WS - Chapter 165
Chapter 165
With the experience gained over the past few days, when Yu Nianbing went back to the tent and casually grabbed something, Song Shiyue's full set of fresh clothes was right in her hand.
"Mn, this damnable proficiency."
Yu Nianbing shook out the clothes in her hand, then opened the thermal storage box and brought out a hot water jug. She sighed, and continued moving step by step toward the washroom.
When passing by Ning Chuyang's tent, Yu Nianbing paused, finally lifted the tent flap, and briefly told Feng Qianqian, who was still inside thinking dinner would be chestnut-stewed rabbit, what had just happened.
That way, there would be no mishaps, Yu Nianbing thought to herself.
Inside the washroom, the sound of water was already clearly audible. Yu Nianbing couldn't dawdle, so she just called out in front of the curtain for Song Shiyue to come and take the things.
As soon as Yu Nianbing spoke, the water sound inside stopped. In just two breaths, an arm still beaded with water reached out...
After handing the clothes and hot water jug in, Yu Nianbing stepped back two steps and finally let out a relieved breath.
It was rather sigh-worthy: something that had become routine just a few days ago now felt awkward even with a curtain between them.
Song Shiyue's waking had been something Yu Nianbing looked forward to day after day.
But now that Song Shiyue was truly awake, Yu Nianbing felt that what stood between them seemed more than just a curtain.
Yet the interesting thing was, Yu Nianbing had always thought before that the distance, the inability to draw closer or break through, was mostly because of Song Shiyue... and a small part because of herself.
But when Song Shiyue held out that handful of chestnuts before her, Yu Nianbing realized that she herself was actually the biggest problem.
Yu Nianbing was lost in thought at the washroom door, not even noticing when the water sound inside had stopped.
And just a curtain away, Song Shiyue, now clean, was hesitating over whether to go out.
Mn... sometimes, good hearing really isn't a good thing.
The words Yu Nianbing had discussed with Ning Chuyang and Zhuang Jiachuan outside, and later the instructions she gave Feng Qianqian—Song Shiyue had heard every bit of it...
Originally, it wouldn't have mattered.
Chestnuts, they're food—the more, the better.
It was just that she had run a bit farther; anyway, it wasn't tiring, and getting a few chestnuts wasn't a wasted trip. Song Shiyue didn't think much of it.
But...
The hesitation and caution in Yu Nianbing's voice, the heavy and hesitant footsteps when she came over—to Song Shiyue's ears, this matter... seemed not so simple anymore.
She must be very angry!
Yu Nianbing must be very angry and unhappy!
For something that was so close by, she had taken so much time...
Inside the washroom, Song Shiyue's head drooped; she no longer looked at all like the happy, spirited person who had returned earlier.
The viewers on StarNet suddenly had trouble keeping up with the plot.
"What's wrong with Song Shiyue? How come after just a brief mosaic, her whole self has wilted?"
"Can the livestream side see the StarNet computation status? Did something happen in the washroom during that brief mosaic?"
"I suspect that when Song Shiyue ran to the washroom, she saw the chestnut shells they left nearby!"
"??? No way, weren't they all over by the firewood pile?"
"Let me go watch a replay first. If Song Shiyue really saw other chestnut shells in camp, ah... that seven-hour parkour run, just thinking about it makes my heart ache."
"It's heartbreaking, so heartbreaking, what's going on! Even watching a reality show stabs me a thousand times!"
"Actually, I always thought before that even though Yu Nianbing had already found so many chestnuts, this handful from Song Shiyue must have been different for her. But now... hmm... I'm a bit confused."
"Right! She clearly went from Little Ice Block to Little Hot Water earlier. I always thought Yu Nianbing had an epiphany, and it was just Song Shiyue left... am I blind?!"
"I don't get it, I don't get it. One gambled her life to stay and take care, the other ran parkour for over seven hours for a few chestnuts. They're so perfectly matched. If this isn't love, what even counts as love for anyone else?"
"Sigh, even though same-sex marriage has been legal for so long, there are still many spectators, and few take that step. Especially in the entertainment industry, they still have to consider the large base of conservative fans. Just look: these years, there have been many rumors of real or fake same-sex partners in showbiz, but only two couples actually registered."
"I don't care! I hereby declare! They are the third couple!"
"Actually, talking like this, I can also appreciate their unawareness and difficulties, but I still think... if this pair doesn't end up together, it would be truly, truly a pity."
"What's going on? Listening to you all, I'm about to cry. The livestream suddenly turns angsty, and the danmaku follows right after!"
"I'm being realistic now; I'm counting on Ning Chuyang. We can't reach them; as long as Ning Chuyang helps force them into being a couple, I'm willing to give Ning Chuyang my vote and make her the head of the Little Mooncakes!"
"Hahaha, so we're pushing Ning Chuyang onto the throne of fan leader?"
"Alright, alright, I'll follow that vote!"
"Following, following, following!"
There were many speculations on StarNet, but the hardest matters often don't come from the outside, but from within oneself.
Song Shiyue guessed that Yu Nianbing was unhappy, so she was even less willing to expose the last bit of Yu Nianbing's thoughtfulness. No matter how low her head hung inside the washroom, once she lifted the curtain, she again wore a cheerful face.
The original host's acting had been mediocre, but Song Shiyue's acting right now was rather remarkable.
Anyway, Yu Nianbing, who had a lot on her mind, didn't notice anything different.
With Song Shiyue back, there was naturally nothing for Zhuang Jiachuan when it came to killing rabbits.
At times like this, the male rabbits that couldn't breed were at a disadvantage, because they were fat and had no sustainable value. To reduce the burden, sorted by weight, they were all on the slaughter list.
Another four male rabbits went into the pot, and two pots of soup quickly began to simmer.
Originally, they had planned for five people to eat three rabbits, but Yu Nianbing still insisted on adding one more.
Everyone knew whom this extra one was for, so naturally no one objected.
Right now, Song Shiyue was even more obedient.
After a whole day, not a single thing had been done to Yu Nianbing's satisfaction; Song Shiyue had no choice but to be obedient.
During the gap while the soup simmered, Song Shiyue roasted that handful of chestnuts.
Originally, Song Shiyue had thought that since the chestnuts were brought back from so far away, she might as well be extravagant. Weren't there still a bit of oil and sugar seasonings left unused in the pack? Making a simple version of sugar-fried chestnuts would surely coax Yu Nianbing into happiness.
But now...
Mn, no, no, she didn't dare.
Song Shiyue obediently pinched open the chestnuts and roasted them by the fire.
The chestnuts were very fragrant. Once roasted, the golden-yellow flesh could be seen through the pinched openings.
Yu Nianbing did want to put on a complete act and not be the only one eating, but everyone else stepped back and repeatedly said, "No, no."
Even Feng Qianqian sensed a bit of subtlety. Though she wasn't very mobile, she still made a token effort to shift backward.
Alright then...
Yu Nianbing hadn't really wanted to share the chestnuts anyway.
However...
By this point, Yu Nianbing finally sensed something a bit odd about Song Shiyue.
Others aside, based on Song Shiyue's ever-obliging personality, even if the chestnuts were brought back to make herself happy, she should at least have insisted that the others have a taste.
Why hadn't she mentioned it at all this time?
But Song Shiyue kept smiling cheerfully, and no matter how Yu Nianbing looked, she couldn't figure it out, so she could only set aside this doubt for the moment.
The chestnuts were roasted a bit dry, but very sweet and fragrant. They were the kind of golden-yellow, round, plump ones—the best quality, where you might only get two or three in an entire bag of sugar-fried chestnuts.
Good food always moves people.
The warm chestnuts soothed Yu Nianbing's previously tangled heart, and the sweetness spread from her mouth into her heart.
What a fool...
In the firelight, the gaze Yu Nianbing directed at Song Shiyue held a softness she herself had never seen before.
Regardless of how Yu Nianbing had been before, after eating those few chestnuts, there was still a change.
Song Shiyue could finally let out a quiet, relieved breath, and the smile on her face became a bit more genuine.
This wordless harmony lasted until everyone had finished eating rabbit, tidied up, and returned to their tents.
Earlier, when Song Shiyue was still unconscious, during the day Yu Nianbing and Zhuang Jiachuan had to go out to find food, so it was always Ning Chuyang who kept watch at night.
Yesterday morning, Song Shiyue woke up and even hunted a bunch of rabbits, so Zhuang Jiachuan kept watch that night.
Tonight, Song Shiyue wanted to keep watch, but was shooed into the tent by Yu Nianbing.
Running continuously for seven hours and then still being full of energy for night watch would probably frighten people to death; Yu Nianbing definitely wouldn't allow such a thing.
Outside, the firelight gradually dimmed a bit, just right for sleeping.
Inside the tent, Song Shiyue tossed and turned, like a Sun Wukong who couldn't keep still, but she couldn't fall asleep for a long time.
It was truly strange: the night before, as soon as she entered the tent she could fall asleep instantly, but today, after running for so long, she didn't feel sleepy at all.
Alright, actually Song Shiyue knew why.
How did things end up like this?
She and Yu Nianbing shouldn't be like this.
Yu Nianbing had saved her life—twice!
She should be sincere and open with Yu Nianbing, keep things simple, interact simply!
In the apocalypse, it was like this: you never knew whether the person you saved was human or ghost.
But you definitely knew what kind of person the one who saved you was.
A whole night of fake smiles had actually made Song Shiyue very sad, just like today's failure where no matter how she tried to coax, she couldn't get on the right path—things that shouldn't have existed.
Outside the tent, Yu Nianbing was slowly breaking thin firewood when suddenly, the tent not far away was lifted open.
"Didn't we agree that I'm keeping watch tonight, and you go to sleep?" Yu Nianbing frowned and lowered her voice.
If this had been earlier today—during dinner, at noon, or when they first got up in the morning—as soon as Song Shiyue saw this attitude from Yu Nianbing, she would have immediately become meek.
She's unhappy, I must be obedient—Song Shiyue would certainly have thought that.
But now it was different; Song Shiyue was too sad.
She decided to keep things simple.
"You've been unhappy all day today, haven't you? No, you've been unhappy since we finished eating rabbit yesterday. So why is that?" Song Shiyue walked to the campfire, sat down close to Yu Nianbing on the same wooden stump, and with an earnest gaze, directly asked.
Yu Nianbing: "..."
Song Shiyue waited two seconds, and seeing Yu Nianbing not speak, continued, "When I said the soup was delicious at breakfast this morning, it was all true. I once ate terrible things for a long time, and I've had many experiences of being hungry. If during those times, someone had given me a bowl of soup like that, I might have sold my life to you. Those words about the soup being good, I wasn't lying to you."
Yu Nianbing: "..."
"Later, seeing you still unhappy, I wanted to take you to play with the wheelbarrow. I didn't purposely carry you on my shoulder; I don't know what happened... Once I started, it was a bit weird, but I just carried you over. But you seemed not to like playing with the wheelbarrow... I used to really like roller coasters at the amusement park; maybe I did a poor imitation. Oh, and the chestnuts. Actually, I heard that you all had already picked more chestnuts." Seeing Yu Nianbing not making a sound, Song Shiyue started pouring out her words on her own.
"You heard?" Yu Nianbing was startled.
"Mn, my hearing is pretty good." Song Shiyue nodded indifferently, then continued, "I think I'm not cutting it. You've been watching all day, and you're still unhappy. So I thought, I might as well just ask directly. That way, if there's a problem, I can help you solve it; if it's my problem, I'll solve myself."
"..." At the end, Yu Nianbing couldn't keep a straight face. "What does 'solve yourself' mean in terms of solving?"
"If I'm the one making you unhappy, then I'll definitely change every part that makes you unhappy." Song Shiyue's gaze was resolute.
In the firelight, Song Shiyue's eyes shone even brighter than the flames.
Yu Nianbing's heartbeat skipped half a beat, and then she heard Song Shiyue's voice again.
"You are my lifesaver; I must make you happy." Song Shiyue stated so firmly.
The next second, Yu Nianbing couldn't help but kick Song Shiyue off the wooden stump.
Comments
Post a Comment