CH 55.1

TL: Hua

A fragrant heat is rising in the warm and bright dining room.

At the center of the dining table, an old-fashioned charcoal stove hot pot was filled with tumbling and rolling meat and vegetables, looking very mouth-watering.

“Wow! Hot Pot, Hot Pot! “

Little Goldfish was looking forward to eating it. His saliva was almost dripping down his chin.

Shi Yunnan nimbly clipped a fish meatball and put it in his special children’s small bowl, “Little greedy cat, let it cool before eating, be careful of burning your mouth.”

“Thank you, little uncle. I love you!”

Luo Lingsheng glanced at his “slick tongue” little nephew and asked, “Who taught you that? You keep these words on your lips all day long.“

Little Goldfish took a bite of the meatball and said vaguely, “Little Uncle taught me. Uncle, haven’t you learned yet?””

Last time Shi Yunnan and Luo Ling Sheng had a falling out, he was taught this: if you like someone, you should clearly express yourselves.

“…..”

Luo Lingsheng was beaten back by his little nephew with a single sentence, and suddenly he was at a loss for words.

A smile appeared at the corner of Shi Yunnan’s mouth. For some reason, he liked to see Luo Lingsheng being “lectured” by Little Goldfish’s childish words.

He didn’t say anything but turned to Qin Jian instead, “Where’s the birthday cake?”

Qin Jian replied, “It’s in the kitchen refrigerator. I’ll go get it now.”

As soon as his voice landed, Butler Qin ordered the servants to bring the prepared dishes as well.

“Mr. Shi said he wanted to eat hot pot, and I was afraid that the patriarch and the little young master wouldn’t be used to eating it, so I had some more home-cooked dishes prepared.”

“Anyway, it’s a meal in our own home. I thought that we all don’t need to be too formal.”

Uncle Qin smiled amiably and contentedly. He liked this kind of family atmosphere very much and couldn’t help but sighed. “It’s been a long time since the patriarch celebrated his birthday.”

Luo Lingsheng pursed his lips slightly. The bottom of his eyes shook with a trace of regret.

He didn’t like to organize birthdays and such, so in previous years his parents and his sister were the ones who thought about his birthday from one year to the next.

Since the unexpected death of his family, Luo Lingsheng didn’t like to celebrate his so-called birthday anymore.

Of course, it was also to avoid other people’s flattery at the birthday banquet, which only added to his pain.

Shi Yunnan saw the emotion in Luo Lingsheng’s eyes and patted his lover’s thigh with his hand hidden under the table.

It was like he was speaking to Uncle Qin, but in fact he was also speaking to Luo Lingsheng himself, “There are still more birthdays ahead. We can spend them with him every year in the future.”

Although Luo Lingsheng’s identity and status made the birthday party at home a little crude, it also brought a warm feeling that no luxury banquet could match.

Luo Lingsheng pressed his hand against Shi Yunnan’s palm and interlocked his fingers.

Little Goldfish bent down like a clever ghost to look under the table, and when he found this “secret”, he immediately smiled and squinted his eyes again, “Oh~~ I’ve caught it again!”

“Oh what?”

Shi Yunnan squeezed Luo Lingsheng’s palm, signaling him to release.

Little Goldfish shook his head, with an exaggerated look on his face, “Don’t worry, I won’t say it.”

The crowd was having a small talk at the dining table when Qin Jian finally came out of the kitchen with a small cake.

Little Goldfish’s attention was instantly drawn by the cake, and he quickly vacated the space in front of him, “Uncle Qin, this way, this way! Put the cake here!“

When Qin Jian heard this, he immediately looked at Luo Lingsheng.

With the tacit approval of the other party, he placed the candle-lit cake in front of Little Goldfish, saying, “Little young master, be careful not to burn your hands.”

Little Goldfish nodded quickly and took the initiative to sing a happy birthday song, but the singing voice sounded like the eighteen curves of the mountain road1Singing out of tune.

In the end, he also helped with the cutting and happily got the cake for everyone present.

He was so busy that he couldn’t stop.

Uncle Qin was afraid that his good intention would turn into a hindrance, so he watched him closely on one side.

Qin Jian and Yuan Meng poured wine for the people present, and then sat down next to each other, “Look at how excited the little young master is. If I didn’t know, I would have thought it was his birthday.”

Shi Yunnan leaned back in his chair and stared at Little Goldfish. He found it increasingly interesting to raise a child.

Luo Lingsheng replied, “Let him be.”

He had never liked sweets and only agreed to buy a birthday cake today just to make his little nephew happy.

When Little Goldfish finished dividing all the cakes, Shi Yunnan said to the worried Uncle Qin, “Uncle Qin, you sit down too.”

“Ok.”

He looked around and fixed his gaze on Luo Lingsheng again, and took the initiative to raise his glass, “Luo Lingsheng, happy birthday.”

Seeing this, Uncle Qin and the others also followed and raised their glasses, “Patriarch, happy birthday.”

Little Goldfish was unwilling to admit defeat. With cream on the corner of his mouth, he raised the fruit juice in his hand and said, “Happy birthday, Uncle. Can you have a birthday every day from now on?”

Luo Lingsheng’s heart-felt emotion was scraped away by his little nephew’s words, but he couldn’t bear to blame him, so he just raised his glass and clinked with everyone.

After drinking the wine, Shi Yunnan deliberately smeared the cream on the tip of Little Goldfish’s nose, saying, “Don’t think we don’t know that you just want to eat cake every day. If you have worms growing from your teeth, we will have the dentist pull them out.“

Little Goldfish wrinkled his nose and hurriedly ate another piece of cake to suppress his shock.

He brushes his teeth every day, so he doesn’t need to see a doctor!

…

After getting along for a long time, they were just like a real family, so the atmosphere at this table was naturally not depressing.

Little Goldfish has a small belly, so he was full soon after.

After nibbling down most of the cake, he was dutifully brought back to his room by Uncle Qin while burping.

With Luo Lingsheng’s tacit approval, Qin Jian and Yuan Meng ate and drank without the usual restraint at work.

The two believed that since Mr. Shi came to this house, the number of times the patriarch became angry had been decreasing day by day, which was a good thing.

After three rounds of wine, Shi Yunnan asked casually, “The Chinese New Year is coming up in less than a month, so the Luo company should also be on holiday, right? Qin Jian, Yuan Meng, are you guys going back home for the Chinese New Year?“

Yuan Mang shook his head, his face dyed a little red by the wine, saying, “Mr. Shi, I’m not going back.”

“Why?”

“My parents passed away when I was very young. It was my brother who brought me up. The situation at home is a little difficult to say…“

When Yuan Meng said this, there was a hint of hesitation on his face.

Qin Jian probably knew something and helped explain, “What’s so hard to say? Meng Meng’s money before and after his discharge from the military some years ago was scavenged by his sister-in-law in every way possible.”

Later, he became Luo Lingsheng’s personal bodyguard, and the salary naturally doubled.

When he returned to his hometown two years ago, his sister-in-law pretended to cry for money again—

Sometimes she said that his nephew needed money to go to school; other times she said that things at home needed to be renovated. In any case, it was just an excuse to get Yuan Meng’s money.

Yuan Meng’s older brother tried to help his little brother by speaking up, but he was scolded by his wife.

The two brothers are first-class honest people. How can they get rid of such a senseless woman who cried, made trouble, and threatened to hang herself?

In his first year as a bodyguard, Yuan Meng returned to his hometown for the holidays and “gave away” almost all the salary he had saved for the whole year. Later, Yuan Meng’s brother was afraid that his younger brother would be bullied again, so he secretly refused to let Yuan Meng go back.

He can’t afford to stir anything, so he can only avoid it.

Yuan Meng nodded in response, “I will send a sum of money back to my brother in two days.”

After all, his elder brother did have the grace to raise him.

“Yes, that will do.”

Qin Jian patted the shoulder of the person beside him. Perhaps due to alcohol, he teased him a little more than usual, “Otherwise, if we go back a few more times, our Meng Meng’s future wife will have nothing left.”

“…..”

Yuan Mang’s face was dyed red at a speed visible to the naked eye. With a flick of his shoulder, he shook off Qin Jian’s playful hand.

Shi Yunnan thought the way they got along was interesting and continued to ask, “What about you, Qin Jian?”

“My home is in Lin Province, so it’s very convenient to drive back and forth. My parents are both university professors. They are usually very busy.“

Qin Jian also had a sister who was studying at a local university in Lin Province. If there is an emergency at home, she can be of help.

Shi Yunnan nodded with understanding.

Although the two grew up in different educational environments, it was a good thing that they were able to, unexpectedly and harmoniously, get along at work.

Luo Lingsheng knew that he had usually “exploited” his two subordinates a lot, so he lightly said, “I’ll give you 20 days of paid leave from next week. You can do whatever you want. You don’t have to stay by my side all the time.”

When spring arrives, Luo Lingsheng will be leaving for the United States for surgery. He’s sure there will be a lot of work by then.

“Patriarch, I don’t need a vacation.” Yuan Meng refused.

Shi Yunnan drank the remaining half glass of wine and raised his eyebrows, “Humans all need rest. If you feel that you have nowhere to stay, follow Qin Jian to Lin Province to play. As a colleague, he shouldn’t leave you behind.“

Probably because their environment, family, and education were different since childhood, Qin Jian and Yuan Meng have completely different personalities.

Taking Qin Jian as an example, he never slacked off during his working hours, but when it came to private time, he can also face Luo Lingsheng and Shi Yunnan, the two “boss bosses”, like a fish in water.

Yuan Meng, who was just a “collegue”, was even easier to handle.

“Mr. Shi, I’ve already said it long ago, but he doesn’t want to.” Qin Jian looked at the person beside him and continued to tease him, “It seems he’s afraid that my parents will…”

Yuan Meng coughed, somewhat reluctantly and deliberately.

Qin Jian smiled and got up to avoid the topic, “Patriarch, Mr. Shi, I’ll go to the bathroom first.”

After Qin Jian left, Shi Yunnan couldn’t hold back his curiosity, “Yuan Meng, are you afraid of Qin Jian?”

“No, Mr. Shi.” Yuan Mang was afraid that Shi Yunnan and others would misunderstand, so he opened his mouth with a retort.

He paused for a while, then answered depressedly and honestly, “I’m just stupid and can’t move my brain fast enough. I can’t beat him when he jokes around in private.“

If possible, Yuan Mang also wants to take back a game.

After all, he had been in the army for so long in the early years, and he still had some desire to win or lose.

Shi Yunnan raised his eyebrows, “Isn’t that easy?”

He glanced at Luo Lingsheng, and quickly approached Yuan Meng to teach him some “bad ideas”.

Yuan Meng’s eyes showed astonishment, “No, it’s not good, right?”

“What’s wrong? It’s nothing more than a few words spoken,” Shi Yunnan shrugged, keeping a proper distance. “Think about what I said to your patriarch before, which one is not more excessive than the last?”

When Yuan Meng thought of this, he actually agreed in his heart.

He still remembered that Shi Yunnan called Luo Lingsheng his husband as soon as he appeared, and that shook everyone in place.

Luo Lingsheng silently watched the scene unfold and asked indifferently, “You’ve led Little Goldfish astray, and now you want to instill some evil idea in my bodyguard?”

“Nothing of the sort. I’m a decent and good person.“

Shi Yunnan returned to Luo Lingsheng’s side and bent over, “Are you full? Shall we go upstairs? It’s almost time. I’m a little sleepy.“

“Ok.”

When Shi Yunnan heard his lover’s reply, his eyes flickered with expectation.

What can this meal count as?

The next thing he was about to do behind closed doors was the main event.

1Singing out of tune