PEU Chapter 6.1

Day 6 of Provoking – Part 1

When Su Nuannuan heard what the condition set by the program team was, she looked somewhat awkward.

The skirt-pants she wore were light in color, wouldn’t they be see-through if they got wet? The variety show script she had been given before didn’t include this kind of plot! 

Jiang Xinghao noticed the expression on Su Nuannuan’s face and immediately spoke up on her behalf, “If we want to leave the sandy shore, surely we must be given a means of transportation? We still have ladies present, after all, we can’t let them be embarrassed.” 

When Su Nuannuan heard those words, she glanced in the direction of Jiang Xinghao. 

The director nodded with a smile, “Rest assured, the program team won’t be making things too difficult for the guests.” 

Huang Daheng secretly ridiculed, which was actually done to warm up the audience, “Oh, so you guys also know this is making things difficult for us.” 

The director coughed lightly:

“We have prepared a small warm-up exercise for everyone. As long as our distinguished guests complete the following projects, they can exchange for a means of transportation to leave the sandy shore and proceed to the final destination for the recording of the program!” 

“The first project: Complete 6 sets (6×6) of burpees, and you can exchange for a speedboat and leave with the team leader. Anyone can challenge it, but you have to accept the punishment of drinking a cup of bitter melon juice if you fail to complete it!” 

“The second project: Complete a plank for 3 minutes, and you can exchange for a small inflatable boat for two people to leave. Only two people can choose this. Similarly, if you fail the challenge, you’ll have to drink bitter melon juice as a penalty.” 

“The third project: Complete 50 high knees in place, and you can exchange for a surfboard to leave. The rules are the same as for the plank challenge.” 

Huang Daheng immediately said, “I won’t say much, I will select the plank challenge!” 

The director said with a smile, “Sorry, but the priority of the order of selection will be decided in accordance to the level of rewards received in the live broadcast room with the cutoff being one minute ago.” 

“The highest level is Buddha Jumps Over The Wall, and the contestants who received it are: God Jian! Goddess Su! And the Jiang-Jiang combination!” The director announced one by one. 

Jiang Cheng was astonished. Unexpectedly, he was on the list? 

Jiang Xinghao also looked at Jiang Cheng in utter disbelief, almost blurting out “How can it be”. Fortunately, he restrained himself. 

“Sorry, Teacher Huang, you’ve been left out and will be the last to choose.” The director turned to Huang Daheng. 

Huang Daheng covered his face and faked a cry, causing good-natured laughter to burst in the live broadcast room. 

[Teacher Huang, we will crowdfund to smash you a big reward next time! Don’t cry!] 

[The program team is really evil, how can Teacher Huang compete with traffic!] 

[Jiang Cheng also unexpectedly got it? I suspect this is a scripted play]  

[…It’s probably the local tyrant who made the bet before who sent Jiang Cheng up there] 

[It’s so funny hahaha, forget it, forget it, give Jiang Cheng some face] 

“The four named guests who received the Buddha Jumps Over The Wall reward will be ranked according to the time when they entered the circle. Respect the old and cherish the young,” The director lifted a small megaphone. “Asking the elderly of the circle, God Jian, to make the first choice. Everyone will have two chances to challenge!” 

Jian Suizhi selected the high knees option, “It’s not because I think it’s simple, but rather because I want to try surfing.” 

After Jian Suizhi successfully completed the challenge, Su Nuannuan urgently followed and chose the plank task. Although the best choice would be the speedboat, a set of 6×6 burpees would make her appear especially embarrassing. The goddess still had an image to maintain due to her idol baggage. 

The next in line was precisely Jiang Cheng, and the barrage fixed their gaze on him like a tiger eyeing its prey. The numerous viewers even started another round of betting, with the condition being whether Jiang Cheng would choose the high knees challenge to bring the “couple surfing” to fruition or not. 

Jiang Cheng walked until he was in front of the director. Just when the latter thought that he would choose the high knees task, he unexpectedly opened his mouth to ask, “Director, what is this Buddha Jumps Over The Wall that you mentioned?” 

“It’s a reward given by the viewers. However, as a friendly reminder, we are requesting for the fans in the audience to send gifts rationally and not excessively consume.” The director answered. 

“Oh, right, and let me explain a bit to the fans who are watching from the TV. The rewards given by everyone will be processed by the platform and have a percentage deducted, and all the excess money will be given to our distinguished guests.” 

When Jiang Cheng heard those words, he looked at the camera lens earnestly and said, “Thank you to all the fans and audience friends who gave me gifts.” 

[Cough, actually, there is only one] 

[And it is also not even from a fan] 

[JC’s appearance when he earnestly thanked the audience is a little bit cute and funny, and also a little bit sad] 

[Won’t say much, just for these words of thanks, I will show some support – Gua Cha gave Anchor Jiang Cheng 1x Sushi Roll] 

The platform’s standard reward prices are as such– a Sushi Roll is equivalent to 1 dollar, Teppanyaki Squid is 20, Sukiyaki Pot is 50, Black Truffle is 100, Buddha Jumps Over The Wall is 500. 

“Please make your choice, Teacher Jiang.”

Jiang Cheng quickly went through the list and did some eliminations– being near Jian Suizhi would bring misfortune while squeezing in a narrow space with a lady on a small inflatable boat would not be very convenient either, so the speedboat was the most comfortable pick. 

“I choose burpees.”

The director felt that it was rather unexpected and confirmed one more time, “Are you sure? If you fail the task, you’ll have to drink bitter melon juice!” 

“How can six sets be enough to fail?” Jiang Cheng stared at the director with doubt. His gleaming eyes seemed to convey a message – are you not very capable? 

The director, “…Please start the challenge.” 

If you can do it, then do it! [T/N: Or if you’re more familiar, “you can you up”]

The reputation of burpees as the best and most insane fat-burning exercise wasn’t without reason. It was even used as a standard test to determine the physical fitness of new recruits in the United States during the time period of World War II. It is said that those who could achieve 41 or above in 1 minute are considered excellent. 

Of course, the program team certainly wasn’t perverted to the point of adding a time limit to complete these 6 sets. 

[Laughing to death. I’m afraid that Jiang Cheng has never heard of burpees before, right? His confidence can reach the ceiling] 

[I’m guessing that he will want to lie on his stomach before even reaching 20] 

[The program team is way too crappy. After completing 36 burpees, what program is there to record next? If it was me, I would have to take a day off to recover] 

[Forget it, it’ll be better for your body if you just give up and drink a cup of bitter melon juice] 

“Start the timer.”

Squat while pressing the ground, bend over and straighten the body, tighten the abdominal muscles, complete a push-up, bend the legs and jump back into a squat, then make a vertical jump. Jiang Cheng completed those six split actions in order. His movements appeared neat and tidy, as well as simple and easy, as if they didn’t consume even the slightest bit of effort. 

Only when those six actions are completed could it be counted as a standard burpee. If it doesn’t touch the ground, without exception, it cannot be regarded as a standard burpee. At most, it is considered a simplified version. 

The program team didn’t expect the guests to be able to complete a standard burpee, and only intended for them to do the approximate actions. As long as they could, it would be counted. However, the program team didn’t expect that Jiang Cheng could do it, and even complete it this well. 

Even the team leader Song Ji-Jae, who was beside him, nodded slightly. The translator said, “The leader said your movements are perfect.” 

“33, 34, 35, 36! Challenge completed successfully!” The staff member counted on the side, and the voice gradually became filled with excitement. “The timer recorded 1 minute and 6 seconds!” 

Jiang Cheng stood up and faced the staff member, nodding slightly, “Thank you very much for your hard work.” 

He had heard the staff member counting next to him. The latter’s breathing became more and more rapid while the voice became more and more high-pitched, and the panting noise even overwhelmed his own. He felt tired for the other party just by listening to it. 

The staff member was in a daze for a bit and subconsciously replied, “It wasn’t hard work, you’re welcome.” 

After saying that, he then realised– obviously, the person who worked hard, shouldn’t it be Jiang Cheng?! 

Jiang Cheng glanced at the timer. 1 minute and 6 seconds. Although it was far inferior from his original level, this body had only been trained intensively for twenty days. To be able to accomplish this could already be counted as pretty good. 

“The leader said you are very strong,” The translator said to Jiang Cheng. Song Ji-Jae followed with a slight nod in his direction. 

Jiang Cheng brought out the traditional virtues of China and said modestly, “There is still a lot of room for improvement.” 

“Congratulations to Jiang Cheng!! For obtaining the qualification to leave by speedboat!!” The director whistled excitedly. He originally thought that there wouldn’t be anyone who could possibly complete this challenge set! 

The budget wasn’t in vain! Splendid! 

[F*ck wtf, I’m looking at you with new eyes!] 

[If this wasn’t a live broadcast, I would’ve thought the capable program team changed the script to open a path!] 

[So relaxed, doesn’t seem like burpees are so difficult?] 

[I also have some doubt] 

“Next up, requesting our guest contestant Jiang Xinghao to challenge a project! Would you like to attempt the same challenge?” The director urged on, adding fuel to the fire without realising it. 

Jiang Xinghao nodded slightly, “Then I’ll give it a try.” 

He had also done a lot of physical strength training. It was just that he had low body fat, so his trainer didn’t allow him to try burpees. Now, upon seeing Jiang Cheng finish it so easily and leisurely, completely stealing his limelight, he responded to the director’s bait. 

Wasn’t it just a squat, a push-up, then getting up to jump? There was no difficult action. 

[Haha, why does Jiang Xinghao look like he’s determined to win after saying he wants to give it a try?]

[He looks ordinary, but his confidence seems to reach the ceiling?] 

[That one just now with the label of clingy person, he has already shown an excellent show and completed it]

[…That was just an accident] 

[I advise the Jiang-style passers-by to not have such double standards. Jiang Cheng can be an accident that displayed an excellent show, but our Xingxing can’t be the best?] 

[Oh, so this is Jiang-style passers-by? Isn’t Sister Xingxing too easily offended from having his sore spot touched? Then this passer-by will just wait and see]

Jiang Xinghao felt that the situation wasn’t going well when he finished his first burpee. 

When the same staff member who stood on the side to help the guests count reached 10, he quietly turned his gaze away. He counted the numbers with his mouth and planned to give Jiang Xinghao two additional counts so as to avoid making the scene too shameful in comparison. 

By the time the count reached 15, the panting noises Jiang Xinghao made could be heard even without the help of the lapel mic. They were extremely loud and clear. 

The barrage in Jiang Xinghao’s live broadcast room blowed up– 

[Save me, my ears about to go deaf, those gasping sounds are like sounds emitted from bellows, should they really be so unpleasant to hear??] 

[I even suspect Jiang Xinghao is having an asthma attack] 

[What nonsense, Xingxing’s panting is obviously very sexy, okay! Haters should back off!] 

[Laughing so hard, then I suggest you record it to use as an alarm sound and see whether or not passers-by will earnestly help you call 120] 

On this side, the director received a message from Wang Chen. It was obvious that the agent was about to blow up. The comments of the passers-by were almost entirely on the negative side, sneering and taunting. 

Hence, the director gave a way out. He interrupted Jiang Xinghao’s challenge to say, “I just received the agent’s urgent message. It turns out that Jiang Jiang has a history of asthma. In that case, don’t force it. It’s still your health that is of utmost importance.”

Jiang Xinghao let out a long breath, looking deathly pale, and his makeup was somewhat smudged. When he heard those words, he had to cooperate and put on an apologetic and weak appearance. “I let everyone down.” 

He clenched his jaws slightly, then looked at Jiang Cheng. “Congratulations.” 

If Jiang Cheng hadn’t intentionally shown a relaxed appearance, he definitely wouldn’t have fallen into such a pit! 

[Wuwuwu, I feel sorry for our Xingxing. Xingxing, you’ve done well!] 

[I’m so angry, if Jiang Cheng didn’t choose this challenge, Xingxing wouldn’t have been cued by the director! Your health is the most important thing, darling!] 

[It’s all because of Jiang Cheng!] 

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