Third Floor, Women’s Area:
At the end of the staircase was a small corridor paved with light colored wooden flooring. Sunlight streamed through the window at the far end of the hallway, illuminating tiny specks of dust drifting lazily through the beams of light.
There were four doors lining both sides of the corridor.
Zhou Yichen poked his head up from the second floor and shouted, “Sister Qinghe, hurry up! The third floor is huge!”
Only then did Su Qinghe slowly make her way upstairs.
By the time she stepped onto the third floor, the other three women were already standing near the rooms.
Ever enthusiastic, Zhou Yichen was helping them analyze the options.
“This room is the biggest. Its windows face the reservoir, so it’s definitely the most comfortable, and the view is amazing. This one is a bit smaller, but it’s close to the bathroom. That one at the very end is quieter, although you have to walk a little farther. And this one…”
Jiang Nian stood at the doorway of the room described as “the biggest, facing the reservoir.” She did not step inside, merely saying gently, “I’m fine with any room. You all can choose first.”
Liu Yinuo cast her a glance, a smile playing at the corners of her lips.
“Then I won’t stand during the ceremony.”
She pushed open the door to the largest room and took a quick look around. When she came back out, she nodded approvingly.
“It really is nice. The scenery is great. Jiang Nian, are you sure you don’t want it?”
Jiang Nian smiled and shook her head.
“Sister Yinuo, you should take it. I can stay anywhere.”
Without another word, Liu Yinuo wheeled her suitcase inside.
Standing in the corridor, Su Qinghe looked at the three remaining doors.
Zhou Yichen enthusiastically offered his advice.
“Sister Qinghe, you should take this room. It’s close to the bathroom, which is convenient.”
Su Qinghe shook her head.
“I prefer somewhere quiet.”
She walked toward the room at the very end of the hallway.
Pushing open the door, she found that although the room was not large, it had an east facing window. Through it, she could see a corner of Heling Reservoir, where the setting sun cast shimmering flecks of gold across the water’s surface.
Inside the room were a wooden bed, a wardrobe, and a small desk adorned with a bouquet of dried flowers.
The most delightful surprise was that her room even had a small balcony.
Su Qinghe’s eyes immediately lit up.
“I’ll take this one.”
She dragged her suitcase inside. When she came back out, Liu Yinuo was leaning out of her own room.
“You’re staying next door to me? Then we can visit each other whenever we want.”
Su Qinghe smiled.
“Sounds good.”
In the end, Jiang Nian chose the slightly larger of the two remaining rooms, the one closest to the staircase.
Before entering, she glanced toward Su Qinghe’s room at the end of the corridor but said nothing.
Second Floor, Men’s Area:
The men were far less particular about room selection.
One of the men’s rooms happened to be a shared room.
Earlier, Zhou Yichen had been the first to rush upstairs. After casually opening a door, he had immediately declared, “This room is mine. It’s a double room!”
Zhao Muyan laughed as he opened the same door.
“Then I’ll stay here too.”
By the time Shen Ci came upstairs, only two rooms remained. One was the master bedroom, larger in size and equipped with a small balcony. The other was a secondary bedroom with windows overlooking the courtyard.
Lu Zhiheng was the last to come upstairs.
Standing outside the master bedroom, Shen Ci looked at him.
“Lu Zhiheng, which room are you taking?”
Lu Zhiheng glanced first at the master bedroom, then at the secondary bedroom.
“Whatever.”
Shen Ci nodded. “Then I’ll take the master bedroom.”
Lu Zhiheng pushed open the door to the secondary bedroom.
The room was not large, but its window faced the two towering Chinese scholar trees in the courtyard. Standing by the window, he could clearly see everyone coming and going below.
He could also see the balcony on the third floor.
Only later did Lu Zhiheng discover that it belonged to Su Qinghe’s room.
[Director’s Insert: Post Production Caption Version]
The camera swept across the third floor corridor from left to right.
[Jiang Nian’s Room]
The room closest to the staircase.
Post production caption: [Prime location advantage.]
[Liu Yinuo’s Room]
The largest room, facing the reservoir with an unbeatable view.
Post production caption: [The senior’s spacious room. Everyone truly respects their seniors.]
[Su Qinghe’s Room]
The room farthest inside, the quietest one, with a partial view of the reservoir.
Post production caption: [People who enjoy peace and quiet always like hiding away in corners.]
The long shot then shifted to the second floor.
[Shen Ci’s Room]
The master bedroom with a balcony.
Post production caption: [The largest room on the second floor.]
[Lu Zhiheng’s Room]
The secondary bedroom. Its window faced the courtyard and sat diagonally opposite Su Qinghe’s balcony on the third floor.
Post production caption: [You can even see the third floor balcony from here.]
[Zhao Muyan and Zhou Yichen’s Room]
The two shared a room. The door stood half open, and Zhou Yichen’s constant chatter could be heard from inside.
Post production caption: [Chatterbox × straightforward guy. A harmonious shared room.]
What kind of sparks would fly among everyone?
[Dinner: The Courtyard’s First Meal]
As the sun gradually dipped toward the west, the kitchen became lively with activity.
After tying on an apron, Zhao Muyan took a look around the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator, then the cupboards, and his expression slowly grew serious.
Su Qinghe followed him inside and noticed the look on his face.
“What’s wrong?”
Zhao Muyan scratched his head.
“We don’t have many ingredients. The production team told us we’d have to handle meals ourselves, but we just arrived today and haven’t had the chance to exchange for supplies in the village.”
Su Qinghe leaned over to inspect the refrigerator. There were a few pork ribs, two tomatoes, a stalk of celtuce, several eggs, and a few pieces of ginger.
After considering their options, Zhao Muyan said, “We can make three dishes. Pork rib soup, tomato scrambled eggs, and stir fried celtuce.”
Su Qinghe nodded.
“That should be enough. There aren’t that many of us.”
Zhao Muyan immediately got to work. He began by blanching the pork ribs, moving with practiced efficiency that clearly showed his experience in the kitchen.
Standing beside him, Su Qinghe helped wash and chop the vegetables. The two worked together with surprising ease and coordination.
Zhou Yichen poked his head into the kitchen.
“Need any help?”
Without even turning around, Zhao Muyan replied, “No need. Just wait for the food.”
So Zhou Yichen genuinely stationed himself at the doorway and waited.
Passing by, Liu Yinuo burst into laughter at the sight.
“You’re really just standing there?”
Zhou Yichen answered with complete confidence.
“Brother Muyan said he didn’t need help.”
Shaking her head, Liu Yinuo walked into the kitchen herself.
“What can I do?”
Su Qinghe handed her the washed celtuce.
“Sister Yinuo, could you cut this into sections? Around the same length is fine.”
Liu Yinuo accepted the knife, her movements unexpectedly skilled.
Shen Ci also wandered into the kitchen. After surveying the scene, he quietly picked up a broom and started sweeping the floor.
From outside, Zhou Yichen called out, “Why is everyone suddenly doing chores? You’re making me look lazy!”
No one paid him any attention.
The pork rib soup bubbling in the pot released a rich aroma that gradually filled the entire courtyard.
Su Qinghe was thoroughly impressed.
Zhao Muyan moved on to preparing the tomato scrambled eggs. He cracked the eggs swiftly, the chopsticks making rhythmic sounds as they whisked the mixture evenly.
Once the pan was heated, he added oil before pouring in the egg mixture. It sizzled instantly. Using the spatula, he quickly broke the eggs apart and transferred them to a plate before they had fully set.
Watching from the side, Su Qinghe looked surprised.
“You’re taking them out this early?”
As he sliced the tomatoes, Zhao Muyan explained, “This keeps the eggs tender. They’ll go back into the pan later. If they’re fully cooked now, they’ll turn tough afterward.”
He reheated the oil, added the tomatoes, and cooked them until they released their juices. Then he returned the partially cooked eggs to the pan, stir frying everything together for a few quick moments before seasoning it with salt, sugar, and a small amount of starch slurry.
A beautifully plated dish of tomato scrambled eggs soon appeared on the counter. The vibrant red and yellow colors contrasted perfectly, while the glossy sauce made it look especially appetizing.
Su Qinghe stared at the dish in silence.
Zhao Muyan looked at her.
“What’s wrong?”
Su Qinghe let out a sigh.
“A while ago, I made tomato scrambled eggs at home. They turned out dark and unappetizing, and the eggs were so overcooked they could practically bounce. I always thought the problem was my heat control, but now I realize this was the issue. I never removed the eggs from the pan first.”
Zhao Muyan smiled.
“A lot of people make that mistake. The eggs should be cooked separately and combined at the end. If you prefer more sauce, cut the tomatoes into smaller pieces and cook them a little longer to draw out more juice before adding the eggs back in.”
Su Qinghe listened attentively.
“Any other tips?”