Chapter 131
Shen Shuyu instinctively wanted to lean back, but Shen Xili held him fast, immobile.
This guy looked half-dead just a moment ago; how is he still this strong?!
Resigned, Shen Shuyu gave up struggling. He let Shen Xili hold his collar and asked, “What are you doing?”
Shen Xili’s gaze rested on his face. Noticing Shen Shuyu’s resigned expression, he asked in a low voice, “How did you know?”
Shen Xili’s voice was still raspy, and if one listened carefully, a slight tremor could be heard in his tone.
But Shen Shuyu didn’t notice. He countered, “Then what is that thing under your chest?”
Shen Xili pulled him a bit closer, his eyes dark and deep, as if something unable to be hidden was about to burst forth.
Shen Shuyu didn’t understand Shen Xili’s current look, so he simply said, “I guessed.”
“Guessed?” Shen Xili clearly didn’t believe this reason.
Shen Shuyu retorted self-righteously, “Is guessing it such a surprising thing? My brother’s friend, Yue Cheng, is a medical genius. Isn’t it normal that I stumbled upon the right guess? Besides, you were clutching your chest the whole time; anyone with eyes could see where you were hurting.”
“Fake,” Shen Xili commented, but he finally released his grip.
Shen Shuyu didn’t want to talk about it. There was no point in him asking further; Shuyu surely had more nonsense prepared to stall him.
Shen Shuyu rubbed his wrinkled collar over his chest. “So, you don’t want to go home; does it have something to do with that wriggling thing in your body?”
The bug in Shen Xili’s chest had quieted down, and his complexion was gradually improving. Hearing Shen Shuyu’s words, he didn’t say anything. He just supported his body and stood up from the bedside. “I’ll shower and head over.”
Fine, if he doesn’t want to say, forget it.
Shen Shuyu stood up as well and walked slowly out of the bedroom, not noticing the gaze Shen Xili cast upon his back.
Shen Shuyu returned to Wen Jiafei’s home just in time to see Wen Jiafei bringing out the cooked dishes. Shen Shuyu went over to greet Wen Yue first, telling her Shen Xili would be there momentarily, then ducked into the kitchen.
The heating system in the house was good; Wen Jiafei had already taken off his jacket and was wearing a white T-shirt.
He glanced at Shen Shuyu, his eyes naturally falling on his collar. It was wrinkled.
Wen Jiafei withdrew his gaze and added salt to the soup.
Shen Shuyu sniffed. “Smells great.”
Wen Jiafei hummed an assent, then asked, pretending to be casual, “Did you fight with Shen Xili?”
“No,” Shen Shuyu didn’t understand why Wen Jiafei asked that. “He said he’s taking a shower and will come over after.”
Wen Jiafei asked no more. Shen Shuyu stood aside watching him, while recalling Shen Xili’s state just now.
Shen Xili looked in pain, but not surprised at all. That black bug must have been planted in his body long ago.
When exactly was the bug planted? And what was the solution?
Shen Shuyu got lost in thought.
“Shen Shuyu, Shen Shuyu?”
Shen Shuyu jerked his head up, seeing Wen Jiafei standing in front of him. Confused, he asked, “What?”
Wen Jiafei said, “I need to get something.”
Shen Shuyu looked behind him and realized the washed green vegetables were sitting on the counter behind his back.
He hurriedly picked up the vegetables. “Here.”
Wen Jiafei took the vegetables but didn’t rush to cook. Instead, he asked, “Did something happen?”
Shen Shuyu shook his head. “Nothing. I was just thinking about what to buy for Auntie next time I come.”
He had come empty-handed. On the way, he had wanted to buy fruit or something, but Wen Jiafei had refused, saying they just needed to eat together and didn’t need to stand on ceremony.
Wen Jiafei stared at him silently for a while longer, finally saying, “Mn.”
If he didn’t want to say, he wouldn’t ask.
Shen Shuyu let out a breath. He leaned in proactively, glancing up at Wen Jiafei’s gland. “By the way, Wen Jiafei, have you seen a doctor about your gland?”
“No need,” Wen Jiafei responded.
His disabled gland hadn’t affected his growth, so whether he saw a doctor or not didn’t matter much.
Besides, last time Shen Shuyu…
Shen Shuyu pursed his lips. “Fine.”
Shen Shuyu had interrupted Wen Jiafei’s train of thought. He snapped back, turned on the stove, and focused on cooking the last vegetable dish.
Shen Shuyu watched his practiced movements. The arm muscles under his short sleeves were smooth and firm, looking very reliable.
It was great. He had unlocked a plot outside the main storyline, which meant Wen Jiafei could live well with Wen Yue. He wouldn’t turn dark, nor would he become muddled and lost.
Shen Shuyu stretched. Everyone’s life trajectory was gradually improving. Next up to solve was Shen Xili’s.
Speak of the devil, and the devil arrives.
Shen Xili entered from the main door. He had changed into warm-colored clothes. Although his face still looked a bit poor, it was much better than when Shen Shuyu had gone over earlier.
Shen Xili was holding a bouquet of flowers. He walked toward Wen Yue with a warm smile. “Auntie, I didn’t know what you liked, so I bought you a bouquet.”
Wen Yue laughed. “Thank you, Xili. But don’t buy these in the future. Save your money properly, understood?”
Living opposite each other and knowing Wen Jiafei, Wen Yue naturally knew a bit about Shen Xili’s situation.
Shen Xili nodded. “Okay, from now on I’ll just bring my thick skin and come to mooch meals.”
Wen Yue held the flowers and smiled. “Sure, Auntie is happy if you’re willing to come.”
She sniffed the flowers in her arms. “I’ll go put them in a vase.”
Shen Xili nodded. Wen Yue stood up and took Meimei to find a vase.
Shen Xili looked toward the kitchen, just in time to see Shen Shuyu standing at the doorway with a complicated expression. He tilted his head, stood up from the sofa, and walked over. “What’s with the face?”
Acting completely normal, as if the incident where he grabbed Shen Shuyu’s collar and interrogated him hadn’t happened.
Shen Shuyu huffed and said expressionlessly, “Sooner or later, I’m going to beat up overachievers like you.”
Shen Xili chuckled.
Wen Yue enjoyed the meal immensely. Wen Jiafei was a man of few words, but Shen Xili and Shen Shuyu were conversationalists, coaxing Wen Yue until the smile never left her face. She even had half a bowl of extra rice.
After the meal, Shen Xili proactively took on the cleanup duties. Shen Shuyu wasn’t about to be outdone—what a joke, he had already been out-classed in the flower department; if he didn’t do this little task, how could he have the face to come back?
By the time they finished cleaning, it was getting late. Although Wen Yue’s health was improving, the doctor advised plenty of rest.
Shen Shuyu petted Meimei again. “Auntie, I’ll head home first. I’ll visit you again next time.”
Wen Yue nodded. “Okay, Auntie will wait for you. Next time you come, Auntie will bake you a cake.”
Shen Shuyu smiled and nodded. Beside him, Wen Jiafei had already put on his heavy coat. “I’ll walk you.”
Shen Shuyu was about to say no need, but Wen Yue said to Wen Jiafei, “Make sure you watch Shuyu get upstairs before coming back. The weather is getting colder, go put on another sweater.”
Hearing this, Wen Jiafei went back to the bedroom to add a sweater.
Watching from the side, Shen Xili pursed his lips and lowered his eyes.
Shen Shuyu noticed it naturally. While he was pondering, he saw Shen Xili look up. “Auntie, I’ll walk him too, and come back with Jiafei later. You go rest quickly.”
“Alright, you two can look out for each other.” Wen Yue patted Shen Shuyu’s head. “Come play often.”
Meimei seemed to sense Shen Shuyu was leaving. It rubbed against his feet, meowing reluctantly.
Shen Shuyu petted it again.
Soon, Wen Jiafei came out wearing the sweater.
The three went out the door. Shen Xili went home first to grab a jacket. That’s when Shen Shuyu remembered something missing from Shen Xili’s home.
He asked, “Where is your Yuan Yuan?”
Shen Xili replied, “Adopted by someone.”
Adopted?
Shen Shuyu said, “Weren’t you feeding it just fine? Why give it away?”
Wen Jiafei also looked at him.
Shen Xili said “Ah” and explained, “Isn’t schoolwork heavy? I’m not home often, and no one plays with it, so I just let someone with more time keep it company.”
That was true. Shen Xili left early and returned late, occasionally working part-time to earn money. He indeed didn’t have much time to raise a dog.
Shen Shuyu nodded. “True.”
But it was a bit of a pity. When he visited back then, Shen Xili had raised Yuan Yuan very well; the little dog even wore cute clothes.
He couldn’t help glancing at Shen Xili again, his mood somewhat chaotic.
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