Chapter 78

By the time Ye Chen finished work, Shen Mofeng’s car was already waiting in the parking lot.

The late spring breeze still carried a chill, so Ye Chen wore an oversized, thick hoodie, slung a large, bulging backpack across his shoulder, and sported a pair of brand-new canvas shoes. The sharp lines of the shoes and their pristine white color made him look bright and youthful, almost like a high school student.

Normally, Ye Chen maintained a more mature appearance and didn’t dress too youthfully, but last time…

When Ye Chen mentioned wanting to drink cola, Shen Mofeng suddenly became playful, teasing him by mischievously feeding him alcohol, and even calling him “little boy” in a way that was both gentle and inappropriate. Recalling this, Ye Chen figured out Shen Mofeng’s preferences and deliberately dressed to match that image.

“Shen-ge.” Ye Chen got into the passenger seat, pulling his backpack into his lap. The bag’s design was similar to a mountaineering pack, with a capacity of around 40 liters. Holding it, Ye Chen looked like a little penguin clutching a giant egg.

Shen Mofeng, stirred by the sight of his “little boy,” could hardly contain himself. He didn’t bother holding back, staring at Ye Chen like a rogue.

Ye Chen realized he had played his cards, trying to tempt someone, and the realization made him nervous. He felt hot all over, like a flammable object about to ignite. Though Shen Mofeng hadn’t said anything or made a move, the intensity of his gaze was enough to make Ye Chen blush from head to toe, as if he had already confessed.

Shen Mofeng chuckled softly, breaking the silence in the car.

“…” Ye Chen, who had mustered up the courage to take the initiative, felt himself faltering before even getting started. He didn’t dare to ask why Shen Mofeng was laughing, let alone continue flirting.

“Chenchen…” Shen Mofeng ground his teeth slowly. “Wait until we get home.”

He sounded just like an angry parent after a parent-teacher conference!

“Get home for what?” Ye Chen, playing the innocent, nervously fumbled inside his bag and pulled out a taro.

Shen Mofeng’s smooth line of flirtation was completely derailed by the sudden appearance of the taro: “…”

“My garden just produced another batch of crops,” Ye Chen said as he held up the taro like a treasure. “If you have time, take these back to your parents.”

Shen Mofeng was momentarily at a loss for words.

As descendants of Yan and Huang, nine out of ten people dream of living a rural life. Even Shen Ting had jokingly said, “When I’m old, I’ll buy a plot of land in a beautiful, serene place and live a simple life, maybe hire someone to farm a few acres of crops.” Shen Mofeng had long accepted Ye Chen’s persona as a farming enthusiast, but even so, he was still rendered speechless by the taro.

Ye Chen opened his bag, moving aside the cabbage on top to reveal the packed spiritual vegetables beneath. With a serious expression, he said, “Taro strengthens the stomach and spleen, regulating internal energy. Spinach is rich in antioxidants and reduces the risk of many chronic diseases. Peas contain high levels of saponins, which help prevent cancer. Cabbage lowers cholesterol and blood sugar… Make sure your parents eat plenty. I grew them all myself, no pesticides or fertilizers, completely natural.”

“You’re really buying into that stuff from social media…” Shen Mofeng was utterly captivated by Ye Chen’s earnest look as he recited health facts, finding him so adorable he couldn’t resist leaning in to kiss him, nibbling on those soft, plush lips.

“Mm…” Ye Chen tried to push him away, worried that the cabbage might get squashed.

This cabbage was the king of the garden, round and massive, with a vibrant hue that rivaled jade. It was clearly a vegetable imbued with the spirit of nature. Ye Chen had spotted it during his morning inspection of the garden, and it immediately caught his eye. He eagerly picked it to present as a gift for his future father-in-law.

“Have you ever read that article?” Shen Mofeng glanced around to ensure no one was outside the car, then cupped Ye Chen’s flushed cheeks, forcing his lips apart to kiss him passionately. His words dripped with lust, “It’s called ‘This Common Liquid in Life Can Make You Look 10 Years Younger.’ It says…” Shen Mofeng quickly mumbled two words, “that this miraculous liquid is rich in male reproductive cells, which can prolong life, delay aging, and can be taken both internally and externally.”

“I-I haven’t, stop messing around,” Ye Chen mumbled between kisses, his arms crossed against Shen Mofeng’s chest, still carefully protecting the cabbage king.

“How about tonight, you feed me, and I feed you?” Shen Mofeng ran his hand over Ye Chen’s flat stomach, his tone suddenly serious. “Magical liquid. Let’s do some health maintenance together.”

Ye Chen’s ears turned a deep red as he gazed down at the cabbage, murmuring, “Mm… okay.”

Shen Mofeng, continuing the playful banter, said, “And that other article, ‘Is Your Sleeping Position Correct? 99% of People Don’t Know.’ It says that at midnight, yin energy is strong, and cold air can enter the body. Only two people with strong yang energy, sleeping naked and holding each other, can block the cold.”

“I’m not joking with you,” Ye Chen, panting heavily, tried to pull back, his flushed face serious as he returned to the topic. “You must remember to make sure your dad eats these. Once he finishes, I’ll bring more. My garden is full of them. Doesn’t your dad have no major illnesses but just a weak constitution? He really needs to pay attention to these small details for his health.”

Shen Mofeng teased, “I think you sound like you’re selling health supplements.”

Ye Chen was speechless: “…” Well, truth be told, I kinda am a health supplement seller!

“The organic vegetables you guys buy aren’t as good as the ones I grow,” Ye Chen, worried that Shen Mofeng wasn’t taking him seriously, picked up the cabbage king and boasted, “Look at this cabbage, big, round, and green.”

Shen Mofeng chuckled, “It looks really fresh.”

Ye Chen’s expression drooped, and he called out a little pitifully, “Ge…”

“I got it,” Shen Mofeng replied seriously, lifting the large bag of vegetables with one hand and placing it in the back seat. “I’ll have Xiao He swing by my place later to pick them up. I’ll make sure my dad gets them tonight.”

“My dad has been using the mattress you sent. He loves it,” Shen Mofeng said warmly. “A few days ago, he even urged me to bring you over to the house when we have time… My mom’s been watching the shows you’ve acted in.”

Ye Chen looked panicked. “Auntie’s watching my shows? Which one?”

His acting had improved quickly, and every time he finished filming a new project, looking back at the previous one made him feel like a grown man cringing at his own embarrassing teenage social media posts.

“The xianxia one,” Shen Mofeng said as he drove, sincerely adding, “You actually did pretty well. You’ve got real talent.”

Ye Chen sighed in mock grievance, “You really do spoil me.”

Shen Mofeng replied gently, “You’re talented, and you’ve made quick progress.” After a brief pause, his tone softened with a hint of amusement, “My mom really likes you. She’s practically your half-fan.”

As the two chatted casually, Ye Chen suddenly felt something was off. “Didn’t you avoid the expressway when you went home last week? Wait… isn’t this the wrong direction?”

“My other home,” Shen Mofeng said calmly.

“Oh,” Ye Chen nodded in understanding.

Shen Mofeng owned several properties in the capital, so it made sense for him to stay in different places from time to time.

Ten minutes later—

Ye Chen chuckled, “We’re getting closer to my place.”

Shen Mofeng sneered, “That’s true.”

Ye Chen asked, “Where exactly is your house?”

Shen Mofeng paused briefly, then evasively answered, “…I forgot.”

Ye Chen, adopting a gentle tone as if soothing someone with memory loss, said, “Honestly, I often forget street names too.”

Shen Mofeng shot him a sideways glance. “Too many houses to remember, but I can always drive there.”

Ye Chen was momentarily speechless, “…” Rich people sure are something else.

At a red light, Shen Mofeng stopped the car and pulled out a tie. “Cover your eyes.”

Ye Chen, immediately on alert, asked, “Why?”

“I want to give you a surprise.” Shen Mofeng reached over to tie it around his eyes, coaxing softly, “Be good, baby, no peeking.”

Ye Chen had never been called “baby” by him before, and his heart skipped a beat. Feeling weak-kneed, he let Shen Mofeng tie the blindfold without much resistance.

Shen Mofeng smirked, staying silent, determined to give Ye Chen a grand surprise.

Fifteen minutes later.

The car came to a stop, and the engine was turned off.

Ye Chen asked obediently, “Can I take it off now?”

“Wait a bit.” Shen Mofeng got out of the car, walked around, then sat back down, sounding annoyed. “Why is this delivery car parked in the middle of the road, and there’s not even anyone inside…”

“Can you go around it?” Ye Chen asked.

Shen Mofeng replied, “Let’s wait.”

Delivery cars are usually small and shouldn’t block the way, even if parked in the middle of the road—unless the street was very narrow. Suddenly, a flash of a memory crossed Ye Chen’s mind, sending a chill down his spine, as if a sixth sense had kicked in.

He lifted the tie slightly to peek.

At that moment, the vermilion gates of a siheyuan creaked open, and a delivery guy carrying a stack of neatly packed boxes walked out. Behind him followed a man, nearly 1.9 meters tall.

The man looked like he had just finished some heavy work or a workout, wearing only a tank top, his muscular, testosterone-fueled physique glistening with a light sheen of sweat. His rugged, handsome features exuded a wild, untamed charm. His appearance was striking enough to outshine many male celebrities known for their masculine style. Holding a stack of small boxes that seemed like toys in his large hands, he helped the delivery guy load them into the car.

Shen Mofeng was momentarily stunned: “…”

In that instant of eye contact with Shen Mofeng, the man looked as if he had done something shameful; his eyes widened in panic, and he quickly turned his head, clutching the stack of delivery boxes and retreating into the courtyard like the wind.

The gate slammed shut with a bang.

The delivery guy stood outside, bewildered, knocking on the door. “Are you still sending the rest?”

From behind the door came Li Li’s booming voice: “Send it tomorrow!”

When the delivery guy pressed further, Li Li fell silent.

“Shen Ge!” Ye Chen’s face turned pale. He held Shen Mofeng’s sullen face with both hands, forcing him to look at him, and forced a smile, saying, “Are you lost? How did we suddenly end up here?”

Shen Mofeng’s eyes were dark, cutting straight to the core of the issue. “Who is he? Didn’t you say you lived alone?”

“Just my uncle, a relative from my hometown,” Ye Chen’s heart raced, his limbs growing cold as he stammered, “Don’t think too much… I—I opened an online store! He’s just helping me with deliveries!”

Shen Mofeng smirked derisively. “You opened an online store?”

Clearly, he didn’t believe a word!

Ye Chen blurted, “I really did!”

“Even if you did, why would a delivery guy run away upon seeing me?” Shen Mofeng lowered his gaze, staring at Ye Chen’s lips, and said, “Didn’t you promise not to lie to me? What exactly is he to you?”

“Really just a delivery guy… He ran away because we sell products without any certifications!” Ye Chen was in a flurry, his mind in chaos, just trying to prevent Shen Mofeng from uncovering the truth. He instinctively said the first thing that came to mind.

Shen Mofeng took a deep breath. “Keep making stuff up, little liar.”

Ye Chen’s face turned ashen. “I call him ‘uncle’ because he’s really not… not what you think… How did you suddenly end up at my house?”

Had he not prepared at all?!

“I see he doesn’t look much older than me; is he even thirty? Just calling him ‘uncle’?” Shen Mofeng spoke slowly, emphasizing each word, and reached back to grab the bag of vegetables Ye Chen had picked earlier, pointing to a cabbage. He repeated their earlier conversation, “Look at this cabbage; it’s big, round, and green.”

Ye Chen trembled, saying, “Shen Ge, you’re really overthinking this…”

Shen Mofeng gently stroked the cabbage, speaking softly, “Doesn’t it look like Uncle Shen’s head^[1]Green is associated with infidelity. Wearing a green hat – being cheated on. So he is saying his entire head is green like cabbage because YC is cheating on him?”

Ye Chen: “…”

How had he somehow raised himself up a generation?!

“Why did I end up at your house?” By now, the delivery guy had driven away. Shen Mofeng stepped on the gas, gliding forward a bit before stopping at another courtyard’s entrance. “Because I bought this place, wanting to see you every day. Covering your eyes was just to give you a surprise… Chen Chen, can you tell me the truth? I know you’ve hidden many things from me. I’ve never forced you, but today, I want just one truthful answer, can you give it to me?”

Ye Chen felt like he was losing his mind. “Calm down for a second; let me think about how to say this…”

The immortal tree would eventually grow, and if everything went smoothly, Shen Mofeng wouldn’t be in danger by uncovering the truth. But first, there was no sign of the immortal tree yet; Ye Chen didn’t want to let Shen Mofeng face any possible risks. Moreover, leaking secrets to an uninformed mortal could lead to consequences for Ye Chen himself…

The punishment for leaking secrets could be endured by divine beasts, but if Ye Chen were to face it, he’d simply disintegrate.

But the fact that divine beasts could endure it was one thing; it was another to ask them to take a hit for him. Ye Chen couldn’t say to a divine beast, “You suffer through a lightning strike for me to appease my boyfriend.”

Shen Mofeng: “…”

Ye Chen: “…”

After a dreadful silence, Shen Mofeng got out of the car and strode toward Ye Chen’s courtyard.

Ye Chen hurriedly followed, weakly saying, “Shen Ge, I’m begging you; just give me a few more minutes to organize my words. I promise I’ll explain everything clearly…”

Shen Mofeng knocked loudly on the door, demanding, “Open up! …Open the door!”

Inside, there was nothing but silence.

Anyone would think the people inside were feeling guilty.

“F*ck!” Shen Mofeng completely lost his temper, kicking the door with a loud bang, shouting, “Open the door!!!”

“What’s going on?!” Li Li, irritated, yelled from inside, “What’s wrong with you? Who are you with?!”

“You…!” Young Master Shen was momentarily speechless and didn’t know how to respond to this distinctively flavored conversation!

What had started as a heartbreaking breakup scene had suddenly turned into a Spring Gala skit stage!

The author has something to say:

[Little Theater 1]

Shen Ge: Your heart only has cabbage!

Chen Chen: It also has you!

[Little Theater 2]

Seeing Li Li, Shen Ge: … :）

Chen Chen: Ge, let me explain!

Shen Ge: Baby, look at this cabbage. It’s big, round, and green.

Chen Chen: The water content is not bad, right?

The word “oppressive” doesn’t exist in my dictionary; I’ll quickly make it sweet again, okay? (Actually, this chapter isn’t really that hurtful; it still feels quite silly and amusing…)