(After all, this is a livestreamed variety show, so I still have to write a little about the livestream. Please don't think I'm rambling, my dears.)
Ji Shiyu had prepared dinner ahead of time.
Several bowls of food sat on the stove: stir-fried greens, fish in sour broth, cured pork stir-fried with bamboo shoots, and a small plate of pickled radish.
The fish had been caught in the terraced fields that afternoon. It was small, but very fresh.
The tang of the sour broth mingled with the aroma of chilies, filling the entire kitchen.
Pei Yubai walked over to the stove, picked up an empty bowl, and took a little of each dish.
He set the bowl beside the stove and covered it with another bowl turned upside down.
Ji Shiyu came out of the kitchen carrying a pot of rice. Seeing the covered bowl on the stove, he glanced at Pei Yubai, his eyes full of confusion.
"Yuan... Qiguan Yuan," Pei Yubai said. "He might want something to eat when he wakes up."
Ji Shiyu nodded without asking any more questions.
He put the rice on the table and turned back for bowls and chopsticks. Shen Yuzhou was already seated at the table, chopsticks in hand, his eyes fixed on the fish in sour broth as he swallowed.
But he didn't start eating, waiting for everyone to sit down.
The three of them had just picked up their bowls when someone knocked on the door.
"Teacher Ji, are you there?" Cheng Yanqiu's voice came from outside, a little breathless, as if she had run over.
Ji Shiyu put down his chopsticks and got up to open the door.
When he pulled it open, Cheng Yanqiu stood at the front, holding a fish. Its tail was still thrashing, splashing water onto her shoes.
Jiang Wantang stood behind her, holding a large napa cabbage in her arms. Its leaves were bigger than her face, hiding half of it.
Lin Yanru stood at the back with a bamboo basket in her arms, filled with all kinds of vegetables: eggplants, chilies, green beans, and a few scallions.
The three stood in the doorway, their hair a little disheveled and their clothes stained with mud, all looking at Ji Shiyu.
Ji Shiyu paused. "What's all this...?"
Cheng Yanqiu broke into a bright grin, though there was a trace of sheepishness in it.
"Teacher Ji... none of us can cook." She held out the fish. "Wantang said you probably could, so we thought we'd come ask. Um, we'll pay you back. We'll help with the hands-on parts of your daily tasks."
Ji Shiyu's gaze shifted from Cheng Yanqiu's face to Jiang Wantang's.
Jiang Wantang revealed half her face from behind the cabbage, her lips pressed together, not looking at him. Her fingers picked at the cabbage stalks, her nails digging into the leaves.
Ji Shiyu shook his head slightly. "There's no need," he said. "Bring everything inside. I'll stir-fry a few more dishes. You can eat with us."
He paused, then added, "We male guests weren't thoughtful enough. We forgot that you girls might not know how to cook. Come eat here with us from now on."
Cheng Yanqiu was so moved she nearly cried. "Teacher Ji, you're such a good person!"
Ji Shiyu smiled and took the fish from her, then took the cabbage and bamboo basket from Jiang Wantang and Lin Yanru in turn.
He shifted aside slightly, clearing the doorway. "Go on in."
Shen Yuzhou had heard everything from inside and raised his chopsticks, calling toward the door, "Sister Qiu! Come on in!"
The three filed inside. Cheng Yanqiu led the way, her eyes lighting up at the dishes on the table. "That smells so good."
Jiang Wantang followed her. Once inside, she stood beside the table, her gaze sweeping over the dishes, lingering briefly before shifting away.
Lin Yanru came in last. Her hands now empty, she brushed the dust off her clothes.
Pei Yubai sat at the table and nodded to them. "Hello."
Cheng Yanqiu waved at him, then noticed the covered bowl on the stove. She gave it another look but didn't ask, though she was very curious.
Jiang Wantang sat in the empty seat beside Shen Yuzhou. He quickly moved his chair aside to make room for her.
Lin Yanru sat beside Cheng Yanqiu, took her phone from her pocket, and snapped a photo of the food on the table.
Ji Shiyu busied himself in the kitchen.
Pei Yubai followed him in with the bamboo basket, set the vegetables on the stove, and was about to help.
Ji Shiyu was slicing cured pork. His knife work was excellent, every slice evenly cut.
Seeing Pei Yubai enter, he frowned, put down the knife, and reached out to push him outside. "Yubai, don't make trouble. Out you go."
Pei Yubai was pushed several steps to the kitchen doorway, and the door closed behind him.
Pei Yubai, who had never been treated as a nuisance before: "..."
He stood at the doorway, looked at the closed door, then at his empty hands. After standing there for two seconds, he turned and went back to the living room.
Seeing him come out, Shen Yuzhou couldn't help laughing. "Brother Ji pushed you out, didn't he? Hahaha, that's exactly how he pushed me out this afternoon."
Pei Yubai returned to his seat and glanced at Shen Yuzhou, who was still laughing so hard his eyes curved.
Pei Yubai picked up his glass, took a sip of water, and set it down, his tone calm. "So that's why you were squatting on the doorstep like a lonely old man?"
Shen Yuzhou's smile froze on his face.
Cheng Yanqiu couldn't hold back a snort of laughter. Lin Yanru laughed too, covering her mouth. Jiang Wantang lowered her head as well, her shoulders giving a slight shake.
Shen Yuzhou opened his mouth, wanting to argue, but didn't know what to say.
Lin Yanru put down her phone and looked at Pei Yubai, her eyes full of curiosity. "Yubai, can I ask you something?"
Pei Yubai looked at her.
"Your new project. I heard it's Director Song's script?" Lin Yanru sounded casual, as though making small talk.
But everyone's chopsticks paused. Shen Yuzhou lifted his head from his bowl, Cheng Yanqiu set down her glass, and even Jiang Wantang, who wasn't in the industry, looked over.
Director Song. Song Yuan.
That name carried considerable weight in the entertainment industry. He hadn't made many films, only five, but every one had won an award at an international film festival.
His filmmaking had one defining trait: it was slow.
Three years of preparation, one year of filming, and one year of editing. One film every five years was the norm.
But every film he released was a masterpiece.
After finishing his last film at forty, he had said he was tired and wanted a break. That break had lasted nearly ten years.
Over those ten years, countless people had approached him with scripts, but he hadn't accepted a single one.
A few months earlier, rumors had begun circulating in the industry that Director Song was coming out of retirement. Pei Yubai had been cast as the male lead in his new film.
But no one had ever confirmed the news. Song Yuan's studio hadn't issued a statement, and Pei Yubai's side hadn't responded either.
People had argued online for ages. Some said it was true, others said it was false. Some said Pei Yubai wasn't worthy of a Song Yuan film, while others said he was the only one who was.
The arguments had never reached a conclusion, and gradually people stopped bringing it up.
Now Lin Yanru had asked.
Pei Yubai glanced at her, then at the others. Everyone's eyes were on him.
He picked up his glass, took another sip, and set it down. "Director Song has indeed come out of retirement."
Cheng Yanqiu's eyes widened. Shen Yuzhou's chopsticks fell onto the table with a clatter.
Pei Yubai didn't elaborate. He paused, then said, "Wait for Director Song's own official announcement for the details."
Lin Yanru nodded without pressing further.
Shen Yuzhou picked up his chopsticks and wiped them on his clothes, unable to resist asking, "Brother Pei, what genre is Director Song's film? Period or contemporary? Mystery or arthouse?"
Pei Yubai glanced at him. "I signed a nondisclosure agreement. I can't reveal too much."
Shen Yuzhou opened his mouth, then closed it again.
Cheng Yanqiu laughed beside him and raised her glass toward Pei Yubai. "All right, we'll wait for the official announcement. We'll go support it at the cinema when it comes out."
It was a Director Song film, after all!
Pei Yubai nodded.
Jiang Wantang sat beside Shen Yuzhou without saying a word.
Her gaze settled on Pei Yubai, then shifted away as she glanced at the kitchen door.
The door was closed. The sounds of cooking came from within, oil sizzling in the wok, mingled with the aroma of chilies.
Ji Shiyu emerged from the kitchen with the dishes: a plate of stir-fried cabbage, a plate of scrambled eggs with chilies, and a bowl of sour soup.
He set them on the table and paused when he saw everyone looking at him. "What's wrong?"
Shen Yuzhou spoke first. "Brother Ji, Brother Pei is going to be in Director Song's film!"
Ji Shiyu's hand paused. He glanced at Pei Yubai, who sat at the table with chopsticks in hand, looking no different than usual.
Ji Shiyu nodded.
"That's good," he said calmly, arranging the dishes.
Then he sat down. "Wash your hands and eat first. Everything else can wait until after dinner."
They got up to wash their hands.
Ji Shiyu's cooking was delicious. The fish broth had just the right sourness, and the tender fish melted in the mouth. The cured pork stir-fried with bamboo shoots had been smoked by the locals themselves. It had a smoky aroma, and the longer they chewed, the more flavorful it became.
Halfway through the meal, Pei Yubai glanced at the covered bowl on the stove. It was still covered, untouched.
After dinner, Shen Yuzhou rushed to clear the dishes before anyone else could.
He pressed Ji Shiyu back into his chair, both hands on his shoulders, his expression earnest. "Brother Ji, take a break. The five of us will take turns washing dishes. I'll go first today."
Held in the chair by Shen Yuzhou, Ji Shiyu couldn't move.
He glanced at Shen Yuzhou's expression and stopped insisting. Shen Yuzhou picked up a stack of bowls and chopsticks and turned into the kitchen. Soon, running water could be heard.
Ji Shiyu sat in his chair with Jiang Wantang beside him. Less than a foot separated them.
His body stiffened slightly, then he shifted a little to the side. The movement was small but obvious.
Jiang Wantang lowered her eyes to her fingers, her expression unreadable.
Cheng Yanqiu stood and stretched. "We'll head back, then. We have to get up early to work tomorrow." She waved at Ji Shiyu. "Teacher Ji, thanks for dinner. We'll bring ingredients over tomorrow."
Ji Shiyu stood and nodded. "All right."
Cheng Yanqiu reached the doorway and looked back at Jiang Wantang. "Wantang, are you coming?"
Jiang Wantang stood and walked past Ji Shiyu. As she passed in front of him, her steps slowed briefly, but she didn't stop.
She followed Cheng Yanqiu out. Lin Yanru came last, waving to those inside.
The three left. Their footsteps sounded on the wooden stairs, growing fainter until they could no longer be heard.
Shen Yuzhou came out of the kitchen, his hands still dripping, and wiped them on his clothes. "They left?"
"They left," Ji Shiyu said.
Shen Yuzhou sat on the sofa, picked up his phone, and started scrolling.
After scrolling for a while, he yawned. "I'm going to bed. You two keep chatting." He stood, took a couple of steps, then turned to glance at Pei Yubai. "Brother Pei, let me know if Mr. Qiguan wakes up. I haven't formally introduced myself to him yet."
Pei Yubai nodded.
Shen Yuzhou went into his room and closed the door.
The living room quieted. Ji Shiyu rose from his chair, walked over to Pei Yubai, and pulled up a chair beside him. His expression was a little more serious than usual.
"Yubai, could I ask you for some advice?"
Pei Yubai looked at him.
"About acting," Ji Shiyu said. "I started out as a singer, and since switching careers, I've never really taken off. I know where my problems lie, but no one has ever been able to point them out to me. If it's convenient, could you give me some guidance?"
Pei Yubai looked at him for two seconds. "What have you acted in?"
Ji Shiyu named several titles.
Pei Yubai had heard of two of them, a mystery film and an arthouse film.
But he hadn't seen them, so he took out his phone and first gave those two films of Ji Shiyu's a quick look.
"Your character in this mystery film, in the third scene, where you're standing by the window. What were you thinking then?" He casually pointed at the paused image on his phone.
Ji Shiyu thought for a moment. "About... the character's past. The script said he'd lost someone very important to him. That scene was when he first realized that person would never come back."
"You were acting out loss," Pei Yubai said. "But in that scene, the character wasn't experiencing loss. He was avoiding it."
"He didn't want to admit that person would never come back. So he shouldn't have stood there looking out the window. He should have had his back to it, refusing to look outside."
Ji Shiyu's eyes lit up. He said nothing, going over Pei Yubai's words in his mind.
Pei Yubai continued, "Your acting is too clean. You express every emotion very precisely, but when it's too precise, it doesn't feel like a real person. Sometimes real people don't even know what they're thinking. The same goes for your characters."
Ji Shiyu nodded, committing those words to memory. He asked a few more questions about delivering lines and building characters.
Pei Yubai answered them one by one, speaking unhurriedly and explaining each point clearly.
Ji Shiyu listened closely, occasionally asking a follow-up question or lowering his head to note key points on his phone, intending to mull them over later.
They talked until late into the night.
Meng Xu poked his head out from the stairway. "The livestream's about to end. You two should get to bed soon too."
Pei Yubai glanced at the clock on the wall. It was almost eleven. He set down his glass and stood.
Ji Shiyu stood as well, put away his phone, and bowed slightly to Pei Yubai. "Thank you."
Pei Yubai shook his head. "No need."
Ji Shiyu turned toward his room, then stopped after two steps.
He noticed a quilt and pillow had appeared on the sofa.
Meng Xu had brought the quilt over earlier. It sat neatly folded at one end of the sofa, with the pillow on top. The white pillowcase was very clean.
Ji Shiyu glanced at Pei Yubai. "Yubai, aren't you sleeping in your room?"
Pei Yubai shook out the quilt and spread it over the sofa. "Qiguan Yuan should be sound asleep. I won't disturb him."
Ji Shiyu thought for a moment. "Why don't you share with me? My bed's big enough."
Pei Yubai shook his head. "No need. The sofa's fine. Go get some rest."
Ji Shiyu looked at him for two seconds without saying anything more. He pushed open his bedroom door and went inside, closing it softly behind him.
Pei Yubai arranged the quilt and pillow, went to use the bathroom in Shen Yuzhou's room to wash up, then sat down on the sofa.
The sofa wasn't long enough, so his feet would stick out over the end. He took off his shoes, drew up his legs, and lay on his side.
The wooden sofa had only a thin cushion. It was a little hard, but tolerable.
The lights went out. The living room grew dark.
Moonlight streamed through the window, spreading a layer of white over the floor. Slender bamboo shadows fell across the wooden walls, swaying whenever the wind blew.
For the third time, he successfully fell asleep without insomnia.