Chapter 12: Xiao Ning

Ning Ke felt a little angry.

However, she and Yan Yunzhi kept their distance, so there was no need to dwell on such a small issue.

Her major fans spent the whole night dissecting the timeline of that meal incident, indignantly saying that because of that scene, they were put in a passive position.

Someone guessed Ning Ke was allergic to beef, some guessed she liked crab roe tofu, most suspected the show’s editing was malicious, cursing director Lin Yun and the production team.

Ning Ke couldn’t stand seeing others curse Lin Yun, so she could only post: [“Stop guessing blindly. She’s allergic to fish and shrimp.”]

This Weibo post quickly garnered over 900 comments:

[“OMG Teacher Strawberry you?”]

[“Don’t go, laoshi (teacher), explain clearly, who is ‘she’?”]

[“Could it be Yan Yunzhi?”]

[“I’ve had nine years of compulsory education! Don’t lie to me!”]

Half-believing, Ning Ke’s solo stans searched Yan Yunzhi’s encyclopedia entries and early interviews.

It was actually true; Yan Yunzhi had told reporters she was allergic to fish and shrimp.

But how would their own solo stan, Teacher Strawberry, known for releasing the most accurate info and gossip, know this?

It was only the first day of the show, had the united front of anti-fans already been dismantled from within?!

The more the fans dug, the more devastated they felt.

Someone found an old video where Ning Ke said in an interview she disliked eggplant, carrots, shrimp, tofu…

But that meal portion contained shrimp and tofu!

Why did she switch meals?

Help!

What was happening?!

Ning Ke was unaware of the tidal wave this one sentence caused among her fans.

She fell asleep drowsily.

Early the next morning, the official part of the show began.

The luxurious suite was just a transition; today, they were heading into the village.

Early in the morning, the guests boarded the cars and arrived at this episode’s location—a remote and secluded small mountain village.

Production team: “Now for the exciting moment again, it’s time to choose rooms! Did everyone sleep well last night?”

Jiang Lin: “No.”

Yu You: “I didn’t! He slept on the bed, I slept on the sofa!”

Ning Ke: “Dead tired.”

Qin Pei: “The double bed was too small.”

Production team: “…”

A string of “hahaha” scrolled across the bullet comments:

[“What kind of guests did they invite? Does the production team have no face?”]

[“The production team isn’t good either, bothering people early in the morning!”]

[“Ning Jie is so cool hahaha, her face screams ‘don’t touch me’.”]

[“Hahaha anyway let’s respect and bless the production team.”]

After the collective complaints, there was a brief silence, then everyone laughed.

Yan Yunzhi looked around.

The village’s young and able-bodied were working elsewhere, showing severe signs of hollowing out.

Only the elderly and children remained, making the village very quiet.

There was plenty of farmland nearby, so today’s task was related to labor?

The voiceover continued: “Today’s houses are on this mountain. The rooms aren’t assigned yet. Please earn priority selection through your own hard work.”

Hard work?

Ning Ke glanced at Yan Yunzhi.

Could she, looking like she’d fall over in a breeze, even perform labor?!

Yan Yunzhi’s fans also worried.

Ning Ke’s fans, sleepless from the bad news revealed by Teacher Strawberry, arrived late.

The two groups started arguing again:

[“Our Teacher Yan’s body can’t handle this kind of torment.”]

[“Aiyo, so only your Teacher Yan is precious!”]

[“Ning-silks, stop pestering early in the morning, aren’t you annoying?”]

Production team: “Please divide into three groups. The next segment is, digging radishes!”

Everyone: “???”

Many radishes were grown in the northern fields during winter.

However, most people present were unfamiliar with farm work.

Looking at the bamboo baskets and gloves provided by the production team, they collectively fell into deep thought.

Jiang Lin: “Just dig like this?”

Production team: “Correct.”

Qin Pei: “How do we dig?”

Production team: “With your hands.”

Ning Ke: “You dig one first for me to see.”

Production team: “…”

A string of “hahaha” scrolled, praising Ning Ke for her sharp retort.

But retort aside, Ning Ke started thinking about how to complete the task.

This leisure travel slow-life variety show added some wilderness survival elements.

Yan Yunzhi was invited by her, and her health was poor, so taking extra care of her was reasonable.

Now, eight people needed to form three groups, meaning 3, 3, 2 was the most logical division.

Ning Ke decided to grab some manpower.

Jiang Lin and Yu You were from the same company and had been told to follow her for more screen time.

As for Yan Yunzhi…

Yan Yunzhi asked her first: “How many people per team?”

Ning Ke: “Let’s add one more. Jiang Lin, Yu You, which one of you will join us?”

[“OMG, Teacher Yan and Ning Keke are defaulting to being in the same group?”]

[“Didn’t you hear the ‘us’!”]

[“So fans from both sides, stop arguing. Your idols are close in private.“]

Jiang Lin, dedicated to slacking off, immediately agreed: “Me!”

His manager had told him from the start, stick with Ning Ke, and even slacking off would pass.

Jiang Lin, dreaming of being a salted fish, agreed without hesitation.

After all, slacking was his specialty.

Yu You looked around, a beat slower: “…Oh, I’m fine either way.”

The first group was decided.

The second group was the couple Gao Qi and Qin Pei.

For the third group, Jing Luo stood aside with her arms crossed.

She and Gu Yao stuck together because they knew each other.

Finally, Yu You was assigned to their group.

The production team read out the group assignments: “First group, Ning Ke, Yan Yunzhi, Jiang Lin; Second group, Gao Qi, Qin Pei; Third group, Yu You, Jing Luo, Gu Yao.”

“Now! Begin!”

Ning Ke said to Jiang Lin: “You, come down with me.”

Jiang Lin: “?”

‘Wasn’t she the notoriously spoiled Eldest Miss? Could she actually do something like digging radishes? What happened to lying flat and slacking off?!’

[“Hahaha I’m dying laughing tm. I feel like Jiang Salted Fish’s mentality collapsed.”]

[“Slacking failed, suggest reforging.”]

[“Honestly, I’m quite surprised too, isn’t Ning Ke known for princess syndrome?”]

[“Have you even met her? Just listening to anti-fans blindly slander!”]

Seeing Ning Ke preparing to act, Gao Qi also picked up gloves and a basket.

As for the last group, Yu You, being the only male, also prepared to go down into the field.

“Then, begin!”

Ning Ke commanded Jiang Manpower: “Let’s go.”

Fortunately, she wore a short jacket and flat shoes today, making movement easy.

She didn’t call Yan Yunzhi.

Yan Yunzhi stopped her: “Ning Ke?”

Ning Ke glared back at her: “You’re not allowed down here!”

Her eyes were full of warning, fierce, looking very unapproachable.

Because the popularity surged several times, more passersby started watching the live stream.

The bullet comments became so numerous they drowned out even the fans’ comments:

[“OMG, is it my illusion! Why am I seeing hearts all over the screen!”]

[“Mommy mommy mommy, Ning cub looking fierce is so cute!”]

[“This is love right this is love right this is love right?”]

In fact, not only were the bullet comments stunned, but even slacking expert Jiang Lin was dumbfounded.

Ah?

Weren’t they all in the same group?

How come Teacher Yan could just lie flat beautifully!

This was blatant double standards!

Ning Ke didn’t say much, glanced at Jiang Lin, and jumped down into the field first.

It had rained yesterday, so the soil was wet and muddy.

After just two steps, her shoes were covered in dark, sticky mud.

Finally finding a suitable spot, Ning Ke put on her gloves and said to Jiang Lin: “Each handles one section, hurry up. We need to get first place.”

Jiang Lin had the heart of a slacker lying flat, but now couldn’t lie flat anymore.

He said listlessly: “Okay.”

Ning Ke spoke decisively, but actually doing it gave her a massive headache.

The Eldest Miss hadn’t even stepped into a kitchen since childhood, let alone dug radishes in a field.

She scrunched up her face, glaring murderously at the soil, but her movements were quite clumsy.

She first laboriously dug away a patch of mud.

Before even reaching a radish, her gloves were slipping off, almost falling.

The bullet comments were laughing like crazy:

[“Yesterday female stars competed fiercely on the red carpet, today they squat in the mud digging radishes.”]

[“Hahaha is the Eldest Miss really going to dig radishes?”]

[“Look at her staring at the mud like it’s her father’s killer! Ah haha why do I feel, it’s kinda cute?”]

Ning Ke was focused on completing the task, casually tucking back a stray strand of hair and putting on her gloves.

She glanced at the second group.

Gao Qi grew up in the countryside and had successfully dug out two radishes.

Ning Ke instantly felt the pressure: “Jiang Lin, hurry, we need to get first.”

Jiang Lin was going crazy: “Ning Jie! I don’t know how!”

At this moment, the screen switched briefly.

Several old ladies carrying bamboo baskets walked past on the roadside.

Perhaps seeing the crowd and excitement here, they also stopped.

Yan Yunzhi stopped paying attention to the progress here, instead walking towards those old ladies.

It was unclear what was said, perhaps she picked something casually, and finally returned carrying a bamboo basket.

The bullet comments were also stunned:

[“Did Teacher Yan just trade her bracelet for a bamboo basket?”]

[“Is that allowed? Doesn’t that count as breaking the rules?”]

[“If the production team didn’t forbid it, it’s not against the rules. But does Teacher Yan want to win that badly? I thought Ning Ke was the most competitive in their group. I feel Teacher Yan doesn’t care about these things.”]

The short interlude quickly cut back.

Jiang Lin was still battling the radishes.

This guy was truly the landlord’s傻 son.

Ning Ke deeply regretted picking the wrong manpower.

As she worried, she heard someone call her: “Ning Ke.”

She turned to look.

Yan Yunzhi stood on the field ridge, bending slightly to call her.

Yan Yunzhi had walked over from the initial spot.

Fortunately, only her shoes were muddy; the hem of her coat was still clean.

Ning Ke snapped at her: “Who allowed you down here!”

Yan Yunzhi: “We are in the same group.”

“Fine… then stand there and don’t move,” Ning Ke turned her head away, saying with less confidence, “We will win.”

Yan Yunzhi beckoned her: “Come here, I have something to tell you.”

Time ticked by.

Ning Ke was anxious, listening to her speak.

Ning Ke’s brow was initially tightly furrowed.

Hearing Yan Yunzhi say she asked the old ladies how to dig radishes and borrowed tools, her brow gradually relaxed.

Because they were very close, and Yan Yunzhi’s voice was very low, the live broadcast didn’t pick up the sound, making the audience very dissatisfied:

[“No way, is there something my noble VIP self can’t hear?”]

[“Too much too much, with so many people, these two are whispering secrets over there?”]

[“Not to be rude, but these two are so clingy, are they really not dating?”]

After hearing Yan Yunzhi’s relay, Ning Ke immediately called Jiang Lin over and said a few words: “Bring the bamboo basket over.”

Before taking two steps, she turned back again, not forgetting to warn Yan Yunzhi once more: “Don’t come down.”

Yan Yunzhi smiled warmly, her gaze soft like spring light: “Okay.”

With the experience and techniques imparted, the first group quickly found their rhythm.

Ning Ke finally pulled out the first radish.

Over there, under her intimidating gaze, Jiang Lin pulled out five in one go!

Time was almost up.

Gao Qi hammered his lower back and smiled at Qin Pei: “Told you not to come down, means don’t come down. Relax, I won’t let my wife live in the worst room.”

Qin Pei saw his sweaty face and already felt sorry for him: “Forget it, A’Qi. Living in the worst room is fine. Your lumbar spine was injured before, better not push it.”

—They had already dug out ten radishes.

The third group was the most miserable.

This group consisted of young people with no experience working in fields, let alone digging radishes.

Yu You was panting heavily from exhaustion, having only dug out three or four radishes.

Jing Luo didn’t speak.

Gu Yao rubbed her face, her voice sweet and clear: “What can we do then. If we lose, we lose.”

The production team started the countdown: “Fifteen seconds remaining.”

“Fifteen, fourteen… ten…”

“Jiang Lin, hurry, that one’s about to come out!”

“Ah! A’Qi, this one’s almost ready!”

“Brother Yu You, keep going, there’s still time!”

“Six, five…”

“No way, really can’t pull it out!”

“Can’t pull it out, giving up!”

“Three, two, one! Time’s up!”

All three groups stopped.

In this weather of minus five or six degrees Celsius, everyone’s clothes were damp with sweat.

Ning Ke regulated her breathing, exhaling white puffs of air.

Partly from fatigue, partly from tension.

Finally, the production team began counting.

“First group, 17!”

“Second group, 12!”

“Third group, 5!”

“First group, wins!”

Even though they won, the arguments in the bullet comments continued:

[“Don’t know who’s trying to claim credit, saying they won only because of the great artist. Artist lady didn’t even move today.”]

[“Heh, wasn’t it? Didn’t Teacher Yan talk to a certain vase, speeding things up?”]

[“The live broadcast didn’t even pick up the audio, who the hell knows what Yan Yunzhi said?”]

The fans weren’t happy even after winning, not looking forward to choosing the house at all, but the production team had already started distributing keys.

The first group got a two-story small building, a local traditional dwelling with some history; the second group got a normal family house; the third group got a bamboo hut.

Even Jiang Lin, dedicated to slacking off like a salted fish, got excited about this house.

Ning Ke was no exception.

She turned back to glance at Yan Yunzhi, remembered the inexplicable CP interpretations in the Super Topic, and quickly turned back again.

Production team reminder: “Everyone can head to their accommodations now. Rest at noon, continue in the afternoon.”

Ning Ke took off her gloves and turned to walk back.

She saw Yan Yunzhi standing by the field ridge, her figure graceful, her eyes gentle.

The wind brushed the hem of her coat.

Yan Yunzhi extended her hand, signaling for her to pull her up.

“No need,” Ning Ke didn’t take her hand, “I can manage myself.”

She was tall with long legs, took a large step, and got up on her own.

Yan Yunzhi handed her the key: “Key.”

Ning Ke didn’t take it: “You hold it. Let’s go.”

Yan Yunzhi stopped her: “Wait a moment.”

Ning Ke: “What?”

“Don’t move,” Yan Yunzhi approached her, pointing to her hair, “There’s a bit of mud stuck here.”

It must have gotten there accidentally while tucking her hair back and removing her gloves midway, just a tiny bit of dried mud.

The bullet comments were instantly flooded with “????”:

[“No way, what are these two doing?”]

[“Is the idol force-feeding sugar? No way no way?”]

[“So close, how about Xiao Ning you A (take initiative/top) mommy for once?”]

Ning Ke had no idea what the bullet comments were saying.

Because she was too tired, her reaction was a bit slow.

She just said, oh.

After speaking, Yan Yunzhi raised her hand and touched Ning Ke’s hair.

This time the audience was dumbfounded, Ning Ke also froze, even forgetting to step back.

As the two got close, Ning Ke again smelled that light, pleasant fragrance.

She glanced sideways and saw Yan Yunzhi’s pale, thin hand, heard her voice speaking right beside her ear, very light and gentle.

Yan Yunzhi said: “It’ll be quick, don’t worry.”

Ning Ke’s gaze met hers, puzzled and blank.

Yan Yunzhi curled her lips, her features picturesque: “What’s wrong?”

Her tone was natural, as if just doing something very small.

Ning Ke thought, this is on camera, she had to give her face.

Taking another step back, they had been married for two years, no need to be so distant.

Finally, she lowered her head: “…Mm.”

“You worked hard today,” Yan Yunzhi gathered a few strands, tucking Ning Ke’s hair behind her ear, her cool fingertips seemingly brushing her earlobe unintentionally, “Thank you, our Xiao Ning.”

Ning Ke, most uncomfortable with being touched, tensed up like a violin string instantly.

Her brow furrowed slightly, clearly displeased, yet she didn’t speak, as if questioning Yan Yunzhi with her eyes “What are you doing?”.

That appearance… was inexplicably very well-behaved.

Yan Yunzhi gently lifted the corners of her lips.

She knew… Ning Ke wouldn’t embarrass her on camera.