Chapter 41

Shen Mofeng hesitated to retract his hand, causing Ye Chen to feel uncomfortable and take a step back, leaving the slender finger hanging in the air. He mechanically said, “I’ll head back now. The soup is on the table for you. Call me when you’re done, and I’ll come to collect the bowl.”

Shen Mofeng tucked his hand into his pocket and smiled, “This is your room. Where are you going?”

Ye Chen was taken aback and embarrassedly replied, “I… forgot.”

Just now, his mind had inexplicably gone blank for a moment.

Shen Mofeng teased him without mercy, “Are you trying to come to my room?”

“No, no!” Ye Chen quickly sat on the sofa, demonstrating that he really hadn’t thought about going to Shen Mofeng’s room.

Shen Mofeng suppressed a laugh and walked to the table to drink the fish soup.

The meat of the Ranyi Fish was extremely delicate and fatty, while the wings and four thighs had a chewy texture, akin to frog legs. Ye Chen was afraid of altering the texture, so he bagged the wings and thighs and stored them in the snow for freshness, using only the head and body for the soup.

After several hours of simmering, the fish soup presented a bright milky white color, with the gelatin from the fish skin stewed to separation and densely filling the gaps between water molecules. The soup was smooth and creamy, stirring it with a spoon was like mixing a piece of milky white silk. Shen Mofeng scooped up a spoonful of fish soup and drank it. The rich fragrance invaded every taste bud, leaving a slightly sticky feeling, while the tender fish meat melted into threads of fiber on the tongue, releasing a delicious flavor.

“What kind of fish is this?” Even though he was accustomed to Ye Chen’s superb cooking skills, Shen Mofeng was still surprised.

“It’s just crucian carp,” Ye Chen replied vaguely.

Shen Mofeng stared at the soup bowl as if solving a puzzle, “It’s just too delicious.”

It was so delicious that it seemed a bit strange. He had lived for so long and had never known that crucian carp could be so fragrant.

“Then, I’ll make soup for you every day before we wrap up filming,” Ye Chen’s spirits lifted, eager to offer more, “One day chicken soup, one day fish soup. Is that okay? My chicken soup is also delicious. I’m afraid you’ll get tired of drinking the same thing every day.”

With just this little good thing now, he couldn’t wait to give him more variety.

Shen Mofeng looked at him warmly and said, “Okay.”

Ye Chen was sitting on the long sofa by the window, bathing in the warm light that cascaded from above. The clear contrast of light and shadow outlined his already distinctive features, evoking a breathtakingly beautiful and noble aura. His young master-like face was perfect for looking down at his lover, arrogantly and lazily making unreasonable demands. Yet, Ye Chen never showed the slightest inclination to behave like that. Instead, he appeared submissive, as if allowing himself to be manipulated…

As a result, the typically difficult to please Young Master Shen was once again dissatisfied.

Shen Mofeng remained calm and composed. “Have you ever cooked for anyone else on another set?”

“No, this is the first time I’ve cooked since joining this crew,” Ye Chen replied innocently. “I was afraid you wouldn’t be used to the rustic food over there.”

Cooking for others without reason was simply absurd…

Shen Mofeng instantly felt relieved again.

On this tranquil night, with the soft warm light, the comforting fish soup, and the faint clinking of the spoon against the bowl, Shen Mofeng was reminded of some late nights in his childhood. During those times, Shen Ting often returned late due to socializing, and Zhang Yujie would complain but always make him a bowl of hangover soup. The nights when his mother waited for his father’s return were just one of the many elements that composed Shen Mofeng’s memories. These elements were ordinary and common, yet undeniably real.

Shen Mofeng wasn’t comparing Ye Chen to his mother. Firstly, they were of different genders. Secondly, Zhang Yujie’s culinary skills had been consistent for over a decade, and she could only make hangover soup besides that nothing was palatable. Furthermore, Ye Chen was a talented actor who would never willingly stay at home like a dutiful little wife waiting for his husband to return. Therefore, what Shen Mofeng found familiar was only the atmosphere at the moment.

And this atmosphere hinted at family, stability, and love.

He drank the fish soup, occasionally glancing at Ye Chen, who was sitting on the sofa playing with his phone, imagining how Ye Chen must have looked earlier, sitting at the table waiting for him with the soup, his heart inexplicably softened.

…

The soup Ye Chen made, he suddenly felt like drinking it for the rest of his life.

…

“…Chen Chen,” Shen Mofeng whispered.

“Yeah.” Ye Chen, who had been halfway through deleting a girl’s Weibo, obediently put down his phone.

After a moment of contemplation, Shen Mofeng suppressed the urge to boast to the little kid and ask for rewards. In a somewhat lunatic manner, he said, “It’s nothing, just kidding.”

Ye Chen: “…”

Ye Chen was still too cautious around him. He mentioned the endorsement deal he helped arrange, fearing that the little kid would again thank him excessively like they were making a solemn pact of brotherhood. It might be better to wait until their relationship was confirmed before telling him. By then…

Shen Mofeng smirked discreetly.

He was sure to gain a lot from this.

The next day, filming resumed. Due to the delay of two days and the need to catch up, along with Ye Chen nearing the end of his shoot, some details that needed modification in the earlier scenes were all rushed together. As a result, the shooting schedule became more intensive. Ye Chen juggled between acting, farming, and managing his online store, keeping himself busy to the point of exhaustion. With so much going on, time passed quickly, and a week went by in a blur.

Shen Mofeng still had another half month to go before wrapping up. Ye Chen, worried about him, tried to repay him as much as he could before leaving. He moved pots and pans from his kitchen to Shen Mofeng’s place: two small jars and a glass bottle of various pickled vegetables, a basket full of vibrant eggs, a large jar of aromatic chili oil that would make one’s nose tingle, and a few packs of cigarettes he had scavenged from his home.

“…These pickled vegetables are perfect for congee in the morning. Make sure to persuade Shen Ge to have breakfast, or else his stomach won’t hold up,” Ye Chen earnestly instructed Xiao He, his worry evident in his tone. “If Shen Ge really doesn’t like eating lunch or dinner, ask the locals to help with some simple noodle dishes. Just make a basic Yang Chun noodle soup and serve it with this chili oil.”

“Don’t worry,” Xiao He confirmed each bottle and jar one by one to avoid any confusion when needed. “I’ll take good care of Shen Ge.”

Ye Chen earnestly reminded him, “Make sure Shen Ge remembers to drink the pear syrup.”

Xiao He chuckled, “I won’t forget Shen Ge even if I wanted to. He reminds me every time he opens his eyes.”

Xiao Liu chimed in cheerfully from the side, “Why were your conversations so amusing just now?”

“What’s wrong?” Xiao He asked.

Xiao Liu teased, “Every ‘Shen Ge’ in your conversation just now could seamlessly switch to ‘Dad’…”

Ye Chen, who had no pressure in acknowledging his father, burst into laughter upon hearing this, his face filled with genuine joy. “Hahaha, that’s so true!”

Xiao Liu added, “Hahaha, exactly!”

“Ha, ha…” Xiao He forced a smile as well, a hint of melancholy lingering in the laughter, which neither of them understood.

After finishing these trivial matters, Ye Chen got dressed and headed to the filming site to bid farewell to Shen Mofeng. The entire crew had organized a simple wrap-up banquet for him last night, and Ye Chen had already thanked and bid farewell to everyone he needed to. Now, it was time to say goodbye to Shen Mofeng.

As he arrived, Shen Mofeng happened to be passing by. Ye Chen stood outside the set and waved at him, “Shen Ge!”

“Was just thinking about seeing you off,” Shen Mofeng looked up and smiled at him. “Leaving already?”

“Yeah, leaving soon. My car’s waiting over there.” Ye Chen pointed in the distance, then turned back to Shen Mofeng and bowed respectfully. “Thank you for taking care of me during this time.”

“Alright, no need to be so polite.” Shen Mofeng smiled and made a stopping gesture with his hand.

His right shoulder’s restricted movement had caused some difficulties in filming certain scenes, forcing them to be postponed. Additionally, several important scenes that were originally scheduled later had been moved up, requiring him to study and practice them. Add to that the need to reshoot some scenes with Ye Chen due to modifications needed, and he had been swamped this week, barely having time to spend with Ye Chen. And now, he wouldn’t see him for another half month…

Shen Mofeng’s gaze lingered affectionately on his little companion. He opened his arms and whispered softly, “Come here for a hug.”

“Okay.” Ye Chen’s eyes softened, taking a few steps closer. Before he could openly embrace him, his waist was suddenly pulled by Shen Mofeng, causing his body to involuntarily lean forward, securely held in his embrace.

Strictly speaking, this wasn’t a mutual hug; rather, Ye Chen was unilaterally embraced. 

Shen Mofeng’s arms held him tightly, his back slightly arched to rest his chin on Ye Chen’s shoulder, his breathing slightly heavier.

This embrace made Ye Chen inexplicably nervous, and the prolonged duration of the hug felt somewhat eerie. But Shen Mofeng refused to let go, so Ye Chen had no choice but to stand there, his beautiful eyes blinking blankly and quietly, his face expressing the ultimate obedience of “As long as my Shen Ge is willing to hold me, I won’t object even if I’m held until nightfall.”

“Chen Chen,” Shen Mofeng called him, his voice very low. “You’re being so obedient?”

As he spoke, his arms seemed to tighten even more.

Ye Chen’s ears inexplicably felt hot, sensing that something wasn’t quite right. However, his straight-as-an-arrow mindset didn’t stray from the path, and he simply responded, “…Mm.”

I must be obedient to my Shen Ge!

The nasal tone he emitted was muffled by the scarf, sounding dull and especially soft.

“…You should go back now. See you at Chinese New Year,” Shen Mofeng said hoarsely, releasing Ye Chen and subtly stepping back to create some distance.

See you at Chinese New Year? Ye Chen quickly interpreted this sentence using his own mindset, and respectfully replied, “Okay, then if it’s convenient for you during the Spring Festival, I’ll come to your house to pay my respects.”

Come to my house for Chinese New Year? Shen Mofeng’s lips curled slightly. In order to surprise the little friend, he resisted the urge to reveal his true plans for the Spring Festival and lazily responded, “Sure.”

With the Chinese New Year still half a month away, if everything went smoothly, the filming of 《Aspiration For The Throne》 would wrap up just before the holiday, making it convenient for Shen Mofeng to make arrangements.

After bidding farewell, Ye Chen got into the car.

Within a minute of him getting into the car, a message from Shen Mofeng popped up on WeChat.

Shen Mofeng: I forgot to ask about something.

Ye Chen: Go ahead.

Shen Mofeng: Your alternate Weibo account… You promised to tell me in a few days, remember?

Unable to see each other for half a month, checking out the little friend’s Weibo account would provide some solace.

Ye Chen, as steady as a rock, immediately sent the alternate account’s ID.

He diligently went through all the original Weibo posts of the account selling girl during this week, deleting anything he found inappropriate, and conducted various searches for keywords related to explicit content. This girl seemed quiet and obedient on the surface, but in reality, she couldn’t be restrained even by ten chicken coops. Ye Chen had been deleting posts for the past few days until he was dizzy and almost didn’t recognize the phrase “I can.”

Ye Chen hypocritically said, “That’s it, there’s actually nothing inappropriate to see.”

Shen Mofeng was both amused and exasperated, “You’ve been silently deleting for a week, and now you’re telling me there’s actually nothing inappropriate to see?”

Ye Chen sent over an innocent kitten expression.

Shen Mofeng replied, “Like hell, you’re a very naughty little friend.”

naughty little friend was caught off guard and blushed, “I really didn’t delete much, don’t overthink it.”

It was only about two thousand posts deleted compared to nearly thirty thousand, so it wasn’t much…

Shen Mofeng responded, “Teacher Shen is going to check your homework.”

Ye Chen remained calm and composed, “Feel free to check.”

The author has something to say:

No need for many words, just smiling as misunderstandings deepen.

Let’s start the countdown and wait for the arrival of the Spring Festival…

The fish fins and fish legs that Chen Chen put in the snow are frozen, they won’t go bad, rest assured