[CN] Shaw's Field Date (Part 1)
⚡Warning: This post contains detailed spoiler's for a Date which hasn't been released in EN yet!⚡
[This date was translated with the help of Google translate!]
✧[Section 1]✧
Shaw's message: "If the old man doesn't grant me leave, I won't be able to come back to celebrate the Qixi Festival."
MC: Hm…
Looking at the text on the phone, I let out a long sigh.
During this period, I will be filming a cultural and tourism promotional program about ethnic fashion. Shaw will be accompanying the professor for field research, and both of us was away from Loveland City.
As a result, what should have been a joyous "couples' summer vacation" has now turned into being apart from each other.
We had previously planned to set aside at least two days for Qixi Festival to find a place and have some fun together. However, upon seeing this message…
MC: "It's okay, let's forget about it... Um, will he think I'm being stubborn?"
MC: "It's okay, I can't take time off either... Wait, this sentence sounds a bit strange, let's delete it…"
Characters are jumping on the screen, and I keep withdrawing them.
Just as I was considering how to reply, the director nearby called me.
Director: MC, it's possible that we won't be able to film the scenes about Miao Village the day after tomorrow.
MC: Huh? Why?
Director: We didn't notice before, but just now we sent a drone out, and we realized that on the other side of the mountain, at Cuisong Slope, it seems like some archaeological excavation is taking place.
Director: The entire area is full of pits and uneven terrain, it's impossible to capture on camera!
MC: How about letting the drone shoot from a different angle?
Director: We just tried it, and the results were just okay. The main issue is that Cuisong Slope is right between the bamboo forest and the Miao village, and it's difficult to frame the shot properly…
The director paused, as if he had an idea.
Director: Wait a moment, maybe we should talk to them. It might be possible to ask them to stop work for two days, move the excavators and such away, and then we could manage with the visuals?
MC: That could work... I'll try talking to them and see if we can find a compromise.
After making up my mind, I asked the production team to contact the local cultural and tourism bureau. Meanwhile, I set off to meet the archaeological team in person and have a face-to-face discussion.
As soon as I got in the car, my cell phone rang.
MC: Oh, shit!
With this unexpected turn of events, I haven't had a chance to reply to Shaw's message yet!
I hastily pressed the call button, and a low-octave voice came over immediately.
Shaw [on the phone]: I saw you typing for almost two minutes, and then you disappeared. What happened?
Shaw: ...you're not mad at my message, are you?
Even though his voice sounded confident, his sentences were subtly probing. I found it amusing and couldn't help but curl my lips into a smile.
MC: I'm not upset at all. I just got caught up with work and couldn't reply to your message right away. Coincidentally, you called just as I was about to respond.
Shaw: Fine.
Shaw hummed twice, which could be considered him acknowledging my explanation. At that moment, I heard a burst of noise on his end, as if he was arguing about something.
MC: What happened to you guys?
Shaw: Oh nothing, just now a program team called and wanted us to stop work so they could shoot.
MC: …..?
Shaw: Now the program producer over there says they want to talk face-to-face with us. Tsk tsk, quite arrogant. Your company shouldn't learn from them.
Shaw: Old Man Shen wants to take me along. He said we must show that arrogant producer who's in charge when the time comes.
Shaw: But if they do stop work, it seems like I might be able to fight for some time off again…
MC: …..
MC: …Shaw.
I interrupted Shaw's muttering.
Shaw: What's wrong?
MC: I never asked before, where is your field research site?
Shaw: Even if I told you, you probably wouldn't know. It's called Cuisong Slope, right next to a Miao village, extremely remote... Why suddenly ask about this?
MC: ….
I took a deep breath, signaled the driver to increase the accelerator, and spoke with a smile.
MC: The producer of the program you're about to dismantle… should be me.
✧[Section 2]✧
Shaw: …..
MC: ……
Professor Shen: …..
In the afternoon at the archaeological site, there was complete silence. Professor Shen wiped a thin layer of sweat from his forehead and gave a slight cough.
Professor Shen: We originally thought that we encountered some unreasonable program group, but we didn't expect it to be......
MC: It's okay. It might have been a little misunderstanding from the start of our phone conversation, which led to the confusion on your part as well.
Professor Shen: Hahaha it's okay.
…There was silence again.
I turned my gaze to Shaw, desperately sending him a "help" signal. He subtly glanced at me and then spoke up.
Shaw: What's so awkward about it? Worst case, you two can pretend not to know each other, and I'll just introduce you again, right?
He gestured with four fingers close together, pointing at Professor Shen, and then pointed at me.
Shaw: This person— is Professor Shen, in charge of the Cuisong Slope archaeological excavation work, and this person is Miss MC, the producer from [MC Company's Name].
Shaw: Is this formal enough?
Professor Shen shook hands with me, and the atmosphere relaxed.
I formally expressed the needs of our program to Professor Shen, and he nodded happily.
Professor Shen: Since you also want to promote the customs and culture here, of course we can cooperate.
Professor Shen: You don't need to worry about the duration of the work stoppage. I'll communicate with the team here. Besides…
The old gentleman glanced at Shaw who was at the side, and lowered his voice.
Professor Shen: Some people have asked me for time off multiple times, eager to spend the Qixi Festival with their girlfriends. Now they're finally getting their wish fulfilled.
Shaw: Hello, you two don't think I can't hear you.
Shaw: Moreover, when have I taken time off multiple times? Am I the kind of person who can't separate work and personal matters? Among the whole archaeological team, I'm the most dedicated person…
Professor Shen: So, starting from today, the archaeological team is taking a break, and you can continue working. Go be a tour guide for your girlfriend. How about showing some "dedication to the job"?
Professor Shen waved his hand generously, and blocked all Shaw's stubborn words.
I chuckled, took Shaw's hand, and waved towards Professor Shen.
MC: Thank you, Professor Shen, for cooperating with our work and letting us borrow your star student!
Back in the car of the production team, Shaw and I sat side by side in the back seat. He had his arm propped up, looking out the window, but suddenly he turned his head…
Shaw: Why are you staring at me?
MC: ...Is my gaze really that noticeable?
Shaw: It's obvious from before even getting in the car.
My face flushed, not wanting him to catch on to the uncontainable longing. I coughed awkwardly.
MC [blushes]: It's nothing, I'm just surprised to see you dressed so casually for once, it's a bit unexpected~
The Shaw in front of me now feels completely different from the Shaw in Loveland City.
The Shaw I usually see is always the most conspicuous one in the crowd, but today he's just wearing a simple vest covered with work overall.
The fabric was stained with dirt and mud spots, clearly indicating that he had spent this time in the dirt pits.
I reached out and poked the small cluster of hair tied up with an elastic band at the back of his head. It was a little prickly and a little itchy.
MC: Your hair has gotten longer.
Shaw: I've been so busy, and I didn't want Tony, the local hair stylist, to touch my hair, so I just let it grow.
Shaw shrugged nonchalantly, and my fingers shifted along the tips of his hair. I poked the slightly reddened sunburn on his cheek.
MC: You've gotten tanned as well.
Shaw: Yeah, digging in the soil during the peak of summer, it'd be strange if I didn't get tanned.
He paused, and suddenly looked at me suspiciously.
Shaw: Are you…?
MC: What?
Shaw: …nothing.
MC: What "nothing," why stop in the middle of your sentence?!
But no matter how much I pestered him, Shaw refused to speak, and even put on his earphones.
Hmph!
After the car returned to the shooting location, there was still a lot of work that I needed to continue to participate in.
I gave Shaw an apologetic look and then turned to coordinate with my colleagues to wrap up the remaining tasks.
MC: I'm off work, do you want to go to a nearby town to have a good meal tonight?
Shaw [someone feeling jealous]: Who were those guys wearing ethnic clothing just now?
MC: Just now?
I froze for a moment before realizing that Shaw was referring to the male models who came to ask me about the filming of the Qixi Festival at the end.
MC: They are the models we hired for the Qixi Festival. Since we are filming an ethnic-themed program, they naturally need to wear ethnic clothing.
Shaw: …..Do you still want to shoot during the festival?
MC: Exactly, these are the hardworking laborers.
MC: Speaking of which, why did you suddenly ask about them?
Shaw: Nothing much, just... they were dressed so flamboyantly in ethnic attire, and their appearances seemed so mature for their age, it felt a bit strange.
MC: ?? Mature? My eye for choosing models shouldn't be that bad, and besides, their ages are similar to yours.
As soon as I said that, Shaw seemed to have been poked by something, and his expression subtly changed.
Shaw: ……
Shaw: ……
He opened his mouth, then closed it, and tugged at his dusty work overall.
Shaw: I'm hungry. How about having some local specialty sour soup fish for dinner?
MC: - That's a great idea! - Wait, why did you change the subject again?
Seeing Shaw about to walk away, I quickly grabbed his arm and took the opportunity to express my confusion.
MC: Shaw, I have a serious question for you.
MC: Did you got jealous when you saw me talking to the male models?
—
⚡ Part 2
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