Rat, Rabbit, And Rabbit Transformed Into Humans And Married Their Natural Enemies. Chapter 53

Chapter 53

Bai Zhi picked up the mic, moved back slightly, and gave Xie Yuzhan a look. He whispered, “Didn’t we agree you wouldn’t get involved in the stream? I’m fine, don’t take the netizens seriously. The wind comes and goes quickly.”

Xie Yuzhan disagreed. He asked, “So you’re just going to let them twist the facts and smear you like this?”

Bai Zhi wanted to say he wasn’t entirely letting them; his assistant was busy kicking people out, and he was considering turning off comments. It wasn’t complete neglect—he simply didn’t care.

Since it didn’t touch upon anything he genuinely valued, he didn’t want to waste time or energy on it.

Xie Yuzhan understood Bai Zhi’s meaning. He stared into the other man’s eyes, his tone slightly deep, and said, “I care.”

Bai Zhi paused. A notification sound rang on his phone, jolting him back to check the message. It was from his assistant, telling him to look at the stream comments.

He glanced at Xie Yuzhan, then looked at the comment section. After seeing it, he blinked, confused about the situation.

The netizens had clearly heard Xie Yuzhan’s last sentence, and the comments erupted like boiling water poured into hot oil.

Some praised the pleasant voice, others felt the deep tone was authoritative and intimidating, but most were asking who the speaker was. Besides himself and his assistant, no one else appeared in his stream, and this was clearly not his assistant’s voice.

He watched the rapidly scrolling comments, speechless.

Xie Yuzhan noticed Bai Zhi’s reaction, then looked at the comments and immediately understood.

He stood up, walked to Bai Zhi, and took the microphone from his hand, ignoring the warning look from the person beside him. He said, “Netizens who constantly voice doubts and slander, have you truly interacted with Zhizhi? Making rash judgments is utterly foolish.

“Even without actual interaction, anyone who has seriously listened to his streams knows the quality of the content. If such substantive content can be called ‘padding’ or ‘lacking real substance,’ I suggest certain netizens reread their elementary school language textbooks.

“Furthermore, have you tasted the dishes Zhizhi makes? If you haven’t, what right do you have to question them?

“I have tasted them. I say, they are delicious.”

After this speech, not only Bai Zhi but the entire stream fell silent for a moment, followed by a deluge of comments too fast to read.

Bai Zhi clutched his phone, looking pleadingly at the person next to him. “That…”

Xie Yuzhan remained composed. He rested one hand on the table and used the other to scroll through Bai Zhi’s phone screen, reading the comments. “Let me see…”

He quickly scanned the comment section, ignoring the frantic WeChat notifications from the assistant popping up at the top of the screen. Netizens called him sharp-tongued, and some were so triggered they directly cursed him, but more people approved of his words.

Well, most of Bai Zhi’s fans were reasonable. It was just that with a large forest and high traffic, some demons and monsters inevitably slipped in.

Returning to the latest comments, he paused after seeing one particular question. He turned to Bai Zhi and asked, “It’s true that I’m sharp-tongued, and it’s also true that I’m defending and explaining for you. So, Zhizhi, shouldn’t I defend you?”

Bai Zhi’s brain stalled.

Given that they were still married, comrades in the same trench, and a community of shared interests, of course, he should defend him. After all, if he looked bad, wouldn’t that imply CEO Xie had poor judgment?

He nodded heavily.

Excellent. Xie Yuzhan brought up the question he had just seen, his tone slightly elevated. He asked, “Netizens are asking who I am. What should I say, my dear Bunny?”

Bunny…

The two syllables of the endearment felt like tiny hooks, making Bai Zhi’s heart flutter. This man… didn’t he know how good his voice was?!

And after all this time, Xie Yuzhan still remembered the nickname they had discussed earlier—Bunny, Bunny! The netizens were getting the wrong idea!

Although embarrassed, he knew he had to give a response.

He steadied himself and replied, “He’s the one at home.”

Xie Yuzhan was satisfied with the answer. He ruffled Bai Zhi’s hair, silently praising him with his lips: “Zhizhi is very good.”

Bai Zhi understood the brief lip reading.

He couldn’t help but smile, glancing at the comment section, which was as lively and spectacular as fireworks. He felt a little helpless but also relieved. Regardless, after CEO Xie’s intervention, those annoying comments had significantly decreased.

Xie Yuzhan finally addressed the netizens in the stream: “I will arrange for lawyers to collect evidence regarding any insults and attacks. If anyone still doesn’t understand that there is no right to speak without investigation, and insists on being a reckless troublemaker, a court summons will certainly be delivered.”

After speaking, he clipped the mic back onto Bai Zhi’s collar, tidied his hair and clothes, and then sat back down, signaling that the person who had been watching could continue.

Bai Zhi nodded, took a moment to compose himself, and resumed the stream.

The comment list was indeed much cleaner after Xie Yuzhan’s words. It was more effective than kicking people out. The other party’s tone was clearly not joking, and most troublemakers were simply bullies who preyed on the weak.

When they hit a real wall, their retreat speed would leave track athletes in the dust.

As for the few who lacked common sense, he would leave them to CEO Xie. Just say it’s to increase the legal team’s KPIs; even a tiny case is still a case.

For the rest of the day’s stream, Xie Yuzhan listened to Bai Zhi’s content while silently scrolling through the comments on his phone. Most netizens were quite articulate now, and they were happily shipping the couple.

They said their voices matched well, their relationship was great, and that Bai Zhi was also very indulgent…

If they had nice things to say, they should say more.

They were married, the real deal. Ship away, it’s guaranteed sweet.

As for showing his face? No rush, there would be plenty of opportunities later.

Bai Zhi’s stream, besides plant enthusiasts, already attracted many voice and hand fetishists. Now, this accidental exposure also drew in quite a few face fetishists. Bai Zhi didn’t feel strongly about it himself. If this could be the starting point for people to learn about his plants, he wasn’t opposed.

However, this little interlude in the stream earned him a teasing call from Lu Qinghe.

He wanted to explain, but it seemed the more he tried, the worse it got. His friend still believed Xie Yuzhan liked him, and that he, too, had feelings for CEO Xie but hadn’t realized it yet.

He thought about it and denied the latter.

He would never like his natural enemy, not even a little. Being on reasonably good terms as friends was already a miracle, thank goodness for the Rabbit God’s blessing.

As for love?

Little rabbits didn’t need things like love.

There was a human saying that was perfectly accurate: The wise do not fall into the river of love. Falling in love easily leads to irrationality, and irrationality can lead to betraying oneself.

That absolutely couldn’t happen.

He was a staunch individualist. Dopamine and endorphins could be obtained from plants, sweets, and exercise. Why bother with dating? No, thank you.

Speaking of which, this incident of exposure concluded with the release of the data Xie Yuzhan had collected.

The stream and shop data were visually laid out. Even someone who hadn’t finished elementary school could understand that this was a blatant slap in the face to the haters. Useless? Incompetent?

Such impressive data would be difficult for even professional agencies and platforms to achieve.

Regarding the allegations about the cooking competition’s internal workings, at Xie Yuzhan’s suggestion and Lu Qinghe’s urging, Bai Zhi held a special cooking session in the kitchen. He used the live stream format, unedited, to clearly replicate the dishes from the preliminary rounds to the finals.

It showcased both skill and passion.

Even if the phone couldn’t transmit the aroma or taste, the high level of skill was evident.

This wave actually gained him quite a few fans. Looking at his account data, he couldn’t help but marvel to Xie Yuzhan about the magic of the internet. Before, they had cursed him so horribly, even questioning his ancestors for eight generations—though he didn’t really mind that… cough.

Now, they were praising him to the skies.

He knew exactly what he was capable of and what he truly wanted. Therefore, those slanders wouldn’t bother him, and this so-called praise wouldn’t make him complacent or forget who he was.

Xie Yuzhan simply reassured him to do what he wanted and not worry too much about the rest.

Although he hadn’t asked the other man for help, and CEO Xie said he didn’t need anything in return, Bai Zhi still wanted to show his appreciation. He cooked breakfast and dinner for him for a week straight.

Don’t think he didn’t notice the peacock tail feathers fanning out and swaying—a clear sign of good mood. Based on past experience, he chose not to point it out. It was just—

So cute!

That was his little secret!

Next, there was a very important matter: Xie Yuzhan’s birthday. Lin Haiyan had quietly told him that Xie Yuzhan hadn’t celebrated it for many years since his parents passed away.

The Wolf Lord had celebrated his birthday, so to return the favor, he wanted Xie Yuzhan to be happy on this special day, rather than just remembering his deceased parents and the old grudges.

Although it might backfire, since he chose to do it, he accepted the possibility of a bad outcome.

It was a gamble.

At worst, at worst, he wouldn’t appreciate it and would give him the cold shoulder for a few days. Then, he would take the initiative to beg for forgiveness, offer cuddles and pets, or even let the man use him as a sleeping pillow. The Wolf Lord probably, maybe, wouldn’t truly be angry with him… right?

On March 18th, after breakfast, as soon as Xie Yuzhan left the house, Bai Zhi sprang into action.

He worked all day. Despite several failures, he finally succeeded on the last attempt; otherwise, he really wouldn’t have made it in time.

He looked at the finished decorations, hands on his hips, feeling a little proud, but also nervous and expectant. He hoped he wouldn’t mess everything up.

Xie Yuzhan had a vague, uneasy premonition starting in the afternoon. Today wasn’t a good day, he knew, but he deliberately ignored it, unwilling to revisit the past.

When he returned home, Bai Zhi was unusually waiting for him by the porch, smiling brightly. He took Xie Yuzhan’s hand and led him toward the dining room. Xie Yuzhan sighed silently. He didn’t even need to see it; he could tell from the other man’s state.

Bai Zhi had definitely prepared something for today.

Sure enough, the dining room had been decorated with a concert theme. What caught his attention most was the piano-shaped cake on the table.

He stopped and looked at Bai Zhi, who turned to face him. He ruffled the other man’s hair and said, “I appreciate the thought, but, Zhizhi, I really don’t like celebrating my birthday. The cake is unique; we can eat it together.”

He was met with a gentle refusal right away, but Bai Zhi wasn’t discouraged.

He looked earnestly into Xie Yuzhan’s eyes and said, “Aunt Lin said you haven’t celebrated your birthday for many years, and I think I understand why.

“Let me tell you my thoughts. If you’re willing, we can celebrate a little. If you still don’t want to, we can just go upstairs and eat, and that’s fine too.”

Xie Yuzhan glanced at Zheng Feng and Lin Haiyan standing nearby, his gaze finally settling on Bai Zhi. Honestly, he couldn’t refuse someone so sincere.

He replied, “Alright, tell me.”

Bai Zhi took a deep breath. “I hope you can be happy, even if it’s just for this day. If there are enough happy memories on this day, they can always dilute the shadows.

“Heavy emotions might never disappear, after all… what has happened can’t be undone.

“But there will be many more birthdays in the future. A birthday is always a meaningful day for a person. I hope you can be a little happier on this day, instead of reviewing those bad emotions year after year.”

Their eyes met. Xie Yuzhan was silent, his emotions incredibly complex.

Undoubtedly, Bai Zhi was still somewhat afraid of him, yet he was willing to say these things. Had the other man considered that he might not appreciate it, or might even get angry? Yet, he persisted.

He just wanted him to be a little happier today.

Not for any other reason.

Lin Haiyan composed herself and broke the silence in the large dining room. “Zhizhi made the cake himself. It was his first time, and he failed several times. Aside from the ones that were completely inedible, we ate some of the flawed ones from lunch until afternoon tea, and there are still quite a few left.”

Zheng Feng nodded in agreement. He had probably eaten a whole year’s worth of cake today.

No, he didn’t want to eat cake for the next two years.

But Bai Zhi hated waste, and they couldn’t bear to let him eat cake for days, so they had to physically help him finish it.

Xie Yuzhan looked at the slightly embarrassed Bai Zhi. The hardened ice of melancholy in his heart began to thaw, suddenly feeling lighter. The other man was very honest and very thoughtful.

So adorable, so endearing.

He stroked Bai Zhi’s cheek, leaned in, and pressed his forehead against the other’s, looking into those bright, uncertain eyes. “Alright, you’ve convinced me. Just like you said, we’ll try.”

“Okay!”

Bai Zhi gave Xie Yuzhan a tight hug, then pulled him toward the table, smiling. “Besides the cake, I made most of the dishes too. Come and taste them!”

Xie Yuzhan glanced at the carefully prepared dishes on the table, a silent smile playing on his lips. This birthday didn’t seem so bad after all.

Lin Haiyan and Zheng Feng exchanged a look, both feeling relieved. Willingness to try was a good start. Most people would find it hard to refuse Bai Zhi’s eager, pleading eyes.

Sincerity was the greatest weapon.

Moreover, since Xie Yuzhan held Bai Zhi in his heart, he was more willing to listen to him.

Before eating the birthday cake, they naturally had to make a wish. Bai Zhi stared at Xie Yuzhan. As the other man prepared to cut the cake, he enthusiastically confirmed, “Did you make a wish just now?”

Xie Yuzhan served slices of birthday cake to Bai Zhi, Zheng Feng, and Lin Haiyan. The two elders said that special days should be left for the couple alone and left the dining room first.

Good, no need to be a third wheel.

Once they were alone in the dining room, he spoke. “With Zhizhi staring at me, of course I did.”

“That’s good!”

Xie Yuzhan watched Bai Zhi happily eating the cake and calmly said, “I don’t believe that the act of wishing truly brings about change, but since you believe it, I won’t tell you the whole thing. I’ll tell you half for now.”

Bai Zhi nodded, a little curious. “That’s fine. Not telling the whole thing shouldn’t affect it.”

Xie Yuzhan leaned closer, lowering his voice with a slight smile. “I want something from a certain person.”

Bai Zhi’s cake fork suddenly froze. Something from a certain person? His heart skipped a beat, and he involuntarily swallowed non-existent saliva. R-rabbit head?

The bunny was sitting on pins and needles.

Xie Yuzhan saw Bai Zhi’s confused and helpless expression. His heart felt ticklish. The other man probably had no idea how alluring this innocent, cute look was. It would be a crime not to kiss him in such a perfect atmosphere.

He composed himself and tapped Bai Zhi’s chest with his finger. “Here’s a hint.”

Bai Zhi, whose heart was poked, almost choked. Rabbit heart? Rabbit breast meat? No, no, that wasn’t right. His small animal intuition helped him discern one thing: the other party probably wasn’t referring to a physical object?

What was it then?!

Xie Yuzhan knew Bai Zhi hadn’t understood his hint. It didn’t matter; he could be more direct, more straightforward.

He leaned in closer.

There was something he had wanted to do for a long time. There was no time like the present. Today, in this atmosphere.