"Brother, I’ve finished eating, I’m going to school now." Chen Beibei’s voice came in: "Thank you."

"Go to school slowly." It took a while for a voice to come from inside, it was a bit muffled, not quite like the familiar voice Chen Beibei knew.

Chen Beibei was puzzled, but dared not probe too deeply and quickly left the room.

Xi Jing supported Chuzheng’s shoulder, panting slightly: "What’s wrong with you?"

"When I grow up, I want to marry you?"

This sentence made Xi Jing slightly stunned, marry him... after a moment of realization, he understood she was repeating Chen Beibei’s words.

"Kids say the darndest things."

Xi Jing explained softly, was she angry because of those words?

Chuzheng quickly calmed down: "I ran into some issues today, my phone ran out of battery, have you been waiting long?"

Xi Jing was still thinking about how to explain to her when Chuzheng suddenly came out with that line, he was slow to realize that Chuzheng was explaining to him why she was late.

"...Not long." Xi Jing hesitantly asked: "What did you run into?"

Chuzheng: "..."

The police invited me for tea.

"Helping old ladies cross the street." Chuzheng randomly made up a story.

"Hmm..." Xi Jing was puzzled: "Did it take that long?"

"There were many old ladies."

"..."

Xi Jing knew deep down Chuzheng didn’t want to tell him, she wasn’t even trying with her excuses... Xi Jing sensibly didn’t ask further: "There’s still food left, do you want to eat?"

"Leftovers?" Giving me the leftovers that the brat left over, what do you mean? In your mind, I’m not even as good as a brat?"

"..."

Xi Jing went to cook a fresh bowl of noodles for Chuzheng.

Chuzheng tossed the items she had set down earlier at Xi Jing: "The debt is already paid off."

Xi Jing held the document, remained silent for a while, Chuzheng quickly finished the noodles, seeing him still holding the document dazedly sitting there.

"What are you thinking about?"

Xi Jing snapped back: "Nothing..."

He hurriedly found pen and paper, scribbled out an IOU, signed it, and pressed his fingerprint before handing it to Chuzheng.

"I’ll pay you back in the future."

Chuzheng patted his head: "It’s okay if you can’t pay it back, since you’re mine anyway."

The boy’s hair was now a mess, with a bit of blush on his delicate fair face: "Do you... like me?"

Chuzheng’s fingers brushed over his forehead, his brow, finally hooking lightly on his nose: "What else?"

Xi Jing clutched the document: "Can you tell me... what do you actually do?"

Chuzheng looked at him expressionlessly, silent for a long time, Xi Jing’s eyelashes slightly drooped: "Am I asking too many questions? I’m sorry..."

The boy’s dejected look inexplicably exuded a hint of solitude and pity. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"Come here." Chuzheng extended her hand.

The boy hesitated for a second, ultimately obediently placed his hand on hers, and sat into her embrace.

"My job..." Aside from squandering money, it’s just to support you!

Chuzheng simply explained the original owner’s job to him, leaving Xi Jing a bit muddled, though combined with the behavior of those two previously, he roughly understood.

"Can you go to many places?"

"No, I can only live in this world," Chuzheng said, "because I belong to this world." As if.

Xi Jing seemed thoughtful for a while, then went to grab the card: "That person... gave this to me."

Chuzheng’s expression instantly sank.

"Have you gone inside?"

Gone where?

Xi Jing shook his head: "No, I just got it this morning."

Chuzheng spun the card, her gaze suddenly swept toward Xi Jing: "You didn’t intend to bring it out earlier?"

"I..." Xi Jing’s heart was pounding, his lips trembling, not knowing how to explain.

Afraid of making Chuzheng angry, Xi Jing decided to be honest: "He... said if I find him, I can know everything about you... he also said..."

"Said what?"

"He said, you’re just treating me like a plaything... not really liking me."

"..."

What the hell!

Wei Yi, that bastard, really knows how to sow discord.

"Do you believe that too?"

The hem of Xi Jing’s clothes was deformed from his clutching: "You... never said what we are..."

They had shared many intimate moments, yet Chuzheng never clearly stated what their relationship was.

It seemed like...

She was just raising a pet.

"Do you think I treat everyone this well?"

Xi Jing thought for a moment, shook his head.

During this time, aside from taking care of him, she had been a cold observer toward others, even when she occasionally helped, her demeanor was impatient.

Only he...

Could ride in her car, receive her care, wake to see her every day, kiss her... suddenly Xi Jing felt he might be asking for too much.

His heart panicked, quickly grabbing Chuzheng’s sleeve, speaking incoherently: "Don’t be angry... it’s me... I’m asking for too much, I won’t ask again, don’t leave me, okay?"

Tears welled up in the boy’s eyes, his exquisite fair face only shown panic and dread, like a puppy about to be abandoned.

Chuzheng felt a rush of breath stuck in her chest, unable to rise or fall.

It was him doubting first, yet now it seemed like it was her fault!

Annoying!

"Even if you just treat me as a plaything, I... I’ll accept it, as long as you don’t leave me." Xi Jing’s voice was very soft, as if it was very difficult.

This was the only thing he could grasp.

He didn’t want to lose it.

Chuzheng took a deep breath, exhaled, calmly said: "I haven’t been treating you as a plaything. Xi Jing, I consider you as my boyfriend, don’t self-label, if there’s doubt, ask me directly."

Xi Jing’s mind buzzed, as if something in his blood was surging, stirred to a boil.

His hand clutched Chuzheng’s sleeve tighter, muttering: "Boy...boyfriend?"

"What else would you think?"

Xi Jing’s Adam’s apple bobbed several times, voice dry: "Can... I?"

"Only you can."

Only you can...

Only him?

Xi Jing couldn’t hold back his tears anymore, silently fell, then in the next second he hurriedly wiped them away.

She didn’t like boys who cried.

Xi Jing still had tears glistening at the corners of his eyes, but couldn’t help raising the corners of his lips, revealing a smile.

Chuzheng watched slightly dazed, after a moment rubbed his head, spoke ambiguously: "Xi Jing, hurry and become an adult."

"Hmm?"

After a while, Xi Jing nervously asked: "Do...do I have to be an adult to be your boyfriend?"

Chuzheng: "..."

"No." Chuzheng’s face sank: "Go wash the dishes."

Xi Jing: "..."

Xi Jing tidied the bowls and chopsticks from the table, only when he started washing dishes did he realize what Chuzheng meant, his heart nearly exploded from the overload, his whole face instantly flush red.