Chapter 55 Would You Like to Come Back With Me?

Chapter 55: Will You Come Back With Me?

“I want porridge too!”

Sheng Xingyao persisted, clearly annoyed. He had known Yu Xin for so many days longer than Ji Yixing—why did Ji Yixing get special treatment the moment he arrived?

While it was true that Ji Yixing had helped Yu Xin this time, hadn’t he also stood firmly by Yu Xin’s side?

Yu Xin: …

It was just a bowl of porridge. Was this worth arguing over? Were they kindergarteners?

To minimize cooking time, he hadn’t made a large portion. After serving Ji Yixing a bowl, only the bottom of the pot remained.

“What porridge? What porridge?” Shen Tong and Ruan Qing came over, drawn by the conversation. “Yu Xin made porridge?”

“The porridge is gone,” Yu Xin said. Before Sheng Xingyao’s expression could turn even more mournful, he added, “But if you’re still hungry, I can make you something else delicious.”

“We’re hungry, absolutely hungry!” Come on, who would say no to more good food?

“Alright, but just so you know, this might not be something everyone can accept.”

“No problem, no problem! Yu Xin, hurry up and start. Do you need our help?” Shen Tong asked impatiently. She trusted Yu Xin completely now—no matter what it was, if Yu Xin made it, she was sure she could accept it.

“Just wait.”

The bonfire under the grill had burned all night, and the firewood had turned into charred charcoal. Yu Xin shoveled some out, dug a pit in the ground, and filled it with the charcoal.

Then, from somewhere, he produced a round, spiky object covered in thorns. As Yu Xin carried it closer, a peculiar smell gradually spread through the air.

“Wow, what’s that smell? Yu Xin, what are you holding?!” Sheng Xingyao sniffed the air quizzically, then covered his nose and exclaimed loudly.

Ruan Qing examined the object in Yu Xin’s hands and hesitated. “Is that… durian?”

“Exactly.” Yu Xin casually placed the durian on the ground.

It wasn’t their fault for being unfamiliar. Yu Xin had noticed long ago that, unlike in his original world where durian was highly popular, people here rarely ate it as fresh fruit. Instead, it was more commonly used in various processed durian products.

Of course, this was also due to the fact that the most common durian varieties had mutated—the rind had become thicker, the flesh smaller, and the smell even more “potent.”

However, the durian on this deserted island wasn’t too different from the ones in Yu Xin’s original world, and its quality far surpassed the mutated durians available on the market.

Ruan Qing could recognize an unpeeled, unprocessed durian only because she had an assistant who loved all kinds of durian desserts, making her familiar with that distinctive smell.

“How do you eat this durian…”

Shen Tong and the other two crowded around the durian, covering their noses while curiously examining it.

The shell was covered in so many hard spines—just opening it would be a challenge, wouldn’t it?

“Actually, you can just peel it and eat it directly, but this time we’re going to roast it.”

Yu Xin used a knife to score several cuts on the durian’s surface to ensure even heating during roasting, then placed it directly into the pile of charcoal, using the residual heat to cook it.

The natural smell of durian was already potent, but after roasting, it became even more… indescribable.

That funky smell, hard to categorize as purely foul or somehow appealing, grew stronger and stronger, eventually catching the attention of even Qin Shizhen and Ji Yixing, who had been quietly eating his porridge. Qin Shizhen frowned as he approached. “Xiao Yu, what are you kids messing with now? Why does it smell so strange?”

“Teacher Qin, we’re roasting durian!” Shen Tong answered first.

Qin Shizhen saw the charred durian in the charcoal fire and confirmed that the overpowering smell was indeed coming from it. He asked doubtfully, “Is this roasted durian really edible?”

He was being diplomatic, refraining from saying outright that it smelled like something… else.

The other three were also uncertain. They had initially gathered around the roasted durian with great interest, but as the smell grew stronger, they had all covered their noses and backed away as far as possible.

Ji Yixing could hardly continue eating his porridge. Although his expression remained composed, his slightly furrowed brow betrayed his discomfort.

[OMG, what are they doing? Why are they even covering their noses?]

[What kind of smell could provoke such a reaction? I’m so curious.]

[I’ve had the chance to see fresh, real durian before—I’d rather not recall that smell…]

[This is the first time I’ve seen the guests stay so far away while Yu Xin is cooking…]

[And their expressions are so indescribable. Is Yu Xin about to fail this time? Hahahahaha!]

[What? Yu Xin failing? Grabbing my popcorn to witness history.]

[Durian? I love durian mousse cake, but I’ve never actually tried it fresh, let alone roasted. I really can’t imagine what it would taste like.]

Yu Xin had anticipated their reactions and stayed perfectly calm as he flipped the durian over.

After a few more agonizing minutes, he tested it with chopsticks to check its condition and calmly announced, “It’s done. It’s ready to eat.”

But this time, instead of rushing over eagerly as they usually did when he declared something ready, everyone hesitated, edging closer slowly with expressions that suggested what he held wasn’t food but a bomb.

Yu Xin sighed helplessly, “…Don’t worry, this is really edible. It’s not poisonous.”

There was no need for such a look of facing certain doom.

With his short knife, he pried open the charred, slightly lifted edge of the durian shell, and a piece of the roasted black skin fell off, revealing the golden, soft, steaming hot durian flesh inside.

The durian flesh had been roasted to an almost melted state, with the edges slightly caramelized and the fruit turned into an enticing golden yellow. It actually looked quite appealing.

It was just the smell… that had grown even stronger.

Yu Xin cut off a piece of the durian flesh and placed it on a small plate. “Who wants to try it first?”

In the past, the tasting segment was always met with enthusiasm, but this time, the guests exchanged glances, and no one volunteered.

It wasn’t that they didn’t trust Yu Xin—it was just that this thing was truly… indescribable.

In the end, it was Ruan Qing who steeled herself and volunteered, “I’ll give it a try.”

She had tried durian mousse before, highly recommended by her assistant, and had found it quite enjoyable at the time. Her tolerance might be higher.

Yu Xin gave a light chuckle, “Don’t worry, it won’t disappoint you.”

Under everyone’s mixed looks of anticipation and worry, Ruan Qing scooped a small amount of the durian flesh with a spoon, closed her eyes with a determined expression, and put it in her mouth.

She didn’t dare to swallow it outright but gently let it dissolve on her tongue.

Hmm?

She didn’t react with disgust, nor did she say right away whether it tasted good or not.

“Let me try a bit more,” she said, taking a full spoonful this time and eating it without hesitation.

After a moment, she suddenly widened her eyes—this time, there was no mistake. The smooth, sweet flavor on her tongue was completely free of the unpleasant smell she had anticipated: “It’s delicious!”

“Really, don’t doubt me. There’s none of that odd smell at all when you eat it—instead, it’s super fragrant and sweet, way better than durian cake or anything like that. You really have to try it yourself!”

She kept saying “super” several times for emphasis, all the while eagerly scooping more roasted durian into her mouth. The small piece of durian was almost finished.

Ruan Qing looked like she wanted more, handing her small plate toward Yu Xin: “Yu Xin, I’d like another piece, thank you.”

Seeing her reaction, the others hesitated less, and everyone took a portion of durian meat.

A few seconds later.

“Mmm… this is actually really good.”

“Wow, I never would’ve guessed it tasting like this.”

“I—I want another piece too!”

The roasted durian was fragrant, sweet, and incredibly soft—it just melted in the mouth with a gentle press of the tongue. Still warm, the durian carried a creamy, almost milky fragrance. Durian itself isn’t overly sweet, but after roasting, its sweetness was fully brought out. The inner flesh became as soft as fruit purée, almost turning into a flowing, molten texture when broken open.

Not everyone likes the taste of durian, but the guests happened to be fine with it. Those with a sweet tooth were quickly won over by the roasted durian, too busy eating to talk as they focused on eating.

[The difference between before and after is just too dramatic… Is roasted durian really that delicious?]

[Seeing the guests’ blissed-out expressions, I don’t think they’re acting. It must be pretty good.]

[I admit I’m curious. I’m gonna order a durian online tomorrow and try roasting it at home. I’ll let you guys know how it goes!]

[Just a heads-up: if you live alone, go for it. If you rent and have roommates, maybe don’t—I’m afraid your roommate might report you to the landlord for cooking something nasty at home.]

After this episode, a roasted durian challenge suddenly started trending among food bloggers. Influencers on various platforms joined in, plugging their noses to roast and eat durian at home or outdoors. Some were genuinely misunderstood, leading to quite a few funny situations… but that’s a story for another time.

The guests were all eating happily, except for Ji Yixing, who stood off to the side, keeping his distance, a faint smile on his face as he watched them but showing no intention of joining.

It made sense—such strongly scented food probably wasn’t Mr. Ji’s thing.

Yu Xin felt a sudden, playful impulse. He personally put a piece of durian onto a small plate and offered it to Ji Yixing: “Ji-ge, want to try some?”

As if seeing right through him, Ji Yixing looked at him with amused tolerance, accepting the plate.

Following Yu Xin’s example, he scooped a small portion with a spoon, tasted it, and nodded in approval: “Hmm, not bad.”

“Glad you like it.” A smug little smile made Yu Xin’s eyes crinkle with pleasure.

A durian is fairly large, but it was quickly finished by everyone, with even the shell scraped clean of every bit.

Ruan Qing rubbed her slightly rounded belly, half satisfied and half guilty: “Ah, I’m really full this time—stuffed.”

She’d let herself go again—durian is pretty high in calories, and she’d eaten three whole pieces by herself!

After the meal, everyone split up to clean up and turn in. The next day marked their final day on the deserted island.

[Aww, happy times are always so short. How did these five days fly by so quickly?]

[The days of waking up to a new episode are over. This makes it even harder for us working stiffs to get out of bed.]

[I get it—Wilderness Adventure is my best companion for goofing off.]

[This season isn’t even over, and I’m already missing the next one. Production team, what were you thinking!]

[Can we pay to have them stream for us every day? I’d throw in ten star coins (just dreaming).]

Even on the last day, they had to eat properly. Yu Xin looked over what ingredients they had left and decided to make a soup.

There were still some beef ribs left from yesterday, with tendons and meat attached to the bones, which Yu Xin chopped into even pieces.

Bones are great for soup. After parboiling the ribs, he first seared them in the pan, then added enough water to simmer. He included chopped corn, white radish he’d brought back from his morning exercise, and sliced onions. With simple seasoning, he let it simmer until the radish turned mushy, the beef tendons easily separated from the bones, and then finished it with a sprinkle of chopped scallions.

Additionally, he skewered several corn cobs to grill.

Fresh corn was husked, brushed with butter, and placed on the grill. He layered on remaining cheese, drizzled honey and lime juice, and finally a dusting of chili powder.

As the cheese melted, it stretched into stringy and gooey. Yu Xin skillfully rotated the corn to spread the cheese evenly.

He grilled until the corn turned golden all over, with some parts a little charred, and the kernels began to burst.

The cheese was rich and aromatic, the butter added a hint of creaminess, the honey brought sweetness, while the lime juice and chili powder gave it more complexity. Combined with the soft, juicy corn, even a simple ear of corn became incredibly delicious.

The beef bone soup had simmered to a milky-white color. The meat on the bones was so tender it fell right off. The corn, radish, and onion in the soup each contributed their own deliciousness. A bowl of this clear but rich hot soup left everyone feeling refreshed and satisfied.

The sweet corn paired with the savory beef bone soup left everyone content.

After eating, they spent the morning packing their belongings, cleaning up trash, and restoring the area to its original state. The guests and crew gathered once more for a group photo, bidding a ceremonial farewell to the second season of Wilderness Adventure.

[Aww, though it’s hard to say goodbye, see you next time!]

[Hurry up with the next season, don’t make us wait so long again!]

[Yao Bao, make sure to rest well after this. Don’t fly around to different planets like last time—it’s too exhausting. Hope your company treats you better!]

[Miss Shen, please post more beautiful photos! And don’t forget the promised gathering!!]

[Qingqing, you’re probably going to get scolded by your manager again, huh? Hahaha! Don’t worry, sweetie, you’re adorable even if you gain a little weight!]

[Yu Xin!!! No other demands, but!!! Don’t disappear on us!]

[See you all next season~]

After saying goodbye to the camera, the transport ship arrived to pick them up, and the guests boarded together.

Yu Xin had assumed Ji Yixing would leave separately as he had upon arrival, but to his surprise, Ji Yixing very sociably joined them on the program’s transport ship.

Ji Yixing naturally took a seat beside him. After retrieving his personal terminal, he briefly checked his messages before closing his eyes to rest, listening to Yu Xin’s casual conversation with the others.

The other guests had many work messages to reply to and began busily working on their terminals as soon as they got them. Unlike ordinary people, celebrities have packed schedules, and many couldn’t even wait until the ship reached Capital Star, disembarking at various stops along the way.

In the end, the only ones who remained on the ship all the way to the final destination were Yu Xin and Ji Yixing.

A quiet calm settled over the ship. They didn’t speak, yet it didn’t feel awkward—their brief time together had made them more familiar with each other than expected.

After a while, Yu Xin initiated the conversation: “I thought you wouldn’t be coming with us.”

“Hmm, I originally planned to have someone pick me up.” Hearing Yu Xin’s voice, Ji Yixing half-opened his eyes. They were flying through the dark, boundless cosmos, the only light coming from the soft overhead lamps on the seats.

In the semi-darkness, Ji Yixing’s glass-like eyes shimmered with a subtle glow: “For certain reasons, I decided to stay.”

Perhaps because he had just roused from a light nap, his voice was lazy, but his gaze remained fixed on Yu Xin.

Under the intensity of that look, Yu Xin felt compelled to ask: “Does that reason have something to do with me?”

Ji Yixing adjusted his sitting posture, his spine erect, his eyes now fully open. The previous laziness vanished instantly, and his always unflappable aura developed a fissure, revealing a hint of nervousness.

If Bai Yizhou were also on this aircraft, he would be utterly astonished by the Ji Yixing before him.

Seriously, this is General Ji, who wouldn’t bat an eye if something flew into it—how long had it been since he last saw any trace of nervousness in him?

But the person across from Ji Yixing now is Yu Xin. Although he doesn’t understand how unusual this General Ji is, he keenly senses the change in Ji Yixing’s emotions and felt subtly unsettled himself.

Moreover, whatever the other is about to say clearly concerns him.

Ji Yixing fell silent for a moment before speaking, as if weighing his words for the perfect phrasing. After a short pause, he cleared his throat and spoke with great caution, yet tinged with anticipation:

“Yu Xin, will you come back with me?”

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Author’s note: Not sure what dishes to write about… If there are any delicious foods you’d like to see, feel free to request them in the comments section!

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