TGBOG Chapter 13

Ye Luan wasn’t exaggerating when he said he could make salt and pepper shrimp: he skilfully deveined, cleaned, stir-fried, and seasoned the shrimp. When the salt and pepper shrimp was finally served, they sat down to eat. As Ye Luan untied his apron, he bargained with Zhao Yijia, “If my salt and pepper shrimp tastes good, you have to post about it on Weibo.”

Zhao Yijia laughed, “You’re too vain. You’ll lose followers like this.” With that, he took a bite of the shrimp.

Strictly speaking, the dish was a failure: the deveining was a bit rough, some shrimp still had veins, and the presentation was average. The seasoning was a bit heavy-handed, making the dish overly salty.

But did that really matter?

Zhao Yijia put down his chopsticks, took out his phone, and snapped a picture. After adding a filter and editing the photo, he posted it on Weibo:

Zhao Zhao V: The best salt and pepper shrimp in the world! [photo]

Lomxer_mmc: Another food post~

Battlefield Ghost: Oh, oh, oh, I love shrimp too! [heart] [heart]

G in the Basket: Doesn’t look as good as before, Little Prince. Is your cooking slipping?

Has Today’s Big Shot Updated?: Let’s praise Zhao, a prince in the kitchen and on the battlefield. Somebody take this hunk away!

…

Five minutes later—

Ye Luan V: The world’s greediest Little Prince! [photo]

The photo showed Zhao Zhao looking down while eating shrimp. Before Zhao Yijia could react on Weibo, the group chat exploded.

Tian Gai: [screenshot] How did you two end up together? [sudden sitting up in death’s bed.jpg] @Ye Luan @Zhao Zhao

Qin Hai: The word “end up” is used very aptly~

Sleepy Fox: Please explain to the group promptly.

Zhao Yijia looked at the group chat, hesitating. Before he could decide how to respond, Ye Luan replied first.

Ye Luan: Just happened to be on a business trip to Y City. Little Prince treated me to a meal.

Tian Gai: Oh, envy. I also want to visit Zhao’er~

Zhao Zhao: Come on over, I’ll take you to good places to eat.

Sleepy Fox: What’s good to eat in Y City?

Qin Hai: I’ve been there. The scenery is nice, and the food’s pretty good.

…

The chat soon veered off-topic, discussing local cuisine. Ye Luan, still peeling shrimp, said, “Eat quickly, don’t mind them.” With that, he placed a peeled shrimp into Zhao Yijia’s bowl.

Zhao Yijia quickly refused, “No, Master Twelve, you eat it.”

“I’m allergic to shrimp. I can’t eat it.”

Zhao Yijia was taken aback, “What? Then why did you learn to make salt and pepper shrimp?” He seemed to have a realization, “I get it, you must’ve made it for your girlfriend!”

Ye Luan shook his head, smiling, “I don’t have a girlfriend.”

“Our Master Twelve, so excellent, yet no girlfriend?”

“These things depend on fate.”

“So, do you have someone you like?”

Ye Luan paused.

Seeing Ye Luan not answering, Zhao Yijia guessed he must have someone he liked, and it was probably unrequited.

Who must this person be, to make the esteemed Master Twelve have a crush?

Ignoring the sour feeling in his heart, Zhao Yijia comforted him, “Don’t worry, Master Twelve. I’ve never been in a relationship either, but I have plenty of theoretical knowledge and can analyse and guide you.”

Ye Luan laughed, “That impressive?”

“Don’t forget you have a powerful support group? Even if I’m not good enough, there’s still Tian Gai, Foxy, and Hai Ge.”

“Then guide me. I want to kiss him. How should I do it?”

Zhao Yijia thought he misheard, “Huh? Start with this?”

“Otherwise?”

“How far along are you two?”

Ye Luan thought for a moment, “We’ve hugged.”

Zhao Yijia’s mouth felt bitter, “Quick progress.”

Ye Luan calmly wiped his hands with a tissue, “So, what should I do?”

Zhao Yijia saw how eager Ye Luan was, inexplicably felt annoyed, and forced a smile, “This can’t be rushed. It needs a good plan.”

Ye Luan nodded, “You’re right. I thought so too.”

Zhao Yijia stopped talking, burying his head in his food. The more he ate, the more bitter the shrimp tasted.

Ye Luan watched him for a while, then suddenly said, “Zhao Yijia, you’re unhappy.”

Zhao Yijia was startled, “What?”

Ye Luan remained calm, “You’re unhappy. Why?”

Zhao Yijia instinctively denied, “I’m not—”

Ye Luan pressed on, “Why?”

Suddenly, Zhao Yijia felt a surge of anger. He quickly shovelled a few more mouthfuls of food, stood up, and bluntly said, “Master Twelve, I’m done eating. Take your time.”

The previous pleasant atmosphere was gone. Zhao Yijia sat on the sofa watching TV, while Ye Luan stayed at the dining table, lost in thought.

Zhao Yijia’s eyes were on the TV, but his mind was elsewhere. He thought about how bad Ye Luan’s shrimp was and no wonder he couldn’t win someone over; then he wondered if his reaction was too much and maybe Ye Luan was just asking casually. Lost in thought, he didn’t notice Ye Luan walking over and sitting next to him.

“Is the show good?” Ye Luan broke the silence.

Zhao Yijia fiddled with the remote, thinking: Is he trying to find a way to make up?

Since Ye Luan had initiated, Zhao Yijia softened his tone, “It’s pretty good.”

“Really?” Ye Luan seemed skeptical.

This was definitely small talk. Zhao Yijia found it a bit amusing but kept a straight face, “Really.”

“Does it work for you at your age?”

Zhao Yijia nodded, “It works—uh?”

Zhao Yijia came to his senses. On TV, a balding middle-aged man was shouting enthusiastically, “Ever since I started using Li Jiu Kidney Tonic, she hasn’t been mad at me anymore!”

Zhao Yijia: “…”

His face turned red instantly. He sneaked a glance at Ye Luan, who was laughing so hard he could barely sit up straight.

Zhao Yijia, embarrassed and angry, pushed Ye Luan, “It’s all your fault!”

Ye Luan, still laughing, lost his balance and grabbed Zhao Yijia to keep from slipping off the sofa, causing them both to tumble onto the carpet.

Zhao Yijia ended up on top of Ye Luan.

He could feel Ye Luan’s body heat, their heartbeats synchronising.

Thump, thump, thump.

The TV continued its noisy commercial, but Zhao Yijia felt an overwhelming silence, almost suffocating.

Feeling flustered, Zhao Yijia tried to get up, but Ye Luan pulled him back, rolling them over. Dizzy, Zhao Yijia looked at Ye Luan in exasperation, “Are you filming a drama?”

Ye Luan looked down at him, silent for a long moment.

Feeling inexplicable, Zhao Yijia pushed him, but Ye Luan suddenly began to speak: “…Thinking of this, He Zhi couldn’t help himself…”

Zhao Yijia froze: He Zhi is…

“…He slowly approached Xu Yiming…”

Ye Luan’s half-lidded eyes and soft voice, as he leaned closer to Zhao Yijia.

Zhao Yijia’s heart began to race. He felt nervous.

“…And gently kissed his face…”

Zhao Yijia’s hands clenched tightly.

“…with a…”

Zhao Yijia’s vision darkened. Ye Luan’s hand covered his eyes, cool fingers like a fish swimming from the corner of his eye into his heart. He couldn’t see anything, only feeling the warmth at the corner of his mouth and hearing a sigh in his ear:

“Kiss.”

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