Chapter 21 Cheng Luanxin, have you licked enough?
The following weekend is the free time arranged by the program team. The program team will no longer follow every guest and the guests will be relatively free in their activities.
What Cheng Luanxin is most looking forward to is, of course, going to the supermarket with Du Zhiruo.
She couldn't sleep early in the morning and kept sending messages to Song Qiuchi:
"Song Qiuchi! Good morning! Are you awake?"
"Did Zhiruo tell you when we were going out shopping?"
"Have you checked the guide? Let's buy something!"
"Why aren't you up yet?"
Song Qiuchi is used to doing yoga in the morning. She wears headphones and listens to the guidance. The quiet morning time is distracted by her cell phone that keeps vibrating.
Du Zhiruo was grinding coffee. Seeing that she was getting a bit more impatient because of the nagging, she couldn't help but laugh: "Why don't you check the news first?"
Song Qiuchi knew it was Cheng Luanxin without hesitation. Reluctantly, he stood up and picked up his phone, replying, "As far as I know, most supermarkets don't open before 7 o'clock."
Cheng Luanxin lay on the bed and giggled: "Be prepared in advance!"
Du Zhiruo stirred the brewed coffee with coconut milk, handed a cup to Song Qiuchi, and asked casually, "Is this about work?"
Song Qiuchi shook his head: "It's nothing serious."
Du Zhiruo didn't ask any more questions, but said, "We're going to Mengshan together on Monday. We've known each other for so long, but this is the first time I'm traveling with you."
Song Qiuchi echoed Du Zhiruo's words: "Me too, I haven't traveled much with people my age."
Du Zhiruo smiled and said, "Come to think of it, I have traveled with Qiu Chi before."
Song Qiuchi was stunned: "Really?"
Du Zhiruo: "Yes, you know, our two families are quite close. When we graduated from junior high school, we went to Xining Island together and spent the holidays there together."
Song Qiuchi just remembered that this had indeed happened, but it was actually a family event, and she and Du Zhiruo had no contact during that trip. If Du Zhiruo hadn't mentioned it, she wouldn't even remember that Du Zhiruo was on that trip.
"Oh, I see." Song Qiuchi nodded, showing that he understood.
Du Zhiruo looked at Song Qiuchi quietly for a moment and smiled: "Aren't you curious at all?"
Song Qiuchi wasn't really curious, but since Du Zhiruo had asked, she could only pretend to be curious: "Where did you all go to play?"
Du Zhiruo said honestly, "To be honest, it's been so long that I can't remember clearly. I just wanted to see your reaction and see how special Qiu Chi is to you."
Song Qiuchi: "..."
Song Qiuchi: "It's not particularly special."
Du Zhiruo shook her head. "I watched your date yesterday, too. The atmosphere was definitely different. There was that kind of ambiguous feeling of being more than friends but less than lovers. So I'm a little curious why you two chose to participate in this dating show. You two aren't the type to seek publicity. If you're in love, why aren't you together privately?"
Song Qiuchi didn't know how to explain the accident to Du Zhiruo, so he threw the question back: "Then why did you come to participate in the show?"
Du Zhiruo: "I'm not afraid of you laughing at me, but our industry is in a downturn. In the past two years, I've only been able to take on low-end commercial performances and barely made any money. Maybe my personal image is okay, and the agency wants me to enter the entertainment industry, so they're pushing me out there to make me familiar to the audience."
Song Qiuchi thought for a moment and said, "In other words, you have no intention of falling in love?"
Du Zhiruo smiled: "That's what I thought before coming here. After all, few programs like this can actually succeed. I just didn't expect to meet you."
Du Zhiruo said it so bluntly that Song Qiuchi could no longer pretend not to understand, so he said tactfully, "My situation is similar to yours. I was also assigned by the agency, and I don't have any plans for a relationship for the time being."
Du Zhiruo was already used to Song Qiuchi's rejections. She nodded in understanding and asked, "What about Qiuchi? With her fame, she doesn't need to rely on this kind of show to increase her popularity, right? Why is she here?"
Song Qiuchi did come here voluntarily for Du Zhiruo, but things had changed. In just a week, she no longer had the urgent urge to understand her feelings towards Du Zhiruo. Instead, she felt a little more tired when facing Du Zhiruo.
"I don't know what she thinks, we haven't discussed it."
Du Zhiruo smiled and said, "Since you two aren't in a relationship, I'll be frank. You know, I'm here on a mission. For future development, I must find a suitable partner to hype up our relationship. I originally thought I'd get along well with you, and wanted to test your willingness to cooperate, but your attitude is very clear, so I won't bother you any further. So, from now on, I might communicate more with Qiu Chi. I hope you don't mind."
Song Qiuchi lowered his eyes and listened quietly, feeling a little complicated.
In her impression, Du Zhiruo has a personality similar to hers. He is a clear-headed, rigorous and principled person. He does things without any roundabout ways, but he will also argue with others over trivial matters until he is red in the face.
But the current Du Zhiruo is no longer the same person she was back then.
She even felt a little sympathy for Cheng Luanxin. If Cheng Luanxin knew that Du Zhiruo's various behaviors were not because he liked her, but just to test her, she would definitely be very sad.
She warned: "Song Qiuchi may not cooperate."
"Yes, I know." Du Zhiruo nodded. "Qiu Chi's current status is not the same as before, and he works in a large agency. He must have more considerations. I can understand."
She sighed slowly: "Luanxin, we have all grown up."
Song Qiuchi glanced at her, wanting to say something, but ultimately chose to remain silent.
Cheng Luanxin was completely clueless about what had happened between Song Qiuchi and Du Zhiruo, and was eagerly anticipating going to the supermarket with Du Zhiruo. She tried to dress up in the mirror, but was afraid that if she made Song Qiuchi's face look too beautiful, it would steal her spotlight. Ultimately, she dressed modestly and happily left the store.
The three of them met in front of the nanny's car downstairs. Du Zhiruo smiled from a distance and waved at Cheng Luanxin: "Qiu Chi!"
Cheng Luan was extremely happy, but she had to pretend to be reserved: "Good morning."
Du Zhiruo walked forward naturally and said affectionately, "I thought I had to wait for you a little longer. Did I delay your work?"
Cheng Luanxin chuckled foolishly: "Well, look at what you said, what am I busy with?"
Noticing that Song Qiuchi was looking at her helplessly, she changed her tone: "Aren't we just here to concentrate on recording the show? Let's put other work aside for now."
Du Zhiruo nodded: "Since you're here, why not relax for a while? You actors usually have a very intense workload with the crew. Wouldn't it be a little easier to record a variety show?"
Cheng Luanxin had no idea whether it was tiring to film with the crew. Most of her work was done at home, and she would occasionally go to a recording studio. Recording variety shows was already quite physically demanding for her.
She pretended to say, "They're all pretty much the same. After all, the jobs are different. There's no such thing as an easy job."
Du Zhiruo smiled and said, "That's true. It's not easy for everyone. Let's get in the car, shall we?"
"Okay." Cheng Luanxin was led by Du Zhiruo. When passing by Song Qiuchi, she couldn't help but smile at her excitedly to show her happiness.
Song Qiuchi: "..."
The three of them sat side by side in the last row, with Cheng Luanxin sitting in the middle, surrounded by people on both sides.
But Cheng Luanxin didn't really want to hug Song Qiuchi.
Seeing that the usual directors and other staff were absent, Cheng Luanxin felt a little uncomfortable. She nudged Song Qiuchi with her elbow and said, "Hey, how can we use the rose tokens if no one is here? Can't we just spend money directly?"
Song Qiuchi glanced at her and said, "Annai said yesterday that you should pay for it yourself first and then get reimbursed with the receipt when you come back. Why did you listen to her?"
Cheng Luanxin opened her eyes wide: "Did you really say that? How come I don't have any impression of that?"
Song Qiuchi thought to himself that you didn’t know what you were thinking at the time, so it’s no surprise that you didn’t listen: “I said it.”
"That's what you said." Du Zhiruo moved closer to Cheng Luanxin, smiling, "So, I'll be counting on you today."
Cheng Luanxin immediately expressed her loyalty: "That's no problem, you can use it whenever you need it."
Du Zhiruo said, "I won't be buying a lot. I just plan to buy a hiking bag, hiking shoes, a thermos, a raincoat, and a sun hat. What are you guys planning to buy?"
Cheng Luanxin was excited all night and made a long list, which was so detailed that things like mosquito repellent, knee pads, headlamps, flashlights, and whistles were all marked. If you didn't know, you would think you were still going on an exploration adventure.
Hearing Du Zhiruo's simple words, Cheng Luanxin felt a little embarrassed: "I'm almost as well prepared as you."
Du Zhiruo said, "I heard that the mountains are very humid, and the mattresses and quilts in the hotels on the mountain can't be fully dried all year round. I want to bring my own quilts, but I'm worried that they won't fit."
Cheng Luan didn't even think about it: "What's the big deal? If you can't take it, I can help you share the burden!"
Du Zhiruo opened her eyes wide: "This is so embarrassing."
Cheng Luanxin had no idea how big the project was. Just as she was about to make a boast, she heard her cell phone vibrate.
She opened the WeChat interface and saw a sentence in Song Qiuchi's chat box:
"Cheng Luanxin, have you licked enough?"
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