Lin Qinghe initially thought it was her imagination, until the next morning. After finishing her morning routine, she went out and bumped into You Rong. Just as she was about to smile and greet him, You Rong glanced at her and walked away expressionlessly.
Lin Qinghe stood frozen in place, a question mark on her face.
???
What was wrong with You Rong this time?
Lin Qinghe, too lazy to guess, quickly caught up to You Rong ahead and asked, "You Rong, wait up... Did I do something to upset you?"
You Rong pursed his thin lips and calmly shook his head. "No, you didn't do anything wrong. In fact, I'm very grateful that you got injured saving me the other day."
Was that really true?
Why couldn't she see any trace of gratitude from him?
As Lin Qinghe was about to ask further, a staff member from the production crew called them over to the small courtyard. You Rong directly ended the conversation, "The director is calling us. Let's go over first."
Lin Qinghe had no choice but to swallow the words that were on the tip of her tongue and sheepishly followed You Rong.
The director of the production crew announced today's tasks. Lin Qinghe listened absentmindedly, not really absorbing much. It wasn't until Zhou Cheng'en and the others had initially discussed their plans and asked for her opinion that she snapped back to reality.
Lin Qinghe looked at them somewhat confusedly, "Huh? What were you just saying?"
Wen Qianyi looked at her with some concern, "Sister Qinghe, we were saying that since we completed the task of helping our neighbors decorate their new house and wedding venue the day before yesterday, we received five hundred yuan in cash. Today, we don't plan to get more ingredients. We intend to complete the task of picking tangerines to exchange for a gas stove. This way, it will be much more convenient for us to cook in the coming days, and we won't have to build a fire on the stove. As for today's ingredients... we plan to have you and You Rong go to the market to buy them. Since your leg injury hasn't fully healed, it's best for you to help prepare lunch and dinner at home."
Lin Qinghe, thinking she might have some alone time with You Rong, was about to agree when You Rong unexpectedly interjected, "I think it would be better if you two girls went to the market to buy things. I'll go pick tangerines with Cheng'en and Zheng Yi. It's better for men to do the physical labor."
What You Rong said made sense, but Lin Qinghe still felt something was off.
Wen Qianyi looked troubled, unsure whether to agree. She could sense that Lin Qinghe really wanted to be in the same group as You Rong, although she didn't know why.
Wen Qianyi tentatively asked, "Sister Qinghe, what do you think? Let's hear your opinion."
You Rong's words were valid; physical labor was indeed better suited for men. Even though she wanted to be with You Rong, she felt it wasn't good for a young girl like Wen Qianyi to go up the mountain to pick tangerines.
Lin Qinghe said, "Let's do as You Rong suggested. Let the three boys go up the mountain to pick tangerines, and we'll go to the market to buy groceries to prepare lunch and dinner."
"Okay! Then... it's decided. We'll head up the mountain. Sister Qinghe and Qianyi, you'll stay home," Zhou Cheng'en said.
Lin Qinghe nodded, "Yes, be careful when you're working."
Lin Qinghe said this while looking at You Rong, but he looked straight ahead, seemingly oblivious. It wasn't appropriate to press him further in front of the cameras, so Lin Qinghe could only watch them leave.
Lin Qinghe and Wen Qianyi went to the market and bought pork, fish, seafood, and some vegetables. They brought them back to the kitchen of the small courtyard. Coupled with the other items delivered by their neighbors in the past two days, Lin Qinghe decided to make today's meal more abundant. Su Dan Novel Network.
Wen Qianyi looked at Lin Qinghe processing the ingredients with admiration. "Sister Qinghe, I'm so lucky to be on the show with you. Your cooking skills are amazing. I'll eat as much as I want, even if I gain a few pounds!"
Lin Qinghe smiled, "Then I'll cook a larger portion today, so you can eat your fill!"
"Great! Today I'm going to indulge! No... I'm going to indulge twice! I want to indulge at lunch too!"
"Mm, no problem," Lin Qinghe readily agreed.
After preparing lunch, Lin Qinghe and Wen Qianyi ate it and then packed it into food containers to deliver to You Rong and the others on the mountain.
Upon reaching the mountain, Lin Qinghe held out the food containers with anticipation, "This is today's lunch, braised pork noodles and stir-fried vegetables. Hurry up and try it... see if you like it?"
You Rong grunted, took the containers, and started eating, without offering any specific comments. Lin Qinghe couldn't help but ask again, "How is it? Does it taste good?"
You Rong replied indifferently, "It's fine."
Lin Qinghe: "..."
You Rong was inexplicably strange today, but when she looked closely, she couldn't pinpoint what was strange about him.
After You Rong finished lunch, just as Lin Qinghe was about to speak to him, You Rong put down the food containers, thanked her, and said he needed to continue picking tangerines to complete today's task. He then got up and went straight to picking tangerines, leaving Lin Qinghe standing alone, feeling inexplicably stifled.
Lin Qinghe was not discouraged in the slightest and continued to try various ways to get close to You Rong. However, as the evening approached and one day after another passed, until the last day of filming, Lin Qinghe had made no progress.
Lin Qinghe's heart sank. For the first time, she suspected she was facing a major setback in her life.
It had been a whole week, seven days! They had been in close proximity, yet the progress bar had only increased by a meager five percent!
Lin Qinghe took a deep breath to calm herself. After exchanging pleasantries with the director and other crew members, she walked over to You Rong. "You Rong, are you taking a car to town? Or back to the city? I can give you a ride if it's on my way. My assistant and the company car are picking me up."
You Rong maintained his indifferent attitude. "I've already called a car, it will be here soon. You don't need to bother."
As if on cue, a car pulled up. You Rong, without waiting for Lin Qinghe to reply, continued, "My car is here, I'm leaving now. Goodbye."
Lin Qinghe gritted her teeth secretly but didn't break character, smiling and waving goodbye. "Okay, goodbye. I'll invite you out for a meal sometime."
You Rong nodded and got into the car without looking back.
As the car disappeared from view, Lin Qinghe comforted herself. Yesterday, Zhang Shanghua had said that he had successfully signed You Rong to his film and television company. She wouldn't lack opportunities to meet him later, so there was no need to rush now.
Lin Qinghe calmed her emotions, opened the car door, got in, and closed her eyes to rest.
Yuan Xiao'ai, in the passenger seat, kept glancing at Lin Qinghe in the rearview mirror. Finally, she couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Sister Qinghe, are you unhappy?"
Lin Qinghe suddenly opened her eyes. "Huh? Why do you ask? I'm not unhappy. Am I looking unhappy?"
Yuan Xiao'ai shrank back. "No... I was just asking casually, hehe..."
She didn't dare to say that since You Rong had left, Lin Qinghe's face had clearly displayed "I'm very unhappy."
Just then, Lin Qinghe's phone rang. She picked it up and saw it was a call from Zhang Shanghua.
As soon as Lin Qinghe answered, Zhang Shanghua's excited voice came from the other end of the phone: "My darling, have you finished filming today? Are you back in the city? Should Daddy pick you up? Are you free? Daddy wants to take you out to eat!"
Lin Qinghe's eyes flickered. "Dad, send me your address. I'll come to your place to find you."
Zhang Shanghua was naturally overjoyed. "Ah! Okay, I'll send it to you right away. What do you want to eat? Daddy will go buy it now and cook for you himself!"
"I'm not picky, anything is fine..."
After hanging up the phone, Lin Qinghe narrowed her eyes slightly.
Now that You Rong was an artist signed under Zhang Shanghua, it would be effortless for her to arrange for them to collaborate on a drama.
She didn't believe that after spending several months filming together, she still wouldn't be able to gain You Rong's favor!