Whenever Jing Xi returned, there would definitely be a plate of sweet and sour pork ribs and vinegar-glazed cabbage on the dining table, and they were abnormally sour—the kind others couldn’t eat.

“Come, time to eat.”

As Bai Qi spoke, she moved the sweet and sour pork ribs placed between Jing Xi and Chi Yao further away from Chi Yao, and served him the rib soup instead.

Chi Yao saw this and thought Bai Qi might have already noticed something.

Women’s intuition was truly not just talk.

“How many days can Ah Yao stay this time?” Bai Qi asked.

Ah Yao.

A strange yet intimate form of address, but Chi Yao didn’t feel repulsed.

“That depends on when Xi Xi lets me go.” Chi Yao smiled, serving soup for the two elders.

Seeing Grandpa actively reach out to take the soup, Grandma and Chi Yao also talked and laughed, as if these three were a family, while Jing Xi felt like he was the guest.

“Xi Xi, do you want soup?” Chi Yao turned to ask him.

Jing Xi nodded: “Add half a bottle of vinegar for me.”

Chi Yao: “…”

He reached out to grab the vinegar bottle: “You just drink this directly.”

Jing Xi glanced at it, poured some into a small saucer, and deliberately teased him: “Do you want some?”

“Don’t pour!”

Before Chi Yao could speak, Jing Rong looked at his own grandson: “You eat yours, don’t provoke him.”

Bai Qi chimed in: “Ordinary people aren’t used to this taste.”

Jing Xi’s hand pouring vinegar froze instantly: “…”

Chi Yao chuckled, took the vinegar bottle, and put it away properly.

“Just eat if you’re eating, behave yourself.”

After the meal, the two went for a walk in the small garden.

“Grandpa is already contacting Qiu Tianlin. If nothing unexpected happens, he’ll come to the house tomorrow morning.”

The two walked under the veranda. Jing Xi whispered, “Under the guise of seeing me for medical treatment.”

Chi Yao had no expression, unknown what he was thinking.

“Since he is an expert, why couldn’t he even tell if you were sick or not?”

Jing Xi: “You think he has a problem?”

“Since he is a consultant for an illegal laboratory, his identity must have problems.” Chi Yao looked at the flowers outside the corridor, eyes slightly cold. “But if he really is one of them, you would have had problems long ago.”

“Mm.” Jing Xi was thoughtful. “Or perhaps from his standpoint, there’s no need to offend the Jing family?”

“This is also one of the reasons I think it’s necessary to meet him.” Chi Yao turned to look at him. “Thinking too much is useless; we’ll see after meeting tomorrow.”

Jing Xi nodded. Thinking of the matter at the dinner table, he said calmly: “Grandpa and Grandma already know.”

After speaking, he added: “Compared to me, this grandson, they like you more.”

Chi Yao raised his eyebrows: “You jealous?”

Jing Xi muttered in a low voice: “Same as before, hasn’t changed at all—”

Chi Yao pretended not to hear: “They can accept their only grandson coming out as if nothing happened; enough to show how much they spoil you.”

Jing Xi turned his head to look at him: “If not for you, could we have come out so hastily?”

Chi Yao looked innocent: “Look, how convenient now.”

Jing Xi: “…”

Believe your nonsense.

The Jing family house was much larger than the one Jing Xi lived in. Bai Qi intended to arrange Chi Yao’s room on the same floor as Jing Xi, but was rejected by Jing Rong.

Jing Xi: “Doesn’t matter, he sleeps with me. There are two bedrooms anyway—”

Jing Rong: “The remaining empty room is too small, how shabby.”

Chi Yao smiled: “Smaller doesn’t matter.”

Wouldn’t use it anyway.

“No, against the rules.”

Jing Rong waved his big hand, directly throwing Chi Yao to the master bedroom on the south side of the fourth floor.

Chi Yao mentally simulated the distance from his room to Jing Xi’s room, silently adding a string of question marks after Jing Rong’s “liking” for him.

Was this fear that he, this wolf, would snatch away his lovely grandson?

While Chi Yao was taken by Jing Rong to see the room, Jing Xi took out a small reagent bottle from his pocket and handed it to Bai Qi.

“This is probably from some mutant creature. Please help me test and confirm. Data confidential, can’t tell anyone.”

Bai Qi took it: “Where did you get it?”

Jing Xi: “Battlefield.”

After finishing official business in the study, checking the time it was already 9 PM. Jing Xi looked at the door; no movement at all.

Did Chi Yao really intend to sleep alone upstairs tonight?

First time at home, being obedient leaves a good impression.

Thinking this, Jing Xi got up to shower.

A moment later, he was drying his hair and went to pour water. Passing the door, he subconsciously glanced; still no movement.

Without Chi Yao, rare peace.

Jing Xi brewed a pot of tea, finding a book to read.

11 PM, time to sleep.

Jing Xi put the book back, getting up to go to the bedroom.

Ten minutes later, he strode out of the bedroom, quietly opening the door.

The corridor lights were on. At this hour Grandpa and Grandma had long rested; only the servant on duty was on the first floor.

He gently closed the door, choosing the furthest stairs to go to the fourth floor.

Just arriving at the fourth floor, he saw Chi Yao’s open door. Grandpa and Chi Yao’s voices faintly came from inside.

So late, why was Grandpa still here?

Were they discussing something he couldn’t hear?

Jing Xi pressed against the door, peeking inside quietly.

On the wooden platform in front of the French window, Chi Yao and Jing Rong sat opposite each other playing chess.

Chi Yao: “Said I’d let you have three pieces, so stubborn.”

Jing Rong: “Don’t look down on people; I’m about to win.”

Chi Yao: “Checkmate.”

Jing Rong: “Wait a minute!”

Jing Xi: “…”

Chi Yao caught a glimpse of the head poking out from the door, smiling and waving at him: “Xi Xi, I avenged you.”

Jing Xi: “…”

Childish or not?

He walked over, sitting casually beside Chi Yao, adding tea to their cups.

“How’s the battle situation?”

In the interval of waiting, Chi Yao touched Jing Xi’s loose long hair, feeling slightly damp.

“10 wins, 0 losses.”

Jing Xi looked at him: [Can’t you let Grandpa win?]

Chi Yao looked back: [He won’t let me let him.]

Jing Xi: [Then find a way to let him, otherwise he’ll drag you to play until dawn.]

Chi Yao: [Makes sense.]

Spring night is short (fleeting); isn’t holding wife and listening to bedtime stories better?

“Stop eye contact, use your mouths to speak.” Jing Rong drank tea.

Chi Yao: “…”

Jing Xi: “…”

Chi Yao: “How about letting Xi Xi play with you? I’ll blow-dry his hair.”

Jing Rong: “Playing with him is boring.”

Chi Yao: “…”

Jing Xi: “…”

Grandpa’s interest was so high, the two had to keep him company to the end.

Jing Xi asked the servant to send up some light refreshments and was responsible for serving tea and water beside them.

“Grandpa.” Jing Xi hesitated, “Don’t you have anything to ask us?”

Soul swapping was too bizarre. Jing Xi felt Grandpa could sense changes in him, but probably thought Chi Yao disguised as him before.

Jing Rong picked up a chess piece and placed it in the corresponding spot.

“Planning to have how many children? If many, your place can’t fit them; need to apply for a new plot of land early.”

Jing Xi: “…”

Haven’t even married yet.

He wanted to say no children, but thinking of Chi Yao, swallowed the words back.

“Haven’t decided yet.”

“Mm.” Jing Rong made a satisfying move, forked a green fruit into his mouth. “You two condition your bodies first. If really can’t, keeping seven or eight at my place isn’t a big problem.”

Jing Xi: “…”

Chatting about this topic, Chi Yao suddenly fell silent.

Let alone marriage and children, he didn’t even know until which day he could live.

Maybe sometime he wouldn’t even be human anymore.

The self-destructing monster in the cave suddenly flashed before his eyes. Chi Yao quietly held Jing Xi’s hand.

This familiar body temperature always calmed him down quickly.

Jing Xi keenly sensed Chi Yao’s emotional change and held his hand back.

At midnight, Jing Rong’s terminal vibrated. He swiped to check, getting up in a panic.

“Not early anymore, continue tomorrow.”

Jing Xi whispered: “Grandma sent it; might be angry.”

Chi Yao chuckled: “Can see that; Brother Rong is afraid of his wife.”

Jing Rong walked to the door, suddenly turned around, facing the two clinging together over there: “Xi Xi, you aren’t leaving?”

Jing Xi: “…”

Chi Yao put his arm around Jing Xi’s shoulder, smiling at Jing Rong: “I accompanied you all night. What’s wrong with letting me say a few whispered words to Xi Xi? Don’t be so stingy.”

Jing Rong sneered: “Better be only saying a few whispered words.”

Chi Yao nodded obediently: “Only whispered words, nothing else.”

Jing Rong put his hands behind his back, hummed twice, and left.

Door closed. Jing Xi leaned back relaxedly, turning to look at him: “We really won’t do anything else?”

Chi Yao’s gaze swept over his sexy collarbone, kissing the side of his neck: “What do you want to do?”

Jing Xi looked straight at him.

“I’m thinking, when will you pounce on me.”

Chi Yao: “…”

Chi Yao pressed him onto the platform: “Middle of the night, don’t tease me.”

Jing Xi raised his hand to rest on his back neck, slender fingers passing through hair.

“I asked. Engagement requires household registration, but to give you registration, need to clear criminal records in advance.”

Chi Yao: “…”

Jing Xi: “Meaning have to wait for you to finish your sentence before we can get engaged. With your criminal record, even minimum is twenty years in squat.”

Chi Yao: “…”

Jing Xi: “What are you afraid of?”

Under the gaze of these eyes, Chi Yao felt he was about to be swallowed.

A moment later, he said seriously: “I’m afraid when I get out of prison, the child will be as tall as me.”

Jing Xi: “…”

He narrowed his eyes slightly, voice cool, following his words: “Relax, even if pregnant, I will abort it.”

Chi Yao: “……”

“What if habitual miscarriage and can’t conceive later?” Chi Yao pressed against his lips, chuckling. “I’ll feel heartache.”

Jing Xi exerted slight force to pull him closer: “Isn’t there still you who can get pregnant?”

Chi Yao laughed muffledly: “Do you like me or my belly?”

Talk was talk, but the two ultimately didn’t dare go further.

Kissed until brain lacked oxygen. Jing Xi steadied his breathing, calming himself down.

“We haven’t swapped for a long time.”

Chi Yao casually pulled over a blanket, covering both, holding Jing Xi in front of him.

“Do you have that feeling recently?”

Jing Xi shook his head: “Magnetic storm sequelae weakened. Will we not swap anymore?”

Chi Yao: “Don’t know.”

Jing Xi’s eyes flashed, interlocking fingers with the hand at his waist.

Although never seriously studied it, Jing Xi didn’t believe mere magnetic storm would make their souls swap.

No precedent, no scientific basis.

For unknown and uncontrollable things, he never judged or decided easily.

But during this time, he gradually had a guess.

When beasts mutated to level five, they would possess some incredible powers. From human perspective, calling them superpowers wasn’t an exaggeration.

Although Chi Yao wasn’t a mutant beast, his pheromones could knock down level-five Beast Kings. Calculating by beast mutation level standards, his level definitely wasn’t lower than five.

Then what would his ability be?

“Did you swap with others before?” Jing Xi asked.

“How is it possible.” Chi Yao shook his head. “Just imagining it makes me want to vomit.”

Jing Xi: “Did you vomit when swapping into my body?”

Chi Yao smiled: “You are so beautiful, of course not.”

Jing Xi raised his hand to touch the smile lines by his lips, voice low: “Have you thought, it might be your ability awakening?”

Sunlight spilled into the entire room through the French windows.

Jing Xi woke up from the warm quilt; the spot beside him was already empty.

“Chi Yao?”

Called several times with no answer.

Going to the second floor, Jing Xi found Chi Yao hoeing the ground in the small backyard nursery.

“Sister Qi, how are these pits?” Chi Yao asked.

Bai Qi was watering a row of plants by the fence. Hearing this, she turned to look, smiling: “Much better than just now.”

“Okay.” Chi Yao took a packet of seeds from the woven basket, tore it open, and prepared to pour.

“Wait, not like this.” Bai Qi put down the watering can and walked over. “Three or four seeds in one pit are enough.”

Chi Yao: “Too few, right?”

Catching a glimpse of Jing Xi walking over, Chi Yao waved. “Just woke up?”

Jing Xi changed into outdoor shoes and walked over, but was stopped by Chi Yao raising his hand after a few steps.

“Watch out for the watermelons I just planted!” Chi Yao walked over carefully, taking his hand. “Step in my footprints, don’t step randomly.”

Jing Xi glanced at the pits on the ground: “What else to plant?”

Chi Yao showed him the seeds in hand: “Wife Fruit. Heard it’s even sourer than sour fruit.”

Jing Xi: “…”

Chi Yao pointed to the furthest row: “Over there are my watermelons, in the middle are Brother Rong’s gourds, here are Sister Qi’s hawthorns, and here are your Wife Fruits.”

Jing Xi: “We are separated so far?”

Chi Yao carefully counted seeds into the pit: “I’m afraid your fruit will sour my watermelons.”

Jing Xi: “…”

With Capital Star’s climate, watermelons planted now would take at least half a year to mature.

Whether they could be eaten in half a year was still a question.

“Ah Yao promised me just now.” Bai Qi picked up scissors to prune rose branches. “Will come back at least once every half year in the future.”

Jing Xi’s eyes flashed, looked at Chi Yao, and took the seeds from his hand.

“I’ll help you plant.”

Chi Yao couldn’t stop him in time; Jing Xi had already poured half the packet of seeds into the small soil pit.

Chi Yao: “You f—”

He grabbed a few handfuls back, but the seeds were too small and embedded in the soil.

Jing Xi: “Not like this?”

Chi Yao, hands full of soil, angrily bit his face: “Even I know you can’t pour half a packet at a time!”

Jing Xi: “…”

Chi Yao turned to Bai Qi for help: “Sister Qi, what to do?”

Bai Qi stretched her neck to look, shaking her head: “Will grow madly. Watermelons might not be saved.”

Jing Xi: “…”

Chi Yao: “…”

Fuck.

“Xi Xi, Ah Yao, come here.”

Jing Rong’s voice suddenly sounded. The two looked up toward the house.

Standing beside him was a man wearing glasses and a formal three-piece suit.

It was exactly the consultant of the illegal research institute, Qiu Tianlin—