The Salted Fish And Protagonist A Ended Up Together - Chapter 36

[I’m stunned, is everything a mess now?]

[Wait, did the primary lead just step in and dismantle my CP (Couple Pairing) themselves?]

[Alright, no need to argue anymore, it’s already turned into a pot of porridge. Everyone, just drink it while it’s hot.]

[LOL, it’s fine though. As a chaos-seeker, I fear nothing. I’m starting to ship Wen Mian and Mu Ya now.]

[Are you kidding me? Do those two even have any chemistry?]

[Actually, they do. It seems like every time, Wen Mian is the one pulling Mu Ya along to play…]

[Eh? Now that you mention it, I can actually see it. Count me in! What’s the CP name?]

[Let me think… how about “WenWen Er Ya” (Refined and Cultured)?]

[That’s great! I love it!]

In just a few sentences, the viewers had already coined a new CP.

Zhang Yunxi and Su Shiqiu were the first to board the cable car. After they left, Wen Mian glanced sideways at Gu Man.

Gu Man spoke first, “I’ll go last.”

Wen Mian nodded and agreed readily, “Sure, then Mu Ya and I will go up first. See you in a bit.”

Gu Man hummed in response, watching Wen Mian step onto the platform and sit in the cable car. Mu Ya followed closely behind as the cable car began to slide forward.

“See you later!” Just when everyone thought Wen Mian wouldn’t look back, they suddenly heard a cheerful voice.

Gu Man looked up sharply. Wen Mian was twisting her body around to wave at her, her eyes curving into crescents, her hair blowing in the wind like shimmering threads of gold.

A surge of joy hit Gu Man’s heart. A light chuckle escaped her throat as she waved back, her voice lifting, “See you later.”

Wen Mian nodded vigorously and turned back to face forward. Gu Man sat in the following cable car, staring fixedly at the back of Wen Mian’s head from a distance.

Wang Mo and Zhong Li sat together, their gazes falling upon the continuous greenery beneath the cableway. Zhong Li glanced at her silently, then returned to her work, giving her space to calm her emotions.

A single cable car ride, yet the atmosphere was incredibly subtle, with everyone harboring different feelings.

Wen Mian rested her chin on the railing, looking out in silence. Suddenly, Mu Ya’s voice came from behind her.

“Why did you choose me?”

Wen Mian lowered her hand and looked at the complex expression on Mu Ya’s face. She gave a faint smile and replied, “No reason. But I’m curious, why did you agree?”

Mu Ya felt a brief moment of awkwardness. Her eyelashes partially closed, casting a dark shadow over her face. She replied slowly, “I don’t know, but…”

She paused, her throat bobbing as she frowned, continuing with difficulty, “Being by your side feels… comfortable.”

Wen Mian arched an eyebrow and nodded. Fair enough, she thought. The protagonists of this novel were straying so far from the plot that if there were a “Will of the Heavens,” it would probably be crying itself to death.

She replied politely, “Then thank you for the compliment.”

Mu Ya looked away, her voice softening, “And thank you for choosing me.”

The Atmosphere and the Livestream

The silence returned, but the livestream chat was exploding.

• [Someone slap me. I really think these two are ship-worthy.]
• [I feel the same! No, wait! I’m a ‘GuMian’ fan, how can I ship her with anyone else?!]
• [Haha, if you want to join, our ‘WenWen Er Ya’ club is very welcoming.]

Aside from the CP fans, Mu Ya’s own fans were mostly filled with undisguised envy.

• [Waaa, my YaYa, I want you to treat me like that too.]
• [Count me in. I’m so jealous of Wen Mian. YaYa has never said something like that to us.]

While they were having a meltdown, other fans were laughing at the spectacle, especially Gu Man’s fans. It’s sad when your idol is “stolen,” but it’s much more entertaining to watch someone else’s idol get stolen too.

Sitting in the cable car behind them, Gu Man watched Mu Ya and Wen Mian talking. Her hand on the railing suddenly tightened. She gritted her teeth, her ears straining to catch their conversation.

When she heard Mu Ya say, “Being by your side feels comfortable,” her brow furrowed deeply.

You feel comfortable?

Gu Man felt extremely annoyed. Why were there so many people clinging to Wen-Wen? Just because you feel comfortable doesn’t mean WenWen has to stay with you.

The air around her began to fill with a thick scent of sandalwood mixed with jealousy. If anyone had been near her, they would have been instantly repelled by the oppressive pheromones of a top-tier Alpha.

Reaching the Summit

Stepping off the cableway, Wen Mian stretched her arms. Zhang Yunxi, who had been smiling, immediately hurried over when she saw Wen Mian and Mu Ya descending together.

She whispered in confusion, “Why were you with Mu Ya?”

Wen Mian pulled her aside slightly before answering, “It’s nothing. Wang Mo wasn’t feeling well and chose to sit alone, so I took the initiative to go with Mu Ya.”

Zhang Yunxi looked at Wen Mian, speechless. “I gave you the perfect chance, and you didn’t take it!”

Wen Mian replied easily, “It’s fine, there will be other opportunities later.”

Hearing this, Zhang Yunxi stopped worrying about the missed cable car moment. Her eyes sparkled with interest. “So, you mean you already have a plan for later?”

Wen Mian glanced at Gu Man, who was just walking off the cableway, and shook her head slightly. “I don’t know. It depends on her.”

Zhang Yunxi looked at Gu Man along with her, thinking to herself: Doesn’t know? Depends on her? She’s way more anxious than you are!

Wen Mian walked toward Gu Man and asked softly, “How was it?”

Suppressing the sourness in her heart, Gu Man replied, “I had one more feeling than you did.”

Wen Mian tilted her head, puzzled. “One more feeling? What was it?”

Gu Man curled her lips slightly. “You’ll know when you watch the show.”

Wen Mian balled her hand into a fist and shook it threateningly in front of Gu Man’s face. “Don’t you know people get beaten up for leaving sentences half-finished?”

Gu Man raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t know. So, are you going to hit me?”

Wen Mian grew annoyed, her grip tightening. “Would you even let me?”

Gu Man leaned in closer. “If I didn’t allow it, would you stop?”

“Keep dreaming!” Wen Mian retorted heartlessly. Her fist swung down, but just as it reached Gu Man’s arm, all the force vanished, ending in a tiny poke.

Gu Man’s eyes crinkled. She frowned, pretending to be in pain while rubbing her arm, her voice trailing off as if acting spoiled. “You actually hit me”

Wen Mian nearly rolled her eyes. She managed to restrain herself and said exasperatedly, “Please, I didn’t use any strength at all.”

Gu Man lowered her hand, staring at Wen Mian with eyes full of soft, warm colors.

Fans and Photos

After descending from the cableway, the group began hiking up the mountain path. The climb took about an hour, so they ate as they hiked. The higher they went, the more beautiful the scenery became, but the oxygen grew thinner.

Zhang Yunxi’s lips began to lose their color, turning slightly purple as she panted, leaning her full weight on her trekking pole. Fortunately, the crew was prepared with oxygen bottles.

“Are you okay?” they asked. “If not, we can wait here for the others to come back.”

Wen Mian nodded worriedly. “Exactly, don’t force it. I can stay here with you.”

Zhang Yunxi waved them off, gritting her teeth. “I’m fine. I can keep going. If I really can’t, I’ll say so.”

Su Shiqiu looked at the hunched Zhang Yunxi with eyes full of heartache, but she didn’t try to stop her. She simply patted her back gently.

Knowing Zhang Yunxi wasn’t the type to push herself dangerously, Wen Mian nodded. “Then let’s rest for a moment. We’re in no rush.”

They reached the summit half an hour later. A group of girls queuing for photos with the commemorative monument spotted them and let out a surprised scream. “It’s MianMian and ManMan!”

The girls crowded around. Wen Mian, seeing the queue for the monument getting messy, suggested they split into groups so everyone could get their photos without wasting time.

The fans were very cooperative. One cute fan approached Wen Mian nervously. “MianMian, can I take a photo?”

Wen Mian nodded with a smile. “Of course. You can choose any of the six of us, we are at your service right now.”

After taking a photo with Wen Mian, the fan’s eyes kept darting toward Gu Man. Wen Mian noticed immediately and sighed internally. “Want one with her too?”

The fan nodded eagerly. Gu Man stepped forward. “Of course. As long as you want to, we can.”

Finally, the fan asked for the “Holy Grail” photo: “Can the three of us take one together?”

Wen Mian pulled Gu Man close, leaning in toward the fan’s face with a smile. “Cheese!”

[This is supposed to be a dating show livestream! Why have I seen nothing but fans succeeding in meeting their idols for the last two days?!]

[I’m already annoyed with work, and seeing them get so close to MianMian for photos makes me even sadder.]

[Waaa, not just MianMian, but ManMan too! I’ve followed them for so long and I don’t even have an autograph!]

The livestream viewers were filled with “bitter” tears of envy, watching their fellow fans have the time of their lives while they were stuck at work.

After a few minutes of rest, everyone regained their vitality and began to take in the scenery.

The summit of Guiyu Snow Mountain was shrouded in clouds and mist, as if one could reach out and touch the sky. Zhang Yunxi no longer felt the lack of oxygen, her eyes sparkled as she stared at the horizon, calling out to the group, “Everyone, come over here! I’ll take photos for you!”

With a smile in her eyes, Wen Mian jogged over to the edge of the slope, stretching her arms out behind her. “I’ve got the pose ready, take it!”

Zhang Yunxi raised the camera, click…and then gave a thumbs-up. “Gorgeous! Who’s next? Come on!”

Gu Man shifted her steps, her voice carrying a hint of stiffness beneath its cold exterior. “Sorry for the trouble.”

Zhang Yunxi gave a meaningful smile, drawing out her words. “Alright then, do you want to strike the same pose as MianMian?”

Though it was phrased as a question, she already knew the answer. Sure enough, Gu Man’s eyelashes fluttered slightly as she nodded.

She slowly opened her arms, imitating Wen Mian’s pose. However, unlike Wen Mian’s relaxation, the lines of her arms were taut, with veins faintly visible like delicate, winding vines.

Wen Mian chuckled softly and teased, “Relax a bit, Gu Man! Aren’t you the one with the most experience?”

Gu Man glanced at her and shook her head gently. “This is different.”