After getting in the car, Nan Chu asked, "Does the Emperor have any place in mind to go?"
"Just call me by my name, no need to call me Emperor. As for where to go, I don't know where to go either."
[I hope we don't go to crowded places.]
Hearing the inner thoughts, Nan Chu suggested, "Let's drive along the coast and stop where the scenery is nice to take some pictures and enjoy the view."
Nangong Hengmo nodded, "Sure, driving without a destination sounds nice."
[Driving along the coast, we shouldn't encounter many people.]
Then they set off.
[Suddenly realized, Nangong the Emperor and Nan Chu are quite a match.]
[Haven't you noticed? Nangong the Emperor and Nan Chu look a bit alike from the side!]
[Noticed it, they do look a bit alike.]
[If you didn't know, you might think they're siblings.]
[How could Nangong the Emperor be siblings with a controversy-ridden actress? Don't jump to conclusions.]
They drove for over forty minutes before Nan Chu stopped the car; they had arrived at a small fishing village.
They both got out to take a stroll.
"Nangong Hengmo, the scenery here is pretty nice. Let me take a picture of you."
"Sure." Nangong Hengmo nodded.
Nan Chu's photography skills weren't bad, capturing Nangong Hengmo's best angles.
After taking a dozen or so shots, Nangong Hengmo said, "Let me take some of you too."
After the solo shots, Nangong Hengmo asked a videographer to take a picture of him and Nan Chu together.
Seeing the picture on the phone, Nangong Hengmo remarked, "We do look kind of similar around the eyes and nose. Someone might think we're siblings."
"If I could be siblings with the Emperor, it would be a great honor." Nan Chu joked.
After staying for over half an hour, they continued driving.
They traveled on and off until noon.
They found a small restaurant to have lunch.
The owner of the small restaurant was a man in his fifties, speaking in a strong dialect.
Nan Chu conversed with him in dialect.
Then they ordered some dishes.
Nangong Hengmo asked, "You speak Hainanese too, that's impressive."
"Just a little, not much."
"What did you talk about with the old man?"
"He recommended some dishes for us."
They chatted while waiting for the food, and once it was ready, they ate.
The taste was not bad.
After lunch, Nan Chu asked, "Do you want to continue strolling, or head back?"
"Let's head back."
Nan Chu drove back to the inn. Just as they were about to open the inn's door, it opened from the inside. A handsome man, about six feet tall, stepped out.
Nan Chu was slightly surprised; she hadn't met this person before.
Si Junyan immediately spotted Nan Chu, his eyes lit up.
"Junyan, you're participating in this program too!" Nangong Hengmo exclaimed, surprised.
"My mom saw Meng Yuan was in this show, so she sent me here too." Si Junyan sighed helplessly.
[If I didn't come, I'd have to endure the drama and nagging from my mom endlessly.]
[So one month here for three years of peace seems worth it to me.]
"Are you going out?" Nangong Hengmo asked.
"Yeah, just going out for some fresh air."
Nangong Hengmo replied, "I'll go with you."
"Sure, it's been a while, let's catch up." Si Junyan then turned to Nan Chu, "Hi, I'm Si Junyan. Miss Beauty, what's your name?"
"Nan Chu."
"Nice to meet you." Si Junyan extended his hand.
Nan Chu politely shook his hand.
As Si Junyan held Nan Chu's hand, his heart raced. When Nan Chu let go, he felt a wave of disappointment. "Nan Chu, care to join us for a walk?"
"No, it's okay. I think I'll rest."
"Alright, you go rest then."
Nan Chu nodded and went inside.
Si Junyan and Nangong Hengmo went for a walk.
Around 3 PM, there was a knock on Nan Chu's door.
Li Wenya: "Nan Chu, everyone is preparing to discuss the meal plans."
"Okay."
Once everyone had gathered, Nangong Hengmo spoke, "This show will be shooting for over ten more days, so let's discuss how we'll handle the meals."
"Do you have any suggestions?"
Xu Fei: "Pairing a male and a female to work together, we can form five teams that way."
Everyone thought it was a good idea.
Conveniently, the program had bamboo sticks for forming teams.
Those who drew the same number would form a team and take turns cooking.
There were two bamboo stick cylinders; the males and females each drew from one.
Li Wenya: [Ancestors, please don't let me draw Fang You, anyone else is fine!]
Xu Fei: [I must draw Nangong Hengmo.]
Nan Chu didn't compete with the other four female guests, leaving the last stick for herself. Once everyone had drawn, they didn't reveal their numbers immediately but waited until everyone finished drawing.
"I'll count to three, and everyone reveal their sticks at the same time. One…two…three," Nangong Hengmo prompted, and they all revealed their bamboo sticks at once.
1: Nan Chu and Si Junyan.
2: Nangong Hengmo and Sha Mengyuan.
3: Meng Yuan and Li Wenya.
4: Xu Fei and Jiang Han.
5: Fang You and Zhuo Han.
That evening, Nan Chu and Si Junyan were responsible for cooking and washing dishes. They received money from the production team to go buy groceries.
Once in the car, Si Junyan properly introduced himself, "Nan Chu, let me formally introduce myself: I'm Si Junyan, 27 years old, CEO of Supreme Entertainment."
"Nan Chu, 23, an actress," Nan Chu responded.
Si Junyan was quite fond of Nan Chu, as she fit his ideal type and seemed to have a pleasant personality.
Si Junyan found a topic to discuss, "Do you know how to cook?"
"Yes."
"I can cook too. How about we each make three dishes, six in total, which should be enough for ten people."
"Alright."
"What do you plan to cook?"
Nan Chu thought for a moment, "Sweet and sour pork, fish-flavored eggplant, and mushroom soup."
"Then I'll make twice-cooked pork, spicy boiled fish, and big plate chicken."
"Okay."
They went to the supermarket, and as soon as they arrived, some young folks recognized them.
Some onlookers, curious about the commotion, gathered around as well, thinking there was some gossip to catch.
The two found themselves surrounded.
Si Junyan reached out and held Nan Chu's hand, protecting her behind him to prevent the crowd from bumping into her.
With the help of the videographer, they finally managed to escape.
They didn't manage to buy any groceries, and time was wasted.
The director quickly decided that they should tell the production team what dishes they planned to make, and the staff would buy the ingredients.
It was too dangerous for them to go out.
Even slightly crowded places could lead to being mobbed.
Si Junyan and Nan Chu returned to the villa, and after a while, the staff delivered the groceries.
They started cooking in the kitchen.
Li Wenya went downstairs to the living room, just as Fang You came down.
"Wenya, want to go for a walk?"
Li Wenya, a bit embarrassed, replied, "I don't feel like moving, so I won't go."
[Don't stick around!!!]
"Are you feeling unwell?"
[Why don't you just leave, asking, asking, asking, my goodness!]
"I'm just lazy, so I don't want to move." She was worried if she said she felt unwell, Fang You would insist on taking care of her.
Fang You: "..."
[Ya Ya is so real, just like how I am at home.]
[I think Ya Ya doesn't really like Fang You.]
[Some L-listed actress, really? Lazy, and proud to say it.]
[So what if she's lazy? It's not like you're supporting her.]
[We just love Ya Ya's laziness, love her authenticity. The previous commenter, you're just jealous.]
The comments section erupted in arguments again.
But the comments didn't affect the guests.
Nan Chu and Si Junyan busily worked in the kitchen and finished cooking in an hour and a half.
Li Wenya went to call everyone to eat.
After eating, Nan Chu and Si Junyan cleaned up the kitchen.