Learn to make dumplings
Ke Ran leaned closer to look at Ding Xuefei: "Really? I don't believe it."
Ding Xuefei laughed: "Believe it or not!"
Ke Ran couldn't find a rebuttal for a moment, and angrily slumped back into the back seat.
Shang Rou suddenly spoke up: "Then let me ask you, is the person you texted yesterday in the car right now?"
It really is there.
Ding Xuefei remained calm and composed: "Yes, I'm here."
"Oh~" Shang Rou nodded, "I understand."
The topic finally ended without incident, and Ke Ran started a new one: "Speaking of that question from last night, what do you think the answer is?"
Ding Xuefei still insists on his view that "more than half are heterosexual," while Shang Rou and Ke Ran agree that it is less than half.
He deliberately asked, "Where are there so many homonyms and bisexuals... Are you all homonyms?"
Ke Ran was taken aback by his question again. Shang Rou didn't answer, only saying, "Guess."
Ding Xuefei smiled and didn't ask any further questions.
As for his personal sexual orientation, it's not that clear. He's only dated Yu Songlin, and it's not that he doesn't like girls. Now that he's on the show, apart from Yu Songlin, the other five are all potential targets for him!
The problem is that he doesn't have the gay factor, so it's impossible to tell if there are any lesbians or straight men among the guests...
Could it be... these two in the car are them? That would be so exciting!
The more she looked, the more similar they seemed. Ding Xuefei felt no pressure at all. Since she was already there, and it was a paid date, why not go?
*
After driving for more than ten minutes out of the villa area, they arrived at a residential area. Ding Xuefei drove around and around until she finally found the dumpling shop shown on the navigation.
Surprisingly, this shop is hidden among a row of storefronts facing the street. The storefront is not big, with only a plaque that reads "Northeast Dumpling Restaurant" and a sign on the door that reads "Twenty-Year-Old Shop".
The three exchanged a glance, knowing that something was amiss.
Pushing open the glass door, the shop is small but quite clean, filled with the aroma of food.
The boss, a middle-aged man who looked quite unassuming, was waiting at the table. After meeting the three of them, he handed them the task card from the production team with a simple smile.
Shang Rou said, "Welcome to the 'Human World' experience point! True deliciousness often needs to be created by hand. Please work together to complete the task: make traditional food—dumplings—from scratch!"
"The production team is such a rip-off! I thought it was going to be a romantic lunch, but instead they called us here to do chores!" Ke Ran was the first to wail, clutching her curly hair.
Ding Xuefei was also stunned for a moment, but was then amused by Ke Ran's exaggerated reaction—although he was quite desperate, there was someone even more desperate than him!
He patted Ke Ran on the shoulder, habitually looking after his younger brother, and encouraged him, "Don't worry, with your brother here, you won't go hungry!"
Ke Ran ruthlessly popped the bubble Ding Xuefei had blown: "You can't even cook, how can I trust you!"
"You can learn even if you don't know how! Teacher Shang, don't you think?"
"Hmm," Shang Rou seemed much calmer. She picked up the ingredient list on the table and looked at it carefully, then kneaded the dough. "The flour has risen enough. I'll season the meat filling. You two, who will chop the vegetables? Who will knead the dough?"
"Then I'll knead the dough!" Ding Xuefei hadn't cut much food before, so she volunteered to knead the dough.
Ding Xuefei is from the south and his family doesn't usually make dumplings. He kneaded the dough the same way the shopkeeper had made, and although there seemed to be no difference, the finished product was completely different.
Ding Xuefei looked up somewhat guiltily. His two teammates were busy with their own things and hadn't noticed him yet. However, the boss was smiling at him. Ding Xuefei gave an awkward smile.
"Um... can you help me?"
The boss was very kind. He came over and gave Ding Xuefei some pointers, but after a couple of tries, he still couldn't get it right. Seeing the pleading look in Ding Xuefei's eyes, he simply took matters into his own hands and massaged it for him.
Ke Ran quickly finished chopping the chives and cabbage and came over to check on the two of them. Shang Rou was from the north, and her filling preparation skills were quite professional, so there was no need to worry. However, Ding Xuefei's dumpling wrappers were all different sizes, which made Ke Ran laugh.
"It wasn't you who did it, Fei-ge."
Ding Xuefei stuck out her tongue and made way for Ke Ran. Sure enough, Ke Ran did a great job right away, rolling out dumpling wrappers of just the right size and thickness.
Ke Ran turned to look at Ding Xuefei. Ding Xuefei, who usually seemed aloof, looked like a little apprentice at this moment, her eyes filled with anxiety and confusion. She just silently imitated Ke Ran's actions.
"Brother Xuefei, if you don't know how, you can ask us," Ke Ran said, walking behind Ding Xuefei.
He was a little taller than Ding Xuefei, just tall enough to wrap his arms around her from behind. Ke Ran's hand went through Ding Xuefei's waist to show him how to roll a dumpling wrapper.
Ding Xuefei wasn't used to being so close to people, so her movements were a little stiff, and the area on her neck that felt the heat started to turn red, but she remained calm.
Ke Ran is so frank, he must be straight!
"Yes, I've learned it." Ding Xuefei nodded obediently.
Bullet comments:
"This Ding Xuefei really knows nothing but wheat bran; he's just coasting along."
"No? Didn't Ke offer to help?"
"Some people just can't stand seeing others in a good mood, so they nitpick in the comments section [eye roll]"
When Ding Xuefei had a free moment, she first went to visit Shang Rou and couldn't help but exclaim, "Teacher Shang is amazing! This smells so good!"
Shang Rou beamed with joy at his praise and deliberately said, "Stop being so cheeky. Help me move the filling over there so we can start wrapping."
"Alright!" Ding Xuefei and Shang Rou brought the prepared filling to the table. Ke Ran had already rolled out quite a few dough wrappers, working very efficiently.
The three worked together seamlessly. Shang Rou was the technical core, responsible for guiding the other two and demonstrating the correct techniques; Ke Ran was the physical laborer, kneading dough and carrying things without complaint. Although the dumplings they made varied in shape, they were all generously filled and plump; Ding Xuefei was responsible for creating a lively atmosphere and assisting, sometimes handing wrappers to Shang Rou, and sometimes holding up her oddly shaped dumplings to show everyone.
Although his wrapping was unsightly, his positive attitude and occasional funny moments filled the busy process with laughter.
The three of them took turns making dumplings and quickly finished packing enough for lunch. Shang Rou, who knew how to cook dumplings, took them to the stove to cook, while Ke Ran and Ding Xuefei continued making dumplings.
Ding Xuefei was really not cut out for work. Just as he was worried that the two of them had nothing to say, he saw Ke Ran raise her hand to touch her forehead, and only then did he notice that Ke Ran was sweating.
"Don't worry, let me wipe it for you!" Ding Xuefei enthusiastically took out a tissue and pretended to wipe Ke Ran's face. Her fingers lightly brushed Ke Ran's cheeks, and her eyes were filled with a mischievous smile.
Teasing straight men may be a bit unethical, but it's really fun!
Sure enough, Ke Ran stepped back, his eyes darting around, his voice weak: "N-nothing! Brother Fei, I can do it myself! You, you go help Sister Rou!" He hurriedly wiped his face with his flour-covered hands, leaving a white mark that looked particularly comical.
Shang Rou, watching from the side, couldn't help but chuckle and teased, "Xuefei, look how scared you've made the child!"
Ding Xuefei laughed heartily, finding Ke Ran quite interesting. She turned to help Shang Rou, humming an off-key tune as she went, clearly in a good mood.
Watching the plump, white dumplings bobbing in the boiling water, the three of them felt a great sense of accomplishment.
"Wow! It smells so good! You've worked so hard!" Ding Xuefei sniffed exaggeratedly, picked up a "giant" dumpling he had made himself, dipped it in vinegar, and stuffed it into his mouth. It was so hot that he was panting, but he didn't want to spit it out. "Mmm... delicious! Teacher Shang, the filling you made is... amazing! Your skills are superb!" He gave a thumbs up as he ate.
Shang Rou said, "Don't call me Teacher Shang anymore, just call me Shang Shang! Xue Fei, although your wrapping was a bit 'artistic,' it's amazing that it didn't break."
Ding Xuefei didn't care at all and stuffed another one into Ke Ran's mouth: "Xiao Ran, eat more. You did the most work today, look how tired you are!"
The meal was enjoyed immensely; the day's busyness brought not exhaustion, but a sense of closeness and satisfaction from completing the task together. The three then used the remaining ingredients to make some dumplings to take back to the villa, saying they wanted the other guests to try them.
Around 4 PM, Ding Xuefei drove back, feeling that although the program team had "tricked" her today, it was still worth it.
Ding Xuefei ate her fill and laughed happily. This dating reality show seems quite interesting!
*
Ding Xuefei's good mood only lasted until she met Yu Songlin.
As soon as he pushed open the villa door, he saw Yu Songlin wearing an apron.
Yu Songlin draped his suit jacket over the dining chair, wearing only a shirt and trousers. His appearance seemed somewhat out of place in the kitchen, but his movements were remarkably practiced.
Stella, wearing the same red apron, was helping in the kitchen. Hearing the noise, she immediately ran out and asked with a smile, "You're back? Why did you bring something?"
Ding Xuefei silently put the dumplings into the freezer, poured herself a glass of ice water, and listened quietly to their conversation.
As soon as he was in the same room as Yu Songlin, he would automatically switch to freezing mode.
Shang Rou said, "We were tricked by the production team. They took us to make dumplings, and we had to eat them right away. But the taste was alright!"
"Thanks to Sister Rou, it's good that someone from the association is here, otherwise Fei Ge and I probably wouldn't have gotten any food," Ke Ran said with a smile, then blinked her eyes curiously and asked, "What about you guys?"
“We went to the beach and had French food,” Stella said.
Upon hearing her say that, the trio couldn't help but exclaim "Wow!" They were all on the same show, so how could there be such a big difference!
Ke Ran chimed in, "That sounds so romantic! Is it delicious?"
"The atmosphere is great, and the food is good too," Yu Songlin frowned, "but the portions are..."
Hearing the others laugh, Stella said, "No wonder you cooked as soon as you got back! Do you want me to cook you some dumplings?"
Yu Songlin waved his hand, his words unconsciously revealing a sense of intimacy: "It's not that exaggerated. Can you help me chop some scallions?"
Stella verbally complained about him, but her hands didn't stop moving. The two chatted and laughed, creating a relaxed atmosphere.
What are we having for dinner tonight?
Ding Xuefei's words came out a bit abruptly. He stood in front of the island platform for a while, and then felt that it wouldn't be good to remain silent, so he came up with these words.
Stella glanced at Ding Xuefei as if she had just noticed him.
Yu Songlin replied without looking up: "Scrambled eggs with onions, stir-fried eggplant with green peppers, tomato soup, braised beef with potatoes, and a cold dish."
Oh, there wasn't a single thing he liked to eat.
"What a feast!" Ding Xuefei feigned appreciation before quickly fleeing the scene, saying, "I'm going upstairs to change my clothes."
Yu Songlin didn't even look up: "Okay, be careful not to fall."
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