OHD Chapter 52: Extra 6

Chapter 52: Extra 6

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

Zhou Kai rode his electric bike to the market and bought some groceries. When he returned to the wholesale store, the three workers he had hired were loading goods for two customers. He put down the groceries and rolled up his sleeves, ready to help. But one of the younger workers with a silly smile on his face took the box from Zhou Kai’s hand. He pointed upstairs and said to Zhou Kai, “Xiao Ye is upstairs settling accounts. He just went up.”

Zhou Kai glanced at the stairs, retracted his gaze, and smiled. He grabbed a bag of vegetables and shook it, saying, “I bought some crabs. I’ll go upstairs and steam them. We can all eat together later.”

The three men responded, and the two customers who had come to pick up their goods also jok ed, “Boss, is there any for me?”

Zhou Kai smiled and raised an eyebrow, “Of course, of course. Don’t go. I’ll bring it down to you when it’s ready.”

The customers laughed and turned to check their goods. Zhou Kai stood there for a while, and when he saw that he wasn’t needed, he carried the vegetables upstairs.

He Ye had finished settling the accounts and was coming downstairs when he met Zhou Kai at the corner of the stairs. They almost bumped into each other and were both startled.

He Ye was the first to recover. He grabbed Zhou Kai’s waist and kissed him, then let go and walked downstairs, calling out to the others. Zhou Kai blinked in confusion and turned to look at He Ye, who had disappeared. He snorted and walked towards the kitchen.

He steamed the crabs and plugged in the rice cooker. When he squatted down to pick vegetables, He Ye came back upstairs. He leaned against the doorframe and stared at Zhou Kai.

Zhou Kai looked up at He Ye and asked about the day’s business. He Ye answered one by one, then took a deep breath, pinched Zhou Kai’s earlobe, and said in a low voice, “We should be able to pay off the last of the debt by the end of the month.”

Zhou Kai broke off a bean and dropped it on the floor. He turned to look at He Ye, his eyes wide with shock, and his voice trembled. “What did you say?”

Compared to Zhou Kai, He Ye’s reaction was almost indifferent. He retracted his hand from Zhou Kai’s earlobe, picked up the bean from the floor, and put it back in the bowl. He looked up at Zhou Kai, who had tears in his eyes, and smiled lightly. He said calmly, “We can pay off all the debts by the end of the month.”

The water in the pot was boiling, and the pot was making gurgling sounds. Zhou Kai’s heart was pounding. He stared at He Ye, took a deep breath, and wiped his eyes. Then he scolded He Ye, his voice hoarse, “Damn it, why do you say such exciting things so calmly? Damn it!”

He Ye chuckled and pinched Zhou Kai’s chin, saying, “You were so excited last night that you didn’t even notice.”

Zhou Kai grabbed two long beans and used them as weapons to hit He Ye, grumbling, “Last night? Last night I was sleeping right next to you, where did you go to get excited? How come I don’t know?”

Instead of dodging, He Ye sat down on the floor and helped him pick vegetables, leaning close to Zhou Kai and confessing, “In the living room. I saw you were sleeping soundly and didn’t want to wake you up. Anyway, we won’t be able to relax until the end of the month, so it’s the same whether I do it now or later.”

“Damn it, it’s not the same!”

Zhou Kai bumped He Ye with his shoulder, took the beans back from him, and wanted to go downstairs to set off some firecrackers to celebrate. But he stopped and looked at He Ye, who had been working hard for so long to pay off the debt. He felt a sense of relief and happiness.

He Ye had been working so hard for so long, and now he was finally about to pay off all the debts. Zhou Kai had been counting the days. The agreement he had signed with He Ye was always kept on their bedside table, even though it was hidden in a photo frame. Zhou Kai had been counting the days.

Ten years, ten years. Zhou Kai hadn’t dared to think that He Ye would be able to pay off the debt so early. But he believed that He Ye would eventually be able to do it, even if it took more than ten years.

Now, at the end of spring and the beginning of summer, He Ye told him that he would be able to fulfill his promise soon. Zhou Kai was so happy that he almost cried. He was genuinely happy for He Ye.

The chain that had bound He Ye was finally about to break.

Sniffling, Zhou Kai glanced at He Ye beside him and said, “Why didn’t you wake me up?”

Although he said that, he didn’t really care. He could imagine how happy He Ye was.

He Ye turned off the tap, shrugged, and kissed Zhou Kai’s ear, whispering, “It was late, and you were so tired. I was afraid you would be too excited to sleep and wouldn’t be able to get up for work today.”

Zhou Kai pouted and pressed his head against He Ye’s shoulder, humming softly. “If you were afraid I would be tired, you shouldn’t have been so rough. It’s not like I won’t let you.”

He Ye turned his head and kissed Zhou Kai’s ear, nibbling on his earlobe. “You wanted it so badly last night, now you’re complaining that I was too rough. You’re so hard to please.”

Zhou Kai licked his lips and blinked, looking at He Ye. He raised his hand to cover his red ears and said weakly, “Fine, fine. But if you move too much, I’m going to throw you out with Xiao Hei.”

He Ye laughed and nodded, smacking his lips. He looked at Zhou Kai and coughed, his voice hoarse. “But there’s one problem.”

Zhou Kai walked to the pot and looked at the crabs. When he heard He Ye’s voice, his heart skipped a beat. He asked anxiously, “What problem?”

He Ye walked behind him and wrapped his arms around his waist, pressing his hips against Zhou Kai’s buttocks, and sighed softly. “If you keep moving like that, I might last for an hour. Can you handle it?”

“Damn it!”

Zhou Kai relaxed his grip, looked at He Ye with sleepy eyes, and pouted, “What are you doing?”

He Ye sighed and rubbed his finger against Zhou Kai’s lips, saying, “I was just thinking about how I wanted to tease you more last night.”

Zhou Kai grabbed a spatula and waved it around, threatening He Ye. “Do you want to eat or not? If you tease me anymore, I’m quitting.”

He Ye nodded and said, “Fine, let’s order takeout.”

Zhou Kai immediately objected, “Nonsense, takeout is not as healthy as home-cooked food.”

He Ye watched him skillfully cook, then moved to the door and stood there, watching him and smiling foolishly.

Zhou Kai learned to cook because of him.

Zhou Kai took the civil service exam because of him.

Sometimes He Ye would think to himself, what could he give to Zhou Kai in return for everything he had done?

After much thought, He Ye could only come up with one answer: to stay by his side, to protect him, and to spend the rest of his life with him.

That was what Zhou Kai wanted most, what he had wanted since he had fallen in love with He Ye at such a young age.

It was simple, but also difficult.

He Ye knew this, and after countless self-doubts, he had deeply engraved it in his heart. He could never forget it.

Looking at Zhou Kai, who was covered in smoke and oil, He Ye took a deep breath and walked over to him. He put his hands on Zhou Kai’s waist and stared at him.

Maybe it was time for him to meet Zhou Kai’s parents.

He had been avoiding it because of his debts, but now he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Zhou Kai, and he needed to give Zhou Kai’s parents an explanation.

After all, they were both about to turn thirty.

Zhou Kai had been carrying this burden for three years, and He Ye wanted to take it over for him.