When Fu Yunzhou returned home, he changed his shoes and clothes. As soon as he looked up, he saw Yuan Xi holding a bowl of porridge, looking at him sleepily, like a puppy waiting to be fed.

Fu Yunzhou couldn’t resist when he saw Yuan Xi’s expression and reached out to gently ruffle his hair.

Yuan Xi’s hair was soft and felt incredibly comfortable to the touch. Fu Yunzhou reluctantly pulled his hand back after a few gentle pats.

He tried his best to look serious as he looked up at Yuan Xi and asked, “Is there something you want to talk about?”

Yuan Xi didn’t immediately state his purpose. Instead, he followed behind Fu Yunzhou and waited until he sat down before placing the bowl of porridge into his hands.

Yuan Xi then sat down seriously on the nearby sofa, staring straight ahead at the wall. “So, about that job, you mentioned before—does it still stand? I’d like to learn more about it. Could you give me a contact number?”

Fu Yunzhou took a sip of the porridge, which contained millet, red dates, lotus seeds, and silver fungus—known for its lung-clearing properties. Yuan Xi had remembered Fu Yunzhou’s severe cough during their first meeting, so he had taken the liberty of adding silver fungus to the stomach-nourishing porridge this time.

The red date and silver fungus porridge had a sweet taste, and after taking a sip, Fu Yunzhou couldn’t help but frown.

After drinking it, Fu Yunzhou was left with a sweet and slightly greasy sensation in his mouth. The texture of the silver fungus can be polarizing—some people like it, while others do not. Despite its many benefits, those who dislike it often find the texture unappealing.

Fu Yunzhou, who wasn’t a fan of sweet foods, felt like he was eating something strange when he tasted the silver fungus and red dates.

After waiting for a while without a response, Yuan Xi couldn’t help but glance over at Fu Yunzhou. Noticing his expression, he cautiously asked, “Do you not like it?”

Fu Yunzhou looked up at Yuan Xi and shook his head. “I’m just not used to it. Next time, you can make plain millet porridge. All these extra ingredients make it taste a bit unusual.”

Yuan Xi opened his mouth but only managed to let out a soft “oh.”

Fu Yunzhou set the bowl down and looked up at Yuan Xi. “What did you say earlier? About contact information and work?”

Yuan Xi’s mood, which had started to sink, immediately brightened again. He placed his hands on his lap, nervously fidgeting with his fingers.

“Ah, right! If it’s inconvenient, you can—”

“Give me your phone. You can contact me anytime if you need anything.” He wiped his mouth and looked up at Yuan Xi.

—