When Pei Rong had scenes all day, he wouldn’t come back for lunch, being lazy. The distance from the set to the dormitory was considerable, so if he could avoid moving, he would.
The day’s scenes involved his role as a researcher making announcements in the square and talking to villagers. Pei Rong had been shouting all morning, and his voice was a bit hoarse.
An assistant brought two lunch boxes and asked him if he wanted beef noodles or sausage fried rice.
Pei Rong, sipping water with little appetite, replied, “Forget it.”
The assistant anxiously said, “We’ll be filming plowing scenes in the afternoon. Without a full stomach, you won’t have the energy to work, and the director will scold us.”
The director was usually fierce. When Pei Rong first arrived, his looks overshadowed his acting skills, making him seem like a vase, and he was scolded several times.
Being criticized for his mediocre acting was acceptable, but being scolded for lack of energy seemed unfair.
Pei Rong checked his watch; it was 11:40, and there was still 1.5 hours until the next scene.
Oddly, he said to the assistant, “Let’s go back to the dormitory to eat.”
Not knowing what Lu Qin had for lunch, maybe he could join him?
On the second floor, there were two rooms, separated by stairs. Opposite Pei Rong’s bedroom, the other room had been converted into Lu Qin’s study. A mahogany desk with two large screens, a printer, and a paper shredder adorned it.
Glancing at the man working earnestly, Pei Rong asked, “What are you having for lunch?”
Lu Qin, focused on the computer, replied coldly, “Not hungry.”
Pei Rong sensed his frustration. Lu Qin seemed to be at a critical stage in quitting smoking. Apart from wanting a cigarette, he had no appetite and could only numb himself with work.
Withdrawal symptoms were quite strong.
But how in the world could one enjoy their life and quit smoking at the same time? Pei Rong would not be soft-hearted.
He went to the kitchen, attempting to imitate Lu Qin’s cooking. As long as the process was similar, the taste should be too, right?
There were noodles in the fridge, so he decided to make a bowl of sour soup with beef noodles.
Pei Rong’s home used electricity, not gas, but Lu Qin used a gas stove and a large iron pot for cooking, which posed a challenge from the start.
He called the assistant, turned on the gas stove, boiled water, added the large pieces of pickled vegetables, then boiled the noodles, tossed in beef and green onions, and added a few drops of olive oil.
During the cooking process, Pei Rong began to feel that something was wrong. Why was the soup base a brownish-green color?
Upstairs, Lu Qin held a pen, his gaze fixed on a line of text on the document for a long time.
The crashing sound that shook heaven and earth came from below, indicating that the pot might be about to flip over in a moment.
Lu Qin felt like he had fallen for Pei Rong’s trick, but every word Pei Rong said made sense. However, he was still displeased, as if he had come to be Pei Rong’s... he didn’t want to say the word that would lower his own value.
Pei Rong’s words suppressed his inherently plundering nature. Lu Qin was irritable and angry; he should immediately buy a plane ticket and leave!
The black water pen was thrown to the ground, and the pen core burst open with a snap.
Carrying resentment, Lu Qin went downstairs, grabbed Pei Rong by the back of his neck, bit him, rolled up his sleeves, and poured the pot of dark cuisine into the trash can.
Pei Rong covered his neck, glaring, “You’ve poured what I was going to eat for lunch!”
Even if he didn’t pour it, Pei Rong couldn’t eat it.
Lu Qin knew the other hadn’t eaten; coming back from the set, all dirty and disheveled, couldn’t be about cooking for him. Clearly, it was to entice him to come down and do the hard work.
Angry, he made a pot of noodles with rich and golden broth.
Pei Rong suddenly realized and explained that before putting sauerkraut into the pot, it should be blanched in boiling water and thoroughly washed to remove the fishy smell. Only then could the color of the noodle soup be a light brown.
He praised, “President Lu knows a lot.”
Lu Qin said with a stern face, “Don’t sarcastically call me President Lu.”
Pei Rong innocently asked, “Where’s the sarcasm?”
Lu Qin, with a serious expression, said, “Isn’t it more like I’m the one working now?”
Pei Rong, with earnest advice, quoted an ancient saying, “Without experiencing bone-chilling cold, how can the fragrance of plum blossoms be appreciated?”
He served a bowl of noodles. “Smells great, let’s eat.”
Lu Qin, feeling depressed, thought that after experiencing bone-chilling cold in Siberia, there should be the fragrance of plum blossoms surrounding him now.
Suddenly, a dark gleam flashed in Lu Qin’s eyes; in fact, he could smell a subtle fragrance in the air.
Pei Rong labored over the stove, sweating as he cooked the noodles, the teeth marks on the back of his neck faintly visible.
Lu Qin’s deepest desire was suddenly stirred.
The sight of Pei Rong in bed became increasingly breathtaking, especially after the first time, holding Pei Rong, who had just finished showering.
Lu Qin felt a surge of emotions, thinking they had just entered the main topic, but Pei Rong declared the opportunity had expired.
It was always like this every time.
He said twice a day, really just the literal meaning of ‘once.’
When Lu Qin wanted to ignore everything, Pei Rong would put on an ‘uncomfortable and sleepy’ expression, saying, “I am slightly disappointed in your lack of trustworthiness.”
Then Lu Qin would become somehow hesitant.
The two sat down at the dining table, Pei Rong eating noodles with undivided attention. He liked to take a big bite at once, puffing up his cheeks, enjoying the happiness of a mouthful of food.
Lu Qin, on the other hand, had a mysterious and unclear look, contemplating something. If Secretary Gao were present, he would find this look familiar. Every time President Lu negotiated with important partners, he would silently contemplate like this for ten minutes.
Pei Rong’s way of eating effectively cut off any possibility of communication between the two at the dining table. When he finished eating, he noticed that Lu Qin’s gaze became very... triumphant.
What’s going on? Did he sign a major contract?
Lu Qin asked, “Are you full?”
Pei Rong, sweating from eating noodles, wanted to wash up. “Yes, I’ll take a shower.”
Lu Qin said, “Don’t shower if you’re too full. Just wipe yourself with a towel and change your clothes.”
Pei Rong agreed, “Sure.”
Lu Qin insisted, “I’ll help you.”
Pei Rong immediately remembered someone saying, “I’ll help you take your medicine,” and refused, “President Lu, you seem too confident in yourself.”
Lu Qin, with a thick skin, said, “Can I endure it? You don’t know.”
Pei Rong, hesitating, said, “Five minutes. I still need to go to the set.”
Ten minutes later.
Pei Rong: I’m done for.
After being wiped and licked for thirty minutes, Pei Rong was like an ice cream that had been licked all over, almost swallowing the chocolate cone.
President Lu justified himself, claiming that licking was only after three meals a day, not affecting the twice-a-day abstinence plan.
If before, Lu Qin still had a layer of a noble shell, now he completely dropped the act, exposing his rough nature.
In the midst of silence, Pei Rong’s phone rang.
Lu Qin glanced at it for him, “It’s Zhou Hang, no need to answer.”
“Help me pick it up,” Pei Rong lazily said, just in case its something urgent.
Lu Qin answered in a harsh tone, “What’s up?”
Zhou Hang responded quickly, “Nothing!”
See, nothing urgent.
Lu Qin was about to throw the phone away when another call came in, displaying an overseas number. He handed the phone to Pei Rong, giving it a quick glance. “Who’s this?”
