Chapter 12: Socially Anxious Star 12
@EightGossipKing: What kind of lawyer’s notice are you pulling? Let’s wait and see. If Jiang Kong doesn’t flop, I’ll write my name backward. @JiangKong
……
There were many more comments just like this.
Of course, an even larger group of marketing accounts quietly deleted their Weibo posts and played dead, pretending as if nothing had ever happened.
To all of this, Jiang Kong replied with only six ellipses on Weibo.
The next morning at six o’clock.
Jiang Yi woke up as usual. After washing up, she came to the small kitchen first.
Last night, Jiang Kong had bought some rice and ingredients from the production crew, and they were already placed in the small kitchen.
Once Jiang Yi had everything prepared, she set the pot to simmer on the stove before heading out into the small garden to exercise.
This time, she took the same route as yesterday and didn’t run into anyone.
However, on her way back, she could still faintly hear the clear, articulate singing carried by steady, even breathing.
“For the country… when have I ever had… half a day’s rest…”
“I have also… conquered the northern lands, the west… and the east, appointed to the post of Military Governor, bearing the Emperor’s grand favor…”
Jiang Yi’s footsteps paused slightly. Hearing these few lines, she turned her head toward the sound and caught sight of the sunlight filtering through the dense foliage. A sudden spark of inspiration flashed in her mind.
Following Shen Xiangcheng’s vocal cadence, her fingertips tapped along in rhythm. About two minutes later, she quickly opened her notes app and jotted down a melody that had suddenly popped into her head.
A moment later, Jiang Yi softly hummed a snippet, unable to resist pondering to herself.
It seemed that this kind of traditional, historical drama style was still what she handled with greater ease.
She had been delayed for quite a bit today. Upon returning from the garden, she bumped into Shen Ping right in the living room.
“Good morning, Teacher Shen.”
Since they met face-to-face, Jiang Yi couldn’t pretend not to see him, so she took the initiative to greet him.
Shen Ping originally intended to ignore her, but no sooner had the thought crossed his mind than his body took action first.
He nodded, letting out a soft “Mhm” as an acknowledgment.
Right after responding, Shen Ping knitted his brows slightly, then quickly let them unknit again.
Jiang Kong was Jiang Kong, and Jiang Yi was Jiang Yi; there was no need to lump them together.
Jiang Yi paid no attention to his attitude, entirely focused on pretending she had urgent business as she hurriedly rushed upstairs.
After heading upstairs, before she even had time to breathe a sigh of relief, she bumped into Pei Wusi, who was just opening his door to step out.
“Good morning, Teacher Pei.”
Jiang Yi repeated her previous trick, intending to dash straight back to her room in one breath and check on her simmering porridge a bit later.
Unexpectedly, after Pei Wusi replied with a “Good morning,” he followed up by asking, “Up so early?”
Jiang Yi: …
Half of Jiang Yi’s body froze slightly, leaving her with no choice but to stop her feet and reply to him.
“Mhm.”
She nodded, her toes turning outward uncontrollably.
Pei Wusi naturally noticed her movement and couldn’t help finding it amusing, yet he intentionally carried on the conversation.
“Jiang Kong isn’t awake yet. I’m heading downstairs to order breakfast. What would you like to eat? I can order a portion for you.”
Hiss—
Jiang Yi silently nudged her toes back into place.
Warm and friendly.
He was far too warm and friendly.
“No need, no need.”
She shook her head. After a few seconds of silence, realizing that her porridge-cooking secret probably couldn’t be kept hidden anyway, she spoke directly: “I cooked some porridge this morning.”
“Alright, then I’ll head downstairs first.”
Pei Wusi nodded, no longer pulling Jiang Yi into small talk, letting her quickly slip back into her room.
Jiang Yi stayed in her room for a short while before opening the door to go to the small kitchen.
Today she had cooked millet, pumpkin, and goji berry porridge:
The golden pumpkin, along with the millet, had been cooked until soft and mushy. The moment the pot lid was lifted, the natural sweet aroma unique to pumpkin mixed into the steam, wafting right into her face. Deep red dates and bright red goji berries dotted the soft, sticky surface of the porridge, bubbling along with its gentle rolling motions as subtle hints of sweet date aroma imperceptibly spread through the air.
Perfect for nourishing the spleen and stomach.
Jiang Kong had discussed a few matters with his manager late last night and slept a bit late.
Upon waking up and seeing her message, he immediately went to the small kitchen to look for Jiang Yi.
“Smells so good.”
The moment he stepped through the door, he showered her with praise first.
Jiang Yi curved her lips into a smile, scooped a bowl for herself and another for Jiang Kong, then urged him:
“Go wash up first.”
Jiang Kong agreed, the corners of his mouth practically curving all the way up to the sky, his mood so soaringly good he felt like flying.
He quickly finished washing up. Just as he was about to eat breakfast, he happened to run into Shen Xiangcheng coming back upstairs.
“The breakfast provided by the production crew is quite expensive. We plan to head out to eat; do you two want to join us?”
Shen Xiangcheng asked.
Jiang Kong shook his head, holding back his curling smile, though he couldn’t quite contain it.
“No need, my sister cooked porridge for me.”
Shen Xiangcheng was taken aback, then nodded, asking nothing about where he had cooked it.
“Alright.”
The sweet, nourishing millet, pumpkin, red date, and goji berry porridge went down smoothly. After finishing a bowl, Jiang Yi was just hesitating whether to add another half-bowl when she suddenly heard faint voices coming from downstairs.
“Back so soon?”
Jiang Yi was surprised.
Jiang Kong put down his bowl and listened carefully; indeed, there was activity in the downstairs living room.
“Should I go take a look?”
Saying that, he finished the last bit of porridge in his bowl, stood up, and went out.
The rest of the guests were currently all downstairs.
Jiang Kong stood by the stairway railing and asked, “Back so soon?”
Shen Xiangcheng shook his head.
Pei Wusi explained, “We didn’t end up going out.”
It was already past eight o’clock. If they went out for a round trip, they wouldn’t make it back in time for the nine o’clock livestream.
They had walked all the way to the door before the director sent the men in black over to remind them: missing the livestream start time would result in money deductions.
The group simply went to the supermarket to buy some instant food like oats and bread to line their stomachs.
Jiang Kong nodded, then returned to the small kitchen.
After hearing him finish, Jiang Yi instantly guessed seven or eight out of ten of his thoughts.
“I’m full. You can carry it downstairs and ask the others.”
“Sounds good.”
Jiang Kong pondered for two seconds and agreed on the spot.
He asked Jiang Yi to head back to her room first while he adeptly tidied up the small kitchen, then carried the earthenware pot downstairs.
The atmosphere downstairs was somewhat somber.
Shen Ping was unwrapping a piece of bread; Luo Xia was already gnawing on hers, a glass of pure milk sitting in front of her; Shen Xiangcheng and Luo Jiajin were in the kitchen boiling water to mix oatmeal.
Meanwhile, Pei Wusi was in the kitchen with a bag of dumplings he had bought, getting ready to boil them. Chang Ximing was beside him helping out.
Jiang Kong set the earthenware pot on the dining table, rubbing his fingertips, which were slightly red and warm from the heat.
“We still have a bit of porridge left. If you don’t mind, feel free to have some.”
“It’s millet, pumpkin, red date, and goji berry porridge.”
As he spoke, he lifted the lid. Billowing hot steam instantly rose, and the sweet aroma of pumpkin instantly spread through the surrounding air.
Luo Jiajin set down the oats in her hands and was the first to speak up: “Sweet porridge! Thank you so much!”
“Give me a bit.”
Shen Ping twitched his eyelids, still hesitating, only to see Shen Xiangcheng and Pei Wusi walking over with bowls in hand.
“Give me a bit too, thank you.”
Shen Ping: …
He glanced down at the bread in his hands, ultimately raising no objections to Shen Xiangcheng’s sentence: “Give both me and my dad a bit.”
This time… this time, consider it a personal favor he owed Jiang Kong!
There wasn’t a lot of porridge; when distributed among everyone, each person received about half a bowl.
Teacher Chang Ximing got a bit more, while Jiang Kong—who had already eaten a bowl—took a bit less.
A brief moment of quiet fell over the dining room.
The sweet, soft, and warm porridge slid down their throats into their hungry stomachs, soothingly warm and comfortable, settling their inner organs wonderfully.
Brilliant light danced in Luo Jiajin’s eyes as she praised endlessly: “This is really delicious, even better than the stuff sold at the porridge shop I usually buy from.”
Having received such praise, Jiang Kong couldn’t resist showing off.
“My sister cooked it. She’s super amazing.”
And so—
The moment the livestream room opened, viewers heard this very line from Jiang Kong.
【HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Opening the stream to Jiang Kong showing off his sister again】
【Eh, are they eating? What happened?】
【HAHAHA how come they’re eating so much recently?】
【Must be breakfast, though it’s a bit late for that right now.】
【HAHAHAHAHAHA Jiang Kong, we get that you have a great relationship with your sister, alright?】
【Where’s Sister? Why don’t we see her again? I kind of miss seeing Sister!】
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