Chapter 31 Who told you we're fake? ...

After lunch, everyone took a short rest before continuing to dig lotus roots in the pond. Time always flies when you're full of energy.

As it approached four o'clock, the director called everyone ashore. As soon as they came ashore, the production crew brought out a scale to weigh the lotus roots that each group had dug up that day.

“It feels like we dug the most,” Meng Meng said to Su Tangtang.

Su Tangtang smiled and agreed, "Yes, thanks to you."

Meng Meng replied matter-of-factly, "Of course."

She paused as soon as she finished speaking, as if belatedly realizing that something was amiss. But it was too late for regrets. She sighed in frustration. Fortunately, the lotus root digging had only just begun, and there would be plenty of opportunities to slack off later.

Each group took turns putting the lotus root onto the scale.

Not long after, the director announced the results: "Today's first place goes to Su Tangtang's group, with a total of 100 jin!"

Everyone applauded.

Lin Lang looked at Su Tangtang and said, "You guys are amazing."

Before Su Tangtang could speak, Meng Meng interrupted, "Of course."

Lin Lang smiled and said nothing more.

Then, the director announced that Zhou Yan's group came in second place with 95 jin (42.5 catties), while Gu Qingke's group came in last with 80 jin (40 catties).

Gu Qingke pursed her lips.

He had been digging non-stop and felt he had put in a lot of effort, but he still couldn't surpass Su Tangtang's group.

But then I thought, this is only the first pond, there are four more to come, it's just the beginning.

Looking at the pile of lotus roots weighing over two hundred pounds, Su Tangtang asked, "Director, what should we do with these lotus roots?"

The director replied, "A partner will come to collect it later."

Su Tangtang nodded. "I see."

The director smiled and responded.

It was already 5 p.m. when we returned to the production crew's accommodation.

The production team prepared dinner in advance.

Before it got dark, everyone sat around in the courtyard eating and chatting, and raised their glasses to welcome the newcomers Wang Ye and Liu Shimeng.

When everyone had almost finished eating, the director invited them to watch the latest episode of the show.

This episode aired the part where their wheat field caught fire.

Looking at the raging wheat fields in the picture, everyone couldn't help but sigh, and felt even more resentful towards Zhao Zhiyi. A perfectly good field of wheat had been ruined just like that.

The entire program was packed with highlights, and people didn't get up and leave until it ended.

On the way back, Su Tangtang checked Weibo and, sure enough, she was trending again.

However, this time the reviews were mostly positive, with many people praising her.

"Ahhh, I'm starting to become a fan of Su Tangtang!"

"The moment she drove the combine harvester into the wheat field was so cool!"

"Agreed! She's so cool and stylish, and her boyfriend is ridiculously handsome too!"

"I have a bold guess: Zhao Zhiyi and his friends destroyed Su Tangtang's cucumber seedlings, and I also think the tomato seedlings were dug up from Zhao Zhiyi's house, hahaha."

"Jia Yi is clearly giving someone a taste of their own medicine; I love this vengeful nature!"

"She's like a completely different person, but she's so charming now!"

"Am I the only one who's driven Su Tangtang and her boyfriend to their deaths?"

"Is there anything I, a VIP, can't watch? I want to see intimate scenes too!!"

"We'd like to get intimate, is it inconvenient?" Hahaha, this line is classic, and the cameraman is hilarious too, even asking if we're done being intimate~

Seeing these comments, Su Tangtang couldn't help but laugh out loud.

As night deepened, the streetlights came on. The village's streetlights were all solar-powered, so the light wasn't very bright, casting a soft, hazy glow.

"What are you laughing at?" Huo Yizhou turned his head and asked her.

While looking down at her phone, Su Tangtang casually handed it to him, saying, "Netizens are praising us, and they even made a GIF of my conversation with the photographer."

Huo Yizhou looked at her movements and saw the message "It's not convenient for us to be intimate" on the screen, along with her slightly smug expression. The GIF played back and forth, which was inexplicably funny and a little sweet.

Walking behind, Gu Qingke saw them standing so close and behaving intimately, and a surge of anger inexplicably rose in his heart. He almost instinctively wanted to step forward and separate the two, but in the end, he couldn't.

Seeing that he was staring blankly ahead, Shen Yingying felt a pang of unease and called out to him softly, "Qingke."

Gu Qingke was completely absorbed in her own emotions and didn't notice anything amiss.

Shen Yingying's expression darkened slightly, and she raised her voice again, calling out, "Gu Qingke!"

He then snapped out of his daze and replied somewhat blankly, "Ah, what's wrong?"

Shen Yingying frowned and complained, "I called you so many times and you didn't answer."

Gu Qingke replied perfunctorily, "I was thinking about something just now."

Shen Yingying clearly didn't believe her and pressed, "What are you thinking about so intently?"

He paused, then his tone returned to normal, "I was just thinking about how to dig up more lotus roots tomorrow, get first place, and then buy an electric tricycle so it will be more convenient to go out."

Shen Yingying gave a light "Oh," and then said, "Let's work hard together."

Seeing that she was constantly looking down at her phone, Huo Yizhou gently reminded her, "It's dark ahead, don't look."

Su Tangtang didn't take it seriously, "It's okay, I'll finish watching it soon."

Huo Yizhou shook his head helplessly.

She was laughing as she looked around, and was about to take a step forward when she was suddenly tripped by something and fell forward.

She panicked, sensing that this fall was likely to be quite severe.

Just then, Huo Yizhou quickly reached out and steadily supported her.

Almost at the same time, a hurried "Watch out!" came from behind.

But Su Tangtang didn't hear clearly at all. She looked up in shock and met Huo Yizhou's gaze.

He frowned slightly. "I already reminded you."

Su Tangtang was stunned for a moment, then chuckled awkwardly before realizing that she was still leaning against him.

In early summer, her clothes were thin, and she could feel the distinct warmth where their skin touched; her heart was beating unusually fast.

She smiled somewhat awkwardly, "I didn't expect there to be tree branches on the road..."

Huo Yizhou sighed softly, "Aren't you leaving yet?"

Su Tangtang exclaimed "Ah!" and was stunned for a moment before she realized what was happening. She hurriedly stepped away from his embrace.

After she stood still, she still felt her cheeks burning, not knowing whether it was because she had been startled or for some other reason.

Shen Yingying, who was standing to the side, took in all of this, and her expression grew increasingly grim.

Gu Qingke's subconscious reaction just now made her flustered. What did he mean? Shouldn't he feel relieved that Su Tangtang fell down? After all, this person had bullied her for many years.

He actually looked nervous?

What does that "be careful" that slipped out even mean?

The more she thought about it, the more upset she became, and she could barely contain her anger.

Su Tangtang didn't hear the word "be careful," but Huo Yizhou heard it clearly.

He glanced back, then looked away, his tone slightly helpless, "She won't listen to advice."

Su Tangtang muttered under her breath, "Your mouth is like a jinx..."

Her voice was too soft for Huo Yizhou to hear clearly, so he turned his head and asked, "What did you say?"

She immediately smiled, revealing a row of neat, white teeth, "It's okay, it's okay~"

Huo Yizhou gave a soft hum and didn't press the matter further.

Footsteps sounded behind them, and Shen Yingying and Gu Qingke quickly approached.

Shen Yingying asked with concern, "Are you alright?"

Su Tangtang looked at her and replied with a smile, "Luckily, Yizhou reacted quickly and caught me, otherwise I would have really fallen badly."

Despite not having any good feelings towards Su Tangtang, Shen Yingying maintained her composure in front of the camera and said softly, "It's alright."

Gu Qingke snorted coldly, her tone sarcastic, "You're really stupid. Why are you looking at your phone while walking?"

Su Tangtang was speechless for a moment: "..."

Huo Yizhou looked coldly at Gu Qingke, his voice filled with displeasure, "She is not someone you can lecture now."

Su Tangtang was slightly taken aback, not expecting Huo Yizhou to speak up for her, and a faint, inexplicable warmth quietly spread through her heart.

Gu Qingke's anger intensified. "What does it matter to you what I said about her? You're just a fake boyfriend she found!"

The photographers nearby held their breath. Was this something that could be recorded?

Huo Yizhou's expression remained unchanged; he simply retorted, "Who told you we're fake?"

Gu Qingke turned to Su Tangtang, her tone aggressive, "Su Tangtang! Tell me yourself, didn't you come to this show for me? You only brought a fake boyfriend because it's a couples' show!"

Su Tangtang smiled dismissively. "Gu Qingke, you're overthinking it. I came with my boyfriend. What's it to you?"

"Besides, who told you we're fake?"

Gu Qingke clenched her fists and gritted her teeth, saying, "Su Tangtang!"

Su Tangtang glared back without backing down, "Gu, the great movie star, what are you trying to do?"

Gu Qingke was so angry that the veins on her forehead bulged. "I don't believe it! Unless you prove to me that you two are real."

Su Tangtang almost burst out laughing. "Whether we're really together or not, what does it have to do with you? Why should I prove it to you?"

Gu Qingke's tone was stubborn, "Didn't you like me before?"

Su Tangtang responded frankly, "That's all in the past."

"My boyfriend and I are doing great now, you don't need to worry about us."

Gu Qingke clearly didn't believe her, and her anger intensified. "Su Tangtang, you don't need to do this! Did you deliberately find a man to annoy me? Let me tell you, you can't annoy me. I don't care about you at all!"

Su Tangtang: "..."

She was speechless.

I've seen narcissists before, but I've never seen one this narcissistic.

He did the same thing last time, his emotions came in waves, like he was going through early menopause.

Su Tangtang ignored him and took Huo Yizhou's hand. "Let's go."

Huo Yizhou looked down at her hand that she had taken, and his heart skipped a beat. He paused slightly and replied gently, "Okay."

After saying that, the two turned and left hand in hand, leaving behind Gu Qingke, who was furious and her face turned pale, and Shen Yingying, who looked gloomy and disappointed.

Only after entering the house did Su Tangtang release Huo Yizhou's hand. With his palm empty, Huo Yizhou felt a sense of emptiness in his heart as well.

Su Tangtang couldn't help but complain, "He's really sick."

Huo Yizhou gazed at her, then suddenly asked softly, "Didn't you... like him a lot before? How come you don't like him anymore now?"

Su Tangtang was stunned for a moment.

She thought to herself: Who would like him? Arrogant, selfish, bad-tempered, and possibly abusive in the future. She wouldn't even want a man like that if he were given to her.

But she couldn't say that. After all, the original owner had been infatuated with him for many years, and those past relentless pursuits were a fact. Now that she had become Su Tangtang, she had to bear these old grievances as well.

“Maybe it was just a sudden realization at some point,” she said calmly. “Being fixated on someone who doesn’t like you is torturing yourself and bothering others, so I let it go.”

She smiled and added, "Ever since I stopped liking him, everything he does feels awkward and annoying. I guess that's what happens when your filter shatters."

Hearing her answer, Huo Yizhou's lips curled up slightly, and his mood became visibly pleasant. "He is indeed not someone you can entrust your life to."

"With one hanging on each side, they were also looking at others."

Su Tangtang was surprised by his response and couldn't help but laugh out loud, "It seems you really dislike him."

Huo Yizhou didn't reply, but just stared at her quietly.

Su Tangtang felt a little embarrassed by his gaze and subconsciously looked away.

After resting at home for a while, Su Tangtang and the others took their changes of clothes and went to the production crew's location.

It's really inconvenient that there's no place to shower at home, especially now that the weather is getting hotter and hotter, and you get all sweaty as soon as you move around.

A note from the author: