Chapter 116
After Shen Xili spoke, Shen Shuyu obediently played games. The cleaning next door took nearly two hours. By the time Wen Jiafei finished everything, it was almost five o’clock.
Shen Xili glanced at his watch and said, “Time’s about right. Let’s go, gentlemen. I’m treating you to hotpot.”
The hotpot restaurant wasn’t far; it was on the way to where Shen Xili and Wen Jiafei worked. Because it was a new store with good promotions, it was only just past five-thirty, but several tables were already occupied.
The waiter led the three to a quiet corner and handed them the menu. Shen Xili was in charge of ordering. Shen Shuyu observed the store’s environment, while Wen Jiafei dutifully scalded their bowls and chopsticks.
Shen Xili ticked off a bunch of dishes, then handed the menu to them. “Want to see if there’s anything else you want?”
“No need. Guest follows the host’s convenience,” Shen Shuyu said. “When someone else treats, all we need to do is wait to eat.”
Wen Jiafei also said no need.
Shen Xili smiled. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll order ten plates of celery?”
Shen Shuyu exclaimed “Hah!” and joked, “If you dare order that, I dare flip this table.”
Shen Xili made a frightened expression and handed the menu to a passing waiter.
This restaurant served food very quickly. Soon, the table was filled. The bright red spicy pot and the light mushroom soup pot boiled continuously, the aroma wafting up instantly.
Shen Shuyu sniffed. It smelled really good, a bit like the Sichuan-Chongqing hotpot from his past life.
In the interstellar world, although there were many delicious foods and hotpots, to suit local tastes, most hotpot restaurants had been modified. A while ago, Shen Shuyu even saw a nutrient solution hotpot. Looking at that hotpot, his silence was deafening.
Shen Xili said, “Don’t just stare. Eat.”
Shen Shuyu waited for the spicy pot to boil. Finally, it bubbled. He picked up a piece of meat, tasted it, and immediately felt the burn. The spicy pot was scalding, numbing, and spicy. He gulped down several mouthfuls of icy drink before feeling better.
What’s happening? Why can’t I handle spice anymore? Shen Shuyu felt like he was losing his dreams.
Watching him gasp from the spice, Shen Xili couldn’t help laughing. “Is it that exaggerated? I ordered mild spicy.”
Shen Shuyu gave a dry “Haha” and put a piece of meat from the spicy pot into Shen Xili’s bowl. “Please.”
Shen Xili looked at the meat coated in chili oil in his bowl and pursed his lips. Shen Shuyu glanced at Wen Jiafei sitting on the other side. He put a piece in Wen Jiafei’s dish too. “Don’t be left out. Taste it.”
Wen Jiafei pursed his lips, picked up the meat, and put it in his mouth.
Shen Shuyu watched the two chew expressionlessly and asked doubtfully, “Do you really not feel it’s spicy?”
Could that bite just now have been an accident?
Shen Shuyu looked at the spicy pot again. Thinking about it, he picked up another piece of meat and put it in his mouth.
Just as he put it in his mouth, he saw the people sitting on either side of him pick up their icy drinks in perfect sync and take two gulps.
Maybe because he was mentally prepared, this bite wasn’t as exaggerated as the first. He scoffed coldly, “Since when are you two so in sync?”
Really woke up on the wrong side of the bed. The Protagonist Shou and the Villain developed useless chemistry.
Shen Xili was fine, but Wen Jiafei’s lips looked a shade redder from the spice. He didn’t make a sound, just silently drank his icy drink.
However, after this episode, the atmosphere among the three became more harmonious. When Shen Shuyu and the two walked out of the hotpot restaurant, the sky outside had turned completely dark.
In winter, daylight was shortest no matter where you were.
Shen Shuyu burped. His mouth was bright red from the hotpot. He exhaled, and white breath was visible under the lights.
Shen Shuyu shrank his neck. “Alright, it’s getting late. Everyone go home.”
Shen Xili said, “I’ll walk you?”
Shen Shuyu waved his hand. “No need. My home isn’t far, right next to the school. I’ll stroll to digest the food; I’ll be there soon.”
The school actually wasn’t far from here. Shen Shuyu calculated the distance roughly; it was a fifteen-minute walk at most. At this time, nightlife was just beginning. There were people everywhere; it was very lively.
Shen Xili still wanted to insist on sending him, but Shen Shuyu waved his hand. “Leaving. See you at school.”
Wen Jiafei hummed. “Goodbye.”
Shen Xili glanced at Wen Jiafei and had to give up the idea of walking him home. “Goodbye.”
Shen Shuyu turned and walked toward his home. Only after his figure disappeared did Shen Xili ask, “And you? How are you going back?”
Wen Jiafei said, “Bus.”
Shen Xili nodded. “Then I’m leaving.”
Wen Jiafei hummed. “Goodbye.”
“Bye.”
The three disbanded on the spot. Shen Xili stretched as he walked. Passing a shop window, he saw a prince figure in a suit inside. It was quite cute, looking like Shen Shuyu.
Shen Xili stared at it for a while, the corners of his mouth curving up, then continued walking slowly. There were two roads to his apartment complex: a bright main road, and another through an alley that led directly to the complex entrance—a shortcut.
Shen Xili walked leisurely into the alley. Although there were lights, it was still dim and quiet, with many obstructions and no surveillance. It was easy for things to happen.
After nightfall, almost no one chose to take this shortcut.
Shen Xili didn’t care. He hummed an unknown tune. After finishing a verse, footsteps were exceptionally distinct in the dim alley. Not just his footsteps, but someone else’s too.
Shen Xili loosened his limbs, tilted his head, and suddenly sprinted forward. The footsteps behind him immediately accelerated too.
Soon, Shen Xili’s figure disappeared into the alley. The stalker stopped, cursed under his breath, realizing the kid had spotted him.
Looks like I have to use other methods. The stalker took out his terminal and sent a message to someone. After sending it, he prepared to leave the alley to search for the person. Just as he took two steps, he sensed the aura behind him was different. He spun around, only to see a stick smashing down viciously.
His reaction was extremely fast; he immediately retreated two steps to avoid a direct hit to the head.
He steadied himself. Borrowing the dim light, he finally saw clearly who had attacked him. It was Shen Xili, whom he had lost.
Shen Xili held the stick in his right hand and shook it. “Quite alert.”
Shen Xili looked at the man in front of him. He was a very ordinary Alpha, dressed entirely in black, as if trying to merge with the night.
But this person didn’t seem to be the one stalking him during the day.
He pointed the stick at the man. “Speak. Who sent you?”
The man didn’t speak, but Shen Xili saw a dagger suddenly appear in his right hand. Shen Xili raised an eyebrow. “Looks like you want a fight.”
The man remained silent, gripping the dagger and rushing up, stabbing viciously at Shen Xili. Shen Xili blocked with the stick, but another dagger suddenly appeared in the man’s left hand, stabbing toward Shen Xili’s arm.
Shen Xili kicked him sharply, but the blade tip still sliced the skin of his forearm. Beads of blood began to seep out. He looked down at it, his expression turning serious.
The man in front of him lowered his eyes, glancing at the dagger in his left hand where blood beads rolled off the tip. He looked up, his voice hoarse: “S, I’m just here to take back what belongs to us.”
“It really is you guys.” Shen Xili sneered. “What belongs to you? I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
He tightened his grip on the stick and rushed forward again. This time, he didn’t hold back, aiming every strike at the opponent’s vital points.
In a one-on-one fight, the man was no match for Shen Xili. He had only injured him by luck earlier. Once the fight truly started, he retreated again and again.
Seizing the opportunity, Shen Xili kicked him to the ground. The two daggers fell to the ground with soft clatters.
Shen Xili’s stick dragged against the ground as he walked over step by step. Expressionless, he stepped on the man’s chest, pressing the stick against his forehead. Looking down from above, he said, “I have no relationship with you anymore, nor do I know what you’re talking about. Don’t disturb my life in the future.”
The man wasn’t angry. Lying on the ground looking at Shen Xili, he suddenly laughed. “S, you and us are inseparable. Did you think leaving us would erase your past?”
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