Chapter 13: Double Standards

After the strenuous game in the morning, the production team gave everyone a three-hour break in the afternoon before having the three groups prepare dinner separately.

Group One’s detached small building had a pretty courtyard where wintersweet bloomed, its faint fragrance greeting them.

There were two rooms upstairs and two downstairs, the conditions were unbelievably good.

Jiang Lin took a room on the first floor and also moved Ning Ke’s and Yan Yunzhi’s suitcases upstairs.

Ning Ke slept until four o’clock.

Waking up, she saw a message from Lin Yun: “[Keke, are you there are you there?]”

She replied irritably: “[Not here.]”

Not long after, someone knocked on the door: “Keke, it’s me.”

Ning Ke shuffled in her slippers to open the door: “You dare show your face in front of me again.”
“What kind of crappy show is this, I’m dead tired.”
“If I didn’t have a guy in my group, I would have come last today!”

Lin Yun knew she always had a strong desire to win: “But didn’t you win?”

Ning Ke: “That’s only because Yan Yunzhi asked someone else.”
“Is Yan Yunzhi suited for this kind of physical labor?”
“Can she handle it?”

Lin Yun: “Uh-huh?”
“Do you dislike this show yourself, or are you worried about Yan Yunzhi?”

Ning Ke: “Well, I invited her…”
“I can’t just screw her over, right!”

Lin Yun laughed: “Okay, I get it.”
“I’ll definitely pay attention next time.”
“I came to find you for business.”

Ning Ke: “Speak.”

Lin Yun: “Have you seen the online feedback?”

Ning Ke: “For the first episode?”

Lin Yun: “Guess the netizens’ impressions.”

Ning Ke: “They cursed me?”

“Go away,” Lin Yun slapped her arm lightly, “Why don’t you think of the good things, always thinking people are cursing you?”

Ning Ke: “Reality show, live broadcast format, I speak so directly, isn’t it normal for them to curse me?”

She had been cursed before when she participated in variety shows.

But her stance remained the same: pretending and setting up a persona could only last temporarily, not a lifetime.

She would just be herself to avoid future collapses and overturns.

Lin Yun: “This time you’re really wrong.”

Ning Ke: “Don’t show me.”
“I only listen to compliments about me.”
“Don’t want to see the curses, it’s upsetting.”

Lin Yun was also afraid negative information would affect her mood, so she only showed her some short clips, very brief, just fifteen minutes.

Post-production editing wasn’t heavily done, just selecting some segments, color grading, and removing noise, the effect was very natural.

The screen played.

Ning Ke laughed when she saw her 7 suitcases: “You filmed this too?”

Lin Yun: “This fits your Eldest Miss persona!”

As the progress bar moved forward, Ning Ke saw the segment where she and Yan Yunzhi chose rooms together.

Just as Yan Yunzhi finished speaking, the screen immediately cut to her smiling.

This filming… made it look like she couldn’t help smiling whenever Yan Yunzhi spoke.

Ning Ke: “Lin Yun, did you cut the camera here?”

Lin Yun: “Maybe cut a few seconds, what’s wrong?”

Ning Ke: “Don’t cut next time.”

After watching the video, Ning Ke commented: “Not bad.”

This segment captured Jiang Lin and Yu You’s bickering, and the sweet moments of the Gao Qi couple.

Except for one thing… it would be better if there were fewer shots of Yan Yunzhi smiling at her.

The production team’s live broadcast recording started again.

It was almost dinnertime.

Ning Ke went downstairs and saw Jiang Lin staring blankly at a basket of radishes.

At this moment, the camera also focused on him.

The bullet comments went from many to few:

[“Jiang Lin looks like me when I haven’t woken up from my afternoon nap.”]

[“Tsk, the landlord’s傻 son, no, should be salted fish son.”]

[“Alright, our Landlord Ning is here to grab manpower for work again.”]

Ning Ke asked aloud: “What are you doing?”

Jiang Lin looked utterly resigned: “The production team said, this is our dinner today, a radish feast.”

Ning Ke: “…”

Ning Ke: “Lin Yun, come out, let’s talk.”

The floor manager heard her call the director’s name, her tone full of intimidation, and quickly said with a smile: “Teachers, you can consider trading radishes for other ingredients.”

Jiang Lin: “Really?”

That’s great, their group had the most radishes!

Ning Ke: “Should have said so earlier.”

Jiang Lin asked: “Ning Jie, do you have any dietary restrictions?”

“I don’t,” Ning Ke paused, “Right, no fish, no shrimp, no freshwater or saltwater fish, no seafood either.”

Jiang Lin smiled bitterly: “The ingredient list provided by the production team only has pork and chicken.”

Ning Ke: “That’s fine then.”

At this moment, the Ning-silks watching the show felt inexplicable emotions.

A wave of [bitter smile] emojis flooded the screen, leaving onlookers somewhat confused.

Ning Ke couldn’t cook.

Jiang Lin was washing vegetables and cooking, not daring to ask her for help.

The production team cued: “Teacher Keke isn’t going to cook?”

“Not going,” Ning Ke didn’t move, “The ancients said gentlemen stay away from the kitchen.”
“In the new era, beauties stay away from the kitchen.”

Ning Ke didn’t care what others thought of her, just stood at the door with her arms crossed.

The sunset glow fell on her face.

She kept her eyes lowered, looking like she didn’t want to talk.

[“No way, the Eldest Miss’s airs are too much, right?”]

[“Heh, even being lazy with such righteousness.”]

[“Eldest Miss is so cool, I like it, hehe.”]

Just then, steady footsteps sounded on the wooden stairs.

Ning Ke looked up and saw Yan Yunzhi coming down, her long hair slightly curled, cascading over her shoulders.

She descended step by step against the warm orange sunset glow, her expression calm and serene.

Yan Yunzhi heard the noise from the kitchen and asked: “Is Jiang Lin cooking?”

Ning Ke: “Mm.”

Yan Yunzhi: “I’ll go help.”

Ning Ke: “You know how?”

Yan Yunzhi: “Spent a long time abroad, didn’t like Western food, learned to cook myself.”

Hearing her mention being abroad, Ning Ke pressed her lips together tightly and turned her head away, not speaking.

[“Why does the Eldest Miss look a bit lonely? OMG?”]

[“I’m stunned too. What’s going on?”]

Yan Yunzhi entered the kitchen.

From outside, one could faintly hear her speaking gently to Jiang Lin.

She was like this with everyone, soft-spoken, gentle, and refined.

Ning Ke listened to her voice, smelled the scent of cooking oil fumes, thought for a moment, and still walked into the kitchen, asking Jiang Lin: “Is there anything else to do?”

A pile of “????” filled the bullet comments:

[“No way, who was the one who refused to enter the kitchen just now? So double-standard!”]

[“No way, Teacher Yan only went in for a few minutes, and the Eldest Miss followed? Like a little puppy following its big sister.”]

[“Get lost get lost get lost, she’s a person, why call her a dog?”]

[“Sister-dog literature, understand? If not, mute yourself!”]

Not only were the bullet comments confused, even Jiang Lin was stunned for a few seconds before reacting: “Th-this really isn’t necessary.”
“How about, how about you both go out!”

Even a salted fish like him could see Ning Ke looked unhappy coming in.

Yan Yunzhi: “Really no need for help?”

Jiang Lin: “No need, no need!”

Ning Ke turned and walked out.

Yan Yunzhi didn’t insist on staying either.

Dinner was ready soon.

Three dishes and one soup: stir-fried pork with chili, steamed chicken with cloud ear fungus, stir-fried winter bamboo shoots, pork rib and radish soup.

There were also extra steamed buns, obtained when exchanging ingredients, requested by Jiang Lin.

Ning Ke stopped after eating half a bowl of rice: “You guys eat slowly.”

Yan Yunzhi stopped her: “Worked so hard this afternoon, not eating more?”

Ning Ke: “What if I get fat?”
“Give the extra fat to you?”

It was just a common joke, but who knew Yan Yunzhi would turn her head, look at her, smile, and say: “Okay.”

Ning Ke: “…”

[“Hahahaha哈哈, what is Teacher Yan doing?”]

[“The skill of smoothing feathers with one sentence, Teacher Yan is capable!”]

Jiang Lin served Ning Ke soup: “Jie, try it?”
“It tastes very good.”

Ning Ke took a deep breath and couldn’t resist: “Alright.”

While eating, someone peeked in from the doorway: “Eating already?”

[“Beep. Your little ground squirrel is online!”]

[“Why is Yu You here?”]

[“To ask for food?”]

Jiang Lin saw Yu You and scoffed: “What?”
“Came begging for food?”

Yu You looked embarrassed: “Hey, why do you talk so nastily.”

These two were used to bickering at the company.

Their relationship wasn’t particularly good or bad.

Ning Ke asked directly: “Yu You, what is it?”

Yu You wore a black sweater, sleeves half-rolled, giving off a capable homemaker vibe.

His smile was also shy: “Jie, can I borrow a little food?”
“A bit hungry, didn’t eat enough.”

Ning Ke: “Whatever.”

Yu You: “Okay then, I’ll just take three steamed buns, thanks!”

Ning Ke: “Take them.”

The bullet comments wildly praised the person who guessed “asking for food” as a prophet.

After praising, they sighed, the Eldest Miss is arrogant and easily provoked, but seems a bit sharp-tongued yet soft-hearted.

After dinner, today’s live broadcast recording also ended.

A pile of “want to watch more” filled the bullet comments.

The production team said “See you tomorrow” and stopped recording.

After filming ended, Ning Ke changed clothes and prepared to go out.

She heard Yan Yunzhi call her: “Ning Ke.”

Yan Yunzhi walked towards her: “Ate too much for dinner, let’s go for a walk together.”

Ning Ke: “Okay.”

Winter was very cold, and the sky darkened early.

Yan Yunzhi didn’t walk fast.

Ning Ke had to patiently slow her pace, chatting idly with her: “The first episode went online, did you see it?”

Yan Yunzhi: “Haven’t had time to watch yet.”
“How was it?”

Ning Ke: “Just okay.”
“There’s a new task tomorrow.”

Yan Yunzhi: “Mm, I know.”

Besides this, Ning Ke had nothing more to say to her.

The two had been strangers for too long.

They had met only a handful of times in the past two years, called each other no more than three times, were unfamiliar with each other’s lives, and naturally had no common topics.

After walking along the country path for a while, Ning Ke stopped: “Hm?”

Yan Yunzhi followed her gaze.

Not far away by the pond stood two people.

The tall, thin boy was Yu You.

Opposite him seemed to be the girl from group three, Gu Yao.

Yu You didn’t notice anyone approaching and took out the steamed buns: “Here, for you.”

Gu Yao smiled and took it, taking a large bite: “Thanks.”
“I’m so hungry.”

These two were simple-minded, each smiling傻傻ly.

Ning Ke couldn’t watch anymore and called out: “Yu You.”

Upon seeing her, Yu You tensed up and stood straight, hands unsure where to place them, like a middle school student caught dating by a teacher: “Jie… I, I…”

His contract included a clause forbidding dating and scandals for the first few years…

Besides, he got these buns from Ning Ke, and immediately gave them away, which wasn’t justifiable either.

Ning Ke: “Go back.”

If they stayed longer and were seen by someone with ill intentions, who knows what kind of news would break out.

Gu Yao, still chewing the bun, finally reacted, smiling sheepishly: “Sorry…”

Ning Ke didn’t say anything.

She wasn’t interested in managing Yu You and Gu Yao’s affairs, nor did she want to.

As for Yan Yunzhi, she wasn’t a meddlesome person either, no need to say more.

They walked back in silence.

Upon returning to their residence, Yan Yunzhi was probably tired and went upstairs to her room first.

Ning Ke took a call from Xu Jian in the living room, discussing work matters.

She leaned against the windowsill.

Looking up, she saw Yan Yunzhi’s back ascending the stairs.

Her speaking pace slowed down, she couldn’t even clearly hear what Xu Jian was saying: “Mm… what?”

Perhaps hearing her questioning tone, Yan Yunzhi stopped and looked back at her.

Ning Ke quickly turned away, facing the window and continuing the conversation, her fingers subconsciously tracing patterns on the fogged glass.

Yan Yunzhi curled her lips, her gaze warm.

She watched Ning Ke for a moment before continuing upstairs.

Ning Ke chatted by the window for a while, only hanging up after hearing her door open and close.

The hazy white fog on the winter night window hadn’t dispersed.

Unconsciously traced onto it was the faint character ‘Zhi’.

But soon, the writing, along with the white fog, was wiped away by a palm.