After a full half-minute of silence, Yan Xi stammered, “Because they are twins. Yes, Lingyun and Chengfeng are a pair of star-crossed twins. It is not a romance between them. You misunderstood.”
“Brother Yan, I was just joking.”
Shi Ye dropped his playful tone and said earnestly, “I think this story is quite good. You should try to develop it further, perhaps by turning them into actual figures and putting them on the shelves.”
“I am afraid the company will not agree to that,” Yan Xi said, unconsciously twirling the pen in his fingers. “I would never get past Manager Ma, let alone the Project Department.”
Shi Ye asked, “On what grounds would they refuse?”
Yan Xi did not want his intern to be frightened by dark workplace politics, so he chose a milder explanation: “I am in the Administrative Department, and concept stores are under the direct jurisdiction of the Project Department. Given our current operational situation, it is fortunate they are not cutting our budget further. Asking for more investment is basically impossible.”
His phone rang in his pocket. Shi Ye muttered an apology and walked outside to take the call.
Yan Xi watched his retreating figure for a moment before lowering his head to tidy the desk. From the very first day, Yan Xi had noticed that this intern received an abnormal number of calls and messages, as if he had an endless stream of matters to attend to. After returning to his room at night, he was often busy at his computer, sometimes staying up until dawn. Yan Xi had never pried; he understood that everyone had their own work style and life rhythm, and he did not want to be a nuisance of a superior.
After the call, Shi Ye returned, his smile a bit stiff. “Brother Yan, I am just a part-time intern, you remember that, right?”
“Yes, I remember.” Yan Xi nodded. He had wondered why Xiao Ye, a part-timer, was in the shop all day as if he were a full-time employee.
Shi Ye hesitated, struggling for a moment before finally speaking: “There are some things at school I need to handle. I need to take the day off tomorrow. After that, I can only work part-time in the mornings. At night, most of the time, I might have to stay in the dorms.”
“That is fine,” Yan Xi replied understandingly. “You have worked hard these past few days.”
Shi Ye tried to find a hint of disappointment or reluctance on Yan Xi’s face, but he was destined to be disappointed. Yan Xi’s expression was calm and steady, devoid of surprise or dissatisfaction, as if this were the most mundane of requests. Shi Ye leaned against the counter, silent for a long time.
A new supermarket had opened near the community. It was not large, only one floor, but it was uniquely decorated with a premium, high-end feel. Shi Ye pushed the shopping cart, following Yan Xi as they wove through the shelves.
In the afternoon, Yan Xi had noticed Shi Ye’s gloomy demeanor and suggested they cook hot pot at home. So, after work, they went to the supermarket together. It was peak dinner time, and the store was filled with the aroma of food. The long-lost scent of domestic life dampened some of Shi Ye’s irritability.
Yan Xi chose the soup base, carefully checking the label and expiration date before placing it in the cart. He turned back to ask, “Do you eat lamb?”
“Let me get it.” Shi Ye scanned the freezer, but failing to find his preferred brand, he compromised and picked up two boxes of premium sliced beef. For beef, he chose imported marbled ribeye. Next, baby octopus, imported tiger prawns, matsutake mushrooms, bamboo shoots, bamboo fungus, and organic lettuce were added to the cart.
Looking at the nearly filled cart, Yan Xi asked, “Are you eating enough at school?” Given his appetite, living expenses must be a significant burden, which explained the need for a part-time job.
Shi Ye grabbed a box of fish fillets. “The school cafeteria is cheap and has large portions. I eat enough.”
At checkout, Yan Xi reached for his phone, but Shi Ye blocked him and paid first. “Why are you trying to be a hero, intern?” Yan Xi chided. “How much was it? I will transfer it to you.”
“Really, it is not necessary,” Shi Ye said with a sweet, coaxing smile. “I mooch off you every day; let me treat you once.”
Yan Xi sighed helplessly. “If you are ever hungry at school, remember to come to me anytime.”
“Okay,” Shi Ye said, picking up the bags. “I definitely will.”
Back home, they divided the labor: Yan Xi washed and chopped vegetables, while Shi Ye prepared the soup base and meat. The small kitchen was cramped, and the space between the counter and the stove barely allowed one person to pass. With all the ingredients and utensils laid out, they found themselves cramped and tripping over each other.
Yan Xi tried to stay close to the sink, and Shi Ye was gentlemanly enough to turn sideways whenever he passed. Even so, accidental bumps were inevitable. After processing the ingredients, Yan Xi opened the overhead cabinet to reach for the electric hot pot. The pot was placed too high; even on his tiptoes with his arm stretched out, he could barely touch the handle.
Shi Ye had just wiped his hands when he turned to see Yan Xi reaching for the pot. He made no sound, his eyes lingering on Yan Xi’s trembling arms and taut waist, his gaze dark and obscure. Only when Yan Xi let out a sigh of frustration did Shi Ye step forward, easily gripping the handle. “Brother Yan, let me do it.”
Due to their proximity, his voice felt like a whisper against Yan Xi’s ear. Caught between Shi Ye and the cabinet, Yan Xi’s ears turned red, and his back went rigid. Shi Ye set the pot down steadily and gave a playful, teasing smile. “It is the landlord’s fault for putting the pot so high.”
Yan Xi waved his hand. “It is a bit hot in the kitchen. I am going to change my clothes; you go ahead and boil the water.” He squeezed past Shi Ye and hurried out of the kitchen.
Watching Yan Xi’s fleeing figure, Shi Ye chuckled. He could not help but wonder: how did such a shy man agree to go back to a hotel with him back then? Could he have been the one who was face-blind and mistaken someone else?
As dusk fell, the glow of streetlights reflected on the window, casting a misty haze over the room. Yan Xi sat in his chair, dressed in a grey loungewear set, looking relaxed and comfortable. Shi Ye dipped a piece of tender beef into the boiling broth; it changed color instantly, and seconds later, it landed in Yan Xi’s bowl.
Yan Xi did not decline and popped it into his mouth. The meat melted on his tongue, filling his mouth with rich, savory flavor. He had to admit, you get what you pay for. Steam rose from the hot pot, mingling with the warm air in the room, while the night view outside contrasted with the cozy light indoors.
In the rare peace, an inexplicable sense of jealousy rose in Shi Ye’s heart.
“Brother Yan, did you often eat at home with friends before?” He emphasized the word “friends.”
Yan Xi calmly dipped vegetables into the pot. “No, I almost never bring people home to eat.”
“Oh, why?” The jealousy vanished instantly, and Shi Ye happily ate two more mouthfuls of beef.
“Because I was always very busy with work, and later,” Yan Xi paused, “later, when I was not so busy, I usually ate in the company canteen. I did not cook at home much.”
“So, I am the first person to cook with you at home?”
Shi Ye put down his chopsticks, his dark eyes sparkling with anticipation and pride, as if this were an achievement worth boasting about.
Yan Xi did not understand why he was so happy, but he nodded and smiled. “Yes, you are the first.”
Shi Ye asked again, “You have been working for several years and were a CEO’s assistant, so your salary must have been quite good. Even if you could not buy a place in full, a down payment should have been enough. Was the former CEO harsh?” He added with a subtle jab, “The new CEO is better, right?”
Yan Xi dipped fish fillets into the pot, his expression shifting slightly. “No, the former CEO was actually very kind and took good care of me. When my mother was hospitalized and needed a large sum of money, he lent it to me. On the contrary, this new CEO…” Yan Xi gave a bitter laugh. “He probably has a grudge against me. He suspended me before he even arrived at the company.”
Shi Ye was speechless. He felt so wronged! It was all that damned Ma Zhiming playing tricks behind his back.
As he divided the cooked fish, Yan Xi added, “However, that said, I am very grateful that President Shi agreed to let the store continue operating and sent such an excellent intern to help.”
The last sentence barely salvaged Shi Ye’s plummeting mood. Feeling slightly better, he decided to cut this dangerous topic short. “Brother Yan, do you want to drink?”
Yan Xi refused without a second of hesitation. “No.” He still felt uneasy after the incident where his clothes were changed while he was drunk.
Shi Ye cleared his throat and picked up the lemonade bottle on the table. “Then let us play a game.”
“What game?”
Shi Ye spun the bottle on the table to demonstrate the rules. Whoever the bottle pointed to had to answer a question. If they chose not to answer or gave a dishonest answer, the questioner could demand they perform a dare.
“Is this not Truth or Dare? How childish.” Yan Xi’s refusal died on his lips when he saw Shi Ye’s expectant eyes, and he could only nod helplessly.
In the first round, the bottle pointed at Shi Ye. Yan Xi pondered for a moment and asked, “Does the name ‘Ye Xiaobao’ not cause you any trouble?”
It was a simple question, practically a giveaway, but Shi Ye froze. It was as if a sensitive nerve had been struck; his eyes darted around, hesitating on how to answer. Yan Xi looked at him, confused.
Lying was exhausting. Shi Ye laughed awkwardly and pivoted. “Brother Yan, this is too easy; there is no challenge. No, I choose Dare.”
“Alright.” Yan Xi did not understand, but he respected the choice. He issued the dare: “After we finish eating, you wash the dishes.”
Shi Ye laughed. “Fine, I agree.”
The game continued. This time, the bottle pointed at Yan Xi. Shi Ye stared intensely into Yan Xi’s eyes, his gaze deep and dark. “Brother Yan, have you ever done something out of character?”
Yan Xi’s fingers, resting on the table, trembled slightly. Under Shi Ye’s gaze, he remained silent for a long time.
“Yes.”