Indeed, the best places to eat are still the street food stalls—lively, bustling, and down-to-earth.
Qin Dehua loved barbecue, so he and Shen Yan ordered a whole table of skewers: lamb kebabs, grilled kidneys, chicken hearts, gluten skewers, and more.
The skewers, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, were sprinkled with a thin layer of chili powder and topped with spices, arranged neatly on a plate that looked incredibly appetizing.
Ge Yan also ordered a table full of dishes: garlic crayfish, stir-fried tendon meat, pickled pepper chicken feet, charcoal-grilled eggplant…
Everyone silently swallowed their saliva as they looked at the food, until Ge Yan ceremoniously handed out chopsticks and said, “Let’s dig in!”
Everyone smoothly snapped apart their chopsticks and began eating.
Song Ruan cautiously took a bite, and her eyes sparkled like stars.
“Delicious!”
The group ate while teasing Song Ruan, who was trying street food for the first time.
Qin Dehua watched Shen Yan peeling shrimp with slow, hesitant movements and couldn’t stand it any longer, so he placed the shrimp he had peeled into Shen Yan’s bowl.
The live comments exploded instantly.
“Ahhhhhhh! I never thought the first CP I’d ship on this show would be Qin Dehua and Shen Yan!”
“I’m so envious of their brotherly bond!”
“The martial arts prodigy Northeastern Prince and his sweet, clingy little actor! Who’s enjoying this sweetness? I won’t say…”
After so many tiring days, they finally indulged in a hearty meal. Everyone completely forgot that their every move was being fervently discussed in the live comments.
Song Ruan suddenly remembered something and leaned over to remind Ge Yan, “Sister Ge Yan, our lotus root starch should be ready today, right?”
Ge Yan nodded. “The powder we ground this morning has been drying all day, so it should be almost done. Let’s go back later and try making a bowl first!”
Song Ruan nodded eagerly.
“My uncle always says I’m clumsy. If he finds out I can make lotus root starch, he definitely won’t scold me anymore!”
Ge Yan playfully tapped her nose. “Little Song Ruan is so adorable. If anyone calls you clumsy, I’ll knock them flying!”
Qin Dehua brought over two bottles of potent Wusu beer and suggested everyone have a drink.
After everyone’s glasses were filled, Shen Yan deliberately addressed the camera and said, “Kids, don’t imitate this. Minors are prohibited from drinking.”
He spoke with such seriousness that everyone couldn’t help but laugh.
Qin Dehua then suggested that before toasting, each person should say a blessing.
“I’ll go first. I hope I can stay this handsome forever!”
Such a simple and unadorned wish… Everyone burst into laughter.
Next was Shen Yan. Holding his glass, he thought for a moment and said earnestly, “I hope one day I can play the role of a domineering CEO!”
Qin Dehua immediately patted his arm. “Next time, I’ll invest in your project! I’ll arrange three secretaries for you so you can experience the thrill of being a domineering CEO!”
Shen Yan was so moved he almost knelt down in gratitude.
Third was Song Ruan. Song Ruan had grown up in a privileged family, with excellent temperament and a fortunate life, sailing smoothly through everything, so she didn’t really know what else to wish for.
She thought for a long time before saying, “Then I hope my family is happy, my friends are joyful, and our friendship lasts a lifetime!”
At this point, things got a bit sentimental, and the live comments followed Song Ruan’s emotions, becoming warm and heartfelt.
“I declare! Song Ruan is my new daughter!”
“Song Ruan is really so sweet!””Yes, having friends like this makes a lifetime worthwhile. I also hope my family and friends can always be healthy!”
It was Ge Yan’s turn. Holding her cup, she was still touched by the wishes of the other three. When it came to her, she froze, unsure what to say.
This world wasn’t truly her world. In her own world, she had no family left, and she herself had died on a very ordinary morning.
Coming here, she had gradually distanced herself from the scumbag who had emotionally drained her. Every day in this peaceful village, waking up felt like traveling back to her childhood life.
To be honest, she didn’t really have any wishes that needed fulfilling.
After a pause, she raised her cup. “Then I wish for the nation’s prosperity, the rejuvenation of our people, and the happiness of all!”
“This comment is in red!”
“Watching this, my excited heart has turned red too!”
“Ge Yan is so pretentious!”
“Hey, upstairs, don’t you want our motherland to be more prosperous?”
Qin Dehua: “This wish must come true!”
With that, the four clinked glasses.
The four groups had all eaten and drunk their fill. Seeing there was still plenty of time, everyone wandered around buying some daily necessities.
By the time they regrouped, it was already six in the afternoon.
The sun hung lazily over the hillside, slowly sinking. But Ge Yan felt something was off.
A large, clumsy cloud blocked the sun, casting a sprawling shadow below. Suddenly, Ge Yan thought of something.
“Oh no, a rain shower might be coming!”
Song Xiyuan, who had just arrived after enjoying a big meal, was in a good mood. She hadn’t expected to hear Ge Yan mention rain as soon as she got there.
Since the livestream wasn’t focused on them, Song Xiyuan didn’t bother acting. “You say it’s going to rain, so it will? Don’t jinx it. I still need to get my nails done—no time to play along with you.”
The Director also glanced at his phone. The weather forecast clearly showed clear skies for both today and tomorrow.
Ge Yan didn’t plan to argue with her. She took Song Ruan’s hand and headed toward the car.
Just before getting in, she saw Cen Yan and Shen Yuanming approaching from a distance.
The two seemed to have made up again. Cen Yan appeared to be in a good mood.
The next second, a low rumble of thunder echoed from the sky.
A deafening boom startled everyone.
Now the Director had no choice but to believe it. He quickly arranged for the staff to escort the main cast back to the cars, and the livestream was temporarily paused.
Rain showers were common in the mountains; even the weather forecast couldn’t predict them accurately.
Ge Yan remembered from her childhood: whenever clouds like these appeared in the sky, it meant rain was certain. Her grandfather had told her that.
Everyone was thinking they needed to hurry back.
The clothes Song Xiyuan had washed that morning were still hanging in the yard, and Ge Yan’s lotus root starch was drying outside.
But the weather wasn’t cooperating, never quite following one’s wishes.
They were only halfway along the mountain road when the rain began to pour down heavily.
Recording wasn’t active in the car, and Song Xiyuan, forgetting the favor of Ge Yan and the others giving up their big meal to her, couldn’t help complaining. “I wonder who the jinx was that said something unlucky, otherwise why would it suddenly start raining!”
Ge Yan smiled slightly. “Is the jinx referring to me?”
“Hmph,” Song Xiyuan snorted, acting as if it were obvious. “I didn’t name anyone.”
Ge Yan instantly widened her eyes, covering her mouth in exaggerated shock. “Oh my! You figured it out!”Qin Dehua’s initial anger dissipated into laughter; he knew Ge Yan wouldn’t let him down.
Song Xiyuan was left bewildered and somewhat incredulous by her sudden admission.
What madness was Ge Yan up to now?
Ge Yan summoned the white lotus acting skills the original host was most adept at, calmly explaining, “Actually, I didn’t want to hide it from you all. A master once told me my mouth has been blessed—whatever I say comes true. But I hope you’ll stop calling me a jinx and instead use my other title—the lark.”
Song Xiyuan: “…”
The joke was terrible, but she was genuinely left speechless.
The next second, Ge Yan suddenly stopped her exaggerated act, tilting her chin down at a forty-five-degree angle, her large eyes darkly fixed on Song Xiyuan.
“Otherwise, I’ll wish that whoever speaks carelessly gives birth to eight children in one go.”
Qin Dehua couldn’t hold back his laughter, whispering to Shen Yan, “I swear, that’s the most malicious blessing I’ve ever heard!”
“Ge Yan, you…”
Before Song Xiyuan could retort, she suddenly heard an impatient, soft click of the tongue from the very back row of seats.
It was Shen Yuanming, arms crossed, eyes closed in concentration—someone had disturbed him.
Song Xiyuan was angry but didn’t dare offend Shen Yuanming.
Reluctantly, she closed her mouth and turned her head toward the window.
Cen Yan glanced at Shen Yuanming, her smile fading slightly as she lowered her head.
After the rain, the sky darkened considerably, and the downpour gradually eased.
Returning to the village, everyone was thoroughly exhausted.
But Ge Yan didn’t dare rest for even a moment, heading straight for the small courtyard.
“Oh no, oh no, our lotus root starch has probably turned into lotus root paste.”
She ran all the way home, but upon entering the courtyard gate, she was stunned.
The lotus root starch in the courtyard was gone!
Song Ruan, who had hurried into the house, rushed back out, pointing inside incoherently: “It’s already, already been put away!”
Ge Yan, confused, quickly followed her in, only to find two bamboo baskets of lotus root starch neatly arranged inside the house, completely untouched by the rain.
How strange. Could it be that just as there were legendary conch maidens in ancient times, there were now lotus root youths today? Someone had actually helped them with the work?
“There are still good people in this world!” Ge Yan exclaimed with emotion.
Song Ruan was puzzled: “Who helped us put it away?”
“Who else lives near us?”
“!!!” Song Ruan realized: “That handsome guy living across from us?”
“Besides him, there probably isn’t anyone else.”
Ge Yan returned to her room, took out the mysterious ingredients she had bought and placed them in the refrigerator, then retrieved the cloth shoes she had purchased from Shen Yuanming from her bag.
Setting the cloth shoes on the table, Ge Yan crossed her arms and examined them, holding a brush in her hand and tracing circles in the air, as if planning something.
The few pairs of shoes from the morning had been rushed, so they only looked passable to an untrained eye.
But now, with this pair of shoes, she needed to put some real thought into it.
What kind of pattern would be worthy of someone as refined and elegant as him?
Ge Yan thought and thought—until she fell asleep with her head on the table.
Zhang Butler smiled as he plucked the leaves from the tree, gently wiped the rainwater from his forehead with a towel, and removed his half-damp, custom-tailored suit.
Still smiling, he said, “Sir, Miss Ge’s belongings have been safely stored away.”
“Is that so? Have they returned now?”
“Yes, they arrived safely.”
“That’s good.”
The rain had stopped.Song Bojian pushed the wheelchair into the courtyard. The cool moonlight appeared exceptionally bright after the rain, and the damp bluestone bricks were spotless.
He looked over—Ge Yan’s room was dark. She must have been exhausted today and had gone to rest early.
Song Bojian had watched the entire livestream today. It was the first time he realized how sharp Ge Yan’s tongue could be, effortlessly persuading the auntie to buy ten pairs of shoes in one go.
In contrast, he was deeply socially anxious, lacking even the courage to speak a single word to her…
Shen Yuanming was about to leave.
For Ge Yan, this was the best news ever.
With the annoying scumbag gone, she no longer had to worry about offending him—after all, he was technically her “client.”
In high spirits, Ge Yan finished washing the dishes and prepared to boil water for a hot bowl of lotus root starch paste.
Qin Dehua and Shen Yan had arrived early in the morning, insisting they had to try her masterpiece.
“Joyful drums beat out the festive cheer of the year…”
Humming a tune, Ge Yan added black sesame seeds, crushed hawthorn flakes, raisins, peanuts, and other ingredients she had bought from the town yesterday into the lotus root starch. She first dissolved it with warm water, then poured in freshly boiled water, stirring gently. Instantly, it transformed into a translucent, glossy lotus root starch paste.
Qin Dehua and Shen Yan sat at the dining table, spoons in hand, eagerly waiting. After preparing four bowls, Song Ruan came over to help carry them.
Just as everyone sat down to eat, the door to Shen Yuanming’s room opened.
Shen Yuanming had changed back into his well-tailored suit, reverting to his meticulous, elite CEO image.
He glanced indifferently at the four of them, his gaze lingering on Ge Yan for a few seconds without any expression, then turned to knock on Cen Yan’s door.
Song Ruan timidly raised her hand. “Sister Cen Yan went out early this morning.”
Shen Yuanming was taken aback, seemingly not expecting this.
Qin Dehua teased, “Maybe she couldn’t bear to say goodbye to you, President Shen.”
Shen Yuanming didn’t know what was going on. Ever since coming here, Cen Yan had been unpredictable, as if she had become a different person, treating him with alternating warmth and coldness.
He looked up and remembered that his official fiancée was sitting right there. After a moment’s thought, he still said, “Ge Yan, I’m leaving.”
Ge Yan was eating with gusto when she was unexpectedly addressed. She paused for a moment.
“Ah, oh…”
She looked up. Shen Yuanming stood there, his gaze toward her still cold and devoid of any emotion.
There was clearly no love in his eyes. Everyone knew he and Cen Yan were the real couple, while she was just a laughable fiancée. Yet, he still insisted on maintaining the last shred of dignity in front of others.
How pathetic.
Ge Yan cursed inwardly but still stood up, smiling and waving at Shen Yuanming.
In a sickly sweet voice, she called out, “Alright, take care on your way, President Shen.”
With that, she turned her attention back to the spoon in her hand and continued eating her lotus root starch paste.
Qin Dehua, Shen Yan, and Song Ruan didn’t dare say another word. The atmosphere seemed to freeze over.
Only after hearing Shen Yuanming close the door did the three of them breathe a sigh of relief, exchange smiles, and resume eating.
“Did you see that? It seems like they had another argument,” Qin Dehua remarked, having noticed it too.
“Yeah, it’s a good thing Ge Yan isn’t with him, or she’d be driven mad,” Shen Yan chimed in.
Song Ruan added, “President Shen is in a tough spot now—his ex doesn’t love him, and his current one isn’t here. He’s quite pitiful, really.”Qin Dehua shook his head: “Feeling sorry for a man brings misfortune for a lifetime; pitying a man brings misfortune for three lifetimes.”
Song Ruan widened her eyes, unable to believe these words had come from a man’s mouth.
“Then tell me, do Cen Yan and President Shen still love each other?” Song Ruan speculated: “It seems like he really loves Cen Yan.”
Ge Yan: “The master who called me a jinx also said, believing a man’s ‘I love you’—without even checking your birth chart, you’ll get divorced three times in this lifetime.”
Song Ruan was shocked again: “There really is such a master? I thought you made it up to scare Song Xiyuan!”
Ge Yan: “Hehe!”
“Then where did this master study? I’d like to pay a visit too!” Qin Dehua grew interested.
Ge Yan smiled faintly: “Me.”
Everyone wore the same expression of speechless disbelief: “…”
Qin Dehua: “I knew it!”