After a Contract Marriage with a Cold and Older Person - Chapter 23

Chapter 23: Mom Is Here!

Boom.

Ji Wenxu heard the thunder and looked out the window. The thunder was accompanied by lightning.

It was strange why there was such heavy rain this time of year.

“Focus on the game,” Song Tingyun reminded him from beside him.

Ji Wenxu shifted his gaze back to the TV screen, looking at the score settlement screen for the new level. He feigned surprise, “Wow, you still didn’t catch up to my score, huh?”

Song Tingyun glowered, “Continue.”

Ji Wenxu, however, raised his wrist and checked his watch, “Let’s stop, alright? It’s 4:30 AM. Are we still going to sleep?”

Song Tingyun acted as if he hadn’t heard, opening the next game level on his own. Ji Wenxu had no choice but to pick up the controller again.

How could this person be so competitive?

Ji Wenxu skillfully manipulated the joystick, yawning, “How about we find another time to continue? I’m really sleepy now.”

He seemed genuinely exhausted.

Song Tingyun was so annoyed that he threw the controller onto the table, causing his character to immediately crash into a wall and fall down.

Then, he snatched back the portion of the blanket draped over Ji Wenxu, rolled himself up in the blanket, and headed back to the upstairs bedroom.

Ji Wenxu watched his retreating back, “Song Tingyun, don’t worry! The promise is forever valid. As long as you beat me once, I will unconditionally agree to one request!”

Song Tingyun paused in his steps, then turned back to acknowledge him, “Good.”

That single “Good” showed that he was actually in a pretty good mood.

Ji Wenxu chuckled a few times behind him, obediently turned off the TV, and went upstairs as well.

…

Because he went to bed so late.

Ji Wenxu, uncharacteristically, didn’t wake up early to exercise. Until past twelve noon, the house was so quiet that only the sound of rain outside the window could be heard.

But the next moment, the door to Ji Wenxu’s room was violently opened. He ran barefoot to Song Tingyun’s room door, “Dong, dong, dong!”

“Song Tingyun! Song Tingyun!” he shouted while pounding on the door and holding his phone.

The commotion was considerable and frantic, making it difficult for Song Tingyun to not wake up.

Song Tingyun opened the door with a look of resentment and anger. The moment the door opened, Ji Wenxu quickly spoke before he could erupt, “My mom, my mom is coming to see us!”

Song Tingyun: ?

Seeing his stunned reaction, Ji Wenxu quickly wrapped one arm around his waist, scooped him up, carried him back into the room, and sat him on the bed. Then, he went to the closet to find a set of casual clothes for Song Tingyun.

“Just past twelve o’clock, my mom messaged me saying she was coming to see us. She also said Aunt Jin sent us two pigeons, and she’s coming to personally make soup for us!”

After speaking, he took out a set of white casual wear to show Song Tingyun, “Is this okay?”

Song Tingyun squinted his eyes. His vision was too blurry to see more than a rough outline, so he said, “I can’t see.”

“I swear I must owe you something.” Ji Wenxu grumbled, hanging the clothes back up. He walked over, picked up Song Tingyun’s glasses from the bedside table, and shoved them into his hand, “Hurry up and put these on and tell me if this set is okay.”

He took out the white casual wear again.

Song Tingyun adjusted his glasses, looked at the clothes, and shook his head.

Ji Wenxu immediately hung the clothes back in the closet and continued to rummage through it.

Song Tingyun yawned, “Hmm, why are you in such a rush?”

Ji Wenxu’s tone was both anxious and serious, “Because it’s already twelve-thirty, and it only takes half an hour to get here from my house. My mom might be downstairs any minute. If I don’t hurry, the fact that we sleep in separate rooms won’t stay a secret!”

Only upon hearing this did Song Tingyun manage to regain some spirit.

Ji Wenxu then found a set of black casual wear, “What about this one?”

Song Tingyun continued to shake his head, “I want the navy blue set.”

So, Ji Wenxu hung up the clothes in his hand again and dutifully took out the navy blue casual wear and handed it to him.

“Hurry up and change!”

Song Tingyun took the clothes and said okay. Ji Wenxu rushed out of the room and went downstairs, where he hid the gaming console they used last night in a drawer.

He then went back upstairs and locked the door to the room where he slept.

Only then did he let out a sigh of relief.

Just then, Song Tingyun finished washing up and came out of his room. The two met and went downstairs together.

Ji Wenxu, “Are you doing okay?”

After all, they went to bed so late last night. Even Ji Wenxu hadn’t gotten enough sleep, and this person who was like a cat probably slept even less soundly.

Song Tingyun nodded. Just as he reached the bottom of the stairs, the doorbell rang. Ji Wenxu went to open the door.

Meng Ying was standing at the door, holding two gift boxes.

“Mom, you’re here.” Ji Wenxu reached out to take the things Meng Ying brought.

Song Tingyun followed and greeted her, “Mom.”

Song Tingyun’s form of address had changed after the wedding. Initially, he was a little unaccustomed to it, but now it was fine.

Meng Ying smiled warmly and asked, “Coming over so suddenly, have I disturbed you?”

Both of them looked like they hadn’t slept well.

Ji Wenxu took the items to the kitchen. Song Tingyun led Meng Ying toward the living room. Hearing Meng Ying’s concern, he said, “You worry too much. You haven’t disturbed us. Besides, it’s raining outside, and we didn’t have any other plans.”

Meng Ying covered her mouth and chuckled.

“That’s good. I was worried I’d bother you.” This was Meng Ying’s first visit since their wedding. She noted the strong signs of the two living together.

The TV cabinet held the collectibles and Legos that Ji Wenxu liked, but the overall simple layout seemed to be Song Tingyun’s preference.

Seeing that they could tolerate each other’s preferences like this, Meng Ying felt much more reassured.

“Mom, do the pigeons need to be marinated first?” In the kitchen, Ji Wenxu took out the two cleaned pigeons and placed them in a bowl. He asked after quickly searching for a pigeon soup recipe on his phone.

Meng Ying said, “Just leave them there. I’ll cook later.”

“Oh,” Ji Wenxu replied.

Meng Ying then smiled and said to Song Tingyun, “This child has no cooking skills at all. When he was little, I told him to learn to cook, saying it’s the only way to please a wife, but it went in one ear and out the other.”

Song Tingyun was stunned. Looking at Meng Ying’s expression, she seemed genuinely unaware that Ji Wenxu could cook.

Did Ji Wenxu never cook for them at home?

Ji Wenxu, who had just come out of the kitchen, heard this. He slowly walked over and sat down next to Song Tingyun, saying, “What’s so hard about cooking? It’s something you learn by watching a tutorial once. When I offered to cook for you before, you were the ones who refused me, alright?”

“Yes, it’s true he learned it just by watching a tutorial once,” Meng Ying didn’t argue but followed up on the statement.

Ji Wenxu scoffed, then said, “But with such heavy rain, wouldn’t it have been better for you to come when the weather was nice? Aren’t you worried about the car skidding?”

Meng Ying covered her mouth and chuckled a few times, “Your mom just missed you too much.”

“Tingyun, is Xiaoxu listening to you properly at work?” she asked.

Ji Wenxu crossed his arms and said, “So, you didn’t miss me. You came to supervise whether I’m working hard.”

“How can Xiaoxu think that of his mother?” Meng Ying sighed dramatically.

Song Tingyun smiled, “Wenxu is quite diligent in his work, and he has learned a lot of things.”

“He’s very smart and very obedient.”

Meng Ying’s eyes curved into crescent moons. She clapped her hands together, looking very pleased, “That’s wonderful.”

“Oh! I should go marinate the pigeon meat first. Do you have cooking seasonings at home?” Meng Ying suddenly remembered this and quickly asked Song Tingyun.

Song Tingyun paused. Since he never cooked in the house, Ji Wenxu was the one who always cooked, and Ji Wenxu would know the inventory better.

So, Ji Wenxu answered for him, “Yes, we have green onion, ginger, garlic, and all sorts of seasonings.”

“Good.” Meng Ying stood up, ready to go to the kitchen.

Song Tingyun hurriedly stood up, “Mom, do you need my help?”

Meng Ying smiled and waved her hand, “You two have worked hard. Go rest. I’ll call you when lunch is ready.”

“Okay, Mom, call me if you need anything, alright?” Ji Wenxu said.

Meng Ying nodded, “I know, I know. You two go and keep busy.”

So, Ji Wenxu and Song Tingyun went upstairs together.

Ji Wenxu followed Song Tingyun into his room.

“You’re awake. Go take a nap,” Ji Wenxu said, sitting on the sofa and taking out his phone to play a game.

Song Tingyun was indeed very sleepy, but taking a nap at this time was unnecessary.

“I won’t sleep,” he sat down next to Ji Wenxu, rubbing his brow with one hand.

Ji Wenxu leaned back, “Then let me teach you how to play a game?”

Song Tingyun’s face darkened.

The memory of losing ten out of ten matches last night was still fresh in his mind.

Ji Wenxu quickly clapped his own mouth, “Alright, alright, no games, no games.”

“But you can’t go to the study to work, or my mom will scold me.”

Song Tingyun, “Scold you for what?”

Ji Wenxu held up his phone game for him to see, “She’ll scold me because you’re working even on your days off, while I’m sitting here playing games.”

Song Tingyun chuckled when he heard this.

Ji Wenxu shrugged, “Right? People like you who were good students since childhood wouldn’t understand.”

Song Tingyun, “I won’t work. You play. I’ll read the news for a bit.”

For some reason, Ji Wenxu felt Song Tingyun was quite “pitiable.”

Before meeting him, his life was nothing but work, and work. He never mentioned having any relaxing hobbies.

If it weren’t for himself, Song Tingyun probably wouldn’t have even touched a video game yet, would he?

He reached out his hand to Song Tingyun, “Lend me your phone.”

“What for?” Although Song Tingyun didn’t know what he was up to, he unlocked his phone and handed it to him anyway.

After receiving it, Ji Wenxu downloaded a shooting game for him, “I’ll teach you this shooting game. If you can hit me once, the promise I made last night will also become valid.”

The cat’s eyes instantly lit up.

Ji Wenxu felt a bit smug. He deliberately straightened up and raised his chin, saying, “However, hitting me won’t be easy.”

Song Tingyun didn’t say anything, but Ji Wenxu knew he was unconvinced.

Why did stroking the fur with the grain and against it have such different effects?

As Ji Wenxu had noticed long ago, Song Tingyun was very intelligent. Although he had never played mobile games, he quickly got the hang of it after being introduced. At least, it was hard to tell he was a beginner.

“Come on, this person is me. We are currently in an adversarial state.”

“You respawn five seconds after death. The match restarts after thirty headshots.”

“Okay,” Song Tingyun adjusted his glasses and said.

Ji Wenxu was right. Even with a mobile game, it was still very difficult for Song Tingyun to hit him. He would deliberately expose himself in Song Tingyun’s line of sight, then take his opponent’s headshot while Song Tingyun was aiming.

Afterward, he saw Song Tingyun’s dark expression as he had wished.

Like an angry cat.

“Ji Wenxu,” Song Tingyun suddenly called his name.

Ji Wenxu didn’t look up, “What is it?”

A hand suddenly reached across and pressed down on his. When the warm, cool hand touched his, Ji Wenxu’s heart skipped a beat. Before he could understand why, the distinctly jointed hand suddenly locked his phone screen.

“!” Ji Wenxu hurriedly tried to unlock his phone.

At that moment, a gunshot sound came from Song Tingyun’s phone.

Ji Wenxu’s phone just unlocked, showing the gray game interface with a respawn countdown.

Ji Wenxu shouted, “You cheated!”

Song Tingyun pushed up his sliding glasses, turned his head to look at him, and smiled, “You didn’t say I couldn’t.”

“You have no sportsmanship!” Ji Wenxu accused.

Song Tingyun paid him no mind, “What is sportsmanship?”

It wasn’t genuine anger, actually; Ji Wenxu was just feigning it.

He thought he must be sick—how could he find Song Tingyun cute even when he was being a rogue?!