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Chapter 48 – Revealing Secrets?
Green Tea System: “Gu Si’s favorability +5.”
Green Tea System: “Wen Shijin’s favorability +3.”
Gu Si quickly shifted his gaze, his ears flushed as he licked his dry lips, frantically reciting a calming mantra in his mind.
Damn it! What the hell is wrong with him? How could he have such improper thoughts about his younger “brother”? He must be sick.
Psychological therapy hadn’t worked; it must be a physical problem.
Gu Si’s thoughts spiraled chaotically. He tossed the firmly tied wild chicken and the bag of gathered wild vegetables onto the picnic cloth spread on the ground, then turned and ran to the beach, splashing his steaming face with icy seawater.
Meanwhile, Wen Shijin, who had quickly regained his composure, had a glint of thoughtfulness in his eyes.
Why did his heart always race whenever he saw Ning Qingyan?
A racing heart typically has three causes:
Excluding the first two, the only remaining possibility was the third: falling in love.
But how could he possibly have feelings of affection for his younger “brother”?
Frowning, Wen Shijin placed the items in his hands onto the picnic cloth, then grabbed Ning Qingyan by the wrist and led him toward the tent. His usually gentle voice carried a hint of seriousness.
“The seawater is cold and damp. Your clothes are wet, and you haven’t changed them yet.”
“Brother, I just wanted to catch a few more fish.”
The young boy’s voice had a hint of playfulness, light and melodious, wrapping itself around Wen Shijin’s ears like a spell.
Wen Shijin’s earlobes turned red, but his brows furrowed slightly. His heart quickened again. After pushing the boy into the tent, he stood guard outside.
The boy’s damp clothes had outlined his delicate frame. His slender build was not typical for males.
This brought back memories of Ning Qingyan’s peculiar traits.
When they first met, the boy had fallen from a height and landed in his arms, rolling together onto the ground.
Based on the estimated weight and momentum for someone of his height and build, the actual force of impact was unusually light—as if calculated for a female frame rather than a male.
Then there was his slender waist, his delicate bone structure, and how convincingly he passed for a woman with minimal makeup. Add to that his consistently lowered voice, which didn’t seem natural… Piece by piece, these details painted a picture that demanded scrutiny.
While any single detail could be dismissed as a unique characteristic of a frail boy, together, they were intriguing. What’s more, the boy didn’t seem to be physically frail.
“Brother, I’m ready.”
Ning Qingyan spoke as he pulled open the tent flap and stepped out.
Snapped out of his reverie, Wen Shijin looked at the boy, now in dry clothes but with still-damp hair. His warm, phoenix-shaped eyes softened, and his voice dropped to a murmur.
“Wait.”
After saying this, he turned and entered the tent. He returned with a dry towel and carefully began drying Ning Qingyan’s hair.
The boy’s short hair was soft and light, with silk-like ends that contrasted with the coarse, rugged texture typical of most men’s hair. Wen Shijin’s long eyes flashed with contemplation.
As he gently parted the boy’s damp bangs, he noticed that the seemingly thick eyebrows were not what they seemed. A faint black border surrounded the natural brows, hinting at makeup.
Though he lacked definitive proof to confirm his suspicions, just thinking about it made his heart race as if it might burst out of his chest.
Green Tea System: “Wen Shijin’s favorability +10.”
Wen Shijin’s thoughts were a whirlwind, but his hands never stopped. After drying Ning Qingyan’s hair, he withdrew his hand, carried the towel back to the tent, and placed it down.
Ning Qingyan’s eyelashes fluttered. He raised a hand to touch his slightly damp brows, a shadow of contemplation crossing his gaze.
Dealing with Wen Shijin, who seemed oblivious, was far harder than with the other two. He’d have to take drastic measures.
But Wen Shijin was gentle and meticulous by nature. Even if he discovered something unusual about Ning Qingyan, he wouldn’t act recklessly or spread it around.
“Brother, I’ll go start cooking.”
Ning Qingyan spoke cheerfully before turning and walking toward Gu Si, who was setting up the cooking station.
Wen Shijin emerged from the tent, his gaze lingering on the boy’s retreating figure. He wasn’t the type to pry into others’ secrets. In his heart, he believed that even the most bizarre possibilities might not be true.
He resolved not to probe further, out of respect for the boy.
With that thought, Wen Shijin’s phoenix-shaped eyes drooped slightly as he followed Ning Qingyan.
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Soon, the group laid out their gathered food on the picnic cloth. The spread was abundant, but it was only enough for one meal among eight people.
Among the collected fish, two were palm-sized, and two were medium-sized. Since they couldn’t be evenly divided if grilled, they’d need to be turned into a dish.
After gathering firewood, Gu Si had already started constructing a makeshift stove with rocks, but it wobbled slightly. Wen Shijin stepped in to rebuild it, creating a stable and functional structure in no time.
“You’re amazing, brother!” Ning Qingyan praised.
Gu Si immediately protested, raising an eyebrow and drawling lazily, “I brought the rocks. No compliments for me?”
Ning Qingyan blinked, skillfully deflecting, “That’s different. Anyone can carry rocks, but building a stove requires skill. Wen-ge’s got the talent.”
Annoyed, Gu Si hooked his arm around Ning Qingyan’s neck, pretending to hold him down.
“Who’s better? I’ll give you one more chance to answer, or you’re staying down!”
Before five seconds passed, Wen Shijin intervened. Calm but firm, he pulled Ning Qingyan away and scolded, “Speak properly. Don’t use force. He’s been frail since childhood.”
Gu Si froze. “Frail? Since childhood?”
Ning Qingyan glanced at Wen Shijin, who subtly tightened his grip on his wrist. Reluctantly, he nodded, feigning a cough. “Yes, I’ve been frail… cough, cough…”
Green Tea System: “Wen Shijin’s favorability +1.”