Cheng Qing quickly raised her hands and said, "I didn't! It was my idea to be in a group with you, and you didn't refuse, did you?
What kind of talk is that? You didn't explain yourself clearly, and now you blame me for not refusing? Losi was furious.
Cheng Qing, still laughing, added fuel to the fire: "You didn't refuse, so I thought you were willing." Not content with that, she looked at Luo Xi with a troubled expression and said "understandingly," "Look, everyone's teamed up now, so we'll reluctantly..."
Although she didn't finish speaking, how could Losi not understand what she meant by that ingratiating smile!
When Cheng Qing had no intention of getting close, Luo Xi was powerless to retaliate. Now that Cheng Qing is determined to please her, how can Luo Xi possibly do anything about it?
Finally, all he could manage to say was, "...You didn't even ask for my opinion."
Seeing Luo Xi's expression, Lin Shandie chuckled and said directly, "Hey Luo Xi, if you don't like being on the same team as Teacher Cheng, how about we switch?"
Cheng Qing immediately looked at Lin Shandie, but before she could refuse, Luo Xi jumped up and said, "Why should I switch with you? You think you can just switch with me like that? I'm not switching."
Cheng Qing's serious expression suddenly relaxed. She glanced back at Luo Xi and then said with a smile, "Of course, you can refuse to change it if you say so."
Losi was stunned. She immediately felt that she had been tricked and had even fallen into the trap herself. She was so angry that she leaned back on the seat in front of her and stopped talking.
I'm so angry with myself that I'm speechless!
Hahaha, my princess is so cute! I love her so much!
Hahaha, look how embarrassed Losie is!
[Teacher Cheng, quickly comfort her! She's so embarrassed!]
Before Ms. Cheng came, I didn't know she had such a lovely personality. After Ms. Cheng left, she became quiet and reserved. So, is Ms. Cheng the key person?
Seeing Luo Xi's reaction, Lin Shandie couldn't help but tease her further: "Oh, you're not going to change it? Then let's not change it!"
Losi: "..."
Cheng Qing smiled at her and said, "Hurry up and take a seat!"
Lin Shandie didn't sit down, but instead jumped up in front of Cheng Qing with a grin and said, "Teacher Cheng, it's been a long time!"
Losi looked up abruptly, her face flushed, and bluntly exposed her, saying, "How long has she been gone? Only a few days. You call that a long time? Aren't you ashamed?"
Lin Shandie narrowed her eyes slowly: "So you knew it had only been a few days! Judging from your face this morning, I thought Teacher Cheng had been gone for years."
Upon hearing this, Cheng Qing smiled silently, turned to look at Luo Xi, as if asking a question.
Lossie's face flushed crimson, and she stammered, "What does my bad mood have to do with her?"
Lin Shandie: "Oh, so your bad mood has nothing to do with her, but your good mood now does have something to do with it?"
Losi choked, "...I...I'm not in a good mood at all!!!"
Liu Suoyu sat down in the same row as Luo Xi and Cheng Qing with a grin and said, "You're still in a bad mood? Then maybe we're all blind."
Losi was speechless again: "..."
Although the group was joking in good spirits, Cheng Qing still spoke up to stop them: "If she says she's in a bad mood, then she's in a bad mood, so stop teasing her."
Liu Suoyu quickly surrendered: "Yes, yes, the teacher said no more teasing. It's your first day here, how could I not give you this face?"
Lin Shandie also sat down next to Liu Suoyu with a smile: "Yes, yes, yes, the teacher said not to tease us, only the teacher can tease us."
"Aaaaaaahh ...
Cheng Qing raised an eyebrow: "Look, I've made her angry."
Liu Suoyu and Lin Shandie burst out laughing, and the others in the car also laughed, creating a very friendly atmosphere.
Cheng Qing took the opportunity to explain: "I came here as a teacher before, but I am here as a guest now, so please don't call me teacher."
Then everyone remembered that Cheng Qing participated as an internet celebrity. Although she had gained fame, she had not yet signed with a company and was considered an independent individual. Therefore, no matter how famous she became, she was only a currently popular internet celebrity.
Upon hearing this, Luo Xi glanced at Cheng Qing out of the corner of her eye, thinking, "I don't need to call her 'teacher' anymore?"
Everyone cooperated and stopped calling her "teacher." They all went up to greet her and then found seats.
Kong Mingyan got into the car, and the driver took his place.
After the bus started moving, the photographers from each team took their seats. Kong Mingyan sat at the front and shouted through a megaphone, "Good morning, brothers and sisters!"
Everyone shuddered, and the comments section burst into laughter.
Kong Mingyan said, "After two months of competitive games, I know everyone is tired. So now, the production team has decided to let everyone go on a good vacation."
Next, Kong Mingyan began to explain the new activity.
Cheng Qing, who was sitting in the sixth row, didn't listen at all. She leaned slightly closer to Luo Xi and asked her softly, "Are you angry?"
Lossie's eyes darted around, and she replied in a low but fierce voice, "I'm still not over it."
Cheng Qing chuckled, her laughter seeming to touch Luo Xi's heart. It almost made her say—her anger had subsided—but remembering Cheng Qing's constant avoidance, she stubbornly refused to admit it.
My heart itches, and so does the back of my hand.
Luo Xi was startled and looked down to see that Cheng Qing had taken the opportunity to hold her hand. It was as if Cheng Qing's touch always brought her a sense of comfort. The occasional tingling sensation from the calluses brushing against her hand felt like a tease.
"What are you doing?" Rossi frowned, trying to pull her hand away.
Cheng Qing gripped it tightly, whispering a warning, "If you squeeze any harder, you'll be in the shot."
Upon hearing this, Luo Xi immediately fell silent. She glanced sideways at Cheng Qing, her face fierce but utterly intimidating. Like the fiercest yet gentlest cat, her appearance only made one want to hug her and pet her tenderly.
Cheng Qing smiled and said, "So good."
Losi stared in shock, mouth agape, glaring fiercely at her, unaware that her face was as red as an apple. How much affection was hidden in that glare, something that could be seen through at a glance?
Cheng Qing smiled gently, like willow catkins in spring or lotus leaves in summer, and said, "Thank you."
Losi was taken aback and didn't understand for a moment.
Thank you for waiting for me all this time.
***
Kong Mingyan finally lost his temper: "What are you two doing all lovey-dovey in the sixth row on the right? Didn't you hear what I said?"
Losi nodded quickly: "I heard."
Cheng Qing honestly shook his head: "I didn't hear it."
Kong Mingyan: "..."
Hahaha, I'm dying of laughter at these two!
[Lossie was shocked; Cheng's reaction was hilarious. Their initial statements hadn't been contradicted at all!]
【Ha ha ha ha】
Losi was speechless: "Why are you admitting it?"
Cheng Qing was speechless: "He's not a teacher, what are you afraid of?"
Kong Mingyan watched as the two of them lowered their heads and muttered to themselves again. He swallowed the words he wanted to say to his assistant, "Find someone to explain to them in a bit."
"Okay, all right!"
***
The scenery outside the window recedes into the distance, the sunlight warm and tranquil.
Everyone in the car started scrolling through their phones, or contacting their agents. Kong Mingyan said that apart from payments, everything else was unrestricted. Because of the phones, communication between the passengers actually decreased.
Cheng Qing, however, had been incredibly busy these past two days, from negotiating the contract to signing it. Now that the team was successfully formed, she finally drifted off to sleep amidst the swaying of the bus.
Losi finally withdrew her hand, rested her chin on her hand and looked out the window. When Cheng Qing's head slid onto her shoulder, she only slightly adjusted her posture and ultimately did not push her away.
Author's Note:
Chapter 73
Sunshine warms the heart, and time is peaceful.
Losi leaned against the car window, listening to the occasional chatter from the other passengers, and drifted off to sleep.
I don't know how long I slept or what Kong Mingyan was planning to do.
They walked aimlessly in the warm autumn sunshine, feeling that with Cheng Qing by their side, they could go anywhere.
Losi slept very soundly. She dreamed of the day Cheng Qing left, and how she was crying alone in her room.
Fang Silei called and promised to go find Cheng Qing.
Losi still cried all night because she knew the chances of Cheng Qing returning were slim. In just two short weeks, she didn't know who Cheng Qing's family members were, where he usually lived, or even how to contact him.
But she knew clearly that if Cheng Qing was willing to come back, he would be willing to stay and wouldn't leave.
Later, she woke up alone, ate alone, and recorded alone. Even though Liu Suoyu and Lin Shandie always wanted to hang out with her, even though she no longer had any conflicts with the other guests, and even though Kong Mingyan would help her.
But I always feel like something's missing...
It wasn't until Fang Silei called to tell Luo Xi that Cheng Qing had refused.
Losi burst into tears; she realized she was missing Teacher Cheng.
These real-life events, reenacted in her dream, still resonated deeply with Losi in reality.
She even forgot what day it was and forgot that Teacher Cheng beside her had already started to shed tears in his sleep.
"Lossie?"
Cheng Qing's voice seemed to come from afar. Luo Xi frowned, slowly raised her eyelids, and looked sleepy.
"Lossie, you're awake?"
Her voice was filled with concern. Luo Xi paused, then turned to look at the seat next to her. She saw Cheng Qing sitting there, leaning closer to her, her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed, and her thin lips tightly pursed.
"What's wrong with me?" Rossi asked, puzzled.
Cheng Qing was taken aback. She glanced at the tears on Luo Xi's eyes and chin, knowing how strong-willed Luo Xi was. Therefore, she simply smiled and said, "It's nothing, just letting you know we've arrived at our destination." As she spoke, she raised her hand and wiped away the tears clinging to the corners of Luo Xi's eyes.
The sudden touch on her cheek made Luo Xi take a slight step back, but Cheng Qing didn't mind and just smiled and said, "Let's go!"
Losi: "Oh." With that, she got up.
The two picked up their bags and then got out of the car with the guests in the front row.
Cheng Qing walked ahead, with Luo Xi following behind. Step by step, Luo Xi could still see Cheng Qing's neck peeking out from his collar.