Chapter 30

Official Announcement

A week passed in the blink of an eye, and the production crew arrived at Lingchuan Mountain for the second phase of filming.

After the first episode aired, the response was significant. With its unique and innovative filming themes, it sparked a small online frenzy. The discussions continued to rise, and both Lin Qianyou and Zhou Ziqing’s popularity soared as a result.

However, there was someone even more popular than them.

Qi Shanglan, who only appeared on screen for a few minutes, became more popular than Lin Qianyou and Zhou Ziqing’s couple hype.

Netizen 1: I have to say, the police officer is just my type! That face! That body! And his voice sounds so good!!! Director, could you please give him more close-up shots? Let him talk more, please~~ 【Tears】

Netizen 2: Exactly, even with the background blurry, I can still see his sharp jawline clearly. He’s so handsome 【Heart eyes】 【Tongue out】

Netizen 3: Just asking, don’t you ship him and Lin Qianyou? 【Dog emoji】 【Confused】

Countless replies followed: Ship ship ship! 【Tongue out】

Director Sun carefully reviewed the high-traffic comments online and, during the second phase of filming, promptly made adjustments to the script. He significantly increased Qi Shanglan’s screen time and arranged more scenes with both him and Lin Qianyou together.

“Uh, Qianyou, you know, can you, like, get a bit closer to Shanglan? Our show is flexible, not rigid. We shoot whatever the audience wants to see,” Director Sun directed, as Lin Qianyou and Qi Shanglan walked along the mountain path.

Once the mountain footage was done, the group took a one-hour break halfway up the mountain.

Lin Qianyou and Qi Shanglan headed to the nearby public restroom, but their goal wasn’t to use the restroom—they were sneaking off to kiss.

After kissing more frequently with Qi Shanglan over the past few days, Lin Qianyou felt her kissing skills had greatly improved, and this time, she took the initiative with the French kiss, extending her tongue.

In the narrow gap behind the restroom, they kissed intermittently, with Lin Qianyou’s soft tongue pushing into Qi Shanglan’s mouth, teasing his tongue the way he had done to her earlier.

The kiss became passionate, so much so that neither of them noticed the two pairs of innocent eyes staring at them from outside the wall gap.

“What are you two standing there looking at?” Wang Xinyu came out of the restroom and saw Wang Muhan and Wang Muyang standing there, staring cluelessly at the wall gap.

Hearing Wang Xinyu’s voice, Lin Qianyou instinctively opened her eyes and glanced at the gap.

Oh no! How are the twins here too?!

“Ugh—” Lin Qianyou quickly withdrew her tongue, flustered as she tried to pull Qi Shanglan’s shirt down.

Qi Shanglan, still lost in the kiss, furrowed his brows in confusion, and Lin Qianyou, blushing, pointed to the two children outside, too embarrassed to show her face, wishing she could dig a hole and hide in it.

Qi Shanglan glanced outside and saw Wang Xinyu covering the twins’ eyes, silently leading them away.

Hiss, is kissing considered inappropriate for children?

“What should we do now? We got caught,” Lin Qianyou said with a face full of despair, looking at Qi Shanglan. 

He casually responded, “So what if they saw? What’s the big deal?”

Damn it, sneaking kisses was so frustrating, it felt like they were doing something wrong, like thieves.

“How can you be so indifferent? Those are two little kids, they can’t even count properly, and they saw something they shouldn’t. I’m so embarrassed…” Lin Qianyou felt utterly defeated. She had no idea how she was going to face the two little ones when they went back.

Qi Shanglan didn’t care at all. He lifted her chin, wanting to kiss her again. He wasn’t embarrassed at all about being interrupted by the twins earlier, he was just a little annoyed. Those little brats were so clueless.

Seeing him still in the mood to kiss, Lin Qianyou got so angry she pushed him hard. Unfortunately, the push sent him tumbling backwards into a small ravine.

“Damn!” Qi Shanglan hadn’t expected her to push him so suddenly. He stepped wrong, rolling and falling into the ravine.

“Qi Shanglan!” Lin Qianyou called out in shock. In a panic, she ran down after him.

Fortunately, the ravine wasn’t too deep, and after rolling a few times, Qi Shanglan collided with a low wall and finally stopped.

“Damn,” he cursed, feeling the pain.

“Qi Shanglan!” Lin Qianyou hurried over, about to ask if he was okay when she suddenly noticed a girl in a red dress standing behind him. She looked like she was from ancient times, and there was a little chubby boy with her, who resembled Ah Fu. Lin Qianyou didn’t have time to examine them and quickly ran over to help Qi Shanglan up.

“Are you okay? I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…” She sounded as if she was about to start crying in guilt again.

Qi Shanglan stood up, brushing off the leaves and dust from his clothes, enduring the pain as he reassured her. “I’m fine, really.”

“Are you sure?” she asked, still not at ease.

“Really fine, just bumped into something. Look, there’s no injury.” He lifted his shirt for her to check.

“Wait, there are people here.” Lin Qianyou pressed him back down, her eyes indicating that someone was behind them.

Qi Shanglan turned around and saw the girl in the red dress and the chubby boy standing beside her.

“Can you see us?” the chubby boy asked, looking up.

“Huh?” Lin Qianyou didn’t understand why he asked. “Shouldn’t we be able to see you?”

The chubby boy didn’t answer, instead looking at the red-dressed girl, silently waiting for her to speak.

“Ah Ning, this is the earth god of Yangcheng and her divine messenger. Don’t be rude,” the red-dressed girl said.

As soon as she spoke, both Lin Qianyou and Qi Shanglan froze. How did she know?

They exchanged a look, and then heard the red-dressed girl’s clear, melodious laughter. “I’m Mu Lingchuan, the mountain god of Lingchuan Mountain. This is my temple’s immortal child, Ah Ning.” She pointed to a small temple behind her and smiled, adding, “This is my mountain god temple.”

“Mountain god?” Lin Qianyou was taken aback. She looked the girl up and down, thinking she was no older than fourteen or fifteen. With her round face and big eyes, she looked adorable and charming.

Lingchuan smiled sweetly. “Yes, a mountain god, just like you, a protector.”

“But why do you dress like someone from ancient times?” Lin Qianyou asked in confusion.

“Because I’m from ancient times. I died a thousand years ago, and after death, I became the mountain god of Lingchuan Mountain,” Lingchuan explained with a smile.

“Huh?!” Lin Qianyou was even more surprised, not by the fact that she was from ancient times, but by how calmly she could speak of her own death, smiling as if it were no big deal.

Death was usually a topic everyone avoided talking about.

The four of them chatted briefly, and then Lin Qianyou and Qi Shanglan made their way back the same way.

Behind them, Lingchuan watched them leave, her expression gradually growing distant. The smile on her face slowly faded.

Ah Ning watched Lingchuan, seeing the smile disappear and feeling a mix of concern and heartache. She softly asked, “Great deity, are you missing the divine messenger?”

Lingchuan heard the question, lowered her head to look at Ah Ning, and her gaze suddenly became cold and resolute. “Never. He should stay trapped in the Wangchuan River forever.” She finished speaking and turned her gaze toward the Lingchuan River beside her.

The river shimmered under the light, just like her eyes.

The sunlight was dim, and the wind gently lifted her robes, carrying an indescribable sorrow.

Meanwhile, Lin Qianyou and Qi Shanglan had finally climbed up the hillside. Lin Qianyou leaned closer to Qi Shanglan and lowered her voice to ask, “How do you think that little girl died? She sounded so casual about it. I mean, she’s only about fourteen or fifteen, right?”

“Why didn’t you ask earlier, then?” Qi Shanglan raised an eyebrow.

“Could I ask that? What if I bring up something that makes her sad?” Lin Qianyou shot him a glance, then reached out to lift his shirt. “Let me see if you’re hurt.”

The noise from the restroom hadn’t been heard by the others in the resting area. After Wang Xinyu returned with the two little children, she silently stood behind the camera.

As they were about to officially start filming, Director Sun asked why Lin Qianyou and Qi Shanglan hadn’t returned from the restroom yet. Wang Xinyu was about to come up with an excuse when Wang Muhan raised her hand first and said, “Uncle Director, I know! Sister Qianyou and Uncle Police are over there kissing~” She said in her sweet, childish voice, pointing toward the public restroom.

Her words immediately silenced the room.

Children don’t lie, they say what they see. Most of the people in the room believed her, though no one addressed it directly.

When Lin Qianyou and Qi Shanglan returned, one after the other, everyone’s gaze toward them became charged with unspoken meaning.

Qi Shanglan didn’t care what others thought of him, but Lin Qianyou was sensitive and immediately noticed the unusual way people were looking at them.

She glanced at Wang Xinyu, guessing she wouldn’t spread rumors, but when her gaze fell on the twins, she instantly felt awkward and embarrassed, her face turning red.

Had those little brats said something?

As she was thinking, Director Sun suddenly called them over.

Lin Qianyou jolted. Great, they really had said something.

Trying to maintain some distance from Qi Shanglan, she walked up to Director Sun with her face still flushed. Nervously, she tugged at her clothes.

In contrast, Qi Shanglan strolled leisurely up to Director Sun and asked what was needed.

Director Sun gestured for them to move to a corner, smiling faintly with amusement in his eyes, teasing them both. “Are you two in a relationship now? Don’t lie to me, tell me the truth.”

“Yeah, we’re dating,” Qi Shanglan immediately replied, before Lin Qianyou could come up with an excuse.

Director Sun chuckled again. “That makes things easier.”

He looked at both of them, then whispered with a smile, “Have you considered going public?”

“Yes,” Qi Shanglan answered right away.

After being interrupted twice, Lin Qianyou shot him an unhappy look. Then she heard Director Sun say, “Well, we could announce it when our variety show airs. It might even bring in some traffic, and it’ll be good for your popularity, Qianyou. What do you think?”

“Alright,” Qi Shanglan glanced at Lin Qianyou, as if asking, “What do you think?”

Lin Qianyou hadn’t said a word throughout the conversation. Irritated, she glared at him. Director Sun noticed her dissatisfaction, and with a cheerful smile, said, “You two discuss it,” and walked away.

Once Director Sun left, Lin Qianyou confronted Qi Shanglan. “Why did you say all that without asking me first?”

“Say all what?” Qi Shanglan asked, amused, looking at her. “You still want to hide me forever? If we’re dating, then let’s go public. Didn’t the director say it’ll help your popularity?”

“But—”

“But what?” Qi Shanglan interrupted. “We’ve already met each other’s families, and we’re getting married. After that, do you think we can keep it a secret?”

“I—”

“What’s with the ‘I’?” he said, cutting her off. “We’re going public today.”

“You—”

“What ‘you’?” Qi Shanglan said, holding out his hand. “Give me your phone.”

Lin Qianyou: “…”

“What do you need my phone for? To post on Weibo?”

“Yeah, what, you don’t want to post? I’ll do it for you.”

“I never said I didn’t want to post,” Qi Shanglan said. Lin Qianyou bit her lip, clearly displeased. He was way too eager, “I’ll post it later. I still haven’t figured out what to write for the announcement.”

“Announcement?” Qi Shanglan frowned. “It’s that complicated? Fine, just make sure to post it when you’re ready.” He allowed her to wait a few more hours.

Lin Qianyou scoffed, feeling like he was acting like a child. “Got it.”

After they arrived at the hotel in the evening, Lin Qianyou hadn’t posted the Weibo announcement yet, but it was already semi-public within the crew.

In the hotel room, while Lin Qianyou was unpacking her suitcase, her phone vibrated. It was a message from Qi Shanglan: Call me.

Lin Qianyou finished unpacking before calling his name.

As soon as he appeared, he asked, “Why did you call me so late?”

Lin Qianyou closed her suitcase and said, “What do you want? Kissing is fine, but sleeping isn’t.”

Doing it every day was bad enough, but now he was even changing things up—she really couldn’t take it anymore.

Last time, he made her do it while leaning on the coffee table, and her knees still hurt from how hard it was.

Qi Shanglan chuckled and asked her, “Why not?”

“No means no! Aren’t you exhausted from doing it every day? I swear, I feel like castrating you.” She pushed her suitcase aside, sat on the sofa, and picked up her script. “Being good-looking really is an advantage. Your screen time has increased way too much.”

Qi Shanglan walked up to her, bent down without hesitation, and scooped her up in his arms.

Lin Qianyou’s script slipped from her hands and hit the floor with a pa, as she was forced to straddle his lap, her knees pressing into the sofa cushion on either side of his thighs.

Without giving her a chance to protest, he cupped the back of her head and kissed her deeply, while his other hand roamed restlessly over her body.

“Mmph! Hands off!” Lin Qianyou grabbed his hand firmly, feeling his grip was a little too strong—it was starting to hurt.

Qi Shanglan lightly bit the tip of her tongue, his voice low and husky. “Why haven’t you posted on Weibo yet?”

“I’ll post it later!” she snapped back, clearly annoyed.

“Such a harsh tone. Are you angry?” He let go of her head, his hands moving downward as he suddenly lifted her tight-fitting skirt.

It was a brown leather pencil skirt, not easy to pull up. Lin Qianyou resisted, trying to push his hands away. Seeing this, Qi Shanglan gave up on pulling it up and instead slipped his hand inside, tugging down her underwear directly.

With a rip, Lin Qianyou’s underwear, along with her safety shorts, was yanked down to her knees.

“Ah! You tore my safety shorts!” she cried out in shock, her tone carrying a hint of accusation.

Qi Shanglan looked at the intact fabric in his hands, puzzled. “They look fine to me. Where’s the tear?”

Lin Qianyou angrily punched him. “I meant the built-in safety shorts that came with my skirt!”

Qi Shanglan was momentarily speechless before letting out a helpless laugh. How was he supposed to know there were so many layers?

After completely removing those layers of obstruction, the two were finally bare before each other.

Qi Shanglan’s Adam’s apple moved as he spoke in a deep voice, “Sit on me.”

Lin Qianyou stared at him in shock. “What did you just say?!”

Qi Shanglan chuckled. “Let’s try a different position today. Hurry up, we still have a shoot later.”

However, Lin Qianyou naturally wouldn’t agree to his request so easily. She lifted one knee, trying to get off his lap, but Qi Shanglan didn’t give her a chance to escape. He firmly gripped her hips, aligned her, and suddenly pressed her down.

“Ah!”

The intense impact instantly drained her strength. Lin Qianyou was in so much pain she nearly burst into tears, her entire body collapsing weakly into his arms. The sharp, tearing pain made her grit her teeth and curse, “Qi Shanglan, you absolute scoundrel!”