Although Shi Lingyu was a young girl, she was bold and she liked all kinds of bugs. She had told Ling Sheng that the bee pupa was the best.
When she had tutored Little Feng at night, she had seen a big hive at his house. Little Feng had said that he had picked it himself and he could take them there on the weekend.
Ji Fanchen did not say anything, but he did not eat a single grasshopper.
No matter what he did, he had a very upright manner. There was nothing wrong with him, but he was very disciplined.
For example, if one was eating, one had to keep oneâs back straight. Oneâs arms and chopsticks had to maintain a standard position. One had to get enough food at the first attempt and never make a second attempt.
âBrother Chen, eat it. Itâs delicious.â Cheng Ye picked up a grasshopper for him and put it in his bowl. âItâs really delicious. I didnât dare eat it initially either. Youâll know how delicious it is after eating it.â
Ji Fanchen avoided his chopsticks and shook his head. âI donât like it.â
Ling Sheng smiled sneakily and whispered, âAre you scared?â
âNo.â
Ling Sheng said, âWhy wouldnât you dare to eat if youâre not afraid?â
Ji Fanchenâs body stiffened for a moment before he let out a low cough to hide his embarrassment. âI donât like eating these weird things.â
Ling Sheng did not tease him anymore. He was like the Third Master, who had clearly refused and resisted the food even though his whole body had craved it. However, the Third Master was much better than him. At the very least, he had eaten one.
Shi Lingyu smiled secretly as well. She used her elbow to touch her, asking her to stop teasing him. Ji Fanchen was not someone who could take teasing to begin with.
When they were sleeping that night, Ji Fanchen finally sensed that there was still some smell on him. He asked Cheng Ye softly, âLittle Ye, are you asleep?â
Cheng Ye replied, âNo.â
Ji Fanchen asked, âIs my bodyâs smell strong? Do you feel uncomfortable?â
Cheng Ye replied, âNo, I canât smell it. You already showered. Where does it smell?â
Ji Fanchen said, âWhy donât I go downstairs to sleep?â
Cheng Yeâs voice was low. âThereâs really no smell. Brother Ji, your body smells nice.â
Ji Fanchenâs heart skipped a beat as he asked curiously, âDo I smell like something?â
Cheng Ye nodded, proving that he no longer had the smell of cow dung on him. âYes, I canât put a finger on it either. Itâs just a very fresh and fragrant smell. Itâs very similar to the smell of grass after the rain. I always thought you were wearing perfume.â
Ji Fanchen asked, âReally?â
Cheng Ye said, âYes.â
In the master bedroom next door...
Ling Sheng had just returned after making a call.
âSheng Sheng, who were you talking to? Look at your blissful expression. Iâm so envious...â Shi Lingyu teased her.
âWith my lover, of course.â Ling Sheng climbed onto the bed with a smile. âIf youâre jealous, go find a lover as well.â
âAre you serious?â Shi Lingyu did not believe her. âYouâre really in love?â
Ling Sheng smiled even more slyly. âWho mentioned love? I was just having a long chat with my lover. Donât you see me making phone calls every night?â
That was right!
That was her lover!
Her precious son, the lover of her previous life[1]!
Shi Lingyu felt that she could not speak the truth, so she did not ask her. After all, this was her private matter, so she could only ask, âWhoâs the neighbor next door? I think Iâve seen him before.â
âHeâs just an old man who isnât very healthy. I met him the night when I went to get Little Gray. It was inconvenient for him to move, and there was no one at home to take care of him. It was quite pitiful.â Ling Sheng sighed with sympathy.
[1] According to a saying in Chinese, oneâs child of the opposite sex is oneâs lover from a previous life.