Chapter 8: This Damn Competitive Spirit

[Page 1/3]
【Based on my years of experience watching variety shows, there’s a real chance the production team might actually make them earn money through tasks!】
【Hahaha, Jiang Yunyao is operating on a whole other level!】
【Quick, everyone go watch! Actor Lu and Wanwan went to the amusement park next door! It looks like Actor Lu even prepared fireworks; it’s so romantic!】
【The Ferris wheel reaches the peak, brilliant fireworks bloom in the sky, intimate lovers making a pact to spend their lives together at that very moment…】
【Damn it! To the person above, your description is too heart-fluttering! I’m going to go visit the other stream!】

Lu Mucheng and Lin Wanwan really did go for a ride on the Ferris wheel.
The actual scene was even more aesthetic than the livestream chat had predicted. Under the witness of the audience, Lu Mucheng knelt on one knee, holding a pre-prepared ring, and poured out his love to Lin Wanwan.
Finally, as the fireworks bloomed outside the window, their beautiful, colorful light filtered through the glass, falling upon the couple as they embraced and kissed.

On the other side.
Jiang Yunyao and Xie Yixing hadn't walked very far before they spotted a bridge.
The bridge spanned a long river. The water beneath was calm, and under the glow of the streetlights, one could vaguely see the gentle, undulating currents.
In the distance, the traffic was bustling and bright as day, making this spot feel all the more quiet.
However, it wasn't long before a shout shattered the peaceful scene.
"Jiang Yunyao!"
Xie Yixing had run ahead at some point. He was holding some candy from who knows where, teasing a large, tethered white dog.
Whenever he was about to be caught by the dog, he would run to a spot it couldn't reach, taking advantage of the fact that it was tied up to tease it wantonly.
Seeming not to hear Jiang Yunyao's response, he shouted again, "Jiang Yunyao, come look at this silly dog!"
Jiang Yunyao: "..."
I think you’re the silly dog!
Jiang Yunyao stood speechless for a moment before walking over to pull him away. "Stop playing. If you upset the dog, it’ll be hard to explain to the owner!"
"This is A-Zhao's dog!" Xie Yixing patted the Samoyed’s head and gestured for Jiang Yunyao to look at the collar on its neck. "Look, it says 'Tiaotiao' on it. That’s its name!"
A-Zhao, also known as Shen Zhao, was a friend of Xie Yixing.
Surprised, Jiang Yunyao looked around. "Is your friend nearby?"
"I suppose so," Xie Yixing said, sounding uncertain. He explained, "When I came over, I only saw Tiaotiao."
Just then, Xie Yixing’s phone rang. It was a call from Shen Zhao.
Xie Yixing answered and asked first, "A-Zhao, did you come to S City? I saw Tiaotiao!"
"A-Xing, I was just about to tell you about that," the young man on the other end said, his tone incredibly serious. "I have an emergency these past two days, and I want you to help me look after Tiaotiao for a couple of days."

[Page 2/3]
Xie Yixing scratched his head. "What kind of emergency do you have?"
This friend was in a similar situation to him—the second-born in his family, not needing to shoulder heavy family responsibilities. Usually, he spent his time racing cars, hitting bars, and occasionally organizing gatherings with friends.
In short, the word "emergency" didn't fit this friend at all!
There was silence on the other end for a moment, followed by an awkward cough.
"A-Xing, my dad gave me a task. I have to go, and I have to hand over my phone. Anyway, I don't have time to explain now. I'll leave Tiaotiao in your care for the next two days!"
Xie Yixing couldn't even get a word in before the voice on the other end continued, "Oh, right, Tiaotiao hasn't eaten yet. Don't forget to buy it some dog food!"
Standing nearby, Jiang Yunyao had heard the entire conversation clearly. Upon hearing this, she immediately took two steps back.
"Whose dog is this? Do you know them?"
Xie Yixing: "..."
Tiaotiao tilted its head, its soft fur shaking as it let out an "Awoo," seemingly confused as to why this human had suddenly turned cold and pretended not to know the dog.
Because Xie Yixing was wearing a microphone, the people in the livestream heard his conversation with Shen Zhao and understood the sequence of events.
【Hahahahaha Jiang Yunyao’s stingy persona remains unchanged. For the sake of those 600 yuan, she’s even ditching the dog!】
【Innocent Samoyed: What? Are humans really this heartless?】
【Heh, Jiang "Cold-Hearted" is ruthless. Forget the dog—she’d use a person and toss them aside just the same!】
【To the one above, you sound like you’re speaking from experience. What, did Jiang Yunyao toss you aside too?】
【This money really couldn't be saved! Otherwise, you wouldn't know whether this final sum would be spent on yourself or end up in a dog’s stomach!】
【Ahhhhhh, the Samoyed is so cute! That fur looks so soft, I want to pet it!】
Jiang Yunyao never expected that the money she had scrimped and saved would end up being spent on dog food!
And it didn't end there. The dog's owner sent another message saying the dog needed to run around after eating its evening meal to avoid indigestion!
Helpless, the two had no choice but to take the dog for a walk on the street.
Xie Yixing was in high spirits, running around while holding the dog’s leash. Sometimes he ran ahead, and sometimes the dog darted in front.
It was hard to tell if the human was walking the dog or the dog was walking the human.
After finishing a lap, Xie Yixing suggested to Jiang Yunyao, "Why don't we have a race!"
"A race?" Jiang Yunyao’s interest was immediately piqued. "What do you want to race?"
"We’ll hold onto Tiaotiao, run from this side of the bridge to the other and back, and see who runs faster!" Xie Yixing opened the stopwatch on his phone. "You go first, I’ll time you!"
Jiang Yunyao glanced at the stopwatch, her competitive spirit fully ignited. She immediately took the leash and, on Xie Yixing's signal, ran toward the other side with Tiaotiao.
After Jiang Yunyao ran back, Xie Yixing pressed the pause button on the stopwatch and announced her time: "One minute and forty-five seconds!"

[Page 3/3]
Jiang Yunyao adjusted her breathing and handed him the leash. "Your turn!"
A while later, when Xie Yixing returned, Jiang Yunyao read out his time: "One minute and thirty-nine seconds."
Xie Yixing said happily, "I won!"
"No way! I don't accept this!" A raging fire burned in Jiang Yunyao’s heart. "One more round!"
It was only a six-second difference; if she ran faster this time, she would definitely win!
Xie Yixing agreed, "Let’s go then!"
【I can't tell if they’re running fast or slow. Does anyone know the length of this bridge?】
【Two hundred and fifty.】
【To the person above, are you talking about the people or the bridge?】
【Hahahaha, I went to look it up. The bridge is 250.44 meters long. He probably means the bridge is 250 meters. If you go back and forth, that’s two 250s, totaling 500 meters!】
The second round ended with Jiang Yunyao clocking in at one minute and thirty-three seconds, and Xie Yixing at one minute and forty seconds.
Xie Yixing wasn't satisfied either. "No, no! I almost ran into someone just now and lost time dodging them. Let's do another round!"
"Fine!" Jiang Yunyao didn't want to take advantage of him. "Try to stick to the side so you don't run into people!"
The third round finished, and Jiang Yunyao was three seconds slower.
The fourth round finished, and Xie Yixing was one second slower.
...
Neither would give in to the other. They didn't know how many laps they had run. Finally, Tiaotiao was so tired it sat on the ground panting, while the two of them were still arguing about who had won.
Just as they were about to continue competing, the dog sat on the ground, looking hopeless, and refused to run anymore.
【Hahahaha the Samoyed has rejected your invitation and blocked you!】
【Samoyed: Help! Someone is abusing a dog!】
【Watching the whole thing, I only have one thing to say: This damn competitive spirit!】
【As expected, no dog food is eaten for free!】
【Sorry, but I still have to say, don't you guys think the dog looks exactly like Actor Lu when he came out of the kitchen earlier?】
【Hahahahahaha brother above, I get what you mean. Forget about people—even a dog can be tormented into a state of total exhaustion in the hands of these two!】