{"id":16003,"date":"2021-11-22T12:00:52","date_gmt":"2021-11-22T17:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/?p=16003"},"modified":"2022-03-07T09:32:43","modified_gmt":"2022-03-07T14:32:43","slug":"death-progress-bar-120","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/betwixtedbutterfly.com\/translations\/death-progress-bar-120\/","title":{"rendered":"Death Progress Bar 120"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Longevity Noodles<\/h1>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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When they got in the car, Li Jiuzheng said something that made Shi Jin get a feeling of <\/span>d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu<\/span><\/em>: \u201cThis is my second senior apprentice brother\u2019s car. He let me borrow it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin: \u201c\u2026I see.\u201d <\/span>Does your second senior apprentice brother know he has so many cars?<\/span><\/em><\/p>

They didn\u2019t speak more. Except for the murmur of the engine, the whole drive was spent in silence.<\/span><\/p>

Fifteen minutes later, the car stopped at the residential building complex affiliated with the medical university, south of the university town. \u201cAren\u2019t you taking me out for a meal?\u201d Shi Jin asked, confused.<\/span><\/p>

\u201c<\/span>Mhm<\/span><\/em>, we\u2019ll eat at my place. I\u2019m going to make <\/span>longevity noodles<\/span><\/a> for you,\u201d Li Jiuzheng said, getting out. He went around the car and, like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat, took out two shopping bags full of food ingredients from the trunk.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin, who also got out of the car and followed him, <\/span>choked for a moment. \u201cYou know how to cook?\u201d he asked, keeping his voice neutral.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cA little,\u201d Li Jiuzheng replied earnestly, his voice a bit stiff.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin was silent, pretending not to know that according to the original \u2018Shi Jin\u2019s\u2019 memories, Li Jiuzheng was a cooking idiot. He stepped forward and took one shopping bag from his brother\u2019s hand.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cI can…\u201d Li Jiuzheng reached out to take it back.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin took a step, avoiding him. \u201cHow will you open the door holding bags in both hands? Come on, we\u2019d better hustle. My lunch break is long, but if you planned a home-cooked meal, we might be a little tight on time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Li Jiuzheng retracted his hand, taking in Shi Jin\u2019s mellow, unaffected behavior and speech. Suddenly, he beamed a smile and moved so they stood close, side by side.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin felt goosebumps rising on his skin. Barely suppressing the urge to back away, he asked, \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cXiao Jin, you are so considerate,\u201d Li Jiuzheng praised, bumping <\/span>their shoulders together. Not giving Shi Jin an opportunity to push him away, he immediately started to walk towards the apartment building in front of them, saying, \u201cLet\u2019s go, our place is on the top floor. It has a very nice view.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

How and when did it become \u201cour place\u201d?<\/span><\/em><\/p>

Shi Jin couldn\u2019t keep up with Li Jiuzheng\u2019s thoughts and mood changes. He moved his bumped shoulder, then followed his brother.<\/span><\/p>

The hospital-affiliated residential building complex was small, consisting of only two buildings. It looked a little deserted as most of the residents were likely off at work. Li Jiuzheng led Shi Jin into the elevator in one of the buildings. He pressed the button for the top floor, then stared at Shi Jin fixedly.<\/span><\/p>

He wasn\u2019t hiding it at all, so Shi Jin would have to be blind not to notice. \u201cIs something the matter?\u201d he asked.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cNo, I just think that Xiao Jin is very good-looking,\u201d Li Jiuzheng replied, smiling.<\/span><\/p>

Inwardly, Shi Jin admitted defeat. \u201cI think your looks are better than mine, Fifth Brother,\u201d he politely returned the compliment.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cReally?\u201d Li Jiuzheng touched his face. He said seriously, \u201cBut I don\u2019t like my appearance very much.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin recalled what Li Jiuzheng told him in front of his mother\u2019s grave. Seeing that the expression in his brother\u2019s eyes grew visibly depressed, he frowned slightly and lightly knocked on Li Jiuzheng\u2019s head. \u201cYou not liking it is your business, me liking it is mine. People will like what they will\u2014it\u2019s not like you can control the others\u2019 personal preferences.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Li Jiuzheng, who\u2019d never had somebody knock on his head like this, froze in shock for a few seconds. He raised a hand and touched the place that was hit, staring at Shi Jin foolishly.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cFifth Brother, we\u2019re here,\u201d Shi Jin said, pointing towards the elevator door that slowly started to open.<\/span><\/p>

Li Jiuzheng came back to his senses and clumsily stepped out of the elevator. Making an invitation gesture, he said dazedly, \u201cPl-please, after you. Our apartment number is 3602, don\u2019t remember it wrong\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin walked out of the elevator, found the door with the number 3602, stopped in front of it, and looked back at Li Jiuzheng.<\/span><\/p>

Li Jiuzheng, who didn\u2019t move from where he stood next to the elevator, watched him as if he couldn\u2019t <\/span>comprehend what he was seeing, his expression still dazed. A moment later, the elevator door closed with a soft sound, startling him back to reality. A flicker of life again appearing in his empty eyes, he smiled wordlessly and quickly walked over to Shi Jin. He took out the key, saying, \u201cXiao, Xiao Jin, we\u2019re home. I\u2019ll make longevity noodles right away.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin looked at his trembling hands and slightly red ears, and sighed inwardly. Reaching out, he took the key that Li Jiuzheng couldn\u2019t fit in the keyhole, and helped him unlock the door.<\/span><\/p>

Warm air poured out along the widening crack as the door opened, revealing the warmly and comfortably decorated entrance and living room.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Death Progress Bar is translated by Betwixted Translations<\/a>. Read on the original translator’s site to get the fastest updates!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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It was Shi Jin\u2019s turn to be stunned. In the original \u2018Shi Jin\u2019s\u2019 memory, Li Jiuzheng was a person who was indifferent to his living environment. He could live pretty much anywhere, his only preference being inclined towards a cool color scheme and <\/span>instinctively rejecting warm and cozy decor. His clinic in Rongcheng, decorated in depression-inducing gray, black, and white, and feeling as cold as a coffin, was the original \u2018Shi Jin\u2019s\u2019 last and most frightening nightmare.<\/span><\/p>

This apartment, however, was warm and welcoming. From the pigeon gray, low pile carpeting to the wooden furniture and wide, comfy-looking fabric sofa, from the cartoon doormat to the abstract sunflower painting hanging on the wall and cream-colored curtains, there was barely any speck of cool color. The whole apartment was a definition of coziness; even the furniture edges were rounded.<\/span><\/p>

It definitely didn\u2019t look like a place Li Jiuzheng would live in. No one in the Shi family would decorate their home in this style.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin didn\u2019t hate it, though. To be precise, he was instantly fond of the sofa since it looked as if it was really comfortable to lounge on.<\/span><\/p>

While Shi Jin was watching the apartment, Li Jiuzheng was watching him.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin\u2019s face was easy to read, his surprise and a bit of fondness in his eyes noticeable at a glance. Li Jiuzheng followed the teenager\u2019s gaze to his brand new sofa, and his tense nerves slowly relaxed. Smiling, he stepped past Shi Jin and walked inside, then took out a pair of plush slippers from the shoe cabinet and put them in front of him. \u201cIt\u2019s cold outside, come in,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>

This woke Shi Jin up, and he gave an embarrassed cough, finding that the way he\u2019d been staring at the sofa was a little too obvious. He stepped through the door, closing it behind him, and handed Li Jiuzheng the key.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cIt\u2019s for you.\u201d Li Jiuzheng reached out, but instead of taking the key, he took the shopping bag Shi Jin was carrying. \u201cSit down in the living room, I\u2019ll get you something to drink,\u201d he said with a smile, replacing his shoes with another pair of plush slippers like the one he gave Shi Jin, and headed to the kitchen with the bags.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin watched him leave, then looked at the key in his hand. He frowned, hesitating, but finally put the key in his pocket.<\/span><\/p>

He couldn\u2019t help but feel that if he refused to take it, he would hear the sound of something glass-like shattering\u2026<\/span><\/p>

He changed into slippers and stepped into the living room. He looked around it with curiosity, then apprehensively sat on the edge of the sofa. Satisfied to find it properly soft and yielding, he took off the scarf and jacket and sat down again. There was a magazine lying on the coffee table as if someone left it there intending to finish reading it later. Shi Jin picked it up and flipped through it casually.<\/span><\/p>

A dense text in a foreign language, interspersed with medical illustrations, appeared in front of his eyes. Shi Jin turned the pages with a stiff hand and, with the sense of awe of a poor student that accidentally stumbled into studying tyrants\u2019 world, quietly put the magazine back.<\/span><\/p>

Let\u2019s pass time by playing phone games, shall we?<\/span><\/em><\/p>

He reached for the phone in his pocket.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cWhat do you want to drink, Xiao Jin? Juice or milk?\u201d Li Jiuzheng called, leaning out of the kitchen. He was holding an apron, apparently about to put it on.<\/span><\/p>

Li Jiuzheng, apron<\/span><\/em>\u2026 The image of Li Jiuzheng in a doctor\u2019s coat and holding a scalpel standing quietly in the darkness flashed through Shi Jin\u2019s mind, forcing him to suppress a shudder. Resignedly leaving the phone in his pocket, he stood up and replied, \u201cJuice will be great. Don\u2019t bother yourself though, I\u2019ll get it.\u201d <\/span>So I won\u2019t have to worry about the juice possibly being drugged<\/span><\/em>\u2026<\/em> He knew he was being paranoid but he couldn\u2019t help it\u2014what happened in the previous life left too much trauma in the original \u2018Shi Jin\u2019s\u2019 heart, making him subconsciously afraid of his fifth brother.<\/span><\/p>

Li Jiuzheng seemed to immediately realize the meaning behind Shi Jin\u2019s words, and the smile on his face dimmed. \u201cCome on, then. The juice is in the fridge,\u201d he said in a subdued voice.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin: \u201c\u2026\u2026\u201d It shattered, it shattered, it definitely shattered again.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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If you’re seeing this notice, you’re reading this chapter on pirate site – the original translator of Death Progress Bar is Betwixted Translations.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The two brothers stood side by side in the kitchen. One was holding a cup and pouring himself juice, the other wrestling with a piece of dough on the counter.<\/span><\/p>

Out of the corner of his eye, Shi Jin saw Li Jiuzheng\u2019s methodical motion of kneading dough, and his jaw almost dropped in shock. \u201cYou actually really can cook?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Li Jiuzheng glanced sideways at him, his lips tightened, and he continued kneading.<\/span><\/p>

This reaction\u2026<\/span><\/em><\/p>

\u201cAre you angry?\u201d Shi Jin asked.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cNo, I won\u2019t get angry with you,\u201d Li Jiuzheng replied.<\/span><\/p>

Liar, you\u2019re obviously angry.<\/span><\/em><\/p>

This Li Jiuzheng was not quite the same as Li Jiuzheng in the original \u2018Shi Jin\u2019s\u2019 memory. His character wasn\u2019t cold and withdrawn, nor did he only like books and hate people, refusing to let anyone approach him, not to mention he certainly didn\u2019t appear to be crazy, full of pain, and murderous. The current he was proactive, knew how to smile, sensitive, and easy to understand\u2014completely like an ordinary person. And facing such a Li Jiuzheng, Shi Jin inexplicably treated him in a way that was almost cold, even saying some hurtful things.<\/span><\/p>

Since Li Jiuzheng was cooking in order to make a meal for him, Shi Jin didn\u2019t press further and changed the subject: \u201cThis dough was made in advance, right? Did you get up very early to prepare the dinner?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Li Jiuzheng\u2019s kneading movements became stiff. Abruptly, he turned to the side, busying himself with putting the small pot standing on the counter on the stove to heat up. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t that early.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

It seems he got up <\/span><\/em>very <\/span>early.<\/span><\/em><\/p>

\u201cWhat\u2019s in this pot?\u201d Shi Jin continued to ask, ignoring his discomfiture.<\/span><\/p>

Li Jiuzheng\u2019s hand on the pot handle tightened. \u201cChicken broth, for cooking the noodles\u2026 I made it myself, it\u2019s not store-bought.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

So he knows how to cook noodles in chicken broth<\/span><\/em>. Shi Jin praised sincerely, \u201cYou\u2019re really amazing.\u201d Li Jiuzheng making chicken broth by himself really was an impressive achievement. The cooking idiot in the original \u2018Shi Jin\u2019s\u2019 memory couldn\u2019t even <\/span>cook instant noodles<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>

Li Jiuzheng didn\u2019t answer, but Shi Jin noticed that his back straightened slightly. The praise seemed to make him very happy.<\/span><\/p>

Is this person really the head of a hospital, a child prodigy turned outstanding doctor? He feels more like a young, immature student than I.<\/span><\/em><\/p>

Shi Jin had a slight feeling of dissociation. The scary, ice-cold brother in his memory and the clumsy, easy-to-see-through brother in front of him seemed to be two different people. It was unbelievable. Could a person really change so much?<\/span><\/p>

\u201cWe\u2019re having <\/span>hot pot<\/span><\/a>,\u201d Li Jiuzheng said suddenly while kneading dough. In a smaller voice, he continued, \u201cThere was too little time and I only learned how to make longevity noodles, so the dinner is a hot pot\u2026 Next time, next time I\u2019ll really cook a big meal for you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Startled, Shi Jin turned to take a closer look at the shopping bags placed on the table. Seeing that they were filled with common hot pot ingredients, the sense of dissociation in his mind faded\u2014it seemed Li Jiuzheng was still the same Li Jiuzheng for whom cooking was a predicament.<\/span><\/p>

Yet, this cooking idiot had actually learned how to make chicken soup and knead the dough. What was important about the longevity noodles was the symbolic meaning\u2014it would be enough just to cook them in hot water, there was no need to go this far. And what did he mean by <\/span>\u201cThere was too little time\u201d<\/span><\/em>? Had Li Jiuzheng started learning how to make longevity noodles not too long ago?<\/span><\/p>

Reason told Shi Jin that he shouldn\u2019t feel soft-hearted towards Li Jiuzheng, the attempted murderer, but\u2026 He glanced at Li Jiuzheng in an apron, bathed in the warm glow of kitchen lights, and stifled a sigh.<\/span><\/p>

Rather than the tired, cold, crazy, miserable Li Jiuzheng of the past, he much more preferred this clumsy guy who was timidly reaching out, trying to touch the warmth.<\/span><\/p>

He downed the rest of his juice. \u201cWhich cupboard are the plates in?\u201d he asked, rolling up his sleeves.<\/span><\/p>

Taken aback, Li Jiuzheng pointed to the cupboard above his head. \u201cIn this one. What do you need plates for, Xiao Jin?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cFor the hot pot ingredients, of course. It would take a long time for you to finish preparing them by yourself, my lunch break is not that long,\u201d Shi Jin replied. He took the plates from the cupboard, walked to the table, and began unpacking the shopping bags.<\/span><\/p>

Li Jiuzheng turned to stare at him, stunned, then reached out to stop him. \u201cNo, you don\u2019t have to. It\u2019s your birthday, the only thing you\u2019re responsible for today is eating.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin blocked his hand and motioned to the dough. \u201cFifth Brother, I\u2019m hungry. At most half an hour later, I want to see your noodles coming out of the pot.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Li Jiuzheng looked at him, his face slowly falling. His lips tightened; suddenly, he reached out and grabbed Shi Jin\u2019s wrist, saying, \u201cXiao Jin, I\u2019m sorry. I\u2019ll take you out to eat. Let\u2019s eat in a restaurant.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cDon\u2019t be silly.\u201d Shi Jin pushed him away and continued preparing the ingredients. \u201cThese will go to waste if we don\u2019t eat them. Start cooking the noodles you pulled. In the meantime, you can pull more and put them in the hot pot later.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Li Jiuzheng looked down at his hand that had been pushed away. He raised it to touch Shi Jin again, hesitated, and let it fall back, whispering, \u201cOkay.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Death Progress Bar is translated by Betwixted Translations<\/a>. Read on the original translator’s site to get the fastest updates!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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After being busy for more than half an hour, the two finally put the meal on the table. The hot pot soup base was not homemade\u2014Li Jiuzheng had bought it in a well-known hot pot chain restaurant. There were three flavors; seeing that Li Jiuzheng had enough pots, Shi Jin simply boiled them all.<\/span><\/p>

The sight of a table full of plates with ingredients was oddly satisfying.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cYou can start eating first, I\u2019ll bring the noodles.\u201d Li Jiuzheng took off his apron, motioning for Shi Jin to sit down.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin hummed in affirmation and pulled out a chair at random. While waiting, he picked up some raw ingredients and started putting them in the pot with a boiling soup base.<\/span><\/p>

Click<\/span><\/em>. Suddenly, there was a sound of a camera shutter. Shi Jin paused and looked up towards the kitchen door. Li Jiuzheng, caught in the act, hurriedly stuffed his phone back into his pocket and walked into the kitchen as if nothing had happened.<\/span><\/p>

Speechless, Shi Jin turned his attention back to the hot pot. What the heck? Did all of his brothers like taking sneak photos?<\/span><\/p>

Soon, the longevity noodles were served.<\/span><\/p>

In front of Shi Jin, there was a large soup bowl with a long, chopstick-thick noodle. It was not pulled very skillfully, and the thickness was not even. Shi Jin glanced at Li Jiuzheng and picked up the chopsticks. Under his brother\u2019s nervous gaze, he lowered them into the bowl, found the beginning of the strand in the tangle, and caught it.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cBe careful! Don\u2019t break it, it\u2019s unauspicious,\u201d Li Jiuzheng couldn\u2019t help but urge. He leaned forward, looking as if he wanted to help Shi Jin hold the noodle.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin wanted to laugh, but he found he couldn\u2019t.<\/span><\/p>

This was clearly a warm, happy moment, so why did he feel a little like crying?<\/span><\/p>

This is definitely the emotion of the original \u2018Shi Jin.\u2019<\/span><\/em> With his other hand, he pinched himself hard under the table, using the pain to clear his mind. Bowing his head, he put the noodle into his mouth, exaggeratedly slurping the actually not-very-long noodle up.<\/span><\/p>

Click<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>

He looked up and faced Li Jiuzheng\u2019s mobile phone camera. Playing along, he rolled his eyes with mock disgust. \u201cThis much noodles is too little, I\u2019m not full at all.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Li Jiuzheng looked from the phone screen to him, and a brilliant smile lit up his face. \u201cIt didn\u2019t break, Xiao Jin will live to a hundred years old! There are more noodles, wait a moment,\u201d he said, getting up.<\/span><\/p>

A bowl of noodles generously topped with eggs, shredded meat, and pickles was brought out of the kitchen.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cHere,\u201d Li Jiuzheng said, putting it down in front of Shi Jin in place of the longevity noodles\u2019 bowl. \u201cDon\u2019t eat too much, though, there\u2019s still hot pot.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Not standing on ceremony, Shi Jin raised his chopsticks and began to scarf down the noodles, not forgetting to scoop up the cooked ingredients from the hot pot every now and then.<\/span><\/p>

Li Jiuzheng watched him eat with a happy expression on his face.<\/span><\/p>

What an easy-to-understand person<\/span><\/em>, Shi Jin thought. He swallowed a mouthful of noodles and rubbed his nose.<\/span><\/p>

No, he\u2019s actually not easy to understand at all.<\/span><\/em><\/p>

This person has so many faces. Which of them is the real one?<\/span><\/em><\/p>

After dinner, Li Jiuzheng took Shi Jin back to school. When the car stopped at the school gate, Shi Jin thanked him for the meal and opened the door to get off. Before he could, Li Jiuzheng suddenly spoke.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin paused and looked back at him.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cAnd happy birthday.\u201d Li Jiuzheng didn\u2019t avoid his gaze. After a momentary blankness, the gentle and warm smile he often showed today once more appeared on his face. \u201cXiao Jin, I was very happy today. Thank you for having a meal with me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

The current Li Jiuzheng smiled a lot in front of Shi Jin. His smile was warm, harmless, gentle, and happy, but every time Shi Jin saw it, it didn\u2019t feel real to him.<\/span><\/p>

He wondered again, which Li Jiuzheng was the real one? The young prodigy, the outstanding doctor, the scalpel-wielding murderer, the clumsy big brother making noodles\u2026 <\/span>Which one is the real you?<\/span><\/em><\/p>

\u201cI still remember the way you were dressed when we met again last year. You wore a long, black, button-up coat, a suit with a dress shirt, and didn\u2019t have a scarf. You looked mature and cold. I also remember your appearance in a white coat\u2014handsome, and a little scary,\u201d Shi Jin said, his gaze resting at the coffee-colored coat his brother was wearing now. He fell silent for a moment, then continued, \u201cAfter my term-end exams, come over for a reunion dinner. I\u2019ll let the others know too.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Li Jiuzheng\u2019s fingers trembled. He stretched his hand and grabbed Shi Jin\u2019s wrist as if to stop him from leaving.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cRemember to come early. We\u2019re going to cook by ourselves, like ordinary families do.\u201d Shi Jin broke away from his grip, again thanked him for a meal with a smile, and got out of the car. He walked towards the school door without looking back. Some repressed emotions swirled in his heart, making him walk faster and faster.<\/span><\/p>

Wrong, wrong, what clumsy and kind big brother, what warm, sensitive person, this was a murderer, a devil who stood over your hospital bed every night waiting to take your life. Go back, blame him, hurt him, return to him the pain you suffered thousand times over, and drag him down to hell with you\u2014<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Honk honk<\/span>\u2014<\/span><\/em><\/p>

Suddenly, a familiar-sounding car horn honked not far away. Shi Jin stopped in his tracks and glanced towards where it came from. To his surprise, he really saw the black car he knew well parked on the side of the street. He stared at it blankly for a few seconds, then changed direction towards it, breaking into a run. The moment he got close, he pulled open the rear door and threw himself at the person sitting inside.<\/span><\/p>

Lian Jun opened his arms and hugged him. He reached out to pull the car door closed, then gently stroked Shi Jin\u2019s hair. \u201cYou smell like hot pot,\u201d he said. \u201cIt even got in your hair.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Surrounded by the familiar presence, the churning sea of emotions in Shi Jin\u2019s chest immediately calmed down. He tightened his embrace and took a deep breath. His tense nerves relaxing as Lian Jun\u2019s familiar scent filled his nose, he asked, \u201cWhy are you here?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cI was going to take you out for dinner. Didn\u2019t you say you wanted to eat bacon <\/span>bamboo rice<\/span><\/a>? Just yesterday, I booked a room in a very good private restaurant,\u201d Lian Jun replied, pinching his cheek. \u201cUnexpectedly, it turned out you already had an appointment.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin paused, surprised, then his expression fell. \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you tell me when I called you before?\u201d he asked, brows drawing together in a frown. Rather than hot pot, he obviously would\u2019ve preferred to eat bamboo rice with Lian Jun.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cI thought you\u2019d want this chance to talk with your fifth brother, but as soon as I saw you coming out of his car, I knew I had made a wrong decision,\u201d Lian Jun explained, giving him a soothing kiss on the forehead. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, I won\u2019t make another mistake like this. Did he bully you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cNo.\u201d Done \u201crecharging,\u201d Shi Jin sat up straight and gave his beloved a contented kiss. \u201cLet\u2019s go eat that bacon bamboo rice next time\u2026 No, never mind, let\u2019s cook it ourselves in the club. The weather forecast says another cold wave is coming and it may snow, so you shouldn\u2019t go out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cIt definitely wouldn\u2019t be as authentic as the one made by a professional chef, though.\u201d Lian Jun tidied up Shi Jin\u2019s clothes, then reached to the side and picked up a takeout box. \u201cWhich is why I asked them to pack it so I could bring it back for you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

The takeaway box is about the size of two normal boxed lunches. It was made of paper, with a cute cartoon rice ball pattern and the name of the shop printed on it. The moment he saw it, Shi Jin\u2019s eyes lit up. He took the box and opened it, revealing several bamboo tubes tightly tied with string. A savory aroma of rice and bacon wafted out, making him salivate.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cIt already got cool. Remember to heat it up before eating,\u201d Lian Jun warned. He took out a not very big, narrow black box and handed it to Shi Jin. \u201cHere, a birthday gift. Happy birthday, may you always be healthy and happy, and may all your wishes come true.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

\u201cA birthday gift?\u201d Shi Jin accepted the box, surprised but very happy. \u201cI thought your birthday presents for me were the CQC game and birthday party last weekend.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Lian Jun leaned forward and hugged him again, without speaking.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin stopped unwrapping the gift and tilted his head to give him a confused glance.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cBe good, don\u2019t think about it anymore. I\u2019m here,\u201d Lian Jun murmured, gently running his hand along Shi Jin\u2019s back.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Jin glanced at Li Jiuzheng\u2019s car in the distance, which still hadn\u2019t left. \u201c<\/span>Mhm<\/span><\/em>,\u201d he whispered, raising his hands and hugging his lover back.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Extra:<\/span><\/em><\/p>

The brothers\u2019 chat group:<\/span><\/p>

After a long time of no activity.<\/span><\/p>

Li Jiuzheng [suddenly appearing]: Xiao Jin said he would have a reunion dinner with us after his term-end exams.<\/span><\/p>

The other brothers: !!!<\/span><\/p>

Li Jiuzheng [adding the caveat]: But he said we have to do it the way ordinary families do and cook by ourselves. Can you cook?<\/span><\/p>

Fei Yujing: \u2026Cough.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Weichong [frowning]: I can only do the most simple dishes.<\/span><\/p>

Rong Zhouzhong plays dead.<\/span><\/p>

Xiang Aoting [hesitantly]: I can cook a little, but taste aside, what I make doesn\u2019t usually look very good.<\/span><\/p>

Li Jiuzheng: I can only make noodles.<\/span><\/p>

Indescribable silence.<\/span><\/p>

Shi Weichong: Let\u2019s learn. We can\u2019t let Shi Jin be disappointed.<\/span><\/p>

Everyone [silently agreeing]: Mhm.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Translator: Eques<\/em>
Editor: –
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