As Mu Fu stepped out of the car, Zhi Jiu couldn’t help calling after her, “Let me know when you get home.”
Mu Fu smiled. “Did you give me a way to contact you?”
Regret flashed across Zhi Jiu’s face. He’d meant to ask for her contact information before they got in the car—but somehow, it had slipped his mind.
He quickly pulled out his phone, trying to make up for it. “It’s not too late now.” He flashed a bright, toothy smile.
Mu Fu raised an eyebrow, but didn’t refuse. They exchanged contact information simply and briefly, and only then did Mu Fu turn and walk away.
Zhi Jiu watched her figure disappear into the distance, then glanced down at her social media profile on his phone. Her profile photo was a casual selfie—Mu Fu sipping bubble tea, looking off to the side with an elegantly defined profile. Before he knew what he was doing, his finger hit the “save” button.
Once he realized what he’d done, he panicked a little, like a thief caught in the act—and quickly moved the photo to a hidden album on his phone.
A few moments later, a new message popped up from “A-Fu.”
A-Fu: [I’m home.]
Little Cake: [Great. Get some good rest.]
“Little Cake” was Zhi Jiu’s username. Mu Fu hadn’t expected such a cute nickname.
A-Fu: [GIF of a little girl nodding and smiling]
Zhi Jiu’s eyes sparkled. He could almost picture Mu Fu making the same adorable expression as the one in the GIF.
Soon, it was time for the second episode’s recording. This time, Mu Fu and Zhi Jiu would be staying together in a villa for two full days.
The villa had been carefully selected by the production team. Nestled halfway up a lush mountain, it was surrounded by fresh air and stunning views, far from the noise of the city. Behind the villa stretched a wide estate filled with rows of fruit trees. The team had searched far and wide for a place like this, and it had taken quite a bit of effort to secure it.
Mu Fu only brought one suitcase—just clothes for a couple of days and two nights. That was more than enough.
On the other side, Zhi Jiu had packed a bit more—two suitcases and even a guitar.
Mu Fu wore her hair in a high ponytail that day. She had on a white T-shirt underneath the #21 jersey Zhi Jiu had given her, paired with a pair of white denim shorts that stopped at the tops of her thighs. Her long, fair legs peeked out beneath the oversized jersey, giving her a bright, youthful charm that was hard to ignore.
Zhi Jiu wore a fitted casual outfit: a plaid shirt and blue jeans. His features were sharp and attractive, exuding a cool, aloof vibe—but that distant air melted the moment he saw Mu Fu.
“Ah-Fu,” he called, his voice laced with pleasant surprise. He hadn’t expected her to wear the jersey he gave her. He’d bought it in a medium, but apparently it was still a bit too large—so large, in fact, that the hemline reached her upper thighs. With her shorts nearly the same length, to the casual observer, it looked like she was only wearing the jersey.
Zhi Jiu’s handsome face flushed red, and his mind immediately jumped to thoughts he probably shouldn’t be having. To Mu Fu, he suddenly looked like a golden retriever wagging its tail enthusiastically at her.
“Ah-Jiu,” she smiled.
“How long have you been here?” he asked, shooting a quick glare at Ye Xin behind him—his assistant, who’d clearly cut it close.
Ye Xin looked baffled. Why was Ah-Jiu glaring at him? If he could hear Zhi Jiu’s thoughts, he might cry injustice on the spot. He’d prepared everything early on, but Zhi Jiu kept fussing over what to wear, endlessly switching between outfits for the trip and what to wear today. If Ye Xin hadn’t finally pushed him out the door, they’d probably still be at home.
Mu Fu said gently, “Just got here.”
Zhi Jiu let out a soft breath of relief. They were standing at the front door of the villa now, and the cameras had already been rolling since their departure.
When he saw Mu Fu reaching for her suitcase, Zhi Jiu quickly stepped in to take it from her. “Let me,” he said.
Mu Fu laughed lightly. “Thanks.”
His smile lit up like sunshine at her response. He completely forgot his own luggage, which he left at the door.
The villa had three stories and was designed with a sleek, modern aesthetic. The walls were inlaid with bright ceramic tiles, and the floors were polished and glossy. The first floor had a simple layout: a kitchen, dining area, and a bar space that opened up to a cozy living room. Everything was tastefully minimal but still managed to feel like home.
The second floor held three bedrooms and a spacious study. The study was lined with shelves full of literary classics, and a wide bay window opened out onto a balcony. When one grew tired of reading, they could gaze out at the lush green lawn and the scenic beauty beyond.
Mu Fu and Zhi Jiu each chose a room—conveniently, their rooms were right next to each other, separated by a single wall. It wasn’t until after they’d moved in that they discovered only the unused third bedroom had a private washroom. The two rooms they’d picked had none, meaning they’d have to head out to wash up at night. But neither of them brought up the idea of switching rooms—it was as if they silently agreed not to.
Upstairs, the third floor featured a private theater. The sound system rivaled any real cinema, and it offered even more privacy.
There was also a skylight room on the top floor. The ceiling had been replaced with a panel of clear glass, letting natural light flood in. A soft, inviting bed sat beneath it, making it the perfect spot to lie down with a friend and stargaze at night.
After unpacking, Mu Fu excitedly pulled Zhi Jiu along to explore the rest of the villa, and of course, they ended up in the skylight room.
“Wow, this would be perfect at night!” she exclaimed, latching onto his arm in excitement, her face glowing as she imagined herself lying there under the stars.
“Then let’s come back tonight and stargaze,” Zhi Jiu said, going along with her enthusiasm.
“Okay!” she agreed immediately.
After the tour, the two of them returned to their rooms to finish unpacking and change into something more comfortable. Mu Fu changed into a loose cotton T-shirt and a pair of white, high-waisted, wide-leg knit pants. The combination gave her a soft, graceful elegance.
By then, it was already around noon.
“I’m starting to feel a bit hungry,” she said softly. “Are you?”
Zhi Jiu nodded. “Me too. Why don’t we make some lunch? I checked earlier, the kitchen’s fully stocked. The fridge has vegetables and meat and everything.”
Mu Fu looked at him in surprise. She hadn’t expected him to check the kitchen so quickly. Seeing her expression, Zhi Jiu gave a shy smile.
When Mu Fu followed him into the kitchen, she found he was right—the production team really had prepared everything they might need.
At that moment, a small dilemma came up—Mu Fu could only cook simple dishes. She had no idea how skilled Zhi Jiu was in the kitchen.
Don’t tell me I’ll have to eat my own bland cooking for the next couple of days, she thought, not without worry.
Zhi Jiu, ever observant, noticed the hesitant expression on her face. “What’s wrong?” he asked gently. “Something bothering you?”
Mu Fu hesitated, then asked, “Can you cook?”
“Of course I can,” he replied easily, thinking it was something serious. “Is that what you’re worried about? I can make decent food. Back in the team, I used to cook for everyone when we had downtime. They always said I wasn’t bad.”
Hearing that, Mu Fu felt instantly reassured. “Really?” she looked at him, surprised and delighted.
Seeing the bright joy lighting up her delicate features, something stirred in Zhi Jiu’s chest. The feelings he’d been keeping in check suddenly spread like climbing vines, wild and unstoppable. He nodded silently, trying to keep his composure.
Mu Fu’s smile lit up her whole face, a beam of sunshine that swept away every trace of tension in the air.
While she quietly washed the vegetables, Zhi Jiu got to work with his knife, moving with surprising skill. Watching the uniform, perfectly sliced potato strips, Mu Fu couldn’t help but feel impressed. Looks like he really meant it—this might actually be something to look forward to.
Before long, lunch was ready. Since it was just the two of them, Zhi Jiu made four dishes and a soup. The spicy shredded potatoes were tangy and appetizing, perfect with rice. The loofah soup was light and subtly sweet.
Mu Fu gave him a big thumbs up. Seeing her enjoy the meal so much, Zhi Jiu’s eyes sparkled with joy. In that moment, he felt more content than ever—no other meal he’d ever made had given him this kind of happiness.
After lunch, they headed to the screening room for a bit of rest and relaxation. A sleek black leather couch stood in the middle of the room—other than that, there weren’t any other places to sit. Well, the carpet was plush enough if they wanted to lounge on the floor.
Zhi Jiu sat down beside Mu Fu, and they ended up sitting so close there wasn’t even enough space between them to fit a fist.
Originally, he had tried to sit a bit farther away, but Mu Fu immediately teased, “What? Are you avoiding me or something? Why are you sitting so far?” At that, he quickly scooted over—and that’s how they found themselves this close now.
Zhi Jiu looked awkward, unsure where to put his hands and feet. The dim lighting in the room cast a cozy, almost intimate glow, wrapping the space in a soft, lingering warmth.
A faint blush crept across Zhi Jiu’s pale face. Luckily, the lights were off, and Mu Fu couldn’t see it. She was focused on browsing through the screen, searching for a movie to watch.
“What kind do you feel like watching?” she asked casually.
“Huh?” His mind had wandered completely—how could he think about movies when all he could focus on was her sitting so close?
Mu Fu tilted her head and looked at him. “Want to help me choose? I really have no idea what to watch.”
“You can pick,” he replied quickly. “I’m good with whatever you want.” His voice was low and husky, and in this setting, it carried a kind of quiet magnetism.
“Okay then, I’m picking this one.” She selected a Thai teen romance film.
Zhi Jiu glanced at the title, Falling in Love with You Every Day. Instinctively, he nodded, then realized she might not have seen that in the dark, so he added, “Yeah, this one looks good.”
Once he gave the green light, Mu Fu hit play. Before coming upstairs, they’d brought a few snacks and some juice with them—perfect for a cozy movie break. Zhi Jiu opened all the snack bags and laid them out in front of her.
“You’re not eating?” she asked.
“You go ahead,” he said, “I’m not really hungry right now.”
“Okay,” she replied, and just like that, turned back to the screen and focused on the movie. After all the travel and activity today, all she wanted was to relax and unwind.
Axolotl Translations 
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