Chapter 1213: Millennium Love Story 18

Fortunately the coughing was fake, and Chen Zhu didn't notice anything; Jin Chen waved his hand, saying he was fine, and while eating he chatted with Chen Zhu, trying to keep his focus.

During the conversation, Jin Chen thought it over several times and still decided to test whether Chen Zhu was willing to confide about his condition.

"Brother, I said before that you often zone out; sometimes when I talk to you I can't hear you."

Jin Chen spoke gently, observing Chen Zhu's expression as he talked, but there was no change in his demeanor, as if they were discussing something utterly ordinary.

"So what are you thinking about when you zone out, brother?"

Jin Chen had already finished his meal, but Chen Zhu pressed him to the edge of the table to drink soup, asking while he drank.

When Chen Zhu heard the first sentence, he lowered his eyes and stayed silent, seeming to find the question a bit awkward.

Thus he slowed his eating pace, only answering with a smile after he finished.

"I'm not sure either; perhaps I wasn't thinking of anything, and sometimes I'm not even aware of it."

It was a very vague answer, but after saying it he lifted his gaze to see Jin Chen's reaction, asking, "Would Xiao Chen find that strange?"

"No."

Jin Chen began clearing the bowls and chopsticks; as he rose, he moved close to Chen Zhu's face, their noses almost touching, saying, "As long as you don't overthink things, brother."

Likewise, his response was equally thought‑provoking.

The smile at Chen Zhu's lips grew deeper as Jin Chen turned his back and went to the kitchen.

He glanced under the sofa, his fingers curling.

Bao Bao's reaction… was calmer than imagined.

The tightly clenched corner of his clothing finally relaxed a little; this trial almost exhausted Chen Zhu's courage, but fortunately the outcome was good.

Jin Chen volunteered to wash the dishes, and by the time he came out of the kitchen, Chen Zhu was already leaning against the sofa taking a nap.

He wiped his hands, ignored the new comfortable rocking chair, and squeezed in beside Chen Zhu to sleep together; the sofa wasn't small, but lying two grown men made it feel cramped, so Jin Chen had to hold Chen Zhu tight to avoid falling off.

Yet he insisted on squeezing in to sleep.

Chen Zhu had grown accustomed to these past two days; he slipped his arms around Jin Chen's waist, feeling the chin of the person in his embrace press against his neck—such an intimate closeness made the corners of his eyes crinkle with a smile, and he caught Jin Chen's pleasant scent.

"Bao Bao…"

He murmured softly, gently patting Jin Chen's back, and the sense of fulfillment in his heart deepened.

Jin Chen held him tighter and closed his eyes to rest.

The standing fan was set to its highest speed, whirring squeakily, dispersing the summer's heat.

On the porch, waves of heat washed over, and a radio could be heard from some house; the outdoor street was baked to drowsiness, and the camphor‑tree leaves on both sides shimmered.

A summer afternoon ought to be as leisurely and prolonged as breathing.

——

Li Shao returned home carrying two cakes, but went straight to Zhao Weifang's house.

"Why are you so late today?"

Zhao Weifang emerged from the air‑conditioned room, still reeking of smoke, his messy hair covering what would otherwise be handsome brows and eyes.

Zhao Weifang glanced at Li Shao, puzzled, and asked, "Did you go to Chen Zhu's place?"

"Yeah, these days Yu Yu has been studying hard, so the cake is a reward for her."

Li Shao walked in barefoot, his slightly long curls resting on his shoulders, smiling brightly.

During this period, his attire and styling have increasingly leaned toward the romantic, artistic vibe that Zhao Weifang first associated with him—an style that clashes with the small town yet oddly harmonizes.

Zhao Weifang hastily looked away, coughed once, and said, "Um… should I buy two more for Yu Yu to eat?"

"This one is for you."

Li Shao shoved the box he was holding in his left hand into Zhao Weifang's hand, pushed his shoulder into the room, and they acted as if they were already very familiar.

Zhao Weifang felt a bit wary, afraid that eating it might upset his stomach again, but since it wasn't something he'd snatched, it probably wouldn't cause diarrhea.

Thinking so, he opened the box, saw that Li Shao hadn't taken any, and decisively split half of it for him.

Lately their relationship has grown ever closer, and under Li Shao's deliberate arrangements—whether by design or coincidence—Zhao Weifang has developed many feelings toward him that cannot be spoken of.

Zhao Weifang himself shows no reaction; he likes what he likes, and no one can say more about it—this person is simply special, unlike them, the city folk with their delicate skins, and it's unclear whether they could withstand his play.

Each harbors his own thoughts, yet they unconsciously maintain mutual silence.

"By the way, Chen Zhu isn't at the shop today; I haven't seen him these past few days."

This topic successfully piqued Zhao Weifang's interest; he lit another cigarette and asked, "What's going on? Don't you live next door to him?"

"I find it strange too; maybe I left too early…?"

Li Shao naturally guided the conversation and added, "By the way, that newly opened Western‑style pastry shop in town looks interesting—before there was only Chen Zhu's family, now there's competition, so they might also be pondering it."

"Do you know who opened that new shop?"

"Stealing business…"

Zhao Weifang suddenly became interested; when talking about wanting to sabotage Chen Zhu's shop, but remembering Jin Chen's desperate fighting style, he found it intimidating, and thus for a while there has been no activity in Chen Zhu's shop.

"How would I know, but it wouldn't hurt to take a look."

He immediately got up and shouted at the lackeys in the building next door, telling them to come out quickly and go somewhere.

It was naptime, and Zhao Weifang's shout woke many people, but upon hearing it was that of a thug, they could only fume in silence.

Not long after, Zhao Weifang's gang of friends gathered downstairs, their modified motorcycles buzzing; since they had no concept of not disturbing the peace, occasionally someone couldn't help shouting from a window, only to be cursed with insults to their whole family's ancestors.

Li Shao was also not seeing Zhao Weifang's friends for the first time; he greeted them politely, showing no nervousness, and the group rode their motorcycles to the new shop, originally intending to see how different the Western pastries were, but unexpectedly also ran into an acquaintance.

Yes, an acquaintance, after all this town isn't that big; the peers from the surrounding villages have mostly attended the same school, and Zhao Weifang has been a "notable figure" since childhood.

At the Western‑style pastry shop, everything is made novelties; a group entered and found themselves face‑to‑face with a frail young man inside.

"Damn."

The person behind Zhao Weifang swore, "Isn't that the diligent student Liuqing from back when we were in school?"

Liuqing averted his gaze, his indifferent eyes showing apathy, and said, "The shop isn't open today; if you want cake, come back in two days."

Huh? No, you said you went off to study at a good university! How come after a few years you're still back here messing around?

You don't get it, do you? They're just coming back to serve their hometown!

Their mockery is etched into their bones; anyone who hears it gets angry.

Liuqing remained silent, scanning the crowd, and said, 'What does it have to do with you?'

Hey kid, after not seeing you for years, you've gotten bolder...

That yellow-haired thug was about to rush over to give him a lesson, but Zhao Weifang stopped him, saying, 'Alright, let me talk to you.'

Zhao Weifang put his arm around Li Shao, still sizing up Liuqing's gaze without stopping.

Even after not seeing you for these years, I still want to look out for you, my old friend. You know there's already a cake shop in this town; if we talk about reputation, even if you opened another branch later, your shop would probably have no business.

Liuqing couldn't figure out what Zhao Weifang wanted to say, frowned and asked, 'So what?'

Zhao Weifang flicked away his cigarette butt and laughed carelessly.

It just so happens I don't like the current owner of that shop,

As long as you join me in ruining his business, I can make your shop the town's only cake shop, so you'll never lack customers.

Liuqing clenched his fist secretly, thinking that after all these years, these people still haven't changed their habit of bullying others.

Impossible.

He pushed open the shop door, saying, 'I'll pretend I never heard this; you guys leave now.'

Don't be shameless.

Zhao Weifang's face darkened, and nearly seven or eight people behind him gathered around, looking menacing.