Fake heiress tore up the script, acted lazy and dumb, and got eliminated.

Chapter 25: The Return of Luck

Chi Fengxiao froze for a second—then twisted her cheeks. "How dare you! Calling your uncle a 'thing'?!"

"I didn't say that! But if that's how you want to interpret it, well..." she trailed off, smirking.

Shen Jiashu ran over to stop them. "Stop! You can't treat the princess like that!"

Even Shen Jing had to stifle a laugh. "I just saw a safety house sign—southbound, about a few hundred meters."

Just then, Gu Hua's group finally made it down the volcano.

Their faces were covered in ash and sweat—utterly disheveled.

Qin Yue glanced at Chi Qian's group—relatively clean—and muttered, "You guys were up there too... How did you—"

As he spoke, a puff of black soot flew from his mouth.

Chi Qian: "Pfft."

Qin Yue's face turned darker than the ash on it.

Gu Hua wiped her face and asked sweetly, "Qian Qian, I think Qin was asking how you got down so fast. We couldn't catch up at all."

"You mean you're blaming us for not waiting for you?" Chi Fengxiao's face darkened.

Even the usually calm Shen Jing frowned. "You chose to climb up. You don't want to take responsibility for your actions? You expect others to save you? We're not obligated to help."

[More comments:]
— Unless you're a fan of Gu Hua's group, no one thinks Chi Qian was wrong for not going back. You think people will risk their lives just because you asked?
— Helping is kindness. Not helping is basic survival. Why is this hard?
— But Chi Qian could've made another skateboard to prepare—
— What, you got your brain wrapped like a mummy too? Who made her your babysitter?

Suddenly, Gu Hua's system voice rang in her head:
"Smear campaign failed. Host will now be penalized. Returning 1% of Chi Qian's luck."

Gu Hua clenched her teeth—almost cracked a molar.

Chi Qian's eyes sparkled.

Her luck!

The stuff Gu Hua stole—she could get it back?!

Nice.

That irritating system didn't seem so unbearable anymore. After all, the reins were still in her hands.

Just then, Gu Hua let out a sudden yelp—her ankle was swollen.

Ling Qian crouched down. "Hua Hua, hop on—I'll carry you."

"But you've just run so far too..."

"If you don't want me to carry you, I can always hold you in my arms instead."

Even through the ash on Gu Hua's face, a faint blush showed.

She cast a glance at Chi Qian—hoping for jealousy, for heartbreak.

Chi Qian's only response?
A turned back and a yawn.

"My nap time's coming up. Let's eat first."

Gu Hua: "..."
How can you just eat and sleep all day? Don't you have any villainess ambitions at all?!

No. She had to get her luck back.

Once they got away from the volcano, they found an open space to rest.

Their rations were gone, so they had to go forage in the forest.

To speed things up, the four groups chose to temporarily work together.

Chi Qian's team searched for water and firewood; Gu Hua's group went for food.

Everything was going well—until Chi Fengxiao stepped right into a swamp.

Shen Jing reached out to pull him, but the harder he pulled, the faster Chi Fengxiao sank.

He stopped immediately.

Chi Qian said calmly, "Uncle, I told you this show was full of bad luck for you."

Chi Fengxiao shouted, "My chest is already big enough! I don't need more bad luck! Just pull me out!"

"Uncle, I know you're panicking, but don't. Take a deep breath. Don't struggle."

He did as she said, and sure enough, the sinking slowed.

"Now, lift your arms upward. Try not to move your lower body."

"Then what?"

"Now lean your body forward, like you're lying flat on the swamp..."

As he did so, struggling to free his arms, he asked, "That'll help me get out faster?"

Chi Qian answered, cool as ever,
"No, but it'll make the 'glug' sound much more satisfying."