As Gu Wenxi poured the water into the pan, he felt a figure swiftly move past him like lightning. He quickly turned off the gas switch and tightly covered the pot with the lid.

He turned his head, and his gaze met Du Yunyan’s face, now reddened with anger. Gu Wenxi immediately realized he had done something foolish.

“Do you know you shouldn’t pour water into a burning pan?” Du Yunyan’s tone was cold and sharp, more angry than when he saw the water-stained wooden floor yesterday. “If I had been a step late, the kitchen would have been turned upside down by you!”

Gu Wenxi knew he was in the wrong and muttered softly, “I was nervous… I forgot.”

“Forget to turn off the heat, but remember to pour water? You really have some nerve,” Du Yunyan said each word deliberately. “I overestimated you!”

Gu Wenxi’s face suddenly darkened, and he slammed the spatula in his right hand onto the cutting board. The spatula didn’t land steadily and clattered to the ground, but he didn’t pay attention to it.

“You should calm down a bit too. If it weren’t for you putting a bowl of water next to me, would my brain short-circuit like that?” His initial guilt disappeared, and he became angry. “Do you think I’m willing to do this kind of work? Who besides you bosses me around like this?

“If you look down on me, just say it. What’s with the pretense of being kind and letting me stay, deliberately trying to make fun of me, huh?” Gu Wenxi didn’t like bullying, and he had never said such harsh words to anyone before. After saying this, he turned around, calmed himself for a few seconds, and walked out of the kitchen in big strides, heading straight for the second-floor room.

If he had known it would turn out like this, he would have left the day before.

Gu Wenxi angrily packed his luggage. This time, Du Yunyan definitely wouldn’t want to keep him, and he didn’t want to grovel to someone who was cold to him. Halfway through packing, he suddenly realized that he might not even have enough money for the oil on the way back. He sat despondently on the edge of the bed. He took out his phone and looked at the messages on it. The people in a group chat of friends were chatting lively, discussing what to have for lunch.

Gu Wenxi remembered what had just happened and felt a pang of guilt again. He wasn’t lacking in common sense or anything; it was just a momentary lapse, not as exaggerated as Du Yunyan made it out to be.

He sent a message on WeChat without much thought: [Quick question, what would you do if the oil pan suddenly caught fire while stir-frying vegetables?]

He hadn’t been online much these past few days, so his sudden appearance surprised his friends.

[Gu ge, long time no see!]

[Gu ge, why are you suddenly so fiery?]

Gu Wenxi continued typing: [Stop babbling, I’m just asking casually.]

[When the oil pan catches fire, of course you should cover it immediately!]

[Or turn off the heat.]

Gu Wenxi pursed his lips: [Would anyone pour water into it?]

A guy who had just left a message replied: [Hahaha, who would be so dumb to pour water into it?]

Gu Wenxi: […]

[Gu ge… It wasn’t you, was it?]

Gu Wenxi: [So what if it was?]

[It could explode if it gets serious, Gu ge… Are you still alive?]

[If I got blown away, would I still be chatting with you guys now?]

[That’s good then.]

Before Gu Wenxi could type again, his phone rang. It was Zeng Bo Nian calling.

“Wenxi, are you okay?” he asked straight to the point.

“I’m fine,” Gu Wenxi guessed Zeng had seen his message, “Didn’t I say that? If I had been blown away, could I still be chatting with you guys?”

“I’m not talking about that,” Zeng hesitated, “Why… why are you cooking?”

“It’s nothing… I’m helping someone else.”

“Did something happen to you?” Zeng continued, “Are you in trouble?”

He was facing difficulties, but he didn’t want to tell Zeng Bo Nian about what had happened for now. First, he didn’t want to worry him, and second, he hadn’t decided on his next plan yet.

“What could happen?” he said lightly, “Can’t I cook a meal? Can’t I experience life?”

“It’s not about cooking, Wenxi—seeing you cook is even rarer than a sow climbing a tree, isn’t it?”

“You—” No wonder Du Yunyan spoke harshly. Even his own buddy had this impression of him, “Didn’t I cook for you and Jiang Chen before?”

“Come on,” Zeng Bo Nian said awkwardly, “It was just that one time making egg fried rice. You bragged about it for years. It was just at the level of my third grade… I even suspect you’ve been kidnapped now.”

“You’re cursing me?” Gu Wenxi laughed angrily.

“No, if you were being coerced, just cough.”

“Alright, alright,” Gu Wenxi fiddled with the strap of his backpack impatiently, “Stop mocking me.”

“Hey,” Zeng Bo Nian was about to hang up, then spoke again, “How are you and Jiang Chen doing?”

“What do you mean?”

“I think he seems quite regretful,” Zeng Bo Nian said cautiously, “Why don’t you talk to him again? After all, you’ve known each other for so many years…”

Gu Wenxi looked out the window. The hens might be fighting, making a lot of noise.

“I got it.”

After talking to Zeng Bo Nian, Gu Wenxi’s mood calmed down a lot, and he began to doubt if he had overreacted to the argument at noon.

He had agreed to stay and work. Du Yunyan was his boss, and besides, he usually detested the airs of superiority displayed by second-generation rich kids. Remembering Du Yunyan’s angry face before going upstairs, he felt guilty, as if he had bullied an innocent person.

Forget it. Feeling uneasy and uncomfortable, as a gentleman, he, Master Gu, should apologize before leaving.

He packed his belongings and threw the travel bag on the ground, then walked out of the room.

It was already past lunchtime. He went to Du Yunyan’s room across the hall first to check, but the door was tightly closed, and there was no response after knocking twice.

“Mr. Du?” There was silence behind the door.

Was he still downstairs?

Gu Wenxi came down the stairs and went straight to the kitchen, which was clean and empty. He puzzledly walked out, and caught sight of the dining tray on the counter.

Rice and two portions of vegetable dishes were packed in different bowls and plates, with a bowl of winter melon soup on the side.

He moved the dining tray slightly, and sure enough, he found a note underneath similar to yesterday’s, written by the same person: [If it’s cold, heat it up in the microwave.]

After the argument, he had no appetite at all. But when he saw the food left by Du Yunyan, he suddenly felt hungry. However, feeling guilty for not finding Du Yunyan, he hesitated.

He walked out of the main door, and there were only two dogs lying on the ground in the front yard; around the back yard, three hens were clucking and pacing in the coop, apparently unhappy about being locked up. Some vegetable seedlings had sprouted in the garden, barely maintaining their neat appearance.

The garden was divided into several different areas.

However, Gu Wenxi didn’t know where Du Yunyan had gone. He only had the landline number of the guesthouse, so he couldn’t call to find someone.

He returned to the front yard, just about to enter the house, when he heard the sound of a bicycle bell behind him. He turned around.

“Yan Yan?” Gu Wenxi called out the girl’s name.

“It’s you, Uncle,” she parked her bike and shook her ponytail, “Where’s Uncle Yunyan?”

“Oh, him… I don’t know where he went either.” Calculating the day, today wasn’t a rest day. Gu Wenxi asked her, “Don’t you have to go to school?”

“We have an activity today, so we have the afternoon off,” Yan Yan replied cheerfully.

“I see… By the way, what do you need Uncle Yunyan for?”

“It’s not a big deal,” the little girl said somewhat embarrassedly, tossing her bangs, “I have some questions I don’t know how to do, and I wanted to ask him.”

The little girl had indeed mentioned that Du Yunyan would help her with her homework. Gu Wenxi was about to ask if he had Du Yunyan’s mobile number, but then changed his mind and smiled, asking, “Yan Yan, what grade are you in?”

“Sixth grade.”

“That’s easy,” he snapped his fingers, “Which questions don’t you understand? I can help you with them too.”

“Really?” The girl’s disappointed expression suddenly brightened.

“Of course.” Gu Wenxi had plenty of experience tutoring, and besides, it was just elementary school material. He took the initiative to help Yan Yan with her backpack and they went into the inn together.

---

“Yunyan ge, are you going to stay in Pingliang Village forever?”

On the village road, two tall figures stood side by side, casually walking.

“Of course,” Du Yunyan glanced at Yun Han beside him, puzzled, “Why do you ask?”

Yun Han paused for a moment, his eyes flickering to the wild grass by the side of the road.

“It’s nothing, just…” His gaze fell on the moving tips of his shoes, “I admire you.”

When Du Yunyan turned his head again, there was a hint of awkwardness on the boy’s face.

“Yun Han, do you have something you’re keeping from me?”

“Well, there are some things… I haven’t figured it out yet,” his face flushed, “I’ll tell you later.”

Du Yunyan nodded. “Actually, I have something I’m keeping from you too.”

“Huh?”

Du Yunyan noticed his inquiring gaze but suddenly changed the subject: “Are you feeling better now? I mean, about Auntie…”

“I’m fine,” Yun Han sighed lightly, “Ge, you’ve been alone for the past two years, haven’t you?”

Two years ago, Du Yunyan’s mother passed away, and a few months ago, Yun Han’s mother also passed away, leaving them both without any family ties.

“Yeah.” The guesthouse fence was just ahead, and Du Yunyan took a few steps forward, “I’m here. Thanks for walking with me.”

“Sure thing,” Yun Han stopped, “I like being with you.”

Du Yunyan reached the door and turned around at the sound, his eyes narrowing with a smile, “Be careful on your way back.”

“Goodbye, ge.” Yun Han slowly raised his arm, waving twice before turning back along the path he came from.

There was a familiar bicycle parked in front of the guesthouse, and Du Yunyan spotted it at a glance as he hurried into the building.