A Toad Having Babies

The shops lining the city streets shone with bright lights, and the traffic weaving between them resembled a scattering of stars.

Sitting in the back seat, Yan Ningke turned to glance at the man who had remained silent ever since getting into the car.

The warm glow of the streetlights spilled through the window onto his profile, then swiftly slid away, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking.

In the book, the author had described Shao Ke and Ji Wensheng's relationship vaguely, without clearly explaining their feelings for each other.

It only said that the two had grown up together, and that Shao Ke had repeatedly courted disaster for him, ending up as cannon fodder and jumping off a building to his death.

Yet everything Yan Ningke had seen at the banquet today made him feel that the truth might not be what the original book had described.

They had known each other for a while now. From what he knew of Shao Ke, although the man was sharp-tongued, hard-hearted, cold, and ruthless, a detestable capitalist...

That was getting off track. In short, he felt that Shao Ke and Ji Wensheng's relationship was not as complicated or close as he had imagined.

The car was quiet. Yan Ningke cleared his throat, turned toward the man, and asked softly, "Still thinking about your little childhood friend?"

Shao Ke gave him an indifferent glance, his voice cool. "Stop being disgusting."

"Pfft."

Yan Ningke's eyes brightened a little. He immediately relaxed against the seat, raising an eyebrow. "Then are you putting on a performance of 'silence is golden'?"

Not bothering to entertain his nonsense, Shao Ke lightly closed his eyes to rest.

He was hardly thinking about some childhood friend. All his thoughts revolved around the person beside him.

No matter how he looked at it, the information in the files and the actual behavior before his eyes did not seem to belong to the same person.

He had been so weak, inept, and meek before, but now he had changed completely.

Shao Ke could not understand where things had gone wrong. Had everything before been an act?

Or was his current behavior a performance meant to deceive him and help Shao Yang obtain confidential information?

If that really was the case...

"Mis. Ter. Shao!"

Yan Ningke poked the man's arm over and over with his index finger.

It did not feel particularly comfortable. It was hard.

Instantly forgetting what he had meant to say, Yan Ningke leaned forward boldly as though he had discovered treasure, poking his upper arm with wild abandon.

Wow! It's getting harder!

Muscles this powerful, if we really went at it...

Yan Ningke's gaze grew a little hazy.

Just as he was about to lay his entire hand on him, someone seized his wrist and forcibly pulled it away.

Shao Ke stared at him with dark eyes, his voice full of danger. "Do you not want that hand anymore?"

The oppressive force pouring over him snapped him out of it. Yan Ningke sheepishly withdrew his hand, then muttered with a reckless disregard for his life, "Stingy bastard!"

One little touch wouldn't kill him! What was wrong with granting his tiny little wish? Honestly!

"If you don't know how to talk, I can poison you mute, too."

Just listen to that. What kind of savage threat was that!

Would he be scared?

Hmph, wherever there was oppression!

That was naturally where he would lie down and take a nap.

Yan Ningke gave him a sweet, spineless smile. "Mr. Shao, how about I treat you to a late-night snack?"

When it came to backing down, he had never backed down, okay!

Shao Ke: "..."

With crowds bustling around them, Shao Ke's expression darkened another shade as he looked at the two long rows of food stalls before him.

"This is the late-night snack you're treating me to?"

Yan Ningke spread his arms and took a deep breath of the lively street-food aromas, marveling at how wonderful life was. Only here could his troubles melt away. "Well? Isn't it perfect?"

Shao Ke's words were venomous. "Stop acting deranged."

Yan Ningke had long since learned to hear only what he wanted to hear. Anything unpleasant was just so much hot air.

Besides, his attention had already been captured by all the snacks along the street. How could he still care whether Shao Ke was willing?

What was more, anyone who was not paying had no say!

"Ready? Let's go!"

Along the long street, a sunny, handsome young man could be seen pushing a man with sharp brows and bright eyes in a wheelchair, darting from one side to the other.

An orphan by birth, Yan Ningke excelled at using his own "advantages" to get the quickest returns.

All he had to do was park the wheelchair in front of a stall whose food he wanted and look pitiful, and the stallholders and customers would kindly let them buy first. Some even offered to pay for them or waive the bill.

Of course, Yan Ningke firmly refused every offer and paid for everything himself.

"Thank you, thank you! You're such good people. You'll definitely be rewarded for your kindness!"

The kindhearted people were all moved by his sincerity. Only Shao Ke watched coldly from the sidelines.

A passerby said, "This gentleman..."

Yan Ningke wiped his damp eyes, his expression sorrowful. "He... sigh. Things will get better."

The passerby was almost crying. "Sir, you must stay strong! Don't ever give up. Keep going!"

"Thank you, thank you!"

Shao Ke: "..."

He felt as though this little bastard was taking him for a foreigner and messing with him!

Sensing that the resentment surrounding the wheelchair was heavier than that of the thousand-year-old Evil Sword Immortal, Yan Ningke hurriedly bid the kindhearted people farewell and fled with the wheelchair.

Only after they reached a corner did Yan Ningke burst out laughing.

Shao Ke's low voice was filled with ice. "Having fun?"

Oh no, he'd riled up the lion!

Yan Ningke was a good boy who knew when to yield. He stood obediently. "I was wrong."

"What did you do wrong?"

"Everything." Nothing at all!

"Will you do it again?"

"No." Same again next time.

"I don't believe you."

Yan Ningke asked, "Why?"

Shao Ke gave a cold smile. "Because a dog never stops eating shit."

What should he do? He really wanted to tip over that wheelchair!

Let him fall flat on his face!

Yan Ningke demanded incredulously, "I only just saved you, and you've already forgotten? I saved your life! Back in the day, you would've had to repay me by marrying me!"

Shao Ke looked back at him at his leisure. "And?"

Sure enough, Yan Ningke never disappointed.

His expression changed in an instant, and he made his shameless declaration with bashful abandon. "If you're willing, it's not as though I couldn't."

Shao Ke smiled faintly. "A toad having babies."

With that, he steered his wheelchair toward the car by the roadside.

Yan Ningke stood dumbfounded. "What does that mean?"

Thirty seconds later, looking at the explanation he had just found on Baidu on his phone, he completely lost it!

"Aaaaaah! How can anyone be so vicious!"

Already seated in the car, Shao Ke's lips curved into the faintest hint of a smile.

How could anyone be this entertaining?

Fuming, Yan Ningke climbed into the front passenger seat with his bags of snacks and gave a loud huff.

He refused to sit with someone so nasty!

The smells of various foods quickly spread through the car, and Shao Ke's brows creased slightly.

Yan Ningke looked over in confusion. "Aren't we leaving, driver?"

The driver glanced at the rearview mirror, hesitating to speak.

Shao Ke paused for a second before saying, "Drive."

"Yes, sir."

With the instruction given, the driver promptly started the car.

Yan Ningke pursed his lips and muttered, "Typical capitalist behavior!"

Despite saying that, he still reached out and tied the bags shut again.