On the first night in the beautiful village, the production crew arranged an abundant dinner.
Tu Yiyi focused entirely on her plate, oblivious to the conversations around her. Even with five or six cameras pointed her way, she ate without pause, looking very much like a gluttonous little kitten.
Qiqi watched her eat with such gusto that she a woman who usually stopped at 30% full offered the steak from her own plate to Yiyi.
“Thank you, Big Sister! You’re so pretty, and your heart is as beautiful as your face.”
Cheesy pick-up lines, when delivered by a naturally cute girl, are incredibly effective. Qiqi was delighted. “Don’t mention it, just call me Qiqi.” She then handed over her potato pancake too. “Eat up, Yiyi. You’re so cute when you eat.”
Looking at the longing in Qiqi’s eyes, it seemed she was only a hair’s breadth away from reaching out to pet the soft “kitten” that was Tu Yiyi.
The production crew wouldn’t dream of missing such a harmonious and loving shot. In the entertainment industry, people smile to your face while stabbing your back; such pure sisterly affection was a rare treasure for ratings.
Just as Yiyi finished the steak and pancake, a chicken drumstick suddenly landed on her plate. She looked up, her little mouth glistening with oil, to see Gu Xiaofeng offering her own drumstick, followed by her steak and shrimp. Her gaze was purely doting. “Go ahead, eat.”
Wow! So protective! Shoot it! Get the shot!!
Du Jia joined in, tossing a small piece of dried fish to Yiyi. Yiyi looked up at her with a beaming face. “Thank you, Sister Du. You’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen.”
Du Jia, in her early fifties, possessed a dignified elegance—a beauty refined by time. She was a legend of her era who had retired twenty years ago, returning only to promote her husband’s new film. What a sweet talker. You’re very likable, Du Jia smiled, casting a knowing glance at Gu Xiaofeng. Having acted in countless films, she could tell with one look that Xiaofeng’s feelings for this sweet girl were special.
The crew took the opportunity to throw out a “soul-searching question to Yiyi: Who do you think is the most beautiful lady here?
This was a trap. No matter how she answered, she risked offending someone. Gu Xiaofeng glanced at her, her eyes warning her to be careful. If she chose one, she’d slight the others. If she said they were all beautiful, it would be too cliché.
But who was Tu Yiyi? She grew up surrounded by sisters who constantly asked her: Who is the fairest?
As soon as the question was asked, a dozen gazes excluding the two men locked onto Yiyi.
Yiyi looked up and suddenly sighed, “I only regret that I am not an Emperor.”
The crew: ?? Why?
“Then I could marry all of these beautiful sisters and bring them back to my palace as consorts!
The table erupted in laughter. Qiqi was doubled over. “Yiyi, I didn’t realize you were such a playgirl!
Yiyi continued eating, unfazed, using the same lines she used on her fox sisters: “It’s not that I’m fickle; it’s that the sisters are too beautiful. Even a stone would grow a heart for them.
Even Gu Xiaofeng couldn’t help but let her lips curl into a smile. Du Jia’s husband whispered to his wife, “She’s perfect for a role in my next movie.
After dinner, the group sat together for fruit and snacks while Du Jia and her husband shared the story of how they met. While everyone else abstained from eating to maintain their figures, Yiyi sat there munching on a peach, while secretly stuffing a piece of fried pork belly—which no one else had touched—into her pocket.
Cheng Fei watched her with a cold eye. As the recording ended and everyone prepared to retire, Cheng Fei suddenly called out, as if discovering something shocking. “Yiyi, what’s in your pocket?”
The trouble-making had begun.
Yiyi didn’t care. In Tushan Village, whenever the foxes celebrated a harvest, the neighborhood wolves would always come around to ruin the mood because they were jealous. Cheng Fei clearly wanted to humiliate her.
Yiyi turned around, wearing a look of innocent confusion. Nothing’s in there.
Really? I clearly saw you put something in. What treasure are you hiding? Let us see!
“No, really, there’s nothing. Yiyi acted panicked, clutching her pocket tightly.
I don’t believe you! Cheng Fei grew more arrogant and lunged forward to search her.
Gu Xiaofeng frowned and stepped forward. Searching someone’s pockets was incredibly rude, even insulting. She decided that even if Tang Shala scolded her later, she would confront the well-connected Cheng Fei. She had brought Yiyi here; she wouldn’t let her be bullied!
Don’t come over! Yiyi cried out dramatically.
That one sentence made Xiaofeng pause. She looked at Yiyi and stayed her hand. Du Jia also watched with interest.
Cheng Fei didn’t hesitate. she thrust her hand into Yiyi’s pocket, looking like a “curious child.
The pocket was empty.
What? I saw it! Cheng Fei’s smile froze.
I told you there was nothing. Look, you even tore my pocket. Yiyi pulled the lining out to show her.
Cheng Fei’s face was a masterpiece of confusion, frustration, and extreme embarrassment. Finally, she choked out, I’ll buy you a new one.
Suddenly, Cheng Fei felt something crawling on the back of her hand. She looked down and shrieked, her face turning pale. Cockroach! There’s a cockroach!!
Staff members rushed to kill it, but the insect was incredibly agile and vanished into a crack. People commented that pests were normal in the mountains, though some remarked on how “smart” and fast” that one was.
Yiyi watched Cheng Fei being helped away by her sister and chuckled internally. She sent a mental message to Zhuo Jin and Jian Lei: Hide somewhere far away. They’re going to spray insecticide tonight.
Zhuo Jin: Already hidden, Miss. Jian Lei I’m far away from the guesthouse! The nectar of these white bells is delicious!
White bells? Yiyi immediately yelled in her head: Those are Lilies of the Valley! They’re poisonous! Don’t eat them!
Ah! This baby is poisoned! Bleh Jian Lei thumped,” seemingly falling off a petal. Zhuo Jin, save him! Yes, Miss! I’ll go make him vomit!
Yiyi, are you okay?” Gu Xiaofeng asked, seeing Yiyi standing still, looking like she’d been dazed by the cockroach.
I’m fine.” Yiyi shook her head and smiled—the sweet girl was back.
Back in their room, Xiaofeng handed her a glass of water. “You deliberately tricked Cheng Fei into searching your pocket, didn’t you?
Eh? How did you know?
“When you yelled ‘Don’t come over,’ your expression was way too over-the-top, Xiaofeng said, raising an eyebrow. “I knew you were baiting her.
You saw through it?
Not just me. Teacher Du saw through it too. Xiaofeng leaned forward. I am an actress, after all. I have to study emotions and delivery.
Cao-cao, you’re so smart!” Yiyi clapped. “I really admire you and I really like you!”
Admire was fine, but the word “like” made Xiaofeng’s face redden slightly. She took a sip of water and asked casually, I thought you wanted to be an Emperor and marry all the sisters?
Yiyi flopped onto the bed, scrolling through her phone. I’m not an Emperor, I don’t want that many. If I had to marry one, I’d only marry Cao-cao.
Only me?
Mhm, only Cao-cao. Oh! ‘Not Human’ sent me a message asking where we’re filming.
Not Human? Xiaofeng caught the joy in Yiyi’s eyes.
It’s Lin Ai, Yiyi smiled.That’s my nickname for her. Can I tell her where we are?
Only after we leave.
Oh, okay. I won’t tell her then.
Xiaofeng watched Yiyi smiling at her screen. Her grip on her water glass tightened. She cleared her throat. About you and Lin Ai do you love her?
Of course not, Yiyi looked at her, tilting her head. I don’t love her, and she doesn’t love me. We’re friends.
What kind of friends? Xiaofeng asked. In her circle, friends often meant something much more.
Yiyi, oblivious to the subtext, answered honestly. She’s the kind of friend I can have a real fight with She’s not human; she’s a great fighter The last time my face was swollen, it was because of her.
Xiaofeng froze, then realized. “You mean like sparring? Martial arts?
Something like that.
Xiaofeng finally understood the injury” from before. It wasn’t what she and Tang Shala had imagined at all. Her heart felt significantly lighter.
Get some rest. We have to make our own breakfast tomorrow.
Yiyi went to shower, and soon a light, cheerful tune drifted from the bathroom. The song was unique; the lyrics and pronunciation were unlike anything Xiaofeng had heard.
As Xiaofeng sat on the bed reading her script, her mind wandered. The beautiful, melodic voice filled the room. She realized that sharing a room with someone wasn’t so unbearable after all.
When Yiyi came out, Xiaofeng stole a glance. Her hair was down, draped over her shoulders. Her skin looked fresh and dewy from the bath. Without the bun, she looked less like a cute girl and more like a captivating woman. Xiaofeng was suddenly reminded of the seductive fox spirits from legends.
What song was that? It’s very rare.
It’s a song from my hometown. The title translates to Yiyi suddenly stopped.
The title was The Daughters of Tushan Want to Flirt. In Tushan Village, it was just a common folk song, but here? Better not say.
Translates to what?
Yiyi thought about the lyrics and, feeling a bit shy, looked at Xiaofeng. It means I want to be good with you.
I want to be good with you.
Was that really the title? Or was Yiyi adding her own meaning?
Gu Xiaofeng saw Yiyi’s shy expression and cleared her throat awkwardly, looking back down at her script. She didn’t manage to read a single word.