Ye Can burrowed under the covers, feeling the gentle pressure of Lin Zixi’s hand on her head. She mumbled, “Hearts change easily, the world is unpredictable—everything’s always shifting. I just do whatever I feel like in the moment. How is that ‘all talk and no action’?”
Lin Zixi had no defense against her. She sighed, ignoring Ye Can’s twisted logic, and cooed, “Fine, fine, whatever you say it is.”
She ruffled Ye Can’s hair and murmured softly, “Didn’t you want me to coax you to sleep? Even if you won’t, once the others get back, I won’t be able to anymore.”
Ye Can nodded and closed her eyes. Lin Zixi stroked her hair, listening as her breathing evened out, her own movements growing lighter.
She lowered her gaze, watching Ye Can’s peaceful sleeping face, her expression softening. In that moment, Lin Zixi couldn’t stop the image from resurfacing—Ye Can saying those words just moments ago.
There are still so many years ahead. We’ll travel the world together, document every moment with the time we have left, and never part until death.
Just imagining it filled her with such happiness.
Before long, Jiang Yue and the others returned from outside. Lin Zixi heard the footsteps and slipped out of the room. As she reached the door, Ye Can—eyes still closed—suddenly spoke up. “Lin Zixi, thank you.”
Lin Zixi paused, a soft laugh escaping her lips as she pushed the door open and stepped out.
The door creaked shut behind her. Standing in the hallway, Lin Zixi thought, No, I should be the one thanking you.
Thank you for your forgiveness, for your companionship, for this late-blooming love.
Pleading a stomachache, Ye Can skipped the evening shoot. Lin Zixi, Jiang Yue, and the other three chatted in the downstairs lounge for a bit before wrapping up the day’s schedule.
After a long day on the road, everyone was exhausted. After some small talk, they all retired to their rooms.
The night passed uneventfully. The next morning, Ye Can’s internal clock woke her.
She climbed out of bed, rubbing her eyes in the cool morning light filtering through the gauzy curtains. She glanced around the room, confirmed she was alone, then threw off the covers, slipped on a hoodie, and headed to the bathroom.
After washing up, she accidentally woke Meng Zhiqiu, who was still buried in bed.
As Ye Can emerged, Meng Zhiqiu rolled over under the sheets and mumbled sleepily, “What time is it?”
Ye Can shed her hoodie and started changing. “No idea. Around six, probably.”
Meng Zhiqiu shoved her head under the covers at the hour, her voice thick with drowsiness. “So early? What are you even getting up for?”
Ye Can finished dressing and declared righteously, “To wait for Lin Zixi to wake up!”
Meng Zhiqiu, who’d just been force-fed a faceful of romance, yanked the blanket over her head in annoyance. “Fine, fine, I get it—you’re glued to Teacher Lin. Now get out already. Bye!”
Ye Can huffed lightly, patted toner onto her face while checking herself in the mirror, then headed out.
Up early, she lounged in the living room for about half an hour before the production crew stirred. Spotting her, they assigned her a task: no staff breakfast prep today—they had to make their own.
Cooking was child’s play for Ye Can. She eyed the trailing cameraman. “Fine, but what about ingredients? You at least providing those, or do I have to shop myself?”
It was early, and the staffer—who’d planned to fetch supplies—saw an opportunity. “Nah, you gotta buy them yourselves. The market’s close—five minutes by car.”
Ye Can borrowed a car and zipped to the market, returning with everything.
The cameraman was stunned watching her navigate the stalls like a pro. He probed along the way, “Does Can-Can cook a lot? I figured you had a full-time auntie at home for that.”
Ye Can wasn’t falling for it. She shot back bluntly, “Not cooking often means I can’t at all? That’s a pretty biased take.”
She’d salted the crew good that morning. By the time Ye Can returned, Lin Zixi was up too. Hearing about the DIY breakfast, she joined Ye Can in the kitchen to help.
When Jiang Yue and the others wandered in, breakfast was nearly ready.
Eyeing Ye Can and Lin Zixi side by side, Jiang Yue leaned in the doorway with a teasing murmur. “Tch, you two look just like newlyweds, up at dawn bustling in the kitchen.”
“Total fairy-couple vibes from this view. Makes me jealous.”
Lin Zixi glanced back with a playful glare. “We’re on breakfast duty ourselves this morning—Ye Can went out solo for ingredients. Don’t act like you earned it. Come help.”
Jiang Yue blinked innocently from the doorframe. “Me, a third wheel? Why crash you lovebirds?”
Sometimes, the more casual under the camera, the less it seemed real. Lin Zixi shot her a helpless look, at a loss for words.
Ye Can reacted fast, tossing Jiang Yue a disdainful glance. “Third wheel? You’d be a walking firecracker. Step in, and the kitchen explodes.”
Ye Can launched into roasting Jiang Yue’s last kitchen disaster—burnt scrambled eggs. Cooking was Jiang Yue’s kryptonite. She fired back that she’d hired a super-chef assistant now.
Ye Can tsked. “Jiang Yue, you’re never getting married.”
Jiang Yue retorted, “Kid, it’s a new era. Why cling to that ‘can’t cook, can’t wed’ outdated crap? Isn’t that super feudal?”
Ye Can, zero self-awareness, kept a straight face. “Doesn’t matter. You’re still unmarriable.”
Jiang Yue got flustered. “Who says I have to marry? Can’t I enjoy single life?”
Ye Can knew all her weak spots from countless spars. Robotic as a bot, she intoned, “Blah blah blah. Still unmarriable.”
Jiang Yue was about to pop. “Shut it and cook!”
Ye Can smirked, eyeing Jiang Yue’s mock outrage. “Keep yelling if you don’t want breakfast.”
Outmatched by this shameless youth, Jiang Yue clutched her aching head. “You win. I won’t poke the bear!”
She stormed out of the living room. While the camera wasn’t looking, Lin Zixi sneaked a pinch at Ye Can’s waist and whispered, “Bullying people again? Not cool.”
Ye Can flipped the egg pancake stone-faced. “One who walks right into it? Waste not to take the shot.”
By the time breakfast was done, everyone else was ready. Meng Zhiqiu set the table, and with Xia Fanxing, they helped carry it out.
Sipping Ye Can’s steaming seafood congee, Xia Fanxing raved, “Never knew you had skills like this, Ye Can. I’m in food heaven.”
Gu Yiyi chimed in, “If you quit being a star, Ye Can, open a restaurant.”
Ye Can, spooning porridge and blowing on it, pondered Gu Yiyi’s words. “Huh, that’s not a bad idea. Worth considering.”
Jiang Yue, ever the instigator, feigned shock. “Can-Can, you’re seriously thinking restaurant?”
Ye Can side-eyed her disdainfully. “Relax—if I do, you won’t be on the guest list.”
Jiang Yue clutched her spoon dramatically. “Huh? Why? Aren’t I your fave buddy? Forgot those three days and nights trapped in the desert together?”
During the Dongshan shoot, Ye Can and Jiang Yue had bonded with the crew in the Great Northwest’s wind-swept Gobi for three days straight.
Ye Can couldn’t stomach the dramatics. She yelled to the trailing director, “Director, cut that last bit! Jiang Star’s over-the-top acting might sear viewers’ eyes.”
The innocent director crew chuckled awkwardly, trying to gloss it over.
Jiang Yue glared. “Who’s eye-searing?!”
Ye Can blew on her spoonful leisurely. “Whoever asks is who.”
Ye Can never let anyone win a verbal spar, leaving Jiang Yue chest-tight. Instinct screamed: drop the topic, or she’d keep losing.
But Ye Can was having a blast in these petty games, relentlessly salting Jiang Yue all the way to their outing at the scenic area.
Luckily, they soon arrived at Yalong Bay Forest Park.
Once off the bus, the production team issued a challenge: pair up, follow the map to hunt hidden treasures in the park.
Ye Can was utterly unenthused, zero effort.
The trailing director noticed and grinned. “Now reshuffling roommates for the next spot. Most treasures wins first pick on rooms!”
He paused, adding, “Next lodging might be rough. So give it your all today!”
Typical scheming production.
After Xia Fanxing drew lots—and some off-camera finagling—Ye Can and Lin Zixi teamed up.
Ye Can held the lot, asking Lin Zixi, “Fancy room or whatever?”
Lin Zixi smiled, eyes crinkling. “Whatever. It’s all good to me.” As long as I’m with you, anywhere’s fine.
Ye Can nodded, pocketing it lazily. “Cool. We’ll stroll and grab what we can.” She was going full slacker mode.
True to form, while the other pairs hustled, Ye Can just held Lin Zixi’s hand, ambling through the woods as Lin Zixi nerded out on subtropical plants.
The poor cameraman, stuck in impromptu botany class, stared at their carefree backs in disbelief.
