Chapter 146: Treat to a Meal

Chapter 146: Chapter 146: Treat to a Meal

Hugh vaguely suspected that Jay Monroe had been used by that woman.

She knew Jay had been to the base forest, guessed his needs, and so used the base pass to keep him dangling—what a clever trick.

After returning, Jay went straight to Dane and told him Hugh was looking for him, but he left out a lot of details.

Dane was no fool. He saw through it but didn’t say anything, moving right to business: "So, what do we do next?"

Hugh was too smart—if they kept circling each other like this, who knew when it’d end.

Jay lay on the straw floor of the earth hut, propping one hand behind his head: "We’ll just wait at the entrance of the Team Red building area. As soon as Hugh leaves, we attack, and when he comes back, we pull out."

"The customs team will have to return. Just keep watch on that mountain road," he said.

Dane massaged his temples and closed his eyes: "Why not just let Hugh come out?"

Jay frowned: "With the number of people you’ve got, it’s already tough to take on the customs team. If Hugh brings his guys over, you’re the ones who’ll get the short end of the stick."

Dane: "We don’t stop Hugh from coming out—just openly give him the road. If you were Hugh and Team Red’s commander, what would you think?"

If you forced someone to stay, Team Red would definitely be suspicious—they’d think you didn’t want Hugh to lead his squad to meet the customs team. But if you let him go too eagerly, Team Red would get suspicious too—maybe their real target wasn’t the customs team, but the Team Red Tower.

Jay analyzed it carefully; it actually made sense. Still, he laid it out bluntly: "If Hugh really does make it over, there’s no way you’re taking down the customs team."

Dane raised his eyebrows: "Then you can take your team to Team Red Tower, help us grab some resources, which doesn’t sound half bad either."

Jay shrugged and lay back down: "Fine, there’s always more solutions than problems."

Dane noncommittally muted his mic.

At this point, the customs team still hadn’t arrived. Probably there’d be no action tonight. Renee Morgan chopped some branches and set up a makeshift tent for the night.

Bama and Boland came over to help, and eventually put up another one, so the guys could take turns resting.

When Dane looked back, he caught Renee Morgan clapping her hands, eyes squinting into slits with a crescent smile—clearly pleased with her tent—then crouching down and crawling inside like a cat...

He looked away, standing at the top of the hill, glancing back down at the tangled mess of vines and the piece of useless vine acting as a literal roadblock—he had to avert his eyes quickly to spare himself the sight.

Renee fell asleep fast; when she woke, several hours had passed. She didn’t linger, and got up before dawn.

They were supposed to take turns on night watch, but Dane and the others didn’t wake her up at all.

Renee quickly washed her face and brushed her teeth, gnawed on a compressed biscuit, then went out to swap shifts with whoever was on watch.

Boland, groggy and half-asleep, heard movement and lazily glanced back—surprised to see Renee: "Morgan? Didn’t Dalton say you could rest and skip night duty?"

"I’m well rested. You go catch some sleep—I’ll watch the road." Renee ushered him up to take her place squatting by the mountain gully.

The spot was a bit steep, not ideal for sniping, but had a good view. With no cover around, they could spot Team Red immediately if they came into view.

Boland really was tired, yawning as he got up.

Renee squatted in the gully, bored, and started fiddling with stuff again.

Dane woke around the same time Boland returned to the tent. The tent was too small for so many bodies, so he just stayed outside.

Seeing Renee tinkering, glancing at the path from time to time, he called a greeting and sat down beside her.

Renee responded and scooted over.

"Hey, Renee, why’d you join the base, anyway?" Dane chewed a blade of grass, sounding casual.

Renee paused, thought seriously, and replied: "Just a transition period, I guess."

The company arranged for this show.

As an entertainer, her first job was to make herself valuable. She got why her manager and the company set it up this way.

That dream had made her more cautious, helped her avoid being the contrast group and getting flamed online.

Once the show was over, her life would get back on track.

Dane looked into her clear, bright eyes. When she said that, she wasn’t putting on a show.

Apparently she really didn’t know—with her current score, she was just a step away from the top score for the championship.

And that top score meant a lot.

It meant being recruited as a senior member by the base—basically stepping right into management, with all the contacts and resources that entailed.

Renee, holding onto a sense of reciprocity, shot back: "What about you? Why enter the competition—after the prize money?"

Dane didn’t hesitate at all, his expression cocky: "I’m chasing the championship."

Renee nodded.

People strive upward, water flows down. Everyone has a competitive streak.

Once inside the arena, everyone wants to win.

Dane bent one knee, eying her gentle face, speaking calmly: "I know my score can barely match you or Hugh. I can’t win."

Mouthy and confident but not delusional—he’d give it everything, even when the outcome wasn’t what he wanted, and he wouldn’t regret it.

Renee appreciated the attitude and flashed a warm grin.

"Renee..." Dane suddenly looked serious. "What if you end up with the top score?"

Renee paused, blinking: "If I really did? I’d treat everyone to dinner?"

Heard the prize was a huge sum—buying dinner would only be right.

Dane: "..."

Looking at her so carefree, he said slowly, "If you take the top score... maybe I should treat you to dinner."

Renee: "..."

Renee honestly didn’t see the difference between her treating him to dinner or the other way around.

Was this guy just obsessed with picking up the tab?

Still, she wasn’t that na?ve—Dane saying this obviously meant he valued her as a friend.

But for someone in showbiz, being careful with friends was just self-preservation. If Dane turned out to have a shady background, it could hurt her image—no way would she get too close.

Besides, they were still filming now—she couldn’t say anything to compromise her public persona as a positive celebrity role model.

"Sure, then let’s get Jay, Bama, Boland, everyone together," Renee thought a hundred things in a second but nodded naturally, looking relaxed.

Dane didn’t seem to notice her flash of hesitation or the slight caution in her tone.

Renee silently let out a breath. Thinking the show was almost over, she couldn’t help but smile a little.

Ever since that dream, she’d been anxious, scared of making the same mistakes—after all, in that dream, all her bad luck started with this show.

Maybe this time, it’ll be the start of good luck?