to be chosen as a trainee, she had devoted all her time to singing and dancing, even neglecting her studies, let alone romance.

She finally managed to shift her focus and find a good job, thinking she could have a simple, ordinary relationship, but then she had to quit and find a way to make money on her own.

Now that her career was finally stable and she had plenty of time, she’d met a guy she was interested in, only to be faced with this situation.

’Am I destined to be alone for the rest of my life, with only a career and no love?’

For no reason, a wave of sadness washed over her, and her eyes slowly began to turn red without her realizing it.

The sudden silence made Lin Chen sense that something was off. He stealthily glanced at the girl, who was looking down without a word, and noticed her eyes were red. The entire mood around her had become so heavy it was almost suffocating.

’What’s going on? Is she getting all emo in the middle of the night?’

He looked around and suddenly saw a few stalks of Spring Beauty Grass left over from the day, discarded near the shelter. He walked over, picked them up, and, still squatting, quickly wove them into a bracelet.

’A flower crown is only good for photos; it gets in the way otherwise. But a bracelet can be worn all the time without interfering with daily activities.’

He’d never really comforted a woman before and didn’t know what to do. He only knew that giving them gifts could make them happy.

Jin Meiyan was lost in her sad memories when an exquisite little bracelet made of flowers suddenly appeared before her eyes.

She was stunned for a moment, then looked up in a daze, her gaze filled with confusion as she looked at the man who was avoiding her eyes.

Lin Chen stared at the fire in front of him and coughed twice. "Ahem, well, I saw some leftover Spring Beauty Grass from today and made a bracelet on a whim. It would’ve been a waste to just throw it away."

Although he hadn’t said anything explicit, Jin Meiyan instantly understood his intention.

A flicker of emotion crossed her eyes, the corners of her lips curved up slightly, and her whole aura immediately brightened.

She held out her slender wrist and said in a sweet voice, "Thank you, Oppa. Could you put it on for me?~"

Lin Chen didn’t overthink it. ’It’s just a bracelet made of weeds, not a ring. I already made it, so if helping her put it on will make her feel better, then why not?’

Jin Meiyan held up her arm, turning it back and forth before her eyes. Although there were only three flowers, Lin Chen had deliberately arranged them together, positioning them right on the front of her wrist so she could admire their beauty at all times.

Just moments ago she was heartbroken, but now, as she stared at the simple yet beautiful floral bracelet, a single, clear tear silently slid from the corner of her eye.

"??"

Lin Chen was dumbfounded. ’What is happening?’

’I gave her a bracelet and made her cry?’

Before he could think of anything to say to comfort her, Jin Meiyan suddenly took two steps forward and threw herself into his arms. Her shoulders trembled slightly, and he could faintly hear weak sobs.

His hands froze in mid-air, unsure where to put them. In the end, he could only pat her back gently a few times as a gesture of comfort.

After what felt like a long time, Jin Meiyan took two steps back, her eyes red. She looked up and gave him a deep, long look.

That one look contained so many emotions, so complex that he couldn’t decipher any clear message from it.

"Are... are you okay?"

"Not really."

The girl’s voice still held a distinct sob, making his heart clench. Her tear-streaked face gave him the urge to pull her forcefully into his arms right then and there.

As if sensing the pity and emotion in his eyes, Jin Meiyan gently bit her lower lip. She suddenly took another half-step forward, resting against his chest again. Her small head rested gently on his shoulder, and her slender, pale arms wrapped around his back.

Although she said nothing, just from this action alone, Lin Chen clearly sensed that something was amiss.

’Normally, if a woman didn’t have feelings for him, she would never inexplicably bury herself in the arms of a strange man she’d only known for a few days.’

’I’m in trouble now!’

The corner of his mouth twitched as he sighed helplessly in his heart.

’I didn’t even do anything! I even deliberately kept my distance. What on earth did I do to make her develop feelings for me?’

’Based on my behavior today, I thought I maintained a good sense of propriety. At the very least, compared to South Korean guys, I’ve been pretty inconsiderate.’

’I haven’t even figured out what to do about Erica, and now there’s this Korean girl. Why didn’t I ever have this kind of luck with women before?’

Fortunately, Jin Meiyan didn’t hug him for too long. After only a minute or two, she pulled away again.

"Mia-nae, Oppa, did I cause you trouble...? I... I just suddenly remembered some sad things and couldn’t control my emotions for a moment..."