The director led Li Wenshui and Liang Jin into the courtyard. A chubby little boy with a round face kept circling around Li Wenshui, stretching out his short arms. “Hug me!”

Li Wenshui bent down and picked him up. The boy wasn’t light—no one knew how he managed to get so plump—but he was so round and cuddly that Wenshui held him tightly, despite the effort.

Unlike Wenshui, Liang Jin wasn’t popular with the kids. No one followed behind him. Watching the chubby little boy in Wenshui’s arms, Liang Jin quipped, “He probably thinks you’re his mom.”

“Why can’t it be dad?” Wenshui shot back.

At that moment, in Liang Jin’s eyes, Wenshui seemed gentle and serene, exuding warmth and kindness. The breeze tousled his black hair, and under the soft sunlight, he seemed to glow. Liang Jin gazed at him for a moment before shifting his eyes away and commenting, “You’re really good at holding kids.”

“Of course,” Wenshui replied. “I’ve been holding Wenqing since she was born. You could say she practically grew up in my arms.” He gave Liang Jin a sidelong glance and smirked. “Someone like you—a pampered only child—probably wouldn’t know the first thing about this, huh?”

“Didn’t you know I have an older sister?” Liang Jin asked. Seeing Wenshui’s genuinely surprised expression, he suddenly draped an arm over his shoulder, his eyes teasing. “You signed a contract with your influencer company without even knowing its background? Forty percent of your earnings go into my sister’s pocket. She’s technically your boss. To truly flaunt success, it’s not just about posting fake social media updates; it’s about knowing the full picture.”

Wenshui honestly hadn’t looked into it. Earning enough to get by was already exhausting—where was the time to dig deeper?

“What difference does it make if I know your sister is my boss? Am I supposed to pretend to be her boyfriend or something?”

“Haven’t you already been pretending to be mine?” Liang Jin responded with a playful grin. “Actually, my sister really likes people like you—pretty, slender, good at housework. If she had met you earlier, she probably would’ve signed you exclusively. But now it’s too late; you’re mine.”

Li Wenshui’s face suddenly turned red. How could Liang Jin say such things so casually, especially when Wenshui knew Liang Jin didn’t actually like him? It was just sweet talk to toy with him.

“Wh-who’s yours!” Wenshui retorted, brushing off Liang Jin’s hand and quickening his pace.

The little boy in Wenshui’s arms looked at him obediently, his big, round eyes sparkling. As they passed the cafeteria entrance, the boy suddenly exclaimed, “Mama! Hungry!”

Liang Jin smirked. “See? I wasn’t wrong.”

Wenshui: “…”

The two of them entered the cafeteria’s kitchen, where a chef was busy cooking. The vegetables on the counter didn’t look very fresh.

“These were bought this morning,” the chef explained. “But the weather is so hot that they wilt in no time.”

“Isn’t there a refrigerator?” Wenshui asked.

The chef pointed to a small refrigerator in the corner. “There’s one, but it’s been around for too long, and the cooling isn’t very effective.”

With over a dozen kids in the orphanage, how could they manage without a proper refrigerator? On the way out, Li Wenshui asked, “Can you buy them a new refrigerator?”

“Better to get a freezer. Refrigerators are too small. Will 10,000 be enough?”

“That’s way too much! A freezer only costs about 2,000! Have you never bought a freezer before?”

“I have,” Liang Jin replied as he opened the car door and got in. “It cost around 900,000.”

Li Wenshui’s eyes widened in shock. “What? A freezer for almost a million? Did I mishear? Was it gold-plated or something?”

“It was a custom-made one. I’ll show you someday.”

A million-yuan freezer… Li Wenshui couldn’t even imagine what that looked like. No wonder Liang Jin’s earlier estimate of 10,000 seemed conservative.

The car headed south, and Wenshui asked, “Where are you going?”

“To buy vegetable seeds.”

The south was full of bustling commercial streets, and Wenshui worried Liang Jin might end up buying outrageously priced seeds.

“Stop! I’ll take you to buy them. Head north now.”

Under Wenshui’s direction, the luxury car worth millions drove onto muddy roads and finally stopped in front of a shabby vegetable market. From there, the car couldn’t go any further.

Wenshui pulled Liang Jin out of the car, and they wove through a narrow alley, eventually stopping in front of a tiny seed and fertilizer shop. The door creaked loudly as Wenshui pushed it open. Inside, the dimly lit shop was crammed with all sorts of items. The ceiling was so low that Liang Jin couldn’t fully stand upright, so he stayed by the door, watching Wenshui.

The shop owner recognized Wenshui immediately. “Ah, Xiao^[1]Little Li, looking to plant something new again? Haven’t you already planted everything?”

“I’m buying for a friend,” Wenshui replied.

As a regular customer, Wenshui didn’t need the owner’s recommendations. He went straight to the shelves, grabbing some vegetable seeds, then crouched down to pick out a few seedlings from the ground. “Give me ten of each type.”

In the end, he bought six bags of seeds and a hundred seedlings, all for just 185 yuan—far cheaper than Liang Jin had expected.

Liang Jin reached for his wallet, but Wenshui stopped him. “Boss, I’ve bought so much. Can you round it down to 180?”

The owner laughed helplessly. “Fine, fine, you really don’t let yourself lose out, huh?”

Only then did Wenshui step back and let Liang Jin pay.

“Oh, by the way, Xiao Li, how are you planning to take these seedlings back? Did you drive here?”

“Our car’s outside the alley, but it can’t come in,” Wenshui replied.

“No problem. I’ll load these onto my electric tricycle for you. You can push it out, and I’ll pick up the tricycle later once I’m done here.”

“That’d be great. I’ll come back in a bit.”

Outside the shop, Wenshui grabbed Liang Jin’s arm and pulled him forward. At a glance, it almost looked like they were walking arm-in-arm.

“Where to now?” Liang Jin asked.

“To buy the freezer. I know a shop that’s really affordable, but we need to hurry before it closes.”

Li Wenshui hurried along, a light sheen of sweat forming on the tip of his nose from the heat.

When they arrived at the shop, the refrigerator Wenshui had his eye on was priced at 4,000 yuan. As Liang Jin reached to pay, Wenshui stopped him again. Tactically retreating to the door, he pretended to dislike the item and began negotiating the price. His haggling was loud and rapid, almost like arguing, and the shop owner matched his energy. Their voices rose as they went back and forth in a spirited exchange.

This was the first time Liang Jin had seen such a scene. Wenshui’s confidence and energy were palpable. At times, he pretended to leave, acting like he would take his business elsewhere, only to come back and point out small flaws in the freezer with a sharp eye. His demeanor was sharp and clever, totally unyielding.

To Liang Jin, the whole process seemed overly fussy, wasting time and lacking dignity. Bargaining over a small sum, being so calculating—these were traits he usually disliked. Yet, when it came to Wenshui, these actions seemed vivid and full of life. He found it amusing.

In the end, under Wenshui’s relentless persuasion, the owner relented, selling the refrigerator for 2,500 yuan and agreeing to deliver it to the orphanage for free. ^[2]T/L’s note: Xiao Li is a keeper, deym I want a husband like him hahaha

Wenshui’s voice was hoarse from all the talking. As they left, he cleared his throat and said to Liang Jin, “Don’t rush to pay so quickly. You have to haggle when you shop! See, we saved 1,505 yuan here. That money can do so much—like covering half a month of food expenses for the kids.”

Or, in his mind, it could cover one and a half months of rent and utilities, or his sister’s monthly living expenses. It was also equivalent to the profit from selling tiramisu for a week.

At the seed and fertilizer shop, Wenshui pushed the electric tricycle, wobbling as he walked on the uneven ground. “We need to hurry; otherwise, the seedlings might wilt in the sun. It’s best to plant them as soon as we get back. But don’t worry, I picked varieties that grow fast—things like bok choy and spinach, which can be ready to eat in less than a month.”

Efficient as always, Wenshui had completed three tasks in a short span: inspecting the orphanage, buying seedlings, and securing the refrigerator. In his mind, if they planted everything tonight, the job would be done within a day.

He quickened his pace but realized riding the electric tricycle would be faster. Confidently, he climbed onto it. “The controls should be similar to a regular tricycle. Hop on, I’ll give you a ride out.”

Liang Jin followed and asked, “Do you even know how to drive it?”

“Pretty much,” Wenshui replied. “Get on. I’ll take you out.”

Liang Jin eyed Wenshui’s posture skeptically. “I think I’ll pass.”

“Don’t believe me? Fine, walk if you want.”

The uneven road caused the tricycle to jolt, and Wenshui swayed as he pedaled, his small frame twisting like a bobblehead sunflower swaying on a dashboard.

He eventually got the hang of it and sped up slightly, but then a large puddle came into view at the alley’s entrance. Panicking, he braked hard, but the momentum carried the tricycle into the water. It tilted dangerously, and Wenshui’s heart almost stopped.

Thankfully, Liang Jin caught the vehicle just in time. As the tricycle came to a halt, a faint “crack” sound could be heard. Liang Jin let go with a frown. “Still think you can drive?”

“I can,” Wenshui replied, though his voice was shaky. Reluctantly, he climbed down to push the tricycle. “How was I supposed to know there was a hole there?”

“Not everyone has to know everything,” Liang Jin said calmly. “Admitting you don’t know something isn’t shameful. Learn to accept yourself.”

Wenshui bit his lip, his face flushing red. “I don’t need a lecture!” he muttered under his breath.

Whether Liang Jin was annoyed by Wenshui’s stubbornness or for another reason, he didn’t lift a finger to help load the seedlings into the car. Standing to the side, he crossed his arms and smoked, showing no intention of helping.

Was Wenshui supposed to carry all the seedlings himself? He didn’t want to care—after all, it wasn’t his responsibility to impress Liang Jin, nor did Liang Jin’s family offer him any stake in their affairs.

But the borrowed tricycle had to be returned. The straightforward and kind shop owner was bound to show up and help if he saw the seedlings still unloaded, possibly causing a scene in the process. Wenshui didn’t want to inconvenience the owner or risk any conflict between him and Liang Jin.

Sure enough, the shop owner was heading over. Forced into action, Wenshui glared at Liang Jin and quickly began moving the seedlings. One trip, then another—he was soon drenched in sweat and utterly exhausted.

By the time he was done, his back ached, his legs were sore, and his clothes were soaked as if he’d been in a sauna.

Back at the old house, Wenshui didn’t care whether Liang Jin would help plant the seedlings. He headed straight to his room, took a warm shower, and changed into fresh clothes, finally feeling comfortable.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the view from the courtyard was stunning. Sitting there, lost in thought, Wenshui’s phone buzzed.

Opening WeChat, he saw a message from Liang Jin: [I’m hungry.]

Wenshui’s back still ached so much he could barely straighten up, and now Liang Jin was demanding he cook. He felt annoyed—couldn’t Liang Jin at least say something nice?

Soon, another message popped up: [I’m still hungry.]

Liang Jin: [Baby, I’m hungry.]
Liang Jin: [Come on, there’s a reward for you.]

Seeing the word “reward,” Li Wenshui’s eyes lit up. He immediately forgot about his aching back and rushed to Liang Jin’s place.

Liang Jin had been waiting for quite some time and wasn’t surprised to see Wenshui show up. By now, he had a complete understanding of Wenshui’s temperament and knew exactly how to get him to cooperate.

“What do you want to eat?” Wenshui asked enthusiastically as soon as he entered the room.

“The menu is on the table,” Liang Jin replied.

A menu? Wenshui picked it up to find three dishes and a soup listed—truly picky. But thinking about the promised reward, Wenshui held back his complaints and quickly got to cooking. By the time they finished eating, the sky had turned completely dark.

As Wenshui was tidying up, his clothes still carrying the smell of oil and smoke, Liang Jin wrapped his arms around him from behind and began unbuttoning his shirt.

Wenshui grabbed Liang Jin’s mischievous hands. “Liang Jin, what’s the reward?”

With one hand, Liang Jin pinned Wenshui’s waist and tossed him onto the bed. Looking at Liang Jin leaning over him, Wenshui suddenly realized what the “reward” was.

“Liang Jin! You’re terrible!”

The other man chuckled lowly. “Baby, you’re adorably clueless.”