I Only Choked on Noodles, Why Am I Here?! [BL]-Chapter 34 – A Moment in Their Little World
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The cat’s gaze lingered on them for a long moment, sharp and inscrutable, before it disdainfully spun around, presenting its rear and letting out a sharp, warning hiss.
"They dare call this great ancestor ugly? Bold? Do they not see this perfection... even the heavens must weep at such ignorance."
Han Yan caught its words, and after a brief moment of thought, he slowly turned to meet the two curious gazes fixed upon him, trying to hide the flicker of amusement across his face as he prepared to give a reasonable answer even though he hadn’t received one.
"The cat is in the midst of its molting season. Its fur will grow back soon just give it some time."
From somewhere deep in its gaze, Han Yan seemed to hear the cat’s prideful thoughts: Pathetic mortals, so eager to peek at perfection. Clearly, they have much to learn about greatness.
Dong Hai, unable to restrain himself, muttered, "But... it’s really ugly."
As it caught Dong Hai’s words, the cat shot a sharp look at Han Yan, as if to say, "Don’t make me do something we might all regret."
Han Yan’s eyes widened. Thinking fast, he waved a hand and called out, "Dong Hai! Come see what I brought back!"
Dong Hai, oblivious to the cat’s murderous glare, turned at once, his eyes lighting up as he spotted the bamboo basket.
Lin Xin’s eyes widened in surprise as he took in the contents of the basket. He stepped a little closer, his expression thoughtful, before asking, "You brought back so much... were you hurt at all? It looks like it must have taken a lot of effort."
Han Yan smiled faintly before saying, "No, it wasn’t hard at all."
The cat sneered self-righteously, its thoughts echoing in Han Yan’s mind: It was this Great Ancestor who helped... mere mortal you are taking all the praises.
Ignoring the simmering tantrum, Han Yan turned his attention towards Lin Xin. "I’ve got something nice for you" he said, producing a delicate white flower from where he had carefully kept it. He extended it toward him with a small, gentle smile on his handsome face.
Lin Xin’s eyes widened slightly in surprise as he accepted it gently, Han Yan asked softly.
"Do you like it?"
Their gazes met and did not part. No words were exchanged, yet countless unspoken thoughts flowed between them, the moment lingered far longer than either of them realized.
Time itself seemed to slow down, stretching thin like mist caught between mountain peaks. The world around them faded into silence; even the cat and Dong Hai were completely ignored, as though they no longer existed within their little world at that instant.
A faint tension hung in the air, neither heavy nor light, but just enough to make the heart stir. In that quiet pause, it felt as if everything else had been pushed aside, leaving only the two of them standing at the center of the scene.
Lin Xin blushed fiercely, his face flushing red like a ripe tomato. His lashes trembled as he lowered his gaze to the beautiful white flower in his hands, its delicate petals catching the light.
A gentle warmth spread through his chest, stirring emotions he did not quite know how to name. Han Yan’s gesture left his heart unsteady, beating faster for reasons he refused to acknowledge.
However, that warmth was quickly mixed with worry. After a brief hesitation, Lin Xin lifted his head slightly and spoke in a rush, his words tumbling out one after another. "A-are you not going to sell it at the town market day? Why are you giving it to me?"
He did not even pause to breathe before continuing, his voice filled with concern. "Quickly, take it back. We need the money."
His face burned red, not from embarrassment alone, but from helplessness.
Avoiding Han Yan’s gaze, Lin Xin hurriedly returned the flower to him, as if afraid that holding onto such beauty for even a moment was an indulgence they could not afford.
Han Yan smiled softly and pushed the white flower back into Lin Xin’s hands. "It’s for you. Take it and no giving it back" he said, his tone gentle yet firm, leaving no room for refusal.
Seeing the worry still lingering in Lin Xin’s eyes, Han Yan continued, his voice calm and steady. "Use it to decorate our home. Even a simple place can look brighter with a little decor don’t you think so."
He paused for a moment, then added reassuringly, "I brought back many things this time. There’s no need to worry. We’ll have more than enough coins later trust me okay?"
As he spoke, his gaze held quiet confidence, as though the hardships ahead were already accounted for in his mind. The flower was no longer just a thing to be sold it had become a small promise, one of warmth, stability, and a future he fully intended to build together.
Lin Xin looked at him, and in that single gaze, all the troubles and doubts weighing on his heart were quietly swept away by his words.
The warmth in Han Yan’s voice lingered, steady and reassuring, leaving Lin Xin feeling as though he no longer needed to worry about tomorrow. He nodded unconsciously, his grip on the white flower tightening just a little.
After a brief pause, Lin Xin lifted his head and asked hesitantly, "What is this decor thing you spoke of? Is it like some kind of item?" His brows knitted together in confusion, clearly unfamiliar with the term he just said.
Han Yan froze for a heartbeat. Only then did he realize that, without thinking, he had once again spoken a strange word from his previous life.
He coughed lightly, his expression turning thoughtful as he searched for a way to explain it in terms Lin Xin could understand.
Just as he was about to speak, a sudden voice rang out beside them.
"Eh? Brother Han Yan, you caught a lot of wild game!" Dong Hai exclaimed in surprise. His eyes widened as he peered into the bamboo basket, staring at the wild game and the various items piled inside. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮
He crouched closer, unable to hide his amazement, his hands hovering over the basket as though afraid the sight would vanish if he blinked. "There’s so much... when did you manage to hunt and find all of this?"
The unexpected interruption abruptly cut short Han Yan’s explanation, shattering the quiet atmosphere that had lingered between them. Dong Hai immediately squatted down and began rummaging through the bamboo basket, his movements quick and unrestrained.
With each item he pulled into view, his eyes widened further, his mouth slightly agape as his astonishment continued to grow.
Drawn in by the commotion, Lin Xin also stepped closer. His gaze followed Dong Hai’s hands, landing on the wild game and the neatly arranged items within the basket. For a moment, he forgot his earlier embarrassment, his expression shifting to one of quiet shock.
He had known Han Yan was capable, but seeing the results laid out so plainly before him made his heart stir, the air between them grew lively once more filled with surprise, admiration, and emotions left unsaid.
The cat sat a short distance away, it’s tail flicking lazily from side to side as it watched the three humans fuss over the basket. After a long moment of being completely ignored, it let out a small, disdainful sneeze, its fur bristling slightly.
"Tch... you all really forgot about this great ancestor, didn’t you?" it mumbled displeasingly, its golden eyes narrowing in contempt.
"Busy gawking at a pile of meat and plants while this venerable one starves to death right before your eyes how heartless!"
It gave a soft huff, turning its head away with exaggerated dignity, yet after a few seconds, it couldn’t help but peek back at them, its stomach giving a faint growl.
"Hmph... fine, ignore me then," it muttered under its breath, voice dripping with resentment.
Still, no one else seemed aware. Lin Xin and Dong Hai remained completely absorbed in the basket, oblivious to the cat’s muttered complaints. Only Han Yan could hear it’s grumbles, though he simply chose to ignore them completely.
The cat, sensing its words had fallen on deaf ears, stared at the humans with a mixture of betrayal, anger, and hunger its expression one of deep, almost comical grievance.
Their little house was filled with laughter and warmth, the air carrying the simple joys of shared meals, playful teasing, and quiet moments that made even the simplest days feel bright.
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But the Han Household was very different, Madam Wei’s fury filled the room like a sudden storm. She jabbed a trembling finger at Madam Zhang, her voice sharp and relentless as she rained down curse after curse.
Each word seemed to cut through the air, leaving a trail of tension that made the walls themselves feel heavy.
But Madam Zhang was not one to remain silent under attack. Her voice rang out in defiance, sharp and uncontrolled, as she countered Madam Wei’s accusations with her own pointed words.
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