Boson looked utterly speechless. Is size the only way you tell us apart?
Little Egg hugged Boson for a long time before finally emerging from her embrace. Her big eyes settled on Jiang Nan, carrying a trace of fear.
Yet she still held out the bottle of Lao Da Ma chilli sauce, then turned it upside down.
Little Egg: None~ (•̥́﹏•̀ू)
The bottle had been shaken completely empty. Even the little spoon in her hand had been licked spotless.
Jiang Nan was stunned. Eating it neat?
So obsessed with chilli sauce? Not even with a steamed bun or roll to go with it?
Jiang Nan gave a radiant smile and hauled an entire case of Lao Da Ma chilli sauce out of alternate space, setting it in front of her.
“From now on, you can have as much as you like. Haha.”
Little Egg’s eyes sparkled with delight. She looked overjoyed and made a thank-you gesture towards Jiang Nan.
Then she pulled out one bottle and offered it to Boson like a treasure. “Here~”
Boson’s eyes brimmed with tenderness. She gently rubbed Little Egg’s head.
“Choosing to trust you was the most correct decision I have ever made in my life.”
“I suddenly find myself looking forward to the days ahead.”
Jiang Nan rubbed his nose, a little embarrassed. “Come on. Let us find a place for you two to call home.”
The three of them discovered a garden villa in the An City ruins, covered in climbing tigers and seemingly merged with nature.
They then contacted Han Menglu to manipulate the Toy House core and relocate the villa to a picturesque little mountain valley, making it their new home.
Furniture and everything else would be arranged through Han Menglu later.
Gazing at the garden villa before them, Boson smiled, her big eyes filled with contentment.
Abruptly, she said, “Give us both names. Think of it as a gift to mark the start of our new life.”
The two Bosons had no names, because they had never needed them.
But since they had chosen to blend into the human world, they would follow its rules.
Jiang Nan stroked his chin, looking at the pair with a thoughtful expression. “I need to give this proper thought.”
Boson lowered her head, twisting her fingers, her pretty face faintly pink. “Could we take the surname Jiang?”
Jiang Nan paused. His own surname Jiang came from being found in Jiang City.
He did not even know his father’s surname.
They want to share my surname?
For some reason, warmth spread through Jiang Nan’s heart.
“Hehe. Of course. Wait, I have got your names.”
Both Bosons looked expectant.
“What are they?”
Jiang Nan beamed with pride. “You will be Jiang Mugua, and she will be Jiang Hebao. What do you think? Very distinctive, right?”
“I really am a little genius.”
[Resentment value from Jiang Mugua +1000!]
[From Jiang Mugua…]
Boson clenched her teeth, glaring at Jiang Nan.
What sort of nonsense are Mugua and Hebao?
Aaaah. Can you be serious for once? I am being completely serious here.
Little Egg happily spun in circles on the spot.
“Jiang Hebao. Yippee~”
Jiang Nan nodded approvingly. “See? She loves it.”
Boson’s face darkened. “What kind of nonsense is Hebao? We are not using that. It sounds dreadful. Come up with new ones, or do not even think of leaving.”
Jiang Nan looked troubled. They were such nice names. How could they sound dreadful?
“Jiang Dajiao? Jiang Lajiang?”
Little Egg: “Jiang Lajiang. Yippee~”
Boson: “Crunch~!!!”
Little genius? You are a naming disaster.
I refuse to be called Jiang Big Horn.
“By the way, why does she have two horns, when you only have one?”
Boson replied irritably, “Her parents were probably from the upper clan… Hurry up and name us properly.”
Jiang Nan shrank back. If I do not come up with something soon, the unicorn big sister might actually hit me.
“You will be Jiang Ning. Little Egg will be Jiang Jing.”
“Peace and tranquillity. May you both find a peaceful home in this world.”
Boson paused, then smiled. “Jiang Ning? That sounds lovely. We will go with that.”
Little Egg: (｡í‸ì｡) Jiang Lajiang…
[Resentment value from Jiang Ning +233!]
It seemed Little Egg was not especially fond of Jiang Jing. She still preferred Jiang Lajiang…
After saying goodbye to Jiang Ning and Jiang Jing, Jiang Nan headed back, feeling utterly content.
In future, if she wanted to see him, Jiang Ning could simply slip out of the Toy House. It was very convenient.
It was just that Jiang Ning seemed reluctant to speak much about her past.
For instance, why she had been exiled, or why Jiang Jing had been abandoned in the Toy House.
What did “upper clan” even mean?
What sort of existence was the Boson race?
Yang Jian, Ye Zhenguo, and the others who had lived through the Spirit Calamity knew something, yet none were willing to say more.
Jiang Nan naturally did not press them.
He only cared about the here and now. At least he was satisfied with this outcome.
The moment he stepped out of the Toy House, he saw Zhong Yingxue, Xia Yao, and the others waiting outside.
They were still in training gear, glistening with fragrant sweat and steaming in the cool air. Da Lang Mie’s silver cropped hair was damp with perspiration.
The instant they spotted Jiang Nan emerging, their eyes lit up with pure joy.
They dashed over and flung themselves at him.
“Hey ya~ Xiao Nan.”
“You are back. So good.”
One on each side, they wrapped Jiang Nan in a tight embrace, as though terrified he might vanish if they let go.
｜)`ヮ´(｜
Jiang Nan’s face was squashed out of shape, yet he felt nothing but warmth.
He could even hear the racing heartbeats of Xue Xue and Lang Mie.
Wow. Da Lang Mie is still so impressive.
Xue Xue has grown too. Thumbs up, thumbs up.
Xia Yao giggled. “Warm enough?”
Jiang Nan nodded vigorously. “Mm mm. Very warm.”
“Then this time you finally know what a hot dish is, right?”
Jiang Nan froze, then his face flushed crimson. His heart nearly burst.
“This dish is far too fragrant.”
Zhong Yingxue’s pretty face turned scarlet, her lashes fluttering. “Yao Yao, stop teasing Xiao Nan. Dinner is ready at home. We have been waiting for you, or it will go cold.”
Warmth flooded Jiang Nan’s heart. Noticing the faint shadows under Zhong Yingxue’s eyes, he felt a pang of heartache.
She probably had not slept properly ever since Old Brother Ye and Zhu Ye left the academy for the United States.
“Come on. Let us go home and eat.”
As they turned to leave, they spotted Wu Liang nearby in a tailcoat and bow tie. His entire bearing suddenly stood out.
He cradled a bouquet in his hands.
Jiang Nan’s eyes brightened. Wu Liang looked sharp in that outfit. A touch below me, perhaps, but still plenty handsome.
He must have prepared carefully in secret for this first meeting.
“Eh? What flowers has Wu Liang got? Why are they green?”
Xia Yao looked speechless. “Flowers? Broccoli. I told the big oaf to buy ninety-nine roses. Girls love that, it is romantic. But Wu Liang refused.”
Zhong Yingxue snickered. “He went to the vegetable market first thing this morning and hand-picked ninety-nine heads of broccoli. Does Tie Niu like broccoli?”
Jiang Nan was dumbfounded.
What girl would want her sweetheart to give her broccoli?
Big guy. What on earth were you thinking?
Even if Tie Niu is unusual, broccoli is not the way.
This first meeting might end in disaster. Jiang Nan panicked and was about to call out.
Wu Liang, face flushed with excitement, cried, “Miao Miao.”
Tie Niu paused. Her gaze landed on Wu Liang, eyes lighting up. “Xiong Xiong~”
She strode forward, twin braids bouncing merrily.
She crashed straight into Wu Liang’s arms.
Bang.
A dull thud. Wu Liang’s face paled. He drew a deep breath, colour returning.
Jiang Nan swallowed hard. That impact must have caused internal injury.
At that moment, Xiao Chuohuo, Guan Hu, and the others stood stunned. Miao Miao?
What was going on? This two-metre-tall, braided muscle mountain had such an adorable name?
And she had thrown herself into Wu Liang’s arms? This, this…
Xiao Chuohuo fumed. “Young people these days are all wrong. Male with male… how can that possibly work?”
Guan Hu added, “The academy does not oppose relationships, but you cannot go too far.”
“Jiang Nan. You need to talk some sense into your mate.”
Tao Xinyi’s pretty face flushed, eyes gleaming at Wu Liang and Tie Niu, her inner fujoshi blazing. “Oh ho? Oh ho ho~”
Jiang Nan gave a wry smile. “Lin Miaoke. Active-duty Night Army. Platinum-grade meat tank. Codename Tie Niu. She is a girl.”
Xiao Chuohuo’s eyes bulged, nearly fainting. Guan Hu coughed violently, almost spitting out his gold teeth.
A girl? How could this possibly be a girl? The whole vibe is wrong.
Tao Xinyi looked deeply disappointed.
Wu Liang held Tie Niu, eyes tender. “For you. Do you like it?”
Tie Niu stared at the ninety-nine broccoli heads, face darkening.
“This is what you give me?”
Broccoli, of all things. After all my anticipation.
Wu Liang spoke gravely. “If I gave you roses, they would only sit there, and roses eventually wither.”
“These ninety-nine broccoli heads represent my longing for you. They are flowers, yet also vegetables. Tonight we will eat them.”
“Let my longing for you merge with your stomach, your body, rather than leave it to wither quietly aside.”
“Miao Miao. Do you understand my heart?”
Tie Niu froze, looking from the broccoli to Wu Liang’s earnest face. Tears welled in her eyes.
“Xiong Xiong~ You are so thoughtful, such a good man, so good at making a home.”
“Do you like it?”
“I like it. I like it most of all. This means far more than any ninety-nine roses. It is the best gift I have ever received.”
Jiang Nan: ∑(๑°口°)
Xia Yao: ∑(๐º△º)
Zhong Yingxue: =͟͟͞͞(꒪ᗜ꒪‧̣̥̇)
This… this actually works?
What sort of iron-clad straight-man romance is this?
A bunch of broccoli, and you managed to make it touching.
Who would have thought the usually blockheaded Wu Liang had such a soft heart…
Wu Liang grinned. “Eat one. There is a surprise.”
Tie Niu, eyes shy and bright, plucked a head of broccoli and crunched it. So crisp…
Beneath the ninety-nine heads, she spotted a hotel key card.
Her pretty face instantly flared red.
Wu Liang raised a brow. “Like it, Miao Miao?”
Tie Niu’s ears burned crimson. She twisted coyly, her sandpot-sized fist thumping Wu Liang’s chest.
Boom.
“Xiong Xiong, you naughty thing~”
Wu Liang’s eyes bulged, face turning liver-purple. A mouthful of blood rose in his throat, forcibly swallowed back.
Jiang Nan’s face went pale. So this is legendary girl power?
“Cough cough~ So… did you bring your ID?”
Tie Niu, face flushed, nodded. “I did. I have three days’ leave. Let us find somewhere to eat the broccoli.”
Wu Liang laughed heartily. “Good, good, good. Your man is taking you to eat broccoli right now.”
He turned back. “Nan Ge. I am not coming back tonight. No need to leave the door open.”
Jiang Nan covered his face, flicked open a space wormhole, and stuffed a bottle of Dali and a bundle of chives into Wu Liang’s arms.
Wu Liang looked touched. That is my Nan Ge.
Watching Wu Liang’s departing figure, Jiang Nan sighed. “A love others can only envy.”
Xia Yao pouted, nudging Jiang Nan with her shoulder. “Look at your big mate. Take a leaf out of his book.”
Jiang Nan grinned. “Fancy some broccoli too, do you?”
Xia Yao: (≖‸≖๐)
[Resentment value from Xia Yao +233!]
