Are You Trying to Mark Me? (GL, ABO) - Chapter 36
A typical three-wheeled rural vehicle carried two big baskets of radishes, and Yu Ran was sitting right in the middle of them, hugging her knees.
Min Wenyi wasn’t very good at riding it and kept wobbling awkwardly. Luckily, she managed to control it barely well enough, but it made Yu Ran, sitting at the back, feel quite uncomfortable from all the shaking.
They hadn’t gone far from the guesthouse when they reached the market.
Many local farm inns chose this spot to buy supplies, and it was also their destination.
Besides Lu An and his caretaker Qiu Yang, there were five people in total who set up their stalls right at the entrance.
“How should we price these?”
Before selling the radishes, everyone decided to agree on a price first.
Yu Ran looked at the radishes and said, “The market price is just a bit over one yuan per jin about 500 grams.”
“Then let’s sell them for over two yuan,” Chu Jiazhi suggested.
Yu Hongwen nodded: “I think that’s okay.”
Yu Ran frowned: “Isn’t that too expensive? Will anyone buy our radishes?”
Min Wenyi took off her sunglasses, glanced at the watching crowd, and said, “We should be able to sell them quickly.”
People visiting farm inns usually had some spending power, though honestly, only a few would buy radishes to take home.
But no matter what, they still had to complete the show’s mission.
“I’m in a team with Yu Ran. The three of you split up,” Min Wenyi said, grabbing Yu Ran’s wrist. Then she told the production staff, “Help us set up a stall.”
Chu Jiazhi smirked and looked at Yu Hongwen, “Hongwen, then it’s just the three of us left.”
Yu Hongwen smiled, “My assistant and I will sell radishes. You handle selling the ground covers alone.”
As everyone separated, Yu Ran hugged a radish and walked to Min Wenyi’s side, looking up and asking, “Are we really selling radishes?”
Min Wenyi smiled, “Of course.”
“But… I’m not good at bargaining.”
“That’s okay. Just sell casually.”
Yu Ran frowned and thought for a moment. Seeing Min Wenyi clearly wasn’t going to let her off the hook, she sighed softly.
Well, if we’re selling radishes, we’re selling radishes. After all, we dug them ourselves.
At first, Min Wenyi thought Yu Ran was just a bit shy and hesitant to ask for prices, but she soon realized the girl was even more serious about it than she expected.
A customer holding a radish asked Yu Ran, “How much are these?”
Yu Ran’s face turned red as she stammered, “Ten… ten yuan for three jin…”
“That’s too expensive, make it cheaper. How about 4.5 yuan per jin?”
“N-no, that’s not possible. It can’t be any lower.”
Min Wenyi watched Yu Ran stumble through the sale with interest and finally interrupted: “4.5 yuan is fine.”
“Haha, first time seeing someone haggle like this. Why is the little assistant so cute?”
“She was so confident cooking and farming before, but around strangers she can’t even talk.”
“Min Wenyi x little assistant ship, I’m here for it. Lock them down, no running!”
“+1 to the above comment.”
“Old fans, teach me the ropes!”
Min Wenyi took the fat, white radish from Yu Ran’s hands, weighed it, and handed it to the customer. Then she said to Yu Ran, “I’ll sell it; you take the money.”
She looked over at Yu Hongwen’s side, where a crowd had gathered, unsure how well their stall was doing.
Even though this was just a game, there was still a sense of competition.
Yu Ran nodded and followed Min Wenyi, running back and forth to help carry radishes and tying them up with pretty butterfly knots.
Before long, the last radish on Yu Ran’s side was sold. Counting the money, they had made over 600 yuan in total.
“We’re done selling,” Min Wenyi raised her hand, signaling her side was finished.
Even though it was just a game, Yu Ran felt Min Wenyi was very serious, her gaze sharp and focused.
Yu Ran couldn’t help but stare blankly. When their eyes met, she nearly forgot to look away.
Min Wenyi smiled faintly and didn’t call out her thoughts. Instead, she held the money in her hand, deep in thought.
When the other two stalls finished selling, everyone counted the earnings and found Chu Jiazhi sold the most.
“That’s because he sold his stuff at the highest price,” Min Wenyi mercilessly pointed out, making the man laugh heartily without a comeback.
Yu Ran quietly counted on her fingers and gently tugged Min Wenyi’s sleeve.
“What’s wrong?”
Min Wenyi turned, put her hand on Yu Ran’s waist, and leaned in close.
The sudden closeness made Yu Ran hold her breath for a moment. Blushing, she said, “Can we use the money from selling radishes to buy some rock sugar?”
Min Wenyi was curious, “What for?”
Yu Ran said, “I saw some yellow peaches behind the yard yesterday and wanted to make some canned peaches for you.”
Hearing it was for her, Min Wenyi couldn’t help but smile lightly: “Then let’s buy some secretly. Don’t tell the others.”
Before she finished, the group of men called out from behind, “Wenyi, what are you two whispering about behind our backs? Getting all cozy, can I join in?”
Looking back at Chu Jiazhi’s mischievous expression, Min Wenyi rolled her eyes, tightened her grip, and held Yu Ran close. “Let’s go to the market to buy some things.”
Since Min Wenyi wasn’t comfortable going to crowded places, Yu Ran didn’t make her come along. She went to the local store by herself, bought two packs of rock sugar, and also picked up half a pound of dried shrimp.
Seeing Yu Ran with those items, everyone looked at her with teasing smiles. “You’re cooking a little meal for Wenyi but didn’t invite us?”
Yu Ran didn’t know how they guessed and just scratched her head, blushing, unable to say a word.
Min Wenyi reached out her hand from inside the van and said to Yu Ran, “Get in first, don’t mind them.”
Seeing the hand inside the vehicle reaching out to her, Yu Ran couldn’t help but put her hand in hers.
They had come on a tricycle, but on the way back, someone else had to ride it. Watching the three men discuss who should pedal, Yu Ran quietly slipped the rock sugar and dried shrimp into her backpack.
The day’s filming went by quickly. By the time it officially ended at 11 p.m., Yu Ran was so tired her back hurt and she could hardly stand straight.
She finally realized being an actor wasn’t easy at all.
Min Wenyi seemed like nothing had happened, pacing around the room and adjusting the air conditioner to make it a bit warmer inside.
“You’ve had a long day, go take a shower.”
Looking at Yu Ran lying on the bed, Min Wenyi found her especially interesting.
Yu Ran tilted her head and looked at Min Wenyi sadly. “Do I really have to?”
“Won’t it be uncomfortable if you don’t?”
“No, it’s not uncomfortable…”
Just as the little assistant was about to start making excuses, Min Wenyi reached out and pinched her fingertips.
“Hurry up,” she whispered, “unless you want me to help you.”
With a small grunt, Yu Ran jumped down, holding her skirt, and dashed into the bathroom without looking back—afraid that if she delayed even one second, her boss would personally come to help.
That night, Yu Ran tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. Min Wenyi felt she was unusually restless tonight.
Excited.
Yu Ran didn’t know why but felt extra excited all over, like a little school kid about to go on a big trip, no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn’t fall asleep.
Maybe it was the excitement from filming during the day?
Or maybe she had eaten too much when cooking dinner?
By the seventh time she turned over, a pair of hands grabbed her waist.
Min Wenyi closed her eyes tightly and softly said, “Stop messing around. It’s so late, why aren’t you asleep yet?”
Yu Ran lay on her pillow, staring blankly. “I can’t sleep.”
As for why she couldn’t sleep, she didn’t know either.
Min Wenyi’s hand resting on her waist felt warm—different from usual warmth. It felt like the heat was coming from Min Wenyi herself.
Yu Ran caught a faint scent of rum in the air, making her feel dizzy and lightheaded.
Without noticing Yu Ran’s reaction, Min Wenyi tightened her arms, pulling her close.
Yu Ran’s body was soft, pressed against Min Wenyi’s chest, making her feel like she was holding a warm water balloon.
“If you hold me like this, I’ll be even more awake…”
By her ear was Min Wenyi’s breathing.
The scent was the gentle drunkenness of rum.
The touch was hot and burning…
Yu Ran clearly remembered she had taken a suppressant, so why was she reacting like this to Min Wenyi?
It really made her feel conflicted.
If Min Wenyi knew her mind was full of nonsense right now, she probably would’ve thrown her out of bed…
Min Wenyi gently patted Yu Ran’s back, soothing her, “Go to sleep early. Maybe we still have to film tomorrow.”
Yu Ran buried her head in Min Wenyi’s arms and softly replied with a hum.
That counted as an answer.
Yu Ran didn’t know exactly when she fell asleep, and she couldn’t remember her dreams—only that she was very close to Min Wenyi.
And all around them, it felt burning hot…
The next morning, Yu Ran woke up to find she was alone in bed. She checked the time—it was around 8 a.m.
She didn’t know when the air conditioner had stopped, but she was still sweating all over.
It was winter, and feeling this hot was really strange.
Yu Ran felt thirsty, grabbed a glass of water from the bedside table, drank it all, then got up to take a shower.
Meanwhile, downstairs, Min Wenyi was still talking with the producer and glanced upstairs.
She said to everyone, “Yu Ran should be awake. I’ll go call her.”
The crew planned to visit the hospital to see Lu An and maybe film a bit while they were there. Since this idea just came up, they were still gathering opinions.
With the plan settled, Min Wenyi intended to go upstairs and get Yu Ran.
She pushed open the door but didn’t see Yu Ran anywhere. She heard water running from the bathroom.
Min Wenyi walked over and knocked on the glass door. “Yu Ran, we need to get ready to film. Are you done?”
No answer came from inside.
Thinking for a moment, Min Wenyi reached out to open the bathroom door.
Click.
Before she could grab the handle, the door opened from the inside.
Yu Ran stood at the doorway, her face flushed, soaking wet, wrapped only in a white towel, quietly asking, “Can you… please bring me my suppressant?”