The Cold-faced Monster

After dinner, Yan Heqing took Cuihong(The red bird) to the guest room.

Cuihong lay down on the pillow, completely still, with its two green eyes rolling around restlessly.

Yan Heqing nudged Cuihong to the side and lay down on the bed himself. “Hey, why were you so timid just now? You didn’t even dare lift your head.”

In response, Cuihong flipped over, almost falling off the bed before Yan Heqing reached out to catch it. Then it answered flatly, “Yan Xian, don’t you think that Mr. Wen looks familiar? I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere before.”

“No,” Yan Heqing replied firmly, “I’ve worked in Ning City for five years and have never seen that person.”

Cuihong seemed disbelieving and gave Yan Heqing a look of total doubt.

However, Yan Heqing didn’t notice and after resting for a while, he got up to tidy up the place where Cuihong had been sleeping.

He grabbed Cuihong and walked over to the box on the desk, muttering, “Sorry, I’m used to sleeping alone, and the bird can’t stay either, so you’ll have to make do.”

Cuihong remained silent, obediently staying in his palm. It understood Yan Heqing’s personality—he had an inexplicable obsession with cleanliness. Cuihong had only been allowed to lie on the bed because Yan Heqing didn’t mind.

The Next Day.

After Yan Heqing finished washing up, he came downstairs and saw someone sitting at the large dining table.

“Good morning, Mr. Wen,” he said, still feeling full of energy from just waking up.

“Mm.” Wen Chu glanced at him and nodded slightly before standing up and draping his suit jacket over his arm. “I have some business to attend to and need to go out. The rest of the staff have already gone to the company and won’t be back until after dark. There’s breakfast on the table, remember to eat. Lunch will be made by the aunt, and we’ll have dinner together when we return.”

Wen Chu’s expression was somewhat serious, and since it was early, Yan Heqing didn’t dare say much, not wanting to annoy him. He quickly nodded in acknowledgment, “Alright.”

After Wen Chu left, Yan Heqing relaxed a little. There was another serving of breakfast on the table beside the one Wen Chu had just used.

After finishing his meal, Yan Heqing went back to his room, packed his backpack, and prepared to leave with Cuihong.

“Yan Xian, where are you going? I just ate, and now I can’t digest it.”

As Yan Heqing walked downstairs, he answered Cuihong’s question.

“I’m doing a part-time job, can’t neglect my main work. Don’t worry, the Wen family paid a generous deposit. This time, we can take a taxi to save time. If we don’t leave soon, the entrance will be blocked by junk.”

As they reached the door, someone called out from behind, “Master Yan, will you be coming back for lunch?”

He turned around and saw the cook, the aunt Wen Chu had mentioned.

“Aunt, you don’t need to make lunch for me today. I’m going back to work. I’ll come by later, and if Mr. Wen returns, could you please let him know?”

The aunt smiled brightly and replied, “Okay.”

As expected, when Yan Heqing arrived at the junkyard, there was hardly any space to step.

For the past five years, the neighbors had gotten used to delivering their junk to the junkyard every morning. By noon, Yan Heqing would open the door and start working.

Looking at the mess, Yan Heqing felt a headache. “What are you waiting for? Let’s get to work.”

Cuihong: “Oh, oh.”

The humanoid form that Cuihong transformed into was an incredibly capable assistant for Yan Heqing.

He just had to sit in front of a large metal basin to clean the metal junk. The organizing and moving were entirely entrusted to Cuihong.

The two of them worked efficiently. Before long, they heard a knock at the junkyard door. A girl’s clear voice called out, “Brother Yan, Brother Cuihong, are you home?”

Cuihong stopped what it was doing and opened the door.

The girl was wearing a blue dress, her hair tied into two little buns, and her face looked a bit unhappy.

“Brother Yan, tomorrow Mom’s taking me back to the hometown, and I won’t be coming back after that.” She said, holding out something in her palm, “This is the birdcage I made myself. I don’t know if the bird will come back here.”

“But I hope that when the bird returns, it will have a place to stay.”

Looking at the rough, yet carefully made birdcage, Yan Heqing thought for a few seconds before wiping his hands and standing up.

“Duo Duo, wait here for a moment, I’ll go inside.”

“Okay,” the girl obediently replied.

A few seconds later, Yan Heqing returned to the yard.

He stepped forward, and what was in the girl’s hand transformed from a birdcage into a sachet.

The sachet was a greenish color, with the character “Yan” faintly embroidered in the center, and a few light green tassels that shimmered in the sunlight.

Duo Duo fiddled with the sachet in her hand but couldn’t figure it out. “Brother Yan, what’s this?”

Yan Heqing explained, “This sachet can calm the mind. Place it under your pillow before sleep, and carry it with you during the day to promote growth.”

“Really?” Duo Duo’s eyes lit up. “Thank you, Brother Yan!”

Yan Heqing nodded in assurance.

The birdcage was already delivered, so Duo Duo didn’t stay any longer.

The two of them continued working. As time passed, both of their expressions became numb.

Cuihong, swaying as if about to fall asleep while standing: “Yan Xian, I can’t take it anymore.”

After standing for a while, Yan Heqing, who had just dozed off, opened his eyes with difficulty. “Just a little more, we’ll push through.”

Just as he finished speaking, the door to the junkyard was knocked on again.

Cuihong opened the door again, standing behind it for a moment to shake off the drowsiness, then opened it.

Standing outside was the fox, Li Lian, still smiling. “Brother Cuihong, may I ask if Master Yan is here?”

Cuihong nodded and stepped aside, revealing the person in the middle of the yard.

Li Lian walked up and, with a respectful tone, said, “Master Yan, it’s getting late. I’m here to take you to the Wen family.”

Only then did Yan Heqing realize that it was already dusk.

“Sorry, I didn’t notice the time. I’ll be right there.”

He quickly got up, went inside to pack his old backpack, and then left with Cuihong to join Li Lian in the car.

This time, Cuihong didn’t turn into a bird. After a two-hour car ride, the three of them got out of the car together.

Li Lian didn’t walk forward but instead said to the two of them, “I’ve completed my work here, so I won’t go in. See you later.”

Yan Heqing nodded. “Alright, thank you, Mr. Li.”

After Li Lian drove away, Yan Heqing took Cuihong’s hand and led him toward the Wen family’s front door.

As soon as they entered, Yan Heqing felt an odd atmosphere. The living room was quiet, and there was no sign of Wen Chu, only the cleaning aunt.

When the aunt saw them, she smiled at them but continued with her work without speaking.

Yan Heqing stood still and grabbed Cuihong, who was about to move forward, then cleared his throat, raising his voice toward the empty air ahead. “Mr. Wen, are you home?”

“If not, I’ll go upstairs and wait…”

Just then, a man appeared in front of the dining room door.

Wen Chu’s face was serious, his brow furrowed, and his cold gaze made it feel like he could freeze someone in place.

At the moment of eye contact, Yan Heqing involuntarily shuddered.

Not sure what Wen Chu had been dealing with today, but his expression was so foul that Yan Heqing almost felt like he had done something to provoke him.

But on the surface, Yan Heqing didn’t dare complain, so he just silently cursed to himself—“Cold-faced monster.”

“Mr. Wen, are you eating? If so, I won’t disturb you.”

Saying this, Yan Heqing didn’t dare to even glance at Wen Chu. He grabbed Cuihong and was about to head upstairs.

“Stop.”

The cold words came from behind, with a pressure that couldn’t be ignored.

Yan Heqing could almost feel the wrist he was holding tremble slightly.

He turned around, smiling brightly. “Is there something else, Mr. Wen?”

Wen Chu was silent for two seconds before his expression softened slightly. “Come in and eat.”

This unexpected response left Yan Heqing a bit stunned.

“Alright.”

Cuihong, unlike earlier when it was eager to move forward, now lowered its head, acting a little out of character.

Yan Heqing didn’t notice, following Wen Chu into the dining room, but regretted it once he entered.

The dining table was full of Wen family members. Wen Ya was sitting to the left of Gu Lin. As soon as she saw Yan Heqing enter, her mouth curved down and she gave him a sympathetic look.

Yan Heqing, confused: “Do I look pitiful?”

Out of courtesy, he bowed slightly. “Sorry to keep you waiting, everyone.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine, Little Yan, come sit next to me,” said Gu Lin.

As soon as she finished speaking, Wen Heng, who was sitting to her right, silently moved aside.

“No need, he’ll sit next to me.”

Before Yan Heqing could respond, Wen Chu spoke first, pulling the person behind him by the wrist and dragging him to his seat next to him.

Yan Heqing: “…”

Wow, that’s a little domineering.

Cuihong stood at the edge of the group, glancing left and right, before shamelessly sitting in the spot where Wen Heng had just moved from.

Receiving a resentful glare from Wen Heng, Cuihong clasped its hands together and waved at Wen Heng, its face twisted in an exaggerated frown.

Wen Chu: “Everyone, don’t just stand there. Let’s eat.”

The Wen family: “Mm, mm.”

After being forcibly seated, Yan Heqing took his first real look at the dishes on the table. Most of them were regular meat dishes, but one white pastry caught his attention amidst the sea of fiery red dishes.

The pastry was shaped like a plum blossom, topped with a layer of powdered sugar, and the center of the flower had a bright yellow hue.

He picked a piece and placed it in his mouth, the sweet flavor of the pastry and the delicate texture of the center filling his taste buds.

“Is it good?” Wen Chu’s voice sounded beside him.

Yan Heqing nodded. “Where did you buy this pastry? I feel like I’ve had it before but can’t quite remember.”

Wen Chu’s expression changed slightly, and his voice unconsciously carried a hint of discomfort. “Is it just the pastry that seems familiar?”

After swallowing the pastry, Yan Heqing was thrown off by the question and didn’t quite hear it.

“What?”

But Wen Chu didn’t repeat himself. He simply said, “If you like the pastry, I’ll have the aunt make more for you to take home.”