At ten o'clock that morning, Xu Qing left the hotel with her luggage and set off on her journey back to the capital, while the Hua Shao Group, with their luggage, got into the rented car and headed towards their final destination.
The production team had finally had a change of heart; the last stop required no planning whatsoever, only following arrangements, and the hotel and a series of recreational activities would all be taken care of.
Furthermore, navigation would be provided free of charge for the entire journey, eliminating the need to decipher routes using maps. Yi Xing parked the car next to the hotel, somewhat disbelieving the scene before him.
The accommodation this time was much better than what they had experienced for the past ten-plus days; the difference was evident from the main entrance. The hotels they had booked themselves all required pushing the door open, while the one in front of them had a revolving door.
At that moment, his inner thought was, 'The production team didn't use all the money they skimmed from us on this, did they?' He couldn't control his mouth and accidentally blurted it out.
Zheng Peipei and Liu Tao, who were in the same car as him, both laughed upon hearing it, then fell silent, pondering for a moment. It seemed not entirely impossible.
When traveling from Italy to Spain, they went by plane. After landing, the car rental and accommodation fees were all paid for by the production team. Whatever amount they said, that was the amount, and there was no way to dispute it.
Gritting his teeth and swallowing his frustration, he used all the savings he had accumulated previously to pay off the debt that day, leaving him with only 100 euros in disposable funds. That's why Yi Xing made the remark he did.
After merely complaining a little, being able to enjoy such a nice hotel at the very end could, in a sense, be considered a sweet reward after hardship. Everyone went to the front desk to check in.
What awaited them were spacious sea-view rooms, offering a panoramic view of the ocean from inside, and they could even enjoy free spa treatments. The amenities were truly excellent; this was the correct way to experience a trip!
After putting their luggage in their rooms, they returned to the lobby to await the production team's next arrangements.
Director Liao emerged from the crowd and said to the six people before him, "Congratulations on successfully reaching the final stop of this journey. We have prepared a yacht for you at the port, and it will take you out to sea."
The scene fell silent for a moment, mainly because what he said was too astonishing. No one believed it was true; going out to sea on a yacht seemed almost too good to be true.
"Why do you all seem so unexcited?"
"Is what you're saying true?" Yi Xing asked tentatively. He hadn't yet handed over his tour guide position from the previous stop, so he was still the one communicating with the director.
"Of course, it's true. The car has also been arranged; you'll see it as soon as you exit the hotel."
Upon hearing that it was true, Li Feier excitedly jumped up and said, "Wow, this is so cool! Director, when are we leaving? I can't wait!"
What she said was exactly what everyone else wanted to say. Six pairs of eyes stared at Director Liao, filled with anticipation. Surely no one could refuse the activity of going out to sea on a yacht.
"It officially starts at two in the afternoon. Before that, you can try the lunch provided by the hotel, or lie down and rest. I will arrange for staff to call you."
"Then it's settled."
The group took the elevator to the restaurant floor, where the aroma of various delicacies filled the air. They could simply use tongs to put whatever they wanted to eat onto their plates, and someone would take care of the bill.
"Sister Xu Qing left too early. She should have waited one more day to go back; then she could have enjoyed these amenities too," Yi Xing said while cutting his steak with a knife and fork.
"Yes, are you doing this on purpose? You specifically waited for someone to leave before pulling this off," Zhang Han nodded in agreement, turning to the camera behind him. This coincidence was too perfect.
"Hahaha, I think it's very possible. The production team can only afford the cost for the six of us; not one person more."
Amidst laughter, lunch quickly ended. They paired up and returned to their rooms for a nap, waiting for staff to knock on their doors. This feeling of not having to do anything was truly wonderful.
Time quietly crept to 1:50 PM. A staff member appeared simultaneously at the doors of the three rooms, knocking to inform the occupants to gather downstairs, as the car was already waiting at the entrance.
The few of them quickly tidied their attire and swiftly arrived at the hotel entrance. Just as Director Liao had said, a black commercial vehicle was parked in front of them.
After orderly boarding the car, the driver led the occupants to the port. The Hua Shao Group exited the car one by one, greeted by a bustling scene. Boats swayed gently in the harbor, and the yacht with the show's logo was particularly eye-catching.
Yi Xing looked at the deep blue, profound seawater so close by and involuntarily took a step back. As a child, he had once nearly drowned, which left him with a bit of a psychological shadow even now.
When he planned trips, he would subconsciously avoid places with water, whether it was a small stream or a lake. But this time, for the show, he had no choice but to go. He expertly hid his fear deep inside.
If one observed closely, they would notice his body trembling slightly, almost imperceptibly. He steeled himself and followed the others onto the yacht.
As the yacht slowly started and headed out to sea, Yi Xing's heart rate quickened. He gripped the handrail beside him tightly, afraid he might accidentally fall off. Far from land, he felt an extreme lack of security.
No one noticed that his state was somewhat off, which showed how well he concealed it. With a smile, he watched the others playing on the deck. Zhang Han and Zhang Kaili even re-enacted the classic scene from 'Titanic.'
"Xiao Xing, why are you sitting here all the time? Aren't you going up to play? Did you forget what your Sister Xu Qing said about showing more youthful energy?"
Liu Tao sat down beside him and asked. She could understand why Zheng Peipei, being older, didn't want to get involved, but she couldn't quite understand why Yi Xing wasn't participating either.
"I slept too long at noon and I'm not feeling very well. You all go play, I'll just sit here and rest," he said. He had anticipated someone would try to pull him into playing and had prepared his response in advance.
"When you feel better, remember to join us!"
"I will."
The yacht activity was limited to one hour. This meant that as long as Yi Xing endured this hour, he could safely return to land. It was neither long nor short.
In the end, he still did not join the playing group, remaining seated and quietly waiting for time to pass. When his feet felt the ground again, his body stopped trembling slightly, and his voice became more energetic.