My Demon Friends

DING DONG!

Baozi: Cousin.

When Zhou Li received this message, he was puzzled. In his memory, Baozi always called him Zhou Li and had never called him Cousin.

After thinking for a long time, Zhou Li finally replied, "What's up?"

Baozi: Brother Nan just hit me.

Zhou Li: Was it because you were spreading rumors?

Baozi: It wasn't me.

Zhou Li: Any other reasons?

Baozi: I talked back to her.

Zhou Li: ...You're quite honest.

Baozi: ...Your thought process?

Zhou Li: How did she hit you?

Baozi: It's not convenient to talk about.

Zhou Li: Does it hurt?

Baozi: It hurts.

Zhou Li: Where does it hurt?

Baozi: My butt hurts.

Zhou Li: I see.

Baozi: ?

Zhou Li: What use is telling me this? It wasn't me who hit you, and I can't do anything about Brother Nan. If you had foreseen that Brother Nan was going to hit you and sought my help in advance, I could have helped share some of the burden.

Baozi: ...I just want to borrow two hundred yuan for medical expenses.

Zhou Li realized then that Baozi wanted to borrow money. However, he had only heard about demanding medical expenses, never about borrowing them, so he commented on it.

Baozi: I'll pay it back, and you can refuse it when the time comes.

Zhou Li: I see...

Baozi: Hurry up.

Zhou Li: Was it really an injury?

Baozi: For topping up my meal card.

Zhou Li: [Red Packet]

Your friend Baozi has claimed your red packet.

Baozi: I'm off to get some porridge.

Zhou Li: Alright, I'm going out to eat too.

Baozi: With Brother Nan?

Zhou Li: Yes.

Baozi: What are you eating?

Zhou Li: Steamed chicken in a jar.

Baozi: Going Dutch?

Zhou Li: Brother Nan is treating.

Baozi: I'm in on it.

Brother Nan chose an old restaurant. She immediately ordered two servings of steamed chicken in a jar and a lemongrass-baked Big Yellow fish. Then, she added a brown sugar glutinous rice cake and a soft tofu side dish before passing the menu to the others, asking them to order three or four more dishes.

Zhou Li and Zheng Zhilan decided on Pu'er crispy shrimp.

Huai Xu, recently into martial arts films, chose two pounds of marinated beef, and Baozi opted for the cheapest Old Granny Potato.

Looking at the prices of these dishes, the meal would cost Brother Nan six to seven hundred yuan. That was a sum that couldn't be spent in a month if charged to a meal card in the cafeteria. But Brother Nan wasn't bothered by the expense. She was just being more frugal with money lately. She was definitely not poor.

"This restaurant's steamed chicken in a jar is super delicious," Brother Nan said. "Though the portions are really small. There's only one clay pot, and normally I could finish it all myself."

"Why is it called steamed chicken in a jar?" asked Zheng Zhilan.

"Because it's steamed in a jar. The jar's design is quite interesting too. Take a closer look when they bring it out," replied Brother Nan, her authority on food unaffected by her cooking skills.

"If it's tasty, I might learn to make it," said Zheng Zhilan.

"So considerate! Finding a wife like you, one who can cook so well, beats everything else!" Brother Nan exclaimed sincerely. "Do you usually cook and stir-fry everything yourself at home?"

"Yes."

"Can you see what you're doing?"

"Familiarity is key."

"That's impressive."

"I didn't have a choice."

The two of them chatted eagerly while Baozi silently watched from the side. Soon, the dishes began to arrive.

The steamed chicken in a jar was served first, clearly a staple of the restaurant. Zhou Li scooped up a bowl first and handed it to Little Cousin.

"Have some nourishment."

Before Little Cousin could respond, Brother Nan turned around, curious. "Nourish what? Do you think she's gotten thin?"

After saying this, she couldn't help but smile.

Little Cousin said, "You injured me."

Brother Nan immediately denied it. "Nonsense! That wasn't a hit; that was affection! And I didn't even use much strength. If that counts as an injury, my hands would have taken countless lives by now!"

"Why don't you dare to fight Zhou Li?"

"TSK, stop mimicking Old Li's tone."

"Li Erlengzi, I think my cousin has better manners than you."

"Watch it, or I'll deal with you again."

"Who told you to watch dramas without headphones?"

"...HUMPH!"

Brother Nan didn't want to talk to Baozi anymore; it was too infuriating. She turned to Zheng Zhilan and asked, "Can you stay for a couple more days? I can cycle with you around the university town for some fresh air; we'd turn heads for sure!"

"My ticket's already bought."

"That's a pity."

"You can visit me during your vacation for a few days," Zheng Zhilan said softly. "But there's not as much to do compared to the city."

"I love the countryside the most!"

"That's perfect then."

"Where do you live?"

"Puzhou County, Yin Yang Temple, right next to Mingjiu Mountain."

"My grandma lives there!"

"Then it's settled."

"Right!"

「The next day, Monday.」

It was time for Miss Zheng to leave.

Zhou Li had also bought the cheapest ticket to sneak into the station and personally escorted Zheng Zhilan to the ticket checkpoint.

He even gifted her a pair of Sony headphones. He didn't know much about headphones but had bought them on sale. This would give her an option to spare Qinghe for once while she listened to books.

"Send me a message when you get home."

"Oh."

Zheng Zhilan nodded with a light smile and waved at him again. "Go back, I'll be fine."

"Be careful."

"I'll be fine."

"Then I'm leaving."

"Okay."

Zhou Li turned and walked away.

After taking a few steps, he looked back—Zheng Zhilan had passed through the ticket barrier but was still standing by the side without moving down, still watching him. She suddenly tilted her head, as if asking why he had stopped, revealing an uncharacteristic touch of playfulness.

Zhou Li smiled and waved goodbye.

「The subway back home was somewhat empty.」

Zhou Li sat at the very end of the bench, while Huai Xu sat cross-legged on the floor next to him, the old monster fretting and rambling.

"How can you manage like this…"

"You haven't even finished your studies…"

"You really should prioritize your education. I wouldn't mind if you were dating, but can this even be called dating? This is merely youthful attachment. Many martial arts masters on TV are burdened by such things…"

Zhou Li couldn't stand it anymore and asked softly, "What's the purpose of going to university?"

Huai Xu exclaimed in surprise. He didn't expect Zhou Li to dare to speak to him on the subway, especially without headphones. This kid was getting bolder. More like talking back, Huai Xu thought.

However, Huai Xu decided to seriously answer his question. He thought for a moment and said, "Obviously, it's to stand out from others, make a lot of money, find a beautiful and virtuous wife, own a house, and live a happy and fulfilling life... Eh?"

He froze.

A moment later, Huai Xu stiffly turned his head to look at Zhou Li, who was sitting rather ungracefully, and suggested, "You should drop out."

Returning home, the man and the demon saw a small suitcase at the door. A medium-sized ragdoll cat was sitting on the suitcase, facing the door, only showing them a small back view with its head tilted up.

"Lord Tuanzi?" Zhou Li asked.

"MEOW?"

Tuanzi turned his head, reacting a bit slowly. "You're finally back... Why did you lock the door again?"

"Sorry about that."

Zhou Li picked up Tuanzi and explained, "I just went to see off a friend. There was no one at home, and leaving the door unlocked could attract thieves."

Although Tuanzi allowed himself to be held, he was still dissatisfied. "I've seen many humans keep something called a 'frying control' at home, which keeps thieves away. Why don't you have one?"

"I did have one, but someone kidnapped it."

While talking, Zhou Li opened the door.

He had indeed installed one. It was a cat-eye surveillance camera, but this particular monitor wasn't very reliable; it would often wander off to other people's houses.

Huai Xu conscientiously carried the small suitcase into the room and asked, "What is this? It still feels warm, and I smell something delicious..."

Tuanzi struggled to the ground and jumped onto the coffee table to make himself look taller. "Lord Tuanzi waited a long time for you. This is food Lord Tuanzi brought for you; it must be getting cold. And these are the gifts I've received. Come on, open it."

Huai Xu opened the small suitcase.

It turned out to be a beautifully made insulated box. Each small compartment contained dishes. Upon opening it, a burst of steam emerged, accompanied by the exquisite smell of the food.

Huai Xu took out the dishes one by one.

Tuanzi explained each dish. "This one is bean sprouts stuffed with meat. Lord Tuanzi choked on it yesterday; it was very uncomfortable. This one is the pagoda meat Lord Tuanzi mentioned. This one is hollow glass balls. These... I bestow them all upon you."

Finally, Huai Xu also found three mobile phones.

They were the latest models from Apple.

"What are these?"

"These are phones gifted to Lord Tuanzi by Lin Zhong."

"Why are there three? Are the other two for us?"

"Not at all!" Tuanzi patiently explained. "Lin Zhong said Lord Tuanzi's little paws can't hold it steady…"

Zhou Li listened throughout. He suddenly decided to keep his old phone as a backup and not give it to Tuanzi.