Day: September 3, 2024

       Of course, a handsome guy didn’t rank as high as a spicy hot pot.

       Qian Xiaoke had always been a very pragmatic person. Although he often had some unrealistic fantasies, he was well aware that those fantasies were even more ‘unrealistic’ than the term itself implied. Just thinking about them was enough; he wasn’t lucky enough to soar to the top and turn into a phoenix.

       Although he often spoke of envying Zhou Mo, he was well aware that Zhou Mo’s good life and great husband were the result of his own hard work. He started off from a higher point than he did; he couldn’t blame anyone else for that. He could only blame himself for not putting in the effort from the starting line. Now, it was too late for regret.

       Since it was too late to regret, he just needed to live a down-to-earth life now.

       Qian Xiaoke didn’t have lofty ambitions, but on the door of his refrigerator, he posted a ‘short-term goal’ that he changed every month.

       Each goal was very practical, such as getting a full attendance award this month, reading a book, or learning to cook a dish…

       Although it was really not difficult for him to get a full attendance award, he was very enthusiastic about work and was almost always the first to go to the company.

       Although reading wasn’t very difficult for him, he could finish a comic book rented from the bookstore downstairs in a day or spend a small fortune—ten yuan—to read enough BL novels priced at three cents per thousand words.

       Although learning to cook wasn’t too difficult for him, he could make a smashed cucumber salad and use some of it for a face mask.

       In short, although Qian Xiaoke was poor and knew that his future was not bright, he still tried to live a good life every day.

       Many people said that young people aimed too high but lacked the skills to match, but not Qian Xiaoke—he knew his own worth all too well.

       And his pragmatism was also reflected in his attitude towards love.

       He knew his own circumstances, so he never expected that he would one day end up with someone wealthy.

       Besides, Qian Xiaoke hypnotised himself like this every day: rich people are greasy middle-aged people with big bellies; I don’t want to waste my youth on such people.

       Of course, every time he thought so, his boss, Cheng Sen, would happen to pass by, and then Qian Xiaoke would have to add one more sentence—except my boss.

       Except for his boss. However, he wouldn’t dare to have bad intentions towards the boss.

       Qian Xiaoke had to be worthy of his friend Zhou Mo, and he didn’t want to be unemployed.

       Anyway, Qian Xiaoke, who didn’t have any extravagant expectations for love, treats rich handsome guys with the attitude of: I would not be able to get you.

       Because he knew he couldn’t get it, he didn’t take it to heart at all.

       This reasonably explained why, in Qian Xiaoke’s eyes, Jiang Tongyan was still not as important as a bowl of spicy hot pot.

       At least a spicy hot pot could fill the stomach, not to mention that this was the spicy hot pot he bought for 36 yuan!

       Who was this Jiang Tongyan person?

       Just a passerby who couldn’t get hard.

       At this time, the passerby who couldn’t get hard was frowning at him, watching him frantically add vinegar, sugar and chilli oil to the bowl.

       “You… have a strong taste!” Jiang Tongyan couldn’t help but sigh.

       Qian Xiaoke laughed, “What do you know? This is the essence of spicy hot pot!”

       He glanced at the person opposite, obviously looking down on him.

       Jiang Tongyan was somewhat frustrated after being scorned again. He suddenly felt that this inconspicuous little guy in front of him might be another nemesis of his fate.

       He came up with a plan—if Shen Huiming and this guy got together…

       But Jiang Tongyan soon came to his senses. It was possible that this guy liked Shen Huiming, but Shen Huiming was neither blind nor stupid, so how could he develop a relationship with this guy?

       Impossible.

       “What’s wrong with you?” Qian Xiaoke was finally willing to devote 1% of his mind to ‘care’ for this rich and handsome guy.

       Although it was a bit embarrassing, Jiang Tongyan actually felt a little bit of human warmth because of Qian Xiaoke’s light ‘What’s wrong with you?’.

       “Sad.”

       “Ah?” Qian Xiaoke was finally willing to devote 2% of his mind to express a little surprise at his inexplicable sadness.

       Jiang Tongyan said pretentiously, “Because I think, in your eyes, I am not as good as a bowl of spicy hot pot.”

       Qian Xiaoke took chopsticks to stir the spicy hot pot, leaned over to smell it, and then gave a thumbs up, “Awesome.”

       “……” Okay… It turned out that this was just a one-man show; Jiang Tongyan rolled his eyes.

       But then again, Jiang Tongyan thought that this so-called spicy hot pot was actually quite good. As someone who had dined at high-end restaurants, he was initially filled with doubts when he first walked into the small shop—what kind of dish is this? If all the dishes are cooked together, wouldn’t all the flavours mix together and become a mess?

       Moreover, after he came in and looked around, he always suspected that the hygiene here was not up to standard!

       Jiang Tongyan just ordered a bowl of spicy hot pot with a try-it-out mentality. After all, he didn’t want a poor little guy to say that he was ignorant.

       He, Jiang Tongyan, did not allow himself to have a little blind spot in knowledge.

       Perhaps because he didn’t come in with expectations at all, he felt that the spicy hot pot tasted good when he ate it.

       He ate slowly and leisurely. Although his persona often collapsed when facing Qian Xiaoke, Jiang Tongyan was still a promising young man with a good family education and a scholarly family. Even if he were eating a spicy hot pot, he would not wolf it down like the boy sitting opposite him, as if he had not eaten for a hundred years.

       He said, “Can you taste the flavour if you eat like that?”

       “Hmm?” Qian Xiaoke was picking up a piece of lettuce and stuffing it into his mouth like a rabbit, “Ah?”

       He bit the lettuce, and half of it was still sticking out, “What?”

       Jiang Tongyan couldn’t stand it anymore. How did this guy manage to sit with no semblance of proper posture and eat with no manners at all?

       He waved his hand, “Just eat yours!”

       So Qian Xiaoke continued to eat his spicy hot pot with his head down. Jiang Tongyan, opposite him, carefully picked up a few noodles and then carefully put them into his mouth, tasting them carefully, trying to feel the exquisiteness of this ‘delicacy’. 

       However, the reason why he was so careful was that he was also worried that the soup would get on his clothes.

       Although it was not a white shirt, no matter what colour it was, he felt that once the soup got on the clothes, it would basically be ruined.

       Qian Xiaoke had no time to pay attention to Jiang Tongyan when he started eating. He had to devote himself to his 36 yuan spicy hot pot.

       Jiang Tongyan glanced at him from time to time. He didn’t know whether his brain was broken or his eyes were broken. He couldn’t help laughing while watching.

       “What are you laughing at?” Qian Xiaoke ate with no sense of decorum, and a thin layer of sweat had appeared on his forehead.

       Jiang Tongyan said, “Laughing at your ugliness.”

       Qian Xiaoke rolled his eyes at him.

       This was the second time Jiang Tongyan said Qian Xiaoke was ugly. The first time he said it behind his back; this time, he said it in front of him. Qian Xiaoke suspected that Jiang Tongyan would be using the big loudspeaker that the old man who collected waste carried all day to shout everywhere next time.

       “Do you think you are good-looking?” Qian Xiaoke was not convinced, “Don’t be so proud.”

       Jiang Tongyan still looked at him and smiled.

       This time, Jiang Tongyan really didn’t mean to anger him. He really thought Qian Xiaoke’s eating style was ugly.

       Ugly in a humorous way.

       He liked watching it.

       The people around Jiang Tongyan had always been in the same world as him. They grew up in a disciplined manner, were organised in their actions and speech, chewed slowly and ate with dignified grace, and even during casual friend gatherings, they maintained proper conduct.

       That was their habit.

       Just like Qian Xiaoke’s habit of eating food in a hurry when he saw it.

       Perhaps because of the novelty, Jiang Tongyan saw Qian Xiaoke eating like this, and from the initial discomfort, he gradually felt that it was a little cute.

       Of course, the premise was that this kid would not splash the oil and soup in his bowl onto Jiang Tongyan’s shirt.

       All the happiness and cuteness came to an abrupt end at this moment, and Jiang Tongyan had to sigh again that this kid was his nemesis.

       This was his newly bought shirt!

       3,678 yuan!

       Who’s going to pay for it?

       Qian Xiaoke didn’t know what he had done yet and was still immersed in his 36 yuan spicy hot pot.

       “Qian Xiaoke.”

       “Huh?”

       “You did it on purpose?” Jiang Tongyan’s voice became cold.

       Qian Xiaoke looked up at him in confusion and then saw Jiang Tongyan pointing at a certain spot on his dark blue shirt, which had a drop of stain on it.

       “…I did it?”

       “Who else?” Jiang Tongyan said, “Are you a pig?”

       Qian Xiaoke took a closer look and found that it was really a fresh stain, and he even sniffed it hard.

       Jiang Tongyan was so angry that he was dizzy and decided to stay away from this guy in the future. He was basically a time bomb, and he didn’t know where Qian Xiaoke would explode!

       “Forget it,” Jiang Tongyan stood up, “I’m unlucky to meet you.”

       From now on, no need to see him again.

       Jiang Tongyan finally understood that this guy was someone he couldn’t afford to offend. He could at least avoid him if he couldn’t afford to offend!

       He was about to leave, but Qian Xiaoke grabbed his arm.

       “Wait a minute!” Qian Xiaoke quickly pulled him back, “Come here.”

       Jiang Tongyan looked at him in horror, not knowing what this guy was going to do.

       He had already suffered a lot of injuries from him! He couldn’t afford to be hurt anymore, okay?

       Unexpectedly, Qian Xiaoke opened his black schoolbag and took out a pack of tissues from it.

       Jiang Tongyan sighed helplessly, “Big brother, this is an oil stain. Please don’t screw me over because of this, okay?”

       “What do you know!” Qian Xiaoke pulled out a tissue and quickly stuck it on Jiang Tongyan’s shirt.

       Jiang Tongyan was angry and didn’t dare to say anything. He watched nervously, fearing that if this guy rubbed it hard, his clothes would be completely ruined.

       Fortunately, Qian Xiaoke just stuck the tissue there and didn’t rub it randomly.

       “This thing is amazing,” Qian Xiaoke said, “Come on, it’s time to witness the miracle!”

       He pressed it a few times and then carefully wiped the place. When he removed the paper towel, the oil stain was so light that it was almost invisible.

       “…For real?” Jiang Tongyan picked up his shirt and looked at it carefully.

       Qian Xiaoke said proudly, “Amazing, isn’t it?! Stain removal wipes are a must-have for those of us who often eat spicy hot pot! You rich people are really ignorant!”

Notes:
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