The weather was odd that day. Just as Lu Qingyuan and the others finished tidying up the kitchen, the rain stopped.

Grandma Lu gave Lu Qingyuan a meaningful glance, prompting her to ask Shu Beiqiu, “Do you want to go out for a walk and take a look at our production team?”

“Sure,” Shu Beiqiu readily agreed.

The two of them headed out.

As they passed by Fifth Aunt’s house from the side path, their conversation was interrupted by a voice.

“Sister Qingyuan,” Lu Yanyan’s eyes sparkled as she looked at the tall young man beside Lu Qingyuan. “Is this my future cousin-in-law?”

Lu Qingyuan turned to Shu Beiqiu upon hearing that. “Is that so?”

Shu Beiqiu cleared his throat lightly. “Yes, I am Shu Beiqiu. Comrade, nice to meet you.”

“I’m Lu Yanyan. My grandfather and Sister Qingyuan’s grandfather are biological brothers,” Lu Yanyan introduced herself before waving at them. “I won’t disturb you two then.”

With that, she carried her things and walked down the small path toward the commune.

“My cousin,” Lu Qingyuan explained in a low voice.

“Got it,” Shu Beiqiu nodded and kept the information in mind. The two continued walking.

After the rain, the air was filled with a faint earthy scent. But as they passed through the bamboo forest, the refreshing fragrance of bamboo replaced it.

“In a couple of days, these bamboo shoots will start sprouting,” Lu Qingyuan pointed at the tips of the shoots that were just beginning to emerge. “Do you like eating bamboo shoots?”

“They’re alright. I usually pickle them to make sour bamboo shoots. In winter, I like to cook them with pork ribs or fish stew,” Shu Beiqiu replied.

Not only did he know how to cook, but his cooking was also quite good.

“What about you?” he asked.

“I like them in cold salads. Stir-fried bamboo shoots are great too,” Lu Qingyuan said.

The two stood in the bamboo forest for a while, sharing their favorite ways to eat bamboo shoots before continuing forward.

Beyond the bamboo forest was a grove of pine trees. If they passed through it, they would reach a small river. Crossing the wooden bridge would lead them to the educated youths’ quarters.

However, before they even made it through the pine grove, they encountered two people arguing in the woods.

Recognizing who they were, Lu Qingyuan immediately pulled Shu Beiqiu to hide behind a large rock.

“What’s wrong?” Shu Beiqiu lowered his head to glance at Lu Qingyuan, whose eyes were gleaming with curiosity. He bent down slightly and leaned closer, whispering, “Why are we hiding?”

Covering her mouth, Lu Qingyuan whispered in amazement, “That man is our production team’s new secretary, Secretary Chen. The woman he’s arguing with is an educated youth who was transferred to our production team at the end of January this year.”

Not only did these two know each other, but they were actually arguing!

She really wanted to know what was going on.

Seeing the curiosity in her almond-shaped eyes, Shu Beiqiu cooperated and hid beside her, eavesdropping behind the rock.

“Can you stop being so willful? I came here for work, not to play house!”

That was Secretary Chen’s somewhat impatient voice.

“How am I being willful? I came here first. It’s not like I followed you here!”

That was the voice of Educated Youth Zheng Xiaoxin.

Lu Qingyuan tilted her head slightly, trying to hear more clearly.

Just then, a familiar mechanical voice echoed in her mind.

[Today’s live streaming has started. The host currently has 184 fans.]

Since she and Shu Beiqiu were hiding behind the rock, they couldn’t see Secretary Chen and Zheng Xiaoxin.

If they peeked out, they would definitely get caught.

So, when Lu Qingyuan heard the system’s announcement, her first instinct was to look up at Shu Beiqiu’s head.

Sensing her gaze, Shu Beiqiu looked over with a hint of confusion.

【Wow, wow, wow! Such great luck catching Xiao Qingyuan watching drama unfold!】

【Let me take a look at these two. In the original story, one pursued, the other rejected, and then came regret—one got married while the other remained single for life. I wonder what they look like!】

Lu Qingyuan blinked at the comment describing the emotional entanglement between Secretary Chen and Zheng Xiaoxin.

“What’s wrong?”

Noticing her staring at his head, Shu Beiqiu reached up to check if there were leaves stuck on him. Nothing was there.

“Move a little closer,” Lu Qingyuan said, finding an excuse to pull him in closer. Then she adjusted her stance slightly, turning toward him.

With this angle, she didn’t need to strain her eyes staring at his head to see the barrage of comments.

“Alright,” Shu Beiqiu followed her subtle pull and shifted two steps closer, continuing to eavesdrop with her.

“You dare say you didn’t come here after seeing my transfer order?”

Secretary Chen’s accusatory tone came from not far away.

【Ooooh, so aggressive! He acts all tough now, but later, when he’s begging her not to marry someone else, he’s going to look so pathetic.】

Lu Qingyuan blinked again.

“Then you dare say you didn’t come here because of Zhao Zhiyi?”

Zheng Xiaoxin countered.

Zhao Zhiyi?

Lu Qingyuan suddenly understood. She leaned in and whispered an explanation to Shu Beiqiu.

“She’s an educated youth who was assigned to our production team last summer.”

Shu Beiqiu, still bent over, felt a ticklish sensation in his ear. He nodded in response.

“I see. So, he likes her, and she likes him. One followed the other here?”

Just then, Secretary Chen’s voice, filled with frustration, rang out.

“So what if I did? So what if I didn’t? I already told you long ago that I only see you as a sister, nothing more! Can you stop pestering me?”

“And you have the nerve to say that? Aren’t you pestering Zhao Zhiyi the same way?”

Zheng Xiaoxin’s voice grew sharper.

【Well, she’s not wrong!】

【Exactly! In the original novel, Zhao Zhiyi came to the countryside to take her younger brother’s place. She was fully dedicated to doing her part for the country and had no interest in romantic entanglements.】

【This Chen guy followed her here, and that Zheng just copied what he did. Honestly, they’re both licking dogs.】

What does “licking dogs^[1]licking dog is a Chinese slang; it refers to someone who obsessively fawns over or chases after someone they like, even when their feelings are not reciprocated. It describes a person who lowers … Continue reading” mean?

Lu Qingyuan was a little confused, but she continued watching the barrage of comments while listening to the argument nearby.

“In any case, stop pestering me. Let’s just pretend we don’t know each other.”

Secretary Chen spoke with a hint of exhaustion.

“I don’t know anyone here except you. Can you really bear to leave me all alone?”

“This was your own choice.”

“But I did it for you. I like you. I’ve liked you for so many years. Why won’t you turn around and look at me?”

Zheng Xiaoxin’s voice trembled as she spoke.

The barrage of comments was flooded with: 【He doesn’t like you now, but in the future, he’ll regret losing you!】

“Comrade Zheng Xiaoxin, please have some self-respect.”

With that, Secretary Chen strode away.

He was also staying at the Guangfu Production Team’s educated youth quarters.

As the sound of his footsteps faded and Zheng Xiaoxin’s quiet sobs lingered, Lu Qingyuan and Shu Beiqiu exchanged glances.

After a while, Zheng Xiaoxin finally calmed down and left.

Lu Qingyuan and Shu Beiqiu both let out a deep breath of relief and stretched their legs.

Shu Beiqiu had been bending over the whole time, and now, as he straightened up, his neck made a crisp cracking sound, making Lu Qingyuan feel guilty.

“Why didn’t you stand up straight?”

“Because you kept looking at me,” Shu Beiqiu said with a smile. “If I stood up, you’d have to tilt your head back. I didn’t want you to do that. I wanted to lower my head and look at you instead.”

Lu Qingyuan’s face instantly turned red.

The barrage of comments erupted: 【Oh my, Comrade Shu has a very sweet mouth.】