I Snatched the Overbearing President’s Canary [Transmigration] - Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Chopping Wood

Shenyu was no fool; he understood Ning Chen’s silent question and gave him a slight nod of approval.

“Okay, Mom,” Ning Chen finally agreed. “I’ll go tomorrow.”

Ning Chen’s mother finally smiled. “Good. Take some time to clean the place up while you’re there. No one’s been home, so I bet there’s a thick layer of dust everywhere…”

“I will…”

…

“Shenyu, I might be gone for a few days. My hometown is quite remote, so traveling alone takes a lot of time,” Ning Chen said on the way back.

Shenyu’s curiosity was piqued. “Where is your hometown?”

In the original novel, there didn’t seem to be any plot involving Ning Chen’s hometown, nor did his mother ever ask him to return to fulfill a vow. Perhaps in the original timeline, Ning Chen hadn’t spent as much time at the hospital?

Details of the timeline were getting a bit fuzzy for He Shenyu. After all, when he was reading the book, he found the “sugar baby” tropes so cringey that he’d skimmed through most of it.

“In Qingping. You’ve probably never heard of it,” Ning Chen said.

Ning Chen was overthinking it; truth be told, He Shenyu didn’t know any place names in this world.

“Is the scenery nice? How about I go with you?” Shenyu suggested.

He had an ulterior motive, of course—he was genuinely curious about where Ning Chen grew up. In the novel’s flashbacks, Ning Chen’s only happy moments were childhood memories of playing in the water, though even those were eventually tainted…

Regardless, He Shenyu wanted to see the place. Being a transmigrator, he felt a bit like a tourist wanting to visit “scenic spots.” Besides, he wasn’t here to actually work a 9-to-5; Ning Chen’s affairs were more important, and no one would fire him if he skipped a few days of work anyway.

Ning Chen had wondered if He Shenyu would want to go, but he hadn’t asked. From his perspective, He Shenyu took his work very seriously. Now that the man had expressed interest, Ning Chen certainly wouldn’t refuse.

If He Shenyu were just an ordinary classmate, Ning Chen might have hesitated out of a sense of insecurity about his poverty. But He Shenyu already shared his most “sordid” secrets. More importantly, He Shenyu knew better than anyone just how poor he was.

So, Ning Chen felt no burden. He nodded. “Okay. The mountain scenery is nice and cool. I can take you to play in the river by the house.”

“Great! Let’s drive there directly tomorrow morning.” He Shenyu was actually looking forward to it.

…

The early morning mist brought a sharp chill, and the city was silent. They woke up early to buy some groceries to take with them.

They packed the car and set off. It was still cool out, so both wore jackets. Shenyu wore a white knit cardigan, while Ning Chen wore a black windbreaker. Standing together, they didn’t look like they belonged in the same shop, but the atmosphere between them was harmonious—like college roommates going on a road trip.

From He Shenyu’s perspective, he was still a grad student in his head, so why wouldn’t they look like students? It was only the job in this world that made him feel like a “corporate slave.” This was why he insisted Ning Chen call him by his name; he couldn’t get used to being addressed with such formal respect by a peer.

After driving all morning, they finally neared Qingping County. As Ning Chen had said, the scenery was beautiful but remote—mountain after mountain, with winding roads the entire way. The morning glow filtering through the misty woods was breathtaking. When they stopped at a service area, He Shenyu couldn’t help but snap a few photos, while Ning Chen, used to the sight, found nothing unusual.

They reached the house in the afternoon. The car could only reach the dirt road at the village entrance; from there, they had to climb stone steps.

Ning Chen, experienced, told He Shenyu to stay in the car. “I’ll go do a rough cleaning first, then come back down to get the bags.”

Shenyu refused. “No need. I can help. Doctors have to move things all the time, don’t look down on me! I can work.” He knew Ning Chen was trying to be considerate, but he played it off as a joke.

Ning Chen nodded. “Okay, let’s go up together.”

The old house was a typical rural brick-and-tile home. It wasn’t as dilapidated as He Shenyu had imagined, just isolated; the neighbors were a fair distance away.

Ning Chen pulled his keys from his backpack—the little white bear keychain dangling prominently against the black fabric, softening his cold exterior. As he pushed open the iron gates, sunlight flooded in. Dust motes danced in the air like starship debris. The smell of old dust and aged furniture filled the air—a scent He Shenyu recognized from his own grandmother’s house.

Ning Chen handed He Shenyu a mask. “Maybe wait until I finish sweeping? The dust is a bit much.”

Shenyu shook his head. “Cleaning is supposed to be messy. We can both shower afterward.”

They attacked the grime like soldiers in a skirmish. Surprisingly, they finished quickly, and the groceries were brought up and organized.

Ning Chen turned to He Shenyu. “Hungry? There’s no firewood left, so I have to chop some. Eat some snacks if you’re starving.”

Shenyu opened a yogurt shop. “Okay. Where are you chopping?”

“In the courtyard. I’ll go grab some logs from the back,” Ning Chen said.

Shenyu moved a chair to the doorway to watch. He had no idea how to chop wood, so he was content to be a spectator. Ning Chen looked like a pro—propping a log on a stump, finding his mark, and swinging the axe with precision.

As summer approached, the afternoon sun was fierce. After a few logs, sweat was pouring down Ning Chen’s face. He had already ditched his jacket, but it was still too hot. He hesitated, then pulled his black T-shirt over his head.

He wasn’t thinking much of it; he just wanted to finish quickly so he could cook, since He Shenyu had mentioned being hungry.

As he continued his crisp, powerful swings, He Shenyu froze, his yogurt spoon still in his mouth.

Wait, what? Why the sudden strip-tease?

He had seen Ning Chen’s body before, but… this was hard to handle. The golden sunlight hit Ning Chen, making his skin look like burnished gold. His build was lean and wiry—the kind of muscle earned through hard labor. With every swing, his muscles rippled in a natural, fluid chain. Shenyu found his gaze tracing the lines from the man’s arms down toward his waist—until it hit the edge of his black jeans.

Shenyu pulled the spoon out and swallowed hard. He felt embarrassed to keep staring, but the green jade pendant on Ning Chen’s chest seemed to be taunting him, swinging back and forth, drawing his eye. Following the red string upward, he saw it was soaked dark with sweat. Droplets rolled down Ning Chen’s jawline, sliding down his neck and over his chest, where the jade Buddha occasionally tapped against his skin, leaving a slight reddish mark.

Clatter—

The spoon slipped from his hand and hit the floor. Shenyu snapped out of it. There was still half a cup of yogurt left, and he looked at it woefully. He kept his head down, forcing his eyes to stay on the yogurt.

Stop looking. He’s just chopping wood, not performing for you. What is wrong with you? Shenyu slapped his reddening cheeks and took a deep breath.

“What’s wrong?” Ning Chen asked, hearing the noise.

Shenyu cleared his throat. “Dropped my spoon. Can’t finish it.”

Ning Chen straightened up. “Didn’t we buy two? Go grab the other one.”

“No… I’m good,” He Shenyu said, standing up abruptly as Ning Chen stepped closer. He could almost smell the scent of sweat and sun on him. He practically fled back into the house. “I’ll go get something.”

He didn’t get any more yogurt. Instead, he grabbed a pack of wet wipes and walked back out. He pulled one out and offered it. “Here. Your face is covered in sweat.”

Ning Chen didn’t take it. “I’m not done yet. It’d be a waste.”

He was about to swing again, but He Shenyu stepped in with the wipe. With his eyes darting everywhere except Ning Chen’s bare torso, he wiped the sweat from the man’s face. He turned to leave immediately.

But Ning Chen caught his wrist. Their eyes met, and Ning Chen’s words seemed to catch in his throat.

“W-what?” Shenyu tried to act calm, but his face was a deep shade of crimson.

This is dangerous, he thought. A “beauty” in this state was simply too much for his aesthetic-loving soul to handle.

Ning Chen stared at him, and slowly, the corners of his eyes crinkled. He let out a soft chuckle. “Give it to me. Since it’s already used, I’ll wipe my hands.”

“Uh… yeah…” Shenyu looked down. The moment Ning Chen released his wrist, he bolted back into the house like a startled bird.

Ning Chen clutched the wet wipe, the smile on his lips widening.