Having reached an agreement, Huo Yan went to the kitchen to see if there was anything to eat.
Knowing that he hadn’t eaten and had walked all the way back, Luo Mingchen made him a bowl of egg noodles.
As Huo Yan tended the fire, he watched an egg suddenly appear out of thin air in Luo Mingchen’s hand.
“…”
Luo Mingchen misunderstood his look and thought one egg might not be enough.
“Are two eggs enough?”
“…Enough.”
Then Huo Yan watched Luo Mingchen pull out a handful of baby bok choy from who-knew-where.
Smelling the aroma drifting out of the kitchen, the three siblings cautiously peeked through the doorway and swallowed hard.
When Luo Mingchen noticed them, he asked in confusion, “Why aren’t you asleep?”
Huo Xiang whispered, “Little Daddy, we can’t sleep when you’re not there.”
Hearing that, Luo Mingchen’s expression softened considerably, and he no longer minded that they had told Huo Yan about him.
Seeing them staring, he asked, “Didn’t you eat enough tonight?”
Huo Yuhui answered awkwardly, “We did.”
Huo Xiang looked at Luo Mingchen eagerly.
“But the noodles Little Daddy is making smell so good. We’re hungry again.”
Huo Xinyue also chimed in, “Food! Hungry.”
Huo Yan looked at the little girl in surprise.
He had brought her home almost two years ago, yet she had never called him anything. She had only babbled incoherently. He had thought she simply wasn’t old enough to talk yet.
Since they were all growing children, Luo Mingchen could understand.
“Fine. But only a little. Eating too much at night will upset your stomachs.”
The three siblings nodded happily.
“Mhm!”
So Luo Mingchen took out another bag of flour and several eggs.
Huo Yuhui and Huo Xiang were instantly stunned.
“…!!!”
Huo Xiang’s eyes widened.
“Little Daddy! Are you okay?!”
“What?”
Luo Mingchen was so startled by the boy’s reaction that he nearly dropped the flour on the floor.
“Little Daddy, didn’t you say we couldn’t tell other people that you have food?”
The equally shocked but quicker-thinking Huo Yuhui immediately said, “Dad isn’t other people.”
After hearing that, Huo Xiang suddenly understood and relaxed.
But while they were relieved, Luo Mingchen was anything but.
He had assumed the brothers had already sold him out.
But they actually hadn’t?!
Feeling uneasy, Luo Mingchen looked toward Huo Yan.
Huo Yan was looking at him as well.
“The water’s about to boil.”
“…Oh.”
Having completely given up trying to hide it anymore, Luo Mingchen appeared remarkably calm.
Since everyone wanted noodles, he made himself a bowl too.
The hand-pulled noodles were soft yet pleasantly chewy. There weren’t many toppings—just some chopped scallions, a few slices of ginger, a soft-boiled egg, and a handful of crisp baby bok choy. Finally, he drizzled a spoonful of his specially made fragrant oil over the top.
Although it looked simple, it smelled and tasted amazing.
Luo Mingchen also liked adding a small spoonful of fermented black beans.
After asking around, only Huo Yan added some as well.
Huo Xinyue was too young for anything spicy.
As for Huo Xiang and Huo Yuhui, they preferred drinking the soup.
After eating their fill once more, everyone brushed their teeth before climbing into bed.
Lying there, Luo Mingchen found himself thinking about Huo Yan.
He liked men, and whether it was Huo Yan’s looks or physique, the man was extremely attractive to him.
But he was afraid Huo Yan might be like that person who once claimed to like him—someone who only wanted his space. Someone who would sweet-talk him to his face while secretly calling his sexuality disgusting behind his back.
In this world, contract brother marriages between men were legal and protected by law.
But Huo Yan had originally wanted a male spouse only for the sake of the children. He hadn’t even finished writing the name on the marriage document. Compared to finding a wife, he had probably been more interested in finding a legal bodyguard for the three children.
With a quiet sigh, Luo Mingchen decided that staying alive was more important.
As for romance…
Forget it.
Half-asleep, Luo Mingchen suddenly felt a giant human furnace lying beside him. The unfamiliar presence instantly jolted him awake.
Subconsciously, he pulled a cleaver from beneath his pillow and swung it toward the shadow’s head.
After traveling all day, Huo Yan was already exhausted. The three children often slept with him before, so when he saw several small lumps lying in bed, nothing seemed unusual.
He had only just climbed onto the bed when he caught a flash of cold light from the corner of his eye.
Everything happened too quickly.
Huo Yan could only block with one arm while grabbing Luo Mingchen’s wrist with the other.
The pain in his wrist instantly woke Luo Mingchen completely.
“It’s you?”
A slash had been cut into his arm. Hearing Luo Mingchen’s tone, Huo Yan knew it wasn’t intentional.
All he could do was sigh helplessly.
“Sorry. I forgot you sleep here. I’ll go to another room.”
Luo Mingchen caught the scent of blood.
After Huo Yan left, he noticed bloodstains on the pillow.
Taking out a tissue, he wiped the blood from the bamboo pillow. After some thought, he glanced at the three sleeping children, carefully got out of bed, retrieved a first-aid kit from his space, and knocked on the door of another room.
A single oil lamp was lit inside.
Through the doorway, Luo Mingchen saw Huo Yan sitting at a table tending to his wound.
Hearing the knock, Huo Yan glanced over.
“I’m fine. Go back to sleep.”
“Is that medicine of yours any good? Why not use mine instead?”
As he spoke, Luo Mingchen placed the first-aid kit on the table.
Huo Yan looked at the strange box and pursed his lips before gazing deeply at him.
“You’re going to treat my wound?”
“Yeah…”
Luo Mingchen sat down and skillfully took out a bottle of iodine.
“It’ll sting a little. Bear with it.”
“Alright.”
Looking at the deep cut, Luo Mingchen felt rather guilty.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to chop you.”
“I know.”
Seeing how practiced Luo Mingchen was at bandaging wounds, Huo Yan pondered for a moment before asking,
“Was the place you came from very dangerous?”
Luo Mingchen answered casually, “Very dangerous. There were lots of man-eating monsters. You had to stay cautious at all times… There. Don’t let it get wet, or it’ll get infected.”
“Mhm.”
Luo Mingchen packed everything away and was about to leave when Huo Yan suddenly said,
“Here, I will protect you.”
Luo Mingchen paused.
He turned back and smiled at him, but he didn’t take the words seriously.
After surviving two years surrounded by zombies, he had long since learned not to place his hopes in anyone else.
If you weren’t strong yourself, no one could protect you forever.
The next morning, Luo Mingchen woke to sounds coming from the courtyard.
After changing clothes, he stepped outside and saw Huo Yan practicing spear techniques.
Spears were fairly uncommon.
From the historical dramas Luo Mingchen had watched before, most people used swords or sabers. Usually only soldiers carried spears.
There were no flashy flourishes in Huo Yan’s movements.
Yet the long spear flowed through his hands with smooth power and imposing elegance, carrying an unmistakable aura of deadly intent.
When he finished, Luo Mingchen applauded.
“Excellent!”
Huo Yan looked at him and walked over.
“The coffin in the courtyard—is it for me?”
For some reason, hearing the owner himself bring it up made Luo Mingchen feel slightly guilty.
“Well, everyone said you were dead, didn’t they? Since you’re not dead, go to the village chief later and get the money for the burial plot back.”
“…I was just chasing a bandit back to his hideout. I didn’t have time to tell anyone.”
After delivering the bandit to the county yamen and collecting both the reward and commission, he had learned that news of his death had already reached Xishui Village.
“Oh.”
Luo Mingchen wasn’t particularly interested.
“Remember to get the burial plot money back. I’m going to make some porridge.”
It was a pity the coffin couldn’t be returned.
But everyone died eventually.
He could always store it in his space and save it for his own future use.
Huo Yan: “…”