Chapter 33's deeper meaning: I don't want your money, I want you.
With so many ingredients, the workload was enormous. By the time everyone had finished, it was almost dark.
Xing Ze carried the grill down from upstairs, and together with the small barbecue grill he bought from the street, it was barely enough for so many people.
Zhang Xin moved a box of charcoal from the corner of the wall, then stood next to the barbecue grill and opened his phone's browser to look up how to light charcoal. After a while, somewhat bewildered, he put his phone down.
Why do all the guides say you need solid alcohol blocks, kindling wax, or quick-burning charcoal, or a flamethrower...? Why isn't there a more user-friendly method?
He held a small lighter in his hand, staring blankly at a lonely box of charcoal.
Shaoyue placed the ingredients she was holding on the table under the tent. Seeing him standing there in a daze, she leaned closer and asked, "What's wrong?"
“No…” Zhang Xin scratched his head, “I might have to go over there and pick up some dry branches and leaves from the path. That should make it easier to ignite.”
“Okay,” Shaoyue said, “then I’ll go with you? We can pick more.”
Just as Zhang Xingang nodded, a voice came: "Shall I go with you?"
When Shaoyue turned around and saw that it was Xing En, she quickly waved her hand and said, "Sister, don't bother, we'll go."
"It's nothing, I'm just taking a look around."
The three walked along the path. There were many weeds on both sides of the road, with trees scattered among them. To pick up leaves and branches, they had to push through the weeds and go inside.
Zhang Xin said, "You guys wait here for me, I'll go pick it up."
Shaoyue was also a little worried that there might be small insects or something in the grass, so she readily agreed: "Then I'll take more when I move them later."
The two stood there for a while, and then Shaoyue suddenly spoke up: "Sister, you're amazing."
Xing En smiled at her: "What's wrong?"
"You've been wearing such high heels and standing for so long, and you don't even feel tired."
Pointed high heels are not easy to walk on on the cobblestone road, but when Xing En came with them, she walked as if on flat ground with steady steps. Even her current standing posture is very relaxed, and there is no sign of anything unusual.
"No one is not tired." Xing En tossed her hair and smiled. "It was my first time wearing high heels, and my legs ached all night."
"Ah," Shaoyue said, somewhat surprised, "So you've gotten used to it now?"
"No, it does hurt." She crossed her arms and spoke casually. "In the first few years when I first started wearing them, I would stand all day long when I was busy, but I didn't have time to complain. I just managed to keep it from showing on my face. Later, I got used to wearing them and kept wearing them. Sometimes I would feel uncomfortable when I switched back to flat shoes."
"You look like a successful career woman. Do you often have to meet with clients?"
Xing En laughed: "That was true before, but now they're the ones who come to see me."
These words were spoken with such domineering confidence that stars immediately lit up Shaoyue's eyes.
"Sister, you're so cool! But... it must have been tough for you all this time, right?"
“No matter how difficult it was, it’s easy now. I’ve almost forgotten all the hardships I suffered before,” Xing En said casually. “Now I have the leisure to worry about my younger brother’s important life events.”
Shaoyue asked cautiously, "Sister, you know?"
“How could I not know?” Xing En scoffed. “Even if Xing Ze didn’t say anything, judging by the way he looks at people with his eyes practically popping out of their sockets, anyone who’s not blind could tell, right?”
Shaoyue bit her lip, a little nervous for Mu Tingyu: "Then, what do you think...?"
"Stop, stop," Xing En waved his hand, "Why are you getting up again? You're making me feel old. I didn't say I disagreed, what are you worried about?"
Shaoyue felt incredibly conflicted when she thought about Mu Tingyu's family situation.
"Who Xingze likes is his own business. I was just curious to take a look. Besides, Xiaoyu is very cute, and I like her very much too."
No, it might not be that simple...
If it's just about dating, then there's really no problem.
But if the two of them start discussing marriage, will the older sister still accept Tingbao? Tingbao's family situation is indeed a bit complicated...
She recalled how she had previously looked down on Xing Ze for being an unemployed, penniless rural vagrant, but now it seemed he was quite the rich kid!
Shaoyue cried out silently in her heart, but couldn't utter a word she had so much to say.
Zhang Xin returned quickly, having only picked up a few leaves and twigs. He muttered to Shao Yue, "There weren't many leaves on the ground, so I just picked a few from the tree. Oh my god, I feel so guilty. I kept apologizing as I picked them..."
Shaoyue couldn't help but laugh.
Xing En suddenly asked, "Are you students?"
Zhang Xin was taken aback: "Ah, yes, a graduate student."
“No wonder.” Xing En smiled knowingly.
Zhang Xin's face flushed red instantly: "W-what's wrong...?"
"It's nothing," she said lightly, her gaze sweeping over Zhang Xin's fair face before waving her hand and passing by him.
"So cute."
The three returned to the entrance, where the low table under the tent was almost completely filled with things.
Seeing that Xing Ze seemed to have already started burning charcoal, Zhang Xin quickly offered him a few scattered twigs and leaves, scratching his head somewhat embarrassedly: "Brother Xing, I forgot to buy those alcohol blocks and stuff, so I thought I'd pick up some leaves to burn, but I didn't find many."
To everyone's surprise, Xing Ze glanced at them and said, "These are unusable."
"Huh? Why?"
"The humidity is too high and the calorific value is low, so it's impossible to burn charcoal."
"Then," Zhang Xin asked, his eyes gleaming, "should I drive over to buy some now?"
"Need not."
Xing Ze grabbed a pack of napkins from the low table, then rummaged through the bag and pulled out a bottle of vegetable oil.
He found some bricks and used them to create a makeshift burning area on the ground. Then he took a few tissues, crumpled them into a soft ball, and placed them in the center. Next, he poured vegetable oil onto the tissues, letting the oil fully soak the paper ball, and then covered it with a few more dry tissues. Finally, he arranged the charcoal into a house-like structure, stuffed some broken charcoal around it, lit a tissue, and threw it inside.
Flames immediately burst out from the middle, licking the top layer of charcoal. The fire was intense and seemed to burn for more than ten minutes.
Several girls stood by watching Xing Ze start the fire. Huang Jing clicked her tongue in admiration: "Men who can do chores are so handsome. Oh, of course, Brother Xin, I didn't mean you weren't handsome."
Zhang Xin shook his head seriously: "It's okay, I think it's very handsome too."
Huang Jing chuckled, her eyes darting around as she leaned closer to Mu Tingyu and asked, "Tingbao, isn't he handsome?"
Mu Tingyu nodded firmly and answered loudly, "Handsome!"
Xing Ze didn't even lift his eyes, as if he hadn't heard.
He squatted in front of the pile of bricks, observing the fire. His broad back was straight, and his arms were naturally resting on his knees, with the strong muscle lines on his forearms clearly visible.
The light from the flames illuminated his face, making his features appear incredibly deep.
Mu Tingyu carefully admired his perfect physique with her eyes and swallowed hard.
It's been a long time since I've drawn anything, I want to draw...
When should we have him as a model, the nude kind...?
She chuckled to herself and indulged in a few wild fantasies.
Then, as if remembering something, she tugged at Huang Jing's sleeve.
"Hmm? What's wrong, Tingbao?"
She said in a serious tone, "Sister Xiaojing, didn't you ask me to ask Xingze if he has a girlfriend? I asked, and he doesn't."
Huang Jing stared at her for two seconds, then suddenly burst into laughter and fell into the crook of her neck.
"Hahahaha....You're so cute..."
"Huh?" Mu Tingyu was somewhat bewildered as she was embraced, not understanding what she was laughing at.
Cao Yaxi overheard their conversation and couldn't help but chuckle, saying, "It's alright, listen to Bao, he'll have it soon."
"Is that so?" Mu Tingyu replied dryly.
Why do I always feel like the way they look at me is a little strange? If I had to put it into words, maybe it's a bit... affectionate?
“Yes,” Huang Jing finally finished laughing and looked up. “Tingbao, don’t worry. In my opinion, he will have a girlfriend soon.”
-
Mu Tingyu was surprised to find that Xing Zelian was also such a good barbecue chef.
She stood beside the grill, tears streaming down her face, gnawing on a skewer of golden, crispy chicken wings. The sweet and savory sauce brushed on them formed a translucent, caramelized crust. The skin was firm and scored, while the meat inside was juicy, tender, and delicious.
She quickly finished the skewer in her hand, then squatted down next to Xing Ze, waiting eagerly for her to be fed, her tone very firm: "Xing Ze, when I become successful in the future, I will definitely hire you as my chef."
Xing Ze shoved a skewer of grilled prawns into her hand: "Even food can't shut you up."
Upon seeing that it was her favorite shrimp, Mu Tingyu immediately forgot to reply and lowered her head to gnaw on it.
"Slow down, it's very hot right out of the oven," Xing Ze said helplessly.
He glanced at her briefly, then reached for a tissue and wiped the brown sauce off her face.
Her face was flushed from the heat, and he reminded her, "Don't stand so close, the charcoal is very hot."
Mu Tingyu nodded, but did not move.
After a while, Xing Ze said, seemingly casually, "We don't need to wait for you to become successful."
Mu Tingyu looked delighted: "Are you going to cook for me for free?"
"..." Xing Ze narrowed his eyes, looked into her bright eyes, and chuckled, "Of course not. I don't do business that loses money."
"Then what did you say about not waiting for me to become successful? I'm penniless right now, you're not allowed to take advantage of this to extort money from me."
"Who said I wanted your money?" he said with a knowing smile. "I want something else."
-
Because Xing Ze's cooking skills were universally acknowledged, everyone insisted that he use a whole grill by himself, while the rest of them gathered around the grill and cooked on their own.
However, things didn't go so smoothly on their end; you could hear them bickering from time to time.
"Wang Jiale, do you even know how to bake?! The other side is burnt and you weren't even watching!"
"You're the one who's going to put on the sauce without even brushing it on with oil?"
"Oh my god, the fire is coming up! Help!"
"Don't rush, don't rush, just a drop of cooking wine will do! Hey, why are you running away!"
It was the first time any of them had ever grilled a food themselves, and they couldn't control the heat properly. They accidentally ruined the food. In order not to waste food, they ended up handing the grill over to Zhang Xin, who was a bit more reliable in cooking.
Xing En leaned back on the camping chair with his legs crossed, swirling a glass of osmanthus wine that Mu Tingyu had enthusiastically recommended.
Recalling Xing Ze's displeased expression at the time, she couldn't help but laugh and took a sip of her drink.
"Um, sister." A voice rang out.
She put down her wine glass, saw the person who had come in, and raised an eyebrow.
Zhang Xin looked a little nervous, holding a porcelain plate in one hand with a wide variety of barbecue skewers, both meat and vegetables: "I didn't know what you liked to eat, so I just took a little of everything."
Xing En lazily propped her head up, her red lips curving into a smile: "Thank you."
Zhang Xin bent down to place the porcelain plate on the table, but as he was about to stand up, the collar of his T-shirt was suddenly caught.
Xing En leaned closer to him, her eyes gleaming seductively, and asked in a flirtatious tone, "Little brother, have you ever been in a relationship?"
Zhang Xin remained stiffly bent over, her face flushing red again. She stammered, "N-no, we haven't talked about it."
"I see." Xing En reached out and hooked his chin. "Why do you blush whenever you talk to me?"
"No, no."
Seeing this, Xing En released him with some boredom.
She's cute, and quite to my liking, but unfortunately, she's too shy, which makes her rather uninteresting.
She leaned back in her chair and said casually, "I see you've been busy all day and haven't eaten yet. Don't just stand there in front of me, go and eat."
After speaking, Zhang Xin remained standing in the same spot, raising an eyebrow: "What?"
His other hand reached out from behind him, holding a pair of disposable slippers.
"If your legs hurt, do you want to change your slippers? I saw you... rubbing your legs just now."
Xing En raised his eyebrows unexpectedly.
After a moment, she curled her red lips into a smile and rubbed the tip of her high heel against his sweatpants.
"Okay, thank you."
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Author's Note: Confession countdown begins~
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