Group Two • Jiang Nian + Zhao Muyan
When Jiang Nian had drawn Zhao Muyan’s name during the pairing process, she had actually been a little disappointed. The person she had wanted to team up with was Lu Zhiheng.
The Lu family’s wealth was substantial. If she could marry into a prestigious family, she could retire on the spot and live the life of a wealthy housewife.
Earlier, when she saw Su Qinghe draw Lu Zhiheng’s name, Su Qinghe had looked visibly unwilling. The displeasure on her face had been so obvious that everyone could tell she did not want to be paired with Lu Zhiheng.
That was the part Jiang Nian found strange.
Hadn’t Su Qinghe been pursuing Lu Zhiheng like crazy not long ago? Could someone really stop loving a person just because they decided to?
That day, Lu Zhiheng’s assistant happened to share the same elevator with her when they ran into Su Qinghe. Lu Zhiheng’s assistant had even warned Su Qinghe right in front of her.
He had not given Su Qinghe the slightest bit of face.
Was Su Qinghe giving up after failing to win him over, or was she playing hard to get?
Jiang Nian had no idea what Su Qinghe was planning.
Still, one thing was certain. Lu Zhiheng definitely did not like Su Qinghe. Otherwise, he would not have allowed Su Qinghe to become such a laughingstock online while remaining completely indifferent, watching coldly from the sidelines.
That meant she still had a chance.
Then another thought crossed Jiang Nian’s mind.
Her cooking skills were mediocre at best, and judging from Lu Zhiheng’s background as the Heir of the Lu family, he probably could not cook either. If she left a bad impression on him because of this, it would only backfire.
Su Qinghe did not look like someone who could cook either. Jiang Nian had even clicked into the cooking vlogs Su Qinghe had posted recently.
What kind of dishes were those supposed to be? She was obviously terrible in the kitchen too. If Su Qinghe teamed up with Lu Zhiheng, she would probably only make him dislike her even more.
And then there was the way Su Qinghe had acted while drinking douzhi. It had been so affected and overdramatic that it was simply speechless.
Jiang Nian decided that after this program ended, she would seriously study cooking videos and improve her skills. Surely wealthy families expected their future daughters-in-law to be good cooks.
Besides, with Zhao Muyan as her partner today, she could take the opportunity to learn from his cooking expertise.
Although it was obvious that Zhao Muyan was interested in her, she had no feelings for him whatsoever.
Still, he was useful for now.
She could keep him hanging on a little longer.
Lost in thought, Jiang Nian walked slowly as though admiring the scenery along the roadside. Zhao Muyan followed beside her, carrying the dried bamboo shoots, occasionally sneaking glances at her.
Suddenly, Jiang Nian turned around.
He immediately withdrew his gaze and pretended to study the trees lining the path.
Jiang Nian smiled and asked gently, “Brother Muyan, what ingredients would you like to exchange for later?”
Zhao Muyan froze for a moment before replying, “I… I’m fine with anything. What do you want to eat?”
Jiang Nian thought about it.
“I’d like fish. Since there’s a reservoir nearby, there should be fish, right?”
Zhao Muyan nodded. “There probably are, should we ask the villagers?”
Jiang Nian smiled. “Sure.”
The two of them headed toward Heling Reservoir.
Half a step behind Jiang Nian, Zhao Muyan watched her graceful figure and felt unexpectedly nervous.
She seemed… pretty easygoing.
Not quite the way he had imagined.
Group Three • Su Qinghe + Lu Zhiheng
The two walked along the quiet western path of Heling Village.
Su Qinghe led the way while Lu Zhiheng followed behind, maintaining a distance of roughly two meters between them.
Neither of them spoke.
Silence! Silence was the theme of the day.
Su Qinghe was screaming internally.
Why him? Why did it have to be him? Did the production team invite me onto this variety show just to watch me embarrass myself?
She took a deep breath and reminded herself:
Stay calm. Just treat him like air.
Walking behind her, Lu Zhiheng observed the stiffness in her posture, the corners of his lips twitching slightly.
She was nervous.
But why?
He remembered her calling him “Iceberg face” that morning, then recalled the brief look of rigidity that had crossed her features when the drawing results had been announced.
Did she really dislike being paired with him that much?
Picking up his pace, he moved up beside her.
Su Qinghe’s entire body tensed, but she did not turn her head.
Lu Zhiheng spoke first. “What do you want to exchange for?”
Su Qinghe paused. He was actually initiating a conversation?
She glanced at him before quickly looking away.
“…Anything is fine. President Lu can decide.”
“You don’t have any preferences?”
Su Qinghe fell silent.
Was he criticizing her?
After a moment’s thought, she answered, “Then let’s get some meat. Spare ribs, chicken, fish, anything works.”
“Mm.” And then, once again, silence descended.
Silence is golden, Su Qinghe comforted herself.
Who told him to be the male lead? I’ll endure it.
The two arrived at a household on the western edge of the village. Vegetables grew in front of the house, and an elderly grandmother sat nearby sorting through freshly picked produce.
Su Qinghe stepped forward and crouched down with a bright smile.
“Hello, Grandma. We’re filming a program in the village and would like to exchange some dried bamboo shoots for vegetables.”
The elderly woman lifted her head and squinted at Su Qinghe.
“Oh my, what a pretty young lady.”
Su Qinghe smiled.
“Grandma, you’re too kind.”
The old woman chuckled and pointed toward the vegetable patch.
“Take whatever you want. My legs aren’t what they used to be, so I won’t be going in there.”
Su Qinghe looked over the garden.
There were eggplants, chili peppers, green beans, tomatoes, and several large cabbages.
Turning back, she asked, “President Lu, what would you like to eat?”
Standing at the courtyard entrance, Lu Zhiheng paused upon hearing her question.
“Anything.”
Su Qinghe: “…”
Anything again.
Too lazy to bother with him, she crouched down and began picking vegetables herself.
Two eggplants. A handful of chili peppers.
Three tomatoes. A bunch of green beans.
As she worked, she chatted with the elderly woman.
“Grandma, do you live here all by yourself?”
The old woman nodded.
“My husband passed away years ago. My children all live in the city now. I stay here alone, tending this little courtyard and growing enough vegetables to feed myself.”
Su Qinghe’s hands paused.
“Don’t you get lonely?”
The elderly woman smiled.
“You get used to it. Besides, I planted every vegetable in this garden with my own hands. I water them every day and watch them grow. That keeps me company.”
Something stirred within Su Qinghe.
In this world, she was alone too.
Lowering her head, she continued harvesting vegetables, failing to notice when Lu Zhiheng moved to stand beside her.
He crouched down as well and reached out to pick an eggplant.
Su Qinghe blinked in surprise.
He was helping?
Without looking at her, Lu Zhiheng placed the eggplant into the basket before reaching for another one.
Su Qinghe withdrew her gaze and resumed picking vegetables.
The two of them crouched side by side in the garden, quietly gathering produce without exchanging a single word.
Watching them from nearby, the elderly woman smiled warmly.
“You two make such a lovely pair.”
The eggplant in Su Qinghe’s hands nearly slipped from her grasp.
She looked up and hurriedly explained, “Grandma, that’s not it. We’re just…”
The old woman waved dismissively.
“What are you being shy about? I’m very good at judging people.”
Su Qinghe: “…”
At her side, the corners of Lu Zhiheng’s lips shifted ever so slightly, but he said nothing.
Su Qinghe shot him a glare.
Say something! Explain!
But he never looked at her.
Nor did he offer any explanation, seemingly accepting the elderly woman’s words by default.
Seeing that he remained silent, Su Qinghe found it inappropriate to argue with an elder.
Instead, she smoothly changed the subject.
“Grandma, it’s amazing that you’re taking care of such a large vegetable garden all by yourself, and everything is growing so well.”
The old woman’s face immediately brightened with delight.
“This child sure has a sweet tongue.”
Eh?
If Su Qinghe wasn’t mistaken, the deadpan Iceberg face standing beside her had just secretly smiled.
…Could he actually smile?
Maybe she had simply imagined it.