Agreed to Just Once - Chapter 5: The Uncontrollable Mouth
Chapter 5: The Uncontrollable Mouth
No.
Not allowed.
I said it was only once.
He Wenshuo had been thoroughly rejected. That night, lying in bed at home, he stared at the ceiling filled with regret.
If only he hadn’t been so firm in his promise to Jiang Yinian last time.
Now there was no room for negotiation.
However… fortunately, he understood Jiang Yinian well enough.
Although Jiang Yinian was a man of strong principles, under certain circumstances, those principles weren’t completely unbreakable.
Early morning.
As soon as Jiang Yinian got up and left his room, he saw He Wenshuo and his grandmother already seated at the dining table.
This wasn’t surprising.
Out of seven days a week, He Wenshuo had breakfast at their dining table five days.
Morning.
He Wenshuo turned to greet Jiang Yinian, then presented his plate. Today’s breakfast is Deluxe Sandwich.
Jiang Yinian turned away to wash up first: Hmm.
Grandma Jiang was also holding a thick sandwich, marveling: I could never make these things you young people like to eat.
It looked convenient, but actually making it wasn’t easy at all – toasting bread, frying eggs, cooking meat, and cutting vegetables took quite some effort.
He Wenshuo: Don’t worry, Grandma. I know how. I’ll make it for you next time.
After washing up, Jiang Yinian returned to the dining table and found that a thick sandwich had already been placed on the plate at his usual seat.
It was indeed a Deluxe Sandwich – made with his favorite bread, perfectly fried ham, double eggs topped with fresh vegetables, and generously dressed with sauce. Perfect for breakfast.
Jiang Yinian picked up the sandwich without changing his expression.
However.
How could he not know what He Wenshuo was up to? It was obviously about yesterday’s matter – that so-called checking for omissions was just another attempt to use him as a shield.
Last time was one thing, but this time, he absolutely wouldn’t agree no matter what.
He Wenshuo had already finished his own breakfast and thoughtfully pushed the fruit plate toward Jiang Yinian: Just washed this morning. I packed half in a container for you to take to school later.
The fruit plate was filled with plump grapes and cherry tomatoes, with some particularly small, crisp sweet apples at the edge.
Jiang Yinian silently watched He Wenshuo.
He Wenshuo kept gesturing toward the fruit plate: Try some.
You boys take your time eating. I’ll go check the kitchen again.
Grandma Jiang, having eaten only half her sandwich, cleared her plate and left the table for the kitchen.
Leaving only Jiang Yinian and He Wenshuo facing each other.
Jiang Yinian bit into his sandwich and emphasized to He Wenshuo: About what we discussed yesterday – no.
I know. He Wenshuo didn’t seem bothered at all, standing up to put the fruit container into Jiang Yinian’s backpack. Just enjoy your food.
Good.
Jiang Yinian continued eating his breakfast.
The next day, right after Jiang Yinian returned from class, He Wenshuo dragged him to the community parcel pickup point.
They walked side by side.
Jiang Yinian couldn’t help but suspect: What did you buy this time? These past couple of days, he’d felt that He Wenshuo’s little scheme hadn’t completely disappeared. Given what happened last time, it was hard not to suspect that He Wenshuo had bought something else to bribe him with.
Nothing.
He Wenshuo felt quite innocent. He did want to buy something, but he recently noticed that Jiang Yinian’s shopping cart in the shopping app was empty, and he couldn’t think of anything to purchase at the moment.
Jiang Yinian asked curiously, What is it?
He Wenshuo replied mysteriously, You’ll find out in a moment.
Arriving at the pickup point, the two located two large square foam boxes under the shelf using the pickup code.
Jiang Yinian watched as He Wenshuo retrieved the two boxes, which were securely wrapped with wide light-colored packing tape.
He recognized this type of box and was familiar with this tape. Whenever He Wenshuo’s grandparents mailed things from their hometown, they always used this kind of packaging box.
He Wenshuo’s grandparents used to run a small restaurant but closed it when they got older. After working hard their whole lives, the elderly couple chose to retire to the countryside, where they raised chickens, ducks, and geese and grew fruits and vegetables in their spare time. Whenever they made something delicious, they would specially send some to their family.
As expected, these two large foam boxes were undoubtedly filled to the brim with delicious food.
Jiang Yinian looked at He Wenshuo, … Wondering whether it was intentional or just a coincidence.
He Wenshuo handed his backpack to Jiang Yinian to carry, then picked up the two boxes himself. The two headed straight home.
They went to Jiang Yinian’s house. At this time, Grandma Jiang usually wasn’t home—most often she’d be passing time with other elderly ladies in the community garden, and occasionally she’d visit relatives.
He Wenshuo found a utility knife from Jiang Yinian’s room and began unpacking the boxes in the living room.
Jiang Yinian sat nearby watching.
The first foam box contained pickled vegetables—brightly colored chili side dishes sealed in glass jars, with several jars of each variety.
These were perfect for enhancing meals.
Jiang Yinian sniffed the air, then continued watching He Wenshuo open the next box.
The second box was filled entirely with braised snacks, packaged in separate bags—chicken legs, chicken wings, braised duck snacks, whole Sichuan peppercorn chicken, and several large, glossy pig trotters.
He Wenshuo’s grandparents were exceptionally skilled cooks, particularly when it came to braised side dishes, capable of making everyone who tasted their food remember it fondly.
Jiang Yinian was among those who had become captivated after trying their food.
He Wenshuo took everything out of the two foam boxes and, following their usual practice, divided them into two portions—one for his parents to keep, and the remaining portion for him and Jiang Yinian.
Holding a package of food, he turned to ask Jiang Yinian’s opinion, What should we eat first today?
Jiang Yinian fell silent, then averted his gaze and shook his head firmly.
No, I won’t eat anything. I’m not hungry today.
Although the food looked incredibly appetizing, it just happened to be now—he couldn’t eat He Wenshuo’s things. If he ate any, it would mean he had to help him.
He wasn’t going to help.
The memory of nearly experiencing social death at He Wenshuo’s school last time was still vivid in his mind.
He Wenshuo stared directly at Jiang Yinian, who was acting unusually. Why won’t you eat? You really like it—last time you even said that chain stores couldn’t compare to my grandfather’s cooking.
That was then, this is now.
Jiang Yinian forced himself not to look at the pile of food. It was delicious, yes, but this time, he had to stay strong.
He Wenshuo took out a whole Sichuan peppercorn chicken: How about having this for dinner? My grandfather always gets the flavor just right.
It was numbing and spicy, but not overly so—every bite was fragrant.
Jiang Yinian took a step back and shook his head firmly.
He Wenshuo: ?
He put the chicken down and picked up a pack of marinated duck: Then how about this?
Jiang Yinian still shook his head: I’m not hungry today, not at all.
He Wenshuo simply laid out all the food for Jiang Yinian to see: Really not going to eat anything?
Jiang Yinian turned away with great willpower and headed back to his room: No, I’m not hungry. I’m going to rest.
He Wenshuo could only see Jiang Yinian’s retreating back.
He had no choice but to put the food away, placing some on the dining table and storing the rest in the refrigerator.
After tidying up the foam box, He Wenshuo took another portion of food and went out.
His home was right across, but his parents had moved to a larger house a few years ago and only occasionally returned to drive their less-used cars, so they hardly lived in this neighborhood anymore.
He Wenshuo rode his bike from the building entrance and arrived at his family’s new house half an hour later, carrying a bag of food. When he opened the door, the house was empty and deserted.
But the absence of people didn’t affect his task.
He stuffed the entire bag of food into their refrigerator and left a note on the fridge door—anyone opening it would see it.
The living room in the new house was spacious, with an entire wall of artistically designed storage cabinets.
He Wenshuo stood before the cabinets, scanning them, and finally focused on a stack of exquisitely packaged boxes in the corner.
He opened one casually—inside was a brand-new watch.
Due to his father’s work, they often received samples of varying values. There were too many to wear, so most were left unused.
He Wenshuo opened several of the elegant boxes, picked two with the most similar colors and styles, and tucked them into his pocket.
Two were enough—he and Jiang Yinian could each have one.
In the room.
Jiang Yinian lay on the bed, staring wide-eyed at the ceiling. It was too early, he hadn’t eaten anything, so he couldn’t sleep and felt a bit bored.
He unconsciously touched his stomach.
There were biscuits, beef jerky, dried fruit, and chocolate in the drawer, but for some reason, he couldn’t be bothered to take them out.
There was fruit in the refrigerator—bananas, apples, persimmons, and pears—but they seemed inconvenient to eat, and he was even less motivated to get them.
There was bread in the living room, though it seemed a bit stale… No matter what he thought of, none of it seemed as appealing as that big bag of marinated snacks.
Jiang Yinian sat up on the bed, took a deep breath, and tried to hypnotize himself: actually, when you think about it, marinated snacks aren’t that delicious.
Even if they look tasty, they might not really be that good.
Ten minutes later, Jiang Yinian crept out of his room and stood in front of the refrigerator, picking out a cherry tomato.
It was crisp and sweet, but he didn’t feel like grabbing another.
Two minutes later, Jiang Yinian stood before the dining table, looking at the packs of marinated snacks. He guessed they were freshly made—probably prepared by He Wenshuo’s grandparents in the morning, sent by express delivery at noon, and delivered to them by evening.
The tiny bit of sauce at the opening of the packaging seemed to be deliberately tempting him.
Jiang Yinian rubbed his nose, trying to summon his formidable self-control. Skipping one meal wouldn’t starve him to death. He closed his eyes briefly before turning back toward his room.
Five minutes later.
Jiang Yinian stood before the dining table again, glaring bitterly at the large pack of marinated duck delicacies glistening with rich sauce.
He’d just taste a little to see how it was—surely that wouldn’t hurt.
What could He Wenshuo possibly do to him anyway?
Half an hour later, a fully satisfied Jiang Yinian stared quietly at the now half-empty packaging bag.
Why… why couldn’t he ever control this mouth of his?