Chapter 21

Yan Kexing looked at him. "Does the smell of blood make you uncomfortable?"

Shi Wen said, "I'm okay."

Yan Kexing reached into his pocket.

Shi Wen thought Yan Kexing was going to pull out a cigarette and was about to refuse when he saw a mint candy resting in Yan Kexing's palm.

"Thought I was going to smoke?" Yan Kexing's eyes were smiling as he handed him the mint. "I go into the mountains often. Smoking isn't allowed in the mountains."

Shi Wen asked, "Are you always like this?"

Yan Kexing asked, "Like what?"

Shi Wen rubbed his nose with the back of his hand. "Like always knowing what other people are thinking."

Yan Kexing said, "Just a guess."

Still skeptical, Shi Wen lowered his head and gently took the mint from Yan Kexing's hand. He unwrapped it and tossed it into his mouth.

At once, a cool, bitter flavor spread through his mouth.

He froze, his eyes widening as he looked at Yan Kexing.

Damn! That really woke him up!

Yan Kexing chuckled beside him. This time, his amusement was unmistakable; no close observation was needed to see it.

Yan Kexing said, "Everything's taken care of. You should head back soon."

Shi Wen asked, "What about you?"

Yan Kexing said, "We're getting in the car and heading back too."

Shi Wen nudged the mint with his tongue. "Then I'll head back first. Good night."

Yan Kexing said, "Good night."

With the mint in his mouth, Shi Wen led Black Kid forward. After walking quite a distance, he looked back and saw Yan Kexing still standing where he was. When their eyes met, Yan Kexing waved at him.

Shi Wen waved back, then turned around and led Black Kid toward the ranch, crunching the mint loudly between his teeth.

He could no longer smell any blood. There was only the cool, bitter scent of the mint.

It really worked.

Chapter 9

That night, after shutting the ranch gate and washing up, Shi Wen sat in the chair in his room, took out his phone, and opened WeChat.

Quite a few people had messaged him on WeChat. He gave them brief replies first, then scrolled down his contact list, looking for Yan Kexing's WeChat.

Both Yan Kexing and Gong Jiang were on his contact list.

The difference was that Gong Jiang's name was ranked much higher. Yan Kexing had only exchanged a few words with him on the day they added each other, and they had not spoken since.

Shi Wen scrolled up and down the list, tapping Yan Kexing's profile picture several times, but in the end, he did not dare disturb him.

In the end, he opened Gong Jiang's WeChat and asked about the goitered gazelle.

Gong Jiang replied instantly:

[You're still awake?]

[The goitered gazelle's condition has stabilized. The vet said that after another half month of treatment, it should basically be ready for release.]

[I'll let you know when it's released.]

Shi Wen let out a breath of relief. [That's great.]

After replying, he thought about it and sent one more sticker to end the conversation.

He scrolled through the list again, then, bored out of his mind, tossed his phone onto the table and pulled out a pen to write that day's feeding records.

The two cows had been isolated for six days now. In another couple of days, he could officially let them into the pasture to graze freely instead of keeping them penned up.

The sheep had grown a little and needed deworming medicine.

Black Kid was due for vaccinations too—

Shi Wen had barely written a few words when his phone buzzed to life, vibrating lightly on the tabletop.

He picked up his phone and opened WeChat, only to find that Gong Jiang had messaged him again.

Gong Jiang:

[Peeking.JPG]

[Shi Wen, my director invited you to Pear County to pick Bachu Mushrooms. Want to go?]

[If you do, we can pick you up tomorrow.]

[It's a two-and-a-half-hour drive. We'll be back that evening, so we won't stay overnight.]

[Picking Bachu Mushrooms is pretty fun. You'll probably like it.]

Shi Wen gripped his phone. [I'm in!]

[Thanks for taking me out to have fun!]

[What time tomorrow? I'll get ready.]

Gong Jiang: [My director said we'll be at your place at eight.]

Shi Wen: [No problem. I'll have enough time on my end, so I'll wait for you tomorrow morning.]

Gong Jiang: [See You Tomorrow.JPG]

Because he was going out, Shi Wen got up at five the next day.

He cleaned the livestock shed, added fodder and drinking water, let out the sheep and geese, then fed the puppy and let it out as well.

After making the rounds, he took a shower, changed into a casual long-sleeved shirt and pants, prepared some snacks they might eat at noon, and waited for Yan Kexing and the others to arrive.

At 7:58 in the morning, Yan Kexing and the others' car pulled up at the ranch gate right on time.

Shi Wen was stunned. "You said eight, and you really meant exactly eight?"

Gong Jiang looked at him, standing at the ranch gate with a backpack on. "Aren't you waiting at the gate right on time too?"

After exchanging a few words, Shi Wen got into the car.

It was a seven-seater. Lin Chengqian sat in the front passenger seat, Yan Kexing sat in the middle row, and Ge Yue sat in the back.

Shi Wen greeted them one by one. Not wanting to squeeze in with a girl, he naturally took the empty seat beside Yan Kexing.

Yan Kexing was reading documents, metal-framed glasses perched on his high nose bridge, making him look exceptionally handsome.

Shi Wen quietly took a deep breath, trying to steady his heartbeat.

Perhaps Shi Wen was sitting too stiffly.

Ge Yue held a bag over from the back seat and said with a smile, "Shi Wen, try some local sunflower seeds. They're boiled, unsalted, and won't make you overheated."

Shi Wen hurriedly accepted it. "Thank you."

Ge Yue waved a hand. "Why be so polite? These sunflower seeds are really tasty."

Shi Wen nodded, politely grabbed a handful, and handed the bag back.

Ge Yue said, "Keep it and eat them. When someone gave us sunflower seeds yesterday, I specifically asked for an extra bag for you. How's your ranch been lately?"

Shi Wen said, "Not bad."

Turning slightly sideways, Shi Wen lowered his voice a little as he told Ge Yue about the ranch.

Before long, Lin Chengqian in the front seat joined in, while Gong Jiang chimed in from time to time as well.

The atmosphere in the car quickly grew lively.