Chapter 15: The Award-Winning Actor Keeps a Scheming Vixen at Home

She looked up at Song Heqing in confusion.

Song Heqing smiled helplessly. "You have mud on your hand."

"Oh, oh." Su Tang finally realized. She put her hand down and shook her head vigorously, trying to fling the hair from her forehead to the side.

Song Heqing stood nearby for a moment but couldn’t bear to watch any longer. Amused by Su Tang’s silly expression, he crouched down and tidied her hair.

Su Tang hadn’t expected Song Heqing to actually take the initiative to fix her hair. Holding the chicken wrapped in a lump of mud, she stood there stunned.

Then, her face flushed red, her cheeks burning with embarrassment as she looked awkwardly at Song Heqing across from her. "You, you... I..."

Song Heqing chuckled softly and then stood up. "Alright, it’s time to put it over there, isn’t it?"

"Oh, oh, alright." Su Tang quickly cradled the muddy bundle and followed him.

She had often heard others mention being single since birth or similar phrases. Before, she didn’t think it was embarrassing.

But someone like her, solo for thousands of years, that was truly shameful. Yet, she was striving to ascend early.

Always doing good deeds, how could she find time for romance? In the past, when she passed shy young scholars, she would tease them with words. Seeing their flushed faces, she would laugh heartily and walk away.

But today, she never expected it would be her cheeks turning red.

Su Tang couldn’t help but silently scold herself. It was just a simple hair adjustment, yet she blushed like a fool.

Still, she couldn’t blame herself entirely—Song Heqing was truly exceptional.

Lost in thought, Shen Lu suddenly appeared in front of her, startling her.

"Hey, how are you so sneaky?" Su Tang complained.

Shen Lu blinked irritably. "Didn’t I just walk over?"

Su Tang replied, "It’s because you’re so tall, I just didn’t see you." As long as it wasn’t someone like Song Heqing, Su Tang could always dish out playful banter.

Her words made Shen Lu grin with pride. Indeed, he was the tallest here, now standing at a straight 189 centimeters, while Song Heqing was only about 187.

---

"But why is your face a little red? Tired?" Shen Lu examined Su Tang’s face carefully. Although she wore makeup, faint blushes were visible on her cheeks.

Hearing this, Song Heqing, who was ahead, turned to look at Su Tang. Su Tang, who had been ready to spar verbally with Shen Lu, suddenly lost her nerve.

"Ahem, kid, why so many questions? Get to work quickly. Move aside, I need to pass."

Shen Lu frowned in frustration, thinking women were indeed fickle creatures.

Song Heqing looked at Su Tang meaningfully, making her too shy to lift her head.

She placed the muddy chicken on the fire and covered it with some firewood.

Clapping her hands, she said, "Alright, in two hours we can eat."

Wen Tian, who had disappeared briefly, returned without anyone noticing. On hearing this, she awkwardly laughed twice. "Two hours? Won’t everyone be full by then?"

Previously indifferent, Shen Lu now found Wen Tian irritating, mainly because she was quite a chatterbox.

"You’re not even eating, why do you care so much?" Shen Lu retorted harshly.

Wen Tian paused but dared not reply openly, given Shen Lu’s popularity and status.

She shrank back, her expression turning somewhat aggrieved. "I didn’t mean that. Don’t misunderstand. I just think two hours is a bit long."

"No worries," Song Heqing spoke up. "Considering how hard everyone worked today, I’ll make a feast. Didn’t you see my ingredients aren’t even marinated yet?"

Su Tang couldn’t help but smile, looking at Song Heqing with a bright gaze. Their eyes met briefly.

Wen Tian was soon taken aside by her manager for a stern talk. Her self-control improved considerably afterward. Even so, she forced a smile that looked painfully stiff.

Shen Lu’s expression remained cold as he stared ahead. "Wow, a feast. Too bad someone won’t get to eat it."

Everyone knew who he was hinting at.

Chang Qinghua, who had been busy in the courtyard preparing vegetables, returned at that moment. Holding a large bunch of greens, he saw the group standing together with a tense atmosphere.

Unaware of what had happened, he hurried over to ease the mood.

---

"Ah, Su Tang’s beggar’s chicken is starting? Xiao Song, I’ve gathered the vegetables you need. Let’s start cooking—I’m starving!"

Chang Qinghua’s arrival finally lightened the atmosphere.

Wen Tian smiled and quickly stepped forward to help Chang Qinghua with the vegetables. "Brother Chang, let me carry some for you."

Chang Qinghua had just walked back from the small garden and stood beside Su Tang. Su Tang reached out, "Brother Chang, why did you pick so much? Let me hold half. I haven’t washed my hands yet, so let’s keep Wen Tian from touching them for now."

Chang Qinghua nodded in agreement and divided the vegetables. "Makes sense. Besides, Wen Tian can’t eat anyway. She’s pitiful enough; we shouldn’t make her work too."

The group marched boisterously toward the kitchen, leaving Wen Tian standing awkwardly. Not knowing whether to follow or stay, she lingered a moment before sulking off to sit under the pavilion.

After a while, Chang Qinghua brought a bottle of yogurt to Wen Tian. "Wen Tian, if you’re hungry, drink some yogurt to hold you over."

Wen Tian forced a smile and accepted the yogurt gratefully. Just as she was about to speak, Chang Qinghua hurried back to the kitchen.

Left alone, Wen Tian sipped the yogurt, idly watching the live comment feed.

Happy Sheep Not a Sheep: "Su Tang is adorably silly—busying herself but still thoughtful enough to get Wen Tian some yogurt, worried she might get hungry."

Average Girl: "Does Su Tang really not see how fake Wen Tian’s ‘sisterly’ kindness is?"

Seeing this, Wen Tian clenched the yogurt bottle tightly. It was already opened, so she couldn’t waste it. Besides, the cameras were still rolling, and after all, this was for the main sponsor.

The yogurt’s taste suddenly turned strange. Though she seemed lost in thought, inside she was plotting how to take a plate back with her.

It was only a matter of days, but how did Su Tang change her approach so suddenly?

This caught her completely off guard, but next time, she wouldn’t let Su Tang get away with such smugness again.