Chapter 33: So It Was an Old Friend

Li Wanbai simply couldn’t stop talking—her tongue could carry her around the world without fear. In just an hour, she’d already made friends with everyone in the kitchen. The head chef’s last name was Zhang; he had two sons and a daughter. The youngest, a girl, was just born, while the two sons were in high school and junior high, respectively. His assistant’s name was... well, that’s getting a bit off track.

In short, Li Wanbai also got acquainted with the lady who delivered meals to the construction site with her—her last name was Qin. Like Li Wanbai, Sister Qin could never sit still. Once these two chatterboxes struck up a conversation, they could go on endlessly about everything under the sun.

Sister Qin was in her forties. She didn’t follow celebrities or care about showbiz, and had assumed they were from some documentary crew, so she didn’t give it much thought. She was especially fond of Li Wanbai, this pretty young woman, and took her hand with delight. “Little girl, how old are you? Are you twenty-five yet? My son is twenty-five, still young, and you two would suit each other perfectly. What do you say, do you have time to meet him?”

[Wait, Auntie, what are you up to? Are you trying to steal the movie king’s woman?]
[This is hilarious. No matter how outstanding your son is, could he really compare to Yu Baichuan?]
[Why is everyone so aggressive? Maybe this lady really doesn’t know Li Wanbai is married, or who Yu Baichuan is. Could certain fans please stop attacking everyone? Both Li Wanbai and this innocent lady!]
[Yes, Auntie! Please introduce her to someone else so she’ll stay away from our Baichuan.]
[Haha, just hope Auntie doesn’t regret it later, thinking how she foolishly introduced such a woman to her son.]
Li Wanbai smiled sweetly and replied, “I’m sorry, Sister Qin, I’m already twenty-eight. Your son deserves someone even better.”

Sister Qin looked a little disappointed but couldn’t help saying, “Twenty-eight is fine too! Older women bring good fortune. Just consider my son—he’s really outstanding, a graduate student from one of the top universities!”

“That won’t work. She’s already married,” Quan Hao’s cool voice suddenly interjected.

Sister Qin was stunned for a moment but then smiled and waved it off. “That’s alright. Whether she dates my son is between them. If she wants, she can just get a divorce!”

She genuinely liked Li Wanbai—she was clever, pretty, and had a sweet way with words. What mattered most was Li Wanbai’s own feelings; she certainly wouldn’t give up just because of some stranger, as if she cared more about the unknown man than about Li Wanbai herself.

It was an odd perspective, but surprisingly open-minded.

Quan Hao stroked his chin and nodded. “You have a point.”

Li Wanbai couldn’t help but laugh, waving her hands. “Let’s leave it be. I quite like the person I’m with now.”

She’d liked him since high school.

“Oh, is that so? Well, that’s a bit of a pity,” Sister Qin said with genuine regret.

Quan Hao glanced at her without speaking. He picked up a plate and asked casually, “Did you make any of these dishes?”

“Me? I’m not important enough to cook!” Li Wanbai laughed. “But I did slice the peppers for the stir-fried pork with green peppers.”

Quan Hao rolled his eyes. “Oh, then give me some of the other dishes instead—I’m afraid you might have poisoned the peppers.”

[Hahaha, these two are hilarious! Their banter is so unique!]
[Suddenly find lwb so adorable. I love people who are self-aware.]
[To be honest, the food at the construction site is really good.]
[Heh, Quan Hao’s fans are enjoying this, but isn’t it a bit odd? The way these two get along is so natural—anyone would think they’ve known each other for ages.]
[Blessings to all the gods—finally, someone’s answered my prayers and freed my idol from this leech!]
[As long as Yu Baichuan is happy, I don’t care who suffers.]
[As long as Yu Baichuan is happy, Quan Hao can suffer as much as he likes.]
[……]
[On another note, as someone just starting to ship Bai and Bai, it kind of hurts.]
[Li Wanbai is so beautiful. Who wouldn’t want her? If I had such a stunning wife, I’d carry bricks every day just to provide for her!]
[+1! +1!]
[……]
Despite his complaints, Quan Hao still ended up eating the stir-fried pork with green peppers—a staple in the boxed lunches.

Li Wanbai glanced at her watch in confusion. “Weren’t you only supposed to work for three hours? Why are you still here?”

She’d spent an hour prepping in the kitchen, half an hour to cook, and quite a bit of time delivering the food to the site. All in all, three hours should have been more than enough.

Logically, Quan Hao should have gone back after finishing his task. Yet here he was, still hanging around, shamelessly enjoying a free meal.

Quan Hao curled his lips. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m not eating for nothing—I’ll go back to work in a bit.”

“But why? The task is done. Wouldn’t you rather go back and rest?” Li Wanbai asked curiously.

“I just asked the production team. Three hours of work equals three hours’ pay. The longer I work, the more money I make. We have to live here for three days, and the show only gives us money for the first day. If I work more today, I can save up and make things a bit easier for us later. Honestly, it’s fine for us guys, but don’t you and that girl Ye need to buy more sunscreen and moisturizer?”

Li Wanbai’s mouth twitched. “Don’t stereotype. I think Ma Xu needs it too. Don’t you male celebrities need skincare as well?”

“Nonsense! I’m naturally handsome—why would I need skincare?” Quan Hao grinned, taking another bite.

Li Wanbai studied his face and remarked, “I’m not so sure about that. Your face is as dark as coal right now.”

“What? Seriously? Don’t mess with me!”

[Haha, it’s alright, Hao Hao. Even if you turn into a black egg, you’ll still be the most handsome black egg out there!]
[I love the vibe between these two. Really feels like old friends.]
[I told you, Hao Hao is a good guy. He volunteered to work longer so everyone could live more comfortably. Who still dares to call him arrogant now?]
[Don’t you all find it odd? When did these two even meet?]
[The entertainment circle is small. Anyone with a bit of fame knows each other. Besides, I think Quan Hao and Yu Baichuan get along fine. If they weren’t familiar—or if they hated each other—why would they go on the same show?]
Seeing this comment, the production team could have wept. If only you knew what it took to get these stars on board!