“Xiao Zhang, clean up the rest on the coffee table. I’ll take out the trash at the same time.”
Qin Jianye: “…….”
Xiao Zhang hesitated for a moment but didn’t dare say anything.
Before long, Qin Zelin, holding a bag, coldly tossed a remark at Qin Jianye and left the hospital room with Cen Miao.
“Your mouth is all greasy. Wipe it off.”
With a “bang,” the door closed. Qin Jianye froze for a moment and shot a wide-eyed glare at Shao Siheng.
“Has that little brat figured it out already?”
Shao Siheng shook his head helplessly: “I was signaling you, but you were too engrossed in your performance to even look at me.”
Qin Jianye recalled his own theatrical display earlier, his ears heating up, face flushing: “…….”
On the way back, Cen Miao looked at the cola Older Sister had given him at the nurse station before leaving. He licked his lips and reached out his guilty little hand.
“Fizz… fizzzzzz~”
The cola sprayed out.
Qin Zelin, just having instructed his assistant to assign two nutritionists to manage Grandpa’s daily meals, was suddenly soaked.
“Ah… mmm.” Cen Miao froze for a moment and instinctively tried to block the bottle with his mouth, but the cola kept spilling from the corners.
“Mmm… mmm.”
The driver-bodyguard drew in a sharp breath: “!!!” Hiss—Boss’s cleanliness obsession…
Qin Zelin: “…….”
He silently stared at the sticky cola on himself and the car, a surge of irritation rising in his chest. He took a deep breath and frowned at the culprit.
But the anger vanished inexplicably when he saw Cen Miao’s messy state and those dark, guilty eyes flashing confusion, leaving only a trace of helplessness.
Qin Zelin capped the still-spilling bottle and set it at his feet. He took a towel, dampened it with bottled water, and handed it to Cen Miao.
“Wipe it off.”
“Oh, why did that Older Sister give me a bomb?” Cen Miao muttered as he wiped.
Qin Zelin recalled hearing a faint swishing sound when they got on the elevator and asked: “…….You shook the bottle secretly, didn’t you?”
Cen Miao: ……? Shaking it makes it explode?
“I didn’t… I didn’t,” his dark eyes flickered, then he nervously looked out the window.
He clicked his tongue and felt the sweet, tingly taste on his tongue. This “bomb” drink… wasn’t bad at all.
Qin Zelin felt both irritated and amused at his guilty but stubborn behavior.
He reached out, pinching Cen Miao’s cheek to force him to look at him. His dark eyes fixed on the guilty little figure: “Did you shake it or not?”
“No… mmm.” Just as he started to answer, his cheek was pinched and his lips puckered.
The skin under Qin Zelin’s fingers was warm, soft, and smooth like porcelain—too good to resist.
He couldn’t help teasing, pinching and releasing, then pinching again, like toying with a puffy-cheeked little hamster.
It was surprisingly fun. Having another little brother wasn’t bad at all.
Much better than Qin Zexi.
“No… mmm… no… mmm… no… mmm… mmm?” Cen Miao’s voice was muffled under the pinch.
“???”
Damn bad human!
Why bully a zombie?
ヽ(｀⌒′)?
“Bad human!” His eyebrows twisted into a knot, and he let out a fierce “awoo,” biting at Qin Zelin’s hand.
Forcing himself to hold back because he had no sharp teeth, Cen Miao only pressed lightly, half-biting, half-licking Qin Zelin’s hand.
Qin Zelin’s expression shifted slightly: “……….?”
Again… he was acting coquettish toward him.
The driver snorted: “…….” All that coldness before was just an act, huh? So deadly cute.
At the villa, Old Lin watched the staff finish setting up the studio and finally noticed the two were missing. After asking around, he learned they had gone to the hospital together and patted his thigh anxiously.
“Bad! Bad!”
Old Lin hurriedly pulled out his phone but saw a string of messages from the old master before he could report.
Phew~
Luckily, they hadn’t been discovered.
The next Monday morning, Cen Miao rode his small electric bike to school, guided by the navigation Xiao Li had set up.
“Beep—”
A shrill horn sounded behind him, followed by the screech of brakes.
Startled, Cen Miao’s hands shook, and the bike swayed violently, almost throwing him off. He turned and saw a purple car.
Short, ugly, even uglier than his husband’s black car.
The car door opened. Cen Ning’s gaze lingered on the poor-quality coat on the other person for two seconds before feigning surprise: “Ah, it’s you? I saw from afar and thought it was someone wearing such…”
Before he finished, he spotted Xu Jianian walking over. His voice immediately went higher, then shifted to a worried and caring tone.
“Brother, Mom was probably just upset you were hiding money. Once she calms down, she’ll bring you back. Don’t be too sad.”
Cen Miao recalled seeing this person ruin his clothes before but lie to his mother, blaming him for dissatisfaction over the money Grandpa gave. That had gotten him kicked out.
The same brat who had bullied his original owner!
“Last time it was my fault,” Cen Ning softened his voice, his eyes showing the right amount of regret, “I wanted to take them to support you, but they didn’t like the coffee you made and complained. Don’t be mad.”
Cen Miao: “Oh, it’s good that you know your mistake.”
Cen Ning’s expression faltered for a moment, then he smiled again: “I’m glad you’re willing to forgive me, brother.”
Cen Miao: ……? When did he say he forgave him?
“I don’t forgive you. I hate you.”
“You…” Cen Ning glanced behind Cen Miao, then slowed his tone: “I know you hate me because Mom is biased. Want me to give you the car, brother? But you have to be careful, it’s brand new from Mom.”
Cen Miao frowned at the sports car, looking disgusted: “I don’t want your car. Ugly. Not cute.”
Not as cute as his own. His car had several designs on it.
Cen Ning clenched his fists, pressing his nails into his palms, looking pitifully at Cen Miao: “Brother Jianian.”
As if he had suffered a great injustice.
Xu Jianian said “Mm” without lingering on Cen Ning: “Miao Miao, do you have time now? I want to talk to you about the part-time job?”
“!!!” The Senior Xu who lets him earn money as a zombie! Good human!
Hearing this, Cen Miao turned with a smile, two dimples shining: “Yes! I do!”
Xu Jianian’s eyes flickered with surprise, then he smiled warmly: “Good. You have a test this morning, right? I’m heading to that Teaching Building too. Want me to help push your bike?”
“Yes! Thank you, Senior Xu.”
Seeing them talk as if he didn’t exist, Cen Ning clenched his palms, furious with jealousy.
Why does a worthless brat, unwanted since birth, always compete with him for things, for Grandpa’s favor, pretending to be good to gain Mom and Dad’s love, and now dares to compete for someone he likes too?
“Brother Jianian, what part-time job? Mom recently said I should go out and gain experience. Going with you would make her feel at ease.”
“It’s already full,” Xu Jianian said coldly, giving Cen Ning a slight nod. “We’ll go first.”
Cen Ning gritted his teeth, watching their backs, a strange feeling suddenly swelling in his chest.