The moment the front door opened, the aroma of a home-cooked meal wafted out to greet him.
Pei Jiangchen instinctively took a deep breath; he tossed his schoolbag and grimy sports jersey by the entryway, then shuffled in his slippers straight toward the kitchen.
The dark-haired youth was busy at the stove, wearing an apron as usual; the room’s warm light cascaded down over his slender shoulders.
A sumptuous spread was already laid out on the dining table—all dishes Pei Jiangchen loved. Since there was seafood, a bottle of chilled white wine had been prepared as well.
“Young Master Chen,” Wen Shuyu said, emerging from the kitchen with a seafood dish; his smiling eyes were gentle and bright. “You must be tired from training today. Would you like to eat now, or wait a bit?”
“Right now. I’m starving.” Pei Jiangchen walked over, then suddenly stopped.
He leaned in close to Wen Shuyu and sniffed.
Wen Shuyu’s smile faltered slightly, replaced by a look of bewilderment.
He had washed his hair twice specifically for this—surely Pei Jiangchen’s nose, sharp as a hound’s, couldn’t possibly smell anything else?
Those smoky-crystal eyes fixed on Wen Shuyu: “Did you sneak some rose jam again?”
“…” Wen Shuyu looked embarrassed, like a thief caught in the act, and offered a soft, tentative defense: “I only tasted a tiny bit…”
Seeing his little sidekick’s face flush with embarrassment, Pei Jiangchen chuckled and let the matter drop.
“So what if you did? What are you afraid of? It’s not like my family abuses you or anything.” He took the dish from Wen Shuyu’s hands. “Let’s eat. It’s been a while since I’ve had your seafood rice.”
Outside the spacious south-facing glass wall, the sky was glowing with the day’s most romantic, captivating shade of rose-pink. The city was slowly waking up for the night, and the headlights of cars on the long streets formed winding ribbons of light.
The evening news played on the living room television. Meanwhile, the two youths sat in the adjacent dining room, enjoying their lavish meal and chatting casually about the day’s events. For the most part, it was Pei Jiangchen doing the talking, while Wen Shuyu listened attentively. “The draw results are out. In the first match, we’re up against Capital University of Science and Technology. Their number 11 is a pretty strong player. The coach told me to watch some footage of him when I get back…”
Pei Jiangchen had been selected for the starting lineup of the university team—competing as their new striker—in the upcoming national collegiate soccer league. Naturally, soccer had become the main topic of his conversations lately.
“I’ll watch it with you later, then.” Wen Shuyu scooped another serving of seafood rice for Pei Jiangchen. “Does that spot on your left knee where you pulled a muscle last time still hurt?”
“It’s been fine for ages.” Pei Jiangchen tossed a clam shell into the waste bowl, sounding a bit impatient. “Don’t you have the team doctor report to you every day? You know my physical condition better than I do myself, so why keep asking?”
“The team doctor only reports on my physiological metrics,” Wen Shuyu replied matter-of-factly. “If you were determined to hide any discomfort, none of us are mind readers, right? Brother Guang and the others are responsible for your safety, while I handle your daily life; keeping an eye on your health is part of my job. Your schedule is so packed every day that you probably wouldn’t pay much attention to minor aches or pains. That’s why I need to be extra attentive…”
“Alright, alright.” Pei Jiangchen waved a hand dismissively. “I just said a couple of words, and you launch into a whole lecture like that. Were you a monk in a past life or something?”
Wen Shuyu smiled and lowered his head to continue peeling shrimp.
“You don’t need to cook so many dishes every day, either,” Pei Jiangchen said.
“I’ve calculated the caloric intake,” Wen Shuyu replied. “Your daily exercise volume is quite high, so you need to replenish enough carbohydrates and protein. I’m taking a Nutrition elective this semester, and I’ve been working on a menu tailored to your tastes.”
“Make less,” Pei Jiangchen instructed. “If you have the time, you’d be better off coming to watch me play.”
Wen Shuyu paused for a moment, then understood. “Understood.”
Pei Jiangchen frowned, about to speak again, when his phone—sitting nearby—began to ring.