Yan Muyu and Pei Wan returned before six o’clock.
But the sky was already bright, and though the sun wasn’t scorching yet, it burned hot enough.
The electric tricycle pulled up to the gate of the little courtyard, and Yan Muyu glanced over to see Ding Yingxue washing her face.
The moment Ding Yingxue spotted Pei Wan, she charged right over, but Pei Wan pushed her back before she could say a word.
Yan Muyu carried the vegetables into the kitchen, pondering how to start a fire and make breakfast.
She suddenly remembered that Liu Song hadn’t eaten, which gave her a bit of a headache. She called out to Pei Wan as she walked in. “What about Liu Song? She hasn’t had dinner—I mean, breakfast—and isn’t she supposed to be working for Xi Xi? Who’s herding the cows?”
Pei Wan found the cutting board and rinsed it off, then took out the green tea-flavored steamed cakes they’d bought that morning and started slicing them.
This was a local specialty, those greenish steamed cakes infused with tea flavor. They were still piping hot, so Pei Wan cut them carefully.
Pei Wan said, “We should probably wake Sister Xi up quick. I heard she has a full beauty routine in the mornings.”
Even though Yan Muyu knew this wasn’t all that unusual, her impression of Xi Xi made her doubt it could be done in just an hour.
[Xi Xi… as expected of a real young lady.]
[People who don’t know might think she’s a female celebrity.]
[Right now Qiu Chao’s doing her makeup, wuwu—the camera angle in the room isn’t great, but damn, even Sister Qiu Chao’s back view is so captivating!]
[Xi Xi… you’re living the easy life.]
[Meanwhile our Song Bao’s still out there grinding away.]
Yan Muyu fell silent for a moment. She stared at the steaming steamed cakes, seeming a little evasive herself. “You go call her.”
Pei Wan replied, “I’ll prep some veggies. You haul cargo in the morning and afternoon, right? Coming back for lunch?”
[Some topic deflection…]
[Does Xi Xi have a bad temper?]
[She’s the big sister, spoiled since childhood.]
[Hasn’t anyone heard that five-minute audio of Xi Xi ripping a scumbag guy apart by hand? She goes full blast—super terrifying.]
Yan Muyu said, “So you go call Sister Xi.”
The two of them stood in the kitchen, trading lines back and forth, both clearly refusing.
Qiu Chao finished her makeup and passed by the kitchen, catching sight of Yan Muyu and Pei Wan standing so close as they talked.
Pei Wan had thick, black hair that reached her waist—clearly natural, looking soft and smooth.
Right now, it was casually pinned up at the back with a silver hairpin, paired with that skirt of hers. From behind, her figure looked graceful and poised, elegant as a jade tree.
Yan Muyu was the total opposite. Even though they were both women, she showed no curves at all. Her jacket was oversized enough to cover her butt, a style that would make most people look disproportionate—but not on her.
She was just too tall, so she always looked perfectly matched standing next to someone shorter. Plus, Yan Muyu always spoke with a smile, effortlessly closing the safe distance between people and stirring up a hint of ambiguity.
Even if she didn’t mean to right now, that inherent flirtatiousness of hers spread out unconsciously.
At the very least, Qiu Chao pulled out her phone, pretending to check the time, only to see the live chat blowing up with comments like “What a sin, I’m shipping it” and “Sorry Yingxue Baby” type stuff.
How come no one was saying sorry to her?
Qiu Chao cut right in. “You two are back?”
Pei Wan turned and saw it was her. “Oh, just got back. Morning, Teacher Qiu.”
Whenever Qiu Chao appeared, she was polished from her hair tips to her toes. Even though she’d played grimy, dirt-covered roles before, no one had ever seen her looking messy in daily life.
Right now, her lips curved up slightly, and on camera, she looked like a lotus swaying in the sunlight filtering through a courtyard well.
Yan Muyu let out a “Yo.” “Slept well?”
She hadn’t noticed at all that she’d been stealth-attacked in the night, nor that her casual glance at Qiu Chao had been enough to stir up all kinds of desires in the other woman.
Qiu Chao hummed in response.
Then she looked at Yan Muyu. “What are you two talking about?”
[She could’ve asked Pei Wan but asked Yan Muyu instead…]
[I kinda feel like Qiu Chao doesn’t like Pei Wan…]
[Uh, it’s just starting—how’d you pick up on that?]
[I think she doesn’t like anyone. Yan Muyu’s like a social butterfly, all friendly everywhere, while Qiu Chao’s super introverted, doesn’t initiate greetings.]
[Isn’t social butterfly the label for Qiu Chao?]
[People still saying Qiu Chao’s bad at talking to women? Isn’t that a subtle dig?]
Yan Muyu explained, “We’re passing the buck on who has to go call Sister Xi.”
She was pretty blunt about it too. Pei Wan sighed. “I’m scared to. If only Little Song were here.”
Yan Muyu agreed. “Yeah, Little Song’s so cute—Sister Xi wouldn’t have the heart to yell at her.”
[She’d probably be even harsher!]
[Our baby gets scolded even for singing. Xi Xi’s such a fierce woman.]
Qiu Chao asked, “So you think Pei Wan isn’t cute?”
[What a loaded question.]
[I just spat out my soy milk.]
[Help, this is so awkward!]
Yan Muyu was about to reply when Pei Wan nodded right along, perfectly in sync. “Of course I don’t need Young Boss Yan thinking I’m cute.”
She played it perfectly. “Getting deemed cute by Young Boss Yan feels kinda terrifying.”
With that, she walked off. “I’ll go check if my little sister’s done washing up. You two can handle calling Sister Xi.”
“Oh, right—Teacher Qiu, try this tea cake. It’s delicious.”
“Then bring the rest to the main table.”
Pei Wan was a master at delegating. Yan Muyu couldn’t shake the feeling she’d make a great homeroom teacher.
Once she was gone, it was just Yan Muyu and Qiu Chao left.
Yan Muyu said, “So you go call her.”
Qiu Chao replied, “Why?”
She leaned against the doorframe, not smiling outright, but her eyes and brows seemed lit with amusement. The morning sun wasn’t harsh yet, just enough to cast a hazy glow over her. On camera, she was breathtakingly beautiful.
It was hard for Yan Muyu not to be drawn in by such beauty.
Plus, she was a photographer by trade. Even if she wasn’t Hree’s chief anymore, she still got the itch to snap photos sometimes.
Who didn’t love a beauty? The first time she’d seen Qiu Chao from the passenger seat of Yan Kai’s car, she’d thought the woman was gorgeous too.
But that beauty hadn’t made her heart race back then. Now, Yan Muyu smiled openly. “Because you’re pretty.”
[Holy shit, what did I just hear?!]
[I feel like this is Yan Muyu’s scheme to dodge facing Xi Xi.]
[Do those two really not get along?]
[This is killer—the variety show footage from this team is too good. Both of them are drop-dead gorgeous.]
[Qiu Chao got famous on her looks… Yan Muyu’s got good taste.]
[Anyone know the origin of that “don’t fall for Yan Muyu” line?]
[Yan Muyu leaning on the stove like that casually gives off major bedroom vibes.]
[She looks like she’d be really good at it…]
Qiu Chao clearly hadn’t expected Yan Muyu to say that.
It was even the first compliment from her since they’d completely fallen out.
The praise left Qiu Chao’s mind blank for a moment, making her look a little dazed without realizing it.
The next second, Yan Muyu switched faces entirely. “So you go call her. I’ll make soy milk. This is ridiculous—the soy milk maker’s ancient. Does Qiu Siyuan hate me or something…?”
The director’s voice popped up from outside the kitchen window amid the rumbling of the machine. “Be grateful—there’s even a soy milk maker.”
[Called it, there’s a scheme.]
[The director’s adorable.]
[Does anyone on this variety show sleep? Feels like everyone’s averaging five hours.]
[And they still have to work…]
Qiu Chao went to call Xi Xi. She pushed open the door and had barely called out when Xi Xi sat bolt upright.
It nearly scared Qiu Chao half to death.
Xi Xi wasn’t that bad, though. She came to her senses and let out an “Oh,” then glanced at her bed.
Only then did Qiu Chao notice there were two pillows on Xi Xi’s bed.
The viewers caught on too.
[I remember when we went to wake Liu Song before, she was in her own bed, right?]
[Don’t tell me it’s what I think!]
[Someone snuck into bed last night!]
[Didn’t expect them to be that close.]
[Weird—did Little Song wake up before filming started?]
Qiu Chao noticed as well. She was a little surprised but quickly looked away, speaking to Xi Xi softly and warmly. “Sister Xi, breakfast will be ready soon.”
Xi Xi mumbled an “Oh.” She still hadn’t remembered she had work to do.
After Qiu Chao left the room, Xi Xi suddenly yelled, “Where’s Liu Song?!!!”
[LMAO.]
[Sis, you cracked on that note.]
Qiu Chao: …
From the kitchen, Yan Muyu’s voice carried over the whirring soy milk machine. “She went tea picking for you, Sister Xi. You can still swap and go now if you hurry—or just go herd the cows.”
It was probably hard to picture Xi Xi herding cows, so Yan Muyu teased mercilessly. “Though I think cow herding and tea picking would both be a struggle for you.”
Just then, Ding Yingxue and Pei Wan came in, setting the table.
Pei Wan asked Qiu Chao, “What do you want for lunch?”
She checked the schedule she’d made on her phone. “Young Boss Yan probably won’t have time to cook. My shift at the pig farm ends at eleven thirty, Yingxue’s at eleven, and Liu Song… might need to drop off some food for her.”
Qiu Chao said, “Mine’s eleven thirty too.”
Ding Yingxue offered, “I can come back early to prep veggies.”
Pei Wan shot back coolly, “Last week you just figured out onions from chives.”
In the end, they settled on cooking at eleven. Pei Wan had failed to start the electric tricycle that morning, so she decided to bike to work, taking Ding Yingxue with her.
The duck farm wasn’t far from the pig farm—both by the stream.
They just had to cross half a mountain.
Meanwhile, the real young lady Xi Xi volunteered to take the electric tricycle herself.
She had barely touched her breakfast, but she showed no sign of disdain for the green tea cakes, even taking a piece with her as she headed out the door.
That cautious demeanor was heartbreaking to behold.
Yan Muyu recalled that Xi Xi had once been in a sports car accident, so she felt a twinge of worry. “How about I give you a ride?”
Xi Xi wore sunglasses and a wide-brimmed sun hat, stubbornly dressed in long sleeves despite the summer heat. Her white-gloved hands gripped the handlebars of the electric tricycle as she eyed Yan Muyu. “You look down on me?”
Yan Muyu stood at the courtyard gate. Birds chirped in the mountain village, and tea pickers were already at work in the fields.
The ground was littered with pine needles and pine cones—Pei Wan’s proud morning accomplishment.
【Hahahahaha sis you’re so direct!】
【Young Boss Yan… grassroots.】
Yan Muyu replied, “How dare I? I’m just worried you’ll get into an accident.”
Xi Xi let out an “oh,” then, amid the electric tricycle’s warning beep for reversing, she deftly backed up and turned, carving a perfect arc on the dirt road. She called out to the dumbfounded Yan Muyu, “I got my license specifically for tricycles.”
