Since the first day of school, Yan Chi had met Shen Mingsu. Afterwards, he often saw the other man near him. Shen Mingsu was undeniably handsome, tall and imposing, his arm muscles radiating power.
His dark green eyes were always full of smiles, suggesting a very good temper.
It was another sunny day. Yan Chi sat by the window. The teacher was lecturing, his monotone voice making one drowsy. Yan Chi, chin in hand, suddenly turned to look out the window.
Shen Mingsu was indeed still under that big tree, sitting on a bench basking in the sun. Beside him was a fist-sized golden hamster, comfortably sprawled out like a pancake.
Yan Chi unconsciously stared at them. Initially, he thought the hamster was cute, but then his gaze shifted to Shen Mingsu's face. Hmm, this guy was quite handsome.
No, he was looking at the hamster! Yan Chi jolted awake, patted his cheeks, and refocused his attention on the little golden hamster.
Chang Le told him that this hamster was his pet, but because he had to go to school, his parents didn't like hamsters like that, so they gave it to his uncle to take care of.
"What are you looking at?" Xingluo noticed Yan Chi staring out the window and whispered, "The teacher is watching you, snap out of it."
Yan Chi quickly turned his head and saw Teacher Youyou on the podium looking at him with tears welling up in her eyes. "Little Chi, was my lesson not good? Tell me, I'll change."
Yan Chi felt incredibly guilty. "No, no, I... I was just daydreaming, I'm sorry, Teacher Youyou."
Teacher Youyou wiped away his tears. "Be a good boy and listen to the lesson."
"Okay."
For the rest of the class, Yan Chi didn't dare look out the window again, but he wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he heard a very soft laugh.
The next day, Yan Chi arrived at class early and found Shen Chang Le standing beside his seat, holding a fluffy, creamy-yellow hamster.
“Uncle said you really like it, so I'm giving this to you,” Shen Chang Le said, handing the hamster to Yan Chi with delight. “So you like hamsters too! Why didn’t you tell me sooner? I have many more at home.”
Originally, there was only one pair, but every so often a litter of babies would appear, and the house was almost overflowing. So when Shen Chang Le learned that Shen Mingsu had asked him to bring the hamster to Yan Chi, he was stunned.
So he wasn’t the only one who liked hamsters. He knew there would be other discerning people who would appreciate their cuteness!
Yan Chi hesitated for a moment, then gently took the hamster and placed it in his palm. The little guy wasn’t afraid at all; it sniffed his scent and nestled comfortably in his hand.
Yan Chi pursed his lips, poked the little hamster's puffed-out cheeks, and said, "...Thank your uncle for me."
"Okay," Shen Chang Le agreed without hesitation, only realizing something was off when he returned to his seat. Wait a minute... the hamster was from him; he should be thanking him, not his uncle.
Even with these doubts, Shen Chang Le still relayed Yan Chi's words to Shen Mingsu when he got home.
Shen Mingsu didn't live with Shen Ruoqin and the others. He was currently in the kitchen kneading dough and making steamed buns. Hearing Yan Chi's thanks, his lips curled up, and he could already imagine Yan Chi happily hugging the little hamster affectionately.
Hmm, kind of cute.
Shen Chang Le frowned, looking at the enigmatic smile on Shen Mingsu's face. These past few days, his uncle had been wearing a strange smile and, unusually, going into the kitchen to prepare various foods.
Could it be... he's fallen in love with cooking?
Shen Chang Le inwardly agreed. It was good; his uncle had finally found a hobby, so he wouldn't be just loitering around school like he didn’t have work to do.
This time, Shen Mingsu made five meat buns, but his skills were truly questionable. He was probably aiming for thin skin and lots of filling, but unfortunately, he lacked the skill, and the filling leaked out after steaming.
"Have you had dinner yet?" Shen Mingsu asked Shen Chang Le, staring at the buns.
Shen Chang Le honestly shook his head.
"Okay, tell your dad not to cook." Shen Mingsu directly put the buns on a plate and told Shen Chang Le to take them away. "Here, have some, don't be shy."
Shen Chang Le: "..."
That evening, the three of them sat at the dining table, silent before the variously shaped buns. Chang Le's father, chopsticks in his mouth, hesitated to eat.
He shouldn't have offended Shen Mingsu recently; surely he wouldn't poison him, would he?
Shen Ruoqin: "Did your uncle make this?"
Shen Chang Le nodded. "Yes, I saw him make it myself."
Chang Le's father quickly asked, "Did you see him add anything strange?"
Shen Chang Le sighed. "Dad, Uncle wouldn't poison it. You can eat it without worry."
Chang Le's father looked troubled. Just thinking that this thing came from Shen Mingsu's hands made him uneasy. Even if it wasn't poisoned, it was still unpalatable, a major food taboo.
Shen Ruoqin stroked her chin, looking at the steamed bun. She had noticed something was wrong with Shen Mingsu lately. Before, every time they bumped into each other on the street, her brother would sarcastically call her a brainless, love-struck fool.
But these past few days, Shen Mingsu had become much more obedient around her, never mentioning the "love-struck fool" thing again.
Based on Shen Ruoqin's understanding of Shen Mingsu, she knew he was hiding something from them. She looked at Shen Chang Le, "Has your uncle been behaving strangely lately?"
Shen Chang Le thought carefully for a moment, then hesitated and shook her head. "No, he's perfectly normal, except he's taken a liking to cooking."
"Alright..." Shen Ruoqin picked up a steamed bun, took a bite herself, and then spat it out expressionlessly. "The meat inside isn't cooked yet, don't eat it."
Shen Chang Le: "..."
So, not only was it unattractive on the outside, but it wasn't good on the inside either.
The next time he saw Shen Mingsu, Shen Chang Le directly told him that the meat filling in the bun wasn't cooked. Shen Mingsu nodded thoughtfully, "Okay, I'll steam it longer next time."
However, Shen Mingsu's cooking skills were hard to develop. It took him a whole week to master the heat and season the meat filling so it wasn't too bland or too salty.
After six days of eating experimental steamed buns, the Shen family finally got to eat perfect, thin-skinned, and generously filled meat buns on the last day. Chang Le's father almost burst into tears on the spot.
But then, Shen Mingsu stopped sending them buns.
Shen Ruoqin narrowed her eyes. "There must be a conspiracy."
...
"Xiao Chi, your bun smells so good!" Sethia smelled a wonderful aroma as soon as he entered the classroom. He hesitantly approached Yan Chi, his mouth watering as he looked at the meat bun in Yan Chi's hand. "Where did you buy it?"
Although the school cafeteria also sold steamed buns and soy milk, none smelled as good as the one Yan Chi was holding, and it was only half the size, filled to the brim with meat. It looked so tempting that it made one's mouth water.
Could it be that the cafeteria opened a new shop?
"I didn't buy them," Yan Chi said generously, sharing half with him. "I ran into the principal on the way, and he gave them to me."
Yan Chi and Xingluo both overslept today, worried about being late for class, so they skipped the cafeteria and came straight to the classroom, where they happened to run into Principal Shen.
Principal Shen was very kind. Seeing their hurried pace, he asked if they had eaten. Learning that Yan Chi hadn't eaten breakfast, he gave him two large meat buns and a cup of soy milk.
Yan Chi was initially reluctant to accept, but Xingluo took the breakfast and pulled him away. They each shared a large meat bun, which tasted quite good.
"They don't sell them."
Knowing that the delicious meat buns were a gift from the principal, Sethia cherished them even more, eating them in small bites. Worried that Yan Chi would be hungry if he only ate half a bun, he shared half of his breakfast with him.
Sethia also bought meat buns, but they weren't as good as the ones Shen Mingsu made himself.
Shen Chang Le smelled the aroma as he entered the classroom. After eating them for a week, he could judge the quality of the buns by their smell. But the smell in the classroom seemed very much like his uncle's buns?
Upon closer inspection, he saw that Sethia and Yan Chi were eating standard-sized buns from the cafeteria, not his uncle's giant ones.
It made sense; his uncle couldn't possibly give up his good job as principal to become a cook in the cafeteria, could he?
Shen Chang Le nodded to himself, unaware that he was only getting closer to the truth when he was straying further from it.
Yan Chi, munching on his bun and drinking soy milk, found the buns even more delicious than before, compared to the ones from the cafeteria.
Xingluo thought so too. He finished eating, still hesitant, "I wonder if I'll be able to eat such delicious steamed buns again tomorrow."
Yan Chi didn't expect it. "He's the principal, not a deliveryman bringing us steamed buns."
"Maybe," Xingluo pinched Yan Chi's cheek. "What if he enjoys it and actually wants to be a deliveryman?"
Yan Chi smiled helplessly, not taking his words seriously.
That afternoon after school, Yan Chi ran into Shen Mingsu again. Shen Mingsu and the director had just returned from the south campus. A look of surprise flashed in his eyes when he saw Yan Chi.
"Um... thank you for bringing us steamed buns this morning," Yan Chi thanked Shen Mingsu shyly. Xingluo tugged at his sleeve, gesturing for him to ask a question quickly.
Yan Chi had no choice but to ask again, "We wanted to ask where you bought the steamed buns?"
"I didn't buy them, I made them," Shen Mingsu said, a smile flashing in his eyes. "You like them? Then I'll bring you some more tomorrow."
Yan Chi was startled and quickly shook his head. "No need, no need, that's too much trouble for you."
"It's nothing, just a small favor," Shen Mingsu said casually, not giving Yan Chi a chance to refuse, and made a final decision. "The same ones as this morning, I'll bring them to you."
With that, he turned and left with the director.
"Principal..." Yan Chi opened his mouth, but as soon as he called out "Principal," Shen Mingsu waved his hand without turning back, clearly not wanting to discuss it further with him.
Yan Chi looked at Xingluo in a panic. "What do I do now?"
He only wanted to know where the steamed buns were bought, he didn't want to trouble the teacher to make them for him, steamed buns made by the principal himself... He was truly terrified.
Xingluo hooked her arm around his neck, her face beaming. "Oh, it's alright. Don't you like it?"
"I like it."
"That's good then. Relax. Maybe he really is just a good principal who loves his students, hahaha." Xingluo couldn't help but laugh as he spoke.
This was truly a joke.
Yan Chi remained silent, still finding it hard to accept.
But habits are easily changed. After eating Shen Mingsu's breakfast for a month straight, Yan Chi's awkwardness completely disappeared. They stopped their secret rendezvous in front of the teaching building, and moved their breakfasts directly to Shen Mingsu's house.
Shen Mingsu's house was nearby; it was only a five-minute walk for Yan Chi and Xingluo.
Where Yan Chi ate, Xingluo ate his fill every morning with him. Gradually, his face became rounder and fuller.
Even the little golden hamster that Yan Chi kept by his side became quite chubby.
Every time they returned to class after breakfast, Sethia would give them a resentful look. Yan Chi felt guilty when he met his gaze, a feeling of shame like he'd secretly indulged in a delicious meal behind his back.
Perhaps next time he could talk to the principal and bring Sethia something to try. Yan Chi patted Sethia's shoulder and promised, "Next time...next time I'll bring you something delicious."
Sethia cheered, "Yay!"
Xingluo chuckled to himself. He didn't need Yan Chi to bring him anything; he'd eat openly.
A few weeks later, in the evening, Xing Zhinan suddenly decided to visit his son. He was stunned when she saw the rounder Xingluo and circled him. "You've gained at least five or six pounds."
Xingluo rolled his eyes. "No."
He'd only gained three pounds.
"Isn't studying supposed to be hard work? How come you're getting fatter and fatter?" Xing Zhinan pinched Xingluo's chubby cheeks. He quickly realized the key, "Xiao Chi... is with Shen Mingsu?"
They had already figured this out, but the exact timing still needed observation and verification.
Xingluo, recalling the atmosphere between the two, shook his head and said, "Not yet, it's more like an ambiguous relationship right now. I guess they'll be together in a few days."
Xingzhinan: "Then don't you find it an eyesore to be stuck between these two lovebirds every day?"
"How dare you say that to me?" Xingluo scoffed, "Then every time you go to eat with Uncle Li Xian, don't you sit between Uncle Li Xian and Uncle Feng Yun? I've never seen you feel embarrassed then."
Xing Zhinan retorted confidently, "I'm the one who introduced them, what's wrong with eating a meal with them?"
Xingluo protested, "Then Xiaochi..."
"I'm the one who introduced him to the principal. Without me, he wouldn't even be able to deliver meals."
"..."
The father and son both fell silent simultaneously. After a few seconds, Xing Zhinan said quietly, "It feels like we're pimping?"
Xing Luo nodded solemnly in agreement: "I think so too."
This topic was far too terrible. Xing Zhinan looked out the window, remained silent for a moment, and then spoke gravely, "My dear son, do you know? A major crisis is coming."
Xingluo broke out in a cold sweat. "What happened?"
Is the world going to end?
Xing Zhinan sighed, "Yuanyuan is probably coming to visit Xiaochi in a few days."
"..."
What kind of major crisis is this? Wait… what if Uncle Qingyuan finds out Xiaochi is with the principal? Xingluo imagined the scene and broke out in a cold sweat. “It’s over, it really is the end of the world!”
Xing Zhinan wholeheartedly agreed, reminding him, “I remember on the first day of school, Yuanyuan asked you to help take care of Xiaochi. If he finds out Xiaochi is with Shen Mingsu, and you still hide it from him and don’t report it…”
Xingluo grabbed his father’s sleeve in fright, “Dad, dear Dad, you will protect me, right?”
He looked up at Xing Zhinan, trying to appeal to their father-son bond.
Unexpectedly, Xing Zhinan took several steps back, hastily distancing himself, "Don't call me that, kid. I have absolutely nothing to do with you."
Xingluo, heartbroken by his father, tore off his mask, "...Heh, just wait and see if I drag you down with me. Even if Uncle Qingyuan beats me up, I'll take you with me."
Xing Zhinan gritted his teeth, "Unfilial son."
"Thank you for the compliment."
But now, Xing Zhinan and Xingluo still wanted to cover for Yan Chi. They couldn't really let Yan Qingyuan and Shen Mingsu fight; both of them were too powerful. If they destroyed the school, other innocent students would be hurt.
“By the way, Xiao Chi thinks his dad and Shen Mingsu are close. He'll probably be exposed soon.” Xingluo felt a headache coming on. “How about we tell Xiao Chi not to meet Uncle Qingyuan yet?”
Xing Zhinan tapped him on the head. “The ugly daughter-in-law has to meet her in-laws eventually; you can't hide it forever.”
“Then you go and confront Uncle Qingyuan?”
“…We can keep it a secret for as long as possible.”
Xing Zhinan quickly changed his mind. The father and son put their heads together and decided to work together from the inside. During this time, Xing Zhinan would follow Yan Qingyuan. If he noticed any sign that Yan Qingyuan was coming to school, he would immediately notify Xingluo, who would then tell Yan Chi.
Xingluo, burdened with a heavy responsibility, replied firmly, “Okay!”
Xing Zhinan didn't dare linger. That very night, he went to find Yan Qingyuan, but halfway there, he suddenly felt too afraid to face him directly. He needed to find an accomplice, so he turned back to find Li Xian.
In the dead of night, a fierce windstorm raged, whipping snowflakes against Xing Zhinan's face. All was silent. Adhering to his excellent quality of not disturbing the servants' sleep, Xing Zhinan climbed the fourth floor with his bare hands, skillfully opened the window, and slipped inside.
Feng Yun and Li Xian were sleeping together. Xing Zhinan tiptoed to their bedside, took Li Xian's hand, and slowly pulled him out of bed.
Feng Yun keenly felt the person in his arms gradually moving away from him. Even though his mind wasn't fully awake, his brow furrowed instinctively, and he held Li Xian tighter.
Xing Zhinan mustered all his strength to pull Li Xian, using a bit too much force. Li Xian grumbled twice in dissatisfaction. Feng Yun immediately opened his eyes and saw Xing Zhinan standing silently at the head of his bed. His face darkened instantly.
The two stared at each other for a moment, Xing Zhinan showing no embarrassment whatsoever. "Hi~ Good evening."
Feng Yun: "...What are you doing?"
The noise woke Li Xian. Li Xian opened his eyes, startled by Xing Zhinan's presence so close to him, and looked at him blankly. "What are you doing in our room in the middle of the night?"
"It's urgent. Come with me first."
Under Feng Yun's murderous glare, Xing Zhinan dragged Li Xian straight out of bed, saying to Feng Yun, "I'm taking him with me. He's a grown man, he can sleep by himself tonight, so please don't make a fuss."
With that, he pulled Li Xian away.
Feng Yun: "..."
To be honest, this was the first time he'd ever seen someone snatched from under the covers.
Li Xian, still in his pajamas, followed Xing Zhinan with half-closed eyes. His hair was instantly disheveled by the wind as he stepped outside. He asked weakly, "What happened? Why the rush?"
"If it's urgent, then it must be something huge," Xing Zhinan said briefly, telling Li Xian about Yan Chi and Shen Mingsu. "Yuanyuan will probably have a hard time accepting this. It's best to keep it from him for now, and tell him when the time is right."
This shocking news instantly dispelled Li Xian's drowsiness. He was stunned and pale. "They're really together? Xiao Chi and Shen Mingsu?" "I reckon he'll confess in the next couple of days." Xing Zhinan, seeing the astonishment in Li Xian's eyes, still had the mood to joke, "What, do you want to go see it?"
Li Xian found it hard to accept, "Could it be that Shen Mingsu forced our Xiao Chi? What if Shen Mingsu really wanted to do something, Xiao Chi wouldn't be able to resist."
Xing Zhinan: "No, Xingluo is watching from the side. It's a free love relationship. Old Shen even practiced his cooking skills diligently for love, and now he's reached a master level."
Hearing this, the weight in Li Xian's heart finally lifted, "That's good."
As the two rushed towards [I], Yan Qingyuan was grooming Xiao Jin. Xiao Jin was already nearly the size of an adult tiger, but its eyes lacked the fierceness typical of tigers; instead, they revealed a touch of adorable clumsiness.
It rolled over, its black and white striped belly looking very soft. Ignoring its whining, Yan Qingyuan patted its forehead. "Turn to your side, the other side hasn't been groomed yet."
Xiao Jin obediently rolled over.
During this period, Xiao Jin was shedding, and Yan Qingyuan inevitably got covered in its fur. So Xiao Jin was forced to be a hairless tiger for a while, but then its fur started to get oily again. Yan Qingyuan couldn't stand it anymore and gave its fur back.
After all, it was Yan Chi's favorite pet, and out of love for Yan Chi, Yan Qingyuan, having nothing else to do, spent his days grooming Xiao Jin when he was bored.
Xiao Jin dared not resist, and could only watch helplessly as its fur fell out in clumps, silently weeping, hoping that the two-legged cub would return soon to save its little kitten. Suddenly, Yan Qingyuan paused in his grooming, not turning his head, and coldly asked, "Come out."
Xing Zhinan and Li Xian slowly walked out. Li Xian, thinking of Yan Chi and Shen Mingsu together, looked at Yan Qingyuan with a strange pity in his eyes, as if looking at a lonely old woman.
"Ahem." Xing Zhinan nudged Li Xian with her elbow, making him avert his gaze, then smiled at Yan Qingyuan, "Yuanyuan, what are you doing?"
Yan Qingyuan glanced at him, then lowered his head to groom Xiao Jin.
"Oh dear, isn't this Xiao Jin? He's grown so much!" Xing Zhinan squatted down beside him, his tone exaggerated, reaching out to stroke Xiao Jin's head, "He's already a grown tiger, time to find a wife, right?"
He really knew how to rub salt in the wound.
Yan Qingyuan put down the comb, his amber eyes fixed on him. His gaze was so piercing. Xing Zhinan's heart pounded. Did he already know? Impossible.
Yan Qingyuan: "Okay, tell me, what brings you here?"
"It's been so long since I've seen you, I wanted to come see you."
Xing Zhinan's tone was light, and he casually tugged at Li Xian. Li Xian, understanding his hint, nodded repeatedly, "Yeah, yeah, we came to play with you."
Yan Qingyuan looked at the two of them, focusing on Li Xian's pajamas, "In the middle of the night... what are you doing here, a pajama party?"
Li Xian smiled awkwardly, his mind still racing, "I came... to play cards with you. It's so boring at home, and Feng Yun doesn't play with me. I thought I'd play with you, didn't I?"
The three of them would play cards when they were bored. Going back further, it used to be two people playing chess together, with one watching. Later, chess was replaced by a three-person game of Dou Dizhu (a popular Chinese card game).
Xing Zhinan was prepared, taking out a deck of cards.
Yan Qingyuan: "..."
Playing cards in the middle of the night, what's wrong with them?
Despite his lingering doubts, Yan Qingyuan ultimately sat down to play cards with them. Xing Zhinan and Li Xian exchanged a glance, seeing the relief in each other's eyes.
While the three played, Xiao Jin nestled obediently at Yan Qingyuan's feet, occasionally licking its fur, its eyes filled with gratitude as it looked at Xing Zhinan and Li Xian.
Five hours later, dawn broke through the clouds, and the sun slowly rose. Yan Qingyuan, also tired of the game, played cards listlessly, only managing two rounds before giving up completely, utterly unwilling to play anymore.
Xing Zhinan took out a fishing rod: "Let's go fishing then."
Li Xian: "Okay, okay."
Yan Qingyuan: "..."
Can't he be left alone for a while?
Upon hearing "fish," Xiao Jin's eyes lit up, its ears perked up, and it rubbed its head against Yan Qingyuan's leg, meowing softly.
Fish! It wants to eat fish too!
Yan Qingyuan: “…Alright then.”
The three of them took fishing rods and went fishing again. Every time they caught a fish, they tossed it to Xiao Jin's mouth. Xiao Jin accepted them all happily, eating one fish after another. After finishing, it obediently stared at the bobber on the lake, waiting for another bite.
Xing Zhinan secretly glanced at Yan Qingyuan and casually asked, “Last time Shen Mingsu came to fight you, what happened?”
Yan Qingyuan stared at the water. “He got a beating, and he behaved himself.”
Xing Zhinan: “Hahaha, I knew it. Actually, Shen Mingsu is an honest person, not a bad guy.”
Yan Qingyuan: “…?”
What nonsense is he talking about? Shen Mingsu is like an unkillable cockroach. He used to provoke him all the time. Is this kind of slapping that maintains honesty considered honesty?
Xing Zhinan tried to sow discord among Yan Qingyuan's eyes, "Don't you think Shen Mingsu is pretty good? His looks and physique are impeccable, and his skills are among the best in the family. I heard he's even learned to cook recently—he's practically a household essential!"
He finished in one breath, looking expectantly at Yan Qingyuan, "Don't you think so?"
Yan Qingyuan finally gave him a look, scrutinizing him from head to toe, "You... you've got a crush on him?"
Xing Zhinan: "..."
What a terrifying question.
Yan Qingyuan frowned, "Surely not, did you get stung by a bee? You have quite the unique taste."
Xing Zhinan: "No... I have nothing to do with him."
"That's good, you scared me to death." Yan Qingyuan breathed a sigh of relief, a slight smile playing on her lips, "Anyone who has a crush on Shen Mingsu, I'll laugh at them for the rest of their lives."
Xing Zhinan, Li Xian: "..."
Speechless.
Xing Zhinan and Li Xian both fell silent; the atmosphere, which hadn't even started to liven up, had completely died down.
Xing Zhinan and Li Xian, shameless and persistent, dragged Yan Qingyuan out for a whole week, not daring to mention school matters once. They kept him awake like hawks every day, until finally, they couldn't resist the urge to sleep and fell asleep in their chairs.
Yan Qingyuan, chin in hand, watched the two, then suddenly noticed Xiao Jin. He beckoned to it, and Xiao Jin tentatively approached him.
"Want to see Xiao Chi?"
"Awoo!"
"Let's go."
...
Yan Chi and Shen Mingsu naturally got together. Xingluo was on the front lines of the gossip, having received the news the very night they confirmed their relationship.
Xingluo asked worriedly, "Xiaochi, you haven't told your dad yet, have you?"
"Not yet." Yan Chi was immersed in the joy of being in love and didn't notice the strange look on Xingluo's face. "But you're right, I have to tell Dad about something this big."
"Wait, wait!" Xingluo quickly stopped Yan Chi. Facing Yan Chi's puzzled gaze, Xingluo forced himself to continue, "Aren't you...aren't you afraid your dad will scold you?"
Yan Chi was confused: "Dad will scold me? Why would he scold me? I'm not dating just anyone."
They're both adults; do they have to hide their relationship from their parents?
Besides, his dad knows Shen Mingsu. Since they're good friends, his dad should trust Shen Mingsu's character.
Therefore, Yan Chi wasn't worried at all that his dad would object.
Xingluo racked his brains for an excuse, almost tearing his hair out in frustration. "Let's wait...you two only recently confirmed your relationship, right? Let's wait until it's more stable. What if you break up halfway through? You agree, right?"
Thinking about it, Xingluo's words did make sense.
Having calmed Yan Chi down, Xingluo let out a long sigh of relief, collapsing wearily onto the sofa. He deeply regretted lying to Yan Chi that Shen Mingsu and Yan Qingyuan were close. He knew those two would fight like cats and dogs when they met.
He just hoped his father could put in some effort to change Uncle Qingyuan's opinion of the principal.
Since they started dating, Yan Chi had changed noticeably. He left school early every day, and Xingluo hadn't received any messages from his father, so he didn't have to follow Yan Chi around all the time.
"Xingluo." Shen Chang Le walked to Xingluo's side, glancing in the direction Yan Chi had left. "Everyone wants to go hiking, but Xiao Chi seems really busy these days. Do you think he'll have time to go with us?"
Tomorrow is the weekend, and everyone wants to go out together.
"Most likely not. He has important things to do." Xingluo had no doubt about the clinginess between the young couple; it was a rare weekend, and Yan Chi would definitely be with Shen Mingsu.
Shen Chang Le sighed, unable to resist asking curiously, "What do you think Xiao Chi is busy with? Joined a club?"
'He's busy dating your uncle, becoming your aunt.' Xingluo thought to himself, but said calmly, "Who knows? Maybe he's dating."
"It seems my uncle is dating too."
Shen Chang Le's calm tone was startling. Xingluo's heart skipped a beat. "Really? Haha, what a coincidence."
Oh no, oh no, oh no… With just a little thought, she could connect the two of them. If Shen Chang Le knew, Aunt Ruoqin would know, then Mingcai's mother would know… then the whole world would know.
Shen Chang Le nodded: "But I'm not sure. My mother told me. But my uncle has been acting strange lately. He's not only taken a liking to cooking, but he's also started working out."
"The last time I went to see him, I saw him in the kitchen using the flat side of a cleaver to fix his hair. That scene… was terrifying."
Xingluo's lips twitched: "…It really is terrifying."
Seeing that Shen Chang Le didn't consider that Yan Chi was his uncle, Xinglu looked at him with a hint of pity. Something even more terrifying awaited him. He hoped he would still be as cheerful as ever.
Meanwhile, Yan Qingyuan, accompanied by Xiao Jin, arrived to find Yan Chi. They first went to Yan Chi's dormitory, but found nothing. Xiao Jin, sniffing the familiar scent in the air, visibly became excited.
Yan Qingyuan looked down at it. "Can you find him?"
"Awoo!"
Xiao Jin, burdened with a responsibility, lowered its body, sniffing Yan Chi's scent on the ground, leading Yan Qingyuan to its young master.
Night gradually fell, swallowing the setting sun. Yan Qingyuan followed Xiao Jin, first going to the teaching building, then to the dormitory building, and finally, Xiao Jin stopped in front of an apartment building.
"Xiao Chi is here?" Yan Qingyuan looked around, not seeing Yan Chi, when suddenly he heard a familiar voice and looked towards the window.
The homeowner hadn't drawn the curtains, and through the floor-to-ceiling window, Yan Qingyuan could clearly see everything happening in the living room.
He saw his beloved son, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, walking out of the kitchen hand in hand with Shen Mingsu.
Yan Chi first teased the hamster on the table, then sat cross-legged on the sofa, holding a small cake. He would occasionally feed Shen Mingsu a bite with a smile, and Shen Mingsu would bite right where Yan Chi had already bitten.
Yan Qingyuan's hands trembled slightly. He told himself that they were just eating cake together; it didn't mean there was anything between them. Good friends would share a cake.
The next second, Shen Mingsu lowered his head and kissed Yan Chi's lips.
Snap—
It was the sound of shattered reason.
Yan Qingyuan clenched his fists, a storm brewing in his eyes. He kicked open the apartment door and stormed in. The hamster, terrified, tucked its tail between its legs and followed him with a whimper.
The sound of the door being broken open drew Yan Chi and Shen Mingsu's attention. Yan Chi's eyes widened in surprise when he saw Yan Qingyuan there. "Dad?"
The next second, Yan Qingyuan pulled Yan Chi aside and slapped Shen Mingsu across the face. The sound echoed throughout the living room. Shen Mingsu froze for a moment, then, seeing the worried look in Yan Chi's eyes, immediately apologized, "It's my fault."
"Nonsense, how could it be his fault?!" Still not satisfied, Yan Qingyuan slapped Shen Mingsu again. Shen Mingsu didn't retaliate, letting Yan Qingyuan grab his collar and slam him heavily against the wall.
With a loud crash, the wall collapsed, dust billowing everywhere.
The golden hamster squeaked in fright and ran to hide in Yan Chi's pocket.
Outside, Xingluo and Sethia stared in disbelief as the principal crawled out of the rubble.
"Why was the principal beaten up?" Sethia clung to Xingluo's arm, tentatively peering inside to see who could possibly beat up the principal in the school. Upon seeing Yan Qingyuan, he shrank back. "Uncle Qingyuan looks so angry. Should we go help the principal?"
Xingluo's heart sank. Why did Uncle Qingyuan suddenly appear? Where was his father? Was he silenced in the crossfire?
Xingluo's voice trembled: "How can we help? You go and take the hits for him?"
Sethia shuddered. "I wouldn't dare. He'll beat me into jam."
The two cowards dared not leave, much less help Shen Mingsu, fearing Yan Qingyuan would misunderstand and think they were siding with the principal. They could only stand aside and whisper encouragement to Shen Mingsu, "Principal, come on. Principal, get up."
Shen Mingsu: "..."
He dusted himself off and went back, looking sincerely at Yan Qingyuan, "Can we talk alone?"
Yan Qingyuan didn't want to talk to him anymore; he just wanted to kill him. But Yan Chi hurriedly grabbed Yan Qingyuan's hand, pleading, "Dad, please don't hit him! Can't we sit down and talk things over?"
Yan Qingyuan's chest heaved slightly as he asked Yan Chi, "Are you really with him?"
"Yes." Seeing Yan Qingyuan about to hit him again, Yan Chi quickly grabbed his waist, urgently saying, "We're in a free relationship! It's consensual. Aren't you two good friends? Dad, please don't hit him." "
From childhood to adulthood, Yan Chi had never seen Yan Qingyuan so angry. He was terrified and could only cling tightly to him, his voice trembling with tears, "Don't hit him, Dad... I'm scared."
Yan Qingyuan's hands clenched slightly. He looked at Shen Mingsu, "Where should we talk?"
Shen Mingsu led him into the room, telling Yan Chi to wait outside. To avoid worrying Yan Chi, Shen Mingsu smiled and told him, "It's okay, just a small misunderstanding. It'll be resolved quickly, don't worry."
Yan Chi looked at the bruises on his face, somewhat worried, "Really? No more fighting?"
"No, you go play with Sethia and the others first."
After the two of them went into the room and locked the door, Yan Chi anxiously pressed his ear to the door for a while, but heard no sounds of fighting inside.
"Awooo."
Little Jin had come back to life. It was quite shocked too, and buried its big head in Yan Chi's arms, whimpering pitifully.
Yan Chi absentmindedly stroked its head.
Xingluo and Sethia walked to his side. Xingluo patted his shoulder to comfort him, while Sethia, still unaware of what had happened, asked in a daze, "Why did Uncle Qingyuan hit the principal? Xiao Chi, do you know?"
Yan Chi lowered his head. "...Because I was with him, right? But wasn't it said that Dad and Shen Mingsu were good friends?"
"Even the best of friends can't steal each other's partners." Xingluo rubbed his nose. "I'm sorry, Xiao Chi, actually your dad and the principal don't get along at all. I misspoke. Why don't you slap me too?" "
Yan Chi: "..."
He hadn't talked much, was it really this complicated to even talk about something?
Yan Chi sat listlessly on the sofa, Xingluo and Sethia on either side of him, with Xiao Jin nestled obediently at his feet.
When Xing Zhinan and Li Xian rushed over, this was the deathly scene they found. Xing Zhinan was shocked and paled, "Shen Mingsu was beaten to death?"
Yan Chi: "...Still alive."
He pointed to the closed door and added, "Talk inside."
"My God, your dad still has a shred of sanity." Xing Zhinan was astonished, but then he thought, his precious son was watching; he couldn't very well beat him to death in front of him, could he?
Xing Zhinan stopped worrying and calmly picked up an apple from the fruit plate, took a bite, and gave one to Li Xian.
Li Xian reassured Yan Chi by patting his shoulder, "Don't be nervous, your dad knows what he's doing." "
Xing Zhinan couldn't help but laugh, his laughter making Yan Chi even more nervous.
Li Xian glared at Xing Zhinan, annoyed. "Really, I guarantee Shen Mingsu will be...alive when he comes out."
Regarding his injuries, there was no guarantee.
Yan Chi was almost in tears, grabbing Li Xian's hand. "Don't say anymore, I'm scared."
Poor child.
Li Xian gave him a comforting hug.
A short while later, Shen Ruoqin arrived. She looked around at everyone in the living room, then glanced at the collapsed wall, raising an eyebrow in surprise. "Where's my brother? Even if he was beaten to death, there should be a body."
Yan Chi wanted to cry but had no tears. Please don't mention the word "death" in front of him again.
Soon, with Xing Zhinan's explanation, Shen Ruoqin learned about the serious things her brother had secretly done recently. She looked at Yan Chi in shock. "You child, if you're having trouble thinking about something, you can tell us. Don't do anything foolish."
Yan Chi lowered his head. "It's not foolish, it's genuine love."
"Sigh."
Shen Ruoqin sighed, truly unable to understand how these two had gotten together. They seemed completely incompatible, yet in the unfolding future timeline, Yan Chi and Shen Mingsu were inseparable, forever entangled.
"Alright, then I wish you happiness."
Yan Chi's eyes widened suddenly, staring blankly at Shen Ruoqin. He actually received her blessing!
Just as he was about to say something, he saw Shen Ruoqin take out her phone and call someone.
"Mingxi, come quick! My brother found me a sister-in-law, guess who it is? You'll never guess, hahaha! If you want to see the show, hurry up and come, or you'll regret it for the rest of your life!" "
Yan Chi: "..."
Feeling exhausted, he suddenly didn't feel like talking.
Two hours had passed by the time Shen Mingsu and Yan Qingyuan finished their conversation. Before Shen Mingsu pushed his way out, Yan Qingyuan said quietly, "What? Are you trying to play the victim by not hiding your injuries?"
"...You're overthinking it."
The bruised and swollen Shen Mingsu transformed back into the handsome Principal Shen. He composed himself, a smile playing on his lips, and opened the door to give Yan Chi a big surprise, "Your father agreed..."
Under the undisguised gazes of everyone in the room, Shen Mingsu's voice trailed off. No one had told him about the large audience.
Yan Chi ran to his side, relieved to see he had no injuries, and hugged him tightly, "Waaah, you're really alive!" "
Basically, every time someone came, they would say that Shen Mingsu was going to die, which terrified Yan Chi.
Shen Mingsu hugged him, "Not only is he alive, but your father has also agreed to let me be with you."
In an instant, his arms were empty, because Yan Chi ran into Yan Qingyuan's arms again. Yan Chi hugged Yan Qingyuan, his voice slightly choked, "Thank you, Dad."
Yan Qingyuan affectionately ruffled Yan Chi's hair. "Tell me if you've been bullied, and I'll take care of it."
Yan Chi felt a warm glow inside, hugged his father's neck, and nodded firmly. "Okay."
The onlookers were also gossiping amongst themselves.
Yi Luo: "Wow, the better the master's temper, the better! Does that mean I won't get beaten up if I go to steal fish from [I]?"
Xing Zhinan: "Try it, maybe you'll die."
Ming Danxi commented: "Your sister-in-law is too young. In another world, in another time, with their age difference, you could visit him in prison every month."
Shen Ruoqin smiled shyly: "Then I'll go in with him."
Thinking of the age difference between her and Shen Chang Le's father, Ming Danxi fell silent. What was this, a family tradition?
Shen Chang Le, who finally received the news, was dumbfounded.
How come it seems like he's the only one in the whole world who doesn't know?
Xingluo sighed and shook his head. "You're still too naive."
Shen Chang Le never understood why Xingluo would say that until three years later at Yan Chi's wedding. Shen Chang Le sat at the children's table, while Xingluo, along with his little golden hamster, sat at the head table.
Listening to Yan Chi and Shen Mingsu thank Xingluo for his outstanding contributions to their love, Shen Chang Le saw Xingluo proudly raise his glass in a toast, while he expressionlessly drank a glass of juice.
He didn't want to sit at the children's table!
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