The master taught once, and Xia Wan quickly grasped it.
“Master, can I turn the tea I picked into tea leaves?” she asked, wanting to bring some back for Xiao Xiao and Sister Nan to taste.
“Of course, come to me and I’ll teach you.”
“Okay.”
After the female master left, the vast tea plantation was left with only Xia Wan.
Surrounded by the tea garden, her eyes were filled with green, and the air was fresh.
She took out her phone and snapped a few photos—this was her first experience, and she wanted to document it.
After picking half a basket, Xia Wan was already feeling tired. Before, she only knew the fragrance of tea but not the hardship of picking it.
Now she truly understood.
Most importantly, while picking tea here during the day, she was even bitten by mosquitoes.
Xia Wan picked up her basket and left. If she stayed any longer, she’d become the mosquitoes’ afternoon snack.
The female master was still sitting in her original spot. Seeing Xia Wan, she asked, “Finished picking so soon?”
“Just a little bit.” Xia Wan placed the basket on the ground.
“Shall we start making the tea leaves now?” the master asked.
Xia Wan nodded. “Mm-hmm.”
“Alright, first pour the tea leaves from the basket here.” The master brought over a bamboo sieve from the side.
“Okay.”
After Xia Wan poured them out, the master helped her spread them evenly and moved them outside to dry.
“About twenty minutes in the sun should do.”
Xia Wan wasn’t entirely clear. “What’s the purpose of drying them?”
The master explained skillfully, “Mainly to let the fresh leaves lose some moisture, become soft and wilted, release the grassy scent, and reduce the tea tannins.”
Xia Wan nodded in understanding.
In her area of expertise, the master couldn’t stop talking. “After drying, it’s time for airing—letting the tea leaves release heat, lower their temperature, and further evaporate some moisture.”
“Then the next step is bruising…”
Without stumbling, she explained the entire process of making tea leaves step by step to Xia Wan.
Xia Wan listened attentively, remembering most of it.
As dusk approached, the tea leaves Xia Wan had picked were finally finished—just a small jar.
She had participated in and witnessed the transformation from fresh leaves to dried tea, which was a very different experience for her.
Though she was a bit tired, found it troublesome, and had been bitten by mosquitoes, she had enjoyed the process immensely.
Back in her room, Xia Wan picked up the mosquito repellent Ji Heng had given her and glanced at it, noticing it could be sprayed directly on the skin.
She immediately sprayed it several times on her arm.
“Ding-dong, ding-dong.”
“Coming.” Xia Wan put down the repellent and walked to the door to open it.
As expected, it was Ji Heng outside.
“Time to go downstairs for dinner.” Ji Heng’s eyes swept over her and immediately noticed the red bumps on her arm.
They stood out starkly against her fair skin. “Are those mosquito bites?”
Xia Wan hid her hand behind her back. “Mm-hmm.”
“Are there mosquitoes in the room? Didn’t you spray repellent?” Ji Heng thought the rooms at this resort shouldn’t have mosquitoes.
It wasn’t like the mountain they’d stayed at yesterday.
Xia Wan explained softly, “No, I went tea picking this afternoon and got bitten there.”
Ji Heng raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Didn’t you spray repellent?”
“No, I didn’t know I’d be going tea picking when I left.” And she hadn’t expected mosquitoes to bite her during the day either.
Xia Wan felt an itch on her arm and reached to scratch it.
“Don’t scratch.” Ji Heng immediately stopped her. “I’ll go get you some medicated cream.”
By the time Ji Heng reappeared at her door, Xia Wan had just processed what happened.
“Thank you.”
Ji Heng urged her, “Apply it quickly.””Okay.” The cool medicated cream applied to the mosquito bite instantly reduced half of the itching sensation.
Before Xia Wan could speak, Ji Heng said, “Keep this here with you. You can use it—I don’t need it.”
“Alright.” Xia Wan accepted it once again. In just these two short days, she had already received many things from Ji Heng.
After returning, she must buy something to give him in return—she couldn’t just take things for free.
Xia Wan put away the medicated cream. “Let’s go downstairs.”
Ji Heng didn’t move and reminded her, “Spray some mosquito repellent.”
Xia Wan stood still, looking at him. “I already sprayed some earlier.”
Ji Heng insisted, “Spray a bit more.”
“Fine.” Xia Wan went into the room and sprayed a few more times, then asked Ji Heng outside the door, “Is that enough now?”
Ji Heng parted his lips slightly. “That’s fine. Let’s go downstairs.”
Xia Wan closed the door and walked to his side, asking, “What are we eating tonight?”
Ji Heng pressed the elevator button. “Barbecue. Do you want some?”
Xia Wan nodded with a smile. “Yes.”
Su Yi, who was setting up the screen outside, saw the two approaching and said, “Don’t they look perfect together?”
The other four turned to look in their direction and nodded in agreement. “They really do.”
Xia Wan gazed at the scenery before her and exclaimed, “It’s so beautiful.”
The outdoor lawn was dotted with starlight, nestled between mountains and water, offering a broad view—an ideal spot for watching the sunset. As the sky darkened, they could lie back on chairs to admire the starry night sky, feeling the captivating evening breeze on the mountain.
Sitting on the grass in the night, they enjoyed delicious barbecue while listening to music, savoring leisurely moments that were both comfortable and relaxing.
Xia Wan couldn’t help but marvel at how well these people knew how to enjoy life.
Ji Heng parted his thin lips and said, “You sit here first. I’ll go get a bottle of wine.”
Xia Wan nodded. “Okay.”
The other four finished setting up the equipment for the movie later and walked over to the table.
Xu Haonan looked at Xia Wan and asked, “Where did Ji Heng go?”
“He went to get some wine.”
Chen Yubai opened the prepared ingredients on the table. “Let’s start grilling first. No need to wait for him.”
They didn’t stand on ceremony with each other—there were no strict rules among them.
Xia Wan looked at the food spread across the table. “All these ingredients are so fresh.”
Su Yi said, “The meats were delivered this afternoon, and the vegetables are grown right here in the resort.”
Gu Chi warmly offered, “Xia Wan, just let me know if there’s anything you’d like to eat. I’ll grill it for you.”
“Thank you, but I can grill for myself,” Xia Wan declined his kindness.
Gu Chi replied, “Alright, help yourself. There’s more if it’s not enough.”
Ji Heng walked over carrying two bottles of wine—one white and one red wine.
He casually pulled out the chair next to Xu Haonan and sat down.
“What are you sitting here for?” Xu Haonan asked in a low voice.
Ji Heng poured himself a glass of white wine and asked, “Can’t I sit here?”
He had just taken the nearest empty seat—was there some unspoken rule about seating?
Xu Haonan whispered, barely audible to anyone else, “There’s an empty chair next to Xia Wan. Why didn’t you sit there?”
Ji Heng said, “This chair was closest to me.”
“Just focus on your barbecue and stop overthinking things,” Ji Heng found him annoying.
Gu Chi, sitting to Xia Wan’s left, spoke up, “Ji Heng, pass me the white wine.”
Ji Heng silently handed him the bottle.
Gu Chi took it, poured a glass, and then asked, “Would you like some, Xia Wan?”Xia Wan pointed to the fruit tea on her left. “No need, I can just have a drink.”
“Have you considered taking on endorsements?” Chen Yubai glanced at Xia Wan and casually asked.
Xia Wan nodded gently. “Yes, I’ll probably take on an endorsement soon.”
“Which brand?” The others were somewhat surprised.
Xia Wan: “It hasn’t been decided yet. I’ll make a decision after I return.”
Chen Yubai’s mind turned, and he suggested, “Would you be willing to endorse this resort? The endorsement fee is up to you.”
Xu Haonan strongly agreed. “Yes, you’re the first celebrity we’ve invited, and this would be your first endorsement too.”
“I agree, the terms are entirely up to you.” Gu Chi, as the head fan, certainly had no objections.
Xia Wan was slightly taken aback, pondered for a moment, then smiled. “With the foot traffic this resort gets, you probably don’t need to hire anyone for endorsements.”
Su Yi: “We wouldn’t mind the resort having even more visitors.”
They didn’t see the need to invite other celebrities for endorsements, but Xia Wan’s popularity in the entertainment industry was different.
Xia Wan couldn’t decide immediately; she needed to discuss it with Sister Nan. “Let me think about it. I’ll give you an answer after I return.”
Gu Chi quickly responded, “Sure, as long as you’re willing to endorse, anytime is fine.”
“Mm.” Xia Wan hadn’t expected to receive an endorsement offer while staying at the resort for a few days.
She looked up at Ji Heng, who had remained silent all this time. The other four had all asked her to endorse, but he hadn’t said a word.
She wasn’t sure what he was thinking.