Chapter 20

He hadn't expected to be caught red-handed by the man himself!

Shi Wen's face turned red all the way to his ears.

He stood there, feeling his toes curl inside his shoes.

The main problem was that the field he worked in now had virtually nothing to do with the research Yan Kexing and his team did.

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

As though he had ulterior motives.

He forced himself to stay calm and, pretending he hadn't noticed Yan Kexing had caught him reading the paper, turned toward the wardrobe. "Do you want to come see which set of bedding you like?"

Yan Kexing didn't dodge the subject. "What did you think of our team's paper?"

Shi Wen could clearly hear the amusement in his voice.

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

Haven't the academic big shots around the world already given you their assessment?

Shi Wen turned back and said sincerely, "It was very good. I learned a lot from reading it."

At that moment, Shi Wen was genuinely afraid Yan Kexing would suddenly ask, "What did you learn?"

If he did, Shi Wen really wouldn't be able to answer.

He forcibly changed the subject, tapping lightly on the wardrobe. "Do you want to come see which set of bedding you like?"

Shi Wen's head was practically steaming, and he was on the verge of getting angry from embarrassment.

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

Shi Wen said, "Okay, I'll go make your bed!"

With that, Shi Wen grabbed the bedding and fled. Yan Kexing followed him with long strides. Rather than leave him to make the bed alone, he came along to help.

Shi Wen soon discovered that Yan Kexing was more practiced at housework than he was, and did a better job of it too.

He was just as capable in the kitchen as he was in the drawing room.

Shi Wen hadn't expected their first time spending time together at home to consist of sitting across from each other, quietly working for half the afternoon.

A little after five, Shi Wen stretched.

Yan Kexing looked up and met Shi Wen's eyes.

Shi Wen cut his yawn short. "It's past five. We can head out and go watch the sunset."

Yan Kexing put away his phone. "Okay."

The two tidied up a little and walked out side by side.

Shi Wen told Yan Kexing about the ranch, and even when they fell silent now and then, things didn't become awkward.

To his surprise, just after they stepped outside, Shi Wen saw his three dogs herding the cattle and sheep back from the distance.

The setting sun slanted westward, glowing golden behind them.

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

When An Wa saw Shi Wen come out, the little dog ran toward them joyfully.

Ever since Shi Wen had brought the little dog home, he had never seen An Wa run so fast.

An Wa had always been lazy, so this sudden enthusiasm left Shi Wen baffled.

Could they sense there was 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.

They raced across the grassland, their short little legs moving in rapid bounds. Even from a long way off, Shi Wen could feel how delighted they were.

Something didn't seem right.

Shi Wen was on his guard.

Yan Kexing looked at him and pointed out, "The dogs have something in their mouths."

Shi Wen said, "Huh?"

Yan Kexing said, "All three of them do."

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 object covered in dirt.

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

And it was a huge mushroom unlike any he had ever seen, with a cap bigger than his head!

He had no idea how the little dog had carried such a big mushroom over.

After spitting out the mushroom, An Wa sat neatly on the ground and gave Shi Wen a loud bark. "Woof!"

The dog's big, fluffy yellow tail swung back and forth, a sign of a very good mood.

Judging by that behavior, An Wa was clearly asking for credit.

Shi Wen hadn't had time to take a closer look.

Le Wa also raced up to him and spat out another enormous mushroom.

Le Wa was even more impatient. After spitting it out, the dog pawed at it and pushed it toward Shi Wen. "Woof, woof!"

Where did these giant mushrooms come from? Utterly baffled, Shi Wen bent down and picked up both mushrooms.

Both mushrooms were heavy and thick-fleshed, weighing down his hands, at least a jin each.

He looked at the dirt-covered mushrooms, unable for the moment to tell what kind they were. Could the dogs have stolen them from someone's greenhouse?

Otherwise, how could they be so big?

But he didn't think anyone nearby grew mushrooms.

Holding the mushrooms, Shi Wen turned to Yan Kexing. "Do you recognize these mushrooms?"

Yan Kexing came over and identified them. "They're delicious mushrooms."

Shi Wen was surprised. "What?"

"They're called delicious mushrooms, also known as reed mushrooms, among other names. They're a kind of mushroom that grows underground." Yan Kexing looked at the two dogs wagging their tails. "The dogs may have smelled the mushrooms and dug them out on purpose."

Whether the two dogs understood him or not, they held their heads high and puffed out their chests, looking rather proud on their furry faces.

Holding the mushrooms, Shi Wen finally remembered. "I think I've heard of them. Are these the only local mushrooms that grow buried in the ground? The kind you have to dig out of a mound before you can see them, like winter bamboo shoots?"

Yan Kexing said, "You do have to dig for them, but they aren't necessarily the only ones buried in the ground. There's also the late autumn fibrecap around here. It grows underground too, and looks a little like a delicious mushroom."

"Huh? Are the two kinds easy to tell apart?"

"Fairly easy, I'd say? The main thing is to look for a ring. Delicious mushrooms have one," Yan Kexing said. "It's best not to eat mushrooms you aren't familiar with. Sometimes you may think you've identified one, but it could be a poisonous mushroom that hasn't yet been discovered by the scientific community."