Chapter 33 Terrifying
After Meng Meng and the others left, everyone continued to prepare dinner, not wanting to miss their meal because of her.
After Shen Yingying left, Gu Qingke took over her position as the fire starter. As he added firewood to the stove, his gaze involuntarily drifted towards Su Tangtang.
Her cooking skills were very proficient.
So it turns out she can cook. But when she was pursuing him, she always served him takeout. It seems she wasn't really sincere towards him.
Thinking of this, Gu Qingke frowned deeply. No wonder she could never like her back then; there was a reason for it all.
Su Tangtang had no idea what Gu Qingke was thinking at that moment. If she did, she would definitely think that Gu Qingke was utterly ungrateful. When the original owner was pursuing him, she gave him a car and money, and was incredibly generous to him.
"Yizhou, get me a plate."
At that moment, Su Tangtang's voice rang out.
Her voice sounded so natural that it made Gu Qingke feel inexplicably uncomfortable. He looked up at her and was stunned for a moment. Under the light, her profile was gentle and her movements were swift, which made him unable to look away for a moment.
He was startled by this sudden thought and immediately lowered his gaze.
"Green pepper and potato shreds, ready to serve."
As Su Tangtang spoke, she ladled the dishes into a plate.
Huo Yizhou took it without hesitation and placed it on the table beside him; an indescribable harmony flowed between the two of them.
Next, Su Tangtang started cooking the next dish.
While pouring the oil, she noticed the fire was too low and turned to Gu Qingke, saying, "Turn up the fire."
Gu Qingke showed no reaction, remaining seated blankly in front of the stove, as if lost in her own world.
Seeing that he neither responded nor added fuel to the fire, Su Tangtang raised her voice and shouted again, "Gu Qingke, the fire needs to be put out!"
He then snapped out of his daze and hastily replied, "Oh, okay."
He hurriedly grabbed firewood and put it into the stove.
Su Tangtang wasn't curious about what he was daydreaming about; she just focused on continuing to stir-fry.
Just as the last dish was finished cooking, Meng Meng and the others returned, carried back by Ke Tangshu, her feet wrapped in thick bandages.
Gu Qingke came out of the kitchen, walked quickly to Shen Yingying's side, and asked in a low voice, "How is it?"
Shen Yingying replied softly, "It's stuck quite deep. The doctor said it will be completely removed after about half a month."
Everyone gathered around to ask what happened, and seeing that it wasn't a big problem, they didn't say anything more. Afterwards, everyone sat down to eat together.
"It tastes really good," Zhou Yan praised first. "These ribs are so fragrant and flavorful."
After she finished speaking, Gu Qingke also picked up a piece, chewed it slowly, and swallowed it. It was indeed quite good, with a perfect balance of saltiness and savory flavor, and the cooking time was just right.
Meng Meng pursed her lips, wondering to herself how delicious it could be. She reluctantly picked up a piece and tasted it. The taste was indeed unexpected, but she would never admit it.
Everyone ate to their heart's content. As they were finishing, Meng Meng suddenly spoke up, "Su Tangtang, I think your house really needs a cleaning. I pricked my foot today. What if someone else comes over and gets pricked again?"
Su Tangtang paused, looked up at her, and said, "That corner is usually used to store junk. Nobody goes there normally. Even when people come to my house, they don't go there. What are you doing there?"
Upon hearing this, Meng Meng's eyes immediately darted away, but her voice unconsciously rose, "I, I just wanted to move the tram because it was blocking the way."
“You could have pushed it somewhere else, why did you move it to that corner?” Su Tangtang said. “I’m really sorry, be more careful next time. Luckily it was just a nail, if it had been something sharper, your foot would definitely have been scarred.”
Meng Meng was speechless for a moment. She gritted her teeth, a surge of anger rising within her, but she managed to hold it in. She thought to herself, "The next time they use the car and their tires get punctured by a nail, they'll be in for a world of hurt."
Seeing Meng Meng's discomfiture, Shen Yingying immediately said, "She was already injured, why didn't you comfort her and instead criticized her?"
Su Tangtang: "..."
“She questioned me first,” Su Tangtang frowned. “I wanted to comfort her, but she was so sharp-tongued, how could I comfort her?”
She found it strange.
A normal person would never push the car to that corner; actually, pushing it back a little would have been fine.
But she insisted on pushing it into that corner, and even came down from the side where the clutter was piled up. You could say that if she didn't hurt her foot, whose foot would she hurt?
Seeing that the atmosphere was getting a bit awkward, everyone quickly tried to smooth things over and then changed the subject.
After the meal, everyone helped clear the dishes, but Meng Meng was the only one sitting in the main room. She noticed that there were two beds in the room.
They sleep in separate beds? Looks like they really are a fake couple.
She secretly resolved to find an opportunity to expose this matter.
As she was thinking, her gaze fell on the drinks and snacks she had bought that day, so she got up and limped over to get them.
Just then, Su Tangtang and the others walked in from outside.
Zhou Yan spotted her immediately and asked, "Meng Meng, what are you doing?"
Meng Meng panicked and quickly turned around with the drinks and snacks in her arms, trying to appear calm as she said, "I saw that you were almost done washing the dishes, and I couldn't help much, so I thought I'd bring some drinks for everyone."
She would never admit that she originally planned to secretly take them away.
Seeing her guilty look, Zhou Yan didn't believe her story at all. She and Lin Lang stepped forward, took the drinks and snacks from Meng Meng's arms, and said with a smile, "How could we let you work like this? Your foot is still injured, so please don't move."
Meng Meng was speechless for a moment, cursing inwardly: These two must have conspired together! She wondered what benefits Su Tangtang had given them to make them protect her like this.
She took a forced breath and forced a smile. "I'm fine. Everyone's busy, and I feel bad about being idle."
Zhou Yan resisted the urge to roll her eyes and replied with a smile, "That's so thoughtful of you."
Meng Meng had just managed a slight smile when everyone went inside.
Her eyes darted around, and she deliberately raised her voice to ask, "Su Tangtang, don't you two sleep in the same bed?"
After these words were spoken, the room fell silent for a moment.
Su Tangtang was taken aback at first, then looked at Meng Meng. Sure enough, she was up to no good again. She nodded generously, "Yeah, what's so strange about that?"
Seeing her so calm, Meng Meng became even angrier and pressed her further, "Since you're a couple, why don't you sleep in the same bed? That's not normal, is it?"
Su Tangtang smiled gently, her tone natural, "Who says couples have to sleep in the same bed? Yizhou and I aren't married yet, we're just dating. Isn't it normal to sleep in separate beds while dating? It's mainly because Yizhou is considerate and thinking of me, worried about my reputation."
As she spoke, she lowered her head slightly, a blush appearing on her face. "After all, it wouldn't be good if word got out that we slept together before we were even married."
Of these couples, only Zhou Yan and Lin Lang were officially married, so it was only natural for them to sleep together. As for Shen Yingying and Gu Qingke, although they were not married, they had already been sharing a bed. Su Tangtang's words implied that Gu Qingke and Ke Tangshu did not seem to care much about the woman's reputation.
Shen Yingying's gaze fell on Su Tangtang, and a surge of irritation welled up in her heart. In the past, she was clearly brainless and impulsive, but now she had become sharp-tongued and difficult to deal with. Even Meng Meng had been repeatedly humiliated in front of her, making her so angry that she was itching to do something about it.
Zhou Yan nodded in agreement, "Indeed, sleeping together before marriage is never good for a girl's reputation."
As soon as she said that, Meng Meng's face turned even paler.
Su Tangtang looked at her frustrated expression, a hint of a smile flashing in her eyes. She had just looked away when she inadvertently met Huo Yizhou's gaze. The moment their eyes met, her heart raced, but she then casually put on a hearty smile.
"It's quite cool outside, let's go for a walk together," Qu Xian suggested at the right moment, and everyone agreed. The group then walked outside in twos and threes.
A gentle evening breeze rustled the leaves of the trees along the roadside, creating a tranquil atmosphere. As soon as they stepped onto the main road, Ke Tangshu, who was carrying Meng Meng, said, "Let's head back now."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Shen Yingying also said softly, "I'm not going either."
Gu Qingke frowned slightly; he actually wanted to go for a walk.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"I'm a little tired and want to go back to rest," Shen Yingying replied softly.
Gu Qingke nodded, her tone as usual, "Then you go back and rest first. I'll walk with them for a while and be back soon."
Shen Yingying was silent for a moment. Although she managed to maintain a composed expression, her eyes had darkened. She said softly, "Okay, come back soon."
Gu Qingke ruffled her hair, then turned and followed Qu Xian and the others.
Watching their retreating figures, Shen Yingying unconsciously clenched her fingers.
Why...? Everyone gradually surrounded Su Tangtang.
She should be the most annoying one.
-
After returning from their walk, Su Tangtang and Huo Yizhou first took a shower in the bathroom arranged by the production team. On their way back, the two talked about Meng Meng's foot injury.
“She brought this on herself,” Su Tangtang said, pursing her lips.
Huo Yizhou smiled slightly, indicating his agreement, "Indeed."
Su Tangtang looked up at him, her tone serious, "It's all because of you."
Huo Yizhou raised an eyebrow slightly.
Su Tangtang was taken aback. She really liked this little gesture of his. Every time he raised his eyebrows, he exuded a wild yet composed handsomeness.
"How so?" he asked.
Su Tangtang's heart raced a little under his gaze, and she subconsciously looked away. "She's targeting me, but she'll always drag you into it, making you the target too."
Huo Yizhou paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "It's nothing."
Su Tangtang asked softly, "Although she didn't really hurt you, don't you find it annoying that she keeps deliberately picking fights with you like this?"
Huo Yizhou looked at her and said in a low voice, "It's annoying, but the thought of you being targeted alone if I'm not by your side makes me even more annoyed."
Su Tangtang was stunned for a moment, staring at him for a while before smiling and saying, "Then I am so honored."
She remembered that the original book mentioned that Huo Yizhou was always very good to his friends. He was the kind of person who seemed indifferent on the outside, but once he became a true friend, he would silently protect his friends.
Clearly, she did not grasp the other meaning behind his words.
However, Huo Yizhou was not in a hurry; some things could be done slowly.
He also took this opportunity to see clearly what his feelings for her really were.
Back at her doorstep, Su Tangtang glanced at the electric scooter parked in the yard.
The light was dim, and she noticed something shiny on the ground. She turned on her phone's flashlight, walked over, squatted down, picked it up, and saw that it was a round-headed nail. "I thought it was money," she muttered to herself. "My eyesight really isn't good at night."
Just as she stood up, she suddenly remembered something and quickly walked to the spot where Meng Meng had been standing.
Huo Yizhou, who had already entered the house, saw that she hadn't come in yet, so he went back out and saw her standing next to the electric scooter. He asked, "What are you looking at?"
Su Tangtang replied, "I saw Meng Meng standing next to this car before she injured her foot."
Huo Yizhou took a few steps closer. "So?"
“I have a feeling she’s done something wrong. She just found this nail in the yard,” she said, showing him her palm.
Huo Yizhou took the nail, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Go into the gap between the car and the wall, squat down and take a look."
Su Tangtang nodded and did as she was told, squatting down in the narrow gap between the front of the truck and the pile of goods in the corner of the wall, with the rear of the truck against the wall, leaving a gap on this side.
She held up her phone's flashlight and shone it carefully, and found even more round-headed nails behind the wheel!
She picked them up one by one, excitedly trying to stand up, but accidentally bumped her leg against the frame, letting out a cry of pain as her brows furrowed.
Huo Yizhou immediately stepped forward, "What's wrong?"
Su Tangtang lifted her leg onto the car seat and said aggrievedly, "I bumped my leg, it hurts so much..."
A strange feeling flashed through Huo Yizhou's mind.
He wanted to lift her pajama bottoms to check her injury, but then thought it inappropriate and ultimately didn't do it.
The pain hadn't completely subsided when Su Tangtang opened her palm, revealing several nails.
Huo Yizhou took it and heard her say angrily, "No wonder she insisted on moving the car here, it was to avoid the cameras! How wicked of her."
Huo Yizhou said calmly, "She got her comeuppance too."
Su Tangtang nodded vigorously, "That's right, even God couldn't stand it anymore, they deserve it!"
Huo Yizhou stretched out his arm. "Come out first."
Su Tangtang was slightly taken aback when she saw his strong forearm, then reached out and put her hand on it, using the leverage to walk out through the narrow gap.
After entering the room, Huo Yizhou said in a low voice, "Let me see your leg."
The pain had subsided considerably, and Su Tangtang had almost forgotten about it.
She sat down on the stool and gently rolled up her pajama bottoms. Her skin was very fair, and she was easily bruised by the slightest bump. At this moment, there was already a bruise on her knee.
Huo Yizhou took out a bottle of Yunnan Baiyao spray from his bag. "Spray this on."
Su Tangtang waved her hand, "It's okay, it'll be fine in a couple of days."
But he insisted, "I'll spray it for you."
Su Tangtang's eyelashes trembled slightly, and for some reason, she did not refuse this time.
The medicine sprayed on her skin brought a cool sensation, but her heart felt slightly warm.
After spraying, she said softly, "Thank you."
Huo Yizhou replied in a low voice, "You're welcome."
_
The next day, when the production crew gathered, Su Tangtang walked up to Meng Meng with a smile and said, "Mengmeng, I have something for you."
Meng Meng looked at her with a wary expression and frowned as she asked, "What is it?"
Su Tangtang smiled gently as before, "Give me your hand."
Meng Meng didn't really want to reach out, but under the other person's smiling yet unyielding gaze, she reluctantly opened her palm.
Su Tangtang gently placed the round nail in her hand.
Meng Meng looked down and her face froze instantly. She then looked up at Su Tangtang.
Su Tangtang, however, remained harmless and said in a light tone, "Your things were under the tire of my electric scooter. Luckily, I found them, otherwise you wouldn't have been able to find them."
Meng Meng's face turned pale and then red. She forced a smile and said through gritted teeth, "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Su Tangtang smiled brightly at her, her eyes curving into crescents.
Meng Meng felt a jolt in her heart and a chill run down her spine. At that moment, she truly felt that Su Tangtang was really terrifying.
Shen Yingying noticed that Meng Meng's expression changed after exchanging a few words with Su Tangtang, so she leaned closer and whispered, "Mengmeng, what's wrong?"
Meng Meng slowly opened her palm, revealing several round nails lying there.
Shen Yingying's expression immediately changed, "This is..."
Meng Meng's voice tightened, "She just gave it to me."
Shen Yingying's heart sank, but she quickly lowered her voice to remain calm, "Don't panic. As long as you deny it to the death, it won't matter what she says. She has no evidence."
Meng Meng nodded, her face pale, and said nothing more.
Shen Yingying gritted her teeth inwardly, her gaze turning coldly towards Su Tangtang, who was chatting and laughing happily with Zhou Yan and the others.
Shen Yingying felt a burning sensation in her chest and secretly clenched her fingers.
She thought to herself: One day, I'll make sure you can never laugh again.
-
Meng Meng was unable to go into the water after injuring her foot, leaving only three people in Su Tangtang's group. To ensure fairness, the director invited a guest star to join their group that day.
Although she couldn't go down into the pond to dig lotus roots, Meng Meng still came to the site with everyone every day, sitting alone on the bank watching them work. During the recording of the program, she was not allowed to use her mobile phone, so she could only sit and watch.
She had originally hoped that Su Tangtang's group would get last place, but now it seemed that the plan had failed. She felt that even God was helping Su Tangtang, and she felt both unwilling and frustrated.
It took them half a month to harvest all the lotus roots from the five ponds, and the final rankings were announced.
Su Tangtang's team won first place. The newly arrived guest star was very capable, doing the work of two people.
The second place went to Zhou Yan's group.
Gu Qingke's group came in last place. When he learned the result, Gu Qingke's face fell and he looked very unhappy.
After the lotus root digging task was completed, the guest stars also had to leave. That evening, everyone gathered together to see them off and watched the latest episode of the show together.
On her way home after watching the show, Su Tangtang scrolled through the comments section, a hint of joy in her voice, "It seems like more and more people are praising me."
Huo Yizhou replied softly, "That means you really are very good."
Su Tangtang couldn't help but laugh, "I've always been a very good person."
Huo Yizhou laughed upon hearing this.
Looking at his smile, Su Tangtang was slightly taken aback.
She didn't know when it started, but whenever she saw Huo Yizhou smile, her heart would beat faster. Whenever their eyes met, she would subconsciously look away, because his eyes were always so serious and so intense that she couldn't look him in the eye.
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