Shen Congwen had originally been shielding his eyes with his hand, but now he slowly lowered it, his voice very soft. "Mom, let’s not bring this up again."
His mother felt quite upset. She wanted to say sothing but found herself unable to.
Shen Congwen laughed lightly. "I can’t be a girl anymore! My every move is that of a man. Even if I changed back, people would probably just think I’m so kind of monster, right?"
He sat up, gently embracing his mother. "I’m fine, just a bit unwell. Mom, could you cook sothing for ? I’m going to my bedroom to sleep for a bit."
His mother, concerned, touched his forehead. It seed a bit warm. "You should take so fever dication. You might have caught a chill."
Shen Congwen nodded, took the dication, and went to his bedroom. He kicked off his shoes, removed his coat, and lay down.
Outside, his mother’s hands clenched tightly.
She was deeply conflicted.
She and Elder Shen could both see that Congwen likely had feelings for Zhou Yunchen; otherwise, he wouldn’t have brought him ho.
But, as Congwen had said, he had long since stopped being a girl.
They had raised Congwen as a boy since he was five.
Back then, a fortune-teller had said that if he wasn’t raised as a girl, he wouldn’t live past twenty. His father hadn’t believed it at first, but then ca a series of disasters and frequent injuries...
Eventually, after much consideration, they had made that cruel decision.
She still recalled how five-year-old Congwen, not understanding what was happening, had cried bitterly when his long hair was cut off. Despite his pain, as parents, they had to be ruthless.
Later, when he finally reached twenty, they wondered if they should quickly change things back. However, Congwen had already grown accustod to this way of life. They went to fulfill their vow to the divine presence without his knowledge, but the fortune-teller then said it was best for him to marry a girl. This was terribly distressing. Congwen had always been unwilling, so they had kept putting it off until now.
Recalling the past, his mother’s eyes grew moist, her hand gripping the phone hesitantly.
When Congwen had co ho recently, they had asked about Zhou Yunchen. He claid they were just casual acquaintances and that Zhou Yunchen wouldn’t visit often. But from his mother’s perspective, their relationship clearly went beyond that; they had obviously had a falling out.
His mother was very hesitant, but in the end, she made the call.
「The night slowly descended.」
When Shen Congwen awoke, the house was silent, and his bedroom was dark.
Just as he sat up, the lamp by the bed suddenly turned on, followed by a familiar, slightly hoarse voice. "You have a slight fever. Lie down."
Shen Congwen was shocked. "Why is it you?"
Zhou Yunchen’s lips curved, his gaze filled with a gentle warmth. "Why can’t it be ?"
Shen Congwen stared at his face, studying him for a long ti. He felt there was sothing different about him.As if sothing had changed.
After a while, he slowly lay back down and closed his eyes. "What ti is it?"
"Nine o’clock," Zhou Yunchen’s voice seed even hoarser. "Aunt Shen has already left. She asked to look after you."
Shen Congwen gave a wry laugh. "You know how to take care of people?"
Zhou Yunchen leaned in slightly. "What, you don’t believe ?"
Shen Congwen couldn’t help but open his eyes. He found Zhou Yunchen leaning in too close. Feeling uncomfortable, he shifted slightly. "Is there anything to eat?"
Zhou Yunchen spoke softly, "Dinner is ready. Do you want to eat?"
He nodded and mumbled, "I’m hungry."
Zhou Yunchen chuckled. "Alright, I’ll go reheat the food. You wash up and co out." With that, he walked out first.
Only after Zhou Yunchen had left did Shen Congwen sit up. He cald himself for a mont before walking out.
His mother’s cooking was excellent—four dishes and a soup, all of which Shen Congwen enjoyed.
Zhou Yunchen joked with a faint smile, "Your mother is really biased. There isn’t a single dish I like."
Shen Congwen kept his head down, eating. "No one asked you to co."
Zhou Yunchen said, grinning, "But no one is kicking out, right?"
He leaned in very close, his breath hot and tingling against the base of Shen Congwen’s ear, the tip of his ear reddening as if it were about to bleed.
Shen Congwen didn’t want to deal with him—he was always like this, always crazy, always so bad.
He ate quietly, his manners refined and gentle. Coupled with his fair skin and delicate features, he looked exceptionally handso.
Zhou Yunchen silently admired him for a while, then teased, "Congwen, I’ve always said you’re like a young lady, even when you eat. With your looks, if you lived in ancient tis, countless nobles and high officials would be clamoring for you."
This was too much. Shen Congwen, sowhat angry, put down his chopsticks. "Zhou Yunchen, don’t go too far!"
Zhou Yunchen chuckled. "I only said you’re like a young lady. Where did I touch a nerve? Tell , how did I cross the line? It’s not the first ti I’ve said this to you. Why didn’t you get angry before, but now you’re so furious?"
Shen Congwen stood up, wanting to smoke a cigarette.
But as soon as he stood, his arm was grasped.
He glanced down; it was Zhou Yunchen.
That handso hand seed to rest casually on his wrist, but only Shen Congwen knew how domineering and strong the grip actually was.
Their eyes t. Zhou Yunchen’s voice was soft. "Sit down and eat."
Shen Congwen didn’t move.
Zhou Yunchen then used his other hand to press lightly on Shen Congwen’s shoulder, his voice dropping as if coaxing. "Alright, be good. Don’t be so stubborn when you’re sick."
Shen Congwen’s voice was sowhat hoarse. "I want to smoke."
But he was pulled back down. "Why smoke when you’re sick? Just sit down and eat properly."
Saying this, Zhou Yunchen served him a bowl of soup. "It’s light and nourishing. Aunt Shen spent a long ti simring it."
Shen Congwen looked at him. "You don’t have to take care of ."
Zhou Yunchen laughed. "Consider it returning the favor?"
He leaned closer. "I’ve always rembered how you took care of for a whole week that year."
Shen Congwen lowered his head, sipping his soup. "There’s no need to bring up those things."
The shaless man just laughed. "Alright, we won’t bring it up. Let’s resu our friendship starting today. Not only will I not be angry with you, but I’ll also introduce you to a girlfriend. How does that sound?"
Shen Congwen choked on his soup and sprayed it directly onto Zhou Yunchen’s face.
It took a mont for Zhou Yunchen to react. He then elegantly wiped the soup from his face with a napkin, saying, "I’m going to wash my face." Then he walked into the master bedroom.
Shen Congwen called from behind him, "There’s a restroom outside."
But Zhou Yunchen acted as if he hadn’t heard, walked straight into the master bedroom, and even closed the door.
Shen Congwen was speechless but felt there was nothing to hide, so he didn’t follow him in.
In the master bedroom’s ensuite bathroom, Zhou Yunchen washed his face and then began to inspect the bedroom.
It was a tasteful, masculine suite with a grey-and-white color sche. Every item displayed refined style; the cologne was "Bleu".
He opened it, took a whiff, and then smiled.
When he erged, Shen Congwen was still drinking his soup. Zhou Yunchen casually sat down beside him as if nothing had happened.
Shen Congwen instantly detected the scent on him. "Did you use my cologne?"
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