Chapter 22

Mi Zhao quickly skimmed through the more than twenty messages before replying to Yan Qinting.

[mrz: ?]

Above the chat window, Yan Qinting’s name instantly changed to “Typing…”

Soon, a string of words appeared.

[Yan Qinting: Oh my god, you’re finally awake. I thought you got knocked out from… exhaustion.]

Mi Zhao: “…”

[Yan Qinting: Can you take a call?]

[mrz: Not for now. I’ll talk to you when I get back to school. Bring my art supplies, and we’ll meet in the classroom.]

During the ten-minute car ride, neither Mi Zhao nor Ruan Xin spoke. Mi Zhao attempted to break the silence a few times, but seeing Ruan Xin’s pale face and dazed expression, he kept his mouth shut.

Only when the car stopped outside the school did he finally find a chance to speak. “Thanks, sister.”

Ruan Xin barely snapped out of her thoughts. Her gaze lingered on Mi Zhao’s face, complex emotions flickering in her eyes. She hesitated. “Uh…”

Mi Zhao unbuckled his seatbelt, tilting his head in patience, waiting for her to continue.

She had met Mi Zhao several times before, but this was the first time she really studied his face. She had always known he was good-looking, but now she realized he had a baby face that made him look even younger. His large, round eyes were as dark as black grapes. Even from this close distance, there wasn’t a single blemish or acne mark on his skin.

A truly superior appearance. No wonder their Third Master Li had fallen so hard after knowing him for less than a month.

But…

Wasn’t the age gap a bit much?

After all, Third Master Li was about to turn 33.

At this thought, Ruan Xin couldn’t help but ask, “Xiao Mi, forgive me for being blunt, but how old are you?”

“Born in ’02,” Mi Zhao answered. “Just turned 20.”

Ruan Xin: “…”

A twelve to thirteen-year age difference.

Mi Zhao rubbed his nose. “What’s wrong, sister?”

“Nothing,” Ruan Xin shook her head. “Aren’t you in a hurry? Go on, then.”

The first class of the day was a sketching lesson. Two classes were combined, and the teacher wasn’t too strict. As long as they completed their assignments before the end of class, they were free to move around.

Yan Qinting had arrived first and deliberately picked a seat at the edge of the classroom for easier conversation. When he saw Mi Zhao enter, he waved eagerly.

Mi Zhao walked over and sat down, getting straight to the point. “Aren’t Lin Qiuzu and Feng Nian friends? Why did Feng Nian turn on him so suddenly?”

He was referring to what had happened last night.

Yan Qinting had already given him a rough summary via WeChat.

Apparently, after Lin Qiuzu and Li Yan returned to the private room, the other club president eagerly urged Lin Qiuzu to call Feng Nian in front of everyone—something they had previously agreed upon.

For some reason, both Lin Qiuzu and Li Yan looked grim. Li Yan sat quietly in his seat, while Lin Qiuzu downed two drinks before pulling out his phone expressionlessly.

He put the call on speaker for dramatic effect.

Everyone fell silent, eyes fixed on him.

The phone rang.

For nearly thirty seconds.

Then, the call was mercilessly hung up.

At that moment, an unbearable awkwardness filled the room. Lin Qiuzu’s face cracked with disbelief. Everyone else stared at their drinks, avoiding eye contact. No one dared to speak.

Finally, the club president from the dance academy tried to smooth things over. “Maybe he’s busy? Try again later.”

Half an hour later, Lin Qiuzu redialed.

This time, the call was cut off after just three rings.

Lin Qiuzu’s patience snapped. He called again. And again. And again. Each time, Feng Nian hung up instantly.

By the ninth or tenth attempt, the call finally connected.

But before Lin Qiuzu could explode, a cold voice came through the speaker.

“Lin Qiuzu, are you done? Can’t you tell I don’t want to talk to you?”

”…What?” Lin Qiuzu’s voice was laced with disbelief.

“Do you think I’m your dog? Summon me when you please, then discard me just as easily? I beg you, stop bothering me. Let’s just pretend we never met, okay?”

“Feng Nian, you—”

The call was cut off.

Silence.

Not just any silence, but the kind where you could hear a pin drop.

Lin Qiuzu hadn’t put the call on speaker, but everyone had been standing so close, and Feng Nian had spoken so loudly, that they had all heard enough.

Especially the dance academy’s club president , who had been right next to Lin Qiuzu. His face cycled through embarrassment, sympathy, and hesitation in just a few seconds.

Yan Qinting was still laughing as he recounted the story, only stopping when Mi Zhao smacked him on the arm. He sheepishly covered his mouth, then leaned in to whisper, “Too bad you weren’t there. You should’ve seen Lin Qiuzu’s face—it was priceless.”

Seeing someone he disliked make a fool of himself naturally delighted Mi Zhao.

But after his amusement faded, he circled back to the key point. “So Lin Qiuzu and Feng Nian are completely done?”

“I don’t think so,” Yan Qinting replied. “I saw Lin Qiuzu at our school with Feng Nian just a few days ago. They were chatting and even went to the library together.”

Mi Zhao rested his chin on his hand, idly twirling a pencil between his fingers. “Then that doesn’t make sense…”

Yan Qinting couldn’t care less about Lin Qiuzu and Feng Nian’s drama. As long as Lin Qiuzu suffered, he was happy. If not for the fact that they still had to work together in the department for another six months, he would have sent celebratory red envelopes in the group chat last night.

Near the end of class, the department chat suddenly lit up with an @everyone message.

Mi Zhao raised his hand to let the teacher check his assignment. Once cleared, he picked up his phone under Yan Qinting’s envious gaze and opened the group chat.

It jumped straight to the new message.

The club president, Lu Jie, had sent several messages.

[Lu Jie: I wasn’t going to bring up last night’s incident, but since everyone is still discussing it, I have to say something.]

[Lu Jie: @everyone]

[Lu Jie: Lin Qiuzu doesn’t owe us anything. Helping us was his kindness, not his obligation. And it’s not that he refused to help—there was an issue on Feng Nian’s end. So let’s all drop this topic.]

[Lu Jie: None of us wanted things to turn out this way.]

A wave of agreement followed.

[Sun Fei: I don’t understand what’s so funny? He tried to help us, and we’re laughing at him when it didn’t work out? That’s just cruel.]

[Li Hong: The president is right. Let’s stop talking about it.]

One message stood out among the responses.

[Yu Xingteng: Honestly, if Lin Qiuzu hadn’t talked such a big game, we wouldn’t be laughing. The way he got shut down by Feng Nian was just as ridiculous as the way we hyped him up before.]

Mi Zhao paused, staring at Yu Xingteng’s name.

A moment later, Lu Jie responded.

[Lu Jie: Who are you to laugh at him? Did you secure our connection to the secretary department? Did you get us any sponsorships? Even if Lin Qiuzu failed to get Feng Nian’s help, he was planning to invest in this event. What have you done?]

[Yu Xingteng: Planning to?]

[Yu Xingteng: Haha, so he hasn’t actually invested yet?]

[Yu Xingteng: Fine, you guys keep believing that. Let’s see if he actually puts up the money.]

With that, Yu Xingteng left the group chat.

Mi Zhao turned to look at Yan Qinting in confusion.

Yan Qinting stroked his nonexistent beard. “I feel like there’s more to their relationship.”

“I think so too.”

—

After class, the two planned to return to the dormitory for a nap, but before that, Mi Zhao had to find the counselor to get a leave slip.

He told Yan Qinting to take the art supplies and go ahead, then went alone to the counselor’s office.

The counselor’s office wasn’t in the same building as their classroom, requiring him to cross a small plaza.

It was right after the first class of the morning, and students from several classes were merging together. In the midst of the crowd, Mi Zhao spotted a familiar figure.

That person was holding textbooks, looking listless as he followed behind his roommate. The dark circles under his eyes were even worse than Ruan Xin’s in the morning.

When their eyes met, his originally dull gaze suddenly lit up. “Mi Zhao?”

Mi Zhao’s face instantly darkened.

He only remembered Li Yan’s schedule from last semester. If he had known Li Yan would be attending class in this building, he would have taken the back entrance.

Now that they had run into each other, he could only look away coldly and quicken his pace through the crowd.

Li Yan hadn’t slept well last night, but it wasn’t because of Lin Qiuzu. In fact, Lin Qiuzu making a fool of himself had nothing to do with him—after all, he wasn’t the one bragging.

It was because of Mi Zhao.

The moment he closed his eyes, all he could heard was Mi Zhao’s gentle voice coaxing someone on the phone. It had been so long since he had seen Mi Zhao act without any hostility.

Jealousy surged through him like needles piercing his skin.

He couldn’t understand—how long had it been since they broke up? Not even half a month, and Mi Zhao had already found someone new?

Was Mi Zhao doing it on purpose to provoke him?

The thought made Li Yan’s head ache. But in the middle of the night, he had one certainty: Mi Zhao and that person weren’t deeply involved yet. They were still in the tentative, ambiguous phase.

That meant he still had a chance to get back together with Mi Zhao!

Besides, hadn’t Mi Zhao even bought him a birthday gift? His roommate wouldn’t lie to him. Maybe Mi Zhao was just waiting for him to put in more effort.

Li Yan shoved his textbooks at his roommate, said a quick goodbye, and hurriedly turned to catch up with Mi Zhao.

Hearing the approaching footsteps, Mi Zhao’s brow furrowed tightly. He didn’t even look at Li Yan and just kept walking forward.

“Mi Zhao, I was impulsive last night. I apologize. You know I—” His words suddenly stopped.

Li Yan glanced around warily, then, after they had walked out of the crowd, lowered his voice to a near whisper.

“…I was just jealous.”

Those two words were almost inaudible.

As soon as he spoke, Li Yan became nervous again, scanning the surroundings anxiously, afraid that someone might have overheard him.

Finally, Mi Zhao gave him a glance. Seeing Li Yan’s cautious and fearful expression made him want to laugh.

When he and Li Yan had first started dating, he had come out to his family. He hadn’t mentioned Li Yan specifically, just said that he liked men and had a boyfriend at school. His parents didn’t understand and had furiously scolded him.

They were in a cold war for two months before his parents finally began to relent.

Mi Zhao didn’t expect Li Yan to go to the same lengths as he did; he only hoped they could interact like a normal couple.

But Li Yan was too timid—hesitant, cautious, and overly fearful. He had the courage to pursue Mi Zhao in the first place, yet when they were outside, he didn’t even dare to hold his hand.

Li Yan mumbled a long-winded explanation, but Mi Zhao remained silent, looking at him with a half-smile. That gaze made Li Yan’s heart pound with unease.

“Mi Zhao, say something, will you?”

Mi Zhao’s lips pressed downward, and he mercifully spat out a single word: “Scram.”

“…”

However, Mi Zhao underestimated Li Yan’s shamelessness. Not only did Li Yan refuse to leave, but he even followed him to the counselor’s office.

The counselor was a mild-mannered middle-aged woman. Since Li Yan had frequently tagged along to Mi Zhao’s classes last semester, she was already familiar with him.

Seeing Li Yan peeking in from the doorway, the counselor smiled at Mi Zhao and said, “You and your friend are practically inseparable.”

Mi Zhao didn’t even bother to turn his head. He pulled out a card, handed it to the counselor, and briefly explained his reason for staying out the previous night.

Of course, the reason was fabricated.

The counselor glanced at the card and nodded. “Not bad, seems like you gained something from your trip.”

Then, she asked curiously, “Who’s the person in this drawing?”

“A passerby,” Mi Zhao replied. “I rented a spot from a street artist and drew a few strangers. He was one of them.”

The counselor raised an eyebrow, returned the card to Mi Zhao, and signed his leave request with a smile. “Have you noticed that your drawing style has changed a little?”

Mi Zhao blinked in confusion.

The counselor explained, “There’s a bit more emotion and a bit less technique.”

But Mi Zhao didn’t feel any difference. Scratching his head in puzzlement, he asked, “Really?”

The counselor smiled helplessly and decided to ask directly, “Have you recently started dating someone?”

Mi Zhao: “…”

At the doorway, Li Yan, upon hearing this, was struck as if by lightning. A loud buzzing filled his ears, and for a brief moment, his mind went blank.

His fingers dug into the doorframe, his eyes fixed intently on Mi Zhao’s back.

Fortunately, Mi Zhao shook his head. “No, Director Zhang, you’re mistaken.”

Li Yan exhaled in relief.

But his nerves remained taut. He thought about the person Mi Zhao had been on the phone with last night. If things continued this way, maybe Mi Zhao and that person really would—

Li Yan didn’t dare to think further.

Though he didn’t have high moral standards—cheating when he wanted to, sleeping around whenever he pleased, and having had multiple sexual partners before dating Mi Zhao—deep down, he still held onto a sense of traditional masculinity.

He liked Mi Zhao’s innocence and inexperience. Besides, Mi Zhao had once belonged to him. Even though they were temporarily broken up now, he couldn’t stand the thought of anyone else touching him.

Just the idea of Mi Zhao being involved with that person filled him with maddening jealousy.

By this time, Mi Zhao had finished packing up his leave request and was walking toward the door after saying goodbye to the counselor.

Li Yan looked at him eagerly. “Mi Zhao…”

Mi Zhao’s expression was indifferent. He didn’t even spare him a glance.

This time, Li Yan didn’t continue pestering him. He stood there, watching as Mi Zhao’s figure gradually disappeared, lost in thought.

His phone rang.

He glanced at the screen—it was a call from Li Tianqing.

“Son, come home next weekend. Your uncle is coming over for dinner,” Li Tianqing said cheerfully, sounding like she was in a good mood.

But Li Yan felt no joy at all.

Uncle, Uncle…

Everything is about his uncle!

It was as if the entire Li family had nothing better to do than revolve around him.

Li Yan’s face darkened. He grudgingly muttered an acknowledgment.

“Remember to call your uncle when you have time. If you don’t want to call, at least chat with him on WeChat,” Li Tianqing said. “This is a great opportunity—don’t waste it.”

“…”

“Son, your father and I aren’t very accomplished. Our family’s future depends on you,” Li Tianqing said earnestly.

“Fine, fine, I get it.”

Annoyed, Li Yan hung up. As he walked toward his classroom, he casually opened WeChat. To his surprise, he saw his uncle’s profile picture appear in the Moments feed.

Li Yan was stunned for a moment, thinking he was seeing things.

His little uncle—someone so aloof and detached from the world—had actually posted on Moments?

He quickly tapped in. The feed refreshed, revealing a brand-new post from just eight minutes ago.

Caption: [Gift]

Image: A photo of… a bedroom?

Despite being posted for only eight minutes, the comment section was already flooded, featuring practically every member of the Li family—more than they could even gather during the New Year celebrations.

[Aunt: The new place looks great (thumbs up)]

[Second Uncle: Rare to see you post. You should share more.]

[Little Aunt: Why isn’t there a photo of you?]

…

[Li Yiqiao: Uncle, you’re amazing!!! Even a casual photo has such an artistic vibe!!!]

Li Yan: “…”

This bootlicker.

He liked the post but was about to exit Moments when something caught his eye.

He opened the image and zoomed in.

There it was.

A large bouquet of roses, partially obscured by the sofa due to the camera angle, resting against the bedside table.

Li Yan’s pupils constricted, his whole body frozen in place.

His uncle… was in a relationship?

—

Mi Zhao also saw Li Sipei’s Moments post, and he couldn’t stop the smile from spreading on his lips.

Until Yan Qinting, fresh from the bathroom, poked his head over.

He quickly locked his phone and coughed lightly, pressing a fist to his lips.

Yan Qinting frowned. “Why do you look like you’re sneaking around?”

Mi Zhao said righteously, “I’m just shy.”

Yan Qinting: “…” Yeah, right.

Thanks to Li Sipei’s post, Mi Zhao’s bad mood from dealing with Li Yan completely vanished. Instead of going back to sleep, he stuck the card onto the wall in front of his desk, took out his tablet and stylus, and started working.

Yan Qinting had just changed into his sleepwear and was about to get into bed when he caught a glimpse of Mi Zhao’s actions. He let out a dramatic wail. “Can you not work so hard? You’re making me feel guilty for sleeping!”

Without looking up, Mi Zhao replied, “You have no worries, but I have to make a living.”

“This is making a living?” Yan Qinting scoffed from bed. “Anyone would think you’re saving up for a wife.”

Mi Zhao neither confirmed nor denied it.

Yan Qinting propped his face on his hands and teased, “What, are you planning to save up and turn that wild ‘wife’ of yours into a domesticated one?”

“Shut up.” A small bread roll flew at him.

Yan Qinting caught it with a grin and flopped onto his bed.

Lin Qiuzu’s issue seemed to have faded away, and after Yu Xingteng left the group chat, no one discussed it further.

Even Lin Qiuzu himself had settled down, at least no longer making frequent visits to A University.

Mi Zhao didn’t dwell on it—he and Yan Qinting were just regular members, and department decisions weren’t their concern.

But what Mi Zhao didn’t expect was that Feng Nian would contact him privately.

He wasn’t sure how Feng Nian got his number, but early Saturday morning, he received a call.

“Can we meet?”

“Sure.” Mi Zhao checked the time on his phone. “I have an appointment, but if you’re free, we can meet at the music plaza.”

“Alright.”

Mi Zhao crossed his arms and leisurely waited for what was next.

“Lin Qiuzu is always talking bad about you in front of me, saying how you bully him. I wanted to stand up for him, so I did those things… It was my fault—I let personal grudges get in the way and caused trouble for you and your department. Yesterday, I approved your department’s proposal, and I won’t make things difficult for you again.” After a brief pause, he solemnly repeated, “I’m sorry.”

“Feng Nian, I’ve been meaning to ask you something.” Mi Zhao scrutinized Feng Nian’s flushed face. “Has Lin Qiuzu saved your life or something? You know he’s up to no good, so why do you still let him lead you by the nose?”

At those words, Feng Nian’s expression stiffened.

After struggling for a while, he finally admitted with difficulty, “I like Lin Qiuzu.”

Mi Zhao was completely shocked.

What kind of dramatic plot twist was this?!

Wait…

Feng Nian was into men too?

Now that the topic was out in the open, Feng Nian found it easier to continue. He swallowed and went on, “I pursued him, but he rejected me and just kept stringing me along.”

“…”

“He usually ignores me, but when he needs something, he suddenly acts all warm and friendly. At first, I had no intention of abusing my position to trouble you, but… one time we got drunk, and I just… agreed to help him…”

“Oh~” Mi Zhao drawled, his tone full of meaning.

Feng Nian scratched his chin in frustration. “Do you know Yu Xingteng from your department?”

“I know him, but we’re not close.”

“He and Lin Qiuzu had a thing too.”

“…”

“Our circle is just too messy,” Feng Nian sighed.

Mi Zhao had no idea how to respond. The fact that Li Yan and Lin Qiuzu had been involved was already eye-opening enough for him—who knew he was only seeing the tip of the iceberg?

Lin Qiuzu really was…

A perfect match for Li Yan.

“By the way,” Feng Nian suddenly changed the subject, his tone evasive. “You and Li Yan are dating, right? I’d suggest you keep a close eye on him, or Lin Qiuzu will steal him away.”

Mi Zhao hesitated. He wanted to say that Li Yan had already been stolen, but he also wanted to say that he didn’t care about Li Yan anymore.

In the end, he said nothing and simply asked, “Did you call me out just to tell me all this?”

That clearly hit the mark. Feng Nian fell silent for a moment before hesitantly saying, “I need a favor from you. Are you and Brother Li real brothers? I work at his company…”

“No.” Mi Zhao refused outright. “I can’t help you with that. Even if I could, I wouldn’t.”

Feng Nian’s face paled, and he anxiously said, “I won’t ask you to help for free! I can keep Lin Qiuzu occupied, drive a wedge between him and Li Yan. As long as they don’t end up together, Li Yan will still be yours.”

There was a hint of shared misfortune in his voice, and his gaze toward Mi Zhao carried an unmistakable trace of sympathy.

“…” Mi Zhao gave a half-smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “First, I have nothing to do with Li Yan. Second—get lost.”

With that, he turned and walked away.

Feng Nian called out to him several times, but Mi Zhao ignored him completely.

—

Arriving early at the apartment complex entrance, he found the prospective tenant had arrived even earlier. It was a young woman, a recent graduate.

Though his mood had been ruined that morning, Mi Zhao forced himself to patiently introduce the basics of the rental unit.

After looking around, the woman seemed quite satisfied—except for the price, which exceeded her budget. She looked at Mi Zhao with hopeful eyes and asked if he could lower the rent.

Mi Zhao was helpless. He honestly explained that he was only subletting and that any price negotiation would have to be with the landlord.

So, the woman asked for the landlord’s contact information.

While she spoke to the landlord on the balcony, Mi Zhao slipped into the bedroom to rest. Taking out his phone, he opened WeChat and saw that his conversation with Li Sipei was still stuck on the two messages he had sent that morning.

[mrz: Good morning.]

[mrz: Are you awake?]

It was already 11:30 AM—was Li Sipei still asleep?

But then again… when had Li Sipei ever slept in?

A belated sense of unease hit Mi Zhao, and he suddenly panicked. Could Li Sipei be angry again? He quickly replayed their interactions over the past week, making sure he hadn’t done anything wrong. Once reassured, he considered calling Li Sipei.

Just as he was about to search for the number, his phone screen darkened—a call was coming in.

The caller ID read “Xiao Li.”

As he answered, Mi Zhao felt inexplicably nervous. “Hello?”

“Mm.” Li Sipei’s voice came through. “Where are you?”

Hearing his usual tone, Mi Zhao finally relaxed. “I’m at my rental place, showing someone the apartment. Did you just wake up?”

There was a brief silence before Li Sipei unexpectedly said, “Come outside.”

“…Huh?”

“I’m outside the main gate of your complex.”

“Which complex?” Mi Zhao was stunned for a moment before springing to his feet as if his chair was on fire. “You’re at my complex?!”

“Mm.” Li Sipei’s reply was as calm as if he hadn’t just dropped a bombshell.

Mi Zhao’s heart felt like it was about to catch fire. He didn’t know why he was so excited—one moment he had been thinking about Li Sipei, and the next, Li Sipei had just appeared out of nowhere.

That feeling was truly—

Amazing.

“You wait there! I’ll be right out!” Mi Zhao hastily threw out those words before hanging up and bolting out of the bedroom.

The woman had finished her call with the landlord and looked dejected, making it obvious how the negotiation had gone.

“You’re leaving?” she asked.

“I’m going to meet a friend.” Mi Zhao could barely contain his eagerness, but he still forced himself to ask, “How did your talk with the landlord go?”

She shook her head. “Let’s go together.”

Possibly feeling down, the woman walked slowly, while Mi Zhao—impatient to leave—kept surging ahead. A few minutes felt like hours.

At last, they reached the entrance.

Mi Zhao looked up and instantly saw Li Sipei in his wheelchair.

Dressed in a crisp white shirt, with dark hair, fair skin, and deep, striking features, Li Sipei was so stunning that even passersby couldn’t help but glance back repeatedly.

But his expression was utterly cold, exuding an aura of aloofness that kept people at a wary distance.

Taking a deep breath, Mi Zhao resisted the urge to run straight over.

He turned to the woman and asked, “Are you taking the bus or the subway?”

“The subway.”

“It’s that way. Just keep walking straight, and you’ll see the sign.”

“I know. I came here by subway,” she replied.

“Oh.” Mi Zhao smiled sheepishly.

The woman glanced between Mi Zhao and Li Sipei before suddenly understanding something.

She had noticed his bad mood earlier, the way he kept frowning at his phone. But then, right after a single call, he had rushed out of the room, his entire demeanor transformed.

The difference was like night and day—his eyes were now shining, filled with light.

When he saw that person… his whole face lit up.

With a sigh of admiration, the woman said, “Your friend is waiting for you. Go on.”

Mi Zhao nodded and ran toward Li Sipei. The wind tousled his bangs, revealing a smooth forehead and a pair of bright, jet-black eyes. His lips curved into a joyful smile.

Reaching him, he greeted the person beside him with a casual “Sister” then turned to Li Sipei, his face filled with pleasant surprise. “What brings you here?”

Against the sunlight, Li Sipei looked up at him, studying his face for a long moment before lazily responding, “I felt like coming.”

Mi Zhao scratched his head: “But I didn’t tell you the address here.” 

“I did.” Li Sipei said, “You told me in a text message when you first returned to City A.” 

Mi Zhao remembered, patted his head, and reached out to grab the wheelchair handle: “Come on, I’ll take you in to sit down.” 

Li Sipei didn’t speak, but glanced at Ruan Xin. 

“…” Ruan Xin, who had been pretending to be deaf and dumb, was shocked and said almost reflexively, “I have something else to do, so I won’t go. I’ll come back to pick up Mr. Li later.” 

Mi Zhao felt a little regretful, but did not force her. 

After saying goodbye to Ruan Xin, he pushed Li Sipei inside. 

The greening and property management of the old residential area cannot compare to that of Longwan Residential Area, which is both a new and high-end residential area. People do not even need to verify their identity to enter the door. They can enter in groups by just tapping the door card. 

Every time Mi Zhao swiped his card, at least four or five people followed him. 

Li Sipei looked back at those people, and after they separated, he asked Mi Zhao: “They came in like this?” 

“Yes.” Mi Zhao said, “The doors here open and close slowly, everyone just needs to swipe the card once.” 

Li Sipei was silent strangely. 

Before reaching the downstairs of the apartment building, Mi Zhao heard familiar laughter. He looked and saw that it was indeed those little kids he knew playing and fighting. 

Each little kid held a brightly colored plastic gun in his hand, and with a hard press, bubbles gushed out. 

When they saw Mi Zhao, they swarmed over. 

“Brother!” 

“Brother Mi, do you have any candy?” 

“I want some candy!” 

A group of children jumped up and down around Mi Zhao, and directly pushed Li Sipei out. 

Li Sipei’s face suddenly turned dark. 

Mi Zhao quickly asked the children to be quiet, raised his eyebrows, pointed at Li Sipei and said, “I’ll give you candies only after you greet him.” 

Upon hearing this, the children looked at Li Sipei and said in unison, “Hello, uncle!” 

Li Sipei: “…” 

Mi Zhao was embarrassed “Why call him uncle? You should call him brother.” 

The children didn’t seem to agree with this statement, and they frowned, but after hesitating, they all called him brother in a low voice. 

Li Sipei had a blank expression on his face and didn’t even want to talk anymore. 

Mi Zhao came out in a hurry and didn’t bring any candy with him, so he had to ask the children to go upstairs with him. 

Perhaps it was because Li Sipei’s expression was too cold, the lively children instantly turned into quails after entering the apartment building. They pushed and shoved their way into the elevator, looking at Li Sipei cautiously. 

Li Sipei kept silent, and the children didn’t dare to breathe. 

Mi Zhao saw this and laughed secretly. 

These naughty kids make a lot of trouble all day long, and even their parents can’t control them. Now someone has to discipline them. 

Back in the house, Mi Zhao asked Li Sipei to wait in the living room while he went to look through the cabinet above the kitchen, where all the dried fruits and candies were kept. 

Unexpectedly, not long after he entered the kitchen, several children who were in the living room with Li Sipei rushed in. 

A little girl hugged Mi Zhao’s legs and said hesitantly, “Brother Mi, I don’t want to be with that uncle. He is so scary.” 

Mi Zhao chuckled, bent down and picked up the little girl, tapped the little girl’s nose and said, “He is so pretty, how can he be scary?” 

Immediately a little boy raised his hand and added, “He looks like our class teacher. I dare not breathe next to him!” 

Mi Zhao pretended to be sad: “You hurt my heart by saying that.” 

Several children fell silent at the same time. 

“He is my best friend. You should treat me the same way you treat me. Otherwise, if he is sad, I will have to comfort him for a long time.” Mi Zhao said in a gentle tone, “Do you understand?” 

Several children nodded as if they understood: “I understand.” 

Mi Zhao took out the candy box from the cabinet and let the children take it out. He closed the cabinet door, turned around and saw Li Sipei in a wheelchair looking at him in front of the kitchen door. 

I guess the whole conversation just now was heard. 

Mi Zhao walked over and closed the door. He supported himself on the wheelchair with his hands and looked down at Li Sipei with a smile on his face: “Do you want some candy too?” 

Li Sipei’s eyes swept over Mi Zhao’s hands: “No candy.” 

“Yes.” Mi Zhao bent down and kissed Li Sipei’s lips, slowly pushing the lemon-flavored candy in his mouth over with the tip of his tongue. 

The sticky taste of sugar lingered between their lips and teeth. 

Li Sipei was stunned for a moment and subconsciously grabbed Mi Zhao’s wrist. 

Mi Zhao continued to deepen the kiss, and the Candy almost circled in Li Sipei’s mouth and was finally pushed to the center of his tongue. 

Mi Zhao pulled away, raised the corners of his mouth, and blinked with a smile: “This is a candy specially for Li Sipei. Is it sweet?” 

“…” 

Li Sipei was holding the candy in his mouth. 

Very sweet. 

It seemed as if even the dimples at the corners of Mi Zhao’s mouth were filled with sweetness.