Chapter 36

Chapter 36

The garden was pitch-black and dead silent, with sparse moonlight filtered through rustling tree shadows into scattered spots on the ground—the only light in the night.

A figure crept out of the dark, unlit villa.

Looking around to confirm no one had noticed, the figure quietly approached the garden fence and tiptoed to retrieve a bag.

Under the moonlight, he could barely make out that it was Song Nian.

The moment he got the item, his face lit up with a satisfied grin.

Just as he was lost in his happiness, a faint voice suddenly came from behind:

“Song Nian, what are you doing?”

The low, resentful voice that suddenly appeared behind him in the dead of night, like a ghost’s whisper, gave him instant goosebumps.

Startled, Song Nian froze, his hair standing on end. His grip loosened, and the item in his hand fell with a thud.

Even without turning around, he could guess who it was at this moment.

He gulped, thought briefly, then snatched up the bag in a flash and hid it behind his back.

Then he acted like nothing happened and turned around.

The dim moonlight fell on sharp features, revealing Li Yanchuan's sharp features.

“Hubby, why are you here?”

He grinned sheepishly, playing dumb.

Like a dog caught red-handed doing something bad, his ears flattened, a fawning smile on his face as he wagged his tail and came closer.

If you looked closely, you could see the guilt written all over his face.

“Can't I be here?”

Li Yanchuan raised an eyebrow, knowing the answer but asking anyway.

“Of course you are. This is your home. You're always welcome. I'm glad you're here.”

Song Nian gave an awkward smile, speaking while subtly taking a step to the side, as if trying to hide behind the other.

“What are you hiding?”

Noticing his movements, Li Yanchuan squinted, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.

“Nothing!”

The person quickly denied it.

Hearing such a transparent lie, the man’s face darkened, and his tone turned cold.

“Song Nian.”

He called the name in a chilling voice, making Song Nian flinch.

“You said you wouldn’t lie to me.”

“And I promised you we'd talk things through openly.”

Hearing this, knowing he was in the wrong, Song Nian felt a lump in his throat, lowered his head, and scratched his head sheepishly.

“Why so tense? It’s not like I’m doing something behind your back.”

He pouted, looking awkward and a bit aggrieved.

“But promise you won’t get mad at me, okay?”

After getting a positive response, he took a deep breath, resignedly brought his hand from behind, as if facing his doom.

Li Yanchuan squinted, watching his movements closely, wondering what mysterious thing had made someone who was usually so open hide it from him.

As the hand came forward, he focused and saw it was just a plain plastic bag.

Under the moonlight, the words on the bag were clearly visible: “XX's Signature Malatang.”

Li Yanchuan: …?

“I just… wanted to grab a midnight snack.”

Song Nian whispered, rubbing his fingers together.

After all, skipping dinner but sneaking an unhealthy snack—getting caught red-handed made him feel guilty.

As if to prove the truth of his words, Song Nian dutifully opened the bag.

As the packaging slowly opened, what came into view was a mouthwatering…

Malatang that had been smashed to bits.

Seeing the plastic bowl with a cracked bottom, the soup and ingredients spilled into a total mess, Song Nian stood there dumbfounded.

“Is this… your late-night snack?”

Li Yanchuan, not recognizing it at all, shot him a questioning glance.

But seeing the other’s mouth slowly drooping and his eyes welling up with tears, looking utterly pitiful, he pursed his lips and said no more.

How could this happen!

My delicious midnight snack is ruined!

It must have been when I dropped it just now…

If only I hadn’t been scared…

“This is all your fault!”

The previously timid Song Nian suddenly became both angry and sad, pounding his fists against the man in the wheelchair, thudding loudly, mourning his lost snack.

Li Yanchuan: …?

Suddenly hit and blamed, a big question mark slowly appeared over his head.

Just as he was about to speak, a beam of light flashed from the iron garden gate, like a flashlight.

Then, a male voice came from outside:

Bro, I just forgot the utensils. Sorry about that, I've brought them back for you.

They both turned around and, in the light, recognized a bright yellow figure.

It was an X-Tuan delivery driver.

And what he handed over was exactly the disposable utensils that were supposed to come with the order.

In that instant, Li Yanchuan seemed to hear the sound of someone's heart breaking.

Clutching the useless disposable chopsticks and staring at the spilled mess in the bag, Song Nian fell silent for a moment and lowered his head.

Then came even harder puppy punches with a loud slap.

All landing on Li Yanchuan's arm.

Wasn't this just rubbing salt into the wound!

The food is gone and you give me chopsticks? What am I supposed to eat? Nothing? Wuwuwu—

Still not fully understanding what had happened, Li Yanchuan silently endured his all-bark-no-bite punches, looking slightly helpless but quite doting, making no move to stop them.

The young man outside the garden was shocked:

Oh my god, I just turned back to bring the customer his utensils, and he's so moved he's crying?

Then surely he'll give me a five-star review, right?

————

After returning to the bright living room, Song Nian still clutched the useless disposable chopsticks tightly in his hand.

As if that could mourn the malatang that had vanished with the wind.

"You've been staring at that trash for half an hour."

Li Yanchuan quietly poured him a glass of water.

"Please show some respect for my midnight snack!"

Malatang is not trash at all! Song Nian sniffled and looked at him with a resentful expression.

If he hadn't appeared behind him out of nowhere, he wouldn't have been startled, wouldn't have loosened his grip, and wouldn't have dropped the midnight snack.

In conclusion, it's all Li Yanchuan's fault.

Li Yanchuan, once again stumped by his logic: ...

He wanted to question further, but seeing his pouty lips and his eyes brimming with tears of grievance, he had to choke back his words.

"Why don't you order another delivery?"

"At this hour, they're all closed."

Song Nian rested his chin on the edge of the table pitifully, like a withered weed, wiping his tears, thinking how hard it was to indulge himself with a change in taste.

Seeing this, Li Yanchuan sighed, then took out his phone and made a call.

"Who are you calling?"

A snuffly question came, and he turned his head to meet those wet, gem-like eyes.

"My assistant. I'll have him buy you a portion and deliver it."

"Huh? That's too much trouble, isn't it?"

Hearing this, Song Nian, who was lying on the table, blinked rapidly, as his cravings and conscience were at war.

"He makes a hundred grand a month."

Li Yanchuan said lightly.

Basically, this salary makes it worth his while.

"It's really awkward to make him run an errand... Add extra spicy and numbing, extra broth, scallions, cilantro, no garlic, thanks."

Suddenly receiving a call from his boss late at night, only to be asked to buy malatang—such a bizarre request made the assistant push up his glasses and wonder how likely it was that his boss was talking in his sleep.

It wasn't until Song Nian's long list of demands followed that he suddenly understood.

So it was for Mr. Song!

The boss really dotes on Mr. Song now; they're so sweet together.

So he cheerfully went out, determined to do his part for his boss's romance.

It must be said, a hundred-grand-a-month assistant is on the ball; even late at night, he managed to find a shop still open and soon delivered the freshly packed malatang to the villa.

Especially after hearing his boss say he'd add a bonus, he left with a spring in his step.

Waving his sleeves, he left without taking a single cloud, only leaving the midnight snack.

"Eat up."

Li Yanchuan pushed the new malatang in front of him.

Seeing this, Song Nian took a deep breath; the much-missed aroma made him almost drool. Facing this midnight snack that was even better-looking than the first batch, he couldn't help but go 'wow'.

But looking at the bowl of sticky, red-oil-drenched food and the blissed-out look on his face while eating, Li Yanchuan couldn't help but frown.

Something that obviously looked so unhealthful—Song Nian actually liked it?

Just as he was frowning in thought, chopsticks suddenly reached his mouth.

"Would you like to try it?"

Song Nian blinked his eyes and looked at him expectantly.

Clearly oily and salty and unhealthy, Li Yanchuan shook his head to refuse, but just like last time with the milk tea, it was shoved into his mouth anyway.

Meeting his expectant gaze, he had to answer honestly:

"Spicy, and very salty. You actually like this stuff?"

"After eating too clean, you occasionally need something with all additives, no natural stuff."

"I knew picky rich people like you wouldn't like it," Song Nian chewed and chewed, then dug in and munched away with relish.

After satisfying his cravings, he patted his belly and told him honestly why he had done all this tonight.

Turns out Song Nian preferred bold flavors and couldn’t live without spice, but for Li Yanchuan’s taste and health, he had been cooking bland dishes all this time.

But for someone who loved spicy food, eating light, nutritious, healthy meals temporarily was fine, but after a while, his taste buds were craving something more.

So lately, his appetite hadn’t been great, and as Li Yanchuan had noticed, he ate very little at the table.

He was just too desperate for it, so tonight he secretly ordered takeout.

He planned to sneak a bite and pretend nothing happened, since Li Yanchuan, who valued health so much he wouldn’t even drink milk tea, definitely wouldn’t like this kind of junk food.

But what Song Nian didn’t expect was that when, after picking up the takeout like a spy, he was about to dig in, he ran into the person who was supposed to be in his room.

“You’re... not mad, are you?”

He said that, then cautiously watched the other's reaction.

“No.”

Li Yanchuan shook his head at that, then went deep in thought.

All this time, he hadn’t realized that Song Nian had been catering to his tastes.

He hadn't even noticed their tastes were total opposites.

Thinking this, his expression darkened.

Even if he told Song Nian to eat what he wanted and not to hold back for his sake, Song Nian probably wouldn’t listen.

Besides, he couldn’t keep having him cook.

In that case...

Li Yanchuan tightened his fists and made his decision.

————

The next day, when Song Nian came down to make breakfast, he was surprised to find breakfast already on the table, freshly made.

Two bowls of noodles—one a light clear broth, the other spicy and boldly flavored.

“Mr. Song, right? You're up? Go wash your hands and eat.”

Just then, a friendly-looking woman in her forties poked her head out of the kitchen.

“Who are you?”

he asked, taken aback.

Before she could answer, another voice came from behind:

“Aunt Wang is the new housekeeper. She's great at Sichuan food, so it should be right up your alley.”

Li Yanchuan said, slowly pushing his wheelchair forward.

“Don't order so much junk food from now on—it's not healthy. If you want to eat something, just have Aunt Wang make it. She can make pretty much anything.”

Housekeeper? Suit my taste?

Song Nian blinked slowly, taking a moment to piece it together.

Could it be that because Li Yanchuan had noticed his taste preferences yesterday, he'd specially hired a housekeeper so Song Nian could always eat what he wanted?

“But don’t you dislike having other people in the house?”

Song Nian tested the waters, surprised and delighted.

“Aunt Wang only comes at mealtimes.”

Li Yanchuan said softly.

“And if it’s for you, I can make an exception.”