He Zizhong and Xu Lili’s grandma only gave birth to two daughters. Naturally, the family property should be divided so each person gets one. However, He Zizhong’s mother died a few years before the old lady, so He Zizhong’s aunt, of course, wanted to monopolize both properties and didn’t even notify him when his grandmother was seriously ill. It was not until the day before the funeral when she told their distant relatives, saying things like, "After my sister died, he never ever came to see his grandma at all. What about my Lili? Every day she guarded the hospital. He's not filial at all!"

Moreover, He Zizhong has always been indifferent towards his aunt’s family. It’s just that it was not good to throw a sick person out when Xu Lili visited and fell ill in his previous life, which led to a mess of things that he didn’t expect.

Hearing Xu Lili's tone, Fang Hao became more determined in his dislike and hostility towards her. But he could not express it clearly, because he still has not figured out what the relationship between this woman and He Zizhong was.

"When will he come back? I'll go in and wait for him." Holding in her irritation, Xu Lili tried to enter the door.

"Sorry, I'm the only one at home. I'm afraid it's not convenient for you to come in..." Fang Hao smiled apologetically and firmly blocked the door with his hand. This woman was filled with anger, what if letting her in will cause trouble for senior?

"Who are you?! Are you his new mistress?! I'm He Zizhong's cousin! Even if you're with him, you'll never become my sister-in-law!" Xu Lili exploded. What did this little kid count as?! If not because that house would be hers sooner or later, she would never have come to He Zizhong's house! Gay! God knows if there is HIV here!

New one? Sister-in-law?

Fang Hao breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, but he couldn't help but feel some bitterness. "Sister-in-law," what a reasonable, legal position... it's something that he can get in his life.

However, the words "newly found" lit hope in Fang Hao's heart. He didn't know who He Zizhong was with before, but if they were also male... wouldn't he be able to pursue him in a fair manner?!

As for He Zizhong's ex-boyfriend...

Senior He is so handsome, so of course others will him! As long as he is single now, he is qualified to pursue him!

Looking at Xu Lili, Fang Hao felt that she looked more pleasing to the eye than before. The handsome boy smiled slightly, and the light coming from the floor-to-ceiling windows of the room reflected off his short chestnut hair, dumbfounding Xu Lili.

"Wait a minute, I'll call Zizhong."

Only by silently repeating 'he is gay, he is gay... ' could Xu Lili forcefully suppress her beating heart. Unspeakable resentment and hatred filling her eyes as pictures of failed blind dates flashed through her memories. Stopping only when the young man, whose skin was so good that women were jealous and who was so beautiful that she wanted women to run away, handed the phone to her.

"Hey…"

Xu Lili's voice was so low that she seemed to be able to manifest blackness, stunning He Zizhong who answered the phone: "You are looking for me? What happened?" He suppressed the grievances from the previous life first. Truthfully speaking, although Xu Lili's wasn't very kind, she was not as unfeeling as Dai Jun. Perhaps because the relationship between them has not been close since childhood? He Zizhong was not so surprised when he was betrayed and framed by her.

As for Xu Lili's visit today, He Zizhong also remembered that it was nothing more than the house.

Sure enough, after listening to her, he was sure that it was that matter. He Zizhong held a sneer at the corner of his mouth: "How about this, I'll be town these days and can't go to the notary office with you for the time being. Let's talk when my work is finished."

Xu Lili was angry again: "Out of town? Then when will you come back?!"

"Beginning of March. I'll be out for about a week. I'll contact you again at that time." Since their grandmother passed away, Xu Lili hasn't kept his phone number, otherwise why would she not call to inform him first but come directly to the door?

He Zizhong was already angry about this matter in his previous life. It makes no sense to argue about the old house and that family. The reason they want to monopolize the house was even more embarrassing: He Zizhong’s income is two hundred thousand, whereas Xu Lili is still a temporary worker. He Zizhong has the new house left by his mother when she died, whereas Xu Lili lives with her parents. He Zizhong is a man who can support himself, while Xu Lili is a daughter. They're afraid that because the family has no money and space, it will be hard for her to marry.

As a result, the house had to be given to Xu Lili for free, leaving nothing for He Zizhong.

Why? Which country's laws state it has to be this way? They are both grandchildren. Why is their family so divided?

In the previous life, it was because He Zizhong felt aggrieved for his mother who died of illness that he refused to agree. This caused Xu Lili to come to his home the night before the end of world, which led to the mess that happened later.

Now He Zizhong doesn't want to bother with her family at all, so he simply dragged the matter directly to the post-apocalyptic period. As for the after the apocalypse? Where will they go to do those procedures? As long as they're not afraid of zombies, they can freely occupy the entire city and no one will complain.

Fang Hao sent away Xu Lili, who was blinded his bright smile, and closed the door. He picked up the phone again—He Zizhong hadn't hung up yet.

Outside, Xu Lili turned around and walked to the elevator before regaining her senses, realizing that the date had been dragged back by He Zizhong for a full week!!

But even if she guessed that he was dragging the time, Xu Lili couldn't confirm it, but—huh! Only ghosts will believe that he's on a business trip! She'll come back tomorrow night to confront him at home! Don't even think about dragging it out without making it clear!

"Fang Hao? Has the express arrived today?"

"Yes, it's all here."

"Then can you buy a ticket online for a flight to N city after 1 o'clock tomorrow afternoon? If there is nothing wrong with you these few days, you can come with me."

"Ah? Okay, I'm fine, but senior...what about the information?"

"You can try to get as much done as possible, its find as long as we bring a notebook on the way."

"Okay, what are we doing in N city?"

There was silence on the phone for a while, only then did Fang Hao hear the other's low-pitched, sexual voice that could make one's ears pregnant utter two syllables: "Travel."

Travel... going on a two-person trip with senior... Fang Hao felt so happy he felt like he was dying...Wait! He can't die yet!

N city, with beautiful scenery and pleasant scenery, is a good place to talk about love...cough cough, of course, he must not delay senior's business matters!

However, it is a good way to adjust to develop and deepen feelings while doing business~

Hanging up, He Zizhong drove to the next fish shop again. He bought all kinds of fry of common freshwater fish and threw them into the pool.

As for whether the fry will stay in the pool or follow the stream straight down into the void space? It was not something He Zizhong could interfere with.

The next shop sold several kinds of baby crabs, several kinds of freshwater shrimp, and some less common freshwater fish, such as eels and small whitebait.

When he drove home again, the sky had completely dimmed. Energy-saving lamps were turned on in the room, and the printer by the window was spitting out ink-stained paper at a constant speed.

The kitchen lights were on, and there were already several dishes on the dining room table in the living room. When the door opened, Fang Hao came out of the kitchen and saw He Zizhong. He hurriedly said, "Senior wait a minute, there is another soup..."

"No rush." From the warm taste, warm words, and warm breath emerged a feeling of home.

It seemed that as long as the person who cares about himself is there, it will taste like home.

"Because we're going out tomorrow, I didn't dare make more. It's just that the dishes are a bit time-consuming. It's good now." Fang Hao was embarrassed when he came out with the shrimp skin and radish soup.

"It's okay, it's not too late, it's just right." He Zizhong, who had already washed his hands, took the soup and put it on the table. While Fang Hao took off his apron, he picked up a small sweet and sour ribs and brought it to his mouth. Opening his mouth blankly, he held the rib dumbly in his mouth.

"How is it? Is it delicious?"

Fang Hao nodded hurriedly, and suddenly felt that something was wrong in the middle of the nod--this dish was obviously made by him, so what does his nod count as?!

He Zizhong grabbed another piece and delivered it to his own mouth. Sure enough, the sweetness and sourness were moderate, the meat was soft and tender, and the bones could be removed with one bite.

"It's delicious."

He hurriedly took off his apron. Fang Hao lowered his head and ate the ribs in his mouth, with sweetness in his flustered heart. It was the rib fed by senior, which was a delicious bonus! It was better than when he tasted it before!

Three dishes and one soup on the table. Red and bright sweet and sour short ribs adorned with white sesame. Delicious shrimp with minced meat and tofu, with the side of the plate decorated with white and tender rapeseed. Tomato fried cabbage with matching red and green colors. The last, soup with dried shrimp skin and radish was creamy white with a hint of green.

Like the previous dishes every day this week, the dishes on the table had delicious colors, flavors, meat and vegetables, and balanced nutrition.

The appetite of the two adult men was not small. Because they were going to another place the next day, Fang Hao controlled the amount of food. The two had enough food and drink. Three dishes and one soup were just right.

"Tickets are bought, 1:30pm," Fang Hao reported his work during the day. "The last two express items arrived, I put them over there, right by the wall. Senior, when are we coming back? Should we book the return in advance?"

"No need, it depends on the situation." He Zizhong shook his head. He was not sure if he could come back in time after going to N city. What if the end came early? But no matter what, they would always come back, not to go home, but to go to the base in city A.

 

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T/N: The author jumps between first and third person a lot (and sometimes skips tenses altogether in Chinese). I'm aiming to keep most of it in 3rd person as that's the bulk of the story, but there will be cases of first person thoughts too.