Chapter 14: Borrowed Flavor
Ao Chen: “…”
“And I think your… this, looks very much like a koi,” Wang Ming pointed to the shimmering golden scales visible beneath the wide sleeves of Ao Chen’s robe.
Ao Chen: “…”
Under Wang Ming’s gaze, Ao Chen dispelled his magical form, reverting to the modern attire they’d first met in—a suit and tie, the image of a domineering CEO.
“I think… you looked better a moment ago,” Wang Ming said.
“Thank you,” Ao Chen politely nodded but showed no intention of changing back.
Wang Ming: “…”
Whatever, I’m not his manager, why should I care what he looks like? Wang Ming shrugged inwardly.
“So, uhm, what do you want for breakfast?” After a somewhat awkward silence, Wang Ming asked.
He was about to go out to get something to eat. Since they were living together and not yet divorced, Wang Ming felt it wasn’t a big deal to bring him breakfast, so he asked Ao Chen.
“No need, thank you,” Ao Chen shook his head, politely declining Wang Ming’s offer.
“Okay, I’m going to buy breakfast then.” Wang Ming greeted Ao Chen, changed his shoes, and left.
He felt that Ao Chen, with his ethereal aura, might be a fairy who doesn’t need to eat.
I wonder if they have a patent on this technique, Wang Ming thought as he walked down the morning street, his thoughts wandering.
If they could teach me, how much money I could save in a lifetime, Wang Ming, with his “no free lunch” mentality, seriously pondered the matter and decided to subtly inquire about Ao Chen’s secret to not eating when he returned. If he could learn this skill, even better. If not, broadening his horizons wouldn’t hurt either.
Thinking this, Wang Ming happily entered a bun shop.
He was somewhat familiar with this bun shop.
In fact, when he was looking for a place to stay, Wang Ming had thoroughly explored this area for a few days, looking for small, local shops catering to nearby residents, the kind located in older residential areas.
These shops were usually old establishments that had been in business for at least 10 or 20 years, relying on the patronage of local residents. Generally speaking, they offered good value for money, otherwise they wouldn’t have been able to stay in business for so long.
Wang Ming, being shrewd, had first found such a great little shop and only then decided to rent an apartment nearby.
Now, he happily entered the bustling bun shop.
“You’re here, buddy?” The owner of the bun shop greeted Wang Ming warmly.
“Hey, old man,” Wang Ming responded appropriately, then ordered a steamer basket of buns.
He had originally intended to eat at the shop, but today the shop was busier than usual.
As soon as Wang Ming sat down, he saw a couple with a child looking anxiously for a seat. Even if they shared a table with Wang Ming, there still wasn’t enough space for everyone.
“I’ll wait outside,” the father said.
Their child obviously didn’t want him to go, grabbing his father’s hand and offering his seat.
Wang Ming: “…”
Wang Ming gave up his seat, leaving without fanfare amidst the family’s gratitude. He left with a bag of buns.
I should be okay if I eat them at home, right? Wang Ming thought.
That fairy seems to be someone who doesn’t eat human food, if I eat them, he shouldn’t be jealous, right? Wang Ming considered things from his fiancé’s point of view.
It’s fine if he is, I can just give him a couple, Wang Ming thought kindly.
He then looked down at the paper bag of buns.
“One pair, two pairs, three pairs, four pairs…” Wang Ming counted the buns in pairs, then gritted his teeth and decided he could give his fiancé five buns.
In a mood of high-mindedness, Wang Ming returned to his apartment.
Then he saw a group of people in white uniforms entering and exiting his apartment building; some even pushing gas canisters.
Wang Ming: “…”
“Excuse me, what are you doing?” Wang Ming asked.
“Sir, this is a catering service the resident here ordered,” one of the chefs politely explained.
Wang Ming: “…”
Wang Ming looked at his buns, feeling like he’d wasted his efforts.
After Wang Ming explained things to the people in white uniforms and finally squeezed through the narrow doorway into his apartment, he saw Ao Chen, in his domineering CEO style, sitting in his humble living room, looking like he was making an incognito visit, waiting for his meal.
Wang Ming: “…”
What in the world is this? Wang Ming thought.
Today I have really seen the diversity of humanity, Wang Ming thought.
Then he realized his statement… was not quite accurate.
Is my earthly fiancé really human? Wang Ming thought. And, is this heavenly match really okay? Is there no reproductive isolation between us?
Wang Ming started asking ten thousand “why” questions in his mind, none of which he could answer on his own.
“You’re back.”
Ao Chen saw Wang Ming squeezing through the narrow doorway and greeted him.
“Yeah,” Wang Ming nodded in response.
“I ordered some food, do you want to eat something?” Ao Chen reciprocated Wang Ming’s earlier offer of bringing him food.
Wang Ming: “…”
You call this ordering food? Wang Ming thought. This is practically ordering from a hotel! Wang Ming thought indignantly.
“Thanks, I’m not hungry,” Wang Ming formally shook his head, then saw the two baskets of buns he had bought.
Wang Ming: “…”
“I mean, I bought it myself,” Wang Ming corrected himself, feeling as meticulous as a Nobel laureate.
Ao Chen: “…”
Ao Chen watched Wang Ming return to his room and close the door to a new world.
Wang Ming hugged his buns, rolled onto the bed, rested for a while, then decided to eat the suddenly unappetizing buns.
While eating, Wang Ming sensed something was wrong.
The once unappetizing buns were now emitting a delicious aroma.
Have I hallucinated myself hungry? Wang Ming thought.
Soon, Wang Ming understood why his buns suddenly became so fragrant.
The aroma wasn’t emanating from the buns in his hand.
It was coming from the closed door – the aroma of Ao Chen’s catering service.
Wang Ming: “…”
No free lunch, Wang Ming thought.
He then grabbed a small stool, sat by the slightly ajar door, and ate his buns, enjoying the alluring aroma of the food.
The buns suddenly tasted much better, Wang Ming thought.
Isn’t this even better? Wang Ming thought, biting into a bun and eating it with relish.
——
Meanwhile, Ao Chen had finished his exquisite meal.
The numerous staff in white uniforms who had been bustling in the kitchen had left, leaving Ao Chen alone to enjoy the meal.
With a gentlemanly manner, he used the swan-shaped napkin left by the staff to wipe his mouth, showing no trace of the incredible speed he had eaten.
After tidying up his appearance, Ao Chen looked at the untouched dishes on the table.
They were for Wang Ming.
When Wang Ming was talking to him, he seemed to clearly see Wang Ming’s drool forming.
However, Ao Chen couldn’t be entirely sure whether his earthly fiancé was craving his catering service or the buns he’d bought.
Thinking this, Ao Chen decided to ask Wang Ming again if he wanted to try his breakfast.
Ao Chen then went to Wang Ming’s door.
He moved extremely fast; if anyone saw this, they would likely see a human-shaped afterimage on their retinas.
The idiom “walking with the wind” probably describes this perfectly.
Perhaps because of Ao Chen’s speed, or perhaps because Wang Ming had been sniffing the aroma of the stir-fried and stewed dishes from outside.
In short, when Ao Chen arrived at the door of Wang Ming’s cramped bedroom at light speed, the wind he generated blew open Wang Ming’s door.
Then Ao Chen saw a sight he would never forget.
Wang Ming was sitting on a small stool very close to the slightly open door.
He held a bun in his hand, his head leaning towards the crack in the door, sniffing, his face displaying a “delicious” expression.