Chapter 27: A Little Tea

The wind was howling as Qin Zhao led Qi Qige into the courtyard. Xiao Rui was washing vegetables and heard the footsteps, noticing Qin Zhao bringing an unfamiliar person inside.

Xiao Rui: “Zhao Ge, why are you here?”

It had been a long time since Xiao Rui had seen Qin Zhao. He rarely came to the shop these days, preferring to stay home, making dinner for Cao Xi, washing his clothes, and tidying up the house—always hovering around Cao Xi.

Xiao Rui felt a bit jealous of Cao Xi. Though they were siblings, she didn’t think it was fair for him to be so entirely focused on her.

“What’s going on?” Xiao Rui asked, her eyes full of love. Qi Qige, ever curious, couldn’t stop giving Qin Zhao suggestive glances.

Qin Zhao shot a stern look at Qi Qige and gestured to the stone table in the yard. “You sit first. I’ll serve the vegetables.”

Xiao Rui followed them, hearing Qin Zhao arranging the dishes. Eagerly, she said, “Zhao Ge, you’re with a friend? Let me help you with the vegetables,” and turned to leave.

Qin Zhao: “No, it’s fine. You go ahead, I’ll be quick.”

Seeing that Qin Zhao was coldly distant, Xiao Rui felt somewhat awkward. “I… I have something to do.”

Qi Qige eyed Xiao Rui’s retreating back with a pitiful look. “Zhao Ge, why are you so serious with her? You’re scaring her.”

Qin Zhao shot Qi Qige another glare. “Say another word, and I’ll make you regret it.”

Qi Qige: “Alright, alright, it’s my bad. You go ahead, I’ll pick the vegetables.”

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In the kitchen, Qin Zhao picked out some dishes Qi Qige liked and handed them to the water buffalo. “Brother Shui Niu, this one’s extra spicy and extra oily.”

“Got it!” Shui Niu smiled as he took the bowl from Qin Zhao.

When Shui Niu saw that Qin Zhao had prepared only one portion, he asked curiously, “Aren’t you going to eat?”

Before Qin Zhao could answer, the kitchen curtain was lifted. “He can’t handle spicy food.”

Cao Xi walked over to Qin Zhao and asked, “Why are you here today?”

Qin Zhao smiled. “Qi Qige invited me to eat spicy hotpot.”

Upon hearing this, Cao Xi let out a soft laugh, her eyes curving into crescent moons. Qin Zhao couldn’t help but stare at her.

Cao Xi teased, “So Qin Zhao’s nickname as a cheapskate can’t be washed clean.”

Qin Zhao shot her an exasperated look. “What’s the point of trying to clear that up?”

Cao Xi, flustered from the glare, couldn’t meet his gaze. “Are you leaving tonight? We could go home together.”

Qin Zhao stared at Cao Xi’s slowly reddening ears and smiled. “Wait for me, we’ll leave together.”

“Alright, I’ll get busy first. You decide what we’ll have for dinner later, we’ll figure it out when we’re back,” Cao Xi said hurriedly as she escaped the scene.

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In the kitchen, Cao Xi held her chest, muttering angrily. She hated how Qin Zhao seemed to be so attractive to everyone.

Lately, Qin Zhao had grown taller, his figure more toned, and his appearance more striking, especially with his peach blossom eyes that seemed to melt anyone who caught his gaze. Who could resist that?

Qin Zhao, seeing her flustered, couldn’t help but smile more.

“Qin Zhao, food’s ready,” Shui Niu’s unexpected voice interrupted Qin Zhao’s thoughts.

Qin Zhao walked over with a bowl of spicy hotpot, filled with red chili oil.

“This chili is too spicy,” Qi Qige remarked as he stared at the hotpot, unsure whether to try it.

“This is how it’s supposed to be. You should try it,” Qin Zhao encouraged.

Though Qi Qige loved chili, he couldn’t shake the feeling that Qin Zhao’s expression had something devious about it.

Skeptically, Qi Qige picked up some of the food and asked, “Aren’t you going to eat?”

Qin Zhao replied, “I’ll eat later when I get home.”

Qi Qige stared at him in disbelief. “I’m the one treating, so you should eat.”

“Just eat already,” Qin Zhao urged, placing the food in front of him.

Qi Qige, still doubtful, stirred the food and muttered, “Is this the way a fiancée should be treated?”

The wind howled as Qin Zhao led Qi Qige into the courtyard. Xiao Rui was washing vegetables and, upon hearing footsteps, turned to see Qin Zhao bringing in a stranger.

Xiao Rui: “Brother Zhao, why are you here?”

It had been a long time since Xiao Rui had seen Qin Zhao, who rarely visited the shop. He would always be with Cao Xi, making dinner for him, washing his clothes, tidying up the house, constantly revolving around Cao Xi.

Xiao Rui felt a bit jealous of Cao Xi. Even though they were siblings, it didn’t seem right for him to monopolize Qin Zhao’s attention.

“What’s going on?” Xiao Rui asked, her eyes full of affection, while Qi Qige’s curiosity sparked. He kept giving Qin Zhao sidelong glances, nudging him to explain.

Qin Zhao shot Qi Qige a fierce look, then pointed to the stone table in the yard. “Sit there first. I’ll serve you the food.”

Xiao Rui followed them, but as she heard Qin Zhao busy with the food, she eagerly said, “Brother Zhao, you’re with a friend. Let me help serve the dishes.” She quickly turned and was about to leave.

Qin Zhao: “No, I’ll do it. You go ahead and stay busy.”

Xiao Rui, seeing Qin Zhao’s cold and indifferent tone, felt awkward. “I… someone is calling me.”

Qi Qige stared at Xiao Rui’s retreating figure, looking quite pitiful. “Why does the young lady look so serious? You’ve scared her.”

Qin Zhao glared at Qi Qige. “If you talk like that again, I’ll have words with you.”

Qi Qige raised his hands in mock surrender. “Okay, okay, I’ll keep quiet. You go on and get the food ready.”

---

In the kitchen, Qin Zhao selected a few dishes that Qi Qige liked, then handed them to Shui Niu. “Shui Niu, this one, add more chili and spice.”

“Alright,” Shui Niu smiled and accepted the bowl of food from Qin Zhao.

Shui Niu noticed that Qin Zhao only prepared a portion for one person and asked, “Aren’t you eating?”

Before Qin Zhao could answer, the curtain in the kitchen was lifted, and Cao Xi walked in. “He can’t handle spicy food.”

Cao Xi walked up to Qin Zhao and asked, “Why are you here today?”

Qin Zhao smiled at him. “Qi Qige invited me for some spicy hotpot.”

Cao Xi smiled softly, his eyes squinting in a happy manner, making it hard for Qin Zhao to look away.

Cao Xi teased, “It seems Qin Zhao’s stingy reputation is well-deserved.”

Qin Zhao gave him a reproachful glance. “What’s wrong with being careful with money?”

Cao Xi, feeling embarrassed by the stare, shifted his gaze. “So, are we going to have dinner later?”

Qin Zhao fixed his gaze on Cao Xi’s gradually reddening ears. “Let’s wait. We’ll have dinner together later.”

“Okay, I’ll go ahead and get busy. You decide what we’re having tonight. We’ll cook together,” Cao Xi said before quickly leaving the kitchen.

After Cao Xi left, he pressed his chest in frustration, annoyed by how Qin Zhao always managed to attract attention.

In recent days, Qin Zhao had grown taller, his physique becoming more refined, his features sharpening. His peach blossom eyes seemed to linger on Cao Xi, making it impossible for anyone to remain indifferent.

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Hearing the door sound, Cao Xi turned around, propped his head on his hand, and patted the bed, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Qin Zhao.

Qin Zhao’s cheeks turned redder. He took off his shoes and climbed onto the bed, lying next to Cao Xi, who initiated an intimate exchange.

“I’ll tell you the Thirty-Six Stratagems tonight,” Cao Xi said, though he couldn’t remember all of them. It was enough to tell what he could recall.

Cao Xi’s voice was low and mellow as he told the story. Qin Zhao had been staring at Cao Xi’s eyes, but unknowingly, his gaze moved to Cao Xi’s lips. As Cao Xi spoke, Qin Zhao became entranced, his hand slowly reaching up.

“What are you doing?” Qin Zhao finally reacted and realized what he had done. He immediately felt embarrassed, and the redness that had started to fade crept back into his face.

“Cao Xi, you’re really too charming,” Qin Zhao said, his gaze fixed on Cao Xi’s eyes, as though he could see through everything, penetrating straight into his heart.

Cao Xi felt a little flustered under Qin Zhao’s intense gaze, and awkwardly replied, “No, no, you’re the handsome one, Qin Zhao.”

Though Cao Xi was lying, it was true that Qin Zhao had grown even more handsome lately, looking a bit like the famous scholar Pan An—no exaggeration.

“Why are you calling me that?” Qin Zhao said with some dissatisfaction, glaring at Cao Xi with a rosy hue.

Cao Xi’s heart skipped a beat when Qin Zhao gave him that look. His chest tightened, and he nervously swallowed. He quickly said, “I’ll go to sleep now.”

He started to get up, but before he could leave the bed, Qin Zhao grabbed his arm.

“Are you not sleeping here?” Qin Zhao asked, looking at him with longing.

Cao Xi rubbed his nose and replied, “We’ve already agreed that we won’t always sleep together. I’m just afraid I won’t be able to resist…”

“Without you by my side, I can’t sleep well,” Qin Zhao said with a hint of grievance. He acted as if he had been abandoned, feeling lonely and helpless. It was a trick that Qin Zhao had perfected over time, and it always worked on Cao Xi.

“I’ll wait until you fall asleep before I leave,” Cao Xi said, realizing Qin Zhao’s intentions. Qin Zhao, like a clever fox, immediately snuggled into Cao Xi’s embrace, finding a comfortable position.

Cao Xi smiled helplessly. His head had grown whiter, and now he was taller than Qin Zhao. But every night, Qin Zhao would always come into his arms. He had started pampering Qin Zhao more and more.

Cao Xi tightened his arms around Qin Zhao, feeling playful. “What if I kiss you?”

Qin Zhao, with his fair and soft cheeks, melted into his embrace, making it hard for anyone to resist.

As soon as Cao Xi finished speaking, he gave Qin Zhao a soft, tender kiss on the cheek, like the touch of a dragonfly skimming the water. It caught Cao Xi off guard, and for the first time, he felt he couldn’t stop himself and kissed Qin Zhao back.

Cao Xi held Qin Zhao tightly in his arms, rocking him gently, smiling foolishly.

The sound of Cao Xi’s laughter echoed in Qin Zhao’s chest. He felt as though he were a boiled shrimp, his face turning even redder as he nestled deeper into Cao Xi’s arms, unable to look up.

Qin Zhao realized this was what it felt like to be loved—sweet and comforting. No wonder Cao Xi, the mischievous rascal, liked to take advantage of him.

“How could I not kiss you?” Cao Xi’s mischievous voice came again.

Qin Zhao, now flustered, pretended to be angry. “You’ve already taken advantage of me enough, just go to sleep.”

His mock anger made Cao Xi laugh even more, and Qin Zhao, irritated and embarrassed, punched him lightly.

As the night deepened, their laughter gradually quieted, and the clouds covered the moon. Everything returned to silence. In the room, the scene of them holding each other slowly faded, and Qin Zhao clung tightly to Cao Xi.