55.2 - The Panda Cub Bows For Love

She Xu jogged around the small town, breathing in the fresh air. Her restless heart from yesterday had gradually calmed down. She even started to find her behavior yesterday somewhat laughable. What was the point of pushing Jing Dan when she knew her temperament well? Since she took the initiative to like her first, she should be more patient with her. While running and pondering, She Xu also felt that she had been foolish last night. She had actually been provoked by Bian Fengyu. Little did she know that while she was still jogging, Jing Dan in the room had already woken up. Jing Dan's eyes snapped open, and she began to breathe heavily, her face pale and eyes filled with panic. Upon waking up, her instinct was to look for She Xu. However, when she turned to the other side of the bed, besides the slightly crumpled sheets indicating someone had slept there, the person who should have been lying there was nowhere to be seen. She got up, not even bothering to put on shoes as she walked straight on the floor. She first checked the bathroom, then the balcony, searched the entire room, yet she still couldn't find She Xu. Did she leave? In Jing Dan's blurry mind, this thought was the only one. "Jing, what are you looking for? Teacher He? She went out for a morning run," Zheng Weiyi cautiously spoke. Jing Dan paused, suddenly looking towards the door. --- After finishing her run, She Xu casually bought some breakfast at a shop. As she entered the inn's gate carrying the breakfast, she noticed Jing Dan, still in her deep blue nightdress and barefoot, running towards her without minding the cobblestone path between the inner room and the entrance. Jing Dan hugged her tightly, sounding a bit aggrieved as she said, "Where did you go!" She Xu quickly lifted her up, handed the breakfast to Zheng Weiyi, who had followed, then had Jing Dan's legs around her waist, avoiding others seeing Jing Dan's current state. She carried her upstairs, comforting her softly, "I went for a run, what's wrong?" Today, Jing Dan was acting unusually. She had never seen her get out of bed in such a hurry before. Except for the two of them, everyone else was taken aback by the morning incident, especially seeing the normally aloof Jing Dan urgently looking for She Xu in such a dependent manner, which truly surprised them! Among these people, Bian Fengyu's face looked the worst. Then he smirked, his eyes flashing with something mysterious. --- Carrying Jing Dan back to the room, She Xu closed the door with her foot and gently asked, "What's wrong? Did something happen?" What could possibly happen here to make her act like this? Jing Dan clung to her, unwilling to let go, her voice a mix of distress and tremors, "I died, I died!" She Xu's footsteps faltered as she headed towards the bed. She quickened her pace, sat down, and let Jing Dan sit on her lap, holding her in a tight embrace. She softly stroked her back and said, "Why would you say that? You are alive and well, you can hear me, I'm holding you, you are not dead!" But seeing Jing Dan's distressed appearance, which seemed genuine, and her being fine in front of her, could it be that she had a nightmare? Shaking her head, Jing Dan's voice trembled uncontrollably, "I died, died all alone, with no one around, quietly waiting for death, watching my body disappear bit by bit!" The more she spoke, the more uncomfortable Jing Dan felt. Her nose turned red, tears seemed imminent. She Xu, seeing her like this, felt her heart tighten. Glancing at the cameras in the room, She Xu took Jing Dan into the bathroom, closed the door, and sat her on the sink. She gently caressed her face and asked, "Were you dreaming?" Jing Dan stared blankly at She Xu, her eyes moist and filled with extreme distress. She truly felt lonely in death. Watching her, She Xu gently kissed her eyelid. Feeling the tenderness of the kiss, Jing Dan's agitated emotions gradually calmed down. She rested her head on She Xu's collarbone, feeling somewhat embarrassed about her earlier panicky self. She Xu chuckled softly, but with a twinge of heartache, she held her, allowing her to curl up as much as she wanted. After some time, Jing Dan softly said, "I want milk." She Xu smiled softly, "Alright, I'll go downstairs to make some milk for you. How about you freshen up first?" Jing Dan nodded, lowering her head. She Xu affectionately ruffled her hair and then left, closing the bathroom door behind her. With She Xu gone, Jing Dan covered her face in her hands, feeling ashamed of her earlier behavior! The belated embarrassment was almost drowning her. Descending to the ground floor, She Xu encountered Zheng Weiyi approaching cautiously, "Is everything okay with Jing?" Her earlier state was quite unsettling. She Xu shook her head, smiling gently, "It's nothing, just a bad dream." Zheng Weiyi breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. As long as nothing was wrong. She Xu didn't dwell on the topic further; she made some milk and went upstairs to find Jing Dan. Upon entering the room, She Xu found Jing Dan already dressed and ready. When Jing Dan looked at She Xu, she seemed somewhat embarrassed. She Xu smiled gently, avoiding bringing up the earlier incident, and simply handed the milk to Jing Dan, asking, "Since everyone else has already had breakfast, what would you like for breakfast later? Shall I make it for you?" On hearing this, Jing Dan's previous worries disappeared, and she started listing her choices with confidence. After all, since the others had already eaten, they wouldn't be able to have what She Xu made, so she didn't have to worry about sharing. Listening to her gradually cheerful voice, She Xu chuckled silently and agreed to all her requests. As the two went back downstairs, the others tactfully avoided mentioning the earlier incident, easing Jing Dan's embarrassment. She Xu went to the kitchen to prepare food for Jing Dan, who also felt out of place with the others and followed She Xu into the kitchen, leaving the rest to play cards outside. Upon entering, She Xu handed Jing Dan some freshly fried dumplings to taste, smiling, "See if I failed in cooking today?" Jing Dan took a bite, her eyes lighting up slightly. Shaking her head, she mumbled, "You did very well!" She Xu never failed at cooking! Seeing her happy reaction, She Xu's smile deepened, and the two chatted and ate in the kitchen without sitting at the dining table outside. Soon, Jing Dan was satisfied. After they finished eating and tidying up, the director also came out. "Today, we have a task. Each couple needs to find someone willing to hire them for work. After completing the task for each other, the employer will pay you. With the funds obtained, according to the fans' request, you need to go to the city to watch a movie selected by the fans." Everyone: "..." Fans wanted them to watch a movie, and they had to earn the money themselves?! Jing Dan was not familiar with the program routine and was already feeling bewildered. Upon hearing the request, She Xu was momentarily stunned before laughing lightly, "Okay, let's go out and find work first." Since the program didn't require all of them to stick together, She Xu had no intention of staying with them, especially considering the dubious intentions of Bian Fengyu. She Xu took Jing Dan out, but they weren't in a hurry to find job opportunities. Instead, recalling Jing Dan's earlier state that morning, she was concerned that Jing Dan might be holding something back. So, she suggested, "When I was out for a run this morning, I happened to see a large bamboo grove behind the town. It’s the perfect time for fresh bamboo shoots. Shall we go dig some?" For this panda cub, digging bamboo shoots should be her most relaxing activity, right? She still remembered herself digging bamboo shoots to eat, showing how much she enjoyed this activity. Sure enough, She Xu saw Jing Dan's eyes light up slightly. However, soon, she hesitated and said, "But if we go dig bamboo shoots, won't we miss the opportunity to find a job?" She Xu reached out to her, relaxed, "It's okay. Finding a job is to earn money to buy movie tickets. The key is money. If we dig up plenty of bamboo shoots, we can sell them and earn money. Isn’t that a good idea?" Upon hearing this, Jing Dan felt relieved and followed She Xu towards the bamboo grove she mentioned. The cameraman trailing behind them: "..." Is this really happening? After consulting the director and receiving confirmation, the cameraman shrugged off his thoughts and followed closely with the camera. Watching the harmonious movements of the two in the camera, peaceful and seemingly emitting pink bubbles, made those watching unconsciously smile warmly. So sweet! No wonder people online are so obsessed! She Xu first borrowed some bamboo shoot digging tools from nearby residents and then arrived at the bamboo grove with Jing Dan. Luckily, both of them were dressed in convenient attire, making it easy to walk on the slightly uneven ground. Entering the bamboo grove felt like entering Jing Dan's arena. Seeing how effortlessly Jing Dan moved, the cameraman trailing behind couldn't help but feel a bit overwhelmed. Why couldn't a grown man like him walk as gracefully as this beautiful woman? She Xu wasn't too bothered by the paths as she followed Jing Dan in search of bamboo shoots. Jing Dan's ability to find these shoots was exceptional, and before She Xu could react, Jing Dan had already led her to a bamboo shoot, grabbed a small shovel, and started digging. Seeing Jing Dan so happy, She Xu smiled gently and squatted down with her, using the shovel to dig around the shoot. She hoped that Jing Dan could always be this happy. (End of this chapter)