Chapter 36

Before going to sleep, the online feud hadn’t ended, but the good news was that she received today’s final payment.
Shen Youwei: [Final payment received. I forgive the whole world.]
He Man: [like]
Shen Youwei: [Nan Xu and Huang Yiqin even sent me messages to apologize and told me to ignore online comments.]
He Man: [Haha, I can’t. Fans scold on one side, sister apologizes on the other. The entertainment industry is truly surreal.]
While looking for a sticker to reply to He Man, Guan Shanyan suddenly sent a message.
Guan Shanyan: [Looks like the temple we visited last time really doesn’t handle other business.]
Sister: [cat crash.jpg] [You’re still eating my gossip online?]
Guan Shanyan: [Can’t help it. Internet hasn’t gone down.]
Sister: “!”
Sister: [I guess it’s because my studio hasn’t officially opened yet, so it’s not in service! I’ll pick an auspicious day and have a ribbon-cutting!]
Guan Shanyan: [Just used AI to calculate, the day after tomorrow is auspicious [image].]
Sister: [cat crash.jpg]
Guan Shanyan: [I ordered a flower basket. It will be delivered on time the day after tomorrow]
Sister: [? Are you running on 8G internet??]
Guan Shanyan: [Not about speed. Mainly about fast hands.]
Sister: [? Feels like a wheel just ran over me?]
[Guan Shanyan unsent a message]
Sister: [image] [Sorry, screenshot. My hands are fast too]
Guan Shanyan: “!”
Sister: [Going to sleep.]
Guan Shanyan: [Good night.]
Shen Youwei raised an eyebrow but didn’t reply with a good night. Instead, she posted in her social feed that her studio would officially open the day after tomorrow, then put down her phone and went to sleep.
The next day was the day they had planned to go barbecue at Lize Park. Shen Youwei regretted her decision a little when she climbed out of bed early in the morning.
Wouldn’t it have been better to just stay home? Why go camping?
It seemed as if Tianquan knew they were going out, she was already excitedly waiting at the door. After Shen Youwei finished her morning routine and opened the door, she saw Tianquan crouched outside, wagging her tail.
“So happy, huh?” Shen Youwei bent down to pet her, then lifted her leg and headed to the dining room. Tianquan trotted behind her on short legs, trying hard to keep up.
Xie Mingqiu, seeing Shen Youwei approach, scooped some porridge while asking: “Going out for a barbecue today, and I don’t see you preparing any food?”
Shen Youwei replied: “Lu Zhaoye said he’d handle it, so we don’t need to worry about anything.”
“So you’re really not helping at all?” Xie Mingqiu shook her head, thinking young people were too straightforward. “Since everyone’s eating together, if you don’t want to prepare food, you could at least bring some ready-made items, soda, milk, snacks you like.”
“Godmother, that makes perfect sense!” Shen Youwei gave her a thumbs-up. “I’ll pack some snacks and drinks later.”
“Woof!” Tianquan barked loudly at the table.
Shen Youwei looked back: “Got it. I’ll bring your favorite snacks too.”
“You can bring toys as well,” Guan Shanyan added. “If it’s too heavy, I can carry them for you.”
Shen Youwei: “…”
So that’s how he found a “legitimate” excuse to tag along?
Xie Mingqiu thought for a moment, then told them: “There’s a small cart at home that we normally use for groceries. You can push it to the park.”
Shen Youwei: “I could actually just drive.”
Xie Mingqiu shook her head disapprovingly: “It’s the weekend, and the weather’s good. There’ll be tons of cars.”
“Exactly,” Guan Shanyan added. “Last time we blocked two lanes. It was a nightmare.”
“…” If traffic police were stationed here issuing tickets, they could finish their annual KPI in one day.
“It’s easier for you to walk. I’ll get the small cart ready for you.”
“Fine.” Pushing a cart to the park seemed a little silly, but when both of them were doing it together, it didn’t matter.
So that’s why Guan Shanyan insisted on using the cart, he was probably worried they wouldn’t let him join the fun.
After breakfast, Shen Youwei packed the food and drinks, and Guan Shanyan organized Tianquan’s snacks and toys. One pushed the cart, the other held the dog’s leash, and they walked out of the residential area.
Pushing the cart definitely drew attention along the way, but when Shen Youwei saw the traffic jam ahead, she immediately felt relieved.
Lu Zhaoye’s car was stuck too. When he rolled down the window for ventilation, he saw Shen Youwei and Guan Shanyan pushing the cart and walking the dog.
They were extremely conspicuous, tall, long-legged, with a model-like aura. Pushing a cart and walking a dog, they looked like they were on an unconventional runway.
“Brother Guan!” Lu Zhaoye called out, deliberately not addressing Shen Youwei to avoid worsening the traffic jam.
Guan Shanyan heard him but pretended not to, continuing to stride forward with the cart.
“Brother Guan!!” Lu Zhaoye shouted again, louder this time. Shen Youwei looked toward the voice and saw him in the car, frantically waving: “Lu Zhaoye?”
“I’m stuck here!”
“Yeah, I see.”
“You two are too smart. I should’ve brought a cart too!” Since Lu Zhaoye had prepared all the barbecue ingredients and there were quite a few, he drove, only to get stuck before even entering the park.
“It’s fine. Not as crowded as last time. You shouldn’t be stuck for long,” Guan Shanyan finally stopped and looked at Lu Zhaoye. “We’ll go in first and save a spot.”
“Yeah! Thoughtful as always!” With so many people today, if he got in later, there might not even be space to set up a tent.
Guan Shanyan and Shen Youwei continued toward the park. Seeing so many cars, Shen Youwei worried: “I hope He Man isn’t stuck in traffic too?”
Guan Shanyan asked: “Is she driving?”
“I think so. She needs to pick up Tianquan later.”
“Then maybe she can park in our residential area and walk over.”
Shen Youwei’s eyes lit up: “That’s perfect!” She immediately messaged He Man to have her park at their building.
Although Shen Youwei had gotten up early, once they arrived at the park, she realized it seemed like nobody had to sleep.
Many tents were already set up on the lawn, and the scenic spots were all occupied. After searching for a while, Shen Youwei and Guan Shanyan finally found a spot under a tree and quickly arranged their things.
“Setting up chairs under this tree is perfect.” Shen Youwei looked at Guan Shanyan. “On the way here, did we pass a place renting tables and chairs?”
Lize Park was a public camping site. The park didn’t provide tents, only basic tables and chairs for rent.
Seeing her glance, Guan Shanyan knew she was planning to send him to rent the chairs: “Got it. I’ll go rent them. You and Tianquan stay here.”
“Okay.” Shen Youwei wasn’t going anywhere; if she left, someone would instantly take the spot.
Guan Shanyan handed Tianquan to Shen Youwei and walked back. The table and chairs rental was a new revenue project for the park since camping became popular. He left a deposit and asked the staff: “How do we get these over there?”
The staff replied: “The park has a special vehicle. We’ll transport you and the furniture together.”
“…” How thoughtful. “Okay, thanks.”
“No trouble at all.” The staff smiled at him, eyes lingering. “You’re a fashion designer, right? You look familiar, were you the one who knocked out that wild boar?”
Guan Shanyan: “…”
No need, really no need.
The park’s small sightseeing vehicle transported Guan Shanyan and the furniture back to the camping spot, then returned. Guan Shanyan carried the furniture under the tree and found Shen Youwei asleep.
“…” She came despite being this tired, she really loved barbecue.
Tianquan lay beside her, leash still on Shen Youwei’s wrist. Seeing Guan Shanyan return, Tianquan immediately stood, ready to leap at him.
“Shh.” Guan Shanyan stopped her, worried she’d wake Shen Youwei. “Stay put until I untie the leash.”
Tianquan seemed to understand and lay back down. Guan Shanyan set up the table and chairs, then went to Shen Youwei to untie her wrist.
He squatted before her. Dappled sunlight from the trees fell on her face, perfectly like a deliberately painted oil portrait. A petal, carried by a stray breeze, landed in her hair. Guan Shanyan couldn’t help but smile, brushing it off.
Another breeze swept through. Shen Youwei’s long hair fluttered, then settled, the black strands brushing against his face like a stone dropping into a pond, sending ripples across the water.
The wind had long stopped, but the scent of her hair lingered at his nose. He looked at her under the tree, eyes closed. The surrounding chatter and birdsong faded away, leaving only his heart beating loudly.
As if bewitched, Guan Shanyan impulsively leaned down and kissed her gently on the forehead.
Shen Youwei seemed to sense it, opening her eyes. Their gaze met, both startled by the moment.
“You, ” Shen Youwei, fully awake now, was about to speak, when the scene abruptly shifted. She was back to when she had just been taking photos of Tianquan.
“????” Wait, what? This is how you play it?