Day: January 7, 2025

Chapter 82

January 7, 2025 / hoenimochi / 0 Comments

Zhan Weiguang arrived at the hospital in the afternoon. Zhan Weiyang hadn’t remembered to inform him, but Pei Qing had.

When he came, Zhan Pengcheng had just woken up, so he sat by the bed, looked at Zhan Pengcheng, and said seriously, “Can you drink less?”

Before Zhan Pengcheng spoke, Pei Qing, who was standing beside him, said, “Do you think your father wants to?”

Zhan Weiguang turned around and said angrily, “He usually doesn’t drink less either!” After saying that, Zhan Weiguang also felt that his tone was too heavy. He stood up and silently helped Zhan Pengcheng tidy up the quilt.

Zhan Pengcheng saw that Zhan Weiyang looked a little nervous, so he said to him, “Your gege is going to cry in anger.”

“I didn’t!” Zhan Weiguang said with red eyes.

Zhan Pengcheng said again, “Okay, okay. Dad will drink less in the future and not make my good son angry.”

Zhan Weiguang frowned, “Don’t talk to me like that, I’m not Zhan Weiyang.”

Since Zhan Weiguang came, Zhan Weiyang, who had been watching Zhan Pengcheng all night without sleeping, could go back to rest.

Zhan Pengcheng urged Pei Qing to take Zhan Weiyang back to rest.

Zhan Weiguang glanced at them and said, “Qing ge, you take Zhan Weiyang back, I’ll be here tonight.”

Pei Qing nodded and said, “Then we’ll go back first.”

Back home, Zhan Weiyang took a hot bath first. He felt fine before taking a bath, but after taking a bath, he couldn’t hold on. A strong drowsiness swept over him, and he almost fell asleep on the bed immediately.

His hair was still wet, Pei Qing sat on the edge of the bed, let him lie on his lap, and blow dry his hair.

Zhan Weiyang listened to the buzzing sound of the hair dryer and fell asleep halfway through the blow-drying process.

Later, Pei Qing felt that Zhan Weiyang’s hair was dry, put the hair dryer aside, gently helped him up, and held him on his back on the bed.

Zhan Weiyang never woke up.

Pei Qing covered him with a quilt, then sat by the bed and looked at him quietly for a long time before getting up and leaving.

Zhan Weiyang slept from the afternoon to the next morning.

Pei Qing came to his room to see him around nine o’clock in the evening. He wanted to ask him if he was hungry or if he wanted to eat something, but when he saw that he had not woken up, he quietly left and closed the door.

The next morning, Zhan Weiyang woke up from the bed after sleeping enough.

He opened his eyes and didn’t know what time it was for a while. He only remembered that it was still bright when he fell asleep, and when he woke up, it was still bright.

He was the only one in the room.

Zhan Weiyang lifted the quilt and got out of bed. He raised his hand to scratch his messy hair and walked out of the room. He didn’t know where Pei Qing was, but subconsciously, he walked to the next room, stretched out his hand to turn the door, and looked inside.

The curtains in the room were closed and the light was dim. A person could be seen lying on the bed.

Zhan Weiyang walked over directly, took off his shoes, lifted Pei Qing’s quilt and crawled in.

Pei Qing was actually tired too. Zhan Weiyang hadn’t slept all night, so he hadn’t slept either. He bought a plane ticket late at night, rushed to the airport, and took the earliest flight back. Last night, he also fell asleep as soon as he lay down in the room when he came back. It wasn’t until now, until Zhan Weiyang snuggling into his blanket, that he finally woke up.

“Yangyang?” Pei Qing’s voice was slurred.

Zhan Weiyang crawled into his arms and reached out to hug him.

Pei Qing reluctantly opened his eyes and lowered his head. He kissed Zhan Weiyang’s forehead and said, “Awake?”

Zhan Weiyang nodded.

Pei Qing asked him, “Have you slept enough?”

Zhan Weiyang said, “I think I have.”

Pei Qing smiled and said, “You think you have slept enough? Do you want to confirm it again?”

Zhan Weiyang asked, “How to confirm it?”

Pei Qing said to him, “Close your eyes and sleep for a while.”

Zhan Weiyang really closed his eyes, lay quietly for a while, then opened his eyes and said to Pei Qing with certainty, “I have slept enough.”

Pei Qing sat up and said to Zhan Weiyang, “Let’s go and make breakfast for you.”

Zhan Weiyang went to bed yesterday without even having dinner. He was very hungry now, so he followed Pei Qing to the kitchen.

Auntie Luo was away these days, and there was nothing much to eat in the kitchen. Pei Qing asked Zhan Weiyang if he wanted to eat fried egg noodles.

Zhan Weiyang came close to Pei Qing, nodded and said, “I want.”

While cooking noodles, Pei Qing asked Zhan Weiyang, “Were you scared that day?”

Zhan Weiyang said, “Yes, I was scared to death. I saw blood all over my father’s pillow, and I was so scared.”

Pei Qing asked him again, “What about going to the hospital afterwards?”

Zhan Weiyang said, “They asked me to pay the bill and said they would arrange for me to be hospitalised.”

Pei Qing put the cooked noodles into the bowl, put the fried egg on top, sprinkled chopped green onions, and asked, “Did you go alone?”

Zhan Weiyang nodded, “I was so scared, but I was more afraid that my father would die.”

“Your father will not die,” Pei Qing said.

At this point, Zhan Weiyang suddenly became sad again. His eyes were red, and he sniffed, “I don’t dare to think about it. I’m just very scared.”

Pei Qing put down her chopsticks, turned around to look at him, put his arms around his waist, and said, “No one is going to die. Your father will recover and be discharged soon.”

Zhan Weiyang said, “Yeah.”

Pei Qing kissed his lips.

After the two of them finished breakfast, Pei Qing drove Zhan Weiyang to the hospital. Zhan Weiguang also had breakfast in the hospital that morning. He helped Zhan Pengcheng go to the bathroom, came back and let Zhan Pengcheng lie down on the bed, then walked to the window and looked outside.

The patient in the next bed was going to be discharged today. He packed up his things early in the morning and was just waiting for the doctor to check the room and complete the discharge procedures. At this time, the bed was empty.

Zhan Weiguang didn’t sleep very well at night and stretched out by the window. Zhan Pengcheng’s mental state was getting better day by day. He was lying on the hospital bed, looking at Zhan Weiguang’s back, and suddenly asked, “Weiguang, why is Pei Qing so good to Yangyang?”

Zhan Weiguang didn’t expect to hear this question. He paused for a moment and didn’t know how to answer. He hesitated for a while and said, “Because Zhan Weiyang is cute.”

Zhan Pengcheng didn’t say anything.

Zhan Weiguang couldn’t help but look back at him.

Zhan Pengcheng lay on his back in bed. In just two days, he looked like he had lost weight. He looked at the ceiling, his arms stretched out of the quilt, and the light blue blood vessels on them could be clearly seen. There was also an indwelling needle on the back of his right hand. He spoke with no strength in his voice, “I just think he’s being too nice. If Yangyang were a girl, I would probably worry about whether he had any thoughts about Yangyang.”

Zhan Weiguang asked, “Isn’t it good if he’s nice to him?”

Zhan Pengcheng said, “After all, he is not your aunt’s biological son. To put it bluntly, we have no blood relationship, not even distant relatives. When Yangyang was hospitalised before, he helped to keep watch. Now that I am hospitalised, he has come all the way here. I always feel that I owe him too many favours, which is not good.”

When Zhan Pengcheng said these words, an idea suddenly popped up in Zhan Weiguang’s head. He wanted to say: Why don’t you give him your son to repay the favour. Of course, he didn’t say this, and he was terrified by his own idea.

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Chapter 53 – I was saved.

January 7, 2025 / hoenibean / 0 Comments

Chapter 53 – I was saved.

At the same time, Rong Tang let go of Zhao Qi’s hand, and Zhao Qi gasped for breath, his voice hoarse as he said, “Rong Tang, have you gone mad?”

Rong Tang’s eyes were heavy, his expression no longer the calm indifference it used to be. With a wicked and frivolous tone, he said, “I told you, you made me this way.”

Zhao Qi felt like cursing his luck. It wasn’t him who had taken Rong Tang into the palace, nor was it him who had brought shame upon the Rong family, and it certainly wasn’t him who had ruined Rong Tang’s future. He believed he had been doing his best to make amends, and the dragon egg in his belly wasn’t something he had willingly carried. So why was he still being wronged and blamed for everything?

Rong Tang bent down, seemingly to kiss him, but he turned his face away, lips pressed tightly together.

Rong Tang whispered, “Your Majesty, open your mouth.”

Zhao Qi kept his mouth shut even tighter.

A hint of annoyance appeared in Rong Tang’s eyes as he suddenly grabbed Zhao Qi’s chin, forcing him to turn his face around. “If it were him, you’d obey without question, wouldn’t you?”

Zhao Qi didn’t know who Rong Tang was referring to as “him,” but he wasn’t in the mood to think about it. His guards should have been taken down by Rong Tang’s sleeping drug by now, and the only thing he could do was stall for time. Xiao Shiqing would definitely come looking for him if he didn’t return soon. Although he hadn’t left a specific address, he had mentioned he was going to see Rong Tang, so with Xiao Shiqing’s capabilities, he would surely find him.

Rong Tang saw through Zhao Qi’s distraction and squinted slightly. “Thinking about him? You’re in my bed, and you still dare to think about another man?”

Zhao Qi pulled his thoughts back and glared at Rong Tang, remaining silent.

Rong Tang stared into Zhao Qi’s eyes with an appreciative look and slowly smiled. For the first time, he saw something other than guilt in Zhao Qi’s eyes.

“Zhao Qi, do you hate me?”

“… What do you think?!”

“Hate me if you must. I hated you once too,” Rong Tang lay beside Zhao Qi, propping up his head with one hand while continuing to undo Zhao Qi’s clothes with the other. “But I never imagined back then that the distance between love and hate could be so short, so short that it could go from one end to the other in the blink of an eye.”

Zhao Qi could see it clearly now; Rong Tang had truly changed, had turned dark. He used to be terse with words, rarely speaking more than twenty words at a time, but now he could string together several sentences in one breath. But while he spoke, could he at least stop undressing him?

Seeing that Rong Tang had already removed his outer garment, Zhao Qi couldn’t take it anymore and said loudly, “If you want to sleep, just do it. Why all this nonsense?!”

Rong Tang chuckled lightly, “This is what the Emperor said.”

Zhao Qi tugged at the corner of his mouth, “I’m not some virtuous woman. I have three thousand concubines. I’ve slept with so many people before, but only you were left untouched. Today, I suppose it counts as an achievement.”

Rong Tang’s fingertips paused slightly, his tone cold as ice, “If that’s the case, I no longer need to show pity.”

“That’s right, come on. Don’t pity me just because I’m a delicate flower!”

“Shut up…” Rong Tang lowered his eyes and coughed lightly, “Ahem.”

Zhao Qi pressed on, “But let me tell you, if you really sleep with me, I’ll have paid off my debt to you. I won’t protect you anymore, nor will I protect the Rong family!”

Rong Tang gave a strange smile, “In the future, do you think there will be a future for you?”

Zhao Qi’s heart skipped a beat, “What do you mean?”

Rong Tang leaned in close to Zhao Qi’s ear and said, word by word:

“Since you can have children, why don’t you give me one too?”

… What the hell? Is he serious?

“Rong Tang,” Zhao Qi struggled to sit up, “Even though I forced you into the palace, as long as you don’t want it, I have never forced you! Why, now that the situation has reversed, can’t you let me go? You’ve read so many books, don’t you know what ‘do not impose on others what you do not desire’ means?”

“I don’t know.”

Zhao Qi was on the verge of breaking down, “Even if you get my body, you won’t get my heart!”

“The Emperor once said, if he can’t have the heart, the body will do.”

That was just a pretense; how could he take it seriously?

“Rong Tang, I beg you,” Zhao Qi’s voice began to break with tears, “I don’t like this. You must be acting out of impulse, making such irrational decisions. Let me go, and let yourself go too.”

Rong Tang murmured, “Let go of myself… How can I let go of myself when you’re the one who provoked me first? What right do you have to say no!” Rong Tang grew increasingly agitated, his thin chest heaving heavily, “Emotions are clearly a two-person affair. Why should I cherish them, while you dismiss them so easily? Tell me, why?”

Zhao Qi couldn’t take it anymore, “I didn’t provoke you! I’ve never liked you!”

Rong Tang’s eyes narrowed, “What… did you say?”

“I owe you nothing. My kindness, my attempts to make amends are because I’m a saint… No, a holy father. But actually, I didn’t need to do any of that.” Zhao Qi took a deep breath, “Rong Tang, you’ve hated the wrong person and loved the wrong person. If there hadn’t been so many entanglements from the past, someone as proud as you might not have even looked at me. It’s not too late to stop now. I guarantee you won’t die, the Rong family won’t die, and you can go back to who you were before—before entering the palace.”

Rong Tang obstinately said, “But I want you.”

So all his words were in vain?

“Even if you love someone else, I still want you.”

Zhao Qi grasped at straws, “Love someone else? Who do I love? I haven’t loved anyone.”

“Not? Then what about the child in your womb…”

Zhao Qi hurriedly defended himself, “That’s a mistake. I was drugged by someone, and that’s how this child came to be.”

Rong Tang looked down at him, “It was me.”

“What?”

“The person who drugged you with Changxiangsi,” Rong Tang said slowly, “was me.”

Zhao Qi stared at him in disbelief, “Impossible!”

“When Zhao Qiao gave me the Chang Xiangsi, I only used half.”

Zhao Qi lost his voice, “Why…”

“Why,” Rong Tang sneered, “Because I wanted to know who you would see after using Chang Xiangsi. At that time, you called my name. I thought it was mutual, but I didn’t expect…” Rong Tang paused, the madness in his eyes gradually fading, and the shadow of his former cold and aloof self seemed to return. “Xiao Shiqing said I wouldn’t dare to do anything to you. He was wrong—I dare.”

“But, I can’t bear to.”

Zhao Qi’s eyes widened in horror, “Rong Tang…”

Rong Tang began to cough violently, blood appearing in his mouth, “Go away. Leave my family alone, and we’ll be even.”

What kind of crazy twist is this? Did Rong Tang never plan to do anything to him from the start? What was all this for?

As soon as he finished speaking, the door was kicked open with a bang. The dark guards of the Tianji Camp burst in, with Fu Zi leading the charge. Before Zhao Qi could react, a long sword was pressed against Rong Tang’s neck, “Prime Minister, the Emperor is here.”

Xiao Shiqing walked in. His face looked more sullen than Zhao Qi had ever seen. When he saw Zhao Qi disheveled, his anger flared, and his gaze was as cold as hell.

Rong Tang seemed to have anticipated this moment. Facing the sword at his neck, he slowly closed his eyes.

Zhao Qi didn’t know where he found the strength, but he raised his hand to Xiao Shiqing and cried, “Brother Prime Minister… Wuwu…”

Hearing the word “brother,” Rong Tang’s face turned pale, his heart aching as if it were being sliced. It was even more painful than having a sword pointed at him.

Xiao Shiqing quickly walked to the bed, took Zhao Qi’s hand, and embraced him, “It’s alright now.”

Sensing the familiar scent of ink from Xiao Shiqing, Zhao Qi’s eyes grew warm, and he murmured, “Why did you come so late…”

Xiao Shiqing extended his other hand, covering Zhao Qi’s eyes, and said in a deep voice, “It’s my fault for being late.”

“Prime Minister,” Fu Zi asked, “How should we deal with Rong Tang?”

Xiao Shiqing looked at Rong Tang coldly and spat out two words, “Kill him.”

Zhao Qi’s heart jolted, “Brother?”

Xiao Shiqing gritted his teeth, “At this point, are you still pleading for him?”

Zhao Qi didn’t know how to answer. Rong Tang had indeed done things he could not tolerate or forgive, but to kill him outright seemed too…

Rong Tang opened his eyes, already resigned to his fate, “Do it.”

Zhao Qi panicked, “Hey—”

Rong Tang locked eyes with Zhao Qi and smiled, “If I die, you’ll never forget me for the rest of your life. Isn’t that satisfying?”

Xiao Shiqing sneered coldly, “So, should I spare your life then? However, imprisoning the emperor is a death sentence. Since you cannot die, let the Rong family take your place. How does that sound?”

Rong Tang replied indifferently, “The Prime Minister is welcome to do as he pleases.”

Zhao Qi: “!!!”

Xiao Shiqing’s voice turned icy, “Very well—bring them here.”

“Brother,” Zhao Qi clung to Xiao Shiqing, weakly pleading, “Please don’t kill the innocent.”

“Innocent?” Xiao Shiqing scoffed, “Are they innocent?”

Zhao Qi shook his head and asked, “What time is it now?”

Xiao Shiqing paused for a moment, “The hour of Hai ¹.”

Zhao Qi said, “Rong Tang has already kept me imprisoned for two hours. If he truly intended to do something, he could have taken advantage of my unconsciousness, but he did not.”

“Even so, the Rong family must die.”

“But I promised him not to harm the Rong family,” Zhao Qi said feebly, “A monarch’s words are not to be taken lightly, Brother.”

Xiao Shiqing remained unmoved, “You promised him, but I did not. Fu Zi—”

Fu Zi replied, “This subordinate is here.”

“Wait,” Zhao Qi kept burrowing into Xiao Shiqing’s arms, speaking softly, “I beg you, Brother, don’t kill them. Consider it a blessing for the dragon egg…”

Xiao Shiqing frowned, “Dragon egg?”

Zhao Qi was exhausted, his eyelids heavy. He fought to stay awake and whispered, “Don’t kill them… otherwise, I will be angry with you. It’ll be hard to appease, and it will last a long time.”

Xiao Shiqing sighed quietly, “Don’t use that to threaten me, little fool.”

Zhao Qi smiled at Xiao Shiqing, “I have nothing else to threaten you with.” After speaking, he fell asleep in Xiao Shiqing’s arms.

Xiao Shiqing turned his gaze to Rong Tang, his eyes as sharp as blades, “What kind of medicine did you give him?”

Rong Tang replied calmly, “He will be fine.”

Xiao Shiqing took off his cloak and dr4p3d it over Zhao Qi, lifting him in his arms, “Return to the palace.”

Fu Zi asked, “Prime Minister, what about Rong Tang…”

“Keep him under house arrest here. Let him live.”

T/N: There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

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How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

Chapter 26

January 7, 2025 / hoenimochi / 0 Comments

Qian Xiaoke knew he had done something pretty stupid and had been feeling down about it for quite a while, but there wasn’t much he could do about it.

“Don’t talk about me anymore,” Qian Xiaoke muttered, “I’m already very upset.”

He curled his lips and squatted on the ground in frustration. He exuded an unmistakable air of melancholy.

Jiang Tongyan looked down and watched Qian Xiaoke squatting and fiddling with a discarded rose someone had left on the side of the road.

“Isn’t it dirty?”

“Huh?” Qian Xiaoke looked up at him.

Jiang Tongyan looked down at him, “Maybe the flower has been stuck with poop.”

“… Jiang Tongyan, are you disgusting!” Qian Xiaoke suddenly felt that he was dirty.

“I’m kindly reminding you not to touch anything.” Why is he like a child, so careless?

Jiang Tongyan said, “By the way, isn’t the place you’re living in currently illegal? If you keep staying there, wouldn’t that make you a lawbreaker?”

“Shh!” Qian Xiaoke quickly stood up and covered his mouth, “Can you stop saying stuff like that?”

He was nearly scared to death!

Jiang Tongyan frowned, “Take your stinky hands away!”

He couldn’t believe Qian Xiaoke had touched that dirty flower and then used the same hand to touch his mouth! Even someone without a germaphobe would lose their mind over this.

Qian Xiaoke reluctantly took his hand away, “Don’t yell, I’m scared.”

“Why can’t I see that you’re scared?” Jiang Tongyan said, “If you’re so scared, why are you still living there? You’ve got some nerve.”

“What else can I do? I’ve already paid the rent, the agent ran off, and we can’t find the landlord. What choice do I have?”

Jiang Tongyan, who had lived a comfortable life, couldn’t quite comprehend Qian Xiaoke’s situation. He then said something that made Qian Xiaoke want to punch this rich guy in the head.

Jiang Tongyan said, “It’s just a bit of rent. What’s more important, money or safety? Don’t you have any sense?”

“…” Qian Xiaoke was visibly displeased.

Normally, Qian Xiaoke was a good-tempered, warm, and easygoing person who never argued with others. But Jiang Tongyan’s comment struck a nerve.

“Jiang Tongyan, you are really not a good person.” Qian Xiaoke turned around and walked away. His back screaming: very angry, do not disturb.

While Qian Xiaoke fumed, Jiang Tongyan remained clueless.

“What’s wrong? What’s wrong with what I say?” Jiang Tongyan followed, “What’s with your temper? You get angry when you disagree with me!”

“My temper? Did you even listen to what you said? Is that a human language?” Qian Xiaoke’s face was full of unhappiness, and he looked back at Jiang Tongyan, “Do you know there is a saying called ‘Why not eat meat’?¹ The question you just asked is practically the same thing.”

Jiang Tongyan certainly was clueless, “What does it mean?”

“Look it up yourself. I can’t be bothered to explain.” Qian Xiaoke shook his hand and walked away with a step that didn’t recognise his relatives.

Qian Xiaoke left, and Jiang Tongyan followed closely behind him. While following him, he looked up the meaning of the sentence behind him.

After checking, he began to reflect on himself and asked, “How much do you earn a month?”

“After deducting the five social insurances and one housing fund, the actual salary is barely 3,000 yuan.”

“How much is the monthly rent for your house?”

“1,500 yuan.” Qian Xiaoke turned around, “Do you understand now?”

“…I understand.” Jiang Tongyan was a little annoyed, thinking that what he had just said was simply stupid. “I’m sorry.”

Qian Xiaoke was stunned.

“Huh?” A few seconds later, his face was full of question marks, “What did you say just now?”

Jiang Tongyan wasn’t the type to apologise easily. It wasn’t about pride—he simply rarely made mistakes. His earlier blunder was so elementary and was the first time in his life. It became a stumbling block even in his own mind.

“Did you eat dinner tonight?”

Qian Xiaoke hugged his bread tightly.

“I’ll treat you to dinner.” Jiang Tongyan said, “Malatang, the kind that costs 36 yuan a bowl.”

As the saying goes, “No reward without effort.”

Qian Xiaoke remained cautious, suspecting Jiang Tongyan might want to poison him.

“Why would you treat me to a meal for no reason?” Qian Xiaoke asked. “Didn’t I already say today’s session was a trial and totally free?”

Jiang Tongyan frowned, “What are you thinking? I’m… apologizing to you.”

“Ah?” What? Qian Xiaoke didn’t understand him.

“Didn’t I make you unhappy just now?” Jiang Tongyan said, “I’m treating you to a meal. I haven’t eaten yet, either.”

After processing for a moment, Qian Xiaoke suddenly grinned. “For real?”

“If you don’t want to eat, forget it.” Jiang Tongyan thought to himself that it was lucky it was dark; otherwise, this brat would have noticed his face turning red—how embarrassing!

“Eat, eat, eat!” This time it didn’t feel undeserved—Jiang Tongyan was expressing a sincere apology. If he didn’t accept, wouldn’t that mean he wasn’t willing to forgive him?

Qian Xiaoke gave himself a sufficient reason.

Jiang Tongyan sneered, “You shameless foodie!”

Qian Xiaoke didn’t hear what he said and happily led him out of the neighbourhood.

He was happy, and Jiang Tongyan was inexplicably happy too.

Jiang Tongyan found that Qian Xiaoke seemed to have magic that could influence other people’s emotions.

It was pretty awesome.

How did he do it?

Jiang Tongyan also wanted to learn.

The two of them walked out of the neighbourhood, and Qian Xiaoke said, “We’ve already eaten spicy hot pot today. It’s not good to eat it again, right?”

Jiang Tongyan glanced at him sideways, thinking: I said I want to eat spicy hot pot because you like it. What’s wrong with you?

But since he had already upset Qian Xiaoke earlier, Jiang Tongyan, not being the kind of person who intentionally stirs up trouble, spoke cautiously as he was trying to make amends. “So, what do you want to eat?”

Qian Xiaoke looked around and then pointed to the barbecue stall on the side of the road.

Jiang Tongyan frowned.

“This…” He looked at the roadside stalls and was indeed somewhat sceptical about the sanitary conditions. Still, he had already upset Qian Xiaoke, so Jiang Tongyan spoke very cautiously, “Why this all of a sudden? Or… I noticed a pretty decent restaurant on the way here. How about we go there?”

Qian Xiaoke didn’t want to; he just wanted to eat barbecue.

When he passed by earlier to buy bread, he had already drooled over the place. He had resisted buying it then, but now that someone was treating him, he intended to eat it to his heart’s content.

Qian Xiaoke twisted his little face and said, “I’m not going. I just want to eat this barbecue.”

Those big meat skewers, just looking at it, made him feel good.

He pulled Jiang Tongyan’s sleeve, “Chairman Jiang, let’s just eat this.”

Qian Xiaoke also added, “The average cost per person won’t even exceed 50 yuan, I swear. I’ll control myself!”

It wasn’t about the money, but that comment made Jiang Tongyan feel a little uncomfortable.

He had never known Qian Xiaoke well before, so he thought that this guy was mentally abnormal and very troublesome. However, on the other hand, he had to admit that Qian Xiaoke was not a bad person. After all… he was willing to take responsibility for him.

After what happened just now, Jiang Tongyan was suddenly moved by the poor guy’s hard work. It was not easy for him to live so lively with so little income.

Fine. Let’s eat.

I’ll sacrifice my life for you.

Jiang Tongyan said, “Let’s go.”

With that, he followed the cheering Qian Xiaoke to the slightly grimy barbecue stall, “Don’t hold back. Eat all you want. If you want, we could even rent out the whole stall.”

Qian Xiaoke just laughed and didn’t think deeply about it.

He thanked him repeatedly, then trotted to the barbecue stall. He then found an empty seat, sat down, and wiped the stool opposite obediently.

“Chairman Jiang, sit down!” Qian Xiaoke was in a good mood when there was something delicious, and now he liked Jiang Tongyan.

Jiang Tongyan was a little disgusted, and the smoke from the barbecue next to him drifted over, choking him and rolling his eyes.

“Why do you have to go to this place when you don’t want to go to a good restaurant?”

“It’s delicious,” Qian Xiaoke said, “You don’t understand, this kind of roadside stall has the best taste!”

Jiang Tongyan thought: Well, I don’t understand, and I don’t want to understand.

“And barbecue is something that you have to eat for the atmosphere.” Qian Xiaoke suddenly raised his hand and shouted to the boss, “Boss, order!”

The boss came over with a plastic menu. Qian Xiaoke ordered a lot and handed it to Jiang Tongyan after ordering, “Chairman Jiang, do you want to add more?”

“No, you can take care of it.”

Qian Xiaoke laughed and decided to order these first and add more if it was not enough.

“Chairman Jiang, do you know what you must have with barbecue?”

“What?” Jiang Tongyan had hardly eaten it. With his status and position, he would go to high-end restaurants with an average cost of several thousand yuan per person!

“Garlic!” Qian Xiaoke mysteriously grabbed a head of garlic from the table next to him and put it on the table for the two of them, “Also, ice-cold draft beer!”

He stretched out his hand, “Chairman Jiang, give me 20 yuan.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll buy draft beer,” Qian Xiaoke said, “10 yuan a cup, it’s delicious!”

Jiang Tongyan wanted to complain that he was stingy and didn’t even want to pay 20 yuan.

But since he was treating, he had to pay.

He gave Qian Xiaoke a hundred yuan and then watched the boy run away like a rabbit.

When Qian Xiaoke returned, he was holding a large glass of draft beer in one hand, and the change was still in his palm.

He put the draft beer on the table and returned the rest of the money to Jiang Tongyan.

“Can this thing taste good?” Jiang Tongyan has drunk a lot of beer, but this is too cheap. 10 yuan for such a big cup, won’t it upset your stomach after drinking it?

“It tastes good,” Qian Xiaoke said, “Try it.”

In the autumn, the breeze was already quite cold at night. After a sip of iced draft beer, Jiang Tongyan got goosebumps.

But!

It tastes really good!

Jiang Tongyan was very surprised, “Not bad.”

“See! I told you, you rich people are ignorant!” Qian Xiaoke said, “In fact, not all expensive things are necessarily good, and not all cheap things are necessarily bad.”

Jiang Tongyan actually thought that what Qian Xiaoke said at this moment carried a certain wisdom.

“The quality of things in this world can’t always be measured by money,” Qian Xiaoke said with a faint smile, holding the large beer cup in both hands. He took a sip, leaving foam all over his mouth. “What suits you best is what’s truly good.”

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