Chapter 10: Good match

Weekend.

Heaven smiled upon them; the snow had stopped the day before yesterday.

“Perfect Partner” was about to start recording.

The production team booked an early morning flight.

Ning Ke, a night owl, dreaded waking up early the most.

The alarm rang, she turned it off, repeated this several times, then buried herself completely under the covers.

After a moment, Sister Lu came to wake her up.

She knocked for a long time without any response, standing awkwardly in the hallway.

Ning Ke had instructed her last night to knock without fail, but she usually disliked others entering her room.

Sister Lu knocked at the door for ten minutes without hearing any sound from inside.

“She’s still not up?” Yan Yunzhi emerged, pulling a suitcase. “I’ll go wake her.”

Sister Lu breathed a sigh of relief: “Yes, yes, Azhi, hurry. If you don’t wake her soon, she won’t get breakfast.”

Yan Yunzhi stood in the hallway for a moment before knocking: “Ning Ke?”

Still no answer. After calling out twice more, she pushed the door open and went in.

An aromatherapy candle sat on the bedside table, emitting a comforting berry scent.

A lump formed under the duvet; Ning Ke was sleeping soundly.

Yan Yunzhi gently pulled down the duvet: “Ning Ke?”

The sudden light caused the peacefully dreaming person to frown.

Ning Ke had quite the temper when woken up.

Just calling her was enough; why pull off her duvet!

But before the anger could erupt, she heard that voice continue: “Alright, our little Ning should get up now.”

Wait, was that… Yan Yunzhi’s voice?

Ning Ke instantly became wide awake.

She opened her eyes and saw Yan Yunzhi standing by her bed, leaning down to look at her, her face bearing the usual gentle and calm smile: “Time to get up.”

Ning Ke sat bolt upright in bed, clutching the duvet, speechless for a long moment.

The silk pajamas slipped down with the movement, revealing a large expanse of porcelain-white skin on her chest, though she herself didn’t notice.

Her sleepy face looked dazed, like a hedgehog that hadn’t yet raised its quills, all traces of morning grumpiness gone.

Finally regaining consciousness, her voice was softer and warmer than usual: “Why are you here?”

Yan Yunzhi: “Sister Lu couldn’t wake you. I had no choice but to come in.”

Ning Ke came back to her senses: “Oh. Getting up.”

Yan Yunzhi hummed in agreement and closed the door for her.

Only then did Ning Ke belatedly become conscious of her appearance, glancing down at her slipped pajamas, the messy bed… Surely Yan Yunzhi didn’t think she was trying to seduce her?

She checked the time and rubbed her face.

Phew, get up.

When Ning Ke came downstairs, Yan Yunzhi was talking to Sister Lu.

Yan Yunzhi wore a turquoise long coat, paired with a white cashmere sweater and light grey cigarette pants underneath.

It was her usual style. She was tall and slender, with an upright and proper posture, perfectly suited for long trench coats and overcoats, looking very graceful when walking.

She also wore makeup today, a light and gentle style, no eyeliner, faint eyeshadow, and light lip gloss.

Ning Ke immediately recognized the cashmere sweater she had given her.

Yan Yunzhi looked at her thinly clad figure: “Not wearing more?”

Ning Ke looked down at herself: “I usually dress like this.”

She only wore a thin coat, with a dress and stockings underneath, paired with knee-high boots, looking very lightly dressed.

Yan Yunzhi didn’t persuade her further.

Ning Ke sat down to eat breakfast: vegetable congee, rolled pancakes, eggs, corn kernels.

Sister Lu came over and asked: “Miss Ning, is your car big enough?”

Ning Ke: “What’s wrong?”

Sister Lu: “Azhi is afraid of the cold. I packed an electric blanket, down jacket, and sleeping bag for her. She said it’s too much and can’t bring it all. But you’re filming an outdoor show, exposed to the elements, how can I rest assured if you don’t bring enough!”

Yan Yunzhi showed a hint of helpless laughter: “Sister Lu, really no need.”

Ning Ke: “How many suitcases?”

Sister Lu: “Four! Besides the items mentioned above, there are heat packs, hot water bottles, gloves, not to mention the medicine Azhi often takes, I’ve prepared everything.”

Yan Yunzhi: “Can’t bring it all.”

Ning Ke: “Can bring it.”

The two spoke simultaneously. Sister Lu paused, then beamed: “Aiyo! Can bring, can bring! I’ll move them to the door right now, easier to load into the car later!”

‘Great! This Miss Ning finally knows how to dote on her wife!’

‘She wasn’t bragging, Azhi is so beautiful and has such a good temperament, where else could you find such a good wife!’

After saying that, Ning Ke didn’t look at Yan Yunzhi, burying her head to continue eating breakfast.

As if this was the smallest, most insignificant matter.

When the car arrived, Ning Ke directed the people moving the suitcases: “Just these, put them all in. If it’s not enough, call another car.”

An Yu saw four extra suitcases besides Ning Ke’s usual three, guessed they were Yan Yunzhi’s, and exchanged knowing glances and winks with Xu Jian. Xu Jian also showed a smile of understanding.

When the car reached the airport, the horizon was just beginning to show a streak of fish-belly white.

Ning Ke braced herself, preparing for any fans who might appear to see them off.

However, perhaps because it was too early and winter was cold, the journey was smooth.

Lin Yun had arranged for Ning Ke and Yan Yunzhi’s seats to be together.

Ning Ke didn’t object.

She took the aisle seat, Yan Yunzhi took the window seat, with an empty seat between them.

It was too early; everyone was catching up on sleep.

Ning Ke wore an eye mask and dozed off for a while, until she was jolted awake by turbulence.

She pulled down the eye mask and asked Yan Yunzhi: “Are you feeling airsick?”

Yan Yunzhi’s poor health meant she was prone to airsickness.

The worst time seemed to be a year ago when she went straight to the hospital after landing.

At that time, Ning Ke was filming on set and received a call from the doctor, but Yan Yunzhi told her not to come: “I know you’re busy with work. It’s a small matter, no need to rush back.”

In the end, Ning Ke didn’t go see her.

Ning Ke asked across the empty seat: “Did you take motion sickness medicine?”

Yan Yunzhi nodded, her voice also very low: “Mm.”

As she spoke, her thick, long eyelashes trembled, her brow furrowed, and her voice was faint.

Ning Ke said no more, turning her face to the other side.

Fortunately, the turbulence passed quickly, and the plane landed.

After getting off the plane, Lin Yun came over to greet them: “Keke, Sister Azhi, are you okay?”

Yan Yunzhi smiled at her: “Everything is fine.”

Lin Yun: “Good that everything’s fine.”

Ning Ke let out a cold, irritated scoff: “Hmph.”

‘Fine? Couldn’t she see Yan Yunzhi’s pale face?’

Lin Yun was also baffled. Why was she giving her attitude right after getting off the plane?

‘This ancestor, how did she offend her again?’

But now she had to arrange for everyone to take cars in batches, so Lin Yun had no time to ask her.

The filming location for the first episode was a village in the central mountains.

Traveling from the airport, the car navigated small roads, bumping along the way, arriving only at 4 PM.

The equipment team had arrived two days earlier, and logistics services were all arranged.

Not all guests had arrived yet; people would continue arriving throughout the evening.

The production team would also edit the arrival videos into short teasers to be released uniformly tomorrow morning.

As for the main show, Lin Yun decided to use a live broadcast format.

An online variety show had chosen live broadcast over recording before the New Year and had gained some popularity.

But live broadcasting also carried risks, namely the potential for mishaps.

The production team planned to test the waters with the first episode to see the effect.

Dinner was served at a long table, with individual set meals for everyone.

Ning Ke was very picky, disliking duck, goose, and fish.

Lin Yun knew her preferences and specifically had An Yu bring her a boiled beef set meal, slightly spicy, looking very appetizing.

Yan Yunzhi’s set meal was much lighter: crab roe tofu, shrimp meat, green vegetables, accompanied by crucian carp soup.

Ning Ke frowned, eyeing Yan Yunzhi’s meal, then suddenly said: “I’ll eat yours.”

Yan Yunzhi turned her head, not thinking much: “Okay.”

Ning Ke didn’t say thank you, directly taking the meal box handed to her.

But after the tiring day, she had difficulty swallowing and didn’t eat much.

They stayed overnight at an express hotel in town; the conditions weren’t great.

An Yu and the other assistants each stayed in single rooms, having brought the luggage over in advance.

Ning Ke was organizing her suitcase when she suddenly asked An Yu: “Where’s her luggage?”

An Yu: “Ah? Teacher Yan? It’s been delivered.”

Ning Ke nodded.

Yan Yunzhi was in the room next door, but she didn’t go over.

An Yu started talking to herself: “I saw Teacher Yan looking much better than when she just got off the plane.

When I passed her room earlier, she even asked if I wanted some fruit.”

Ning Ke didn’t speak, continuing to organize her things.

An Yu secretly smiled: “Well, if there’s nothing else, I’ll head out first.”

Ning Ke: “Go ahead.”

After finishing packing and showering, Ning Ke lay in bed scrolling through her phone.

It was her usual pre-sleep surfing time.

She was a daily 5G surfer. After her tiny account got blocked, she could only use her secondary account to browse Weibo.

Because she had casually followed some people back then, it wasn’t surprising to see herself on her feed.

[“Leaked photos!”]

[“New show starts filming, good luck! Keke, charge forward for mommy!”]

[“OMG OMG, have you seen the latest leaked photos? Saw them and immediately called her a beauty!”]

Ning Ke continued scrolling down and indeed saw a blurry photo. Zooming in, she could vaguely make out herself and Yan Yunzhi standing by the roadside waiting for a car.

The comments under this Weibo post were filled with screams:

[“Ahhhhh it’s a beauty!”]

[“Ah, Keke’s waist, these legs, sorry mommy fan turning into something else for a second!”]

[“Is that Yan Yunzhi next to Keke?”]

[“Yes! Teacher Yan is so tall, her posture is really upright and beautiful!”]

[“Friends, I have a bold idea but I dare not say it…”]

[“You’re not gonna say… beauties, they match so well, right!”]

[“Say it, say it out loud! Beauties, how pay! Beauties should be with beauties!”]

[“Beauties stick together!”]

Ning Ke clicked her tongue.

‘These fans are really boring. Really can ship anyone anytime.’

She exited Weibo, turned off her phone, switched off the bedside lamp.

In the darkness, she turned left once, then right once.

No. Can’t sleep.

Ning Ke picked up her phone again, opened Weibo.

She liked the Weibo post she just saw.

Okay. Sleep.

Good night.