DCTMOAS Chapter 49

Lu Yan called out twice, then glanced back to see that Teacher Chu was still frozen on the spot. He reached out and pulled him inside. “It’s the holiday, so we can’t find any cleaning staff — but my neat freak uncle cleans the floors himself. No need to change shoes.”

“Wait, hold on, stop yelling.” Chu Cheng’s brain stalled for two seconds before finally rebooting. He grabbed Lu Yan’s arm to confirm, “This place belongs to Mr. Yu too?”

“Yup.” Lu Yan nodded. “Didn’t the sales office staff explain Nanyuan’s unique selling point to you earlier?”

Seeing Chu Cheng’s blank face, Lu Yan took it upon himself to break it down:

Turns out, when the Fantian Garden’s developer built these flats, they used a special reinforced structure and left space in the design — they even filed it with the Tingzhou Building Authority. As long as the owner cleared it with property management, they were allowed to add internal staircases.

So, a lot of homeowners in Nanyuan buy two or even three floors together.

“It’s way more convenient and comfortable than a townhouse or a duplex,” Lu Yan said, pointing at a brightly lit building across the way. “See over there? Any unit with the same curtains on different floors — that’s all one household.”

No wonder Xiao Lin acted so differently when meeting the owner here.

A tall, well-built figure was reflected in the bright floor-to-ceiling window, slowly descending the stairs.

Chu Cheng turned around to face that handsome face and called out, “Mr. Yu.”

It seemed Yu Siting had been tidying up upstairs; he was dressed in a comfortable knit sweater and pants, wearing slippers, with a cleaning cloth still in his hand.

It was rare to see him looking so lazy and laid-back at home. Chu Cheng snuck a few more glances, then asked, “You came back early too — why didn’t you mention it on the phone?”

“Just arrived. Still cleaning, didn’t have time,” Yu Siting put down the cloth and wiped his hands with a clean towel. “Come on in and sit.”

Chu Cheng walked into the living room.

The spacious apartment offered a sweeping view; the layout was open and connected, and sitting right in the center was the perfect spot to admire the entire home’s subtle French style.

Elegant and bright, without feeling heavy.

The house’s main design was simple yet refined — the detailing on the lines and patterns was graceful and exquisite, the kind that leaves a deep impression at a single glance.

Earlier, Lu Yan had said the housekeeping staff was still on holiday. But looking at this house — and the courtyard just now — it didn’t look at all like a place that had been empty for more than half the break.

Chu Cheng was a bit surprised. “This place is huge — you cleaned all this by yourself?”

“That’s why I was busy, didn’t have time,” Yu Siting poured a glass of water and handed it over. “You came here to look for a place?”

The sparkling glass felt substantial in his hand; Chu Cheng turned it over a couple of times and nodded, “I couldn’t find anything suitable within the school district — Lu Yan helped me find a place. The size, location, and surroundings were all great.”

Yu Siting asked, “So did you rent it?”

“Nope, the landlord’s asking price was kind of inflated, and they wouldn’t agree to quarterly payments — they’d rather leave it vacant. So I figured I’d think about it more,” Chu Cheng’s tone carried a hint of regret, then he added, “But if I really can’t find anything, I’ll have to rent it as a last resort.”

Yu Siting shifted, leaning back on the sofa, fingers interlaced, and said naturally, “Then why bother? You can see I have an empty unit right here. Instead of forcing yourself to rent from someone else, you might as well stay here.”

Chu Cheng froze for a moment.

He’d been thrown off by Lu Yan’s little joke earlier — after chatting for a bit, he’d completely forgotten why he’d come here in the first place.

Yu Siting continued, “I never really liked ground-floor units, but I bought this one because only the first floor comes with a private garage — makes it easier to park several cars. Even though it’s now connected with an upstairs unit by a staircase, they’re still essentially two separate places. Leaving the lower one empty is just a waste.”

Chu Cheng suddenly remembered what Xiao Lin had said earlier, and raised his brows slightly, “I heard the owners here would rather let an empty house gather dust than deal with the hassle.”

“How much trouble could you possibly be?” Yu Siting shot back without even thinking.

Chu Cheng curled his lips up a little. “Very troublesome.”

He couldn’t quite remember where he’d read that joke, but it said there were four quick ways to capsize the boat of friendship.

Renting a friend’s place.
Crashing a friend’s car.
Borrowing a friend’s money.
And stealing a friend’s lover.

Yu Siting saw the look on his face and asked in confusion, “Since you’ve already come to see places in this complex, it means there’s nothing wrong with the houses here — they clearly appeal to you. So why won’t you consider this one? Because the owner is me?”

Chu Cheng hurriedly waved his hands. “Of course not. It’s just… it feels weird for me to live alone in such a big place…”

“Mr. Chu,” Yu Siting cut him off with an expressionless face, blocking the excuse before it could even take shape. “If you’re going to decline, at least make it sound convincing. It’s not like I’ve never been to your place before.”

“Alright, alright, I’ll be honest then,” Chu Cheng couldn’t help but laugh. “Even that little 95-square-meter two-bedroom felt pricey to me, let alone this huge apartment of yours.”

Even blood brothers keep the accounts clear — the rental market price for this place was right there for everyone to see. Whether it was colleagues or friends, treating each other to meals, gifts, or trips was one thing — but when it came to special transactions like this, Chu Cheng absolutely didn’t want to take unfair advantage.

Besides, they’d have to work together once the semester started again. To put it bluntly, the next time this guy roasted him with that sharp tongue, would he even have the right to clap back?

Yu Siting said, “I never said what the rent would be.”

Chu Cheng shot back, “Even if you don’t say it, I can’t afford it. We’re both grinding away at the same workplace — it’s not like you don’t know how much I make every month.”

Crack—

A crisp crack broke through their back-and-forth.

Lu Yan, who hadn’t said a word for ages, was squatting by the coffee table with a nutcracker, cracking open a hazelnut and popping it into his mouth. He looked up, glancing around at the sudden hush in the room.

Yu Siting gave him a quick glance but didn’t bother with him. He turned back to Chu Cheng and said, “I never said you had to rent the whole floor. If you don’t need that much space, just pick a couple of rooms downstairs — use whatever you like.”

“But when I renovated, I didn’t set up a dining area upstairs. Lu Yan and I usually come down here to eat. The storage room and kitchen at the far end of this floor also get used occasionally. And every time I go out, I have to use this staircase to get to the basement garage — I’d inevitably disturb you. So, I think cutting the rent in half to make it a co-rental would be fairer for you, Mr. Chu. That’s all I’ve got — your turn.”

Ah, sincerity — the ultimate kill shot.

Chu Cheng opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but couldn’t. His rational side still told him it wasn’t a good idea, but he had to admit: Yu Siting’s words had him wavering.

But Lu Yan wasn’t satisfied on his behalf — he suddenly scrambled up, plopped himself down right between the two of them, chewing on a nut while boldly negotiating with Yu Siting: “If he’s gonna rent from you, his ideal deal is paying month by month — no deposit.”

“Huh?” Chu Cheng looked over in surprise — Did I say that just now?

“You gotta leave some room for bargaining,” the little rascal leaned in closer, cupped a hand to cover his mouth, and whispered, “It’s fine, go ahead and negotiate — I’ve got your back.”

Yu Siting tilted his neck slightly, as if giving it some serious thought: “Sure, that’s fine. Just pay after payday each month.”

“He’s actually pretty easy to talk to,” Lu Yan turned to Chu Cheng, seeking approval. “Should we push for something even more outrageous?”

Chu Cheng chuckled under his breath, “Whose side are you even on?”

Lu Yan wiggled his brows, “Isn’t it obvious?”

Watching the two of them whisper to each other, Yu Siting stood up and suggested matter-of-factly, “Since you’re already out here looking at places, why don’t I show you around?”

Whether he’d rent it or not could wait — but Chu Cheng was genuinely curious about Mr. Yu’s interior design. He got up as well, replying, “Sure.”

Yu Siting patiently led him from room to room, giving brief explanations or answering questions as they went.

They walked along the corridor, switching on lights along the way until the whole place glowed with a bright, warm ambiance. Every bedroom had its own private balcony — especially the master bedroom, with windows on two sides, making every inch of space feel open and inviting.

“Do you like it?” Yu Siting asked with a smile.

Chu Cheng said, “Of course your place is perfect. But if you rent it to me, it’s obvious it’s all about making things convenient for me alone.”

Yu Siting’s tone was calm: “It’s not like I wouldn’t charge you rent. And I’d benefit quite a bit too. Renting this to you makes it easier for me to coordinate work with the deputy class head whenever. And if someone wants to brush up on Chinese next time, they can come straight to you instead of paying for a hotel room at that hot spring resort, right?”

Lu Yan, who was trailing behind, got called out — suddenly his shoulders felt sore, a bit of PTSD from all those posture correction sessions.

They strolled from the house to the garden, and Chu Cheng honestly couldn’t find a single flaw with the place — all he could do was compliment it sincerely.

Yu Siting, however, didn’t pressure him to decide right away. Instead, he told him to keep this as a fallback option instead of that small two-bedroom in Beiyuan — that way, he wouldn’t have to run all over the city in a panic.

“Thank you, Mr. Yu, for throwing me a lifeline,” Chu Cheng said from the garden, genuinely grateful.

Yu Siting looked up at the night sky, now completely dark, and suggested, “At this hour, you won’t be able to check out any other places. Why don’t you stay and have dinner with us?”

Chu Cheng noticed how he said stay and asked, “Here at the house?”

Yu Siting nodded, “Put those four words you just said into practice.”

“What four words?”

“Throwing a lifeline.”

Mr. Yu went on, “While I was cleaning today, I found an oven in the storage room — bought it ages ago, never used. The weather’s calm tonight. Want to try a garden BBQ?”

“Can we?” Chu Cheng’s eyes lit up. This pretty yard really did deserve something a little romantic like that.

“A simple setup will do.” Yu Siting brushed his hand over the wooden tables and chairs in the gazebo. “I’ll bring out the oven and clean it up. There’s a fresh food market behind the complex — you take Lu Yan and go buy the groceries.”

“No problem.” Chu Cheng was just about to head out when a voice called him back.

Yu Siting lowered his voice in reminder, “That kid squeezed quite a bit out of me over New Year’s — make sure he pays for the groceries.”

Chu Cheng laughed as he turned away, “Forget it, I’ll treat him this time. I can’t bring myself to squeeze a kid for cash.”

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Chu Cheng and Lu Yan went to the fresh food market and filled an entire shopping cart with meats and seafood perfect for grilling, along with all sorts of ingredients and seasonings.

Ever since being discharged from the hospital, Chu Cheng hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol. But when he saw the supermarket’s full array of fruit brews, he just couldn’t walk away. In the end, he picked up a few cans that looked especially appetizing.

The blueberry-flavored one was sweet and tart — perfect for cutting through the greasiness — and it was only a few percent ABV, just right to pair with grilled meat.

The two of them carried back all sorts of bags, big and small, and by the time they got home, the sky outside was pitch black, so dark you could barely see anything.

“Go turn on the lights,” Yu Siting said, setting up the grill in the yard, busy flipping the smokeless charcoal with his tongs.

But Lu Yan dashed off instead. “I’m going to the bathroom first.”

“I’ll do it,” Chu Cheng said.

“The fuse box is behind that painting in the entryway,” Yu Siting reminded him.

“Got it.” Chu Cheng reached forward, feeling around carefully to distinguish the different wires, and accurately found the switch that controlled the garden lights.

With a click, the pavilion and fountain in the yard lit up in a soothing glow. Those scattered, warm pinpoints of light looked like stars, and through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, they gathered into an ocean of brightness.

There wasn’t much he could help with at the grill, so Chu Cheng went into the open kitchen, washed the seafood and vegetables, and brought them out.

Yu Siting’s focused figure was cast in a pool of soft light and shadow. The charcoal burning under his hands should have felt scorching, but in the winter night it gave off only a cozy warmth.

“Mr. Yu, your grilling skills don’t look too practiced,” Chu Cheng teased, handing him the skewered chicken wings, taking the chance to admire that sharp, aloof face that didn’t quite match the warm scene around them.

“Want to take over?” Yu Siting lifted his head, gaze steady and piercing as he looked at him.

“Good thing I’m not that picky — as long as it’s cooked, I’m happy.” Chu Cheng naturally had no intention of taking over, so he quickly backtracked with a grin and slipped away.

Before long, the skewered barbecue was plated and on the table. Butterflied shrimp and big slabs of black pepper beef sizzled on the electric grill, fat spattering and crackling until they were cooked through.

Yu Siting pulled out a bottle of his favorite red wine from the wine cabinet and poured some for Chu Cheng to try.

“This flavor… kinda goes straight to your head.” Chu Cheng smacked his lips, then frowned.

“Add a bit of juice, then.” Yu Siting laughed helplessly, pouring half of the wine from Chu Cheng’s glass back into his own.

Eating around a grill in winter was just pure comfort. The three of them sat together, clinking glasses to celebrate the fifth day of the New Year.

Maybe because it felt incomplete without a proper carb, Yu Siting even boiled a handful of thin noodles during the meal. Chu Cheng had two small bowls of broth with it, and his belly warmed up instantly.

Maybe it was the mix of blueberry wine and red wine — who knew — but Chu Cheng felt woozy after only a little bit. When dinner was over, Yu Siting helped him back to his room to rest.

Chu Cheng could feel the support of his arm, hummed twice with a nasal note, and said, “I’m perfectly sober.”

“I know,” Yu Siting replied. “Everyone’s body reacts differently after drinking. Just rest here for a bit — you can come out again once the dizziness passes.”

Chu Cheng gave a soft reply. “Mm.”

“Come on, lie down. Careful—” Yu Siting lifted the freshly laid coral fleece blanket, but with only one arm supporting him, he didn’t catch him properly — sending him tumbling straight onto the soft bed.

In the darkness, Yu Siting’s arm got pinned under Chu Cheng’s slender waist. The other man, eyes heavy and half-closed, arched his back a little toward him. “Your arm’s poking me~”

Yu Siting slipped his arm out, catching a whiff of that sweet, mellow scent of wine clinging to Mr. Chu’s skin at close range. An unnamed heat stirred in his chest; even his Adam’s apple bobbed involuntarily. He reached out, tucked the blanket around him, then backed out and quietly closed the door.

“Is Mr. Chu asleep?” Out in the yard, Lu Yan was tidying up the aftermath, picking up the metal skewers one by one from the ground.

“No — just letting him lie down for a bit.”

Lu Yan shot him a sly grin. “Lying down for a bit, or giving him a chance to get used to the room he’s going to be living in later?”

Yu Siting kept cleaning up, ignoring him.

“You said you wouldn’t trouble a kid with your business, yet the second you got off the plane, you had me run all over the neighborhood looking for rental listings, didn’t you? Now I bet you’re counting on him not finding anywhere more suitable than here anytime soon. Playing the long game, huh?” In Lu Yan’s mind, the words ‘lure him in by letting him go’ flashed like neon.

Yu Siting paused, looked over at his nephew, and said with perfect seriousness, “Actually, I’d like to ask you the same thing Mr. Chu did: which side are you on?”

Dangerous question.

Lu Yan’s survival instincts were sharp as ever; he knew exactly how to answer. “Of course, I’m on my uncle’s side.”

“Then stop talking so much nonsense.” Yu Siting shot him a glance, put away the used grill tray, and carried it inside.

Once that back figure disappeared into the house, the boy just chuckled, took a deep breath of the chilly night air, and finished the second half of his sentence in a whisper, “But that doesn’t stop me from siding with Mr. Chu too.”

No matter what his uncle was planning, Lu Yan had his own selfish reasons for wanting Mr. Chu to move in.

Instead of calling this place Fantian Scenic Garden, you might as well call it Brahma’s Pure Land.

All the elite big shots living here were practically monks — pure, ascetic, and boring as dry toast. The shops at the entrance were all antique clubs or tea ceremony houses. Even the neighbor’s Great Dane never showed up early or late, but walked itself twice a day like clockwork.

But when Mr. Chu was here, it felt like things were just… different.

Even when winter’s chill came biting, the scent of late-night barbecue could still drift for miles, because the greatest meaning of life should always be to please yourself.

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Author’s Note:
That night, Lu Yan went back to his second-floor room and found his uncle bent over his desk, completely absorbed. He went over to see what impossible math problem he was wrestling with.

Big Bro: Mr. Chu spends 800 a month on takeout, 200 on books and movies, 300 on coffee, 200 on game skins, 600 on a gym membership… so in the end, his leftover salary should be… If I don’t charge rent, or only charge a little, I won’t be able to keep him. But if I charge too much, he’ll feel pressured… so what’s the perfect amount?

(scratches head) This problem is too hard — maybe I should just transfer the house to him outright.