Against the Light - Chapter 87
Chapter 87: The Head-Pressing Squad is in Danger
That evening, Gu Xinran and Bai Yilan lay in bed, discussing how to deal with the traitorous chicken.
Steamed, braised, boiled—they went through every possible cooking method. To be extra cruel, Gu Xinran even tied the chicken up inside the house, forcing it to listen to its own potential fates in a public execution.
【Are these two devils?! Look at Brother Chicken's despairing eyes! Let it go!!】
【Let it go, please don't eat it.】
【I never knew this couple was so devious!!】
【I don't think they're punishing Brother Chicken, I think they're punishing us!! This has to be on purpose! Otherwise, they would have turned off the lights and gone to sleep by now.】
【Hahaha, I agree. I also feel like they're just trying to annoy us! So mean!】
【Will I ever get to see them kiss in my lifetime? This is so hard for me.】
The live comments were filled with complaints. Many people even flocked to Qin Qiong's Weibo page, writing a petition signed in blood by thousands, begging her to save the chicken at all costs!
The next morning, the two of them rose early to tidy up the house. They gave the guest room another thorough cleaning in preparation for their guests' arrival.
It was nearly noon when the car finally drove into the village. Everyone was already waiting at the meeting point.
Seeing Qin Qiong step out of the car, Gu Xinran and Bai Yilan walked over to embrace her.
"Sister Ran, Sister Lan."
"Welcome. It must have been a long journey."
Thanks to her outstanding performances in the two hit productions, Sisters and Never Parting, Qin Qiong had already become a popular A-list star. Her acting skills were recognized by the audience, and her career path was wide open.
"I came in such a hurry I didn't know what to bring. The director said we couldn't bring money, and I saw you two seem to like small animals, so…" Qin Qiong lifted a pet carrier out of the car.
Everyone gathered around to take a look. Inside the carrier was a…
"A pig??"
"Yeah, you can eat it when it gets bigger," Qin Qiong said.
"…"
"Are you planning on staying here long-term?" Ruan Tang didn't know whether to laugh or cry. What was with these people, raising a pig??
"Uh, right, I also brought an extra mouth to feed…" Qin Qiong's expression turned a little awkward.
"What?" The others didn't understand.
Qin Qiong glanced back at the car, and everyone followed her gaze.
Another person hopped out of the car, happy as a child, and ran toward them.
"Haha, the CP fan head, here uninvited!" Lin Guo skipped over and gave the two of them a huge hug.
Gu Xinran put a hand to her forehead, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. She had tried everything to avoid her, but there was no escape!
"Guozi said she doesn't need to eat or drink. She begged me all night, and I just couldn't say no, so… I hope she won't be any trouble?"
"Doesn't need to eat or drink? You believe that nonsense?" Gu Xinran shot her a helpless glance. Well, she was already here. It wasn't like they could kick her out.
Qi Qiuyan's group had invited a mutual friend, Ye Qihan, who was also a familiar face, so they all chatted warmly for a while. Ruan Tang had brought her best friend, and everyone exchanged greetings.
【Ahhh, Guozi is here!! I feel a glimmer of hope! Go, fan head Lin Guo, go!!】
【Ahhh, it really is Guozi! Head-Pressing Squad, assemble!】
【…I have a bad feeling about this. Why do I feel like the chicken's fate is a foreshadowing of Guozi's?】
【Are you a demon? Hahaha, damn, I can already picture the two of them tying Guozi up in the house and discussing how to deal with her!】
【??? You're the real demon!!】
【Stop, I can see it now!】
After the guest introductions were complete, everyone took their friends back to their respective houses.
While watching the show, Qin Qiong and Lin Guo had always been curious about what Gu Xinran's house looked like. The moment they stepped through the gate, they were stunned.
Lin Guo even took out her phone to compare it with how the house looked when the couple first moved in. The side-by-side comparison was even more shocking!
The dilapidated little wooden cabin had been transformed by Sister Ran into a refined and stylish two-story house in just a few days! Although the second floor wasn't finished, it was already taking shape. One could only imagine how breathtaking it would be upon completion!
The yard also had many new decorations and no longer looked so empty. Ducks and geese ran around freely, making the place look full of life.
Gu Xinran had also fenced off a pigpen and put the little pig from Qin Qiong inside.
Meanwhile, the other two were touring the premises.
"Wow, Sister Ran, this is amazing! Ahhh, this swing! You have no idea, there are already replicas of this swing online. It's a bestseller!!" Lin Guo rushed over to the swing, touching it here and there, unable to put it down.
Gu Xinran was slightly taken aback to hear that. These business people certainly knew how to make a profit.
"Oh my, this rattan chair is wonderful!"
"Are there vegetables planted in this soil?"
"Ho ho ho, this poor sheep has really been through a lot."
"Ah! Is this the Camera Chicken?!" Lin Guo was thrilled when she saw the hen locked in its coop. Even though it had failed its mission yesterday, in the eyes of the audience, it was a hero!!
"Sister Ran, you absolutely cannot eat it. It's gone viral! It was even trending yesterday. A petition signed in blood by thousands flooded Qin Qiong's Weibo, demanding that she ensure the chicken's safety after arriving, or they would all unfollow her en masse!!"
"Pfft…" Gu Xinran burst out laughing. Recalling how she and Yilan had deliberately scared the chicken last night, the two of them couldn't help but exchange a smile.
"Sister Ran, what are we having for dinner?" Lin Guo asked with a wide grin after finishing her tour.
"I thought you didn't need to eat?"
"Well… I'm asking for Qin Qiong!"
"Forget about food for now. You should be thinking about where you're going to sleep tonight. We only have one guest room, and it has a single bed. How about you two… just make do?"
"Who wants to make do with her!" the two exclaimed in unison.
Gu Xinran paused, looking between them. Such perfect synchronization?
"Then… how about sleeping in the yard? On the swing? Or on that wooden sofa in the living room."
"…"
The two looked at each other.
"How about…" Lin Guo had just started to speak.
"Sister Ran had no intention of inviting you. You came here on your own to ship your CP," Qin Qiong stated the blunt truth.
"I…" Lin Guo was speechless.
"Fine, then I'll reluctantly… uh, no, I'll be absolutely thrilled to accept this offer!" Lin Guo's expression changed in a flash, her face immediately wreathed in smiles.
Gu Xinran nodded in satisfaction and led them to see the guest room.
"What do you want to eat tonight?"
"Meat! Sister Youyou has been making me diet and lose weight recently, I'm about to…" Lin Guo stopped mid-sentence when she saw everyone looking at her and quickly covered her mouth.
Fine, I have no say in this :(
"Sister Ran's cooking is a rare treat. Anything is fine, I'm not picky."
"Is there anything I can do?" Qin Qiong asked, rolling up her sleeves.
Gu Xinran thought for a moment. "Why don't you two do something easy? Planting vegetables. I bought some seedlings; you just need to plant them in the ground."
"Okay!" The two were full of energy. Gu Xinran was gratified to see it. This didn't feel like hosting friends, she thought. It felt more like she'd hired two free laborers.
Gu Xinran and Bai Yilan taught them how to plant the seedlings step by step. Once they saw the two could handle it on their own, they stepped out of the garden patch and watched from the side for a while.
"What do you want for dinner?" Gu Xinran asked, looking at Bai Yilan and brushing a stray strand of hair from her forehead.
"Let's make something nice. They came all this way to do farm work for you. Shouldn't we reward them?"
"Alright, whatever you say."
The two returned to the kitchen and rummaged through the ingredients. Rice, red beans, a few kinds of green vegetables… but no meat at all. It seemed the only edible meat was the small animals in the yard.
"Should I go buy a few fish?" Bai Yilan frowned as well.
"Okay. Can you go by yourself?"
"Mhm, I'll ask Qiuyan and the others if they want to go together," Bai Yilan said.
"Good, you go ahead. I'll start preparing lunch."
"Okay."
They quickly divided the tasks.
Gu Xinran washed the rice and left it to soak, then grabbed an axe and headed up the mountain.
She had heard there was a bamboo forest nearby. After getting directions from the director, she set off toward it.
About two hours later, Lin Guo and Qin Qiong had finished their work. They were exhausted and starving, sitting on the swing to rest.
"Where did Sister Ran go? I wonder if there's any lunch. I'm so hungry," Lin Guo pouted.
"Watch your expression. If the experts think I've neglected you, you'll be the one to face the punishment." Gu Xinran walked in, carrying a stalk of bamboo on her shoulder.
Seeing this, the two immediately went over to help.
Lin Guo beamed. "I'm so happy! Sister Ran hasn't neglected me at all! Really!"
Gu Xinran chuckled. "Thanks for your hard work. Just wait a little longer, lunch will be ready soon. Has Yilan not come back yet?"
"I'm back." Just as Gu Xinran finished speaking, Bai Yilan walked in.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, now that's what you call being in sync~"
Gu Xinran rolled her eyes helplessly at the girl.
"Sister Ran, what are you going to do with that bamboo?"
Gu Xinran gave a mysterious smile. She cut the bamboo into sections along the nodes, then carefully washed them inside and out. After that, she poured the soaked rice and red beans into the bamboo tubes.
She sealed the tubes with zongzi leaves and placed them in a pot to steam.
A short while later, Gu Xinran came out carrying four bamboo tubes.
The three of them were already seated obediently, waiting for the meal, their eyes fixed on her hands.
"Is that bamboo rice!?" Lin Guo recognized it at a glance and slurped audibly.
"Mhm." Gu Xinran distributed the bamboo tubes to them.
"There's a small cut at the top of the tube. Just break it open here to eat." Gu Xinran demonstrated. As the bamboo split open, steam billowed out, carrying with it the rich, clean fragrance of rice, making everyone's mouth water.
"Wow! It looks amazing!!" Lin Guo gulped, swallowing her saliva without exaggeration.
Seeing her reaction, Gu Xinran felt a great sense of accomplishment.
She handed the bamboo rice she had opened to Yilan, swapping it for hers. It was a simple gesture, but Lin Guo was biting her chopsticks with a silly, fond 'auntie' smile on her face!
In the afternoon, Qi Qiuyan and the others came over with Ye Qihan for a visit. Gu Xinran served them the extra bamboo rice. They all sat together, sipping tea and chatting, enjoying a wonderfully leisurely time.
That evening, Gu Xinran cooked the two fish Yilan had bought, making one sweet and sour and the other grilled, managing to squeeze out an extra dish.
Qi Qiuyan and the others provided pork and plenty of vegetables, making for a sumptuous dinner that left everyone extremely satisfied.
After dinner, they all sat in the yard for a while before Qi Qiuyan's group left.
"Hey, Sister Ran, not going up there to sit tonight?" Lin Guo grinned at Gu Xinran.
Gu Xinran raised an eyebrow. "What, you haven't given up after sending a Camera Chicken yesterday? Planning to try a live-action version today?"
"Uh, no, I'm just curious! I want to go up and sit there too, to experience a different view!"
"Don't even think about it." That was her and Yilan's precious private spot. No one else was allowed up there!
"Alright, it's getting late. You must be tired after working so hard today, right?"
"Get some rest. We won't be going up tonight," Bai Yilan said.
"Oh…" Lin Guo's brow furrowed slightly, disappointment written all over her face.
In the guest room, on the bed.
After washing up, Lin Guo and Qin Qiong lay down on the bed.
Because it was a single bed, they were lying flat with their bodies pressed close together, so close they could clearly feel each other's body heat.
Lin Guo's eyes were wide open. She couldn't figure out what had possessed her to travel all this way just to end up sleeping with Qin Qiong.
【Hahaha, Guozi and Qin Qiong sharing a bed, this is amazing!】
【???? I'm getting more and more confused by this development. Didn't Guozi come here to press Bai and Gu's heads together? Why do I feel like she's the one getting her head pressed?】
【Hahahahaha, forced to share a bed with Qin Qiong, this is great. I actually think they look kind of good together?】
【Let's discuss: how many rounds can Guozi last under Bai and Gu's crazy schemes?】
【This is too hard for Guozi, way too hard!!】
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