Chapter 4 — Fake Heavenly Metal Meets True Love

The me in the photo is so vivid that it feels somewhat strange.

“Pretty nice photo.”

“Just pretty?”

“Good composition, good lighting.”

Chu Tu Bach raised his eyebrows.

“What about people?”

I closed the camera and gave it to him.

“You are the most beautiful.”

He received the camera, his fingertips gently touching my hand.

“Miss Hua.”

“What?”

“She is also very straightforward.”

5 On the third day, the program arranged a double mission on the island. Tham Tri Vi still has the right to choose. She asked Co Van if he was afraid of heights, then asked Luc Thua An if he knew how to swim, and finally, she didn't forget to take care of Trinh Du's screen time. When it was Chu Tu Bach's turn, she politely asked:

“Who does Tu Bach want to team up with?”

“Hua Chi.”

He responded very quickly. Tham Tri Vi smiled.

“It seems like you two get along quite well together.”

“It's really not bad.”

The mission requires two people to take a boat to another island, find three artifacts that the program has hidden. I'm a bit seasick. As soon as the boat left shore, my stomach began to churn. Chu Tu Bach spread his coat on the boat's deck and let me sit against the railing.

“Look into the distance, don't lower your head.”

“Are you that proficient?”

“In the past, I used to take quite a few tourists.”

He took out a mint candy from his pocket, peeled it and gave it to me. I took the candy into my mouth, the cool taste suppressing the feeling of nausea. The cameraman stepped forward, preparing to shoot close-ups. Chu Tu Bach raised his hand to stop.

“She's not feeling well, stand a little further away and then turn around.”

The camera moves back two steps. I tilted my head to look at him.

“That will take less footage.”

“I don't live off screen time.”

That's true. I closed my eyes to rest for a moment. The program hides three tokens in the lighthouse, the forest and the reef, respectively. After getting better, we quickly found the first two dishes. The last dish needs to go into the water. When Chu Tu Bach took off his jacket, the lines of his shoulders and back under the white shirt were clearly visible. I looked a little longer. He stopped taking off his cufflinks.

“Miss Hua.”

“What?”

“Do photographers observe a character need to look that long?”

I turned my gaze elsewhere.

“Professional habits.”

“Then you keep going.”

He took off the last cufflink and rolled up his shirt sleeves to his elbows.

“I will coordinate.”

His sentence "I will cooperate" made me a bit embarrassed. I lowered my head to look at the map and heard him laugh softly. Finally, we found all the tokens. When returning to the villa, Tham Tri Vi's group was missing one item. She looked at the envelope in our hands, first praised me for being careful, then naturally asked Chu Tu Bach:

“Did you find the last item in the water?”

“Hua Chi was the one who discovered the location first.”

“Your observation ability is always very good.”

“She has a lot of good points.”

Chu Tu Bach finished speaking and gave the token to the director. Tham Tri Vi paused, then still smiled and congratulated us on our victory. In the evening, the program held an anonymous Q&A session. The host draws the first card.

“If the person you like has actual conditions lower than expected, will you continue to find out?”

Tham Tri Vi was the first to respond.

“The feelings of adults need to be compatible.”

“I respect all professions, but I will not sacrifice them for love low quality of life.”

The host praised her for being alert, then turned to me.

“Hua Chi, suppose Chu Tu Bach really only runs a small homestay business, would you pay attention?”

I looked at Chu Tu Bach. He was also looking at me, with quiet anticipation in his eyes.

“Running a homestay well is not easy.”

“He can live his life well, I feel like that is already very good.”

The host continued to ask:

“Don't you have any questions about your partner's economic condition?”

“Yes.”

I seriously answer:

“Have a normal job, live seriously, don't make me clean up the mess for him.”

Chu Tu Bach bowed his head and smiled. The host asked again:

"Is Tu Bach worried that Hua Chi's job is not stable enough?"

“Her studio has been in operation for three years.”

“During peak season, we have to photograph more than ten weddings a month. Leave the house at four o'clock in the morning and finish work late at night."

His tone was calm.

“She's more stable than a lot of people.”

Tham Tri Vi picked up the glass of water.

"Tu Bach understands her profession very well."

Chu Tu Bach nodded.

“If you like someone, of course you have to understand how she lives.”

After filming ended, he and I went upstairs.

“Hua Chi.”

This is the first time he called me directly by name.

“What's wrong?”

“Do those words just count as a confession?”

“Which sentence?”

“You don't mind that I only run a homestay business.”

“That's just answering the host's question.”

“But I consider it true.”

He bent down slightly, looking straight into my eyes. Her soft hair hung over her forehead, her eyes reflecting the warm yellow light in the hallway.

“What should I do?”

I looked at him for a few seconds then said:

“So let's just take it as real.”

Chu Tu Bach burst out laughing.

“Okay.”

“I remember.”

He stood straight, took a step back, giving way to me. But the warmth in those eyes still lingered on me. Like the night wind on the island, it makes no sound but makes people's heart rate speed up. I entered the room, closed the door, and stood in the dark for a long time. Damn it. This job is too difficult to do.