Chapter 94: Replication Experiment 18
Yi Ke’s psychological trauma healed very quickly this time. On the first day, he threw up just from drinking water, but by the fifth day, he could clean a local chicken and prepare to stir-fry it without batting an eye, simply because Zhuang Ningyu wanted to eat it. When he went for psychological counseling, even the therapist was surprised by his stability. She reviewed his questionnaire repeatedly before asking cautiously, “Can I meet your partner?”
“I’m sorry, it’s not very convenient.”
Considering that his psychological state was indeed fine and didn’t require further treatment, Yi Ke didn’t truthfully write down the “super perfect sex life” of the past two days. However, he couldn’t just recover without reason and abruptly terminate the sessions. So, he could only summarize broadly on the questionnaire: After engaging in deep communication about human nature with my lover, the trauma accumulated in my heart healed, the tense emotions began to alleviate, and my state of mind gradually became peaceful and serene.
Zhuang Ningyu, sitting by the computer keeping him company, asked in confusion, “Why can’t you just attribute it to the effectiveness of the conversation with the therapist? Why make up all this nonsense?”
Yi Ke continued to type away furiously, filling out the questionnaire. “Because I really wasn’t cured by the therapist. Besides, Qing Gang said it takes at least twenty sessions with her to recover. I only went twice, and I was too busy feeling nauseous to listen to anything. I can’t give an objective evaluation of her sessions.”
Zhuang Ningyu patted his head. You’re quite responsible.
The other team members were also amazed at Yi Ke’s recovery speed. Everyone had thought that Little Yi, as an intern who hadn’t seen much of the world, having been forced to sift through documents for half a day under the pressure of the whole team amidst bloody mutated monsters, would need at least three months of eating steamed buns and vegetables to recover. Yet, he hadn’t even finished his counseling sessions before he was happily off to the supermarket to buy fresh chicken?
“I heard it’s all thanks to Little Yi’s wife.”
“Is his wife a psychotherapist?”
“Don’t know, never heard him mention it. Probably not?”
“Definitely not.” Qing Gang analyzed based on his rich experience. “With Little Yi’s family background and appearance, it’s impossible for him to marry a psychotherapist with a decent income, stable emotions, and zero angst points.”
Zhong Mu silently raised both hands to cover her ears.
Qing Gang continued, “He would either marry a pure and innocent ‘little white flower’ with a tragic background who desperately needs money but still refuses to give up love for a million-dollar check, or the daughter of a conglomerate CEO with a net worth of over a hundred million, matched in status but with no emotional foundation.”
The other colleagues applauded one after another. You know too much! You understand rich people too well! It’s very thorough!
Zhong Mu: Does having a fool for a colleague count as a work-related injury?
But whether it was a pure “little white flower” or a billionaire heiress, everyone could agree on at least one thing: Little Yi’s wife must be a super beauty.
Yi Ke turned his head and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Zhuang Ningyu sat on the sofa holding ice cream and replied, “Suddenly felt a chill down my back.”
“Stop eating.” Yi Ke took away the half-eaten cup of ice cream, warmed Zhuang Ningyu’s hands with his own, and leaned his head in.
“What are you doing?” Zhuang Ningyu leaned back defensively.
Yi Ke relentlessly pressed closer, licking a bit of strawberry jam from the corner of his lips. “Why do I feel like you’re avoiding me?”
You have the nerve to ask. Zhuang Ningyu kicked him away. To this day, the blue bruises on his waist hadn’t completely faded, nor had those on his legs, neck, and especially his chest. The price of feeding the puppy was lying in bed with a sore back for two whole days, during which he almost impulsively ordered a three-thousand-yuan “elderly bedridden assist electric nursing mattress.”
Yi Ke grabbed his ankle and forcibly pulled him back. His hand slipped under the pajamas, his palm pressing and kneading the sorest part of the waist. He wasn’t a professional masseur and hadn’t studied meridian therapy, yet he could always pinpoint exactly where to make Zhuang Ningyu relax completely. As he massaged, Yi Ke could distinctly feel the body in his arms stretching out bit by bit, from vigilant tension to softening completely into a small ball.
He couldn’t help but chuckle. Zhuang Ningyu looked up and asked doubtfully, “Why are you laughing?”
Yi Ke didn’t answer, only lowering his head to kiss him. “Really like a cat. Are you hungry?”
What do you mean, ‘really like a cat’? Upon hearing this, Zhuang Ningyu swapped the shrimp and mandarin fish in the planned menu for German dark bread with grape salad, expressing a mild protest. However, Yi Ke refused to prepare a sacramental meal and continued cooking up a storm in the kitchen. Amidst the clatter of pots and pans, Zhuang Ningyu lay on the sofa lazily flipping through a book until he heard Yi Ke start placing dishes on the dining table, at which point he put on his slippers to go help.
On the small dining table sat pepper lemon shrimp, cold shredded salad, mushroom casserole, and a fish shaped like a flower basket. A fish shaped like a flower basket. He asked in shock, “Is this a pre-prepared meal?”
Yi Ke immediately ran out of the kitchen wielding a spatula. How could I possibly let you eat pre-prepared meals? Only the hot and sour chicken giblets from the ‘Good Sister Chicken Giblets Restaurant’ opposite the research group is a pre-prepared meal, and you keep sneaking off to eat there! I’ve told you so many times the hygiene is bad. The food safety rating sticker on the wall is a giant ‘C’, not even a ‘B’! You are not allowed to go there anymore!
Zhuang Ningyu: “…Okay, okay, okay, I won’t go anymore. calm down first.”
Yi Ke returned to the kitchen with his spatula; there was still one soup left to finish.
Zhuang Ningyu held up his phone and took a picture of the complex-shaped fish. His chair was new. Due to the special circumstances of the past two days, he had originally planned to buy a 9.9 yuan cotton chair cushion (free shipping) from Taobao. However, Yi Ke refused and personally drove to the mall to haul back a dining chair priced at fifty thousand yuan. Zhuang Ningyu tried sitting on it for a while, then looked up at him and gave an honest evaluation: “It’s not very soft either.”
Yi Ke: “Then buy that 9.9 yuan cushion again. Are there any more expensive ones?”
Zhuang Ningyu: “After buying it, can this chair be returned?”
Yi Ke: “No!”
When the young master bought things for his wife, he only picked the expensive ones; whether they were right or not was another matter. So, Zhuang Ningyu now owned this expensive dining chair worth fifty thousand and nine point nine yuan. The fifty thousand was reflected in its solid materials and immense weight—its four legs seemed rooted into the wooden floor, requiring Yi Ke to help move it every time the person with the sore waist ate. The nine point nine was reflected in the thick and soft cushion, which perfectly understood user pain points—a truly conscientious cushion!
“Taste it.” Yi Ke handed him chopsticks.
Zhuang Ningyu went straight for the fish shaped like a flower basket. It was crispy, boneless, not as sweet as restaurant versions, with a thin glaze and an added handful of pine nuts, making it fragrant.
Yi Ke was very satisfied with himself. Feeding wife, I’m indeed very skilled. Great!
Zhuang Ningyu finished almost the entire fish. Even lying in bed that night, he was still looking at the photo and savoring the memory, feeling that even the beef skewers at the night market downstairs were nothing special in comparison. After showering, Yi Ke closed the window tight, and wrapped in the scent of body wash, pressed close from behind, hugging him. He said smugly, “If you like it, Hubby will make it for you again tomorrow.”
Zhuang Ningyu put down his phone, turned around to wrap his arms around Yi Ke’s neck, and they exchanged a lingering goodnight kiss. The bedside lamp went out. Yi Ke held him, patting his back rhythmically to lull him to sleep. Before bed, Zhuang Ningyu had received an email—a further analysis report on Xinyin Biology from the investigation team. He wanted to finish it before tomorrow’s meeting but didn’t want Yi Ke to stay up late with him. So, he lay quietly, planning to sneak into the living room to continue reading the document after the other fell asleep.
As the night deepened, Yi Ke gently released the person in his arms. He didn’t go to the bathroom but went to the living room instead. He seemed to be opening drawers and rummaging for something in the dark; the light from his phone flashlight occasionally swept past the bedroom door. Zhuang Ningyu frowned slightly and silently followed him out. He saw Yi Ke sneaking around, squatting by the coffee table, his tall figure looking particularly conspicuous in the dark.
Click. Zhuang Ningyu switched on the light.
The sudden brightness startled Yi Ke. The medicine bottle in his hand fell to the floor, and sticky ointment splattered everywhere. He quickly picked it up, scrambling to pull out tissues to wipe it, and asked in surprise, “Why are you awake?”
The smell of the ointment was very familiar, carrying a hint of sesame oil. Zhuang Ningyu walked up, took his left hand, and saw that the blisters caused by hot oil had been popped, leaving only a string of broken skin. Yi Ke retracted his fingers and explained, “I wasn’t careful when frying the fish.”
“Why didn’t you say anything during dinner?” Zhuang Ningyu pulled him to sit on the sofa, took a cotton swab, and continued applying the medicine.
“It’s not serious,” Yi Ke obediently held up his hand. “If I said it, my wife would worry about me.”
“You think too much.” Zhuang Ningyu helped him bandage his finger. “Such a small injury isn’t worth worrying about.”
Yi Ke tilted his head. “Really?”
Zhuang Ningyu: “Sit still!”
Yi Ke smiled, ignoring the struggle to forcibly hug him tight, and kissed his slightly red eyes. “I told you it’s fine. Come, let’s go back to sleep.”
Zhuang Ningyu didn’t get up again that night. He stayed with Yi Ke for the sake of that small injury on his hand and the airtight love. Early the next morning, he got up to make sandwiches and drove Yi Ke to the Order Maintenance Department before going to work himself. Qing Gang put his arm around his younger brother as they walked into the unit. “Why did Captain Zhuang personally drive you to work today?”
Yi Ke asked back, “What do you think?”
What is there to think? They bumped into each other, and it was on the way. Qing Gang felt his answer was perfectly correct.
Yi Ke took a sandwich out of his lunch bag and started eating it right in front of him.
For the hundred and first time, Qing Gang began to envy Little Yi’s all-capable wife.
Zhuang Ningyu also entered the meeting room gnawing on a sandwich, casually handing one to He Mo. “Why are you speaking French? Who was on the phone?”
“Ai Deyang,” He Mo said. “Fu Han got swept into the Rules Zone this time, and his friends are in charge of the rescue.”
Although He Mo had heard rumors about Fu Han’s improper intentions in emotional matters, if not for Xinyin Biology’s Rules Zone this time, he really wouldn’t have been interested in this domineering CEO who looked like a cold elite. Zhuang Ningyu asked, “Is there any progress in Europe?”
“No, the white fog won’t disperse, and no signal has come out,” He Mo said. “Ai Deyang said Fu Han’s brother, Fu Dong, seems to want to send another rescue team in. The boat is already ready at the dock, but their father urgently stopped it.”
“A rescue team sent by Fu Dong is nine out of ten times not for rescue,” Zhuang Ningyu said. “If you have connections, pass a message to Fu Han’s friends. Tell them to guard the Rules Zone well. The Fu brothers don’t get along, and Fu Dong isn’t without precedent for killing people inside a Rules Zone. He has significant ties with the Invisible Giant.”
“Okay, I’ll handle it.” He Mo first made a tsk sound, then placed both hands on Zhuang Ningyu’s shoulders, speaking as if fearing the world wasn’t chaotic enough, “These rich people are indeed restless, fighting to the death every day for a bit of family property. But I think Little Yi is okay. In the future, when you marry into a wealthy family with great fanfare—Ow!”
Zhuang Ningyu retracted his fist. “Meeting.”
