Chapter 41

Xu Chen, on the other end of the phone, took two seconds to process Xu Er's words, and another three to express his shock: "W-what? Did I hear that right?"

Xu Er laughed: "You heard it right."

Xu Chen issued three shocks in progressive order: "Huh?"
"Huh?"
"Huh?"

Xu Er: "Huh."

"No," Xu Chen’s voice rose with excitement: "How, you, no, when did you..."

It was a jumbled mess, so Xu Er cut him off: "I'm busy right now. Are you free later? Let’s talk then."

Xu Chen: "I'm free, I'm plenty free! What time is 'later'?"

Xu Er: "Not sure, wait until I finish my drawing."

Xu Chen groaned: "Stop drawing! Tell me now!"

Xu Er chuckled: "I really can't. I have to finish this tonight, there isn't much left."

Xu Chen: "Ahhhhh, hurry up!"

Xu Er: "I'll be as fast as I can."

Xu Chen’s reaction gave Xu Er a small sense of satisfaction. After hanging up, he found his drawing speed had actually increased.

As for the impatient younger brother on the other side, he sent a WeChat message to Xu Er every five minutes.

Xu Chen: "Are you done yet, are you done yet?"
Xu Chen: "Are you done yet, are you done yet?"

At 8:53, Xu Er saved his work, uploaded it, and picked up his phone to find dozens of unread messages from Xu Chen.

Xu Er couldn't help but laugh.

Xu Er: "I'm off work."
Xu Er: "Wait for me to get home."
Xu Chen: "Ahhhhh, hurry up, hurry up!"
Xu Chen: "It's urgent, very urgent!"
Xu Er: "I'm going as fast as I can, I'm going as fast as I can."

After finishing the chat, Xu Er switched to his calling interface.

Song Ruichi had spent the entire day in meetings, returning to his studio only after seven in the evening. In that time, he had only eaten a small bun his assistant bought him and drank a cup of milk.

Xu Er knew Song Ruichi had a small appetite, but a small appetite didn't mean he had no appetite at all.

"I'm off work."

Just as Xu Er turned off the lights, Song Ruichi picked up the call.

Song Ruichi: "Hard work, Designer Xu."

"You’re the one working hard, Teacher Song," Xu Er asked, "How much longer until you're off?"

Song Ruichi: "Still a while."

Xu Er grumbled: "It's all those stupid meetings, blah blah blah, why do they have so much to say?"

Song Ruichi laughed: "Exactly."

Xu Er suddenly remembered something: "This time, it wasn't a meeting you were running, right?"

Song Ruichi: "No, I was dozing off in the corner."

"That's good then," he cursed more vehemently: "Stupid meetings!"

Song Ruichi followed suit: "Stupid meetings."

"So," Xu Er watched the elevator slowly coming up: "Is someone hungry?"

Song Ruichi: "Hungry."

It was rare for Xu Er to hear Song Ruichi admit he was hungry; he must have been truly starving.

With a "ding," the elevator arrived.

Song Ruichi added: "So hungry I have no strength left, little assistant."

Xu Er laughed: "The little assistant understands. Give the little assistant ten seconds."

Song Ruichi asked: "What are you going to do in ten seconds?"

Xu Er: "In ten seconds, the elevator is going down."

As soon as Xu Er said this, the elevator, quite cooperatively, lost its signal.

During those ten seconds, countless food items flashed through Xu Er's mind.

"Ding," the elevator arrived again.

"Honey-glazed chicken legs, stir-fried beef ho fun, fried chicken wings," Xu Er listed the dishes he could likely get at this hour: "Boiled beef, braised noodles, what do you want to eat?"

Song Ruichi chuckled, but asked Xu Er instead: "What do *you* want to eat?"

Honestly, just listing them made Xu Er’s mouth water like crazy.

But Xu Er insisted: "You tell me."

Song Ruichi: "I insist that *you* tell me."

This dialogue was very familiar, and Xu Er laughed.

Since that was the case, Xu Er didn’t hold back: "Stir-fried beef ho fun."

Song Ruichi: "Alright, thank you, little assistant."

Xu Er: "What are you thanking me for? Did I say I was going to do anything?"

Song Ruichi: "You said you were going to order stir-fried beef ho fun and bring it to my studio."

Xu Er: "Oh?"

Song Ruichi added: "Little Xu Er, I'm hungry."

Song Ruichi’s voice dropped, suddenly sounding a bit coquettish. How could Little Xu Er possibly resist that?

"Alright then," Xu Er said brightly: "Just wait, I’ll be there in a moment."

Song Ruichi: "Good, I'll wait for you."

Xu Er hadn't originally intended to make a delivery. It was already late, and Xu Chen was waiting for him; he had only meant to order food for Song Ruichi.

But this was fine too; meeting up would be nice.

After calling a car, Xu Er sent a message to Xu Chen: "Might be a bit late."

Xu Chen responded instantly: "?????"
Xu Chen: "Why, why, why!"
Xu Er: "Song Ruichi is working overtime and hasn't had dinner yet, I'm bringing him something to eat."
Xu Chen: "Ahhhhhhhh"
Xu Chen: "Alright, alright then."
Xu Chen: "Hurry up, hurry up, ahhhhhhh."
Xu Chen: "I'm in a rush, I'm in a rush."

Across the screen, Xu Er could imagine Xu Chen losing his mind.

Xu Er: "Okay, okay, okay."

The stir-fried beef ho fun Xu Er liked best came from a hot pot restaurant. It wasn't too crowded at this hour, and after a short wait, his order was packed and ready.

Driven by the idea that Song Ruichi was about to starve to death, Xu Er rushed the entire process, finally delivering the meal within half an hour of their call.

Most people in the studio had already left; only the first floor was lit, and it was empty.

Xu Er had seen the interior of Song Ruichi’s studio many times on his social media, but seeing it in person made the images feel much more real.

He thought this studio would make a pretty good art gallery.

Following Song Ruichi’s directions to the second floor, Xu Er quickly found the office.

It had glass walls, and there were five people inside.

Song Ruichi was sitting at his desk, his assistant standing nearby talking to him, and three strangers were sitting on the sofa, all heads-down and working.

Xu Er approached quietly. Before he even reached the door, Song Ruichi looked up.

The assistant also looked in his direction.

Song Ruichi beckoned for Xu Er to come in.

Before arriving, Xu Er had fantasized about many scenarios.

For instance, sitting across from Song Ruichi and watching him work.

Or sitting across from him, watching him eat, and sneaking a few bites himself.

Or being able to hand him food or drink when he was thirsty or hungry.

But the background condition for all these scenarios was that they would be the only two people in the office.

With so many people around, Xu Er was naturally very self-conscious.

He knocked and entered, walking cautiously toward Song Ruichi’s desk.

The assistant had finished talking to Song Ruichi, and after a brief exchange of smiles, noticed the bag in Xu Er’s hand.

Xu Er lifted the bag slightly: "Brought some food for Teacher Song."

"Teacher Song has alr—" the assistant stopped abruptly, as if saving the situation, swallowing the "ready eaten" he was about to say: "—what is it?"

Xu Er said: "Stir-fried beef ho fun."

The assistant smiled, said "That smells good," turned around, and left to rejoin the trio on the sofa, burying his head in work along with them.

Song Ruichi pulled a chair over to his side, and Xu Er understood, walking around the desk.

Before he could even sit down, Song Ruichi reached out, grabbing Xu Er's wrist with one hand and wrapping the other around his waist, pulling him close.

Then, Song Ruichi tilted his head and leaned it against Xu Er’s stomach.

It was a very unfamiliar sensation, and Xu Er instantly pressed his lips together.

He snuck a glance at the sofa; the four people over there had their heads buried even deeper now.

Xu Er let himself be bold, grinning silently where no one could see.

Aiya, aiya.
Oh my, oh my.

Xu Er took a deep breath, then exhaled deeply.

"Are you very tired?" Xu Er asked.

Song Ruichi: "Mm."

Xu Er placed his hand on Song Ruichi’s head and patted it soothingly twice: "Hard work, Teacher Song."

Hehehe.

The office was filled only with the sound of keyboards from the sofa area, making it feel even quieter.

After a few seconds, Song Ruichi’s hand tightened, pulling Xu Er closer.

But it was only for a moment before Song Ruichi let him go.

Song Ruichi pulled the chair back into place.

Xu Er sat down and said to Song Ruichi with mock sympathy: "Poor thing."

Song Ruichi said: "Poor Song-Song."

Xu Er laughed: "Yes, poor Song-Song."

*So cute, Song-Song.*

Song Ruichi went back to work. Xu Er pulled the bag on the table closer and whispered: "Why didn't you tell me there were so many people here? I only bought one portion."

Song Ruichi: "How would you have carried so many portions?"

Xu Er: "I would have ordered delivery for everyone."

Song Ruichi suddenly pinched Xu Er’s cheek.

Xu Er: "What are you doing!"

The words were clipped; the office was so quiet that Xu Er spoke in a lower and lower voice.

Song Ruichi: "Did you think I wanted to eat ho fun?"

Xu Er was stunned: "You don't want to eat ho fun? Then what do you want?"

Song Ruichi: "..."

"I want to eat ho fun," Song Ruichi said again: "Open it for me."

Xu Er said "Oh," and got to work, but then:

Xu Er: "Is it okay if you're the only one eating?"

"It's fine," Song Ruichi said: "They’ve all already eaten."

Xu Er: "Then why didn't you eat?"

Song Ruichi: "I was waiting for my little assistant."

Xu Er laughed: "What if your little assistant hadn't brought you food?"

Song Ruichi: "Then I would have starved to death."

The little assistant smiled.

But some things still had to be said.

Xu Er: "You have to eat. Your appetite is already small, and if you don't eat on time, your stomach will get ruined."

"Yes, yes, yes," Song Ruichi nodded: "I'll listen to you."

Xu Er: "You’d better listen."

The takeout box was opened. Xu Er stirred the noodles and handed the chopsticks to Song Ruichi.

But Song Ruichi acted as if he didn't see them, his hands clattering away on the keyboard.

Xu Er handed them over again, waving them in front of Song Ruichi’s face.

Only then did Song Ruichi take the chopsticks.

Xu Er watched as he picked up a piece, lifted it, and then...

Then he held it to Xu Er’s lips.

Before Xu Er could say anything, a mouthful of noodles was stuffed into his mouth.

"What are you doing," Xu Er laughed: "You eat."

Song Ruichi then picked up another mouthful and fed himself.

The time that followed was the scene from Xu Er’s imagination.

Although it was quite different, he was, more or less, watching Song Ruichi eat.

But this person—he couldn't even finish this small portion, saying he was full after eating less than half.

What could Xu Er do?