Mistaken Canary Chapter 47 (Part 2)
Chapter 47.2
After picking up the hairy crabs from Wimbledon Hotel, Zhuo Shu headed straight to Ying Tongchen's apartment, pacing back and forth outside the door.
Should he leave them anonymously as a surprise, or stay to deliver them in person?
"What are you doing?" Ying Tongchen stepped out of the elevator and saw Zhuo Shu standing at the door, holding three boxes of hairy crabs and muttering to himself.
Zhuo Shu immediately turned around, trying to act natural. "Oh, you're back. Hurry and open the door—this stuff is heavy."
Ying Tongchen opened the door, eyeing the boxes of crabs curiously. "What's this...?"
Zhuo Shu entered, placing the boxes on the table. "I brought them for you," he said. "Do you like them?"
Ying Tongchen neither confirmed nor denied, simply walked over and took a glance. He said nothing, but Zhuo Shu could sense his mood lifting.
"Unprompted kindness is never without cause." Ying Tongchen looked up and asked, "Go on, what do you want?"
"Can I stay over tonight?" Zhuo Shu asked immediately.
Ying Tongchen raised an eyebrow. "No, I have three evening self-study classes later, and I have morning self-study every day."
"Fine," Zhuo Shu sighed.
Ying Tongchen thought for a moment, then took a deep breath and said, "If we're not doing it, then you can stay overnight."
"Never mind. With your early mornings and late nights, I'd just be disturbing your rest," Zhuo Shu said, feeling a pang of guilt. "I'll come back on the weekend."
A flicker of frost passed through Ying Tongchen’s eyes. "Go ahead. I won’t be sending you off."
"You're kicking me out already?" Zhuo Shu said, surprised. "I can't even come on the weekend?"
"Out, out. I have to get to class," Ying Tongchen said, pushing him toward the door.
"Wait, wait. Let me ask—what else do you like?" Zhuo Shu kept turning back to ask. "Snacks? Cars? A house? Or do you prefer direct cash transfers? I’ll give you whatever you want."
Ying Tongchen pushed him to the door but suddenly stopped and turned back. "Wait here."
Just as Zhuo Shu was about to sneak back in, Ying Tongchen reappeared at the door and tossed the hairy crabs into his arms. "I don't know how to cook these. Take them back."
"Look at you, so spoiled. If you don't know how to cook, then learn. You're smart enough, aren't you?" Zhuo Shu muttered as he picked them up.
Ying Tongchen leaned against the closed door, rubbing his temples in frustration. Lately, it felt as if his emotions were getting harder to control.
He heard Zhuo Shu knocking on Auntie Lin's door next door, speaking politely and courteously, "Auntie Lin, my company had an event and gave out some crabs. I'm allergic, so I thought I'd give them to you."
Auntie Lin: "Oh, your company has such great benefits! I think your company is something special! Could you introduce my son to work there too?"
Zhuo Shu laughed heartily. "We're not hiring right now, but I'll let you know if a position opens up. Goodbye!"
"Okay, goodbye, young man!"
Ying Tongchen went to his study to grab his notebook before heading back to school. While waiting for the elevator, he couldn't help but glance back at Auntie Lin's door several times.
…
The next day at noon, just as he was about to head to the cafeteria with Zheng Zhinan and the others, Ying Tongchen suddenly got a call from Auntie Lin, saying she had something for him.
He hurried to the school gate. "What is it, auntie?"
Auntie Lin smiled and pulled him over to the flowerbed, handing him a lunchbox. "Here, your plumber's crabs."
With a puzzled look, Ying Tongchen lifted the lid and saw the crab prepared and ready to eat. “Wasn’t it meant for you?”
"Yes, he gave me a whole big box," Auntie Lin laughed. "The rest are for you. He said you didn't know how to cook them, so he asked me to help out. He even insisted on paying me, but how could I take his money? We're such good neighbors—it's no big deal to cook a few meals for free, especially since he gave me such a nice box of crabs, right?"
Ying Tongchen was slightly stunned. "Thank you for the trouble."
"What trouble? It's just an extra portion," Auntie Lin said with a smile. "But that plumber of yours is quite thoughtful. He even specifically asked me to make them the way you like."
Ying Tongchen looked down at the box of crabs.
Auntie Lin suddenly leaned in, uncharacteristically lowering her booming voice. "Xiao Ying, that plumber... he's not just a regular friend, is he?"
Ying Tongchen couldn't control his expression for a moment, looking at her in surprise, his eyes flustered. "N–No, it's nothing like that."
"Alright, I get it," Auntie Lin winked at him. "I've seen more films in my life than you've met people! Ah, nono—I've seen more meals than you've eaten people! Ugh! I've met more people than you've eaten meals!!"
Ying Tongchen: "......"
“I’ve grown used to seeing all sorts of things,” Auntie Lin remarked with an unnerving smile. "But such a well-dressed, refined plumber... that's a first for me. Or maybe this is one of those...costume play (cosplay) you youngsters are into?"
"It’s not," Ying Tongchen quickly denied.
"Alright, go on and get busy. Be careful, the food's getting cold," Auntie Lin said. "But let me ask one more thing—Xiao Ying, do you not like the plumber?"
"Why do you ask?"
"It's just that you always have such a cold face around him. I thought maybe you didn't like him. Anyway, I'll head back now." Auntie Lin chuckled and waved as she headed home.
Ying Tongchen carried the lunchbox to the cafeteria and reached up to touch his face. Was his expression truly so harsh?
For the sake of the crabs, he’ll try being a little kinder to Zhuo Shu next time.
…
After school on Friday, the students left the campus one after another. The homeroom teachers held a brief meeting, and by the time they walked out of the school, the sun had already sunk halfway below the horizon.
Ying Tongchen looked up at the sky and suddenly heard a few honks from a car.
He turned his head and saw a very familiar car parked not far away.
He walked over, reminding himself to stay gentle, stay gentle, stay gentle.
A moment later, Zhuo Shu got out of the car. To avoid being recognized, he was wearing sunglasses.
"What are you doing here?" Ying Tongchen asked.
"Bringing you a gift," Zhuo Shu said with a flourish.
After the crab incident, he had reflected deeply, reviewed his mistakes. Finally, he found the answer—the crabs might not have been fresh enough!
Scouring the internet for alternative strategies, he wracked his brain and finally came up with the perfect gift—one that not only aligned with Ying Tongchen’s current lifestyle but also posed no risk of expiring or being unsafe.
"Why are you giving me gifts again?"
"Because I feel like it."
He led Ying Tongchen to the trunk and opened it. Inside, surrounded by a bunch of balloons, were several boxes of health supplements.
"Here, this is black sesame and black bean powder. Staying up every night isn’t good for you. You need to take care of your health and prevent hair loss," Zhuo Shu said, handing him the boxes.
Ying Tongchen: "......"
Stay…gentle…
"You think this is all?" Zhuo Shu smiled. "Of course not. These are just to strengthen your body. But what I'm about to give you next is something you've been dreaming about."
"What is it?" Ying Tongchen barely maintained his last shred of courtesy.
Zhuo Shu snapped his fingers and gracefully picked up the gift box in the center. "It's got some weight to it."
Ying Tongchen stared at the bow on the box and gritted his teeth. "If there's a chibi doll inside, you're dead."
Zhuo Shu scoffed. "Why would I do something so girly?"
"Hmph, chibi Zhuo Shu is still eating air in the bathroom."
"You're so mean!"
Zhuo Shu held back his anger, reminding himself of step two: Be considerate. He couldn't lose his temper so easily. After silently chanting "laozi’s not angry" three times, he looked Ying Tongchen in the eye. "Fine, no more suspense. This is your spiritual nourishment."
The next moment, Ying Tongchen watched as he confidently opened the box, revealing a full set of NCEE Study Guide lying peacefully inside.
Zhuo Shu raised an eyebrow. "Well? Aren't you happy... huh? What's with that face? Isn't this your most beloved thing? You scum, so you’ve already changed your favorite..."
Ying Tongchen smiled, put down the health supplements, and cracked his knuckles. "Come here."
Zhuo Shu instinctively covered his ears.
.
.
.
Author's Note:
Ying Tongchen: Be civilized, stay gentle, stay gentle... Now watch as I demonstrate my Dog-Beating Stick technique!"
(TLN: No animals, other than Zhou Shu’s ears, were hurt in this chapter.)
—
TL Note: AUNTIE LIN WATCHED THOSE 'HELP IM STUCK MR PLUMBER HELP ME' VIDEOS AHAHAH