Everyone turned toward Chu Zhi with expectant eyes when Ban Ke voiced the question that was on all their minds.
"I'm used to it," Chu Zhi said with a quiet smile.
That simple answer struck the hearts of those around him. Chen Mei, Zhou Dakong, Tan Lu—they each felt a different kind of ache. Especially Tan Lu, a devoted member of Little Fruits, couldn't hold back her tears. She knew exactly what "used to it" meant. She had seen him endure so much, persist through everything without complaint.
But hearing those words as a fan shattered her.
Used to it?
How could anyone get used to something like this?
Mental illness isn't something you just adjust to.
Ban Ke searched Chu Zhi's face, trying to catch a glimpse of something hidden beneath the surface. But all she could see was how awkwardly he used his non-dominant hand.
His right wrist was still healing, the swelling soothed by ointment but the pain hadn't fully subsided. He was clumsily using his left hand to pick up food.
"Eat more," Ban Ke said, giving up on figuring it out. She placed a chicken foot into Chu Zhi's bowl. "It's thanks to you, Teacher Chu. Like heals like, right?"
Since the theme of the episode was focused on caring for people with depression, a bit of performative empathy was expected. The production needed Ban Ke to share her own story.
"I don't know if my experience will help anyone with depression," Ban Ke began. "But I believe the most important thing is finding your own anchor. Whatever that may be."
She continued, "I once had an online friend with bipolar disorder. Her anchor was ballpoint pens. She would buy tons of refills and use them one by one. Just knowing that some pens were unfinished stopped her from ending her life more than once.
Your anchor can be something small. But you must have one," she said.
"What's yours, Teacher Ban?" Zhou Dakong asked.
"My daughter," she answered. "Watching her prepare for college, seeing her become independent—that's what keeps me going."
"And after that?" Zhou Dakong instantly regretted asking. "Why did I have to run my mouth?"
"And after that?"
Ban Ke gave a small, complicated smile. She didn't answer.
To ease the awkward pause, Min Jeongbae jumped in. "What about you, Captain? What's your anchor?"
Chu Zhi's response took a different route. "Mine might be a bit unusual," he said. "And... ambitious."
That got everyone's attention. They assumed he was about to say something like becoming a global superstar.
"I want my existence to make the world a better place," Chu Zhi said calmly. "To me, Little Fruits... are my world."
The King of Charms had struck again. Even the usually shy Tan Lu couldn't hold it in anymore. She jumped up and shouted, "Jiu-yé is my entire world too!"
Her voice was so loud it startled Zhou Dakong sitting next to her.
Right after yelling, Tan Lu immediately felt like curling into a ball. She buried her face in her bowl and started stabbing at the chicken breast with her chopsticks, trying to drill holes through it.
"Xiaomei, you..." Zhou Dakong was about to tease her, but Kun Yun cut him off. "Go get the chilled PureVictory organic milk from the fridge. I want some."
"Oh, sure." Zhou Dakong got up and headed to the kitchen. Sometimes, jokes could be fatal.
Dinner passed with warm conversation. When it came time to wash dishes, it almost sparked a war. They were about to settle it with a dice duel, but Chen Mei volunteered before things got competitive.
That night, Lan Wuyi asked Chu Zhi to sing. Chu Zhi agreed and softly sang Like Smoke. It wasn't one of his new songs. After all, he wasn't some common radish you could pluck in a hurry. He still had dozens of unreleased tracks but wasn't in a rush to share them.
Another night passed in the Mushroom House. Chu Zhi finished reading and his homework, but as someone still on medical leave, he was once again jolted awake by a nightmare.
No matter how terrifying the night might be, the sun still rose the next morning. The next two days passed quietly, without any dramatic events.
On the sixth day, Chu Zhi's wrist had healed enough for him to cook again. He offered to make dinner, but predictably... things went sideways. There were supposed to be two meat dishes, but one had to be scrapped.
"Unbelievable. The all-rounder captain can't even make red-braised pork," Min Jeongbae gloated. He actually knew how to cook that dish.
"It's a difficult dish!" Chu Zhi replied firmly, suggesting it wasn't a skill issue. The dish itself was just hard.
On the final day of their stay, Chu Zhi revealed something he had been hiding.
"Teacher Kun, Teacher Lan, I actually brought a gift for the Mushroom House," he announced.
Lan Wuyi chuckled. "You brought a gift? What kind of guest are you?" Then, for the sake of entertainment, he changed his tone. "So? Where is it?"
"I watched the first three seasons. People always talked about wanting to see the stars," Chu Zhi said. "So—"
He pulled out a large off-white case, even bigger than a violin case.
"Brother Jiu, where did you even hide that?" Zhou Dakong asked. He remembered clearly that Chu Zhi had only brought a single backpack.
"Secret," Chu Zhi answered, opening the case. Inside were a telescope lens, tripod, and a full maintenance kit.
It was a Celestron CGEM II 1100 HD telescope. Everyone was stunned. None of them expected Chu Zhi's gift to be this... serious.
"No way," Kun Yun muttered, stunned in a way that even outsiders would find odd.
Chu Zhi looked at him and quoted, "My yearning for the stars may come from humanity's most primitive, pure, and fearful state. I long for the night sky too."
That line came straight from Kun Yun's autobiography, Intimate Distance.
Kun Yun had always been the one comforting and touching others. He never expected to be moved himself.
"I used to dream of owning a Celestron telescope in college, going to the hills to stargaze," Kun Yun said, visibly affected. "Xiao Jiu must've read my book. Thank you... I had forgotten that dream."
"In that case, tonight, all Mushroom House members will climb the hill to watch the stars," Lan Wuyi declared.
Zhou Dakong and Min Jeongbae reacted like excited schoolkids headed for a field trip. Their whooping and hollering could probably scare birds off trees.
Zhou Dakong was clearly picking up bad habits from Min Jeongbae. The lovable oaf was evolving into a silly bear.
Only Ban Ke stayed behind at the house. Everyone else set off up the back hill, along with the portable camera crew.
Ban Ke had volunteered to stay. Her ankle still wasn't fully healed, and besides—if she stayed in, she could either sleep or stay up all night. Going out at night... wasn't something she did anymore.
A few years ago, she had come home one night to find her child feverish. And then... her child was gone.
Oddly enough, she felt grateful for her injury. No one would ask for more explanation. Ban Ke didn't like opening up, and lying was just too much effort.
Back on the hill, the Mushroom House crew made their way up. It wasn't really a mountain—just a large hill. They reached the top easily. Only the camera crew carrying equipment had to catch their breath.
The hilltop was wild with brush and greenery. And mosquitoes. Lots of mosquitoes.
The cicadas sang. Unnamed insects chirped.
They found a clearing, and Kun Yun began setting up the telescope.
There were patches of grass and stray wildflowers. Some villagers were already up there, cooling off from the heat.
"Romantic, isn't it?" Zhou Dakong said, spotting them.
"Maybe for you. They probably come here every night. It's a habit," Lan Wuyi replied.
The arrival of a camera crew with celebrities immediately drew attention. A few villagers started looking their way.
"The sky is so beautiful. City skies are never this clear," Chen Mei said, tilting her head back. Even without the telescope, the stars shone brilliantly.
As the telescope was adjusted, the novelty of it made everyone eager to try.
"Is that Chu Zhi-ge? The big star from TV?" an eight-year-old girl named Tongtong asked, running over and looking up at him.
"I'm a singer," Chu Zhi replied, nodding.
"Can you teach us to sing?" Tongtong asked without hesitation. Clearly not shy, she stood out from the villagers who stayed at a distance.
"Our music teacher said you're the best singer ever," she added proudly. "Even better than her."
"Anyone who sings with Chu Zhi-ge gets to be on TV!" said another child.
It was obvious their music teacher was one of the Little Fruits. Tongtong was joined by three other children, all chattering together.
Four pairs of sparkling eyes stared up at Chu Zhi, full of hope.
He chuckled and said, "Alright. I'll sing a line, and you follow along."
The kids nodded. Chu Zhi began singing:
🎵 "Dark sky hangs low above, stars shining bright with love." 🎵
The little ones repeated after him, completely tone-deaf but utterly sincere. Their tiny voices brought a kind of warmth that made up for their pitch.
🎵 "Fireflies fly, fireflies fly, who are you thinking of tonight?" 🎵
🎵 "Stars in the sky weep and cry, roses on earth wither and die." 🎵
Line by line, Chu Zhi taught them. The children sang along.
"Why do stars cry?" Tongtong asked.
"Because we turn on too many lights," Chu Zhi said. "We've stolen their glow. So they cry."
"Then let them cry. I can't see without the lights," Tongtong replied.
The other kids nodded in agreement.
🎵 "Cold winds blow, cold winds blow, long as you're here I'll never feel low." 🎵
🎵 "Fireflies fly, flowers sleep, beauty is best when there's two to keep." 🎵
A breeze rustled the trees, moths flitted past. It was like the wind and the fireflies had been summoned by the song. Or maybe this song simply fit the moment perfectly.
Tan Lu and Chen Mei were also drawn over by the sound of singing. Chu Zhi continued to teach.
🎵 "No fear of night, just fear of hearts breaking. No matter how far, no matter how aching." 🎵
When they finished, the kids stood proud. The camera crew had caught it all. Old Zhan, the cameraman, thought the song sounded like a lullaby—short, gentle, and a little melancholic. Better than your average children's song.
The version sung by the kids and the one by Chu Zhi each had their charm.
Creative genius, indeed. Just like a little cat—short, sweet, but unforgettable.
"Who are you missing, I wonder?" Chen Mei quietly asked, pondering the lyrics.
And just like that, the first episode of Back to the Countryside drew to a close on the hillside under the stars.
===
Song Title: 虫儿飞 (Chóng ér fēi / Fireflies Fly)
Original Artist: 郑伊健 (Zheng Yijian / Ekin Cheng)
Note: The lyrics sung here are from a well-known Chinese song often treated as a lullaby or children's song. It conveys a wistful yearning, with themes of solitude and warmth amidst darkness.
Telescope Model: Celestron CGEM II 1100 HD — a real high-end astronomical telescope