Can’t Trash-Talk You to Death, So I’ll Kiss You to Death - Chapter 10

Chapter 10

That night, Yun Duoduo spent a long time chatting with Huai Jian. The conversation wasn’t as dry as before; occasionally, Huai Jian would even ask follow-up questions.

This sent Duoduo’s heart into a frenzy, like a little deer lost in the woods, thumping so hard it echoed through her dreams all night.

Truth be told, she didn’t even remember what Huai Jian looked like. In her dreams, her mind conjured up a gentle, considerate, and exceptionally beautiful older sister. In the dream, Duoduo hugged her and laughed non-stop until the “Sister” looked at her with faux sternness and said, “If you keep laughing, I’m going to kiss you.”

Cunning as ever, Duoduo only laughed louder.

When she woke up the next morning, she savored the memory of the dream while scrolling through their chat logs, dying to share it with someone. She rolled over to talk to Li Qinglian.

“Mom, do you know—”

“Is it about that Sister again?” Li Qinglian laughed helplessly, handing her clothes to her. “Go brush your teeth.”

“Listen to me!” Duoduo pleaded, tugging on her arm.

“You talked about her all night.” Li Qinglian finished dressing. “Go see what the schedule is for today. Are you hungry?”

Duoduo hadn’t eaten much the night before, and her stomach was indeed rumbling. She muttered to herself as she dressed quickly. Just as she finished her chores, a staff member with a badge came looking for her.

Duoduo sensed it wasn’t good news, but she kept a smile on her face, which made the staff member look a bit embarrassed.

The staff member said, “It’s like this: variety shows need high impact for good ratings, and that means higher bonuses for you, right?”

Duoduo nodded, already guessing where this was going.

“When you’re facing the Heiress, don’t be too rational. Sometimes you can snap at her, pick a fight, stir things up.”

Duoduo thought for a second. “So, look for trouble where there is none and nitpick her. That’s what you mean, right?”

The staff member hummed in affirmation. “It’s nothing serious, just for the filming. Later on, we’ll arrange for a reconciliation. The audience won’t take the early bickering to heart.”

“Oh,” Duoduo smiled. “Okay, I’ll cooperate. What’s the plan for now?”

Surprised by her quick agreement, the staff member said, “The director will tell you. Go gather with the others.”

“Okay!”

Duoduo ran off happily, but the moment she was out of sight of the cameras, her lip curled. Do they think I’m a fool? ‘Impact’? They just want an excuse to sabotage me!

…

Once everyone gathered, the director arranged for them to draw lots, announcing that they had to complete an important mission before they could eat.

As yesterday’s winner, Duoduo went first.

As the director held out the cards, Ji Zhen shouted from behind, “Duoduo, come on, pick me! My strength plus your brains—we’d be unstoppable! We’d win before we even started!”

Shi Qingzi wouldn’t be outdone. “No, pick me! Besides strength, I can sing for you to help you relax!”

Duoduo was touched by her popularity. She picked a card, flipped it over, and her eyelid twitched. She suspected the crew had rigged it for the drama: The Cloud Heiress.

“Who is it?” Ji Zhen and Shi Qingzi squeezed in. Seeing the name, they sighed and hugged each other in mock despair. “I guess it’s just the two of us then.”

The director holding the cards said, “Not necessarily. Jiayi and Mu Yang still have to draw. Let’s see if you two can break up the couple.”

Because the atmosphere had been sour the night before, everyone had forgotten to ask how Lu Jiayi and Mu Yang fared. Since they were last, they only had one tent.

Lu Jiayi hid her face, blushing. “Brother Ji, don’t think too much. Mu Yang went to sleep at the temporary camp last night.”

Ji Zhen drew a card and laughed. “That’s a violation!”

“It is not!” Lu Jiayi’s face was beet red. “Quick, check the name.”

Ji Zhen peeked at his card, squinted mysteriously, and hid it behind his back. “I’m not telling you! Haha!”

Lu Jiayi drew her own card and showed it. “I’m with Qingzi. Great! Brother Ji is with Mu Yang.”

…

The teams stood together. Duoduo stayed put on the far right, while the Heiress walked over reluctantly, maintaining her “wronged innocent girl” persona.

The director announced: “The purpose of this trip is to experience your parents’ hard work. Today’s mission is: ‘Hiding the Crops in the Midday Sun.'”

“It’s harvest season, so you must personally harvest the rice, thresh it, and complete the whole process. I must remind you: what you harvest today is your food for the next few days. Lazy people won’t eat.”

Ji Zhen raised his hand. “That’s not fair. Harvesting is heavy labor, and Duoduo’s team is just two girls.”

Shi Qingzi nodded. “Yeah, they won’t be able to handle it.” Especially given how delicate the Heiress acted.

The director added, “Don’t worry, the all-girl team will be assigned a local villager as a technician. Of course, if the rest of you feel bad, you can help them after finishing your own tasks.”

With that, they grabbed their gear and headed for the fields.

Duoduo, having grown up in hardship, changed into her work clothes quickly. But the Heiress’s face fell the moment she saw the uniform. “Ugh, this is so dirty. How can I wear this?”

Duoduo ignored her. The technician, a middle-aged man, said, “It’s new. It’ll protect you. Your dress isn’t practical; please change.”

The Heiress dawdled for ages. Duoduo looked at her. “I’m giving you three minutes. If you’re not changed, I’m leaving.”

The Heiress sniffled. “Why are you being so mean? I’m not like you, acting and pretending. If I don’t like it, I don’t like it.”

Heh, Duoduo sneered internally. Great ‘Straightforward Girl’ persona you’ve got there!

The Heiress complained for three minutes, barely touching the edge of the protective suit as if it were toxic. Duoduo checked her watch and left with her tools.

…

The fields were a golden sea, the heavy grains bowing the stalks. Duoduo worked quickly. By the time the Heiress finally arrived two hours later, still complaining about everything, Duoduo had already finished nearly half her section.

At 8:00 AM, Duoduo waved the technician over. “Uncle, how much rice is this worth?”

“About half a bag,” the man gave her a thumbs up.

Nearby, the Heiress huffed. “Uncle, look at mine! Is it good? Where do I put it?”

Duoduo took a bundle of rice to the threshing floor. There were only heavy stone rollers pulled by oxen, which she couldn’t move. She scavenged some empty glass bottles instead. Using them to strip the grain, she managed to get a large heap of rice in ten minutes, which she traded with the director for two bowls of white rice.

On her way back, she saw Ji Zhen and Shi Qingzi struggling with their rice. She handed them her bottles as a tip and skipped home.

…

The mothers had their own tasks: scavenging food from the river. Li Qinglian had made a net and caught plenty of small fish, shrimp, and river crabs.

Duoduo washed the rice and teased a crab with a stalk of straw, watching it scuttle sideways. “Mom, are we having crab for breakfast?”

“Do you want to?” Li Qinglian cleaned the shrimp.

“Yes!” Crabs were expensive; Duoduo usually only stared at them longingly in the market. Even though these river crabs were small, they were delicious.

“Okay.” Li Qinglian gave her a tiny crab to play with and prepared the rest for steaming. “Are you tired?”

Duoduo pointed to her arms. “Exhausted. I can barely lift them. But it’s interesting. I bet the crew will make us sell the rice for money later.”

Li Qinglian didn’t speak. She felt her daughter was too much of a pessimist, carrying pressures a girl her age shouldn’t have to. “Duoduo, I’ll come help you after I finish here this afternoon. Just treat it like a game, okay?”

“I know!” Duoduo caught the little crab and teased its claws. “Oh, remember to bring your phone to film me harvesting later. I want to show…”

“Show the Sister?” Li Qinglian teased.

Duoduo pouted. “You’re making fun of me!”

Half an hour later, the food was on the table, smelling heavenly. Li Qinglian took the steamed crabs out and said, “Take one to each of the other aunties.”

Duoduo counted them. Her mother had even prepared one for Wu Heyue. She pouted but took the plate around anyway.

Though it was only one crab per house, Duoduo was charming and sweet. The aunties loved her, stuffing cherry tomatoes or pretty shells they’d found into her pockets. Finally, she reached Wu Heyue’s door.

The Heiress’s theatrics clearly came from her mother. Wu Heyue had refused to touch anything at the river, complaining about the dirt while the others waded in. Eventually, the others had shared a fish with her. Now, she was staring at the fish in her kitchen, clueless about how to cook it.

Duoduo knocked. “My mom sent me over with a crab for you. It’s freshly steamed.”

Wu Heyue turned around, her tone dripping with disdain. “Why is there only one? How are the Heiress and I supposed to share this?”