Shen Nian Seems to Have Lost His Job

Shen Nian didn't say a word and obediently went out.

The longer he stayed in the room, the more he felt like jumping out of his skin. Thankfully, he was a positive young man with socialist core values, firmly committed to not spreading negativity.

So what if a normal physiological reaction was seen? It's no big deal. A real man can get over any hurdle. Some guys even get caught by their childhood friend while "taking off" in their room at night.

Haha.

Damn it, tears are streaming out.

The more Shen Nian thought about it, the more annoyed he became. He had woken up at 5:30 AM himself, so how dare Xia Yanchun get up so early?

Back when he used to secretly deliver breakfast to her house, she wouldn't even be awake by 6 AM.

Dammit, he'd been set up by that Haki Chun. What a terrifying, bad woman. He was scared to the point of tears.

Life had to go on. After finishing his grumbling, Shen Nian went to brush his teeth and wash up.

Xia Yanchun didn't go back to sleep. Just as Shen Nian had sliced two pieces of ginger, she quietly pulled open her door and tiptoed back to her room like a little mouse sneaking a snack.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. He'd go look for links to "drowsy red tea" later. Lately, Haki Chun had been getting more and more out of hand; she really needed to be reined in.

Xia Yanchun had only gone back to brush her teeth and wash her face. After changing clothes, she came back to Shen Nian's place early, sneaking into the kitchen with her hands behind her back to watch him cook brown sugar ginger water for her.

"What are you looking at? I'll punch you." Shen Nian gave her a little push, and the soft, delicate Xia Yanchun stumbled.

"Can't I even look? What's there to hide?" Xia Yanchun said in a singsong voice. Then, seemingly thinking of something else, her little mouth opened and closed. Meeting Shen Nian's gaze, she fell silent.

"What the hell are you thinking about, you jerk?"

"Nothing. I've said all I needed to say," Xia Yanchun hummed.

Shen Nian didn't believe her one bit. If it was possible he was just being overly sensitive before, now he was sure Xia Yanchun was absolutely not innocent.

The annoying part was he couldn't even call her out on it; she had already firmly pinned the blame on him for waking her up.

See? She shifted the blame again. She's always been so good at that, that bad woman Haki Chun.

"I'll put aphrodisiac in it, for real," Shen Nian threatened her.

"Go ahead."

Shen Nian coughed, working up a mouthful of saliva.

"You're disgusting! How gross!" Xia Yanchun looked at him with utter disdain. If he really spat in it, she wouldn't drink a single sip of that pot of ginger water.

It was a physical revulsion. She could share a straw with Shen Nian, eat the same popsicle, but if he spat like that, she'd still find it utterly repulsive.

"The more disgusted you are, the more it proves I did the right thing."

"..." Xia Yanchun gave him a dead-fish stare. Thank goodness she didn't have any unwashed socks handy, or she really might have been tempted to stuff them in his mouth.

May Shen Nian step in dog poop when he goes out.

As for the spitting, Shen Nian was just putting on an act, out of respect for the food he was cooking.

He actually preferred the old way—spitting on Xia Yanchun.

During fights, that stuff was a magic attack. Even though spitting would trigger Xia Yanchun's phase-two berserk rage mode, just managing to disgust her meant he'd already won.

After all, he couldn't beat her in a straight fight.

"Ah, the good old days," Shen Nian sighed as he found her water cup, washed it clean, and poured the steaming hot brown sugar ginger water into it.

"What are you on about?" Xia Yanchun was confused.

"Missing the feeling from back when we were sworn enemies the moment we opened our mouths. That pure combat atmosphere. Missing the sensation of your foot on my face, my fist against your body," Shen Nian said wistfully. "My fist can hit your body. Can your foot, after being washed clean and dried, maybe wearing white stockings, step on my face?"

"..."

After listening, Xia Yanchun decided she would become a scientist in the future, invent a time machine, go back in time, and beat young Shen Nian to death.

Because she couldn't beat the current him anymore—she might get countered, and triggering a defeat CG wouldn't be good.

She couldn't be bothered to retort. Xia Yanchun just stared blankly at Shen Nian until he felt goosebumps all over and gave an awkward laugh.

"Just kidding, just kidding! Here, take your drink. It's still pretty early. Wanna go downstairs for some fresh air?"

"Who wants to catch a breeze with you in the middle of winter? Are you stupid?"

"You beat me stupid."

"Hmph, you deserved every beating back then."

"Fine, fine. And now you don't get to hear me call you 'big sister,' you deserve that too."

Xia Yanchun puffed up her cheeks. "As if I care."

"Then I won't call you that anymore."

"Then you won't get any kisses either."

"Geez, you're no fun. Can't even take a joke."

"Hmph, I thought you were so tough."

"Hehe."

Shen Nian had no intention of letting go of Miss "Grass by the Moat." He'd serve this grass by the moat until she was nice and comfortable, then gobble her up.

They stayed in the room until 6:10 AM. Then Xia Yanchun, clutching her water cup, went bumbling back to her own place. She put on her small backpack, and when she came out, she had a hot water bottle hanging from her neck, her two little hands tucked warmly inside.

"When did you buy this?" Shen Nian asked curiously, giving it a pinch. It was quite warm.

"A while ago. Here, hold it for me first." Huffing and puffing, Xia Yanchun shoved the hot water bottle at Shen Nian and rummaged through her small backpack, pulling out two furry ear muffs.

These kinds of ear muffs had basically no soundproofing, but they had warm fluff on the edges for insulation. Wearing them meant not having to worry about your ears hurting from strong winds.

"Ear muffs too? You're well-equipped."

"You told me to buy them. I got one for you too."

"Did I say that?" Shen Nian rubbed his chin.

"Yes! It wasn't that long ago, how can you not remember? You really don't care at all. And you said you wanted to be the best with me in the whole world. Take your 'best in the world' and go eat a big portion of something."

"I really don't remember. I only remember you getting cow dung in your mouth when you set off that firecracker."

"And I only remember you being a 'pilot' in the middle of the night."

"?"

Zero-frame startup. A blatantly overpowered character—why hasn't she been nerfed?

Shen Nian was almost becoming desensitized to it.

Had Haki Chun already reached the point where she could mention this so casually? His life was over.

Xia Yanchun pursed her lips, then let out a puff of laughter. "Haha, alright, alright! Hurry up and try them on!"

Xia Yanchun offered a way out, and Shen Nian naturally took it. He lowered his head slightly so Xia Yanchun could help him put on the ear muffs.

The ear muffs were quite warm. Even his ears didn't feel uncomfortable. In this 8-9 degree Celsius (46-48°F) weather, he wouldn't have to worry about the cold wind making his ears ache.

Xia Yanchun put on her own ear muffs, then took the hot water bottle back. This type had a strap so it could be hung around the neck. It wasn't heavy, and Xia Yanchun liked wearing it that way.

It just looked a bit like having your arm in a sling after an injury.

"How much did these cost?" Shen Nian touched the ear muffs.

"About thirty bucks. Remember to pay me back."

"Cheapskate."

"Nyeh."

...

Once outside, a gust of wind hit them in the face, swirling dust from the roadside before finally settling.

"It's pretty cold today."

"Mhm, good thing I have my hot water bottle," Xia Yanchun said, lifting it a little as if showing off.

Shen Nian smiled faintly. He initially wanted to brush her hair aside like he used to, but she was wearing ear muffs, and her hair was tucked under them. Then he thought about slipping the girl's little hand into his pocket, but she had her hands tucked inside the hot water bottle...

Shen Nian seemed to be out of a job.

Xia Yanchun hummed a cheerful little tune, nudged against Shen Nian, and curved her eyes at him in a smile.

Shen Nian wasn't even trying to act. He didn't know how to hide his thoughts at all.

She hummed softly, a fair little hand emerging from the hot water bottle and slipping into her own pocket.

"What would you like to eat later? My treat."

"Some porridge would be nice."

"Alright, alright."

Her hand was then steered by Shen Nian into his own coat pocket, a seamless transition.

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