Upon hearing Yan Chi’s words, Gu Qingtong suddenly came to her senses.
Hold on! Explaining with the term “wife-fan” makes it even more suspicious! She was practically digging a hole for herself and using the local soil to fill another hole.
Blaming herself for regularly checking Yan Chi’s fan discussions, where people often addressed themselves as “wives.”
“Teacher Yan misunderstood! I was just making an analogy, absolutely not implying that I’m a ‘Teacher Yan’s wife-fan’…..”
Gu Qingtong kept digging herself into a deeper hole, nearly driving herself crazy. While explaining and on the verge of tears, Yan Chi leisurely looked at her and casually said: “Hmm.”
It was unclear whether Yan Chi believed Gu Qingtong’s explanation.
The production team found Gu Qingtong’s embarrassment quite amusing and teased her until her face turned completely red. She even refused to answer their questions, boldly ignoring the cameras.
Finally, they spared her and handed out their respective task cards.
“1. Act as each other’s girlfriend throughout the entire process. Whether it’s addressing each other or responding to questions from strangers, if there are three OOC1Out Of Character instances, the task will fail directly.
- Prepare a Valentine’s Day gift for each other.
- Arrange a dinner date for the evening.”
At the bottom, there was even an additional line: “Surprise tasks must be kept confidential during the preparation phase. They should be completed individually, without seeking help from each other or the staff.”
“Is there no budget for the romance?” Gu Qingtong realized, after reading the tasks, that the production team hadn’t provided any money.
The production team had already arranged task points and game challenges at the destination of the tasks. Once the guests completed them, they could receive gifts prepared by the production team and reserved candlelit dinner seats at a Western restaurant.
“Of course, you need to plan it yourselves with care. Only through hard work can you infuse surprises with sincerity and love.”
The original intention was to create a role-playing scenario for the couples with set challenges and rewards.
When Gu Qingtong heard this, she suddenly understood, but her interpretation went in a direction the production team hadn’t anticipated. It was because she remembered a few pieces of advice from the research she had done in advance about pursuing someone:
“Cooking is a big plus. If you personally make a candlelit dinner for the first date, it will be quite thoughtful and romantic. Giving gifts is also about the sentiment; handmade gifts are particularly meaningful.”
But cooking and handmade gifts were both areas of knowledge that were completely foreign to Gu Qingtong; she had never done them before and didn’t know how to…… This concern only lasted for a moment before she quickly straightened up. After all, from the beginning, Gu Qingtong didn’t see it as a task but rather as a small step in revealing her feelings to Yan Chi. The first time was all the more reason to learn for the sake of the person she liked.
Thinking of this, she nodded solemnly, looking quite confident.
The task destination set by the production team was a famous island scenic area near City A, with many old villas and mansions on the island. Leveraging these villa ruins, many commercial streets and small shops were built.
Due to the restriction of solo activities, Gu Qingtong and Yan Chi had to start by working separately. After getting off the helicopter early in the morning, the two bid farewell to each other.
Since she was going to cook by herself, Gu Qingtong naturally seized the time and headed straight for the homestay designated by the production team for everyone to rest. She was completely unaware that the challenge points were actually hidden in various commercial streets and small shops outside.
The cameraman followed Gu Qingtong without daring to speak, not even knowing what she was in such a hurry to do. It wasn’t until they observed her searching for ingredients in the refrigerator that they suddenly realized. The production team decided to remain silent, thinking that this might have a better effect on the show. After all, everyone assumed that Gu Qingtong was a master chef intentionally wanting to cook by herself, surprising Yan Chi and the audience! Who would have thought that the “master chef” Gu Qingtong would be holding a bunch of leeks, contemplating with a rather disdainful expression why she had bought so many green onions.
Indeed, there were ingredients, and the refrigerator was packed from top to bottom.
However, after searching through the homestay, not even a piece of paper was found. It seemed that she had to go out to solve the gift issue. Since it was still early and she was preparing for dinner, Gu Qingtong decided to go out first to find a gift.
Knowing that she had no money on her, Gu Qingtong kept her distance from the commercial streets and headed straight for the residential area of the old site. If she could explain her intention to cook for herself before, following Gu Qingtong to the quiet residential area left the cameraman completely puzzled.
Gu Qingtong focused her attention on an old lady leisurely knitting a sweater in the sun. Her eyes suddenly lit up. She remembered back when she was in school, the girls in her class would start a wave of knitting scarves for their crushes or someone they liked every winter.
Of course, at that time, Gu Qingtong was still a completely clueless individual, unable to comprehend such sentiments. She simply thought that knitting scarves so diligently was not as good as buying a new one! Now she realized that what those girls valued was not the scarf itself but the intention and emotions woven into every stitch, to be worn by the recipient.
Thinking of how carefully Yan Chi dressed in winter due to her health issues, Gu Qingtong made up her mind. With courage, she approached the old lady, engaging in conversation and explaining her participation in a television program.
“Who are you knitting the scarf for, dear?” The old lady placed her needles on her lap, asking with a smile. Living in this old house for a long time, with neighbors gradually moving away, she was more than happy to have the company of tourists and young people, especially a charming girl like Gu Qingtong.
“It… it’s my girlfriend. She’s a bit sensitive to the cold in winter.” Gu Qingtong suddenly remembered the program’s rule about not going OOC, blushing as she spoke in a hushed voice.
“You’re a thoughtful and good kid. Back when my husband and I hit it off, I knitted him his first scarf. It’s been fifty years now, and he still keeps it in good condition. This hand-knitted warm garment, just by looking at it, carries a lot of memories. Knowing that someone knitted it for you is heartwarming.”
As Gu Qingtong looked at the old lady, her eyes filled with happiness under the sunlight, and she felt a sense of warmth in her heart. However, the old lady quickly informed her that knitting a scarf in one afternoon was simply impossible, especially for a novice like Gu Qingtong, who was learning as she went. Knitting a relatively simple hat might be more achievable.
Gu Qingtong was not picky; she was ready to give it a try. She promptly brought over a small stool, sat obediently beside the old lady, and began to learn. The filming crew, astonished, wondered: “Is this also part of her plan?! Did she have this in mind all along?”
It was unclear whether Gu Qingtong stumbled upon this idea by accident or had prepared for it in advance. Initially, watching the old lady’s smooth and skilled demonstration, Gu Qingtong thought it would be simple. However, when she tried it herself, the first step became a chaotic endeavor.
Either the needle pricked her finger, or the yarn got tangled up again, frustrating Gu Qingtong to the point of sighing. The old lady, even more patient than her, said: “In reality, knitting these things is just three steps: casting on, knitting in the round, and binding off. Once you learn these steps and repeat them, it’s not that difficult at all.”
Patiently guiding Gu Qingtong step by step, the old lady helped calm her anxious heart. Although Gu Qingtong’s finger movements were still uncoordinated, she slowly regained composure. Despite knowing what to do in her head, her hands didn’t quite follow suit, leading to occasional mistakes. When that happened, she had to unravel and start over.
Yet, Gu Qingtong never feared challenges. At this moment, her mind couldn’t help but wonder how the light blue hat, woven with this particular yarn, would look on Yan Chi. It was as if by merely imagining it, the difficulty seemed to fade away.
Sure enough, the old lady was right. After stumbling through the first, second, and third rounds, Gu Qingtong’s fingers seemed to have reached a truce with themselves. No longer did she make the same mistakes repeatedly, and her speed gradually increased.
Even though she had become proficient, Gu Qingtong treated each stitch with great care. She made sure each one was secure before moving on to the next. Knitting proved to be a time-consuming activity, and before she knew it, the sun had descended from its zenith.
The old lady was concerned that Gu Qingtong wouldn’t have enough time for the recording. So, while continuing her own work, she taught Gu Qingtong the process of binding off and stitching up.
This made Gu Qingtong feel a sense of urgency. Realizing she hadn’t started preparing dinner, she became anxious. In her haste, the rhythm was disrupted, and both the stitches and patterns became noticeably erratic.
Even because her attention wasn’t on her hands, the needle fiercely pricked her several times. Although it didn’t break the skin, Gu Qingtong was sensitive to pain and felt like her fingers were riddled with a thousand holes. However, afraid that the old lady would worry about her, she endured the pain in silence and continued knitting.
The old lady wasn’t finding it any easier. Seeing Gu Qingtong’s pain, she guided her attentively, almost wishing she could take over: “The yarn is wrong….here, here, yes, loop it around again!”
Gu Qingtong was on the verge of being moved to tears by the old lady’s careful guidance. Just as the photographer reminded them that it was already four o’clock, with only four hours left until the eight o’clock confession time, Gu Qingtong finally finished gathering the loose ends of the yarn on the hat.
However, when the finished product was laid out in front of her, Gu Qingtong realized that almost half of the rows on the hat were crooked and awkward, looking particularly unsightly.
An even bigger issue was that, unlike the fluffy ones sold outside, the one she made was tight and stiff, with a strange shape that was not comfortable at all.
“Oh, dear, look at my memory. I forgot to tell you not to pull the yarn too tight!”
The old lady seemed even more self-reproachful, as she hadn’t encountered such a situation in many years. Since Gu Qingtong’s stitches seemed fine, she had let her continue knitting without realizing the potential issue.
Gu Qingtong, despite her own distress, hastily shook her head, thanking and comforting the old lady before bidding her farewell to go prepare dinner. There was no time left to modify this failed gift now.
Gu Qingtong held it, feeling utterly dejected, her fingers aching. There was a cold sensation in her heart—she seemed to have underestimated everything beforehand.
She didn’t even know how to give it to Yan Chi, as this seemed to be her first time giving her something…..
The next task, cooking, was not any easier for Gu Qingtong than knitting. After all, she had the old lady guiding her step by step for knitting, but for cooking, Gu Qingtong could only rely on the “Cooking Recipe” app. She randomly picked a seemingly simple dish based on the ingredients.
For example, this steak seemed to only need a bit of black pepper and sea salt to be seasoned before frying, unlike other dishes with many steps. So, let’s fry a steak and add some pasta and broccoli!
Gu Qingtong failed to notice that the moment she chose to fry the steak, she had already condemned this meal to death. After all, the simplest-looking thing often turned out to be the most challenging!
Not only did the steak fail to absorb the flavor well, but the cooking time, whether too short or too long, was a disaster for this thick piece of beef. Gu Qingtong was even more outrageous; after taking the steak out, she only removed the outer packaging. She didn’t realize the inner packaging film attached to the beef and directly applied seasoning onto the film.
The cameraman wanted to remind her several times but remembered the rule that she had to complete the task alone and held back. In his heart, he prayed that she would discover it soon.
During the chaotic process of filming Gu Qingtong’s hurried efforts, the cameraman was completely convinced that she was a complete novice in the kitchen. Especially considering how diligently she approached everything, the results were laughable, making it a challenging task for her.
Gu Qingtong was completely unaware that when she followed the tutorial to turn on the stove for the first time, she ended up putting too much butter……leading to another round of exclamations and remedial actions. Finally, the steak with the plastic film went into the pan.
Just as she breathed a sigh of relief, the cameraman uttered almost despairingly: “Ah ah ah, there’s packaging on the steak that hasn’t been torn open!——”
Her heart nearly stopped. Gu Qingtong tried to retrieve the steak, but it was slippery, and it slipped back into the pan, splashing countless hot oil. She covered the back of her hand, which was burned, and her eyes turned red from the pain.
Facing the cameraman’s concern, she bit her lip, holding back the tears, silently shook her head, and only placed her hand under cold water for a moment before going back to retrieve the steak. Despite the pitiful appearance, her cooking methods were still quite amusing!
The cameraman felt a bit guilty for smiling but had to hold back the laughter and continued filming. He couldn’t help but be curious about why she was so determined to cook herself. If she went to the commercial street, she could easily find the task point marked by the program group!
For a novice following a tutorial to fry a steak, especially someone like Gu Qingtong, who was a kitchen-level assassin, miracles were simply impossible. When Gu Qingtong strictly followed the recipe and took out the steak for cutting for the first time, the inside was still bright red, bearing no resemblance to cooked meat. This steak had only suffered a bit of skin trauma!
She didn’t know the reason, but she had to rework it again. The next time she took it out based on her instincts, not only was the meat as tough as beef jerky, but even the surface appeared visibly burnt.
Looking at the clock that already showed six o’clock……Gu Qingtong felt helpless. She could only put the pasta and broccoli back on to cook. At least these two things only needed to be boiled and tossed with sauce, although their appearance was lackluster, they were at least edible.
Gu Qingtong looked at the mess she made with the steak and pasta on the table, then glanced at her hands, marked with scars. A mixture of emotions filled her heart, and for a moment, she felt melodramatically defeated.
Why does everything she does end up being a failure?! Moreover, this time, she was determined to learn how to do things well for Yan Chi, but it turned out even worse.
If it weren’t for the task requirements, she would never have presented these failed dishes.
Just at that moment, Yan Chi and the production team returned together.
Clearly, they had been waiting for Gu Qingtong to complete the task and didn’t know how long they had been waiting.
“Where is this burnt smell coming from? Did something catch on fire?”
As soon as someone stepped into the guesthouse, they began to inquire.
“No, it’s not….Qingtong tried to cook and ended up burning the steak.”
For a moment, everyone’s attention focused on the rather dark-looking Western meal on the table. Can the steak…..really be eaten? And why is the broccoli so wilted and green? The pasta is also clumped together.
A moment of silence ensued.
Only Yan Chi’s gaze was on Gu Qingtong’s hand, which was covered with bandages, already treated but still bright red.
Her eyes flickered slightly.
“You, you should know that we can exchange for tasks in this episode, right? You don’t have to do them yourself.”
It seemed like Director Bu had sensed something and cautiously asked.
Gu Qingtong’s eyes were filled with confusion, and it took her a moment to finally understand. The production team wanted them to do something themselves this episode, and that’s why they specifically came to an island filled with small shops.
Even though everything she did was what she truly wanted to do for Yan Chi, facing these failed dishes, Gu Qingtong couldn’t articulate her intentions. She could only pretend that she didn’t do well on the task and replied: “I didn’t know. I thought we had to do it ourselves if we didn’t receive money.”
Perhaps Gu Qingtong’s current expression was too despondent, the entire production team couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
Now, they finally understood why she was diligently adding various confusing behaviors to increase the difficulty for herself here.
“So, you made that gift….yourself?” Director Bu showed strong curiosity.
Gu Qingtong’s hand trembled as she held onto the hat under the table, unable to bring it out.
“She went to the residential area and learned how to knit a hat from an old lady.”
The cameraman, intending to help her out, unwittingly aroused everyone’s anticipation with this statement. After all, knitting a hat is quite a skill, likely more impressive than the rewards for completing tasks.
Now that it had been revealed, Gu Qingtong couldn’t hide it anymore. She took out the sky-blue, fluffy hat, her face nearly turning into that of a teary-eyed cat.
“This looks quite like a re—”
Just as Director Bu was about to praise her, he saw the full view of the hat. He almost burst into laughter at the quirky patterns and strange shapes. Forced to hold back his laughter, he insincerely said, “…..Pfft, it’s still very cute!”
Gu Qingtong gripped the hat. She might be pretending not to be sad, but amidst everyone’s laughter, she could only lower her eyelashes to conceal her disappointment and frustration.
Mustering a smile, she pretended to be casual, saying: “I overestimated my own abilities.”
She dared not look at Yan Chi’s expression. Perhaps she was also laughing at her own foolishness. Her feelings didn’t seem to have been conveyed at all, so she hid them beneath the guise of playing the couple task. At least that way, Yan Chi wouldn’t see her embarrassment.
She thought to herself, even the upcoming confession…..
At this moment, a hand reached out and held the other side of the hat. Gu Qingtong felt a gentle yet firm force on the other side and looked up in confusion at the person in front of her.
It was Yan Chi.
In her gaze was a warmth that had been touched, tinged with a hint of compassion.
Although there were countless words in her heart, Yan Chi patiently and gently reassured her little silly girl, saying: “Tongtong’s feelings, I understand.”
“Because this was specially made by Tongtong just for me.”
“And precisely because it’s Tongtong, everything is the best, and it’s what I love the most.”
Upon hearing these words, Gu Qingtong’s nose suddenly felt a bit tingly. It wasn’t due to grievances but because all the girlish secrets and expectations hidden in her heart received a response.
When Yan Chi said these things, there was no hesitation about the camera and the directors behind them. It seemed as if in her eyes and heart, there was only Gu Qingtong.
As she loosened her grip, Yan Chi took the knitted hat and carefully placed it on her own head. Smiling brightly, she said: “This is the first gift Tongtong gave me. Isn’t it pretty?”
Under Yan Chi’s cold and beautiful face, the initially strange and stiff hat seemed to undergo a transformation, each pattern now appearing deliberate and thoughtful.
Yan Chi’s excessively pale skin, under the gentle sky-blue, seemed as if the warmth of winter sunlight had dispelled the frost.
Gu Qingtong also smiled, finally nodded with determination: “Yes! It’s the most beautiful!”
It was precisely at this moment that she decided never to confess for a task again. She wanted Yan Chi to once again, without any hesitation, understand her feelings.
Just for today.
❖❖❖❖❖
As both parties had confirmed the completion of all tasks, the show finally unveiled the location for the confession. Surprisingly, it was the Eye of City A—the largest Ferris wheel in the entire city of A.
This answer was unexpected, yet it made sense; after all, this Ferris wheel, known as the “Eternal,” was indeed a sacred place for confessions. Because it never ceased to turn, it seemed like no matter how things went around, they could always come back to the starting point. It seemed to bestow “forever” blessings upon the lovers it witnessed.
Even though it was Gu Qingtong’s first time here, facing the towering and luminous Ferris wheel, she felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity.
“It’s the next one. Once you get on, you’ll reach the highest point of the Ferris wheel at the top of the hour for the confession.”
Director Bu’s reminder interrupted Gu Qingtong’s thoughts. No staff would accompany the two; only cameras were recording everything.
At the end of that minute, signaling the end of the task, all the guests’ cameras would stop recording. Gu Qingtong watched the approaching cabin2The ferris wheel cabin, her hand hanging at her side involuntarily tightening, and even some fine sweat emerged due to nervousness. In her heart, she repeatedly rehearsed those simple words, as if preparing for too long.
Just at that moment, Yan Chi held her hand: “Don’t be afraid. I’ll go up with you, and we won’t miss it.”
Gu Qingtong then realized that Yan Chi thought she was afraid of getting on the moving cabin.
“Okay.”
She felt the familiar warmth and strength in her palm, and couldn’t help but lean on it with a greedy dependence. When it arrived, the two of them rushed in together. Gu Qingtong even, due to the urgency, ended up leaning on Yan Chi.
As the door beside them automatically closed, separating the two people leaning on the seats from the outside world, Gu Qingtong’s heart raced. She hastily stood up and, almost instinctively, sat across from Yan Chi. The cabin continued to ascend, and everything on the ground became increasingly distant.
The two just looked at each other, not saying anything. The air around them gradually became warm and dense as their gazes intertwined.
They both endured this long and unbearable wait, anticipating the moment when it reached the summit. Yan Chi knew there would be a confession at that moment, even though she knew it was nothing more than a beautiful illusion.
Yet, she couldn’t help but anticipate and covet that fleeting moment of beauty. It was somewhat amusing to her. In the past, she used to admonish Gu Qingtong not to joke about liking someone. Now, the one who wanted to hear this “joke” was her.
For the first time, Gu Qingtong didn’t avoid Yan Chi’s gaze and looked at her intensely, even though there was still a lot of timidity and hesitation in her heart. It was as if, by not averting her gaze, she found the courage to speak out the words she had kept hidden for too long.
As the Ferris wheel ascended its final section, the steep slope generated some noise and caused the entire cabin to tremble.
“Are you scared?” Yan Chi suddenly asked.
“Not at all,” Gu Qingtong replied, almost unable to distinguish whether it was her own voice or another sound. Finally, they reached the top. The cabin, which had been shaking slightly before, instantly quieted down, as if their breaths were audible. The camera emitted a brief reminder on schedule.
Gu Qingtong and Yan Chi both knew what this meant—the time for the task had come. Quietly watching Yan Chi, Gu Qingtong didn’t say a word. It wasn’t time yet, the moment that truly belonged to both of them. A fleeting moment of distraction appeared in Yan Chi’s eyes. Her lips moved, but she didn’t say anything, as if even the illusion was about to shatter.
❖❖❖❖❖
【You can’t casually joke about feelings for someone…..Did I make big sister misunderstand what I said back then?】
The words Gu Qingtong spoke to pierce through Yan Chi’s heart echoed in her ears once again. The dull pain in her heart made her feel as if she were sinking alone into a silent abyss, unable to breathe.
Finally, she forced a bitter smile, raised her head to look at Gu Qingtong, and spoke before the cameras were turned off:
“Tongtong, I…”
However, before she could even utter the word “like,” Gu Qingtong widened her eyes, anxious beyond measure. She leaned forward, desperately using her hand to cover Yan Chi’s lips.
In that moment of covering her lips, several scenes flashed in Gu Qingtong’s mind.
This left her almost stunned in place:
She once sat in this exact position, and at the moment the cabin reached its peak, everything around her fell silent. Suddenly, she could control this body, as if all constraints and coercion had lost their power over her.
At this moment, all Gu Qingtong could think was: I must say it! Tell her all of my feelings and affection!
She hurriedly began: “Yan Chi! I…..”
However, Yan Chi looked at her with an expression she had never seen before, a mix of sorrow and joy, as if bidding farewell:
“Tongtong, haven’t you noticed? The Ferris wheel has stopped; everything has stopped.”
Gu Qingtong gazed around in bewilderment, suddenly realizing something, and looked back at Yan Chi with a mix of fear and disbelief, desperately wanting to know the answer.
Yan Chi looked at her, and there was a gentle and comforting smile on her lips:
“Right, everything is starting anew.”
“You are the one and only Gu Qingtong in the world, my own Tongtong…..there’s nothing that can recklessly control and harm you anymore.”
“So, Tongtong, you must be happy this time, grow up well.”
“If, in the future, we can meet again….”
“Tongtong, remember to recognize me, okay?”
The scene froze on Yan Chi’s faint smile. She wanted to say a calm farewell, but a tear silently slid down from the corner of her eye. When Gu Qingtong finally woke up, she realized—
The Ferris wheel had stopped once again.
Even the hand covering Yan Chi was not pulled back. She looked into those eyes that she fell into at first sight. With all her strength, she shouted out the words she had never had the chance to say before:
“Yan Chi, I like you!”
With that, Gu Qingtong’s trembling hand slowly touched Yan Chi’s almost expressionless cheek, lifting her face.
She leaned in and kissed her directly.
At the moment their lips touched, neither of them noticed that they both shivered from the electrifying touch.
The Ferris wheel moved.
It descended from the peak, slowly advancing, continuing its “forever.”
Also continuing their forever.
