HRMCF Chapter 14

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🍋‍🟩 Completed Chapter

"I'm going out to buy breakfast."

"No need, I'll just order takeout."

Zhao Linsu changed his shoes at the door, put them on, and picked up the dog food. "I should still go downstairs, the puppy is still waiting for breakfast."

Shen Yan: Don't think he doesn't know what he's implying.

Shen Yan scoffed at this childish verbal attack, disdainful and ignoring it, not wanting to lower himself to Zhao Linsu's level. Humph, let the dogs feed each other.

Zhao Linsu returned after feeding the dog, bringing back Shen Yan's favorite fried dumplings from a place near the neighborhood. Shen Yan's heart was already filled with joy at the smell. He couldn't wait and asked, "Did you get their vinegar?"

Zhao Linsu put the bag on the table. "Vinegar, and chili oil."

Shen Yan's eyes lit up. "Brother, you understand me!"

Zhao Linsu chuckled. "Understand you or understand the fried dumplings?"

"Understand both, understand both."

Shen Yan sat down on his crutches. "Quick, enjoy the moment."

The fried dumplings were still piping hot, the bottoms golden and crispy, the black and white sesame seeds on top fragrant. Taking a bite, the savory meat juice overflowed. Shen Yan sighed as he ate, "This place is still the best, the pork they use is especially good."

Zhao Linsu shook his head as he ate. "We are all from the same root, why be in such a hurry to fry each other?"

Shen Yan chuckled and glanced at him sideways. "Don't think I can't lift a knife just because I sprained my ankle."

The two chatted as they ate. After they finished, the "disabled" Shen Yan was sent back to his room to rest, while Zhao Linsu cleaned up outside.

Shen Yan sat down on the chair in his room, put his foot on the sofa, leaned back comfortably, and swiveled the chair leisurely.

That awkwardness in his heart finally completely passed.

So be it.

They had even overcome the obstacle of spending the night together, and nothing happened. It was just like the last time they spent the night together, nothing unusual.

Anyway, their relationship was still the same as before, solid, naturally solid.

Whatever happened in the world of fantasy, he couldn't control it, so let it go! Stop making things difficult for himself.

Shen Yan said loudly, "Is the cleaning done?"

After a while, Zhao Linsu came over in his slippers. "What?"

"Watch some new anime?"

Zhao Linsu smiled. "Be clear, what kind of anime?"

"Normal ones!" Shen Yan couldn't help but smile embarrassedly. "What are you thinking?"

"Who knows what's normal for you."

Zhao Linsu leaned against the doorframe. "What anime?"

"Don't know, let's watch together. Let's judge the new anime of September. You've already published your paper, shouldn't you reward yourself?"

Zhao Linsu put his hand down and came over to sit on the sofa. "What new anime is there in September?"

Shen Yan listed them off to Zhao Linsu as if counting family treasures.

This was a common hobby they had shared since elementary school, they both liked watching anime.

Shen Yan was okay, his interests were broad to begin with. Zhao Linsu had a more aloof and arrogant image, and it would be difficult for most people to imagine that this guy actually liked watching cartoons, his favorite being the all-ages Doraemon.

Not just Japanese anime, but also European and American animated feature films, including domestic ones, Shen Yan and Zhao Linsu had watched a lot. Most of the time, Shen Yan would bring Zhao Linsu to watch. He felt that Zhao Linsu didn't dislike them, but he couldn't bring himself to admit it. Shen Yan understood his "idol baggage" and didn't expose him.

The two of them spent a long time sifting through, but in the end, they couldn't find anything they wanted to watch.

"The quality of new anime is so bad now, not a single good one," Shen Yan shook his head and sighed.

Zhao Linsu said, "Are you sure it's a quality issue, not a genre issue?"

"Genre? You mean there are too many isekai anime?"

Zhao Linsu looked at him.

His gaze was very meaningful.

Shen Yan: "..."

"Let me reiterate," Shen Yan held up two fingers of his left hand, "I really did accidentally send the wrong thing that day, I don't like watching NTR, I'm a pure love warrior, thank you."

Zhao Linsu raised an eyebrow. "One should bravely face the true voice of their heart."

Shen Yan was about to argue a few more sentences, but when he met Zhao Linsu's bright phoenix eyes, somehow the words he was about to say got stuck in his throat. He turned his head back to the computer, abruptly changing the subject. "If the anime isn't good, let's play games instead."

Zhao Linsu didn't respond for a while. Shen Yan glanced over and saw Zhao Linsu's eyes lowered. When he raised his eyelids, he immediately caught Shen Yan's gaze again.

Their eyes met, and Shen Yan inexplicably held his breath.

The atmosphere suddenly became a little tense.

Zhao Linsu's sharply defined features showed a hint of innate aggression. Shen Yan wanted to look away, but he was a little afraid that doing so would be too abrupt.

"What game do you want to play?" Zhao Linsu asked.

Shen Yan secretly breathed a sigh of relief and turned his face away. "Ranked, I'll carry you to a higher rank."

"You play by yourself," Zhao Linsu stood up. "I'm going to revise my paper again."

Shen Yan said "Oh," and after Zhao Linsu left the room, Shen Yan let out a heavy breath again.

It felt like walking through a minefield.

He always felt like he was about to step on a landmine.

As for what the "landmine" was, Shen Yan consciously ignored it.

"Don't overthink it," Shen Yan muttered to himself as he started the game, "It won't happen, it won't happen..."

In the afternoon, Shen Shen finally rushed back, very grateful for Zhao Linsu's help.

Zhao Linsu said, "It's nothing, Brother Shen, Shen Yan and I are friends. He's injured, it's only right for me to take care of him."

Shen Shen patted Zhao Linsu's shoulder. "A close neighbor is better than a distant relative. Yan Yan is lucky to have such a good friend like you."

Zhao Linsu smiled. "Shen Yan is taking a nap in the room," he slung his bag over his shoulder. "He probably didn't sleep well last night."

"Is that so? Was he in a lot of pain?"

"Maybe a little."

"Then I'll go in and check on him. Linsu, thank you for your trouble. I left in such a hurry this time, I didn't even buy anything..."

"Brother Shen," Zhao Linsu interrupted him directly, "I should get going now."

"Okay, okay, then I won't see you off."

Shen Shen, concerned about his beloved brother, quickly rushed into Shen Yan's bedroom after saying goodbye to Zhao Linsu.

"Awake?"

Shen Shen saw Shen Yan sitting on the bed as soon as he opened the door.

Shen Yan smiled at Shen Shen. "Just woke up."

"You worried me to death."

Shen Shen hurriedly sat down by the bed, wanting to reach out and touch Shen Yan's foot but not daring to. "Does it still hurt a lot?"

"It doesn't hurt," Shen Yan said, "Really doesn't hurt. You can see, it's just a little swollen."

"Forget it, just lie there for now," Shen Shen gently touched his calf, still not daring to touch the injured area. "It's good that Zhao Linsu is here with you, otherwise I really wouldn't be able to relax."

Shen Yan smiled.

From the bottom of his heart.

"Yeah."

With his older brother's care, Shen Yan was even more thoroughly looked after at home. Except for going to the bathroom, his brother didn't allow him to get out of bed at all, completely treating him like an invalid.

Shen Yan didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but he didn't dare to go against his brother's wishes, so he could only lie on the bed and wait for Monday.

【sy: Arrived?】

【Son: 1】

Shen Yan typed calmly.

【sy: Thanks for yesterday and today.】

【sy: Ordered you some takeout】

【Son: What?】

【sy: Deluxe supreme pizza】

【Son: Okay】

【sy: Will be there in ten minutes】

【Son: ok】

Shen Yan put away his phone, reached for the book on the bedside table, flipped through two pages, and then remembered something.

【sy: Brother, haven't finished reading your paper yet.】

【Son: Sent it to your email】

【sy: Thank you thank you, I'll admire it again】

Zhao Linsu's paper was indeed very well-written. The English was fluent, the vocabulary precise yet not obscure, and surprisingly, it wasn't difficult to read.

After reading it, Shen Yan felt very impressed.

No wonder this guy was going to the US for exchange.

He must have secretly put in a lot of effort behind the scenes.

Back when Zhao Linsu had just transferred to their school, it was like that. On the surface, it seemed like he had only taken half a semester to go from illiterate to top student, easily getting full marks in every subject.

In reality, Zhao Linsu worked very hard on his studies after school at their house, studying as if he had forgotten to eat and sleep.

Genius was one thing, but he also truly worked hard.

Shen Yan being able to become friends with Zhao Linsu wasn't just out of sympathy for the little wild child who was out of place and didn't understand anything at school, but also out of admiration for Zhao Linsu's drive. During that time, he himself was also encouraged by Zhao Linsu, and he got full marks in all subjects in the midterm exams. His brother was overjoyed and bought a cake to celebrate for him and Zhao Linsu.

That was actually the first time Zhao Linsu ate cake. Facing the fancy cream cake, a somewhat curious expression appeared on Zhao Linsu's usually mocking face.

"You never eat cake for your birthday?" Shen Yan asked.

"No," Zhao Linsu said, "Do I have to?"

"It's not that you have to..." Shen Yan then felt sorry for Zhao Linsu. "Then I'll treat you to cake for your birthday this year."

Zhao Linsu looked indifferent. "Whatever."

Shen Yan felt that Zhao Linsu's stubbornness made him look even more pitiful.

Later, Shen Yan found out that this guy didn't eat cake for his birthday, he ate a "Manchu Han Imperial Feast" made from pure natural and pollution-free top-quality ingredients from the mountains.

Pity my ass!

Shen Yan finished reading the entire paper and sent Zhao Linsu a "Bro, you're awesome" emoji.

Zhao Linsu returned the emoji to him, with a pizza photo attached.

Shen Yan smiled, put away his phone, and tucked it under his pillow.

He was indeed handsome, but Shen Yan also became a weak man for two weeks because of it, going to school on crutches and receiving attention from everyone in his department. It was a tragic kind of handsomeness, making him the top search on their college's hot list. Wherever he went, he attracted a lot of attention. Fortunately, he had Zhao Linsu and Zhu Ningbo by his side to block some of it, otherwise Shen Yan really couldn't have handled it.

Immediately after his foot injury recovered, it was the school sports meet followed by the National Day holiday.

Countless people ran away early from the sports meet. Because Shen Yan had shown his face in the warm-up basketball game, the student union forcibly dragged him to hold up a sign. Shen Yan regretted it immensely but was too embarrassed to refuse. After parading around for a lap, he also seized the time to slip away. What was terrifying was that a bunch of people came up to take photos with him as he was leaving.

After taking a few photos, Shen Yan decisively retreated.

Zhu Ningbo had already flown back to his hometown early the day before, and so had Zhao Linsu, even faster than Zhu Ningbo, flying back to his hometown to see the elders in his family.

Shen Yan felt that his brother was usually tired enough from work, so it would be more practical for him to just stay at home and laze around for a few days during the National Day holiday. He also didn't want to go out to play. There were people everywhere, and it wasn't interesting. The winter vacation was much better than the National Day holiday.

So the two brothers spent the entire National Day holiday living a decadent life at home, sleeping as if the world was ending, day and night indistinguishable, and waking up to games, takeout, anime, and dramas. It was truly a carefree existence.

On the first day after the National Day holiday, Shen Yan had just arrived at school when he learned that their college's hot search list had changed. He had been forcefully squeezed off the top spot.

Zhao Linsu and Zhu Ningbo hadn't arrived yet. Shen Yan put down his bag and saved seats for both of them first, surprised. "Really?"

The class's Youth League secretary smiled slyly. "I never lie to handsome guys."

Shen Yan: "..."

"Classes stopped again after only a month of the new semester? Why?"

"Don't know," the class's Youth League secretary shrugged. "Anyway, the counselor just told me to notify you like this."

"How long will it be stopped? Won't it affect our credits?"

Shen Yan asked very practically.

"Probably not, the school will definitely arrange teachers to substitute as soon as possible."

"Substitute? Teacher Liang isn't coming back? Did he... transfer to administration?"

"Not exactly..."

The cadre lowered his voice, signaling Shen Yan to lean closer.

Shen Yan leaned over.

"Heard he's been suspended."

Liang Keqing was suspended?!

Shen Yan was even more surprised. "Suspended? Why?"

"Who knows, anyway, there are several versions of rumors going around now."

"Tell me about them."

"There's the Korean drama version, saying Teacher Liang got some unknown terminal illness; there's the Thai drama version, saying Teacher Liang seduced a big shot in the college's partner and offended someone; and there's the American drama version, Game of Thrones, failed power struggle and factional infighting for promotion, take your pick."

Shen Yan was speechless for a long time, then slowly said, "Is there a domestic version?"

"Yes."

"I'd like to hear the details."

"Couldn't get tenure, went to find another way."

"..."

Okay, that's very domestic.