TuxedoTranslations

Chapter 27

The next day, Zhuang Yanyu woke up promptly, following his internal biological clock. He sat there for a while, lost in thought.

Two minutes later, his brain seemed to restart successfully. Zhuang Yanyu shook his head, only to realize he was the only one in bed.

He looked around but didn’t see Wen Chenxi. However, when he touched the spot where his brother had slept, it was still warm. He must have just gotten up recently.

Zhuang Yanyu got out of bed and started to freshen up.

Considering that Ji Zhiyuan might not be awake yet, he had brought over the toiletries Wen Chenxi had prepared for him last night, placing them in the master bedroom.

He hadn’t even reached the bathroom door when his ears perked up, hearing the sound of water running inside.

Oh, so his brother was in there.

Why was he taking a shower so early?

The debate on whether it’s better to shower in the morning or at night has been going on for a long time.

Some people believed that morning showers were great because they helped get the blood flowing, restored circulation, and helped shake off the lazy state after waking up, starting the day with energy.

Others thought evening showers were better because they relaxed the body and mind before bed, reducing fatigue. After a shower, resting for a bit helped regulate blood circulation, making it easier to fall asleep.

Zhuang Yanyu walked back to the bed, picked up his phone, and began collecting data on which time was better for a shower.

By the time he had recorded 345 data points in his mind on whether morning or evening showers were better and had written a 2000-word argument in his head to prove which time was best—

Zhuang Yanyu realized Wen Chenxi still hadn’t come out.

“27 minutes and 48 seconds.”

It had been 27 minutes and 48 seconds since he woke up and realized his brother was in the shower. Oh, it was almost 28 minutes now.

Why was he taking so long to shower?

Zhuang Yanyu walked back to the bathroom door. The sound of water seemed to have stopped, so he figured Wen Chenxi was done and getting dressed.

He decided to just wait outside the door.

Tick, tock. Five minutes passed.

Zhuang Yanyu frowned. Did it really take this long to get dressed?

He listened carefully and heard some faint sounds from inside. It was definitely Wen Chenxi.

His brother’s breathing was a bit heavy.

Had he fallen?

Zhuang Yanyu knocked on the door. “Ah Xi, did you fall?”

Inside, it suddenly went silent.

The silence was so complete that a pin could be heard dropping.

Zhuang Yanyu couldn’t even hear Wen Chenxi’s breathing anymore.

Just as he was starting to get worried, wondering if he should break the door down, he finally heard Wen Chenxi’s voice from inside: “I didn’t fall.”

Zhuang Yanyu felt something was off. Wen Chenxi’s voice wasn’t usually this low or hoarse.

Could it be because he had just woken up?

Indeed, every morning when he just wakes up, his voice tends to sound slightly hoarse compared to before.

This is because, during sleep, the tissues in the throat accumulate fluid, and the lack of use of the vocal cords overnight leads to mucus buildup.

If someone breathes through their mouth, it can cause their vocal cords to dry out even faster.

“Oh,” Zhuang Yanyu said, “I haven’t heard the sound of you drinking water for a while. You should take care not to catch a cold.”

Wen Chenxi’s voice sounded a bit muffled: “Hmm.”

Zhuang Yanyu continued to wait.

The first thing he does every day is wash up and drink a glass of water.

If he doesn’t do these two things, he feels completely out of sorts.

Perhaps aware that the footsteps outside the door hadn’t gone away, Wen Chenxi’s voice sounded again: “Xiaoyu.”

Zhuang Yanyu replied, “I’m here.”

Wen Chenxi said, “Go check the fridge for me and see what we can cook for breakfast.”

Zhuang Yanyu responded, “Okay.”

Before leaving, Zhuang Yanyu added a reminder: “Get dressed quickly. Just because it’s summer and not cold doesn’t mean you won’t catch a cold.”

Wen Chenxi: “…Hmm.”

Zhuang Yanyu then headed to the kitchen.

The second bedroom door was still tightly closed, so Ji Zhiyuan was clearly still sleeping.

They needed to prepare breakfast for three people.

While calculating how much food they needed, Zhuang Yanyu opened the fridge.

The fridge was well-stocked, filled with fresh ingredients that Wen Chenxi had arranged to be delivered the night before.

Zhuang Yanyu took out some lettuce and three eggs, setting them aside before deciding to return to his room to wash up.

Before leaving, he glanced at the lettuce. The vibrant, trumpet-shaped leaves were lush and beautiful.

Yet he felt slightly uneasy. Might as well wash it first.

He started cleaning the lettuce, washing each leaf carefully, removing any yellowed or torn edges, and neatly arranging them on a plate—leaves facing right, stalks facing left.

Once done, he looked at the neatly arranged lettuce and finally felt satisfied.

Only then did Zhuang Yanyu return to his room.

As soon as he entered, he saw Wen Chenxi emerging from the bathroom, still enveloped in steam, with water vapor trailing behind him—he had evidently just showered again.

Zhuang Yanyu couldn’t quite figure out his good friend.

Had he been applying body wash instead of getting dressed just now?

Wen Chenxi was wearing a gray bathrobe, his hair slightly damp. Water droplets slid from his hair and onto the robe.

Most bathrobes are tied with a single belt at the waist, and Wen Chenxi’s was no exception.

Although he’d fastened the belt, part of his chest was still exposed, and the movement of his muscles as he walked was faintly visible.

Wen Chenxi was already tall, and the belt accentuated his proportions, making him look even taller and more elegant.

Perhaps because he had just showered, he wasn’t wearing his glasses, and his gaze carried an intensity Zhuang Yanyu had never seen before, adding a touch of aloofness.

When Wen Chenxi noticed Zhuang Yanyu enter, he glanced at him before quickly averting his eyes.

Forcing himself to calm down for a few seconds, Wen Chenxi turned back to look at Zhuang Yanyu and said, “Did you wake up early?”

Zhuang Yanyu blurted out, “42 minutes and 36 seconds ago.”

After a pause, he added, “Now 37 seconds, 38, 39…”

Wen Chenxi immediately said, “Okay, got it.”

He feared that if he didn’t interrupt, this quirky perfectionist Xiaoyu would keep counting every second.

He had come to realize that in some situations, Zhuang Yanyu had a tendency to measure everything down to the second.

Wen Chenxi said, “Sorry to keep you waiting. Go wash up.”

For some reason, Zhuang Yanyu felt that Wen Chenxi seemed a bit awkward when he said this.

Zhuang Yanyu didn’t understand why his friend was embarrassed. Maybe he felt guilty for making him wait too long?

When Wen Chenxi noticed Zhuang Yanyu still standing there, staring at him, his hand paused slightly as he was towel-drying his hair. “What’s wrong?”

Zhuang Yanyu’s gaze fell on his chest, and he said enviously, “Ah Xi, you’re in great shape.”

Wen Chenxi: “…”

It was only then that Wen Chenxi realized where Zhuang Yanyu’s eyes were focused.

His body stiffened instantly.

Zhuang Yanyu lifted the hem of his own T-shirt to show his waist and chest—a normal male physique, not scrawny but also without extra fat.

Comparing himself to Wen Chenxi, Zhuang Yanyu said, “I’ll work out with you in the future.”

Wen Chenxi suddenly stepped forward and pulled down the hem of Zhuang Yanyu’s shirt.

Because his movements were a bit hurried, Zhuang Yanyu looked up in confusion: “?”

Wen Chenxi averted his eyes and said, “Don’t catch a cold.”

Zhuang Yanyu obediently let go of his shirt. “Okay.”

Earlier, he had been worried about his friend catching a cold, and now his friend was concerned about him in return.

Mutual care in their friendship—it was truly heartwarming!

Zhuang Yanyu said, “I’m going to wash up then.”

Wen Chenxi: “Wait.”

Wen Chenxi added, “…I need to use the bathroom again.”

Zhuang Yanyu: “Oh.”

People have their needs; Zhuang Yanyu could understand.

Wen Chenxi walked heavily back into the bathroom.

Zhuang Yanyu thought he just needed a quick moment, but soon the sound of running water came from the bathroom again.

Zhuang Yanyu frowned. Showering so frequently really isn’t good for the body.

This time, Wen Chenxi didn’t make Zhuang Yanyu wait too long. After about three minutes, he came out again.

“Ah Xi,” Zhuang Yanyu asked curiously, “Do you have a habit of showering in the morning?”

Wen Chenxi, who had just finished a cold shower to calm himself down, remained silent.

Zhuang Yanyu: “?”

Wen Chenxi, feeling slightly stifled, finally replied, “Yes, I do.”

Zhuang Yanyu immediately launched into an impromptu lecture, complete with a mental “thesis” titled “Is it better to shower in the morning or at night?”

He said, “I’ve studied some data. Some people prefer mornings, others prefer nights. But most humans shower at night because it helps to…”

Wen Chenxi listened in silence. While Zhuang Yanyu spoke, he went back to the bathroom to turn the ventilation to its highest setting, just in case any strange odors lingered.

Then he went to the kitchen and poured a glass of water for Zhuang Yanyu.

Wherever Wen Chenxi went, Zhuang Yanyu followed closely behind, reciting his “thesis” word by word with utmost seriousness.

Wen Chenxi patiently listened, knowing that interrupting this peculiar fish during a detailed argument backed by data and evidence would trigger his obsessive tendencies and make him uncomfortable.

Interrupting him in minor matters was fine, but once he started citing large amounts of data, it was a strict no-go—just like interrupting him while chewing exactly 30 times during meals might cause him to choke.

Once Zhuang Yanyu finished, Wen Chenxi handed him the glass of water at just the right moment. “Drink some first.”

Zhuang Yanyu paused. “I haven’t brushed my teeth yet.”

Wen Chenxi could only set the glass down, explaining, “I showered this morning because it was a bit hot last night, and I sweated.”

Internally, he thought: It must be because Uncle Liu’s nutritional supplements are too effective.

Then he added, “I’ll stop showering in the morning if that’s better.”

Zhuang Yanyu replied, “It’s okay. I’d suggest doing both.”

Wen Chenxi hesitated for a moment. “Both?”

Zhuang Yanyu explained, “Whether or not you shower in the morning doesn’t affect whether you shower at night.”

Since both have benefits, why not do both?

Wen Chenxi: “…”

He couldn’t help but laugh.

The frustration he had felt earlier seemed to dissipate amidst Zhuang Yanyu’s lengthy discourse.

This peculiar fish spent an entire “thesis” determining which was better, only to conclude that both were good.

Since both were good, he didn’t want to give up either.

Truly a health-conscious fish.

Zhuang Yanyu seemed unaware of what he had said that was funny and looked at him in confusion.

Unable to resist, Wen Chenxi ruffled the hair of this meticulous fish. “Alright, noted. I’ll shower both times. Now go wash up.”

Seeing his friend accept his suggestion, Zhuang Yanyu was satisfied. “But don’t shower twice each time—once is enough. I’m going now.”

Wen Chenxi: “…Got it.”

Watching the contented Zhuang Yanyu leave, Wen Chenxi couldn’t help but notice how light his steps were, as if a fish’s tail was wagging happily behind him.

It hit him right in the heart, leaving an itch he couldn’t scratch.

When Zhuang Yanyu finished washing up and came out, he saw Wen Chenxi busy in the kitchen. He went over to help.

After breakfast, they chatted for a while before Ji Zhiyuan finally emerged from the guest room.

With a messy bedhead, Ji Zhiyuan stumbled into the dining room, half-asleep, and muttered, “Old Wen, why am I at your place?”

The next moment, he noticed Zhuang Yanyu sitting across from Wen Chenxi. His drowsy brain instantly cleared as memories of last night’s drunken escapades resurfaced.

Ji Zhiyuan: “…”

Ji Zhiyuan: “Did I really do something so stupid?”

Oh no. Ji Zhiyuan wanted to dig a hole to hide in. He’d come to his friend’s house late at night just to fight for attention!

Wen Chenxi gave him a cold glance. “Awake now?”

Ji Zhiyuan, blushing furiously, slowly sat down at the table and awkwardly explained, “Well, after I got home last night, I drank more with Li Xi…”

Pausing, he slammed the table and said, “It’s all Xiaoyu’s fault! He texted me saying he was staying here!”

Exactly! If Zhuang Yanyu hadn’t “shown off” by texting him, he wouldn’t have rushed over in a drunken fit.

Zhuang Yanyu replied seriously, “I was just asking if you and Li Xi made it home. Then you asked me where I was, and I said I was at Ah Xi’s.”

He wasn’t lying. Every word was still in their chat history.

Ji Zhiyuan paused, thinking it over. It seemed that was indeed the case.

So actually, Xiaoyu was just concerned about whether he and Li Xi made it home safely and was worried something might have happened.

Ji Zhiyuan stopped slamming the table and started slapping his own head. “My bad, I misunderstood Xiaoyu. He was just looking out for me.”

And he had thought Xiaoyu was competing for attention!

As expected, his IQ plummeted when he got drunk.

Zhuang Yanyu said, “It’s fine.”

Ji Zhiyuan, growing more embarrassed, asked, “You had to squeeze with Old Wen last night because of me. Did you sleep well?”

Zhuang Yanyu: “Very well.”

Wen Chenxi served Ji Zhiyuan breakfast. “Eat first.”

Feeling comforted, Ji Zhiyuan enjoyed his good friend’s cooking, complete with a cup of honey water. He felt the care and love from his buddies.

Grateful as he was, Ji Zhiyuan didn’t forget to complain. “Old Wen, this is on you too. When you renovated this place, I told you to add an extra room, but you said it wasn’t necessary. It was fine when Li Xi and I stayed here—we could share a room. But what about Xiaoyu? If he comes to stay in the future, are you going to let him sleep on the couch or always squeeze into your room?”

He still remembered that his friend didn’t like sharing a bed with others. Back in school, Wen Chenxi hadn’t stayed in the dorm for long before renting an apartment off-campus.  

Hearing this, Zhuang Yanyu immediately said, “I think this arrangement is just fine.”  

The other two looked at him.  

Zhuang Yanyu pursed his lips, his cheeks slightly flushed, and lowered his voice. “I don’t stay over often.”  

Ji Zhiyuan thought for a moment and agreed. “That’s fine, then. Next time, if you come again, you can share a room with me. The bed is big enough, and even if Li Xi joins us, the three of us can lie across it without crowding each other.”  

Wen Chenxi: “…”  

He shot Ji Zhiyuan a glance. “Just eat your food. Don’t talk while eating—don’t you know it’s better for your health?”  

Ji Zhiyuan muttered, “You’ve been corrupted by Xiaoyu…”  

Eating in silence? That’s so uncomfortable.  

Isn’t chatting while eating part of young people’s social etiquette?  

But Ji Zhiyuan actually stopped talking.  

After breakfast, Ji Zhiyuan volunteered to wash the dishes, and Wen Chenxi didn’t stop him, letting him do as he pleased.  

Ji Zhiyuan didn’t stay at Wen Chenxi’s place long. People in the entertainment industry like him rarely had weekends and could be called to work at any time.  

Before leaving, Ji Zhiyuan mentioned that he would visit Wen Chenxi’s company in a few days to discuss a collaboration and suggested they have a meal together then.  

Zhuang Yanyu was curious. “Does he also collaborate with your company on business?”  

Wen Chenxi explained, “One of his company’s artists will be endorsing our AL phones.”  

This was all handled by the marketing department, and Wen Chenxi didn’t get involved.  

Ji Zhiyuan wouldn’t directly ask him to assign the endorsement to someone in his company, but he did grumble about how competitive it was to secure endorsements for Wen Chenxi’s products.  

Since one of Ji Zhiyuan’s company’s artists secured the deal, it was likely because the marketing department found them a perfect fit for the phone campaign after thorough evaluation.  

Zhuang Yanyu lost interest once he realized Wen Chenxi wasn’t involved. “Oh.”  

After staying at Wen Chenxi’s place for two nights, Monday morning came. Zhuang Yanyu went to work with Wen Chenxi without packing his belongings, and Wen Chenxi didn’t ask when he planned to leave.  

Neither of them brought up the topic, tacitly agreeing to avoid it.  

Though their reasons differed, the result was the same: Zhuang Yanyu would continue staying at Wen Chenxi’s place. What started as a two-night stay turned into “as long as he wanted.”  

On the way to work, Wen Chenxi noticed that the fish beside him seemed unusually excited.  

He wanted to ask what was making him so happy but caught sight of Zhuang Yanyu posting on his social media:  

Zhuang Yanyu: “Going to work with my bro!” 

Attached was a cheerful gif of a little robot dancing, accompanied by the words “Super Happy.”  

Wen Chenxi: “…”  

Instead of sweetness, he felt like he’d just inhaled the bitterness of a bitter melon.  

When they arrived at the company, the two went their separate ways—one heading to the top floor, the other to the 16th floor.  

Monday wasn’t a popular day to work, and the lethargy among coworkers was evident.  

Everyone seemed to still be stuck in weekend mode, struggling to focus.  

Zhou Quan yawned lazily and asked Zhuang Yanyu where he had gone over the weekend.  

Zhuang Yanyu replied, “Stayed at my friend’s place watching movies.”  

Zhou Quan, uninterested, remarked, “Watching movies at home isn’t fun. Going to the cinema is better, though there aren’t any good movies out lately.”  

Zhuang Yanyu, not paying attention to movies, said, “Not sure.”  

Just then, Zhou Quan received a WeChat message and immediately perked up. “Zhuang-ge, Senior Qin is back from his business trip and is asking if we’re free—he wants to treat us to a meal!”  

Zhuang Yanyu took a moment to recall who “Senior Qin” was.  

Three seconds later, he remembered—it was Qin Yiyuan, the engineer who had worked overtime with him at the dock. Shaking his head, he replied, “I’m not going.”  

This person had messaged him twice before, inviting him to meals, but he had declined both times.  

After all, they weren’t close, and he didn’t understand why Qin Yiyuan kept inviting him out.  

Zhou Quan, typing furiously on his phone, commented, “Senior Qin is really considerate. He’s just back from a trip and already thinking of treating us. Are you sure you’re not coming? He’s specifically asking if you’ll join.”  

Zhuang Yanyu nodded. “Not going.”  

Zhou Quan replied cheerfully, “Alright then.”  

Scoring a free meal, Zhou Quan’s mood visibly improved.  

But at 10 a.m., HR notified Zhuang Yanyu via the company’s OA system that he was to transfer to another department.  

Zhou Quan was stunned. “A transfer? Zhuang-ge, where are you going?”  

“Engineering,” Zhuang Yanyu replied.  

The other coworkers looked over. “Zhuang Yanyu, you’re transferring to engineering?”  

“Yes,” he confirmed.  

Zhou Quan was shocked. “Didn’t you reject Supervisor Xu before, saying you didn’t want to work overtime and didn’t want to transfer?”  

Zhuang Yanyu didn’t hide anything. “The engineering manager approved my request to not work overtime unless I volunteer to.”  

This arrangement had been discussed with Wen Chenxi over the weekend.  

Since there was no overtime, there wasn’t much difference between working in technical services or engineering, so Zhuang Yanyu agreed.  

Zhou Quan exclaimed, “No way!”  

He dramatically added, “Special approval like that? Zhuang-ge, you’re incredible! If you ever need extra hands, make sure to request me for a temporary transfer!” 

Other coworkers were also shocked. Just how exceptional was Zhuang Yanyu to receive such special treatment from the engineering department manager?

Could it be that the system Zhuang Yanyu had previously developed was truly extraordinary?

They didn’t have to wonder for long before it became clear just how valued Zhuang Yanyu was by the company.

The company issued an announcement: Zhuang Yanyu, from the technical services department, had been awarded the company’s Talent Incentive Award. Not only that, the amount had been increased from the usual 200,000 yuan to a full 400,000 yuan!

Moreover, this was only a preliminary bonus to motivate employees.

Everyone knew the Talent Incentive Award came with a contract stating that the company would have priority in acquiring the program he developed. If the company chose not to keep it, they would assist in selling it to other companies.

In other words, the program could fetch an additional hefty sum.

The exact amount wasn’t disclosed, but the fact that the company doubled the bonus demonstrated how highly they valued the program.

“Damn, if I’d known, I’d have joined Zhou Quan in learning from the engineering department. That’s so much money!”

“You’ve been there before and didn’t learn anything. It’s not about effort; we just don’t have the talent.”

“Zhuang Yanyu is a nice guy. Do you think if we got temporarily transferred to help him, he’d teach us a bit?”

“Should’ve built a good relationship with him earlier! I bet he’ll only call on Zhou Quan for help in the future unless he’s really short-handed.”

Everyone knew Zhou Quan was closest to Zhuang Yanyu. Who else would he call if not Zhou Quan?

For a moment, everyone looked at Zhou Quan with envy, deciding to befriend him in hopes of gaining opportunities to learn from him.

Learning some skills could pay off if they joined major projects later, even as assistants. After all, team projects often allowed participants to share in the bonuses.

Only Zhou Quan looked miserable.

He didn’t want Zhuang-ge to leave!

Meanwhile, when Zhuang Yanyu arrived at the engineering department, he saw Supervisor Xu waiting with an expression that clearly said, You’ve finally come under my command.

Supervisor Xu smirked, “You were destined to end up here. You can’t escape. Right, Xiao Zhuang?”

Zhuang Yanyu stared at him silently for a few seconds, then pulled out his phone. Right in front of Supervisor Xu, he opened his chat with Wen Chenxi.

Supervisor Xu’s heart sank. “What are you doing?”

Zhuang Yanyu replied, “Ah Xi said if I’m unhappy, I can tell him, and he’ll transfer me back to the technical services department to take it easy.”

Supervisor Xu: “…”

Zhuang Yanyu: “I’m texting him now.”

Supervisor Xu quickly grabbed his hand. “Alright, alright, you win! So what if you have someone backing you up!”

What if the big boss asked why Xiao Zhuang wasn’t happy, and Xiao Zhuang said it was because Supervisor Xu made him unhappy?

Supervisor Xu could already see himself packing up to leave.

Zhuang Yanyu smiled faintly.

Then he paused, realizing something strange.

Was he… joking with someone?

He rubbed his head, wondering if he was becoming more attuned to human emotions and social interactions.

Supervisor Xu didn’t notice his moment of reflection and grumbled, “Today is just orientation. Take a look around and decide which team you’d like to join. Work officially starts tomorrow.”

“I want to visit all the teams,” Zhuang Yanyu said.

Supervisor Xu waved him over. “Come, I’ll show you around.”

The engineering department was vast, several times larger than the technical services department, spanning five floors.

Each floor had a supervisor and focused on different projects.

There were teams working on medical equipment and systems, electronic products, gaming, and several other areas.

Supervisor Xu’s team specialized in intelligent building systems.

Azure Technology was a massive enterprise dabbling in every tech-related field. Each major division was further divided into smaller teams.

This was just the headquarters. The branch offices handled other projects.

Technical services were also divided into teams, each assigned to different clients.

Previously, Zhuang Yanyu had been in the technical services team for electronic products, mostly providing online support.

The team handling medical systems frequently traveled to hospitals, given the complexity of the data and the need for on-site support to resolve system issues.

Supervisor Xu commented, “I’ve reviewed your background. You could join any team here. Wait, do you play games?”

Thinking back to his only two modern-era hosts, neither had played games. He hadn’t collected any data on gaming either.

“I’ve never played,” Zhuang Yanyu admitted.

Supervisor Xu understood immediately. “Then aside from the gaming team, which one would you like to join?”

“I’ll stay in your team,” Zhuang Yanyu said.

Supervisor Xu was momentarily stunned but quickly grinned ear to ear. “Xiao Zhuang, do you feel attached to me? Haha, of course, I’m probably the most lenient with you in the engineering department!”

Zhuang Yanyu gave him a strange look. “This team is the least busy.”

Supervisor Xu: “…”

Thinking it over, Supervisor Xu realized he wasn’t wrong.

The hospital systems team was constantly traveling and dealing with enormous amounts of data. They often had to station technicians on-site to address system failures.

The electronics team was even busier, handling phones, computers, facial recognition systems, and more. The constant updates and new products made it hectic.

His intelligent building systems team, while not idle, had longer project timelines and greater flexibility. They only needed to coordinate with construction phases rather than being tied to a constant grind.

It really was the least busy in his department!

Supervisor Xu gave him a speechless look, exasperated. “You’re so young, yet you have no ambition. And to think your friend is our big boss! Look at how successful he is at his age. Don’t you feel a bit inferior when you compare yourself to him?”

Zhuang Yanyu replied with a puzzled expression, “Why should I feel inferior? My brother is amazing, and I’m proud of him.”

Supervisor Xu: “…”

He decided it was best not to continue the conversation to avoid driving himself mad.

Since it was Zhuang Yanyu’s first day in the engineering department, Supervisor Xu didn’t assign him any tasks, instead letting him get accustomed to the environment.

As a result, Zhuang Yanyu had a pretty idle day.

After work, he planned to head home with Wen Chenxi. However, Wen Chenxi had an unavoidable dinner engagement. He messaged Zhuang Yanyu with the home access code, telling him to head back first.

Wen Chenxi: “Sorry about this, and thank you, Xiao Yu.”

Zhuang Yanyu: “No problem. I’ll wait for you at home.”

Seeing the words at home, Wen Chenxi couldn’t help but smile faintly and replied:

 Wen Chenxi: “Alright, no need to wait for me to eat. I’ll come back after dinner.”

Zhuang Yanyu: “Okay.”

Perhaps it was the thought of someone waiting for him at home, but Wen Chenxi found himself distracted during dinner, wanting to return as soon as possible.

His dinner companions noticed. “Chenxi, you keep checking your watch. Got something urgent later?”

Wen Chenxi didn’t hide it. “There’s someone waiting for me at home.”

“Oh? Are you seeing someone?”

Wen Chenxi smiled. “No, just… a good friend.”

The person raised an eyebrow knowingly. “Your mother asked me not long ago if I knew anyone suitable for you. She wanted me to introduce someone.”

Wen Chenxi: “Thank you, Uncle Zhou. Please let her know there’s no need to worry. I have my plans.”

“So, there is someone?” Uncle Zhou teased.

Wen Chenxi just smiled and didn’t deny it.

Sensing Wen Chenxi’s eagerness to leave, Uncle Zhou didn’t keep him long after dinner, letting him go home early.

On the way back, Wen Chenxi felt a mixture of anticipation and excitement.

Though he knew Zhuang Yanyu was staying at his place as a friend, he couldn’t help but look forward to opening the door and seeing him there.

He got out of the car, took the elevator, and stood at his door.

Smiling, he opened the door, about to say, “I’m back.”

But before he could speak, he saw Zhuang Yanyu on the phone with someone.

Since he was alone at home, Zhuang Yanyu had the call on speakerphone, and Wen Chenxi immediately recognized the voice on the other end—it was Ji Zhiyuan.

Zhuang Yanyu sounded intrigued. “You’ve done so many things with Ah Xi?”

Ji Zhiyuan replied smugly, “Of course. I told you, we’ve been good buddies since we were in diapers.”

Listening intently, Zhuang Yanyu didn’t notice Wen Chenxi had returned. He was even taking notes on a piece of paper.

“What other interesting things have you done with Ah Xi?” he asked.

Ji Zhiyuan laughed. “Interesting things? Let me think. Oh, when we were kids, we even compared sizes. Does that count?”

Zhuang Yanyu was puzzled. “Compared sizes? Of what?”

Ji Zhiyuan chuckled. “Think carefully. What do you think we compared, you silly guy?”

Wen Chenxi: “…”

He had just stepped in and taken off his shoes when he heard that line. His face immediately darkened.

Zhuang Yanyu searched the term on his phone, froze, and said, “You even compared that?”

He also found mention of competitions like who could pee farther.

Ji Zhiyuan laughed matter-of-factly. “That’s how close we were.”

Zhuang Yanyu looked envious. “Oh.”

Before Zhuang Yanyu could ask more, Wen Chenxi’s hand reached over, took his phone, and hung up the call without a word.

Seeing Wen Chenxi, Zhuang Yanyu brightened. “Ah Xi, you’re back!”

Then, as if remembering something, his gaze slowly lowered…

Wen Chenxi: “…”

He suddenly had a bad feeling.

Zhuang Yanyu pursed his lips. They were close, so they compared, huh…

If they didn’t, wouldn’t Ji Zhiyuan end up one-upping him?

Though he found this human behavior odd and hard to understand, the desire to surpass Ji Zhiyuan won out.

He asked, “Should we… compare sizes too?”

Wen Chenxi: “…”

–

Author’s Note:

Zhuang Yanyu: First, I’ll learn everything Ji Zhiyuan has done and then beat him at his own game!

Wen Chenxi: This time, I’m really cutting ties with Ji Zhiyuan. No one can stop me.

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