Because you like to eat
Chapter 7, Section 1
The afternoon sun was a bit strong, so the program crew moved the filming location to the yard of the B&B, saying that they wanted to hold a "Shell Creative Competition."
Xiao Chen sorted the shells he picked up in the morning and placed them on a table. They were colorful and really looked like works of art.
"The rules are simple," the director shouted through the megaphone, "Use these shells to create the pattern that best represents the seaside. The hostess at the B&B will vote, and the winner gets to order breakfast for tomorrow!"
"Auntie, what kind do you like?" Jiang Li approached the aunt at the B&B and smiled sweetly.
The aunt was amused: "I don't understand art, I just like it as long as it looks good."
Everyone found a piece of wood to use as a base and started working. Zhao Yin sat on a small stool next to me, with a pile of conchs in front of him, trying to figure out how to glue them together.
I stole a glance at his board, which already had a rough outline of a small boat glued to it. "You want to build a boat?" I asked.
"Yeah." He nodded and looked sideways at me, "What about you?"
"I haven't decided yet."
I held a small purple conch in my hand and spun it around, “Maybe I can make a star?”
He smiled and said, "It's good. Didn't you say last time that you liked the star lights?"
I was stunned for a moment. I didn't expect he still remembered it.
I placed the star-shaped lamp at the head of the bed. I didn’t dare take it out last night because I was afraid that he would see it and start to have wild thoughts.
Now that he mentioned this, my face turned red and I quickly lowered my head and pretended to study the shells.
The male guest next to him was looking at a pile of broken shells and was worried, muttering: "How can I stick these together? They keep falling off..."
Zhao Yin didn't look up, his hands still gluing the sails: "Use double-sided tape to fix it first, then apply glue."
"Really?" The male guest's eyes lit up and he quickly went to find double-sided tape.
I looked at Zhao Yin. He always seemed to notice the unspoken difficulties of others.
It was the same when he was on the crew before. If there were newcomers who didn’t know how to move, he would always give them some advice calmly, which would not hurt their feelings but would solve the problem at the same time.
"When you were in the group, did you always help your teammates?" I couldn't help but ask.
He paused in gluing the shells, then smiled and said, "Well, they are clumsy."
"You must be very tired then," I said.
As a captain, you have to take care of yourself and lead others, especially in such a competitive environment.
Although I haven't experienced it, I can imagine it to some extent.
He glanced at me and said, "It's okay. I felt I had something to look forward to at that time."
"What now?"
"It's there now," he said, his eyes fixed on the conch in my hand, "and it's clearer."
I don’t know what he meant by “aim”, but looking at the light in his eyes, I suddenly felt at ease.
It’s like no matter what’s ahead, as long as you follow him, you won’t get lost.
My phone vibrated in my pocket. It was a WeChat message from Zhao Yin's assistant: "Teacher Wenxi, the mangoes that Brother Yin asked me to send you have arrived. They are at the front desk of the B&B. Remember to pick them up."
I was stunned for a moment and looked up at Zhao Yin. He was sticking his head down to the bottom of the boat, as if nothing had happened.
This guy actually asked his assistant to send mangoes over.
"Did you ask your assistant to send the mangoes?" I asked.
He raised his eyelids and raised the corners of his mouth slightly: "Well, don't you like to eat?"
“But they’re sold here too.”
"It's different," he said. "This variety is sweet."
(It’s over, it’s going to be trending again!)
Chapter 6, Section 2
Halfway through the puzzle, Jiang Li suddenly came over with a large fan-shaped shell in her hand: "Wenxi, can you lend me this? I want to make a peacock with its tail spread out."
"Take it and use it," I said.
Just as she was about to take it, Zhao Yin suddenly said, "Be careful, the edge is sharp."
Narrator: I suggest you learn some English, thank you! I don't force you to learn it!
Jiang Li was stunned for a moment, then smiled: "Brother Yin is really careful, thank you."
After she left, I looked at Zhao Yin and asked, "How do you know everything?"
"I got scratched before," he said, picking up the small file I'd been using. "Take care of it so it doesn't cut you."
Was he like this at that time, sitting quietly in the corner, watching me clumsily deal with reporters, thinking in his heart how to help me?
“Zhao Yin,” I whispered, “Were you trying to remind me that my tie was crooked at the premiere five years ago?”
He paused polishing the shell and turned to look at me with a hint of surprise in his eyes. Then he smiled and said, "Yeah, I wanted to tell you, but I was afraid you'd be nervous."
"Then why didn't you find a chance to tell me?"
"I wanted to find one," he said, "but your agent dragged you out for a toast, so you never had the chance."
I remember that day, my agent dragged me into drinking several glasses of wine. I was so dizzy that I didn't even notice that my tie was crooked.
At that time, there was a person waiting in the corner for a long time just to remind me that my tie was crooked.
My heart suddenly felt a little sour and a little sweet.
It's like drinking a glass of lemonade with honey, refreshing, but with a bit of a bitter taste that makes you feel intoxicated.
"What happened next?" I asked. "Did you just leave?"
"Yeah." He nodded and handed the polished shell to Jiang Li, "See if you can handle it."
“I was obviously in a mess at that time.”
"Not in a mess," he said, his eyes serious. "Like a kitten with its fur standing up. It looks fierce, but it's actually very well behaved."
My face turned red all of a sudden. This guy actually compared me to a kitten.
"You are the cat." I muttered.
He smiled, revealing the fine lines at the corners of his eyes: "Yes, I am."
The male guest next to him happened to hear it and couldn't help laughing: "You two are quite interesting. One says he is a cat, and the other says the other is a cat."
I didn't say anything, just lowered my head and glued the stars, but my ears were burning. Zhao Yin didn't explain and continued gluing his sails.
By the evening, we had finally finished the work.
The male guest built a beach castle, Jiang Li built a peacock with its tail spread out, I built a starry sky, and Zhao Yin built a sailing ship.
The hostess at the B&B looked at them one by one, and finally pointed at Zhao Yin's boat and said, "This one is good. It looks energetic."
"Then I win?" Zhao Yin raised his eyebrows.
"Win, win."
Auntie smiled and said, "You order breakfast tomorrow."
"Then let's make some seafood porridge tomorrow morning," he said. "It's something light, everyone is tired."
"Okay." Auntie agreed readily.
Jiang Li pretended to sigh: "Hey, I thought I could eat something made by Brother Yin himself."
"Next time." Zhao Yin said, his eyes fixed on me, "Let Wenxi do it when his foot is healed."
"Me?" I was stunned for a moment, "My cooking is not good."
"I think it's good." He said, "The scrambled eggs with tomatoes you made last time were pretty good."
I remember it was at a charity dinner last year. It was a bit cold backstage, so I casually fried some scrambled eggs with tomatoes to warm everyone's hands. I didn't expect him to remember it.
"Didn't you say it was too salty at that time?" I asked.
"That's because I'm afraid you'll become proud," he said, with a slight smile on his face.
I looked at the smile in his eyes and realized that he was secretly saving face for me even when he was joking.
Chapter 6, Section 3
At dinner time, the aunt at the B&B brought a plate of mango pudding, which was shaky and sprinkled with some coconut flakes.
"This is for Wenxi." Auntie said with a smile, "Brother Yin asked me to make this specially."
I was stunned for a moment and looked up at Zhao Yin. He was drinking his porridge with his head down, as if nothing had happened. Xiao Chen was winking at me and mouthing, "I bumped into it."
I glared at her, picked up the spoon and took a sip of the pudding. It had a strong mango flavor, sweet but not greasy, just the taste I like.
"Is it delicious?" Zhao Yin asked.
"Mmm, delicious," I said.
He then looked up, his lips curled up slightly: "Eat more if you like it."
Jiang Li looked at us and suddenly smiled: "Brother Yin is so nice to Wenxi. If you don't know him, you would think he is your boyfriend."
I almost spit out a mouthful of pudding and quickly lowered my head to cough.
Zhao Yin put down the spoon and handed over a tissue: "Eat slowly."
"It was just a joke." Jiang Li said with a smile, "But seriously, you two look really good together."
"Sister Li, don't talk nonsense," I said.
Zhao Yin didn't say anything. He just picked up my bowl and poured some seafood soup into it: "Drink some soup to moisten your throat."
His actions were very natural, as if taking care of me like this was a matter of course.
But I know he is never like this to everyone.
Backstage at the awards ceremony, an actress wanted him to hand her a glass of water, but he just pointed to the waiter next to him.
It seems like he always makes many "exceptions" for me.
After dinner, everyone went for a walk in the yard, and Zhao Yin and I stayed in the kitchen to help clean up.
Actually, there was nothing much to clean up, as Auntie had already put away most of the dishes.
"Let me do it," I said, reaching for the rag.
But he took it first: "You sit down, I'll do it."
"But I have nothing to do."
"Then look at me," he said.
I sat on the small stool next to him and watched him wash the dishes.
He washes the dishes very neatly. He rinses them first, then uses detergent, and finally rinses them with clean water and arranges them neatly.
"Did you often cook for yourself in the past?" I asked.
"Well, when I was training abroad, I got tired of eating takeout all the time," he said. "Then I learned to make it myself."
“It must be very hard for you,” I said.
I have to train and cook for myself at the same time. Just thinking about it makes me tired.
He finished washing the last bowl and turned to look at me, rag still in hand: "It's okay, I felt free at that time."
"What now?"
"I'm freer now," he said, his eyes fixed on my face, "because I have someone I want to eat with."
I looked into his eyes, and there was a sea there, and I seemed to really sink into it.
Chapter 6, Section 4
Back in the living room, Xiao Chen was browsing Weibo on his phone. When he saw us come in, his eyes lit up: "Teacher Wen, Brother Yin, look! #RareSilverShellContest# is trending!"
I leaned over to take a look, and sure enough, I saw this entry on the hot search list. When I clicked on it, all I saw were photos of us putting together shells that afternoon.
There were times when Zhao Yin helped me hold the shell, times when I handed Zhao Yin glue, and times when we talked with our heads close together. The angles were all perfect.
"Ahhh, this distance! I bet it's less than ten centimeters!"
[The look in Brother Yin's eyes when he looks at Xixi is so gentle that it could make water come out of him!]
[The stars and the boat they made! Does that have any meaning? Stars and boats, sailing towards the sea of stars?]
[I now seriously suspect that the production team is a fan of the couple! Otherwise, why would they film so many details!]
I scrolled down and saw someone had posted a video of Zhao Yin helping Jiang Li polish the edge of a shell. The caption read, "Brother Yin tells everyone else to 'be careful,' but helps Xixi directly. This difference in treatment is too obvious!"
Someone responded: "+1! Brother Yin's hands were shaking when he was serving soup to Xixi! He was definitely moved!"
"My hands are not shaking at all." Zhao Yin stood behind me at some point, with a hint of helplessness in his tone.
When did he come here?
"You walk without making any sound," I said.
"You were just too engrossed," he said, his eyes fixed on my phone screen. "What else did they say?"
"Nothing." I quickly logged out of Weibo and put my phone back in my pocket.
Xiao Chen smiled ambiguously beside him: "Brother Yin, fans say you are a 'detail control' and know Teacher Wen's preferences very well."
Zhao Yin didn't deny it. He just picked up the mango on the table and handed it to me: "Eat it, it's very sweet."
"You eat too." I said, taking the biggest one and handing it to him.
He took it, but didn't eat it. He just peeled it with a fruit knife.
He is very good at peeling apples, and the peel can be connected into a line. The same is true for peeling mangoes. His knife skills are very steady, and he can even scrape the flesh on the core cleanly.
"Here." He handed me the peeled mango with a toothpick stuck in it.
"Thank you." I took it and took a bite. It was indeed very sweet, much sweeter than the ones I bought in the supermarket.
"Is it delicious?" he asked.
"Mmm, super sweet," I said.
Only then did he pick up his mango and eat it slowly.
I looked at him. This scene was beautiful. There were no cameras, no hot searches. It was just two people sitting in the living room, eating a mango quietly, like ordinary friends.
But I know in my heart that we are no longer just ordinary friends.
My phone vibrated in my pocket. It was a Weibo push from the "Xiyouyin" super topic: [High energy ahead! A fan captured Brother Yin's assistant delivering mangoes to Teacher Wenxi! And they were air-shipped!]
There is a photo below, which shows Zhao Yin’s assistant and the front desk staff of the B&B. He is holding a large box with a mango pattern printed on it.
[Ahhh, air-shipped mangoes! What a divine gift!]
[I checked, this variety is hard to find and must be ordered in advance! Brother Yin is definitely well prepared!]
[“Because you like to eat”—I will remember this sentence forever! ]
[Who dares to call them brothers now? This is clearly love!]
I was looking at the photo. Zhao Yin came over and took a look. He didn't say anything, but just reached out to wipe the juice from the corner of my mouth.
"Eat slowly," he said.
I looked at his face so close to me and thought, maybe it's just like this, there's nothing wrong with it.
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