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Chapter 28: Golden Dian Grassland – Something Feels Off

She hurriedly tried to explain, flustered:
“I really wasn’t trying to…”

“It’s fine. If you can’t say it, don’t.”
Pei Yunzhe lowered his gaze to glance at his phone, then opened the door.
“The driver’s waiting downstairs.”

Zhong Yang froze in place, her fingers digging into her palm as a wave of unexplainable grievance and shame welled up in her chest.

Why?
Why was he confessing affectionately one moment, only to become so cold and dismissive the next?
Was it because she rejected him?
Or was he playing some kind of reverse psychology game?

Zhong Yang let out a bitter, self-mocking smile.

In this ambiguous relationship, she had been cautious and anxious, while Pei Yunzhe remained effortlessly in control…

Well, maybe this was for the best.
She wouldn’t have to play the inferior role in this relationship anymore.

Her impulsive emotions cooled and solidified; the battle between reason and emotion ended with reality taking the win.

Still, Zhong Yang couldn’t swallow her frustration. Despite holding back, she finally spoke before leaving the apartment.

“President Pei, you’re the real acting genius here. Voice, stage presence, mannerisms—everything perfect. And your face-changing tricks? Absolutely brilliant. I’ll be sure to learn from you.”

Never let your dignity fall with your defeat.
Zhong Yang slammed the door and left, a tear slipping down her cheek the second after.

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That night, Zhong Yang stayed at home, seriously studying her script and graduate entrance exam prep for half a month.
She tried to use knowledge to push out all the messy thoughts in her head.

Just like that—from the rustling of autumn leaves in her ears, to the fluttering prayer flags, to galloping hooves.

The sunset bathed the vast land in golden light, dyeing the withered yellow into rich bronze.

With her back to the skyline and the glowing dusk, Zhong Yang dismounted smoothly and headed to the resting tent for water. Xiao Yun hurried over with a thick coat.

“It’s fine,” Zhong Yang said, flexing her wrists.
“I just got sweaty from riding. I’m not cold.”
Then she asked, “Do we still have that medicated patch? I think I pulled something in my waist.”

“Oh, right away!”
Xiao Yun quickly drew the curtain and lifted the back of Zhong Yang’s shirt to apply the patch.

“Wusu” required shooting both summer and autumn scenes on the grasslands, plus a small portion of city scenes.

This time, the crew had chosen a non-tourist area of Golden Dian Grassland to film the autumn scenes. They had luckily caught the off-season, so there were fewer people, and less risk of leaks—filming could be more relaxed.

The total shoot would last a month and a half. Half of that time was allocated for actors to train in horseback riding and herding, fully immersing themselves in the nomadic lifestyle.

Zhong Yang was currently in that phase.

Xiao Yun pulled her shirt back down.
“Sis, don’t you think it’s super cold today? I felt like I was about to be blown away this morning!”

Zhong Yang sniffed.
“Yeah. I shouldn’t have tried to look pretty. I should’ve brought my super thick down jacket.”

Thankfully, the crew-issued thick black coat was still usable. She put it on and took another sip of hot water.

The grasslands were windy, with large temperature differences between day and night.
None of them were used to sleeping in yurts, so the crew booked a newly built homestay camp seven or eight kilometers from the filming site.
It had dozens of double-story wooden cabins, heating, a stable, and was ideal for both living and training.

Still, the first week at Golden Dian saw several waves of crew members falling sick. Zhong Yang had been lucky—until now.

After dinner, she suddenly felt dizzy.
She checked her temperature: 39°C (102.2°F).

Of all times, she had to fall ill after dodging the first wave.

Xiao Yun panicked, fed her fever meds, got extra thick blankets from the owner, and started cooling her with wet towels.

“Xiao Yun…”
Zhong Yang lay in bed, weak.
“I feel like I’m suffocating under all this.”

“Sis, don’t talk. Let your white blood cells do their job. That’s the only way you’ll get better fast!”

“…Okay.”

The next day, Zhong Yang’s fever persisted on and off, forcing her to take sick leave.

She barely managed two spoonfuls of porridge at lunch, then curled up in bed and posted on Weibo:

[ZhongYangZY]: Great, great. Thought I was as strong as an ox, and still ended up flat on my back. (Lying down .jpg)

She remembered Wu-ge’s advice: post frequently, be yourself, stay visible.

Whether it was the frequent posts or just the endless celebrity gossip in the entertainment world, Wu-ge’s advice had worked—her comment section now only had a hundred or so stubborn haters left.

She didn’t care. Just ignored them.

Zhong Yang set down her phone and dozed off.

In her fever dream, she saw Pei Yunzhe.

In the dream, she was an employee at Tuowen Tech, half-working, half-slacking. Suddenly someone ran in yelling:

“Run! Run! Pei Bingbing is coming!”

She clutched her chest and bolted with her coworkers, from the first floor to the tenth, then back down—never-ending stairs.

Eventually, they fled into a desert.

Someone shouted:
“Yes! The desert climate is inhospitable to Pei Bingbing! We’re safe!”

She was hot and thirsty but relieved.

Then the scene shifted. Suddenly, she was in Pei Yunzhe’s arms, and he gently stroked her hair.

“Zhong Yang, I like you. Do you want to be with me?”

Before she could respond, he pushed her away.

“Leave. I don’t welcome perverts who steal kisses.”

She panicked.
“No! I—I didn’t! I’m not like that!”

But the words stuck in her throat—two large hands gripped her neck, squeezing. No matter how she struggled, she couldn’t break free…

Until she woke up, gasping.

“Damn.”
Zhong Yang flung the blanket off her face, breathing deeply.
“I almost actually suffocated.”

She grabbed her phone. It was nearly 3 PM.

She chugged two glasses of water and checked her temperature again—37.1°C (98.8°F).

She stretched her stiff neck.
“Finally broke the fever…”

The wind had died down outside. Feeling stuffy, she dragged a small wooden stool out to the cabin porch for some fresh air. The afternoon sun warmed her face—it felt great.

“Sis, stay out a bit, then come in and take your medicine! It’s on the table!”
Xiao Yun shouted from inside.

“Got it—!”
Zhong Yang lazily replied.

She turned back, squinting toward the grasslands, dazed and spacing out.

In the distance, a black dot entered her vision—looked like one of the crew’s Toyota SUVs.

Raising a brow, she got up to greet the returning director team.

The engine hum grew louder as the SUV pulled up to the empty cabin next to hers.

Pei Shize got out of the driver’s seat and was surprised to see her.

“Leading lady! You’re sick, and still hanging out outside?”

“It’s stuffy inside. I just came out.”
Zhong Yang smiled.
“Scouting go well today?”

“Meh. I just dropped my brother off here. Gotta head back.”

Zhong Yang froze.

Wait…
His brother?

She shifted her gaze and saw the very man from her dream—the one who made her suffer.

The SUV door shut with a bang.

Pei Yunzhe got his luggage from the trunk and entered the cabin with smooth, practiced movements—never once looking her way.

Zhong Yang narrowed her eyes, shielding her face from the glare.

It was too bright.

So she decided to turn around and go inside for her meds.

After she left, Pei Shize asked:
“Bro, didn’t you say you’d come next week? Why the change of plans?”

“Finished work early. Took my vacation early.”

Pei Shize gave a knowing smile.
“Oh? I thought you were rushing over here to visit a certain sick someone.”

Pei Yunzhe didn’t reply, letting the thump of the last suitcase hitting the floor speak for him.

The loft-style cabin wasn’t large. Six suitcases took up a third of the living room.

Pei Shize couldn’t help but comment:
“Why’d you bring so much stuff? It’s not a no-man’s land—you can buy whatever you need in town.”

Pei Yunzhe shook his head.
“Nope. They don’t have what I need.”

“What kind of rare treasure are you hauling?”

Pei Shize glanced at his watch, patted his brother’s shoulder, and left.

“Alright, I’m off. You unpack yourself.”

“Mm.”
Pei Yunzhe crouched to open the first suitcase.

At the same time, Zhong Yang opened her cold medicine at her table.

The sun dipped into the horizon, orange turning to violet, then deep navy.

The two cabins sat quietly side by side, not disturbing each other—like two silent stones in the cold wind, each nursing its own thoughts.

That night after dinner, someone knocked on Zhong Yang’s door.

It was Xiao Yun.

A flicker of something unspoken passed through her eyes.

“Sis, I brought you something.”
She stepped aside to reveal a pile of bags.

“Whoa, that much? What is all this?”

“Let’s bring it in first!”

The two of them spent ages unwrapping everything: down jacket, fleece slippers, hand warmers, thermos, medicine, blanket, snacks, supplements…

Zhong Yang stared at the full tea table, dining table, and floor, her mouth twitching.

“Xiao Yun… where did all this come from?”

“I bought it online for you! The homestay can receive packages.”

“You sure?”
Zhong Yang pointed at a down jacket.
“This brand’s cheapest T-shirt is five figures. And this thermos? If I’m right, that’s a collector’s edition. Goes for ¥8,999.”

Xiao Yun laughed awkwardly.
“Uh, well… the company reimburses! That’s why I dared to get the expensive stuff…”

Zhong Yang frowned in disapproval.

Qiguang Studio had just started, still building a team, buying hot searches, and managing Wusu’s promotion—money was tight. How could she let Sister Mingzhu take on more burden?

Thankfully, she’d just received part of her paycheck. A few tens of thousands wouldn’t be an issue.

“Don’t expense it to the company. I’ll reimburse you privately.”

Xiao Yun scratched her arm, inwardly panicking—wrong excuse!

Seeing her guilt-ridden face, Zhong Yang chuckled, put on the expensive down jacket, and said:

“You get what you pay for—it’s warm. I’ll buy you one too. Just use the homestay’s address for delivery?”

“No need, no need! I’ve got the crew jacket and my own.”
Xiao Yun waved it off and got up to leave.
“Get some rest, sis!”

“…Alright.”
Zhong Yang blinked, still feeling like…

Something felt off.

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