“Okay.”
Shan Qingshan agreed with unexpected briskness, catching Zhuozhuo completely off guard.
Shan Qingshan: “Want me to teach you how to pull them?”
Zhuozhuo said smugly, “Smart of you to know what’s good for you.”
She let go of her hands.
Shan Qingshan demonstrated a couple of times, pulling two radishes for her and setting them aside.
“Stack them together. We’ll collect them later.”
Mindful that the livestream was still rolling, Zhuozhuo put on a warm and kind smile.
“Alright, thanks, little bro.”
Shan Qingshan headed up the slope, and halfway up he ran into Zhou Chong coming down.
“Why did you come up?”
“I didn’t like that plot of land.”
“Then check out the ones further up.”
Shan Qingshan picked a plot.
The other guests made their way up the mountain one by one, and without exception, they all first observed Shan Qingshan pulling radishes to learn the technique before finding their own plots.
Just before ten o’clock, Zhou Chong heard a scream, followed by the sound of something tumbling down.
Zhou Chong ran over to check, then wore his schadenfreude openly on his face, unable to fake otherwise.
“That idiot’s radishes rolled down the mountain. All of them smashed to bits.”
Shan Qingshan’s expression was indifferent. “So that was the radishes screaming. First time I’ve heard that.”
Zhou Chong grinned even wider.
They carried the radishes down the mountain, walking along the ridge between the fields.
“What are we eating for lunch today?”
“Radishes.”
“Great. Whatever my old—… whatever the boss makes, I’ll love it.”
Zhou Chong’s tongue made a difficult turn, swallowing back the word “wife.”
Sweat trickled down his back.
The Qingshan Xiaobao of right now would probably have a full-on homophobic panic if he heard him call him his wife.
Bending him straight couldn’t wait.
Not willing to wait until nighttime when the livestream was off, Zhou Chong dipped a tentative toe in. “Qingshan Xiaobao, what’s your take on homosexuality?”
“Other people’s romantic choices aren’t mine to interfere with.”
“Then what if—”
“Shan Qingshan! Zhou Chong! Little bros!”
Qian Wei’s call drifted down from the mountain.
“What~ are~ we~ having~ for~ lunch~”
Zhou Chong: God dammit, he’d finally mustered up his courage, and she had to pick this exact moment to show up?
He wasn’t the only one grinding his teeth—the livestream viewers were too.
【GAI—A—!】
【Couldn’t you have waited a minute?! I hate this!】
【He! Just now! Was he! About to call her “wife”?! His mouth clearly made a pouting shape—how could that be a “boss”?】
【I was worried our Qian Wei baby would get into a romance on this variety show, but turns out! All seven emotions and six desires have been reduced to just the desire for food】
【Can the CP fans upstairs stop with the delusions? Can’t it just be a simple question? Or maybe he’s worried about losing friends if they find out his orientation? One question and you’re all losing your minds?】
…
By the time Qian Wei reached them, Zhou Chong had already composed his expression.
When Qian Wei heard they were having radishes for lunch, she was extremely generous.
She’d cover the radishes for lunch.
“The production team didn’t give us any tasks this afternoon. They said to find our own transportation into town and get ready to head in tomorrow. The three of us can go together—how about it?”
Shan Qingshan: “Sounds good.”
After lunch, Shan Qingshan took Zhou Chong and Qian Wei to the village chief’s house.
Shan Qingshan was filial, had excellent grades, and scored very high on the college entrance exam. If not for a slip in his application file, he’d already be a university student by now.
The village chief was very fond of Shan Qingshan.
So when he heard they wanted to go to town to sell radishes, he readily offered to drive them there—he happened to need to go into town for supplies anyway.
As they were about to leave, the village chief asked Shan Qingshan, “Xiao Shan, are you sure you won’t give it another try?”
“I’ll think about it.”
It was only then that Qian Wei realized Shan Qingshan was still at the age for schooling.
“You’re still in school?”
“No, I’ve graduated.”
“Didn’t do well on the college entrance exam?”
“I slipped through the cracks.”
By now, several months had passed, and Shan Qingshan could speak of it calmly.
But Zhou Chong beside him suddenly darkened his face.
Even though he had known for a long time, hearing someone mention it still made his heart ache.
Qian Wei sighed. “That’s a shame. Aren’t you going to retake it?”
“My family needs me at home.”
Qian Wei was taken aback, remembering his elderly grandmother at home.
The conversation grew heavier.
Qian Wei quickly changed the subject. “Look at those red plum blossoms over there—they’re so pretty. Should we pick a few branches to take back and put in a vase for Grandma?”
“Sure.”
Qian Wei picked a small handful and asked, “Does it snow here?”
“Occasionally.”
“Has it snowed this year?”
“Not yet.”
“When I was filming a drama with a Korean actor, he told me that when the first snow falls, lovers will reunite. They seem to have some kind of attachment to the first snow. If it snows during the filming of this show, we can watch the first snow together too.”
“Mm.”
Qian Wei’s eyes lit up. “How about this—since we’ve crossed paths, let’s make a pact. If the first snow really falls, confess to someone you like if you have someone. If not, then pick your favorite among all the guests on the show and give them a gift! Sound good?”
Shan Qingshan thought she was acting like a child and was about to refuse.
Zhou Chong spoke up.
“Sure.”
Qian Wei was thrilled. “Majority rules, it’s settled!”
Shan Qingshan: “…”
Qian Wei pondered.
What should she give Shan Qingshan as a gift then?
Money.
Words of comfort are nothing compared to a hefty sum.
Zhou Chong stood beneath the red plum tree, watching the petals drift down like falling snow.
His voice was soft and restrained.
“I really hope it snows.”
Shan Qingshan had already walked away, but upon hearing those words, his steps faltered and he turned back.
At that exact moment, Zhou Chong looked over as well.
His face lacked its usual smile, his eyes deep, as if his words were unfinished.
Shan Qingshan felt as though he’d been burned by that gaze, and turned away, as if he hadn’t heard those words at all. The ears faintly visible among his black hair were as red as the plum petals drifting down upon them.
[So cute! Waiting for the snow! Marking this spot]
[What Zhou Chong said: I really hope it snows. What I heard: I want to confess, I can’t hold it in anymore]
[Isn’t this a confession? Isn’t this a confession? Isn’t this a confession? I screamed so loud the lights in the whole building turned on]
[I’ll haul an artificial snow machine overnight! Even if it doesn’t snow, it WILL snow! I won’t let heaven stand in the way of my ship!]
[Qian Wei is really too brainwashed by Korean dramas! You’re filming a lifestyle variety show, not a dating show!]
[Get married (screaming wildly) How can you not get married? (bouncing around) What are you waiting for if not marriage (swinging back and forth) Do it for me (crawling in the shadows)!]
…
Yu Xinya watched the barrage of comments scrolling across her phone screen, feeling like she’d stumbled upon something incredible.
Is this how young people talk these days?
This mental state is a bit terrifying.
Yu Xinya wanted to blend in with the younger generation, understand them, become one of them. She clicked into a CP fan’s personal page and saw the Super Topic for Shan Qingshan X Zhou Chong.
A whole new universe slowly unfolded before this mother’s eyes.
A wealthy family’s domineering young master follows the film crew deep into the mountains. Before filming begins, he encounters a rural youth as cold and ethereal as a snow-capped mountain. The two come from vastly different backgrounds, yet it doesn’t diminish the fatal attraction the youth holds for the young master!
The young master falls in love at first sight. To win, to stay at the youth’s home, to convey his feelings, he shouts out loud, “I’m gay!”
The young master and the youth live under the same roof, share the same bed, care for their elders together, and feed the pigs and chickens. The young master stands up for the youth, refusing to let anyone insult him in the slightest. The youth, for the young master, adds two eggs to every bowl of noodles he cooks!
A mutual pursuit! Deep affection!
Together they make a promise to confess under the first snowfall!
(According to the plot’s development, the next step must be)
To be updated…
To be continued!
In parentheses, it must be “and,” in parentheses.
Yu Xinya is dumbfounded, stunned speechless, almost completely bewildered.