BANG!

「Three seconds later.」

"Brother Nan's has been delivered."

「Half an hour later.」

"Little Zheng's too," said Huai Xu, wiping oil from the corner of his mouth.

"Did you snag a meal there before coming back?" Zhou Li glanced at him while looking at his phone screen.

"I couldn't refuse their hospitality," Huai Xu said, waving his hands. "When I got there, they were just having dinner. They had stewed a whole duck, and I drank two full bowls of the sour soup; it was delicious. Miss Zheng told me to come over for meals more often when I'm free."

"Then you should go," Zhou Li said. "She's happy when you visit."

"How could I? All their grains and vegetables are homegrown, and the meat they eat is mostly from animals they raise themselves. It's all hard work!" Huai Xu was well aware of his appetite. "I can't go often, I really can't."

"Oh."

"Oh, she also said 'Happy Birthday' to you."

"I received that."

"She sent you a text, you know!"

"Right."

Zhou Li was still staring at his phone screen.

This year's birthday was undoubtedly the one where he received the most wishes ever. In previous years, only his family would wish him a happy birthday; his classmates and friends didn't even know when it was. He vividly remembered in his second year of high school when his deskmate and the girl who sat in front of him in his third year, known as the Two Golden Flowers, had asked him his birthday. He had vaguely said it was around New Year's.

He didn't really want to receive others' wishes—first, because it felt troublesome, and second, because he didn't want to interact too much with them.

Sometimes kindness can be heavy too.

When classmates had birthday parties and invited others for meals, he had almost never attended. Of course, he was rarely invited either.

Brother Nan's that time was an exception.

However, this year he had posted a status update with a photo taken by Zhu Shuang of his family and Tuanzi around a table sharing a cake, announcing to everyone that he was now nineteen.

A record of his journey growing up.

It received many responses. Some were similar wishes. Others commented on how good-looking his family was, complimented Aunt Jiang's cooking skills, or questioned whether they could finish such a large cake. Some even recognized at a glance that Zhu Shuang and Zhu Bing were twins.

And some had very odd points of focus.

He replied to every single one.

Maybe it wasn't so troublesome after all?

Brother Nan was right; he really had become much more cheerful. Perhaps many people had contributed to this change.

Even his high school homeroom teacher sent him birthday wishes.

Zhou Li thanked her.

Some people didn't comment under his post but chose to message him directly.

This was slightly more troublesome, but fortunately, it was still manageable. Regardless, Zhou Li still felt happy.

Baozi: Happy birthday, Cousin!

Zhou Li: Send a red packet.

Baozi: May you grow even more handsome 😊

Zhou Li: Thanks.

Baozi: You're welcome.

Zhou Li: Send a red packet.

Baozi: Cousin!

Zhou Li: What's up?

Baozi: I'm begging you!

Zhou Li: ?

Baozi: Come on, be a decent human being!

Zhou Li: Can't you type a whole sentence at once?

Baozi: I'm so

Baozi: broke right now.

Baozi: I'm just

Baozi: waiting for school to start

Baozi: so I can get my allowance and buy a new lens.

Baozi: Oh, by the way…

Baozi: [Red Packet]

You received a red packet from your friend Baozi.

0.88 yuan.

Zhou Li pursed his lips. Something was better than nothing, he figured.

Zhou Li: Thanks.

Baozi: Cousin, I'm a bit short for my lens. Lend me a thousand yuan, and I'll pay you back once I get my allowance after school starts.

Zhou Li: How come you're so coherent all of a sudden?

Baozi: I'm begging you 😭

Zhou Li: …Alipay.

Zhou Li quietly opened Alipay and transferred the money. Afterward, he didn't forget to check his Yu'E Bao earnings. This year, Yu'E Bao wasn't doing well; the daily earnings on a ten-thousand-yuan investment were less than five mao, so one thousand yuan yielded less than five fen.

Ten days, five mao.

One month, one yuan and five mao.

Given this trend, Zhou Li felt it would be good if school could reopen before May... This red packet really felt like a bit of a loss.

Baozi: Thanks, Cousin!

Baozi: I can buy the lens in advance now!

Baozi: I'll treat you to a meal once school starts.

Baozi: Cafeteria.

Baozi: First floor.

Zhou Li sent a string of ellipses in response.

Baozi didn't reply.

He then continued chatting with Brother Nan. Brother Nan had seen his post and mentioned that he looked quite handsome when he smiled, but the crown, combined with the "artsy" filter Zhu Shuang used, made him look a bit effeminate.

He took the time to reply to other people's wishes.

Aunt Jiang and Old Zhou both sent him red packets via WeChat. Other than that, WeChat was very quiet, so he mostly used QQ.

He did, however, reach out to Hong Ran through WeChat, hoping for a red packet. But Hong Ran hadn't responded, presumably busy. Recently, the number of Demon awakenings had peaked, and with Hong Ran taking on the Demon King's duties, she was evidently at her busiest.

SCRATCH, SCRATCH, SCRATCH…

The door made a slight scratching sound again.

Zhou Li went to open the door and let Tuanzi in.

Tuanzi tilted her head up and complained seriously, "Why are you always locking Lord Dumpling outside?"

"It's all Huai Xu's fault."

"It's all Huai Xu's fault."

"That's enough, you two…"

Huai Xu was engrossed in demolishing the cake. Most of it quickly disappeared into his mouth, leaving only a small piece. Tuanzi hopped onto the bed, lay down, and stared wide-eyed at Huai Xu eating, her expression somewhat horrified.

"BURP! All done!" Huai Xu said contentedly.

"Is it tasty?" Tuanzi asked tentatively.

"Tasty."

"Is it poisoned?"

"Why would it be poisoned?"

"It smells like it shouldn't be eaten," Tuanzi said seriously.

"It smells bad but tastes good. How do I explain it to you? Have you ever tried stinky tofu?" Huai Xu said to Tuanzi.

"Stop talking in Lord Dumpling's direction," Tuanzi said, turning her head away in disgust.

"I'll talk if I want to!"

"Stinky tofu… is that the black, mushy stuff that looks like what a regular cat might poop?" Tuanzi, still turned away, stood up after speaking and took two steps back, distancing herself from Huai Xu.

"…Suddenly, I don't think it's tasty anymore either."

"Lord Dumpling needs a nap now. You guys better not make noise in the room, and don't eat that stuff anymore either."

"Durian," Zhou Li said, looking at Tuanzi. "That's called durian."

"Bull year."

As expected.

A smile appeared on Zhou Li's face.

Huai Xu, however, completely ignored Tuanzi. He lay down on the bed, pulled out his phone, and eyeing Zhou Li, said, "Come on, let's play a game."

"Have you written your weekly journal?"

"???"

"Okay."

Zhou Li quietly pulled out his phone.

Huai Xu felt that eating was also physically taxing; he always felt exhausted after a meal. But he was still fiddling with his phone. "I invited you. Hey, by the way, go outside and get me a can of Coke."

As he spoke, he glanced out the window. "The weather's so nice today. How can we play games without a drink…"

He glanced sideways out of the corner of his eye.

Tuanzi was protesting, her fluffy paws pressed against him, silently exerting all her might to push him off the bed.

Too bad he wasn't Zhou Li; he wouldn't cooperate with her act.

「A minute later.」

Zhou Li went out and brought the Coke in.

Huai Xu, however, was holding Zhou Li's phone out to him. "You have a call, unknown number. Might be your mom or someone."

Zhou Li picked up his phone and answered.

An unfamiliar voice came from the other end, immediately refuting Huai Xu's guess.

Another small job.

After hanging up, Huai Xu remarked, "That promotion by Jiang is really working, huh? It's only been a few days, and someone else has already contacted us. Looks like we'll be big and strong soon. Then we can recruit more Heavenly Masters, set up a chain of stores, monopolize the nation's Demon business, and then we can exploit those silly Heavenly Masters… What do you think about calling it the Great Devil King Exorcism Company?"

Zhou Li asked, "Does this one involve ghosts?"

"Fake!" Huai Xu said, lazily fiddling with the phone in his hand. "It's either an illusion caused by Demons, or, tsk, that person might have a bit of a screw loose… Hurry up, cut the chatter. I've invited you."

"Oh."

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