Lazing Through the Ages

by Usui Takumii

not mine, asia novel dot net. Beware bl and edited mtl.

Lazing Through the Ages

by山石土

Before Shen Sinqin died from illness, he donated all his possessions, wishing only that in his next life he wouldn't be the king of strivers; instead, he wanted to be a healthy, handsome man living a carefree life—a man as relaxed as a salted fish, as laid-back as could be.

And then he transmigrated into a book. He became Shen Erwa, a minor character in a period piece, a tall and handsome young man with no lofty ambitions. In the village, he dreamed of courting the chief's daughter, and when the protagonist moved the family to the city for business, he set his sights on the daughter of the protagonist's business partner.

He managed to charm the young girl, successfully pairing off with a wealthy beauty, and after her father's death, he took advantage of the situation. The protagonist, upholding justice, sent him to prison.

Like a cockroach that wouldn't die, Shen Erwa caused trouble for the protagonist from the very first chapter, even managing to appear decades later, still hale and hearty, only to be humiliated once again by the protagonist.

His vitality was truly remarkable!

Shen Sinqin: "…It seems it's not entirely impossible."

Later, Shen Sinqin lived the carefree life he had always dreamed of, casually snatching away a future big shot along the way.

---

Chapter 1

Shen Siqin stood by the bustling street, next to a towering willow tree so large it took two people to encircle it. The late summer willow branches swayed in the breeze, brushing against his arm, leaving a faint tingling sensation.

The sun was slightly westward, and young people on bicycles, elderly men in loose shorts fetching water, and girls chatting while linked arm-in-arm all passed by...

Everything seemed encapsulated behind a brown-tinted glass, making it feel unreal.

A sweet, enticing scent of old-fashioned cake wafted to his nose.

The aroma was overpowering and intense.

It jolted Shen Siqin, who had just arrived from another world, fully awake.

The surroundings also appeared more vivid.

Shen Siqin lifted his hand and saw that his right hand held a red plastic bag containing over a dozen freshly baked, crispy and fluffy old-fashioned egg cakes.

His beautiful almond-shaped eyes lit up.

He recalled that when he was young, his family would bring oil and eggs to the shop to exchange for egg cakes. He loved the melon seed-shaped ones—the small cakes with the center being the fluffiest. When split open, one could see the golden, soft interior beneath the caramel-colored crust.

Freshly made were the best—crispy on the outside and tender inside.

Yes, they were best eaten now.

By the time Shen Siqin realized this, he had already taken a bite out of an egg cake.

The fragrant sweetness flooded his mouth.

Shen Siqin paused slightly; he hadn't enjoyed food properly in a long time.

For someone who loved eating, dying of stomach cancer was truly torturous.

It was only then that Shen Siqin believed he had truly come back to life!!!

That voice hadn't deceived him.

While munching on the fresh egg cake, he reminisced about his past.

Born in a remote village, his parents died due to illness, and he was raised by his grandmother.

The mountain village lacked educational resources, and Shen Siqin wasn't particularly smart. But as his name suggested, he was always striving. By reviewing lessons even while walking, he managed to get into a prestigious university.

When he applied for college, civil engineering was booming.

Following the trend, he dove headfirst into the field. After graduation, he bypassed the opportunity for further studies and went straight to work at a construction site. Within two years, he became a project manager, later switching to a client-side position, leaving the construction site behind.

Through relentless hard work, he built a wide network and eventually switched to the interior decoration industry. At twenty-five, he finally opened his own small decoration company.

With the times and his efforts, the small company grew larger, and Shen Siqin finally had the means to enjoy life.

Then he was diagnosed with stomach cancer!

The only solace for Shen Siqin was that his grandmother passed away peacefully in her sleep before learning of his illness, never knowing that her proud grandson fell ill before reaching thirty.

Though wealthy enough to extend his life, the painful and lonely existence was a torment for Shen Siqin.

He felt like a spinning top, and his illness was the hand pressing him down.

Reassessing his life, Shen Siqin found it lacking, with no hobbies besides eating and cooking. Work was merely a means to make money, and even his beloved food lost its joy after his illness.

He had rarely enjoyed a day of leisure, making his life somewhat unfulfilling.

Before his death, Shen Siqin donated his wealth to a trustworthy organization.

In his final moments, Shen Siqin wished not to be a striver in his next life but a healthy, handsome, and carefree person.

As carefree as possible!

And then, he received a response!!!

A voice said it could send him to a newly formed world derived from a novel, which was now self-sustaining.

With his profound merit, he could retain his memories and enter this world.

The entire content of the novel appeared in his mind, as if imprinted there.

The Nineties Couple*

A story of a couple overcoming obstacles through hard work to achieve success.

And his new identity was one of those obstacles!

The protagonist's troublesome younger brother, Shen Erwa, tall and handsome but aimless, sought to marry the village chief's daughter. When the protagonist moved the family to the city for business, Shen Erwa tried to woo the daughter of the protagonist's business partner.

He charmed the girl, married into wealth, and after causing her father's death, seized the property. The protagonist, in a fit of righteous anger, sent him to prison.

Resilient like a cockroach, Shen Erwa caused trouble from the first chapter until decades later, still robust and causing trouble in the epilogue.

Extremely handsome.

Extremely resilient!!!

Coincidentally, Shen Erwa's full name was also Shen Siqin.

Shen Siqin: "..."

It seems like it's not impossible.

He took another bite of the warm steamed egg cake, his thoughts drifting slowly.

Speaking of which, when exactly did I end up in this time period?

Although Shen Siqin had Shen Erwa's memories, they felt more like episodes of a TV show. He needed to carefully recall to match them with the content of the novel.

By the time he finished the steamed egg cake in his hand, Shen Siqin had almost figured out the current timeline.

Steamed egg cake?

Was he waiting for someone?

He remembered!

In *The Nineties Couple, Wen Shouhong, the father of the rich girl deceived by Shen Erwa's appearance, disapproved of Shen Siqin dating his daughter. He kept the newly graduated Wen Changxiang under strict watch. Shen Erwa planned to turn their relationship into a fait accompli.

He had already investigated thoroughly. Despite Wen Shouhong's successful business and love for his daughter, he held some old-fashioned views. According to the plot, Shen Erwa secured his relationship with Wen Changxiang, forcing Wen Shouhong to accept it.

This caused a rift between the protagonist and Wen Shouhong, leading to a crisis in the protagonist's career.

This was a significant plot point.

The young girl was at her rebellious stage; the more her father forbade something, the more she resisted. Taking advantage of her father's busy schedule, Wen Changxiang used the excuse of consulting Professor Liu about university applications to slip away.

The driver dropped her off at the office building, and Wen Changxiang sneaked out to meet Shen Siqin.

Shen Erwa had bought half a pot of freshly made steamed egg cakes beforehand. After luring the girl out and cheering her up, he took her to a hotel. It wasn't until Wen Changxiang called her teacher that they realized she was missing.

By the time Professor Liu, Wen Shouhong, and the protagonist Sijian found them, it was too late.

Shen Siqin: "…"

His gaze involuntarily fell on the red plastic bag he was holding.

Even the steamed egg cakes seemed tainted.

But what had the steamed egg cakes done wrong? Clearly, it was the people's fault!

Shen Siqin instantly felt no discomfort about replacing the original character.

He cautiously pulled out a clean handkerchief from his pocket.

As a pretty boy, Shen Erwa cared a lot about his image. Not only did he carry a handkerchief but also a plastic comb that could hold water. The comb's handle was a small plastic tube; when opened, water would flow to a sponge at the base of the teeth, making the hair glossy.

Shen Siqin wiped his hands and mouth clean with the handkerchief but refused to use the 'magical' comb.

No wonder he felt his hair was a bit damp.

He gently shook his hair, disrupting its neat arrangement. Shen Siqin moved into the sunlight, letting his thick hair dry naturally.

Compared to glossy hair, he preferred it to dry quickly.

He rummaged through Shen Erwa's mobile phone, which was smaller than his palm. Shen Siqin found Wen Shouhong's number, knowing he wouldn't answer Shen Erwa's call. Instead, he sent a message.

"I will break things off with Wen Changxiang. We are meeting today near the largest willow tree by the east gate of Beizhi University."

After sending the message, Shen Siqin waited quietly.

However, before Wen Shouhong called, a clear voice reached him first.

"Siqin! Over here!"

Shen Siqin calmly followed the sound and saw a girl in a red dress waving happily at him.

She wore a delicately woven bracelet with a miniature mobile phone attached. Her beautiful long hair was adorned with an elegant light blue headband.

Radiant and lively, she was like a dancing note.

Shen Siqin looked at the girl purely out of appreciation.

She was beautiful.

But Shen Siqin, being male and attracted to men, felt no other emotions besides admiration.

The infatuated Wen Changxiang didn't notice such details.

"You have no idea how hard it was for me to get out. My dad is such a stubborn old man," Wen Changxiang said as she walked briskly to Shen Siqin, reaching out to link arms with him.

Shen Siqin stepped back, avoiding her touch.

Now Wen Changxiang finally sensed something was amiss.

"What's wrong? Are you angry? My dad is in the wrong; he shouldn't look down on you," Wen Changxiang said, biting her lip hesitantly. "You're so smart. If you attend night school and retake the exams, you'll definitely achieve something. Then my dad won't stand in our way!"

Shen Siqin sighed inwardly and said sternly, "We shouldn't see each other anymore."

"It's not that you're bad; I just don't like you. I pursued you because your dad is rich."

Wen Changxiang's smile froze instantly.

She said with a trembling voice, "Is... Is it my father who forced you to say this? I don't believe it! Your family isn't poor anymore, and my father is still working with your brother. Don't try to fool me!"

Wen Changxiang reached out to grab Shen Siqin's sleeve.

But her fair hand was once again deftly avoided by Shen Siqin.

Shen Siqin thought, _Young girls in love can be quite unreasonable._

He repeated solemnly, "I'm sorry, but what I said is true. I've always been lazy and dependent on my older brother... I almost got engaged to the village chief's daughter, and when I came to the city, I broke it off. Your father should have told you. You can go to my hometown and ask around about my reputation."

"But why did you suddenly tell the truth? I still don't believe you!" No bad person would admit they were bad, Wen Changxiang shook her head vigorously, her almond eyes filled with tears.

"Now this is affecting my brother's cooperation with your father. I came here today to tell you that we shouldn't see each other anymore. Consider this a lesson; don't judge people just by their looks. I hope my brother and your father can work together smoothly."

Don't interfere with my freeloading life with my brother.

The meaning of his words was clear.

Shen Siqin's face remained cold, as if he wasn't talking about himself at all. He dared to say this because he knew that their current cooperation was close, and Wen Shouhong highly regarded Shen Sijian. By being so direct with Wen Changxiang, he wouldn't anger Wen Shouhong.

Wen Changxiang's slender body trembled uncontrollably.

She was infuriated by Shen Siqin's audacity!

The commotion drew the attention of many passersby.

"How shameless this young man is."

"Hey, do you know what happened?"

"Well, he saw the girl's family had money and tricked her into dating him."

"He does look decent."

...

With so many people pointing and whispering, Shen Siqin remained calm, but Wen Changxiang didn't have such thick skin. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her breathing and maintain her composure.

She said with a trembling voice, "I will investigate."

Wen Changxiang didn't know whether she hoped it was true or false.

Shen Siqin's face was still handsome, but unlike his usual lively demeanor, he now appeared calm and indifferent, making her feel like she didn't recognize him.

Shen Siqin nodded, somewhat grateful for the crowd's presence.

Seeing Shen Siqin's continued coldness, Wen Changxiang couldn't deceive herself that Shen Siqin was just following her father's orders and acting.

Unable to hold back any longer, she abruptly turned and fled from the crowd.

She suddenly bumped into someone.

Wen Changxiang looked up hurriedly, an apology already on her lips, but then she saw a familiar face.

"Brother Lin? What are you doing here?"

"My master received a call from Senior Brother. He asked me and Master to find you. They said you were here, and since I was nearby at the East Gate, I came over."

The clear, cold-spring-like voice made Shen Siqin pause in his attempt to leave.

His gaze passed over Wen Changxiang's shoulder to the man hurrying towards them.

The man, dressed simply in a shirt and pants, was elegant and lean, and he was looking at Shen Siqin with caution and confusion.

Brother Lin?

A crucial character in the plot.

Attracted by the man's voice, Shen Siqin recalled the relevant plot details.

Lin Shengjin, one of Mr. Wen's teacher Professor Liu's outstanding students, lost his parents early and studied abroad after graduation. After the deaths of Professor Liu and Wen Shouhong, he became suspicious of Wen Shouhong's cause of death. During his investigation, the original owner discovered Lin Shengjin's preference for men and hired some boys to spread rumors about Lin Shengjin's conduct at Beizhi University.

Lin Shengjin was forced to resign and left the country.

Ten years later, he returned to N City after succeeding in his business. With his guidance, the protagonist cooperated with him and sent the original owner to prison. Lin Shengjin became a major ally and partner for the protagonist.

Shen Siqin: A future big shot.

But... the plot never mentioned that his voice was so pleasant to listen to.

---

Chapter 2

Shen Siqin nodded with a smile from a distance at Lin Shengjin.

Lin Shengjin frowned slightly in confusion.

What is this guy smiling about?

Why is he smiling at me?

He didn't think much about it; he had already learned some of the details from the surrounding chatter.

Such a shameless person was a rarity even for him.

Lin Shengjin turned his gaze away in disgust, holding Wen Changxiang, and quickly walked away.

As if avoiding a plague.

Shen Siqin raised an eyebrow.

Lin Shengjin must really dislike him, and Shen Siqin wasn't one to be overly friendly either.

It was a pity that such a pleasant voice would likely not cross his path again given the current situation.

No more listening to that voice, then.

This tinge of regret lasted only a moment before he suddenly remembered it was almost dinner time.

The original host had come here early after receiving a text from Wen Changxiang and hadn't eaten lunch.

How convenient, he thought excitedly.

He was just getting hungry!

And since someone was there to pick up Wen Changxiang, he could leave this troublesome place without worry.

Wonder what's good around here.

Shen Siqin turned to leave, mentally flipping through the novel's content, trying to find the best eatery near the east gate of Beizhi University.

Wen Shouhong quickly answered the phone and asked anxiously, "Did you find her?"

Shen Sijian, who was waiting nearby, held his breath in anticipation.

Lin Shengjin glanced through the glass window at Wen Changxiang, who was staring blankly at her warm milk. The teacher's wife was gently consoling the girl, but it seemed to have little effect.

"Yes, we found her. Brother, don't worry. Changxiang and I are at the teacher's house now; everything is fine."

"Thank you, brother. It's really a bother. When I received the text, I was so worried. My niece has been quite a trouble for you." Wen Shouhong hadn't considered calling Shen Siqin or dealing with that rascal. He immediately contacted the teacher and his junior brother.

"Not a bother," Lin Shengjin replied tersely.

Wen Shouhong knew his junior brother was cold by nature and paid no mind to his tone.

Just as he was about to thank him again, his junior brother spoke up.

"Oh, by the way, brother, today Shen Siqin told Changxiang that he only wanted your money. He said they shouldn't meet anymore. Also, he mentioned that he told her the truth this time so as not to affect your cooperation with Sijian."

Lin Shengjin hadn't known the specifics until Wen Changxiang returned and tearfully recounted the events.

"Really? He really said that?!"

Wen Shouhong's face showed a mix of surprise and satisfaction, and his anger subsided significantly.

Noticing Mr. Wen's change in expression, Shen Sijian secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Sijian, aware of his second brother's habit of dating other people's daughters, observed Mr. Wen's reaction closely. He had never thought his second brother had any issues beyond being lazy.

When he brought his second brother over, he learned from the villagers that his brother had been chasing the village chief's daughter. But once he saw how wealthy Sijian was, he changed his tune completely.

Initially skeptical, Wen Shouhong discreetly investigated and discovered what his brother had been doing while he and his wife were working hard in the city.

To think his brother had started dating Wen Changxiang!

Though he only had one younger brother, honestly speaking, this kid wasn't quite a match for a university student like Wen Changxiang.

Lin Shengjin added, "He also said that if Changxiang doesn't believe him, she can check for herself."

"Huh? Really?"

Lin Shengjin commented, "At least he still has a conscience."

"Hmph, he has no conscience. I bet Sijian pressured him into telling the truth!"

Shen Sijian: "???!!!"

What did I pressure him about?

Confused, Shen Sijian maintained his composed demeanor.

Wen Shouhong soon hung up the mobile phone and patted Shen Sijian's shoulder affectionately with a warm smile.

"It's all right. It's good that Changxiang learned a lesson. Now that this happened, even if she goes to university out of town, I can feel more at ease. No one will be able to deceive her with their looks anymore! Hahaha."

"Yes, yes, yes," Shen Sijian responded, still bewildered.

Actually, he didn't understand what Mr. Wen was laughing about.

"Although this matter is considered good now, you should keep a closer eye on your younger brother. For people like us, it's fine to have a few idle relatives at home, but don't let them hold you back."

Wen Shouhong sincerely advised.

Shen Sijian feigned a sigh. "I only have this one younger brother. Our parents passed away early, and I've treated him like my own son. He's hard to manage."

Despite Shen Siqin's technical background and his adeptness at communication, although he didn't know what had happened, Shen Sijian still managed to chat casually with Wen Shouhong.

Hearing Shen Sijian say this, Wen Shouhong couldn't help but think of his own parents and wife who hadn't enjoyed much happiness.

His dissatisfaction with Shen Sijian and Shen Siqin diminished a bit.

"Yes, it's not easy for anyone."

The two found a common topic.

After chatting for a while longer, Shen Sijian took his leave.

As soon as he left Xunbao Automobile Company, Shen Sijian hurriedly called his younger brother.

A moment later, the call was answered.

"Where are you? What did you say?"

"I'm at Lao Zhang's noodle shop by the east gate of Beizhi University."

"Don't wander around. I'll be there right away!"

Shen Siqin put the ancient mobile phone back into his pocket.

He focused on the bowl of chicken noodle soup in front of him.

The kitchen door of Lao Zhang's noodle shop was open, allowing one to see the kitchen scene through the serving window or the entrance.

Though the small kitchen was cramped, it was spotlessly clean. Even when kneading dough by hand, flour and water were not scattered everywhere, indicating that the owners were meticulous.

Traditional hand-rolled noodles require a firmer dough for chewiness. The dough is rolled into thin sheets, folded like a blanket, and then cut into thin strips.

Grabbing the outermost layer of noodles, he shook them and dropped them into boiling water. The noodles danced in the hot water before being lifted out with long chopsticks and placed in a large bowl. Two scoops of chicken broth, a handful of shredded chicken, mushroom bits, scallions, and cilantro were added.

The steaming bowl of noodles was served, each strand distinct.

It was just five o'clock, and there weren't many people eating dinner yet.

Shen Siqin could enjoy a clean table all to himself and eat his noodles slowly.

He first picked up the spoon, scooped some hot soup, blew on it, and took a sip.

The soup was sweet, rich, and fragrant. Shen Siqin couldn't help but have several sips without feeling the slightest bit of cloyingness.

Shen Siqin picked up some noodles. The hand-pulled noodles had a chewy texture, and the noodles used in this old shop were excellent, still carrying a faint aroma of wheat.

To protect his stomach, even though these noodles suited his taste perfectly, Shen Siqin didn't dare to eat too quickly.

This was just right, allowing him to enjoy the sensation of fresh food entering his stomach, bringing a warm and pleasant feeling throughout his body.

When Shen Sijian rode up on his motorcycle with a roar, he saw his second brother eating noodles in a refined manner.

Shen Sijian's anger boiled within him.

He dismounted from the motorcycle, kicked out the stand with his thigh, and strode into Lao Zhang's noodle shop.

"Boss, four bowls of beef noodles—two to eat here and two to go. And add an extra portion of beef!"

"Coming right up!"

Shen Sijian was also hungry.

He had gone to a meeting early and hadn't had time for breakfast. He only had a quick bite at Mr. Wen's company for lunch. They were supposed to have dinner together, but with the matter involving Wen Changxiang and his second brother, they lost their appetite and dispersed after a brief conversation.

Shen Siqin, who was eating noodles facing the shop door, reluctantly put down his chopsticks and greeted his elder brother.

"Brother." This motorcycle really is quite impressive.

Even though Shen Siqin had no interest in motorcycles, he couldn't help but take a few more glances at the shiny black one parked outside.

Images of the protagonist's career involvements flashed through his mind.

Shen Sijian is a college graduate. During his time, the value of a college diploma was comparable to that of a university degree. Upon graduation, Shen Sijian became a mechanical engineer and later ventured into business. Initially, he engaged in simple buying and selling, starting from street vending and eventually opening several small shops.

With capital in hand, under the support of the female lead, now his sister-in-law, he invested most of his wealth into developing and producing motorcycles.

At first, the business did not go smoothly, but it has gradually stabilized over the past two years.

Once everything settled down, Shen Sijian brought his family to the city.

Mr. Wen approached Shen Sijian to collaborate, extending their business reach into the motorcycle industry.

Shen Sijian, in turn, needed to expand production and develop new products.

Their partnership was mutually beneficial, and they hit it off immediately.

If there was anything wrong with Shen Siqin, it was that he valued his family too much and failed to see through the original owner's pretense.

The original owner was good at flattery and deception, leading the protagonist to initially believe that his younger brother was merely lazy.

The protagonist's parents passed away early, leaving him and his second brother to rely on each other since childhood.

Even with what happened with Wen Changxiang, they could still use the original host's youth as an excuse.

Not to mention that the original host and Wen Changxiang got married smoothly.

This made the severity of the situation appear much less serious to everyone.

Moreover, after getting married, the original host was initially good to Wen Changxiang, which slowly changed Wen Shouhong's perception of him, until Lin Shengjin exposed Shen Siqin's pretense, allowing Shen Sijian to see through the original host.

"What did you talk about today? Why is Mr. Wen so happy?" Shen Sijian sat across from Shen Siqin and poured himself a glass of water.

Shen Siqin glanced at his newly appointed older brother.

As the protagonist, his appearance was impeccable—broad eyebrows, large eyes, tall and long-legged, with a wheat-colored complexion and bulging muscles, making him an undeniably handsome man.

He withdrew his gaze and said calmly, "I told Wen Changxiang that we shouldn't meet anymore because I don't like her; I only liked her family's money. Now I've realized that I rely on my brother for a living, and it would be counterproductive to delay your cooperation with Mr. Wen."

Shen Sijian: "???!!!" His clever brain froze.

"Did you really tell the girl this?" Shen Sijian stuttered.

Shen Siqin nodded.

Then he continued eating his noodles without saying another word.

If he didn't finish these noodles, they would get mushy.

Shen Sijian felt a pang of frustration. This situation was causing him distress, and he wasn't sure whether to praise or scold his younger brother.

No.

This can't go on like this.

Is his little brother being spoiled by him?

Sigh, it's all his fault for focusing on his career and not paying attention to educating his second brother.

"It seems even my sister-in-law has her moments of weakness. I should have brought you over earlier to attend night school or find a job," Shen Sijian sighed.

While eating his noodles, Shen Siqin thought to himself: The heroine, Yan Jihan, had already seen through the original host, which is why she delayed bringing him over.

He quietly ate his noodles, ignoring Shen Sijian's monologue.

At this moment, Shen Sijian's beef noodle dish arrived. He slurped down two bowls, then went to the counter to pick up two packed bowls of noodles and some beef, settling the bill in the process.

"Get on. Your sister-in-law and the others will be home soon." Shen Sijian started the motorcycle and pointed to the seat.

It had been many years since Shen Siqin last rode a motorcycle.

With one long stride, he climbed onto the bike.

The quality of the motorcycles produced by the protagonist's family was indeed excellent—steady and fast.

By six o'clock, they were back home.

After stabilizing his business, Shen Sijian bought a large house two streets away from Beizhi University and renovated it. It was conveniently located near Beizhi University's affiliated middle and elementary schools, making it easy for his son, Shen Libin, to attend school.

When Shen Sijian built his factory, he sold almost all his shops, keeping only a small convenience store at the North Gate of Beizhi University, managed by Yan Jihan. This served as a backup plan, and now Yan Jihan could close the shop in the evening to pick up their child, which was convenient.

As soon as they entered the house, Yan Jihan greeted them.

"You're back. Why did you buy food? I've already prepared dinner."

Shen Sijian: "I was hungry, so I ate at Lao Zhang's noodle shop and brought you two portions. Where's Sanlin?"

"He's doing his homework on the coffee table."

"I'm going to my room." Shen Siqin said, not wanting to be a third wheel.

"Hey! Second brother, don't leave. I have something to say. Let's sit down and talk." Yan Jihan smiled and said.

Shen Siqin was slightly puzzled but sat down on the sofa.

He casually placed the sponge cake he brought back on the coffee table.

The thin little nephew looked up quickly at Shen Siqin, then immediately lowered his head to continue his homework.

He looked quite smart.

No wonder he, like the heroine, saw through the original host's true nature.

"Sister-in-law, if you have something to say, just say it directly." Shen Siqin spoke directly when he saw Yan Jihan hesitating.

"That's right. We're family. Whatever it is, let's discuss it together."

Shen Sijian echoed loudly.

Yan Jihan was helpless; her partner was great in every way except for his inability to see through his brother.

"I heard about what happened today." She overheard customers talking about a young man who deceived a girl, and she knew it must be about their family.

"Brother, I'm not blaming you, but you can't keep idling around like this."

Shen Siqin showed no emotion but inwardly wondered if he couldn't even live off soft rice anymore after just arriving.

"Xiaohan, it's not his fault. He's always been weak," Shen Sijian defended first.

Shen Siqin silently looked at his healthy, long-limbed body, wondering where Shen Sijian got this misconception.

Yan Jihan struggled to maintain her gentle smile!

Crouching and doing his homework, Shen Libin let out a low laugh and was kicked by his mother before he quieted down.

"I know." She gently yet firmly patted Shen Sijian's hand.

"Like this, when we first started the factory, didn't we sell all the stores? We only kept a small convenience store at the North Gate of Beizhi University."

"I have to divide my attention between the factory, so I can't manage this little store properly."

"The other day, I was talking to Sijian about hiring someone. We could stay open longer in the afternoon; otherwise, closing at five or six every day is too wasteful."

"I was thinking that perhaps from now on, you could take charge of this convenience store. The money you earn, you can keep for yourself. Although it's a small business, it's still a livelihood, right? Conveniently, there's a small room behind the shop where a man can stay overnight, so I don't need to hire an outsider to watch the place at night."

"I disagree. Isn't this like kicking Second Brother out?"

"I can't agree to this."

Shen Sijian loudly objected, his face red.

Shen Siqin: "???"

Although Yan Jihan only said he should manage the convenience store and not that she would give it to him entirely, but... a shop near the university entrance with living quarters—how is that being kicked out?

Shen Siqin: "I agree."

---

Chapter 3

"That's great!" Yan Jihan blurted out.

Sijian: "???"

Siqin: "…"

Elder Sister, you're too excited; you've given it away!

Yan Jihan: "…

"That's great. Second Brother finally has the heart to work hard." Yan Jihan glanced at Shen Sijian. "Isn't this a good thing?"

Shen Sijian rubbed his neck. "If you put it that way, I suppose so."

Yan Jihan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

She was indeed too excited, blurting out her true feelings!

Fortunately, she was quick-witted and managed to cover it up.

With a smile, she turned to Shen Siqin and said happily, "Second Brother, that's right. With a career, you can find any kind of partner. We should support this, Sijian, don't you agree?"

Yan Jihan wasn't unaware that doing this might seem like throwing meat buns to dogs, but as long as this unruly brother-in-law moved out, even if he messed up the convenience store business, the house would still be there, right by the university gate. The connections she had built over the years would still be useful for other businesses.

She didn't say she would give him the house outright. If he truly improved, it would be a good thing.

If he caused too much trouble, it might wake up her husband.

In any case, it was better than living with this unruly brother-in-law!

"Sister-in-law is right," Shen Siqin agreed. Living alone was naturally more comfortable for him, and being farther away would make it easier to avoid suspicion if his personality differed slightly from the original owner's.

He looked at the hesitant Shen Sijian, "Brother, since the two places aren't far apart, the money from the store should all be mine, right?"

He didn't talk about grand ambitions or lofty goals.

Instead, he asked about the money, which would help maintain his character for now.

Shen Sijian frowned and said, "Of course, your brother wouldn't let you work for free. Your sister-in-law just said it's yours."

Yan Jihan saw that things were progressing well and continued to persuade, "If your little brother is willing to go, you can't stop him, can you?"

"Alright, let's try it," Shen Sijian conceded, seeing both his brother and wife in agreement. Even though he agreed, he added, "Wife, since he's new in town and doesn't know the suppliers, you'll have to teach him these days. Also, I need to fix up the house behind the convenience store and add some furniture. Otherwise, it won't be comfortable to live in."

Now that he had made it, he couldn't let his little brother suffer anymore.

"Okay," Yan Jihan replied crisply. She never expected things to go so smoothly and was determined to handle these small matters properly.

She couldn't let her husband or others think she couldn't tolerate her brother-in-law.

Shen Siqin soon experienced the efficiency of the female lead.

The next day, when he woke up naturally, there was a note and a meal prepared by his cheap elder brother on the table.

The note, written in a bold script, read: "Little Brother, come over around four in the afternoon. I should be done by then."

From the handwriting, it was clear that Yan Jihan was genuinely happy.

Breakfast was simple—steamed buns and tofu pudding.

Both the tofu pudding and buns had cooled down. Shen Siqin went to wash up first, then heated the buns by pan-frying them and steamed the tofu pudding.

In N City, tofu pudding is always savory, seasoned with sauce, chili oil, and leek sauce.

Leek sauce is made from leek flowers and leeks, with a strong flavor and a sharp kick. Those who dislike it find it unpalatable, but Shen Siqin enjoyed its intense taste.

After a brief steaming, the aroma of the leek sauce filled the air.

Shen Siqin cleaned the kitchen while the pan-fried buns and steamed tofu pudding cooled down to a comfortable temperature.

He started with a spoonful of the smooth tofu pudding, savoring its spicy, salty, and complex flavors. It was a bit too salty, making it perfect with the mild cabbage and vermicelli buns.

The cabbage in the buns had been processed by Shen Sijian, removing its bitterness and leaving only a subtle sweetness. Combined with finely chopped handmade vermicelli, it was refreshing and filling.

The bun skin was likely made with old dough, giving it more chewiness than yeast-leavened dough.

These simple foods were satisfying, but Shen Siqin remembered to eat slowly and not overindulge.

After eating two buns and finishing the tofu pudding, he cleaned up the leftovers.

The house had a large courtyard, perfect for Shen Siqin to bask in the sun and take walks to pass the time.

The original owner had many comic books and miscellaneous reading materials, but Shen Siqin preferred quietly enjoying the sun.

For lunch, he cooked a pot of rice porridge and had it with the leftover pan-fried buns. After a short nap, he began packing his things.

He was about to leave and didn't want to trouble the main characters.

By four in the afternoon,

Yan Jihan had thoroughly cleaned and redecorated the room behind the convenience store and prepared all the ledgers and documents.

If Shen Siqin wanted to, he could immediately take over.

That afternoon, Shen Sijian also came by briefly. Though busy, he had to check what else needed to be added after his wife mentioned she had finished cleaning the house.

When Shen Siqin arrived, they were already there.

The first time he came over, he didn't bring his packed luggage since the distance wasn't far, and it wouldn't be troublesome to fetch it later.

The entrance of the convenience store featured a trendy yellow-framed glass door with the words "Convenience Store" in red stickers on the glass.

Through the glass, one could see neatly arranged goods inside.

Yan Jihan unlocked the door with her key, and Shen Siqin followed her into the convenience store.

The floor was a red-and-blue terrazzo, the walls were simply painted white, and the shelves were made of metal-coated plastic, all coming into view.

A large refrigerator stood against the wall near the entrance, with double doors that could hold plenty of items. The checkout counter was to the right of the fridge, and a small window had been cut into the front of the icebox, too narrow for an adult to enter but sufficient for ventilation and passing small items.

Both the window and the entrance had light blue curtains.

The convenience store was spacious; even with three adults inside, it didn't feel cramped.

Based on Shen Siqin's experience from working at construction sites for years, the store was at least forty square meters, which was quite sizable.

Back in the village, the local store had only about ten square meters of space for selling goods, barely enough room for people to enter once the merchandise was placed inside. Many operated through a window where customers would call out their requests for the owner to fetch.

Yan Jihan led them to the back of the convenience store, where there were two small rooms.

One was a storage room for goods, and the other was a single room for resting and sleeping.

Combined, these two rooms were about the same size as the front part of the convenience store.

This location was excellent, with many passersby, and the store had been robbed several times. Yan Jihan had intended to hire someone to watch the store but hadn't found a suitable person yet.

The rooms behind the store hadn't been meticulously organized before.

This time, however, everything had been thoroughly cleaned and arranged.

The single room had been divided into three areas—bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom—using new curtains.

The bedroom area was about twenty square meters, with a single bed placed in the northeast corner. The bedding on the bed was brand new. Next to the bed, by the window, was a wooden table and chair, with a new desk lamp on the table.

Underneath the table was a trash bin, and along the wall opposite the bed stood a wardrobe and a washstand, equipped with an enameled washbasin, towels, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and more.

The kitchen area was the smallest, around three square meters, with a simple L-shaped countertop built from bricks. All necessary kitchen utensils, such as bowls, plates, cutting boards, and knives, were prepared.

Above the countertop was a gas stove, and beneath it was a gas cylinder connected not only to the stove but also to a device resembling a water heater mounted on the wall. This water heater was connected to the showerhead in the bathroom on the left side of the kitchen area.

The toilet was a squat type without a flushing mechanism, requiring water from a tap in the corner to be scooped into a plastic bucket for cleaning. However, the entire bathroom was tiled and spotlessly clean, with the burgundy toilet door polished to perfection.

To Shen Siqin's surprise, Yan Jihan had brought over their home oven.

This oven wasn't purchased by the couple but was a gift from Mr. Wen. The factory producing this oven mainly focused on exports and rarely sold domestically. Although its functions couldn't compare to future models, its quality was excellent, making it a unique and impressive gift.

Shen Siqin thought to himself that Yan Jihan didn't enjoy cooking, while Sijian had good culinary skills but was too busy to use them. Leaving the oven unused seemed wasteful, so giving it to Shen Siqin made sense and showed Yan Jihan's care as a sister-in-law.

Shen Siqin truly admired this sister-in-law.

She did everything impeccably, leaving no room for criticism.

"Little brother, I've never cooked here before. I just installed the gas for you. The water heater runs on batteries; turn it on, and flames will appear below, heating the water like at home. Let me know if you need anything else," Yan Jihan said with a smile.

"I've also changed the address for the milk delivery. From now on, the milk will be delivered here. The remaining milk at home is in the freezer, along with some vegetables and meat. You can either buy food or cook yourself."

Shen Siqin nodded and smiled, saying straightforwardly, "It's great; I don't think anything is missing."

"I agree; it looks good," Sijian said after looking around. He then pulled out six hundred yuan from his wallet. "If you need anything, buy it yourself. Don't worry about the money."

At this time, six hundred yuan still had significant purchasing power.

Shen Siqin felt touched; this older brother genuinely cared for him. Although his sister-in-law had her own ideas, she wanted to improve their lives.

Seeing his younger brother hesitating, Sijian directly placed the money in Shen Siqin's hand. "Take it."

After giving the money to his brother, Sijian turned to his wife with a gentle look.

"This has been hard on you again," Sijian said, deeply moved.

Yan Jihan smiled and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "Why mention it? Your matters are mine too."

"Hehe, right, it's our family matter," Sijian grinned, showing his white teeth.

The couple completely ignored Shen Siqin standing beside them.

Suddenly feeling like a third wheel, Shen Siqin: "..."

---

Chapter 4

"Cough, cough, Sister-in-law, you should teach me how to read the ledger. This place looks great; I want to move in today. Teach me quickly so I can start earning money sooner." Shen Siqin cleared his throat and thought that moving out as a third wheel was a good idea.

Better get on with it.

Still, to prevent his character from completely collapsing, he didn't make his words sound too pleasant, almost like he was ordering Yan Jihan around.

Yan Jihan was happy and didn't mind Shen Siqin's tone.

She smiled and said, "Alright, little brother, sit on the bed. I'll explain everything carefully."

Yan Jihan took out the ledger from her bag and sat down. There were tables and chairs here, making it a perfect spot for teaching.

Shen Siqin didn't show too much intelligence or seriousness. After two hours, he reluctantly indicated that he understood.

"If you can't remember the prices of all the goods, just look at this ledger. Everything is clearly recorded. Familiarize yourself with it for a few days, and you'll definitely remember everything," Yan Jihan summarized. She felt that her younger brother seemed more honest today.

His hair wasn't slicked back neatly, making him appear more decent, though still somewhat lazy.

Could he really have changed?

She quickly dismissed the thought. Her younger brother was always good at acting, and she couldn't be fooled by his two days of honesty!

Shen Sijian went out to handle some factory matters. When he returned, Yan Jihan had already finished teaching.

"Brother, take Sister-in-law away. I'll bring the rest of my things over bit by bit." Shen Siqin glanced at the round clock hanging on the wall.

It was already past six o'clock.

The sky had turned dark.

"No need. I can bring your things over on my motorcycle later," Shen Sijian said proudly, seeing his younger brother satisfied with the small room. His wife was right; giving this convenience store to his younger brother would keep him busy earning money, which might help the child grow up.

"Then we'll leave first."

"Mm."

Shen Siqin watched them ride away on their motorcycle and then closed the door.

This convenience store didn't open at night, and he didn't plan to start business immediately.

He locked the door, went next door for a simple plate of fried rice, and returned to compare the ledger with the goods.

This workload was nothing more than a leisurely stroll for Shen Siqin.

Opening the freezer, Shen Siqin found an iron basket on the top shelf containing chilled soda, milk, fresh meat, and vegetables bought by his sister-in-law. The bottom shelf held ice pops and ice cream.

Cold air sinks, so the temperature on the top shelf wasn't freezing.

No need to worry about the soda and milk freezing.

Seeing the fresh milk not meant for sale, Shen Siqin paused. Was selling chilled fresh milk still popular?

He recalled that when the original owner first came to the city, he saw his nephew drinking fresh milk every day. He indirectly asked his elder brother to order milk for him too, but he never liked it and often left it unfinished.

The original owner preferred to let the milk spoil in the fridge rather than let others touch it. Yan Jihan, not lacking anything for her son, allowed him to waste it.

Now, Yan Jihan had collected the milk from the past few days in glass bottles and brought it over.

Out of sight, out of mind.

Shen Siqin picked up a bottle, his handsome face showing a hint of contemplation and hesitation.

Chilled milk is perfect for making butter.

But he had already eaten dinner!

Was it bad to eat a late-night snack?

If he didn't use it all, he'd have to throw it away, which would be a waste.

Besides, making butter requires a lot of effort, so eating a late-night snack shouldn't be a problem. The exercise should balance it out.

Shen Siqin ignored the fact that even if he made butter from the fresh milk, he could store it without having to eat it immediately.

He took out all the milk and placed it above the fridge.

Letting the chilled milk sit at room temperature would allow the fat to rise, creating a rough cream layer on top.

During the process of chilling and then warming, the acidic environment would speed up the formation of the cream.

While waiting, Shen Siqin studied how to use the oven and decided on his late-night snack—croissants.

Croissant-shaped or long rolls filled with cream or other fillings, resembling small ice creams.

Just thinking about the sweet, crispy taste improved his mood.

Perhaps due to a compensatory mindset, he hadn't eaten many snacks as a child. Now that he was grown and had money, he enjoyed various sweets and snacks and loved researching different culinary methods.

Even with limited ingredients, Shen Siqin wasn't worried.

He took some regular flour and put it in the oven to adapt to its heat and turn it into low-gluten flour.

When the low-gluten flour was ready, the milk had also settled.

He took two bowls, one smaller bowl, and a spoon, gently scooping out the top layer of cream. Most of it went into the smaller bowl, while a small portion was placed in the bowl wrapped in plastic and stored in the freezer for later use.

Cut open a mineral water bottle to make a mixer.

Place ice cubes in a larger bowl to cool the mixture through an ice bath.

Shen Siqin rolled up his sleeves and began whipping the cream through the ice water. He always had patience with food, and gradually the fat started to separate.

When his arms grew sore from whipping, the butter particles finally separated.

He put on a clean plastic bag over his hand and quickly formed the particles into a ball, then hurriedly placed the rough butter into the freezer to prevent it from melting due to his body heat.

Shen Siqin shook his aching arm.

This manual whipping is not a job for humans.

He took out low-gluten flour, prepared white sugar, water, and a little salt.

Shen Siqin couldn't remember the exact recipe; he made desserts based on the state of the ingredients and his intuition.

In no time, he kneaded these ingredients into a non-sticky dough and placed it in the freezer for later use.

About twenty minutes later, Shen Siqin took out the dough and butter, skillfully rolling them out into a rectangle with a rolling pin. He wrapped the butter with the larger rectangular dough and slowly rolled it out into an even larger rectangle.

He folded the dough like folding a blanket and put it back into the freezer to chill.

Twenty minutes later, Shen Siqin took out the dough again, rolled it out, folded it, rolled it out, and folded it again...

This process allowed the fats and gases to expand fully during baking, making the dough very crispy.

When the temperature was low, the butter didn't melt easily, making the process of layering easier.

Making pastries was indeed a laborious task.

Especially when the heat hadn't dissipated—it was even more laborious!!

With this untrained body, most of the time spent freezing was used by Shen Siqin to rest.

He found some parchment paper from the convenience store, rolled them into cone-shaped molds, and thought that for the sake of his long-term healthy lazy life, he needed to start exercising tomorrow.

After finally handling the dough, he divided it into two parts, putting one part in the refrigerator for future use, and rolling the other part into a roughly half-centimeter-thick rectangle, cutting it into strips.

He wrapped the strips around the molds to form cone shapes, securing the ends with egg wash, and brushed the surface with egg wash before sprinkling a thin layer of white sugar.

The process had to be quick, as rising temperatures and pulling motions would affect the dough's condition.

This time, he only managed to make six 'cones,' which he placed in the oven. Shen Siqin observed the dough through the oven door to check if the temperature was appropriate. After confirming there were no issues, he cleaned up the mess first.

While waiting for the crispy 'cones' to bake and cool, Shen Siqin took out the bowl with the rough whipped cream, dividing it into two parts. One part he kept in the freezer, while the other part he added sugar to and whipped further.

Once the 'cones' cooled down, the 'cream' was whipped just right.

Without bothering to make a piping bag, he simply used a small spoon to fill the cones with the cream.

The six croissants were arranged on a simple plate with a blue edge.

This eclectic style made Shen Siqin chuckle.

After finishing the butter, he saved the leftover buttermilk and the bottom milk. The buttermilk could be used later to help fermentation when making butter, and the remaining milk could still be consumed.

Shen Siqin poured himself a glass of the skimmed bottom milk.

Placing the milk and croissants on the desk, he opened the bedroom window for ventilation, sat down leisurely, and prepared to enjoy the fruits of his labor.

The window faced the outdoor stadium of Beizhi University, separated by two streets. During the day, many college students could be seen running or playing basketball.

It was now past ten o'clock at night, and only a few streetlights could be seen. People in N City generally went to bed early, so there weren't many people exercising late at night, leaving the stadium quiet.

The only less pleasant thing was that there were iron bars in front of the bedroom window to prevent break-ins, though they were unsightly, they did provide security.

Shen Siqin reflected inwardly that eating a midnight snack this late was truly sinful.

After three seconds of reflection, he picked up a croissant with restraint.

The rich aroma made Shen Siqin nod approvingly; he was quite satisfied with his craftsmanship and spent a moment admiring the decent shape of the croissant.

Before he could put it in his mouth, a tall figure appeared at the window.

Shen Siqin instinctively paused and looked closely.

The future big shot stood by his window, holding a bag of noodles and a flashlight, seemingly searching for something.

Searching for what?

Shen Siqin slowly shifted his gaze to the croissant in his hand.

He suddenly understood.

Oh, he had attracted a big shot.

---

Chapter 5

Lin Shengjin recognized Shen Siqin at once when he saw his distinctively handsome face.

Was this the layabout who had deceived Wen Changxiang?

But soon, he realized something else.

His mind, which had been clouded by the sweet fragrance, suddenly cleared, and he instinctively took a few steps back. He asked, puzzled and wary, "What are you doing here? Isn't this Sister Ji's shop?"

He frequented this convenience store and had never seen Shen Siqin before.

A clear, resonant voice like the clinking of jade stones sounded and then quickly faded away.

Shen Siqin suddenly understood what it meant to have lingering echoes.

This time, being closer, Shen Siqin felt a tingling sensation in his ears.

Why hadn't he known before that he was into voices?

Indeed, hearing him up close made it even better.

Shen Siqin maintained a composed exterior but leaned forward slightly with a somewhat nonchalant demeanor. "This is my brother's shop. It used to be managed by my sister-in-law, but now it's mine. Oh, you didn't know Yan Jihan is my sister-in-law? I'm not a thief; my brother is so wealthy, why would I need to steal?"

He had an unashamed look that said, "I have my brother, so who do I need to fear?"

Lin Shengjin: "..."

He had never met someone so shameless!

He opened his mouth but couldn't find any words to counter him.

"Is this instant noodle your dinner?" Shen Siqin chuckled at his expression. Wasn't this future big shot rather shy?

To be honest, just because Lin Shengjin's voice was so pleasant, Shen Siqin was happy to chat for a while.

"Since you've taken over your sister-in-law's shop, I hope you work hard from now on. Relying on others is never as good as relying on yourself." Out of professional ethics, Lin Shengjin did not turn and leave but sincerely offered some advice.

Shen Siqin nodded. He understood this principle. If, hypothetically, the protagonist went bankrupt, he would certainly try to help out!

With years of experience, Shen Siqin had this confidence.

For now, he would continue being a couch potato.

"What subject do you teach?" Shen Siqin asked, making conversation.

Just a few more words.

Although having a late-night snack was important, chatting with Lin Shengjin was a treat for his ears. He could always eat later after their conversation.

"This semester, I teach two courses: Soil Mechanics and Underground Engineering." Lin Shengjin spoke politely and simply, even though he thought Shen Siqin might not understand.

Shen Siqin inwardly hissed.

Unfortunately, not only did Shen Siqin understand, he was very familiar with these subjects—too familiar!

Back in the day, he had plunged headfirst into civil engineering.

Oh, he almost forgot; the book mentioned that Mr. Wen, despite being in the automobile industry, studied under a professor specializing in geotechnical and underground engineering.

Suddenly, Shen Siqin recalled the grueling university life dominated by theoretical mechanics, structural mechanics, materials mechanics, hydraulics, soil mechanics, and other mechanics.

Even the top students got tired of studying, but they pushed through.

Especially Shen Siqin, who wasn't naturally adept at mechanics and relied on sheer effort to maintain decent grades!

Soil mechanics was one of the most challenging courses for him, and understanding each formula cost him several strands of hair.

Unsurprisingly, this course became his worst subject, barely kept afloat by his regular scores.

So, this future real estate tycoon taught soil mechanics.

In Shen Siqin's eyes, the image of the future big shot instantly grew taller!

However, Shen Siqin really didn't want to recall anything related to mechanics. He changed the topic, "This is my late-night snack. Do you want some?"

He boldly held out the plate.

There were six pieces; eating them late at night would surely add a couple of pounds.

Hehehe, sharing a few with the big shot would make them gain weight together.

The big shot wouldn't hear his 'well-intentioned' thoughts.

Lin Shengjin looked at the plain instant noodles in Shen Siqin's hand. He had planned to cook some noodles in water for dinner, the only dish he knew how to make. Then he glanced at the fragrant crescent pastries Shen Siqin was holding with a smile.

Not a good intention!

Lin Shengjin felt Shen Siqin was teasing him!

He took a deep breath, endured, and endured again.

Finally, unable to hold back, he turned and left in a huff without saying another word to Shen Siqin!

Shen Siqin: "..."

Why did he suddenly get angry?

Just now, when I said those unambitious words, he didn't get angry at all.

Why did he get angry when I offered him some food?

Shen Siqin's lazy expression vanished as he anxiously grabbed the iron railing and shouted, "Really not eating? I just want to be friends."

Like chatting occasionally.

Actually, if it weren't for the fact that the master's course is so hardcore and reminds Shen Siqin of his days as the top student, he would have considered occasionally attending the lectures. Cough, cough, and maybe take a nap, treating them like background music.

Unfortunately, this course is too hardcore!

Lin Shengjin turned around with a sigh, only to see Shen Siqin holding onto the iron railing with a tray of croissants, looking at him eagerly.

The way he looked, one might think he was locked up.

Lin Shengjin chuckled at the thought.

Under the dim light of the street lamp, the man in a white shirt and black pants smiled with his eyes curved, as if he were a character from a painting.

Shen Siqin was captivated, his usually sparkling almond eyes showing a hint of daze.

It wasn't until Lin Shengjin's figure disappeared completely into the darkness that Shen Siqin snapped back to reality.

He looked down and saw that the cream on the croissants had started to melt.

Shen Siqin smiled and shook his head lightly.

Not only does he have a nice voice, but he's also good-looking.

Really good-looking!

Shen Siqin picked up a croissant thoughtfully and put it in his mouth.

Sweet, fragrant, crispy, and refreshing—once you take a bite, you want another!

Whether it was because eating sweets makes people happy or for some other reason, Shen Siqin couldn't help but feel elated.

He ate the croissants absentmindedly.

When his hand felt nothing left, Shen Siqin realized he had finished all six croissants.

Shen Siqin: "..."

He had known for a long time that he liked men, but over the years, especially after achieving success, he had met many beautiful people. Yet, he had never felt this way before.

"Beauty can be misleading." Shen Siqin shook his head and went to the kitchen to wash the plate.

He meticulously cleaned up the kitchen again, considering it a way to digest his meal and clear his mind.

Lin Shengjin knows the female lead; I should find an opportunity to ask how they met.

Does he often come here to buy things?

But now that he's seen me, he probably won't come to this convenience store anymore.

That's not good.

Shen Siqin thinks that even if he wants to be a layabout, he doesn't necessarily have to be a single layabout.

Being in a pair is auspicious!

Lin Shengjin still teaches soil mechanics, and my worst subject happens to be that one. What a coincidence!

Hmm, a layabout noodle, sounds like a perfect match!

The little bit of conscience he had made him add silently: Okay, I admit I'm low. I suddenly have a craving for the future master's body.

Both his voice and face.

I like both!

Author's note:

Shen Siqin: Alright, I'll reflect.

Three seconds later, Shen Siqin: Okay, reflection complete!

---

Chapter 6

When Shen Siqin first met Lin Shengjin, he didn't take much notice of him.

At most, he felt a bit wary and admired Lin Shengjin's voice, given his future status as a big shot.

Indeed.

He was just a visual creature!

He chuckled self-deprecatingly, turned on the gas water heater, and took a comfortable hot shower. Afterward, he changed into new undershirt and shorts, then threw himself onto the bed. The soft, new bedding was an unparalleled comfort.

Especially since Shen Siqin had just enjoyed a delicious meal and a hot bath.

He propped his head up with his arms as a pillow, and all he could see was Lin Shengjin's smile from earlier.

After an unknown amount of time, Shen Siqin still hadn't drifted off to sleep.

He knew he was in trouble!

No, no, he needed to get some sleep; it was almost midnight.

Early to bed, early to rise, keeps a man healthy and wise.

He pulled the thin blanket over his stomach, leaving his long limbs outside, closed his eyes, and forced himself to sleep.

But even with his eyes closed, Lin Shengjin's smile kept floating before him, even more vividly!

Shen Siqin suddenly opened his eyes and sat up.

Scratching his slightly messy hair, he thought, if avoidance wasn't working, he might as well face it head-on.

Didn't Lin Shengjin like men too?

He wasn't without a chance.

Shen Siqin was always decisive. Having made up his mind, he decided to visit his older brother's house tomorrow, under the pretense of picking up his luggage, to ask his sister-in-law about how she knew Lin Shengjin and what his usual hobbies and habits were.

The book in his mind only described the future cold and domineering demeanor of the big shot, but there was hardly any mention of his early days.

Knowing oneself and the enemy leads to victory every time.

With a plan in place, Shen Siqin finally managed to feel a bit sleepy, barely falling asleep as the clock struck midnight.

The next day.

Sijian woke up early and rode his motorcycle to the morning market.

He bought six pounds of pork ribs, washed them thoroughly, blanched them to remove the fishy smell, and then placed them in an aluminum pressure cooker. He added star anise, bay leaves, Sichuan peppercorns, ginger, cinnamon, soy sauce, and two tablespoons of honey-flavored bean paste.

The gas stove was lit, and soon the pressure cooker began to vent steam, sizzling away.

The whole house filled with the aroma of meat.

Once the meat was cooked tender, Shen Siqin set up an iron pot, stir-fried fresh green beans until they were half-done, then added the ribs and the vermicelli he had soaked the previous day, and let it simmer together.

Yan Jihan couldn't stay asleep; she stumbled out of the bedroom, puzzled. "What's going on? Why are you making such a hearty dish so early in the morning?"

"I thought I'd drop by to deliver some things to my younger brother and bring him some food," Sijian said, covering the pot and turning to his wife. "Everyone loves pork ribs, so I made extra."

Yan Jihan nodded, not displeased.

That unreliable brother-in-law had already moved out; bringing him some food was nothing. She was happy to play the role of a good sister-in-law, out of sight, out of mind.

Ding dong!

The doorbell rang.

Sijian couldn't leave the kitchen, so Yan Jihan went to open the door, wondering who could be there so early.

Yan Jihan opened the door and saw!

Shen Siqin held a small plastic bag emitting a sweet fragrance in his left hand and several bags of douhua in his right. He waved at her. "Good morning, sister-in-law."

Yan Jihan: "???"

She had just been thinking about not seeing him, and suddenly he appeared right in front of her.

Yan Jihan thought helplessly that one should never speak ill of the living or the dead.

And here he was!

"Second brother, you're here? So early? Come in quickly!" Sijian called from the kitchen.

"I came to pick up my luggage and asked Aunt Wang from the douhua stall to watch the door for me. It's still early, so I'll go back after I'm done here. The convenience store will be opening soon."

Those who sold douhua usually got up early, and Shen Siqin had asked her to keep an eye on the door while he was gone, so no one would break in.

Shen Siqin entered the house and handed the plastic bag to Yan Jihan.

Yan Jihan took it absentmindedly.

As soon as she did, she realized something was different.

This thing was sweet and fragrant.

Yan Jihan looked down and saw that in addition to the usual tofu pudding, she was also holding a bag of something uncommon.

"Goat Horn Pastries?" Yan Jihan asked, puzzled.

"Mm, for Sanlin. I baked the leftover dough this morning."

Going to inquire about information, one can't go empty-handed.

"What are you two doing standing at the door talking? I've already cooked the noodles; come eat quickly. Where's Sanlin?"

"Washing up!" a voice came from the direction of the bathroom.

"Hurry up!" Shen Sijian called out, urging them to come eat quickly.

Yan Jihan hurried over to help serve the bowls and set the table.

Soon, a bowl of noodles with a golden fried egg on top was placed in front of Shen Siqin.

Noodles.

Thinking about Lin Shengjin passing by his window last night with a bag of noodles.

Shen Siqin's lips curved into a smile as he stared at the bowl of clear soup noodles.

"What are you smiling about? Eat some meat." Shen Sijian used his unused chopsticks to pick up a piece of pork rib for Shen Siqin. "I got back a bit late from the morning market, so instead of using an open flame to stew it, I used a pressure cooker. Try it."

"Oh, thanks, Brother." Shen Siqin picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of the noodle.

Their family's noodles were different from the small bundles of dried noodles that Lin Shengjin bought outside. Instead, they were made by taking wheat to the town workshop to be pressed into noodles.

The shops that could stand firm in the small town were mostly run by people who knew each other well, using solid ingredients. Now that the Shen family no longer farmed, when Shen Sijian went to pick up the original owner, he bought some new grain from the villagers and had it pressed into noodles at the workshop, bringing them all the way back from the countryside.

They didn't even need to be eaten; just a slight stir would release the aroma of wheat.

They tasted no worse than hand-rolled noodles.

Paired with tender yet chewy pork ribs and fresh green beans, the taste was quite delightful.

Shen Siqin ate slowly.

Across the table, Shen Libin was secretly reaching out a little black hand, trying to grab a Goat Horn Pastry from the plastic bag.

His hand was slapped away by Yan Jihan.

"Eat your meal first; only after eating can you have snacks." Yan Jihan said, placing several pieces of pork rib in Shen Libin's bowl.

Shen Libin sulkily picked at his noodles, looking like he didn't want to eat his main meal, showing no interest in the food.

Many kids were like this, but Yan Jihan wasn't angry. Seeing her son start eating the noodles, she turned to Shen Siqin and asked, "Second Brother, where did you buy these? Many food factories find making these troublesome, so they're hard to come by."

"You brought things home; you're too polite."

She wasn't stingy; if her son liked something and it wasn't excessive, she would buy it for him.

The Shen family didn't have any rules about not talking during meals. Hearing his wife ask, Shen Sijian chimed in: "It's because you keep buying him snacks; he won't eat properly. Second Brother, don't spoil him."

"I made them myself." Shen Siqin swallowed the food in his mouth and quickly said before the child could get angry.

The anger that had been building up in Shen Libin, who was going to miss out on the Goat Horn Pastry and be scolded by his parents, dissipated instantly.

He lifted his head in surprise, looking at Shen Siqin as if he didn't recognize him.

"I heard how to make them, and you gave me the oven to use, so I tried it out. Turns out, I'm pretty talented." Shen Siqin slightly tilted his head, looking rather proud, which seemed a bit annoying.

Shen Sijian's eyes lit up, and he added more pork ribs to Shen Siqin's bowl. "Really? I always knew you had your strengths; we just hadn't discovered them before!"

Yan Jihan and Shen Libin: "..."

Shen Siqin's lips twitched imperceptibly. The protagonist was too easy to fool.

Indeed, family ties blind one.

"In that case, let's all try Uncle's cooking." Shen Libin's eyes flickered, and he distributed two of the six Goat Horn Pastries.

One for Shen Sijian, one for Yan Jihan.

The remaining four would reluctantly be his.

Yan Jihan: "???"

She wasn't sure whether to praise her son or scold him.

Shen Siqin couldn't help but marvel; no wonder he was the child of the protagonists—a real little smart aleck.

Shen Sijian now didn't stop his son from having snacks in the morning.

He tried one himself first.

He had thought that even if it wasn't good, he shouldn't discourage his brother.

But once he tasted it, the outer layer was crispy, and the filling was sweet and soft.

The taste was no less than those sold by food factories!

By the time he realized it, the small Goat Horn Pastry in his hand was already finished.

Second Brother really did have talent, no doubt about it!!

Shen Libin, who had four Goat Horn Pastries to himself, shared the same sentiment.

Uncle actually didn't lie; it really is delicious.

Even Yan Jihan couldn't help but regard Shen Siqin a bit more highly.

Shen Siqin looked at the three of them with a smile: "Delicious, right? I tried using the milk from the fridge to make these; they're so fragrant that they even attracted someone."

"Who was it?" Shen Sijian, of course, wouldn't dampen his younger brother's enthusiasm and continued along with him.

"He's quite tall and handsome. The day before yesterday, I heard Wen Changxiang call him Brother Lin. Strange, isn't it? Wen Changxiang calls him Brother Lin, yet he seems to be Mr. Wen's junior. The family relations are quite messed up." Shen Siqin pretended to be puzzled.

"Oh, him. That's an interesting story. Professor Liu's wife thinks Wen Changxiang has a talent for painting and took her as a disciple, which messed up the family relations. According to Mr. Wen, his junior is young, and Wen Changxiang doesn't want to call him Uncle, so they each call each other what they prefer." Shen Sijian explained while cautiously observing his younger brother's expression.

Afraid that his younger brother might want to approach Wen Changxiang again.

Shen Siqin smiled nonchalantly: "Really? How peculiar. He came quite late last night to sell a bundle of noodles. He smelled the croissants and lingered in front of my window for a while. If even he thought they smelled good, how could my skills be bad?!"

"Is that so." Seeing his younger brother genuinely not caring, Shen Sijian secretly sighed in relief.

"Speaking of which, Professor Lin can't cook. He either eats in the cafeteria or buys something casually. There's no one at home to take care of him, and he forgets to eat when he gets busy." Yan Jihan quickly changed the subject with a laugh.

Though it seemed like the second brother didn't care, what if he was just pretending!

It's better not to talk about the young girl.

Too dangerous.

Let's talk about something else.

So, she didn't go far and immediately shifted the topic to Lin Shengjin!

A hint of anticipation curved Shen Siqin's lips.

---

Chapter 7

"Ah, that makes sense. No wonder he's out buying food in the middle of the night," Shen Siqin responded.

Seeing his interest, Yan Jihan continued, "He's a decent guy, very polite. I heard he's about to become an associate professor soon. I've never seen him buy cigarettes or alcohol; he just buys food that can be cooked directly."

"That impressive! I only heard that Mr. Wen's junior brother is talented. How old is he to already be promoted to associate professor?" Shen Sijian was now intrigued.

"Twenty-seven, or maybe twenty-six. I'm not sure. He started school early and studied abroad before coming back," Yan Jihan added enthusiastically. "Some people are just different."

"If he doesn't know how to cook, I do." Shen Sijian smiled confidently.

Yan Jihan rolled her eyes. "Sure, you're better."

The two exchanged a silent look, warmth flowing between them.

Shen Siqin: "…"

Oh, come on, you two are off-topic.

Shen Libin seemed unfazed, savoring the last bite of his croissant.

Completely unaffected by his parents' display of affection.

Don't ask why; it's just habit.

"Does he often buy things from our shop? Yesterday, he asked me why my sister-in-law wasn't there. I told him it's my sister-in-law's shop," Shen Siqin quickly steered the conversation back to his intended direction.

"Not really. He lives inside the university with an allocated house. There's a convenience store within the university where he can get most things. When we bought this shop, we didn't have connections to get one inside the university, but the location at the gate isn't bad either."

Yan Jihan took a sip of water, blushing slightly as she explained to Shen Siqin.

"Oh, he likes to run early in the morning. You'll see him from your window."

"He likes morning runs too. I've seen him once; he's quite slim, not very muscular," Shen Sijian said, flexing his own strong arms.

Yan Jihan swatted away his arm. "Your muscles come from manual labor. His is from healthy exercise."

"Second brother, Professor Lin seems like a good person. Treat him normally when he comes to buy things," Yan Jihan added, her attitude towards her brother-in-law genuinely warming up.

Shen Siqin nodded, smiling. "There's no conflict. I'd like to be friends with him."

Seeing his brother-in-law still being unserious, Yan Jihan sighed quietly.

Shen Sijian didn't take it seriously either. He knew that when Second Brother broke up with Wen Changxiang, Lin Shengjin was present.

Frankly, given what Second Brother had said, it would be surprising if Lin Shengjin wanted to be friends!

Second Brother must be joking.

Seeing neither believed him, Shen Siqin shrugged nonchalantly.

These days, telling the truth gets no credit.

Meanwhile, he silently applauded the main characters' relationship.

His sister-in-law spoke so warmly about Lin Shengjin, yet his brother didn't feel threatened, too busy basking in her praise.

Sigh, autumn is indeed a season for love.

His beloved nephew Sanlin gave him a sympathetic look.

Shen Libin: Suddenly, this uncle seems okay.

Shen Siqin wanted to refuse.

He raised an eyebrow.

We're not in the same boat, kid!

Seeing his uncle's lack of appreciation, Shen Libin turned his head away, ignoring Shen Siqin.

"Let's eat first; the noodles are getting soggy. Later, I'll tie your things to the back of my bike and deliver them," Shen Sijian urged everyone to eat.

Having learned what he needed, Shen Siqin enjoyed his noodles peacefully.

After the meal, Yan Jihan took Shen Libin to school, while Shen Sijian rode his black motorcycle loaded with two large bags to the North Gate of Beizhi University.

"Thanks, Aunt Wang," Shen Siqin thanked Wang Qiutao, who had been watching the shop for him.

The original owner was sweet-talking and polite, which Shen Siqin didn't need to fake.

"Hey, no problem. So, you'll be running this convenience store now?" Wang Qiutao asked curiously.

"Yes, this is my brother. My wife used to manage the shop," Shen Sijian explained while moving the luggage.

"Oh, I see. I saw you both yesterday."

"My brother just arrived. Please take care of him."

"Of course."

...

Shen Siqin opened the shop door.

They moved the bags onto the bed.

"Alright, Brother, I'll tidy up later."

Shen Sijian nodded. His eyes flickered as he suddenly remembered something: "You have a talent for cooking. Should we learn more about it?"

He didn't dare to push too hard.

His younger brother didn't like school, and he was afraid of pushing him too far and triggering some rebellious attitude.

"No need. I can buy some books and figure it out myself," Shen Siqin firmly refused.

He was here to be a couch potato, not a chef!

If this hobby turned into a profession, what would be the difference from losing the hobby altogether?!

"Alright then." Shen Sijian didn't press during the meal, knowing his younger brother wouldn't agree.

Sigh, well, it's good that the second brother is willing to manage this convenience store.

I'll think of other ways and see if there's a roundabout approach.

Shen Sijian left with a heart full of disappointment as an elder sibling.

Shen Siqin found a cloth, wiped the glass door of the convenience store, and slowly organized the shelves neatly. He also received the fresh milk that Yan Jihan had ordered for the original owner.

Their convenience store restocked every three days.

The delivery truck came the day before yesterday and would come again tomorrow. Today, Shen Siqin's job was simply to collect money and sell goods when someone came in.

Oh right, he needed to think about what to eat for lunch.

This was important to him.

He had eaten noodles both yesterday and this morning, and now he was craving rice.

Shen Siqin opened the fridge and looked through the meat and vegetables inside. What should he make to go with the rice?

Yan Jihan placed the leafy greens that don't keep well on the top shelf of the freezer, while potatoes, cabbage, onions, and other durable vegetables were kept next to the freezer. As for eggs, rice, and common cooking essentials, they sold these items in the store and never ran out.

Ah, onions!

Seeing the onions, Shen Siqin thought of a dish—braised pork rice!

It's said that authentic braised pork rice uses red shallots, but couldn't he make a substitute version?

Shen Siqin took a piece of pork belly from the freezer.

After thinking about it, he took another piece.

Making extra braised pork wasn't a problem; he could store it in the freezer and eat it later.

He set them aside to thaw and soaked some dried mushrooms. Then, he asked the owner of the neighboring print shop to watch the store for a bit while he went to buy a clay pot, spending thirteen yuan.

For the braised pork rice, he bought a new pot!

After buying the clay pot, he gave it a quick wash and used a little bit of rice to make rice broth.

This would make the clay pot more durable. Once the broth was ready, he planned to cook a pot of rice in advance.

Hmm, just thinking about the soft, sticky rice paired with savory braised pork made him start to look forward to it.

After finishing these tasks, he sat behind the cash register, multitasking by watching the store. Occasionally, customers would come in to buy things, and Shen Siqin, without needing to consult the ledger, knew the prices of various items by heart.

Yes, he had memorized them while cleaning.

As for handling money, it was no challenge for Shen Siqin. With a touch and a glance, he could tell if the money was real.

"A total of thirty-two yuan, these two ten-yuan bills are counterfeit." He caught one.

Shen Siqin smiled and said, "Uncle, you've been tricked?"

The man, around sixty years old, glanced at Shen Siqin's tall frame and exclaimed in surprise, "What? Counterfeit? Then I won't buy anything."

Shen Siqin handed back the two genuine ten-yuan bills.

The man quickly scurried away.

Shen Siqin politely waved, "Come again, Uncle! I'll remember you!"

The man ran even faster!!

Shen Siqin shook his head with a smile.

Soon, it was noon. The warm sunlight streamed through the door, and Shen Siqin felt he needed a recliner.

Sunlight and a recliner were a perfect match!

Speaking of perfect matches, Shen Siqin had already formulated a preliminary plan. He believed Lin Shengjin wouldn't come to this convenience store to buy anything for a while.

But he would definitely still go jogging in the morning.

Yesterday, Lin Shengjin was attracted by the scent of the dessert he made. He could replicate that path.

Yeah, every morning, he would make something delicious to lure the big shot!

That was settled.

Speaking of which, it was almost time for lunch.

Shen Siqin stretched his arms widely, got up from behind the cash register, and prepared to cook.

First, he put a pot on the stove to boil eggs for later use.

Chop the onion into small cubes, prepare the green onions, ginger, and garlic. Remove the stems from the rehydrated shiitake mushrooms, slice them, and reserve the mushroom soaking water for seasoning.

Over there, the eggs should be done boiling by now; remove them, peel the shells, and set aside for later use.

Heat an iron skillet and rub the side with pork skin against it to burn off any remaining hair. Clean the charred parts, then dice the pork belly into small pieces.

Heat oil in the pan, add ginger, garlic, and diced onions, stir-fry until fragrant, and transfer to a small bowl to be used later.

Some people prefer to blanch the meat before stir-frying, but Shen Siqin is accustomed to dry-frying the pork belly until it becomes crispy and aromatic.

Once the pork is about 80% cooked, add the previously set-aside diced onions and mushrooms, along with some five-spice powder, wine, soy sauce, salt, and rock sugar. Toss everything together, pour in the mushroom soaking water, and add some hot water to cover the meat.

Shen Siqin doesn't like too many spices, so he doesn't use bay leaves or other seasonings. He transfers the meat and broth directly into a clay pot.

After that, all that's needed is slow cooking. After half an hour, add the boiled eggs.

Before long, the entire convenience store was filled with the aroma of meat.

Shen Siqin sat on the chair behind the cash register, his eyes half-closed, lazily basking in the sun, waiting for the meal to be ready.

"What are you doing? It smells amazing."

A familiar boy's voice came from behind.

Shen Siqin opened his eyes and saw it was Shen Libin?!

"Sanlin? Why are you here?"

The affiliated primary school of Beizhi University is indeed within the university campus, and one can walk through the campus to get here, but what did this nephew of his come for?

"My dad told me to come over for lunch. Here's the money!" Shen Libin awkwardly slapped a fifty-yuan note onto the counter.

His father had secretly visited him at school in the morning, telling him that Uncle Sijian has a talent for cooking and shouldn't waste it. He should take the school bus to North Gate and come over for lunch, so Uncle Sijian wouldn't be lazy.

That's only something a father would do. Otherwise, Shen Libin would have shaken his head, wondering if his father had water in his brain.

After tasting the croissants made by Uncle Sijian, he slightly changed his opinion of him today. Otherwise, he wouldn't have come!

Sniff, how delicious.

What did Uncle Sijian make?

"Did your dad tell you to come? Does your mom know?"

Adding another bowl of rice wasn't a big deal for him; it's just one more pair of chopsticks.

But does his sister-in-law know about this?

"No, my dad said that since you have a talent, you shouldn't waste it. You're a kid, so he'll definitely cook for you! The money comes from my secret stash, and we'll keep it from your mom for now!" Shen Libin, holding his backpack, imitated Shen Sijian's tone like a little adult.

Shen Siqin: "……"

Shen Siqin flicked the fifty-yuan note between his slender fingers: "Is this your monthly allowance?"

The skinny boy took a deep breath, leaning on the counter that was only slightly taller than him, and said solemnly, "For a day."

His round eyes silently asked, "So, are you making money?"

Shen Siqin: "?!?!?!"

Old brother must have a lot of secret money.

Does his sister-in-law know about this?

Author's note:

Shen Sijian: *Sneezes*!

Shen Sijian: Who's talking about me?!

---

Chapter 8

Shen Sijian and Yan Jihan were both remarkably down-to-earth individuals.

They didn't even have a housekeeper; they usually walked or rode their motorcycles to work. Shen Sijian often visited the factory floor to oversee production, while Yan Jihan managed the factory's accounts and ran the convenience store until just yesterday.

This often made Shen Siqin forget that Shen Sijian was now actually quite wealthy.

Especially after his collaboration with Mr. Wen got on track, Shen Sijian was set to accelerate his success.

He was so well-off now that he could afford to give his younger brother fifty yuan every day from his private stash as "meal money"!

And this was fifty yuan before the new millennium.

Its purchasing power was considerable.

Shen Siqin vaguely remembered that when he was young, his daily allowance never exceeded one yuan.

"When are we eating?" Shen Libin placed his backpack on the cash register.

That was what Shen Libin truly cared about—it smelled so good.

What delicious food was Uncle making?

Shen Siqin snapped back to reality and took the fifty yuan.

He glanced at the wall clock; it was already 11:20 AM.

The clay pot had been simmering for about thirty minutes.

Shen Siqin stood up, patted the chair, and said to his young nephew, "Sulin, watch the store. I'll check if the meat is done."

Taking care of this kid wouldn't hurt, especially for the quality of his laid-back life.

Besides, he had cooked plenty of braised meat today.

Unexpectedly assigned a task by his uncle, Shen Libin didn't throw a tantrum.

His mother often asked him to do homework while watching the store too.

Besides, there was delicious food to be had.

He nimbly went behind the cash register, sat down, and pulled out a book, pretending to read while waiting for his meal.

If only he hadn't held the math book upside down, Shen Siqin might have believed him.

This kid, so clever.

He quickly sliced two cuts into the boiled egg, then dropped it into the clay pot to simmer.

The aroma intensified as he lifted the lid.

Shen Libin swallowed hard, not moving an inch, keeping his eyes straight ahead.

At this moment, he had to maintain his composure, composure!

"What kind of vegetables do you want?" Shen Siqin walked to the refrigerator. "Cabbage, spinach, or bok choy? Which one?"

To him, any vegetable would do; they were all similar.

"Do we still need vegetables?" Shen Libin protested.

He could clearly smell the meat!

"What kind of vegetables do you want?" Shen Siqin sternly repeated.

Hmph, kids who eat for free can't refuse vegetables!

The child reluctantly chose, "Spinach, then."

Why did adults always make him eat things he disliked?

When he grew up, he'd eat whatever he wanted!

Seeing the child's sullen face, Shen Siqin almost couldn't keep a straight face. He maintained his stern demeanor, grabbed some spinach, and ten minutes later, he moved the clay pot aside and quickly blanched the spinach in a wok.

He had already cooked the rice, filling the clay pot, which he transferred to a clean stainless-steel bowl. Today's meal would be fresh, and the leftovers could be used for a mixed fried rice tomorrow.

Everything was perfectly arranged.

Shen Siqin found two large bowls, filled each halfway with rice, and then topped them with the glossy braised meat. He added an egg and a serving of spinach to his own bowl and gave his nephew an egg and two servings of spinach.

Kids needed more vegetables.

"Time to eat," he called from the kitchen, not bothering to bring the food over.

Shen Libin, who had been pretending, rushed over without delay upon hearing his uncle's call.

He moved so fast he left a blur, yet he still managed to grab a bottle of orange soda from the shelf on the way.

"Thanks, Uncle. I'll watch the store while I eat. You sit here!" Shen Libin said, carrying his portion of braised meat back to the counter!

Shen Libin was enthusiastic about watching the store.

Shen Siqin enjoyed the peace, knowing he could see the store through the hallway if he kept the bedroom door open. It was nice to eat in peace.

He took out the fresh milk he had received that morning and began enjoying the fruits of his labor.

The braised meat was fragrant and chewy, the flavors of the meat and various seasonings blending perfectly. It wasn't greasy at all, instead making one want to take a second bite after the first. Paired with refreshing vegetables and sweet rice, it was simply a delight to eat.

My cooking skills seem to have improved.

Shen Siqin thought to himself.

He took a sip of fresh milk and was about to ask Sanlin how his cooking was.

Then he saw his little nephew eating with his head down, so engrossed that he probably wouldn't notice if someone came into the store.

Kids will be kids.

Considering how much the boy was enjoying the food, Shen Siqin decided to keep an eye on the store while they ate.

He restrained his urge to gobble down the meal and instead savored each small bite slowly.

Perhaps due to a habit of eating quickly to save time, this slow pace often made Shen Siqin lose focus.

A blurry figure flashed past the clean glass window.

Dressed in a shirt and trousers, tall and slender.

Shen Siqin's attention was immediately drawn to this figure, watching as it walked straight into the store, the bell above the door ringing crisply.

"…Teacher Lin?" Shen Libin struggled to lift his head from the delicious food, spotting a familiar face.

"Isn't your uncle supposed to be running the store?"

Lin Shengjin tried to ignore the enticing aroma in the air and asked gently.

He had thought about it carefully yesterday and still felt worried.

Just because Sijian is rich doesn't mean Siqin can't be a thief!

He had been fooled by him somehow.

Though it seemed like he was judging others behind their backs, what if Siqin had lied last night? Lin Shengjin decided to drop by today when he had a chance.

He had classes in the morning, so he only managed to come at noon.

"You mean my uncle?" Shen Libin wiped his mouth and looked towards the back of the store. "He's inside."

"Teacher Lin, you're looking for me!" Shen Siqin emerged with a smile.

He didn't expect the big shot to actually show up!

Uh, wait, his trap isn't even set yet.

"No, I'm here to buy something." Hearing Shen Libin call Shen Siqin 'uncle,' he felt relieved and headed to the shelves to grab something before leaving.

He turned to look at the shelves, slightly dazed by the overpowering aroma of the braised meat, which he couldn't ignore no matter how hard he tried.

Shen Siqin walked over and tilted his head, asking, "Teacher Lin, have you eaten lunch yet?"

"I have." Lin Shengjin frowned and picked up a small bag of laundry detergent.

Lying, Shen Siqin thought.

Seems like he really dislikes me.

He turned his head, leaned against the shelf, and drawled, "Oh, that's too bad. I was just thinking of offering you a taste of my new lunch special."

Hearing the word 'buy,' Lin Shengjin was intrigued.

Even though he knew Shen Siqin might be teasing him, Lin Shengjin couldn't help but ask, "What do you mean?"

"Well, after careful consideration, I've decided to develop a side business for the store."

After ten seconds of deep thought.

"I suddenly realized I have a talent for cooking, so I thought about offering a limited lunch special every day, priced at ten yuan per serving, aiming for a premium route."

Ten yuan per serving is quite a lot these days.

"Today is the first day of the experiment. I was wondering if Teacher Lin wanted to try a serving."

Shen Siqin lowered his voice. Actually, he hadn't planned to start this lunch special project seriously.

If the experiment proved unfeasible, he could stop it, right?

Feasibility was entirely up to him.

Inviting Lin Shengjin to eat would likely be refused, but selling it might make him consider it.

And this would be a long-term plan, catching fish with a long line!

It's just an excuse, really.

No one would take it seriously, right?

"Second Uncle, you're going to sell food? Really? That's great! Are we opening a restaurant?" Shen Libin's eyes lit up. Wow, if they opened a restaurant, he'd get to eat so much good food.

After tasting the braised meat, Shen Libin was now thoroughly impressed by his uncle's cooking skills.

Shen Siqin: "…"

Wait, how did this kid hear that?

He was just using the lunch special as an excuse to attract his wife, not to open a restaurant!

You're still imagining the details yourself?

You're overestimating my business acumen, nephew!

However, Lin Shengjin is still standing right next to him.

Can he say it's fake at this moment?

Wouldn't that be slapping himself in the face?

At this moment, he can only smile and say, "It's just a part-time small business. I'm not sure if it will work out, and I haven't planned to open a restaurant."

He neither confirmed nor denied it.

Very evasive.

Hmph, he'll have to have a good chat with his nephew later!!

Author's note:

Shen Siqin: No one would really believe it, right?

Shen Libin Lin Shengjin: Someone does!

---

Chapter 9

"Ten yuan per serving?"

A pleasant voice sounded in his ear, and Shen Siqin temporarily let his joyous nephew off the hook.

"Yes, ten yuan per serving. It's the first day of the trial, so it's half price—five yuan for a serving of braised pork rice. Would you like to try it?" Shen Siqin had already noticed that although Lin Shengjin probably couldn't cook, he seemed to enjoy good food very much.

Isn't this a coincidence?

Their hobbies and skills were such a perfect match.

A conflicted expression appeared on Lin Shengjin's handsome face.

His already rosy complexion seemed even more vibrant.

The seemingly carefree Shen Siqin silently took two steps back.

Well, getting any closer might make him fall for the beauty.

Lin Shengjin, lost in thought, didn't notice Shen Siqin's movement.

"Are you... trying to contact Wen Changxiang through me?" Lin Shengjin wasn't indecisive; he directly asked what he wanted to know.

If it was just normal interaction, Lin Shengjin wouldn't avoid Shen Siqin like a snake or scorpion. But if Shen Siqin had other ulterior motives, that would be another story.

Shen Siqin: "..."

Originally, although he despised the original owner's ruthless and parasitic behavior, he hadn't taken the mess left behind too seriously.

Until now!!!

"How could that be? I've reformed and started my own business. Even Mr. Wen continues to do business with my brother. If you don't want to buy it, that's fine." Shen Siqin pretended not to care, casually tidying up the shelves, using retreat as an advance.

"Besides, Teacher Lin, the food is really delicious. You should buy a serving. My uncle has truly changed."

While they were talking, Shen Libin had already taken the initiative and served himself a second bowl of rice.

Hearing this, Shen Siqin mentally gave his young nephew a thumbs-up and a thumbs-down.

"My uncle plans to open a restaurant too," Shen Libin said with a grin, holding his bowl of rice.

Wow, just thinking about it sounds great.

Shen Siqin's mental thumbs-up for his nephew silently turned halfway into a thumbs-down.

Shen Libin's enthusiastic recommendation did have an effect; Lin Shengjin was curious about how good the food was.

"Do you sell lunch boxes here?" He didn't bring any utensils, and it seemed none were provided.

Hearing this, Shen Siqin thought there was a chance.

"Yes, we do." Shen Siqin walked to the third row of shelves, which held various items. He picked out two different types of lunch boxes from the top shelf.

One was an aluminum lunch box, and the other was a transparent plastic one.

"Which one do you want?" Shen Siqin kept his tone indifferent.

Well, he was afraid being too enthusiastic might scare the customer away!

"This one, can you help wash it?" Lin Shengjin pointed at the aluminum lunch box, tentatively asking.

Shen Siqin pretended to frown slightly, as if slightly annoyed, before saying, "Alright, wait a moment."

He walked into the room nonchalantly, but inside, he was delighted.

Breaking the ice was a good start.

Only by breaking the ice could their relationship develop further.

At this moment, Shen Siqin's slight resentment towards his nephew vanished completely.

Watching him leave, Lin Shengjin fell into deep thought.

He was starting to believe that Shen Siqin had indeed 'reformed.'

His attitude towards a demanding customer like himself was still acceptable.

Lin Shengjin's vigilance relaxed a bit.

"Teacher Lin, do you have classes this afternoon?" With the customer still around, Shen Libin could only swallow his saliva and try to chat, suppressing his appetite.

It wouldn't be polite to let the customer stand there awkwardly.

"I don't have classes this afternoon," Lin Shengjin said with a gentler expression.

He was always kind to this child.

"That's great. I wish I only had classes half the day every day," Shen Libin said enviously.

"If you get into university, you'll occasionally have half-day classes." He chose his words carefully, emphasizing "occasionally" rather than "often."

"Sigh, it's still a long way off." Shen Libin propped his head up, sighing like a little adult.

Lin Shengjin walked over to the cash register. "Not long at all. Study hard, and it'll come quickly."

Shen Siqin meticulously washed the aluminum lunch box, then filled it with a generous serving of braised pork rice. When he came out, he saw Lin Shengjin 'persuading' his young nephew.

Facing his little nephew, Lin Shengjin, Shen Siqin was much more amiable.

It was nothing like the cold demeanor he had when dealing with others.

"Here, the lunch box is four yuan, detergent is five yuan, so that's fourteen yuan in total. If you like it, come back next time." Shen Siqin carefully placed the slightly warm lunch box in a plastic bag, added another bag, and then handed the items to Lin Shengjin, seemingly casually saying.

The last sentence seemed like a routine way of greeting customers.

Lin Shengjin took the plastic bag and pulled out his wallet.

"Here." He counted out fourteen yuan.

Shen Siqin accepted it, Lin Shengjin nodded at him, and then turned to leave.

Everything appeared ordinary and simple.

Once the person left, Shen Siqin's eyes revealed a smile.

This could be considered a good start.

Then he heard a muffled voice beside him: "Second Uncle, if you want to open a shop, should you buy a new storefront or just use this place? I think turning the convenience store into a restaurant would work too."

Indeed, Sanlin had already started planning.

Shen Siqin: "…"

Nephew, your second uncle really doesn't have such entrepreneurial ambitions; your ideas are running too fast.

"Hold on, hold on! Your second uncle just wants to give it a try. If I encounter difficulties, I'll stop immediately. This isn't settled yet, don't get your hopes up." Shen Siqin lazily propped his elbow on the cash register.

He said this without any sugarcoating.

It was a direct blow to the hopeful Shen Libin.

Shen Libin swallowed his mouthful of food, pouted, and protested, "Second Uncle, you can't do that. The book says a gentleman's word is as binding as a horse's oath. Don't be afraid of difficulties."

"I'm not a gentleman," Shen Siqin said bluntly.

Shen Libin: "…"

A hint of amusement flashed in Shen Siqin's beautiful almond eyes: "Don't tell your parents about this, or else I'll only give you plain noodles for lunch every day!"

He feared his older brother would directly buy a shop for him.

It wasn't impossible.

He needed to set things straight with the kid beforehand.

Plain!

Noodles!

Shen Libin: "Second Uncle, you're too cruel! I'm still growing!"

The child scooped a spoonful of rice and bit down hard.

The savory meat improved his mood once again.

Second Uncle was still the same Second Uncle; getting him to be ambitious was tough.

Shen Siqin tilted his head slightly, feeling he had won the conversation.

He turned to tidy up the kitchen, catching sight of two familiar figures from the corner of his eye.

One of them was tall and slender, drawing his attention.

Lin Shengjin had actually returned?

Shen Siqin: "!!"

"I bought it here. You're neighbors, if he's selling lunch, Boss Zhang, didn't you know?"

Lin Shengjin clearly wasn't smiling, his expression remained neutral, but Shen Siqin felt that Lin Shengjin exuded joy, sly like a fox that had caught its prey.

"Oh, Xiao Shen, why didn't you tell me you were doing business? I would definitely support you!" Zhang Qi took a deep breath.

Sure enough, entering the restaurant—no, the convenience store—the aroma was even stronger.

I wonder what Xiao Shen made today.

Seeing Lao Zhang from the neighboring print shop, Shen Siqin understood that Lin Shengjin hadn't fully believed his story.

Indeed, future big shots aren't easy to fool.

"Teacher Lin, are you helping me get customers?" Shen Siqin raised an eyebrow and asked.

Lin Shengjin gently shook his head, finally smiling faintly, "No, I ran into Uncle Zhang from the print shop outside. He asked what was in the lunch box that smelled so good, so I told him the truth."

This lunch couldn't be just for one person, right?

Besides, telling a familiar person where the lunch came from doesn't seem excessive.

It was also a chance to test if Shen Siqin had ulterior motives.

Shen Siqin's gaze swept over Lin Shengjin, and the amusement in his almond eyes grew.

Originally, he had only liked Lin Shengjin's appearance and voice, but now he realized that the man's personality was quite... interesting.

Being scrutinized by him, Lin Shengjin felt a renewed sense of caution.

He wouldn't have guessed it, would he? Is it really just for selling to myself?

Is this meant to please oneself?

I truly have no idea what ill intentions this person might be harboring.

Zhang Qi touched his polished forehead, a bit embarrassed, and said, "Yes, yes, that's right. In fact, all of us old neighbors smelled it. It's just that they don't know Xiao Shen and Teacher Lin as well, so I, knowing both sides, came forward with a thick skin."

It was just too tempting; he couldn't help himself. After all, he had helped Xiao Shen look after the shop for a while today, so they had some connection, right?

He even brought his own lunch box!

Lin Shengjin met Shen Siqin's gaze: "What's this? Are you not trading anymore?"

Shen Siqin: "Who said that?"

Shen Libin, observing silently from the side: It feels like the air is filled with the scent of gunpowder, but... neither of them said anything.

"Sanlin."

Suddenly, the child heard his uncle calling out to him.

Shen Libin quickly responded, "Yes!"

"serve food, collect money."

Oh my, is Uncle gearing up to make a move?!

Shen Libin: "Alright!"

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Chapter 10

"I'll be going now." Lin Shengjin gave a slight nod to Shen Siqin and Zhang Qi.

"Teacher Lin?" Shen Siqin spoke up.

Lin Shengjin looked at him in confusion.

What's this guy up to?

"Will you come again tomorrow?" Shen Siqin raised his chin, trying to look somewhat smug.

A strand of hair fell over Lin Shengjin's forehead, partially covering his gem-like eyes, and he casually brushed it away.

Shen Siqin felt as if that gesture had reached right into his heart.

So handsome!

"It depends; maybe I will come," Lin Shengjin said vaguely.

Shen Libin scratched his face.

Uncle and Teacher Lin are acting so strange.

It's like Grandpa Zhang and I don't even exist.

Lin Shengjin was equally puzzled about how things had developed to this point.

It made it seem like he would often buy food here.

He entered the school, waited for a bit, and then took the shuttle bus that runs every twenty minutes back to the North Gate.

Beizhi University, East Campus, Staff Building No. 4, third floor, the farthest room on the left.

Lin Shengjin took a pair of chopsticks from the kitchen, feeling increasingly hungry.

The aluminum lunch box was tightly sealed, but the aroma of braised pork rice kept seeping out of the small container.

Lin Shengjin took the lunch box out and placed it solemnly on the dining table, attempting to open the lid.

But the lid seemed glued to the box, refusing to budge no matter how hard he tried.

Lin Shengjin: "…"

His slender hand reached for the fruit knife on the dining table, and after observing the ordinary aluminum lunch box for a while, he carefully used the knife to pry open the lid along the seam.

There was a click.

No juices or grains splashed out, but the bright broth had thoroughly soaked the white rice, filling the entire box to the brim.

No wonder he couldn't open it with his hands!

"I wonder how he managed to seal it so tightly."

Is Shen Siqin always so sincere in his business dealings?

This only made Lin Shengjin more perplexed about him.

Strange.

Really strange.

As Lin Shengjin recalled the events of the day, he put down the fruit knife and picked up the chopsticks, first placing a piece of egg white, which he usually disliked, into his mouth.

The eggs were pre-boiled and cooled in water, making them smooth and refreshing. The slight touch of braising sauce added a sweet and savory flavor.

Even though Lin Shengjin usually didn't enjoy boiled eggs, his eyes lit up.

He hesitantly took another bite of the egg white.

It was just as tender and delicious.

Too much seasoning would be overpowering, too little would be bland, but this was perfectly balanced.

Lin Shengjin couldn't help but close his eyes in satisfaction.

He hadn't expected Shen Siqin to be such a good cook.

He savored every bite of the braised pork rice until the entire portion was gone, then reluctantly picked up a glass of water to take a sip.

Supporting his chin with one hand, Lin Shengjin fell into deep thought.

Ten minutes later, Lin Shengjin realized he still couldn't figure out what Shen Siqin wanted.

He shook his head lightly.

Forget it, if I can't figure it out, there's no point in thinking about it.

He picked up the lunch box and walked towards the kitchen.

Hmm, should I go back and buy lunch again tomorrow to find out what he's up to?

While washing the lunch box, Lin Shengjin pondered this question with some distress.

"The first day is five yuan per portion with a discount, and during the trial period, there's a limit of five portions per day." Shen Siqin handed the last portion of braised pork rice to Aunt Wang.

Holding her own stainless steel bowl, Aunt Wang smiled and said, "Oh, it smells so good. My son is in for a treat today. Xiao Shen, what time do you make lunch? If my son likes it, I'll come back tomorrow!"

A fifty percent discount sounds good. Although five yuan is still quite expensive, it's all meat, and who knows how much seasoning has been added. She doesn't feel like she's losing out.

Selling handmade tofu products is hard work for little profit. Shen Siqin was surprised by Aunt Wang's generosity: "The timing isn't fixed; it depends on when I finish making lunch."

Zhou Changyi from the video store followed Wang Qiutao's hand with his eyes.

To be precise, he was watching the bowl in Wang Qiutao's hand.

Just smelling it makes your mouth water, and seeing the color of the meat, it can't possibly be bad!

He watched as Wang Qiutao felt that even though it was expensive, she seemed to be getting a good deal. She walked away quickly, almost skipping.

Wu Chunxue, the newsstand owner, pulled his old friend aside: "Xiao Shen, isn't five portions a day too few?"

Xiao Yan didn't mention her brother-in-law's cooking was this good when she left!

"It's not too few. We're like the newsstand; selling drinks and snacks is just a side business. I want to keep things simple since I'm doing it alone." Shen Siqin smiled brightly, his handsome face appealing to all ages.

"You can't say that; our drinks make good money too."

That didn't faze Wu Chunxue, who immediately countered.

Zhou Changyi pushed up his reading glasses: "Exactly. Young man, with your skills, you should be running a big business."

Shen Libin leaned close to Shen Siqin, cupping his hands into a megaphone: "Open a restaurant! Open a restaurant! Open a restaurant!"

Shen Siqin: "..."

Kid, this is a technological society; chanting won't work!

"I just got here; we'll see about it later."

He used his standard response.

"See about it later." Five words, always effective!

With that said, the two could only sigh and leave.

Once they were a bit farther away, they started discussing.

Zhou Changyi: "Look at that meat, crystal clear and shiny. It must be delicious."

Wu Chunxue swallowed hard: "Do I need you to tell me? Even with your presbyopia, you saw it. Of course, I saw it too."

Zhou Changyi sighed: "Young people these days are different from us. With such skills, they don't want to work hard."

Wu Chunxue chuckled: "You're wrong. People with talent have confidence. Are we coming back tomorrow?"

He asked the key question.

Zhou Changyi walked slowly back to his video store, hands behind his back: "Yes, of course we are!"

"For lunch, if you help with the cash register, I'll give you ten percent of the daily earnings as pocket money." Shen Siqin negotiated with his young nephew.

Shen Libin, now in charge, stood on a small stool, looking up at his second uncle.

Short he may be, but he had plenty of spirit.

Indeed, he had to stand on the stool to look up at Shen Siqin.

Shen Siqin glanced at the stool being stepped on by the child: "Clean it yourself later, or it's plain noodles for you."

Plain noodle warning!

Shen Libin's spirit dropped significantly: "Okay, I understand, Second Uncle."

"Ahem." He cleared his throat, trying to regain his earlier confidence, "Second Uncle, helping you isn't out of the question."

Shen Siqin: "No deal; I'll find a part-timer."

Finding a cheap nephew is difficult, chasing a wife is tough, but finding a part-timer for five yuan a day shouldn't be hard.

Especially near a university; many students would be happy to earn some extra cash.

Shen Libin: "!!!"

Shen Libin: "Ah, no, Second Uncle, that's my job!"

"Oh, so you agree." Shen Siqin said.

Shen Libin: "???"

How did I agree?

Deflated, he climbed down from the stool. He realized his second uncle was quite cunning.

He couldn't argue with him at all!

Shen Siqin smiled inwardly, thinking, kid, if you want to outtalk your uncle, wait another twenty years.

"Second Uncle, can I tell my parents?" he asked, tilting his head.

Dad would definitely fund the restaurant for his second uncle!

"No, our business isn't expanding." Shen Siqin returned to the cash register, putting the lunch money in the box and leaving a five-yuan note on the counter for his nephew's pocket money.

"Why not?" Shen Libin asked, wiping the stool with a cloth.

"This is a high-end route, private cuisine."

Shen Siqin pushed the five yuan forward and said with a smile, "San Lin, let me ask you, I'm just selling lunch, not expanding my business. Does it affect your enjoyment of good food?"

Shen Libin thought about it warily and shook his head: "No."

Today, Uncle had given him some sheep's horn pastries.

Shen Siqin asked again, "Does it affect your pocket money?"

Shen Libin glanced at the five yuan on the cash register. It was quite a sum for him, and he shook his head: "No."

"Then why are you in such a hurry to expand the business? There's no benefit for you."

Shen Libin fell into confusion.

Uncle seemed to be right.

He... he couldn't even refute it!

"Hmph, whatever you say is right!" Shen Libin finally reacted, realizing that arguing was useless! He angrily grabbed the five yuan.

"Uncle, I don't understand why you're going back on your word."

Don't think he can't see through it; earlier, Uncle didn't want to sell lunch to Grandpa Zhang.

Shen Siqin: "It's a secret. You'll understand when you grow up."

Chasing after a wife is something one needs to handle with confidence.

Shen Siqin recalled Lin Shengjin's wary yet curious demeanor.

He really was like a little cat.

One couldn't help but tease him.

Shen Libin: "..."

He wasn't a kid anymore!

Uncle was so annoying.

Fuming, he grabbed his backpack and ran out.

"Run slower! Take the school bus home." Shen Siqin reminded him.

Shen Libin huffed and ran back, grabbing a bottle of orange soda from the shelf.

He would eat more, all at Uncle's expense.

With this thought, he bit open the bottle cap and took a big gulp in front of Shen Siqin before screwing the cap back on and running off again.

Shen Siqin: "..."

Shen Siqin chased out and shouted, "Don't drink while walking, watch out for the wind!"

"I know!"

In the small shop, the lingering meat aroma was now mixed with the fresh sweetness of orange soda.

Shen Siqin opened the window to let in some air. A gentle breeze blew, causing his hair to fall over his forehead. Instinctively, he reached up to smooth it.

Today, he did act a bit impulsively.

However, Shen Siqin had a feeling that Lin Shengjin wouldn't be able to resist his curiosity.

He would come over.

Now, Shen Siqin was looking forward to tomorrow noon...

The author has something to say:

Ah, forgot to set the timer, sorry about that. Will pay attention next time.

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