Shen Yuqing had no problem speaking his mind. Yawning as he worked on his test paper, he suddenly remembered something: “Did you sign up for the sports meet too?”
“Nobody wanted the 1500-meter race,” Song Wangzhuo stated plainly.
Asking other classmates would only make them pretend to be busy, so he might as well fill the spot himself it saved him the trouble of socializing.
He had mentioned it casually, but Shen Yuqing quickly grasped his meaning. Biting the cap of his pen, Shen Yuqing mumbled, “Hmm, that’s good too. Good for exercise.”
Song Wangzhuo glanced at him and, with rare humor, teased, “Why don’t you join too?”
Shen Yuqing hastily waved his hands. “No thanks, I’d rather solve a few more problems.”
Unless absolutely necessary, he preferred lazing around or watching the fun from the sidelines.
Only then did Song Wangzhuo lower his head and return to his book. Shen Yuqing stole a couple of glances at him before calling his name again.
“Song Wangzhuo.”
Without looking up, Song Wangzhuo responded coolly, “Speak.”
Shen Yuqing set down his pen, propping his head on his hand with his elbow resting on the desk. “Which planet did you come from?”
Song Wangzhuo didn’t answer immediately.
Shen Yuqing thought about it the system had only mentioned that Song Wangzhuo had wandered through many planets before arriving on Silino, but it never specified his exact origin.
The hardships of his journey were glossed over, yet they shrouded Song Wangzhuo in an air of mystery. Shen Yuqing was curious.
But when Song Wangzhuo remained silent, Shen Yuqing understood it must be a difficult question to answer.
Taking a deep breath, he was about to bury himself in his problems again when Song Wangzhuo finally spoke.
“Planet Designation 10923.”
Shen Yuqing instinctively echoed, “Designation 10923?”
Why did the planet’s name sound so strange?
As if sensing his confusion, Song Wangzhuo calmly explained, “It’s billions of light-years away from Silino. Too poor and insignificant the Interstellar Government never gave it a proper name.”
“I see.” Shen Yuqing pressed his lips together.
Judging by the designation, there must be countless such small, overlooked planets in the universe.
Shen Yuqing pressed further, “Then crossing the galaxy must have been full of hardships for you.”
He could easily imagine the struggles Song Wangzhuo must have endured along the way.
Was his current reserved, stoic personality shaped by those experiences?
“I’ve forgotten,” Song Wangzhuo said lightly. “And there’s nothing worth mentioning.”
The answer left a bitter taste in Shen Yuqing’s mouth.
How could he have forgotten? How could there be nothing worth mentioning?
His lips thinned, and he regretted asking such a question today.
Shen Yuqing quickly relented. “Oh, then never mind. I’ll get back to my problems.”
Outside, the rain grew heavier, the rustling between the branches louder. The downpour fiercely washed away the marks left by insects on the leaves, only to helplessly seep through the tattered holes.
Song Wangzhuo lifted his gaze to the window, where a bird had taken shelter from the rain on a branch. Its feathers were already soaked, its once-light wings now weighed down, unable to take flight.
He watched for a moment, about to look away, when another bird flew toward it.
The two chirped at each other, as if exchanging words, until the newcomer settled beside the first, both sheltering under the leaves together, weaving between the branches.
Song Wangzhuo withdrew his gaze and refocused on the book.
Quite interesting, he thought.
He had scheduled the tutoring session for the morning. Seeing that the time was almost up, he said, “Let’s stop here for today. You can go back now.”
Shen Yuqing tossed down his pen and slumped into the chair with a long sigh. Studying was truly exhausting.
Still, he didn’t forget to persuade Song Wangzhuo: “How about continuing this afternoon? I’ll pay you overtime.”
Song Wangzhuo declined again, giving the same reason as before.
Shen Yuqing found it strange: “Just how much debt do you have? Maybe I can help cover it first.”
As for where the debt came from, even the system couldn’t trace it when asked.
Song Wangzhuo still didn’t give a direct answer, merely repeating, “You’re welcome to rest here if you want.”
He was determined to go to his other part-time job.
Unable to persuade him and lacking a compelling reason to make him stay, Shen Yuqing gave up. He had also asked the system earlier about the severity of Song Wangzhuo’s injuries from the accident. The system said he had attended classes normally on Monday, so it was probably just minor scrapes.
After some thought, Shen Yuqing stopped insisting.
“Alright then,” he said. “But it’s going to rain today and tomorrow, so be careful.”
Song Wangzhuo looked at him deeply. “Thank you.”
Shen Yuqing’s eyes curved into a smile. “You’re so strange why thank me? I’m off now.”
Song Wangzhuo gave a quiet hum, watching as Shen Yuqing gathered his things, slung his bag over one shoulder, and left.
The door opened and closed.
A long while later, he murmured to himself, “No one ever told me to be careful before.”
It sounded like an answer to the question Shen Yuqing had left him with or perhaps a recollection of the past.
Shen Yuqing walked out of the neighborhood holding an umbrella, unexpectedly running into Song Lejin returning from outside.
Sitting in his car, Song Lejin said in surprise, “Yuqing, are you here to see me?”
Before he could finish, Shen Yuqing replied, “A friend of mine lives here too.”
Song Lejin smiled. “I see. Are you heading back now? Would you like to come over for dinner? The housekeeper made some delicious ribs today.”
Shen Yuqing shook his head. “No, thanks. Pei Yiyan is waiting for me at home.”
After Pei Yiyan was discharged from the hospital, their relationship had improved significantly. He had become much more amiable, occasionally even exchanging a few words with Shen Yuqing, unlike before when he would only give curt replies.
The smile in Song Lejin’s eyes didn’t reach their depths. “Should I give you a ride?”
Shen Yuqing waved his hand. “No need, it’s not far.”
Only then did Song Lejin relent. “Then get home safe. See you later.”
Shen Yuqing smiled back. “See you.”
He turned and walked toward his own neighborhood, aware that Song Lejin was still watching him.
Only after Shen Yuqing’s figure had completely disappeared did Song Lejin coldly roll up the car window. “Let’s go.”
The driver acknowledged and stepped on the gas, driving into the underground parking garage.
As soon as Shen Yuqing got home, Lucky glued himself to him.
Setting his things down, Shen Yuqing bent to pick up the cat, burying his face in its belly to inhale deeply and nuzzle against it.
His soul was ascending!
Xiao Zhao emerged from the kitchen and couldn’t help saying, “Young Master, perhaps you should—”
Though he had grown accustomed to seeing Shen Yuqing obsess over the cat, every time he witnessed it, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was seeing a new level of weirdness.
Shen Yuqing retorted, “What do you mean ‘or else’?”
Xiao Zhao fell silent.
Shen Yuqing snorted twice, then picked up Lucky and carried it back to the sofa, burying his face fiercely into its soft belly again. “Whose little kitty is this? So sweet and fragrant just waiting for me to smother you with love, aren’t you?”
Lucky: Existential despair.jpg
Pei Yiyan happened to walk out of the study just in time to witness this scene.
Shen Yuqing was hunched over, face pressed down, inhaling the cat with alarming intensity. He could even see a look of utter “violation” on the cat’s face.
So… this was how Shen Yuqing had been “sniffing” the cat last time.
Back then, he hadn’t gotten a clear look—just found it bizarre. Now, seeing it properly, it was undeniably perverted.
Wu Yi was also watching from behind. Having seen these multiple times, he was long past surprise. He glanced at his young master; whose face was full of disgust.
But Shen Yuqing didn’t notice. Right now, he was too busy obsessively inhaling his cat.
The world was too insane he could only fight madness with madness!
