About ten minutes later, a neat service area building appeared ahead. Sang Lan skillfully drove the seven-seater commercial vehicle into the parking area and came to a stop.
“We're here. Wake each other up, we can get out and rest.”
The doors unlocked, and everyone—both those who were awake and those pretending to sleep—was called to get out.
Bai Ci, sitting in the front passenger seat, was the first to hop out.
Her gaze swept subtly over the others as they got out, finally settling on the group leader, whose face she hadn't been able to see in the mirror.
The middle-aged group leader had a lean frame but carried a belly built from years of sitting at a desk. From a distance, if one didn't know he was a grown man, he looked almost pregnant.
Since he had been sitting in the back row, he naturally became the last one to get out.
After getting out, he didn't say anything to everyone right away. Instead, his immediate focus was on his personal appearance; he smoothly turned toward the car window and repeatedly adjusted the hair on his head.
He began by running his fingertips through his hair, pressing down and combing through the messy parts. The movements were subtle but exceptionally noticeable.
Because every time he tugged, his entire scalp slightly wobbled and shifted with it.
Bai Ci watched for a few more seconds and figured out what was going on.
Oh, it was a wig.
What seemed like neat, thick black hair was actually a wig fitted tightly to his scalp, covering up the bald spot on his crown.
After adjusting his hair and smoothing out his clothes, the group leader finally looked away and led the others toward the restaurant inside the service area.
Actually, from where Sang Lan had parked, they could see the restaurant's sign. By visual estimate, it was only about a minute's walk away.
The sun was blinding, so even for such a short walk, Sang Lan naturally opened the parasol he had brought with him.
The canopy wasn't large, barely big enough for two, and he deliberately tilted most of it to his side, leaving plenty of space.
This hint wasn't subtle at all—the meaning was clear as day. Moreover, he actively looked at Bai Ci and winked at her.
Bai Ci got the message, took a half-step closer, and slipped under the umbrella with him.
A clear smile spread across Sang Lan's face. He naturally linked his arm through Bai Ci's, acting close and open about it as they walked side-by-side behind the group leader and their other colleagues.
Except, rather than a boyfriend and girlfriend, the way they linked arms felt more like a pair of best girlfriends.
“I've worked on this project three times now, so I'm an old hand at this.”
As they walked, the group leader didn't forget to share his knowledge with his subordinates.
Since she lacked any previous memories, Bai Ci couldn't tell if he was saying this to reassure the others or if he was just taking a trip down memory lane as usual.
“Even though this is my first time leading the team, I know this place like the back of my hand. You young folks don't need to be afraid. Just roll up your sleeves and get to work. There aren't that many things to watch out for or worry about.”
This felt like a bit of a contradiction, Bai Ci thought to herself.
After all, just ten minutes ago, this man had said he had a few important things to explain, specifically regarding the safety of this trip.
With the group leader thoughtfully pacing them from the front, the group walked slowly, taking almost half again as long as Bai Ci had estimated to reach the service area restaurant.
Looking at it now, Sang Lan's parasol had been a very wise precaution.
There weren't many people in the restaurant, and the environment was clean and bright.
After a server led them to an empty private room, everyone took their seats in turn. Naturally, the group leader sat in the seat of honor facing the door.
Sang Lan casually mentioned he was going to the restroom and got up to leave the room.
The players present tacitly chose to sit tight, staying behind to see what else the group leader might say.
The group leader picked up the menu, glanced at it, and handed it along with a pen to the student-like female player sitting next to him.
“Xiao Xie, you order first. I have no idea what you young people like to eat.”
With that, the group leader looked at the others in the private room. “Everyone take turns ordering. Pick whatever you want, don't be shy.”
The menu was soon passed to Bai Ci. She glanced at what the first two players had ordered: hot and sour shredded potatoes, and stir-fried seasonal vegetables. Quite light.
Bai Ci followed suit, checking off scrambled eggs with bitter melon on the menu.
Having made her selection, she was about to pass the menu past Sang Lan's empty seat to the next person.
At this moment, the group leader acted just like certain family elders who, upon seeing young people dating, would find any angle to tease them—not for any other reason, but purely to poke fun at them.
“Xiao Bai, you should order for your partner too while you're at it. Get him sorted out.”
“I'd better let Sang Lan do it himself. I don't really know his exact preferences, and I wouldn't want to order something he doesn't like,” Bai Ci said, continuing to pass the menu and pen along.
Bai Ci's eyes curved into a smile, and she deliberately spoke in a half-joking, half-embarrassed tone.
This made her words sound like a young couple feeling too shy to show affection in public, rather than her having absolutely no idea what his tastes were.
Then again, according to the description on the Rain's Message panel, their relationship had progressed very quickly, so it was indeed possible they didn't know each other's tastes or hobbies yet.
But even if that were the case, what Bai Ci had just said was perfectly fine.
It was just that her embarrassed tone wouldn't seem like bashfulness over public displays of affection, but rather awkwardness over not knowing such basic information about her own boyfriend.
Just as she finished speaking, Sang Lan pushed open the door and walked in, right on cue.
He had clearly heard everything Bai Ci said. Walking straight to her side, he gently slid the menu out of her hand.
“It's fine. Ci-mei'er doesn't need to know what I like to eat, as long as I know what she likes.”
Sang Lan looked down at the sheet, a bright smile on his face as he teased.
“Huh, I know Ci-mei'er is like a little rabbit—she eats vegetarian. But how come all of you are acting like rabbits today? You've only ordered vegetarian dishes. Let me order some meat.”
Once the food was ordered, everyone quietly waited for the dishes to be served.
In the meantime, Sang Lan would occasionally strike up a conversation, chat a bit, and crack a few jokes, keeping the atmosphere from becoming too dull.
Thanks to these casual chats, Bai Ci managed to learn the names and roles of the other players.
The male player in the plaid shirt and black-rimmed glasses was named Wang Dong, the team's prop master.
The female player dressed like a chic city girl was named Qu Ling, the team's makeup artist and stylist.
The student-like female player was named Xie Lai, an intern who had recently joined the company. She was currently the group leader's assistant, running errands for him.
The group leader picked up a can of beer from the table, popped the tab, and took a large gulp.
After swallowing, he paused to compose himself. The relaxed smile on his face slowly faded, and his expression turned solemn and serious.
“Listen up, everyone—”
Everyone's attention immediately focused on him.
Rate on N.U.
