Chapter 2042: Wife Every Day Throws Herself Into His Arms 32

Variety show day six, 8 p. m.

The cottage members finally returned one after another; when the live stream reopened, netizens who could only refresh various leaks on Weibo flooded in.

: They're here, they're here — I heard someone spotted Jin Chen and Jin Lai at the airport; I'm so curious what gift it is!

: This morning someone also ran into Chu Yi and Ning Tong at the club; supposedly it was some kind of gathering, how tacky.

: All right, I can already guess what gift Chu Yi will give Ning Tong…… each to their own, I can only say that much.

: I also guessed it, now I'm even more worried about Hu Shi……

In the yard, the guests sat as they did on the first day, surrounding the flower beds, with the projection screen prepared by the program team directly opposite.

But after a few days of getting along, the seating had undergone many subtle changes, and so had the atmosphere.

Gou Ge poked his head from behind the screen, saying, 'Welcome guests back to the cottage; we will determine the order of gift exchange for each pair by drawing lots, while playing the production video.'

'If any dissatisfaction arises during the gift exchange, you may call a halt at any time, forfeiting the chance for a date and joint outing with the other party.'

Qiao Yu bounced over to draw lots, and got the second group.

The first to exchange gifts were Chen Cheng and Xu Jia.

The projection video began playing the process of Chen Cheng's preparation.

He drove alone to a relatively remote place, after many twists and turns winding into a door covered with scrap cloth.

Seeing this, Xu Jia couldn't help wondering, 'You're not thinking of selling yourself, are you?'

It really resembled some shady underground trading spot.

Chen Cheng: '……'

'Don't ruin the atmosphere.'

He unusually didn't retort, gesturing for Xu Jia to continue watching.

The scene shifted, and the video showed a clothing sewing room.

Xu Jia's pupils contracted; he stared blankly through the whole video.

In the blink of an eye, the garment Chen Cheng had personally sewn appeared in his hands.

Chen Cheng shifted his gaze, looking at the flower beds, the moon, but dared not look at Xu Jia, whose eyes were red.

'It's considered repaying the promise from sophomore year that wasn't fulfilled.' Chen Cheng said.

That year, because of his mother's expectations, Chen Cheng minored in fashion design, declaring that the first piece of clothing he made would be for Xu Jia.

Time passed and circumstances changed; Chen Cheng ultimately couldn't fulfill the vow before their falling out, until today, when he picked up again the design draft that had been stored for years.

Xu Jia clenched the garment, voice hoarse: '……Thank you, I really like it.'

The projection went dark, then resumed, showing Xu Jia's footage again.

As Chen Cheng went from staring fixedly to a quiet astonishment, Xu Jia stood behind him holding a guitar, his lowered voice gradually blending with the video's background sound.

Xu Jia said, 'This guitar is my coming‑of‑age gift to you; later I broke it with my own hands, spent a long time repairing it, and now do you still want it?'

Qiao Yu knew Jin Chen and they were from the same university, so he hurriedly asked about the backstory, learning that the sincere person had drifted apart due to misunderstanding; he pouted, tugged Jin Chen's sleeve, and wiped a tear.

'Their gift is so moving.'

Jin Chen chuckled, pulling Qiao Yu into his embrace, 'You tear up so easily.'

'Hmm… later, no matter what I give you, you have to say you like it, or I'll cry too.' Qiao Yu leaned against his shoulder, rubbing and unconsciously acting spoiled.

'If you really don't like it…… then I'll think of another way.'

Jin Chen drew out his 'hmm,' saying, 'I'm really looking forward to Teacher Xiao Qiao's gift.'

The first group was overly tear‑jerking; the barrage flooded with sobs, and soon it was the second group's turn.

Jin Lai sat up straight, munching on melon seeds, when he noticed Hu Shi beside him looking a bit silent; after thinking, he spoke lowly, 'Brother Hu, with such a grim face, are you already disliking my gift before even seeing it?'

Hu Shi came to, glanced at him, and chuckled, 'Not at all; I heard you even flew abroad specially, so I have to like it for the thought.'

That was somewhat polite, but not distant, after all there's the 'gaming friendship' of these two days.

Jin Lai nodded reassured, glanced at Chu Yi and Ning Tong, scratched the back of his head, and focused his attention on the gift his brother had prepared.

The video first showed Qiao Yu's gift, which was obviously something he himself had filmed.

Qiao Yu first greeted the camera, then left it untouched, sitting at the control table with his head down, studying various things.

Wood carving isn't hard to pick up, but mastery is difficult; even if he had studied with a master as a youth, after a long layoff he still needs time to reacclimate.

Thus the first three attempts were almost all failures; Qiao Yu wasn't discouraged, and when the carving knife pricked his hand he instinctively turned away to blow on it a few times, then muttered and continued.

The sound was amplified, and one could faintly hear his muttered sighs.

'You're so good‑looking, why bother carving a wooden figurine when you fear it won't be as exquisite as the real person?'

'Hey…… but it needs to look nice to match me.'

'Carve a Jin Chen, then carve me…… Hmm, this pair carving can't be separated, not even in a day.'

Qiao Yu gasped, taking a deep breath, 'Can such a tiny sound even be recorded?'

If I had known, I would have checked it once before sending it to the program team!

Jin Chen looked at the screen with a serious expression, seeing the wall clock's seconds tick by, seeing the near‑finished piece almost take shape before being abandoned and redone, seeing the indent of his fingertips on the knife handle, seeing the evening light spilling in through the window.

Qiao Yu is always unable to sit still; Jin Chen knows that getting him to stay quiet for an hour during script readings with the crew is extraordinary.

But in this video, Qiao Yu practically stayed in the room all day, solely focused on the wood carving in his hands, polishing it over and over with fine detail.

: Waah waah waah, things prepared with sincerity can always move me.

: You lovebirds are too good at gifting; I suggest mass‑producing and sending them to me (reaching out).

: Jin Chen even looked silent, ah ah ah ah, tonight are we going to be moved and do it fiercely?

: I thought Qiao Yu's wife would carve herself to give to Jin Chen, but it turns out it's an inseparable pair wood carving.

Until the video ended.

Qiao Yu approached, a little embarrassed, and presented the finished wood carving to Jin Chen.

Actually, there should be a coloring step, but we're short on time, and I haven't done it in a while, so I keep messing it up.

Actually there should still be a coloring step, but time is a bit tight, and I haven't done it in ages, so I keep messing it up.

He pressed his lips together, gazing up at Jin Chen with hopeful eyes, and said, "How about we go coloring together tomorrow?"

He pursed his lips, gazing up at Jin Chen with hopeful expectation, and said, "Want to go do the coloring together tomorrow?"

Jin Chen couldn't help staring, then reached up to touch his face, pulling him into his arms and kissing him.

Jin Chen couldn't help but stare, then reached up to touch his face, pulling him into an embrace and kissing him.

Okay.

Okay.

His voice was low, carrying the endless gentleness and warmth of a summer night breeze.

His voice was low and deep, wrapped in the endless gentleness and warmth of a summer night's breeze.