PD Chapter 34: Can’t Move an Inch Without Money (Part 2)

When Wen Xunchuan shuffled out of the bedroom in his slippers, he instinctively glanced toward the tatami by the window, but He Linzhou wasn’t there.

His first thought was, Did He Linzhou storm off in a huff because of a rejected confession? But he dismissed the idea within a second—there wasn’t a single word in that scenario that aligned with He Linzhou’s thick-skinned personality.

The rare quietness in the house made him realize Chun Mei wasn’t around either. Stretching, Wen Xunchuan glanced at the wall clock as he headed to the bathroom. It wasn’t even 8 a.m.

Did he really go out this early to walk the dog?

After his shower, he was drying his hair in front of the mirror when he heard the door open. He came out with the towel still on his head and saw He Linzhou entering with Chun Mei on the leash.

“You’re up early today?”

Squatting on the mat by the entrance, He Linzhou was busy wiping Chun Mei’s paws. “Didn’t take her out yesterday, remember?”

Wen Xunchuan’s mention of yesterday made He Linzhou fume all over again. Standing up to dry his hands, he picked up a disposable food container from the coat rack and brushed past Wen Xunchuan, deliberately bumping his shoulder.

Wen Xunchuan rubbed his sore shoulder, frowning. “What’s with you this early?”

He Linzhou ignored him, washed his hands, and then sat cross-legged on the floor between the coffee table and the sofa. As he unwrapped the food container, he muttered, “Didn’t buy anything for you.”

Standing in front of the TV cabinet, Wen Xunchuan continued drying his hair, watching in amusement as He Linzhou, looking rather silly, picked up a steaming dumpling and shoved it into his mouth as if to spite him.

Three…two…he didn’t even need to finish counting down in his head.

“Ahhh—” He Linzhou’s face scrunched in pain as he spat the hot dumpling into the trash can, fanning his mouth. “Hot, hot, hot, hot…”

Wen Xunchuan sighed, pulling the towel off his head and going to the water cooler to pour him a cup. He handed it over, sighing, “How old are you?”

He Linzhou eagerly grabbed the cup and gulped down the water, sighing in relief as the burning sensation subsided. “I’m younger than you, that’s for sure.”

“No kidding.” Wen Xunchuan nodded in mock seriousness, pouring himself some water. “About twenty years younger, at least.”

He Linzhou gave him a disgruntled look, broke apart a pair of disposable chopsticks, and used them to split open a dumpling, cooling the broth inside before feeding it to Chun Mei at his feet. Casually, he asked, “Hey, how old are you anyway?”

“Twenty-seven.”

“Really?” He Linzhou looked up, surprised.

Wen Xunchuan shot him a look. “Want to see my ID?”

“I thought you were about my age.” He Linzhou mumbled, then raised his voice deliberately, clicking his tongue, “Tsk, so old.”

Wen Xunchuan shrugged, unfazed. “I’m surviving.”

When he got up, he noticed his phone wasn’t on the bed. It probably fell onto the sofa last night, so he took a couple of steps in that direction. But He Linzhou immediately raised his arms protectively around his breakfast. “I told you, I didn’t get anything for you. Back off.”

Wen Xunchuan gave him a quick glance, then bent down to retrieve his phone from between the sofa cushions and sat down, checking his unread messages. “Eat up, eat up. My nephew used to guard his food just like that when he was your age.”

“…” Embarrassed, He Linzhou rubbed his nose. He felt pretty childish himself and, blushing slightly, nudged a box of dumplings in Wen Xunchuan’s direction. “Can I borrow your phone charger?”

Wen Xunchuan didn’t hold back, picking up a dumpling, taking a small bite, and savoring the juicy chicken broth as he asked, “Why do you need the charger?”

“To charge my phone, what else?” He Linzhou tossed his dead phone onto the table. “My mom dropped it off this morning along with my wallet.”

Wen Xunchuan glanced at his phone and asked, “So you’re moving out, right?”

He Linzhou was about to retort, How am I supposed to move out with no money? But when he saw Wen Xunchuan sitting there, casually nibbling on a dumpling, the words caught in his throat and changed direction. “Now that I’m loaded…want to date?”

Wen Xunchuan brushed aside his slightly damp hair and rejected him without hesitation, “Nope.”

Annoyed, He Linzhou leaned toward him, slightly tilting his head up. “Why not?”

“Just not interested,” Wen Xunchuan replied casually.

He Linzhou squinted at him, calling him out, “You’re just scared of commitment, aren’t you?”

Wen Xunchuan glanced sideways at him. “Commitment to what? Are you going to bear me a child or something?”

“…Damn.” He Linzhou cursed, then suddenly had an epiphany. He slapped the sofa, stood up, and glared at Wen Xunchuan in realization. “So you’re planning to trick me into marriage?”

“When did I say anything about marriage?” Wen Xunchuan was speechless.

“Then why won’t you date me?”

He Linzhou’s relentless pestering began to wear on Wen Xunchuan’s patience. He wiped his hands and took a couple of steps forward, stopping right in front of He Linzhou.

Looking him in the eye, he spoke in a low voice. “Hooking up is fine. Dating is out of the question.”

“What the—how could you have no morals at all…” He Linzhou started to protest, but before he could finish, Wen Xunchuan had already turned and headed back toward his bedroom.

He Linzhou called after him, “Hey, don’t leave! Fine, no dating, but lend me the charger!”

The weather in May was unpredictable. The sky had been clear in the morning, but now dark clouds had gathered outside, heavy with impending rain.

Wen Xunchuan shut the bedroom window and came back with a charger, tossing it to He Linzhou, who was sprawled on the sofa like a boneless creature.

He Linzhou took the charger, plugged it into his phone, and knelt on the sofa cushion, stretching over to reach the socket by the left armrest.

Wen Xunchuan crossed his arms, standing in front of the sofa. “So, when are you moving out?”

“You’re heartless, aren’t you?” He Linzhou frowned up at him. “After all we’ve been through—”

He shifted a bit too much, and before he could finish, his knee slipped off the edge of the cushion, sending him crashing down onto the hardwood floor with a loud thud.

He Linzhou winced, clutching his knee and yelping, “Ow!”

Wen Xunchuan watched the painful impact on the hardwood floor and cringed on his behalf. “At ease.”

He Linzhou slumped onto the floor, stretching out one leg as he fished his wallet out of his pocket. He pulled out 437.50 yuan, placing it on the table while wincing and rubbing his bruised knee. “Where am I supposed to move to, huh?”

“…Didn’t you say you had money?”

He Linzhou raised his chin, gesturing toward the cash on the table. “Isn’t this money?”

Wen Xunchuan stared at him in speechless disbelief for a moment, then finally asked, “I have a question…”

He Linzhou didn’t even look up, “Don’t ask. If you ask, it means he’s not my biological son.”

“…Alright then.” Wen Xunchuan reached over and scooped up the 437.50 yuan on the table. “Consider it rent.”

“Hey,” He Linzhou quickly looked up, calling after him, “at least leave me one bill, would you?”

Wen Xunchuan glanced down at the money in his hand, nodded, and said, “Fine.”

He Linzhou stared at the single fifty-cent note left on the table, gritting his teeth and muttering, “Thanks so much, really.”