Qing Kuang Chapter 105

Published at 10th of May 2023 01:16:57 PM

In Shuaishuai’s not very long life, this was the first time he saw humans pick mushrooms, even when they were panting so hard they couldn’t even pick them off.

After silently observing the whole thing, he stood up and shook himself. 

Humans are so weak.

“Don’t do that on the bed!” Kou Chen said. “I’ll kill you!”

That threat had no effect on Shuaishuai. He shook himself again.

Kou Chen gave up on the threats. 

Huo Ran laid next to Kou Chen on the bed, and Shuaishuai passed by above their heads. First, he carefully sniffed Huo Ran’s face, and then he licked his nose, then his mouth.

“Go away, why are you licking me” Huo Ran smacked him on the head.

Shuaishuai ignored him. After licking him on the mouth, he moved to sniff Kou Chen.

“I’m not dead!” Kou Chen said.

Shuaishaui ignored him too. He sniffed all over his face, and then licked his forehead before his inspection was complete.

“Fuck.” Kou Chen sat up. “I need to shower.”

“Me too.” Huo Ran also sat up.

“Can’t we take turns?” Kou Chen said. “Why do you have to fight me on everything? Am I gonna use up all the water if I shower first?” 

Huo Ran didn’t reply, he quickly hopped off of the bed and ran to the bathroom.

He even thought back about the moment just now.

Ah, it’s great to be young.

After he finished up in the bathroom, Kou Chen went in, and he went to hug Shuaishuai and sigh some more.

Ah, it’s great to be young.

He was interrupted by a knock on the door.

“Kou Chen!” Old Yang’s voice sounded from the other side. “We’re eating, take a break from studying.” 

“Oh!” Huo Ran called back. He went to the door, hesitated, and then twisted the door handle.

Nothing.

It wouldn’t budge.

“Huo Ran? Let Shuaishuai down first,” Old Yang said. “He can eat first, and then he can go play underneath the table.” 

“Okay,” Huo Ran said. He twisted the handle again. “The door…”

“What’s wrong?” Old Yang also tried it from the outside.

“I can’t open it.” Huo Ran grumbled.

Aren’t you guys rich?! 

Doesn’t Kou Chen have money?!

He even threw money around just eating noodles!

Why don’t you fix your lock?!

Can’t you act more like rich people?! 

“The lock’s a bit… Have Kou Chen do it,” Old Yang said.

“Kou Chen’s…” Huo Ran glanced at the bathroom. It was still closed. Do rich people have to shower for so long after jerking off? They’re that meticulous?

“Coming, coming!” Kou Chen came out with only a towel around his waist. 

“Wait-” Huo Ran stared at him.

Before he could say anything, Kou Chen had already nudged Shuaishuai aside. He jiggled the door handle a few times, and then the door clicked open.

“Why was it…” Old Yang paused when he saw Kou Chen. “Huo Ran said you were using the toilet? Why are you naked?”

Kou Chen looked at Huo Ran. 

“I thought you were using the toilet?” Huo Ran directed everything to Kou Chen.

More often than not, he would screw up if he tried to lie, so he had to let the experienced Kou Chen do it.

“I just got beat up, can’t I take a shower?” Kou Chen turned to his closet to get dressed. “I was covered in dirt, there was even blood on the back of my shirt.”

“We’re eating,” Old Yang looked at the two of him. “Don’t tell your mom about the blood, she doesn’t think it was that serious, and she isn’t focused on that right now, so don’t scare her.” 

“Mhm,” Kou Chen nodded, and then went to tug off the towel.

Old Yang clicked his tongue and left.

Huo Ran closed the door, not daring to lock it again. He stared at Kou Chen’s ass, “You two are really close, aren’t you?”

“If I didn’t do that, he’d still be talking,” Kou Chen said as he put his pants on. “He talks too much sometimes. If you weren’t here, he’d be chatting with me for half an hour as I study.” 

“Study?” Huo Ran was a little surprised. Kou Chen has barely handed in any homework.

“As I pretend to study,” Kou Chen said.

“…Oh,” Huo Ran nodded.

When they went downstairs, the table was already set, and Shuaishaui was munching on his food by his bed.

Huo Ran glanced down at his clothes. Everything was in order.

“You pressed down on my wound just now,” Kou Chen suddenly whispered in his ear.

Huo Ran almost fell down the stairs in his shock. 

One, because Kou Chen just said something so suggestive right in the open, and two… because he pressed down on his wound?

“How?” He turned to Kou Chen in shock.

“What do you mean how?” Kou Chen said. “You pushed my head down when you were biting my back. My fucking face was shoved into the pillow, I could barely breathe.”

“Shut up!” Huo Ran hissed. 

“What food is there?” Kou Chen yelled, jumping down the stairs three steps at once.

Huo Ran had to hold onto the railing to not fall.

“Ranran, sit here!” Kou Xiao waved Huo Ran over. “Your Uncle Kou ordered everything himself, and it’s all stuff that he likes. Didn’t even discuss it with us. Try everything, see if it’s to your taste?” 

“It’s my birthday, why do I have to discuss what I want to eat with you?” Kou Chen said. “You’ve never discussed it with me on your birthdays.”

“It’s fine, I like everything,” Huo Ran said.

“Try this.” Kou Chen got out a big bag from the cupboard beside him, and brought a biscuit to his mouth.

“This is?” Huo Ran looked and saw a brown dog-head-shaped biscuit. 

Right as he was about to take a bite, Kou Chen’s dad said from behind him: “They’re dog biscuits! For that dumb dog of his!”

“Shit!” Huo Ran smacked Kou Chen’s hand away. Shuaishuai immediately slid over and grabbed the biscuit before going under the table.

“They’re not that bad actually. Just too rough, it kills your throat,” Kou Chen’s dad said. “Doesn’t taste like anything either…”

“You’ve… tried them?” Huo Ran asked tentatively. 

Kou Chen burst out into laughter beside him.

“I haven’t!” Kou Chen’s dad shouted. “Kou Chen has. That’s what he told me.”

“Oh, that was such a detailed description,” Huo Ran said. “I thought you tried them.”

“This kid,” Kou Chen’s dad pointed at Kou Chen. “He ate everything when he was little. I bet he’s eaten shit too.” 

“I really haven’t,” Kou Chen said modestly.

The appetizers were all brought to the table, and Huo Ran sat between Kou Chen and Kou Xiao.

This was his first time eating with Kou Chen’s entire family. He felt a little awkward, but good thing they were all carefree. They even fought over the seats. 

It had Huo Ran relax quite a lot.

But after he sat down, Huo Ran realized that the Auntie from before wasn’t here today. He was about to ask if he should help bring the food over when someone dressed in a white chef’s outfit came out of the kitchen holding a plate.

“Who’s that?” Huo Ran asked quietly.

“Someone from a private kitchen my dad hired, I guess. Or a chef.” Kou Chen glanced over and whispered, “My dad loves this place, and everyone knows him. He’s just one step away from becoming sworn brothers with the boss, or he wouldn’t even send someone here. Some of the dishes have to be prepared on the spot. It’s such a hassle.” 

“Oh,” Huo Ran nodded.

It was a Huaiyang cuisine restaurant. Huo Ran always thought Kou Chen’s dad was someone who liked Sichuan cuisine, that he would order ten murder pots for his birthday or something… He never thought he would like such fresh and light tastes.

Stuff like crabmeat lion’s head, and pine nut corn, really didn’t suit his horror movie butcher character.

But he did have an artistic heart, so it did quite suit him actually. 

“Today we’re celebrating my dad’s birthday early.” Kou Xiao picked up her glass. “In our family, Dad works the hardest. Usually, we don’t know how lucky we are, but in all these years, Kou Chen has thought of Dad today.”

“Thank you,” Kou Chen’s dad said.

“So that’s why you should stop saying our Kou Chen is a bad kid,” Kou Xiao said. “He’s a pretty good kid, just a little late to mature.” 

Kou Chen’s dad chuckled, and picked up his glass.

“Everyone’s here today, even Little Ranran,” Kou Chen’s mom also picked up her glass. “So we can talk and eat well today. Happy birthday to my husband.”

“Happy birthday, Uncle Kou,” Huo Ran said.

“Happy birthday, Dad!” Kou Xiao and Kou Chen said, followed by Old Yang. 

They toasted to it, and then downed the drinks.

“Say it again, you think you’re married now?” Kou Chen’s dad pointed at Old Yang.

“I was just saying, and you don’t have to take it so seriously,” Old Yang laughed. “If your daughter doesn’t say yes then there’s nothing I can do about marriage.”

“You two…” Kou Chen’s dad looked to Kou Xiao. 

“What’s the rush?” Kou Xiao clicked her tongue. “It’s your birthday, he can even call you grandpa if he wants.”

“I like that.” Kou Chen said.

“Where did our brotherhood go?!” Old Yang looked at him.

“Right here!” Kou Chen clinked his glass against his. 

“Aren’t you gonna say anything?” Kou Chen’s dad looked at him.

“Huh?” Kou Chen paused. “What should I say?”

“It’s my birthday, aren’t you gonna say anything?” He maintained eye contact. 

Huo Ran knew that those two had communication problems. Although they were fine normally, any little thing could escalate into a fight. It was certainly a surprise for Kou Chen’s dad that he got a birthday gift for him.

But Huo Ran didn’t think that his dad would be this surprised. He only got happier and happier as the day went by, like a little kid.

Kou Chen held his glass, not saying anything.

Huo Ran nudged his leg. His dad was so excited for it, if Kou Chen didn’t say anything… 

“Dad, happy birthday,” Kou Chen began. He shifted to look at his dad. “Your son does give you a bit of grief, and we’ve never really had a proper conversation.”

“It’s alright,” Kou Chen’s dad said. “I don’t really like talking with you either.”

“I think you’re unreasonable, rough, and won’t listen to my explanations. You think that because you’re the parent, you have to lay out a path of success for me. It’s really annoying,” Kou Chen said. “Really annoying.”

“I know you’re annoyed, you don’t have to repeat it.” Kou Chen’s dad wasn’t mad. 

“But there’s one thing I’ve never doubted,” Kou Chen said. “That…”

“You’re my real son,” His dad said. “You don’t need to doubt it. We even look the same.”

Old Yang choked on his laughter, and he coughed wildly.

“…I’ve never doubted that!” Kou Chen complained. 

“Okay then, what have you doubted? Go on,” His dad said.

“I’ve doubted…” Kou Chen paused halfway through his sentence, a little lost. “I’ve doubted…”

“There’s one thing that you’ve never doubted.” Huo Ran had to remind him quietly. “Not what you’ve doubted.”

“Oh!” Kou Chen exclaimed with a slap on his thigh. “There’s one thing that I’ve never doubted.” 

His dad looked at him.

“I know you really… yeah,” Kou Chen suddenly felt a little awkward, and he cleared his thought. “You really love me, and you’re not biased towards Kou Xiao or anything.”

“Now that’s not very true,” Kou Chen’s dad said. “I treat your sister a little better.”

“Seriously?” Kou Chen raised his voice. “Read the mood!” 

“Is that any way to speak to your father?” His dad stared at him.

“I’m trying to speak to my father,” Kou Chen said. “But my father isn’t cooperating!”

“Hey?” Huo Ran poked Kou Chen’s waist. “How did it end up like this?”

“How would I know?!” Kou Chen yelled. 

“Heh,” Kou Chen’s dad exhaled.

Huo Ran pinched Kou Chen to tell him to shut up.

Nobody else had anything to say. It was like they were used to this already. They wouldn’t try to stop it unless it turned into a full-blown fight.

Kou Chen caught Huo Ran’s wrist. 

Kou Chen’s dad stared at Kou Chen for a bit, and then he suddenly reached out and hugged him.

“My son,” His dad patted him on the back. “My good son, this life of mine has been very worth it!”

Chapter end