After Transmigrating as a Scumbag Alpha, I Ended Up with the Movie Queen - Chapter 28

Once they returned to the small building, Gu Nan and Shen Zhibei put the fish into a basin, poured in water to keep them alive, and prepared to start the fire and make lunch.

Because Peng Yushu and Tang Ling had not washed up yet, they went to the water basin first. Lu Xuehai could not help at all when it came to cooking, so he took a bucket to fetch water, preparing to first fill the water vat, which had lost quite a lot of water.

Only Bai Rui stood awkwardly to one side, not knowing what to do.

Seeing her at a loss, although Gu Nan knew she should be wary, she still found something for her to do. “How about you take these vegetables to the water basin and wash them?”

“All right.” Once she had something to do, Bai Rui immediately perked up.

And because she sensed Gu Nan’s goodwill, Bai Rui began thinking that perhaps Gu Nan had finally understood how good she was.

So before leaving, she even deliberately avoided the cameras in a hidden manner and gave Gu Nan a charming, seductive look.

Gu Nan: …

This person seems like she has some serious illness.

Shen Zhibei, who was checking what seasonings the production team had returned, naturally also saw Bai Rui’s look. Especially since although Bai Rui had deliberately avoided the cameras, she had not avoided her.

Facing the cameras, Shen Zhibei could not say anything. She could only silently remember this matter in her heart, preparing to properly educate this “little friend” once the livestream room was turned off.

As for the “little friend” herself, seeing that only she and Shen Zhibei were left in the kitchen now—because the camera operators had a weak presence and did not speak, to her, they were already no different from pieces of wood—Gu Nan felt much more at ease.

“Since it’s just the two of us, let’s divide the work. Do you want to kill the fish or start the fire?” Gu Nan asked.

“Start the fire,” Shen Zhibei said without the slightest hesitation. “I already have some experience with starting fires.”

Hesitating even one second more would be irresponsible toward herself.

“All right. Then I’ll kill the fish.” Gu Nan casually grabbed one of the fish and brought it to the chopping board.

“Oh, right. Are you hungry? I didn’t see you eat anything to line your stomach this morning.” As Gu Nan said words of concern, the back of her knife had already knocked the fish unconscious.

Shen Zhibei did not dare look at the bloody scene that would follow, so she quickly turned back and continued starting the fire. “I’m okay. For entertainers, irregular meal times are very common. I’m used to it.”

“That’s why you have stomach problems.”

At a glance, it was clear Gu Nan was someone who often handled fish. Her knife work was steady, accurate, and ruthless. In just a few moves, she had already removed the fish’s internal organs, pulled out the fishy line, and cleaned off the black membrane inside the belly. Now, she was washing the fish.

“That’s a common occupational disease for entertainers.”

“I don’t have it.”

“That’s why you don’t count as an entertainer.”

[Sister probably doesn’t dare watch the fish being killed. Look at how fast she turned her head. It was so fast there was almost an afterimage. No wonder when Gu Nan asked whether she wanted to start the fire or kill the fish, she chose starting the fire without even hesitating for a second.]

[Looking at Gu Nan’s technique, she really is skilled at killing fish. Shocked. As a rich second-generation heir, where exactly did she practice that?]

[Maybe she practiced it to pursue the Film Empress. This Nanbei girl has already imagined ten thousand words, hehe.]

[Is Shen Zhibei someone who likes roasting people in daily life, or does she only like roasting Gu Nan?]

[Aren’t they newly married? Why does it look like they’ve already been married for years?]

When Shen Zhibei finished starting the fire and turned back, she saw that Gu Nan had already washed her hands and was standing there watching her start the fire.

“Not bad.” Gu Nan smiled and gave her a thumbs-up. “Your fire-starting posture can be described as very practiced now, and this time, there isn’t too much smoke.”

“I summarized yesterday’s experience. Of course I’m very practiced today.” Shen Zhibei moved aside. “You can start making the fish soup now.”

“We have to wait a bit. Bai Rui took all the ingredients to wash them, and she still hasn’t come back.” Gu Nan stood where she was and did not move. After a moment, she said again, “I should first move the seasonings to the stove. It’ll be convenient to use them later.”

“The basic seasonings are all here. They even returned the rice and flour.” When Shen Zhibei said this, she could not help glancing at the production team with an incredulous tone. “Can you believe it? They actually really brought them back.”

Gu Nan also could not help looking at the production team with a suspicious gaze.

Stimulated by the two of them, the assistant director responsible for following them felt she should explain herself and restore the production team’s image in the guests’ hearts.

“Our production team also feels sorry for the guests. Seeing how hard you worked last night, only to eat steamed pumpkin, then go spearfishing without eating breakfast, and later you still have to harvest American ginseng, we wanted to let you eat a little better. How can you still suspect our sincerity?”

As the assistant director spoke, she even sounded wronged.

“You’re actually feeling wronged!” Gu Nan could not believe it. “Carefully savor the words you just said. Aren’t you blushing?”

“No.” The assistant director looked at Gu Nan very sincerely.

“Gu Nan, stop discussing this kind of thing with the production team. How could they possibly…” Shen Zhibei had already seen the dry-burning pot and spoke up.

“Coming.”

Gu Nan opened the cabinet and looked around at the seasonings they currently had, then moved them all to the side of the stove. She added oil to the pot.

Once the oil heated, she began frying the fish.

“Why hasn’t Bai Rui come back yet?” Once she started frying the fish, Gu Nan began anxiously waiting for the scallions, ginger, and garlic that had not yet returned. She was waiting to use them to remove the fishy smell.

Seeing Gu Nan look a little anxious, Shen Zhibei scooped some rice and said, “I’ll go rinse the rice.”

[So why hasn’t Bai Rui come back yet? She’s only washing vegetables. Why is she so slow? Friends, someone switch channels and see what’s going on over there.]

[I can follow the Film Empress’s camera over and take a look.]

[I took one look and came back. Over there, they’re acting out a romance-variety scene. Lighting cigarette.]

[??? What the hell, romance-variety scene?]

[Bai Rui got a small cut on her hand from the handle of the iron basin while washing vegetables. Right now, she’s receiving Tang Ling and Lu Xuehai’s care, medicine, and bandaging.]

[Then they’re ignoring the two people in the kitchen? Didn’t Shen Zhibei also injure her hand the day before filming started? She’s still working, isn’t she?]

[Don’t say it. It really is a small cut. If that sister waited a little longer to bandage it, the wound would have healed already.]

[She’s injured, and you don’t sympathize with her. Fine. But you’re even saying she isn’t working. If Gu Nan hadn’t told Ruirui to wash the vegetables, Ruirui’s hand wouldn’t have gotten hurt. And you’re still talking about her like this.]

[??? What strange species wandered into Shen Zhibei and Gu Nan’s channel?]

[Yesterday online it was Bai Rui’s fans clashing with Shen Zhibei’s fans. Today, is it going to turn into Bai Rui’s fans clashing with Gu Nan’s fans?]

[Gu Nan doesn’t have fans, right? So are they going to argue with empty air? Actually, not necessarily. If Gu Nan gets angry, she might buy paid commenters to argue with those fans. (doge)]

When Shen Zhibei arrived there, she saw the “beautiful” scene of three people standing in front of the water basin.

For a moment, going back did not seem appropriate, and standing there did not seem appropriate either. She could only first go find Peng Yushu, who was standing to the side with dead eyes.

“Teacher Peng, have those vegetables been washed?”

“I don’t know.” Peng Yushu’s tone was weathered. “What? Do you need them urgently?”

“Yes.” Shen Zhibei looked a little troubled. “Gu Nan has already put the fish in the pot and started frying it. She’s waiting for the scallions, ginger, garlic, and other aromatics. I also need to rinse the rice so we can steam some later.”

Peng Yushu glanced again at the scene that seemed to be bubbling with pink romantic bubbles and sighed. “Since I’m the oldest, looks like I have to play the role of the person kicked by the horse.”

As he spoke, he gestured for Shen Zhibei to follow him, then took the lead and walked over.

“Bai Rui, have these vegetables been washed?” Peng Yushu asked first. After asking, he hurriedly added, “I’m only asking because Gu Nan needs them urgently. If they aren’t washed yet, Zhibei and I will hurry and wash them all, then send them to Gu Nan.”

“Not yet. There are still some left. I’ll finish washing them right away.”

As Bai Rui spoke, she was about to continue washing vegetables, only to be stopped by Tang Ling and Lu Xuehai together.

“We’ll do it. Your hand is injured.”

Under Bai Rui’s gaze as if she were looking at heroes, the two of them very quickly crouched down together and began washing vegetables.

“Let me get some water first. I need to rinse the rice,” Shen Zhibei said gently.

Lu Xuehai felt that if he only helped Bai Rui wash vegetables and did not help Shen Zhibei rinse rice, that would not be good either. So he directly took the basin Shen Zhibei was holding. “Leave this to us too. We’ll finish very quickly.”

Tang Ling and Lu Xuehai worked hard washing vegetables and rinsing rice. The remaining three could only chat about Bai Rui’s hand injury.

Shen Zhibei and Peng Yushu first expressed concern and comfort toward Bai Rui, while Bai Rui said she was fine. Then they began asking how exactly she had gotten injured and saying everyone should be careful in the future.

After the three of them went through several procedural back-and-forths, they ran out of things to say. Immediately, an awkward atmosphere filled the space between them.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Gu Nan looked at the fish that would be over-fried if she kept going and could only use the spatula to take it out first and wait.

Then she stood at the doorway and looked toward the water basin, asking a question from the depths of her soul. “Where are they? How come not a single one of them has returned? Is there a black hole by the water basin? Did it suck all of them in, and now they can’t come back?”

Naturally, no one answered her question.

[Hahaha, a wife-waiting stone.]

[Miserable, too miserable. Why does no one look at Gu Nan, who’s cooking there all alone and pitiful?]

[So why not let Bai Rui go on a romance variety show instead of dragging the team down here? She’d definitely become the king if she went on a romance variety show.]

[I hereby announce that I’ve become Gu Nan’s variety-show fan!]

Gu Nan waited and waited, and finally, she waited until Shen Zhibei and Peng Yushu returned with the washed ingredients and rinsed rice.

“You’re finally back!” Gu Nan almost burst into tears. The oil in her pot was about to burn dry.

At this moment, she had no time to care why Shen Zhibei and Peng Yushu were the ones bringing these things back. Her entire focus was on the fish soup in her pot that was about to take shape.

“Help me cut some slices of ginger, then tie the scallions into a knot and put them into the pot.” As Gu Nan spoke, she put the fish back into the hot oil.

On Shen Zhibei’s side, she quickly prepared everything as Gu Nan said, then waited for Gu Nan, who had gone to scoop water, to return and do the next step.

Gu Nan added several big ladles of water to the pot and waited for it to boil.

Actually, she should have added boiling water, but who asked them to lack proper conditions?

While waiting for the water to boil, Gu Nan divided the rinsed rice into six portions, preparing to steam rice while stewing the soup.

“Give me a smaller portion of rice.” Shen Zhibei frowned as she looked at the six bowls of rice, each filled very evenly.

“The bowls can’t hold that much.” Gu Nan said, “When we eat, just give me some of yours.”

Shen Zhibei reluctantly agreed.

Peng Yushu stood to the side, watching the two interact, and only felt that he had once again been excluded.

In this variety show, why could everyone else be surrounded by pink bubbles, while he alone stood off to the side watching? Wasn’t that inappropriate?

[Teacher Peng didn’t expect that after leaving the romance-variety scene of those three, he’d fall into the daily sugar-sprinkling of a real married couple.]

[The situation where only Teacher Peng is extra has been achieved.]

[Teacher Peng: confused.jpg. Why can’t I insert myself into the atmosphere between you two?]

At this time, the water had already boiled. Gu Nan dripped in a few drops of white vinegar, placed the large steamer grate properly, set the bowls of rice on top, and finally covered everything with the wooden lid.

“All right. Do you want to eat any other dishes?” Gu Nan spoke boldly. “You can order any ingredient on the ground. I can make all of it.”

She now had to wait until the rice was cooked before uncovering the pot to make the next dish, so she had plenty of time to chat with the two of them.

“She’s actually getting cocky.” Peng Yushu looked around at the various ingredients placed on the ground.

The things on the ground were actually all very common vegetables, so it was no wonder Gu Nan could make such a bold claim.

“How about stir-fried greens and smashed cucumber? Something refreshing.” Thinking of Lu Xuehai, who was even stricter than her when it came to dieting, Shen Zhibei could not help reminding Gu Nan, “Use less oil and salt.”

“You’re already eating rice, and you still care about that little bit of oil and salt?” Gu Nan anxiously touched the bottles of oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar placed there.

She had always been heavy-handed with seasonings, and her tastes had always been relatively strong. Use less oil and salt? She did not know whether her hand would listen to her brain later.

“Xuehai is still dieting. He’s always very strict about managing his figure,” Shen Zhibei said.

“Oh, right.” Gu Nan also wanted to mention how he had resisted the temptation of instant noodles last night, but thinking that had happened after the cameras were turned off, she closed her mouth and did not bring it up. “Then I’ll try to use less salt and less oil.”

“Try?” Shen Zhibei asked in confusion.

Gu Nan briefly explained her seasoning problem.

“Then how about stir-fried shredded potatoes too?” Peng Yushu also decided what dish he wanted to eat. “Four dishes for six people shouldn’t count as too much, right?”

“If we make too much, we can heat it up and eat it tonight. It won’t be wasted.” Gu Nan felt it would be nice to finish more at once too. “And if we make more at noon, then tonight, aside from making braised fish pieces, we can make fewer other dishes.”

“Then I’ll go ask the other three what they want to eat too. We can add two more dishes and lighten your burden tonight.”

Without Bai Rui present and with two relatively familiar people beside her, Shen Zhibei relaxed a lot. Her tone no longer maintained that gentle softness the whole time. At this moment, there was even a bit more playfulness.

“No need!” Peng Yushu quickly refused.

When both of their gazes turned toward him, he slowly said, “I’ll go. After all, I don’t fit into the atmosphere between you two. If I stay here, I’ll probably be in the way.”

Gu Nan and Shen Zhibei looked at each other and simultaneously understood what Peng Yushu meant.

Peng Yushu did not wait for their answer. He directly went back to find the other three, lamenting as he walked, “Ai, how pitiful I am, a lonely old man. Wherever I go, I don’t fit into the atmosphere.”

The eye contact between Gu Nan and Shen Zhibei became even more awkward. For a moment, only the crackling of the firewood could be heard in the kitchen.

The two looked at each other, thinking about where exactly in their behavior Peng Yushu had gotten this evaluation from.

After quite a while, Gu Nan suddenly coughed and said, “What Teacher Peng said is clearly completely groundless. He’s absolutely talking nonsense, so we don’t need to feel awkward.”

She said the earlier words firmly, but in the end, she still unconfidently added two words, seeking Shen Zhibei’s agreement. “Right?”

“Right. Exactly.” Shen Zhibei nodded without hesitation, then immediately changed the topic, not wanting to linger for even a second longer on this awkward topic. “Let’s cut the vegetables. I’ll help you cut. My knife skills are pretty good too.”

[“Just give me some of yours.” Gu Nan is really modest. You’ve already said something like that, and you’re still saying Teacher Peng’s words are groundless. Why didn’t you ask Lu Xuehai to give you some rice? That guy clearly eats even less because he’s dieting. (doge)]

[After all, she’s a mouthy but soft-hearted elementary school student. We have to forgive her.]

[Hello, 110? Someone here is violently abusing dogs. If you don’t stop them, something big is going to happen!]

[I have to give Teacher Peng a like. Teacher Peng is forever the god of CP-shipping in my heart!]

[Was that an awkward gaze? No! That was a gaze drawing threads!]

[Thank you, Teacher Peng, for frantically adding points to the Nanbei CP.]

[Speaking of which, with the mentality Gu Nan shows, plus the age difference being that big, does the Film Empress treat her like a child in daily life?]

[Treating her like a child is great. Imagine Sister saying to Gu Nan, “Kid, stop making trouble,” but the scene where she says it is actually in bed… Slurp slurp. My tears are coming out of the corners of my mouth on the spot.]

[A plant. My preferences have been hit!]

Shen Zhibei cut vegetables while Gu Nan went to check how the rice was steaming.

The moment she lifted the lid, a fresh and savory aroma filled the whole kitchen.

On the stove, the rice had already steamed. Through the large steamer grate, they could also see the milky-white fish soup rolling and bubbling.

“It can be served now. How is it? Smells good, right?” Gu Nan’s tone carried pride.

“It smells very good. Your cooking skills really are excellent.”

Shen Zhibei praised her sincerely. Even her hand that was cutting vegetables stopped, and her gaze involuntarily turned toward the pot of fish soup that smelled fresh and looked delicious.

Looking at that pot of soup, she had already begun thinking about whether drinking two extra bowls would make her gain weight.

“If it tastes good, drink more. Fish soup, fish soup—the nutrients are all in the soup. And drinking fish soup won’t make you fat.” Gu Nan leaned sideways, very close to Shen Zhibei, and said, “Are you tempted?”

Yes. Although Shen Zhibei did not speak, she was wildly tempted.

After Gu Nan said this, she found two pieces of cloth and lifted out the entire large steamer grate, placing it to the side.

This time, the fresh and delicious fish soup bubbling in the pot could be seen even more clearly.

After adding some salt and white pepper, Gu Nan directly tore the washed cilantro into small pieces with her hands and put them in, then took two basins and began ladling the soup out.

Gu Nan had never cooked for a large group before, and she was also afraid she would not get the seasoning amounts right, especially since her own tastes were strong.

Seeing that Shen Zhibei was busy cutting vegetables with a kitchen knife in hand, Gu Nan took a spoon, scooped up a spoonful, and fed it over.

“Here, taste it and see whether the saltiness is right.”

The bullet comments, which had originally been increasing at a steady rate, completely exploded.