Chapter 5

Chapter 5

After taking an antique-style pleasure boat to the opposite bank, Xiao Bao had learned his lesson.

“Sister Bai, where would you like to sit for a bit? There are teahouses on the old street, coffee bars, and a bakery. I checked, and their ratings are all pretty high.”

I asked Xi Yan, “What do you like to eat, Yan Ge?”

“Am I going with you two? That doesn’t feel right. This is your date, after all.”

I shot him a reproachful look. “Oh, so you do know it doesn’t feel right? Then hurry up and give us some private space.”

Xi Yan gave a hum. “Sure.”

He led us into a greenhouse filled with beautiful fresh flowers, with seats where you could enjoy English afternoon tea.

He placed the order and casually swiped his card. “Enjoy.”

I was stunned. “You’re really leaving?”

“Weren’t you the one who chased me away? I happen to have something to do anyway.”

Watching his retreating back, I actually felt a little disappointed.

“Isn’t he an observer? He probably has to go follow the other groups too, maybe dock some points from the other guys,” Xiao Bao analyzed.

So he was only following us around casually because of his assignment.

It wasn’t as if he had any special connection to me.

That was fine. If he stuck his foot into every CP’s business, then I wouldn’t get scolded for it.

I toyed with my spoon while listening to Xiao Bao making a fuss across from me.

“Huh? Yan Ge didn’t leave. What’s he doing on the ground outside?” His words suddenly became interesting.

I hurried outside. Xi Yan was digging up wild vegetables from the ground, holding a basket from who knew where.

I was shocked. “What are you doing?”

“Can’t you see?” He smiled at me. “Digging wild vegetables.”

“Why are you digging wild vegetables out of nowhere?”

Xi Yan sighed. “The director said whoever gets eliminated, whoever becomes the loser in love, has to go dig wild vegetables.”

“Hahahahahahahahahaha what even is this? Why is it so funny coming out of his mouth?”

“My bro has so many memes.”

“You’re as love-brained as Wang Baochuan! Wang Baochuan fell for a scumbag, and you’re ignoring perfectly good Tian Tian just to chase after a toxic woman.”

“Can the CP fans calm down? Digging wild vegetables is obviously for variety-show effect. Just watch the show properly.”

…

I was a little worried about his basket. “How much are you planning to dig?”

“Enough for all of you to eat tonight. I don’t have anything else to do anyway. Go back inside and have fun.”

I glanced back at the exquisite greenhouse, then crouched down in a huff. “How am I supposed to eat now?”

“Why wouldn’t you be able to eat?” Xi Yan lifted the corners of his eyes, his gaze flickering. “Back on set, you were like a little mouse, rustling around with your mouth never stopping.”

“The cameraman is here! Stop talking!” I wanted nothing more than to lunge over and cover his mouth.

But my hands were busy digging wild vegetables.

Xi Yan lowered his eyes. “You don’t have to keep me company here and ruin your date. I already sent Xiao Bao all the nearby scenic spots and historical sites.”

“Your waist isn’t good. What if it acts up from squatting here the whole time?”

Although Xi Yan usually looked unreliable, he was very serious when filming.

On his last project, he injured his waist while doing wire work.

To avoid delaying the schedule, he went to a clinic near the film studio that very night for a pain-blocking injection, then went right back to work the next day.

I felt anything could be played for laughs, but making him bend over to pull wild vegetables was a joke they shouldn’t make.

He was different from third-rate actors like us. Acting was both his career and his dream. If his body gave out, he would be done for.

“Feeling sorry for me already?” he chuckled. “Didn’t you say you liked younger men and looked down on those of us pushing thirty?”

“…I’m just showing respect to an elder-generation performing artist.”

“Then this elder-generation performing artist will let this little kid in on the truth: my waist is just fine.”

I froze, then blushed and grabbed a handful of wild vegetables to throw at him.

Xi Yan burst out laughing.

Embarrassed and angry, I got up to leave, only to trip over him. With a thud, the two of us fell into the grass.

“Young people really are hot-blooded.” Xi Yan propped himself up on his elbows and stared at me, sitting on his waist. “I only said one thing. Where did your mind wander off to? Are you in such a hurry to test it?”

“Holy crap holy crap holy crap holy crap, am I allowed to watch this without paying?”

“I hereby declare this the most explicit thing I’ve ever seen on television.”

“Damn it, I was still shipping Ke Yan Ke Tian, and then Xi Yan runs off to get all racy with Bai Sheng! Why don’t you just crash straight into me and finish me off?”

“Tian Tian stock has hit limit down. I’m going all in on Sheng Sheng Bu Xi!”

I couldn’t win an argument against him.

Pathetically, I was so mad I almost cried.

“All right, all right.” He caught my wrist and carefully helped me up. “Xiao Bao is coming. Go back. He’ll be heartbroken.”

I stood there sulking and called out, “Xiao Bao!”

“Yeah!” Xiao Bao ran out with a cookie in his mouth, his face screaming, What are you two doing?

“Come dig wild vegetables!”

Xiao Bao was completely confused, but seeing that both of us were digging, he hurried over with fear and reverence and joined the wild-vegetable-digging team.

The three of us dug up radishes, greens, and Huadian Cai from the field, then followed Xi Yan to the supermarket to buy more ingredients.

When we got back, we cooked for everyone.

As soon as Ren Tiantian heard that Xi Yan had personally dug the vegetables, she scarfed down three huge bowls of vegetable soup.

Before she even left the table, she started vomiting and having diarrhea, then got sent to the hospital.

“Tian Tian, my precious daughter! Did Bai Bitch poison the food?”

“Oh my God, I’m so mad. Tian Tian got sick because of Xi Yan, and she still doesn’t know Xi Yan spent the whole day with Bai Bitch.”

“I watched this dating show because I wanted more sweetness from the drama, so why is the drama stabbing me all over again? This is like some angst novel.”

I was dead.

Although the entire time, I had only dug the tasty Huadian Cai under Xi Yan’s instructions.

But could I have misidentified something and mixed in some other wild vegetable…?

In any case, no matter whose fault it was,

it would definitely end with me being accused of poisoning her. No question.

I paced in circles gloomily, then someone suddenly tapped me on the shoulder.

Xi Yan was holding his car keys. “Let’s go. We’re visiting your friend at the hospital.”