[Pupa: Ding! Fatemeter increases to 35%.]

[Pupa: Ding! Breakmeter increases to 35%.]

Long Zhen was not playing when he said that he wanted to escort James Grind to his apartment. Long Zhen stopped in front of James Grind's apartment building and then carried James Grind in his arm. They were fortunate that it was late at night. Hence, the apartment was silent except for an old security guard they stumbled upon when they entered the building.

"Ah, James Grind? I never saw you return with a man. Is this your boyfriend?" asked the old security guard that knew James Grind really well.

"N—No! We are just—"

"Yes," Long Zhen said nonchalantly. "I am his boyfriend."

James Grind glared at the nonchalant Long Zhen. He was afraid that the old security uncle would misunderstand. "U—Uncle, this is not—"

"Ah, it's okay, okay. We are in 2021. You are a good boy. I don't want to judge you because of your sexual orientation," the old security uncle said. He then looked at Long Zhen and nodded approvingly. "Your boyfriend looks mature. You love James Grind, right?"

"… yes," Long Zhen said.

"Don't lie!" James Grind yelled, but Long Zhen and the old security uncle seemed to be living in a different dimension from him. Because they totally ignored James Grind's yelling at them.

"Then, please take care of James Grind. He is a good boy. He often cooks for me, an old security guard. He has no family, so please be gentle and take care of him well. I'm sure James Grind will be a perfect match for you," the old security uncle said.

"Wha—Long Zhen, don't you dare to say anything! I'm evil, don't you see!" James Grind tried to struggle, but Long Zhen glared at him when James Grind's body almost got exposed to the old security uncle.

Thus, James Grind whimpered and sulked in Long Zhen's embrace.

The old security uncle laughed at James Grind's claim of being evil. "He often said that he is an assassin and a spy. He is a prolific assassin also. But how can I believe that? He often buys a bag of cat food and would feed the stray cats around the apartment. He also helps many old tenants with daily grocery whenever he is free."

"UNCLE!" James Grind was too embarrassed that he hit Long Zhen's chest weakly. "J—Just go now…"

Long Zhen had a thin smile on his face and bowed his head slightly. "I will take care of him, do not worry, uncle."

"Yes, yes, his apartment is on the sixth floor."

Long Zhen and James Grind used the elevator to the sixth floor.

"Which one is your room?"

"Six-nine…" James Grind replied. Long Zhen raised his brow and chuckled. He walked to the room with 6.9. placated in front. James Grind silently handed the card key, and they entered James' apartment.

Long Zhen's eyes scanned around and found nothing strange for an assassin and spy. He noticed that James Grind liked peach pink, and he also liked eating instant ramen. Since he had a box of instant ramen lying near the kitchen counter.

"It's not good for you to eat too many instant ramens," Long Zhen advised. "Should I invite my Michelin chef to cook for you every day?"

"N—No need… I usually eat instant ramen when I'm too busy trying to assassinate someone in my mission," James Grind said. "I usually cook for myself."

"Hm? For yourself?" Long Zhen grinned. "You should cook for me later on."          "I—I will consider it…" James Grind said with a tint of red on his cheek.

And then he remembered that he was still in Long Zhen's embrace. "Wait, put me down now! Put me down, you evil guy!"

Long Zhen sighed helplessly and put James Grind on the sofa.

James Grind glared at Long Zhen full of suspicion. He hugged his body to further cover his exposed body full of kiss marks from Long Zhen's prying eyes. Long Zhen smiled at this and said, "You still use my suit. Do you like my perfume?"

James Grind checked his shirt and finally remembered that he was still wearing Long Zhen's suit. He rushed to his room and put on a t-shirt. He pouted at Long Zhen and handed his suit back to the rightful owner.

"You can leave now…" James Grind said. He lowered his head and continued, "T—Thank you for taking me back home."

Long Zhen gazed at shy James Grind, and his heart felt warm all over. He had a mischievous idea in his head.

Long Zhen sat at the dining table and said, "I'm hungry, cook me something."

James Grind blinked few times. He thought he heard it wrong.

"You… want me to cook something? Long Zhen, we are enemies! There is no sane person that would cook for his enemy! We should be fighting and such!"

"But I've driven far from my mansion to your apartment just to escort you. Actually, I haven't had dinner and don't have time because of you interrupting my room. Don't you feel a bit pity for me?"

"But…"

"What would you do if my gastric acid rise and I might die because you are keeping me busy and I died out of hunger. Oh, how evil can you be for someone who just escorted you home," Long Zhen acted exaggeratedly. He slumped his cheek on the dining table, with puppy eyes asking James Grind to cook for him.

James Grind gulped. He imagined Long Zhen died because he was too hungry and his gastric acid rise. "I—I can only cook simple things, don't protest if it's not tasty!"

"I won't." Long Zhen nodded happily.

James Grind wore his apron and turned on the stove. He didn't have much inside his fridge because he hadn't shop for the weekly grocery. Thus, he took out some ingredients like onion, soy sauce, red chilli, egg and sausage.

James Grind prepared the ingredients and started sizzling the pan. Long Zhen watched how the beautiful spy was currently cooking for him. He wore a pink apron and looked serious when cooking.

'This looks good… very good.' Long Zhen thought.

James Grind finished cooking and served the food in front of Long Zhen. He pouted while taking off his apron, "I can only cook this. I don't have many ingredients inside my fridge. Don't protest if it's not good! I'm not your Michelin restaurant chef!"

Long Zhen took a spoonful of fried rice and ate it slowly. His palate had been trained with expensive food since birth, so eating something homemade like this was actually his first. He also didn't expect much from James Grind since he just wanted to tease him a bit.

Until the first spoonful of rice went down his throat, Long Zhen was shocked because the simple homemade fried rice was so delicious. It was warm and had the perfect taste. It was a great addition to his usually picky tastebud.

Long Zhen ate everything like a hungry wolf, and when it was the last spoon, Long Zhen turned his head towards James Grind again and said, "I need more, please cook more for me."

James Grind blushed for a moment, but he shook his head and scolded Long Zhen, "You've been staying for too long in my apartment! Get out now!"

"But this is seriously delicious! How could you not be a chef instead of an incompetent assassin?" Long Zhen said innocently.

"I'm not incompetent!" James Grind tried to pull Long Zhen off his dining chair. He pushed Long Zhen's body to the main door. "You need to leave now!"

"You don't even serve me a drink? What if I died of choking?" Long Zhen said.

James Grind sighed. He went to the kitchen again and brought a glass of water for Long Zhen. Long Zhen drank the content and gave the glass back to James Grind with a satisfied smile on his face.

"This is great hospitality. I will return here and expect the same treatment, okay? Be a good wife and cook for me sometimes," Long Zhen grinned before leaving.

"I—I'm not your wife!"       

          ***

Long Zhen drove through the mountain road, returning back to his mansion. He kept on thinking about that cute spy that he might have inevitably fallen in love with. He was unsure about this feeling inside him at first, but maybe… he already confirmed it himself after eating that simple fried rice.

'I think this is the first time I've fallen in love with someone… as Long Shen…'

[Pupa: Ding! Breakmeter increases to 45%.]

[Pupa: Ding! Fatemeter increases to 45%.]