Because of Qi Yan’s words, Yan An spent the entire night tormented by nightmares.

In her dreams, she kept seeing Qi Yan yanking her out of the lake in one swift, ruthless motion. Only to crush her beneath his feet, stomping on her until she shattered into pieces. The pain was excruciating, yet she was powerless to move or escape.

The sheer helplessness of being trapped, facing inevitable destruction with no way to resist, left her in tears.

Yan Mengmeng and Yan Kuku had curled up in the corner of the bed, nearly buried under the tangle of Copper Coin Grass leaves. When they heard their mother crying, they panicked and hurriedly tugged at one of her leaves.

“Mommy, what’s wrong? Mommy!”

Yan An jolted awake, her mind still clouded by the lingering terror of the dream.

She lay there gasping, staring blankly at the ceiling. Fear still flickered in her eyes, and a single tear clung to the corner of her lashes.

“Mommy, why are you crying? Did you have a nightmare?” Yan Mengmeng carefully maneuvered through the dense Copper Coin Grass leaves, rolling over to her mother’s side, his little voice filled with concern.

At the sound of her child’s voice, Yan An’s scattered thoughts slowly returned to reality. Realizing it had only been a dream, she let out a quiet sigh of relief.

She wanted to turn her head and reassure her son that everything was fine, but the moment she tried to move, she found herself completely immobile.

Glancing down, she instantly understood why.

No wonder she had been unable to struggle in the dream. Her Copper Coin Grass leaves had once again wound tightly around her, binding her in place.

‘Sigh… How do I sleep without ending up tangled like this?’

Today marked the final day of filming in Nanmu Village. By the afternoon, they would be heading back to the city.

The night before, the director had announced that breakfast would be a group effort, meant to create a warm and cozy atmosphere.

Given Yan An’s questionable cooking skills, they wisely decided not to let her take charge. Instead, Wen Yang and Ji Lan led the preparations, while the others assisted as needed.

Wen Yang was skilled in the kitchen. Before transmigrating into this novel, she had deliberately learned to win a man’s heart through his stomach. Her cooking wasn’t bad. Ji Lan could hold her own as well, but she wasn’t as experienced as Wen Yang.

As a result, Wen Yang took control of the kitchen.

One moment, she sweetly asked Jiang Tian to adjust the heat. Next, she politely asked Ji Lan to check the porridge. And just a moment later, she was casually ordering Yan An to wash this and that.

Jiang Tian, the bright and cheerful junior, responded enthusiastically every time, his face always carrying a youthful, energetic smile.

Ji Lan, on the other hand, remained quiet and expressionless. Since Wen Yang always phrased her requests as polite suggestions, Ji Lan simply complied without objection.

However, Wen Yang’s attitude toward Yan An was noticeably different; haughty and dismissive, as if she barely acknowledged her presence.

[Uh… what’s going on with Wen Yang? Am I the only one who thinks she doesn’t like Yan An?]

[I feel the same! Isn’t Wen Yang supposed to be “the nation’s first love”? Sweet, kind, and innocent? Why does she treat people differently?]

[Who’s spreading rumors? Wen Yang treats everyone the same. She’s smiling, isn’t she?]

[Exactly! She’s the one cooking for everyone. What’s the harm in asking for a little help? Even Jiang Tian and Ji Lan didn’t complain. Some people are just too sensitive.]

[Wen Yang wouldn’t dare to act rudely to Yan An. Have you noticed? All the negative comments about Yan An mysteriously vanished overnight. The moment someone posted criticism, it got deleted. If she was just a nobody, how could that happen? Clearly, she has someone powerful behind her!]

[Exactly! Just look at Film Emperor Yan’s attitude. He’s cold and distant with everyone, barely acknowledging them. But with Yan An? It’s different. My guess? Whoever is supporting Yan An must be someone Qi Yan knows.]

[Could it be Wang Shi, the CEO of Kangheng Entertainment? He’s Qi Yan’s boss, after all. Maybe he got Qi Yan to join this show just to take care of his little mistress?]

[Wait, doesn’t Wang Shi have a wife?]

[So what? Entertainment CEOs are notorious for affairs.]

[Wang Shi is in his forties or fifties, right? Some people are so desperate to get into the entertainment industry that they’ll sleep with men old enough to be their fathers. No morals at all!]

[You’re all talking as if it’s fact. Do you have any proof? If not, stop spreading baseless rumors! Why not say that Yan An’s “backer” is Qi Yan himself?]

[Pfft. As if Qi Yan would ever be interested in someone like Yan An.]

[Oh? So you think he’d be interested in Wen Yang instead? You Wen Yang fans are hilarious. She’s been pushing this “Qi Yan’s fan” image for years, making her fans fantasize about them working together and hyping up their interactions. But have you noticed Qi Yan’s behavior these past few days? He’s been keeping his distance from Wen Yang the entire time. Clearly avoiding her.]

[Enough. Stop arguing. Can we just watch the show? But I gotta say, Yan An seems really distracted today… what’s up with her?]

Yan An, however, was completely preoccupied.

Her mind kept circling back to the task Qi Yan had given her the night before. How was she supposed to handle it?

There was no way she would uproot herself. But judging by Qi Yan’s attitude, even if she refused, he would take matters into his own hands.

If he went to check the lake and found no Copper Coin Grass there… wouldn’t that expose her secret?

No, she had to take care of this herself.

Just then, a side dish for the porridge was finished. Wen Yang plated it, looking pleased with herself. Then, carrying the dish, she prepared to leave the kitchen.

Yan An caught sight of her and instinctively said, “I’ll carry it.”

Wen Yang hesitated for a brief moment, but since they were being filmed live, she maintained her usual facade. With a pleasant smile, she replied, “No need, I’ve got it. But thanks anyway.”

Then, without another glance at Yan An, she carried the dish out of the kitchen.

At the dining table, Qi Yan was setting the utensils.

Wen Yang’s gaze softened as she instinctively smoothed her hair before approaching him.

By the afternoon, filming would wrap up. If she didn’t complete the system’s hand-holding task now, she wouldn’t get another chance.

She walked up to Qi Yan and gently called out, “Mr. Qi, thank you for your hard work.”

Without even looking up, Qi Yan placed the chopsticks down and gave the slightest nod of acknowledgment.

But Wen Yang wasn’t deterred. Smiling slightly, she leaned forward to set the dish on the table.

She had already calculated the perfect distance, just as Qi Yan finished placing the chopsticks, her hand would brush against his.

She had already consulted the system. As long as the hand-holding happened naturally, it would count as completing the task.

And to an outsider, it would only seem like an accident. The netizens wouldn’t label her as a scheming vixen.

However, just as Wen Yang was preparing to blush in shy excitement, Qi Yan casually shifted to the side, instantly putting distance between them.

Her outstretched hand grasped nothing but air.

The smile on her face stiffened awkwardly. She quickly withdrew her hand as if nothing had happened, but out of the camera’s view, her fingers curled into a tight fist, as though she wanted to crush the very air itself.

Masking her frustration, she forced a calm tone and said, “Mr. Qi, there’s just one dish left. Once it’s done, we can start breakfast.”

Then, without waiting for a response, she hurried back into the kitchen.

Qi Yan, unfazed, simply continued setting out the remaining utensils.

After breakfast, the six guests prepared for the final game of this filming segment, a treasure hunt.

The production team provided a list of lunch dishes, each represented by an image hidden somewhere in Nanmu Village. Using the given clues, the guests had to split into two teams and locate the pictures.

Unlike previous episodes, where the teams were pre-assigned, this time, Wen Yang and Ji Lan, the main forces behind breakfast, each led a team, picking their members via rock-paper-scissors.

In the first round, Wen Yang played rock, Ji Lan played scissors. Wen Yang won the first round.

Her gaze landed on Qi Yan without hesitation. Blushing slightly, she said, “I choose Mr. Qi.”

Ji Lan, unfazed, immediately said, “Jiang Tian.”

Jiang Tian responded with a bright, cheerful smile and stepped over to Ji Lan’s side. Meanwhile, Qi Yan remained motionless, standing with Yan An and Liang Baiyu, making no move to join Wen Yang.

Seeing this, everyone including the production team, held their breath, unsure how to react.

Breaking the silence, Liang Baiyu let out a sigh, shook his head, and took a step back. He joked to the director, “Director, since no one picked me, why don’t I just go back and chill?”

The director’s voice came through off-screen: “Nope. There’s still the second round of selection.”

The game continued, and this time, Ji Lan won.

She glanced between Liang Baiyu and Yan An. Neither of them were her preferred teammates. With a displeased pout, she muttered, “Fine, Liang Baiyu.”

Liang Baiyu raised an eyebrow and lazily strolled over to Ji Lan’s side.

That left Yan An, who automatically joined Wen Yang and Qi Yan’s team.

With their clues in hand, the two groups set off.

The treasure hunt itself wasn’t particularly difficult. After spending two days in Nanmu Village, the guests were already familiar with its landmarks. The real entertainment value would come from how well they handled the variety show atmosphere.

And when it came to variety show instincts, Liang Baiyu was a natural.

On their way to find clues, he constantly got distracted by the most random things; dragonflies flitting by, birds perched on rooftops, even a group of children playing house in the village square.

Ji Lan finally snapped, her face dark with frustration. “Liang Baiyu, if you’re not going to take this task seriously, just go back!”

Still watching the kids at play, Liang Baiyu tilted his head and asked, “Really? Can I?”

If the cameras weren’t rolling, Ji Lan would have told him to get lost without hesitation. But with them recording, she had to keep her composure, though her tone remained sharp. “Fine. Go back.”

With that, she strode away without looking back.

Jiang Tian, caught between them, glanced at Liang Baiyu, then at Ji Lan. Trying to mediate, he said, “Mr. Liang, we’re a team. Let’s at least try to finish the mission together.”

Liang Baiyu shook his head and looked up at the blazing sun. “It’s too hot outside.”

Up ahead, Ji Lan’s retreating figure was almost out of sight. She called out, “Jiang Tian!”

Jiang Tian quickly responded, “Coming!” He turned back to Liang Baiyu, reluctant to leave him behind.

Liang Baiyu waved him off casually. “Go ahead. I’ll rest for a bit and catch up later.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he turned and walked in the opposite direction.

Rounding a narrow alley, Liang Baiyu unexpectedly came across the other team.

The three of them stood in front of an old, historic house, studying a picture in their hands.

Qi Yan was slightly to the left, with Yan An on his left and Wen Yang on his right.

From Liang Baiyu’s angle, Qi Yan and Yan An seemed far closer, while Wen Yang looked like an outsider.

He found the scene amusing and paused to observe. He hadn’t paid much attention before, but today, he realized something. His good friend and this famous Best Actor had a rather unusual dynamic.

Meanwhile, Wen Yang felt suffocated.

Every time she tried to get close to Qi Yan, Yan An was there, an immovable obstacle in her way.

She had been deliberately inching closer to Qi Yan throughout the walk, hoping to brush against him, even hold his hand by accident. But no matter what she did, Yan An was always there.

It was as if she were a massive stumbling block, appearing at every turn!

Suppressing her frustration, Wen Yang reminded herself that now wasn’t the time to lose her temper. The priority was completing the system’s task before filming wrapped up. As for Yan An… once she finished her mission, she’d deal with her.

Lowering her gaze to the picture in her hands, Wen Yang feigned distraction and deliberately stepped onto a loose stone. Losing her balance, she staggered forward, straight toward Qi Yan.

Her face paled in simulated panic, and her arms flailed, reaching out, seemingly by instinct for Qi Yan’s hand.

But just as she was about to grasp him, Qi Yan took a single step back, effortlessly sidestepping her.

In the same motion, he casually nudged Yan An forward right into Wen Yang’s path.

Yan An, still focused on the map, barely had time to register what was happening before Wen Yang crashed into her.

Thrown off balance, Wen Yang couldn’t retract her hand in time. Instead of grabbing Qi Yan, she ended up clutching Yan An’s arm, sending them both tumbling.

Completely unprepared, Yan An stumbled backward, straight toward Qi Yan.

But Qi Yan, utterly unbothered, simply adjusted his watch strap and sidestepped, avoiding them entirely. Without even glancing back, he calmly walked up the steps, leaving the chaos behind.

Yan An let out a startled yelp, nearly toppling over with Wen Yang. Fortunately, a quick-thinking staff member rushed forward, catching both of them before they hit the ground.

Wen Yang, her face pale, quickly straightened up and forced a remorseful smile. 

“I’m so sorry. I stepped on a rock and lost my balance.”

She turned to Yan An and the staff member, offering an apologetic bow.

Yan An waved her hand, still shaken. “I’m fine, I’m fine.”

【…What did I just witness?!】

【Emperor Yan..t-this… sisters, did I really see that right?!】

【Why are you all making such a fuss? Wen Yang tripped toward Qi Yan, and he just stepped aside. That’s just how he is outside of acting, he doesn’t like any physical contact with people.】

【No, the real kicker is that after dodging, he pushed Yan An forward as a shield. And you’re telling me that didn’t count as physical contact?】

【Touching her back for a second is nothing. If he had let Wen Yang fall on him, that would’ve been a full-on hug.】

【Holy crap, this is the first time I’ve seen a Best Actor with zero gentlemanly manners! If the staff hadn’t been there, would he have just let these girls faceplant into the dirt?! What kind of idol is this? How does he even have fans?】

【Sorry to disappoint, but he does have fans… a lot of them, actually. And what do you mean by “letting people fall”? Didn’t you see clearly? Wen Yang tripped on her own. How is that Qi Yan’s fault?】

【Still, couldn’t he have helped her up? Wen Yang is his fan, after all!】

【Then let another fandom claim her. We don’t want her. She’s been parading around saying she’s Qi Yan’s fan ever since she entered the entertainment industry. Never shut up about it. At this point, is it even admiration, or just an attempt to leech off his fame?】

【Are we sure Wen Yang didn’t fall on purpose?】

【You male idol fans are way too malicious. Wen Yang stepped on a rock and tripped. It wasn’t on purpose, and she’s not blaming anyone, so stop attacking her.】

【Wen Yang has always worked hard, and she’s a good person. She really didn’t do it on purpose. Let’s just drop this argument and focus on the show. The livestream only has a few hours left, and the next episode won’t air for another week.】

Yan An bent down to pick up the fallen map, brushing off the dirt. Looking ahead, she saw that Qi Yan had already climbed the steps and reached the entrance of the old house.

With a creak, the ancient wooden door swung open.

Qi Yan turned back, gazing down at the group from his elevated position. His voice was calm. “It’s in here. Come in.”

Still shaken, Yan An patted her racing heart, a flicker of indignation in her expression.

Why did he have to push her forward? And more importantly, why did he just walk away afterward?

What kind of person does that?!

After lunch, the livestream ended, but the show’s recording continued.

Since this portion wouldn’t be broadcast live and would go through post-production editing, the guests were much more relaxed.

With their time in Nanmu Village coming to an end, the director instructed everyone to pack up their belongings.

Yan An had already packed in the morning, so with some free time, she rummaged through the living room and found a plastic bag. She was about to head out to collect some Copper Coin Grass.

But just as she was about to leave, she hesitated. Should I tell Qi Yan first?

What if he thought she had backed out and went to the lake by himself? That would be way too dangerous.

So, she dashed upstairs and knocked on his door.

“Mr. Qi, I’m going to get the Copper Coin Grass now.”

Qi Yan nodded. As his gaze fell on her bare face, he instinctively glanced outside at the blazing midday sun. “Did you put on sunscreen?”

Yan An shook her head, about to say she didn’t need it. She might get sunburned, but the Copper Coin Grass certainly wouldn’t.

Before she could reply, Qi Yan had already turned and walked into his room. “Come in.”

Yan An opened her mouth, sighed, and mused: There really is a generational gap between people and plants. We just don’t think alike.

Still, she obediently followed him inside.

Qi Yan grabbed a bottle of spray sunscreen and handed it to her.

Yan An hesitated. She had never used spray sunscreen before and didn’t recognize the brand. Instinctively, she stood on her tiptoes to get a better look instead of taking it.

Seeing this, Qi Yan simply retracted his hand, uncapped the bottle, and sprayed it straight at her face.

Caught off guard, Yan An stumbled backward, her eyes squeezed shut. She coughed and flailed her hands in protest. “What! What did you just spray on me?!”

It’s not poison, is it?!

Qi Yan screwed the cap back on and tossed the bottle onto the bed. “Sunscreen.”

Hearing his answer, she let out a sigh of relief and cautiously opened her eyes.

Just as she did, Qi Yan picked up a hat and placed it firmly on her head, pressing it down slightly.

Caught off guard, Yan An instinctively grabbed the brim and tilted her head up to look at him.

They were close.

Qi Yan had leaned in slightly, his face mere inches from hers.

From this angle, her round, doll-like face was fully visible. So delicate and flawless, it looked like something worth collecting.

Yan An’s breath hitched, and a soft blush crept up her cheeks.

Realizing how little space was between them, she hurriedly took a step back.

Qi Yan’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Alright, go.”

With his hat on her head and a plastic bag looped around her wrist, Yan An stepped outside.

The afternoon sun blazed overhead, its heat unrelenting. The hat shielded her from the harsh light, while the cool breeze she summoned with her spiritual energy kept her comfortable. Without hesitation, she made her way toward her destination.

That morning, during a task, she had noticed a small ridge in the village where wild Copper Coin Grass grew.

Perfect.

A classic bait-and-switch was in order.

Yan An crouched beside the patch of Copper Coin Grass, pressed her palms together, and murmured, “My dear friends, I truly have no choice. But don’t worry, I won’t damage your roots. I’m just moving you somewhere new.”

She continued in a hushed tone, “You’ve spent your entire lives in the countryside. It’s time to see the city, explore the world! Qi Yan promised to take good care of you, and I’ll be watching over you too. We’re all one family, so please don’t hold this against me.”

After a respectful bow, she slipped the plastic bag off her wrist and carefully began gathering the Copper Coin Grass.

Being a fellow plant herself, she knew exactly how to handle them. Her movements were swift and precise, and before long, she had collected enough.

With a bag full of Copper Coin Grass and a satisfied grin, Yan An dashed back.

The Copper Coin Grass here was thriving beautifully, its growth almost a mirror image of her own body. Even her mischievous friend Liang Baiyu couldn’t spot the difference, let alone someone as ordinary as Qi Yan.

Pulling off this little replacement? It’s a piece of cake.

Feeling pleased with herself, Yan An practically bounced up the stairs. She knocked on Qi Yan’s door, just for courtesy’s sake, before pushing it open without waiting for a response.

Qi Yan was crouched by the sofa, organizing his suitcase. He didn’t even look up when he heard the noise.

Some things never change… even after three years, she was still this reckless.

“Qi Yan, I got the Copper Coin Grass for you!” Yan An jogged inside, a wide smile on her face.

He folded the clothes in his hands neatly and stood up.

She stopped and eagerly held out the plastic bag.

Qi Yan took it, opened the bag, and inspected the Copper Coin Grass closely.

Meanwhile, Yan An’s gaze drifted to his suitcase.

As usual, it was as perfectly organized as ever, compartmentalized like blocks of neatly sliced tofu.

She could never manage that. Her suitcase was always a mess. How wonderful it would be if he could organize hers sometime…

Lost in thought, she snapped back to the moment as Qi Yan placed the Copper Coin Grass back into the bag and asked, “This is from the lakeside?”

Yan An nodded, her confidence unwavering. “Yep! I ran all the way there. It took me a while, you know.”

Qi Yan’s lips twitched, but there was no smile. He asked again, his voice unreadable, “Yan An, are you sure… it’s from the lakeside?”

The room fell unnervingly silent.

Yan An stiffened, instinctively standing straighter as she looked up at him.

Wait… why did his tone sound so off?

Why did his expression seem strange too?

Could he have… figured it out?!

No way! How could he possibly tell? This was a foolproof switch!

Yan An’s lips parted in surprise before she quickly regained her composure.

She swallowed and averted her gaze. “O-of course! It’s from the lakeside…”

Qi Yan didn’t bother to argue. He simply tossed the plastic bag back at her. “Forget it. Put this back where you got it. I’ll go get the lakeside ones myself.”

Yan An panicked, fumbling to catch the bag. Desperate to fix things, she quickly pleaded, “No, no, no, Mr..Mr.Qi! I’m sorry, I was just being lazy and grabbed some from a nearby field. I’ll go to the lake right now! Really! You don’t have to go, I’ll handle it!”

Qi Yan remained indifferent.

Seeing that he wasn’t stopping her, Yan An hugged the bag tightly and rushed out of the room.

After a few steps, she hesitated and turned back, trying to figure out a backup plan. 

“But Mr.Qi, all Copper Coin Grass looks the same. How did you even tell…”

“The same?” He let out a faint, cold chuckle. 

“Haven’t you heard? No two leaves in the world are exactly alike.”

Yan An was stunned. “You… can really tell the difference?”

Qi Yan gave a simple “Mm.”

Yan An’s heart sank.

Defeated, she trudged out of his room.

Now what?