Chapter 41: A Partner, Not a Relative

Zhong Tian led Li Jianren into his family home.

“Please wear this pair of slippers.”

As Li Jianren exchanged his outdoor shoes for slippers, he called out towards the inner rooms, “Hello, Sister Jing!”

Having visited Zhong Tian’s home several times the previous year, Li Jianren was well aware that Zhong Tian had an older sister named Zhong Jing. In his mind, she was nothing short of an emotionless shark, her gaze alone having once nearly scared him senseless. Thus, operating on the principle of submission when outmatched, Li Jianren preemptively offered a loud greeting from a distance, even before catching sight of her.

Observing Li Jianren’s lingering apprehension, Zhong Tian found himself amused.

In truth, his sister harbored no malice; she was merely a bit reserved with strangers, hence her habit of fixing him with a stare to maintain a comfortable distance. Yet, it had never occurred to Zhong Tian that this innocent gesture might have left such a profound psychological scar on Li Jianren.

Despite this realization, Zhong Tian chose not to enlighten Li Jianren.

At the dining table, Zhong Jing, chopsticks poised in hand, cast a pointed glance at Zhong Tian, silently urging him to provide an explanation.

“Actually, I was planning to head over to his place tonight to hang out,” Zhong Tian began. “But then I came back and saw dinner was ready, so I figured we might as well eat here before setting off.”

Zhong Jing simply nodded, resuming her meal.

“Ren, take a seat first,” Zhong Tian instructed. “I’ll grab you a bowl and chopsticks.”

“Alright.”

As Li Jianren approached the dining table, he finally noticed Su Linxi, who had been sitting quietly to one side, completely unmoving and silent.

“She’s…”

Emerging from the kitchen with the bowls and chopsticks, Zhong Tian answered with a feigned casualness, “She’s a relative’s child.”

“Oh, really?”

“That is… incorrect.” Su Linxi set her chopsticks down, her expression grave. “He and I are currently in a professional partnership.”

Su Linxi’s measured words left Zhong Tian utterly dumbfounded.

“He is currently tasked with adapting my novel into a comic,” Su Linxi explained, her gaze fixed directly on Zhong Tian. “My cohabitation with him is purely for the purpose of supervision. Do not lie simply for convenience.”

Zhong Tian, feeling a flush of embarrassment, averted his eyes.

Li Jianren, however, merely nodded. “Ah, I see, I see,” he said. “Then, how should I address you?”

“Su Linxi.”

“Alright.” Li Jianren accepted the bowl and chopsticks from Zhong Tian and took his seat.

Perhaps sensing that both Su Linxi and Zhong Jing were not ones for idle chatter, Li Jianren became noticeably subdued, silently finishing his bowl of rice without uttering another word.

“Was that enough to eat?”

“More than enough, thank you.”

Li Jianren, with a commendable sense of self-awareness, carried his empty bowl and chopsticks into the kitchen, swiftly washed them, and returned them to their proper place.

“You can go sit down for a bit,” Zhong Tian offered. “I’ll head out as soon as I finish these dishes.”

“Alright.”

Li Jianren settled onto the sofa in Zhong Tian’s living room, immediately engrossed in his phone.

Zhong Jing stared, her face devoid of emotion, at Li Jianren—and more specifically, at the sofa where he was now comfortably ensconced. Her post-dinner plans of lounging there with cola, television, and her phone had been utterly thwarted.

She made a subtle gesture to Zhong Tian, urging him to depart swiftly. Zhong Tian caught on, offering a wry half-smile. “It wouldn’t be too late if I just wash this one bowl first, would it?”

Zhong Jing, maintaining her deadpan expression, then gestured towards Su Linxi.

“I will… wash them with you.”

Before Zhong Tian could voice any protest, Su Linxi had already risen and begun collecting the empty dishes.

With a resigned glance at Zhong Jing, Zhong Tian gathered the dishes and followed Su Linxi into the kitchen.

The kitchen at home featured an extra-wide single basin, technically allowing two people to wash dishes simultaneously, though it inevitably led to some crowding. Zhong Tian turned on the faucet, and amidst the rush of water, he thoughtfully suggested, “Perhaps I should just wash them myself.”

Su Linxi offered no verbal response; instead, she silently donned a pair of cleaning gloves and began dispensing dish soap onto the stack of dishes.

Witnessing her earnestness, Zhong Tian had no choice but to acquiesce.

He, too, pulled on a pair of cleaning gloves, and standing almost shoulder-to-shoulder with Su Linxi, they began working in the sudsy kitchen sink.

Even their slightest movements caused their bodies to brush, yet they worked together without hindrance, and the dishes were cleaned with remarkable efficiency. Still, this subtle proximity and fleeting contact imbued Zhong Tian with an inexplicable sense of intimacy, prompting him to lower his head, allowing his bangs to partially obscure his eyes.

Simultaneously, both reached for the final plate, their hands meeting and brushing against each other beneath the water.

Startled, Zhong Tian instantly pulled his hand away. Feeling a pang of awkwardness, he cast a quick glance back at Su Linxi.

Her expression remained perfectly serene as she picked up the final plate and began wiping it clean with a cloth.

Nevertheless, Zhong Tian detected a hint of amusement sparkling within her eyes.

He averted his gaze, removed his gloves, and swept the hair from his right temple behind his ear.

“I’ll head out now.”

“Mm.” Su Linxi drained the kitchen sink and removed her gloves. “Tomorrow, you absolutely must return before the typhoon makes landfall.”

“Alright.”

Zhong Tian pursed his lips.

Why did it feel as though a wife were giving parting instructions to her husband before a journey…?

A wave of shame washed over Zhong Tian at the thought. He turned, patted his cheeks, then made his way to the sofa to rouse Li Jianren, ushering him all the way to the entryway to change their shoes.

“I’m heading out.”

With those words, Zhong Tian closed the door behind him and departed.

****

Having stocked up on an abundance of snacks and drinks at the convenience store, the two young men settled into a ride-hailing car, which began its journey towards Li Jianren’s home.

Inside the car, Zhong Tian found his thoughts drifting back to the events at home.

Was he, perhaps, becoming a “love-struck fool” himself, recently influenced by Bai Ruijin and their romantic musings?

Coming to this realization, he began to introspect.

While he harbored no aversion to the concept of romance, Zhong Tian was acutely aware that he was ill-suited for a relationship. For one, his appearance would likely only attract individuals of the same s*x or lesbians. Moreover, given his mind-reading ability, it would be virtually impossible for any partner to conceal secrets from him. Although he deemed such a dynamic detrimental and unethical for a relationship, he knew with certainty that he would be utterly incapable of suppressing his own curiosity.

He mused that any future partner would likely find life with him rather exhausting.

Zhong Tian offered a self-deprecating chuckle, then closed his eyes, seeking a moment of repose.

****

Approximately fifteen minutes later, the ride-hailing car pulled to a stop at the entrance of the seaside villa community. From the passenger seat, Li Jianren presented an owner’s card to the guard.

Once verification was complete, the guard courteously returned the owner’s card with both hands, granting them passage.

Though it was not Zhong Tian’s inaugural visit, he remained utterly awestruck by the sheer magnificence of the villa district.

“Ren,” Zhong Tian questioned moments after they had stepped out of the car, “aren’t you concerned about typhoons, living right by the sea?”

“Of course, we are,” Li Jianren replied. “In fact, I still need to go tidy up the items on our private beach later.”

Zhong Tian’s eyes widened in realization. “Ah, so you called me here just to help you clean up?”

“Oh, come on, it’s not that much stuff!” Li Jianren chuckled. “Let’s just get it done quickly so we can start playing sooner!”

“Fine.”

Zhong Tian assented, acknowledging the unspoken obligation. After all, Li Jianren had paid for all the snacks and drinks, and they were heading to his house specifically to play on his PS5; to simply do nothing in return would leave Zhong Tian feeling rather remiss.

Zhong Tian and Li Jianren entered the sprawling villa, then stepped into the indoor panoramic elevator, which descended smoothly until it opened directly onto their private beach.

“First, let’s put away the parasols and chairs,” Li Jianren suggested, gesturing towards a small storage shed behind them. “After that, we can move the barbecue grill over there together.”

Seizing the opportunity before the sun fully dipped below the horizon, the two men moved swiftly, meticulously relocating every item from the beach into the small storage shed.

Zhong Tian’s attention was drawn to a rather imposing beach buggy prominently parked inside the warehouse.

Zhong Tian, observing it with a curious gaze and even touching it for a moment, turned to Li Jianren. “Is this easy to drive?” he inquired.

“It’s super easy,” Li Jianren assured him. “It’s pretty much like a bumper car at an amusement park, just a bit heavier.”

Gazingo at the various items within the warehouse, Zhong Tian was suddenly struck by an idea.

“How about we pick a long weekend sometime soon,” Zhong Tian proposed, “and invite a few friends to come and hang out on your beach?”

“Sounds great, I’m all for it!” Li Jianren readily agreed, his enthusiasm clear.

Zhong Tian resolved to invite Bai Ruijin and their friends for the occasion. After all, a beach, a barbecue, and swimsuits formed a wonderfully idyllic summer combination—even if it was already September. Moreover, it presented an excellent opportunity to cultivate goodwill.

He would make sure to inquire about everyone’s availability later.

As Zhong Tian pondered these thoughts, he followed Li Jianren for a quick rinse to wash off the sand clinging to their bodies, before they finally retreated back into the villa.

“Phew!” Li Jianren exclaimed, immediately flopping onto his own sofa. “Finally, we can let loose and enjoy ourselves!”

They had activated the air conditioning before descending to move the items, and now the entire house was permeated with refreshing cool air. Zhong Tian, who had worked up a slight sweat, gratefully sank onto the sofa, luxuriating in the cool embrace of the air and the plush comfort beneath him, feeling an immediate sense of relaxation wash over him.

After a brief respite, Li Jianren sprang up. “Let’s take a shower first,” he suggested, “and then we can dig into snacks and play some games.”

“Sounds good.”

Zhong Tian nodded in agreement.

“How about we shower together?”

“Are you still a child?” Zhong Tian retorted, laughing and chiding him. “Go wash yourself!”

“I was just trying to help you relive some childhood memories!”

“Go relive them on your own.”

“Alright, alright,” Li Jianren conceded, speaking as he walked away. “The PS5 is right next to the TV; feel free to turn it on and start playing.”

“Okay.”

It was only then that Zhong Tian suddenly recalled one of the primary reasons for his visit.

PS5!

He hadn’t paid close enough attention during his last visit to even notice its existence.

He knelt before the top-tier “router,” examining it intently.

What a sleek design.

He picked up a controller, savoring its texture. A strange sense of profound satisfaction washed over him.

After all, as a gaming console “savage” who had never even touched a “Fourth Princess” (PS4), he was now directly holding the upgraded “Fifth Princess” (PS5); it was akin to leaping from the Stone Age to the Iron Age.

After a moment of exploration, Zhong Tian, in high spirits, powered on the television and console, then settled back onto the sofa, swaying his head slightly in anticipation.

What should I play…?

Zhong Tian deliberated amongst Li Jianren’s extensive collection of game discs.