Chapter 29

Ye Chen spent two days boiling all one hundred pounds of pears and poured them into pre-prepared sealed bottles, filling them up to three liters.

Coincidentally, it was Shen Mofeng’s birthday that day. After the evening’s work on set, Ye Chen removed his makeup and changed into his regular clothes. He carried three large sealed bottles to find Shen Mofeng.

Although Master Shen was busy with many things, he wasn’t busy with everything. For instance, he couldn’t be bothered to fuss over his birthday. Everything was business as usual, and even though the production team arranged a celebration, he declined. The only difference today was that his phone and WeChat were busier than usual.

When Ye Chen entered the room, Shen Mofeng was on the phone, sounding polite but indifferent as he thanked the person on the other end for their birthday wishes. His words were concise: “…Thank you… I see.”

Shen Mofeng glanced at Ye Chen while on the phone.

Ye Chen hugged the three large bottles, his face filled with a self-satisfied expression, as if he were a squirrel leader who had triumphed in gathering winter provisions.

Shen Mofeng looked away and smiled.

Meanwhile, Ye Chen, listening to Shen Mofeng’s indifferent tone on the phone call, felt a bit uneasy, thinking that Shen Mofeng might be in a bad mood. However, this concern dissipated in an instant because Shen Mofeng’s tone warmed up in the next sentence, still smiling as he said, “Well, okay, goodbye.”

“…What’s this?” Shen Mofeng pocketed his phone.

Ye Chen placed the large bottles on the table and said, “Autumn pear paste, good for coughs, made from pears grown in my family’s yard.”

Shen Mofeng was surprised. “Pears from your family?”

Ye Chen nodded. “I picked them up on my way back to the city the day before yesterday. They were all loaded into the trunk. Didn’t you see…? You just need to take a spoonful at a time, using a regular soup spoon, and it must be clean to avoid bacteria. Then add water and mix well. It’s really effective for coughs.”

“One spoonful at a time,” Shen Mofeng chuckled. “Did you make so much of it?”

Ye Chen believed in the effectiveness of the autumn pear paste he made, and he had already tried the pillow he gave Shen Mofeng. Three minutes of losing consciousness was not an exaggeration.

“It can be stored for six months at low temperature, not too much.” Ye Chen explained in detail, “When you go back, you can transfer it into smaller bottles. You can take it with you when you go out of town for filming.”

He played a supporting role, with fewer scenes than Shen Mofeng. By the time the film progressed to three-quarters completion, his character, the young prince, would die seeking revenge for his mother, sacrificing himself to find a way to banish the demonic forces back to the depths of the world. So if the shooting went smoothly, he would finish his scenes in less than half a month, while Shen Mofeng would still have to stay for another month.

Ye Chen was worried that Shen Mofeng might think he was too lazy to make more than once, so he explained, “Once I finish my scenes, it’ll be difficult for me to see you again. So, I made a few extra batches for you…” With a youthful and cheerful smile, he added, “I have to hold on until the next time we collaborate. By then, I’ll make you a fresh batch.”

Shen Mofeng looked at him, seeming calm but actually melting inside.

For some reason, he recalled a toothpaste commercial he often saw on TV when he was a child.

In that commercial, a tooth mold would be soaked in an acidic solution. After a period of time, the surface of the mold looked clean and hard, but it had actually been corroded through. The actor in the white coat would lightly tap it with a metal spoon, and the mold would collapse softly…

So soft.

Soft enough to not withstand a single tap of Ye Chen’s knuckles.

But Ye Chen continued to tap, oblivious, and asked with a smile, “By the way, Shen Ge, besides longevity noodles, what else would you like to eat tonight? We can make fried eggplant rolls, braised corn with ribs, braised pork belly… Today, you must order the dishes. Don’t be polite with me.”

In order to celebrate Shen Ge’s birthday, Ye Chen went to the market this morning and bought two and a half pounds of pork belly. With full confidence, he wasn’t hesitant about anything.

They were already well-off, so he didn’t feel stingy about the cost of the meat!

Shen Mofeng’s lips twitched, as if he wanted to say something. However, after meeting Ye Chen’s innocent and almost naive gaze for a moment, he took a deep breath and forcefully tore his gaze away from Ye Chen’s lips, killing certain bestial thoughts halfway.

…If he were to commit to Ye Chen, it would be a lifelong commitment. Abandoning halfway would be a waste of this purity, something Shen Mofeng couldn’t forgive himself for.

But after just two months of being together, he didn’t dare to confidently say he could be with Ye Chen for a lifetime.

In the entertainment industry, the establishment and destruction of intimate relationships were extremely easy. Shen Mofeng had observed many such situations, and he didn’t want to hastily begin with the young man he had finally developed feelings for, only to end in disappointment.

After thoroughly teasing and getting familiar with the young man who still seemed a bit naive about matters of love, they both understood that they were meant for each other in this lifetime. Confirming their relationship wouldn’t be too late.

Moreover…

Shen Mofeng chuckled self-deprecatingly and shook his head.

In recent days, he noticed his heart racing whenever he saw Ye Chen.

The ambiguous and exhilarating feeling was too sweet; he hadn’t had enough of it yet.

“Anything is fine to eat,” Shen Mofeng refocused after a momentary lapse of concentration, focusing on a more important question for him, “What are your work arrangements after you finish filming?”

Ye Chen took out his phone to check his notes and replied honestly, “I have a few notices for photo shoots, as well as some variety shows. They’re all scattered, enough to keep me busy for half a month. After that, I have a male lead role in a TV drama, and after the New Year, there’s a reality show…”

“What reality show?” Shen Mofeng asked. “The second season of ‘Leisure Holiday’?”

It might be difficult for a TV drama to be parachuted in, but he could manage a reality show, perhaps as a special guest. It’s something even the production team couldn’t beg for—a super A-list, top-notch movie star.

Is it difficult for them to meet after the movie wraps? Shen Mofeng sneered inwardly. The young man was too naive.

“Yes, ‘Leisure Holiday,'” Ye Chen said in surprise. “How did you know?”

“I guessed,” Shen Mofeng cleared his throat, feeling embarrassed to tell Ye Chen that he had been silently observing him for some time before their second meeting…

Ye Chen had tragically met his end while filming the first season of “Leisure Holiday,” victim to an unexpected encounter with a pig. Luckily, the accident had been sudden, and he had died swiftly without much suffering or psychological trauma. He even wanted to return to the battlefield and have a proper battle with the pig, preferably to kill it and stew a big pot of ribs to relieve his grievances.

Now that he possessed the bloodline of Fuxi! What was a mere boar but a creature that would obey his every command and willingly offer its neck for slaughter?!

Thinking this, Ye Chen suddenly felt a surge of satisfaction from the thought of a rebirth, counterattack, revenge, and face-slapping!

It’s just that he’d be slapping a pig’s face…

…

After finishing dinner and using Shen Mofeng’s toiletries, Ye Chen returned to his room smelling fragrant. He lay down on the heated brick bed and started making emoji stickers of himself.

On the left side of the emoji pack were the big heads cropped from Ye Chen’s selfies. In the photos, Ye Chen furrowed his brows, gazing into the distance with a face full of sorrow, eyes filled with wind and frost. On the right side were piles of radishes, cabbages, eggplants, and other common vegetables found online. Each emoji pack had a saucy phrase concocted by Ye Chen.

– “Life’s got its edge, Chen Chen’s been nicked; Eggplants are unsold, Chen Chen trips and falls.”

– “Life’s tough, Chen Chen sighs; Cabbages are piling, Chen Chen burps and farts.”

– “Life’s clutching the neck, Chen Chen’s struggling; Radishes are unsold, Chen Chen’s bending over.”

– “Life’s stretching its legs, Chen Chen’s tripping; Okra’s sticky, Chen Chen’s sweet.”

Ye Chen made a grid of nine saucy phrases about unsold agricultural products. Seven of them were regular crops like radishes, cabbages, chicken, and pork, while only two included information about Ranyi Fish and Winter Velvet Grass.

This was a method thought up by Ye Chen—to use invalid information to cover up valid information.

When he posted these images, those unaware would only think he was joking around. They wouldn’t delve into the existence of Ranyi Fish and Winter Velvet Grass, and only mythical beasts who had stayed in Mountain and Sea Realm would notice anything amiss. Additionally, by placing the legendary Ranyi Fish on the same level as pork and chicken, he was hinting that he knew “Ranyi Fish was just a type of livestock used for meat production”… He just didn’t know if the mythical beasts would understand his point.

But even if they didn’t understand, it didn’t matter. Setting this precedent, Ye Chen could occasionally play these borderline games in his friend circle in the future—he had asked the Boundary Spirits, and such behavior didn’t constitute a leak of information and wouldn’t result in punishment.

By doing this, the chances of encountering mythical beasts in the early stages might be higher than opening a store to sell spirit vegetables and fruits. Ye Chen had secretly registered an online store using Xiao Gao’s ID a few days ago, but it was still in the process of being reviewed. However, it would take time for the online store to start operating. Without using his star influence, the new store would inevitably be deserted at the beginning. It was hard to say how many ordinary customers would come to buy things in a day, let alone the special case of accidentally meeting a mythical beast buyer and having them eat spirit vegetables and fruits.

After Ye Chen posted this friend circle update, there was a wave of likes and laughter, but no one noticed anything amiss.

At this moment, Shen Mofeng sent a WeChat message, a voice message with a gentle tone: “What’s wrong, Chen Chen?”

Before, when he addressed Ye Chen, he either called him by name or teasingly called him “little friend.” He had never called him Chen Chen before.

Moreover, not only had Shen Mofeng never called him that, but since Ye Chen’s grandparents passed away, there hadn’t been anyone familiar who called him that in real life. These two affectionate words, uttered unexpectedly by Shen Mofeng in his low and magnetic voice… Ye Chen was startled, and his phone almost slipped from his hand for some reason.

He quickly steadied the phone, which he couldn’t afford to break with the 8,000 yuan he had spent on it, and replied: Just messing around, haha.

Shen Mofeng also replied in text: Chen Chen unsold?

Ye Chen regained his composure: Not unsold.

Shen Mofeng teasingly played along: Even if not unsold, still buy.

Ye Chen:…

Shen Mofeng: How many catties are you, how much per catty, I’ll buy it all.

Ye Chen scratched his head, suddenly unsure how to reply, typed a line, and then deleted it all.

Shen Mofeng: How many catties are you?

Ye Chen pursed his lips:…

Shen Mofeng: Speak.

Ye Chen:…Look it up on Wikipedia.

Shen Mofeng suppressed a laugh: Is the number accurate?

Ye Chen scratched his ear and wiped his face again. Ever since he heard Shen Mofeng call him “Chen Chen,” he had inexplicably developed more little habits: Qiu Ge said that boys reporting their weight too low didn’t look good, so he added five kilograms more…

Shen Mofeng: Indeed too thin.

Ye Chen suddenly looked pitiful like a small cabbage:…

Being unable to eat well and still having to work in the fields every day, how could he not be thin?!

Shen Mofeng: There are no conditions here. When we return to the city, I’ll fatten you up a bit.

Ye Chen replied instantly: Okay ah.

My and my Shen Ge’s food mooching agreement is set!

Shen Mofeng was in a good mood and continued teasing him: You haven’t replied to me yet, how much per catty for Chen Chen? I’ll take it all.

Ye Chen’s ears felt a bit hot. After hesitating for a moment, he replied: Chen Chen is a mascot, not for sale.

Shen Mofeng: I’ll take all the unsold vegetables, can I get a Chen Chen as a gift?

Ye Chen scratched his head, feeling a bit flustered:… There are no vegetables!

Actually, there were some, but there was no way to sell them to Shen Mofeng reasonably!

Ye Chen stood up abruptly, pacing back and forth on the kang. He typed: Shen Ge, stop teasing me.

Shen Mofeng mercifully let him off: Alright, no more teasing.

Shen Mofeng: Rest early, Chen Chen. Good night.

He just smoothly called him that, and it sounded so natural…

Ye Chen: Good night, Shen Ge.

He felt like something was off, but couldn’t quite grasp it.

Shen Mofeng’s appearance and demeanor in life gave off a playboy vibe, so usually when he acted a bit flirtatious and joked with Ye Chen, Ye Chen didn’t react at all, because he assumed that was just Shen Mofeng’s usual behavior and way of speaking.

But today…

Ye Chen had a feeling that Shen Mofeng’s words and actions were subtly crossing a threshold.

He was still trying to make sense of it all when suddenly, his WeChat pinged with another notification sound.

The author has something to say:

Ye Qiongqiong’s account book today:

Today’s expenditure: Pork belly 17 yuan/jin * 2 jin = 34 yuan

Remaining balance: 1448.2 yuan – 34 yuan = 1414.2 yuan

Shen Mofeng’s account book today:

– Chen Chen made three big bottles of autumn pear paste for me.

Shen Mofeng’s favorability: +10

Current favorability: 400/500, three stars

– It turns out Chen Chen made so much at once because he thought it would be hard to see me after filming, so he made extra for me to drink slowly… I, the old virgin, am so weak, my heart has melted.

Shen Mofeng’s favorability: +100

Current favorability: 500/500, breaking through the three-star limit, reaching four stars.

*Ding*, experience bar upgraded.

Current favorability: 0/1500, four stars.

On the day when Si Feng broke through to four stars, Ye Qiongqiong finally had a 1% enlightenment. 🙂