Chapter 60
Jian Yunlan packed the fried chicken drumstick into a takeout box and handed it to Fu Changfeng while asking, “Your fried chicken is ready, be careful, it’s hot. Would you like some yogurt tartar sauce?”
…Yogurt tartar sauce?
Upon hearing this, Liu Qin immediately regretted his life choices.
—Come to think of it, when he got his fried chicken earlier, the owner had also asked him if he wanted some kind of sauce. But at that moment, his entire focus was on the fried chicken—he hadn’t even registered what the owner had said. He just grabbed the chicken wings and started eating!
Now that he thought about it, since the owner’s fried chicken was already this delicious, wouldn’t it taste even better with yogurt tartar sauce?
Liu Qin swallowed his saliva and cautiously stepped forward. “Boss, can I buy another one? I really want to try that tartar sauce…”
Jian Yunlan, however, gave him an apologetic smile. “One per customer.”
Liu Qin’s face immediately fell, looking utterly dejected.
He cast a jealous and envious glare at Fu Changfeng.
Hearing the words “one per customer,” Fu Changfeng was also slightly taken aback.
At this moment, he was still maintaining a calm demeanor. His light-colored irises gleamed under the soft moonlight.
But the moment that slightly scorching, steaming hot fried chicken was placed in his hands, he could no longer maintain his composure. His palms trembled slightly, and his gaze wavered as he looked at the food before him.
What kind of fried chicken was this?
Amidst the swirling steam, the golden, crispy exterior was sprinkled with finely chopped parsley, glistening with a tantalizing sheen of oil.
The drumstick was incredibly plump, the meat firm and succulent, drizzled with a thick layer of yogurt tartar sauce. The creamy, milky-white sauce flowed slowly over the surface, its tangy fragrance wafting through the air, seeping into the crispy fried coating, and merging seamlessly with the tender meat inside…
Fu Changfeng could no longer worry about appearances. He grabbed the large drumstick with his bare hands, scooped up a generous amount of tartar sauce, and took a huge bite!
The first thing his tongue tasted was the silky smooth tartar sauce—rich, creamy, and perfectly tangy, instantly awakening his taste buds in anticipation of the flavors to come…
Then, he bit into the fried chicken.
Fu Changfeng: “…!!!”
The crispy exterior, softened slightly by the sauce but still perfectly crunchy, gave way with a satisfying crunch. There was a slight chewiness to the crust, and the sound of it cracking under his teeth was pure bliss.
The high-temperature frying process had completely sealed in the chicken’s juices.
So the moment he bit down, all the piping-hot, savory juices and layers of flavor exploded in his mouth!
Beneath the crispy shell, the chicken was impossibly tender, and combined with the crunchy coating, it created a texture that was nothing short of perfection.
Fu Changfeng savored it slowly, chewing bit by bit, feeling how each piece of meat carried a different kind of deliciousness—savory with a hint of spice, balanced by the tartar sauce’s tangy sweetness, making it utterly addictive.
“So fragrant…!”
Like Liu Qin, Fu Changfeng couldn’t help but exclaim out loud.
His eyes turned red.
Like Liu Qin, he was completely overwhelmed by the intense burst of flavors, as if a bomb had just detonated in his mouth!
—Fried chicken drumsticks naturally carried their own rich aroma, enhanced by the deep-fried oil and the juicy meat’s umami, fusing together into something divine.
The sweet and tangy tartar sauce cut through the greasiness, making the whole drumstick taste even richer and more fragrant.
It was so unbelievably good that his brain practically short-circuited.
Fu Changfeng couldn’t help but take another huge bite.
Under the glow of the lights, you could see the spot where he had bitten—the juices from the chicken were spilling out, shimmering with oil, blending with the creamy tartar sauce, as if they were about to drip down…
Of course, Fu Changfeng wouldn’t let a single drop go to waste. He quickly slurped it up.
He devoured the chicken ravenously, biting and sucking at it. In the blink of an eye, the entire large drumstick was completely gone!
Even after meticulously gnawing off every bit of meat, he wasn’t satisfied. He even sucked the bones clean.
Under the light, he glanced at his own fingers—he hadn’t worn gloves, choosing instead to eat with his bare hands. Now, his fingers were glistening with chicken grease and tartar sauce.
With a look of pure greed, Fu Changfeng stretched out his tongue and licked his thumb. “Prprprpr!”
Liu Qin: “……”
What the hell.
Originally, it had been a bet between him and Fu Changfeng, but now that he had technically won, Liu Qin didn’t feel happy at all.
Something about Fu Changfeng right now was just… so weird!
At the same time, the interdimensional livestream chat was filled with wailing.
[AAAAHHHHH]
[AAAAAAAHHHHHH I DIDN’T SIGN UP FOR THIS??? WHO THE HELL WANTS TO SEE FU CHANGFENG LICKING FRIED CHICKEN JUICE OFF HIS FINGERS???]
[Damn, Fu Changfeng right now looks exactly like me licking my fingers after eating a bag of chips (._.)]
[Boss Jian, give me back my gentle and obsessive Alpha!!!!]
[Told y’all this would happen, but did you listen? No. And now look. You lost everything :)))]
Just a moment ago, people had been placing bets on whether or not Fu Changfeng would succumb to Jian Yunlan’s fried chicken.
And when Liu Qin had started eating in front of him and spoken, Fu Changfeng’s expression had suddenly changed, leaning closer and closer to Liu Qin—at that moment, the livestream chat had still been in heated discussion, debating whether Fu Changfeng had suddenly had a change of heart.
Could it be that he had always harbored special feelings for his roommate, Liu Qin?
Many CP fans of Dark River, Bright Light had been on edge.
But now, they could finally relax.
Or rather, it wasn’t so much “relaxing” as it was complete and utter despair.
As it turned out, the only reason Fu Changfeng had gotten close to Liu Qin was because Liu Qin had eaten fried chicken, and his mouth still carried the lingering aroma.
…Honestly, wouldn’t it have been better if Fu Changfeng had just cheated instead???!!!
In other streamers’ broadcasts, Fu Changfeng was the perfect, gentle older brother figure to Yu Ming, sitting by his hospital bed, devoted and caring. But the moment he turned away, his obsessive and possessive side would emerge—he’d clutch Yu Ming’s water glass, lightly licking the rim, his every move exuding raw sensuality, making viewers scream in excitement.
But in Jian Yunlan’s stream, Fu Changfeng usually played the role of a composed and gentle top-student Alpha. Turn around, though, and he would reveal his gluttonous, food-obsessed side—clutching Jian Yunlan’s freshly made, fragrant fried chicken, biting, licking, even sucking his fingers…
This was too much to process.
Over 300,000 viewers completely lost their minds.
The barrage of comments flooded the screen in waves…
*
Meanwhile, Jiang Wo, Long Linfeng, and Cui Hu had just arrived at the fried chicken stall. Seeing Fu Changfeng utterly immersed in his meal, unable to pull himself away, they fell into stunned silence.
They couldn’t help but rub their eyes.
Then, a moment later, they rubbed them again.
Was this really Fu Changfeng…?
Was this truly the highly disciplined, wakes up at 4 AM to work out, never eats junk food, only consumes boiled chicken breast Fu Changfeng???
Had to be a joke!
Looked like the so-called top student, the principal’s pride and joy, wasn’t all that different from them after all!
For the first time, the three of them felt an overwhelming sense of balance in their hearts.
The trio waved their hands wildly, filled with joy and excitement, as they rushed toward Jian Yunlan.
“Boss, boss! We want fried chicken! Lots and lots of fried chicken! One per person!”
Seeing these three people looking like they were not in the best mental state, Jian Yunlan instinctively took a small step back, pulled up his mask, and said:
“Alright.”
He glanced at the tally—two servings of fried chicken had already been sold. After selling just one more, it would be time to change locations.
So, as soon as he handed the next golden, yogurt sauce-drenched fried chicken to Lin Feng, Jian Yunlan immediately hopped onto the driver’s seat of his three-wheeled cart, twisted the throttle, and zoomed off, calling back over his shoulder:
“Sorry, I’ve sold my limit of three servings—gotta move locations.”
But the trio was prepared for this.
The moment Jian Yunlan moved, they moved too.
And as expected of the legendary trio Wo, Long, and Feng—they locked their eyes on him with unwavering determination, running after the cart with the stride of seasoned athletes.
—A deep sense of pride filled their hearts.
They might not be the best at everything, but when it came to chasing down the boss’s fried chicken, they were, without a doubt, the undisputed champions.
No one could outrun them.
Just like yesterday, the group trailing behind Jian Yunlan steadily grew larger.
At first, it was only Jiang Wo, Long Linfeng, and Cui Hu. But by the time Jian Yunlan reached his next location, suddenly—whoosh!—nearly a dozen people emerged from underground!
No, this wasn’t a figure of speech.
They literally crawled out from underground.
Jiang Wo and the others looked a bit scruffy, but these newcomers were even worse—faces covered in dirt, clothes and hands stained with mud. And yet, when they spotted the fried chicken stall before them, they broke into wide, toothy grins, revealing their bright white teeth beneath the grime.
…Yes.
These were the dorm students who, unable to sleep the previous night, had been tormented by the tantalizing scent of fried chicken.
Today, all the gates and fences had been locked up tight, but they refused to give up.
In the end, they came up with a solution—
They dug a tunnel.
Some people called it The Shawshank Redemption.
Taking turns under the pretense of “going to the bathroom,” they had spent the entire day digging—a scoop here, a shovel there—until they had finally carved out a narrow hole just big enough for a person to squeeze through.
Truly, the power of food cravings knew no bounds.
Seeing the bright lights of the fried chicken stall before them, even though they had never met the vendor in person, they felt a deep, emotional sense of reunion.
“Boss! We finally found you!!”
“That incredible fried chicken smell—we’ve finally tracked it down! All that digging was worth it, wuwuwu…”
“Wait… why don’t I smell anything now? …Whatever, I want a serving of fried chicken.”
“Me too! Give me a huge one!”
Jian Yunlan parked his three-wheeler and began frying up fresh chicken. “Alright, don’t rush—there’s enough for everyone.”
While running and making fried chicken, Jian Yunlan stopped at each location to make only three servings before moving again. Even though he had been cooking non-stop, the line behind him kept growing longer and longer…
Those who managed to buy fried chicken immediately stopped in place to enjoy their food, their joy as pure as that of a child:
“Oh my god, this is so good! The chicken is so tender—I never knew fried chicken could be this flavorful!”
“For real, the taste just explodes in your mouth. I almost blacked out from how good it is…”
“There’s a hint of yogurt—so refreshing! And dipping it in this tartar sauce? Absolute heaven!!”
At 5 AM, the patrolling teachers arrived as scheduled: “Quiet! Quiet! Hands on your heads, squat down!”
Even as they were being dragged away by the teachers, the students who had just gotten their fried chicken were still chomping down on it, their eyes gleaming with a wild light. Some of them were so crazed that not even the teachers could pry them away.
Meanwhile, the students who didn’t manage to buy fried chicken were utterly devastated, their eyes welling up with tears:
“Boss, don’t go! Boss! The fried chicken—”
“You wanna catch me? Fine, let them catch me! As many times as they want!”
“As long as I get to take one bite of that fried chicken, I’m willing to give up everything!!!”
One student even grabbed a classmate who had managed to get fried chicken and bit directly into their hand.
While biting down, their eyes grew dazed: “Hahaha, it’s fragrant… Even someone who’s eaten fried chicken tastes good… Eating people… P-people… I wanna eat people!!”
Jian Yunlan: “…”
The teachers, who couldn’t smell the fried chicken and therefore couldn’t understand the students’ insanity: “…………”
Clearly, the food at this summer camp was way too bad.
The students were so hungry they were literally gnawing on their classmates!
*
The Next Day
Saturday was Long Teng Summer Camp’s open house day, when family and friends could visit, bringing clothes, blankets, and other essentials for the students.
Also known as prison visitation day.
At 9 AM, Fu Changfeng and Liu Qin arrived at the visitor area, waiting for their families and friends.
Fu Changfeng’s expression was dark and heavy, as if weighed down by deep thoughts.
“Brother Fu, I remember your little brother’s name is… something Yu, right?” Liu Qin nudged Fu Changfeng playfully. “He’s coming to see you today, isn’t he? I heard he’s a small and pretty Omega, and you two grew up together… Ohhh—”
Fu Changfeng frowned. “Don’t talk nonsense.”
*
The Multiverse Live Stream
Crazy things happened all the time in Jian Yunlan’s live stream, so the audience quickly adjusted and eagerly anticipated the next part of the story.
[Yu Ming is here for visitation! The main couple is about to meet!]
[I wonder how Fu Changfeng will react when he sees that Yu Ming is now a full-on muscular Alpha…]
[Excited excited excited :)]
[Even though Yu Ming is an Alpha now, Fu Changfeng’s years of secret love for him haven’t changed. There’s no way sparks won’t fly when they see each other, right? Hehehe…]
[Finally, the messy, dramatic, angst-filled romance we love is coming back (wipes tears)]
*
Long Teng Summer Camp
Last night, after eating their fried chicken, Fu Changfeng and Liu Qin had managed to climb back over the dormitory wall before the teachers arrived, successfully avoiding getting caught.
Anyone who had been caught sneaking back in was now in solitary confinement—meaning their families and friends weren’t allowed to visit them today.
…Thinking back to the way Fu Changfeng had acted while eating fried chicken last night, Liu Qin still felt a little creeped out and hadn’t dared to talk to him for a while.
Luckily, as time passed, Fu Changfeng gradually returned to normal.
His eyes no longer gleamed with that eerie green light, his demeanor had once again become composed, and his voice was calm and measured.
He even picked up his copy of Game Theory again.
This gentle and self-controlled Fu Changfeng was a completely different person from the man last night—who had been madly devouring fried chicken, biting, licking, and sucking his fingers like a crazed addict.
…Maybe last night’s Fu Changfeng had just been temporarily possessed by a ghost? Liu Qin managed to convince himself of this, which gave him the courage to start teasing Fu Changfeng again:
“You and your little brother grew up together—you’re an Alpha, and he’s an Omega. Isn’t that just fate working its magic?!”
On the first day of summer camp—before their phones were confiscated—everyone in the dorm had seen Fu Changfeng’s phone wallpaper. It was a photo of him with a slender, delicate-looking young man.
The young man had bright eyes, a soft and gentle appearance, and when he stood next to the tall, handsome Fu Changfeng, they looked incredibly well-matched.
In the photo, the young man was holding a cup of milk tea, smiling happily at the camera.
But Fu Changfeng wasn’t looking at the camera—he was looking at him. His gaze was filled with warmth, laced with something deeper and more intense.
At first, everyone had thought this was Fu Changfeng’s boyfriend. It wasn’t until he clarified that they learned the truth—the boy was actually an orphan taken in by Fu Changfeng’s family, the son of Fu Changfeng’s late father’s fallen comrade.
But still…
They weren’t biologically related.
They weren’t even listed under the same household registry.
To put it nicely, they were childhood sweethearts.
To put it bluntly, this was a child bride situation. The poor boy in the photo was probably doomed to marry Fu Changfeng early on, with little chance of pursuing his own dreams or career.
Fu Changfeng frowned slightly. “Don’t talk nonsense.”
Even as he said that, there was no sign of true displeasure in his expression. In fact, there was even a hint of acceptance.
Liu Qin studied his face carefully and gradually picked up on something unusual.
—Wuhu.
Fake incest, ABO, strong Alpha x weak Omega, 100% compatibility, spicy!
“How am I talking nonsense? Isn’t he an Omega?” Liu Qin winked. “Look at your photo—your little brother is delicate and pretty, small-framed. He’s most likely going to present as an Omega. Honestly, Brother Fu, you’re really lucky…”
As Liu Qin spoke, he turned around—only to crash straight into someone.
The person was tall, dressed in a simple white T-shirt and work pants, with a muscular build that was both solid and aesthetically pleasing. His biceps alone exuded sheer power.
But the most striking thing about him was his presence—strong and sharp. His deep black eyes held a dangerous gleam, like a beast lying in wait, staring down at those before him.
Even Liu Qin, a well-built guy himself, inexplicably felt small and weak in comparison.
…Holy sh*t, an absolute beast of an Alpha!
Looks like he could knock out three of me with a single punch.
“Uh, sorry, bro.” Liu Qin instinctively apologized. “I wasn’t looking where I was going… didn’t realize you were standing here…”
The man curved his eyes into a smile and shook his head. “No worries.”
The next second, his gaze slid past Liu Qin, landing on Fu Changfeng. His eyes brightened as he grinned and called out—
“Brother.”
Liu Qin: “……”
Fu Changfeng: “…………”
Wait.
WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!?!?!
*
Visitor’s Lounge
Fu Changfeng and Yu Ming sat facing each other.
The room was deathly silent.
Fu Changfeng studied Yu Ming for a long moment before finally asking in a gentle voice, “Xiao Ming, you’ve presented?”
Something this significant, and Yu Ming hadn’t even told him.
When they were kids, Yu Ming had clung to him the most, always calling out “Brother” this and “Brother” that, following him around like a little tail. Whenever he had trouble, he’d seek Fu Changfeng’s help or confide in him.
At some point, though, Yu Ming had changed.
He became quiet, withdrawn, shutting himself off from the world. He insisted on handling everything alone, bearing all his pain in silence.
That self-reliant, wounded boy had made Fu Changfeng ache for him. And, slowly, had drawn him in deeper and deeper.
But now, the Yu Ming sitting before him…
“I presented two days ago,” Yu Ming said cheerfully. “I was too busy to tell you.”
“Oh, right, Brother! I brought you some watermelon. It’s been so hot, and your training must be exhausting—here, have some to cool off.”
Grinning, Yu Ming propped the watermelon against his elbow. His thick, powerful biceps tensed—
CRACK!
The watermelon split open.
Bright red juice sprayed everywhere, splattering all over Fu Changfeng’s face.
Fu Changfeng: “……….”
In all his years of life, this was the first time he had ever heard a watermelon scream.
Yu Ming handed Fu Changfeng half of the watermelon, even thoughtfully offering him a disposable spoon.
Fu Changfeng silently stared at the watermelon in his hands.
Jagged cracks ran across its surface, forcibly torn open.
…This wasn’t just a secondary gender presentation.
This was a damn mutation, wasn’t it?!?!
Fu Changfeng shut his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.
When he opened them again, the composed and gentle Alpha brother was back. His phoenix eyes were soft as he asked, “Xiao Ming, how have you been lately? Have you met anyone interesting?”
Unexpectedly, Yu Ming’s expression lit up at that question.
“I met someone I really, really admire!” Yu Ming said excitedly. “It’s Boss Jian! He taught me what true strength is—he’s like a guiding light…”
Yu Ming gushed on and on.
The more Fu Changfeng listened, the worse he felt.
The moment Yu Ming started talking about this ‘Boss Jian,’ his entire expression transformed. His eyes sparkled like stars, his whole being glowing under the morning sunlight, radiating boundless energy.
He spoke with deep admiration, listing Jian’s virtues and accomplishments one by one.
For example, how Boss Jian was incredibly kind, always standing up for others and using his pheromones to scare off thugs.
Or how Boss Jian was unshakable, never swayed by external hardships, his passion for his dreams unmatched.
Or—
How Boss Jian’s spicy hot pot was so good it haunted the soul.
Fu Changfeng froze.
“Wait. What did you just say?”
“Spicy hot pot?”
“Yeah! Boss Jian’s spicy hot pot is the best in the world!” Yu Ming said, already salivating.
“That rich, spicy broth, the perfect balance of fatty and lean beef slices, the crispy, chewy tripe… slurp…”
“But Boss Jian hasn’t been here for two days.”
As if he had just realized something, Yu Ming’s eyes dimmed.
The radiance surrounding him suddenly disappeared, and his gaze became misty.
Boss Jian stopped setting up his food stall.
…This was a heavy blow, not just to Yu Ming but to the entire Lotus Pond community.
At first, everyone assumed Boss Jian had stopped coming because of the local gangsters causing trouble.
So, over the past two days, led by Yu Ming, the residents of Lotus Pond community grabbed their weapons and completely wiped out the nearby gangsters’ hideouts!
They created a safe and welcoming environment for food stalls in Lotus Pond.
But Boss Jian still didn’t return.
Why? Why wasn’t he coming back? Why, why, why, why…
“I miss him a lot. We all miss him.”
Yu Ming’s eyes were misty, and his voice was a little hoarse. “Bro, to be honest, just to see his food stall again, I would do anything.”
Hearing this, Fu Changfeng felt as if his heart had been flipped upside down, soaked in a jar of vinegar.
A mix of disdain and unwillingness surged through him.
It’s just a Spicy Hot Pot stall, isn’t it?
Just an ordinary food stall owner, right?
He had grown up with Yu Ming all these years, yet Yu Ming had never spoken about him with such deep admiration.
Just a street food stall.
A food stall…
Suddenly, Fu Changfeng thought of something.
His pale phoenix eyes narrowed slightly.
The corners of his lips curled, and he subconsciously touched something in his pocket.
Fu Changfeng leaned back lazily.
From that moment on, no matter how Yu Ming praised and glorified Boss Jian’s Spicy Hot Pot, Fu Changfeng felt no jealousy at all.
He only found it amusing.
“Boss Jian’s Spicy Hot Pot is the best food in the world,” Yu Ming said longingly.
“Hahaha… Sure, if you say so.”
Fu Changfeng chuckled softly, his smile indulgent yet mocking, his eyes slightly wet with unshed tears.
He patted his pocket.
Inside, hidden away, was a fried chicken drumstick.
Such delicious fried chicken—he couldn’t bear to finish it in one go. So, he secretly saved a piece to savor at lunchtime.
That golden, crispy exterior, the tender, juicy chicken inside… The moment he took a bite, the flavorful juices would burst forth. Dipped in sweet and tangy tartar sauce—
And that so-called Spicy Hot Pot Yu Ming was raving about?
—Could it possibly compare to his fried chicken?
The true king of street food in this city was the fried chicken vendor who set up shop at 4 a.m.
Fu Changfeng had never met this person, but he was already certain…
That Spicy Hot Pot Boss Jian was nothing compared to the fried chicken master!
*
Thirty minutes later.
“Bro, visiting hours are over. I’ll get going now.”
Yu Ming let out a long breath and bid farewell to Fu Changfeng.
Fu Changfeng smiled lightly and nodded.
Finally, Yu Ming got up and left the meeting room.
Click.
The door closed.
The next second, Fu Changfeng could no longer hold back the desire burning inside him—he had to release it all.
His eyes turned red, and he pressed his lips tightly together—
Then he yanked out the paper bag from his pocket, ripped it open, and took a huge bite of the fried chicken!
Ahhh…
Even after sitting in his pocket for hours and going cold, the chicken was still incredibly delicious. That crispy outer layer, the tender and juicy meat, the way the oil and seasoning exploded in his mouth—
So. Freaking. Good.
Fu Changfeng closed his eyes, savoring the taste, and couldn’t help but suck his thumb clean.
And at that moment—
The door creaked open.
Yu Ming had returned: “Bro, I think I left my jacket—wait, what are you eating?”
Yu Ming curiously eyed the thing in Fu Changfeng’s hands. “I haven’t had breakfast yet… Let me have a bite?”
