Chapter 41: A Family
When Pei Zhixuan was born, the jiaoren race had almost disappeared.
Jiaoren were the companion race of the mermen. Since ancient times, they had been loyal to the mermen, and protecting the merman race was a duty and mission engraved in their blood.
Unfortunately, as the merman race gradually died out, the jiaoren race, as their guardians, naturally could not escape the same fate. They even met their demise faster than the mermen.
Pei Zhixuan didn’t know what his race was like when it was prosperous. From Wen Shu’s description, he could roughly imagine that it must have been a lively and thriving scene.
Wen Shu said that the merman race had once established a village in ancient times. The people farmed the land and wove cloth, living a life no different from humans. And mermen were also beautiful, with beautiful and moving voices. They had even produced several famous concubines.
Unfortunately, this prosperous situation no longer existed. Like a passing cloud, it was blown away by the wind and buried in the long river of history.
And because of the wars in the demon world and the wars with humans, the few remaining members of the race had also fled into the sea, eventually losing all contact.
With no mermen appearing, the companion race, the jiaoren, naturally also met their demise.
Pei Zhixuan was lucky. When he was a child, he was picked up by Wen Shu and adopted as her son.
So, besides the affection of an elder, Pei Zhixuan also had the unique loyalty and respect of a jiaoren for Wen Shu. This was something engraved in his bones and was almost impossible to change.
Therefore, when he first saw Chi Xiasheng backstage, his excitement and sense of responsibility made him stand by his side without a doubt, backing him up.
He was even glad that the merman race finally had a cub, and that his years of waiting had not been in vain.
Chi Xiasheng was a little dazed after hearing such a long story and nodded with a stiff neck.
“No wonder you helped me. Did you also live in the sea before?”
Pei Zhixuan nodded. “I went ashore twelve years ago. I wanted to find other mermen or my own kind, but after going ashore, I found that I needed money everywhere, so I could only work to support myself.”
At first, Pei Zhixuan had worked as a bricklayer on a construction site. Later, he was discovered by a talent scout on the street and went to act in a film crew. After that, he became a hit and stayed in the entertainment industry.
“I go to the sea to visit my mother every year. I never expected that she would also come to land this time…”
As he was speaking, Wen Nian shouted from outside the window, holding a handful of fried skewers.
Chi Xiasheng quickly opened the door for him and let him in.
The moment Wen Nian entered, the steaming cumin aroma from the skewers in his hand quickly captivated everyone’s taste buds. Even Chi Xiasheng, who was not a big eater, couldn’t help but glance at the skewers in his hand.
“Hehe, I waited there for a long time and bought a lot. Let’s eat together!”
They had either been recording the competition or watching it all night. They were all starving now and, without saying much more, they directly took the skewers.
Chi Xiasheng rarely ate such heavy-tasting skewers at night. In his memory, the street stalls at night were always lively, but he was always alone, without even a family member or friend to eat with.
Therefore, Chi Xiasheng would occasionally be envious, but he never planned to try it.
He didn’t like being alone in a crowd.
But now, sitting in the car, with Wen Nian energetically distributing the skewers, and Wen Shu and Pei Zhixuan talking and laughing, the small space in the car was not as cool and refreshing as the open air outside, but it made Chi Xiasheng feel very warm.
The steam from the skewers wafted to his face. Chi Xiasheng looked at the lively scene, and the smile on his lips couldn’t be suppressed.
It would be nice if it could always be like this.
Wen Shu handed him a bottle of warm orange juice and reminded him, “You just recovered from a fever. Don’t drink anything too cold.”
Chi Xiasheng said, “Oh.” “Speaking of which, I have to thank CEO Sheng when I go to shoot the endorsement for Shengshi in a few days.”
“CEO Sheng? Is it Sheng Sheng from Shengshi Group?”
Pei Zhixuan had been in the human world for a long time, so he knew more. “Was he the one who took you to the hospital?”
Chi Xiasheng nodded. “Yes, he’s quite enthusiastic.”
Hearing this, Pei Zhixuan felt a strange sense of displeasure in his heart.
It was like his own cabbage was about to be snatched away, a suffocating feeling.
“Xiaxia, can I call you that?” Pei Zhixuan turned his head and asked.
Chi Xiasheng looked at the sparkle in Pei Zhixuan’s eyes and inexplicably felt that it was a bit like Wen Nian when he was eating, which made it impossible for him to refuse.
“You can.”
“Mother said you came to land to find a suitable partner. Do you have anyone in mind?”
Hearing Pei Zhixuan’s question, Chi Xiasheng’s face turned red, and he quickly shook his head.
Wen Shu also sighed worriedly. “Little Xuan, do you have anyone suitable? I’m so worried.”
In fact, after returning, Wen Shu had been looking for a partner for Chi Xiasheng, but after searching for so long, she still hadn’t found anyone suitable.
Pei Zhixuan cleared his throat and, while driving, reminded him, “You’re still young, don’t be in a hurry. The feelings in the human world are too complicated, and people’s hearts are unpredictable. It’s very difficult to find a suitable person. Don’t limit your search to humans.”
For example, that Sheng Sheng, he doesn’t seem very reliable at first glance.
Pei Zhixuan had just become an older brother and was already starting to worry. “I’ve been in the entertainment industry for a long time. If Xiaxia really has someone he likes, don’t be too blind. I can help you test him.”
Wen Shu also clapped her hands. “That’s right. Little Xuan is experienced. Xiaxia, you should listen to your brother. Don’t be deceived by humans!”
Thinking of this, Wen Shu felt a little sad and sighed, holding her face.
“If it weren’t for, sigh, forget it.”
Chi Xiasheng felt that something was a little off, but since Pei Zhixuan was indeed looking out for him, he nodded in agreement.
Pei Zhixuan also let out a sigh of relief, his heart a little more at ease.
He drove the car to the small house Chi Xiasheng had rented. When he entered and saw the small living room, his heart ached.
“You live here?”
Chi Xiasheng smiled and nodded. “Yes, come on in.”
Pei Zhixuan felt that as his older brother, and with Chi Xiasheng being an immature merman cub, it was very inappropriate that he couldn’t provide him with a stable environment.
“Xiaxia, why don’t you move in with me? There are four of us, and a small house is not big enough.”
Seeing that Pei Zhixuan had directly included him as a family member, Chi Xiasheng wiped his sweat, thinking to himself, As expected of someone raised by Wen Shu. Without even discussing it with me, we’re already a family.
But Chi Xiasheng didn’t dislike it.
He longed for the companionship of a family more than anything. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have had so many expectations for the Su family.
To become a family with Wen Shu and Wen Nian, to have that sincere and warm affection, had always been something Chi Xiasheng had longed for but could not ask for.
Even now, even though Wen Shu and Wen Nian had accepted him with their soft hearts, Chi Xiasheng still felt unsatisfied.
If only… if only he were really a family with them.
Chi Xiasheng’s heart was filled with a sour feeling. In the end, he despicably didn’t say anything and just accepted it.
Pei Zhixuan and Wen Shu’s biological clocks were different from humans. They didn’t need much sleep, so they planned to discuss how to move that very night.
“Niannian, you and Xiaxia go to sleep first. It’s already too late.”
Wen Shu also whispered to Wen Nian, “Don’t be too noisy. Xiaxia has been recording for so long today. He’s very tired. Be quiet, you know?”
Wen Nian pouted. “I’ve always been quiet. I’m always the quietest little fish in the sea.”
Hearing this, Chi Xiasheng couldn’t help but laugh, and Pei Zhixuan on the side also had a headache.
“Niannian, do you know why I was so eager to go ashore back then?”
Wen Nian shook his head in confusion.
“Of course, it’s because you were too noisy. I felt like there were tens of thousands of little fish chattering in my ear all the time. I had to go to land to catch my breath.”
Wen Nian was unhappy and pulled Chi Xiasheng’s hand angrily. “Let’s go! Xiaxia, let’s go! This family can’t hold us anymore. We’re running away from home!”
Wen Shu slapped Wen Nian on the head. “Don’t. It can’t hold you, but Xiaxia is very well-behaved. Don’t cause trouble!”
Wen Nian pouted pitifully and threw himself into Chi Xiasheng’s arms, complaining that they didn’t love him anymore.
Chi Xiasheng could only rub Wen Nian’s little head and take him to sleep.
“I’ll put warm water in your basin. You should go to sleep now.”
Wen Nian sobbed and wiped his tears. “Thank you, Xiaxia. You’re so nice. In the future, I’ll only have you in the whole world!”
Chi Xiasheng couldn’t help but want to laugh. “Let’s not. I don’t need to fight the whole world for you.”
Wen Nian, who had just turned into a little carp and was lying in the basin, heard this and couldn’t help but wail again. “No, no, I want to fight the world with you. We’ll die together!”
Then, Wen Shu threw a slipper at him, and the fish turned over on its back in the water, motionless.
Chi Xiasheng: “…”
“No wonder humans always use slippers to hit their children. It’s really useful,” Wen Shu said with a charming smile, covering her mouth.
“Will Niannian be okay?”
Chi Xiasheng worriedly poked Wen Nian’s fish belly, afraid that something had happened to him.
“It’s fine. Wen Nian is too noisy. I used to hit him often. Xiaxia, don’t worry about him. You should go to sleep now.”
Chi Xiasheng was also a little tired and could only look at Wen Nian with sympathy before washing up and going back to his room.
In the room, Sheng Sheng had already turned into a little black dog and was curled up on the bed.
He heard the noisy sounds outside and, seeing that Chi Xiasheng hadn’t come back, his paws couldn’t help but reveal their sharp, cold claws, scratching at the bed.
Why do they have so much to say?
Sheng Sheng was extremely anxious, thinking to himself that those few fish were too annoying, always occupying Chi Xiasheng’s time!
He didn’t know the source of his annoyance himself, but he really wanted to see Chi Xiasheng again.
Preferably like the past few days, with him lying on the bed and Chi Xiasheng practicing singing or cooking on the side. As long as he looked up, he could see him.
This longing in his heart made Sheng Sheng continue to hide his identity, waiting in Chi Xiasheng’s small house for him to come back.
When Chi Xiasheng came in, he saw the scene of Little Black tearing the bedsheet with his claws.
“Little Black, your nails are so long. Look, you’ve torn the bedsheet.” With that, he took out a pair of pet nail clippers, ready to trim his nails.
Little Black was held in Chi Xiasheng’s arms and was surprisingly docile. He didn’t even react much when Chi Xiasheng held his paw.
Chi Xiasheng found it a little strange. “What’s wrong with you, Little Black? Why are you so well-behaved today? Do you know I’m tired from working outside? You’re so considerate!”
Little Black lay on Chi Xiasheng’s lap, his paws in his warm palms, being held and having his face rubbed.
“You’re so cute!”
Chi Xiasheng was a bit of a fluff-con. He couldn’t resist a little black furball like Little Black and always wanted to hug and pet him.
Hearing him praise himself, Little Black’s little black face blushed, but unfortunately, his fur was too dark and covered his shy expression.
Chi Xiasheng yawned. Seeing that Little Black was so well-behaved today, he directly placed him on the bed next to him.
“Little Black, sleep with me.”
Two seconds after he said that, he fell asleep from exhaustion.
When Chi Xiasheng placed him in his bed, Little Black was completely embarrassed.
Th-this isn’t good…
Little Black pressed Chi Xiasheng’s hand, which was lying on the quilt, with his freshly trimmed paw, and then quickly pulled it back.
After looking at him for a while, Little Black used his mouth to pull the quilt up for him and then jumped off the bed.
When he was seriously injured and couldn’t transform back into his human form before, Sheng Sheng hadn’t felt that there was anything wrong with being in the same room with Chi Xiasheng. After all, they were both male demon beasts, and there was nothing to be embarrassed about.
But the longer they spent together, the more awkward Sheng Sheng felt when he was with Chi Xiasheng.
At first, when Chi Xiasheng held him, Sheng Sheng just found it troublesome. But since he was his savior, he couldn’t just give him a paw.
But now, Sheng Sheng was more and more afraid to have any intimate contact with Chi Xiasheng.
Every time he got close, Sheng Sheng’s little heart would pound, as if it were about to jump out in the next second.
Sheng Sheng lay in his bed, thinking to himself that the spiritual temptation of the merman race was really strong. In just a few dozen days, he had already fallen under his spiritual control.
Sheng Sheng felt that he still had to cultivate harder. Otherwise, when it really came to a fight, he would definitely be controlled and unable to fight back.
But then Sheng Sheng thought again, he definitely wouldn’t fight with Chi Xiasheng. After all, he still had to repay his kindness, so he naturally had to protect him.
Thinking of this, Sheng Sheng simply flashed away and went directly to his cave.
This cave was in Sheng Sheng’s mustard seed space. It was full of spiritual energy and very suitable for cultivation.
Sheng Sheng had just closed his eyes when he remembered something and took out his phone to set a time.
He had to go back on time tomorrow. He couldn’t forget.
Chi Xiasheng slept very soundly this time. When he woke up, it was already noon the next day.
The afternoon sun was warm and dazzling, but not as hot as in summer. It shone on people, making them feel warm.
After washing up in the bathroom, Chi Xiasheng was about to yawn when he found that his house was almost empty.
When Pei Zhixuan saw him get up, he showed a gentle smile.
“Xiaxia, come and eat. I’ve just made lunch. There’s the tofu soup you like.”
Seeing Pei Zhixuan call him so familiarly, Chi Xiasheng’s memory was a little confused for a moment.
It was as if he were already a family with him. He had slept in until noon, but his gentle and considerate older brother had still made him a table full of dishes, waiting for him to get up and eat.
Chi Xiasheng walked over and found that a large pot of crucian carp tofu soup was placed in the middle of the table.
And most importantly, this tofu was old tofu, not the usual soft tofu served in restaurants.
Chi Xiasheng was slightly surprised. He opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted by Pei Zhixuan. “You get the bowls. I’ll go wake up Niannian.”
Nodding, Chi Xiasheng looked down at the old tofu in the soup and couldn’t help but smile.
Chi Xiasheng had a special preference. No matter what kind of tofu soup, he liked to use old tofu.
Soft tofu had a smooth texture, but Chi Xiasheng felt it had no taste and preferred the beany taste of old tofu, thinking it was very flavorful.
Unfortunately, many times, he had to compromise for others.
In the orphanage, he had no right to order food. In the Su family, Su Chimian liked to eat smooth and tender things, so they almost never used old tofu in their dishes.
After getting the bowls, Chi Xiasheng first tasted a bite of the tofu and felt that it was much better than what he had made before.
Eating a dish that he rarely liked, Chi Xiasheng felt that this might be the difference between being cared for and not being cared for.
Although crucian carp tofu soup with old tofu would have a beany smell, a person who cared about you would still infinitely tolerate your quirks, while a person who didn’t care could easily give up even your life.
Wen Nian was woken up to eat. He happily bounced to the table and opened his mouth in shock. “Big brother, did you sell all the things in the house and exchange them for a table full of dishes?!”
Pei Zhixuan rubbed his temples, feeling that he really couldn’t handle Wen Nian’s energetic and noisy nature. He looked down at the well-behaved Chi Xiasheng and his heart softened.
As expected, mermen are cute. No matter how you look at them, they’re well-behaved and not noisy.
“I brought some of the furniture to my house. You guys can pack your things later and go there to live.”
Wen Nian said, “Oh,” and gestured with his hands. “Then does your house have a big— bathtub?!”
Pei Zhixuan replied, “Yes. You should eat first. Xiaxia has been waiting for you for a long time.”
Only then did Wen Nian stop talking and sat down to eat with Chi Xiasheng.
But he didn’t stop talking while eating, asking Chi Xiasheng if the person who had carried him to the hospital last night was good-looking.
This was accurately captured by Sheng Sheng, who was lying in Chi Xiasheng’s room. His ears twitched, and he unconsciously stood up.
Chi Xiasheng thought for a moment. “I only met him once. He was in a hurry afterwards, probably going to the company to handle official business. But he’s quite handsome.”
Wen Nian asked again, “Compared to that Director Bo?”
Pei Zhixuan’s radar accurately locked onto the words “Director Bo.” He even put down the dish he had just picked up and asked with a serious expression, “Director Bo? Bo Wenye? He’s not good.”
Sheng Sheng, who was eavesdropping, also nodded. Bo Wenye, that little director, is just not good!
He’s average-looking, his figure is average, and he’s not as rich as me. Not good, not good.
Chi Xiasheng let out a confused “ah.” “Not good? What’s not good?”
He didn’t mean anything ambiguous, but in Pei Zhixuan’s and Sheng Sheng’s ears, it was a little uncomfortable.
“You’re still young. Don’t think about these things. The most important thing is to work hard on your career first.”
Pei Zhixuan coughed and quickly led Chi Xiasheng in another direction.
Chi Xiasheng had a strange expression, thinking to himself, I also want to focus on my career first, but the heat is not something I can control. I have to find a long-term partner as soon as possible, right?
But as his older brother, Pei Zhixuan was also worried like a father and would not mention him finding a partner, blocking all possible opportunities!
Hearing this, Sheng Sheng also relaxed a little.
It seems this Pei Zhixuan is still okay.
After dinner, the three of them began to pack the things in the bedroom.
Chi Xiasheng first carried Little Black out, afraid that he would be uncomfortable with so many strangers. He didn’t put him in a cage and held him in his arms.
Pei Zhixuan looked at the dog in his arms and said with a smile, “Is this a dog? It’s the first time I’ve seen such a black little dog.”
Little Black was a little dissatisfied and scratched Chi Xiasheng’s clothes, thinking that he had judged Pei Zhixuan too early.
Chi Xiasheng thought Little Black was uncomfortable and smoothed his fur. “It’s okay, this is Brother Pei. He’s a very nice person.”
Little Black sneered inwardly and turned his head, jumping out of his arms.
Chi Xiasheng said, “Hey,” and quickly went to find Little Black, who had drilled into a corner.
“Come out. Don’t throw a tantrum. I’ll cook you some meat later.”
Hearing him coaxing him, Little Black also felt a little childish. Why am I getting angry with that broken jiaoren?
But after coming out, he didn’t let Chi Xiasheng hold him and followed him to his new home on his short legs.
Chi Xiasheng didn’t want to move at first. After all, living with them for so many days was already a luxury. He didn’t want to long for things that didn’t belong to him.
But Wen Shu repeatedly insisted, saying that if he didn’t move, she wouldn’t either. Even Wen Nian was making a fuss, saying he wanted to sleep in the big bathtub with Chi Xiasheng.
In the end, with no other choice, Chi Xiasheng had to take his luggage and Little Black and go to the small villa where Pei Zhixuan lived.
This small villa had basically used up all of Pei Zhixuan’s savings. It was in a good location, with a good environment, and the people living around were all billionaires.
When he arrived at this small villa, Chi Xiasheng found that it was only one house away from the Su family’s house.
Chi Xiasheng had never told Wen Shu about his past with the Su family. Wen Shu was a considerate and thoughtful elder. If he didn’t say anything, she wouldn’t ask, giving him enough personal space.
After all, everyone had their own past, and there was no need to let everyone know.
And looking at the Su family’s house not far away, Chi Xiasheng felt as if a century had passed.
Pei Zhixuan’s house was completely different from the Su family’s. The Su family preferred gorgeous and luxurious interiors, while Pei Zhixuan’s house was decorated with a large area of warm yellow.
Although the living room was large, many small things were placed and decorated here, giving it a warm and bright feeling.
It’s more like a place where a family lives, Chi Xiasheng thought.
