Chapter 155: Shameful
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
“Alright.” Xi Mo nodded.
She did prefer living alone, it would be more quiet and comfortable. But her first impression of A’cuo Rize and his wife was very good. Moreover, after hearing his description of the friend who might live next door, being very clean, and wouldn’t disturb her, she felt it was acceptable.
“If my friend confirms the time, I’ll let you know.” A’cuo Rize took out three keys strung together on a key ring and handed them to Xi Mo. “Miss Xi, this one is your room key, this one is the main door key, and this one is the yard gate. Keep them safe.”
“Thank you.” Xi Mo took them.
After showing her the room, A’cuoe Rize led Xi Mo around the house, pointing out where commonly used things were. Ranla Changxiu also brought tea, a Yi specialty tea with a very interesting taste, along with snacks she made herself.
Xi Mo rarely ate at night, but seeing Ranla Changxiu’s warm effort to host her, she couldn’t refuse. She tasted a few bites and found it was a flavor she had never tried before.
As she tasted, her eyes seemed to brighten a little.
“Good… not good?” Ranla Changxiu asked with a friendly smile. Her Chinese is not fluent, but she still tried to speak with Xi Mo. That effort made her seem even more simple and genuine.
“Good.” Xi Mo quickly said.
"Miss Xi, if you don't mind, come and have dinner with me and A’xiong." Ranla Changxiu said, "I'll cook... for you. Eating at home is cleaner than eating outside."
Zhang Zhiyin said Ranla Changxiu’s cooking was tasty. This time Xi Mo tasted the snacks made by Ranla Changxiu, and confirmed it even more.
She quickly thanked her, “How could I mind, I am happy to eat with you.”
“Then what dish… do you want to eat? You tell me, I will go to the market tomorrow morning to buy food.”
“Auntie Ranla, you arrange it. I just cannot eat seafood and the likes, I am allergic, even a little touch will not do.”
“Understood.” When Ranla Changxiu heard she was allergic, her face grew more serious, “I will pay attention.”
“Can I… bring friends over to eat?” Xi Mo thought for a moment, then asked.
If it was really that delicious, she wanted Ruan Yesheng to try it too.
"Of course." Ranla Changxiu said with a smile: "If you want to...invite your friends, just tell me in advance and I will prepare a few more dishes."
“Thank you.” Xi Mo felt living here was very comfortable.
After that, Dong Zhiyuan sent a suitcase over for Xi Mo, helping her carry it all the way into the room.
Xi Mo finished her bath, but she isn't sleepy yet. She stood on the second-floor hallway and looked down. She saw Ranla Changxiu and A’cuo Rize sitting around an electric heated table, watching TV downstairs.
Ranla Changxiu noticed her, quickly waved, and invited her to come down and watch together.
Xi Mo walked over and sat beside them. The electric heated table was covered with a thick cloth, locking the warmth inside. Xi Mo’s home used direct heating, she rarely experienced this kind of electric heated table. When she sat in, she felt warmth spread through all her limbs and bones.
The old couple were amused by the TV show, laughing cheerfully.
During the commercial break, Ranla Changxiu saw a jewelry commercial. The spokesperson on it wore a gown with a trailing back hem. Her bearing was outstanding. The gown outlined her waist so slim it could be held in one hand. Together with the dazzling jewelry, it shone all the more.
The jewelry was expensive.
This spokesperson looked even more priceless.
When the close-up of the spokesperson’s face appeared on the TV screen, Ranla Changxiu and A’cuo Rize both turned to stare at Xi Mo.
Xi Mo: “…”
They knew Xi Mo was a celebrity, and the variety show team gave her special care this time. But seeing Xi Mo’s commercial on TV, while Xi Mo sat with them at the heated table, roasting by the fire and watching TV, still felt very wonderful.
“…Miss Xi, is this brand especially good?” Ranla Changxiu thought since Xi Mo advertised this jewelry, then this brand must be very good.
She looked like she trusted Xi Mo a lot.
“It is okay.” Xi Mo said. She cherished her feathers, she would not take ads carelessly. She only accepted after carefully checking the company’s background, reputation, and product quality.
“A’xiong, then let us buy this brand.” Ranla Changxiu looked at A’cuo Rize.
“Okay.” A’cuo Rize smiled.
“What do you want to buy?” Xi Mo asked one more. She felt Ranla Changxiu and A’cuo Rize were not the type who needed jewelry, unless it was a big matter, like children’s marriage, or some anniversary.
“Buy a pair of rings.” Ranla Changxiu said, “When I married A’xiong before, our condition was not good, we had no rings. Now the family is getting better, we want to make up for it.”
Xi Mo understood, “Then what kind of ring do you want to buy, platinum, diamond, or gold?”
Ranla Changxiu smiled, “Gold, it is practical.”
Xi Mo nodded. Gold rings were indeed what couples of their age would choose.
“Eat.” Ranla Changxiu handed Xi Mo some snacks. Her mind was simple. She did not know about how strict female stars were with their figure. She even peeled an orange for Xi Mo, “This is also sweet.”
The coldness of winter melted away, letting Xi Mo feel a long-lost relaxation, and even taste the warmth of home. She was surprised. What she could not feel at Xi Ji’s place, she felt here at a homestay owner she just met.
This place was very good.
She liked staying here.
If Ruan Yesheng could also be here, then it would be even better.
She would like it even more.
The houses used by the program crew for filming were two, next to each other. Before moving in, Ruan Yesheng needed to choose which one.
Zhang Zhiyin and Ye Ye were the resident guest hosts there every episode. As for this episode’s flying guests, besides Ruan Yesheng and Shen Qingbie, there was a little floret from TV, a popular traffic star, a veteran movie actor, and also two rookie girl group members now being hyped, coming to build some face recognition.
Shen Qingbie lived in the left house. In her heart, she hoped Ruan Yesheng would live with her. But moving in needed to be decided by drawing lots, so she secretly went to find Zhang Zhiyin, “Zhiyin, do you have some black case operation*, to let me live in the same house with Ruanruan.”
*暗/黑箱操作 ànxiāngcāozuò (or hēixiāngcāozuò) - behind-the-scenes manipulation
Zhang Zhiyin smiled meaningfully, “Black case operation?”
This is Shen Qingbie’s second time joining this variety show. She and Shen Qingbie were already familiar. In fact, she long knew that the quiet elegance Shen Qingbie showed before the media and fans was a persona. In truth, Shen Qingbie is a bit scheming, and even a bit silly. She instead liked this side of Shen Qingbie.
Zhang Zhiyin had high EQ, and saw people accurately, but wouldn’t expose them.
In variety shows, true temperament often appeared. Back in the first season, Shen Qingbie already drew much popularity, because everyone felt her performance on the show was very different from the impression she gave outside, and they all thought it was cute.
“Yes, just some small trick quietly, not letting others find out, okay?” Shen Qingbie pulled Zhang Zhiyin aside, “You live in the same house with me. You and Ruanruan are so close, don't you want Ruanruan to also stay over? We can lie down together and chat and sleep.”
Seeing Zhang Zhiyin not speaking, she quickly added, “You have so much say in this program. You can do a black case, later edit it a bit, it should work, right?”
Zhang Zhiyin looked at her anxious look, wanted to laugh even more, and asked back, “Why do you think it was such a coincidence that you will be staying together with me?”
Shen Qingbie froze for a moment, then was overjoyed.
As expected of Zhiyin, great indeed.
Zhang Zhiyin leaned close to Shen Qingbie’s ear and said a few words while Shen Qingbie nodded excitedly.
The lottery process also needed filming. Zhang Zhiyin brought a small paper box to Ruan Yesheng, letting her reach inside to take a slip. The box was full of slips, each with a number written. If she draws an odd number, she will go to the left house. If she draws an even number, she will go to the right house where Ye Ye stays.
Ye Ye was good at livening the mood. She clasped her hands together in prayer beside her, “Please, please, let Ruanruan draw an even number!”
Ruan Yesheng groped inside, pulled out one slip, and slowly unfolded it.
The number on it was seven.
Shen Qingbie was overjoyed. She hurried to hug Ruan Yesheng, “Ruanruan, we’re staying together!”
Ruan Yesheng also smiled and hugged her back, gently patting her on the back.
Ye Ye and Zhang Zhiyin were old partners. How could she not know the tricks Zhang Zhiyin played in secret? The slips in the box now were all odd numbers. She understood it clearly. Zhang Zhiyin never hid it from her. They shared a bond and a tacit understanding.
Ye Ye knew everything, yet still sighed and acted along with Zhang Zhiyin’s play, “Zhiyin, you've snatched another big beauty! So sad, I’m the sad one.”
Currently, only the traffic star and the veteran actor moved in. The young floret and the two rookie girl group members haven’t arrived yet.
The traffic star Wang Yanhe has a somewhat feminine look. Many male viewers mock him as a “girly girl”. But his face is good, with many girlfriend fans crazy for him.
Wang Yanhe stands at the side and self-mocks, “Sister Ye, I will wear women’s clothes for you! I may not count as a big beauty, but I should look like a woman.”
“You said it yourself.” Ye Ye is amused now, tapping him with her finger, “Everyone here is witness.”
Wang Yanhe says, “A gentleman’s word, even four horses cannot chase. If I say I will wear women’s clothes, then I will wear women’s clothes.”
The veteran actor couldn’t understand what kind of crossdressing game the young people were playing, but he was tolerant, standing on the side smiling and watching the fun.
The group didn’t have a script, they just chatted casually. Wang Yanhe even took the initiative to help Ruan Yesheng carry her suitcase upstairs. Later, the TV drama floret and two girl group rookies also arrived one after another, and they drew lots to divide the houses.
The young floret was assigned to Ye Ye’s group, and the other two rookies went to the house where Zhang Zhiyin was.
The two rookies debuted in a girl group, so in front of seniors they were still very well-behaved and humble. But no matter if it was their clothes or hair color, both were so similar that from the back, it was hard to tell them apart at first glance.
Luckily their facial features looked different, or with Shen Qingbie’s way of thinking, she might’ve called the wrong name when half-asleep early in the morning.
Ruan Yesheng’s house had four rooms in total, but there were five people, so the two rookies shared one room.
The cameras hadn’t stopped yet. Shen Qingbie was chatting with Ruan Yesheng in the living room. They had both taken showers, now bare-faced without makeup, their skin was so dewy and tender, it seemed water could be squeezed out. Ruan Yesheng’s soul-stealing eyes in particular, shimmered with a misty haze after her shower, her hand resting under her chin, smiling as she listened to Shen Qingbie talk big. Her charm wasn’t flaunted, instead it had already ingrained into her bones.
Bored to death, Shen Qingbie reached out to pinch Ruan Yesheng’s cheek: “This is way too smooth, Ruanruan, what face mask are you using?”
Ruan Yesheng knocked her hand away, laughing: “At this time, are you going for the routine where a face mask commercial would appear?
Shen Qingbie shook her head: “It’s a pity no face mask sponsor put money into our show, missing this great opportunity. If they did, I guarantee the product would sell out.”
The two rookies came downstairs, each with a face mask stuck on. Both had dyed the same chestnut color, and even their pajamas were the same color. Shen Qingbie turned her head and was instantly stunned.
The rookie on the left came over first, sat down and greeted: “Sister Ruanruan, Sister Qingqing.”
Sure enough, Shen Qingbie called the wrong name: “Gu Cen.”
Li Siran froze for a second: “I’m Li Siran, Sister Qingqing.”
Shen Qingbie: ...
Gu Cen quickly walked over: “Sister Qingqing, I’m Gu Cen.”
“Your pajamas are the same, your hairstyle’s the same, your height’s almost the same too.” Ruan Yesheng laughed: “No wonder Qingqing can’t tell you apart.”
“Not the same, very easy to tell.” Li Siran stood up right away and waved Gu Cen over. The two of them stood side by side.
Then they turned around.
Even though the pajamas were the same color, the back of Li Siran’s pajamas had a huge “S.”
The back of Gu Cen’s pajamas had a big capital “B.”
Shen Qingbie: ...
Ruan Yesheng: ...
Li Siran turned back and asked Shen Qingbie: “Sister Qingqing, it’s easy to tell now, right?”
“...Yes.” Shen Qingbie was almost stunned.
In her heart she repeated over and over, Li Siran is S, Gu Cen is B. She must not mix them up again.
Ruan Yesheng’s eyes curved, almost laughing onto the table, thinking when this airs, those two pajamas will probably need to be censored*.
*In Chinese internet slang, SB means 傻逼 (shǎ bī) - a vulgar insult which means stupid cunt.
Finally it was bedtime, and the cameras in the house turned off one after another. Ruan Yesheng also shut down the camera in her room, lay on the bed, and stared at the ceiling in the dim light.
It was past eleven now, and she didn’t know if Xi Mo had gone to bed already. She promised Xi Mo that she would sneak over tonight, but it wasn’t the best time yet. Around midnight would be better, she's only worried Xi Mo might have fallen asleep by then.
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
She thought for a moment and sent Xi Mo a message: “When do you go to sleep?”
Xi Mo replied in seconds, as if she had been holding her phone the whole time, and she clearly knew why Ruan Yesheng was asking: “I’ll go to sleep very late.”
“How late?”
“...Just very late, very late.”
Ruan Yesheng understood right away, smiling at her phone: “I’m lying down now, but I can’t leave for the time being. If I come around midnight, will you be sleepy?”
“Not sleepy.”
The two of them chatted on their phones idly until it was time. Ruan Yesheng got up, dressed, and quietly went downstairs. She passed through the dark living room, opened the door, and went out.
Who knew, as soon as she stepped outside, she got a message from Xi Mo: “Look behind the tree on the left.”
Ruan Yesheng looked up and saw a long-haired woman standing there, her phone screen glowing in her hand as she waved.
Surprised and delighted, Ruan Yesheng quickly ran over.
It was very quiet all around, and no one else was around. The two of them hid behind the tree, and Ruan Yesheng asked in a rush: “Why did you come over?”
Xi Mo had even brought a scarf. She helped wrap it around Ruan Yesheng and said: “I was afraid you wouldn’t know where my house is, so I came to take you there.”
“Of course I knew.” Ruan Yesheng felt sweet inside: “I asked Zhiyin, she told me in detail. I even know the names of both house owners. Their house is easy to recognize.”
Xi Mo: ...
It wasn’t convenient to talk here, so Xi Mo didn’t say more, just led Ruan Yesheng through twists and turns back to A’cuo Rize’s house.
Xi Mo opened the door, took Ruan Yesheng inside, then carefully closed the door behind them.
The house was pitch black. A’cuo Rize and Ranla Changxiu were already asleep. Afraid of waking them, the two crept upstairs on tiptoe. At the bedroom door, Xi Mo bent down, opening the door with extreme care, not even daring to breathe loudly.
Ruan Yesheng leaned in close, her breath warm and fragrant against her ear, and whispered: “Doesn’t it feel like we’re up to something shameful?”
Xi Mo almost shuddered and instinctively touched her ear: ...
Ruan Yesheng’s light smile hid in the dark.
Author's Note:
You two aren’t even dating, what are you sneaking around for, like you’re having a secret date【。
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