Chapter 335 - The scavenger hunt

"Okay, everyone. Please pay attention." Feng Jin spoke into the loudspeaker. Dressed in black military attire, he addressed the ten teams standing ahead. "As you all know, Cheyna military's work in the country is at its last leg, and we'll be heading back after the elections- we have organized a forest scavenger hunt at the request of kids." Honey winked from the crowd, jumping on toes in excitement.

"Total ten teams, each consisting of five members--"

"But we have only three!" Suyin protested, looking right and left. Only Wang Shi and Honey. She looked as Revon, his wife Marina, son, and his teenage friend had teamed up with Dr. Jeff. "That's betrayal. You could have joined ours."

Marina smiled. "Don't blame Dr. Jeff. I asked him to join us. Your team is already full. Look again."

"Mom! How could you?" Honey rolled his eyes. Bagheera roared, lurching forward as if making himself visible. Lazy Cleopatra reacted and jumped on Bagheera's back, fangs barring at Suyin.

Suyin blinked. "Right, we got five, too. Sorry. Continue."

"Hand over your personal bags to the military. You will get them once you reach camp. Here--" Jin pointed at the table, "Three scavenge bags each team. It has all the necessities you might require during the long hunt. We have hidden refreshments in the forest which you can take and store in your bags or can share with other teams. Every refreshment bag found gives you an added point. Please go through your scavenger hunt list and tick all the fifteen items before reaching base camp. The first team to reach will win." 

Everyone checked the contents of their bags. Suyin's bag mainly contains food, water, and first aid. Wang Shi's with tools like knife, compass, machete, camera, binoculars, and rope. Honey's with map, gloves, emergency guide, a pencil, zip-lock bags, and a scavenger hunt list.

Suyin leaned as Honey reads the things written on the paper.

1. Find an acorn

2. Take pictures of five different birds.

3. Find an empty snail shell

4. Take a picture of rock big enough to stand.

6. Pick a wild mushroom growing on a tree.

7. A piece of trash thrown by man into nature that can be recycled.

"Wow! This is easy and fun. We will surely win!" Suyin grinned, charged with excitement. This was a hundred times better than their planned picnic. 

Honey looked skeptical, "Have you read everything?"

"No need. Just usual things found in the forest. We will tick them off the list as we go."

... oh, Suyin hadn't read everything. Wish she had.

Wang Shi looked down when Honey kicked at his foot, pointing at the last item written on the paper. Both shared a look of horror. They ain't going to win. 

Nope.

No chance.

"If any team member falls or withdrew, the entire team disqualifies. Military officials are posted in the forest to see no one cheats and also to keep everyone safe. I'll be head of this hunt. Any questions?" Jin waited for objections. "Good. Board the jeeps to reach starting point."

As Jin walked to follow everyone, Honey ran up to him. He yanked him down by tugging at his uniform and pointed his finger at number 15. "Seriously? I should have never told you about it. We ain't winning."

"You will thank me later for it." 

"What do you mean?"

"What do you do when you get scared?"

"Hug dad. Mommy doesn't seem reliable, especially when she herself jumps at the site of a lizard. And dad is the strongest."

"So?" Jin ruffled Honey's hair, but Honey yanked it, pouting. In any case, he wasn't winning. Suyin would definitely create a fuss. Jin stood and straightened his trousers. "All the best, sister. My stakes are at your team. Don't make me loose."

"You won't. I'm a pro and have done many real adventures. This is nothing. We'll be done in half the time."

"Half the time, of course. See you at the camp."

"At the camp."

Wang Shi " ????‍♂️  "

Honey " ????‍♂️  "

*******

Honey led the team, shouting so loud that birds squawked off the tree. Having Cleopatra and Bagheera on the team was the bonus as they have already ticked ten items off the list. Not to forget twice Honey was scolded- once when he tried to pick the mushroom with b.a.r.e hands, and second when he asked for the Swiss knife from Wang Shi to copy his actions of cutting vines with a machete to make way through the dense forest.

"Looks like you are enjoying this?" Wang Shi said. "You never stopped smiling."

"I always smile when I'm with Honey and-- cough-- with Honey."

"Why do I think you were about to include me as well?" Wang Shi smiled as if he was about to enjoy his favorite game. 

Suyin looked away, definitely blushing. "Delusional. You think too much of yourself. Concentrate on the game."

"Red."

"I'm not!" Her hands reached to cover her cheeks.

Wang Shi looked up, carefully keeping his expression neutral. "I was talking about this red flower. It's on the list." Suyin followed his gaze. A red flower tucked in the corner of a log, hidden from plain sight.

"Oh. Now she's redder and caught red-handed. "And there's moss around it too. Our twelfth item"

"H-Honey, we found two more. A red flower and moss." Wang Shi continued with Suyin, letting Honey put it in the zip-lock bag. He easily stepped over another log, pausing and offering a hand to Suyin, which she accepted. "On a serious note, your smile is my most favorite thing. You scared the hell out of us that day."

He was checking the water if she wanted to talk about it. She does. "Xiu Mei told me everything about you." 

He frowned, "I hid nothing from you."

"But about Jianyu and Zena."

He paused for a second. "So you felt bad about me and cried."

"Trust me, that's not the reason. I know how much you love your brother and family. Though I still don't want to tell you why I cried." A weight lodged in her c.h.e.s.t. She can't tell him how it hurts when she pulls herself away from him. She can't tell him as much as she loves his company, every loving gaze of his leaves her in agony. He was still hoping, making efforts, and yet she can't accept him. 

She stopped by the tree to catch her breath, sweat glistening her brows and the fake mustache on her lips. She peeled the mustache off, looking for the water in her backpack, only to find the bottle empty. Honey had asked about it a while ago and had shared it with Bagheera and Cleo. 

Wang Shi raised Suyin's hand to hold the damp cloth on her forehead. "Hold it." He takes out the water bottle from his backpack and brings it to her mouth. She barely took a sip. He lifted the bottle to make her drink more. "Don't worry about shortage. Keep yourself hydrated."

She looked as he stuffed the bottle in his backpack, not drinking the remaining. "Why so much care? I might never accept you. Never. Don't care for me this much."