Clear-Headed Choice? Lin Bei Withdraws with a Smile, Donates Part of His Prize Money, and Announces a Return to School

Fourteen contestants entered the final round of the wilderness survival competition, but only eight remain. In recent days, five participants have withdrawn—yet among them, Lin Bei’s exit stands out. Unlike others who left due to injuries or illness, he voluntarily stepped away, sparking widespread discussion.

When explaining his decision, Lin Bei said he had pushed himself through ten full days, enough to earn a 2,000-yuan bonus. As a complete beginner in wilderness survival, he felt the journey had already given him more than he ever expected—new knowledge, new perspectives, and an experience rich enough to last a lifetime. He also admitted candidly: he missed his girlfriend.

Not long after announcing his withdrawal, rumors circulated that Lin Bei had landed a new endorsement deal worth 600,000 yuan. The claim remains unverified, but unlike competitors such as Scar Brother, he has not started livestreaming. Many netizens praised him as “the most clear-headed of them all,” impressed that he remained calm and principled despite the overwhelming surge of online attention.

In an interview, Lin Bei shared that he experienced “wilderness syndrome” after returning to normal life—waking up at night thinking he needed to add firewood, and finding it surreal to sleep on a soft bed. He also revealed plans to return to Sichuan to continue his education. After graduating from high school, he spent time working away from home before completing an adult entrance exam and enrolling in Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, majoring in pharmaceutics.

Throughout the competition, Lin Bei earned roughly 30,000 yuan in prize money. He plans to donate a portion of it to support reading programs for children in remote mountain areas. “I’m not sure how I’ll do it yet,” he said, “but I want to contribute whatever small strength I can.”

Back in November, Lin Bei and his girlfriend appeared together in a livestream that quickly drew over 100,000 viewers. Several fans sent virtual gifts, and it didn’t go unnoticed that his girlfriend kept her eyes fixed on the gift counter—and even hinted that viewers could send more. This sparked criticism from some commenters, who felt she seemed overly focused on material gain, leaving Lin Bei visibly embarrassed.

Still, before the wilderness competition finals began, Lin Bei had already successfully proposed to her.