My Demon Friends-Chapter 520 - 499: Tool Man

「January 8th, Friday.」

Despite a restless night, Zhou Li woke up early, though he felt a bit uncomfortable.

In addition to the aftereffects of poor sleep, his legs were a little sore. This was because he had spread them apart in his sleep—a move he didn’t even understand. He had unconsciously separated his legs but then couldn’t bring them back together again.

Only cat owners could understand this kind of pain.

Zhou Li lifted his head and rubbed his messy hair, looking helplessly at Tuanzi, who was curled into a ball and nestled quietly between his legs.

He then unhesitatingly decided to wake Tuanzi up.

"Lord Dumpling, Lord Dumpling!"

"Lord Dumpling, wake up!"

"..."

Perhaps Tuanzi had gradually grown accustomed to his retaliations. Zhou Li had to shake her for a long while before she drowsily opened her eyes. She then immediately stretched out a small paw to cover them, peeking at Zhou Li through a tiny gap, looking incredibly cute.

"Umm, Zhou Ni... what’s wrong?"

"Lord Dumpling, time to get up!"

"But Lord Dumpling just fell asleep~~"

"It’s almost dawn."

"Umm?" Tuanzi turned her head, squinted at the window, then quickly looked away. "If it’s almost dawn, then it’s time to sleep..."

"Come on, let’s go out for a morning run."

"Lord Dumpling can’t run~"

"Why not?"

"Cats can’t run far; only dogs can keep running," Tuanzi said, still covering her eyes, her voice weak but earnest. "Besides, Lord Dumpling is still just a little kitty."

"We’re going to Brother Nan’s home for breakfast."

"MEOW!"

Tuanzi immediately put down her little paw, her eyes wide and round, a dreamy blue. "We’re going! Lord Dumpling wants to go!"

After saying this, she scrambled up and even gave herself a little shake.

Zhou Li watched her expressionlessly, his emotions a complex mix—though he’d gotten his way, for some reason, he didn’t feel happy at all.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the Old Monster also sit up, looking at him with a serious expression.

"Move aside, I need to fold the quilt."

"..."

Zhou Li got out of bed and stood to the side, numbly watching the Old Monster shake out the quilt and fold it, sending gusts of cold air flapping around.

「Twenty minutes later.」

Zhou Li, now in running clothes, had washed up and tidied his hair in the mirror. "Aunt Jiang," he said, "no need to prepare my breakfast. Huai Xu and I are going out for a run and will stop by Brother Nan’s to eat a bowl of noodles. We’re taking Tuanzi with us."

"Okay."

"I’ll pick up Xiao Shuang after my run."

"Are you picking him up?"

"I’ll do it. You go to work."

"Do you want me to leave you the car keys?"

"Either way is fine."

"Then I’ll leave them on the coffee table. See if you need them."

"Right," Zhou Li said, sitting on the small stool by the door to put on his shoes. He looked up at Aunt Jiang. "When are we going to the old house to clear things out?"

"The sooner, the better. They’re going to start demolishing it soon. We’ve already packed and brought over the things we two need. You and Zhu Shuang will have to sort out your own things. Just leave whatever you don’t want in the house." Aunt Jiang always respected Zhou Li’s and Zhu Shuang’s privacy.

"Emmm..."

Zhou Li glanced at Huai Xu beside him and said, "I want to move the bunk bed from my room in the old house here."

"Hmm? Why?" Aunt Jiang asked, puzzled.

"I’ve slept in it since I was young and have grown attached to it. Besides, I like sleeping in a bunk bed. I can sleep on the top bunk if I want, or the bottom bunk if I want," Zhou Li said calmly.

"What about the bed here then?"

"We won’t need it."

"Then..." Aunt Jiang smiled. "Okay, I’ll ask Old Zhou to contact someone to help you disassemble and assemble it."

"Thank you, Aunt Jiang."

"Honestly, you kid..."

"I’m leaving now!"

Zhou Li stood up and stamped his feet to settle his shoes more comfortably, waved to Aunt Jiang, and then left.

This house was different from the one near the school district. Although Zhou Li and Zhu Shuang might be more accustomed to, more familiar with, and even prefer the latter—their sense of ’home’ tied to that place—it was clear that in Old Zhou’s and Aunt Jiang’s hearts, this new house was their true home. The other was merely a temporary residence for Zhou Li’s and Zhu Shuang’s schooling. Consequently, this house was larger, more beautiful, and far more money and effort had been lavished on its decor. The bed Zhou Li had slept in last night was much more expensive than the bunk bed at the school district house—few parents would indulge their children to such an extent.

He had always felt very fortunate to have Aunt Jiang in his life.

DING DONG. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

The elevator doors opened.

Zhou Li stepped inside, holding Tuanzi, with Huai Xu following behind him.

The elevator walls were polished to a mirror shine. Zhou Li glanced at his reflection and adjusted his hair again.

Immediately, Huai Xu’s voice came from beside him, "No need to fuss. It’s pointless. You look better than other humans no matter what, though you’ll never be as handsome as me."

Zhou Li ignored him and asked, "Feeling moved?"

"What?"

"For specifically bringing the bed over."

"TSCH!" Huai Xu sounded indifferent. "You just didn’t want to sleep next to me!"

"You saw right through me."

"You..."

He actually admitted it? And so directly! He used to be more tactful or tell a little white lie. Huai Xu was utterly astonished.

DING DONG. The elevator doors opened again.

Zhou Li stepped out first, paying no attention to Huai Xu, who was taking deep breaths beside him.

It was still early, with dawn just breaking. Being winter, the city was shrouded in a thick fog, making it impossible to see people even a few meters away.

Zhou Li decided to first go to Brother Nan’s home to eat noodles, just a little, then wait for the fog to thin out before running, to avoid getting soaked by the damp air.

「Twenty minutes later.」

Through the morning fog, Zhou Li saw the signboard of Brother Nan’s home. It had a rather quaint look, with lanterns hanging on either side.

The cashier at the door already recognized Zhou Li. The moment Zhou Li arrived, the cashier shouted towards the back. Soon, a figure bundled in a thick down jacket hurried out.

She had zipped the down jacket to the very top, her neck scrunched down so her chin was buried in the collar. She also wore a hat, and her hands were retracted deep into her sleeves, presenting a somewhat indescribable figure.

"You’re here?" Brother Nan’s eyes twinkled mischievously as she looked at Zhou Li.

"Are you very cold?" Zhou Li glanced at the top of her head, only seeing the hood of her down jacket. Brother Nan was also wearing gloves and cartoon-patterned oversleeves.

"Yan City is just too cold," Brother Nan said, glancing at him. "You’re not cold, huh?"

"No."

"Let me feel your hand."

Brother Nan lifted her arm, but only a round, puffy sleeve was visible; her hand couldn’t be seen.

Zhou Li extended his hand and spread it open in front of her.

Only then did Brother Nan’s hand emerge from the sleeve, revealing just two slender, long fingers. She touched Zhou Li’s hand briefly, then her eyes suddenly widened, her mouth forming an ’O’ as she let out a "WHOA!" Then, her entire hand emerged to grasp Zhou Li’s.

"So warm!"

At that moment, a crisp cough came from the side—from the cashier.

Brother Nan paused at the sound, then mechanically turned her head toward the source, looking at the cashier. "Do you have any opinions to express?"

"Report: none!"

"In the restaurant business, you’re at the front. What kind of impression does all that coughing give?"

"The mountain roads here have eighteen bends..."

"HMPF!"

Smiling, Brother Nan pulled Zhou Li inside. She personally instructed an apprentice to cook noodles for them and then continued to use Zhou Li’s hand to warm her own.