What Was I Thinking?!

The haters had always felt that Jiang Tingxu wore too many halos. They racked their brains trying to peel off his "fake skin." The media had repeatedly emphasized how hardworking Jiang Tingxu was, and now the haters sat at their keyboards in solemn anticipation, waiting to see him give up and throw his weight around. Instead, Jiang Tingxu swapped places with Si You, swung his hoe until he was drenched in sweat, and barely changed expression.

Jiang Tingxu's state of mind had long become calm and composed after being tempered by wave after wave of hardship.

[Are the haters mad or not? Mad or not?]

[Jiang Tingxu is really going all out. He's gritting his teeth to keep up his persona. There's a reason he's gained so many brainless fans.]

[Who the hell are you talking about upstairs? You can't dig up any dirt, so you've started making personal attacks? Come on, daddy will deal with you.]

The comments were flying furiously. Fans of other celebrities watched and learned with great seriousness. Ginger Powder's ability to insult people without using profanity while casually flipping through a hater's family tree had always been "an industry model."

Si You tightened his coat and asked the old man whether the peaches from his household were ripe yet.

In his previous life, Si You had achieved fame and success and spent huge sums on charity projects. But people's hearts were never satisfied. Things had gone wrong several times, and he had even been saddled with the stigma of "money laundering." Si You had not cared. He was used to being arrogant, and as long as his conscience was clear, that was enough. But now that he had returned to the beginner's village in this life, Si You had developed an entirely new understanding of certain matters.

"Poverty" was not merely two simple words. Going without food, starving—few people in modern society could truly understand it anymore. As long as someone had working hands and feet and was diligent enough, they could always get a hot meal somehow. Yet there were plenty of people who did not even have those basic conditions. They went unseen because they were at the very bottom, while ordinary people kept their eyes fixed on higher places. In his previous life, Si You had only allocated funds. He had never had the time to investigate and verify where the money was actually spent. Thinking about it now, Si You felt a little bitter.

After a while, the water truck arranged by the local government arrived. Although it had rained a few days ago, this mountain hollow was still rather dry. The farmers needed to drag hoses uphill to water the crops themselves, and now that task fell to the guests.

As soon as the old man stood up, Si You followed behind him.

The hose was as thick as two adult wrists. The old man made to hoist it onto his shoulder, but Si You immediately grabbed it first. The hose was not heavy, but the resistance when he dragged it uphill nearly made him stumble backward.

"Fuck..." Fei Chang was carrying another hose. After taking one step, he was dumbfounded.

Fei Chang instinctively looked toward Si You, only to see him grit his teeth, lower his footing, and drag the hose uphill bit by bit.

Every additional step rubbed his shoulders raw with pain.

Xue Boyu hurried forward. "Brother Si You, let me do it."

"Don't." Si You said, "You'll roll down the hill together with the hose, and then I'll have to fish you out."

Xue Boyu: "..."

Jiang Tingxu tossed aside his hoe and came over. Si You was even less willing to let him take over. In Si You's eyes, Jiang Tingxu was still far too precious. More importantly, if Jiang Tingxu pulled a muscle or got hurt, his fans would definitely blame Si You for it.

Seeing that Si You would not hand it over, Jiang Tingxu simply approached from behind. One carried the hose in front and one behind, and Si You immediately felt much less burdened.

Their side made fast progress, and they watered quickly as well. Si You dragged the hose back and forth. When he looked up, he saw that Zhang Jianlin and Jiang Yao seemed to be arguing again. Zhang Jianlin was really weak; he could no longer work. Jiang Yao's face was flushed red from exhaustion, but the girl did not show any grievance and simply gritted her teeth and persevered.

The production crew had noticed it. Once Si You and Jiang Tingxu exerted the strength normal men should have, these tasks were not particularly difficult for them.

"Wow, Brother Fei Chang and the others only have three more rows left to water." Xue Boyu sighed.

Upon hearing that, Si You's previously relaxed movements immediately became brisk.

Jiang Tingxu found it amusing. Was he competing over this too?

After finishing, Si You picked up his hoe and went to find Jiang Yao. Being a good person was one reason, but Si You had always had this habit. Whenever there were female friends around him, he would look after them as much as he could.

Zhang Jianlin was panting hard, and his expression immediately darkened when he saw Si You. Just as he was about to speak, someone suddenly stepped in front of him.

Jiang Tingxu's expression was peaceful, but the glance he cast over made Zhang Jianlin's heart inexplicably tremble. Jiang Tingxu did not say much, merely joining in to help Jiang Yao plant potatoes. Jiang Yao was instantly full of energy. "You guys are true bros!"

Si You said, "Don't mention it, sis."

Si You even taught Jiang Yao how to hold the hoe with less effort. The two chatted and laughed, and before she knew it, the workload that had once put so much pressure on Jiang Yao was finished.

They did not slack off, and influenced by them, the other pairs also sped up.

"Ah!" Xue Boyu suddenly cried out.

Xu Ke had been fooling around. He pinched the end of the hose flat to increase the water pressure and sprayed Xue Boyu directly.

Xu Ke said, "Haha!"

Xue Boyu threw down his hoe, grabbed the hose they had carried up, and immediately went after Xu Ke without another word.

"Let me make this clear first." Si You's tone was serious. "You can play, but don't step on the potatoes we just planted."

"Gale incoming!" Hearing that, Xu Ke aimed the hose directly at Si You. Caught off guard, Si You felt a chill spread over his body and bumped into a sturdy chest as he backed away.

Jiang Tingxu pushed him behind himself, then strode toward Xu Ke.

"Brother Jiang!" Xu Ke did not dare spray him and could only shout, "I was just joking!"

Jiang Tingxu had barely taken the hose from Xu Ke's hands when Si You followed up. He pressed down on Xu Ke's shoulder and swept his legs lightly, directly knocking Xu Ke to the ground.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Fei Chang pointed over. "What are you doing?"

Jiang Tingxu felt that Xu Ke and Fei Chang were effectively one entity, so spraying either of them was the same. The stream of water shot straight onto Fei Chang's face.

"Boyu!" Si You shouted.

"I'm coming!" Xue Boyu got revenge for earlier and gave Xu Ke a thoroughly drenching spray.

The scene became chaotic for a while.

[May I boldly ask whether all their ages combined add up to three?]

[Ahhh! Movie Emperor Jiang smiled!]

[My husband is so handsome!]

[Am I the only one who thinks that when Xu Ke sprayed Si You just now, Jiang Tingxu immediately shielded him behind himself, and that was really manly?]

[I'm shipping it. Ginger Powder quietly beeping.]

After that round of fooling around, the heavy feeling of the task weighing on them vanished. Including Jiang Tingxu, everyone's white shirts and T-shirts were stained, and their faces were smeared with mud.

The old man was still smoking as he sat on the earthen ridge. His eyes were like autumn sunlight, bright and kindly, and he smiled along with them.

Before the sun set, everyone had completed their tasks. Only the points they earned differed according to their rankings, but they had enough to cover their daily expenses.

Everyone was smiling as they rode the tricycles back the way they had come.

On the way, Si You was still wearing Jiang Tingxu's coat, but he could not avoid the wind. Combined with his wet clothes, he began coughing again.

Jiang Tingxu maintained a steady, unhurried pace the whole way. Partway through, he even drove to the other side, where the sun could shine on them.

Si You narrowed his eyes slightly and felt somewhat comfortable.

Xue Boyu: "..." Sob!

The comments flooded in—

[Let me ask, is this really because I want to ship them? When Ginger Powder recommended the Movie Emperor to me, they never said he was this gentle.]

[Sis, as a Ginger Powder, I never expected to see something like this either. Honestly, the Movie Emperor used to take care of juniors too, but he also...]

[I'm brave, so I'll say it: there were never pink bubbles all over the screen!]

[Stop imagining things. Who is someone like Si You worthy of?]

Si You's haters took the opportunity to put him down, but they did not stir up much of a reaction. Everyone said that if they wanted to insult Si You, then go ahead. It did not affect their shipping the couple anyway.

The moment they returned to the apartment where they were resting, Si You went straight back to his room to shower. Worried that the cameraman might film him, he had chosen his own room first, but after running the water for ages, no hot water came out. Si You came out and found a staff member. "Did the water pipe break again?"

The staff member nodded heavily. "More accurately, it was never completely fixed."

Si You: "..."

Fei Chang was in the living room. Hearing that, he said, "If it doesn't work, you can use my room."

"No need." Jiang Tingxu came out carrying ginger soup and handed it to Si You. "Just use my room."

After all, the body wash was there.

Si You blew on the ginger soup and drank it all. Without saying a word, he took Jiang Tingxu's room card and went upstairs.

Fei Chang smiled without any ill intent. "The Movie Emperor really takes good care of Si You."

"Mm." Jiang Tingxu said indifferently, "He's only one year older than Boyu."

One year older—still young. Besides, he had been sensible and obedient this season, so there was nothing wrong with taking a little extra care of him.

Si You's shower was comfortable, and the ginger soup warmed his stomach. When he came out, Jiang Tingxu had already prepared the clothes he needed to change into. On top was a pair of light gray underwear.

It looks bigger than mine...

The next second—

What was I thinking?! Si You nearly slapped himself.

Jiang Tingxu could not understand Si You's thoughts. He only found Si You's ever-changing expression rather interesting. "My turn to shower?"

The mud spots on Jiang Tingxu's face had already dried, but they did not diminish his handsome features in the slightest. Si You quickly stepped aside. "Sure. I'll go downstairs and cook. What do you want to eat?"

"Preserved egg mixed with chili. I tried what you made before. It was pretty good."

"No problem!"

Jiang Tingxu stood beneath the hot water with his head tilted slightly back. The hazy light filtering through the window made him look almost unreal. Then his Adam's apple bobbed, and he smiled. There was no special reason—he simply thought the way Si You's ears had turned bright red when he left was rather adorable.

Within this circle, Jiang Tingxu had already become someone beyond reach. There were no shortage of people who viewed him through a filter, pursued him, or liked him, but Si You was somewhat different.

Xue Boyu had been exhausted today. After showering and coming downstairs, he was like a deflated ball, slumped in a chair and too lazy to move.

Si You did not call him either. His hands moved efficiently as he made three dishes and a soup, including Jiang Tingxu's favorite preserved egg mixed with chili. It was just the right amount for them.

The production crew worked everyone to the bone every time they assigned a task. After dinner, there were no entertainment activities either. They only wanted to lie in bed and reward their aching legs.

Jiang Tingxu watched Si You take his medicine. But after he finished washing the dishes, Si You had disappeared again.

"Have you seen Si You?" Jiang Tingxu asked a staff member.

One of the staff members pointed outside and said he knew where Si You had gone.

By the time Jiang Tingxu walked along the winding dirt path and arrived at the backyard of a farmhouse, he saw Si You chatting with the old man from earlier that day. They stood beneath a sturdy peach tree. Si You accepted the peach the old man insisted on giving him, casually wiped it against his clothes, and bit into it. The faint light in the young man's eyes was so solid and brilliant that it rippled straight into Jiang Tingxu's heart.