Chapter 189: Wait, You're Sleeping Downstairs Tonight
"Hmm, I've been taking care of it for a while."
Liang Xiu set down the cup, his expression serene.
"Don't worry, it won't bite." Seeing Zhao Jingyu's fearful expression, Liang Xiu added.
"Oh!" Zhao Jingyu walked out from behind the sofa and casually patted his clothes.
"Ahem, raising a person and a wolf must be quite a hassle. Let me recharge two thousand kilowatt-hours of electricity for you."
Zhao Jingyu's eyes were fixed on the wolf, and the more he looked, the more familiar it seemed.
"You, you... have you received a business card before?"
"Yes, we have."
Upstairs, Meng Ci, noticing Shen Que hadn't come up for a while, wondered if he had run into any problems. He tidied himself and walked down the stairs.
"Then have we met before?" Zhao Jingyu continued to ask.
Meng Ci raised an eyebrow, finding it normal that Zhao Jingyu hadn't noticed, but still deliberately said, "You just realized?"
During the extreme cold, everyone was bundled up tightly. If Zhao Jingyu hadn't been accompanied by two bodyguards and given him his business card, Meng Ci might not have recognized him.
Seeing Meng Ci coming down, Shen Que hurriedly walked to the staircase and reached out to support him.
At first, Meng Ci didn't want to acknowledge him, but then remembered his current situation was all because of Shen Que. He glared at him and extended his hand.
Shen Que helped him sit on the sofa and placed a pillow before Meng Ci sat down, showing great consideration.
Liang Xiu, who had lived with Meng Ci and the others before, didn't find anything unusual.
However, Zhao Jingyu, seeing this, shook his head slightly.
"Shen Que, bring your points card and go to the points redemption center. I'll transfer one hundred thousand points to you."
Hearing this, Meng Ci rubbed his ears, feeling that Zhao Jingyu's words sounded somewhat strange.
Wondering if Zhao Jingyu had taken a liking to Shen Que and wanted to keep him?
Then he found the man quite odd. Last time they met, he had taken a liking to the wolf, and now he had taken a liking to Shen Que.
"You, did you take a liking to Shen Que and want to keep him?" Meng Ci asked uncertainly.
What Meng Ci didn't realize was that his casual remark had put Shen Que, standing behind him, on edge. Shen Que absolutely loved only Xiao Ci.
Liang Xiu also frowned, looking between Zhao Jingyu and Shen Que.
Thinking to himself that if Zhao Jingyu really had taken a liking to the son-in-law, he would have to keep an eye on Zhao Jingyu and make sure he stayed away from the son-in-law.
Zhao Jingyu, hearing this, was even more infuriated, his eyes widening in anger.
"What nonsense are you spouting! How could I possibly be interested in him?"
"He may be tall and strong, but he's not refined at all."
"I'm not blind."
Meng Ci felt slightly relieved upon hearing this, but was Zhao Jingyu implying that he was blind?
But soon, Meng Ci realized something was off about what Zhao Jingyu had said.
He felt that Zhao Jingyu's description sounded a lot like Liang Xiu.
Thus, his eyes shifted between Liang Xiu and Zhao Jingyu, but regarding such private matters, Meng Ci found it inappropriate to ask further.
"Since you didn't fancy him, why give him points?" Meng Ci asked, puzzled.
"Don't you want to keep him as a benefactor?"
Zhao Jingyu stared at Meng Ci and explained, "It's all because of you."
"Everyone else is out there pedaling bicycles to generate electricity for points, or farming, while you're sleeping in bed."
"Shen Que is the only one supporting you, and even has to take care of a dog. If Liang Xiu found out, he'd be so worried."
"If I give you some points, Liang Xiu would be able to take good care of me."
Knowing that Liang Xiu was grateful to the Meng family, Zhao Jingyu was certain that Liang Xiu wouldn't let young master Meng Ci live in destitution.
By giving Meng Ci and the others some points, it would secure Meng Ci's livelihood.
Only then could Liang Xiu devote his attention to him.
At this moment, Meng Ci thought the same as Shen Que, thankful that Liang Xiu isn't a malicious person, otherwise Zhao Jingyu might be swindled down to his last penny.
"No need, we'll find a way to earn points ourselves," Meng Ci refused.
"Alright then," seeing that Meng Ci really didn't want it, Zhao Jingyu snorted lightly.
They're practically unable to survive, yet still clinging to their pride and suffering.
But looking at the poorly shaved Qie Zi, and recalling how Qie Zi looked during the extreme cold, Zhao Jingyu thought that with some care, Qie Zi could become handsome again.
"Since you don't want the points, then give Qie Zi to me."
"I'll take care of it for you, and guarantee it eats well and plentifully. In no time, it'll grow big and strong."
Out of kindness, Zhao Jingyu thought that since Meng Ci and Shen Que couldn't even support themselves, let alone a wolf, it was truly pitiful.
If they didn't want points, he could help them take care of Qie Zi, easing their burden.
Hearing Zhao Jingyu wanting to take him, Qie Zi, fearing his owner would give him away, clung tightly to Meng Ci.
"Awoo!"
Qie Zi indicated that he would never leave his master in this lifetime.
If his master truly couldn't support him, well then, he'd just eat less in the future.
"No need, we can take care of Qie Zi ourselves," Meng Ci refused again.
Zhao Jingyu widened his eyes, feeling that this person was truly ungrateful.
Fine, if they really couldn't survive later and came asking for points again, he'd make things difficult for them before giving any.
Worried that Zhao Jingyu might say something else shocking, Liang Xiu rushed to bid his farewell.
After sending everyone off, Shen Que came in and saw Meng Ci reclining on the sofa.
"Xiao Ci, let me massage you," Shen Que said as he came over, ready to assist.
Meng Ci let him massage his waist, and once he felt it was enough, he firmly pushed Shen Que away and headed upstairs, locking the door behind him.
When Shen Que knocked on the door, wanting to come in, Meng Ci gave a cold snort.
"I tried it out for you just now. The sofa downstairs is very comfortable to sleep on. You'll sleep down there tonight."
"Why?" Shen Que asked, confused.
"Wasn't I serving you well just now? Xiao Ci, open the door, and I'll serve you right!"
At the mention of 'serving,' Meng Ci grew even angrier.
This guy had started to get handsy during the massage, which only made things worse.
Not as good as Eggplant!
Looking at Eggplant, whom he had brought upstairs, Meng Ci pulled out a sausage from his spatial pocket, peeled it, and said, "Eggplant, come help me with my back."
"Woof!"
Seeing the food, Eggplant's eyes lit up. He grabbed the sausage, finished it in two bites, and then began massaging dutifully.
"Eggplant, you're doing a great job. I'll reward you with a pig's foot," Meng Ci said as he lay on the pillow, enjoying the massage from Eggplant.
Hearing "pig's foot," Eggplant worked even more diligently.
Outside the door, Shen Que, seeing that Meng Ci wouldn't respond, had to go downstairs in frustration.
Although Shen Que could have used a wire to pry open the door, he abandoned the idea, afraid it would only anger Meng Ci more.
Shen Que grabbed a flashlight and went outside, checking the electric fences and other things. He watered the vegetables and fed the rabbits before returning home.
Sighing, he lay on the sofa, feeling the long night stretching ahead.
Upstairs, Meng Ci, feeling comfortable from Eggplant's massage, dozed off with his eyes half-closed for half an hour. After waking up, he took a basin of pig's feet from his spatial storage and shared it with Eggplant.
Patting his belly, he lazily lay on the bed.
Even as he dozed off again, Meng Ci felt happy inside, thinking that without Shen Que, the big hot furnace, he slept much better.