Chapter 124: This Is Fate

It must be said that Beauty Lin’s conduct after her injury was truly an inspiration to Mo Shu. Although Mo Shu had never been comfortable with the dark lenses of the cameras constantly trained on him—not to mention the various other concerns weighing on his mind—this slump was the first real challenge he had faced since stepping into the public eye.

Yet, since he was here, and since his image would be broadcast nationwide on "Extreme Partners" in two weeks, why not strive for a more positive attitude? The things he worried about, the matters that added unnecessary frustration, had not even come to pass. The distinction between prudent foresight and groundless anxiety began to clarify in his mind. Mo Shu couldn't help but recall his younger, fearless self—the way he had recklessly overcome one formidable opponent after another.

Their faces flashed through his mind: Geng Hua, Ai Chixiang, Black Mirror, Ron Thomas, Ruth Rhine, Vermin... and, of course, the unknown enemies lurking in the shadows who had yet to reveal themselves.

"Have I ever feared these challenges?" Mo Shu asked himself. Of course he had; he had to have. How could one live a life full of trials and obstacles without feeling fear? But it was precisely because of that fear that he possessed the desire and determination to conquer it. One cannot stay in a "safe box" forever. Achieving excellence in one's comfort zone is merely the standard display of skill, but to excel in unfamiliar territory requires extraordinary wisdom and unyielding tenacity.

"Speak not, and when you do, you startle the world." That had always been Mo Shu’s style. Sometimes he didn't intentionally seek that effect, but the results almost always aligned with it unexpectedly.

Calming his heart, Mo Shu looked at his teammate, Beauty Lin. In her current state, let alone walking on her own, even with his support, they could only move at a snail’s pace.

What to do? The resolve was there, but the reality was harsh. To ensure the "Shadow Team" won the reality show, he had to solve the problem of Beauty Lin’s impaired mobility. Having no better options, Mo Shu turned to the following PD and said, "Could you please find a wheelchair for Beauty Lin? If you don’t know where to find one, I suggest you borrow one from the medical staff in the support group."

Xiao Lian nodded and scurried off. Before long, she returned, rushing over while pushing a wheelchair.

"Are you sure? You’re going to push me through the day’s tasks?" Beauty Lin asked, looking embarrassed.

"Of course. Otherwise, at your current speed, we wouldn't just lose the day—we’d lose the next week too," Mo Shu joked.

"Hmph, sounds like you’re getting impatient with me. Wasn't it because I was waiting for you to go to the restroom that I ended up in this state? Since that’s the case, as your senior, I shall graciously accept your service today, little junior." Retorting with a playful jab, Beauty Lin sat down in the wheelchair without further ceremony.

"Heh, what other choice do I have?" Mo Shu feigned a look of misfortune as he circled behind her, gripped the handles, and announced loudly, "Senior, please keep your hands clear of the wheels. Your feet are already injured; don’t go hurting your delicate hands too! Oh, and keep your composure—racer Mo Shu is about to give you a taste of the extreme speed of human-powered transport."

Hearing this, Beauty Lin smoothed her long, beautiful hair and sat up perfectly straight. She placed her hands elegantly on the armrests and tilted her chin to the perfect angle. With her poise, she made the wheelchair look like a queen’s parade in a luxury car. Nearby staff raised their phones to capture this beautiful moment of friendship and perseverance.

Perhaps it was because her lower vantage point changed their perspective, but the Shadow Team discovered six task tokens in the next five minutes. While Mo Shu kept grumbling about increasing their speed, he was, in reality, constantly monitoring Beauty Lin’s safety. He pushed the wheelchair with the smoothness of a luxury sedan. Seven, eight, nine—they kept finding new tokens, and the Shadow Team’s efficiency returned to its peak.

In this high-efficiency state, they even began to coordinate their roles. Mo Shu focused on controlling their speed, while a relaxed Beauty Lin could concentrate entirely on observing every corner where a token might be hidden. This gave Mo Shu a sense of familiarity, as if he were back on the ERC circuit; Beauty Lin’s role was remarkably similar to that of a rally co-driver.

"I think I see another one. It seems to be across the atrium, at the base of a display stand behind that glass partition." Sharp-eyed Beauty Lin made a new discovery and directed Mo Shu to turn around the second-floor atrium.

"OK, hold on tight, we're almost there!" Pushing a full-grown adult had left Mo Shu breathless, but his spirit remained high, channeling that same competitive fervor.

Just as they turned the corner, Beauty Lin shrieked and pointed at the display stand. "Retreat! It’s a trap!"

Mo Shu slammed his feet down, using them as brakes. Unfortunately, the Nanshan Museum had marble floors; even with high-quality rubber soles, the stopping distance was far from ideal. Mo Shu felt the helpless sensation of wheels locking up and losing all traction. As his soles skidded, Li Dai, Sun Mina, and Wu Tianqi rushed out from different directions, forming a circle around them.

However, Mo Shu, in his peak state, made a split-second decision: the only exit was the display stand just inches away. Better to fight than to sit and wait for defeat. Using the momentum from the slide, Mo Shu kicked off hard once more. If he could grab the token before the Dark Legion reached them, the production team would have to rule them the winners.

Mo Shu pushed himself to his absolute physical limit; any faster, and he feared he would put Beauty Lin in danger of a "crash." It was just a reality show, so why did it feel like a rally race? If they kept up this intensity, he would surely be sore all over tomorrow morning. A sense of "bitterness" welled up in his heart. But when two people born with a hunger for victory come together, this is simply fate!