Chapter Seventeen: Impossible

Sang Yijia couldn’t understand, but she was deeply shocked.
“Why do you think I could be with him?” Sang Yijia’s brows knitted tightly. “I think you two could work just as well.”
Yan Ningsi brushed her hand dismissively and answered with a carefree smile, “How could that be possible?”
“If it were possible, it would have happened already.” As soon as the words left her lips, Yan Ningsi stiffened, realizing she might have said something she shouldn’t have.
Blinking quickly, Yan Ningsi changed the subject, “This is just the path I’ve walked; if I can find what I’m looking for, then I’ve found it.”
“If I can’t, then there’s nothing I can do.” She spread her hands. “Later, let’s talk to the director and see what we should do.”
“They won’t leave us with nothing,” Yan Ningsi glanced twice at Sang Yijia, and seeing no reaction, quietly breathed a sigh of relief before continuing, “If worse comes to worst, I’ll borrow money from the villagers and pay it back after the show ends.”
“Alright.” Sang Yijia gave Yan Ningsi a careful look, suspecting she knew Lu Wenchuan. But what exactly was Lu Wenchuan’s identity?
A programmer at Shengchuang Company?
Sang Yijia intuitively felt it wasn’t so simple. Unfortunately, the book described him very little—just a background character who disappeared after the show ended.
—
Elsewhere, Shen Jin and Bian He went to the kitchen together and saw Lu Wenchuan calmly washing vegetables alone.
Nearly ten minutes passed, yet the pile of greens in the basket diminished only slightly. Bian He grew anxious, “Lu, you’re so slow. Why won’t you let me help?”
“At this rate, when will we get to eat?” Without another word, Bian He crouched beside him to help wash the vegetables.
His method was crude: grabbing a handful, tossing it into the basket, and counting it done—washed clean.
Lu Wenchuan didn’t interrupt, quietly watching as Bian He scooped the greens over and then poured them back to wash again.
Bian He: “???”
“You didn’t wash them properly.” Lu Wenchuan replied.
Shen Jin, feeling overwhelmed, let out a sigh and explained, “This is a private garden, they use only organic fertilizer.”
Bian He still didn’t get it. “What does that mean?”
“Did you see the bucket behind the bathroom?” Lu Wenchuan continued washing vegetables, unhurried.

Bian He went out, saw something, and returned with his face scrunched up. “I get it.”
“I don’t want to eat now.”
“All vegetables outside are the same; these are at least pure and pollution-free,” Lu Wenchuan stated in earnest.
Bian He was at a loss for words, unwilling to say anything more, found a stool, and sat down to wash vegetables properly.
This time, he was meticulous, scrubbing each leaf slowly.
“I’ll wash the rice and cook,” Shen Jin, seeing his help was no longer needed, slipped away to rinse rice and prepare the meal.
Bian He sighed, “I can’t tell if I’m here for a romance or to experience rural life.”
“Who courts someone like this?” The morning had been spent working, with barely any time to get to know the female guests.
Bian He regretted it. “If I’d known, I wouldn’t have come.”
Lu Wenchuan remained silent, quietly washing vegetables.
A large basin of greens isn’t difficult to clean, but it’s impossible to do quickly.
However, watching Bian He’s washing technique brought a few veins to Lu Wenchuan’s forehead. “Honestly, you might as well not cook what you’ve washed.”
“Eat it raw?” Bian He was puzzled, looking at the greens he’d washed, seeing nothing wrong. “Can these be eaten raw? They don’t taste good, do they?”
“Looking at them, don’t you feel they’re no different from cooked ones?” Lu Wenchuan asked.
“……”
Outside, voices of Yan Ningsi and Sang Yijia drifted in. Lu Wenchuan turned at the sound, seeing nothing but hearing footsteps approaching.
“We’re back! Where is everyone?” Yan Ningsi circled the living room without finding anyone, then looked up to see Lan Qing come out. She waved, “Feeling better?”
“Sorry, I lost the meal money, so we might have only vegetables for lunch.”
Lan Qing was surprised for a moment, but quickly accepted it. “No problem, I’m on a diet anyway.”
“Where’s Yijia?” Lan Qing had changed into simple casual clothes and touched up her makeup, looking much more energetic.
Yan Ningsi glanced back, not seeing Sang Yijia. “She’s probably gone to the kitchen.”

“Let’s go over, too.” Yan Ningsi felt embarrassed to just sit and wait for food.
Lan Qing, naturally, had no reason to refuse, and went with Yan Ningsi to the kitchen. As soon as they entered, they saw Lu Wenchuan, Bian He, and Sang Yijia crouched together washing a huge basin of greens.
Shen Jin had just cooked rice, found some bowls and chopsticks, and was about to wash them when he saw Lan Qing. His eyes instantly filled with concern. “Qingqing, are you alright?”
“How are you feeling?”
“If you’re uncomfortable, go rest; lunch will be ready soon.” Shen Jin’s tone softened, making everyone’s skin prickle.
Lu Wenchuan purposely glanced at Sang Yijia’s reaction. She was calm and natural, showing no emotional fluctuation.
If she was pretending, Lu Wenchuan thought her acting was excellent; if she truly didn’t care, then her heart had changed too quickly.
Feeling several gazes on her, Lan Qing apologetically shook her head. “I’m fine, I had some glucose and a nap, I feel much better now.”
“Is there anything I can help with?” Lan Qing looked down, seeing the three washing vegetables, leaving no space for her to join.
“Sorry, everyone, I lost the meal money.” Yan Ningsi, seeing everyone gathered, stood up and bowed in apology. “I went to see the director, and this counts as my personal mistake, which can’t be fixed.”
“This afternoon, I’ll look for villagers or anyone, and borrow money to make up for it.” Yan Ningsi bowed deeply. The others, even if they wanted to be angry, couldn’t continue.
“It’s alright, really,” Bian He spoke first. “If we can’t find it, we can’t find it. We don’t need the money that badly.”
“If the production team doesn’t compensate us, they’ll make it up in some other way.” Bian He wiped the water from his hands and helped her up. “No need to be so tense.”
“Thank you,” Yan Ningsi was truly grateful.
“It’s fine with me, too,” Sang Yijia had already made her position clear outside, so there was no need to repeat it here.
“I feel the same as Yijia,” Lan Qing agreed, then smiled gently, “This is our first challenge, isn’t it?”
“It adds a new interactive segment to the show.”
“I’m actually looking forward to it.”
Lan Qing’s smile, lips slightly upturned, was angelic. Yan Ningsi sniffed, moved almost to tears. “Thank you, Qingqing.”