Chapter 32
"It's okay. I have a high alcohol tolerance and won't get drunk even if I wanted to."
Although she said that, Cheng An still put down her glass after Tang Yao's persuasion.
Cheng An wasn't wearing makeup, making her look much younger. She sat lazily in her chair, letting the breeze blow through her long, flowing hair.
"Yao Yao, do you have someone you like?" Cheng An suddenly turned and asked.
Tang Yao shook her head: "No."
"That's good." Cheng An sighed in relief.
After saying that, Cheng An fell silent. A long time passed. It was so long that when Tang Yao thought the conversation was over, Cheng An spoke again.
"I used to think having a secret crush was really pretentious. But now I’m in that shoe, I found that even the one word ‘love’ feels like it weighs a ton, so heavy in my heart and I can't say it." Cheng An sat cross-legged on the chair, finally finding someone to confide in about the words she had kept bottled up for years. "Looking back now, the past was really good. I could follow him around without restraint, secretly watching him, and then quickly look away when his gaze fell on me."
"When did things change? Was it when I was still in high school and he had already gone to university?" Cheng An was lost in memories and her voice slightly unsteady. "After he went to university, he seemed very busy and our contact gradually decreased. I went from following him around to only being able to see him occasionally. So, I studied hard, hoping to get into the same university as him."
"Unfortunately, by the time I got into his university, he had already gone abroad. By the time he returned, I had entered the entertainment industry. And by the time I finally reached the top, he was getting engaged to someone else. So I went abroad, just to escape. For so many years, it feels like I've been running after him the whole time. I'm tired." Cheng An smiled, a hint of weariness in her smile.
"Lu Nan got engaged?" Tang Yao asked, somewhat surprised.
Cheng An nodded. "I heard it with my own ears."
"If you're tired, take a break. Three-legged frogs are hard to find, but two-legged men are plentiful. If this one doesn't work out, just find another." Tang Yao rested her chin on her hand. Having traveled through so many small worlds for so many years, her mental age was probably several hundred years old. Although she hadn't experienced love and romance, she was rather indifferent to it.
Cheng An turned back to look at her with some surprise. Then she reached out and ruffled Tang Yao's hair. "I didn't expect someone as cute as you, like a porcelain doll, to say something like that."
Tang Yao frowned and smoothed her messy hair, making Cheng An laugh heartily. At the same time, she silently mourned for Lu Bei for a minute. She had already foreseen Lu Bei's long and winding road to winning her.
"Do you want to stay here for a few days after this show ends? Just to relax," Tang Yao asked. "Help me with some chores. Having something to do will keep you from thinking so much."
Tang Yao had told herself the same thing when she first entered the quick transmigration world and missed home and her parents.
"Okay," Cheng An said when looking at Tang Yao. She felt an unprecedented sense of peace from the person in front of her and from this garden.
That night, Cheng An said many things she had kept hidden in her heart and Tang Yao was naturally a good listener.
The next day, Tang Yao slept in late, while Cheng An was already in the field helping to pick vegetables.
Perhaps because she had finally poured out her pent-up feelings, Cheng An looked exceptionally radiant today.
When Tang Yao got up for breakfast, she happened to run into Lu Nan, who was also enjoying breakfast in the restaurant.
Having even changed out of his suit jacket into casual clothes, Lu Nan looked remarkably relaxed and seemingly truly enjoyed his rare vacation.
"Good morning," Lu Nan greeted Tang Yao. "The food here is unexpectedly delicious."
"I'm glad you like it."
This morning's breakfast was crab roe soup dumplings. The slightly translucent skin that encased tender meat filling was still steaming slightly.
Paired with freshly squeezed, rich soy milk, the dumplings warmed him up completely.
After breakfast, Lu Nan strolled around the guesthouse's small garden.
The fragrance of the flowers and plants made him feel incredibly comfortable, a comfort he couldn't find even in the softest leather chair or on the most expensive carpet.
His gaze fell upon the flowers and plants in the garden. These plants seemed to be the key. He'd heard each one was valuable. No wonder everyone was vying to curry favor with Tang Yao.
His younger brother was truly climbing high.
Thinking this, a faint smile appeared on Lu Nan's lips.
The guests were still busy in the fields, having spontaneously organized a competition to see who could pick the most vegetables and damage the fewest.
Du Meijuan had been keeping the atmosphere lively, providing plenty of laughs.
Netizens were also shipping various CP, including Du Meijuan and Shen Wentao, Qiao Yunyun and Sun Yi, and even Cheng An and Zhang Qing. This was because when Cheng An almost slipped and fell in the field, Zhang Qing, who happened to be passing by, caught her by the waist and pulled her back with one hand.
This scene was captured and saved by netizens. Even the fleeting glance between the two were described in hundreds of words.
Netizens all said Zhang Qing's boyfriend-like strength was off the charts.
The netizens' imaginations were so wildly imaginative that even the involved party would find it both hilarious and absurd.
While they were all filming, Tang Yao packed several fruit baskets and together with Xu Haocheng, she delivered them to Aunt Li's small shop across the street.
It wasn't the weekend, so there weren't many tourists and Aunt Li didn't need many fruit baskets.
Aunt Li was talking to the little girl she had recently hired. Seeing Tang Yao and Xu Haocheng approach, she quickly stood up and took the fruit baskets from Tang Yao's hands.
"I told you I’ll go get them yourself, why did you bring them to me?"
"I was just about to go out to buy some things, so I brought them on my way. Aunt Li, are you busy today?" Tang Yao put down the fruit baskets.
Xu Haocheng knew that this auntie didn't particularly like him, so he didn't try to make his presence known and quietly followed beside Tang Yao.
"Not busy at all, we were just talking about Xiao Duo’s matter." Xiao Duo was the little girl Aunt Li had brought back.
"What's wrong with Xiao Duo?"
"Her parents called. They kept hinting they still wanted to marry her off to that neighboring bachelor. They said they've promised a dowry of 100,000 yuan." Aunt Li's face darkened. "Ultimately, they think making money here is too slow and want to use their daughter to get more money. What kind of parents are they?"
Xiao Duo lowered her head. Her eyes red-rimmed, looking like she had just been crying.
"Didn't you think about calling the police?" Tang Yao frowned.
"Call the police? Can the police handle this? Isn't this a private family matter?" Aunt Li asked in surprise.
"Many people think like you. But actually, forcing a daughter to marry against her will, even if it's her own parents, is unacceptable. You can call the police and the local women's federation will get involved. I suggest you get your identity information back. It's better not to go back to this kind of home." The last sentence was directed at Xiao Duo.
Xiao Duo looked up, staring blankly at Tang Yao, perhaps not expecting that this was possible.
Looking at the little girl's still chubby face, Tang Yao couldn't resist pinching it before turning and leaving with Xu Haocheng.
"Just listen to this elder sister, she's very capable," Aunt Li said.
Xiao Duo nodded after a long while.
The main reason Tang Yao brought Xu Haocheng out today was to buy him clothes.
Xu Haocheng had left in a hurry and lacking common sense, he brought almost nothing. The guesthouse had plenty of toiletries, but there were no clothes suitable for him.
Xu Haocheng's two sets of clothes had been washed and worn countless times, almost to the point of being worn smooth.
Tang Yao had thought that this young master wouldn't be used to the clothes sold in small towns since they weren't designer brands, but he didn't complain at all. He obediently accepted whatever Tang Yao picked out for him.
This surprised Tang Yao.
Seeing Tang Yao's gaze, Xu Haocheng turned his head away. "I'm afraid if I act out too much and you'll kick me out."
Tang Yao raised an eyebrow slightly. "At least you know your place. Let's pay and go."
On their way back after buying her things, someone called out to her.
"Tang Yao, I'm getting married on the eighth of next month. Do you have time to come for a drink at the wedding?"
Tang Yao recognized the beaming young woman in front of her. She was the girl from her past life who had been violated by thugs and then hanged herself.
Tang Yao and Lu Bei had taken the thugs to the police station and the girl had escaped that disaster. Now, she was happily preparing for her wedding with her fiancé.
Tang Yao smiled back. "Sure, I have time. I'll be there on time."
The girl waved to Tang Yao before running towards the man waiting for her.
On the way, Tang Yao strolled through the food street, eating her way from one end to the other with Xu Haocheng. When she finally walked back slowly, she supported her stomach.
On the way, Xu Haocheng looked at the pile of snacks Tang Yao hadn't finished. A silly grin appeared on his face, completely unconcerned about being used as a food recycling bin.
He never seemed this happy when he was with Xu Wan.
Was this what blood ties were like?
Watching Tang Yao's retreating figure, Xu Haocheng regretted his recklessness when Tang Yao returned to the Xu Family. He knew the damage he caused back then could never be undone. He could only silently make a firm resolution, regardless of whether Tang Yao acknowledged him or not, he would protect elder sister.
When the two returned to the guesthouse, it was already noon. The guests had just finished eating and were turning off the live stream to rest.
Lu Bei's eyes darkened slightly as he saw the two entering through the front door.
Walking beside him, Sun Yi suddenly rubbed his arms. He glanced up at the bright sunshine overhead with a puzzled look: "Why does it suddenly feel a bit cold in this bright sun?"
Tang Yao greeted everyone and went straight back to her small house. Xu Haocheng followed closely behind.
Despite knowing that Xu Haocheng was Tang Yao's biological younger brother, this scene still felt particularly jarring to Lu Bei.
This episode of the variety show ended amidst Huang Yong's worries and a cheerful atmosphere. Cheng An indeed stayed at the guesthouse. Due to this, an interview and an advertisement shoot was turned down. However, at her level, there was no need to worry so much.
To Tang Yao's surprise, Lu Bei and Lu Nan also stayed.
Lu Nan even temporarily moved his work to the guesthouse, working from his room with the window open. Since the room and food expenses they paid were sufficient, Tang Yao had no objections.
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