Chapter 8: For the remainder of the process, Ming Huai suddenly fell silent. Even when Ji Tingqian took the initiative to strike up a conversation with him, he acted evasive, stumbling over his words repeatedly within a single sentence. He genuinely wanted to speak properly with Ji Tingqian; Ming Huai himself didn't know how he had ended up like this. As he picked chili peppers, his gaze wandered restlessly, drifting toward Ji Tingqian again and again, only to snap back abruptly whenever their eyes met. Unconsciously, Ji Tingqian's attention remained fixed on the figure before him; for those brief ten-plus minutes, his gaze never left Ming Huai, though he was entirely unaware of it himself. Every one of Ming Huai's reactions fell under his observation, making Ji Tingqian find Ming Huai increasingly baffling. To put it bluntly, the two had already been intimate; now, merely brushing fingers made them act so innocently, which was truly incomprehensible.

Neither spoke on the way back. Ming Huai's pace noticeably quickened, while Ji Tingqian followed leisurely behind him at a measured stride. When they returned to the small courtyard, Chen Jun and the others were slightly surprised, teasing that they had returned far too quickly.

"Weren't you in a hurry to use them? So we hurried a bit," Ming Huai said with a bright smile.

Ji Tingqian nodded.

"Alright, alright,"

Chen Jun laughed, tossing his ladle in the air.

"You and Tingqian wash the chilies; tonight I'll make boiled pork slices for you."

Ming Huai cheerfully agreed, then led Ji Tingqian to the well.

Handing him a basin, he pointed to the water and said, "I'll go fetch two small stools. You put the chilies in the basin first and draw some water."

Ji Tingqian nodded. Always a man of few words but many actions, he rolled up his sleeves, revealing powerful forearms, ready to begin. The well here used a rather special pump. Just before leaving, Ming Huai watched as Ji Tingqian poured the chilies into the basin, then frowned and asked, "Do you know how to use this well?"

Ji Tingqian lifted his eyes and smiled, countering, "What do you think?"

His smile was striking; his usually stern features instantly softened, revealing even a hint of tenderness upon closer inspection. Ming Huai was momentarily dazzled. Soon after, he reflected inwardly: How could he be so easily captivated by just one smile?!

"That's good then,"

Ming Huai said, turning sideways before immediately running off to fetch the small stools.

They sat facing each other. The basin was quite small, leaving very little space. Ming Huai's hands were fair and slender, whereas Ji Tingqian's were honey-toned with prominent knuckles. Both pairs of hands belonged to grown men, yet placed side by side, Ming Huai's appeared a size smaller, as if they could be entirely enveloped by Ji Tingqian's palms. Neither knew why, but their hands brushed against each other again. The contrast between their skin tones was striking, yet somehow harmonious. When they both reached for the same small chili pepper simultaneously, Ming Huai couldn't help but glare at Ji Tingqian, whispering, "Stop always snatching mine!"

Seeing Ming Huai like this, Ji Tingqian suddenly felt an inexplicable emotion surge within him, compelling his actions astray. Fixing his eyes on Ming Huai, he exerted force with his hand and, under Ming Huai's astonished gaze, snatched the tiny chili away.

"I'll snatch it anyway."

It was still the same face, yet Ji Tingqian seemed to have undergone a complete transformation. He truly didn't mind; later, when "The Farmhouse Courtyard"

aired, his performance might become unbearable to watch. Dinner was ready by seven o'clock. For six people, three dishes and one soup were just right. Gathered around the tatami in the center of the courtyard, with bowls, chopsticks, and dishes already prepared, Chen Jun had even exchanged several bottles of alcohol with the production team to welcome them. As everyone lifted the lids off the dishes one by one, an enticing aroma immediately filled the air. Zhao Manman, always the most enthusiastic supporter, sniffed the fragrant dishes, licked her lips, and exclaimed, "Teacher Chen, it smells so wonderful!"

Without forgetting to praise Qu Mei, she glanced at the mushroom and pork rib soup on the table, then looked at Qu Mei.

"This soup was made by Teacher Qu, right? Teacher Qu is amazing too!"

Ming Huai couldn't help but smile, while Ji Tingqian found himself stealing glances at Ming Huai.

"If you think it tastes good, dig in quickly," Chen Jun said, slightly buoyed by the compliments.

Everyone had worked hard all day; the meal, cooked over a wood fire, carried a unique flavor, enhanced by the purely natural, countryside ingredients. Coupled with Chen Jun's excellent cooking skills, even Zhao Manman and Qu Mei ended up eating an extra small bowl of rice each. After dinner, everyone cleared the table and gathered around the small table to chat. Since it was evening, they had removed the canopy. The countryside night was always cooler; breezes drifted through, accompanied by occasional cicada songs, while countless stars sparkled across the vast, dark sky. With both Qu Mei and Chen Jun present—married for over a decade—their conversation naturally turned to memories from their past. Even Qu Mei, a celebrated Best Actress, felt somewhat embarrassed, stumbling over certain questions until she finally sought rescue from Chen Jun. Ming Huai watched their interaction with a smile, a hint of longing shimmering in his eyes.

Eventually, truly at a loss, Qu Mei deftly shifted the spotlight. Having once collaborated with Ji Tingqian, she teasingly targeted him instead: "Don't focus on me. What is there to say about Old Chen and me after more than ten years together? Tingqian, let's talk about you. You're already 28; have you ever thought about falling in love?"

Clearly caught off guard by the sudden turn of conversation, Ji Tingqian's face registered momentary surprise before breaking into a helpless smile.

"Teacher Qu, I think it's still too early."

"That's something you still need to consider,"

Chen Jun and Qu Mei chimed in harmoniously.

"Tingqian, have you ever had a girlfriend?"

"No," Ji Tingqian answered honestly.

Sometimes, however, the more straightforward someone is, the more others assume they're joking. Everyone believed Ji Tingqian was holding back due to the cameras, so as soon as he finished speaking, laughter erupted. Ming Huai smiled too, though only he knew how much of that smile was genuine. By ten o'clock, the production team informed them that plans for the two guests had changed: one would arrive later that night, while the other wouldn't come until the next morning. Originally intending to wait for the guests, Ming Huai and the others decided against it upon hearing this news. After exchanging goodnights, they retired to their respective rooms. The production team had put considerable thought into the accommodations. Although the house itself wasn't large, each room was conveniently equipped with its own bathroom for practicality. The moment Ming Huai stepped into the room, he suddenly felt uneasy. Glancing at the modest-sized bed, he steadied his nerves and turned to Ji Tingqian.

"You go take a shower first."

Fortunately, Ji Tingqian didn't notice Ming Huai's discomfort. He simply nodded, grabbed a change of clothes, and headed into the bathroom. The clear sound of running water from the bathroom reached Ming Huai's ears. Sitting on the bed, he helplessly clutched his pajamas, his eyes filled with a panic Ji Tingqian had never seen before. Glancing sideways at the medium-sized bed, he instantly withdrew his gaze as if electrocuted. What should he do? What should he do? Sharing one bed, lying so close together—he definitely wouldn't be able to resist! He'd surely end up touching Ji Tingqian impulsively! Thinking this, Ming Huai grabbed his phone, left the room, and stepped out into the open area outside. He called Director Gao.

"What's wrong?" Director Gao asked.

Clutching his phone, Ming Huai felt a pang of guilt lying, but quickly added before Director Gao could question further, "Brother Ji said he's not quite used to it."

This wasn't a major issue. Without suspicion, Director Gao chuckled and agreed. When Ming Huai returned, Ji Tingqian had already finished showering. Dressed in a bathrobe, water droplets traced the sharp contours of his face, slid down his slender neck, and disappeared into his chest. His expression remained calm, yet his eyes were unfathomably deep. Ming Huai immediately found himself unable to look away.

"Where's the hairdryer?" Ming Huai suddenly snapped back to reality.

He glanced toward the camera, confirmed it was off, and felt an inexplicable flicker of joy.

"The hairdryer's in the cabinet," he said.

Suppressing that hidden delight, Ming Huai helped Ji Tingqian locate the hairdryer. Ji Tingqian took it and murmured, "Thanks."

"You're welcome."

Ming Huai disliked Ji Tingqian's politeness; it made them feel like strangers. As Ji Tingqian began drying his hair, the hum of the dryer filled the room, and suddenly, Ming Huai felt an unaccountable restlessness gnawing at him. Soon after, Ming Huai emerged from his shower. Ji Tingqian was lying on the bed, scrolling through his phone. Once settled, Ming Huai rummaged through his bag, pulled out a bottle, and swallowed some pills with water.

"What are you drinking?"

Ji Tingqian suddenly asked, though he should have been focused on his phone.

His expression remained as indifferent as ever; there was no telling how long he'd been watching. Ming Huai tightened his grip on the bottle, blinked, and looked away, fixing his gaze on nothing in particular.

"Nothing. Just melatonin."

"Having trouble sleeping at night?" Ji Tingqian asked, unusually persistent.

"Yeah, a little. Probably due to filming; my sleep quality hasn't been great."

While speaking, Ming Huai returned the bottle to his bag, offering the explanation preemptively to avoid further questioning.

"By the way, are you still using your phone?" Ming Huai asked.

Ji Tingqian shook his head.

"No."

Ming Huai nodded, walked to the doorway, and said, "Then I'll turn off the light."

As he spoke, Ji Tingqian switched on the wall lamp just as Ming Huai flipped the main switch, plunging the room into a dim, yellowish glow. Ming Huai moved to the other side, lifted the covers, and lay down with his back to Ji Tingqian.

"You can turn it off now," he said.

Unable to see Ji Tingqian's expression from behind, Ming Huai heard a low "Mm"

in response before the room descended into complete darkness. Ji Tingqian kept his eyes closed but found sleep elusive.

Suddenly, he felt a warm body settle over him, carrying the faint, pleasant scent of body wash. He opened his eyes; once adjusted to the darkness, he met a pair of bright, shining eyes. Neither spoke. After a long silence, Ming Huai chuckled softly. He leaned down, surrendering himself completely to Ji Tingqian. His soft strands of hair brushed against Ji Tingqian's neck. Ji Tingqian's hand, resting at his side, clenched tightly. Yet Ming Huai acted as if unaware, pressing his warm lips against Ji Tingqian's pulsing carotid artery. Slowly, those lips trailed upward, their final destination being those two thin lips.After a long while, Ming Huai's teasing voice echoed through the room.

"Ji Tingqian,"

"You're hard…"