61: Bonus Chapter: Happy Year of the Snake!!!

The first rays of morning sunlight pierced through the dense leaves, spilling onto the Shelter.

An Lan was the first to wake from her slumber. She rubbed her bleary eyes and turned her head to see Lu Fan lying on a bamboo bed not far away.

The sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled shadows on Lu Fan's face, making him look a bit softer.

An Lan watched Lu Fan's peaceful sleeping face, a faint blush rising on her cheeks.

She rose quietly, afraid of waking Lu Fan.

"Happy New Year, Lu Fan!"

An Lan suddenly shouted toward Lu Fan.

Lu Fan was startled awake by the sudden sound, opening his eyes in a daze.

Seeing An Lan standing by the bed with a face full of smiles, he didn't quite snap out of it for a moment.

"Happy New Year?"

He scratched his head, his brain working fast. Calculating based on the time before they descended into the wilderness, today was indeed New Year's Eve.

"Happy New Year!" Lu Fan responded with a smile, his mood becoming exceptionally good as well.

In this wilderness, having a companion like An Lan to spend the New Year with didn't seem so bad after all.

The two quickly tidied their bedding and began preparing for this special New Year's Eve dinner.

They caught a few plump fish by the sea and found some fresh wild vegetables in the forest.

Though the ingredients were simple, their faces were filled with expectant smiles.

"We have to show off our skills today and give this wilderness New Year's Eve dinner a unique flavor."

Lu Fan said to An Lan with a smile while skillfully processing the fish.

An Lan helped wash the wild vegetables on the side, her eyes curving into crescent moons. "Definitely, I can't wait to taste our cooking."

Just as they were busy as bees, a white figure suddenly darted in from outside, breaking the warm scene.

An Lan screamed in fright, instinctively hiding behind Lu Fan.

"Don't be afraid, it's a white snake." Lu Fan quickly comforted An Lan. He looked at this uninvited guest, but didn't feel much fear in his heart.

It was a white snake as thick as a thigh, with smooth, delicate scales and eyes like black beans.

Relying on his Animal Affinity, he slowly approached the white snake, soothing it with soft words.

The white snake's originally wary gaze gradually softened. It stopped darting around and stayed quietly in place, allowing Lu Fan to stroke its head.

"This snake looks so docile." An Lan poked her head out from behind Lu Fan, cautiously watching the white snake as the fear in her eyes was gradually replaced by curiosity.

"Today is the Year of the Snake. Touching it might bring good luck."

Lu Fan said with a smile. His hand gently stroked the white snake, and he secretly hoped for something good to happen.

The moment his hand touched the white snake, a dazzling light suddenly flashed. The white snake actually transformed into three red envelopes emitting golden light, floating in the air.

At the same time, the familiar mechanical voice of the Wilderness Survival Announcement rang in their ears.

【Wilderness Survival Announcement】

【Congratulations to Lu Fan for discovering a Wilderness Auspicious Beast, triggering the red envelope ten thousand times rebate】

【Longevity Red Envelope * 10,000】

【Rolling Wealth Red Envelope * 10,000】

【Smooth Sailing Red Envelope * 10,000】

【Red envelopes contain magical power and can bless a person's fortune for the year】

"This... this is too magical!" An Lan's mouth hung open in surprise, unable to believe everything happening before her eyes.

Lu Fan was also stunned by this sudden surprise. It took him several seconds to react, and a brilliant smile broke out on his face. "It seems this year really is a lucky year!"

The livestream room instantly exploded, and barrage comments scrolled frantically like a tide.

"My god, what kind of divine luck is this!"

"Great God Lu is simply the God of Luck incarnate. This is too enviable!"

"A ten thousand times rebate! We're striking it rich now!"

"The Chinese audience is going to die of envy. Waiting for the lucky draw!"

Upon learning this news, the Chinese authorities immediately took action.

They quickly set up a fair and just drawing system to ensure every viewer had a chance to participate.

Once the news spread, the whole of China was abuzz.

People waited in front of their computers and phones, hoping for the goddess of luck to descend.

In the wilderness, Lu Fan and An Lan couldn't even focus on cooking anymore. They excitedly discussed the meanings of the three red envelopes.

"This 'Longevity' one must be a wish for everyone's health." An Lan picked up one of the red envelopes, her eyes full of expectation.

"'Rolling Wealth' means hoping everyone makes a fortune." Lu Fan picked up another red envelope with a smile, joking, "Maybe we'll find some treasure in this wilderness this year too."

"And this 'Smooth Sailing' one. I hope our future path of Wilderness Survival will be smooth and that we won't encounter so many dangers anymore."

An Lan looked at the last red envelope, hope shimmering in her eyes.

The two were immersed in this sudden joy, their laughter echoing in the Shelter.

Meanwhile, the lucky draw event in China officially began.

Countless people clicked their mice with excitement, waiting for the verdict of fate.

Soon, the results of the draw came out.

Wang Tao held the list of winners, preparing to announce it to the audience.

"First of all, congratulations to the following viewers. Their luck is very good, having directly won three red envelopes."

"They are:"

ID: An Xiaonan Who Loves Changzhou Snacks

ID: Username 25572949

ID: Nangong's Jun Munan

ID: Lan Nian Who Likes Honeysuckle

ID: Li Qirui

ID: The Author is Handsome

ID: The Author Makes a Fortune

..."

"I won! I actually won!"

"Holy crap, winning three? I'm so jealous."

"Ah, I didn't win a single one."

An elderly grandmother also luckily won a red envelope.

Wearing her reading glasses, she looked at the winning notification on her phone and couldn't stop smiling. "This really is the best New Year's gift!"

With the birth of each lucky winner, the whole of China was immersed in a sea of joy.

People shared their happiness on social media, and topics like #WildernessSurvivalRedEnvelope and #YearOfTheSnakeGoodLuck quickly topped the trending lists.

After the draw, Wang Tao waved his hand slightly and continued, "Here, on behalf of all the staff, we send our most sincere New Year's Eve blessings to the people of the whole country."

"May everyone in the new year, just like the 'Longevity' red envelope, be healthy and free from illness, greeting life's challenges every day with full energy."

Zhao Hangjun followed, "May the blessings of the 'Rolling Wealth' red envelope come true. May everyone's wallets get thicker and thicker, and may your careers be 'Smooth Sailing'. Whether struggling in the workplace or starting your own business, may you reap full wealth and success."

The livestream room was also flooded with comments.

"Happy Year of the Snake."

"Happy Year of the Snake."

"Happy Year of the Snake."

...In the wilderness, after an afternoon, Lu Fan and An Lan finally finished their New Year's Eve dinner.

Though there were no sumptuous dishes or a lively Spring Festival Gala, they felt a different kind of happiness.

They sat together, eating the simple yet heartfelt meal, looking at the red envelopes in their hands, their hearts full of longing for the future.

"In the new year, I hope we can both get better and better." Lu Fan raised the coconut shell in his hand, which contained clear coconut water, as if raising a cup of mellow wine.

"Better and better!" An Lan also raised her coconut shell and lightly clinked it with Lu Fan's.

The laughter of the two echoed in the wilderness night sky, as if announcing their happiness and satisfaction to the whole world.

"Make a wish."

An Lan suggested, so both of them closed their eyes and made a wish.

After making their wishes, they looked at each other.

"What did you wish for?" An Lan asked curiously.

But she immediately regretted it. "Don't say it. If you say it, it won't come true."

Lu Fan smiled. "Wishes should be said out loud. Otherwise, how can the heavens hear them!"

"In the new year,"

I hope the rivers are peaceful like An Lan, and I hope the mountains and rivers are safe.

I hope all those moving forward have a smooth path, and I hope all those in adversity turn bad luck into good.

I hope lovers end up together, and I hope those separated finally reunite.

I hope the gentle are treated with gentleness, and I hope the kind meet kindness.

I hope everyone's eyes are like the stars, and I hope everyone's hearts are always at peace.

Whether poor or rich, whether humble or noble, whether in darkness or facing injustice.

I sincerely bless everyone worthy of being blessed. I hope you can love yourself every time—ten times, a hundred times, a thousand times, ten thousand times, countless times, at every moment—and be loved at every moment too.

Dear friends, I wish you a Happy New Year!!"