He is Too Stingy, This Sand Sculpture Cannon Fodder

The next morning, after Shu You got up, he noticed that Lin Mingxu’s face looked a bit dark.

For breakfast, they returned to the original milk, eggs, and bread, which was not bad for a change.

Shu You was chewing on half a piece of bread when he saw Lin Mingxu sit down across the table and start eating breakfast without saying a word.

Lin Mingxu appeared normal, except for a slight darkness under his eyes, which wouldn’t be noticeable unless one looked closely. But Shu You was sitting directly across from him, so he could see it clearly.

Unable to help himself, Shu You asked, “Lin Mingxu, did you not sleep well last night?”

Lin Mingxu replied in a calm tone, “No.”

“Oh…” Shu You didn’t think much of it and looked around before speaking again, “Lin Mingxu, you…”

“…I’m fine,” Lin Mingxu interrupted.

Before he could finish, the man spoke in a detached manner, “I will go to the company today.”

“Oh, okay.”

Shu You acknowledged and couldn’t help but say, “But…”

“I’m fine,” Lin Mingxu reiterated, “I will come home for dinner tonight.”

Shu You was completely confused, watching Lin Mingxu barely eat a few bites before getting up to put on his coat.

When the man walked out, Shu You couldn’t hold back any longer and asked, “Lin Mingxu, have you seen my drinking glass?”

Lin Mingxu furrowed his brows, “Your drinking glass?”

He paused for a moment and his tone became subtle, “Was that what you wanted to ask me all along?”

“Yes,” Shu You confidently replied, “And you kept preventing me from speaking.”

Lin Mingxu stared at him with a suspicious gaze, “You’re really strange.”

“Could it be…” Shu You pretended to be a detective, rubbing his chin, “Could it be that you secretly ate something delicious last night without me?”

Lin Mingxu: “…”

The man averted his gaze and suddenly remembered something, “Did you place the glass on the dining table last night?”

“Yes,” Shu You nodded.

He had searched everywhere and couldn’t find it, so he asked Lin Mingxu.

Lin Mingxu’s body stiffened.

The process of moving to this place was rushed, and the glasses were randomly bought from a supermarket, almost identical.

So if he didn’t remember incorrectly…

That glass had already been thrown away.

The trash bin in the house was empty, and Lin Mingxu glanced outside at the high sun.

The garbage trucks had already finished their work, and the community trash bins had naturally been emptied.

The man hesitated to speak, but just as he was about to say something, his phone rang.

“Brother Lin, have you arrived? The client has already come…” Peng Shang’en’s voice urged through the phone.

Lin Mingxu hastily hung up and said to Shu You, “We’ll talk about the glass later.”

Shu You: …What?

The door closed, and Shu You took two bites of his bread, wearing a puzzled expression.

What does Lin Mingxu’s glass have to do with him?

His mind suddenly clicked, and he continued searching. There was none in the dining room, none in the kitchen, and none in the living room.

The only glass was in the cabinet, but that one belonged to Lin Mingxu.

Shu You could recognize it—the bottom of this glass had a slightly remaining sticker that couldn’t be completely removed at the time, and Shu You thought it was just fine, so he didn’t bother with it.

Could it be that the glass grew legs and walked away?

He was completely baffled, trying hard to recall the last time he saw the glass when Wu Youzhe called.

Shu You had a performance tonight, but Wu Youzhe didn’t call for that reason.

He called to celebrate Shu You’s successful first business trip.

The feedback after the broadcast was excellent, and the program team was satisfied with him, saying they could arrange another meeting when he had time.

However, the specific timing would have to wait and see.

Shu You and Wu Youzhe chatted sporadically for a while.

Wu Youzhe’s mood fluctuated, first envisioning Shu You’s future success, then explaining his current situation.

He expressed optimism about Shu You’s prospects and finally gently told him something.

“Well… Shu You, I can’t pick you up tonight.”

Shu You asked in surprise, “What happened?”

“Well…”

Wu Youzhe hesitated for a while before saying, “My daughter wants to attend a good school in this area. My wife asked me if it’s possible, but I told her that our daughter’s academic performance is average, so it would be difficult for her to get into a good school. I think it’s better to let the child be happy.”

“As a result, we ended up arguing again, and she insisted that it was all my fault.”

“Now I have to meet them, and I won’t be able to come in the evening.”

As he mentioned this, he became disheartened and couldn’t muster any enthusiasm.

Taken aback, Shu You comforted him, “It’s okay, you don’t need to come to pick me up. I’ll be fine on my own.”

Wu Youzhe didn’t seem to hear him and muttered involuntarily, “Whenever the child goes to school, she feels sleepy and wants to sleep as soon as she enters the classroom. I told her to reduce the pressure on the child. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes, yes, yes.”

Shu You hurriedly consoled him, “After all, school is where dreams begin.”

Wu Youzhe: ???

Feeling somewhat relieved, he laughed helplessly, “Hey, I just feel useless as a father. I can’t provide her with a good learning environment.”

“Yes, yes, yes.”

Shu You nodded repeatedly, “Your judgment is not wrong.”

Wu Youzhe: …

This topic couldn’t be pursued any further.

The call ended, and Shuyou held his phone, pondering over a question.

Originally, Wu Youzhe was supposed to pick him up, and they could save time on the way and cook dinner together. But now, he would have to take the subway, and there would be no time for cooking.

So he sent a message to Lin Mingxu, briefly explaining the situation and emphasizing one point.

Shu You: [If you’re not hungry, wait for me to come back and cook!]

With this sentence, Lin Mingxu probably wouldn’t order takeout.

Unexpectedly, Lin Mingxu quickly replied to the message.

Lin Mingxu: [I’ll come to pick you up tonight.]

Shu You hesitated and said, “How can I accept that? You’re so busy.”

But Lin Mingxu… didn’t reply!

Shu You: “…”

Well, he had to tidy up.

If it weren’t for searching for the glass earlier, he wouldn’t have realized that the house was so messy.

He quickly cleaned the kitchen, dining room, and bedroom. After finishing, Shu You contemplated whether to go to the supermarket to buy a new glass when he accidentally touched something, and it fell to the ground with a snap.

Shu You hurriedly bent down to pick it up and saw that it was a folded piece of paper.

The paper was casually placed on the cabinet and didn’t seem to be anything important. Shu You was about to pick it up and put it back when it fell and unfolded, revealing a few lines of writing on the front.

With just one glance, Shu You’s eyes widened!

That night, after Shu You finished his performance and came offstage, he walked along the corridor towards the exit and indeed saw Lin Mingxu waiting outside.

From a distance, the man leaning against the car had a straight coat and a commanding posture. Just by standing there, he attracted many gazes.

Shu You quickly put on a big smile and ran over, saying, “Lin Mingxu, I’m here!”

The young man bounced around, his messy hair bobbing up and down, left and right, like a small swaying seedling in the wind.

When he reached Lin Mingxu, his hair bobbed again, just like himself, full of energy—as if seeing him would unconsciously improve one’s mood.

Lin Mingxu’s aura softened by three points, “Hmm.”

“How was the performance today?”

“It was fantastic!”

Shu You proudly said, “Even the audience recognized me from the announcement and chased after me for autographs and photos!”

The two got into the car, Shu You sat in the passenger seat, and his tail was still wagging. “Today, the laughter rate increased by 30% on average.”

Lin Mingxu glanced at him, “How did you calculate that?”

Shu You puffed up his chest, “I estimated it with my naked eyes.”

Lin Mingxu said, “…Not bad, it’s a statistical miracle.”

The car started, and they drove home in the night breeze, feeling a warm atmosphere of returning home.

However, after finishing dinner and spending the night, when Lin Mingxu walked out of the bathroom after taking a shower, he saw Shu You sitting on the edge of the bed, looking very serious.

He sat up straight, sitting upright with his cute panda pajamas unable to hide his seriousness.

Shu You cleared his throat, and his tone was very stern, “Lin Mingxu.”

Lin Mingxu’s footsteps halted, and he asked casually, “What’s wrong?”

“You’re keeping something from me.”

Shu You turned on the light with a snap, and the bright light shone. He sat under the light, his expression unusually serious for the first time.

Lin Mingxu had already walked closer and faced him directly, his expression subtle. “What am I hiding from you?”

…Did Shu You find out? Did he discover that I used the wrong cup and broke it?

“You did.”

Without hesitation, Shu You responded, “Why would you hide something like this from me?”

“From a broader perspective, it’s a severe trust crisis between couples.”

“And from a narrower perspective, it’s a severe trust crisis between you and me.”

Lin Mingxu raised an eyebrow, “Is there a difference?”

“…Of course, there is.”

Shu You made a clear distinction, “We are not an ordinary couple!”

Lin Mingxu: …This is my first boyfriend; I can’t make that distinction.

However, Shu You confidently said, “Moreover, it depends on how far we’ve progressed.”

“If we had just started dating, it would definitely cause a major crisis!”

Lin Mingxu’s heart sank, “What kind of major crisis?”

“Of course, it would be the scene that neither of us wants to see!”

Shu You lamented, “Fortunately, I am who I am now.”

“I love you so much, trust you so much, that’s why the most serious consequences haven’t occurred.”

Lin Mingxu: …

The man opened his mouth but found it difficult to explain.

He fell into silence, but Shu You’s mind began to wander. The young man covered his chest and widened his eyes, “Lin Mingxu, are you really…”

“I’m giving you a chance now, confess quickly. Otherwise…”

Lin Mingxu furrowed his brow, his shoulders tensing, “…Otherwise, what will happen?”

“Otherwise, I will write it down in my little notebook and remember it for the rest of my life!”

Lin Mingxu’s mouth twitched.

He absolutely didn’t expect such a severe consequence.

Looking at the speechless man, Shu You huffed, “So, confess and be lenient. Tell me quickly, when did this happen?”

As he spoke, he slapped a piece of paper onto the bed with a snap, even lifting his chin, trying to appear authoritative and superior.

Lin Mingxu: ???

He picked up the paper and looked at it, realizing it was the ** bill for the water and electricity fees he paid a few days ago.

“…”

Lin Mingxu looked at Shu You, at a loss for words. “What’s the problem with this?”

“There is!”

Shu You’s gaze became off, annoyed as he said, “Why didn’t you let me pay it!”

“Now the national power grid has promotions; you can receive red envelopes when you pay the bill! You can also enjoy off-peak electricity usage… If that doesn’t work, there are also coupons on Alipay!”

Lin Mingxu… Lin Mingxu didn’t know what to say.

In the end, he muttered dryly, “Well…”

However, Shu You was not satisfied at all.

The young man, filled with righteous indignation, said, “Lin Mingxu, you really don’t know how to live!”

“Do you know how many coupons you can get during the peak time?!”

Lin Mingxu: “…How many?”

“A few tens of yuan!”

Shu You huffed and flopped directly onto the bed, rolling back and forth twice. “Ah, ah, ah, I won’t feel good about this!”

Lin Mingxu could only remain silent.

…Watching Shu You’s panda-like figure tossing and turning on the bed.

After a while, he looked away and couldn’t help but ask, “Are those few tens of yuan important to you?”

“Is it just about a few tens of yuan?”

Shu You jumped up, his brows filled with lingering concerns. “This is the beginning of preventing problems at an early stage. It’s about consistent personal financial management, rational resource utilization, and…”

When Shu You’s parents’ business failed and they couldn’t even afford Shu You’s father’s medical expenses, he made up his mind not to spend a single cent recklessly.

For this, even if others laughed at him for being stingy, he didn’t care and secretly enjoyed checking his bank account every night.

His words kept flowing, “Superficially, it’s just a few tens of yuan, but in reality, it reflects my life philosophy, worldview, and values!”

“Moreover, there are clearly red envelopes and coupons available. Would you intentionally not use them?”

Lin Mingxu: …Indeed, he would also use them.

“Don’t red envelopes and coupons exist for everyone to use?”

Lin Mingxu: …That’s true.

Shu You sobbed, “And today, I also lost a cup and have to buy a new one.”

Suddenly, Lin Mingxu’s heart skipped a beat.

He thought this matter had passed, but it hadn’t.

Shu You seemed to be very concerned about the missing cup and muttered, “I searched for it for a long time today, but I couldn’t find it. It’s so strange…”

Lin Mingxu took a deep breath. “Actually, your cup…”

Shu You abruptly turned his head, his gaze burning into him. “You know?”

Lin Mingxu carefully chose his words and cautiously said, “I accidentally broke it, and I already threw it away.” The trash can was completely emptied.

“…I was planning to replace it for you today.” But with all the busyness, this matter was postponed.

Shu You: !!!

Lin Mingxu, you’re done! You’re done! You’re done!!!