NOVEL NEXT 39
Chapter 39: The Beginning of Life in a Small Town
The concrete-paved ground, although decaying, still managed to prevent any grass from growing, though it couldn’t stop the accumulation of dust. Weeds sprouted from the cracks in the cement road, swaying in the wind.
The once vibrant red rubber track had long since weathered into a broken, dusty pink.
The buildings were dilapidated, their once-clear glass windows now covered with a thick layer of dust.
Only the remnants of the decrepit site hinted at the traces of past life.
Perhaps it was the early sight of the rusted fence that prepared Ellis mentally, for as he walked into the sprawling school grounds, he did not show much surprise at the disrepair.
Ellis hadn’t really thought about why Xi Tian suddenly wanted to see the school where he had been an exchange student, assuming it was simply curiosity. At home, Xi Tian often bought things on a whim driven by curiosity, only to never touch them again.
Xi Tian’s actions were greatly influenced by his emotions.
As Ellis walked through the ruins, the fragments of his two-month exchange life memories surfaced, brushing off the thick dust.
“This place was the cafeteria. The third step is shorter than the others, and if you’re not careful, you could trip when coming down.
The area we passed earlier was the dormitory. The dorm supervisor was a female, and he always stopped strangers. They said the staff here were locals from Boulder Town, but I never met them. The people here were nice, much better than the senior cadets at the military academy who would burst in without warning, regardless of whether you were dressed.
The military training here was just for show, a lot of noise, and then it was over.
Over there is the classroom building. The buildings are connected by corridors without windows, always lit no matter the time of day. When the sun outside was warm, the corridors were cold enough to make you shiver.
I attended classes with the new students for a while since I hadn’t chosen a major and took a bit of everything. When it was time for the politics teacher to talk about some ideology or theory, it was better than a sleeping pill. Once, I fell asleep in class, and the teacher woke me up, asking, ‘Are you awake?’ I stared blankly at him, then he said, ‘It’s okay, go back to sleep.’ So I slept until lunch break. That part was told to me by a classmate; I have no memory of it at all.”
…
With the young voice narrating, the stories from student days came to life, sketching a vague portrait in Xi Tian’s mind. He was young and mischievous, making teachers sigh in exasperation while classmates cheered.
“You really traveled across three states by yourself after the college entrance exam?”
“Not exactly by myself. I bought a mountain bike and spent a month and a half cycling along the Siming River, passing through three states. But it was all flatland, unlike my classmate Sahil, who went all the way to the Lasso Mountains. He traveled much farther than I did. I just hit up snack spots, eating and playing along the way, so it wasn’t hard. Sahil went to the source of the Siming River and came back with a tan from the high-altitude UV rays.”
“Your life sounds much richer than mine, at least you got to go out.” Xi Tian sighed, realizing he didn’t even know about his partner’s cycling adventure.
“What about you, how did you spend your time after the college entrance exam?”
“I stayed at home. Before reaching adulthood, male offspring received government subsidies. During school terms, we lived on campus, and afterwards, I used that money to rent a small apartment.
Every day, I stayed indoors, reading books on my e-reader. Don’t look at me with those worshipful eyes, I wasn’t reading love stories, just novels about power struggles and upgrades. I was ravenous for it, and that’s when I started to love reading.
Then, I was pulled into a field I was interested in by a friend, which marked the real beginning of my academic journey.
Speaking of friends, before everything happened, we had already ordered the invitations, just waiting to send them out after registering.
Thinking about it, it really is a bit ironic.”
Xi Tian stretched lazily.
“We still have a chance to send them out, right?” Ellis stepped forward, taking his hand.
“Of course, though who knows when it will be.”
Xi Tian gave him a kiss.
For a moment, the wind seemed to stand still.
They left the place along another path. The sun had passed its zenith. They stopped at the only small restaurant they came across for a meal, and due to their hunger, it was surprisingly satisfying.
Xi Tian casually inquired about the school from the owner, who was still wearing an apron, gesturing with both hands.
“That school? I heard it was privately run for about ten years. But in recent years, since they started taxing the land here in Kenna, who knows how much they had to pay. And fewer and fewer students were enrolling. Last year or maybe the year before—should be last year—I heard their manager ran off with the money. Some say it went bankrupt, others have different stories.
After they left, people went there to scavenge. The fences were pure iron. If it wasn’t rusted and worthless, the fence would have been stripped clean.”
No wonder, Ellis thought, looking at the chair he was sitting on. It was indeed the most familiar seat from his school days.
They finished their meal, said their goodbyes, and continued their return journey.
The buildings and crowds along the road gradually increased, but Xi Tian felt no sense of familiarity.
“Are you sure we’re heading towards the inn?”
Xi Tian had poor spatial and directional awareness. Without specific landmarks, he often couldn’t tell directions on a route he had only taken once. He had to rely on Ellis for navigation.
“Our inn is at the southwest corner of the town. The school is directly south of the town. We’re heading north now, so we can stop by the property service center to check out the rental and sale listings for the entire town.”
“I didn’t say we had to rent a place today. This feels too sudden.”
“Since we’re out, we might as well take care of it. Quick decisions lead to quicker stability.”
“Fine, but let me adjust for a moment. Ellis, next time you make such decisions about us, please inform me in advance.” Xi Tian said seriously, frowning and stopping Ellis.
“Okay,” Ellis realized the seriousness in Xi Tian’s tone. “It won’t happen again.”
The south side of Town was more commercialized, while the north side was more residential. Every year, the town hosted interstellar tourists during certain seasons, making short-term rentals popular among those seeking an authentic experience.
After discussing with Ellis, they decided on a few places in the north, toured them with an agent, and finally chose a red-brick house with a small courtyard. They signed the lease and got the keys.
They returned to the inn that evening, tired but excited to finally have a place to settle down.
The next morning, they checked out, packed their belongings, and moved into the fully furnished and equipped rental house.
The previous tenant had clearly just left, as the place was spotless and the walls freshly painted.
They opened all the doors and windows to let in the bright sunlight and fresh air.
At that moment, the landlord entered the courtyard and greeted them.
The landlord, Rutherford Daly, was a mid-aged subfemale with dry, yellowish hair streaked with white and a rosy complexion. Despite the natural aging process, he appeared to be in good shape.
Rutherford’s husband had passed away five years ago, leaving him two properties here. He had lived in Boulder Town for over twenty years and was well-adjusted to the local lifestyle. He rented out one of the properties to cover his daily expenses.
“You’ve come at the wrong time. Boulder Town is most famous for its winter life after the snow, but it’s only summer now. You really chose the wrong time to visit.”
“We’re not here for tourism,” Xi Tian said, still searching for a cup among the luggage. “I’m sorry, I haven’t unpacked yet, and I can’t even offer you a glass of water.”
“I’ve had plenty of water; don’t worry about it. You two seem like a couple. If not for tourism, what brings you here?”
Rutherford was intrigued. Since his husband’s death, he had become quite fond of chatting with people.
Xi Tian didn’t want to talk about the painful topic, and he wasn’t good at lying, so he altered the truth, “We’re here on vacation, just to take a break.”
“Hmm, you young folks sit in offices in the city, drink tea, read newspapers—a leisurely job. Yet, you all claim to be tired and in need of a vacation. Are all young people these days so pampered?” Rutherford said with certainty.
This statement instantly extinguished Xi Tian’s desire to converse. He lowered his eyebrows and engaged with the landlord in a lukewarm manner, not really paying attention. He just wanted to bask in the sun.
Fortunately, Ellis emerged from the house and politely inquired if there was a supermarket nearby.
Upon learning that there was a large supermarket about a kilometer to the northeast, Ellis politely indicated that they needed to buy some essentials, subtly hinting at Rutherford to leave. However, Rutherford suddenly became animated, his eyes brightened, and his voice rose excitedly: “You’re new here and unfamiliar with the area. I can show you the way!”
Whether Rutherford genuinely didn’t understand or pretended not to, he led them off, introducing the shops along the way.
Ellis gave Xi Tian a wry smile, to which Xi Tian helplessly shrugged.
However, with the landlord’s introduction, they quickly familiarized themselves with the area.
The residential area was filled with stores for basic necessities. The town’s road layout was straightforward and easy to remember.
When they reached the supermarket, a burly, stern-looking security guard sat at the entrance. The few strands of white hair under his cap hinted at his age. Rutherford quickly walked over, greeted him warmly, and pointed to the two newcomers: “These are my new tenants. They’re not familiar with the area, so I’m showing them around.”
Then he threw a flirtatious glance at the security guard. The guard remained indifferent, evidently accustomed to this behavior.
The two exchanged glances and realized why the landlord had been overly enthusiastic about taking them to the supermarket—it was an excuse to see someone he fancied.
“Rutherford, we’ll just go in by ourselves…” Xi Tian began, but Rutherford interrupted, “Go ahead. I can’t help you inside.”
His eyes never left the security guard as he spoke.
Being interrupted made Xi Tian feel uncomfortable. He had never been treated so dismissively before.
“Enjoy your time in Boulder Town,” the guard’s deep voice unexpectedly greeted them.
Receiving Xi Tian’s gaze, the guard nodded slightly, then resumed observing the surroundings, ignoring Rutherford.
Rutherford looked surprised but continued chatting with the guard.
The two entered the supermarket.
Their mailed luggage hadn’t arrived yet. It contained clothes, some small household appliances, and a few books. They needed to buy other essentials like bedding, cups, bowls, toiletries, and energy supplies for their terminals. Their shopping cart was piled high. Xi Tian tried to gauge the weight and turned pale. He promptly handed everything to Ellis but, feeling guilty, picked up a few lighter bags.
There was a small incident at checkout: the person in front of them was paying with paper money, but paper money hadn’t been in circulation on the Zerg Planet for many years. The cashier was waiting to receive paper money, while Ellis was waiting for him to scan the payment code and press his fingerprint, resulting in a moment of mutual bewilderment. Finally, an impatient person in line behind them reminded the cashier, “He’s wearing a terminal, isn’t he? Ask him for his personal account number.”
This minor incident made Xi Tian pay special attention to the payment methods around him on the way back. He noticed that people here commonly used paper money for transactions in physical stores. He then discussed with Ellis the idea of opening an account at a local bank to withdraw some paper money for emergencies.
After moving everything back home and placing them in suitable spots, the empty house finally felt lively.
The two had been busy all day and were starving. When they walked around the house, they realized they hadn’t bought any food.
The food they had brought was long gone, originally intended for emergencies. Xi Tian instinctively suggested ordering takeout, but then remembered they weren’t on the Zerg Star anymore.
They quickly decided to go out to eat.
It was after school hours, the sky was bright, and the young ones were being led home by their parents, carrying small school bags and chatting with their fathers as they walked.
Xi Tian and Ellis happened to encounter such a father and son pair coming their way.
“Dad, other kids have Fathers, why don’t I?”
The little zerg, dressed in a bright yellow outfit and carrying a plush little yellow duck backpack, asked in a tender, slightly cautious voice.
Xi Tian’s heart instantly filled with pity and sympathy, thinking that this must be a single-parent child, missing a father.
But the parent’s words shattered his assumption.
“You don’t have a father, but you have two dad. You came so suddenly that we didn’t even have time to decide how you should call us. Don’t you call the other parent Ilo Dad?”
It turned out to be a marriage between a female and a sub-females, leaving the little insect unsure of what to call each parent.
Xi Tian discreetly compared his height to that of the parent leading the little insect. The parent had just been squatting down to talk to the child and now stood up. Shorter than Xi Tian, with a soft voice, it was evidently a sub-female.
The little child excitedly exclaimed, “Dad, there’s Ilo ahead, it’s Ilo!”
“You should call him ‘Ilo Dad!”
“No, I won’t! You call him ‘Ilo’, so I’ll call him ‘Ilo’ too.”
The sub-female parent held their forehead in exasperation.
A female figure approached from a distance, backlit by the sun, laughing heartily. They scooped up the little one, wrapped an arm around the sub-female parent, and gave each of them a loud kiss, then asked the little one, “Little one, did you upset my partner?”
“I didn’t!” The little one, feeling emboldened, complained to the female parent.
Xi Tian walked past them and then turned around, staring at the backs of the trio. Their shadows were bathed in golden light, and the sound of cheerful laughter could be heard.
Unknowingly, Xi Tian found himself in tears.
His heart felt stirred, almost as if it had been forcefully tugged. The family disappeared into the light, but the image of the little child remained vivid in his mind.
The scene had touched upon some deep vulnerabilities in his subconscious.
Sensitivity is the most mysterious aspect of the brain, uncontrollable by reason.
Ellis handed him a handkerchief, looking concerned.
Xi Tian wiped his eyes and folded the handkerchief, tucking it into his pocket.
His image, he feared, was growing increasingly fragile in the eyes of his partner.
But sensitivity does not necessarily equate to fragility.
He was simply more emotionally susceptible.
“I’m fine, let’s go eat.”
Xi Tian hooked Ellis’ shoulder like a good buddy and led him forward.
They found a restaurant that prominently displayed the ability to swipe terminal ID cards. Ellis took care of everything, evidently determined to shield Xi Tian from further stimulation.
Kenna Star’s main industry was large-scale mechanical agriculture, producing a variety of grains and cereals. The local diet revolved around these grains, mixed together and steamed into colorful rice dishes.
Two bowls of rice were served, bright and colorful. Xi Tian, who had grown up eating processed rice from an early age without being picky or cooking, was now puzzled. Childhood memories of kindergarten teachers teaching “colored mushrooms are poisonous and should not be eaten” flooded his mind, leaving him momentarily unsure of what to do. Instinctively, he looked at Ellis.
After yesterday’s events, Ellis finally understood not to make decisions for Xi Tian alone and not to speculate on Xi Tian’s intentions.
“What’s wrong?”
Xi Tian pointed at the rice, perplexing Ellis.
“No rice.” Xi Tian whispered in Ellis’ ear, not wanting others to hear and make him appear ignorant.
Thinking of Xi Tian’s previous eating habits, Ellis instantly understood the reason and mimicked his expression, whispering back, “That’s how rice is here.”
He couldn’t help but smile quietly where Xi Tian couldn’t see.
Their hushed conversation resembled spies exchanging secret intelligence.
Xi Tian found his own imagination amusing and hugged Ellis, trying hard not to burst into laughter.
Ellis was once again puzzled, but he couldn’t help being infected by Xi Tian’s amusement.
After a while, two stir-fried dishes were served, clearly overcooked. Xi Tian, with a dramatic sense of trial, cautiously tasted a bit—too salty, clearly more suited to Ellis’ Northern palate.
Indeed, Ellis ate without any change in expression.
Xi Tian had to ask the restaurant for a bowl of hot water, rinsing the dishes to reduce the saltiness before eating them with the rice.
The mixed grain rice wasn’t as soft as single variety rice, with different types requiring different cooking times, making Xi Tian eat with extra caution.
After finishing a bowl of rice, Xi Tian noticed there was no soup. He called the owner over and asked, “We’ve finished eating, but could we still have some soup?”
Being from the Southern part of the Zerg Star for years, Xi Tian believed that rice should always be accompanied by soup; otherwise, it felt like something was missing. He argued with the owner until he finally got his soup.
While waiting for the soup, Ellis quietly apologized, saying he forgot to mention that there’s no habit of drinking soup here. He forgot to order soup.
Xi Tian felt slightly puzzled. Anyone could forget such a minor thing, so why was Ellis acting as if it were his fault?
He replied, “No need to apologize,” and once the soup arrived, he pushed the matter aside.
After satisfying their hunger, Xi Tian asked the owner if they offered delivery service for takeout.
The owner looked surprised and retorted, “If you want to eat, come and eat yourself. If you have two legs, why be so lazy?”
Xi Tian persisted, asking if there was no delivery service available in town.
The owner paused for a moment and solemnly shook his head.
Xi Tian felt like he heard a “crack.”
It was the sound of his heart breaking.
Back at home, their two large suitcases had been delivered and placed in the yard.
They struggled to move them into the living room. Ellis was about to open one, but Xi Tian stopped him.
Before leaving, Ellis had packed all the luggage, and Xi Tian had no idea what was inside, not even whether there were water cups among their carry-on luggage (open glass cups).
Opening one suitcase, it was packed full—his usual clothes neatly arranged, his favorite blanket, a stack of new checked handkerchiefs, two books he frequently flipped through and filled with notes, and three months’ worth of calcium tablets bought from the pharmacy before they left…
Without exception, this suitcase contained all his personal belongings.
The other suitcase, without needing to guess, surely contained Ellis’s things and their daily necessities.
For a moment, his heart was filled with mixed emotions.
From an early age, Xi Tian knew his constitution was different from others’. He was easily affected by emotions, experiencing emotional ups and downs far higher than most people, easily stimulated by emotions. He was too easily moved, too trusting of others, and too easily immersed in emotions.
These emotions could be familial, friendly, or romantic.
When he immersed himself, it was always wholeheartedly, even if reality left him scarred.
Unlike those unaware, driven solely by sensitivity, Xi Tian had spent a great deal of time studying this sensitivity through books—understanding human weaknesses and why he was so easily swayed by emotions.
He used his emotions as a compass, rational yet cautious, measuring emotional changes with the scale of knowledge, always aware of which emotional stage he was in.
He reminded himself to be cautious, not to give everything away freely, to observe how much the other person invested and respond in kind.
He knew that his current self was deeply moved by the fact of receiving unabashed care from the other person, feeling incredulous.
Though he readily accepted money and gifts, he was unsure how to handle a gesture of affection.
He treats others gently, with a tender personality. This is his innate way of treating both himself and others.
He tightly guards his emotions, not grieving over departures, nor rejoicing over reunions.
But because he’s a “stickler for attitude,” he still gets moved by the feeling of being carefully held in someone’s heart, as shown by such details.
Xi Tian knew he was once again in the grip of emotions. He could wait for the emotions to fade, return to calm and rationality, and then face his partner anew, continuing to enjoy Ellis’s devotion with peace of mind.
He told himself that Ellis, being a partner, doing things for him was only natural.
This included Ellis’s instructions and urging, following him away from home, and always being by his side.
However, Ellis owed him nothing.
No one is born burdened with debt, born to repay a debt.
No one’s efforts for another are taken for granted.
He couldn’t ignore the callous mistreatment of such sincere affection.
Ellis’s name rolled off his tongue, turning into strange notes.
Xi Tian called out repeatedly, receiving responses from the owner of that name.
Eye contact and hand touches.
As if at the beginning of time, when God created the first pair of Adam and Eve in Eden, open and innocent, pure like children.
They were like swans, affectionate necks entwined, and like dolphins, playfully chirping.
Embracing, caressing, touching.
Wanting to cherish him, as if cherishing the most precious treasure. Yet his body was like magma boiling beneath a dormant volcano.
The gentler the movements, the fiercer the inner heat.
Clearly an explored body, yet now feeling shy as if it were their first meeting.
In this moment, I see you as so unfamiliar, yet so familiar.
In this moment, I seem no longer my former self.
Mountains and rivers reverse, nebulae extinguished, none compare to you in this moment, stirring my heart so deeply.
Brilliant radiance, vast and boundless.
Xi Tian leaned close to Ellis’s ear and spoke those belated words.
Three words, each heavy as a stone, each hitting deep.
No more caution, no more reservation, no more ambiguity.
In this moment, I am certain, I love you.
This was a passion more intense than any before.
Ellis didn’t understand the thought process Xi Tian had gone through to provoke such intense action.
He accepted everything the partner gave, fulfilled every desire the partner had.
Taking and taking endlessly.
This was the only way he knew how to express himself.
The partner gave him much—being needed, trusted, relied upon.
He was valued and needed by the person he loved.
That was enough.
After the passion, the two embraced quietly. They both cherished the tenderness that followed such intensity.
A soft tide of emotions flowed between them, silent but profound.
The aftermath of passion, ready at any moment to ignite another flame of passion under the influence of hormones.
But Xi Tian didn’t want to continue to the next phase now; he had another urge to express himself differently.
“I used that thing, and you never asked me about it.”
Xi Tian pointed to the used condom he had just thrown away. He had used it after Ellis returned.
“There must be a reason why the lord used this,” Ellis continued.
After several instances, Ellis noticed its function and Xi Tian’s intentions.
Xi Tian didn’t want Ellis to get pregnant; he didn’t want children.
“Sure enough, whatever I do, you assume it’s reasonable.” Xi Tian chuckled, lying back to avoid meeting Ellis’s gaze directly. “A child, ah, is a wonderful existence.
I have thought about it. What would our child be like? Soft, small, a living being born of both our bloodlines.
Raising a child, hearing him call out ‘father,’ carrying him through the streets, his eyes full of curiosity, like a noisy little question machine, constantly asking why, what, how.
He would trust you completely, rely on you, depend on you, his love for you unconditional.
A child, such an appealing existence.”
Xi Tian turned over and kissed Ellis.
“It’s not that I don’t want children, it’s that I’m afraid.
I’m afraid I won’t be able to handle his trust, his future life, provide him with a healthy environment to grow up in.
The future is too uncertain. Maybe my child will have a fate like mine, maybe he’ll become unruly to the point I can’t control him, maybe he’ll face all sorts of problems in the future. I’m not sure if I’m ready.
I haven’t even sorted out my own issues. How could I burden an innocent life with my own selfish desires in this world?”
Xi Tian gently stroked Ellis’s already covered ears, feeling his fine hair, which was tough to the touch.
“I don’t believe I have the ability to be a good father.
So, I don’t want children, using those little props.”
The lord had indeed considered their future with children, but he had thought too much, too far, envisioning endless worries and trivialities, enough to scare off a lord who had lived a stable life and experienced little setback.
Ultimately, the lord was more like a big child.
Not afraid to express himself, whatever emotion he had, he would say it plainly.
Simple, so simple that he wouldn’t deceive or profit from marriage based on his gender.
“However, seeing that family of three this afternoon, that noisy little one, it shook me.”
“Once I think that I’ll never have such a little child again, I can’t help but wonder, was my choice correct?
I prevented that little guy from coming with my own hands, yet I can’t stop envying other parents who have children.
I’m very conflicted about whether to have children.”
His hand caressed Ellis’s abdomen, his gaze gentle yet sorrowful.
“My lord,” Ellis murmured softly.
“Not ready, we can take it slow. We’re still young, there’s enough time to prepare, to welcome his arrival. No one stays the same.
I don’t know when you made your decision, my lord, or when you thought about so many things alone.
But, a person’s appearance has no purpose, and people don’t belong anywhere. Everyone will die①.
Living is about experiencing, not about preparing for a smooth path, ensuring a carefree life for him forever. In fact, living itself is unpredictable. Some people were just laughing by your side, and the next moment they died.
No one can predict, no one can guarantee, who will surely be healthy and happy all their life, and have a happy family. What really matters is often not the future, but the moment we can grasp now.”
Ellis stole a kiss, without ** **.
“When the fate comes, the child will naturally come. We don’t need to prepare deliberately, just wait until the conditions are right. And now, we need to seize the present.”
Ellis pulled his hand up and shook it.
That night, they talked a lot and talked until they fell asleep in a daze.
Xi Tian dreamed again of the full orange, gentle water wrapped around him, and the gentle melody soothed him.
Everything was so calm and peaceful.
The next morning, Ellis woke up first, and Xi Tian was still asleep.
Ellis cleaned up the trash sorted out yesterday and threw it into the classified trash can outside the yard.
Walking back, he saw the next door landlord Rutherford, wearing fluffy pajamas, stepping on slippers, and long hair with three or four colorful hair ties on top of his head, warmly greeted Ellis.
“Hey, you’re up early enough! Did you receive the invitation letter from Boulder Town’s party?”
“Party invitation?”
“Yes, our little town holds a party every Tuesday afternoon, everyone gathers together to get to know each other, eat some food, and drink champagne. It’s something to look forward to.”
“Where can I get this invitation?”
Rutherford walked out of the small courtyard and took out a piece of paper from a beautifully decorated mailbox outside the fence, and flicked it in his hand, “Here, it’s right in the mailbox.” The tone carried a hint of teasing, finding it amusing that the foreign visitor didn’t know about the mailbox.
“This party is the best opportunity to meet your neighbors. I’ll be waiting for you there this afternoon!”
Rutherford waved to Ellis and returned to the house.
Ellis walked outside his own yard, to the left stood a half-height pillar with a green lacquered wooden board on top, expecting it to be locked, but it opened with a gentle push. Ellis took out the paper inside, identical to what Rutherford had just held in his hand.
—
Dear Mr. Xi Tian and Mr. Ellis,
We sincerely invite you to join us for a gathering at the Korawa Mode this afternoon at 4 PM.
Ellis turned the piece of paper over and over in his hands, paper invitations were really new to him who was used to electronic information.
The party was to be held in the afternoon, so why send the invitation in the morning? Wouldn’t that be too hasty?
A party in Siming on the Zerg Star should be held with at least two days’ notice, so that both parties could prepare for each other, and it would seem that Boulder Town’s party was less formal.
Ellis forgot that the people invited on the Zerg Star didn’t all live in the same town, and they were already familiar with each other, so they didn’t seem too polite.
Ellis walked in, and Xi Tian was already up, and couldn’t stop looking chagrined as he dressed.
”I can’t believe I got up late! How long has it been since I’ve gotten up late, and now that the sun’s up, there’s no way I can go for a morning jog.”
”It’s still early, it’s only eight o’clock.” Ellis looked at the time on his terminal.
”Running at eight o’clock wouldn’t be called a ‘morning run’, it would be called a ‘morning workout’.”
”It’s only one day, it can’t hurt.”
”Just this matter is enough to put me in a bad mood for a while.” Xi Tian sighed as he sat on the edge of the bed.
”Here you go.” Ellis handed Xi Tian the invitation, “A town party, it starts this afternoon, and from what the landlord is saying everyone will be there.”
”Good thing too, that way I can get myself something to do. Hopefully the town won’t all be as smug as Rutherford, or else I’ll be moving out next month after all is said and done.”
Ellis stifled a laugh, “Rutherford’s definitely going, I ran into him on the way out and I saw him curling his hair.”
Xi Tian let out a ‘tsk’, “There’s bound to be that security guard from the supermarket at the party, Rutherford’s got his eye on him.”
”The male lord really knows his way around these tactics.” Ellis teased.
”Not to boast, but I’ve encountered even more elaborate tactics. People showing off their looks, faking falls right in front of me, crying pitifully in the wind, playing the role of a domineering CEO throwing money around to flaunt their wealth, constantly bragging about how powerful and influential their family is. During those two years, I was too polite to refuse, but I saw plenty of strange behaviors.”
”Lord is really popular.”
”No matter how popular i was, it’s still in the past. Now, I am yours.”
Understanding the intention, Xi Tian did not spare sweet words and gave Ellis a kiss. No longer deliberately controlling the emotion, but it seemed much more vivid.
”More than the matter of who is whose, I am now more concerned about the breakfast issue, are we going to go out for three meals a day from now on?” Ellis reddened, hurrying to find what he had intended to say.
”I don’t want to go out to eat for every meal, not having takeout is a pain in the ass.”
”In that case, you’ll have to cook for yourself at home.”
”Not liking to cook and doing it myself is a waste of life.”
”It’s not like I’m asking you to do it, I’ll do it.”
Xi Tian quickly shook his head, “No way. If you cook all three meals, I would feel guilty.”
“Just get used to it; there’s no need to feel guilty about it.”
“Absolutely not. If you cook, it means I will inevitably have to pitch in.”
“Cooking has always been considered a feminine task. The males just wait to eat, isn’t that how it is at home too?”
Ellis could only laugh wryly.
“At home, you only have to handle lunch once. Besides, I bring back breakfast. Don’t compare me with other men; I’m not like them, and they can’t understand how I feel.”
Xi Tian was adamant about this matter.
Ordering takeout was a mutual arrangement, a fair transaction of money for goods. Ellis was his partner, not a hired maid. He couldn’t just leave all these things to Ellis alone.
Now Ellis was troubled. It was great that Xi Tian was considerate, but being considerate to this extent was a bit… well, indescribably subtle.
“Xi Tian, how about we first solve the breakfast issue and then talk about cooking?” Ellis glanced at the terminal. “Correction, it’s brunch.”
Xi Tian remembered oversleeping again and couldn’t help but sigh with his hand on his forehead.
“Is there really nothing to eat at home?”
“We went to the supermarket together yesterday and bought so many household items, but no food,” Ellis looked around, “just drinking water, and it’s cold.”
“Forget it, forget it. I’ll resign myself to it. Let’s deal with the immediate problem first.”
As they walked down the street, Xi Tian was still calculating how much they had to do today: organizing the items in the suitcase, buying groceries like rice and noodles from the supermarket, opening a bank account and withdrawing money, and preparing small gifts for the afternoon gathering.
There was quite a lot on their plate.
They joked and complained together, then sighed. They had to resign themselves to it since they had chosen to live in this place.
Author’s note:
1° Inspired by “Rick and Morty”.
(T/N: This has been one Looong chapter. f(^_^))