First Kiss Diary - Chapter 31

【Hahaha, who would have thought that the cane would break at a critical moment? Wake up, Ji Shixian, the swing is fragile, don’t lean on it too hard!】

【I guess the Gu Wang was too nervous, so all his strength was pressed onto the chair, causing it to break. Thinking about it, it’s quite cute in a contrasting way, isn’t it?】

【What kisses, just give me the action!】

【Okay, okay, the person upstairs said it well.】

【It’s 9102, and I’m still mesmerized by the adorable and hilarious romantic scenes.】

―― The above are most of the barrage comments Ji Shixian saw while watching the current episode.

In fact, he had some feelings about Ji Ning, and halfway through the program recording, he was somewhat clear about it.

He knew he had a liking for her—although he didn’t know when this affection arose, was it from the first time he saw her blushing ears on the red carpet? Or from feeling sorry for her when she was alone but still brave like a knight? Or perhaps it was because he found her fan account chasing stars so unique and interesting? Or maybe it was just accumulated over time?

But the relationship bound by the love variety show and the apparent boyfriend-girlfriend positioning were somewhat of an obstacle between them. They were both dedicated actors, willing to adjust and make efforts to make the program more watchable for the audience. Sometimes, certain plots were not what they wanted, but they did them, anticipating that the audience would like them.

However, this professionalism also prevented them from truly experiencing their genuine feelings for each other.

But it didn’t matter, before the end of the program, he still had time.

――

Of course, Ji Ning knew how much discussion there was on Weibo about the unfinished first kiss, and even her WeChat was flooded with friends congratulating her and asking for details about the swing breaking incident.

Of course, as soon as there was a slight buzz here, the haters and internet trolls immediately arrived to spread rumors and insults, and many marketing accounts started wars to gain attention.

As for the lawsuits against her and those blacklisted accounts, there was still some time before they would officially go to court. During this time, all she could do was fight back against the hate and gather evidence, waiting for the day of the trial.

The popularity of « First Kiss Diary » was so high that although it couldn’t be separated from the connection with Shuang Ji, there were also many fans of the other two CPs. Seeing the momentum, the production team decided to do a special episode as a bonus update.

The special episode was broadcast live throughout, focusing on charity content, with the guests divided into three groups to visit elderly people who were left behind, left-behind children, and children in welfare homes.

Ji Ning and Ji Shixian were assigned to visit the children in the welfare home.

Early that morning, the two met in the dressing room. Ji Ning had just entered the room carrying a thermos, and they collided. In the moment they locked eyes, something strange seemed to ferment.

Ji Ning’s mind was filled with the clear eyelashes of the day he approached her, and her physiological response in her ears showed a blush before any conscious thought. She lowered her head: « G-good morning. »

Compared to her, the man was much calmer, quickly reverting to his usual cold and indifferent demeanor, with no expression on his face.

« Morning. »

« What’s in your hand? »

« Breakfast. » Jining handed over the things.

This morning, she bought the soup powder for him when she passed by.

She wasn’t good at cooking, only knowing the basics like cooking noodles and soup. But she remembered his stomach wasn’t good, wanting to bring breakfast to him every time they met. So sometimes she would bring a thermos with her and buy food outside to bring in.

Obviously, Jishixian was also used to it, naturally taking her thermos, picking up the chopsticks and starting to eat.

In the mist rising lightly, she thought about how he often ate fruits or snacks sent by fans on set, never accepting expensive gifts, but never hesitating to give them these small, thoughtful gifts in return.

After a simple makeup and hair styling, the two quickly got in the car.

The orphanage was in a village, unreachable by plane, two and a half hours’ drive from here. Because of the bumpy mountain roads, Jishixian wasn’t driving this time; there was a specially assigned driver, and filming started from getting off the car.

Because it was going to be a long car ride, Jining woke up around three in the morning, looking exhausted along the way, closing her eyes to sleep after looking at the street scene.

She was quiet when she slept, curled up in a small bundle, her forehead against the window, a few soft strands of hair sticking out behind her head, her breathing light and faint.

Jishixian also dozed off in his seat for a while, only to be awakened when the car reached the mountain road.

He unscrewed the lid and took a sip of water, pinching the bridge of his nose to clear his head, his gaze shifting slightly, and he saw the girl’s head bobbing up and down with the bumps.

She hugged her arms, adjusting her posture according to the turns and tilts of the car, sometimes knocking on the window.

He leaned in closer, preparing to find something to cushion her head with, so she wouldn’t hit her head when she got off the car and affect filming.

When Jishixian got closer, the car happened to make a very narrow turn, and Jining leaned towards him unexpectedly.

—Lean on him?

That’s fine.

In that split second, the man made a quick decision and adjusted his sitting posture.

But the car suddenly made an abrupt stop, throwing Jining back to her original position before she could lean on him, and she lunged forward into empty space.

The sudden movement woke her up, and Jining slowly opened her eyes, her voice slightly hoarse: « Are we there? »

« … »

The man discreetly rubbed his nose and turned to face the window.

« …Not yet. »

« Hurry up, » the driver said, « twenty more minutes! »

Jining didn’t plan to go back to sleep, feeling something by her side, she looked down: « Why is my pillow behind the car door? »

« The car shakes too much, » Jishixian said calmly, « probably fell over by itself. »

—

When the car arrived at the destination, she touched up her makeup casually, and the recording began.

There were already many viewers waiting in the live broadcast room, and when they saw the two, the comments came in even more fiercely.

Before, Jining knew they were going to an orphanage, but she was too busy to check the address. Anyway, she trusted the production team and left everything to the staff.

Seeing the destination was here now, she was also a little surprised.

The orphanage director came out to greet them, seeing Jining wasn’t surprised because the production team had already arranged everything in advance.

It was the little boy behind who was overjoyed when he saw Jining: « Sister! »

Jishixian looked at her, « Do you know him? »

Jining nodded, « I think I donated a library here. »

The director smiled and interrupted, opening the register: « No, you didn’t. »

These three words sent the live broadcast’s antis into a frenzy. After all, Jining’s antis cared more about her than her fans, always keeping track of her schedule:

【Hahaha, xswl, Ning Ning is performing a scene of a car crash online.】

【What a fool, didn’t they discuss with the person in charge before spouting nonsense? Are they enjoying being slapped in the face?】

【Liar, did your mom forget to give you intelligence when she gave birth to you, or is your whole family stupid?】

At this moment, the dean finally found something in the register, looked up with a gentle smile, and said, « You donated for the renovation of the counseling room and basketball court, the library is on the other side. »

« Is that so? » Jining shrugged, « Then I must have remembered it wrong. »

Although Jining couldn’t see those negative comments, the fans were quick to report, and they were also actively responding with the bystanders:

【Come on, who’s going to slap themselves for saying they got slapped in the face?】

【I suspect it’s the black powder (real culprit) who sits at home picking their toes and uses a magnifying glass to look at Jining every day. I’ll kick them into another galaxy with one flying kick.】

【Being a victim of online violence but still finding a counselor for children, oh my god, I’m really crying, how can there be such good people.】

Of course, whenever charity is mentioned, there will always be « wise » people who think they know everything to criticize:

【Acting like it’s casual, who doesn’t know it’s about showcasing their charity image, selling such an image is disgusting.】

【Not to mention she can’t even remember what she donated, which means she didn’t memorize the script. Even if she’s selling an image with a script, she still spent money, what contribution have you, a keyboard warrior who stinks in the toilet every day, made? Selfish monsters like you aren’t even qualified to pay taxes, oh sorry, I suddenly forgot that your contribution is to make everywhere you go stink.】

【Bystanders, you can check how much charity Jining has done. If it weren’t for the fan sites organizing it, bystanders wouldn’t know. I happened to see it before, and the fans didn’t overly promote it, they were very low-key. Don’t force celebrities to not even want to do charity.】

After a while of arguing in the comments, the professional haters and bystanders gradually found that quite a few people were speaking up for Jining, so they stopped seeking trouble and left the live stream.

Jining briefly communicated with the dean, then received an envelope. The dean said, « This is your funds for today, I hope you use them wisely and have a good day. »

They were going to accompany eight children. Jining opened the envelope and saw the startup funds: six hundred yuan.

Six hundred yuan? Eight children? For a day? We can’t even afford the entrance tickets to the amusement park!

She asked Jishiyi, « How can we satisfy the children’s wishes and ensure the program’s watchability with six hundred yuan? »

Since it’s a program, it can’t be too ordinary. If it’s just a normal day that the children can experience anytime, there’s no point in recording it. Fundamentally, Jining still wants to do something tangible for them.

Although this day can’t change much, at least it can tell them something, even if it’s just a little bit.

Jishiyi calmly answered her question, « Dream. »

« … »

She rubbed her head, helpless.

He glanced at her and said lightly, « Just say too much bumping will make you silly. »

Jining didn’t understand, « What do you mean by too much bumping? »

« It’s nothing, » the man changed the subject, « Why don’t we ask them what they want to do first, and then we’ll plan. »

She asked the children if there was anything they really wanted to do during their time at the welfare home, and surprisingly, the answers were unanimous –

« We want to eat at Hai Di Lao! »

It turned out that a child who had been adopted came back once before, and the child could not vividly describe the bustling scene of the city, but all the emotions and feelings condensed into one sentence: Hai Di Lao is really delicious!

So everyone became obsessed with it.

Of course, Jining wanted to fulfill their wishes, but with six hundred yuan… can eight children even get full?

In her contemplation, she suddenly had an idea, « Doesn’t Hai Di Lao offer discounts for college students? »

Jishiyi squinted his eyes, his expression slightly complex, « College students? »

« Yeah, I’m a student, didn’t you teach us before? »

Jining said as she picked up her phone to check, after a while, she looked up, her clear eyes turning to him with joy, « It’s true, 31% off, after two o’clock! »

Facing her with eyes that seemed to discover a new continent because of her « college student » identity, Ji Shiyin suddenly thought of the three words « old man » that Jiang Sheng had given him not long ago.

He wasn’t sure where the urge to vomit blood came from, attributing it temporarily to the fact that the program group gave too little money.

Ji Ning had no idea about the inner thoughts of the « old man », still biting her lips while calculating, « A 30% discount is equivalent to us being able to buy nearly 900 yuan worth of stuff. Eight kids should be enough, we can eat a little less. »

« Mm. »

So the two of them happily decided like this, unaware that the barrage had started arguing again:

[Just eating one meal? Aren’t the children still growing? There’s no need to insist on Hai Di Lao just for face sake, eating something else is fine too.]

[Can also understand, after all, little princesses who have never been short of money pursue ‘live for today, drink for today’.]

[But Ji Ning isn’t just responsible for herself now, she has to take care of the children, after all, she’s playing the role of a parent today.]

[Keep watching, you’ve only been watching for half an hour and you already think the kids can only eat one meal?]

Of course, Ji Ning had considered the issues raised in the barrage, but something as simple as what to eat morning and evening, she had long had a solution.

Let Ji Shiyin take care of their homework first, she took a ride to the town.

Just passing by, she saw a supermarket here, imagining that the supermarket should have a certain brand of food, and sure enough, the familiar bags were displayed on the shelves, with salespersons nearby.

――She had just signed an endorsement deal with this store yesterday.

So Ji Ning pre-emptively used her « endorser » identity and successfully got a bag of dumplings, a bag of tangyuan, and a bag of breakfast bread for free.

When she returned, Ji Shiyin looked at the big bag in her hand and asked, « How much? »

Ji Ning showed a mysterious smile, « Free. »

« How is it free? »

The little girl pouted, « Just scan your face. »

By saving on breakfast and dinner to the maximum extent, they could ensure that the children enjoyed themselves to the maximum at noon.

After finishing a quite sumptuous breakfast, Ji Ning played games with them for a while, and Ji Shiyin reminded, « Aren’t we leaving now? »

« It’s too early, we can only use that discount after two o’clock. »

Around twelve o’clock, they set off, and when they arrived at the nearest Hai Di Lao, it was just after two o’clock.

Ji Ning handed out the tablet for the children to order themselves. After they finished ordering, the items returned to her hand, and she began to manually convert a whole portion of food into two half portions.

Ji Shiyin looked at her on the side, « Do college students have to order like this? »

« No need, » Ji Ning said seriously, « but two half portions are more than one whole portion. »

The man paused, « Who said that? »

« I have a friend who likes Hai Di Lao, I just asked her for tips, and she told me. »

The barrage was almost laughing to death:

[Ji Ning usually treats: « Sure, buy everything, it’s on me. » After Ji Ning receives 600 yuan: « No, we can’t, it’s too expensive. »]

[Hahaha, life is hard, beautiful girl learns the tricks.]

[Just now, when she was standing there learning how to open a college student certification with the waiter, it was so cute, mom kiss kiss.]

After the dishes were served, the children ate vigorously, and Ji Ning not only had the consciousness of being on a variety show but also had the consciousness of being an actress. After a few bites with chopsticks, she stopped eating.

When bored, she helped everyone order more.

Ji Shiyin reached for a piece of watermelon, and she subconsciously glanced over, the man naturally stopped, « Can’t eat? »

« You can, » she propped her head up, « why do you think so? »

« I’m afraid you’ll stop me because of money, » he said lightly.

« No, » she shook her head very sincerely, « this is included in the ingredient fee, it’s free. »

« … » Not because he wanted to eat, so she didn’t stop him? Because she had already been paid?

Ji Shiyin choked and didn’t say anything.

The barrage applauded repeatedly: [What kind of boyfriend is the best? Saving is the most important.]

The things they ordered were just enough, and the children were so full that they could barely move before leaving.

The total meal cost was 520 yuan, leaving 80 yuan.

Everyone started debating again:

[Only 80 left, let’s see how she solves dinner.]

[You can’t just make dumplings again, right?]

[Can’t you eat dinner with 80 yuan left? Isn’t a bowl of noodles only five yuan?]

[You want growing children to eat plain noodles?]

[They ate so much meat at noon, what’s wrong with having some vegetarian food for dinner?]

« Of course, Ji Ning remained calm. First, she took the children to the mall, rented shoes for ice skating, and had a budget of sixty-four yuan left.

When they returned, she used the remaining money to buy meat and some vegetables. Apart from the few bags she carried, she was truly broke.

Ji Shixian looked at the vegetables in her hands and asked, ‘What are you going to prepare when we get back?’

‘They’re all tired from playing and sweating so much, so let’s make handmade noodles when we get back.’

It wasn’t until they returned to the welfare home that the man suddenly realized something, ‘You didn’t buy flour.’

How could they make noodles without flour? They didn’t even have the ingredients.

Ji Ning naturally understood. She cleared her throat and looked at him earnestly, ‘So I have a humble request.’

‘What is it?’

‘Can you… use your face recognition?’

Twenty minutes later, Ji Yinged emerged with a whole box of flour, expressionless, and walked to the kitchen to put it down.

‘So, I’ve been acting all these years just for this moment,’ he said.

—Just twenty minutes ago, the girl had asked him with the most sincere voice if he could use his popularity among his fans to get some flour. And he, Ji Shixian, who had never personally participated in any program before, did it 🙂

Ji Ning also knew how audacious she was, so she pushed the orange juice she had prepared towards him and looked at him apologetically, ‘I’m sorry, you should rest, I’ll do it.’

The barrage exploded again:

[‘What kind of variety show genius is this, making Ji Shixian go borrow flour haha, look at them, they can’t even apply face masks, I’m cracking up…’]

[‘Ji Ning: Love without face recognition is like loose sand, it doesn’t even need wind to scatter, it can’t be washed clean and it can even get stuck in your teeth.’]

[‘Ji Shixian: So my popularity is just a tool for my girlfriend to use facial recognition, layed.’]

[‘I might be a fake fan, I love seeing Ji Shixian’s helpless look.’]

[‘Shouldn’t Ji Shixian be happy? Ningning has proven his high popularity, even in the countryside, there are so many fans.’]

Ji Shixian watched her glued to her phone, bravely and with no hope, starting to ‘work’ on the dough by adding water and kneading. After watching for three seconds, he couldn’t bear it anymore.

‘You’ve never done this before?’

‘No.’ She raised her water cup and looked up, ‘Isn’t this how you do it?’

He handed her the orange juice back and pulled her aside, ‘You rest, I’ll do it.’

He rolled up his sleeves to his elbows, revealing sexy veins, his fingers slender, with enticing hollows at the joints.

With one hand steadying the bowl, and the other kneading the dough inside, you could faintly see the corner of his jaw lightly biting down on his back molars. Ji Ning couldn’t stand watching the white dough gradually forming under his palm, so she looked away.

The barrage was excited:

[‘Never done this before? No. You rest, I’ll do it. What kind of predatory words are these, I’m loving it.’]

[‘If the older sister can do it, the younger sister can too.’]

[‘Me too.’]

After making the noodles for a while, Ji Ning called the children over to help put them into the pot.

Ji Shixian prepared the meat, taking charge of the entire process, and finally served it, delicious in color, fragrance, and taste.

After a lively meal, Ji Ning took them to the market to stroll around and digest their food.

In an inconspicuous corner, there was a second-hand bookstore, and on the highest shelf was a copy of ‘The Moon and Sixpence,’ very new.

She touched her pocket and unexpectedly found eight yuan, not knowing when it was left over.

In the end, she used the remaining eight yuan to buy ‘The Moon and Sixpence,’ bringing an end to the day’s live broadcast.

As they were about to leave, a girl held the book and asked her, ‘Sister, will you and the uncle… come back again?’

Ji Ning didn’t have time to answer before Ji Shixian frowned, ‘Uncle?’

The girl pointed to Jiang Sheng, ‘He told me to call him that.’

Ji Shixian: ‘…’

It was getting chilly, it was time for Jiang Sheng to retire.

‘Call him brother.’

‘Then, will sister and brother come back again?’

‘We will, if we have the chance,’ Ji Ning rubbed the girl’s head, ‘Are you happy today?’

‘Yes,’ the girl looked down, ‘Does sister want to take this book home?’

‘No need, leave it for you guys.’]

Ji Ning felt somewhat melancholic as she lifted her head under the moonlight and looked at the twinkling stars. For most of the children here, not being adopted meant spending a significant amount of time in this small place. Seafood hotpot wasn’t their wish, but it was a vessel for their dreams. Essentially, they wanted to see the outside world and yearned to go to broader places. But if they wanted to leave, they had to make great efforts.

« I hope sister and brother are happy and together every day, forever! » the little girl blinked. « Sister, do you have something to tell us? »

« Yes, » Ji Ning pinched her cheek. « I hope you never give up on your dreams and reading. »

—

At the end of the day’s shoot, Ji Ning slumped in her seat, exhausted. However, Ji Shixian seemed somewhat interested, asking the staff for his phone to check the live broadcast situation. He skipped over the malicious comments, glanced at Ji Ning, then shifted his gaze to his phone to read:

« I take back my initial judgment of Ji Ning, she’s actually OK. »

« She’s a clever and thoughtful girl. I clicked in out of boredom and surprisingly watched till the end. »

« She did quite well with such a complicated task. She’s serious when she needs to be, and has a good sense of variety. I’m considering following her variety shows. »

After reading the three comments about Ji Ning, it dawned on him that he was probably too tired and wanted to boost her morale.

As he was reading, the man suddenly fell silent. Ji Ning nudged him, « Why aren’t you reading anymore? What are the comments saying? »

After a while, the man’s voice came through.

« They’re asking when we’re getting married. »