Chapter 16 You're really something, you're just selfish...
Back on set, the director looked around and noticed someone was missing. He frowned and asked, "Where's Zhao Zhiyi?"
The scene fell silent for a moment, and no one responded.
Gu Qingke raised her eyes and replied in a flat tone, "He said he wanted to practice driving a little longer."
The director didn't respond, but his eyes were full of disbelief.
These past few days, while reviewing footage with the editor, he noticed that Zhao Zhiyi was frequently picking fights and deliberately finding fault.
Especially his fondness for seeking out Huo Yizhou.
What's even more outrageous is that Huo Yizhou was called a "gigolo." When he saw that, his face turned green. Fortunately, Huo Yizhou didn't pursue the matter, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to continue recording the show.
He originally planned to cut out all the conflicting parts, but then he thought: their show focuses on rural planting and slow-paced healing, but if it's completely calm and peaceful, it would be too bland.
Leaving in some genuine minor conflicts and subtle tensions between people might actually become highlights, adding more depth to the program.
So he consulted Huo Yizhou, who felt it didn't matter, and those arguments and conflicts were left as they were.
“He works so hard,” the director said, emphasizing the word “hardworking.”
Su Tangtang chimed in sarcastically, "Of course! They were so diligent that they didn't want to get off the bus. Who would dare interrupt their 'diligence'? So we had no choice but to come back first."
director:"……"
He coughed lightly and didn't ask any more questions. "Alright then."
Not long after, Shen Yingying and the others returned, but Zhao Zhiyi was still nowhere to be seen.
The director didn't wait any longer and signaled everyone to begin. The production team, unusually "generous" today, prepared a sumptuous dinner and served it on the table.
At the same time, the latest episode of the show has officially begun airing.
Everyone ate and watched, creating a relaxed atmosphere.
Only Wu Xiaojia seemed somewhat absent-minded, glancing towards the door every now and then.
Shen Yingying noticed her worry and gently comforted her, "Don't worry, there are people from the production crew there, Zhao Zhiyi will be fine."
Wu Xiaojia sighed, "I know."
After a pause, she complained in a low voice, "I'm speechless about him... He's nowhere to be seen when he should be studying hard, but when he shouldn't be studying hard, he insists on 'studying hard' endlessly."
Shen Yingying understood the implication in her words, smiled slightly, and didn't reply.
Everyone knows that the so-called "hard work" is just a euphemism for Zhao Zhiyi's continued refusing to get off the harvester.
Time passed second by second, and when the program played the part where Zhao Zhiyi and Huo Yizhou had a conflict, Wu Xiaojia clearly saw the reason for Zhao Zhiyi's injury that day, and the scene made her so embarrassed that she could hardly watch it.
She instinctively took out her phone and opened Weibo. Sure enough, quite a few people had already started criticizing Zhao Zhiyi.
"Wow, this episode is so explosive! Even if Huo Yizhou is a gigolo, Zhao Zhiyi is going too far! What guy likes being called that?"
"Zhao is also a terrible cook; he didn't even pass the written test."
"This is just making trouble out of nothing. What is Zhao Zhiyi pretending to be?"
"Isn't this considered bullying on variety shows...?"
"How could Wu Xiaojia have fallen for someone like that? Her taste is terrible!"
"Was she threatened? This is outrageous."
There were even more offensive insults. The more Wu Xiaojia read, the more frustrated she became. She abruptly turned off the screen, not wanting to watch any longer.
It's all Su Tangtang's fault!
She couldn't help but glare angrily at Su Tangtang, only to see that the other woman was eating heartily and even casually putting food into her boyfriend's bowl.
This heartwarming scene was like a thorn, igniting a fire in Wu Xiaojia's heart: If Su Tangtang hadn't urged everyone to leave first, Zhao Zhiyi wouldn't have come back on his own. If he were here, they would be serving each other food right now, creating a warm atmosphere.
Perhaps her gaze was too intense, because Su Tangtang turned her head as if she sensed it and met her gaze. Su Tangtang was obviously stunned for a moment, and then gave her a generous smile.
But to Wu Xiaojia, that smile was nothing short of a provocation and a boast. A surge of anger welled up inside her, unable to be expressed or swallowed, and she could only suppress it in her heart.
Increasingly angry, Wu Xiaojia picked up her phone again. Although there was nothing she could do about Su Tangtang right now, seeing netizens criticizing her made her feel a little better.
She opened the Weibo comment section, skipping over the comments criticizing Zhao Zhiyi and focusing on those criticizing Su Tangtang. But as she scrolled through, she noticed something was off:
"Although I still don't particularly like Su Tangtang, I have to admit that her looks have really improved lately..."
"Just between you and me, she learned the weaving part the fastest, and I'm starting to like her a bit."
"She seems so much more refreshed after she stopped pursuing Gu Qingke, even her appearance has improved, hasn't it?"
Originally expecting to see her get criticized, Wu Xiaojia watched helplessly as the comments section gradually began to praise her. Furious, she gritted her teeth, switched to a secondary account, and furiously tapped the screen with her fingers:
"Su Tangtang is a green tea bitch, so scheming, why doesn't she just die?"
"Don't be fooled by her, she's a very promiscuous woman in private."
"She was just acting on the show; she'd been having an affair with the director for a long time, didn't you know?"
"Has she forgotten all her past behavior? She's putting on such a good act now; the director must have paved the way for her all along!"
She became more and more excited as she wrote, her expression unconsciously turning ferocious, completely immersed in the pleasure of venting.
"Xiaojia," Shen Yingying called out to her.
Seeing that she didn't react, Shen Yingying moved closer and glanced at the content on her screen, and was startled.
Seeing that she was cursing Su Tangtang, Shen Yingying paused, said nothing, and silently looked away.
-
When the variety show was about a third of the way through, Zhao Zhiyi and his cameraman finally rushed back, panting. They had walked the entire three kilometers back.
As soon as he entered, he saw everyone eating a lively meal, clearly not waiting for him. Zhao Zhiyi's heart sank, and he walked over and sat down next to Wu Xiaojia with a sullen expression.
"Aren't they waiting for people?" he said in a low voice, his tone revealing obvious dissatisfaction.
Wu Xiaojia, already holding back her anger, coldly retorted, "With so many people, how could we possibly wait for just you?"
Zhao Zhiyi glared at her.
Not to be outdone, she reached out and pinched his waist hard.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Zhiyi cried out in pain, "Why are you pinching me?!"
Wu Xiaojia: "..."
The table fell silent instantly, and everyone's eyes turned to the two of them.
Wu Xiaojia lowered her head awkwardly, while Zhao Zhiyi acted as if nothing had happened and continued eating.
After he had almost finished eating, he suddenly looked up at Su Tangtang across from him and said provocatively, "Su Tangtang, you did this on purpose today, didn't you?"
Su Tangtang raised an eyebrow slightly, "What on purpose?"
"You deliberately left me there alone!" Zhao Zhiyi, who had already finished eating, was clearly there to cause trouble.
Su Tangtang simply gave a faint "Oh".
Wu Xiaojia immediately chimed in, "Su Tangtang, how can you be so mean?"
Su Tangtang laughed, "Me, bad? What about Zhao Zhiyi deliberately hogging the harvester and refusing to get off?"
Wu Xiaojia was speechless for a moment, but forced herself to explain, "He... he just wanted to practice a little longer so he could get his certificate sooner and help everyone with the wheat harvest!"
Su Tangtang nodded, her smile meaningful, "Then he is truly great."
Wu Xiaojia: "..."
The others at the table couldn't help but chuckle softly as they listened to their banter.
Seeing this, Zhao Zhiyi became even more displeased and shouted at Su Tangtang, "What are you, a woman, doing learning how to operate a harvester?"
Su Tangtang retorted without changing her expression, "What are you doing learning to operate a harvester when you can't even pass the first part of the driving test?"
Zhao Zhiyi immediately became furious and embarrassed, "That was just a mistake!"
Su Tangtang remained calm: "Oh."
The more casually she spoke, the more Zhao Zhiyi felt like he had punched cotton, leaving him speechless with frustration.
Zhao Zhiyi wanted to say something more, but Wu Xiaojia stopped him and gestured for him to stop talking.
Zhao Zhiyi was unusually obedient and didn't say anything more.
To be precise, he was too tired and didn't want to argue with them anymore.
-
In the days that followed, everyone was busy with their own lives. Zhao Zhiyi and Wu Xiaojia would still try to cause trouble from time to time, but every time they tried, they were shut down by Su Tangtang and the others and left speechless and humiliated.
Even so, the two remained unrepentant, as if they had made "finding fault - getting criticized - finding fault again" their daily routine.
Half a month later, the vegetables they planted with their own hands have sprouted from the soil, and the tender green seedlings have grown to ten centimeters tall, standing vigorously in the ground.
Su Tangtang squatted by the edge of the field, feeling a great sense of accomplishment, and said softly, "If it grows another ten centimeters or so, we can plant poles."
Huo Yizhou also squatted down and carefully examined the cucumber leaves. "It's time to spray pesticides. Some leaves have been bitten by insects."
Su Tangtang leaned closer to examine the seedlings. "Shall we buy some pesticide tomorrow and spray them?"
Huo Yizhou nodded in agreement.
The two walked back while talking, and it was getting dark.
“Zhao Zhiyi passed the first subject,” Su Tangtang suddenly remembered this, her tone tinged with a hint of teasing.
Huo Yizhou glanced at her. "Why bring him up?"
"I was just saying it offhand, and it was only his second time passing, he's really bad at it," she said with a slightly mischievous smile.
Huo Yizhou smiled faintly, "If he hears this, he'll probably start arguing with you again."
Su Tangtang pouted, "He's like a mad dog, biting anyone he sees."
Huo Yizhou just smiled and didn't say anything more.
As they approached the entrance to their alley, the two suddenly heard a suppressed argument. A woman's voice, trembling with tears, rang out, "You knew we were filming a variety show, yet you still insisted on taking the role?"
They stopped in their tracks and exchanged a glance.
Huo Yizhou knew from Su Tangtang's expression that she was eager to "gossip" again, so he slowed down to cooperate.
"It's just a cameo role, I'll be back in five days at most."
"I turned down so many roles to accompany you on this show, and now you won't even turn down a guest appearance for me?" The woman's voice grew increasingly agitated.
The man's tone became noticeably impatient, "Yingying, can't you stop being unreasonable?"
Shen Yingying's voice trembled with anger, "I'm being unreasonable? So when it benefits you, I'm sensible and generous, but when it doesn't, I'm being unreasonable?" She sneered, "Gu Qingke, you're really something, you're a selfish bastard!"
Su Tangtang pursed her lips, feeling somewhat surprised.
This part is clearly not in the novel. The male and female protagonists are always sweet and understanding of each other, and they almost never quarrel. Almost all the twists and turns between them are caused by the "original owner".
What's going on here? She thought for a moment and realized that perhaps her arrival had subtly altered the general course of the story.
She originally thought she had only changed the supporting characters, but unexpectedly, the main characters also changed.
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