Chapter 76 Day 4: "You know what, Jiang Yan looks a lot like Qin Lan's instructor."
Qin Lan and Jiang Yan went into the kitchen, and the other groups watched.
Lin Shu and the cameraman followed in: "The two teachers need to decide who will be blindfolded and who will provide guidance."
Qin Lan chose to be blindfolded.
Lin Shu opened the recipe: "Your group's task is to make a cheesy baked mashed potato dish."
After saying that, she handed the recipe to Jiang Yan: "The instructions are all written on it. The mashed potatoes have been peeled and cut into chunks. Teacher Jiang can do the heating part. Please begin, and be careful."
Qin Lan took the blindfold handed to her by the staff and glanced at Jiang Yan.
"It's up to you now," she said.
Jiang Yan raised her head slightly: "Don't worry, Teacher Qin."
Qin Lan's world was plunged into darkness.
It is said that hearing becomes exceptionally sensitive when vision is blocked, and Qin Lan immediately heard the whispers that she usually didn't pay much attention to.
"This woman looks all respectable even with an eye patch on."
"You know what, Jiang Yan looks a lot like Qin Lan's instructor."
"Police dogs & instructors? That's interesting."
Qin Lan: "I don't have anything in my ears, could you please keep your voices down?"
Everyone actually whispered, "Look at those two..."
"Awesome..."
"It's rare to see the Qin dogs so weak..."
Qin Lan: "Who gave me this new nickname?"
"Shh, keep your voice down, she can hear everything."
"Didn't Teacher Xiahou also become a dog? Should we call her that too?"
"It's just that calling him 'Xiahou Dog' is a bit strange."
"That... Orange Dog?"
Qin Lan: "Quiet! I can't hear you—damn it, I can't hear Jiang Yan speaking."
Jiang Yan: "That's because I didn't say anything."
A burst of laughter erupted: "She seems to mean 'discipline officer'."
Qin Lanhong asked, "What's the first step?"
Jiang Yan, understanding the situation, said loudly, "First, put the chopped potatoes into the pot and cook them. The potatoes are on the plate to your left. First, feel around on the counter, then pick up the plate."
Qin Lan turned around shakily and reached out to try to touch the counter that Jiang Yan had mentioned.
"Take two steps forward," Jiang Yan suggested.
Qin Lan took two small steps.
She raised her hand and finally touched the counter.
Qin Lan felt a little sweaty. Being blindfolded and having to search for something was not a good feeling at all. She felt like there were weapons everywhere that wanted to harm her.
Qin Lan slowly moved her fingertips and finally touched a plate.
"Is this it?" she asked tentatively.
“Yes.” Jiang Yan moved closer, seemingly trying to see what she was holding.
Qin Lan reached for the plate with both hands, picked it up, and stood there dumbfounded.
"Then what?"
"Move four steps to the right, and then you can put it down," Jiang Yan said with a smile.
Qin Lan took four steps sideways and put the plate down. Because she couldn't find the right spot, she almost dropped it on the oil can.
"Do you know how to fire?"
A burst of laughter erupted from the surrounding area.
"I'm not an idiot," Qin Lan said irritably.
Jiang Yan laughed too, "It seems our Teacher Qin is quite self-reliant..."
Qin Lan's ears turned bright red: "You better behave yourself!"
Who is the baby!
"Okay, I'll be good." Jiang Yan instructed her, "Now pick up the potatoes and pour them into the pot... Baby, do you remember where the potatoes are?"
Qin Lan angrily picked up the plate and started searching for the pot like a blind man.
"A little to the left."
"A little further ahead."
"Yes, pour it in."
Qin Lan tilted the plate, spilling a small portion of the liquid outside.
She couldn't see, but she could hear laughter, so she asked irritably, "What's wrong?"
Jiang Yan's voice, tinged with laughter, drew closer, and a wisp of fragrance seemed to linger around her nose: "It's nothing, Teacher Qin did a great job."
She picked up her chopsticks, put the pieces of potato that had fallen out into the pot, and turned on the heat.
Yu Jintang immediately objected: "Old Qin, you should be grateful you have such a great partner."
Qin Lan turned her head: "What's wrong?"
The sound of water bubbling in the pot made her face feel hot from the steam.
"It's nothing, maybe they just think I'm pretty," Jiang Yan said casually as she walked towards her.
"Alright, now we need to wait for the potatoes to cook. We can go sit over there for a while..." Teacher Qin turned around and took two steps forward.
She led Qin Lan to a small table nearby and covered the corner of the table with her hand.
"That's too detailed." Yang Xingji exclaimed, "I feel uncomfortable just thinking about someone talking about Yanyan, such an amazing girlfriend."
Qin Lan ignored them.
But Jiang Yan insisted on flirting: "What kind of person is Xingji's ideal type?"
Yang Xingji thought excitedly for a long time: "I don't know, but I will use Yanyan as the standard from now on."
Qin Lan clicked her tongue and turned her head toward a potted plant by instinct: "Can you please stop paying so much attention to other people's partners?"
Xiahou Cheng: "Oh, you're jealous."
Qin Lan snorted and turned her head, saying in the direction she thought Jiang Yan was, "Are the potatoes ready yet?"
Jiang Yan: "I'll go take a look..."
She gently poked it with her chopsticks, and when she felt it was about right, she said, "It's done."
Qin Lan stood up impatiently, bumping her head on the corner of the table with a thud.
Jiang Yan hurriedly came over: "Be careful, wait for me to call you before you get up."
Qin Lan was in so much pain that her eyes were filled with tears. She clutched Jiang Yan's sleeve, unable to utter a single word. Jiang Yan looked down at her with concern and asked, "Where did you bump yourself?"
Everyone turned and left, saying, "Let's go, let's go, this is no fun."
"Feeling better." Qin Lan breathed a sigh of relief and pinched Jiang Yan's slender waist while Jiang Yan was massaging her legs.
Jiang Yan's gaze grew increasingly intense as she looked at her. After a long pause, she said, "Now we need to add butter and milk. They're in the refrigerator on your left."
Qin Lan found the refrigerator as instructed, and after opening it, there was a clattering sound of glass bottles inside.
She dared not move again, her body stiff as she gently reached out her hand: "Which one is the butter?"
Jiang Yan walked over and looked over her shoulder at the refrigerator door: "Um... Teacher Qin, please raise your hand."
Qin Lan slowly raised her hand, feeling as if she had touched... a person?
She touched a slight curve and froze for a moment.
Jiang Yan chuckled softly, staring intently at her blindfold: "Is Teacher Qin really blindfolded? You didn't secretly cut a hole in it or anything, did you?"
"What kind of person do you take me for?" Qin Lan asked, displeased. "Where...where am I touching?"
Jiang Yan tempted her: "Teacher Qin, why don't you keep touching her and you'll find out?"
Qin Lan then continued to touch upwards...
"Ugh!! You pervert!!!"
She nearly got her hand caught in the door, frantically pushing aside the air beside her: "Quickly tell me where the butter and yellow milk are!"
The cameraman blushed, but Jiang Yan still smiled smugly, leaning to the side with ease: "It seems that Teacher Qin cares more about... the milk."
Lin Shu stared at the monitor with a blank expression.
This sentence must be cut.
Qin Lan roared, "If you want to die—"
"Wrong, wrong," Jiang Yan said in a flattering tone. "Well, it's on Teacher Qin's right, yes, a little higher, a little to the left, yes, take it out."
"What's this?"
Qin Lan fumbled to take the things out, only to feel her fingertips were icy cold.
"Milk—" Jiang Yan drawled out.
Qin Lan turned her head away expressionlessly, her lips pursed, and glared at the air.
She had to be extremely careful to avoid Jiang Yan, lest she be angered to the point of dying young.
This meal took an incredibly long time to prepare.
The main problem was that each step required the two of them to work together like they were fighting each other. They would either spill milk all over the floor or make a mess of mashed potatoes all over the table. Finally, when Qin Lan carefully carried the baking dish to the table, the two of them breathed a sigh of relief.
"Hooray!" The staff members held hands and circled around them in celebration: "The two teachers can begin to enjoy their meal now."
Lin Shu called the next group to cook.
Feng Manhong and Liu Lü arrived on the first floor and passed by the restaurant.
Qin Lan took off her blindfold and looked around endlessly as if she had been given a new lease on life. Jiang Yan sat opposite her, slowly dividing the mashed potatoes.
"It smells quite nice, but it looks a bit ugly," Liu Lü commented.
Qin Lan: "I will ask the staff to film what you are doing."
Feng Manhong: "Teacher Qin, why are you still holding a grudge? Actually, the fried rice you made looks pretty good."
Qin Lan: "This is freaking cheesy mashed potatoes!!!"
Jiang Yan: "Teacher Feng is standing up for Teacher Liu, Teacher Qin, you're getting angry."
Qin Lan: "Of course I'd explode!!"
"No, it's your hair that's really frizzy." Jiang Yan leaned down and gently brushed the top of her head: "Fix it."
"Oh my, so cute." She smiled and rested her chin on her hand.
Liu Lü: "That's enough, Teacher Feng, let's go."
Feng Manhong also went into the kitchen with a pang of sadness.
They wanted to make a soy sauce chicken leg rice in a rice cooker. Liu Lü wanted to blindfold herself, but Feng Manhong forcefully stopped her.
Liu Lü was very uneasy: "You're a big movie queen, what if you bump into something, get burned, or something..."
Feng Manhong smiled gently: "One day, Teacher Liu will also become a great actress. I'm a few years older than you, how can I let you take the risk?"
A few words from Liu Lü almost made her faint, and the two people outside the kitchen lost their appetite.
Qin Lan gave Jiang Yan a look that suggested something was going to happen.
This group has been progressing slowly, like a frog being slowly boiled in water. Qin Lan and Feng Manhong discussed this topic, and Feng Manhong said that they are different from young people like them. At this age, they don't have as much passionate love, and they value the warmth of everyday life more.
She said that when she was with Liu Lü, she could feel the warmth in her heart multiply, like the warm sun in winter.
Qin Lan wasn't interested in the bland warmth she described; she was more interested in stripping Jiang Yan's clothes off and putting down this arrogant woman's arrogance.
Perhaps because she was staring at her so intently, Jiang Yan asked her, "Haven't you seen me before, Teacher Qin?"
"Did Teacher Jiang drink alcohol?" Qin Lan retorted, "Talking nonsense in broad daylight."
A staff member approached with car keys: "Have you two teachers finished eating? Our group has another date and candlelight dinner. If it's convenient, you can go upstairs to change clothes later."
Qin Lan was secretly pleased but didn't say anything, and haughtily went upstairs to change her clothes.
Following Yu Jintang's special suggestion, Lin Shu arranged for the two of them to watch a movie.
The date took place at a private cinema.
The staff explained that since both of them are actors, they must be movie enthusiasts.
Because they have countless fans, it's inconvenient for them to go to large cinemas.
Qin Lan knew at a glance that it was Yu Jintang's arrangement, so after entering the house, she changed her shoes, washed her hands, and then went out to buy a box of things.
Jiang Yan asked her what movie she wanted to watch, and Qin Lan politely deferred to her in front of the camera.
Jiang Yan then retrieved "Watershed: 1938".
Qin Lan: "No, I refuse to watch this."
Jiang Yan provoked her: "What, did Teacher Qin do something wrong during filming that you don't want me to see?"
In a previous interview, Qin Lan stated that she was at her peak right now and that she accepted any shortcomings in her performances in each film. Of course, she wouldn't contradict herself now.
So he watched expressionlessly as the dragon flew by, and his own face appeared on the big screen.
The room was dark, with only the flickering light from the screen. A cameraman was crouching by the door, intending to film something useful.
Jiang Yan glanced at her and decided to finish the task quickly: "Teacher Qin, how do you feel about your performance in this movie?"
“That was the limit we could achieve at the time.” Qin Lan replied without hesitation, “It wouldn’t have been any better if we did it again.”
"Hmm... So, what does Teacher Qin think of the character Ruan Zhi? Let's talk about that scene just now."
So Qin Lan began to answer the questions, speaking in a more colloquial and casual manner. From a distance, the two looked like old enemies who had already broken the ice.
Jiang Yan felt she had said enough, so she deliberately yawned.
The staff member patted the photographer on the shoulder, signaling her to leave.
The cameraman whispered, "But the movie isn't over yet."
"We don't need to film this part. There's nothing of value in it. We'd rather let the two teachers enjoy the movie." The staff urged her to come out quickly: "Besides, Teacher Jiang is clearly sleepy. Have some sense."
So the cameraman left.
Qin Lan took out the box she had just bought, turned over and pinned Jiang Yan down.
"You've been quite arrogant lately."
Jiang Yan smiled and said, "I'm like this every single day."
In the dim, cold light, their attraction was amplified. Qin Lan touched her eyebrows, feeling both a tickle and a pang of heartache: "Your eyes are bloodshot. Have you been having trouble sleeping lately?"
"A little." Jiang Yan felt a surge of joy.
Oh, she still cares about me.
"Have you taken your medicine on time?"
"Hmm...it sometimes doesn't work."
"I'll have a traditional Chinese medicine doctor treat you when we get back; you look a bit tired."
Jiang Yan grasped her wrist: "Tired... but I still want it."
Qin Lan: "A wolfhound, are you?"
She lowered her head and kissed Jiang Yan's lips.
Halfway through the kiss, she suddenly noticed her heart rate bracelet. This device can monitor the guest's heart rate in real time and record it in the final heart rate chart.
"Wait, we'll still be wearing this."
Jiang Yan was already somewhat delirious, and said incoherently, "Then take it off."
Qin Lan: "Then Director Lin will find that our heart rates have suddenly dropped to zero, and he will send someone to break in and see if we are dead."
Jiang Yan became a little more awake: "Hmm... then I'll wear it while I do it."
How do you explain a high heart rate?
"I just said I got so excited watching the movie."
Qin Lan was speechless; even a fool wouldn't believe that reason.
There's no better solution right now, so we can only leave it to fate...
The nightlight emitted a soft halo, which blurred into a magnificent rainbow in Qin Lan's eyes.
She held Jiang Yan in her arms, kissing her passionately.
In her daze, she groaned and looked up, only to see herself on the screen looking at Li Lan through the scope.
The real Li Lan strode forward, while this "Li Lan" hovered precariously between her thighs. She felt as if she were experiencing a violent storm, hearing the sounds of raindrops hitting the ground and new life sprouting from the earth, full of vitality.
The contrast in the scene was too stark, and she couldn't help but gasp, grabbing Jiang Yan's hair tightly.
Jiang Yan's head was throbbing from the pulling, but she remained calm and composed: "Sister Lan, you're going to rip my head off."
What did you call me?
Qin Lan tried to sit up, but after taking a look, she fell back down.
"Sister Lan."
Jiang Yan smiled, lowered her head and kissed her: "Sister Lan, Teacher Qin, Qin Lan, my girlfriend, my goddess."
...
Qin Lan hugged Jiang Yan tightly and stroked her hair gently.
As the movie drew to a close, Ruan Zhi, dressed in her uniform, slowly walked across the empty, dilapidated square in front of the secret service office.
Li Lan's face appears alongside hers, while two actors off-screen lazily lean back on the sofa watching this scene.
Jiang Yan buried her face in her chest and rubbed against her chest: "Can we come here again next time?"
“Then come every year from now on.” Qin Lan pinched the back of her neck: “Now, get up from my breasts first.”
"No!" Jiang Yan licked and nibbled, baring her teeth fiercely. "Mine, mine."
She clung to Qin Lan, her eyes peeking out like puppy eyes: "Can you be a little more affectionate towards me?"
Qin Lan was taken aback: "Am I that cold?"
Jiang Yan looked aggrieved: "Mmm, a little."
"No, I don't think so." Qin Lan guiltily reflected on herself: "I need to restrain myself during filming."
“You’re not very enthusiastic when there are no cameras around.” Jiang Yan nibbled at her: “You’re always like this to me… because you used to hate me. But I still can’t help but wonder what it’s like if you really like someone.”
There were things she didn't say because she didn't want to think about them too much. For example, she would actually imagine... if Qin Lan had fallen for her first, then although she would have pursued him arrogantly, she would have been incredibly happy when she received his smile, and her eyes would have sparkled when she smiled.
She wasn't upset about the unequal unrequited love; what bothered her was that Qin Lan was inherently arrogant and awkward, and her dominant position in the relationship made her act even more condescending and indifferent.
Jiang Yan couldn't help but wonder if she was asking for too much; after all, she should already be grateful that she was able to win Qin Lan's heart.
So she went to ask the strategist Yun Chui and his like-minded friend Xiahou Cheng, and the two of them brainwashed her with one sentence each: "It's normal for you to think this way, but it's actually not right."
"Damn, Ms. Yan, how could you think like that? Everyone is equal. When you were pursuing her, she could have acted superior, but once you started dating, she can't act like that anymore."
"The fact that you would think of this question shows that you are not a person who is obsessed with love, but a person with independent thinking."
"I still stand by what I said: everyone is equal in relationships. My Tangtang doesn't have Lao Qin's bad habits. Once I win her over, she'll definitely treat me very well."
"Expressing your needs is a basic right in love. What you're asking for isn't excessive, but I can understand her perspective from Lao Qin's point of view. She's naturally proud, and even if you win her over, she might not back down."
“I’m telling you, you can’t avoid communication. Don’t feel ashamed or embarrassed to speak up. It’s only useful if you say it.”
So Jiang Yan mustered up her courage and spoke to Qin Lan.
Qin Lan touched her ears, somewhat stumped.
"Passionate? Does it mean dating like in TV dramas?"
Images of romantic movies she had watched flashed through her mind: on a rainy day, the male lead got soaked to the bone just to bring the female lead an umbrella, so the female lead ran all over the city to buy medicine for him, and the two of them both developed fevers...
She looked troubled: "It seems a bit stupid."
Jiang Yan was speechless.
The movie ended, and there was a knock on the door.
"Teachers, it's time to go to the next place."
She silently sat up and started getting dressed.
Qin Lan sensed her unhappiness, leaned over and turned her head back: "What are you doing?"
Jiang Yan ignored her in a huff: "Button up my buttons."
Qin Lan was baffled.
The two of them went in and came out in the same way, looking even more distant than before. Yet, a subtle, eerie feeling permeated the air. Under the camera's lens, they seemed to have just had a fight, their demeanor both agitated and estranged.
Two groups went out on dates today. The "Blindfolded Cooking" task is complete, and Feng Manhongliulv's group has been named the MVP of the day.
Lin Shu's reason was warmth. While the young people's groups were full of energy, they also seemed impulsive and reckless. For example, in Yun Chui Song Man's group, Song Man, blindfolded, broke twenty-eight eggs. Also, in the highly anticipated Qin Lan Jiang Yan group, the judges unanimously felt that Qin Lan's performance wasn't gentle enough.
These two pairs were rated as equally matched rivals in today's "Blindfolded Cooking" event, with the second to last being the Yu Jintang and Xiahou Cheng pair.
The two of them are quite friendly, but they are too abstract. They started eating halfway through cooking and secretly showed off all the edible things in the refrigerator behind the show's back, which earned them unanimous negative reviews.
The pairing of Yang Xingji and Anna is not only harmonious but also inexplicably likable, giving off a vibe of a sophisticated career woman and a cheerful younger girl. However, it's not enough to defeat the Feng Liu pairing.
The judges unanimously agreed that Feng Manhong was too gentle and had a very motherly feel. Liu Lü was a bit more lively, but compared to the other young people, she was still many times more mature. The two of them standing in front of the kitchen exuded a sense of peaceful and prosperous life. A fifty-five-year-old judge said she saw the best form of love: harmony and tolerance like water.
At their age, they understand the value of time and cherish it more than younger people.
When Liu Lü was announced as today's MVP, she stood up with her head held high, giving the impression that she was wearing a big red flower.
Later, fans compared this scene with the announcement of the winner of the Golden Flower Award for Best Actress five years later, and found that her expression was even more proud at this time.
Everyone sighed that Liu Lü had indeed stayed true to her original aspirations, and that her favorite person was always Feng Manhong.
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Second revision
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