Opening the back door for you1
Going on a variety show for you
With what happened to Feng Xiao, the rest of the movie’s promotional tour was affected.
Fortunately, the film had already made a name for itself, and most people were still drawn to see it based on word-of-mouth recommendations.
During this period, Lin Sifei did several more interviews and appeared on a variety show with the rest of the cast.
The movie’s fastest growth period was over, and it was now entering a phase of steady performance.
Lin Sifei went on to shoot a few endorsements and magazine covers. She and Luo Ke also moved back home. Luo Shengping and Old Mrs. Luo had been sentenced, and the two aunts quickly found themselves buried under massive debt. Their long-term life of luxury had left them with no idea how to be frugal.
Some time later, Li Tao approached Lin Sifei with a proposal.
“This variety show is Channel A’s2 big push for the year. I’ve looked it over, and the theme and games are pretty fresh. Do you want to participate?”
Lin Sifei took it and flipped through a few pages, an eyebrow arching. “We have to go to the countryside? And build a tourist attraction ourselves? Plus puzzle-solving and escape rooms… isn’t this a bit too hard?”
“That’s what makes a variety show interesting.”
Lin Sifei nodded. The production team was certainly bold. Many of the current Traffic xiaosheng3 couldn’t handle hardship; if they were cast, the production team would be the ones suffering in the end.
“Have the other guests been decided?”
“There are five people in total. So far, you and Lu Heng are confirmed. They probably want to capitalize on some of the CP4 heat, so just act normally around each other. There’s also a singer—originally a folk singer, the type who bikes everywhere. He can handle hardship, too.”
Lin Sifei couldn’t help but laugh. “Looking at it this way, I’m the one who can’t handle hardship the most.”
“So you’ll have to perform well.”
“How long is the filming period?”
“Eight days.”
Lin Sifei nodded. “I don’t see a problem.”
After signing the contract, Lin Sifei went home and told Luo Ke about the variety show. When Luo Ke heard she would be gone for eight days, her expression soured.
“You have to be gone that long?” She reached out and wrapped her arms around Lin Sifei.
“It’s only a few days. It’s much better than filming a movie.” Lin Sifei pinched her cheek. “This time, I’m filming locally. If I have to go somewhere else next time, you might not see me for months.”
Luo Ke sighed, hugging her even tighter.
Lin Sifei smiled and nuzzled against her. “It’s the nature of my work. There’s nothing to be done about it.”
“I know, but I still can’t bear to be apart from you. Feelings aren’t controlled by logic.” Luo Ke tilted her head, looking at her. “I find myself more and more unable to leave your side.”
“Haha, then I can rest easy. I won’t have to worry about someone stealing you away.”
Lin Sifei gazed into Luo Ke’s eyes and couldn’t resist leaning in to kiss her.
That night, after Lin Sifei had fallen asleep, Luo Ke quietly slipped out of bed and went into the hallway with her phone. She dialed Li Tao’s number.
“Who’s on the production team for Xiao Xiao’s show? How can I sponsor it?”
Li Tao heard this and knew what was coming. Time to smash money5 again. “President Luo, rest assured, this production team is quite reliable.”
“I’m not worried about that. I’m going over, too.”
“Alright, I’ll send you the production team and TV station’s information. You can contact them yourself.”
Li Tao didn’t want to argue about it late at night. It wasn’t his money, anyway, and having President Luo watching over things was an extra layer of security.
Luo Ke looked at the information and forwarded it to Special Assistant Lin, telling him to pick a subsidiary brand for the sponsorship.
Special Assistant Lin had long seen through President Luo’s clingy nature. Without asking a single question, he got to work, ultimately choosing a map software developed by one of their subsidiaries. It was a perfect fit, since the show was about building a tourist attraction. As soon as a new spot was built, it could be updated on the map immediately.
He contacted the branch company and informed them that the head office would cover the sponsorship fee, earning their profuse thanks.
He casually opened his phone and saw a marketing account6 online spreading rumors about Lin Sifei’s upcoming schedule. He sneered. Right now, I’m the man in control of her schedule.
Sigh. I’d love to open an exposé account7 and make some money, but President Luo would probably have me killed.
Yan Yafei was chatting with a producer. She had heard from someone else that Feng Tingyun’s manager had been in talks with him.
“Is it true? Is Yun-ge really going on this show?”
The producer didn’t hide it from her, laughing heartily. “Don’t you have a pretty good relationship with the Film Emperor? He didn’t tell you?”
“Oh, please. We’re just ordinary friends. Why would he tell me everything, especially his schedule?” Yan Yafei’s eyes darted. “Do you think I could get on that show?”
The producer laughed again. “I know your favorite star is Feng Tingyun. The fact that I’m telling you this means, of course, that there’s a spot for you.”
“Really? Thank you so much, brother.”
“You’re welcome.”
After a few more words, Yan Yafei hung up and sneered. Feng Tingyun was going on this show, most likely because he’d heard Lu Heng was going. But Lu Heng was supposed to form a CP with Lin Sifei. To create a gimmick, the production team would probably pair her up with Feng Tingyun.
Besides, this was a perfect opportunity to properly apologize to Feng Tingyun. As long as she could see him face-to-face, she was confident she could coax him back.
She smiled, admiring her nails. “I should get a manicure. Blue-gray sounds good. It’s a challenging color.”
The day of the variety show filming arrived quickly. Luo Ke helped Lin Sifei pack her luggage, then stood at the door and opened her arms.
Lin Sifei looked at her and was reminded of a puppy waiting for its owner to come home. Her heart instantly melted into a puddle. She hugged her and patted her on the back. “I’ll be back soon. Work hard, and try to free up some time so we can go on a trip together another day.”
“I’m afraid there won’t be time for a trip. We have to prepare for the engagement ceremony.”
“I almost forgot. It seems like it’s about that time.” Lin Sifei thought for a moment. “In that case, you pick the dresses and the venue decor. Just remember to send me pictures.”
“Okay. Go on, don’t worry.”
Lin Sifei got into the Nanny Van. Before the door closed, she saw Luo Ke’s smile and felt a strange sense of familiarity, as if she’d seen it somewhere before.
She tilted her head in confusion, feeling a bit odd. I see Luo Ke smile every day. It’s perfectly normal.
Because of her celebrity status, Lin Sifei tried to be as low-key as possible at the airport. She and Li Jing each pulled a suitcase.
Once seated, Lin Sifei looked out the window beside her and took a deep breath. She wondered if Luo Ke had started missing her. She already was.
Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Luo Ke was locking the door, suitcase in hand.
Special Assistant Lin drove over to take her to the airport. “President Luo, everything on that end has been arranged. Someone will pick you up and take you directly to the filming location.”
Luo Ke nodded. “You didn’t let Sifei know, did you?”
“Rest assured, President Luo. My lips are sealed.”
Amidst the roar of the airplane, Lin Sifei dragged her suitcase out, following Li Jing through the crowd. She spotted the Nanny Van that had been described to her in the distance and hurried over.
“Miss Lin Sifei?”
Lin Sifei took off her sunglasses and nodded with a smile, gesturing to Li Jing. “This is my assistant, Li Jing.”
“Hello.”
After the greetings, the driver took her to the filming location.
“When we arrive, there will be cameras filming. You’ll be staying in a local guesthouse run by the villagers. A local village official helped set it up, so the facilities and hygiene are excellent. You don’t need to worry.”
Lin Sifei nodded and asked, “Has anyone else arrived before me?”
“Lu Heng and Xu You are already here,” the person in the passenger seat reminded her with a smile. “Xu You is the folk singer.”
“I know him.” After receiving the materials, Lin Sifei had carefully studied up on Xu You, the only one she wasn’t familiar with.
The countryside was a long way from the airport; it was in a subordinate county of the city. The car drove for nearly two hours before arriving.
Lin Sifei was getting tired from sitting for so long. When she heard they were almost there, she immediately perked up, straightening her clothes and hair.
The driver pulled the car to a steady stop. Through the window, Lin Sifei could already see the cameras and the director outside. She took a deep breath, put on a smile, and pulled open the door to get out.
“She’s here!”
The moment she got out of the car, Lu Heng and Xu You came out to greet her, even helping her with her suitcase.
Lin Sifei quickly demurred. “No, no, I can get it myself.”
Xu You waved his hand. “You must be tired after such a long ride. I’ve got it. You go rest.”
Lin Sifei smiled and thanked him, accepting his kindness.
As soon as she entered, Lu Heng held out a box. “Draw a lot. Let’s see which room you get.”
Lin Sifei reached in and pulled out a key with a room number on it. “This is a pretty interesting way to assign rooms.”
“Xu You and I thought of it.” Lu Heng clapped Xu You on the shoulder like they were the best of friends.
Lin Sifei’s room was on the second floor. Xu You helped carry her suitcase up. “Go ahead and get settled.”
Lin Sifei nodded. She opened the door and immediately spotted the camera in the room. She opened her suitcase, hung up all her clothes, and put her towel and other things in the bathroom.
“The environment is pretty nice.” She pushed open the window, startling a few birds into flight. She pulled the screen shut and took off her scarf and hat.
Once she was settled, she ran down the stairs, calling out as she held the railing, “I’m all done!”
She hopped down the last few steps. “What’s next?”
“We wait for everyone to arrive. Right now, we’re looking at the map. We have to build a tourist attraction, right?”
“You’re picking a spot.” Lin Sifei walked over and looked down at the map spread across the table. “I can’t read maps. How can you tell what’s what on this thing?”
“We can only tell that there’s a mountain here and a lake here. Aren’t tourist spots usually built in places like this?” Xu You traveled often and had a better sense for these things. “If they want to develop tourism here, they’ll definitely have to rely on the natural scenery.”
Lin Sifei and Lu Heng both nodded. “But we’re not professionals. We can’t build bridges or roads.”
Lu Heng smiled and marked the places they had just discussed. “I think we’ll have to scout the locations in person to know for sure. In any case, heaven never bars one’s way.”8
“If it did, we wouldn’t be able to film the show,” Xu You said, cutting straight to the truth.
Just as they were talking, a car horn sounded outside. Lu Heng straightened up. “Someone’s here.”
The three of them jogged out to welcome the newcomer. A white Nanny Van stopped, and the door slid open. A girl with her hair in a bun got out. She was bundled in a thick down jacket. The moment she stepped out, she hunched her shoulders against the cold and waved a puffy sleeve at everyone.
Lin Sifei’s smile froze. What is Yan Yafei doing here?!
While she was still in a daze, Lu Heng and Xu You had already gone over to help with the luggage.
Yan Yafei bowed her thanks and then happily threw herself at Lin Sifei. “Sifei-jie!”
The impact knocked Lin Sifei back two steps, but she kept a smile on her face. “Well, if it isn’t Yafei. You’re on the show, too?”
“Yeah! The production team kept the guest list a secret. I never expected to see you.”
This time, Lu Heng helped carry the suitcase while Xu You held the door open for the two of them, and they all went inside together.
Xu You smiled at them. “You two know each other?”
“My friend knows her friend, and we met once when we were out for a meal. Neither of us had even started acting back then. It’s been so long. What a coincidence.”
Lin Sifei took her hand. “Come on, I’ll help you unpack.”
“Okay!” Yan Yafei nodded.
As they went up the stairs, the cameraman filmed them from above. Lin Sifei didn’t seem to care in the slightest. “You’re pretty capable,” she said directly. “Fooled Yuan Mo, and now you’re still thriving. Not simple at all.”
“What are you talking about, Sifei-jie? President Yuan and I are just friends. But what about you and President Luo? She made a special trip for your premiere.”
“We’re dating.” Lin Sifei shot her a glare. “But since you’re so clever, how did you manage to offend President Yuan?”
Remembering the Ragdoll cat, Yan Yafei’s expression turned ugly. “What do you mean, offend? President Yuan went on a trip. It’s normal for friends to grow a little distant when they don’t see each other often. The rumors blew it all out of proportion.”
“Is that so?” Lin Sifei clicked her tongue twice. “Then you’d better be careful this time. Don’t go growing distant from someone else.”
Yan Yafei’s first thought was that she knew about Feng Tingyun, but she quickly realized that Feng Tingyun would never discuss such things with Lin Sifei.
“You should worry about yourself,” Yan Yafei sneered. “You’re a strange one, so hostile for no reason.”
“Oh, that’s because I’m a cat lover,” Lin Sifei said, smiling.
The smile sent a chill down Yan Yafei’s spine. She knew how negatively the internet viewed animal abuse. She remembered the surveillance device she had smashed at the Yuan residence. Could it be…
Her gaze toward Lin Sifei instantly turned venomous.
Sweat poured down the cameraman’s face as if a bucket of water had been dumped on him. Filming had just started, and he was already privy to something this explosive. Did these two figure the production team wouldn’t dare air this, so they’re just letting it all out?!
He was right. The production team definitely wouldn’t dare. The director sighed with regret. So much juicy material.
The cameraman stopped at the doorway. Yan Yafei reached out to open the door, and Lin Sifei’s smiling mask was back in place. She helped her arrange her clothes, though the more she helped, the messier they became.
After causing a bit of chaos, Lin Sifei felt refreshed. She linked arms with Yan Yafei and headed downstairs. “Alright, let’s hurry back down. We shouldn’t keep them waiting.”
Because they had been delayed by the clothes, they missed welcoming Feng Tingyun, who had already gone to his room to settle in.
Yan Yafei was a little angry, and she sat down with a sour expression.
The four of them sat on the sofa waiting for Feng Tingyun to come out. Once all five were present, they began their formal self-introductions.
After a full round, Xu You pointed at himself in shock. “Wait a minute. Lu Heng knows Feng Tingyun, Lin Sifei knows Yan Yafei, and Lu Heng and Lin Sifei were in a movie together. So out of the five of us, I’m the only real newcomer?”
Lu Heng laughed and patted his shoulder. “It’s fine. Think about it again. The four of us are actors, and you’re the only singer. That’s the real exclusion.”
Xu You’s eyes widened. “It’s over. Lu Heng is bullying people now, too.”
With everyone gathered, the production team had them draw lots to choose a team captain. The bamboo stick with the red mark was the winner. After some polite deferring, they started with Lin Sifei.
In the end, Feng Tingyun earned the title of team leader. Everyone applauded enthusiastically. Feng Tingyun stood up and gave an elegant nod.
“Yun-ge, this isn’t an awards ceremony,” Lin Sifei said, bursting into laughter.
Feng Tingyun smiled and sat down. He laughed for a moment before it dawned on him. “What does the team leader do?”
Everyone shook their heads. From off-camera, the director called out, “This time, the task card is with our sponsor. She’ll be here any minute.”
Everyone was a little surprised. The sponsor was participating in the show?
Soon, a car horn sounded outside again, and the five of them went out to greet her.
Luo Ke got out of the sedan. Behind her, Special Assistant Lin pushed her suitcase. The whole scene could be summed up in three words: Wild, overbearing, and cool!9
Of those present, only Xu You didn’t recognize Luo Ke. Lu Heng knew her from the film set, Yan Yafei knew her from her time with Yuan Mo, and Feng Tingyun knew her from charity galas and business receptions.
“Hello, President Luo.” Feng Tingyun was the first to step forward, with Lin Sifei close behind.
Xu You, out of the loop, followed the crowd and mumbled a “President Luo” before quietly pulling Lu Heng aside. “How do you all know her?”
“She was also an investor in the movie and visited the set.” Lu Heng gestured toward Yan Yafei. “Yafei probably doesn’t know her. Quick, go huddle together10 with her.”
Xu You was thrilled to have finally found a teammate and happily went over.
Yan Yafei recognized Luo Ke, but she knew the director would want to keep this shot, so she had to pretend she didn’t and huddle together with Xu You.
She gritted her teeth inwardly. I wanted to huddle together with Feng Tingyun. What’s the use of this Xu You? Being with him will just split my screen time.
Regardless of her inner thoughts, Luo Ke was very happy to see Lin Sifei, and Lin Sifei was also beaming, looking exceptionally happy.
Luo Ke stepped forward and gave her a hug. Lin Sifei patted her back so hard it felt like her internal organs were about to shatter.
Lin Sifei leaned close to her ear and threatened through gritted teeth, “Don’t you dare act too familiar with me on camera. I want to shock everyone with our engagement.”
“I don’t have much screen time,” Luo Ke said as she let her go.
She pulled a folded piece of paper from her pocket. “This is your task.”
Feng Tingyun took it, unfolded it, and scanned it in a single glance. “We have to solve our own food problem—find the ingredients ourselves, cook the meals ourselves. Within these eight days, we have to build at least three tourist attractions. In the middle, there are some question marks next to challenges for the attractions, so those must be secret.”
“I think this is actually a wilderness survival show. We don’t even have money?” Lin Sifei was shocked.
Feng Tingyun checked carefully and shook his head. “No money. It says they’re afraid we’ll order takeout.”
Lu Heng nodded. “I saw quite a few small restaurants on the way here. I bet they serve local cuisine.”
“Don’t say any more, Heng-ge. I’m starting to drool,” Xu You said, clutching his stomach. “I’m already getting hungry.”
Lin Sifei was helpless. “Then let’s find something to eat first. Let’s check the kitchen.”
The group trooped toward the kitchen. Lin Sifei quietly fell to the back and ran over to Luo Ke. “What are you doing here? And as a sponsor?”
“Eight days is too long,” Luo Ke said, as if that explained everything.
Lin Sifei slapped her forehead. “So what are you here for? Just to deliver a piece of paper?”
“No. I’ll be the one scoring you from now on.”
“Scoring?” Lin Sifei was confused.
Luo Ke smiled and beckoned her closer. “This was supposed to be a secret from the production team, but I’ll tell you quietly. Your cooking, puzzle-solving, and attraction-building will all be scored. The score will affect how much help you get later.”
“And they call that hidden?” Lin Sifei silently cursed the production team for being so devious.
Luo Ke beckoned again. “The card for the hidden level is tucked between the plates. You’ll find it when you’re cooking.”
Lin Sifei patted her shoulder. “You know so much. In that case, why don’t you reveal where the ingredients are?”
“I probably shouldn’t reveal that.” Luo Ke frowned, looking troubled.
Lin Sifei linked her arm and whined, “Tell me, tell me. Can you bear to see me go hungry?”
Pestered beyond endurance, Luo Ke sighed helplessly. “I can only give you a hint. Go find the villagers. You’re supposed to be solving puzzles, so of course the puzzles are in the village.”
Lin Sifei happily kissed her on the cheek and ran back to the group.
Luo Ke touched her cheek, amused. Beside her, the director was staring at her resentfully.
“President Luo, this is against the rules. You’re the sponsor, but that doesn’t mean you can open the back door!”
Luo Ke glanced at him. “Sifei’s acting is very good. She won’t give anything away.”
That’s no reason for you to open the back door!
The director was furious but didn’t dare say anything. He could only hide the rest of the plans so she wouldn’t find out.
Lin Sifei rejoined the group, searched around with them for a bit, and then told everyone what Luo Ke had said—that there were puzzles, and the clues were probably with the villagers.
Feng Tingyun thought it made sense and had everyone split up to ask around.
Before they left, he said mournfully, “Even if we can’t find the puzzles to get ingredients, we can still ask the villagers for a little something, right? They should be kind enough not to watch us starve.”
Lu Heng sighed helplessly beside him, impressed by his shamelessness.
Feng Tingyun pretended not to hear and started forming groups. “Lu Heng and I will be a team. Xu You, you go with the girls.”
“Why?” Yan Yafei was the first to object.
Feng Tingyun glanced at her, then slung an arm over Lu Heng’s shoulder. “You guys can rely on being cute. Lu Heng and I can go be cool.”
Xu You flexed his biceps. “I can be cool, too.”
“No, that’s being fierce.”
Xu You burst out laughing, and Feng Tingyun joined in. “If you stand in front of someone’s door like that, they’re liable to grab a weapon and chase you off.”
Xu You waved his hands. “Got it, got it. I’m too intimidating. I need some girls to soften my image.”
With the groups decided, the two teams headed off in different directions.
Lin Sifei, wrapped in a thick scarf, pointed down the road ahead. “Let’s try to remember the way, just in case we can’t find our way back.”
“Okay.”
At the first house, Xu You went up to knock on the door, then immediately stood behind Lin Sifei.
An old villager opened the door, saw the three of them, and froze. “Miss, are you being threatened? I can help you call the police.”
Xu You quickly raised his hands. “No, no, I’m a good person.”
Lin Sifei was shaking with laughter. “Uncle, we’re here filming a show. We wanted to ask if you have any puzzles or anything like that here.”
“I do. My chicken is missing. Can you help me find it?”
“A chicken?” Lin Sifei turned and exchanged a look with Xu You. “We can try to find it. Uncle, where did the chicken go missing?”
“Right in the backyard. I think the neighbor’s dog, Da Huang, killed it.”
This involves a neighborhood dispute. Lin Sifei’s heart leaped. We’ve come to the right place.
The three of them immediately followed the uncle to the backyard. The yard bordered a river, and its edge was fenced off with a net. Inside were ducks and chickens.
None of them knew much about raising chickens, and it was the first time they had heard of a pet dog stealing and eating them.
Xu You looked around and asked, “Uncle, do you think it’s possible a weasel ate it?”
“Impossible. We can always tell when a weasel gets one. A weasel drags the chicken away, so the chicken squawks, and the net gets a hole chewed in it. If it climbed over the net, the net would still be intact.”
“So what’s the situation now? This morning, a section of the net was pressed down, and there was chicken blood on the ground. It was clearly killed by a bite.”
Lin Sifei and the others only vaguely understood, but they nodded along anyway.
“Then let’s go ask the neighbor.” Xu You and the girls went next door.
The moment they explained their purpose, the neighboring uncle’s face darkened. “I already told him, it wasn’t my Da Huang. He’s tied up in the yard at night and only let out during the day. Besides, if he killed it, where’s the dead chicken? This is just slander.”
The three of them stood there, dumbfounded. Both men seemed to have a point.
After leaving, Lin Sifei stuck her hands in her pockets. “Either someone is lying, or it wasn’t Da Huang. I looked at that chain. It’s strong and secure. Unless the owner unchained it, there’s no way the dog could have broken free.”
Yan Yafei pouted. “We can’t exactly stake out the place at night. How are we supposed to know if someone’s lying?”
The three of them were at a loss. Xu You clapped his hands. “Why don’t we ask another house?”
They knocked on the second door. This family’s water vat would mysteriously fill up with extra water, which was quite frightening.
The third house had mysterious footprints in their vegetable patch.
…
At the sixth house, the old man suspected his son wasn’t his.
The three of them: …
Xu You held up a hand. “Grandpa, please calm down. You can’t just say things like that.”
“I am calm. I just don’t think he’s mine.”
Exhausted, the three of them sat down on a large rock by the roadside to rest. Two figures approached in the distance—it was Lu Heng and Feng Tingyun. Unknowingly, they had covered most of the village.
“How did you guys do?”
Feng Tingyun and Lu Heng both shook their heads. Feng Tingyun was so tired he sat down on a brick. “Every family has a secret, mostly related to daily life. How are we supposed to solve these puzzles?”
“The main thing is, it’s almost dinnertime. Are we really going to go hungry?” Lin Sifei’s face was scrunched in a frown.
Yan Yafei’s tone was soft as she glanced at Lin Sifei. “Could it be that dinner has nothing to do with the villagers’ puzzles at all? How could we possibly solve them in such a short time?”
Lin Sifei propped her chin on her hand. “I think it has to be. Besides the kitchen, the guesthouse only has guest rooms, and we don’t have keys to the empty ones. The ingredients must be outside.”
Yan Yafei continued, “Could it be that we really are supposed to ask the villagers for food?”
Feng Tingyun shook his head, rejecting the idea. “It’s already evening. Farmers eat early, so they’re probably having dinner now. They’re usually very hospitable to guests, but not a single one invited us in. They must have been instructed by the production team.”
Xu You looked at the camera and made a crying face. “Why would you do this? I’m hungry.”
Lu Heng, who had been staring at the ground, suddenly looked up as if he’d thought of something. “I remember when we arrived, the person who brought us here said to find the Village Chief if we had any trouble. Could the clue be with him?”
Everyone agreed it made sense and immediately rushed to the Village Chief’s house.
The moment they knocked, the Village Chief opened the door, beaming. “It’s you! What can I do for you at this hour?”
Feng Tingyun, as the team leader, was pushed forward. “Village Chief, our guesthouse has no ingredients. We can’t cook. What should we do?”
“Oh, that.” The Village Chief took out a piece of paper. “This is a password. Solve it, and you’ll understand.”
Feng Tingyun opened the paper. On it was a series of dancing stick figures.
They returned to the house. The first thing Lin Sifei saw was Luo Ke sitting there. The moment she saw them enter, Luo Ke stood up and looked at Lin Sifei.
Lin Sifei pouted pitifully and rubbed her stomach. She was so hungry.
Heart aching, Luo Ke took out a cookie. As the main camera panned away, she stuffed a piece into Lin Sifei’s mouth.
The director shot them a mournful look. Luo Ke pretended not to see, watching as Lin Sifei crunched down the cookie.
Lin Sifei held out her hand for more, and Luo Ke immediately gave her the rest. Lin Sifei took the cookie and broke off pieces for everyone. When she got to the last piece, she looked at Yan Yafei and, right in front of her, crunched it down.
Yan Yafei’s face flushed with anger. She turned to walk away, but Lin Sifei blocked her path and continued crunching until the cookie was gone.
Xu You didn’t know what private grudge existed between Lin Sifei and Yan Yafei, but he couldn’t bring himself to eat the cookie in his hand.
Just as he was wondering whether to share some with Yan Yafei, Lu Heng discreetly waved his hand at him. Although Feng Tingyun could be a fool, his judgment of character was sharp. If he said there was a problem with Yan Yafei, it definitely wasn’t a small one, and he didn’t want Xu You to get involved.
Xu You hesitated. He really couldn’t stand to watch anymore, so he offered the cookie to Yan Yafei.
Yan Yafei’s eyes were red. She broke off half the cookie, handed it back, thanked him, and slowly sat down on the sofa to eat.
Tears streamed down her face. With her red eyes and nose, she truly looked like a sight where even I would feel pity upon seeing her.11 However, apart from Xu You, no one paid her any attention.
Yan Yafei had finished her half of the cookie, but Feng Tingyun hadn’t said a word. She started to panic. Forcibly suppressing the unease in her heart, she stood up and walked over to Xu You to thank him again.
Feng Tingyun was sitting right next to Xu You and could see everything clearly, including her trembling long eyelashes.
Feng Tingyun silently turned his head and started staring at Lu Heng’s eyelashes. He couldn’t resist reaching out to flick one. “Your eyelashes are so long.”
Lu Heng jumped, dodging to the side. “Yours are long, too. Go touch your own,” he said with disgust.
“Don’t be like that.” Feng Tingyun shamelessly started to whine.
Xu You watched them, his face wrinkling. Why does this feel so Gay-ly gay-ish?12 He averted his gaze, only to see Lin Sifei practically sitting in the sponsor’s lap.
He quickly looked away again. Why is this so tangerine-ly tangerine-ish?13
He glanced at Yan Yafei and, fearing another dose of dog food,14 asked, “Do you have a CP?”
Yan Yafei’s expression changed. She whipped her head around and stalked back to her seat. I came here for Feng Tingyun. Does this singer from who-knows-what-tier really think being polite to him means we can form a CP? A toad lusting after a swan’s flesh.15
Seeing her suddenly turn and leave, Xu You hesitated, wondering, Does she have one, too?
He silently mourned his single dog16 fate alone.
While the Little White Flower17 drama was unfolding over there, Lin Sifei was pestering Luo Ke for clues about the password.
The director, standing nearby, finally couldn’t take it anymore. “This is a game! It’s only fun if you play it seriously.”
Lin Sifei pressed her lips together and pointed at Luo Ke. “But my girlfriend is the sponsor. Doesn’t that make us RMB players?”18
The director’s face turned green. “No, it doesn’t! That’s not how it works.”
Lin Sifei pouted and walked back.
Luo Ke pulled her back. “If you’re hungry, we can stop and eat first. We can film again after you’ve eaten.”
Seeing her concern, Lin Sifei’s mood immediately brightened. She giggled. “Don’t worry, I’m not that hungry. I can keep filming.”
She went and sat on the sofa. The director clapped his hands. “Let’s officially begin!”
Feng Tingyun adjusted his expression and spread the paper on the table. “These are stick figures. Any ideas?”
“Since they’re stick figures, let’s try to pose like them ourselves,” Lu Heng said, rubbing his chin. “Let’s start with the first one.”
Lin Sifei went to the side and mimicked the first figure, which looked like someone raising their hand in class, but with a higher elbow. Next, Xu You went over to pose, and Yan Yafei joined in.
“They look like numbers.”
Lin Sifei snapped her fingers. “Could it be a phone number? To call a delivery driver?”
“I think that’s possible,” Lu Heng nodded.
Feng Tingyun counted the figures. “Not enough digits.”
They all fell into deep thought again.
Xu You walked around the paper, then suddenly pointed at one of the figures. “This one doesn’t look like it represents a number. It looks more like it’s pointing in a direction.”
Everyone looked and noticed several similar ones.
“Come on, let’s try posing again.”
Feng Tingyun seemed to have figured it out. He picked up the landline phone nearby, lifted the receiver, and pressed the buttons.
A doo… doo… sound came from the receiver. His face lit up. “Hey, the phone works.”
Soon, a man’s voice came from the other end.
Everyone was thrilled. “Hello, excuse me, do you know XXX Village?”
“That’s my hometown. What’s up?”
“Perfect!” Overjoyed, Feng Tingyun slapped Lu Heng’s leg. “It’s like this, we’re here filming a show, and we have to solve a puzzle. The Village Chief gave us your number and said we just needed to find you.”
“Oh, I see,” the voice on the other end drawled. “My dad must have forgotten again that I’m not his biological son. I’ll call and tell him. You guys should head over there now.”
With that, he hung up.
Feng Tingyun looked up, in a dumbfounded state. “How… how is he not the biological son?”
Lin Sifei quickly explained that they had met an old man who said his son wasn’t his.
“Then let’s hurry over.” Lu Heng stood up, urging everyone to go.
The moment they arrived, the old man came to open the door. “It’s you! My son just called me. He’s not my biological son; he’s adopted. I forgot. I was wondering why something felt off, hahaha.”
Lin Sifei and the others could only laugh along. At the old man’s invitation, they entered the courtyard.
“Thank you for helping me remember. I want to give you something as a thank you.” He slapped his forehead. “Good thing my wife just reminded me. I almost forgot again.”
As he spoke, an old woman came out of the house, carrying two very large bamboo baskets. “These are for you, as thanks.”
The baskets were filled to the brim with all sorts of raw meat and vegetables.
“Thank you so much!”
After expressing their thanks, they carried the baskets back.
Lin Sifei helped carry the chicken, walking beside Lu Heng. “That grandpa just now has Alzheimer’s disease, right? It seems like his children don’t live at home.”
“Yeah. That’s why the village officials wanted to develop some guesthouses. The elderly are the witnesses to the village’s history, and they preserve its character.”
Lin Sifei’s eyes darted toward him. “That’s right. Then the village itself is a tourist attraction.”
A flash of inspiration struck her. Before she could share it with Lu Heng, Feng Tingyun ran up from behind and squeezed between them. “It’s getting dark. Let’s hurry back.”
Lin Sifei watched him walk closely beside Lu Heng, then smiled and fell a step behind, giving them space.
As soon as she fell back, she was walking next to Yan Yafei.
Yan Yafei glanced at her and sneered. “You got rejected, too.”
Baffled, Lin Sifei sneered back. “So you were the one who got rejected. Tsk, tsk, what a pity. Me? I never wanted to be a lightbulb19 in the first place. Not like some people who throw themselves at others only to get rejected.”
Yan Yafei took a deep breath, her eyes filled with hatred. “Let me tell you, don’t get too cocky. Don’t think you can fly just because you’ve latched onto a Luo Ke. Once she gets tired of you, you’ll be nothing but a dog in the water.”20
“It’s a shame for you that we’re true loves.”
Yan Yafei sneered. “True love?”
Lin Sifei looked at her and sighed inwardly. The female lead in the original book was a silly white sweet21 with a love brain.22 It seemed now that the book’s description was all an act. She had just pretended to be a simple person to make excuses for flitting between several men.
Lin Sifei stepped away from her and walked over to Xu You.
From ahead, the sound of Feng Tingyun and Lu Heng’s laughter drifted back, though it was mostly Feng Tingyun talking, with Lu Heng occasionally humming in response.
Lin Sifei felt a little emotional. In the distance, the lights of the guesthouse shone through the darkness.
Lin Sifei saw a figure standing in front of the door and joyfully started to run.
Feng Tingyun was startled by her. “What are you running for?”
To see my girlfriend, of course!
But Lin Sifei just turned back and shouted, “It’s too cold!”
She ran toward Luo Ke, chicken in hand.
Luo Ke watched her, opening her arms.
Lin Sifei rushed into Luo Ke’s embrace. Luo Ke took off her gloves and cupped her hands over Lin Sifei’s face, warming her icy cheeks and ears.
“It’s too cold out here. Let’s go inside.” She took Lin Sifei’s hand to lead her in.
The director reminded them mournfully, “Let me get a shot of her entering alone.”
Lin Sifei looked at his expression, smiled, and let go of Luo Ke. She let her run inside first, then followed quickly into the yard, reached the guesthouse door, opened it, and went in.
The moment she was inside, Lin Sifei immediately took off her scarf and hat and placed her hands in Luo Ke’s, letting her rub them.
Luo Ke’s palms were warm, and soon Lin Sifei was warmed up again.
Lin Sifei smiled and snuggled up against her.
They didn’t get to be tender for long before the door opened. Feng Tingyun and the others came in carrying the food, and they all collapsed into chairs. “Let’s rest a bit, then get ready to cook.”
Luo Ke pushed her back into the camera’s view and helped her carry the chicken into the kitchen.
Feng Tingyun looked at Lin Sifei with an envious expression.
He quickly composed himself. “Who knows how to cook?”
Xu You and Lu Heng raised their hands. Feng Tingyun waved a hand. “Then we’ll wash the vegetables first. You two rest.”
Yan Yafei squeezed next to Feng Tingyun. “Yun-ge, I don’t know how to wash vegetables.”
“Huh?” Feng Tingyun feigned surprise. “Just wash them. Pick them clean, then put them in water and wash.”
Feng Tingyun looked at Lin Sifei. “Why don’t we two pick the vegetables, and Yan Yafei can wash them.”
“Sure.” Lin Sifei smiled and pulled over a small stool to sit on.
Yan Yafei puffed out her cheeks and turned on the faucet.
Luo Ke walked over to a spot not far from Lin Sifei, confirmed with the director that she was out of the shot, and squatted down to help her pick vegetables.
This was a time for idle chatter. Feng Tingyun made some small talk that he figured the director would cut later, then started asking other things. “Are you two together?”
“Mhm, we’re getting engaged soon,” Lin Sifei said, happily shaking her head.
Feng Tingyun looked over with envy. “How did you two get together?”
He’s here to go on a pilgrimage for scriptures.23 Lin Sifei and Luo Ke exchanged a look, trying not to laugh, afraid he would fly into a rage out of humiliation.24
She looked toward Lu Heng, who was sitting by the door. “You like Lu Heng-ge?”
“Yeah, so what?” Feng Tingyun was getting a little flustered and annoyed, his true nature starting to show. He was getting aggressive.
Lin Sifei clicked her tongue twice. “You’re so inconsiderate and harsh. Who would like you?”
She looked at Luo Ke. “Look at my Luo Ke. So considerate. She even followed me to the show and is helping me pick vegetables.”
Feng Tingyun took a mouthful of dog food and felt like he had learned something. “Then I’ll help him stir-fry.”
“You know how?”
He deflated. “No.”
“Then be considerate in other ways. See how Luo Ke is always worried I’ll be cold? She even warms my hands and face.”
It was a revelation for Feng Tingyun. He could do that. He put down the vegetables, strode over to Lu Heng, and grabbed his hand. “Are you cold?”
Lu Heng was completely stunned. “I’m… I’m okay.”
He then tried to touch his face.
“Wait!” Lu Heng shouted, jumping to his feet. He held up his hand. “Your hands are covered in mud!”
Feng Tingyun looked at Lu Heng’s hand. Sure enough, he had smeared a big patch of mud on it.
“Are you a child?” Lu Heng raised his hand and wiped it on Feng Tingyun’s face, instantly turning him into a calico cat.
Feng Tingyun burst out laughing and wiped some back.
Xu You watched with wide eyes as Lu Heng reached out and dragged him into the fray.
Lin Sifei couldn’t help but roar with laughter, collapsing against Luo Ke.
Luo Ke sighed helplessly, looked at the mud on her hands, and wiped a little on Lin Sifei’s face.
The author has something to say:
Production Team: I only knew President Luo was here to see her girlfriend. I didn’t expect her to be here to open the back door!
✨ Unlock Early Access to Chapters! ✨
Choose your perfect membership at bamboopandatl.net:
📚 Full Access ($4.99)
• Advanced chapters of ALL ongoing novels
• Access to complete finished novels
• Ad-free reading experience
📖 Single Novel Access ($1.49)
• Advanced chapters of ONE specific novel
• Ad-free reading for chosen novel
PayPal is the only current payment option!