The Villain in the Quick Travel is My Wife

Chapter 15

Chapter 15.1.15

The final leg of the journey to Sun Yuebai's home was by rickshaw.

As they traversed a town that felt like it had stepped out of a century-old story, An Shuting was filled with curiosity and excitement. The rickshaw, a mode of transportation he had only seen in TV dramas and tourist attractions, was surrounded by buildings steeped in historical charm.

They finally arrived at a courtyard adorned with walls covered in blooming roses. The sky had darkened, and only a few rose bushes flourished vibrantly against the backdrop of gray brick and tile walls.

Sun Yuebai retrieved the key and opened the door. He turned to An Shuting, thought for a moment, and then took another key from a flowerpot at the entrance, handing it to him. "This is the key to the house. Remember to take it with you next time you go out."

"For me?" An Shuting accepted the key, his gaze lingering on Sun Yuebai's tender and gentle expression illuminated by the moonlight. He carefully tucked the key into his pocket and patted it.

"Of course, it's for you," Sun Yuebai replied. He had bought this courtyard as soon as he saved enough money, defining it as his home-no one else had ever entered, until now. He wasn't entirely sure why he had given the key to An Shuting, but the young man's earnestness had dispelled any hesitation.

"The house isn't big. Besides my living space, there's another room for storage. I'll tidy it up later, but you can make do with it tonight, okay?"

"Or you can stay with me tonight," he added, opening the door to his room, lighting a match to ignite a candle, and then setting up a warm yellow lantern, as if unintentionally providing An Shuting with another option.

After the events of the day, An Shuting felt like a spider spirit clinging to him. He hesitated, waving his hand. "I'll just stay in another room."

Sun Yuebai smiled knowingly. "It's up to you. I'll head to the kitchen and make something simple to eat."

An Shuting breathed a sigh of relief and followed Sun Yuebai, watching as he rummaged through the kitchen for a long time before finally locating two eggs.

"I can't cook anything tonight," Sun Yuebai admitted, raising his hands helplessly. "I rarely use the kitchen by myself, just for breakfast occasionally. I guess I'll go buy some food on the street."

An Shuting glanced at the moonlight hidden behind clouds outside the window and pointed to a large basket of noodles in the corner of the cupboard. "Don't go. It's too late. Let's just have noodles?"

Without waiting for Sun Yuebai to respond, he grabbed the basket of dry noodles, washed his hands, and began preparing the meal.

His efficient and serious demeanor left Sun Yuebai, who stood with his hands in his pockets, feeling a bit lost. Before he could offer help, An Shuting ordered him to pick vegetables from the yard.

After a short while, Sun Yuebai-who usually appeared so polished in front of others-found himself sitting on a low stool, trying to stoke a fire.

The warm glow of the firelight illuminated his face, and the crackling sound of the burning wood filled the air. He seemed focused, yet his gaze kept wandering back to An Shuting.

Meanwhile, An Shuting diligently chopped vegetables, exuding a calm and reassuring aura.

Sun Yuebai suddenly realized that it wasn't cooking itself that felt tedious and meaningless, but rather the act of cooking alone.

As he bent his long legs, which made him appear more obedient and slightly pitiful, An Shuting, feeling a pang of conscience, handed him a small tomato. Watching Sun Yuebai take a bite, he couldn't help but smile. "Brother Yue, you look very different now compared to when you're outside."

He had seen Sun Yuebai act haughty and picky over the past few days; it was hard to believe the young man now squatted obediently, tending to the fire.

The sweet and sour taste of the tomato lingered on Sun Yuebai's palate. He took another bite, noting it was sticky but not as sweet as the ones he used to steal from neighbors' gardens as a child. "There's no difference. Home is home, and outside is outside." He glanced at An Shuting and added, "I said I won't treat you poorly. I'll give you 100 yuan in pocket money every month from now on."

An Shuting's casual question sparked deeper reflection in Sun Yuebai. When he had bought this courtyard, he had just begun to gain some recognition, and the purchase had been a significant milestone. Now, it seemed trivial, yet it didn't appear to be the home of someone wealthy.

"100 yuan?" An Shuting echoed, taken aback. The purchasing power of that amount would equate to about 200,000 yuan in modern currency, and they had only known each other for a few days.

He smacked his lips in amazement, confidence swelling within him. He felt that with a little effort, it wouldn't be impossible to coax Sun Yuebai into offering even more.

In his past life, Sun Yuebai had been easily swayed by a scoundrel who lavished him with money and favors, ultimately leading to the scoundrel's success while An Shuting was left with nothing-a true tale of heartbreak and betrayal.

Setting down the spatula, he said earnestly, "Brother Yue, while you may be rich, you can't be so generous. You'll only whet other people's appetites, and eventually, you'll attract ungrateful individuals."

Sun Yuebai wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, raised an eyebrow, and casually shook the hem of his shirt as he moved closer to An Shuting. "You might be right. So, why don't you sleep in my room tonight?"

How could he let his money go to waste? He was simply attracted to An Shuting's youthful vigor.

Some people might appear intelligent, but in truth, they can be astutely oblivious, worrying about others losing both their wealth and dignity.

An Shuting felt a flush of embarrassment at Sun Yuebai's directness. Noticing the unmistakable temptation in Sun Yuebai's eyes, he quickly shifted the topic. "Let's eat!" he announced, picking up the neatly arranged noodles. He retrieved two pairs of chopsticks and focused on seasoning the dish. "It's a bit hot in the kitchen; let's eat outside."

Sun Yuebai couldn't help but chuckle at An Shuting's red ears. The young man was so timid, yet he attempted to impart life lessons.

As An Shuting darted away at the sound of a noise, Sun Yuebai followed him slowly, carrying the oil lamp, amused by the contrast of their personalities.