Chapter 52 Coconut Milk Fruit Mix.

Chapter 52: Coconut Fruit Medley

Yu Zhizhou, Yu Ning, and Ye Ran departed.

They had arrived looking radiant, but left utterly disgraced. Any viewer who had watched the show couldn't help but scoff in contempt.

Once Yu Ning's "kind little angel" persona was shattered, the backlash was far more severe than his worst imaginings. Coupled with Yu Xin's earlier revelations on the show about the treatment he endured after leaving the Yu family, it was impossible not to wonder what Yu Xin had truly experienced while living under their roof.

The fury of netizens, who had once vehemently defended Yu Ning against Yu Xin, now burned with equal intensity upon realizing they had been misled.

The repercussions extended beyond Yu Ning, significantly impacting the entire Yu family. Their meticulously cultivated image of generosity and benevolence on the star network was severely tarnished, even directly affecting the operations of their corporate group.

On Capital Star, at the Yu residence.

"Look what you've done!"

*Smash!* A white porcelain teacup whizzed past Yu Ning's ear.

Yu's father, from humble beginnings, had often faced disdain when first building his fortune, a slight that became a deep-seated insecurity. Consequently, he loved to project an air of refinement, collecting ancient Earth artifacts and calligraphy to showcase his cultural depth.

The teacup he had just thrown was exquisitely glazed, luminous and translucent, so thin it was almost ethereal. It was one of his most cherished possessions. The fact that he hurled it without a second thought spoke volumes about his current rage.

Though the cup missed Yu Ning, the residual tea and leaves splashed across his face and head. It wasn't scalding, but the sheer humiliation was enough to make his eyes redden instantly. "Dad, I'm sorry..."

This was the first time since his return to the Yu family that he had witnessed his father in such a furious state. Usually, burdened by guilt, Yu's father was gentle and amiable towards him. Yet this time, Yu Ning had wounded his father's most prized possession: his reputation.

"What good is apologizing now? I never imagined that even after being home for so long, you could still be so foolish. Yu Xin has already been driven out of the family, yet you still couldn't let it go? You had to pursue him onto the show and bring such immense shame upon our family!"

Yu's father was genuinely incensed. He had initially believed this son to be sensible and well-behaved, trusting him to enhance the family's online image. He never expected him to create such a disastrous situation!

Yu Zhizhou hadn't anticipated his father would be angry enough to physically lash out at his brother. He quickly stepped forward, shielding Yu Ning behind him. "Dad, Xiao Ning didn't intend for things to turn out this way. He knows he was wrong this time. Please speak calmly; don't hurt Xiao Ning."

"And you!" Yu's father redirected his anger. "You think you're so capable now, daring to send him on the show behind my back? From today onwards, both of you are to stay home. Except for school, you are forbidden from going anywhere else. And you—from now on, every decision you make must be reviewed by me. No more acting on your own!"

"Get out!"

Yu's father hadn't been this angry in a very long time. The two left his study, their heads bowed in shame.

In the hallway, Yu Ning tugged at Yu Zhizhou's sleeve, his voice laced with guilt. "Big brother, I'm sorry. I got you scolded by Dad too..."

"It's nothing." Yu Zhizhou dismissed it. Sending Yu Ning to the variety show had been his own decision, made against his better judgment, because he couldn't resist Yu Ning's pleas. But...

His feelings were complex as he looked at this brother he had doted on endlessly since his return. "Xiao Ning, tell me the truth. What really happened that day? Why did you say Yu Xin pushed you?"

He didn't want to believe that Xiao Ning was truly the kind of person Yu Xin described—someone who would resort to any means to frame him. Yet, Yu Ning's actions that day were indeed inexplicable.

"Big brother..." Yu Ning hadn't fully recovered, and after the fright from their father, his face was almost devoid of color. Yu Zhizhou's question only added to his distress. "You don't believe me either? I truly didn't mean to say that and make everyone misunderstand Yu Xin. I... I was just too panicked at the time, and I didn't see clearly. I hit my head, so I thought it was Yu Xin..."

This was the most plausible explanation he could concoct. His big brother loved him so much; he had to believe him...

But Yu Zhizhou's expression remained unchanged, still scrutinizing him with an inscrutable gaze. Yu Ning couldn't discern whether Yu Zhizhou believed him or not.

Yu Zhizhou sighed deeply, speaking earnestly. "Let's put this matter behind us. Yu Xin has already left the Yu family. From now on, let's act as if he has no connection to us, alright? Regardless, we did wrong by him. Xiao Ning, you must apologize to him in person."

Yu Zhizhou's tone was serious, leaving no room for negotiation. Yu Ning had no choice but to comply obediently, though a storm of resentment and indignation raged within him.

Meanwhile, after Yu Ning and Ye Ran's departure, the atmosphere among the remaining guests on Wilderness Adventure suddenly became much more relaxed.

Seeing that Yu Xin had not been wrongly accused, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. The incident had been so sudden, catching them all off guard. Fortunately, they had trusted their instincts and believed in Yu Xin, preventing him from facing the Yu family's accusations in isolation.

If such a situation could unfold on a nationally broadcast show, they dared not imagine what Yu Xin's life must have been like within the Yu household, where almost everyone sided with Yu Ning.

Though they wouldn't explicitly mention it and reopen Yu Xin's wounds, their gazes towards him couldn't help but soften with sympathy.

He was still so young, yet he possessed such impressive culinary skills and a steady, resilient character. It was hard not to wonder what he must have endured to become the person he was today.

Yu Xin didn't delve into the deeper meaning behind their looks. Instead, he turned to Ji Yixing with genuine seriousness. "Brother Ji, thank you so much this time."

No one liked being falsely accused of intentionally harming others. This time, Yu Ning had clearly come prepared. Caught off guard, Yu Xin had fallen into Yu Ning's trap. If Ji Yixing hadn't happened to give him a self-defense device with recording functionality, he would have been in far greater trouble.

"I didn't expect something like this to happen either. If possible, I wish it never had to be used." Ji Yixing looked down at him, his gaze seeming to hold something beyond mere compassion.

This whole drama had consumed almost their entire day. They were supposed to use that time to forage for food, but now, the guests had no way to secure a meal.

Seeing this, the director simply granted the cast a half-day break, providing them with nutrition packs and drinking water so they could rest well for the night.

The guests, however, were not pleased. Their palates had been spoiled by Yu Xin's cooking. Returning to nutrition packs felt like a downgrade from luxury to austerity. But there was nothing they could do; each of them silently cursed Yu Ning once more.

The next day.

Having rested early the previous night, the guests all woke up early today.

Unbeknownst to them, more than half of the second recording period had passed. Today was their last day on this deserted island.

Sheng Xingyao had only consumed nutrition packs yesterday. Though they filled his stomach, they didn't truly satisfy him. Now, he eagerly rubbed his hands together. "We're leaving the island soon. Who knows if we'll ever have a chance to return? Before we go, we absolutely must have a grand meal!"

"Easier said than done. You want a feast, but where are we going to find the ingredients?" Shen Tong rolled her eyes at him.

"Well... isn't Yu Xin here?" Sheng Xingyao gave Yu Xin a hopeful smile. "With Yu Xin around, do we really need to worry about what to eat?"

"Actually, the traps we set yesterday should have yielded something by now. Let's go check," Yu Xin said.

Sheng Xingyao slapped his forehead. "Oh right! I forgot about the trap!"

The trap Yu Xin had set was deep in the forest. Before they even got close, they could hear frantic thrashing sounds, as if something was trapped in the cage—and from the sound of it, it wasn't small.

Sheng Xingyao was ecstatic. "We've got this! We've got this!"

They quickened their pace. The closer they got, the louder the sounds became, accompanied by loud, labored breathing.

Pushing aside the grass blocking their view, they focused their eyes and saw that trapped inside the bamboo cage trap was a young calf!

[Holy cow! (pun intended)]

[What is this? Am I seeing things? They actually caught a cow?]

[This luck is unbeatable... If I hadn't been watching all along, I'd think the props team was back at it again.]

[Wuwuwu, the poor calf. Make sure to cook it deliciously (slurp).]

Though it was called a young calf, it was more like a juvenile bull, about the size of a goat. Otherwise, the trap wouldn't have been able to contain it.

The calf had probably been thrashing against the cage nonstop since being trapped. By now, it was exhausted, its struggles growing weaker, its cries faint and feeble. It gradually sank down in the cage, unable to stand anymore.

Qin Shizhen went to pick a bunch of green grass nearby and offered it to the calf, muttering under his breath as he did so. In his spare time, he had been on a few hunts. This was an ancient tradition—to ensure the prey didn't embark on its final journey on an empty stomach.

Together, they released the calf from the cage and ended its life in the most humane way possible.

The task of butchering the beef fell solely to Yu Xin, with Ji Yixing and Qin Shizhen assisting him. The knife he wielded was exceptionally sharp, and combined with Yu Xin’s extensive knowledge, it truly felt like experiencing the skill of Paoding Jieniu—the legendary butcher famed for his effortless ox-dissecting skill.

The others headed into the jungle to search for other edible items. They had noticed earlier that this tropical jungle was incredibly abundant. There were several types of recognizable fruits alone, some so ripe they had fallen into the soil. The air was thick with the fragrant aroma of ripe fruit—even just eating fruit would be enough to fill them up.

Viewers of the show were so envious they were practically drooling. After all, many tropical fruits can be quite pricey, yet here on this island, they could eat to their heart’s content without ever running out. This was no desolate island—it was a paradise for fruit lovers!

The screen was flooded with comments asking for the exact location of this island.

Sheng Xingyao and the other two made trip after trip, picking fruit without feeling the slightest fatigue. Back at the base, they'd gathered a small pile of assorted fruit, including pineapples, avocados, mangoes, jackfruit, passion fruit, raspberries, blackberries, and more. The smaller berries were carried back using their clothes and hats as makeshift baskets, deep purples and bright reds all mixed together, all looking exceptionally juicy and plump.

With such excellent fruit on hand, they couldn’t wait to try some.

The washed fruits were arranged on large leaves, showcasing their variety and abundance. Yu Xin noticed there was still some leftover coconut milk and ice, so he decided to make a coconut fruit medley.

He peeled and cubed pineapples, mangoes, avocados, watermelon, and jackfruit, then combined them with other fruits in a round bowl. He added the remaining ice ahead of time to chill the fruit. Once everything was nicely cooled, he poured in coconut milk and coconut water, and a drizzle of honey, mixing it all together in a transparent bowl. The red and purple watermelon and berries, yellow pineapple, mango, and jackfruit, and green avocado were all immersed in the milky-white coconut milk, creating a vibrant, colorful mix. It gave off a cool, misty vapor, making it instantly appetizing.

Among the fruits Sheng Xingyao and the others brought back was a tropical specialty known as sugar apple (also known as custard apple). The flesh of the sugar apple is delicate and fragrant, not overly sweet, but when frozen, it takes on a texture similar to ice cream.

Yu Xin specifically scooped out and mashed the sugar apple flesh and placed it in a small icebox. After letting it freeze slightly, he took it out and drizzled it with coconut milk and honey, creating a sugar apple 'ice cream' with a unique twist.

The prepared fruit medley and ice cream were placed in bowls, filling the air with the sweet aroma of fruit. The girls were utterly unable to resist—they had been waiting eagerly on the sidelines. As soon as everything was ready, they cheered and were the first to grab spoons and start eating.

The coconut milk was sweet and creamy, its flavor every bit as good as traditional yogurt. With the added ice, it was cool and soothing—a bowl of this in the hot weather was an absolute delight.

The fruit here was of exceptional quality—plump, juicy, and explosively sweet, with textures ranging from crisp to tender or chewy. Paired with the light, sweet coolness of the coconut milk, it was impossible to stop eating, and before they knew it, they had finished a large bowl.

After the fruit medley, they immediately moved on to the sugar apple ice cream. The frozen sugar apple flesh was soft, cool, and deliciously fragrant. The honey and coconut milk made up for any lack of sweetness, making it nearly as good as real ice cream.

Ruan Qing cupped her face in her hands: "Wuwuwu, this is heaven!"

It wasn’t that they had never eaten chilled desserts before, but under these rough, outdoor conditions, in the sweltering heat, being able to enjoy something so aromatic, cool, and refreshing doubled the feeling of happiness.

[Wuwuwu finally something I can actually get my hands on too—I’m ordering the closest fruit medley delivery right now!]

[Watching them eat makes me feel happy too, it’s magical.]

[I’ve never tried coconut milk fruit medley before—gotta try making it myself next time.]

[The sugar apple ice cream seems so unique, I really want to taste it qaq.]

[Day 10,086 of wishing I had a Yu Xin of my own.]

[I’ve said ‘envy’ so many times I’m exhausted—after seeing so much, my heart is now as still as water, mhm.]

The guests ate to their heart’s content, the summer heat almost entirely dispelled. A sense of satisfaction, both inside and out, filled each of them.

They would remember the taste of this fruit medley for a long, long time. On some hot summer day in the future, if they happened to recall the cool sweetness of this bowl, that genuine feeling of happiness would still bring an involuntary smile to their faces.

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Author’s Note: I have no face to show you all, I’m so very very sorry, I will reform myself wuwuwu.

Thank you all so much for your support, I will keep working hard!