Reality shows must be both genuine and showy.
Throwing celebrities into the wilderness to fend for themselves isn’t realistic, and having everything scripted from start to finish is too contrived. Finding a balance is crucial.
Thus, after Corona arrived in Lindu, the show’s director and two network executives led them to familiarize themselves with the setting and discuss adjustments to specific segments.
In the story setup, the six of them would form a group to rob a bank and then start their escape as the alarm bells ring.
“We considered designing shootouts and car chase scenes,” explained Director Shao, “but even in filmmaking, such plots require stunt actors for dangerous scenes, so we found a new substitute.”
He gestured to his secretary, who presented a cylindrical police light, resembling the red and blue lights atop police cars.
“This distance light is for your use.”
Huo Ren inspected the light as a staff member brought over a computer simulating the signal.
“When the police are more than ten kilometers away, this light will remain off, indicating you are safe.”
“When the distance is about five to ten kilometers, a yellow light will flash, signaling drones are conducting low-altitude searches.”
“From three to five kilometers, the yellow light turns red and will flash faster as the distance closes.”
Director Shao paused for a few seconds, observing their expressions, “If the distance is reduced to within one kilometer, you are deemed to have failed the escape.”
Huo Ren passed the prop to Mei Shengyao, not finding the requirements too stringent, “This way of filming is safer. Scenes like car chases can be added in post-production.”
“The victory condition is for the six of us to escape for seven days without being caught?” Chi Ji asked curiously, “What’s the reward?”
“The successful moment is next Sunday at 7:30 PM. At that time, the coastal tourist lines of the temporary twin cities will simultaneously launch a celebratory light show and fireworks display, and we will sponsor your new album with seven days of skyscraper advertisements.”
For safety reasons, the program will not be broadcast live but edited and promoted after the recording is completed.
However, if bystanders spot them in Lindu, they are likely to take photos and post them on Weibo, inadvertently providing tracking information for the police.
Given Corona’s influence in Asia, staying entirely in wilderness and hunting areas for seven days is impractical, necessitating the use of disguises.
“We will provide one million in escape funds,” the network executive smiled, “All vehicles, food, water, tents, firearms, etc., must be purchased with this fund. Any violation will default as a failed escape.”
Everyone was silent for a few seconds.
With a million already, why rob a bank? Why not do something legitimate with the money?
Three days before the escape begins on Thursday afternoon, but the show has already started recording, equipped with three cameramen with special forces backgrounds for seamless follow-up.
“Let’s have a meeting.” Huo Ren gestured for them to sit in a circle in the hotel room and started drawing diagrams on a whiteboard.
The bank robbery process would be designed and filmed in post-production; their concern was only the choice of tools for escaping.
“We have many items to purchase, divided into three categories,” he stated clearly, “Survival tools A, escape tools B, essential supplies C.”
“After the meeting, Shengyao and Jue-ge will buy A, Yun-ge and Long-ge B, and Xiao Chi and I will handle C.”
Everyone agreed, following his lead.
They were boy band idols, from trainees to the present, harmoniously blended over seven years, understanding each other with just a glance.
“The seven-day survival plan can only outline broadly; unexpected situations will likely arise, requiring flexibility,” Huo Ren paused, cautiously adding, “Although the show has medical staff, we still need to carry a medical kit, including allergy, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic supplies.”
Long Jia was examining a topographical map, eventually noting, “We must consider load and storage.”
Once they abandon vehicles to enter deep mountains, many items would need to be carried by hand, and if hidden, must consider concealment and safety.
Xie Lianyun, a homebody with limited life skills, listened for a while before speaking up, “So, are we… eating compressed biscuits for seven days?”
Everyone paused, suddenly realizing the importance of food.
“If we only eat canned food and biscuits, Huo Huo and Xie Lianyun, with their sensitive stomachs, might get diarrhea and fall ill,” Bo Jue frowned, “It’s better to have hot meals prepared on the spot.”
“I’ll bring Huo Huo an army smokeless stove,” Long Jia raised his hand, “We can steam rice, make soup, anything!”
“…Or self-heating hot pots?”
“Self-heating meals can ignite easily upon impact,” Xie Lianyun shook his head, “I’ll follow you guys to dig stoves, let’s buy more shovels.”
The six dispersed that afternoon, following the shopping list discussed at the meeting.
When they regrouped at 8 PM, Mei Shengyao handed them a bag of hot sugared chestnuts and taiyaki.
Xie Lianyun froze, “You didn’t—use the funds—to buy snacks, did you?!!”
“How could I?” Mei Shengyao waved off, seasoned, “Why talk money when cuteness solves everything?”
“Mei Shengyao, you weren’t like this before??”
Huo Ren resumed his position as the leader, surveying the room filled with purchases, “Let’s report back on what we bought and the remaining funds.”
Bo Jue and Mei Shengyao had acquired tents, sleeping bags, water purification bottles, and other tools, with a few items pending delivery tomorrow, leaving less than 50,000 of their 150,000 budget.
Huo Ren and Chi Ji bought medical supplies, cold-weather gear, folding mountain bikes, energy bars, and other equipment, completing their purchases with about 30,000 left from their 150,000 budget.
The rest of the funds were handed to Long and Xie to purchase hunting guns and a second-hand mountain off-road vehicle.
Long Jia, sipping the hot chocolate Chi Chi made, blinked, “We still have 700,000 left, Xie Xie spent around… two to three thousand?”
Huo Ren was stunned for a second, “Bro, you didn’t buy the car?!”
“Don’t use the word ‘buy,'” Long Jia licked the cup’s rim, “A friend gifted us four vehicles, SUV, UTV, MPV, all included, one to keep in the city. Driving a large off-road in commercial areas is too conspicuous.”
Gifted. Four. Vehicles.
Xie Lianyun, holding six wigs, followed up with a comment, “All top-of-the-line, costing tens of millions if bought.”
All. Top-of-the-line.
The team captain was plunged into confusion, pondering whether this counted as a violation of the rules.
“Little Huo Huo,” Xie Lianyun whispered in his ear with an arm around his shoulder, “These kinds of textual rules are meant to be nitpicked. Taking them seriously means losing. To win in games, you first have to be shameless.”
Long Jia nodded in agreement, adding, “My friend also gave me a helicopter, already parked in the mountains.”
Huo Ren covered his head, “And there’s a helicopter—”
The next day, when all the big and small items were in place, the three rooms were almost stuffed full.
It looked less like an escape and more like moving house.
Huo Ren worried too much, always feeling something was missing, wanting to buy everything.
Bo Jue habitually multiplied everything by six, discarding the concept of six rugged men sharing one towel or one cup.
After breakfast and a walk, Xie Lianyun came back to see the room full of large and small packages and four guns and was stunned.
“This—won’t work!!!” He bellowed, “If we go to ‘eat chicken,’ it’s like we’re aiming to deliver packages!!!”
Huo Ren nodded in agreement, then turned to Long Jia, “Maybe your friend can also send a few trucks.”
Xie Lianyun: ??!!
“Park the trucks in hidden areas without surveillance, and mark four positions on the map as supply points.”
Huo Ren thought, having already accepted a helicopter, what’s lacking in four trucks?
His mind raced, realizing they weren’t prepared enough, “Disguise isn’t just about wigs and makeup; we need to get some uniforms.”
“Uniforms?” Xie Lianyun, responsible for buying disguise props, tried to control his expression, “What kind of uniforms??”
“Janitor uniforms, construction worker uniforms, etc., and corresponding IDs. Yun-ge, take another round on the streets, snap photos when you see them, and we’ll Photoshop them temporarily.”
“I understand all that,” Xie Lianyun gestured towards a long-haired oddity attempting to pack a suitcase, “But Huo Huo, have you ever seen a plumber like this?”
Bo Jue: …?
Huo Ren pondered for a while, “I remember there are bald caps, right?”
Bo Jue: …???
By Friday night, four trucks were in place, driving towards different surveillance blind spots like mobile mini-supermarkets.
Xie Lianyun procured over thirty uniforms, helping them compress the clothes into rolls and stuff them under the seats of the off-road vehicles.
Just organizing different tools and equipment nearly stretched them until 3 AM.
By midnight, realizing there were too many items and the trunk and roof rack were not enough, they had to decide what to throw out.
“Six cups, unnecessary,” Huo Ren shook his head. “If Jue-ge thinks it’s unclean, keep one for yourself, and the five of us can share one. No need to be picky during an escape.”
Bo Jue sighed silently, nodding.
“Wet wipes, disinfectant, masks…” Mei Shengyao rummaged around, “No, we bought too many of these. We don’t need to disinfect the tents inside and out; let’s take fewer bottles.”
Bo Jue reluctantly agreed.
“Actually, we don’t need six tents,” Xie Lianyun realized the space taken up by tents and sleeping bags was excessive, looking towards Huo Ren and Chi Ji, “Can two or three people squeeze into one tent? Set up a slightly larger one?”
Chi Ji readily nodded, “I’ll sleep with you. You get cold, and I’m super warm.”
Shengyao raised his hand, “I want to sleep with Ren-ge! I won’t have nightmares sleeping next to Ren-ge!”
Bo Jue covered his face, turning to look at Long Jia after a long moment.
The latter blinked innocently.
“Teacher Xiao Bo, seems you’ll have to make do.”
“But, I’m always well-behaved when I sleep, you know that.”
The author adds:
Planning to move to Shanghai for stable treatment next year, I’ve been busy looking for houses and doctors, so the update schedule has been unstable, sorry _(:3∠)_
Things should improve from next week, thanks for your patience.