Wen Feiran turned around with a smile. Under his death stare, the director couldn't help shuddering.
He hurriedly put down the clothes and beat a hasty retreat, leaving the three of them in this harsh, bitterly cold place.
"Don't stand in the doorway. Come on in," Zou Yuxing said with a shiver. "This wind could blow a person to death."
Wen Feiran's face was so swollen that he couldn't show any reaction. He mechanically closed the door.
Both of them had chosen style over warmth. One wore a cool little leather jacket, while the other wore a stylish thin coat. They were shaking like vibrating machines.
Zou Yuxing pounced on the bag of clothes, his eyes gleaming green. He grabbed a garment and pulled it on, only letting out a relieved breath once he had wrapped himself in the military overcoat. "I'm finally warm."
"You look like a green trash can now." Su Shangting's little face was deathly pale from the cold, and his teeth chattered as he forced the words out one by one. In the end, he accidentally bit his tongue and grimaced in pain.
"Then don't wear one if you're so capable!" As long as he was warm, Zou Yuxing was happy to be a green trash can.
Su Shangting had always said the opposite of what he meant and was extremely prideful, but this time he held out for only a second before surrendering. Resigned to his fate, he walked over to the red bag and picked up the dark blue coral fleece pajamas printed with little cartoon tigers between two fingers.
He had never seen such ugly clothes in his life. They were so shocking that they shattered his understanding, and he hated them to death, but... he put them on anyway.
The three green trash cans sat cross-legged on the floor, their hands still trembling despite themselves. Each held a stainless steel cup and sipped hot water.
The little wooden cabin suddenly fell silent, with only the sound of slurping water echoing through it. The air grew still, almost taking on substance and making it hard to breathe.
"I really miss our Dreamy Cottage. It was warm and comfortable. Right now, we should be sitting on the sofa, eating fruit and chatting, or maybe playing games."
Wen Feiran narrowed his eyes at the two big idiots and couldn't help grinding his teeth.
Zou Yuxing was clearly warm now, yet he still couldn't help shivering. He looked around in confusion.
Th-there's killing intent!
He couldn't find the source, so he sheepishly drew back his neck.
Under harsh conditions, people couldn't help fantasizing. Wen Feiran closed his eyes and saw nothing but images of himself curled up under the covers, making him want to cry even more.
Su Shangting, meanwhile, was in agony over a dilemma. Frowning, he glared at the bulky coral fleece pajamas with their upturned collar beneath the shapeless, rough-fabric military overcoat. He felt as uncomfortable as if bedbugs were crawling over him. He wanted to straighten them out but didn't dare touch them. After going back and forth several times, he finally pressed down the unruly collar with trembling fingers.
Zou Yuxing couldn't sit still for a moment. His gaze wandered between Wen Feiran and Su Shangting, and he perked up again. "Although it's cold, this is a rare life experience. I think it's pretty interesting."
"How long are we staying here? Is there anything to eat?"
"A full twenty-four hours." Wen Feiran looked around, his heart sinking into despair. "They only left us a few sweet potatoes. If we put them on the stove when we light the fire, they might roast through."
The young master had never suffered such hardship. He stared at the few dirty sweet potatoes, and they stared back at him. "We eat them once they're cooked?"
Zou Yuxing shot back, "Given the conditions we're in, do you still need an elegant presentation before you can eat?"
Su Shangting puffed up angrily and raised a hand to hit Zou Yuxing, but when he saw the blue fluff poking out from under his military overcoat's sleeve, he froze again on the spot. He hurriedly lowered his head to straighten it.
Zou Yuxing couldn't be bothered with him. His eyes shining, he looked at Wen Feiran. "I'll go outside and see if I can find any pheasants or wild rabbits to add to our meal."
Wen Feiran: "..." You really dare to dream.
Even though they had spent only a short time together, he had gotten to know Zou Yuxing's personality. He didn't try to dissuade him and merely waved a hand. "Don't push yourself. Come back if you get cold."
Zou Yuxing strode out of the cabin, full of ambition and ready to make a big effort. Wen Feiran resigned himself to lighting the fire, while Su Shangting continued battling his clothes, trying to force them into a fashionable look.
Half an hour later, heavy footsteps sounded outside the door.
"Feiran, look! I really caught a pheasant!" Zou Yuxing's blond hair had been blown into a bird's nest, sticking up high. Although his handsome face still held up, his overall look had blended into the surroundings.
Wen Feiran froze for a moment, then turned around in disbelief and saw the pheasant clutched in Zou Yuxing's hand.
"Y-you're amazing." A hint of admiration appeared in his eyes as he looked at Zou Yuxing.
"This pheasant was easy to catch. Its little eyes were like two black beans, darting around, and it didn't even know to run when it saw me."
The description stirred certain memories. Wen Feiran frowned slightly, but before he could fully recall them, Su Shangting sucked in a breath. "Why is this pheasant's beak blue? Could it have been poisoned? Can we eat it?"
...It looks like a pheasant, it's too dazed to run, and its beak is blue???!!
Wen Feiran sucked in a breath and scrambled backward on his hands and feet, his eyes wide and round as though he were looking at a ferocious beast.
Zou Yuxing held the pheasant up higher and smiled cheerfully. "Feiran, you're actually afraid of this?"
"Y-y-you..." Wen Feiran's voice trembled. "Put him down, quick! That's not a pheasant. He's an endangered first-class protected animal, also known as the Life-Sentence Chicken!"
Those last five words slammed into Zou Yuxing's temples like a heavy sword, leaving him completely stunned.
Su Shangting's gaze shifted between the two of them. A wise man knew when to adapt. He too retreated to a corner, signaling that none of this had anything to do with him.
"This chicken is extremely timid. The slightest disturbance could scare it to death, so everyone runs when they see it, afraid they'll be framed for it."
And you, my dear friend, not only picked him up by the shoulders, you even wanted to eat him!
Zou Yuxing stood frozen for a few seconds. His arms began to tremble uncontrollably as he bent down at a snail's pace and carefully set the "Life-Sentence Chicken" on the ground, terrified that one careless move might scare him to death.
He was trembling with fright, and he turned to Wen Feiran for help with tears in his eyes. "Feiran, I'm still young. I have so many good years ahead of me. I don't want to go to prison. Please save me!"