Chapter 35: Overnight Stay
Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations
Editor: Karai
A little after five, Xu You sent Shi Wenze a WeChat message: “I’m staying at the old house tonight. Not coming back to the tattoo parlor. You guys do whatever.”
Shi Wenze replied: “We’re not at that point yet.”
Xu You immediately complained: “How can you say something so embarrassing out loud?”
Shi Wenze fired off a 60-second voice message, patient and filled with “love and peace,” explaining: “Because your test scores are still awful, Lin Su keeps being reminded of my delinquent high school days. That’s why he refuses to move forward with me. Now do you realize who’s dragging Dad down? How many questions have you memorized? Want him to personally supervise you?”
At the phrase “personally supervise,” Xu You shuddered. The horror was on par with a midnight ghost story. He immediately crammed three more answers to push back the creeping fear.
By the time Shi Wenze returned to Hefeng Alley with Lin Su, arms full of bags, it was already dark. They’d planned to eat out, but Lin Su preferred the backyard in the evening glow, so he pulled out his phone to order delivery. The top-rated choice was Mei Mei Mei Diner.
“Is it any good?” he asked.
“It’s decent. Right at the end of the alley. Xu You and I order from there all the time,” Shi Wenze said. “I’ll order. You go wash your hands and have some fruit.”
Lin Su padded downstairs in Shi Wenze’s slippers. He’d seen the same pair in the mall earlier but hadn’t bought them. Even if his boyfriend was still in the “future tense,” shared property could exist in the now. Like they’d already been married for years—casual, comfortable, no boundaries. That kind of domestic feeling was dangerously addictive.
A few minutes later, Shi Wenze joined him in the kitchen, phone in hand. “These look okay?”
Lin Su glanced, then casually fed him a strawberry. “Looks good.”
They spent some time unpacking the new dishware. Every item came in sets of three. Yes, three—one set for Xu You. It sounded both absurd and oddly touching. If one had to explain it, maybe it was that “in a blended family, you don’t shortchange the kid.” It wouldn’t feel right for the whole kitchen to be stocked with perfectly matched utensils while Xu You still used some freebie bowl with a giant hot chicken logo on it.
Unaware he’d already been absorbed into a new household, Xu You was still upstairs grinding through his flashcards.
Mei Mei Mei Diner worked fast. Shi Wenze had only washed half the plates when the delivery guy knocked on the door. Lin Su frowned. “Are you sure this is ours? Feels like way too much food.”
“No mistake,” the delivery guy said cheerfully. “Boss said the extras are a treat for Brother Shi. The sodas too. Please give me a five-star rating, thanks, handsome.”
Lin Su almost dropped the bags—they were that heavy. Shi Wenze had ordered spicy dry pot shrimp and ribs. The owner had thrown in duck wings and fish for free, along with four bottles of Coke and some cucumber salad. Lin Su eyed him suspiciously. “Okay, what kind of shady deal do you have going on with this diner owner?”
Shi Wenze felt wrongfully accused. “I swear, it’s strictly a business relationship.” He called the diner, and the owner’s wife answered, laughing so hard her voice nearly bubbled through the phone. She said they were trying out new dishes and wanted honest feedback from loyal customers. Also, if Shi Wenze had time later, she wanted to ask him for a favor.
So there it was—no such thing as a free duck wing. Still, the food was amazing. Halfway through dinner, a neighbor auntie dropped off a bundle of grapes from her backyard. Shi Wenze dashed into the kitchen, returned the favor with two melons, and walked her to the door. When he came back, Lin Su was leaning on one arm, quietly staring at him.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Nothing,” Lin Su said. “Just remembered how in high school, you barely spoke to anyone.”
Back then, Shi Wenze had been aloof, always alone, uninterested in people or approval—careless and solitary. But the man in front of him now was a complete 180: warm, neighborly, effortlessly likeable.
“Do you think I’ve changed for the better?” Shi Wenze asked.
Lin Su answered, “I think both versions were good.”
The past and the present were both him. And to Lin Su, that was all that mattered. He didn’t need to be principled about it. He didn’t want to be. Shi Wenze hadn’t expected that answer. For a moment, he froze, then smiled and reached out, brushing Lin Su’s cheek with the back of his finger. “Then I’ll try to be even better.”
Lin Su turned his head slightly. That little patch of skin was now warm to the touch. It was funny—he could look at his half-naked boyfriend without blushing, but one small touch still made his breath catch. Butterflies in your stomach really was the most adorable phrase ever coined.
After dinner, they cleaned the kitchen, then strolled together to the diner to see how they could help. The owner was at the stove, yelling over the sizzle of oil. When he saw Shi Wenze, he laughed. “Ah Hong’s in the back. Just saying she missed you. Go on.”
Lin Su narrowed his eyes. Ah Hong? That definitely sounded like a girl with long black braids and big, watery eyes. The vibe screamed old-school romance ballad. But in the back, they found that Ah Hong was actually the owner’s wife—mid-fifties at least, her phone voice had undersold how cheerful she really was. She had a worker bring out sunflower seeds and fruit, then cleared her throat like she was preparing for a serious heart-to-heart.
Shi Wenze’s instincts screamed danger. He hadn’t encountered this in human society, but he’d seen this many times in the monster world. The matchmaking curtain was about to rise. He tried to stand up and leave. Too late.
Despite his visible tattoos and general “bad influence” aura, the lady had taken a shine to him—because her daughter had. So she came prepared. She offered a generous deal: if Shi Wenze was willing to join Mei Mei Mei Diner and walk the path of honest work, then not only would the diner be his, but also seven storefronts in the city center and an entire building near the second ring road.
Lin Su looked thoroughly baffled, and Shi Wenze was so stunned he didn’t even react at first. He rejected the offer as politely as he could, then practically dragged Lin Su out of there. Free Coke was clearly a gateway drug. He decided right then—he wasn’t eating here again. Lin Su didn’t say a word on the way back. Shi Wenze felt wronged, but he also understood. That boss lady had come on a little strong. He squeezed Lin Su’s fingers gently. “Don’t be mad.”
“I’m not mad,” Lin Su replied. Shi Wenze didn’t believe him. But Lin Su really wasn’t mad. He was just… puzzled. He’d had plenty of admirers too—different genders, different species, different nationalities. Yet not one of them had ever shown up to hit on him in front of Shi Wenze. How was that fair? He was genuinely sulking.
Shi Wenze kept apologizing anyway. He went from holding Lin Su’s hand to hugging his entire arm, then had him fully pulled into a hug by the time they got home. Who cared about subscription status when it came to wooing your man?
Lin Su’s back pressed against Shi Wenze’s chest. He could feel that steady heartbeat and the heat of his body through the T-shirt—way too distracting for sulking. He tried to pull away, but only got hugged tighter. Shi Wenze whispered into his ear, “Stay over tonight. Don’t go back to Qinghu Garden, okay?”
“What does that have to do with what we’re talking about?”
“Everything,” Shi Wenze said. “I’m not letting you go until you forgive me.”
Lin Su figured… yeah, he could stay mad a little longer.
His phone buzzed in his pocket. Shi Wenze didn’t let go, answering it one-handed. It was Zhou Yuansong on the line, asking about the Xia Jiayang concert.
“Yeah,” Shi Wenze said. “Yu Feizheng’s fiancée, Linghu Tangtang, is a big fan. The concert’s a good chance to get close to her.”
“Okay. Can you come to the office tomorrow?”
“Can’t tonight,” Shi Wenze said flatly. “I’m busy chasing someone.”
Zhou Yuansong sounded skeptical. “Everyone knows you already have a wife, how are you still—hello? Hello?”
Shi Wenze hung up, leaned in, and bit Lin Su’s ear. It didn’t work.
“Since when do you have a wife?” Lin Su asked, totally unimpressed.
“I don’t. Just trying to secure the title early,” Shi Wenze said. “To keep others from getting ideas.”
“You’re really planning to just keep hugging me like this?”
“Yup,” he said shamelessly. “Unless you promise to stay the night. Say yes and I’ll let go.”
Lin Su thought to himself: I didn’t really want to stay over. But he’s leaving me no choice. Normal citizens have no defense against a professional pursuer. So this? This was an act of God. Shi Wenze and Lin Su had completely missed syncing on the same mental wavelength, but Shi Wenze knew he’d achieved his goal. Love, after all, required taking the initiative.
A little after ten, Xu You called, saying he needed to come back to grab something. Shi Wenze warned him, “Lin Su’s here.”
Xu You was startled. “Damn! Why? Didn’t you say you guys weren’t that close yet? I knew it—this whole thing is a conspiracy to make me study harder!”
“Why does it have to be so difficult just to make you study?” Shi Wenze tossed the towel back. “Fine, come get your stuff.”
“What, come back just to watch you two sexy dealers dealing cards online?” Xu You jabbered, then added with some conscience, “Close the curtains tight. I heard Old Mr. Niu across the street just bought a telescope a few days ago. His blood pressure’s high—he might not handle your action scenes.”
Shi Wenze snapped, “Get lost!”
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