Then she stepped back and said in a voice loud enough for Ying Jingsheng to hear, "You two guests, please get familiar with each other. I'll go check on the others."
Zhao Sili ran off again, leaving only the two of them in the corridor.
Tao Xinrou stood there at a loss, not knowing how to face Ying Jingsheng.
"Let's go. Go in and take a look." Ying Jingsheng looked straight ahead and walked in first.
Tao Xinrou followed.
They toured around. Ying Jingsheng was always in front, and Tao Xinrou followed behind, holding the promotional brochure.
After a while, Ying Jingsheng stopped and said, "Why are you walking behind me?"
Tao Xinrou was startled. "Huh?" Then she realized they were supposed to be a couple. She quickly trotted to his side, but deliberately kept some distance.
"Don't be nervous. Act natural."
Tao Xinrou nodded. She didn't dare look at him. "Okay, I'm not nervous."
"But you've been clutching the brochure..."
Tao Xinrou looked down and saw that she had been gripping it so hard she had almost imprinted her fingerprints on it.
She smiled awkwardly and loosened her fingers.
*
The internal test started promptly at 2 PM. The VIP experience area had invited five groups of guests: aside from Tao Xinrou's special group, there was an elderly couple, an older gentleman, a young couple, and a middle-aged man who came alone.
Tao Xinrou stayed by Ying Jingsheng's side, still maintaining a 45-degree angle behind him.
Zhao Sili walked at the front, giving the introduction.
"Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to the internal test of the Yunlu Hotel intangible cultural heritage experience project. Today we have prepared three experience items: intangible heritage crafting, afternoon tea, and room experience. First, we'll take you to the intangible heritage crafting experience."
In the reception room, the intangible heritage teacher was already waiting. Beside her was a craftsman making bamboo weaving.
"Bamboo weaving is a skill passed down from our ancestors. A single bamboo is split into strips, then further divided into strands—the wide ones form the frame, the thin ones create the patterns. Lift one, press one; lift two, press two. It looks simple, but it takes real skill." The craftsman's wrist turned lightly, the bamboo strips obediently bending into elegant curves. "Young people nowadays call this healing. Back in our day, we called it making a living. Baskets, dustpans, hats—everything was made this way."
As he spoke, he handed a half-woven basket to the guest beside him: "Try it. Bamboo goes along with its nature; if you follow it, it will follow your hands."
The guests seemed to become interested in bamboo weaving, all eager to try.
Ying Jingsheng listened very attentively, occasionally nodding, occasionally asking a question or two, with the professional demeanor of a board meeting.
Tao Xinrou also gradually relaxed. While listening to the teacher's explanation, she picked up bamboo strips and began to work.
And that was when Zhao Sili sneaked up to them with her phone.
She quietly patted Tao Xinrou on the shoulder and said, "Get closer. This doesn't look like a couple in my photo."
Tao Xinrou glared at Zhao Sili. Ying Jingsheng didn't speak but moved a step closer to Tao Xinrou.
"Smile! Make it look sweet. And don't keep a straight face either. Interact! You need to interact with each other."
After snapping a series of photos of the two, Zhao Sili finally felt satisfied and went off to photograph other guests.
Tao Xinrou twisted the bamboo strips in her hand and quietly shuffled a little to the side.
She dared not get too close to the president.
After the teacher's instruction, everyone had to make a simple basket.
They sat side by side. Tao Xinrou took out the half-finished bamboo weaving and handed it to Ying Jingsheng.
"Vice President..." The word "Ying" caught in her throat. She continued, "Would you like to try?"
"Mm." Ying Jingsheng's tone was too cold, prompting the neighboring couple to tease them.
"Oh, handsome, why are you so cold to your girlfriend? She's teaching you something—at least show some enthusiasm!" Then turning to Tao Xinrou, "Miss, is your boyfriend always like this? A quiet gourd? Let me tell you, you can't let him get away with that. You need to train him!"
Train...
Tao Xinrou dared not even think about it!
She laughed awkwardly again. "It's fine, it's fine. He really doesn't talk much. I don't mind."
But the girl wasn't satisfied. "Buddy, take the initiative! Your girlfriend is so pretty. If you don't seize the chance, someone might snatch her away."
Tao Xinrou was so embarrassed she didn't know where to put herself. Not only did she want to flee, she also wanted to shoot a death glare at Zhao Sili, who was standing not far away, snickering.
However, Ying Jingsheng didn't say a word. He just blushed, lowered his head, and focused on the bamboo strips in his hands.
In the dim light, his profile was strikingly clear.
Tao Xinrou quickly averted her gaze. How could Ying Jingsheng possibly blush over this?
Just as she looked away, her peripheral vision caught the middle-aged man who had come alone staring at her. When he saw her notice, he immediately looked down and fiddled with his bamboo strips.
Tao Xinrou didn't think much of it and continued with her weaving.
But the atmosphere was too awkward. Zhao Sili drifted over with her phone again and aimed at the neighboring couple. "You two, look at my camera."
The two of them placed their hands together on the bamboo weaving and smiled sweetly at the camera.
Zhao Sili turned the lens toward Tao Xinrou and Ying Jingsheng. "You two, look this way too."
Zhao Sili's shout directly put both of them on the spot.