When Xia Chi was sent back by He Sihai, his heart was still bleeding.

[That’s one hundred million, one hundred million!]

Even if you give me a 90% discount, I still say I'm nothing!

Xia Chi hated the Kitchen God to death.

What do I need a piece of land for?! I have no say in the matter!

[It cannot be eaten or drunk, cannot be bought or sold, and cannot be developed.]

Xia Chi curled up into a ball and pulled his hair, which made He Sihai next to him stunned.

A piece of land is much more valuable to me than 100 million.

You're the one who took advantage, and you're still acting like a good boy?

The car stopped at the big ridge of Fu'anli. He Sihai put his hand on the steering wheel and asked him, "Want to have dinner together?"

"I have an appointment."

Xia Chi answered decisively, and before the last word had faded, he had already jumped out of the car and was running deep into the alley in two steps.

******

When we returned to Fu'anli, it was already dark.

The Kitchen God Temple at No. 186 Qingshiqiao stands quietly in the night, its mottled gate ajar, revealing a deep gap.

Xia Chi's fingertips were suspended in the air, and his heart suddenly panicked.

He remembered closing the door when he left.

I stepped into the door anxiously, but the yard was dead silent, and there was not even a trace of life.

The pale moonlight spread on the ground, and a few wild grasses curled up in the darkness, lifeless.

Xia Chi felt it was too quiet, so quiet that he could hear his own heartbeat, one, two, like a bird trapped in a cage, beating against his chest in vain.

Walking through the main hall and into the small courtyard, the door of the east wing was ajar, like a farewell letter waiting to be opened.

Xia Chi walked in front of the door, his nails digging deep into his palms. He was afraid that after pushing open the door, the speculation that had long taken root in his heart would break out of the ground and grow into a truth that he could not bear.

“Squeak—”

The door still opened.

The moonlight was like frost, seeping in through the window cracks, cutting out several pale cracks, and dust fluttered silently in the light gaps.

The old rattan chair stood abruptly in the corner, its withered vines emitting a cold light in the darkness, like a skeleton dried by time.

The room was empty.

Just a few hours ago, the place was filled with warmth. The figure, always smiling, curled lazily in a rattan chair, chest rising and falling with each breath. The sunlight streamed in casually, the warmth seemingly never fading.

The dream was shattered, and I was shocked to see the mess on the ground.

Xia Chi did not enter the house. For some reason, the house was empty and he felt that the whole world was empty.

Fatigue surged like a tide, spreading from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. The hard work of the past few days was like countless tiny insects and ants, gnawing at his bones and muscles inch by inch. He leaned against the door frame, breathing with difficulty.

The door seemed like a black hole, which would suck him in if he looked at it any longer. Xia Chi moved forward and walked out.

[The filming hasn't finished yet. Maybe the director called him...]

[He must have left because of something urgent...]

Xia Chi comforted himself as he walked.

[Jiang Nan is not a rude person...I came back late.]

[Yes, blame me, it’s all my fault.]

He smacked his head in self-reproach.

[I didn’t even tell him when I left…]

If he wakes up and sees the darkness all around him, he'll definitely be scared.

【It's only right to leave.】

[This is how it should be…]

His heart ached and he rubbed his eyes.

What am I sad about?

I thought of the cold rental house again and didn’t know where to go.

This world is like a huge ice cellar. No matter how he burns himself, he cannot warm up an inch of it. Everything that has ever illuminated him will eventually slip through his fingers.

In the end it's better than we had never met.

Xia Chi walked through the darkness in a daze, with the blurry scenery moving backwards. He didn't know how long he had been walking when he tripped and his knee hit the ground heavily, and the pain came slowly.

He raised his head and looked forward, the vermilion lacquered pillars caught his sight, and he unknowingly walked into the main hall.

The darkness blurred his vision, and the Kitchen God's expression was not as solemn as it was during the day.

The god remained silent, his eyes lowered, his gaze piercing through his frail back, illuminating all the unknown darkness. The grievances he couldn't express, the life he'd been abandoned, all seemed to be clearly visible.

A drowning person grabs at the last straw, and the accumulated grievances burst out in an instant, and tears fall down.

"Kitchen God, why?"

"Why... did you want me to come into this world?"

"Since you gave birth to me, why did you want to abandon me?"

He whimpered.

"What did I do wrong?"

"I've clearly given it my all... why am I still living like a ghost..."

He knelt before the statue, his fingers digging into the moss between the bricks, his face covered in tears.

"Kitchen God, you are so compassionate and omnipotent. Could you please have mercy on me and give me a home..."

"allow."

The empty sound rang in my ears.

Xia Chi's shoulders froze, he looked up suddenly and wiped his face with his sleeve.

He stared straight at the Kitchen God, his voice trembling: "You...you agreed?"

The statue on the altar remained silent, and its gilded eyes and eyebrows no longer looked at him.

Xia Chi realized something was wrong - when did this old man become so straightforward that he didn't even bother bargaining?

And the "Yes" was answered straightforwardly and readily, even with a hint of... impatience.

As he was thinking, a gust of wind blew through the hall, and he suddenly felt a heavy chill on the back of his neck. Xia Chi touched his neck and his fingertips touched a round metal plate. He rubbed it and found words engraved on it.

It’s the character “stove”.

Xia Chi jumped up as if he had been electrocuted, and roared at the Kitchen God with his hands on his hips.

"I said I want to have a family, not to be with you. Don't you understand what I'm saying?"

The Kitchen God ignored him.

Xia Chi pulled the red rope around his neck, but the rope seemed thin but did not move at all, and it made his neck turn red.

He struggled until his face turned red.

"Old Zao, you're being a scoundrel, aren't you?!" He pointed at the statue and jumped up and down. "Guardian beast? That sounds nice! Isn't it just a dog that guards the temple for you?"

"Who wants to stay with an old-fashioned person like you every day? This dilapidated temple has no water, no electricity, and not even wifi!"

"Just for this piece of shitty land, I lost 100 million! 100 million!!! You have to compensate me!"

After a period of silence, the blue bricks under his feet vibrated "clatteringly", as if something was about to break out of the ground. Xia Chi was so scared that he ran away quickly. Just as he reached the stone steps, the wind suddenly hit him from behind.

Xia Chi was thrown into the air again, and this time no one caught him, and he fell flat on his face in the middle of the yard.

"Ouch--"

He scrambled to his feet and jumped like a gorilla.

[You're playing dirty, old man! Okay, I'll leave first!]

[Go back and find a pair of pliers, twist this broken rope, and flush it down the drain!]

[Out of this area, can you control me? 】

Xia Chi patted his butt and walked out of the temple with a gait that ignored all relatives. After taking a few steps, he suddenly heard a "creak" and the temple door opened a crack by itself.

A slender figure stepped on the moonlight and shattered it.

The man was wrapped in a dark windbreaker with the hood pulled down very low. The moonlight flowed over his shoulders like an undercurrent of a river.

Xia Chi braked suddenly, his heart pounding like crazy, pounding against his ribs. He held his breath, not daring to even flutter his eyelashes, as if the slightest blink would cause the figure to melt into the night.

It was not until he walked in front of her that Xia Chi woke up from his dream.

Jiang Nan stopped one step away, his eyes flickering slightly under the brim of his hat, as if he was afraid of disturbing something. His voice was very low, and inexplicably revealed a hint of cautious panic.

"You're leaving?"

Xia Chi was stunned for a moment, then shook his head.

"No."

Jiang Nan's shoulders relaxed slightly. He opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but swallowed it back and just raised his hand silently - his fingertips were hooked around a translucent plastic bag, which contained several boxes of instant noodles, a few bags of bread, and a few bottles of mineral water.

"Have you eaten?" Jiang Nan asked him, "I bought some food. Do you want to eat some?"

"Yes, yes."

Xia Chi's eyes were hot.

After hearing his response, Jiang Nan felt relieved and turned around to walk inside with the plastic bag.

When passing by the statue of the Kitchen God, Xia Chi touched his nose angrily - it turned out that Jiang Nan just went out to buy supper and had no intention of not coming back.

The old fox Kitchen God clearly took the opportunity to trick him.

Putting this matter aside for the moment, Xia Chi quickly hid the nameplate in the collar of his sweatshirt and caught up in three or two steps.

The night was still dark, the moonlight was still pale, and the door to the east wing was wide open, still like the huge mouth of a monster.

Jiang Nan walked in front without even frowning. He lowered his head and fumbled in the pocket of his windbreaker, and the screen of his mobile phone lit up.

With a clear "click" sound, the darkness was split open, and the warm yellow light pierced into the deserted courtyard like a sharp sword, even illuminating the moss by the well.

He walked across the yard with confidence and walked into the terrifying door with ease.

The light from the cell phone filled the room, and a few faint glimmers leaked through the window panes. The terrifying monster had changed its appearance, as if dyed with garish colors, and it was steaming from the inside out. It retracted its fangs and waved at him.

Xia Chi slowly walked to the door. Jiang Nan was fiddling with plastic bags at the table with his head down, making a rustling sound.

This scene is inexplicably soothing.

Then Xia Chi thought of how distraught he was just now, and his ears started burning, with a tightness in his chest.

He entered the house and closed the door behind him.

【Heh, I finally caught you. 】

The cold light shining from the side made his expression even gloomier.

[The door is locked. Let's see where you can run.]

"If you keep running around, I'll break your legs and tie you to my belt. I'll carry you everywhere I go, and I'll make you have to report even to the bathroom!"

Jiang Nan wanted to laugh, but he didn't look back. He tore open the bread bag with his slender fingers.

"Come and have some bread?"

"good."

The answer behind me was quick and loud.

Jiang Nan handed over a croissant. Xia Chi took it, put it in his mouth and nibbled it, but his eyes were glued to Jiang Nan - watching him tear open the seal of the instant noodles neatly, his fingers suddenly stopped in mid-air.

"Hiss—" Jiang Nan frowned, "There's no hot water." He scratched his head and said, "Wait a minute, I'll go borrow some water from the boss."

Jiang Nan opened the door and ran outside carrying two boxes of instant noodles.

The shop was on the corner. The owner, a middle-aged man with graying hair, took the box of instant noodles without asking any questions and quickly poured boiling water over it. Jiang Nan thanked him and walked back with the steaming bowl of instant noodles.

As soon as I stepped into the yard, I saw a man standing upright in the middle of the yard, like a lonely ghost.

"Why are you standing here?"

The instant noodle bowl burned his fingertips red, and Jiang Nan couldn't help but quicken his pace. When passing by, he suddenly caught a glimpse of Xia Chi's wet eyelashes.

My heart suddenly tightened, and I realized belatedly that from the moment he came back, every look and every movement of Xia Chi revealed the panic of a frightened bird, as if he was ready to be abandoned at any time.

Jiang Nan returned to his room first and placed the hot instant noodle box on the table. The person behind him quickly followed and locked the door with a "click".

【Hmph, you dare to leave without permission.】

I'll clip your feathers, pluck out your claws, and lock you in a cage where you can't even get out.

[Hehehe, keep yelling, keep yelling...]

[I'm screaming my throat out...]

"Do you like spicy food?"

"eat."

"Where are the sausages?"

"I want that, too."

"You'll have to wait a moment."

"good."

“…”

Someone sat on a bench, hands neatly placed on the edge of the table, like a well-behaved elementary school student waiting for dinner. His moist eyes followed Jiang Nan's movements without blinking, watching him tear open the seasoning packet and add sausage.

But the redness at the corner of her eye hasn't faded away yet, as if she's been severely bullied by someone.

But the voice in my heart is as fierce as a kitten.

【For the sake of this bowl of instant noodles, I'll forgive you. 】

[If you dare to leave without saying goodbye again next time...]

I...I will...

Jiang Nan's busy hands stopped.

He looked up at Xia Chi, who was biting his lower lip tightly, with tears welling up in his eyes. However, he stiffened his neck and pretended to be calm, even holding his breath.

Jiang Nan stood up and sat down next to Xia Chi, stretching out his long legs to trap him in a small space.

The two of them were so close that they could count each other's eyelashes, their warm breaths intertwined, and there was also the spicy aroma of instant noodles.

"What about you?" Jiang Nan lowered his voice, with the ending tone rising slightly, like a small hook gently scratching the heart of the person.

Xia Chi suddenly got stuck, and his pupils trembled slightly.

[Wait, did I just say what I was thinking?!]

Is this so embarrassing?

Jiang Nan's nose almost touched his cheek: "You...are you going to ignore me again?"

"No, no, no..." Xia Chi was forced to lean back, his lower back against the edge of the table.

Jiang Nan's slightly drooping peach blossom eyes were filled with a smile, and his slightly upturned lips seemed ready to drop a naughty kiss at any time.

His Adam's apple rolled honestly, and Xia Chi couldn't help but start to daydream again.

I will... I will...

【First this... then that... and then I'll eat you up completely! 】

Jiang Nan raised his eyebrows: "First this? Then that? That's a good idea."

The back of his head was held firmly by a large palm. Jiang Nan leaned over without warning, and his warm lips accurately captured Xia Chi's slightly open mouth, and he began the long journey of eating him up without restraint.

“Hmm—”

Xia Chi grabbed Jiang Nan's belt in panic, his mind in a mess.

[No, Jiang Nan...]

This is unscientific!!!

[Ugh, help—]