"Little one, why aren't you talking?" Mu Tian Heng heard that no response was coming from the phone, he went out of the reception and raised his volume.
"Sorry brother, I was just thinking about a physics problem." Mo Di quickly regained his mind and said: "I just happened to see where I went wrong."
"You…" Mu Tian Heng felt helpless and funny. "It's going to be 12 soon. You can't just keep studying and not care about eating. Do you think I should praise you or scold you?"
Mo Di replied in a tiny voice: "Praise…praise me."
Mu Tian Heng listened to the timid and soft voice on the other end insisting on expressing his opinion, he could not help but chuckle: "Fine, I'll praise you. But…remember to combine work with rest and eat on time. Got it?"
"Uhm!" Mo Di's voice was vividly lively and a brisk running sound could be heard. "Brother, I saw a lot of vegetables and meat in the fridge. I want to make some fried chicken and vegetables, and also braised eggplant."
"Uhm, you can cook whatever you want. Just be careful not to cut your hand and watch out for the oil splash. Understood?" Mu Tian Heng had no idea how gentle his eyes were at the moment. As he spoke, his lips were hooked and there was an indisputable trace of indulgence in his smiling eyes. It was as if on the other was not an ordinary youngster he happened to make an acquaintance with but someone he truly wanted to care for.
Mo Di spoke with Mu Tian Heng for five or six minutes before hanging up. He took out the ingredients and started cooking.
While Mo Di was doing this, Mo Shi Hong and Mo Wu Hang, on the other hand, were furious after they knew that Mo Di had asked the headteacher for leave and would be studying at home hereinafter.
Mo Wu Hang was about to kick the table in anger but Qin Cheng Yi immediately said that he knew where Mo Di was residing and he would take them there. When Mo Liu Gui heard this she hurriedly insisted on going with them. In her sad tone, she expressed that she wanted to find her brother to clear their misunderstandings.
But too bad they were going on a wild goose chase.
Mo Di had predicted before that he was doomed to never return to the apartment he rented. There were things scattered here and there that he could not take with him and treated them as a lost cause.
After having his lunch, Mo Di washed the dishes and went back to his studies. It was about 6 in the evening that his concentration was broken by a rumble of crashing thunder.
After studying for more than 4 hours, Mo Di was tired. He looked at the time and stood up to stretch.
The thunder outside the window exploded one after another. Then a heavy rain poured suddenly and big raindrops splattered against the window glass. The banana leaves outside were washed green as they swayed left and right.
The sky darkened abruptly. Mo Di got up to turn on the light but before he could reach the switch, there was a flash as lightning struck outside the house.
"This is a big thunderstorm." Mo Di flipped the light switch. Feeling that the wind coming from outside was cold so Mo Di went to shut the window.
When Mu Tian Heng and Lai De Si came back in the evening, even if the rain eased up, they might still be affected by it.
Thinking of this, Mo Di went to the kitchen and took out the soup pot. He cleaned it and prepared it for use.
Since he had already decided to be the perfect boyfriend and excellent lover, showing care and being attentive were very much needed.
…
Mu Tian Heng and Lai De Si have been busy all day. It was already 12 midnight when they returned.
"Ahh… achoo!" as soon as Lai De Si entered the door, he sneezed. While wiping his nose he removed his wet coat and left it on the hanger.
"This damn weather! I hate rainy days the most!"
Although Mu Tian Heng did not sneeze, he still felt an uncomfortable chill. Seeing that there was still light coming from the right corridor, he went over to have a look.
"Brothers, you're back!"
When Mo Di heard the noise outside, he put down his book and turned off the computer. As he trotted out, he almost bumped into Mu Tian Heng who was coming from the opposite.
"Careful." Mu Tian Heng reached out to help Mo Di stabilize and said warmly: "Why aren't you in bed?"
"I usually review until 12." Mo Di was a little shy after being helped by Mu Tian Heng. His cheeks were vividly pink under the light. "Brothers, wait for me. I'll make a trip to the kitchen."
Mo Di then ran to the kitchen and Mu Tian Heng was slightly stunned as he stood in place.
Was the little fellow…..shy?
And was it because of the light or was his vision blurred that he saw the kid looking at him like those admirers did in the past, the look that was filled with admiration and radiance.
How is that possible?
Even if the kid had favourable feelings towards him because he was kind to him, it should not be at this level of adoration, or else…
All that he did, was it the right decision?
"Mu, what are you standing there for? Being a door god?"
On the road, Lai De Si had heard a mother talking to her son that way. He felt it was quite interesting so he had been practicing it's usage the whole day.
Mu Tian Heng did not respond and only turned and went to change clothes.
When he came out, Mo Di was carrying two bowls with him and in the middle of the dining table was a pot of chicken soup. He filled the bowls with chicken soup, smiled and passed one bowl to Lai De Si.
Mu Tian Heng suddenly felt a little uncomfortable. The thing that the little fellow brought, shouldn't he be the first to receive?
"Ah, no, I hate traditional herbs!" Lai De Si exclaimed as if he was persecuted. At the same time he refused to leave the beautiful young man's side but still covered his mouth: "Little brother, although I like you very much I really can't stand soup with medicinal herbs! Ah! I'm not drinking!"
"You're so fussy." Mu Tian Heng looked at Lai De Si with a little annoyance. He came over and gave him a smack. "Shut up!"
Lai De Si wanted to refute but when he opened his mouth, he had to sneeze again.
"This is chicken soup. I only added a bit of ginseng as seasoning. It's not hard to drink. Really!" Mo Di saw Mu Tian Heng approaching, he quickly went to fetch another bowl for him.
Mu Tian Heng looked at Mo Di and the pair eyes that shone under the dining room's crystal chandelier. The black pupils were moist as if dabbed with spring water, the long eyelashes and the slightly cocked eye corner were hazy under the light, adding in the ink-painting-like pair of brows, it was like an already beautiful scenery being covered in a dazzling veil.
It's just that the adoring look that he witnessed at the corridor before was gone and replaced with an unrelenting expectation and attentiveness, like the youthful innocence and pure feelings of a first crush, or even a bit stronger than that.
Mu Tian Heng suddenly felt an inexplicable feeling. This time he helped the little guy, he even brought him back to stay. Did he incite a change to the feelings of the kid from an innocent admiration into something deeper? That was not his intention but letting things come to this point, he had to admit that he was partly responsible.
What's more, he also could not deny that he was quite happy. Especially when seeing the little guy looking at him with such an expression, he couldn't control his heart beating fast.
It seemed that his speculation when rejecting Lai De Si's earlier suggestion to cohabitate came true. Once they really live together, certain things will be harder to control.
"Brother, what's wrong?" Mo Di was somewhat disheartened when he saw that Mu Tian Heng was looking at him, motionlessly, "Brother, you also don't like the soup?"
"No, I like it." Mu Tian Heng recovered from his thoughts, took the soup from Mo Di's hand and drank 1 third of it in one go.
The hot soup was fragrant, savoury, and delicious. The heat seemed to pass through his body and forced out the cold. Even the uncomfortable drenched feeling was gone.
Mu Tian Heng let out a hum and sighed: "It's really good."
Mo Di smiled. Lai De Si who was next to him was suspicious. He glanced at the herbs in the soup pot and said: "You're lying, there's medicine in it, how can it be delicious?"
Then he looked at Mo Di and frantically said: "Little brother, don't be mad. I'm not saying that you can't cook, it's just that I'm afraid of bitterness."
"It's not bitter. Really." Mo Di did not mind. He said with a smile: "Not only is it not bitter but the taste is good. It also helps to promote blood circulation and qi. It's really good."
Lai De Si still shook his head. As soon as he saw the traditional herbs, he was immediately reminded of the overpowering smell.
But he had to admit that traditional Chinese medicine is really amazing. It cured his pharyngitis while many western medications could not.
"If he doesn't want to drink then let him be, don't worry about him."
Mu Tian Heng finished the soup in his bowl and helped himself with another serving. For some reason, this soup tasted better the more he drank. His little friend indeed had good craftsmanship.
Mo Di hesitantly nodded. Seeing that Lai De Si really refused to drink, he drank the remaining portion.
Lai De Si was salivating and his stomach was growling when he inhaled the fragrance, but looking at the herbs lying in the pot, his heart was trembling. He could only describe himself as miserable.
"Where did you get the herbs?" Lai De Si wanted to cry. If only the herbs weren't in the soup.
"I ordered it from an app and had it delivered here." Mo Di said: "It's very cheap."
Mu Tian Heng looked at Mo Di's smiling eyes and tasted the lingering flavour of the soup, he felt a softness in his heart.
But at the same time, he reminded himself to keep a distance from the kid.
Otherwise, he might really go down the animalistic path.
After having the soup, they all bid each other goodnight and went to wash up.
Mo Di took a quick shower, dried his, and thinking over, decided to knock on Lai De Si's door eventually.
When Lai De Si opened the door and saw Mo Di, he was a little stunned but still grinned brightly: "Little brother, what can I do for you?"
Mo Di was a little awkward. He said after a pause: "Brother Lai De Si, I'd like to ask you for help."
"What is it?" Lai De Si was in high spirits.
"I want to ask….do you know what brother Mu Tian Heng likes to eat? What flavours do he prefer?"
Lai De Si's lifted spirit abruptly plundered by what his heart knew as jealousy. He could not help but ask: "Little brother, do you really …cough, do you like Mu Tian Heng?"
Mo Di was stumped. He lowered his head in embarrassment and replied in a tiny voice: "En."
"Shit!!!"
Lai De Si wanted to hit Mu Tian Heng badly. Why did so many people like Mu Tian Heng, that abnormal and narcissistic guy? Why can't people look past the outside appearance and take a better look at what's inside!
For example: himself. He's a lovely, handsome, and bright young man.
But tripping up his brother was not something he'll do. Moreover to this beautiful little brother, he only felt appreciation and sympathy, and no other ridiculous thoughts.
"There's a lot of food that he likes. Seafood, chocolate, oh and spicy crawfish after he came to Hua Xia. Spicy pig's intestines, spicy chicken…" Lai De Si listed out a few dishes, "He likes most spicy foods. Aiya, actually I'm not that particularly clear."
Mo Di noted everything down seriously. Then gratefully said: "Thank you, brother Lai De Si, I have another request. What I just asked you, can you keep it a secret?"
"No problem!" Lai De Si said delightedly.
Once he closed the door behind him, he rushed to the bedside, picked up his phone and dialled Mu Tian Heng: "Hello. Damn… did you know what the little brother just came to ask me?"