How Can a Construction Foreman Be the Public Girlfriend of a Top Celebrity? - Chapter 32
Chapter 32
Zheng Ling opened Weibo and saw footage of her and Shu Xuan’s tent shaking. She wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear.
When the rain stopped, it was already the next day. Shu Xuan and Zheng Ling were still asleep when Director Li started shouting outside with a megaphone.
“Time to wake up, comrades!”
His voice echoed across the riverside, drawing in curious elderly folks who had come out to do tai chi and dance.
Zheng Ling opened her eyes and found herself hugging Shu Xuan’s arm. Her heart skipped a beat, and she carefully pulled her hand away.
Shu Xuan’s eyelids twitched, and she muttered with her eyes still closed, “You were talking in your sleep last night—clutching my arm and chewing on it, demanding a chicken leg burger.”
“…That’s definitely made up.” Zheng Ling turned her face away, trying to act calm, but deep down, she wished she could grow claws and dig herself a hole to hide in.
Shu Xuan simply smiled without saying more.
When the two emerged from their tent, the other celebrities looked at them very differently.
Qi Zhi’s eyes lingered on Shu Xuan, scanning her from head to toe, while Yang Yin came over to greet Zheng Ling.
“Zheng Ling, you two really went for it, huh?” Yang Yin teased.
Just then, Director Li started announcing the day’s schedule.
He wore a cap and a brown utility vest. “Everyone listen up. Today, we’re heading up the mountain. There’s a school on Jincheng Mountain, and we’ll be doing volunteer work there.”
“You can go wash up first. After breakfast, we set off.”
Comments:
Is Shu Xuan barefaced right now? Honestly not that impressive—looks like me.
Wait, did they really do it last night?
Is it just me, or is Qi Zhi looking at her weirdly?
Zheng Ling dragged Shu Xuan to her car to grab their toiletries. Using the GPS, they found a public restroom to wash up.
“Teacher Shu, sorry if you didn’t sleep well last night.” Zheng Ling wiped her face clean. She usually didn’t wear makeup, but Shu Xuan handed her a lip balm.
Facing the mirror, Shu Xuan began applying her makeup, with the behind-the-scenes cameraman filming nearby. “I slept fine. It’s autumn now, and the air’s dry—your lips are chapped.”
“Thanks.” Zheng Ling opened the cap, a refreshing citrus scent wafted out.
Shu Xuan’s delicate face only needed a light touch. After cleansing, she applied sunscreen, dabbed some lipstick at the center of her lips and blended it out. Then she used her finger to pat the excess onto her cheeks for a soft blush. Her makeup was done.
Comments:
That’s makeup? I can do that too! …Except I don’t have that face.
She just washed her face, didn’t she? If I do enough good deeds this life, maybe I’ll reincarnate as someone who looks like Shu Xuan… sob.
Wait, that lip balm—wasn’t it used by Shu Xuan already?! OMG indirect kiss!!
Why are you all so shocked? They’re married—kisses and cuddles are normal!
After Zheng Ling applied the balm, she tried to return it. “Here you go, Teacher Shu.”
Shu Xuan gave her a look. “Keep it.”
“What, are you grossed out by me?” Zheng Ling followed behind as they left the restroom, tugging on Shu Xuan’s clothes like a child begging for attention.
Shu Xuan said nothing.
Zheng Ling kept rambling, “Sigh, slept with me and now you’re done with me. Never thought you’d be that kind of person, Teacher Shu.”
“That really hurts, you know?”
Shu Xuan stopped and pointed at the camera, her smile radiant. “Boss Zheng, this is a live broadcast, not your house.”
“Cough… right. I forgot.” Zheng Ling shut up. She really had forgotten they were still live.
Once everyone finished breakfast, the cast headed toward Jincheng Mountain.
Shu Xuan had purposely worn a light pink dress—warm tones were more appealing to children. Zheng Ling dressed for practicality in a pale pink hoodie and sweatpants.
Yang Yin originally wanted to ride with them, but Qi Zhi beat her to it.
“Teacher Shu, Boss Zheng, our car broke down. Could we ride with you?” Qi Zhi asked.
Zheng Ling had no objections and glanced at Shu Xuan.
Shu Xuan nodded slightly. “Sure.”
Qi Zhi’s husband also joined them, and their own vehicle was taken to a repair shop by the production crew.
Including the cameraman, that made five people in Zheng Ling’s car. The cameraman sat between Qi Zhi and her husband for convenience.
They followed the crew up the mountain. The roads were rugged and winding, but Zheng Ling’s driving skills were solid. She navigated the sharp turns with ease.
“Boss Zheng, you and Teacher Shu have been together for a while. Any plans for kids?” Qi Zhi suddenly asked.
The cameraman immediately swung the camera toward Shu Xuan, eager to catch a juicy exclusive.
Shu Xuan’s expression didn’t change, but Zheng Ling’s hands tightened around the steering wheel.
“No plans yet,” Shu Xuan replied with a smile. “What about you, Teacher Qi? You got married earlier than we did. Why no kids?”
Qi Zhi explained, “Ours was a forced marriage. There’s no emotional bond.”
“Then what about us?” Shu Xuan asked.
She could’ve avoided the topic, but this was a perfect opportunity to highlight the reality of forced marriages. Even if there were consequences, she wasn’t the one who brought it up—Qi Zhi was.
“We’re all victims of the forced marriage system,” Shu Xuan said, raising the conversation to a broader level. “No need to ask pointless questions.”
“Then do you have no feelings for Boss Zheng?” Qi Zhi pressed.
Shu Xuan turned her gaze toward Zheng Ling, who was focused on driving.
Comments:
Can we please abolish the forced marriage system already?!
I’m about to turn 24. Only a year left before I’m matched. Anyone wanna marry me?
Tragic. My last account got banned for saying we should end forced marriages.
Before Shu Xuan could respond, Zheng Ling said, “Of course there are feelings. My love for Teacher Shu is sincere—heaven and earth can bear witness.”
“Teacher Qi, maybe check on your husband. He looks carsick.” Shu Xuan smoothly changed the subject.
Sure enough, Qi Zhi’s husband was carsick. Zheng Ling slowed the car and took turns more gently.
Then the cameraman’s walkie-talkie crackled—Director Li was calling.
“Xiaobai, ask Boss Zheng if she can drive the supply truck.”
“Huh?” The cameraman was confused.
“Our driver’s never driven mountain roads this rough. He’s too scared to go on,” Director Li explained.
Zheng Ling slowly pulled over and turned on her hazard lights for the cars behind.
“No problem.”
“Thank you so much, Boss Zheng,” Director Li said repeatedly.
“It’s nothing.” Zheng Ling smiled and unbuckled her seatbelt.
The truck in question carried supplies for the children up the mountain. It was part of the program’s charity efforts. The money earned from live stream donations would also be donated.
Shu Xuan reminded her to be careful, and Qi Zhi’s husband got in to drive the car. As soon as he stepped out, he vomited—carsick when riding, but unable to drive.
Zheng Ling walked toward the truck. Yang Yin leaned out of their car. “Zheng Ling, what happened?”
“The truck can’t make it up. I’m going to drive it,” Zheng Ling replied.
“Can you handle it?” Yang Yin blinked her fangirl eyes.
Zheng Ling raised an eyebrow. “Of course.”
The cameraman focused on her as she climbed into the truck with fluid ease and started it up like a pro.
Comments:
OMG so cool! Sis is killing it—I’m turning gay.
Shu, how dare you keep this treasure all to yourself?!
Proof women can be better than men in many jobs.
I’m a straight girl, but when is Boss Zheng sleeping with me?!
No lie, I’m a guy and I couldn’t drive that truck on that road even after a year.
When they arrived at Jincheng Mountain, the school was nestled halfway up. Trees shielded it from view. The iron gate at the entrance was rusted, and the walls were cracked and peeling. A group of students stood with their teacher, smiling brightly despite their weathered, rough skin from years of exposure.
As the celebrities got out of their vehicles, the teachers came up holding fruit and wildflowers they’d picked from the mountain.
Shu Xuan accepted the flowers. “Thank you.”
After Zheng Ling drove the truck up, Director Li had the crew begin unloading the supplies.
“You really got it up here?” Yang Yin was impressed. She knew Zheng Ling was capable, but hadn’t expected her to handle such a difficult road in a big truck.
Zheng Ling joined Shu Xuan. “Wasn’t too bad. The truck handles well.”
They entered the school grounds. The campus was even more dilapidated up close. The teaching building was crumbling, with missing tiles.
The female principal introduced the school: “This is our main building. There are over fifty students here—all left-behind children. Twenty boys, thirty girls. Including myself, there are four teachers.”
“How long have you been working here?” Yang Yin asked.
“I’ve been here since I graduated college—over ten years now.”
She added, “I may look old, but I’m only in my thirties.”
Everyone was stunned. The principal looked well over fifty. Her hair was so thin it barely made a single ponytail.
These teachers had spent years in the mountains with no proper resources or support. The harsh conditions had aged them far beyond their years.
“When we first heard you were coming, we didn’t believe it. Now that you’re here, we’re so happy,” the principal said, smiling through her gaunt face and skinny arms that looked like they belonged to a twelve-year-old.
The production crew began distributing supplies on the school’s playground—or rather, a patchy cement lot with grass poking through cracks. The basketball backboard was shattered.
Zheng Ling was handing out supplies beside Shu Xuan when her phone buzzed.
It was Yang Lei, sounding frantic on the line: “Ling-jie, you have to come back—there’s a problem at the construction site.”
“What happened? Calm down and tell me.” Zheng Ling handed a little girl her backpack.
“Before we started, we filed an environmental report. But now someone’s complaining that our transportation dust levels exceed air quality standards.”
“They’ve made a scene. Huang Tian’s father was even beaten up. They’re demanding to see the boss—you.”
Zheng Ling frowned. “Okay. I’ll finish up here and head back.”
Shu Xuan handed a storybook to a girl, then turned to Zheng Ling. “You need to leave?”
“Yeah.” Zheng Ling explained, “There’s a problem at the site—I have to take care of it.”
She informed Director Li, who was understanding. As long as she came back after resolving it, it was fine. But this was a romance show—having Shu Xuan alone wasn’t ideal.
“Sorry, Teacher Shu…” Zheng Ling began.
“There’s nothing to be sorry about,” Shu Xuan interrupted with a warm smile. “Your career is important. I support whatever you do.”
“Wait for me to come back.” Zheng Ling lightly patted her arm, then went to grab Shu Xuan’s luggage from the car. The show would stay on the mountain for two more days—whether Zheng Ling could return afterward would depend on how things went.
As the car drove away, Shu Xuan felt a flicker of loss, but quickly returned to smiling and dancing with the children.
Comments:
Our soft little Shu Xuan!
I’m obsessed. Someone get rid of Qi Zhi so these two can flourish!
Shu Xuan really looks like a sweet wife waiting for her love to come home.
Meanwhile, Zheng Ling rushed back to Nancheng. The troublemakers had been detained by the police, and Yang Lei was at the station.
“It’s simple,” one man said, smug and round-bellied. “Your pollution is affecting our lives. Pay up.”
“Come on, brother, you’re being ridiculous,” Yang Lei groaned, nearly in tears. Seeing Zheng Ling arrive felt like salvation.
Zheng Ling’s face was cold. “You said we’re over the limit?”
“I said so, so it is. My kid’s been coughing nonstop—it’s your transport trucks.”
“Before we started construction, we passed all environmental assessments. The TSP concentration was 5.093 mg/m³—well within the standard. If you keep fabricating things without evidence, we can sue you for defamation,” she said firmly.
“And you assaulted one of our workers. We can sue you for that, too.”
Just then, the water in a cup on the police desk rippled slightly.
“Earthquake! Everyone outside, now!”
People rushed out of the station, only to learn the quake had struck a nearby city.
The epicenter: Jincheng.