Chapter 5 - Buff (1/2)

Chapter 5: Buff

Today, Lian Jun was wearing a cyan robe with white patterns. He sat on tatami mats reclining lazily against a beige cushion, looking nothing like the underworld boss—he seemed to be an ancient noble, carefree and unrestrained.

He waited for Shi Jin to take a seat, then started to pour him a cup of wine asking: “Are you that happy?”

The smile on Shi Jin’s face froze for a second. He looked at the progress bar over Lian Jun’s head that displayed 600 points, his mind chaotic. “Xiao Si, what happened? Didn’t your Darling’s progress bar fall to 500 five days ago? How come it’s 100 points higher now?!”

Xiao Si was also stupiefied. It stuttered, <I, I don’t know.>

Not getting a response, Lian Jun looked into Shi Jin’s slightly unfocused eyes and asked, not losing his composure: “What are you looking at?”

“I’m looking at your…” Shi Jin caught himself in time. He moved without a second thought, catching Lian Jun’s hand holding the bottle of wine, and smiled wryly: “…Your face—you don’t seem well and I’m still a minor. We both really shouldn’t be drinking, so let’s forget about the wine…”

Lian Jun’s eyes fell on his hand.

Shi Jin instinctively followed his gaze.

A fleshy and pasty paw was boldly gripping the pale, slender hand holding an exquisite porcelain bottle. Somehow, it looked really indecent.

Xiao Si was between laughter and tears: <I should be happy seeing you getting along, but JinJin, why did your progress bar rise again? And straight to 950, I’m scared, waah…>

Shi Jin jerked his arm back and explained tearfully, “Ah, I didn’t mean to touch your hand…”

“I know.” Lian Jun took back his hand and pressed the bell on the table, saying in a mild tone, “Just like you didn’t mean to touch my legs a few days ago.”

Shi Jin: “…” I want to cry, but no tears flow out—why are you such a brat?

As soon as the bell rang out, the door opened. One of the men who were present in the hallway five days ago appeared at the entrance, calling out with a respectful expression, “Jun-shao.”

“Gua Three, go and bring Mr. Shi’s belongings.” Lian Jun ordered.

Gua Three nodded in acknowledgement and gently closed the door.

The room became quiet again. This time, Shi Jin did not dare to either talk or look around. He hung his head down and pretended to be a stone statue.

Lian Jun did not look at him. He picked up his chopsticks and ate a mouthful, his pale lips turning slightly darker. He asked, “Why aren’t you eating? Is the food not to your liking?”

Why ask when you already know the answer?

Shi Jin bit his tongue, picked up his chopsticks and reached for the nearest dish of pickled cucumbers. He made up his mind to keep far away from Lian Jun, this man-eating beauty.

“I was told that the sixth young master of Shi family likes all kinds of food, but hates cucumbers… Apparently, people who like to eat heavily flavored food think cucumber is without any taste,” Lian Jun said slowly and deliberately, picking up a peanut.

Shi Jin’s hand stiffened for a second, his chopsticks grabbing the three-color fried shrimp next to the pickled cucumbers. In his mind, he started to complain to Xiao Si: “Your Darling is trying to fatten me up for slaughter, can’t you stop him somehow?”

Xiao Si hummed and hawed, unwilling to face reality: <You-you’re talking nonsense, my Darling’s heart is pure and honest, he, he wouldn’t…>

“He wouldn’t deliberately put the pickled cucumbers in front of me in order to test me?” Shi Jin spoke through clenched teeth, his voice gloomy. “He wouldn’t deliberately misrepresent me grabbing his legs?”

Xiao Si said in a small voice: <But you really did touch them… That, ah, did it feel good?>

Shi Jin felt his system was trying to make him die of anger.

<Fine then…> Seeing he refused to speak, Xiao Si softened and decided to appease him. motions need to be cultivated slowly, and trust can’t be built overnight. First, I’ll try to make my Darling less guarded against you, just wait and see.>

Hearing this, Shi Jin felt a little better. He put the shrimp he held in his chopsticks for a long time into his mouth.

Lian Jun, who has been observing his actions, asked, “What were you doing just now, praying for the souls of the dead shrimps before eating them?”

Shi Jin quickly chewed and swallowed. He said placidly: “My dad used to tell me I should know how to be grateful. Whether it’s tasty food, warm sunshine or a smile from passers-by, all the good things are worth being thankful for. Also, we should be especially grateful to those who have helped us!”

Lian Jun put down his chopsticks, picking up his cup. “I’m surprised Mr. Shi Xingrui, who was known for his fierce and unforgiving nature, would teach his children to be so… kind and thoughtful. It is truly unexpected.”

“He played dumb just now! He wants to deny my saving his life earlier, what an ass!” Shi Jin’s heart was filled with indignation.

Xiao Si quickly placated him: <It’s fine, I gave you a buff, Darling won’t bully you anymore! JinJin is the best, I love you, JinJin, JinJin is the cutest child in the whole world!>

Shi Jin: “…” Hearing this kind of “flattery”, he suddenly wanted to throw up the shrimp he had just eaten.

While they were bickering, there was a second knock at the door and a stranger carrying a bag appeared at the entrance. He had short hair and symmetrical face with deep-set eyes, with brows furrowed in what looked like a perpetual scowl. His irises were vividly green, indicating he was a mixed race.

“Jun-shao,” the man called out respectfully.

Expression in Lian Jun’s eyes changed imperceptibly. “Why are you here, what about Gua Three?”

“Gua Three was called away by Gua One,” the man answered in a straightforward way.

Lian Jun acknowledged his words with a nod and ordered, “Put those things down and get out.”