Ch114 No Way, We Can't Stay on the Couch Any Longer
"Bang!"
"Bang bang bang!"
As the clock on his phone neared midnight, fireworks suddenly erupted outside the window.
Meng Ci eagerly slipped on his shoes and dashed to the balcony, eager to see who was setting them off-completely forgetting the lights were still on inside.
The moment he pulled back the curtains, Shen Que swiftly shut off the generator inside, preventing any light from escaping.
Outside the window, fireworks bloomed.
Ten, nine, eight...
"Three."
"Two."
"One."
"Happy New Year!"
"Happy New Year!"
As the countdown on the fireworks reached three, Meng Ci heard the excited voices of many people around him joining in.
This instantly infected Meng Ci, too, and he couldn't help but shout along.
"Happy New Year!"
"Shen Que!"
Meng Ci gazed at the fireworks outside with sparkling eyes, his face beaming with joy. He didn't forget to exchange New Year greetings with Shen Que beside him.
Shen Que's eyes were fixed on Meng Ci. Seeing the reflections of the fireworks in his eyes, he also smiled.
"Meng Ci, Happy New Year!"
Outside, the sounds of fireworks and people's shouts rose and fell in waves.
Meng Ci didn't quite catch what Shen Que said after wishing him a happy new year.
"What did you say?" Meng Ci turned his head, puzzled.
Shen Que looked at Meng Ci and shook his head.
Some words require courage to speak aloud, and once spoken, the courage to say them again is gone.
Still, Shen Que repeated it silently in his mind.
Meng Ci, Happy New Year.
Also, I like you.
Shen Que's gaze made Meng Ci's face flush crimson. Feeling unbearably hot all over, he shyly touched his ears and started to leave the balcony.
"Mmm!"
Before Meng Ci could step away, Shen Que grabbed his wrist. Their lips met.
Though the kiss wasn't particularly passionate, it felt all the more heart-fluttering.
The sounds of fireworks and cheers outside gradually faded, leaving only their breaths growing clearer in each other's ears.
Shen Que couldn't help but deepen the kiss, his arms tightening around Meng Ci's shoulders and back as if determined to press him into his very being.
"Woof!"
Eggplant watched clearly in the darkness. How could he stand by while his owner was being bullied by that cold-faced guy?
With two loud barks, Eggplant dashed over and latched onto Shen Que's pant leg, tugging fiercely to pull him away.
Shen Que paid Eggplant no mind whatsoever. He continued kissing Meng Ci while guiding him toward the sofa, then pushed him down onto it.
Soon, their clothes fell off one by one.
Eggplant whined, trying to fetch Meng Ci's clothes to bring them to him.
Woof!
You naughty dog, don't bully your master.
Meng Ci, annoyed that Eggplant kept interrupting their moment, paused mid-strip and glared at the dog.
"Go lie down in your bed!"
"It's the New Year. I really don't want to have to spank you!"
Hearing this, Eggplant gave a low whine, hung its head dejectedly, and reluctantly returned to its bed.
Woo woo woo!
It only wanted to save its owner. Why was the owner being so mean?
Eggplant briefly considered running away, but then remembered the nest of rabbits. That thought quickly vanished.
The rabbits hadn't been eaten yet. How could it leave?
Meng Ci was satisfied seeing Eggplant leave and resumed undressing.
This time, Shen Que didn't hold back. He pinned Meng Ci down on the sofa, thoroughly working him over, turning him this way and that.
When Meng Ci woke up the next day, he sniffed the air!
Mmm, the scent of delicious food.
Whoa!
But as he tried to sit up, his movement froze. His back... his back hurt!
Shen Que immediately dropped what he was doing, sat beside Meng Ci, and massaged his waist.
"How is it? Still hurting?" Shen Que asked with concern.
"It's okay."
Meng Ci shook his head. It was just that he'd gotten up too abruptly, causing the pain.
He'd recovered now and felt fine.
Seems age is catching up. He can't keep doing these weird things in strange places.
Plus, he'd slept on the couch all night last night.
No, couldn't keep fooling around like this anymore.
During dinner, Meng Ci curled up on the sofa, wrapped in a blanket, as Shen Que fed him bite by bite.
After the meal, Meng Ci lay face down on the couch, continuing to play match-three games.
Shen Que placed several light
snacks near Meng Ci's hand. Meng Ci also secretly pulled out a cup of instant milk tea from his storage space, asking Shen Que to brew it before leaving.
If he added all the ingredients at once, this milk tea would be too cloying for Meng Ci.
So each time, Meng Ci would pour out all the coconut jelly at once, but only add one-third of the milk tea powder.
After finishing that cup, he'd pour in the remaining two-thirds.
This way, the sweetness was just right for him.
Slurping down a mouthful of milk. tea, Meng Ci felt utterly content.
Eggplant kept muttering about the rabbit hanging above the stove. Whenever idle, he'd come over to watch the rabbit and give a couple of whimpers.
Then he'd dash to the rabbit pen, staring longingly at the rabbits Inside.
Meng Ci figured Eggplant was Just bored out of his mind.
His eyes lit up, and he called Eggplant over.
"Eggplant, come here!"
Hearing his master's call, Eggplant hurried over and obediently crouched before Meng Ci.
"Eggplant, place both your paws here!"
Meng Ci patted Eggplant's two front paws, then rubbed his own waist.
Eggplant tilted its head, not quite understanding Meng Ci's meaning, but complied nonetheless.
"That's it! Perfect!" Meng Ci pulled out a ham sausage from his spatial storage, peeled it open, and fed it to Eggplant amidst its delighted gaze.
After Eggplant finished eating, Meng Ci placed his hands behind his back, pressing down on Eggplant's paws and signaling for it to press in the same way.
Eggplant was quick to catch on, Immediately starting to press up and down.
"Good, good. Once you press it right, I'll reward you with a chicken leg." Meng Ci turned his head back to continue playing his puzzle game.
Hearing about the chicken leg, Eggplant pressed even harder.
Perhaps due to exposure to acid rain, combined with consuming mutated rodents, cockroaches, and similar creatures, Eggplant's physique had grown significantly larger over time, far surpassing that of an ordinary wild wolf.
Consequently, its pressure felt just right for Meng Ci.
As the pressing continued, Meng Ci's eyelids began to droop.
Amidst murmurs of
"unbelievable," Meng Ci's grip on the phone loosened as he drifted off.
Unwearied, Eggplant kept pressing.
Thud.
The door swung open. Eggplant merely glanced at the visitor before resuming its pressing.
Woof!
Nothing could stop it-earning its chicken leg.
Shen Que came over, warming his hands on the stove. Only after confirming they were no longer cold did he reach out to touch Meng Ci's forehead.
Thankfully, there was no fever.
On New Year's Day, breakfast was modest, but dinner had to be more substantial.
Originally, the rabbit meat was to be braised in red sauce.
But considering Meng Ci's current condition, it had to be prepared more lightly.
Shen Que flipped through the cookbook and finally found a recipe for Corn-Braised Tender
Rabbit.
He heated oil in the wok, stir-fried the rabbit until cooked,then added minced scallions, ginger, garlic, and green peppers. Corn kernels were tossed in, seasoned with salt, oyster sauce, and chicken bouillon, then thickened with a water-starch slurry. Once the sauce had reduced over high heat, it was