Chapter 197: The Terrifying Upright Ape at the Top of the Food Chain

Na Zha finally figured it out.

Even if she were the dumbest person alive, seeing Bai Liang and Jing Boren casually decide who the "unlucky one" was by rock-paper-scissors, she'd have understood what was going on.

Bai Liang is bad!

"You've got half the time off~ You take good care of yourself, I'll come find you soon."

"I'll go to Africa first to scout the way, see if my old friends are still around—otherwise, when you get there and don't see them, I'm afraid you'll be upset," Bai Liang said, blinking.

Old friends?

Na Zha froze, her heart sweetening, yet she still said: "They're not as important as you~ Oh right, there's the kitten to keep you company—you must take good care of it."

"Don't worry~ I'll eat whatever it eats." Bai Liang promised.

Na Zha's eyes widened: "You can do that? Don't you dare let it die!"

"If all else fails, I'll just ask the local folks for some food for it."

Hearing this, Na Zha was satisfied.

Bai Liang really was good at dealing with local folks in Africa.

Bai Liang: I meant the kitten's local folks.

While they were talking, Jiang Shuying came over with a wad of cash. "Here, this is your travel budget—1,900. You're going alone, so I gave you extra."

"So much?"

"1,900 is a lot? I think the production team is being stingy—we eight people only got 15,000 total," Jiang Shuying complained.

Although "Flowers and Boys" wasn't completely a budget trip, this kind of variety show loved to create drama around money.

Comfortable spending was out of the question.

At this moment, Na Zha stared longingly at the cash in her hand. "Then let's split the money now—I only need 1,800."

Her suggestion showed zero team spirit—who splits money before even departing?

But Na Zha was beautiful, and she asked so pitifully, so no one could refuse her.

So, aside from keeping a sum with Jiang Shuying, everyone received 1,000 each.

Then Na Zha quietly slipped her money into Bai Liang's backpack.

In many parts of Africa, RMB is still popular—you sometimes don't even need to exchange currency.

When filming "Wolf Warrior 2," Na Zha had spent RMB before—she knew exactly what she was doing.

Bai Liang, however, exchanged his budget for US dollars, since dollars were more useful in Brazil.

Then he slipped them into Na Zha's suitcase.

Neither knew what the other had done—both now felt they were broke.

Na Zha thought the crew hadn't caught it, because when she did it, she deliberately blocked the camera filming her.

But she didn't know how many lenses had clearly captured every one of her little moves.

And her "stealth vibe" was definitely strong.

Bai Liang knew all about it—after slipping the money in, he whispered to the camera: "I won't spend much in Africa—better to give her a little surprise."

Production team: Hehehe~ Good good, you're absolutely right!

What is this if not mutual devotion?

Honestly, this scene looked like it was scripted.

If only Bai Liang had done it, viewers would've thought it was staged.

Luckily, one of them was Na Zha—everyone knew Na Zha couldn't act this well.

She was a well-known pin-up in the entertainment industry, relying entirely on her beauty to get by.

The way she nervously feared being discovered, then couldn't help but flash a dopey grin afterward—clearly just naive and easily fooled.

Absolutely not acting!

—

Namibia.

A wild land in southwestern Africa, where waves crash and sand dunes resonate.

Hairy creatures are the undisputed aristocracy here.

The crew originally planned to give Bai Liang a dog as a travel companion, but since he brought his own cat, it was one less thing to worry about.

After arriving, he received the car keys, and the crew naturally gave him a planned route: cross Namibia to South Africa.

But after landing, Bai Liang smiled at the crew following him.

With just one sentence, he made them turn pale.

"Actually, I know a shortcut—much more thrilling than yours."

Production team: Brother, are you really starting like this?!

But Bai Liang wasn't asking for their opinion—he was in Africa now, and he could do whatever he wanted.

The only person who could control him, Sister Yanzi, hadn't even come along.

Even a capybara sometimes wants to run wild.

The off-road pickup's engine roared—suddenly, the crew remembered Bai Liang's other identity: the racer who terrifies even demons!

Africa, wilderness—and now he's driving?

Meanwhile, the others who had arrived in Rio de Janeiro were struggling to load their luggage onto the vehicle.

This was a classic staple of "Flowers and Boys"—luggage loading was always a major highlight.

Fortunately, there were more guys this time, and only seventeen suitcases total.

A little hardship would still get it done.

But once they got in the car, Na Zha couldn't help muttering: "He's in Africa now too—I wonder how he's doing all alone."

"How about we give him a call!" Song Zu'er suggested.

She always eagerly joined in on any topic about Bai Liang—because there were cameras!

"Make a call from South America to Africa?"

Obviously that wasn't a great idea; it'd be a miracle if it even went through.

Of course, the film crew had definitely brought a satellite phone.

That thing had many uses, but its biggest purpose was, of course, calling for help.

Right now, that film crew in Africa was really wanting to call for help!

The first two hours on the road were uneventful, but the moment they stopped to take photos—

A lion, popping out of who-knows-where, brazenly sprawled itself across the hood of Bai Liang's car.

"Don't move, absolutely don't move, don't make any unnecessary movements!"

Through the walkie-talkie, the film crew frantically reminded Bai Liang—as long as he didn't leave the car, he'd definitely be fine.

"Aren't you guys filming? What great footage~ It's not easy to come across these big cats." Bai Liang said curiously.

"Uh, we're already filming, and there are plenty of cameras on your car too."

The film crew was both thrilled and nervous—thrilled because of the lion, nervous because of Bai Liang.

Ever since this guy joined the show, he'd been a bit "liberated"—they couldn't help but be nervous.

"Relax, this lion's already eaten its fill."

"You've researched that too?"

"I'm guessing."

The moment his words fell, Bai Liang directly opened the car door and got out.

The film crew's blood instantly ran half cold.

They didn't dare speak, didn't dare move—only the camera faithfully recorded everything.

Their performance wasn't even as good as Bai Liang's little kitty; this tiny thing wasn't afraid of the lion in front of it, and even went "ow-ow" at it, hissing and baring its teeth.

Good kitty!

No problem—both are felines, who's afraid of whom? A kitty is the kind of creature that will go at it even with something as big as a human; under its paw, all beings are equal.

Just a measly big cat in front of him—standing up, it wasn't even as tall as Bai Liang. What was there to fear?

Bai Liang glanced at the little kitty perched on his shoulder and couldn't help egging it on: "Go, give it a slap."

Little kitty:???

Given the rather large size gap between the two, Bai Liang didn't make things too hard for his little kitty.

Looking at the somewhat languid lioness, he first turned his head and took two selfies with his phone, then slapped the lion right on its butt.

"Get lost to the side—if you don't get down, I'll take you far away and let your husband never find you."

"Roar~"

"What are you barking about?"

Bai Liang vividly demonstrated for the film crew what it means to be a terrifying upright ape standing at the top of the food chain.

!. Read

That lion roared at Bai Liang twice, but after getting another slap, it seemed a bit confused too; its resting head even lifted up, staring at Bai Liang.

But the unflappable capybara didn't even change expression—its hand was already raised in mid-air, seemingly ready to give it another big slap.

So that lion actually turned its head, jumped off the hood, and bolted away.

"Lucky guess—it really was full."

"Mr. Bai, you this…"

Before the film crew could complain about anything, one sentence from Bai Liang shut them up.

"There might be a pride nearby—ya sure we don't wanna leave?"

"Let's go, let's go!"

After the car started up again, the film crew's suspended hearts were finally, barely, set at ease.

Bai Liang, a bit bored, used the walkie-talkie to discuss with them the possibility of a "slide tackle."

"Everyone's constitution is different—maybe there's someone who, in a moment of extreme anger, could slide-tackle right in…"

"And feed the lion till it's full?"

The film crew people got the dark joke too.

Still, after a bit of analysis, they figured Bai Liang must have done a lot of prep work before coming.

Otherwise, how could he tell at a glance that that lion was full?

This put them a bit more at ease—after all, a "wilderness expert" who actually had some skills was definitely way more reliable than a hot-headed rookie running on pure guts.

They didn't believe Bai Liang had really just been guessing on luck.

However, the film crew in Africa already had a premonition—they felt the "show effects" here might actually be even more thrilling than the proper eating, drinking, and having fun over in Brazil!

Just Bai Liang's two slaps on the lion were enough to land the top trending spot!

Danger and opportunity have always coexisted!

Oh right, looking at the huge Red Bull logo plastered on the car, they seemed to understand a bit—why, after confirming Bai Liang's joining, the Red Bull brand had caught the scent and come running.

And even paid extra to lock down exclusive title sponsorship.

Crack~

Bai Liang, driving one-handed, popped open a can of Red Bull and gulped it down in front of the camera.

The basic professional ethics of a brand ambassador.

At this moment, the cameraman sitting in his car couldn't help but ask: "Brother Liang, you really weren't scared just now?"

Calling him Teacher Bai no longer conveys enough respect!

They're all grown men, so they upgraded straight to the "bro" generation.

"Fear of death isn't Chinese." Bai Liang said with a smile, casually tossing him a can of Red Bull. "Don't say a word, alright? According to the show's setup, I'm driving solo across Namibia."

"Hey, once that lion showed up, solo or not didn't matter anymore. But honestly, our original setup was pretty boring — now it feels like an adventure show."

The cameraman seemed a little riled up by the big cat, and was talking more than usual.

He even sighed at the end: "Honestly, this part of Africa has never really been peaceful. Running into some wild animals is fine — we're in the car anyway, nothing bad will happen. It's running into wars and rebellions that's the real trouble."

Bai Liang couldn't help but glance at the guy, hoping his words would prove true.

Otherwise, spending the last few days just looking at small animals really was getting a bit dull.

The film crew didn't find it dull at all.

Damn, it made for amazing TV!

Especially when they made camp at night, watching a honey badger pop out of god-knows-where — they had no idea what to do with it.

Not many people know what a honey badger is, but most are familiar with its nickname.

Flat-headed Bro.

This thing's whole deal is being stubborn and holding grudges.

No matter what pisses it off, it acts on the spot — even a lion, it'll throw down!

There was a Flat-headed Bro at a zoo that, just because the lion in the next enclosure glanced at it once, insisted on going over to beat the lion up.

The chain-link fence couldn't stop it.

The whole film crew was still a bit dumbfounded, thinking, "Nobody here provoked this thing — why'd it come at us?"

Flat-headed Bro: I'm coming for you lot!

One whiff of car exhaust, and this little critter followed them for over half an hour.

A honey badger's intimidation factor obviously isn't as big as a lion's, but it sure had the presence — acting like even outnumbered, it would still take them on.

Until Bai Liang squatted in front of it and, in a flash, stuffed an egg yolk pastry into its mouth.

The fierce little honey badger suddenly went all clear-eyed.

But a Flat-headed Bro is still a Flat-headed Bro — it wasn't defeated by a single egg yolk pastry.

After eating it, it kept being fierce without missing a beat — so Bai Liang stuffed another one in.

One after another, after several egg yolk pastries, it finally couldn't eat anymore.

Eyes completely clear!

"This place in Africa is really something!" Bai Liang remarked.

"Bro, where'd you get the egg yolk pastries?" his cameraman asked.

"I grabbed them at the airport — they had some in the waiting lounge."

Bai Liang clapped his hands, then couldn't resist reaching out to pat the honey badger on the head.

The creature clearly wasn't used to it, quickly wriggled free, then found itself a spot and lay down.

Eat and sleep — this little thing's got a pretty carefree heart.

The film crew: does this even make sense?!

Obviously it doesn't!

Especially when, the next day as they were about to set off, the thing very naturally climbed into the bed of Bai Liang's pickup truck.

Bai Liang grabbed it by the tail and hauled it out, then gave it a kick.

Damn African Flat-headed Bro — give it an inch and it wants a mile.

The film crew: slowly getting used to this style.

A huge sun slowly rose from the horizon, and Bai Liang — with a small cat perched on his shoulder — sat on the roof of the pickup eating breakfast.

Leisurely and dashing, like he was enjoying breakfast in his own living room.

It was clearly a wilderness brimming with danger, yet there was a strange sense of belonging — just like how he'd blended into the entertainment circle, exceptionally natural.

This scene was probably something the film crew would never forget.

Although the show was starting to feel a bit like a wilderness challenge, at least this harmony with nature still fit the tone of a travel program.

Before running into warlords and small-scale armed conflicts, the film crew thinking this way wasn't wrong.

(End of chapter)