The atmosphere on today's set was a bit listless. Everyone seemed slightly out of it—until they noticed a surge of fans arriving just to catch a glimpse of the show's filming. That was enough to jolt everyone back to life.
Originally, this countryside inn only received three or four tables of customers a day. Even on weekends, a dozen tables would be considered a full house.
But now, thanks to the popularity of Delicious Is Coming, business had multiplied several times over. It even spurred the local tourism industry and agricultural sales.
The dishes Feng Wan and the others prepared mostly used local produce—fruits, vegetables, and freshwater seafood. Their main focus was authentic country-style home cooking.
After all, city folks didn't travel all the way out here just to eat something they could find in a fancy restaurant. What they wanted was the flavor of the countryside.
These days, the influx of visitors meant even fans had to line up for a meal. Feng Wan and the others were so busy they barely had time to breathe. On top of that, they sometimes had to recognize their own fans and offer autographs or photos as a "bonus service."
With another week of shooting wrapped up, the director pulled Feng Wan and the rest aside in advance to remind them: "Be extra cautious these next few days. We're only one shoot away from wrapping the show—so no more unexpected drama, okay?"
When they were about to leave, the villagers of Wuyan Village insisted on giving them local specialties as thanks.
Unable to refuse, Feng Wan accepted a few kilos of fruit. But when she "packed" them into her suitcase, she actually slipped them into her spatial dimension.
The others also accepted some fruit for the sake of formality—except Yuan Huihui, who dumped hers into a roadside trash bin not long after receiving it.
In her opinion, anything from the countryside smelled earthy and gross—totally unfit for someone of her celebrity status.
Ever since Yuan Huihui entered the entertainment industry, she had only ever used the best. There was no way she'd lower herself to keep those "cheap" offerings from the villagers.
What she didn't expect was that a gossip reporter happened to snap a photo of her trashing the gift. The moment she landed from her flight, she received a blackmail message.
Remembering the director's final reminder and the new drama she was about to start filming, Yuan Huihui reluctantly paid the man 100,000 yuan to make the problem disappear.
As soon as Feng Wan landed, she greeted Xu Lijun and the others before quickly heading to a corner of the underground parking garage, where she climbed into Nie Shuyuan's black SUV.
The moment she got in, she saw he was decked out in full disguise mode—clearly doing his best to avoid the paparazzi.
Honestly, Feng Wan didn't really care. If someone photographed them, so be it. At most, she'd just admit it. It's not like she was deeply embedded in showbiz—she made her living through her own skills.
Last night, the moment Nie Shuyuan heard she was coming back, he took the initiative to switch shifts and take leave from the hospital just to make time for her. He even followed advice from an online "dating guide" and bought a bouquet of flowers.
Feng Wan smiled sweetly at the sight of the bouquet, her eyes curved with amusement. "Didn't expect our Dr. Nie to be so good at making girls happy."
Hearing this, Nie Shuyuan panicked a little and rushed to explain, "This—this is my first time. I've never chased anyone before."
Hearing his nervous defense, Feng Wan let out a soft laugh. She hadn't expected this man to be such a blank slate.
It wasn't until he heard her laughter that Nie Shuyuan finally relaxed. So she had been teasing him just now. He had been scared half to death, worried she might misunderstand him as a flirt.
Afterward, the two of them drove home. When Feng Wan opened the door, the apartment was still spotless. She remembered how he had once asked her for a spare key, and now she had her answer.
Noticing that only her bedroom had been left untouched, Feng Wan was even more satisfied. He was thoughtful without overstepping—her impression of him improved again.
Nie Shuyuan, watching her relaxed expression, felt warm and content. But he still conscientiously returned her spare key—after all, the homeowner was back, and it seemed improper to keep it.
Unexpectedly, Feng Wan refused to take the key back. Nie Shuyuan was thrilled. It was a sign she approved of him—the probation period was nearly over.
With that thought, Nie Shuyuan was even more confident in the plans he had made.
"Xiao Wan, have a seat and rest. Help yourself to some fruit on the coffee table. I'll cook tonight."
Feng Wan immediately thought of the last time he had burnt black peanuts, and honestly, she wanted to decline. But seeing how confident he looked, she couldn't bring herself to say no. So she just nodded.
Lying on the sofa, eating the pre-washed grapes he had prepared, Feng Wan watched him bustling about in the kitchen. She had to admit, this kind of life wasn't so bad.
Later, when she saw the three dishes and one soup on the table, they looked decent—though the knife work was a little rough. Feng Wan made a mental note to eat a little and, if asked, say she was still full from airplane food.
Taste-wise? Not bad—neither too salty nor too bland. For someone who used to be a walking disaster in the kitchen, this was a historic achievement.
Nie Shuyuan, who had been watching her closely, finally relaxed. Thank goodness he had been diligently practicing ever since he realized his feelings for her.
The atmosphere was pleasant, and Feng Wan even opened a bottle of red wine. Watching the man across from her grow dazed after a single glass, she was honestly a bit shocked—he was a total lightweight.
She had originally planned to get him a little drunk and observe his behavior. Unexpectedly, drunk Nie Shuyuan just sat quietly and didn't make a fuss. That actually made her heart flutter a little.
Maybe that "probation period" she gave him had been a bit too long.