Chapter 30: The Siege of Ai Baku

Jian Mingzhou stared at the location for a long time and took a deep breath. “Let’s not prepare the ingredients first. Your uncle is here.”

Xie Jing paused slightly and frowned. “Where is he?”

“Guard office.”

Xie Jing turned his head. “?”

He couldn’t explain it in three or two words, especially with that suspicious scavenger.

He had no idea what happened to Xie Chi!

But in this difficult-to-explain mood, he felt a hint of relief; fortunately, Xie Chi stumbled first.

Jian Mingzhou turned to the TV cabinet to collect the manga, “Xiaojing, move all the books to the forbidden area, and lock the door.”

Xie Jing nodded, and with his long arms, he picked up a large stack of manga. Turning his head to look at him,

“How come you didn’t lock the door when I came?”

Jian Mingzhou’s gaze remained steady. “You and him are different.”

Xie Chi… is a Siberian Husky among dogs.

After converging with the aura of this pile of forbidden manga, the two left to go to the community guard office to pick up people.

The guard office was on one side of the community gate.

At the entrance, Jian Mingzhou mentally prepared himself and then pushed open the door.

Upon entering the room, they saw a tall and straightforward man sitting on a small stool. Under the well-defined facial features, there was still a hint of innocence. He had a bundle of twigs on his back, and a large canvas bag was placed at his feet, with something stirring inside.

In short, he looked suspicious.

The security guard pointed at the big canvas bag and asked, “What is this?”

Xie Chi immediately became anxious. “Don’t touch it! You can’t eat the crabs if they die.”

As he turned anxiously, the twigs on his back “swooshed” and swept across the office desk, scattering documents all over the floor.

“…”

Jian Mingzhou closed his eyes at the door.

He hadn’t mentally prepared himself enough. He felt like disappearing to a picturesque place.

The next moment, Xie Chi noticed them and said, “Mingzhou! Xiejing!! Save me!!!”

Jian Mingzhou took a deep breath and walked in.

Xie Jing followed silently.

Approaching Xie Chi, Jian Mingzhou prepared to speak, “What are you doing?”

Xie Chi demonstrated, “Apologizing with a burden. Look!”

“…Then you’ve burdened yourself beyond words.”

They were familiar with each other, and the security guard hesitated. “Mr. Jian, is this person really your relative?”

Jian Mingzhou glanced at Xie Jing’s cold face and said, “…temporarily.”

Xie Chi:.

“Sorry for the misunderstanding!”

The security guard apologized immediately and released Xie Chi.

Xie Chi complained, “Have you ever seen such a handsome scavenger?”

The security guard remained solemn, “Profession is not distinguished by appearance.”

“…” Xie Chi was instantly speechless.

Jian Mingzhou couldn’t bear it and urged softly, “Let’s go; say less.”

The group left the security office.

The sunlight greeted them as they exited. Jian Mingzhou looked at Xie Chi’s somewhat weathered face, and an unexpected phrase came to his mind: emerging into the light.

“Get rid of the twigs.”

“No, this is my sincere apology.”

Jian Mingzhou looked at Xie Jing, and Xie Jing lowered his eyes calmly and said, “Just throw it away, Uncle. Do it while I can still control my hands.”

“…” Xie Chi threw away the twigs!

After throwing the twigs, he habitually handed the big bag to Xie Jing and said, “Come on, Xiaojing, carry it a bit.”

Jian Mingzhou gently reminded her, “Weren’t you here to apologize?”

Xie Chi realized, “Oh right, let me carry it myself.”

—

After some twists and turns, they returned home.

Xie Chi opened a bag of crabs, still lively inside. “I just came back from a business trip to City F. A friend caught the fattest ones from a crab pond and sent them directly to you!”

He glanced at Xie Jing and then cleared his throat. “Last time we didn’t consider it well.”

Xie Jing looked for a moment, whether out of fatigue or magnanimity, and sighed deeply. “Forget it.”

Xie Chi breathed a sigh of relief and happily said, “What do you want for dinner tonight? Let’s eat these crabs!”

“Hot pot,” Jian Mingzhou said.

Xie Chi hesitated. “Uh? Should we keep the crabs for now?”

…Keep what? Was his place an aquarium?

As Jian Mingzhou was considering, suddenly he heard Xie Jing asking, “Uncle, do you want to eat tonight?”

“Why not cook a few of them while they’re fresh?”

Xie Jing, who was in front, nodded and caught some crabs. “Let’s have hot pot, and I’ll make some sautéed crabs in chili and garlic. Since Uncle is here, let’s add another dish.”

He skillfully headed to the kitchen sink.

Looking at Xie Jing, Xie Chi stood there dumbfounded.

He turned to confirm, “Is that Xie Jing? Is it really him? Can he cook such complicated dishes?”

Jian Mingzhou clarified, “Xiaojing is very capable.”

“Tsk tsk…” Xie Chi clicked his tongue and evaluated, then looked at Jian Mingzhou. “I found that you seem to have a certain attribute. Living with you makes people unable to resist feeding you. Thinking back to when we lived together in college, the three of us…”

Just as he was saying this, Xie Jing threw a glance over.

Jian Mingzhou felt like he was being portrayed as useless and quickly stopped him. “Alright, come and help me with the hot pot.”

“Ah, fine.”

…

The dining table faced the kitchen sink.

Xie Jing was disassembling crabs at the sink, Jian Mingzhou was arranging ingredients on this side, and Xie Chi was wandering around like a husky, sniffing here and there.

Sometimes he rummaged through the plastic bags, and other times he looked at how Jian Mingzhou arranged the dishes.

“What’s this? Wow… this is amazing.”

When he almost stuck his head on Jian Mingzhou’s shoulder, a “thud!” sound suddenly came from behind.

“Uncle.”

Xie Jing looked straight at him and said, “If you have nothing to do, just sit and wait for the meal.”

Xie Chi retracted his head, dejected. “Oh.”

He turned and went to the living room, and Jian Mingzhou suddenly felt his limbs become agile. Just as he exhaled a breath, he heard a sound behind him.

“Is there still a manga on the sofa? Whose is it? Does Xie Jing read manga?”

Between the dining room and the kitchen, there was a brief silence.

Oh my god!!! Jian Mingzhou almost squeezed the meatball out: Brother’s Secret!

He desperately tried to maintain his composure. “Xie Chi—”

Xie Chi, who was three steps away from the manga, stopped and turned. “What’s up?”

Jian Mingzhou, with a calm tone, said, “Help me squeeze some juice. There are oranges in the fridge.”

Xie Chi turned and strolled over. “Okay.”

As the clear figure moved away from the danger zone, Jian Mingzhou sighed in relief and looked at Xie Jing. However, he saw Xie Jing looking at him directly, with a faint smile on his lips.

…He can still smile!

He stared at Xie Jing for a moment, and Xie Jing burst into laughter.

While Jian Mingzhou was almost proclaiming his brother as trash, Xie Chi turned his head in surprise and said, “Huh? Xie Jing, did you just laugh???”

Xie Jing calmly disassembled the crab. “You misheard, Uncle.”

 “…”

While the two were talking over there, Jian Mingzhou quietly slipped away from the living room, discreetly tucking the dangerous manga under the cushion.

After hiding the manga, he instinctively raised his hand to touch his ear.

… It’s so hot.

–

A hot pot and a plate of crabs were served.

The three sat at the table, surrounded by swirling steam and bright and soft lighting, creating a warm and harmonious atmosphere.

On the table, the hot pot was simmering, and the ladle was closer to Jian Mingzhou. He had just scooped two meatballs when Xie Chi, familiarly, leaned over and offered his bowl.

“Mingzhou, scoop some for me.”

“…”

The same choice of words brought unpleasant memories.

Jian Mingzhou looked deeply at him and handed him two meatballs.

After taking a few bites, Xie Chi leaned over again and said, “Scoop me some shrimp balls.”

Considering he was a guest, Jian Mingzhou graciously extended his hand. However, before the spoon reached, another hand reached over from the opposite side, taking the spoon.

“Let me do it.”

He looked up to see Xie Jing sitting across with a poised posture. He scooped two for Xie Chi and reached out to Jian Mingzhou.

“Uncle, give me the bowl.”

He was a bit stunned but handed it over and said, “Thank you.”

Xie Jing scooped shrimp balls and fish balls for him, deliberately avoiding the chili sauce and handing over a small bowl. He also filled his cup with juice with seamless and considerate service.

In the end, he casually asked Xie Chi, “Did you also feed Uncle like this in your dorm back then?”

Jian Mingzhou’s hand paused. He heard that.

Xie Chi looked up from his bowl. “Huh? Not exactly…” he hesitated. “He just opened his mouth for meals.”

Xie Jing then interjected, “Let me do it.”

He looked at Xie Jing and then at Xie Chi beside him. Suddenly, he recalled that the latter used to bring him meals and could be considered diligent and brave, making him quite likable.

But for some reason, in this moment, with Xie Jing around—

He strangely seemed lazy.

He gently suppressed this illusion: Just a misconception.

The hot pot on the table was simmering, and there was a plate of stir-fried crabs. Seizing the opportunity, Jian Mingzhou took a few and began to eat.

He ate quickly, biting half of a meatball in one go.

Xie Chi turned his head and chuckled. “I remember something. Mingzhou’s mouth is indeed quite efficient.”

Jian Mingzhou almost choked!

In an instant, he guessed what Xie Chi was going to say, but his mouth was still stuffed with half a crab.

Unable to stop him, he heard Xie Chi start talking:

“We had a university open class once, and Mingzhou brought a small apple. We bet if he could eat it in one bite, and without hesitation, he stuffed it into his mouth.”

Xie Jing paused with his chopsticks, showing interest. “Oh, what was the bet?”

“If he won, we would address him as ‘brother.'”

“…” The front suddenly fell silent. “And then?”

Xie Chi laughed heartily. “Then he was called up to answer questions!”

Xie Jing burst into laughter, diverting the topic.

Jian Mingzhou’s fingertips trembled slightly, staring straight at Xie Chi.

After a while, Xie Chi called him and asked, “Did your dormitory also feed your brother like this back then?”

Jian Mingzhou gave him a sidelong glance and then gave in.

The dining table fell silent for a moment.

Facing the direction of the sink, they could see Xie Jing washing dishes with his back to them.

After a while, Jian Mingzhou heard Xie Chi call him. He turned his head and saw a faint satisfaction in Xie Chi’s eyes.

“After you came, Xiao Jing seems to have changed a lot.”

He was stunned, following the direction of his gaze.

Xie Jing’s sturdy back moved slightly, revealing a part of his neck, showing a maturity beyond his age. Jian Mingzhou looked at him, feeling a slight stir in his heart.

Then he heard Xie Chi say, “He has become more capable.”

“…”

After a while, Jian Mingzhou gently spoke, “Be more discreet; don’t let Xiao Jing hear.”

“?” Xie Chi said, “Oh.”

–

After the meal, Xie Chi went to the sofa, feeling sleepy.

Xie Jing got a bit of oil on his clothes while frying the crabs.

Jian Mingzhou asked him to change first while he cut some fruits at the sink.

He cut a plate of watermelon and brought it over, seeing Xie Chi being idle on the sofa.

“Ah… nothing to do. Hey, wasn’t there a manga here just now? What manga is it?”

Jian Mingzhou almost kicked the table corner!

He steadied himself and put down the watermelon, saying, “… Track and Field Youth, Xiao Jing, put it away.”

“Oh, that sounds good; let me borrow and read it.”

“Ask Xiao Jing when he comes out.”

Half a minute later, Xie Jing came out after changing clothes.

Jian Mingzhou walked over immediately and said, “Xiao Jing.” He pulled him aside and whispered, “Quick, give your uncle the Track and Field Youth manga.”

The overhead light quietly descended.

Xie Jing remained silent for a moment, then moved his Adam’s apple and said, “… I don’t have that manga.”

“…” What?

Jian Mingzhou looked at his clearly defined profile for a while, and after a moment, he snapped back to his senses!

It was in the changing room.

From behind, Xie Chi’s voice came, “Did you find the Track and Field Youth manga?”

Jian Mingzhou felt a storm gathering in his eyes. He looked at Xie Jing, and in a tone as gentle as a spring breeze.

“Then what do you have? ‘Discuss Little General,’ ‘Hurdle Prince’ perhaps?”

Xie Jing, “…”