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Yan Kexing asked, "Would it be convenient?"

"Of course!" Shi Wen's eyes shone. "If you have time, you can stay over at my place tonight. I have a guest room, and everything's been cleaned."

Yan Kexing said, "Then I'll trouble you. Let me park the car first."

Shi Wen got out and waited for Yan Kexing to pull over by the roadside, then led him into the ranch.

He had driven the cattle and sheep off to graze in the distance, while the dogs watched over them. The ranch was very quiet.

It was midsummer, and the grass on the ranch had grown lush. Tiny yellow, pink, blue, and other colorful flowers swayed in the breeze. Up close, they were unremarkable; from afar, they looked like a painting.

Yan Kexing looked into the distance. "You manage this ranch very well."

Shi Wen walked shoulder to shoulder with him and looked up as well. "It's my livelihood. I have to take it seriously."

Yan Kexing said, "It really is impressive. It feels full of life."

Shi Wen brought Yan Kexing home.

Once inside, the house was pleasantly cool. A cross-breeze flowed through it, filling every room with the distinct coolness of a summer ranch.

Shi Wen invited Yan Kexing to sit and poured him some water. "Do you want to rest for a while? Around sunset, I'll take you to the back hills to watch the sun go down. The sunsets here are beautiful."

Yan Kexing looked around the house, which was gradually taking on Shi Wen's style. "Sure."

Shi Wen stood up. "Then I'll go make up your bed."

Yan Kexing said, "I'll help."

After coming to live on the ranch, Shi Wen had bought quite a few household supplies. He had several sets of bedding alone.

He took Yan Kexing to the room to get the bedding, intending to let him choose one he liked.

The two entered the room, and Shi Wen opened the wardrobe, about to ask Yan Kexing to pick.

Unexpectedly, Yan Kexing behind him made no move.

Puzzled, Shi Wen turned around and saw that Yan Kexing's gaze had landed on his desk.

Following Yan Kexing's line of sight, he saw a pile of printed materials on the desk. On top was a stack of papers, all written by Yan Kexing's team.

Shi Wen: "!!!"

He had printed them when he went into town to print materials on ranch management. He had done it on a whim, mainly because reading papers in print felt more convenient.

He had never expected to get caught by the person involved!

Shi Wen's face instantly reddened all the way to his ears.

Standing there, he felt as though his toes were digging into the soles of his shoes.

The main issue was that the field he worked in now had virtually no overlap with his team's research direction.

Going out of his way to read their papers seemed strange no matter how he looked at it.

As if he had ulterior motives.

He forcibly calmed down and pretended not to notice that Yan Kexing had discovered he was reading the papers. Turning back to the wardrobe, he asked, "Would you like to come over and see which set of bedding you prefer?"

Yan Kexing did not avoid the subject. "What do you think of our team's papers?"

Shi Wen could clearly hear the amusement in his voice.

Your papers have all been published in top international journals, and you're asking me what I think?!

Didn't academic leaders around the world give you an evaluation?

Shi Wen turned back around, his tone sincere. "They're very good. I gained a lot from reading them."

At that moment, Shi Wen was genuinely afraid Yan Kexing would suddenly ask, "Then what did you gain?"

If he asked, Shi Wen really would not know how to answer.

He forcefully changed the subject and lightly tapped the wardrobe. "Would you like to come see which set of bedding you actually prefer?"

Shi Wen's head was practically smoking; he was on the verge of exploding from embarrassment.

Following Shi Wen's hand, Yan Kexing looked at the wardrobe. "Sure, let me see. I'll take this solid-colored set."

Shi Wen said, "All right, I'll go make up your bed!"

With that, Shi Wen fled with the quilt in his arms. Yan Kexing followed behind on his long legs. Rather than letting Shi Wen make the bed alone, he came over to help.

Soon afterward, Shi Wen discovered that Yan Kexing was more skilled at housework than he was, and did it better too.

He could hold his own in both the living room and the kitchen.

Shi Wen had not expected that the first time the two of them spent time together at home, they would sit facing each other and quietly work for most of the afternoon.

A little after five in the afternoon, Shi Wen stretched.

Yan Kexing raised his head and met Shi Wen's eyes.

Shi Wen forcibly cut off a yawn. "It's after five. We can head out and get ready to watch the sunset."

Yan Kexing put away his phone. "All right."

The two tidied up briefly and walked outside side by side.

Shi Wen told Yan Kexing about the ranch. Even when they occasionally fell silent, it never became awkward between them.

Unexpectedly, they had barely stepped outside when Shi Wen saw his three dogs herding the cattle and sheep back from afar.

The setting sun behind them cast everything in a brilliant golden glow.

Shi Wen was just about to introduce the dogs to Yan Kexing.

When An Wa saw Shi Wen come out, it joyfully ran toward them.

Ever since Shi Wen had taken the little fellow in, he had never seen it run so fast.

The little guy was usually lazy and sluggish. Its sudden enthusiasm left Shi Wen utterly confused.

Could they sense something special about Yan Kexing and want to come cuddle up to him?

Before Shi Wen could figure it out, Le Wa came running after An Wa as well.

They raced across the grassland, their little short legs bouncing at lightning speed. Even from so far away, Shi Wen could feel their jubilant excitement.

Something seemed off.

Shi Wen was on alert.

Yan Kexing looked at him and pointed out, "There's something in the dogs' mouths."

Shi Wen said, "Huh?"

Yan Kexing said, "All three dogs have something in their mouths."

Shi Wen said, "???"

Chapter 20

In the blink of an eye, An Wa and Le Wa ran up to Shi Wen.

An Wa spat out a gray, dirt-covered thing from its mouth.

Shi Wen took a closer look and found that it was actually a mushroom.

It was an enormous mushroom unlike any he had ever seen before, its cap even bigger than his head!

He had no idea how such a small dog had managed to carry such a huge mushroom over.