Chapter 108 Updated

Chapter 108 Updated

Xie Qingfeng also felt it wasn’t quite right; usually, Jing Xi did most of the cooking at home, and he suggested it at that time because he didn't want Jing Xi to feel upset.

But the foster parents were unaware of his relationship with Jing Xi; from their perspective, it indeed seemed inappropriate.

Xie Qingfeng could only insist: "It's fine, he enjoys cooking."

That statement... wasn’t false, actually.

The foster parents didn’t expect someone to share the same hobby as the foster father and couldn’t help but praise him all the way home, as if trying to compliment him to the skies.

Especially since their own Xiao Feng seemed to have made a close friend. Otherwise, without such a relationship, they certainly wouldn’t have allowed someone to directly cook in their home.

They were reassured and relieved, then remembered something and asked softly: "Xiao Feng, the friend you brought last time, Xiao Jing... doesn’t he look a bit like that movie star?"

They had learned about it from the news.

Xiao Jing’s good looks had left a deep impression on them, but his temperament in the reported photos seemed different from Xiao Jing’s, so they were hesitant to confirm.

Xie Qingfeng nodded: "He indeed is, but his family has encountered some issues, and he has already retired from the industry. Just treat him as you would normally."

He had just been worried that the foster parents would know that the visitor was Jing Minfeng, so he only mentioned a friend.

The foster parents were deeply moved but didn’t ask further, respecting the privacy of others.

But upon returning home and opening the door, the foster father, smelling the delicious aroma, immediately praised: “Xiao Feng, your friend's culinary skills are top-notch.”

If one didn’t know better, they might think it was a professional chef.

But upon lifting their eyes and seeing the person coming out with a spatula and an apron, after hearing the noise: ???

Ten minutes later, the foster parents were sitting at the dining table still feeling somewhat uneasy, glancing at their foster son and then at Xiao Jing who had visited before, uneasily stealing a glance at Xie Qingfeng: This, this...

Jing Xi, however, took out a bottle of wine and poured a glass for the foster father: "I'm just an ordinary person now, Uncle and Auntie, please treat me like you treat Qingfeng. If you act like this, aren't you treating me as an outsider?"

The foster parents repeatedly shook their heads: "Of course not..."

With just a few words, Jing Xi made everyone relax and soon they were all getting along well.

Xie Qingfeng, listening on the side, also breathed a sigh of relief, only to see Jing Xi pouring a glass for himself and raising it: "I toast to Uncle; meeting you is also a fate, let us...

Xie Qingfeng's forehead throbbed, instinctively pressing down on the wine glass: "You can't drink."

Joking, if he got drunk in front of the foster parents and went on a drunken rampage, it wouldn't just be Jing Xi losing face; he cared about his own too!

What if he said something inappropriate in front of the foster parents? Was he planning to forcefully out him?

Jing Xi was already getting along with the foster father like brothers, so he didn't hold back, but when suddenly stopped, he looked at Xie Qingfeng guiltily: "One glass... should be fine, right?"

Xie Qingfeng almost laughed in frustration: He dared to even say a word?

The foster father looked from one to the other: "Xiao Feng, it's rare for Xiao Jing to be in the mood, one glass won't hurt. If not, you can stay over tonight, sleep it off if you get drunk, we have space."

Xie Qingfeng's heart skipped a beat, feeling an ominous premonition.

Sure enough, Jing Xi, who had been about to put down his glass, raised it again: "Uncle, then I'll cheekily impose!" Saying so, he raised his glass and downed it in one go, "I'll drink first as a sign of respect!"

The foster father laughed heartily: "Xiao Jing, I like you, young man! Straightforward!"

Xie Qingfeng: …………

Xie Qingfeng numbly watched the two start to bond over drinks, calling each other brothers, clearly mixing up the generations.

But turning his head and seeing the foster mother smiling and watching them, Xie Qingfeng decided not to intervene.

Given the foster father's rare happiness, Jing Xi's little trick seemed insignificant by comparison.

Since the foster father had drunk, they decided not to open the shop in the evening. Running the shop was just a pastime for them, and with their foster son visiting, taking a half-day off was no issue.

The foster mother put up a 'Closed' sign when she went out to buy groceries in the evening, while Xie Qingfeng took care of the two drunkards. He first helped the foster father back to his room, and after tucking him in, came out to find Jing Xi still slumped over the table, unclear whether he was drunk or awake.

Alone in the living room with Jing Xi, Xie Qingfeng stood beside him, lowering his voice tentatively: "Are you still awake?"

Jing Xi lay there motionless.

Xie Qingfeng listened carefully and found Jing Xi's breathing steady, seemingly in deep sleep.

He sighed, pulling Jing Xi up and placing his arm over his shoulder, with the other hand around Jing Xi's waist, walking towards the bedroom.

But just after a few steps, Jing Xi's head tilted onto his neck, his warm head resting against the thin artery in Xie Qingfeng's neck, causing him a tingling sensation.

Xie Qingfeng's face darkened, glaring at the unaware sleeper, gritting his teeth. He managed to push Jing Xi's head away with one hand, but it leaned back again.

Xie Qingfeng finally realized something was amiss, narrowing his eyes at Jing Xi.

After a moment, he chuckled silently and coldly. Originally struggling to support Jing Xi's entire weight, he now let go – who cared about him now!

Xie Qingfeng dragged Jing Xi forward, who, pretending to be asleep, didn’t dare to walk properly. Thus, it turned into Xie Qingfeng dragging his upper body along, without catching him when he stumbled. Initially, Jing Xi's steps were uncertain, but soon he was being pulled along carelessly like a mop.

Jing Xi: ...Isn't this contrast too obvious?

When Xie Qingfeng had helped the foster father earlier, it was so considerate and proper. Why was it so different with him?

And it didn’t stop there. Xie Qingfeng then took Jing Xi into his own room.

His bedroom wasn't large. Apart from a bed and a desk, there was just enough space for a one and a half meter long sofa.

Xie Qingfeng had originally planned to lay the person on the bed, but he ended up tossing Jing Xi onto the sofa.

Jing Xi's legs dangled off the edge of the sofa, unevenly positioned with his head elevated and his neck sinking into the sofa, yet he dared not move a muscle.

Jing Xi was completely numb: should he continue to pretend or keep up the act?

As Jing Xi hesitated, he felt someone squatting in front of him, clearly the national advisor.

Jing Xi dared not move even more, unclear of the national advisor's intentions, he could only wait quietly, only to realize that the advisor was just staring at him motionlessly.

Jing Xi originally used his internal energy to regulate his breathing, pretending to be asleep, but with the national advisor's gaze fixed on him, he couldn't keep calm and eventually, after ten minutes, his eyelids fluttered.

Xie Qingfeng slowly revealed a smile, leaning close to Jing Xi's ear to whisper as if a devil was murmuring, "If you're capable, don't let your eyeballs move."

Since you dare to pretend to be drunk and asleep, have the guts not to give yourself away.

Jing Xi maintained his innocence, ultimately pretending to just wake up, "Huh, am I drunk?"

Xie Qingfeng quietly observed him: Go on, keep acting.

Jing Xi tilted his head, admiring the national advisor from such close proximity, finding him even more attractive. He had originally intended to pretend to be drunk to see how the advisor would treat him in that state, but it seemed the act was over before it even began.

Jing Xi continued with an innocent and confused smile, "What time is it now? How long have I been drunk?"

Xie Qingfeng spoke leisurely, "Are you sure... you're drunk?" Seeing Jing Xi about to respond, Xie Qingfeng added, "Think carefully before you speak. Remember, when I forgave you, you promised not to lie again."

Jing Xi's scalp tingled, the words at the tip of his tongue unuttered due to fear. Guiltily lowering his gaze, he stole a glance at Xie Qingfeng, then another, and finally shook his head honestly: "No, I didn't dare. I was afraid of getting truly drunk and causing you trouble by saying something inappropriate, so I used my internal power to expel the alcohol."

It was a plan that pleased his future father-in-law, avoided real drunkenness, and even allowed him to feign inebriation to gain the national advisor's attentive care—a triple win. Unfortunately, his scheme fell apart before it could succeed, ending in utter failure.

Xie Qingfeng narrowed his eyes upon hearing this, "Why didn't you use this trick earlier?"

Jing Xi touched his nose innocently, "I hadn't had the chance earlier as I got drunk too quickly, right?" Besides, he hadn't realized his tolerance was so poor. Wasn't he just afraid of getting drunk again?

Xie Qingfeng laughed in exasperation, knowing his own poor tolerance yet still daring to drink so much? He was about to say something when his foster mother returned.

Jing Xi quickly got up and ran to his foster mother, eager to ingratiate himself, "Auntie, you're back? Let me see what vegetables you bought, let's cook together later."

His foster mother immediately shook her head, "How can that be? Jing, you're a guest. You didn’t know at lunch, but you can’t get involved in cooking tonight. It's not right to make a guest cook. Wait for your uncle to get up tonight and taste his cooking. For now, go rest. There are no strict rules here, sleep first, and eat whenever you wake up."

Jing Xi’s few words made his foster mother beam with joy, more convinced than ever of his good nature.

So when Jing Xi mentioned needing an extra blanket for the bed, his foster mother slapped her forehead and immediately went to fetch two quilts from the cupboard, "Look at my memory. The old quilt was taken apart for washing, and I’ve made some new ones. These have been sun-dried, you can use them tonight."

Saying this, she laid out two quilts on the bed, one on each side.

Jing Xi, following his foster mother, winked at Xie Qingfeng and modestly offered to help, suggesting, "Actually, I can sleep on the sofa."

His foster mother immediately waved her hand, "How could that be? Besides, the sofa is so small. Qingfeng's bed is big; you should sleep here tonight."

Jing Xi: "The sofa in the living room is quite long, I can sleep there too. I'm just worried Qingfeng might not want to... sleep together."

He pronounced the last word slowly and softly, seemingly innocuous, but Xie Qingfeng clearly understood the underlying implication.

This completely eliminated any chance of Xie Qingfeng insisting on Jing Xi sleeping on the sofa.

Xie Qingfeng cast a warning glance at him, and Jing Xi's smile grew even more jubilant. Sure enough, seeing their foster mother's concerned look, about to speak, Xie Qingfeng stepped in first: "He's just joking with you. I don't mind at all."

Their foster mother finally relaxed. As soon as she left, Xie Qingfeng gazed at him solemnly.

Jing Xi swayed slightly, supporting his head, "I must have drunk too much, my head feels a bit dizzy." He needed to be taken care of, not to hear anything inappropriate.

Xie Qingfeng: “…”

Xie Qingfeng saw his foster parents' hopes. Although the excuse was that they had drunk too much to go back, they actually wanted him to stay the night. Realizing this, Xie Qingfeng didn’t refuse. Otherwise, it was still early, and he had a hundred reasons to leave.

Jing Xi, when trying to please others, indeed had the knack of turning the impossible into the possible. In just an afternoon and a night, the foster parents had already started to see him as their son. If not for knowing he was a big star, they would have wanted to adopt him formally.

By evening, everything was perfectly arranged, ensuring the two were comfortable at home. Finally, when they had finished washing up and lay in bed.

Xie Qingfeng lay on the inside, with only a bedside lamp lit in the room. He stared at the ceiling, then couldn't help but turn to look, "Can't you put on pajamas?"

It wasn’t that he hadn’t provided pajamas for him. Although they were worn by the original body, they were all clean.

Jing Xi was under the covers, his arms exposed outside because he wasn’t wearing pajamas. Lying there bare-chested, he replied innocently, "But I don’t like wearing someone else’s clothes. Once the light is off, it doesn’t really matter, right?"

Xie Qingfeng: “…”

Jing Xi: “Besides, I’m not exposing anything. I’m covered up tightly.”

Xie Qingfeng somewhat gritted his teeth, "Can’t you wear clothes? Don’t you have your own clothes?" He wasn’t used to it, so he slept in his undershirt.

Jing Xi rolled over, facing Xie Qingfeng, "Shirts are too clingy and uncomfortable to sleep in. Once the light is off and the national advisor can’t see, out of sight, out of mind, right?"

Xie Qingfeng: “…” Is that the same thing?

Jing Xi blinked, moving closer, "Or is it that the national advisor’s heart... is not at peace?"