Chapter 139: An City is sweltering

When we came during the day, I thought this villa was quite beautiful; I didn't expect that at night, all the lights would turn on, and from outside it looked like a glowing jewel box fallen in a silent forest, ever more pleasing to the eye.

The night breeze was gentle and slow.

In the front yard, a spacious tent was set up, a fire burned, dispelling the chill brought by the night breeze; on the barbecue rack beside it, loaded with fruitwood charcoal, various skewers, aided by oil and seasoning, gave off a mouth‑watering aroma.

Shu Lingchen and Pei Muyin sat beside, holding empty plates, watching Shu Shu with expectant expressions, faces full of anticipation for being fed.

"This one's done."

Shu Shu, wearing gloves, took off two pieces of pork belly, and with the other hand used scissors to cut the meat into small pieces, placing them sequentially into her son's and daughter's plates.

"Dig in."

Then Shu Lingchen and Pei Muyin each speared a piece of meat, simultaneously bringing it to Shu Shu's lips, and in unison said:

"You eat first."

"Older sister first."

They immediately glanced at each other in surprise.

Shu Shu laughed, leaned over, and ate both bites of meat.

…

Probably seeing his mother's effortless skewer‑grilling made it look simple, and Shu Lingchen was eager to try.

"I want to give it a try."

Shu Shu then gave him gloves and tongs.

After grilling a few skewers alongside Shu Shu, Shu Lingchen felt he could handle it, and told his mother and sister: "You all sit down and rest; leave it to me—I'll do the grilling, and you just need to eat."

Shu Shu raised an eyebrow, looked at her son, did not dampen his enthusiastic interest, and cheerfully made space at the grill.

Shu Lingchen rolled up his sleeves briskly, stepped forward, looking ready to go all out.

Six minutes after leaving his mother:

"Why is all the meat stuck to the rack?"

"Is this rice cake naturally black? It was white before the fire, and turns black as soon as it hits the flame."

"Damn, what's burning inside?!"

The boy jumped up and down like a monkey in a zoo, startled by the sudden flare from the grill; just as he panicked, Pei Muyin quickly pulled Shu Lingchen aside, and Shu Shu calmly poured water into the grill, extinguishing the fire instantly.

Shu Lingchen glanced at the ruined grill, scratched his head apologetically: "I messed up."

"It's nothing." Shu Shu said: "Nobody can expect to succeed perfectly the first time doing something completely unfamiliar; when I first grilled, I almost set the yard on fire."

"Huh?"

"Mom just grilled so skillfully; I can hardly imagine her setting the yard on fire."

"Want to learn? It's not easy, but a few more tries and you'll get it."

Shu Shu put on her gloves again and gave Shu Lingchen hands‑on instruction; only then did he realize that grilling skewers isn't easy either, with many details—such as how done the charcoal should be before loading the skewers, when to brush oil, when to sprinkle salt and cumin chili, and the differences between grilling meat and vegetables.

Finally, Shu Lingchen gradually got the hang of it, and managed to independently grill a plate of respectable skewers; under his nervous yet expectant gaze, Shu Shu and Pei Muyin picked them up to taste.

"How is it? Can it be eaten?"

"You've graduated." Shu Shu gave a thumbs‑up: "You've truly inherited my skill."

"Super delicious."

Pei Muyin heartily agreed, then she lifted her head, clearly saw the boy's face in the lamp light, froze for a moment, and was about to raise a hand to warn:

"Bro, your face——"

She hadn't finished speaking.

Shu Shu smoothly took over: "Oh, our little turkey baby has grilled such tasty skewers—such a memorable moment—shouldn't we take a commemorative photo?"

Shu Lingchen thought his mother was right and immediately said: "Snap snap snap."

Pei Muyin looked at Shu Shu bewildered; Shu Shu gave her a playful blink, she instantly understood, and the two exchanged a smile.

Thus.

Shu Shu pulled out her phone, opened the camera function; Shu Lingchen saw his mother's phone facing away from them and immediately wondered aloud: "Huh, isn't this a selfie?"

In his understanding, selfies are normally taken with the front camera.

Shu Shu kept a straight face explaining: "Actually, the rear camera makes the face look smaller."

"Oh, I see."

Shu Lingchen had no suspicion.

"Ready? Come—eggplant!"

Everyone's face broke into a genuine smile; only the sound of a click was heard, and the frame froze.

"Remember to send me a copy."

"OK."

Having just enjoyed the fun of grilling, Shu Lingchen had no mind to play with his phone; after the group photo he ran back to the grill to keep at it.

He grilled with full concentration, even humming an unknown tune, and didn't notice his mother and sister gathering behind him at the phone, unaware of what they were seeing on it, and they couldn't help but chuckle.

At that moment, it was 8 a. m. abroad.

Pei Du saw his daughter's newly posted Moments update from one minute ago.

The caption read:

【Barbecue log,?????????】

There was also an accompanying picture.

It was a group photo, with three people in it.

The background was the outdoors at night.

Shu Shu was in front, she had tied a loose bun, a few strands of hair escaping from her temples, looking relaxed and casual, she slightly lifted her fair chin, her beautiful peach‑blossom eyes shining with a bright smile, her peripheral glance flicked toward Shu Lingchen and Pei Muyin behind her.

Now Pei Muyin, facing the camera, no longer had that initial uneasy fidgeting; she stood there obediently, her eyes sparkling as she made a cheerful 'yeah' gesture.

And Shu Lingchen—

Pei Du's gaze lingered on his son, his eyes pausing for two seconds.

All that could be seen was the teenager holding a plate; the plate contained nicely colored skewers, which was roughly his accomplishment, and thus his whole face was filled with satisfaction and pride.

It was, a face black as pitch.

Probably smoked by the charcoal, making only his bright, spirited eyes and his grin visible.

His teeth were still quite white and neat.

Pei Du silently evaluated.

He speculated about the origin of this photo.

The proposer must have been Yinyin; Yinyin and the daughter were in the know, while the son was unaware—otherwise he wouldn't have laughed so openly.

Pei Du looked at the photo for a while, then long‑pressed and saved it.

Only after the barbecue ended did Shu Lingchen discover his own 'black photo'.

Black, literally.

Shu Lingchen originally wanted Pei Muyin to delete the post, but then he thought, this was the first group photo of the three of them, extraordinarily meaningful—anyway, it's already posted.

Fortunately, his younger sister has only a few WeChat friends.

He, Mom, and... whatshisface.

That someone must be busy—surely so busy that he normally wouldn't have time to check Moments.

Shu Lingchen only begged Mom and his sister not to spread it outside; otherwise his domineering image would be ruined.

…

The three exchanged goodnights and returned to their rooms.

After Shu Lingchen finished his bath and lay down clean and refreshed, he opened the chat window labeled 'Xiao Gui' in his conversation list.

Since Xiao Gui said he had something to do, they haven't played games together since.

"Xiao Gui."

"Have you finished your summer homework?"

"I've recently come out to escape the heat; you might find it a coincidence, but the place I've arrived at resembles the life you described—you can even rinse in the spring water, have an outdoor barbecue, and the morning and evening breezes are a bit chilly."

Shu Lingchen, comfortably wrapped in a goose‑down duvet, after sending the message prepared to switch apps, thinking that at this time Xiao Gui was likely asleep.

The next second.

"Are you having fun playing?"

——Quoting the third message.

Shu Lingchen replied in surprise:

"You're not asleep yet?"

"I'm happy, of course I'm happy—I even regret not coming here earlier."

After a moment, a new bubble popped up on the other side of the chat.

"As long as you're happy."

Shu Lingchen asked again: "When can you finish your summer homework?"

He suggested: "Want me to teach you a trick? Just eat, sleep, and do homework—don't do anything else—and I guarantee you'll finish all your homework within a week, so you can then enjoy your vacation to the fullest. How about it?"

"Hmm, that's indeed a good idea."

The other side again quoted the second‑to‑last message, replying: "About five days, and it'll be done."

Shu Lingchen: "OK, then I'll keep taking you to play games later—I promised I'd bring you to the highest level this summer."

Moments later.

"Good."

Thus Shu Shu and the two kids' summer‑escape life began like this.

Here, far from the bustling city center, there is less clamor and more tranquility; unconsciously, time seems to have slowed down.

Last night the three of them went to sleep very late.

Morning.

The son and daughter were still sound asleep; after Shu Shu finished washing up, she tiptoed out to the courtyard.

These past few days the weather has been fine; Shu Lingchen almost every afternoon goes to play in the rear spring pool, and he has caught a dozen or so finger‑sized little fish to keep, raising them in a shallow pool in the courtyard that is connected to flowing water.

Shu Shu dug up some fish bait and put it in the pool; the bait dispersed with the water, and the little fish immediately swam over in waves, wagging their tails and scrambling to open their mouths for food.

Among them was a carp that, relying on its different color, was especially fierce; each time it would bump or bite the other fish away and then enjoy the feast alone.

"So domineering, no wonder Xiao Chen put you in confinement."

"Confinement" means Shu Lingchen, disliking the carp's bad behavior, put it alone in a glass jar at the edge of the pool, separated by a layer of glass, "watching" the other fish eat.

Shu Shu used a long, thin scoop to heap a spoonful of bait, placed it in front of the carp, blocking its mouth; while it was busy eating, it had no time to fight.

At this time it was seven in the morning.

In the mountain forest, the white mist had not yet cleared; far off it looked like a painting‑like fairyland, and from time to time the clear, pleasant calls of unnamed birds could be heard.

"Eat slowly."

"Have you heard? Fish have many ways to die—steamed, braised, boiled, and so on; there's also one where they burst from overeating."

Shu Shu listened to the birdsong, squatted on the ground, feeding the fish while chatting with them.

Really, it's boring enough.

Talking to the fish.

After saying that, Shu Shu herself couldn't help but laugh.

Suddenly.

The smile at the corner of her mouth froze, as if she sensed something, and she turned her head to look.

She saw——

On the small steps built of round stones, a slender‑built man had appeared behind her at some point.

He was dressed as if he had just come from a formal occasion.

Shirt, trousers, leather shoes, a matching‑colored suit jacket draped over the bend of his right arm that exuded strength, his features cold‑white and sharp, his pitch‑black eyes gazing at Shu Shu as if still tinged with the cool morning mist.

The air fell silent for a few seconds due to surprise.

Shu Shu reacted: "…You, when did you come?"

Pei Du: "At the time when 'No wonder Xiao Chen wanted to put you in confinement.'"

……

So that's why he made no sound when walking.

Pei Du stepped up the last two steps, stopped beside Shu Shu, also half‑crouched beside the shallow pool, his eyes fixed on the yellow carp in the pool, his voice low and light: "Is it that one?"

The overbearing fish — is it that one?

…Yeah.

Pei Du gave a slight nod: "Mm, indeed it's a bit fatter than the other fish."

Shu Shu: "……"

Everything just said was heard.

So, why did we naturally start talking about fish?

Shu Shu couldn't help but tilt her head; from her angle she could see the man's lowered lashes, which looked increasingly distinct, and his high nose bridge.

His gaze was bland, as if he were simply curious which fish was so domineering, having come over especially to take a look.

Noticing Shu Shu's gaze, after a few seconds Pei Du turned his head, his deep dark pupils meeting hers exactly, his thin lips parting: "How's Yinyin been these past few days?"

This is the umpteenth time.

Whenever Pei Du goes out on a trip lasting more than five days, upon returning and seeing Shu Shu he always asks her this question.

She says: "Good."

Pei Du: "Is it hot here?"

"Not hot."

It's really cool here; even at the hottest time of day, no air‑conditioner or fan is needed.

Just as Shu Shu found it odd that Pei Du would ask such a question, she heard him say casually: "An Shi is hot."

……

Oh, now Shu Shu understands.

The reason the three of them came here — their food, their supplies, their lodging — was all arranged by Pei Du himself.

But this man still puts on the act of 'begging for shelter.'

His face shows no emotion, yet for some reason it makes one feel that if she pretends not to understand and tacitly refuses, he will look pitiful and homeless.

What Shu Shu can't forget is Pei Du's act of feigning pity; she opened her mouth, and what came out was: "There's an empty room upstairs."

"Good."

Pei Du looked at Shu Shu, tugged at the corner of his mouth, and that pitiful aura vanished completely.

"It's my first time here; I'm not familiar, so I'll have to trouble Yinyin to show me around."

Shu Shu: "……"

Why, I feel like I've been tricked.

…

When she pushed open the door, Shu Shu couldn't figure it out.

Pei Du's act of feigning pity is indeed top‑notch.

But, wasn't it like that before?

Hasn't he lost his memory?

How does it feel that he still knows exactly how well this trick works on her?

Puzzled.

…

Pei Du changed into slippers, followed Shu Shu upstairs, and from her unintentionally light footsteps and speaking voice he guessed the two children were still asleep.

"This room, and that one, are empty."

Shu Shu told Pei Du which rooms were empty, but she didn't tell him which one she herself was staying in.

After a moment's thought, Pei Du chose the room next to Shu Shu and her daughter.

…

Pei Du's luggage hasn't arrived yet, so there's nothing to tidy up.

"Has Yinyin had breakfast?"

Obviously not; the two kids haven't gotten up yet.

It's a question asked despite knowing the answer.

Before Shu Shu could answer, Pei Du had already entered the kitchen, tying on an apron, and asked: "Would a sandwich be okay?"