Second Take On Romance - The A-List Actor Wants Me
Chapter 81 : Stuck Together For Two Weeks (4)

Chapter 81: Chapter 81 : Stuck Together For Two Weeks (4)

The participants spent the remaining time of the day being coached by the elderly couple.

Shen Jingwei, Yan Renzhong, Ye Lingxia, and Lin Ruoye took their lessons from Auntie Chen while Lang Yuxuan and Feng Jietang went outside with Uncle Wang to check out the fields and the river.

At night, they were treated to a sumptuous dinner by their host.

There were a plate of sauteed string beans with garlic and chili sauce, a bowl of wintermelon soup with chicken broth, a basket of pork and vegetable buns, and also a plate full of fried carps.

"We caught the carp ourselves this morning," Uncle Wang announced proudly. "Here, here, everyone, please have a taste."

"Thank you, Uncle and Auntie," Shen Jingwei said. He then began distributing the fried carp to everyone’s bowl, starting with the elders.

"Thank you, thank you."

Feng Jietang took a bite of the fried carp and his eyes rolled backward from the sheer taste.

"Oh, my God," he exclaimed. "Auntie, will you please stay with us for the next fourteen days? I will pay you as soon as this show concludes."

Auntie Chen giggled.

"I cannot," she said. "Old Wang and I are going to take a private tour across the country!"

Feng Jietang’s mouth fell open in amazement.

"Really? Oh, that’s so amazing."

"Yes, it really is," Uncle Wang confirmed. "We have been living here for decades. We have never gone on a trip before. So this is truly a heaven-sent blessing for us."

"If you don’t mind, Uncle and Auntie, why not share your itinerary with us? We can tell you about the best places to visit," Lin Ruoye said.

"Oh, really? What an amazing idea. Let’s go through the itinerary after dinner!" The couple exclaimed in excitement.

After dinner, Auntie Chen wanted to wash the dishes but Shen Jingwei went ahead of her.

"Auntie, it’s fine. I will handle the dishes."

"Ohh, but... I am still here for the next two days, so..."

"Don’t be silly, Auntie," Shen Jingwei laughed. "I can’t just sit around and let you do the chores. Please go through your trip itinerary with the others in the living room."

"Thank you, young man..."

Auntie Chen left, and Yan Renzhong came into the kitchen.

Wordlessly, he tied an apron around himself and started drying the dishes Shen Jingwei just washed.

"I can do it on my own," Shen Jingwei said meekly.

"You are not the only one in charge."

Yan Renzhong placed a dry bowl onto the dish rack.

"We will work together for the next fourteen days."

Shen Jingwei pressed his lips together into a thin line.

"Mm," he said. "Let’s help each other."

"Yeah."

"..."

Thus Shen Jingwei continued washing the dishes.

Next to him, Yan Renzhong continued drying the dishes.

Shen Jingwei gnawed at his cheek, lost in thought as the rhythmic chirping of cicadas filled the air outside the kitchen window.

Years of unspoken words had created an awkward distance between them, a barrier that seemed insurmountable.

Without a script to follow, Shen Jingwei found it difficult to navigate their interactions, his movements tentative and uncertain.

Silence had become their default language, a constant companion that filled the void left by their lost connection.

Shen Jingwei shot a side glance at the camera team behind them.

If it went on this way, their ratings would suffer. The drama, in turn, would be impacted negatively.

At the very least, he needed to generate the most basic level of friendship with Yan Renzhong.

"So, uh, would you care for some ginger milk before bed?" He asked after they finished.

Yan Renzhong stared at him in response.

Shen Jingwei sweatdropped.

"It has a lot of health benefits," Shen Jingwei argued. "I will make enough for everyone. You should... Erm... Just take a seat at the table."

"I will help you peel and slice the ginger," Yan Renzhong took out a knife and a cutting board. "Now, where is the ginger?"

"Uhhh..."

Shen Jingwei drew a stool and began rummaging through the top cupboard.

"I was pretty sure I saw it somewhere here before."

It seemed that he accessed the wrong cupboard. This one was filled with big pans and large soup pots.

"I think it’s over there..."

As Shen Jingwei shifted his weight, his foot dangled in mid-air, sending a jolt of surprise through his body. His eyes widened in alarm as he realized too late that he was standing on a stool.

"... Ah...!"

Shen Jingwei’s foot slipped on the stool, causing him to lose his balance. He squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for impact, but Yan Renzhong was there to catch him, wrapping his arms around his waist just in time.

Shen Jingwei almost stopped breathing on the spot.

Yan Renzhong’s face was pressed against his stomach, while Shen Jingwei’s arms were draped around Yan Renzhong’s neck.

"Be careful," he said with a sigh.

"Thanks," Shen Jingwei mumbled.

He wanted a warmer interaction between them, but he didn’t want the camera to capture them hugging each other on their first night together.

How embarrassing...

Once the ginger milk was ready, they brought eight steaming glasses to the living room.

With no phones to search for the best sightseeing spots, the other four had to jog their memories to recall the time they went to the specific areas.

"Oh, I remember having a great meal in a restaurant at Jialin Street!" Ye Lingxia snapped with her fingers. "I forgot the name of the restaurant, but it was pretty close to the Bowen Glass Bridge."

"Jialin Street? Was it a seafood restaurant?" Feng Jietang asked.

"Yeah! I think it was! Their oysters were particularly fresh!"

When she saw Shen Jingwei and Yan Renzhong balancing trays of glasses in their hands, she quickly rose to her feet.

"Senior Shen, Senior Yan, allow me to help..."

"Oh, what do we have here?" Uncle Wang’s eyes sparkled in delight.

"Ginger milk with a shot of honey," Shen Jingwei said as he distributed the glasses of milk. "I hope everyone can sleep well tonight."

The sweet and spicy milk was a soothing balm for their agitated nerves after a long day, but Feng Jietang and Lang Yuxuan were pretty sure that they wouldn’t be able to sleep a wink that night.

It was their first night with their respective crush.