Chapter 2327 - 1934: Datian’s Villa

Chapter 2327: Chapter 1934: Datian’s Villa

After washing up again, Song Tan still ended up yanking the soundly sleeping Datian out of bed.

"How did this thing end up in our home?"

So now it’s "our home," huh?

Somehow, those three homely words coming out of Song Tan’s mouth had such a lived-in feel that Lun Chuan, leaning against the doorframe, couldn’t help but let a smile slip.

Then he looked at the chubby, helpless Datian hanging limply by its four limbs and cleared his throat: "It’s too honest. It keeps getting beaten up at home and doesn’t eat well either."

"Mainly, I’m afraid Qiaoqiao will feel bad when he goes back and sees it."

Song Tan: "..."

Has it occurred to you that what you’re raising is a field mouse, not a hamster? You’re a field mouse getting your ass kicked every day—don’t you feel even a little ashamed?

She looked again at the luxury villa on the little balcony outside the bedroom—honestly, when you spend money in the right place, everything looks good. This was way more respectable than the straw-lined shoebox back home.

Just look at the way that field mouse was lying spread-eagled in its sleep—you could tell.

But Lun Chuan was still dissatisfied: "This little balcony is usually too quiet. With just one mouse in there, it might get a bit lonely. Tomorrow I’ll clear out a cabinet in the living room and put the villa on top. Once it hears us talking and walking around, it should adapt much better."

Song Tan lifted it up and gave it another shake—

Datian had clearly been bullied for too long; the aura of "I’ve totally given up" was obvious. She could shake all she wanted; its body went limp, four limbs dangling, swaying however she shook it.

No matter how she looked, Song Tan just couldn’t see where exactly this floppy little field mouse felt the slightest bit uncomfortable or unadapted.

But to be fair, this mouse villa really was beautiful; it would look perfectly fine even sitting in the living room.

"Fine then!" For Qiaoqiao’s sake, and to let this mouse live the good life for a few days.

"But it really can’t get any fatter—do they sell those little harness leashes for pet hamsters online? I’ll buy one later and take it out for walks."

It’s a pet—you have to let it get in touch with its natural environment!

Lun Chuan: ...

Fine, fine!

Actually, Datian looked very presentable now. Its fur had mutated into a bright golden color; you couldn’t see even a trace of its old field-mouse background.

Plus it was soft and plump from all the good food, sleek and shiny—wherever it went, people would have to compliment its fine condition. Only, if they were really going to take it out on a leash for a walk...

Well, this is the Imperial City after all—what can’t it tolerate?

He reached out to take Datian back, gently soothing its (maybe or maybe not) frightened body, then carefully set it back in the villa.

Datian lazily climbed up on the wheel, ran two circles, then slid down smoothly and burrowed completely into the bedding.

Even Lun Chuan was left speechless by that level of laziness.

After a while he agreed: "I’ll go online right now and see if there are any harness leashes."

Besides that, that whole pile of sauce in the trunk needed dealing with too.

They were keeping two boxes for themselves, but there was still so much left; they had to send it over to Xiaoyang.

So Lun Chuan asked, "Do you want to go see Qiaoqiao?"

Song Tan thought about it, then shook her head. No. A call every few days was enough—just to know he was doing well. When you drop off the pickles, just tell Xiaoyang and have him arrange to pick them up. Otherwise, if Qiaoqiao knows the two of them are right nearby, he’ll develop that reliance again without even realizing it. But speaking of which, Qiaoqiao living on his own... He really can handle it, right?

Lun Chuan thought it over. It’s fine, I’ll use the excuse of coming back to the Imperial City to take care of some business and check in on him then. These days, when parents drop their kids off at university, they still have to check out the dorm environment and meet the roommates. I’ll go see where he’s staying and tell you when I get back.

Only then did Song Tan really relax.

She glanced around the apartment, which, though tidied up, still felt quite empty, then perked herself up:

"Come on, when are we going to check out the big-city malls?"

Lun Chuan laughed: "We really have to wait till I’ve dropped off the sauces. With the trunk packed full like that, it’s a pain to be driving all over the place."

For now, this was his only car in the Imperial City.

Which was just fine.

Song Tan had picked up some parenting knowledge from Xin Jun as well.

For a boy like Qiaoqiao, there might still be a need for a father figure he could lean on in his life. Song Sancheng had done a great job, but now that they were far from home, there was only so much he could do from a distance.

Now that it was Lun Chuan taking over, the care and guidance he gave would probably be completely different from what an older sister could provide.

She picked up her phone: "I’ll give him a call."

...

Xiaoyang was still in the middle of military training.

Their university was pretty hardcore, and their military training was arranged to be extra hardcore as well. By the end of the day, people were too tired to even breathe, let alone run back and forth.

And during military training, they weren’t allowed out of the campus at all. The surprise inspections were so strict that if your quilt wasn’t perfectly folded, lying on the bed would cost you points!

And with his already not-so-big frame, he was considered okay-sized in the south, but in a dorm full of towering northern guys, he just looked even more skinny and delicate.

But even so, Xiaoyang still naturally became the boss.

To be honest, not only the boss—out of the four roommates, three were willing to swear themselves in as his godsons.

The line at the canteen entrance had just been dismissed, and their little group had plopped down along the corridor, looking exactly like a bunch of down-and-out students waiting to be fed.

The instructor had been watching them for a while.

He walked over now, face dark: "What’s with you guys? There’s another training session in half an hour. If you don’t eat now, you won’t make it in time."

Just look at that—the line inside had already gotten so long.

Xiaoyang hurriedly said, "Instructor, my family’s bringing me food. We’re just waiting here for a bit."

Tsk!

What kind of young master attitude was that?

There were plenty of powerful, well-connected people in the Imperial City. At the very least, they’d go upstairs and order a few stir-fries, or just get a private room upstairs. How did it get to the point of having family deliver food?

Was this one of those high-score, low-ability poor young masters?

Just as he was thinking that, three towering northern guys had already jumped to their feet, waving enthusiastically at the distant crowd:

"Bro!"

"Qiaoqiao!"

"Baby!"

"We’re over here!"*3

As they shouted, they heaved their heavy bodies forward, wanting to go a few steps to meet him.

The instructor followed their gaze and saw that from among the sea of tanned military trainees, a tall, handsome, and unusually fair-skinned boy had stepped out. He was carrying a huge backpack and was squeezing his way through the crowd:

"Xiaoyang!"

"Hi, brother!"

All right, all right, all right!

The lads swarmed around him like they were welcoming the Queen Mother of the West, helping him take off the backpack while fussing over him: "Told you, just bring it in a plastic bag, that’s enough. Isn’t it hot carrying that on your back? How heavy is it!"

Someone was already slinging an arm around Qiaoqiao’s shoulders, steering him toward the canteen:

"It’s too sunny. Bro, why didn’t you bring an umbrella? Your skin’s gonna peel later. Come on, let’s go sit in the air-con."

Only Xiaoyang paused, then, ever the smooth talker, turned back to the instructor:

"Instructor, since he’s already here—and you haven’t eaten yet, right? Why don’t you join us?"

He said proudly, "My bro’s cooking is amazing!"

The instructor didn’t agree right away, his gaze still following Qiaoqiao—already being swept forward by the crowd—then he looked Xiaoyang up and down:

"You two... are real brothers?"