Meeting My Ex on a Wilderness Variety Show

My historical danmei, "Repaying Karma," is currently being serialized. Feel free to add it to your collection~

Blurb:

Ren Yuan, a D-list actor, can no longer make it in the entertainment industry. He decides to break his contract and quit, and takes a spot on an outdoor variety show called "Deserted Island Expedition" to pay the penalty. To his surprise, he runs into his ex-boyfriend, Jiang Guangyun.

They broke up years ago, and their circumstances couldn't be more different.

Jiang Guangyun's film was a huge hit, and he won Best Supporting Actor.

Ren Yuan has made no splash at all, playing supporting roles in flop dramas for years.

They live under the same roof, but can't understand a word the other says.

One thinks they've gotten back together and are dating, just going through a cold war.

The other thinks it's an affair with strings attached, and that since he's single, he's just in heat.

Jiang Guangyun (cheerful) (kissing him over and over): It's okay! I'll get Baby all the best jobs. Baby will definitely depend on me more and more, and love me more and more!

Ren Yuan (indifferent): ...Forget it. Let's just flirt a little while we're acting. It's fun.

*

The "Deserted Island Expedition" challenge begins. Five contestants carry the items they've exchanged for with points as they cross the island.

Rain pours down, thunder and lightning crash.

On a rainy night, Jiang Guangyun walks several kilometers through the mud, arriving at Ren Yuan's tent to throw himself onto the man he's been longing for day and night...

Jiang Guangyun (confident): I'm going to protect Baby!

But the next day, he comes down with a fever and delays the trip by two whole days.

Jiang Guangyun (weakly): I'm holding Baby back...

Ren Yuan (helpless): ...

In the last few days, another downpour hits. The two of them don't move an inch. Their food is running low, the journey is long, and their odds of completing the challenge are slim to none.

At sunrise, Ren Yuan chooses to give up the challenge. He takes the burden with him, leaves behind the supplies, and lets Jiang Guangyun win.

Ren Yuan (wiping his sweat): Finally, I don't have to keep acting with him. If I keep going, I'll start believing it.

Jiang Guangyun (teary-eyed) (hugging the supplies) (watching the helicopter fly away): Baby... really does love me so much... I'll go find Baby when the show is over!

* The outdoor variety show takes up a large portion of the story. The entertainment industry is just the backdrop, and the plot focuses on romance.

* The research comes from searching all over the place, so it's not very professional.

* Mostly told from the bottom's perspective, with a little from the top's.

* The top is arrogant and hopelessly lovestruck, with a controlling streak and a stubborn mouth. He's particularly infuriating early on, and a bit rough in bed. He has issues, but he'll get help.

* Set in a fictional modern world, with no real-life counterparts.

* Includes a secondary couple.

Blurb for the upcoming novel "Repaying Karma":

Seven years ago, not long after Luo Bei came down from the mountain, he was new to the ways of the world. He didn't know how to deal with people and often overstepped, yet thought everyone liked him. As his conflicts with the others grew, he left in anger and shame, even slapping Qi Qingye before he went.

Now the two old acquaintances meet again. Luo Bei has stabilized his spiritual body and made great progress in cultivation. His enemy has torn out Qi Qingye's spiritual root and gouged out his eyes, leaving him destitute and down on his luck.

Luo Bei: Are you really blind? Did they actually dig your eyes out?

Qi Qingye: ...

Luo Bei: Did I say something wrong? Was I not supposed to say you're blind? Or bring it up? Sorry, I thought you'd care more about losing your cultivation than going blind. You used to be so powerful, and you even taught me cultivation and how to handle people. Now you've become like this, and it makes me sad... Oh, right, I know what manners are now. I'm really good with people!

Qi Qingye: ...

* Luo Bei isn't being sarcastic. He's completely sincere.

Theme: Stay positive and challenge yourself