Chapter 77
by VolareExtra 1: Housewarming Daily Life
After the parents of both families officially met, their relationship was considered settled. Jiang’s father gave Jiang Chen a set of keys, which turned out to be for the small villa they had seen before and thought was quite good. Jiang Jian said he had shown it to Jiang’s father, who probably bought it during Jiang Chen’s illness.
Jiang Chen knew that his father had already begun to soften at that time, and he regretted missing out on more than half a year. Since the house was already bought, Ling Sheng said they would take care of the renovations themselves.
As an intern, Jiang Chen naturally didn’t earn much. Ling Sheng naturally meant that he would pay for it.
Jiang Chen couldn’t refuse either of them, and he couldn’t resist the image he had been imagining for three years: having his own house with Ling Sheng and raising a dog.
So, after four months of renovations and three months of airing it out, they were finally able to move in. The entire house was mainly white and wood-colored, looking bright and warm. The designer was recommended by Fang Xing, and he put a lot of effort into it. He sent them at least three options for every piece of furniture in the house, and every item was chosen by Ling Sheng and Jiang Chen themselves.
Three months after the house was renovated, they hired a landscape designer to design the yard. Jiang’s mother helped oversee the entire process. Since they wanted to raise a dog, they didn’t plant many flowers. Instead, they planted a large grapefruit tree and laid a large lawn, creating an open space for the dog to run around.
After they had lived there for half a month, on a sunny weekend in March, the group of people who had been clamoring to come to the housewarming finally got their wish.
Lu Sheng and Yan Huan brought the food. Yan Huan’s family owned a restaurant, so he was in charge of providing the BBQ ingredients. He Xiaoyun was originally abroad, but when he heard that their house was finished, he flew back specifically, bringing Xia Chi with him. Fang Xing came with Zhou Jiayan, and Coco brought her husband and child. Xu Peiya had officially joined Eternity’s haute couture line and, despite being busy, insisted on witnessing this moment, so she took a day off to come back.
Everyone who came today was a mutual friend. Lu Sheng and Yan Huan arrived first, saying they wanted to come early to prepare the food so everyone could eat as soon as they arrived. Jiang Chen took out the grill from the basement storage room. It was the first time he had used it. As soon as he brought it out, Yan Huan started setting it up. He was skilled at grilling, and Lu Sheng helped him get things, watching him closely to make sure he didn’t get burned while burning and dumping charcoal.
He Xiaoyun inspected the house inside and out as if it were his own, with Xia Chi by his side, holding a glass of juice ready to hand it to him at any moment.
Zhou Jiayan didn’t stop talking the entire time. He asked Fang Xing if he wanted to get one of everything he liked for their own place. He Xiaoyun found him annoying and said a few words to him, but Zhou Jiayan retorted. When Xia Chi joined in, he couldn’t handle the two of them. Fang Xing was a gentle person who rarely said harsh words and couldn’t help, so the battle ended with Zhou Jiayan hugging Fang Xing and crying.
He Xiaoyun was very satisfied with Xia Chi’s verbal skills and pulled him into the house. He came out looking a bit disheveled.
Coco and Xu Peiya were going crazy shipping the two of them. The two women almost wrote an entire erotic novel in one afternoon.
Jiang Chen, who had been playing with Xiao Xiaowu, saw this and said to He Xiaoyun, “He Zong, this is my house. Tone it down.”
He Xiaoyun, in a good mood while drinking juice, snorted and said, “If I really wanted to do something, I wouldn’t have come out so quickly.”
Since getting together with Xia Chi, he had become increasingly arrogant. The sharpness that had been worn away by Ling Sheng was completely restored by Xia Chi, and he had become even more spoiled.
At this time, Yan Huan’s skewers were ready. Xia Chi went to get two lamb skewers for He Xiaoyun. He Xiaoyun was picky about food, especially with Xia Chi around, but he was surprised to find the lamb skewers delicious. He praised them a couple of times, and Xia Chi also ate one and then asked Yan Huan for his secrets.
Yan Huan happily shared them with him and even showed him how to grill. Xia Chi learned quickly, and the two immediately connected over food, neglecting He Xiaoyun. He Xiaoyun started finding fault again, and Xia Chi had to take off his gloves and go serve him.
Ling Sheng brought out the washed fruit. Xiao Xiaowu was playing basketball and almost hit Ling Sheng. Jiang Chen quickly reached out and caught the ball, his eyes fixed on him. “Are you okay?”
“I’m okay.” Ling Sheng steadied the fruit in his hands and looked at the apprehensive Xiao Xiaowu. “Be careful when you’re playing ball.”
The tension on Xiao Xiaowu’s face slowly faded away, and he nodded vigorously. “Got it, Ling Shushu.”
Ling Sheng picked up a cherry and put it in Jiang Chen’s mouth, then put the fruit on the table and grabbed a beef skewer that Yan Huan had just grilled, giving it a thumbs-up after tasting it. “Delicious.”
Yan Huan was overjoyed. “My skills are praised by everyone who’s tried them.”
“Drink some water.” Lu Sheng poured a glass of water with a straw and handed it to Yan Huan’s mouth.
Yan Huan drank some water and said, “I want to eat strawberries.”
Lu Sheng used a fork to give him a strawberry, and Yan Huan winked at Lu Sheng as he ate it. Lu Sheng’s eyes also filled with laughter as he sat down beside him to help him with the ingredients.
Fang Xing came out after comforting Zhou Jiayan and sat down next to Ling Sheng. Zhou Jiayan’s foundation was set up for Fang Xing. Zhou Jiayan was the behind-the-scenes boss, and Fang Xing was both the boss’s wife and the real manager of the foundation. As they chatted, they started talking about work.
Fang Xing was very responsible and meticulous. He had been volunteering at the welfare center and, like Ling Sheng, had studied for two years before daring to take on this position. At first, he wanted to do everything perfectly and worked with Ling Sheng for half a year to gradually clarify their roles and improve their cooperation.
Once they started talking about work, they both couldn’t stop. Jiang Chen couldn’t stand it anymore. He didn’t dare to say anything to Ling Sheng, so he pulled Zhou Jiayan aside. “Zhou Zong, how did Xiao Xing become such a workaholic after going to your place?”
Zhou Jiayan had no words to describe his suffering.
Although he had established the foundation for Fang Xing from the beginning, he had become a marginal part of Fang Xing’s life since Fang Xing had become so invested in it. But he couldn’t bear to complain about his wife, so he could only take his anger out on others. “Isn’t that all because of Ling Sheng? I hired him to help share the burden with Xiao Xing, but now he’s pulling him to talk about work even on his days off. He’s so irresponsible.”
The two argued back and forth, ending in a staring contest.
Jiang Chen refused to give in. “Ling Sheng is just too responsible. Besides, Xiao Xing wasn’t like this before. He only became like this after being with you. The upper beam is not straight, and the lower beam is crooked. I think it’s your fault as the boss.”
Zhou Jiayan was even more unconvinced. “Damn, you’re a lawyer. How can you say such nonsense? Besides, ask around. When have I ever worked seriously?”
Jiang Chen was stunned by his righteous tone. “You’re a boss who’s this lazy and you still have the nerve to say that? Did you throw all the work to Xiao Xing, so Xiao Xing can’t finish his work and drags Ling Sheng to work overtime? He’s been coming home late every day for the past week, falling asleep as soon as he gets home. I was wondering why he’s busier than me, and our time alone has decreased.”
Zhou Jiayan was even more miserable. Hearing this, he didn’t bother arguing with Jiang Chen about being lazy and began to pour out his grievances. “Brother, speaking of this, I really feel like we have a lot in common. It’s not just this week; I’ve been living like this for the past two years. We’re living under the same roof, but we barely have time to kiss. Every time I come out of the shower smelling good, Xiao Xing is already sound asleep, and I’m too embarrassed to wake him up.”
If he didn’t know that Fang Xing really enjoyed this job, he would want to slap himself a few times.
Hearing him say this, Jiang Chen suddenly felt that he was better off. He knew that Fang Xing was very serious about his work, and Ling Sheng had also mentioned that Fang Xing spent almost all his time managing the foundation. With their new donation project, Fang Xing was closely monitoring every process in detail.
Ling Sheng had more work experience than Fang Xing and knew how to balance work and life, separating the two. He knew that they needed to rest when they should. Jiang Chen looked at Zhou Jiayan’s bitter face and patted him sympathetically on the shoulder. “Xiao Xing is just like that. He’ll be better after this period.”
Zhou Jiayan looked at Fang Xing and Ling Sheng chatting enthusiastically, their eyes shining and their whole being seemingly radiating light. His expression softened, but he soon began to mutter thoughtfully, “Ling Sheng seems to be relatively free. Xiao Xing is just too responsible, taking everything on himself. He should delegate some of the work to others. How can the boss’s wife be busier than the employees? Ling Sheng can do some of the work for him, so Xiao Xing will have more time to spend with me…”
“Zhou Zong.” Jiang Chen put a hand on Zhou Jiayan’s shoulder. “Abusing your power is not good.”
Zhou Jiayan shrugged, not listening at all. “I’m the boss; I make the rules.”
Jiang Chen’s gaze suddenly darkened. “I’m a lawyer; I’ll protect my rights.”
The two were about to start arguing when Ling Sheng and Fang Xing quickly came over to mediate, pulling them apart and asking what was wrong. Jiang Chen hugged Ling Sheng and said seriously, “Unscrupulous boss. He wants to exploit you.”
Zhou Jiayan hugged Fang Xing. “Wife, let’s go back. You finally have a day off. I want to spend time alone with you. This place isn’t fun.”
Fang Xing looked at Jiang Chen and Zhou Jiayan in confusion.
He Xiaoyun was basking in the sun, with Xia Chi massaging his head. Yan Huan called out, “The skewers are ready. Come and eat!”
In the bright spring sunshine, Fang Xing softly and gently persuaded Zhou Jiayan. Zhou Jiayan took the opportunity to whisper a few words in his ear, and Fang Xing immediately blushed with shame, pushing him away a few times, but not with much force. He finally nodded in agreement.
Only then did Zhou Jiayan happily go to get skewers for Fang Xing. Ling Sheng touched Jiang Chen’s head and asked him what was wrong just now.
Jiang Chen just said, “I think He Zong was too lenient when he scolded him.”
Ling Sheng smiled. Although he didn’t know what Zhou Jiayan had said, he immediately stood on his boyfriend’s side. “Is that so? Then I’ll have Xiaoyun come over. It seems like he wasn’t satisfied with his scolding just now.”
Jiang Chen was pleased that he had stood by his side without even asking and generously said, “Never mind.”
But then, thinking of something, he instructed, “You promised me that you would separate work and life. Don’t be fooled by the unscrupulous boss. Your husband is a lawyer, and it’s very convenient to protect your rights.”
Ling Sheng pulled him down and kissed him, smiling. “I know.”
Only then did Jiang Chen feel relieved and go to get him a skewer, watching him glare at Zhou Jiayan again because of the skewers. Ling Sheng sighed softly, but then smiled again.
In March, the spring sunshine was bright, and everything was reviving in the warm breeze. The new house still had a bit of its own special smell, but it slowly dissipated in the lively atmosphere, leaving only the heavy, lingering fragrance of wood, like time, like life, like them.