Chapter 30 – The Secret

Xu Zhixia raised an eyebrow.

Fang Ruoya deliberately sighed: “Mian Mian, what do you mean by ‘I guess so’? Do you have someone you like or not?”

Ji Mian gritted her teeth. Fang Ruoya, you’re going too far!!

“I have someone I like!” Ji Mian announced.

Everyone started cheering. The next round, Fang Ruoya drew the losing card.

Fang Ruoya immediately felt an ominous premonition.

Ji Mian asked first: “Ruoya, kiss Lan Ziqing on the cheek.”

“Wow!!” everyone shouted.

Fang Ruoya and Lan Ziqing were also a very popular CP.

Fang Ruoya pursed her lips, looking at the blushing Lan Ziqing, and quickly kissed her on the face. The other members enthusiastically encouraged them, applauding loudly.

Xu Zhixia secretly glanced at Ji Mian, who was laughing with joy, and smiled faintly.

“Are you feeling unwell? Car sick?” Ji Mian seized the opportunity while the others were arguing and asked Xu Zhixia carefully.

Xu Zhixia shook her head, sighing: “I feel so tired acting like this.”

Ji Mian was startled and looked down guiltily.

After getting off the bus, Xu Zhixia walked ahead alone, pulling her suitcase.

Although Lan Ziqing walked with her, Xu Zhixia was quiet and unhappy.

Ji Mian left Fang Ruoya and Lan Chu, who were talking to her, and proactively went to help Xu Zhixia with her suitcase.

Fang Ruoya raised an eyebrow behind them. Since the cameras were rolling, she didn’t say anything.

Xu Zhixia looked at Ji Mian’s back and quietly chuckled to herself.

They arrived at the house the production crew had arranged for them.

There were three rooms: two for two people, and one for three.

Since there were seven people of mixed gender, Ji Mian, Fang Ruoya, and Lan Chu were assigned one room; Lan Ziqing and Xu Zhixia, another; and the remaining two, the last room.

However, the rooms had different levels of comfort, so the three groups needed to complete a task to choose first.

They had to arm wrestle. Each group sent two people.

Ji Mian glanced at Xu Zhixia, who was trying not to smile but had to. Ji Mian suggested, “I’ll arm wrestle with Xia Xia.”

Xu Zhixia gave a soft “Oh.” Ji Mian intended to lose to Xu Zhixia and didn’t put any force into the match, but she was surprised to be instantly defeated by Xu Zhixia.

Ji Mian: “…”

Lan Ziqing was physically weaker and was no match for the others, so Xu Zhixia ended up winning several matches and secured the best-equipped room.

Ji Mian’s group moved into the worst room. It only had two beds, three chairs, and the walls were bare.

Fang Ruoya cried out, “Who is sleeping with me?”

Ji Mian said, “I want to sleep alone.”

Lan Chu didn’t mind: “Fine, I guess I’ll reluctantly sleep with Ruoya.”

Fang Ruoya playfully hit Lan Chu and smiled at Ji Mian: “I’ll sleep with you. We’ve done it before, anyway.”

Ji Mian shook her head: “I don’t want to.” She only wanted to sleep with Xu Zhixia.

“Oh~” Fang Ruoya pretended to look disappointed, but her eyes held a playful teasing.

Ji Mian stared at her, gritting her teeth, unsure what she was thinking.

After unpacking, they had to regroup for another task. Ji Mian deliberately cheated to ensure Xu Zhixia was her partner.

Xu Zhixia only smiled in front of the others, but only showed her true self when they were alone.

Xu Zhixia couldn’t help but hug Ji Mian, crying bitterly: “Mian Mian, I’m suffering! I don’t want to pretend to be cold anymore! I want to kiss you, I want to sleep with you, I want to walk hand-in-hand with you, I want to do you…”

Hearing Xu Zhixia’s sobs, Ji Mian was naturally distressed. She hugged Xu [Read on BaiLianTales]Zhixia: “I want to kiss you too, and I want to sleep with you too…”

The two hugged and kissed.

Xu Zhixia leaned into Ji Mian, saying passionately, “Mian Mian, since we can’t openly date during this reality show, let’s just do it in secret.”

They only stopped and acted normal when someone walked in.

Xu Zhixia quietly wiped her tears. She had never felt this wronged before.

Though, upon reflection, she wasn’t truly wronged, but she felt unhappy nonetheless.

She looked listless even when they went back out.

The production crew desperately wanted the two of them to interact. Given the situation, Xu Zhixia had no choice but to talk to Ji Mian while they worked.

“…”

Even the usually talkative director was stunned.

Ji Mian coughed: “Watch your character setting.”

Xu Zhixia pouted: “Mian Mian, you don’t understand…”

“Whisper. What if the cameras pick it up?”

Xu Zhixia cleared her throat: “Are you free tonight?”

Ji Mian was startled, knowing what Xu Zhixia was thinking. She said, “We’ll discuss it tonight.”

They had to pick peas in the pea field until they filled two baskets to earn money for groceries.

After Ji Mian finished her share, she saw Xu Zhixia was only halfway done, so she helped her continue working.

Xu Zhixia smiled sweetly: “Thank you.”

Ji Mian smiled back: “You’re welcome.”

To outsiders, the two still seemed like strangers, but this was part of their plan.

Fang Ruoya finished her work and came to find Ji Mian. Seeing the two of them close together, talking and laughing, she was shocked.

Later, Ji Mian took the money to the convenience store to buy groceries. She only had ten yuan, so she could only buy two potatoes and a vegetable. Remembering Xu Zhixia liked meat, she bought a chicken foot for her to eat.

Then she returned to the house and started cooking.

Fang Ruoya’s group cooked braised pork and several vegetable dishes. The other group’s meal wasn’t bad either. Only Ji Mian’s group was a bit meager.

Xu Zhixia gritted her teeth. She came from wealth and Read on BaiLianTaleshad never eaten such humble food, but eating it with Mian Mian made the meager meal acceptable. What’s the big deal!

Ji Mian started chopping vegetables and cooking. She made spicy and sour shredded potatoes, blanched vegetables, and a chicken foot soup.

Fang Ruoya and the others, for the sake of the variety show’s drama, deliberately mocked them.

Ji Mian laughed it off, but Xu Zhixia became serious and said, “Don’t you think these dishes taste more natural? Eating them with the person you love is the best part.”

Everyone was stunned. Ji Mian couldn’t help but rub her forehead. This clip will definitely trend once it airs.

After dinner, the group played some games until midnight, then went to sleep.

Xu Zhixia pretended to go out for some fresh air, and Ji Mian pretended to go out for a shower.

In reality, the two had arranged to meet in the small alley behind the house.

During the night, the cameramen also put down their equipment to sleep.

Therefore, the dark alley they were in was absolute paradise.

Xu Zhixia hugged Ji Mian and lamented: “When is this reality show going to end? I’m so tired.”

Ji Mian rested her chin on Xu Zhixia’s shoulder and comforted her: “It’s okay. We can meet in secret here.”

Xu Zhixia mumbled an agreement, leaning into Ji Mian’s chest.

“I want you to kiss me.”

Ji Mian gently kissed her. She lingered, then extended her tongue, passing through Xu Zhixia’s lips and silver teeth, twisting with her agile tongue.

“Mian Mian…” Xu Zhixia moaned softly.

“Is it comfortable?” Ji Mian asked, smiling.

“I love this sneaking around feeling right now. Doesn’t it feel like we’re doing it outdoors?”

Ji Mian: “…”

“Then should we do that thing next?” Xu Zhixia hooked Ji Mian’s spaghetti strap with her pinky finger.

Ji Mian: “…” That’s enough.

“It’s too dirty here. It wouldn’t be comfortable for us to do that.”

Xu Zhixia was only joking around. She said, “Then just kissing is fine.”

The area around Ji Mian and Xu Zhixia was pitch black, and they couldn’t sense anyone approaching. Ji Mian laughed, “Of course we can.”

So, the two of them started their kissing war again.

This time, they didn’t separate, kissing for a full half-hour.

Fortunately, the intensity of the kiss wasn’t too much, so their lips weren’t very swollen. Perhaps fueled by passion, Xu Zhixia leaned into Ji Mian’s arms, her fingers lightly tracing patterns on Ji Mian’s skin.

Ji Mian’s skin felt very ticklish, but her heart felt even more so.

“What time is it?” Ji Mian asked.

“I think it’s one o’clock,” Xu Zhixia blinked. “Don’t you think it’s a little scary here?”

Ji Mian laughed: “If anyone comes, they’ll be the ones scared by us.”

Xu Zhixia made an annoyed sound. It was the countryside, and the sounds of insects were constant, with some calls she’d never heard before.

But with Ji Mian nearby, all of Xu Zhixia’s fear vanished.

“Let’s kiss for another half hour, then go back.”

Ji Mian nodded: “Okay!”

And so, this round of kissing became aggressively demanding.

Ji Mian gently bit her lip and asked, “Does it hurt?”

“You’ve done this before,” Xu Zhixia giggled: “Last time, you almost bit my lip off.”

“Really?” Ji Mian stopped, feeling embarrassed.

“Alright, alright, just kidding,” Xu Zhixia winked: “Let’s go back now.”