Chapter 137
In the end, Shen Xili didn’t explain why he didn’t want to return to the Shen family. Shen Shuyu wasn’t in a rush; after all, finding the Mother Bug was the key right now.
He looked at the drawing in the notebook, then carefully tucked it into his pocket. Shen Xili glanced at him, pursing his lips, looking sullen.
As the two walked toward the school, passing a milk tea shop, Shen Shuyu suddenly stopped. He walked to the entrance and ordered two hot milk teas, then turned to ask, “What do you want?”
Shen Xili walked over. “The same.”
Shen Shuyu added another cup to the order. Shen Xili asked, “You’re drinking two?”
“No, the other one is for Wen Jiafei.” Shen Shuyu put his hands in his pockets. He looked at the roadside and yawned. “Hot milk tea should be perfect in this weather.”
Shen Xili watched him staring blankly at the road. “You have a really good relationship with him.”
“Of course, we’re friends. Shouldn’t our relationship be good?” Shen Shuyu smiled. “He said something similar to what you said this morning.”
“Mn?” Shen Xili was puzzled. “Something similar?”
Shen Shuyu said, “When we were talking this morning, he saw us. He was behind us the whole time. I asked why he didn’t come up to say hi, and he said he was afraid we had secrets he couldn’t listen to.”
Shen Shuyu chuckled as he finished speaking. “First time I’ve heard him say something like that. Quite fresh.”
Shen Xili looked thoughtful. Just then, the milk tea was ready.
Shen Shuyu had one cup packed separately and handed the single one to Shen Xili, interrupting his thoughts. Shen Xili took the milk tea. “Thanks.”
Shen Shuyu picked up the other two cups. Afraid they would get cold on the walk back, he specifically tucked them inside his down jacket, protecting them against his chest with both hands. “Go, go, go. Let’s get back quickly. It’s freezing.”
Shen Xili watched him protecting the milk tea, then looked down at the one in his hand. Suddenly, he felt an indescribable feeling.
Shen Shuyu walked a couple of steps and noticed Shen Xili hadn’t followed. He turned his head. “What are you dazing off for? Let’s go.”
Shen Xili snapped out of it and responded in a low voice, “Coming.”
Soon, Shen Shuyu returned to the classroom.
Sure enough, Wen Jiafei was sitting in the classroom reading. Shuyu walked over and stood in front of Wen Jiafei’s desk, but the other didn’t even look up.
Shen Shuyu waited for a moment. Seeing he had no intention of looking up, he muttered, “Won’t you even look up to see who it is?”
Only at his voice did Wen Jiafei slowly raise his head. “You’re back.”
Shen Shuyu hummed. Then he opened his down jacket and took the hot milk tea out from inside. “Brought this for you.”
He took out one cup and placed it on Shen Xili’s desk, then placed the other on the adjacent desk before walking around to sit down himself.
Shen Shuyu cupped the milk tea with both hands and sighed. “My jacket’s insulation is really good.”
The milk tea was still warm.
The heating in the classroom was sufficient, so there was no fear of it getting cold quickly.
Wen Jiafei looked at his cup, then at his own. For some reason, the gloom in his heart from noon suddenly vanished.
He watched Shen Shuyu pierce the lid with a straw and take a big sip, hearing him mutter, “So tasty. No wonder some people like to drink a cup a day.”
Wen Jiafei blinked lightly. He also inserted his straw and took a sip. Indeed, it was sweeter than usual.
After school.
Shen Shuyu and Wen Jiafei walked out of the gate together. They weren’t going in the same direction. Usually, Shen Shuyu would have happily said bye-bye to Wen Jiafei by now, but today he followed him.
Wen Jiafei looked at him. Shen Shuyu said, “I have plans with Shen Xili.”
Wen Jiafei pursed his lips slightly. “Mn.”
Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.
Shen Xili, carrying his bag over one shoulder, walked out of the academy. He came up to Shen Shuyu. “Let’s go, you two.”
The three set off again.
Not long after they left, Chi Yanxun stood in the spot where they had initially stood. His face was dark as he watched the three retreating figures until they were out of sight. Only then did he get into the private car picking him up.
The three arrived at the residential complex where Shen Xili and Wen Jiafei lived. Wen Jiafei asked, “Eating at my place?”
Shen Shuyu waved his hand. “No need, I’ll just eat at Shen Xili’s. Next time.”
Wen Jiafei glanced at Shen Xili but didn’t insist. He opened his door and went home.
Shen Xili also opened his door and let Shen Shuyu walk in first.
The room was warm. Having walked a long way, Shen Shuyu had already worked up a sweat. He took off his coat as soon as he entered and asked in confusion, “Shen Xili, wasn’t your place quite tidy last time? Why is it so messy today?”
Shen Xili, who was closing the door, paused. He walked quickly into the living room. It was obvious that the room had been disturbed. Although there had been an attempt to restore it, it was much messier than before.
Seeing Shen Xili’s grave expression, Shen Shuyu instantly realized what happened. He frowned and looked again at the places that had been rummaged through—drawers and such. Shen Shuyu asked, “He was here?”
Currently, apart from Zhong, he couldn’t think of anyone who would ransack Shen Xili’s home for no reason.
Shen Xili stopped beside Shen Shuyu. He hummed an assent. “Looks like it.”
It was quite ironic. Last night he explored Zhong’s home, and today it was his turn to be burglarized.
Shen Xili checked all the rooms. The person was gone. Aside from being turned upside down, nothing was missing; even the cash left out casually hadn’t been taken.
It seemed the intruder had the same idea as when they went to his house—looking for something.
Shen Shuyu was about to open his mouth when the terminal in his pocket beeped. He took it out to look. The sender was… Shen Xili?
Shen Shuyu looked up at Shen Xili, who was in the same room, but opened the message anyway.
[Shen Xili: There might be bugs listening.]
Zhong was a hardcore insect breeding expert. When it came to raising all sorts of messy bugs, no one could beat him. Moreover, these bugs were tiny and inconspicuous. To ordinary people, they were useless, but for him, he could collect information through them.
Shen Shuyu felt goosebumps rise all over his body. He looked left and right, then sent a message to Shen Xili: [What do we do? Should we go to my place first?]
The reason they met at Shen Xili’s place was that it was closer to the slums. It would save time when they went over later.
Shen Xili replied: [No. Leaving without a suitable reason will make him suspicious.]
Thinking that there might be bugs monitoring them, Shen Shuyu shivered.
Soon, Shen Xili sent another message: [Just say something irrelevant. Be natural. After eating, I’ll walk you out, and we can leave then.]
That was the only way.
Shen Shuyu put away his terminal and asked, “What for dinner?”
“There are instant noodles in the cupboard. How about I order you takeout?” Shen Xili said while looking around, seemingly searching for the listening bug.
Shen Shuyu took a breath and started searching too, his mouth not stopping. “First time I visit your home, and you treat me to instant noodles? Isn’t that a bit too stingy?”
“Not stingy. If it were others, I’d give them water and send them off.” Shen Xili looked up at the ceiling.
Hearing this, Shen Shuyu turned back and gave him a thumbs up. “Awesome.”
Shen Xili looked at him and smiled. “How about I order you some food?”
“Why don’t you take me out for a hotpot?” Shen Shuyu shook his head at him, indicating he found nothing.
Shen Xili jutted his chin toward the bedroom, and the two walked into the bedroom together.
The traces of rummaging were more obvious in the bedroom. Shen Xili turned on the light. They exchanged a glance and tacitly divided the room into zones.
No one spoke this time; both searched carefully.
But finding a sudden listening device was one thing; finding a bug was undoubtedly like finding a needle in a haystack.
Shen Shuyu couldn’t help but sigh. Just as he was about to turn around, he glimpsed a small black dot in the corner of the windowsill.
He gave Shen Xili a look. They lightened their steps and slowly walked to the windowsill. Once they saw it clearly, they looked at each other.
Found it.
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