Ch59-Gege, Let Me Help You
"Meng-gege, don't you want to call me by my name?"
Ruan Qing stood nearby, watching Meng Ci stare blankly, and began playing the victim.
"Meng-gege, is it because I did something wrong? Is that why you dislike me so much?"
"If I did something wrong, just tell me, and I'll fix it right away."
Meng Ci hastily shook his head. "No, no!"
"You did perfectly fine."
Wait, this is our first meeting-how could anyone know if I did fine or not?
"Then will you call me now, Gege?" Ruan Qing looked at Meng Ci expectantly.
Meng Ci steeled himself. "Yes, yes."
Wait, how did he start calling me "Gege" after just a moment?
"Hey, Shen Que, wait for me!"
Shen Que must have lost patience over there, because he just picked up a bundle of firewood and walked off.
Ignoring Meng Ci's calls, Shen Que's figure quickly vanished from the fifth floor.
"Gege, don't pay him any mind!"
"He's a grown man, and he smells bad. We should avoid playing with him."
Meng Ci glanced at himself, then at Ruan Qing. What did he mean, Shen Que was a grown man?
Wasn't he one too? Had Ruan Qing forgotten he was male?
And that Shen Que-what a disloyal jerk!
Seeing him stuck with a male version of a green tea, he didn't even try to rescue him. Instead, he just ran off.
Meng Ci decided: of today's firewood haul Shen Que would only get one-third. From now on, he won't cook for him anymore.
Lifting a bundle of firewood, Meng Ci hoisted it onto his shoulder and started climbing the stairs.
"Gege, wait for me! I'll help carry it!" Seeing another bundle nearby, Ruan Qing offered.
The result? Ruan Qing strained until his cheeks flushed crimson, yet still couldn't lift the bundle from the ground.
But Ruan Qing was stubborn. He wouldn't give up until he lifted it, even suspecting his clothes were the problem.
He thought the thick layers were restricting his movement.
"Gege, wait a moment! I'll take off my clothes and come back!"
Meng Ci saw he was actually
going to take them off and quickly stopped him. It wouldn't do if he caught a cold over such a small matter.
"Stop dawdling!"
"Come help me carry the wood! I can barely manage it anymore!"
Meng Ci feigned a stumble, the wood on his shoulder nearly slipping.
"Okay, Gege!"
"I'm coming!"
Hearing this, Ruan Qing happily ran over and lifted the wood.
"Gege, is it easier now?"
"Mhm." Truthfully, Meng Ci didn't feel any lighter, but seeing Ruan Qing's cheerful expression, he didn't correct him.
Over there, Shen Que had already carried one bundle up. Seeing Meng Ci and the other still standing in place, he walked past them expressionlessly and continued carrying.
"Gege, let's hurry," Ruan Qing called from behind.
"Mm." Meng Ci nodded and quickened his pace up the stairs.
Shen Que had already carried one bundle up; he had to pick up his pace too, absolutely couldn't fall behind.
After climbing two flights, Ruan Qing began applying eye drops to Meng Ci.
"Gege, look at that big guy. He just carried one extra bundle of wood-why does he have to look so grim?"
"He really scared the life out of me!"
Meng Ci explained for Shen Que, "He just doesn't smile much. Nothing else."
Ruan Qing frowned, his voice tinged with hurt. "So you think I'm scared and trying to drive a wedge between you two?"
"No." Even without turning back, Meng Ci could picture Ruan Qing's upset little face, and the thought left him utterly exhausted.
Why on earth do some guys fall for those manipulative types? He was being driven to the brink.
Dropping the firewood in the 17th-floor hallway, Meng Ci planned to head back down for another bundle..
But Ruan Qing stopped on the ninth floor.
"Gege, I have things to do today, so I won't be able to help you."
"I'll come find you again tomorrow!"
"Alright!" Meng Ci agreed, silently thanking heaven and earth that this little tyrant had finally left.
Ruan Qing unlocked the chain securing the ninth-floor hallway door with his key. After stepping inside, he waved goodbye to Meng Ci before closing the door tightly.
There were three bundles of firewood in total. Meng Ci went downstairs this time to fetch some loose wood and the assault boat.
Shen Que had already found a bag and was loading the firewood into it. Seeing Shen Que nearly finished, Meng Ci stepped forward to carry the bundle.
Shen Que wouldn't let him.
"Aren't you too weak to carry it?" Shen Que said, handing the bag of firewood to Meng Ci.
"Who said I'm too weak?" Meng Ci retorted indignantly.
Before the storm, he might have been weak and lacking strength, but after all this time, he'd built himself up through training.
Shen Que snatched the wood from his hands. "If you can carry it, why did you need help?"
With that, Shen Que hoisted the bundle onto one shoulder,
grabbed the inflatable boat with both hands, and headed upstairs.
Meng Ci reluctantly took the bag of firewood and the raft, trailing behind while muttering under his breath.
"Ruan Qing insisted on helping. How could I refuse?"
"Look at that skinny frame of his. Carrying firewood? Does he even look capable?"
"If I hadn't let him help, that kid might've frozen to death here."
After hearing this explanation, Shen Que quickened his pace, leaving Meng Ci gradually behind.
Seriously, did this guy eat dynamite today? He's running like the devil's chasing him.
Upstairs, Shen Que divided the firewood. This time, he split it into two exact piles, showing no intention of giving Meng Ci more.
After carrying his portion inside, Shen Que slammed the door shut, leaving a bewildered Meng Ci wondering what kind of mood this guy was in now.
Sighing, Meng Ci carried the firewood back to his own place.
He then began cooking. When boiling water for noodles, Meng Ci instinctively filled the pot for two servings before catching himself.
Shen Que was clearly upset with him-why would he cook for him now?
Besides, Shen Que's arm was healed. There was no need to wait on him anymore.
With that thought, he poured the water out.
He cooked a bowl of fresh shrimp noodles. One bite, and he was in heaven.
For the past few days, to avoid Shen Que discovering he had something tasty, he'd been nibbling on grass.
"Squeak! Squeak! Squeak!"
Meng Ci suddenly heard a sound like a mouse squeaking and instantly grew alert.
Could it be a mouse had gotten into the house?
It was the middle of a torrential. downpour. He hadn't even eaten his fill himself-how could he possibly feed a mouse?
With that thought, Meng Ci grabbed a book, intending to smack the rodent dead.
The sound seemed to be coming from the rabbit feeding area. When he went to investigate, Meng Ci was utterly astonished.
"When... when did this happen?"
When he'd fed the rabbits this morning, there hadn't been any sign of labor!
But Meng Ci had prepared earlier. The rabbit hutch was already lined with wood shavings and a cotton quilt-probably from someone's baby-that he'd washed and laid inside.