Chapter 89: Risking Everything for Her

Lu Zhou and the others finally arrived at the source of the sound, where they saw a suspended, hollowed-out jungle bridge hanging in mid-air. Beneath it lay a valley nestled between two towering mountains.

The howling they’d heard earlier had emanated from this spot.

The first to reach the bridge were Zhang Chen and Qi Jiajia. Even as the rest of their group caught up, the two had yet to cross, held back by one member’s fear of heights.

Qi Jiajia led the way, already on the fourth or fifth plank, with Zhang Chen following closely behind. Yet Qi Jiajia could not take another step forward, for she and Zhang Chen were tethered together, and Zhang Chen clung desperately to the bridge’s railing, unable to move.

“Come on, if you don’t walk, neither can I,” Qi Jiajia said, half laughing, half exasperated, glancing back at him. “Just don’t look down, and you won’t be afraid.”

“That’s easy for you to say. If I don’t look down, how do I know if my foot’s in the right place? If I slip and fall, who’s going to inherit my fortune?” Zhang Chen stole a glance below, his legs buckling even more. He wanted nothing more than to curse aloud, and inwardly, he was already doing so.

In the livestream chat—

[I’ll die laughing in his stream one day]

[How many millions is your fortune? Tell us so we can be amazed]

[Father Zhang, did you forget about my mom by the lake back then? Walk on, your son will take care of your inheritance]

...

“It only looks frightening. The safety measures are reliable—you’re strapped in, nothing will happen,” Qi Jiajia tried to reassure him. “Come over here, and we’ll count to three and move together, all right?”

“No, it’s worse if two people stand together.”

“Then we’ll count to three, and I’ll take a step, you take a step, so we don’t mess up.” Qi Jiajia suddenly felt like she was coaxing a child.

“Let me take a moment to mentally prepare. This height makes me panic—you have to understand how fragile people with acrophobia are,” Zhang Chen insisted, refusing to budge.

His legs trembled, sweat chilled his skin. With the drone hovering nearby, broadcasting his ordeal, Zhang Chen longed to swat it from the sky, but he dared not loosen his grip on the railing.

A grown man—a humiliating scene.

Zhang Chen almost wished he could slap himself awake.

“I understand,” Qi Jiajia replied.

You understand nothing. If you did, you wouldn’t say “just don’t look down and it’s not scary,” Zhang Chen thought bitterly.

A gust of wind swept by, swaying the bridge slightly.

“Damn!” Zhang Chen blurted out.

The sight was too comical. Not far from the entrance, Lu Zhou, Ye Fangfei, Xu Junze, and Li Jiayan, unable to contain their laughter, watched the scene unfold.

Still, laughter aside, as someone who was also a little afraid of heights, Ye Fangfei found the bridge intimidating.

The planks weren’t joined together—they were spaced out, with gaps revealing the valley below. For those afraid of heights, this was terrifying.

It was the only way forward; the tower was set in the mountain opposite.

Soon, she would have to cross the bridge with Lu Zhou—just imagining it made her legs weak.

“How much money do we have left from today’s singing tips?” she turned to ask Lu Zhou.

“I haven’t counted. Why ask?” Lu Zhou’s gaze shifted to her.

“I was thinking, if my legs go weak and I can’t get across, do we have enough for a cab back to the hotel…” Ye Fangfei smiled.

Lu Zhou, reminded of her mentioning her fear of heights at the volcano lake park, asked seriously, “You really don’t dare?”

“I’ll only know if I try…” Ye Fangfei didn’t give a definite answer.

“Then try first. If it doesn’t work, we’ll go back and beg for travel expenses,” Lu Zhou laughed.

With his words, Ye Fangfei felt her anxiety ease.

Li Jiayan’s attention lingered on Lu Zhou and Ye Fangfei. Hearing their exchange—Lu Zhou’s gentle tone and tolerant attitude—she felt a slight discomfort in her chest.

At that moment, footsteps approached from behind. She turned to see Chu Yao and Wen Yiming catching up.

“Wow, do we have to cross this bridge?” Chu Yao’s eyes widened at the sight.

“It’s the only way. Otherwise, we’ll have to turn back,” Lu Zhou replied.

Chu Yao looked to Xu Junze, “Are you okay?”

“I think so,” Xu Junze managed a strained smile. Ever since he’d seen the bridge, he’d fallen silent.

Indeed, Zhang Chen wasn’t the only man afraid of heights here.

Though he wouldn’t be as dramatic as Zhang Chen, the height still unsettled him.

Now, everyone was gathered at the bridge’s entrance, unable to proceed, blocked by the two ahead who hadn’t moved.

After all this time, Zhang Chen had only managed two or three steps, each preceded by a lengthy mental pep talk.

Qi Jiajia could only accompany him, stuck on the bridge, bound together like grasshoppers on the same rope.

“Come on, Zhang Chen! You’re brave, you can do it! Only ninety-nine steps left—charge across in one go!” Wen Yiming suddenly shouted encouragement.

Zhang Chen, who’d been facing the bridge, hadn’t realized the others had arrived. Qi Jiajia hadn’t told him, so he thought they were still behind.

Wen Yiming’s shout alerted him. Zhang Chen turned and saw all six other guests at the entrance, spectators, and Ye Fangfei and Lu Zhou especially noticeable.

Zhang Chen: “...”

Words could not express his feelings just then.

He gazed back at Ye Fangfei, who was looking right at him.

“If you’re really terrified, turn back. Don’t force yourself,” Ye Fangfei finally called out.

She meant it—there’s no need to push yourself if you’re afraid. She hoped her partner would accept her weakness as well.

But to Zhang Chen’s ears, the words carried another meaning.

Ye Fangfei thinks he’s not up to it! She thinks he doesn’t have the guts to cross!

No, he couldn’t let her underestimate him again! He couldn’t lose to that man!

“Ah!”

Zhang Chen turned to face the far end of the bridge, shouting skyward.

“Go!”

He gritted his teeth, bracing himself, and said to Qi Jiajia with reckless determination.

Qi Jiajia paused, then asked tentatively, “Shall I go? You follow?”

“Go! All at once!”

Finally, Zhang Chen summoned all his courage, clenched his jaw, and, together with Qi Jiajia, dashed across the bridge in one go.

At the moment they reached the other side, Zhang Chen looked back at the bridge in disbelief. Excitement surged within him—he clenched his fist and punched the air, “Yes! Yes! I did it!”

“Ye Fangfei!”

He cupped his hands around his mouth, shouting loudly across the bridge to her.

“Wasn’t I amazing?”

Ye Fangfei didn’t reply. She smiled quietly, raised her hand, and gave him a thumbs-up.

Seeing this, Zhang Chen’s face broke into a brilliant smile.

Nothing could match the satisfaction of overcoming his own fear and receiving recognition from the one he admired.

In the livestream chat—

[Crying, he crossed for Ye Fangfei]

[Unrequited love, his obsession runs deep]

[Tears, suddenly I’m rooting for this pair]

...

Was Zhang Chen’s performance not a candid confession in itself?

The mountain wind swept by, highlighting the contrast between one man’s excitement and the quiet of the other seven.

Li Jiayan slowly turned to look at Lu Zhou.

His gaze rested on Ye Fangfei, a faint smile at his lips, his expression unreadable.

At that moment, Xu Junze, noticing Li Jiayan’s movement, tilted his head to watch her.

This scene fell into Chu Yao’s eyes at the back.