The village of Baqi, being isolated and far from signal base stations, barely received any network signal, making even phone calls difficult.
Thus, the mobile phones were little more than decorative items, useful only for checking the time or playing offline games.
Xia Weiliang hadn't contacted Xiao Yi for a while and genuinely missed him. He had said that his family's business had successors, and he could finally pursue his passions. She hoped nothing would disrupt this.
Tomorrow was the ceremony for the White Dragon God, and she prayed for everything to go smoothly.
Feeling like she had used her brain more than usual, and now finding it hard to switch off, she couldn't sleep. She decided to wander outside the tent.
Filming would conclude in two days. This place felt different from the previous two filming locations. It had fewer people of all kinds, yet was filled with people everywhere.
She looked up and saw someone sitting by the bonfire.
Squinting, Xia Weiliang recognized the village chief.
"Village Chief, why aren't you sleeping?"
Xin Jinghe saw her and smiled, beckoning her over. "Come, have something good."
"Coming!"
Xia Weiliang hurried over and sat beside him. He scooped a dark, roasted sweet potato from the fire. "Careful, it's hot."
"Wow! The smell alone makes my mouth water!"
On a night like this, eating a fragrant roasted sweet potato felt more satisfying than the lavish dinner.
Xin Jinghe watched her with a smile. "She likes them too."
"She?"
Xia Weiliang immediately understood. "It's someone you like, isn't it?"
"Yes," he said with a smile. "I like her a lot."
Eating, Xia Weiliang asked, "Since you like her so much, why aren't you together?"
"Because she doesn't belong here, and I don't want to confine her."
Perhaps it was the quiet beauty of the night, but Xin Jinghe became more talkative. "Actually... I've never told her that I like her."
"What? Unrequited love? No way, Village Chief Uncle, you never confessed?"
Xia Weiliang felt it was a waste for him. "Sigh, it's a shame about your looks!"
"Heh, what's the use of looking good? Isn't Xi En next to you even more handsome? If he confessed to you, would you agree?"
Xia Weiliang shook her head without hesitation. "Once a teacher, always like a father. It's impossible between us."
Xin Jinghe, rarely indulging in gossip, teased, "Is that the only reason? I don't think so~"
Xia Weiliang felt a little shy. "It's because I already have a boyfriend!" she whispered.
"Oh? What kind of person is he? Tell me about him."
"He..."
Under the moonlight, the girl, her mouth smudged with dirt, spoke animatedly about him.
Xin Jinghe listened with a perpetual smile, his eyes filled with a rare peace and serenity.
Finally, he summarized, "A person like that is indeed likely to make girls' hearts flutter."
"Forget girls! As far as I know, more men like him too!"
Xia Weiliang tutted twice, noting the rather broad scope of her rivals.
She turned the conversation back to the village chief. "Tell me about your White Moonlight!"
"Her..." The village chief's face lit up with a smile as he spoke of her, his eyes narrowing as he was immersed in fond memories.
"She was a very independent girl. In the history of Baqi Village, only two people have successfully crossed the misty forest without a villager guiding them. She was one of them. Oh, and Xin Hong was the second."
Xia Weiliang slapped her thigh. "Fate! This is fate!"
"Heh, who's to say it isn't? That year, she was only seventeen or eighteen. A young girl venturing into the mountains and forests alone, her courage even I couldn't match."
Xia Weiliang leaned closer, full of curiosity. "Later, did you develop feelings for each other?"
Xin Jinghe lowered his gaze and smiled. A rare blush appeared on his thin, sallow face.
It wasn't shyness, but the memories of the past that brought a touch of vibrancy to him.
Xia Weiliang thought for a moment and said, "I never understood. If it's a love that can be cherished for a lifetime, one would surely find a way to resolve it. You don't necessarily have to part ways."
"Yes, I've thought about that problem later. It wasn't until I gradually grew up that I realized perhaps because we couldn't be together, and parted with regret, that this pure and beautiful feeling could be cherished by me to this day..."
Xia Weiliang understood. "Is this what's commonly known as 'what you can't have is always the best'?"
Xin Jinghe chuckled. "You're right. Although it's a bit cruel, most of our base nature lies in this. If she and I had made it to the end, it might have been a different outcome."
"Yes! Regardless, here's to your beautiful past!"
Xia Weiliang raised her sweet potato in lieu of wine, clinking it with his.
"Heh, thank you."
The two sat facing each other by the fire, eating roasted sweet potatoes, a scene that felt undeniably warm.
Xin Jinghe occasionally looked up at her, hesitated, and then asked, "May I ask about your mother...?"
"Oh, I don't know who she is."
Xia Weiliang didn't find the question difficult to answer. She said frankly, "Actually, I was switched at birth. My current parents are my adoptive parents."
He paused and quickly apologized. "I'm sorry."
She smiled and waved her hand. "It's nothing! It's not a secret! It's just that your village hasn't updated its internet, so you wouldn't know."
That was true.
Xin Jinghe said earnestly, "I think whoever gave birth to such a beautiful and lovely daughter must also be very outstanding."
"Of course! Anyone who could give birth to me must be extraordinary!"
He nodded with a smile. "I believe it."
The old and young chatted until late into the night, enjoying each other's company.
"It's getting late, Village Chief Uncle. You should go back and rest."
Noticing Xin Jinghe's unwell appearance, Xia Weiliang urged him to go back and rest, as his body was already severely overstrained.
Everyone's efforts were also fueled by their awareness of the village chief's condition, wanting to leave him with no regrets.
"Alright."
As Xin Jinghe stood up, he swayed slightly. Xia Weiliang quickly stepped forward to support him.
"I'm fine."
He gave her a reassuring smile. "I can manage."
"Really?"
"Yes."
Xia Weiliang watched his retreating back. Only then did she realize how gaunt he had become, his coat hanging on him like a sack. It pained her to see it.
She sighed softly and returned to her tent.
When Xia Weiliang opened her eyes again, it was broad daylight.
Zhang Miaomiao was already preparing breakfast. She quickly got up. "Little Mik!"
"Here! Here!"
Mikoy came over, a steamed bun in his mouth, and handed her one, pulling a schedule from his bag. "The forms have been distributed. I wouldn't say it's Spring Festival Gala level, but at least it's on par with a township gala, so you can rest assured."
Xia Weiliang haphazardly stuffed the bun into her mouth and mumbled, "..."