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Twenty-Sixth Period
T/N: Translated by Jen on Broken Jinsei! Please do not repost my translations! All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Zhou Yanli has very low tolerance for alcohol. He found out when he drank for the first time in his second year of middle school.
Commonly known as lightweight, passing out after half a glass.
When he woke up, the sky was already bright. It was snowing outside.
He had slept on the sofa in the living room. He didn’t know who had put the blanket on him, not even covering him properly——–in fact, it wasn’t even spread out, probably just randomly thrown on him.
The sofa wasn’t small, but for his height, it was truly too cramp to sleep on.
He massaged his shoulders and stretched his body. That soreness that he hasn’t experienced in a long time made him uncontrollably mutter a curse.
Thinking about how he’d passed out from drinking in front of Zhou Jinwei yesterday, he just felt embarrassed.
Beer! Half a can! Not even half a bottle!
There was no one in the living room, but there were sounds coming from the kitchen. He momentarily froze, casually grabbing the coat by his side and putting it on. He walked over and lifted the curtain halfway.
Inside the narrow kitchen, there were currently two people standing in it.
Jiang Huihui had an apron on, about to drop the noodles in her hand into the pot. She asked Zhou Jinwei, “How many eggs?”
The latter was helping her out in the kitchen, “Just one.”
She glanced at his injured hand, “Is one enough?”
Hearing this, he laughed, “I’m the one eating it, not my hand.”
“No, but….” She explained, “Eating more protein is beneficial to the recovery.”
There’s even this saying? He lifted his eyes and saw Jiang Huihui staring at him with a worried look.
Thus, he nodded his head, “Then two.”
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Jiang Huihui cracked four eggs into the pot, two for Zhou Jinwei, two for Zhou Yanli.
Perhaps because she was used to getting neglected at home, she had unknowingly developed this kind of habit.
No matter what she was doing, she would never think of herself.
Although he’d hired a cleaner to clean the place beforehand, Zhou Jinwei’s obsession with cleanliness still made it impossible for him to casually lean anywhere in the kitchen.
He quietly watched her move her hands.
–
Zhou Yanli was tall. Standing at the door, he blocked half the light. His eyelids were drooping as he slowly yawned.
Zhou Jinwei didn’t turn around, “Awake?”
“No.” Zhou Yanli sarcastically responded, “I’m sleepwalking.”
The noodles were done. Zhou Jinwei said, “Then have this carried out while sleepwalking.”
His tone cold and commanding.
Zhou Yanli was annoyed, blurting out, “You f#%$ing ordering me around like a son?”
Zhou Jinwei didn’t say a word, just turning back and glancing at him.
Zhou Yanli was left speechless by his look.
Damn it, he really was his f#%$ing son!
He gritted his teeth, nearly crushing his molars. Holding in a stomach full of anger, he went in and carried the bowl out.
Zhou Jinwei didn’t leave. He took the apron that Jiang Huihui had just taken off, fell silent for a moment, and then handed it back to her.
Afterwards, he turned his back to her, “Help me tie it on.”
Unlike his tone with Zhou Yanli just now, he was clearly a lot more gentle.
Jiang Huihui blanked, “Why are you putting the apron on?”
He clearly didn’t want to explain too much, “Just tie it on.”
“Oh.” Jiang Huihui muttered in a muffled voice. She stepped forward and wrapped the apron around him, the straps tightening around his waist, tying into a pretty bow.
She didn’t control her strength well and tied it too tightly.
It wasn’t like tying an apron on him, but more like measuring his waistline.
He let out a low, muffled grunt, turning back to look at her, his eyes somewhat innocent, “What’s wrong?”
It was like asking: What did I do to offend you?
Jiang Huihui’s face instantly turned red, half-embarrassed, half-apologetic.
“Sorry, I….I didn’t do it on purpose.”
She hurriedly loosened it for him.
Zhou Jinwei wore a cream-colored wool sweater today. The material looked very soft. Just now, when she was tying the apron on him, the back of her hand had accidentally touched it.
The texture was also very soft.
His shoulders were very broad, yet his waist was surprisingly narrow. Heard that some boys’ physiques were inverted triangles, gradually narrowing as you go further down to the waist.
People like this usually have the habit of working out.
Was…..he also like this?
“What’s wrong?” The young man’s deep magnetic voice sounded.
Jiang Huihui stopped her random thoughts, shaking her head and unconsciously taking a step back, “It’s done.”
“En.” He retracted his gaze, turning the fire back on.
Jiang Huihui was curious, “What else still needs to be made?”
He didn’t answer her.
After not getting a response, Jiang Huihui pursed her lips, but she didn’t continue asking, tactfully going to the living room.
Zhou Yanli was currently in the bathroom washing up, vigorously brushing his teeth, as if letting off steam.
The previous owners of this place had long moved out. This place had been vacant for a very long time, so normally, it was always very bleak and quiet.
Today, however, there was a strange sense of calm, everyday life.
The sounds from the kitchen, as well as the sounds from the bathroom, all seemed particularly heartwarming on this quiet, dim winter morning.
Jiang Huihui first glanced at the time, then opened the window to look outside.
At this hour, the sky had just began to lighten. The people outside, aside from the students who need to get up early for school, were just those going out to buy groceries.
She glanced around, not seeing any familiar faces.
She then closed the window. The wind outside was truly too strong.
By the time she came back, Zhou Yanli had already portioned the noodles into three bowls.
Jiang Huihui’s bowl was practically overflowing, with four whole eggs all in her bowl.
Her eyes widened. This bowl was bigger than her head, “I can’t eat all of that.”
She held the chopsticks, wanting to have the eggs put back into their bowls.
However, Zhou Yanli was adamant, “If you can’t finish it, just leave it.”
At this time, the stove in the kitchen got turned off, followed by a bit of noise. Zhou Jinwei had the shakshuka[1] he just made brought out.
He only made one portion. After bringing it out, he glanced at the bowl in front of Jiang Huihui.
He hesitated for a moment, then had the bowl of noodles pushed aside, having the shakshuka in his hand placed in front of her.
Zhou Yanli saw and furrowed his brows, “What’s this, you only made one?”
Zhou Jinwei ignored him, pulling out the chair and sitting down.
F#$%, what the hell.
Zhou Yanli was annoyed, taking a large bite of the noodles. His head was still dizzy.
Jiang Huihui noticed, asking, “Not feeling well?”
“It’s alright, bearable.” He casually replied.
Jiang Huihui thought that he had a cold, so reached out to touch his forehead.
Zhou Jinwei hardly moved his chopsticks. He glanced down at his phone, and after a long silence, he locked his phone screen, finally saying, “I won’t be going to school with you two later.”
Zhou Yanli looked up, his interest piqued, “What’s up, skipping class? Take me with you.”
Zhou Jinwei soundlessly glanced at him.
Zhou Yanli resentfully looked away and scoffed, “As if I care.”
Zhou Jinwei went over to get his coat, “I have to go back to the capital for a few days. If there’s anything, you can call me directly.”
Don’t know who these words were for.
Probably said to the both of them.
Zhou Yanli was too lazy to bother with him. Even when eating, his mannerism was sloppy. Zhou Jinwei couldn’t stand seeing him like this, his brows furrowing, but he ultimately didn’t say anything.
Jiang Huihui, on the other hand, nodded her head, “Be careful on the way, have a good trip.”
After the interactions these last few days, she seemingly wasn’t scared of him anymore. Zhou Jinwei’s gaze softened.
She looked at him with the chopsticks in hand, but the moment their eyes met, she hastily lowered her head.
Zhou Jinwei had a calm look as he put on his coat, “I’ll be going then.”
Once he left, he indeed didn’t come back for several days.
Jiang Huihui went home the next day. Her mom saw her but didn’t say anything. She just rummaged through the cabinets and said that she was always troubling Zhan Tong this much, so should bring her a bit of something as thanks.
After looking around, she finally cut off half of the cured meat hanging above the windowsill, letting Jiang Huihui take it with her the next time she looks for Zhan Tong.
Jiang Huihui nodded.
Suddenly, terrified screams came from outside, sounding particularly pitiful and frightening early in the morning.
It was Jiang Man who’d just gone out. He scrambled back inside, pointing outside with trembling fingers, too scared to even speak properly.
“Out…outside, there’s…..”
“There’s what?” Seeing him like this, her mom frowned, “How old are you, to still be as timid as a cat. You don’t find it embarrassing if someone sees you?!”
Jiang Man was scared into tears, “Outside….outside, there’s….there’s a monster!!!!”
Monster?
Her mom blanked, when did monsters come into the neighborhood?
She went over to open the door, glancing out into the hallway.
Jiang Huihui also curiously followed over.
She just saw the door across from them wide open and a tall, well-built young man leaning against the doorframe. His attire was very simple, grey sweatpants paired with a black sweatshirt, and a pair of indoor slippers on his feet.
Because he’d just woken up, there was a very strong air of morning grumpiness on him.
He was currently staring at the door across the hall with a dark expression——that is, Jiang Huihui’s place.
And brushing his teeth.
Meanwhile, Jiang Man was screaming and bawling behind them.
“Wahhhhh, he definitely moved here just so he can beat me up more easily!!!! I want to go to uncle’s place. I’m not going to stay here!!”
Jiang Huihui froze in place, finally understanding why Jiang Man was crying.
In his short ten years of life, the few childhood traumas he has experienced were all brought upon him by this person in front.
Roughly counting, Zhou Yanli has only been here for a little over a month, yet he has already beaten him three times.
Moreover, with Zhou Yanli’s current look, his resentment was so heavy that saying he had ten lives on his hands would be believable.
Even Jing Huihui was somewhat scared seeing him like this.
Her mom stared at him for a while.
This person looked about the same age as Jiang Huihui and was tall and handsome.
Just, he gave off a unserious, roguish vibe.
He seemed strangely familiar, like she’d seen him before somewhere, but she couldn’t remember in the moment.
Her mom turned and asked Jiang Huihui, “He looks a bit familiar, have I seen him before?”
Jiang Huihui had a guilty look. Of course he looked familiar, you almost got beat up by him last time.
She gave Zhou Yanli a look, then played dumb in front of her mom, “I don’t know either.”
Zhou Yanli took out the toothbrush from his mouth, replying to her with foam in his mouth, “Auntie probably seen me before at the school’s awards ceremony.”
Her mom froze on the spot. A good while later, her expression changed, her eyes lighting up, different from that disdainful look just now.
The great majority of people here were shallow. The primary way to judge a person was just either by their grades or their income.
Her mom smiled warmly and friendly, “Looks like this student’s grades are pretty good.”
Not only was her mom astonished, Jiang Huihui was also astonished.
When has he ever taken part in an awards ceremony before?
He has been in a reflection ceremony before, being the one reading the reflection essay.
Zhou Yanli swallowed the foam, “It’s alright, merely in first place.”
First to last was also a kind of first place.
[1] This is a popular egg dish originating from North Africa. It’s Chinese name is literally ‘North African Eggs’.
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