On the way back after buying groceries, they happened to pass by a supermarket. Gu Nansheng noticed a little girl sitting in the corner eating an ice cream cone. Her tiny lips were smeared with cream, and the adorable sight made Gu Nansheng glance over a few more times than she intended.

Ice cream…

She had not eaten one in a long time either.

Lin Siyan noticed where her gaze had landed. Turning his head slightly, he smiled softly.

“Sister Nansheng, do you want one?”

“No…” she answered, though her eyes secretly drifted toward the ice cream machine again. Last time Lu Shijing had not allowed her to eat any, and besides, the money they had today had already been spent on ingredients. There was nothing left over.

Something stirred in Lin Siyan’s heart.

“Wait here for a second.”

He walked into the supermarket and said something to the owner, who glanced outside toward Gu Nansheng.

A moment later, the owner handed him an ice cream cone and said something with a grin, even patting Lin Siyan on the shoulder as he sent him out.

From the walkie-talkie attached to the recording equipment came the staff’s voice.

“Teacher Lin, Teacher Lin, can you hear us? We’re not getting your mic audio over here.”

Lin Siyan walked back toward her.

“Here, Sister Nansheng.”

He handed her the ice cream.

“The director just said they couldn’t hear your microphone.”

Lin Siyan casually reattached the plug he had quietly removed earlier.

“Oh, maybe the connector accidentally came loose.”

“What did you say to the owner?” She accepted the ice cream with some embarrassment.

He blinked playfully at her.

“Nothing much.”

What he had actually said was:

“The girl I like wants some ice cream. Can I trade my vegetables for one?”

The owner had been kind enough to simply give him one for free.

Everyone split into groups and began preparing dinner.

Gu Nansheng washed the vegetables while Lin Siyan started cooking. Watching how skillfully he moved around the stove left her genuinely surprised.

“Sister Nansheng, can you help tie my apron?” Lin Siyan asked while stir-frying. “It somehow came undone.”

“Oh, okay.”

She put down the vegetables and dried her hands.

The apron strings had somehow slipped to the front, so Gu Nansheng had no choice but to reach around him from behind, almost like she was hugging him, just to pull the straps back and tie them properly.

The cameraman immediately caught the scene and hurriedly shifted the camera from the other groups to focus on the two of them.

As he looked through the lens, he could have sworn that Lin Siyan had secretly smiled just now.

Lin Siyan made scrambled eggs with tomatoes, stir-fried potatoes with chili peppers, and braised pork. Every dish looked and smelled incredible.

Gu Nansheng could not help praising him inwardly. This young man truly could handle both the kitchen and the outside world. Whoever married him in the future would be incredibly lucky.

Everyone eventually finished cooking.

Teacher Zhang Jie’s group had made stir-fried beef and bamboo shoots, while Teacher Wu Yin’s group prepared cucumber scrambled eggs and beef stew with radish.

At last, all the dishes were gathered together on one table, and everyone prepared to enjoy dinner.

Gu Nansheng was already starving. She had barely eaten anything before coming to film the show that morning.

“We can finally sit down and eat properly!” Yiyi said cheerfully. She was an energetic and adorable girl.

“Seriously, I’m starving too. I feel like I could eat an entire cow!” Yoyo exaggerated dramatically.

Zhang Jie sighed. “My poor old bones are aching all over now.”

Lin Siyan immediately replied, “Teacher Zhang, how are you old? You’re obviously the most handsome one here!”

Zhang Jie burst out laughing.

“Haha, Siyan really knows how to sweet-talk people.”

“Come on, let’s eat. Even this middle-aged actress is skipping her diet today,” Wu Yin said as she called everyone to the table.

Zhang Jie waved everyone over enthusiastically.

“Come, come, hurry and try the chefs’ cooking. Even if it tastes bad, you’re not allowed to say it out loud!”

Everyone picked up their chopsticks. After working hard all afternoon, their stomachs were completely empty, so everything tasted delicious.

“Nansheng, try some of this beef.” Wu Yin, who sat on her right, placed food into her bowl.

“Thank you, Teacher Wu.”

“You’re welcome. Nansheng, you’re very talented. I’ve seen many of your films, and you truly have a gift for acting.”

It was the first time a respected senior in the industry had praised her face-to-face. Gu Nansheng felt both flattered and overwhelmed.

“Not at all, Teacher. You’re praising me too much.”

“No need to be modest. Your future is very promising.” Wu Yin smiled warmly at her.

The encouragement filled Gu Nansheng with motivation.

“I’ll definitely keep working hard, Teacher.”

After dinner, Zhang Jie suggested they all sit together and play a game.

Everyone agreed on Truth or Dare.

The production team found a bottle. Zhang Jie spun it first. Whoever the bottle pointed to would have to choose between truth or dare.

The first target was Wu Yin.

Zhang Jie grinned.

“Teacher Wu, truth or dare?”

“Truth.”

“Alright, let me think… Hmm… How many people of the opposite sex have you secretly liked before?”

“Haha, that question is so direct.” Wu Yin thought for a moment. “Hmm… five.”

“Woooow!”

“Oh please, everyone was young once,” Wu Yin said shyly.

Then she spun the bottle.

This time, it pointed at Lin Siyan.

“Siyan, truth or dare?”

“Truth.”

“Then let me ask something on behalf of your fans. Hmm… do you currently have someone you like?”

Gu Nansheng sat beside Wu Yin. Lin Siyan’s gaze shifted from Wu Yin’s face to Gu Nansheng’s. His eyes paused on her briefly before moving away again.

Then he smiled, clean and refreshing as ever.

“Yes, I do.”

“Woooah! I wonder if your fans will be heartbroken after hearing that.”

“Maybe the person I like is my fans,” Lin Siyan teased mysteriously.

Then he took the bottle and spun it.

This time, it pointed at Gu Nansheng.

“Sister Nansheng, what will you choose?”

“Truth.” She definitely did not dare choose dare.

Lin Siyan pretended to think carefully.

“Hmm… I know. I’ll ask something for your fans too. What kind of guy do you like? Be specific.”

Gu Nansheng nearly blurted out: someone like Lu Shijing.

But she held herself back.

“Hmm… I like someone taller and slimmer. As for looks, as long as they suit my taste, that’s enough. I don’t really have any other requirements. It mostly depends on the feeling.”

She deliberately answered vaguely, hoping to avoid trending topics after the episode aired.

Oh.

So she liked tall, slim guys.

Fortunately, he matched all of that.

After three more rounds, it was Lin Siyan’s turn to spin the bottle again.

And once again, it pointed at Gu Nansheng.

“Sister Nansheng, do you prefer younger boyfriend relationships or older boyfriend relationships?”

Did he really have to ask that?

Gu Nansheng genuinely wanted to roll her eyes.

“Uh… either is fine, I guess.”

Lin Siyan’s heartbeat instantly became uncontrollable.

He fit every category she had mentioned.

Yiyi covered her mouth and giggled.

“Brother Siyan seems really interested in Sister Nansheng’s love life.”

Lin Siyan hurriedly waved his hands.

“No, no, I’m asking for a friend. She’s a fan of Sister Nansheng.”

They played a few more rounds. Only Yiyi chose dare, and her punishment was to perform what she believed to be the sexiest and most seductive pose possible, making everyone burst into laughter.

The sun gradually dipped below the horizon while the evening breeze drifted gently through the air.

Lin Siyan brought over his guitar and announced that he wanted to sing a song for everyone as the ending performance for the day’s filming.

Everyone applauded enthusiastically.

The song was one he had personally written and composed.

A light and soothing melody flowed from his fingertips. Lin Siyan sat there quietly as the breeze brushed through his hair. His youthful, handsome face and slender fingers moving across the strings created a beautiful picture. His clear, clean voice blended with the summer evening wind, making the atmosphere feel even softer and more tender.

“I look forward to meeting you again…

Those shattered fragments of separation,

turn into longing that lingers in my heart.

Tiny promises,

great big yearning,

the tips of your hair brushed across my summer,

your gentle smile left its mark upon my brow…”