Chapter 33: Hubby, What Is an Emotional Bond?
That evening, at Qin Zelin’s strong insistence, green vegetables finally appeared on the dining table.
After several days, he had also figured out a pattern.
Anything that needed to be stewed came out pale and bland. Anything that required high heat and lots of oil usually ended up pitch-black.
So he figured that even if the vegetables were merely boiled in water, they couldn’t possibly taste that bad.
Sure enough, tonight’s soup was the water the vegetables had been boiled in.
Looking at Cen Miao, who seemed wilted instead of brimming with enthusiasm like the past few days, Qin Zelin asked, “Did something upsetting happen at school?”
Cen Miao shook his head and sighed softly, his voice muffled.
“No one likes my videos. I can’t earn a million a month anymore.”
Qin Zelin didn’t respond immediately.
Of course, he hoped the little monster would give up cooking. But seeing Cen Miao’s drooping eyes and listless expression made his chest feel strangely tight.
“Maybe people simply haven’t seen your videos yet. Perhaps someone will like them in a few days,” Qin Zelin comforted gently.
“Really?”
“Mm.”
After dinner, Qin Zelin returned to the study as usual.
Once he finished his work, he restlessly read for a while before returning to the bedroom.
The sound of a video came from the bathroom. Qin Zelin guessed that the little monster was probably soaking in the tub while watching a drama again.
Ever since Butler Lin bought him new bath bombs and a little yellow rubber duck to keep him company, Cen Miao had fallen in love with watching dramas while taking a bath.
He certainly knew how to enjoy himself.
Qin Zelin looked at Cen Miao’s phone lying carelessly on the coffee table.
After hesitating for a moment, he picked it up, entered the password he remembered seeing Cen Miao use, and opened the short-video app.
Followers: 0.
Likes: 0.
Comments: 0.
“…”
After returning Cen Miao’s phone to its original place, Qin Zelin sat on the sofa and opened his own phone.
He tapped the search bar.
[Food blogger has no followers]
[No one likes my food videos]
He frowned at the highly upvoted suggestions below for a while, then downloaded an app called Fresh Fish.
A few minutes later, the man who could make swift decisions on major projects found himself hesitating for the first time.
Would buying ten million followers be too much?
It would look fake.
The little monster would notice, wouldn’t he?
One million…
That was probably too many as well.
Should he buy one hundred thousand first to cheer him up, then add more later?
Qin Zelin was still considering it and failed to notice that the video sound in the bathroom had stopped.
Only when he heard the soft click of the door opening did he look away from his phone and turn his head.
Cen Miao was wearing a new pink rabbit-themed fluffy lounge top that a brand had recently sent over. A carrot was embroidered on the chest.
Combined with his curly hair and pink cheeks fresh from the bath, he looked soft and fluffy all over.
Qin Zelin was just thinking how adorable he looked when his gaze accidentally shifted downward.
His pupils abruptly contracted.
“………..!!!!????”
“Cen Miao!”
Qin Zelin hurriedly turned his head away, the tips of his ears burning. His voice carried a barely perceptible hoarseness.
“Why aren’t you wearing pants?”
“I forgot to take my little pants and big pants inside,” Cen Miao replied calmly and slowly as usual while walking toward the sofa.
Listening to the approaching footsteps, Qin Zelin stiffened.
“!!!”
The little monster was coming over to seduce him!
“Cen Miao! Did you watch more of that nonsense again? This isn’t right. How can your mind be filled with nothing but these kinds of—?”
Before he could finish, Cen Miao climbed up beside the sofa and onto Qin Zelin, bracing his arms against Qin Zelin’s legs.
“???”
Qin Zelin’s breathing instantly became chaotic.
He instinctively retreated toward the back of the sofa, his voice dry and tense.
“Cen Miao! This kind of thing requires an emotional bond. I know you like me, but you can’t just casually—”
Before he could finish, Cen Miao had already scrambled halfway across his lap using both hands and feet. He reached over, grabbed his underwear and pajama pants, then nimbly climbed back down.
A flash of smooth, pale skin passed before Qin Zelin’s eyes.
Perhaps because Cen Miao had been eating well lately, he had gained quite a bit of weight. A certain area was now round and full, glowing softly beneath the warm light.
“………..!!!???”
Qin Zelin felt his blood pressure rise.
Without revealing anything, he shifted his sitting position and was just about to lecture Cen Miao when the other spoke first.
“Hubby, what is an emotional bond?”
Sitting on the carpet, Cen Miao slowly pulled on his underwear. Then he looked up at Qin Zelin with clean, innocent eyes.
Qin Zelin opened his mouth.
Every word lodged in his throat, leaving only blank silence.
“…”
“Hubby, what is an emotional bond?” Curious baby Cen Miao asked again.
Qin Zelin looked at the person casually pulling up his underwear right in front of him and gritted his teeth.
“Cen Miao! If you ever come out after a bath without wearing pants again, just wait and see how I deal with you.”
Before he finished speaking, he suddenly felt something warm beneath his nose.
He casually wiped it with his hand and found his fingers stained bright red.
“Hubby! You’re hurt!”
“I’ll go… go find Uncle Lin right now. Boohoo, Hubby is going to die!”
“?”
Seeing the person wearing nothing but briefs about to run outside while wailing, Qin Zelin suppressed the dark lines threatening to burst from his forehead.
He stretched out a long arm, caught Cen Miao around the waist, and easily pulled him back before pressing him onto the sofa.
Cen Miao: “…?”
Human, I’m trying to save you!
“I’m fine!” Qin Zelin gritted out, casually pulling a tissue and wiping his nose.
“But you’re bleeding.” Cen Miao’s voice was full of concern.
Qin Zelin tightened his jaw and tried to keep his tone even.
“…It’s winter. I have too much internal heat. It’s normal.”
“Will it get better?”
“…Mm.”
Reassured, Cen Miao frowned and lifted his top.
His soft, pale stomach was instantly exposed.
Qin Zelin’s brow twitched violently, and he grabbed another tissue to block his nose.
Cen Miao: “? Hubby, you have too much internal heat again.”
Qin Zelin’s muffled voice came through his fingers.
“…It happens during this season. Why did you lift your shirt?”
“It hurts a little here.”
Cen Miao lowered his head and poked the area beneath his ribs.
Qin Zelin leaned forward and saw a red mark below his ribs. He had probably bumped him there with his arm by accident earlier.
“It should be fine.”
Feeling slightly guilty, Qin Zelin pulled his top back down.
“Tell me if it still hurts badly later.”
After speaking, his gaze involuntarily drifted toward Cen Miao’s bare legs again.
He cleared his throat.
“Put your pants on.”
“Okay.”
Cen Miao obediently agreed, then looked up at Qin Zelin with some nervousness.
“Hubby, you have too much internal heat again again.”
“…”
