Chapter 069 Sea King – “I miss him so much” (15/20)
Lin Yiwen blocked Zhao Jiangcheng without a moment’s hesitation.
Was Zhao Jiangcheng really sending him messages to provoke and annoy him just because Shi Jingge hadn’t returned to school and was spending the night out?
Lin Yiwen didn’t buy it.
How could that possibly bother him? Who hasn’t spent the night out and skipped school at some point?
Especially after second year, students could choose to live off-campus. What’s the big deal?
Back in the day, Lin Yiwen wasn’t exactly a model student either. He used to run off campus as early as first year and got punished by teachers a few times. Shi Jingge was already in his second year. If he wanted to run off campus, let him. Did that bastard Zhao Jiangcheng really think he can use this to blackmail him? Hah.
But soon, Lin Yiwen’s hand paused.
Although that bastard never used his brain, he wasn’t quite that brainless.
To provoke him out of the blue with such a trivial matter—wasn’t that just asking to be beaten to a pulp?
Unless…
…Zhao Jiangcheng had something he needed from him, but he couldn’t bring himself to admit it. So he was putting on this show first, then bowing and begging for help later. That way, even if Lin Yiwen went on to taunt Zhao Jiangcheng, Zhao Jiangcheng wouldn’t come out on the losing end.
—That old fox!
Lin Yiwen gritted his teeth; he’d almost been led down the wrong path by that bastard Zhao Jiangcheng!
So the question was, what could possibly make Zhao Jiangcheng lower his head and beg him for help? It couldn’t possibly be because of Shi Jingge.
But why did Zhao Jiangcheng specifically mention him?
Since Zhao Jiangcheng had something he needed from Lin Yiwen, it certainly wouldn’t involve an innocent person, which meant Shi Jingge must be implicated in some way.
To be precise, Zhao Jiangcheng was very concerned about the fact that “Shi Jingge spent the night away from home”—otherwise, he wouldn’t have brought it up repeatedly.
But Shi Jingge has nothing to do with Zhao Jiangcheng; there was no way Zhao Jiangcheng would be worried about him.
So, there was only one possibility: Shi Jingge certainly wasn’t alone when he spent the night away from campus.
The person who spent the night out with Shi Jingge was the one Zhao Jiangcheng was truly concerned about.
So, who was this person?
Lin Yiwen’s breath caught in his throat, and his fingertips trembled slightly.
Was there even a question? Who else could it be? It must be Zhao Jiangcheng’s star pupil, Ye Mingxu!
Lin Yiwen felt his head buzzing and instinctively leaned on the table for support. He didn’t want to accept this reality at all.
But aside from Ye Mingxu, who else could make Zhao Jiangcheng come running to his arch-rival for help?
Most importantly, Ye Mingxu was notorious for not using his smart bracelet!
In today’s world, how could anyone still function without a smart bracelet? It was linked to personal information and everything else—it was a passport for every aspect of life—and it also served various functions for learning, entertainment, and shopping. You could imagine just how essential it was.
Yet Ye Mingxu flatly refused to use one, leading some to suspect he was out of touch.
So, Zhao Jiangcheng knew his star pupil hadn’t returned to the dorm and couldn’t be reached, but he knew the star pupil was with Shi Jingge, which was why he took the initiative to reach out…
…It all made sense now!
Lin Yiwen’s legs gave out, and he fell back into his chair.
He took a long breath in, then out, then in, then out, trying to calm his raging emotions. Finally, he picked up his cup to take a sip of rose tea, but before it even reached his lips, it slipped from his hand and fell to the floor.
Thud.
Lin Yiwen froze for a moment before suddenly snapping back to reality. His rose tea!
Lin Yiwen moved to unblock Zhao Jiangcheng from his blacklist, but before he could do so, he saw a message from Shi Jingge.
Shi Jingge: [Professor, I’d like to take some time off. I found an adorable little kitten that’s seriously injured. It needs surgery in three days, and the procedure carries significant risks, so I’d like to spend more time with it.]
Shi Jingge: [I’m near the city library, so it’ll be convenient for working on my thesis, too.]
Shi Jingge: [Thank-you-kitten emoji.jpg]
Lin Yiwen suddenly recalled the post Zhao Jiangcheng had shared on his Moments that afternoon.
The pet hospital.
At the time, he’d assumed Zhao Jiangcheng had gone there with his fiancée to buy pet food, just showing off their romance. He’d even wondered why Zhao Jiangcheng had tagged him. Was he trying to make him eat dog food?
Now that he thought about it, it was clear that Zhao Jiangcheng had run into Shi Jingge and Ye Mingxu there!
That post wasn’t about showing off their romance at all—it was mocking him!
No wonder he tagged him.
Lin Yiwen let out a cold chuckle and instantly lost any desire to unblock Zhao Jiangcheng.
Zhao Jiangcheng belonged on the block list, ha.
Lin Yiwen gritted his teeth and replied: [Just you?]
At that moment, Lin Yiwen still clung to a sliver of hope.
What if… What if he was wrong?
Unfortunately, Shi Jingge’s next reply sent a chill through Lin Yiwen’s heart.
Shi Jingge: [And my friend.]
Shi Jingge: [smiley.jpg]
Lin Yiwen took a deep breath and, with the resolve of a warrior ready to slit his wrists, sent: [From our school?]
Shi Jingge: [No.]
Lin Yiwen: [……Don’t tell me they’re from Siming Teji.]
Shi Jingge: [I’m sorry.]
Shi Jingge: [They are.]
Even though he’d already guessed as much, Lin Yiwen still gasped in shock, his heart aching terribly.
Lin Yiwen: [Is it Ye Mingxu?]
Shi Jingge: [Yes.]
Lin Yiwen closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose in anguish.
His sweet, adorable little apprentice… had been lured away by that bastard Zhao Jiangcheng’s apprentice! Snatched away!!
Just then, Lin Yiwen’s smart bracelet buzzed.
It was a call request.
From Zhao Jiangcheng.
Lin Yiwen let out a string of contemptuous scoffs, then firmly tapped “Decline.”
He didn’t bother blocking Zhao Jiangcheng; he’d simply decline every call one by one. Imagining Zhao Jiangcheng’s furious and frustrated face brought him some satisfaction.
Serves him right! He deserves it!
Zhao Jiangcheng took a deep breath and thought, Well, since I’m the one asking for a favor, I have no choice but to swallow my pride.
So he found Lin Yiwen’s payment QR code and sent him three hundred yuan. He added a note: [Treating you to a late-night snack.]
Lin Yiwen received the notification and looked thoroughly pleased.
Three hundred yuan from his arch-rival—was that just a simple three hundred yuan?
Then Shi Jingge received a contact notification from Lin Yiwen.
Lin Yiwen: [It’s Zhao Jiangcheng’s.]
Lin Yiwen: [You can block him afterward.]
Seeing Lin Yiwen’s addendum, Shi Jingge couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
Ye Mingxu looked at Shi Jingge curiously, took a step forward, but hesitated at the foot of the bed and didn’t get in.
Shi Jingge couldn’t help but ask, “Are you really planning to sleep on the floor?”
Ye Mingxu looked at him blankly. Wasn’t it Shi Jingge who told him to sleep on the floor?
If Shi Jingge told him to sleep on the floor, then of course he would. If he didn’t obey, Xiao Ge would be upset. He’d obey.
Even though Ye Mingxu hadn’t said a single word, Shi Jingge somehow understood what Ye Mingxu was thinking. He beckoned him over and sighed deeply. “Get in.”
Ye Mingxu had already washed up and changed into his pajamas, so when Shi Jingge told him to get into bed, of course he would. He wasn’t an idiot, after all.
Ye Mingxu quickly climbed into bed, lay down on the other side, and immediately registered a sweet scent.
It was the scent of Shi Jingge’s shampoo; and that sweet scent seemed to be getting stronger and stronger.
Ye Mingxu’s body stiffened slightly. When he opened his eyes, he saw that Shi Jingge had already rolled over right next to him.
Ye Mingxu: !!!
“I’ll introduce someone to you,” Shi Jingge said with a grin.
Ye Mingxu froze for a moment before saying in a hoarse voice, “Who?”
“Teacher Zhao.” Shi Jingge yawned, stretching a bit too exaggeratedly. Since only a few buttons on his pajamas were fastened, a large expanse of his fair, delicate collarbone was exposed right before Ye Mingxu’s eyes.
In that instant, Ye Mingxu felt as though he couldn’t even breathe properly.
Because of the kitten, they hadn’t turned on the main lights; only the small bedside lamp was on. Its warm, orange light cascaded over Shi Jingge’s fair, supple shoulders, casting a hazy, alluring glow.
Ye Mingxu’s Adam’s apple bobbed. His throat felt dry. He tried to tear his gaze away, but he simply couldn’t bring himself to look away.
He felt a bit ashamed, but at the same time, a wave of heat slowly rose from the depths of his heart, making his face flush crimson and his mouth go dry.
Yet his eyes were glued to Shi Jingge’s collarbone. He simply couldn’t tear them away.
Just then, Shi Jingge suddenly glanced over and asked, “Did you add them?”
Ye Mingxu: !!!
Ye Mingxu’s heartbeat went haywire.
He nodded hastily and hurriedly reached for his smart bracelet, but his eyes remained fixed on Shi Jingge. He just couldn’t bring himself to look away.
In his panic, Ye Mingxu accidentally flung the smart bracelet right at Shi Jingge’s head!
Shi Jingge chuckled. “What? Are you upset with me? Trying to sneak attack me?”
“N–N–No, that’s not it,” Ye Mingxu said. “I–I–I…”
Before he could finish, Shi Jingge cut him off, “All right.” He pressed the smart bracelet into Ye Mingxu’s hand. “I was just kidding.”
Ye Mingxu instinctively grabbed Shi Jingge’s hand, and in doing so, gripped the smart bracelet.
It wasn’t the first time their hands had touched, but this time, it felt exceptionally different.
Ye Mingxu’s breathing slowed. He felt Shi Jingge’s puzzled gaze; he knew he should let go of his hand, but in that moment, he simply couldn’t bring himself to do it.
No matter how much he internally screamed, cursed, or ordered himself to do so, he still couldn’t let go of Shi Jingge’s hand.
Shi Jingge furrowed his brows and his expression darkened. “What are you doing?”
Ye Mingxu knew he should explain. He felt a bit frantic and uneasy, but he just couldn’t bring himself to speak.
Shi Jingge’s expression grew colder and colder. Ye Mingxu grew even more frantic. Suddenly, Shi Jingge smiled, a truly radiant smile.
Ye Mingxu froze.
Then, Shi Jingge gently tickled the palm of his hand. The tingling sensation sent a shiver down Ye Mingxu’s spine, as if an electric current zapped through him.
Shi Jingge chuckled softly. “Why’s your face so red?”
Like someone had kicked him out of bed, Ye Mingxu spilled onto the floor with a loud thud. Immediately afterward, as if his butt were on fire, he bolted straight for the bathroom. The very next second, Shi Jingge heard the sound of running water.
The whole sequence happened in quick succession, leaving no time for others to react.
But it did wake up the sleeping little kitten. It half-opened its eyes in displeasure and let out a complaint.
Shi Jingge couldn’t help but burst out laughing. How could it be so cute? Cats were adorable. Ye Mingxu was cute, too.
Shi Jingge looked at the kitten and chuckled. “Can I pet you?”
The kitten eyed him warily but didn’t make a sound.
“It’ll feel really good,” Shi Jingge said with a smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes. “Just try it once, okay? If it doesn’t feel comfortable, just swat me away. I promise I won’t hit back. How about it? Just once.”
Seeing that the kitten was still on high alert, Shi Jingge held up a hand. “I promise, okay?”
Finally, after Shi Jingge’s persistent pestering, the little kitten lowered its noble head. Shi Jingge got his chance. With just a single touch, the kitten closed its eyes in contentment. Shi Jingge took the opportunity to tap its nose, and the kitten unconsciously rubbed against him.
“Meow~”
So sweet and well-behaved.
In the bathroom, Ye Mingxu looked at his soaked pajamas and fell into deep thought. Should he ask Xiao Ge to bring him a fresh set of pajamas or should he just wait for them to dry?
Never mind.
After pondering for quite a while, Ye Mingxu took out the smart bracelet he’d just snatched away. Perhaps he could add Teacher Zhao to his contacts first.
And just like that, Teacher Zhao became the second person in Ye Mingxu’s contact list.
When Teacher Zhao received Ye Mingxu’s contact request, his emotions were all over the place. He was practically in tears.
Sure, he’d lost 300 yuan—and to his arch-rival, no less—but considering he’d lost over 10,000 yuan not long ago, what’s 300 yuan?
Plus, he’d gotten Ye Mingxu’s contact info, putting an end to future troubles once and for all!
He’d clearly come out ahead! He’d hit the jackpot!
Teacher Zhao clutched his chest, holding back tears. A man never cried.
Ye Mingxu waited in the bathroom for half an hour, but his pajamas still weren’t dry, so he finally decided to ask Shi Jingge for help.
Ye Mingxu: [I think I need a new set of pajamas.]
Ye Mingxu: [Mine are wet.]
When Shi Jingge saw the messages, he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Did the guy actually jump in the shower wearing his pajamas?
Luckily, when Shi Jingge had bought them, he’d picked up a couple extra sets and sent them over to Ye Mingxu. Ye Mingxu opened the bathroom door just a crack, quickly snatched the clothes inside, and shut the door.
Shi Jingge: ……I wasn’t even looking!
“Do you want to watch, Xiao Ge?” Ye Mingxu zeroed in on the point. “It’s not like I wouldn’t let you. Should I open the door?”
Shi Jingge replied calmly, “Thanks, but no thanks.”
“Oh.” Ye Mingxu felt a little disappointed, though he didn’t quite understand why.
The moment Ye Mingxu finished changing into his pajamas and stepped out of the bathroom, he saw Xiao Bai curled up in Shi Jingge’s arms, swaying gently as Shi Jingge stroked him, occasionally rubbing against Shi Jingge’s fingers and purring contentedly.
Warm light bathed them, making them look cozy and close.
Ye Mingxu froze for a moment, then quickly walked over and climbed into bed. After hesitating for quite a while, he gently poked the kitten.
It was thoroughly enjoying itself; it only half-opened its eyes to glance at him, paid him no mind, and continued to nuzzle closer to Shi Jingge, meowing several times as if urging something.
“You little rascal.” Shi Jingge tapped its nose. “Do you think I’m your personal masseuse?”
“Meow~” The kitten didn’t understand; it kept its eyes open, looking completely innocent, then leaned in to lick Shi Jingge’s finger and rubbed against him playfully.
Ye Mingxu watched Shi Jingge and the kitten, and the corners of his lips curled up slightly.
These were the ones he was meant to protect.
…His family.
Perhaps thanks to the energy potion, the kitten was recovering quite well. By the next day, it was already able to walk around on the bed, and by the third day, it could run and jump. On the fourth day, they took it back to the vet for a checkup. She was pleasantly surprised to tell Shi Jingge and Ye Mingxu that the kitten was recovering well and ready for surgery. As she quickly began prepping for the operation, the kitten seemed to sense something and curled up in Shi Jingge’s arms, looking a bit uneasy.
“Don’t be afraid,” Shi Jingge said softly, stroking its ear. “You’ve waited so long for us. How could we bear to let you go? So you’re definitely going to come out of the operating room safe and sound. Then you’ll be a healthy kitten, and you’ll be able to stay with us for twenty or thirty years.”
The kitten seemed to accept the reassurance, but was still a bit anxious.
Just then, Ye Mingxu took a bracelet from his wrist. The centerpiece was a tiny mood made of an unidentifiable material with inscriptions engraved on both the front and back.
He slipped it around Xiao Bai’s neck; thankfully, the kitten was small enough for it to fit over its head.
“May this protect you,” Ye Mingxu said earnestly, “and keep you safe.”
Xiao Bai paused for a moment, then stretched out a paw and scratched at the pendant on its neck.
For some reason, it suddenly felt at ease.
“Mrow~”
The kitten nuzzled Ye Mingxu. Shi Jingge handed him over to Ye Mingxu, who received him somewhat clumsily, not daring to move a muscle. Xiao Bai rubbed against Ye Mingxu’s arm, then stepped onto his shoulder and began climbing up.
Ye Mingxu had absolutely no idea what to do; he was frozen stiff, so he could only cast a pleading glance at Shi Jingge. Shi Jingge shrugged, indicating there was nothing he could do.
In the end, the veterinary assistant took the kitten away, saving Ye Mingxu.
But soon, Ye Mingxu seemed even more nervous.
Five minutes after the surgery began.
“He’ll be okay, right?” Ye Mingxu asked in a low voice.
“He will,” Shi Jingge assured him.
After that, this exact same exchange repeated itself at an average rate of once every five minutes.
An hour later, Ye Mingxu could no longer sit still. He stood up, leaned against the wall, and waited anxiously.
Two hours later, Shi Jingge could no longer sit still either. He stood beside Ye Mingxu and took his hand.
“It’ll be okay,” he said softly.
Ye Mingxu wrapped his hand around Shi Jingge’s and nodded firmly. Their fingers intertwined, as if drawing strength from one another.
Finally, the lights above the operating room turned off.
Xiao Bai had been placed in an incubator with an IV drip. The incubator was equipped with various monitors to track the kitten’s vital signs; it was essentially a pet intensive care unit.
When the kitten was wheeled out, Shi Jingge and Ye Mingxu both felt a sharp pang of pain in their hearts.
Almost all of its fur on its lower body had been shaved off. Around its hindquarters—right over where its tails once were—a surgical dressing covered the small incision, yet the sight was heart-wrenching.
“The surgery was a complete success. We managed to save a small bit of the original tail.” The vet offered a faint smile to the pair. “But it’ll need to stay in the hospital for a few days of observation. It has a strong will to live. Trust me, in a few days you’ll be able to take this little one home.”
The two breathed a collective sigh of relief and thanked the veterinarian.
She waved them off. “It’s the least I can do. You can go take a look at it in the incubator, but since we gave it a strong dose of anesthesia, it’ll likely be asleep for a while longer.”
The incubator was in another designated area; currently, only Shi Jingge and Ye Mingxu were there.
“Let’s move out and live on our own,” Ye Mingxu said softly. “Together.”
“Sure.” Shi Jingge nodded. “When we get back, I’ll look up rental listings near the school.”
Ye Mingxu shook his head. “I have a place.” Ye Mingxu pointed at the little kitten, then looked at Shi Jingge. “Our… home. Our neighbor is Teacher Zhao, and Aunt Song, too. Aunt Song… likes… us.”
Shi Jingge opened his mouth, about to say something, but his words dried up.
He just felt a bit conflicted.
If he moved in right across from Teacher Zhao, would Teacher Zhao ever want to go home again? He wouldn’t just move out overnight, would he?
Xiao Bai was getting better every day; the vet said it could be discharged after two more days of observation. Shi Jingge also found time to finish his thesis, revise it with Lin Yiwen’s help, and have Lin Yiwen submit it for him.
Afterward, Lin Yiwen took Shi Jingge to look at apartments.
This neighborhood perfectly met Shi Jingge’s needs. Located in the suburbs, it was peaceful with plenty of green space. Reportedly, there was even a hot spring nearby. Most of the people coming and going were elderly, and it looked very serene; the pace of life was much slower. There were hospitals nearby with quite a good reputation, too.
The apartment Lin Yiwen had his eye on was on the first floor, with a small courtyard where one could grow a few plants; it even had a swing. It was a spacious three-bedroom unit, very bright, and featured a sizable balcony.
Every aspect of the place felt inviting, and Shi Jingge fell in love with it at first sight. The landlord accompanied them on the tour, was very courteous throughout, and even offered a rent below market rate.
Shi Jingge instinctively glanced at Lin Yiwen, who shrugged, indicating it had nothing to do with him. The landlord smiled warmly and said that if Shi Jingge found the rent inconvenient, he could lower it even further. Even the real estate agent glanced at the landlord in surprise.
The landlord snorted inwardly. This was the capital city of the Federation’s main planet, a place where real estate was at a premium. Anyone with a property to rent wouldn’t be short on money.
It wasn’t just tenants who were picky about apartments; landlords were picky about tenants, too.
This particular apartment had remained vacant not because no one wanted to rent it, but simply because he hadn’t wanted to rent it out.
Today’s prospective tenant was no ordinary person.
He didn’t have much of a personal connection with Lin Yiwen, but Lin Yiwen was a senior pharmacist and a full professor at the Kalandi College. How could he not have heard of him?
For someone of Lin Yiwen’s status to come out personally to help look for a place, this young man must surely be Lin Yiwen’s star pupil.
A student whom Lin Yiwen had taken under his wing—what kind of future could he possibly have? As the old saying goes, a distant relative was no match for a close neighbor, especially when that neighbor happens to be his landlord?
He’d treat the small amount of rent he was charging as an investment.
Shi Jingge quickly made up his mind; the two signed a lease for two years, with Shi Jingge paying a year’s rent upfront.
Next, it was time to go back and pick up his parents.
After finalizing the handover with the landlord, Shi Jingge offered to treat Lin Yiwen to a meal.
Lin Yiwen answered flatly, “Are you treating me or is your partner treating me?”
Shi Jingge smiled. “You’re quick on the draw, sir.”
Lin Yiwen shot him a glance. “Forget it. I’m afraid I won’t be able to eat.”
“It’s fine,” Shi Jingge said after a moment’s thought, trying to reassure him. “You might only lose your appetite this once, Professor. As for Professor Zhao, who knows how long it’ll take for him to get his appetite back.”
“Oh?” Lin Yiwen’s interest was piqued.
“Ah Xu and I have a cat, so living in the dorm isn’t really suitable anymore. We were originally planning to rent a place, but Ah Xu said he has a place right next door to Teacher Zhao,” Shi Jingge explained with a beaming smile.
Lin Yiwen: ……
“You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?” Lin Yiwen gritted his teeth. “My apprentice is dating Zhao Jiangcheng’s apprentice and now you’re moving into that apprentice’s place, and becoming neighbors with Zhao Jiangcheng himself? Do you really think I’ll be able to sleep?!”
Shi Jingge: “Huh?”
“Where are you guys living?” Lin Yiwen took a deep breath. “I’m going to buy a place there too!”
Shi Jingge: ???
“That bastard—he’ll never get away with letting his student steal my student away!” Lin Yiwen was fuming. “Tell me, where is it?”
Shi Jingge: ……
Well…
If we all lived together, that building would be pretty miserable, wouldn’t it? Who knows when it’ll get torn down.
In the end, Shi Jingge gave him the address. Lin Yiwen was determined to buy an apartment—not just one, but two.
He planned to “lend” the other one to Shi Jingge.
How could a student of his possibly end up living with Zhao Jiangcheng’s apprentice? Where would that leave his reputation?
Lin Yiwen strode forward two steps with a menacing air, then suddenly turned around. “Come on, let’s get something to eat.”
Shi Jingge: ?
“We’re going to run into each other sooner or later anyway,” Lin Yiwen said, tilting his head back and speaking with conviction, “so I might as well beat Zhao Jiangcheng to it!”
Shi Jingge: “…Alright.”
In the end, the three of them went out to eat together.
Lin Yiwen had originally intended to give Ye Mingxu a hard time, but ultimately couldn’t bring himself to do it. There was no other reason. Ye Mingxu was truly quite different from the one he’d seen before.
Lin Yiwen and Zhao Jiangcheng were arch-rivals, so naturally he’d seen Ye Mingxu plenty of times. The Ye Mingxu in his memory was aloof, arrogant, and cold with no life in his eyes, a look so bleak it was frightening. It was a good day if he spoke three sentences; more often than not, he’d ignore everyone around him, lost entirely in his own little world.
Lin Yiwen had to admit, in all honesty, that someone with that kind of personality really wasn’t cut out to be a partner.
But by the end of that meal, Lin Yiwen was practically blinded by what he saw.
Ye Mingxu could smile. When he did, the corners of his eyes crinkled, and he actually looked quite handsome.
Ye Mingxu never doubted a single word Shi Jingge said, even if it was blatantly false, so he was constantly teased by Shi Jingge. Whenever Shi Jingge teased him, he’d blush, the kind where his ears turned red. Several times, Lin Yiwen couldn’t bear to watch and told Shi Jingge to stop picking on him.
Moreover, Ye Mingxu’s eyes now sparkled, especially when he looked at Shi Jingge; it seemed as though all his emotions were about to overflow from them.
Anyone who witnessed the way Ye Mingxu and Shi Jingge interacted would know just how important Shi Jingge was to Ye Mingxu. Conversely, just how much Shi Jingge cared about Ye Mingxu was evident in his every move.
Shi Jingge was different when he was with Ye Mingxu, too.
They were each other’s one and only.
So how was Lin Yiwen supposed to find fault with them?
He was being driven to the brink of madness by the pink bubbles swirling around these two!
Lin Yiwen’s last act of defiance was to pay the bill before Shi Jingge could.
“When a teacher takes a student out to dinner, does the student really need to foot the bill?” Lin Yiwen left those words behind with an aloof air and strode off.
If he didn’t leave soon, he was genuinely afraid he would go blind. But as he walked, he couldn’t help but smile. When he did, he suddenly felt a pang of loneliness.
Especially when he thought of Shi Jingge and Ye Mingxu.
…Maybe he should find a partner too?
The next day, Shi Jingge and Ye Mingxu went to pick up Xiao Bai from the pet hospital. Thanks to the energy potions, its injuries had mostly healed, though its fur hadn’t grown back yet, so it didn’t look quite as cute as usual.
Shi Jingge and Ye Mingxu threw a little celebration for the kitten and even gave it some rose tea. To their surprise, the kitten immediately fell in love with the flavor and started pestering Shi Jingge for more.
Shi Jingge firmly refused to give it any. No matter how much the kitten pleaded, it was no use. However, Ye Mingxu, taking advantage of Shi Jingge’s inattention, secretly poured some of his own into the kitten’s bowl, but he’d poured too much. By the time Shi Jingge returned, the kitten hadn’t finished drinking it and was caught red-handed.
“Xiao Ge.” Ye Mingxu lowered his head and said pitifully, “I’m sorry.”
The kitten also hung its head and meowed pitifully twice. The big one and the little one—one human, one cat—were like two peas in a pod. How could Shi Jingge possibly stay angry?
All he could do was lift it high and then gently set it down.
Shi Jingge was leaving for his hometown, but the kitten had just been discharged from the hospital, and its body couldn’t handle the trip. So Ye Mingxu had to stay behind to take care of the kitten and couldn’t accompany Shi Jingge home.
Plus, since Shi Jingge said he’d be gone for five days, and Ye Mingxu found staying at a hotel by himself too boring, he decided to bring Xiao Bai back to the dorm.
When he returned, the entire dorm was in shock. Brother Xu actually brought back a cat?!
“B–B–Brother Xu!” His roommate took a deep breath. “Is this your cat?”
“Mm.” Ye Mingxu nodded. “Isn’t he cute?”
The roommates instinctively nodded, then gasped, looking at Ye Mingxu as if they were meeting him for the first time.
Ye Mingxu… was actually keeping a cat!
A few roommates looked at the kitten on his shoulder, feeling as if they were in a dream.
But after everything they’d been through, they’d already developed hearty constitutions, so they didn’t exactly collapse on the spot.
“Brother Xu,” another roommate said, his hand itching to reach out, “can I pet it?”
Ye Mingxu shook his head coldly. “No.”
Then he carried Xiao Bai into his room. The roommates watched the kitten’s departing figure and collectively shook their heads in disappointment.
He’s so stingy. He won’t even let us pet it once!
Ye Mingxu had mainly come back to pack his things. He’d never been a fan of using his light brain, so whether it was the data he’d collected or the topics he was researching, everything was on paper, filling several boxes in his room.
He set the kitten on the bed, letting it play on its own for a while, and told it he’d just tidy up his recent research materials before they’d go home together.
The thought of going home made Ye Mingxu feel a little happy. He had a home now, too.
It was just a shame that he and Xiao Bai could only go home together for now. The other owner wouldn’t be back for a few days. It was such a pity they couldn’t all live together at home right away.
Maybe he should just stay in the dorm for a couple of days and wait?
Just then, there was a knock on Ye Mingxu’s door.
Ye Mingxu went over to open it. Several roommates appeared outside; their eyes immediately went to the kitten, and they asked in unison, “Brother Xu, want some cookies?”
“Brother Xu, want a drink?”
“Brother Xu, what do you want for lunch? It’s on me!”
Ye Mingxu coldly and ruthlessly turned them down.
“You, little one.” Ye Mingxu turned around and tapped the kitten’s nose. “You’re just like Xiao Ge. Too utterly charming.”
“Meow~”
“Tell me,” Ye Mingxu murmured, “where do you think he is right now? What, doesn’t he even want to video chat with us?”
“Meow?” The kitten tilted its head, completely baffled.
Ye Mingxu fell silent for a moment, then coaxed gently, “Xiao Bai, do you… also miss… Xiao Ge?”
“Meow~”
“I see.” Ye Mingxu opened his smart bracelet and tapped on Shi Jingge’s chat window. “Then. Xiao Bai, meow.”
Xiaobai meowed obediently.
Ye Mingxu sent Xiaobai’s sad meow to Shi Jingge, adding the text: [Xiao Bai really misses you. He’s been meowing nonstop.]
So, remember to come back soon.
But Ye Mingxu waited quite a while without receiving a reply from Shi Jingge. Disappointed, he stroked the kitten and murmured, “…Hasn’t he gotten home yet?”
I miss… I miss Xiao Ge so much.
Where was Shi Jingge?
He had arrived home.
This time, he’d come back early without telling a soul. He’d originally intended to surprise the couple, but instead, he’d stumbled upon something rather unpleasant.
Following the original host’s memories, Shi Jingge entered the residential complex but couldn’t for the life of him find the right building. After getting lost twice in a row, he had no choice but to ask someone for directions.
“Auntie, could you please wait a moment? I’d like to ask for directions.” Shi Jingge stopped a kind elderly woman; for some reason, he felt she looked familiar.
She laughed. “How can I still be called Auntie? I’m an old lady by now, aren’t I?”
“You’re not old at all,” Shi Jingge said, his eyes crinkling with a smile. “Excuse me, which building is Number 11? I’ve found Building 10 and Building 12, but I can’t seem to find Building 11.”
“Building 11 isn’t over here. In our complex, the building numbers are divided by odd and even—odd numbers on one side, even numbers on the other,” the elderly woman said with a chuckle. “Building 11, right? As it happens, I live there. Let me take you—” Suddenly, the elderly woman stopped mid-sentence. She asked warily, “Do you have relatives living there? Are you looking for them?”
Shi Jingge thought for a moment. “I suppose so.”
“Looking for the Shi family?” the elderly woman asked, her tone turning somewhat sharp.
Shi Jingge nodded. Her expression immediately darkened as she eyed him up and down, but her eyesight was poor, and she couldn’t make him out clearly. She merely muttered, “One group after another keeps coming, all with their eyes on other people’s stuff. You never see them around normally, but now they’re all here. What a bunch of good-for-nothings.”
Shi Jingge froze for a moment, then heard the old woman say stiffly, “I don’t know where Building 11 is. Go ask someone else. But if I were a young person your age, with even a shred of decency, I wouldn’t do something like this!
“You’re never around during the day. What are you doing here now? Isn’t it just because you’re eyeing the few things that son sent? That couple—one’s sick, the other’s frail—and their son finally managed to send some things back, only for people like you to set your sights on them!”
The old woman’s chest heaved violently. “What a shameful disgrace!”
Author’s Note:
#ShortScene#
Later.
Zhao Jiangcheng saw Shi Jingge coming out from next door, Lin Yiwen coming down from upstairs, and another mecha department professor from Kalandi appearing from downstairs, all of them greeting him at once.
It felt as if he were surrounded by Kalandi staff.
Zhao Jiangcheng had intended to call his student over to bolster his Siming Teji’s presence.
But…
His apprentice was cradling a kitten, looking completely harmless, well-behaved, and adorable.
In the end, Zhao Jiangcheng said to his fiancée, “Honey, let’s move.”
Fiancée: “No way. Xiao Bai is too cute. I can’t live without him.”
Fiancée: “Why don’t you move instead?
Zhao Jiangcheng: …………………………………………
Edit: Krone
Proofread: Choux_choux
![The Return of The Lord God[quick wear]](https://i2.wp.com/knoxt.space/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/007S8ZIlly1ghl04hyuxyj30hs0owwgu.jpg?resize=85,105 "The Return of The Lord God[quick wear]")
gingerbread On Apocalypse Clinic Chapter 68