Shen Yunyun stared at the screen on her phone, her face full of envy.
Technology really changes lives.
There were many little red dots on the screen, each one clearly representing a cow or a sheep. If one strayed from the herd, he could spot it immediately and drive over to find it.
Shen Yunyun felt a twinge of envy. Being a cowherd or a shepherdess—that was a seriously lucrative career.
That evening, they stayed overnight on the vast grassland and ate an authentic roasted whole lamb.
What Shen Yunyun found most captivating was the night sky here—so many stars, so bright. The phrase "a sky full of stars" became vividly real before her eyes.
Xiao Beichen noticed her gazing up at the stars and leaned in to ask, "Pretty great stars on our prairie, huh?"
Under the starlight, Xiao Beichen's eyes sparkled.
"They're beautiful—a scenery you can't find anywhere else."
Xiao Beichen said cheerfully, "Then how about I invite you to stay on the grassland and watch the stars for a lifetime?"
Shen Yunyun: "..."
She was stunned by the sudden proposal.
"I asked Old Tang about it. He said you're not his girlfriend, that you're still single. And I'm single too—I'm twenty-six, never had a girlfriend. In high school, I had a crush on a classmate, but just as things started to bud, our parents teamed up to nip it in the bud. In college, I finally met a girl who made my heart race, but I was just a fish in her pond—not even a backup. When I confronted her, she told me to work harder, and if I tried hard enough, I could get promoted from pond fish to backup, and then from backup to the real deal."
"Pfft... sorry, I shouldn't laugh." She really couldn't hold it in.
Xiao Beichen clasped his hands behind his head, looking unconcerned. "Go ahead and laugh if you want. I think it's pretty funny myself."
Shen Yunyun knew that laughing like this would cost her some good karma.
So she tried to hold it in.
Xiao Beichen suddenly looked at her seriously. "I'm sincerely inviting you to stay and watch the stars. On our prairie, not only are the stars beautiful, but the blue sky is too. We can ride horses out for a spin, let you feel the thrill of galloping freely. And the best part—you can eat as much yogurt as you want, even bathe in milk..."
He was enthusiastically pitching the wonders of the grassland to Shen Yunyun when Tang Yu suddenly ran over and shoved Xiao Beichen aside.
"Shoo, shoo, don't you dare mess with the lady."
"Who doesn't long for the prairie..."
"Only cattle and horses long for the prairie."
Xiao Beichen was left speechless.
Shen Yunyun watched them bicker and said with a smile, "I really like the grassland. I'll come back if I get the chance."
Xiao Beichen looked disappointed.
Tang Yu grabbed him by the neck and dragged him into the tent, then quickly shot Shen Yunyun a meaningful look.
Shen Yunyun felt helpless too. No matter how much he signaled, what could she do? Where could she go?
She still didn't know how they'd sleep tonight.
Luckily, Xiao Beichen seemed to have prepared everything in advance. He spread felt on the ground, took out woolen blankets, and hung up a curtain—that became Shen Yunyun's sleeping area.
Xiao Beichen and Tang Yu slept on the other side of the tent.
The prairie nights were cold, but the tent was warm.
The next day, Xiao Beichen drove with Shen Yunyun, while Tang Yu followed at a distance on his motorcycle.
By the time Tang Yu arrived, Shen Yunyun was already standing with Xiao Beichen in the open-air parking lot.
Both cars she'd mentioned were right there.
Tang Yu was curious about when she'd had them delivered here, but he was smart enough not to ask.
"Both cars are here, and here are the keys. If you find a buyer, help sell them—or trade them for cattle and sheep, whatever works. We'll head back now."