Rat, Rabbit, And Rabbit Transformed Into Humans And Married Their Natural Enemies. Chapter 8

Chapter 8

The sudden silence was the most frightening thing.

The large dining room’s air almost solidified due to Bai Zhi’s sudden words and actions. In that quiet stillness, he slowly realized the impropriety of his behavior, and also that he really did not want to eat anything shaped like a rabbit—it felt too weird!

Although it was a little white rabbit, and not the same species as him, it was a bunny nonetheless.

Um…

Was it still possible to retract the offer of a single pan-fried dumpling?

He gripped his chopsticks tightly, unable to stop a slight tremor. He felt that Xie Yuzhan’s gaze held the kind of anger one felt when offended. Of course, someone so fastidious and particular would never share chopsticks with anyone else.

Maybe he should just forget it and retract the bunny’s overambitious attempt at probing.

He shouldn’t genuinely anger the big shot.

However.

Xie Yuzhan looked into his eyes and actually ate the pan-fried dumpling he had offered, his movements remaining calm and elegant.

Huh?

Now it was the bunny’s turn to be shocked. Didn’t he think he was being presumptuous? Didn’t he mind that these were his used chopsticks? Was he willing to be fed by him? Did this mean the other party also agreed to feed him?

Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute!

He felt his mind was a mess. After calming down just now, he thought his action was too rash, yet the other person was actually willing to cooperate. It was, well, it was quite strange, like the Fox Director he encountered while foraging suddenly losing all interest in pikas.

It was ridiculous.

Xie Yuzhan noticed Bai Zhi’s surprise. In fact, he was also surprised that he was willing.

When the other party cautiously approached with the courage of a warrior breaking his own wrist, he should have refused. But not only did he not feel displeasure, he actually felt a flicker of interest.

It was indeed strange.

Perhaps he hadn’t rested well last night.

He didn’t want to see disappointment or embarrassment surface on Bai Zhi’s face. Fear was different; fear had been there from the start, and Bai Zhi had stated it frankly. Other things were not the same; would this little bit of awkwardness be something the other party could speak about?

It was rare for him to take the initiative to do something; he shouldn’t let the little rabbit shrink back again.

This directness was rare and should be encouraged.

He picked up a shrimp dumpling, held it to Bai Zhi’s mouth, and said, “I trust Aunt Lin’s cooking. The flavor is excellent. Now it’s your turn. You must keep your word.”

Bai Zhi stared blankly, looking at the calm and serious Xie Yuzhan, who wouldn’t allow him to back out, and then at the exquisite, translucent shrimp dumpling shaped like a little rabbit in front of him. He was still a bit stiff.

He couldn’t bring himself to eat it!

He sniffed, smelling the fresh and savory aroma. He didn’t doubt Lin Haiyan’s cooking either, but this was meat, after all.

After nearly a minute of deadlock, he finally took a slow breath. Although his words had been impulsive, rash, and thoughtless, words spoken were like water spilled. Since Mr. Xie had already done as he asked, how could he renege?

Though small, the bunny was willing to take responsibility for his actions.

It was a case of either sticking his head out for the chop or shrinking back for the same chop, so he might as well be decisive. It was just a dumpling wrapper shaped like a bunny!

It was made of starch; it wasn’t like he was actually being asked to eat a bunny!

With a determined heart, he opened his mouth and took a bite of the rabbit-shaped shrimp dumpling, chewing, chewing, chewing.

Inside were whole shrimp, pork belly with the perfect ratio of fat and lean meat, and diced bamboo shoots and mushrooms interspersed throughout. The combined texture was slightly strange yet harmonious, and very fragrant—a savory freshness completely different from vegetarian food.

In all fairness, it was quite delicious.

Xie Yuzhan watched Bai Zhi. The little rabbit was chewing very seriously, always so meticulous with food, even with something he hadn’t eaten before or might not like.

Not many people ate with such focus nowadays.

Watching Bai Zhi eat made the food seem more appealing. Even someone without an appetite could develop a good one. It was very suitable for accompanying a meal.

Swallowing the shrimp dumpling, Bai Zhi retreated and sat properly in his own seat, praising, “It’s quite tasty too.”

Xie Yuzhan curved his lips. “That’s good. You can eat some occasionally.”

Bai Zhi mumbled a response. He would think about that later; he was probably still more accustomed to vegetarian food. Meat… he had to mentally prepare himself every time he ate it, and he was too lazy for the trouble.

However, if it meant exchanging food with Mr. Xie, it wasn’t entirely out of the question.

Strangely, he even found it a little interesting.

Speaking of which, the dumpling was eaten, and he had tested the waters. The Wolf Lord probably didn’t intend to bite him recently. The bunny was temporarily safe and could relax a bit.

After breakfast, Xie Yuzhan left for the company. Taking advantage of the summer sun’s heat not yet having fully risen, Bai Zhi strolled around the backyard lawn. The fresh scent of grass mixed with the sweet fragrance of many flowers—it lacked wildness but excelled in delicate aroma, which was very pleasant to smell.

After his walk, he headed back along the white corridor lined with hydrangeas. These past few days, he had been tending to the flowers and plants during the day, so he had streamed at night. Since he had nothing planned today, he decided to stream during the day.

He didn’t pursue traffic, so his time was more flexible.

But as he reached the corridor, Zheng Feng, who was waiting there, informed him of an unexpected matter: the original owner’s mother and elder brother had come to see him and were currently in the living room on the first floor.

He frowned. They hadn’t even called ahead to say they were coming!

Uninvited guests were rude. Even before meeting them, he felt the clacking of that mother and son’s abacus beads practically hitting him in the face. They definitely had ill intentions.

He originally didn’t want to see them and thought about finding an excuse to send them away, but if he didn’t see them today, there would be a next time. How long could he hide? There was no time like the present. He would clarify things today. It would be best if he could resolve the issue once and for all.

He had no good feelings for the Bai family.

When he arrived in the living room, he had just sat down when his elder brother, Bai Enfan, asked how he and Xie Yuzhan were getting along after the marriage. It was obvious this was groundwork.

His expression was cold. “Since it’s my mother and elder brother, I’ll be frank. Mr. Xie and I are strangers who merely share a marriage certificate. To be honest, we haven’t even eaten a meal together, just like when I was in the Bai family.”

Bai Enfan wasn’t too surprised by this. He knew how useless his younger brother was. If he knew how to curry favor, he wouldn’t have been a pretty face for so many years.

He leaned closer, smiling, and coaxed patiently, “It’s precisely because we worry about you that Mom and I came to visit.

“Little brother, since you’re married, you should take more initiative.

“Although the Xie family is primarily in Chairman Xie’s hands, Mr. Xie also manages quite a few things, and he has the support of those old elders from back then. As long as you can get him to loosen his grip a little, any benefits that leak out to us will be enough.

“Don’t be shy. As long as you put your mind to it, no one can refuse you.”

Chen Liwen, sitting next to Bai Enfan, chimed in, “Your brother is right. We’re family now. You must be vigilant and not let Mr. Xie be charmed by some vixen outside.”

Bai Enfan shot Chen Liwen a look. “Mom, Mr. Xie isn’t that kind of person.”

Receiving his son’s reminder, Chen Liwen quickly apologized. “Right, right, right. It’s Mom worrying too much and saying the wrong thing. Xiao Zhi, you mustn’t speak nonsense in front of Mr. Xie.”

After this instruction, she stopped talking. Her tongue was clumsy, and she didn’t want to delay her husband and son’s important business.

Bai Enfan turned back to Bai Zhi. “Mom has been talking about you these past few days, worried that you wouldn’t adjust after getting married.”

Bai Zhi felt numb listening to this. They were trying to play the emotional card. And no one could refuse him? They were referring to his face, weren’t they? Was his appearance his only advantage? Why should he accept whatever they said?

Were they trying to psychologically manipulate him?

Sorry, but he wasn’t the original owner, who could be molded and manipulated at will.

He leaned lazily against the sofa armrest. He was terrified when facing Xie Yuzhan, but he had no psychological burden when facing these dirty, conniving things.

He opened his mouth and asked, “Is this performance of a loving mother, filial son, and harmonious brothers over?”

Bai Enfan’s smile froze on his face. “Little brother, what are you…”

Bai Zhi didn’t give him face and cut straight to the point. “You came uninvited today without considering my situation. Stop acting. I find it incredibly boring. I’ll make things clear to you today.

“I am me, and you are you. You must have received a lot of benefits when I married Mr. Xie.

“Contentment brings happiness. Don’t harbor any other ideas. Want me to help you gain benefits from Mr. Xie? Give it a rest. I cannot cooperate with you in the slightest.

“Instead of looking for me, you might as well pick up more bottles on your way back. At least one bottle is five cents, clearly priced, fair trade. You pick it up, you get it. Tangible benefits are the only real ones.

“Don’t you agree?”

Having said this, he stood up decisively and concluded, “Don’t come looking for me again. If you do, you’ll only be asking for trouble.”

After dropping that statement, he left the living room directly. When he saw Zheng Feng waiting outside, his expression softened slightly. He said, “Please trouble Uncle Zheng to see them out. If they come again, don’t let them in. Any excuse will do.”

Zheng Feng agreed, watching Bai Zhi’s retreating figure up the stairs with a thoughtful look.

This young master was quite clear-headed.

Indeed, he was insightful.

Moreover, he handled things decisively and without dragging his feet. Facing so-called family members who sold him off and still wanted to suck his blood, cutting the knot quickly was perhaps the best way to deal with it. Drawing a clear line was the maximum way to avoid endless trouble.

It was just that some people might not be so sensible.

For Bai Zhi, having clarified things with the Bai mother and son, the matter was temporarily closed. He had said everything he needed and wanted to say. Whether they accepted it or not was their business and had little to do with him.

He stayed home ten days out of ten, so he wasn’t afraid of being cornered.

However, this incident still somewhat affected his mood, making him feel disgusted. He also felt a little sorry for the original owner. He had already reached the study but couldn’t resist turning back to the kitchen on the first floor to find Lin Haiyan, wanting a head rub.

The previous times Xie Yuzhan had rubbed his head felt quite comfortable.

It could make his mood better.

Lin Haiyan knew Bai Zhi was seeking comfort when he asked for a rub. She carefully massaged his head and coaxed him for a while. When he left the kitchen, she even slipped him some small snacks.

As Bai Zhi carried a plate of small cookies and a plate of yogurt squares upstairs, a big question mark hovered over his head. Lin Haiyan’s head rub was very gentle, but why did it feel different from Xie Yuzhan’s rub?

How strange.

Was there a trick to stroking and rubbing a head?

During dinner with Xie Yuzhan that evening, he proactively brought up the day’s events. He said candidly, “They just want to squeeze out the last bit of my value. I don’t want to get involved with them anymore. Selling a son for glory is disgusting. Mr. Xie doesn’t need to bother with them either.”

Xie Yuzhan had already heard about it from Zheng Feng. Hearing Bai Zhi’s words, he said, “It’s good that you recognize that. For you, the Bai family is not just a quagmire, but a burden.

“Furthermore, they were already given a large sum of money when we married. By all accounts, they have no reason to pester you further.”

To grow up in a family where belittling and suppression were daily occurrences, and for Bai Zhi to still maintain such purity—what if he had grown up under the protection of loving parents?

Just thinking about it made it impossible to have a good impression of the Bai family.

Of course, from another perspective, that kind of neglect might not have been entirely bad. Bai Zhi’s current disposition was out of place in the Bai family, which was probably due to his parents’ hands-off approach, combined with him raising himself well.

Bai Zhi nodded, understanding the situation.

They had already taken the benefits and still came brazenly demanding things? Sure enough, shameless people were invincible. The bunny sighed in admiration.

He waved his hand. “Let’s not talk about them. They’re a depressing family, so boring.”

Xie Yuzhan wasn’t interested in the Bai family; they weren’t worth discussing further. He followed Bai Zhi’s lead and asked, “How is your live streaming going?”

Bai Zhi immediately brightened up when this was mentioned. His eyes shone a degree brighter, and he smiled. “It’s going great!

“Although there aren’t many people in the stream, everyone is very friendly. I love flowers and plants, and chatting about them with the viewers makes me happy.”

Xie Yuzhan believed this. Bai Zhi’s good mood was evident; he became enthusiastic and radiant, a completely different expression from before.

These past few days, when he had free time, Xie Yuzhan would watch for a little while. The traffic for the new account was indeed dismal, with few people, but the retention rate of those who clicked in was very high.

Bai Zhi’s voice was like materialized sunshine, with the texture of clouds and cotton candy—soft, clear, and vibrant, carrying a few hints of unhurried, casual laziness. When introducing the plants, one could clearly hear his obvious affection.

Passion bolstered by a sense of ease was infectious.

It was very moving.

He suggested, “Since you like it, why not consider extending it slightly and opening an online shop? It’s a win-win situation. You don’t need special promotion; just go with the flow, as you said. This way, you can more practically share the things you love with others.”

Bai Zhi bit into a pan-fried small potato, chewing while carefully considering Xie Yuzhan’s suggestion.

He knew about live commerce; he had seen many examples, but he wasn’t very interested. However, opening an online shop was feasible. He could continue chatting as he did now, without needing to specifically promote anything. Interested viewers could just place orders in the shop. The focus would be on a casual, Buddhist approach.

Earning a little pocket money would be the icing on the cake.

He nodded. “That’s a good suggestion. I’ll open one in the next couple of days. I also have sources. I know some viewers who work in this area, and I’ve checked the quality; it’s fine. If possible, I can grow some myself later. The terrace area is quite large.”

How much volume could his little shop handle?

It would be great if he could make a sale every day. He was easily satisfied.

Looking at the radiant Bai Zhi, Xie Yuzhan sighed inwardly. Perhaps it was because the other person’s skin was so fair, but why did the person in front of him seem to be glowing?

He shifted his gaze and said, “If you need help, you can ask Uncle Zheng. He’d be happy to find things for you to do, as long as you’re not causing trouble.”

Bai Zhi couldn’t help but laugh, nodding repeatedly. “Okay, I got it!”

He could choose not to ask the Wolf Lord for help, but why not ask the reliable Antelope Uncle? Since he lived under the Xie family roof, he wouldn’t be so distant.

He quite liked Zheng Feng and Lin Haiyan.

Once decided, he acted immediately. After dinner, he went back to his room to research. When he told Lu Qinghe, the other person was also very supportive, saying it was good to pursue a career related to his hobbies.

He didn’t have strong ambitions in his career. For a pika, survival was the sole purpose of existence, but now he was a human, after all.

Crucially, he liked plants and flowers and was willing to do it.

After chatting with Lu Qinghe, he checked the time—9:30 PM. After ten seconds of thought, he stood up and scurried upstairs. He had a very, very important matter to discuss with Xie Yuzhan.

Why did the head rub from the other person feel different from Lin Haiyan’s head rub?

He was very concerned about this.

This was the most wonderful feeling in his bunny life, and he wanted to figure it out.

The bunny’s motto was not to go to bed with questions; otherwise, even his dreams wouldn’t be peaceful. If Mr. Xie was in a good mood and willing to rub his head again, the day would be complete, and he could sleep soundly!