Zhai Yao had just finished his shower when he pushed the bathroom door ajar, only to be nearly startled by the sudden presence of Shen Ziyao.
Shen Ziyao stood with his hands firmly planted on his hips, fixing a fierce glare on Zhai Yao, blocking his path, as if he were about to skin the latter alive and use his skin to make a mattress mat.
“So, I heard you’re thinking of moving out?” Shen Ziyao squinted, staring intently at Zhai Yao.
Upon hearing, Zhai Yao instinctively turned to the living room to find Shen Heng.
Nope, couldn’t find him there.
At that precise instant, there came a faint “click” as the door to Shen Heng’s room quietly closed.
Zhai Yao: “……”
Noticing how Zhai Yao still didn’t give him an answer, Shen Ziyao began rolling up his sleeves, intending to give him a beating.
“You little rascal, is our home not good enough for you or what?! …I’m warning you, don’t even think about leaving your old man behind alone!” Shen Ziyao huffed. “I should never have let you go to that summer camp in the first place. It’s turned you into such a rebellious child! No, I’m calling your teacher tomorrow to demand that you be back home!”
Zhai Yao understood that Shen Ziyao was probably experiencing memory lapses again, which was why the latter automatically rationalized his previous absence from home as attending the summer camp.
Glancing towards Shen Heng’s room, Zhai Yao could tell without a doubt that the person inside must have disclosed his plans to rent an apartment to Shen Ziyao.
“Hey! I’m talking to you, are you even listening!” Shen Ziyao reached out and seized Zhai Yao’s ear, twisting it forcefully.
Zhai Yao winced in response and instinctively wanted to resist, but seeing how it was Shen Ziyao, he couldn’t bring himself to retaliate. In the end, Zhai Yao could only let the old man have his way as he tilted his head and furrowed his brows, saying, “You let go of your hand first!”
“I’ll let go only if you promise to return and continue living at home obediently!” Shen Ziyao showed no signs of relenting; instead, he tightened his grip. “What a great timing; I’ll pluck your ears off and use them to brew some liquor for this old man!”
Feeling helpless in the face of Shen Ziyao’s stubbornness and fearing that he might genuinely upset him, Zhai Yao had no choice but to comply with Shen Ziyao’s words for the time being. “Got it, got it.”
Only then did Shen Ziyao’s grip on Zhai Yao’s ear ease slightly, though he still remained doubtful as he sought further confirmation. “Will you keep your promise?”
“Mm. Now hurry up and let go, it hurts so much.”
Feeling perfectly satisfied with Zhai Yao’s response, Shen Ziyao released his hold on his ear and called out towards Shen Heng’s room, “Um… that… that someone! My grandson is coming back to live here, so you go sleep in the guest room tonight!”
There was no response from inside the room.
Zhai Yao rubbed his ear, which was now red and sore from the twisting and pulling, experiencing a sensation of both burning and numbness.
Throughout his life, he had been in countless fights. There was even one time when he was ambushed, with someone using their foot to pin down his head, threatening to cut off his ears. Though, Zhai Yao eventually found an opportunity to retaliate and nearly incapacitated the opposite party. Since then, they would slink away with their tail tucked between their legs whenever they saw Zhai Yao.
But such a punishment, like “ear-pulling” without malice as if dealing with a child, was truly a first-time experience for him.
It left him feeling both unfamiliar and embarrassed.
As Shen Ziyao moved to knock on Shen Heng’s door to ask him to vacate the room, Zhai Yao intervened.
“You can go watch TV, I’ll call him instead.”
…
*
Shen Heng sat at the desk, engrossed in his book, as the air conditioner hummed at a comfortable 20°C.
His expression remained indifferent, matching the chill of the room’s temperature, while his focus seemed unwavering on the lines of text before him.
But, in actuality, he hadn’t turned a page for quite a while now.
The bedroom door was knocked—its movement sounding somewhat forcefully boorish.
Shen Heng closed his book, rose from his seat, and opened the door. In an instant, he found himself grabbed by the collar and pinned against the door panel, prompting the door to slam shut behind him.
Unperturbed, Shen Heng silently lowered his eyes and met Zhai Yao’s gaze.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Zhai Yao tightly clenched Shen Heng’s shirt, leaning in with a cold voice. “What’s your game?”
His voice was intentionally hushed, perhaps to avoid alerting Shen Ziyao outside.
Shen Heng remained silent for a moment, but he didn’t feign ignorance either, and then casually uttered, “I accidentally let it slip.”
“Bullsh*t!” Zhai Yao didn’t buy an iota of his story. “Laozi’s ear almost got plucked off by Gramps!”
Shen Heng’s gaze slowly shifted from Zhai Yao’s face to his ear.
Sure enough, it was thoroughly blushed in a bright shade of red.
Shen Heng asked knowingly, “He wouldn’t let you go?”
“What do you think?” Zhai Yao replied irritably.
Shen Heng nodded, then paused briefly before continuing, “Then don’t leave. There’s enough rooms at home.”
Zhai Yao had a moment of bewilderment, then his eyebrows drew together slightly as he asked with a serious tone, “What does it mean for me to live here?”
“What ‘what does it mean’?”
Zhai Yao was still holding onto Shen Heng’s collar, his eyes meeting a profound gaze that seemed to be probing as both continued their staredown.
Finally, Zhai Yao asked, “Right now, are we very familiar with each other?”
Shen Heng pondered for a moment. “Decent.”
“‘Decent’ simply means so-so.”
Shen Heng looked at him expressionlessly. “Do you need to be very close and intimate with your landlord?”
Zhai Yao was choked by his words, his frown deepening. “You’ve already seen it all—how I have a bad temper, terrible living habits, can’t do laundry or cook, lack basic empathy, have dumb relatives at home, and have so little in my pocket that I can’t even afford the rent for this place.”
“Mm.”
“Mm, your ass!” Zhai Yao felt inexplicably fretful.
He had always been fearless in the face of the malice brought by his surroundings. Since childhood, he understood the principle of tit-for-tat, knowing that even the most malicious individuals would cower when confronted by someone more formidable than themselves.
Yet, at the same time, he was terribly inept at responding to sudden acceptance and offers of help, even instinctively inclined to outrightly push away and reject them.
He didn’t want to burden anyone.
He feared causing trouble for others even more than he feared trouble himself.
“Zhai Yao.” Shen Heng interrupted his train of thoughts and flatly asked, “What are you panicking about?”
“I’m panicking… Why the hell would I panic!”
Zhai Yao found himself laid bare by the other’s words, seeming somewhat flustered and exasperated.
“In any case, I won’t live at your home.”
Shen Heng looked at him, followed by a quick pause before revealing, “I actually have another motive.”
He continued, “Shen Ziyao likes you. Every time he sees you, his mood improves. You living here is beneficial for his health and emotional well-being.”
Zhai Yao didn’t respond, still pinning Shen Heng against the door with his gaze fixed on him.
“And there’s the favours I owed to you. After this, there’ll only be one left.”
Right after finished his words, Shen Heng glanced down at Zhai Yao’s hands that were still gripping his collar. His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Let go, or I’ll retaliate.”
Zhai Yao replied coldly, “You dare to try?”
As soon as his words trailed off, Zhai Yao felt a sudden surge of strength wrenching him forcefully, pinning him against the door in a countermove.
Bathed in backlight, Shen Heng held onto both of Zhai Yao’s hands, his height advantage imposing a towering stature and casting a shadow of dominance over Zhai Yao.
He must’ve had another smoke just now; the faint smell of tobacco on him has yet to be entirely dispersed.
Shen Heng’s gaze fell on Zhai Yao’s ear—
Shen Ziyao really grabbed his ears hard. Until now, they still haven’t returned to normal; instead, they’re just getting redder and redder.
He shifted his gaze to Zhai Yao’s other ear.
His obsessive tendencies made him want to turn that ear red as well.
“You dare take another damn look again?” Zhai Yao raised his leg to retaliate, but Shen Heng released him preemptively.
Opening the door, Shen Heng said, “I’ll tidy up the guest room, the hairdryer is in the cabinet.”
With that, he exited the room.
In the living room, Shen Ziyao saw Shen Heng coming out, frowned, and shot him a sideways glance. “What were you guys doing in there? Making so much ‘thud thud thud’ noises.”
Seeing Shen Heng not responding, he got up and followed quietly behind like a wisp of smoke, asking in a hushed tone, “How did it go? Has he given up on the idea of moving yet?”
“He hasn’t given up yet.” Shen Heng opened the cabinet, took out clean bedding, and after a moment of thought, turned to Shen Ziyao. “Shen Ziyao, you’ll have to do something more than just those.”
Shen Ziyao stared at Shen Heng pensively for a while, then nodded. “Tell me your thoughts.”
Shen Heng pushed his glasses and murmured a “Mm.”
*
…
That night, Zhai Yao slept in Shen Heng’s guest room.
The bed in the guest room was plush and spacious—1.5 metres wide—far more comfortable than the wooden single bed at Zhai Yao’s home.
But no matter how he tossed and turned, he couldn’t fall asleep.
In the end, he simply lay flat on his back, intertwining his fingers and resting his hands behind his head as he stared motionlessly at the ceiling.
His thoughts were in disarray—sometimes about the search for an apartment, sometimes about whether Xiao Lajiao would fare well living alone with her unreliable parents if he were to move out. And if Liang Hao and Zhai Bing really got into a fight, then what should he do?
The more Zhai Yao thought, the more awake he became, until he eventually yearned for a cigarette.
He got up to turn on the bedside lamp, planning to quietly sneak out to the balcony for a smoke, when a sudden noise from the living room caught his attention.
A “thud.”
In the silent night, it reverberated clearly.
The bedroom door next to Shen Heng’s room creaked open, and a figure wearing slippers stepped on the wooden floor as they walked out from inside. Then, a silence ensued before Shen Heng’s low voice hastily called out, “Shen Ziyao, what are you doing?”
The sound of footsteps grew hurried and dishevelled. Zhai Yao knitted his brows, quickly made his way to the door, and pulled it open—
Only to see Shen Ziyao standing with his back facing towards him by the window in the moonlit living room. The window was partially open, allowing the curtains to sway gently in the breeze.
Bathed in the moon’s glow, Shen Ziyao appeared lonely and forlorn.
“What’s going on?” Zhai Yao asked Shen Heng in a whispering voice.
Shen Heng didn’t respond. At his feet lay a tea tin that had fallen to the ground, seemingly knocked over accidentally by Shen Ziyao.
“Oh, Grandson…” Shen Ziyao sighed deeply, sniffled, and wiped his face with his sleeve. Then, his shoulders started trembling as if he were sobbing.
“Is he awake or… dreaming?” Zhai Yao felt a pang of concern.
Still, Shen Heng said nothing. When Zhai Yao attempted to take a step forward and approach Shen Ziyao, he got held back by Shen Heng.
“Don’t go.”
Shen Heng spoke softly, “He hasn’t been like this in a long time.”
“What exactly is happening to him?”
“He’s experiencing hysteria, don’t startle him.” Shen Heng’s expression remained veiled in the darkness as he continued, “One of the side effects of Shen Ziyao’s medication is hysteria. But it rarely happens unless…”
“Unless what?” Zhai Yao’s brows drew into an even deeper frown.
Shen Heng turned to look at him. “Unless he’s experiencing extreme anxiety… I guess it’s because he has this constant feeling that you might leave him. This sense of insecurity is probably what’s triggering the relapse.”
As he spoke, Shen Ziyao let out a sigh and intermittently choked back whimpers in his throat.
“Oh, Grandson… do you not want Grandpa anymore? It’s all Grandpa’s fault… Grandpa’s old and useless… am a burden to you… Wuu wuu wuu wuu.”
Zhai Yao directed his gaze to Shen Ziyao. In his memory, this old geezer, despite his mind often being confused, had always been full of vitality and vigor. Never before had he seen Shen Ziyao appear so sorrowful and vulnerable.
Shen Ziyao’s back was slightly bent, appearing frail and hunched, much like those poor elderly people in their twilight years without any loved ones by their side.
Shen Heng: “He’s going to be in a dangerous state if this continues. If it weren’t for him accidentally knocking over the tea tin today, waking me up, it’s hard to say what could’ve happened.”
While speaking, Shen Heng glanced lightly at the open window and continued, “The medication can’t be stopped, but if this goes on, for Shen Ziyao’s safety, we might really have to consider sending him to a nursing home for 24-hour care.”
“No!” Zhai Yao interjected without hesitation. “Haven’t you fricking seen those news reports? Something about caregivers abusing and mistreating the elderly! We absolutely cannot send him to a nursing home!”
Shen Heng fell silent momentarily. “There’s another option.”
“What option?”
Shen Heng redirected his gaze to him.
Grasping the silent message in his stare, Zhai Yao’s eyes quivered subtly, shying away from his gaze.
Shen Heng sighed almost imperceptibly. “I’ll keep an eye out for reputable nursing homes in these coming days, even if they’re costly.”
“The hell, I already said no!” Zhai Yao pressed his tongue against his cheek in frustration, and after a while, he muttered under his breath, “I’ll move in. Having two people keeping an eye on him would definitely help ease our minds.”
Shen Heng pursed his lips and softly uttered, “Mm.”
Zhai Yao glanced at Shen Ziyao again. “How long will he be like this?”
“Should be over soon.”
Sure enough, after several more minutes had passed, Shen Ziyao slowly turned around. His gaze was unfocused as he circled the coffee table a few times before gradually making his way back to his room.
Before leaving, he even considerately closed the window.
“You should go back to bed too,” Shen Heng said to Zhai Yao.
Zhai Yao nodded. Still somewhat worried, he waited until Shen Ziyao had entered his room before turning back to his own.
The apartment lapsed into silence once more.
After Zhai Yao closed his door, Shen Heng raised his head, casting a silent glance at Shen Ziyao’s room and meeting the old man’s triumphant smile.
There, Shen Ziyao winked at Shen Heng, giving him an “OK” gesture.
…
From Yunz:
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These two Shens 🙄🙄
Anyway Yao2 finally moves in 🤭
Thanks for the chapter!
Like Grandpa, like Grandson ( ≧ヮლ)
Thanks for reading and commenting~
It’s just a shame the grandpa keeps mistaking Yao2 for Shen Heng 😭 though if he didn’t perhaps Yao2 wouldn’t have moved in. But still…his condition is disheartening 😖
Yeah, it’s really heartbreaking to see his only relative treating him like a stranger. Even worse, being aggressive towards him too 😔 /still can’t get over egg drop soup scene./
Both grandpa and grandson are having it hard (；′⌒`) Zhai Yao tooo…
wanna transmigrate into the novel and give them a hug.An old fox and a young one ! 🦊😆 I wonder if the ml has feelings for the mc, seeing how he wants him to live with us.. their relationship is so-so until now so it’s surprising
Hahahahhh /looking at the author with pleading eyes/ please let us get into the mind of Shen Heng and help us out a little in figuring him out 😆
Ml is so scheming…I love it~
Thanks for the chapter ☺️
He sure is 😆 Anything to keep ZY at home.
Thanks for reading and commenting~ ( •̀ ω •́ )y
Thank u for translating this book💕
that was great team work 😂 thanks soooo much for chapter
The Shens 😂 It runs in the family.
Thank you for reading and commenting! (p≧w≦q)
this grandpa-grandson duo is so sly!! 😭
This grandpa-grandson pair is too much with their elaborate plan to have zhai yao stay 😂
Adorable chapter! I’m loving this story more and more everyday! Thank you so much for such a good TL 😭