Category: How To Use His Feathers (Page 4 of 7)

Thank you very much, diabolomenth, for the Ko-fi! :blobaww:

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As soon as Xi Hongming said those words, not only were Xi Sen and Zhang Yuan startled, but even Zhu Ming, who was eavesdropping, felt his heart sink.

“Stayed in separate rooms? That’s certainly strange. It’s supposed to be the honeymoon phase of their marriage. How could they be so distant all of a sudden?”

Zhang Yuan was equally astonished. “I thought their sudden flash marriage seemed a bit suspicious at the time. But since Old Master didn’t say anything, we didn’t dare press further. Now that I think about it, it’s really bizarre.”

A few minutes ago, Zhu Ming had dismissed all of this as nothing more than the plot line of a dog-blooded family drama.

After all, for them to conspire loudly in a setting like this only proved that Xi Hongming’s family wasn’t exactly brimming with intelligence.

But by this point, the situation had escalated into something genuinely spine-chilling.

Wasn’t this already crossing the line of legality? Zhu Ming’s thoughts swirled in doubt. What kind of “District Two connections” did Xi Hongming have to uncover such intimate and private details—down to the extent of whether they were sharing a bed?

After a long silence, Xi Sen finally spoke up. “But I still don’t understand. Why would he go through a fake marriage with someone from District Seven? What’s the point of all this?”

“The point? There are plenty of reasons. This Zhu Ming scored full marks on the medical exam and was quite famous locally in District Seven, with exceptional medical skills.”

Xi Hongming’s gaze held an enigmatic glint. “I’m wondering if maybe Xi Xianqing himself has some kind of untreatable condition… so he sought him out?”

“And this District Seven guy is a cripple who hasn’t had any proper job before.”

Xi Hongming lit a cigarette, exhaling a ring of smoke as he mused, “Xi Xianqing probably paid him a hefty sum of hush money and arranged for him to stay close as his private doctor, covering it all up with the guise of marriage.”

Zhu Ming silently tightened his grip on his wheelchair handles.

Because aside from the part about the hush money being somewhat exaggerated—and the fact that the one who was unwell was Xi Xianqing’s spiritual manifestation, not Xi Xianqing himself… the rest of their conjectures were alarmingly close to the truth.

Zhang Yuan was still somewhat skeptical. “But he looks perfectly fine ah. Nothing seems off about him.”

“Looking fine doesn’t mean there’s no problem. He could just be hiding it well—who knows how serious it might be?”

Xi Hongming sneered. “That Zhu Ming is a doctor specializing in neuroscience. Maybe Xi Xianqing has psychological or mental health issues? Or perhaps it’s a brain tumor? Who can say?”

Zhu Ming’s chest tightened at first, then he felt a surge of relief.

It could only be said that, luckily, he had spread out Dish Soap’s tail feathers the last time, allowing Xi Xianqing’s group photo to be taken smoothly.

Otherwise, if there had been any delay in the photo or if Xi Hongming had learned just a bit more about his field of research, he could easily have connected the dots and deduced the real problem with Xi Xianqing.

“No matter the case, during the congratulatory moment later, we should subtly hint to the Old Master—using a tone of care for the younger generation—that this kid’s reasons for marrying aren’t entirely pure.”

Xi Hongming chuckled softly, extinguishing his cigarette. The parrot standing beside him ruffled its feathers triumphantly. “Even if he favors him more, there’s no way he’d let an unhealthy descendant inherit the family legacy.”

Zhang Yuan breathed a sigh of relief and couldn’t help but laugh as she chimed in. “The Old Master has always hated it when the younger generation lies or hides things, especially about something as serious as marriage.”

“It’s getting late,” Xi Sen frowned slightly as she set her phone down, interrupting the two of them in a cold voice. “It seems they’re wrapping up. Let’s go over now.”

Xi Hongming acknowledged her, and their voices faded as they walked away. Through the gaps between the foliage and branches, Zhu Ming peeked out, watching their figures disappear at the end of the corridor.

He leaned his back against the wheelchair and exhaled heavily.

He couldn’t tell if it was the alcohol or something else, but the throbbing pain in his temple became nearly unbearable.

It seemed like the truth about his agreement to marry Xi Xianqing… was about to come to light.

His mind was in utter chaos, but Zhu Ming forced himself to calm down and think of a feasible plan.

First, he had to find Xi Xianqing.

Operating his wheelchair, Zhu Ming followed the direction the others had taken and soon found the path back to the banquet hall. Meanwhile, his brain worked tirelessly.

Even if he managed to find Xi Xianqing now, what if Xi Hongming got to the Old Master first and started talking? Or worse, presented evidence about them living in separate rooms—how would they respond to that?

If it was merely verbal accusations, they might still have room to maneuver or deny.

But if Xi Hongming’s so-called “connections” had some solid evidence, how could he and Xi Xianqing explain themselves?

Because during the District Two assessment… They had been living in separate rooms. Their marriage wasn’t built on any emotional foundation.

Was there any way to preemptively counter Xi Hongming? To make them believe—especially to make the Old Master Xi believe—that he and Xi Xianqing were truly in love while also providing a plausible explanation for living separately… How could he silence that damned parrot before it had a chance to squawk?

Sleeping in separate rooms…

Truly love each other…

Chaotic thoughts accompanied Zhu Ming all the way back to the banquet hall. Navigating through the crowd, he passed by the champagne tower. His hand, controlling the wheelchair, paused for a moment.

His fingertips brushed past a glass of mild champagne. After a moment’s hesitation, he reached directly for a glass of red wine further back, took a deep breath, and downed it.

The slightly bitter liquid slid down his throat, igniting a faint burning sensation in his stomach. The discomfort made Zhu Ming frown slightly, but an absurd plan began taking shape in his mind.

Staring at the remnants of the deep red liquid at the bottom of his glass, he gritted his teeth.

He picked up another glass of amber-colored unknown foreign liquor nearby, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one go.

In the quiet private room, behind a golden magnolia-engraved screen, a cloisonné tripod incense burner wafted streams of delicate green smoke, which rose and dissolved gradually into the air.

“The District Two representative contacted me a few days ago. They gave you exceptionally high praise for your assessment.”

Xi Jianfeng set down his tea, his expression calm and reserved, while the white crane stood silently by his side. “I also took a look at the group photo and your work. Your skills and foundation have indeed improved significantly over the past two years.”

Xi Xianqing replied steadily, “Miss Shen flattered me. With the tight schedule of the assessment, there were still many details I didn’t handle as thoroughly as I would have liked.”

“You’re still young and always hold yourself to a high standard. But there’s no need to be overly critical of yourself. There’s still time before you leave for District Four—allow yourself to relax a bit occasionally.”

Xi Jianfeng paused and asked, “How is Mufei? She didn’t come today either?”

“Everything is fine with my sister. She caught a slight chill recently, so I didn’t want to force her to come.”

Xi Xianqing lowered his gaze and gestured to the gift box in front of him, his tone even. “But she specially prepared this gift for you and asked me to bring it.”

Xi Jianfeng narrowed his eyes slightly, glanced at the luxurious brocade box, and shook his head with a faint smile. The lines on his face carried a hint of helplessness. “You ya, don’t need to do this for her anymore to fool me.”

“It’s not her fault. The two of you… you’ve both suffered too much since you were young. In the end, it’s my debt to you siblings.”

Xi Jianfeng murmured, “Forget it. Let her stay just as she is now—happy and carefree.”

Xi Xianqing said nothing more.

Wisps of light smoke curled from the floral-patterned openings of the incense burner. Xi Jianfeng, appearing somewhat fatigued, rubbed his temples. After a moment, as if recalling something, he asked, “That child from District Seven, did he come today?”

Xi Xianqing paused. “He’s here, outside.”

Xi Jianfeng hummed lightly. “There are too many people and prying eyes for now. After the banquet ends, bring him over and let me meet him.”

Xi Xianqing nodded and was about to speak when the door to the private room was abruptly pushed open from the outside.

Among District Six’s people—more precisely, the Xi Family—rules and etiquette were paramount.

The waiters at such an event had been meticulously trained. Behaviors like entering without knocking or seeking permission weren’t only extremely rude but utterly inconceivable in this setting.

As the door swung open, Xi Xianqing first spotted Xi Hongming and his family standing at the entrance.

Xi Hongming looked slightly surprised, seemingly not expecting an uninvited guest to precede him by barging in. “Ai? What kind of manners is this?”

The astonishment wasn’t confined to Xi Hongming. Xi Xianqing’s body tensed slightly, his gaze fixed on the figure in the wheelchair who had pushed open the door.

He walked quickly to Zhu Ming and hesitated. “Why are you—”

“Xi Xianqing.”

Zhu Ming grabbed Xi Xianqing’s hand and stared at his face for a few moments before softly asking, his tone languid, “Where… where did you go just now?”

Xi Xianqing: “…?”

The person before him murmured softly, “I’ve been looking for you… searched for you for so so long and couldn’t find you at all oh.”

His tone carried a hazy intoxication, the tail-end of his words lingering lazily in the air. His reddened eyes and lightly flushed face framed his unwavering gaze on Xi Xianqing.

Xi Xianqing was in a trance for a moment, only snapping back to attention when he realized something wasn’t right.

Zhu Ming should’ve known he was in the private room meeting Xi Jianfeng. What was all this talk about “where did you go” and “searched for so so long”?

Xi Xianqing’s brows furrowed slightly. His first thought was that Zhu Ming might’ve had too much to drink and was simply spouting drunken nonsense.

But as he examined Zhu Ming’s flushed cheeks and the shimmering mist in his clear eyes, a subtle voice in Xi Xianqing’s mind warned him that this situation wasn’t as simple as it seemed.

Whether it was instinct or intuition, Xi Xianqing couldn’t shake the feeling that… Zhu Ming was pretending to be drunk.

He was deliberately uttering this nonsense.

“I was just here to congratulate Grandfather.”

Although he had no idea what Zhu Ming was trying to achieve. Xi Xianqing was silent for a long time, trying to maintain composure as he played along. “It just so happen that Grandfather wants to meet—”

Zhu Ming wrinkled his nose and directly interrupted, “I-I don’t believe your bull***t.”

Xi Xianqing: “…?”

As if he didn’t see Xi Jianfeng sitting in front as well as the onlookers behind him, Zhu Ming clung to Xi Xianqing’s arm and tilted his head slightly upward, his gaze filled with an almost overwhelming sincerity, as if his entire world revolved around Xi Xianqing alone.

“So you’re still mad at me, aren’t you?”

His flushed face and watery eyes stared pitifully at Xi Xianqing. “It’s because back in District Two… you were always busy with your designs, never taking me out on vacation. We fought over it.”

“And after that… you’ve been angry ever since. We were in a cold war, ignoring me… even insisting we sleep in separate rooms.”

He turned his face away, letting out a nearly imperceptible hiccup, murmuring, “During the entire assessment period… you didn’t come close to me. But we had just gotten married back then ah…”

Xi Xianqing strangely froze in place.

“…I know your status is extraordinary. Before we got married, I knew life with you would be like this. But even so, I chose you without hesitation.”

As if aggrieved, his eyelashes lightly quivered, he softly questioned, “And I even apologized to you back then. Didn’t you say… didn’t you say you weren’t angry anymore?”

“Or did I do something wrong again today and upset you?”

Zhu Ming seemed to pause in deep sorrow, his voice slow and trembling as he asked, “Why did you leave me all alone in a place full of strangers and hide from me again?”

Xi Xianqing was already completely speechless.

Indignant and emotional, Zhu Ming’s words carried such a raw intensity that even the onlookers, let alone Xi Xianqing, began to feel the weight of his accusations.

At this point, Xi Xianqing had no idea what kind of script Zhu Ming was performing.

Being accused of such ridiculous things in front of everyone left him wanting to retort instinctively, but the words were stuck in his throat. Ultimately, he swallowed them back down.

Because not knowing whether it was his illusion, there was a faint shock on the faces of Xi Hongming and his family at the door when Zhu Ming mentioned “sleeping in separate rooms” just now.

As if Zhu Ming’s words… had disrupted some prior assumption of theirs.

Though Xi Xianqing refrained from rebuttal, this play was about to be completely impossible to catch on his own.

“I’m not hiding from you.”

He could only steady the person in front of him with one hand, keeping his voice calm as he said in a low voice, “…You’ve had too much to drink. Don’t lose composure in front of Grandfather. I’ll take you out first.”

“Grandfather, my apologies.”

Xi Xianqing exhaled a breath and turned back to explain with difficulty, “It’s his first time attending such an occasion. He doesn’t know many people here, and it seems he drank a bit too much. Let me take him out to clear his head.”

Xi Jianfeng, stroking the rim of his teacup, regarded them for a moment before responding mildly, “Go ahead.”

“But Xianqing, while your assessments are important, you should pay more attention to family in your daily life,” he said.

Xi Xianqing had a hard time speaking for a moment, and could only grit his teeth and respond, “I understand.”

He took a deep breath, lowering his gaze to the person in front of him, unsure whether he was truly drunk or just pretending. His throat felt dry. “Alright, let’s go for now.”

But Zhu Ming grabbed his sleeve, refusing to let it go. “Then… have you forgiven me?”

Xi Xianqing’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, and he had no choice but to go along with him. “I’ve forgiven you.”

“Really not angry?”

“…. Really.”

“Are we still going to sleep in separate rooms in the future?”

Xi Xianqing suppressed his breathing. “Not anymore.”

Zhu Ming stared at his face intently. After a long pause, he gave a soft “Hmm.”

With a drunken tilt of his head, Zhu Ming beckoned him over, speaking haltingly. “Then you… come a little closer now.”

Xi Xianqing, puzzled, saw his gesture and thought he wanted to whisper something like before. After a moment of hesitation, he leaned down slightly.

But to his surprise, Zhu Ming found the distance completely insufficient. He reached out, hooked his finger around Xi Xianqing’s tie, and abruptly pulled—

The distance between them shortened. Xi Xianqing caught a glimpse of Zhu Ming unnoticeable tilt of his head to the door in the direction of Xi Hongming.

Immediately after, Zhu Ming paused for a moment and closed his eyes briefly.

—It was as if, in that fleeting moment, he had silently made some kind of decision.

When he opened his eyes again, his gaze was once more filled with the hazy, misty drunkenness from before.

The fingers Zhu Ming had on Xi Xianqing’s tie loosened slightly, then lifted upward, finally cupping his face gently with both hands.

Xi Xianqing sensed something was off. “You—”

However, Zhu Ming didn’t give him any more time to think.

—In the next moment, he slightly tilted his face up and pressed a gentle, lingering kiss to Xi Xianqing’s lips.

Their heated breaths intertwined. Zhu Ming’s soft, cool lips, carrying a faint scent of alcohol, covered Xi Xianqing’s dry and burning lower lip. At first, the kiss was slightly stiff, lingering for a brief moment.

As if he was thinking of what to do, he hooked his arm around Xi Xianqing’s neck, lifted his face a bit more, and deepened the kiss with a light, lingering suck. Lips and teeth pressed together, as if he were trying to smooth over the initial awkwardness of the kiss.

It was actually a very short kiss.

But perhaps the surroundings were too quiet-or maybe because the kiss was so intense and heartfelt, when their lips finally parted, a loud, crisp “pop” echoed in the air, clear enough for everyone nearby to hear.

The lingering wetness on his lips felt all too real. Xi Xianqing’s mind went blank in an instant.

As for the one who caused all this, however, seemed like he was fine, drunkenly staying quiet for a while. Then, in his drunken daze, he stumbled forward—

And wrapped his arms around Xi Xianqing’s waist, resting his cheek against Xi Xianqing’s abdomen. Like a small, affectionate animal, he nuzzled gently.

“…It’s good that you’ve forgiven me.”

Xi Xianqing heard the person in his arms murmur vaguely, “Then now… hurry up and take me home.”

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Author’s notes:

ψ(｀∇´)ψ The drunken, seductive little fox putting on a grand performance everywhere; forcefully kissing the pure campus belle, big peac0ck!

At the banquet celebrating the 95th birthday of Mr. Xi, the grand hall was packed with distinguished guests, their glasses clinking in endless toasts.

Xi Jianfeng, now advanced in age and with many children, never needed to personally handle such occasions. His second son, Xi Hongming, stood at the entrance, assuming the role of host, greeting the guests with an air of authority.

Recently, Xi Hongming had been riding a wave of success, which he made no effort to conceal. His daughter, Xi Sen, had just completed her assessment in District One, and her photograph with a representative was prominently featured in the media, earning her widespread praise.

Although the event was Xi Jianfeng’s birthday banquet, everyone knew well that such celebrations were becoming fewer and farther between. Meanwhile, Xi Sen was a highly sought-after candidate for the District Six representative, attracting numerous people eager to curry favor.

Amid the flurry of compliments directed at Xi Sen and Xi Hongming, a female celebrity from District Six couldn’t contain her curiosity and asked, “Didn’t Young Master Xi just finish his assessment recently as well? Why isn’t he here today?”

No matter how lavishly such banquets were held, they were, at their core, places where people gossiped and traded idle talk.

Someone raised a glass with a smirk. “He’s always been proud and aloof, too disdainful to attend such gatherings. Maybe he’s even making a point of arriving fashionably late, even for his grandfather’s birthday.”

Another person covered their mouth and lowered their voice. “And then there was that sudden wedding announcement not long ago—caught us all completely off guard.”

“I heard the person he got married to is from District Seven. A top candidate from the Academy of Sciences, but he had an accident and can’t walk anymore.”

“Aiya, a genius from District Seven does sound impressive, but what could they possibly have in common? And now he’s crippled? I really don’t know what Young Master Xi was thinking. Isn’t he just burdening himself with a liability?”

Sharp, suppressed laughter erupted from the crowd.

“This child, Xianqing, takes after his father—always eccentric and doing things his own way.”

Xi Hongming relished hearing the sarcastic remarks, though he maintained the guise of a concerned elder, sighing with feigned helplessness. “Sometimes the choices these young people make are beyond us, older generations’ understanding, and there’s no persuading them otherwise.”

Xi Hongming’s gaze subtly shifted, and his smile grew inscrutable. “But sometimes, marriage… well, it doesn’t necessarily need mutual affection.”

His ambiguous remark left everyone momentarily stunned.

“Aiya, speak of the devil…” A male celebrity glanced toward the entrance and immediately froze, his expression shifting. “This—”

His voice cut off abruptly as all eyes turned toward the hotel’s entrance in unison.

Xi Xianqing’s presence was far too striking to be ignored. People gossiped behind his back, criticizing his arrogance and eccentricities, yet they couldn’t help but fix their gazes on him whenever he appeared.

After all, his stunning looks and exceptional talent were truly unmatched.

That face, flawless from every angle, outshines others’ meticulously edited photos.

Since he rarely made public appearances, leaving little material for the media, the moment he stepped through the door, dozens of cameras stationed outside instantly swiveled to capture his every move, not missing even a corner of his coat.

As always, Xi Xianqing still hasn’t released his spiritual manifestation.

The crowd’s eyes quickly shifted to the person in the wheelchair beside him—and collectively, they held their breath.

The whirlwind marriage between Young Master Xi and a fallen medical genius from District Seven had already spread like wildfire. Although the couple hadn’t held a wedding, the buzz surrounding them had been relentless. This was their first public appearance together at an event like this.

While some media outlets had dug up Zhu Ming’s photos and live recordings, most of District Six’s melon eaters¹Gossipy people. still knew little about him, maintaining an attitude of watching the fun.

After all, the stereotype of District Seven people ran deep—especially those who climbed to top candidate status at the Academy of Sciences weren’t ordinary people. The mental image most people had conjured was of a man with thick glasses, messy hair, and a dull, stiff demeanor.

How can this young man… in the wheelchair be a person from District Seven?

And here, Xi Mufei’s taste deserved some credit—she had chosen a black suit for Zhu Ming, understated and elegant, but crafted from luxurious, vintage velvet fabric.

On Zhu Ming, the suit accentuated his fair skin, red lips, and white teeth. His beauty, both superficial and structural, was unmistakably striking.

Yet he wasn’t just a flower vase.²Someone who has a pretty face and nothing more.[ His dark, clear eyes held a scholarly air—intelligent and composed, with a hint of playfulness. The slight upward tilt at the corners of his eyes gave him a cunning charm, each expression effortlessly captivating.

Some sharp-eyed guests began to notice a detail. “The brooch on his chest and Young Master Xi’s earring, aren’t they…”

“They’re a matching set.”

Someone familiar with the subject murmured the answer. “And it’s one of Xi Xianqing’s works from his time at the Academy. Back then, many collectors and auction houses offered sky-high prices for his creations, but he… never sold any of them.”

The young man in the wheelchair seemed to spot something. He stopped, raised his hand, and beckoned to Xi Xianqing.

The always aloof, dignified Young Master Xi—who was considered to rarely spare anyone a glance—paused for a moment before doing something that caused everyone to be completely shocked.

—He paused for a short while and even took the initiative to bend down and lean his face over.

Those watching saw the young man in the wheelchair lower his eyelashes and lazily lean toward Xi Xianqing, whispering something in his ear while gesturing toward a distant spot.

Xi Xianqing raised his head, looked in the direction he was pointing, and nodded after a moment.

The media’s cameras caught the subtle curve of a smile forming at the corners of his lips.

“Hey, look at the flowers in that vase.”

Zhu Ming leaned into Xi Xianqing’s ear, pointing at a massive porcelain vase filled with golden blooms. “They’re ugly. They look like toilet brushes. Aren’t you guys in District Six all about aesthetics? How did something like this get in here?”

“…” Xi Xianqing’s lips twitched ever so slightly in a rare moment as he straightened up. “Those flowers are expensive and the production is extremely low. Sometimes rarity holds more value than aesthetics.”

They finally passed through the hotel entrance into the private banquet hall, leaving the flashing cameras behind. Yet, the subtle gazes following them didn’t diminish in the slightest.

Several people approached Xi Xianqing to greet him. He responded with a polite nod and exchanged a few brief words, neither warm nor cold. Zhu Ming, on the other hand, maintained a polite smile.

After a few rounds, Zhu Ming began to feel overwhelmed and rubbed his arms. “If the stares from District Six people could turn into substance, I’d probably be riddled with holes by now.”

Xi Xianqing calmly said, “They’re irrelevant. Pay them no mind.”

They made their way to the buffet table, where Zhu Ming noticed a private room in the corner, partially concealed behind a gold-foil magnolia screen. In front of it stood a long line of guests holding gifts.

Zhu Ming curiously said, “What’s going on over there?”

Xi Xianqing glanced over. “Grandfather is inside. Those are people lining up to offer their congratulations.”

There was naturally no need to say what Xi Jianfeng’s name meant to the people present, especially among District Six residents

Even if it was just to say a toast or a short conversation of a minute or two could have deeper implications—whether it was delivering a carefully crafted birthday wish, presenting a custom-made gift, or negotiating deals that could involve buildings, land, or even entire cities.

Zhu Ming suddenly realized why the scene felt so familiar. It resembled ancient imperial court assemblies, where officials lined up to report matters, and those with nothing to say were dismissed.

He observed the guests for a while and noticed how much people in District Six valued appearances and etiquette. Most of them released their spiritual manifestations during conversations, and many of these spiritual forms bore obvious signs of cosmetic enhancement.

Even the servers carrying drinks had undergone a uniform selection process, all possessing plant-type spiritual forms.

The desserts on the gorgeous and exquisite dessert table are also meticulously arranged. Even something as simple as a custard tart was adorned with edible flowers.

It looked exquisite, but Zhu Ming couldn’t help but think that the odds of accidentally eating a high-protein bug were uncomfortably high.

As he carefully removed the flowers from his tart and took a bite, he casually observed the guests passing by. “Introduce me. Which ones are your relatives?”

Unlike Zhu Ming, who piled his plate high with an assortment of desserts, Xi Xianqing only selected a few light fruits. He glanced at the crowd, “Anyone with wings and a beak—those are my relatives.”

“…” Zhu Ming took a bite of his tart and sighed. “What a birds-and-flowers kind of day.”

Not long after, Ye Lu walked over in a hurry.

She softly said, “Xianqing, the Old Master sent word—he wants to speak with you now. It’s probably about the assessment.”

Seeing the hesitant look on Xi Xianqing’s face, Zhu Ming smiled and pointed to the snacks on the plate, “I’ll wait for you right here.”

Xi Xianqing frowned slightly, clearly uneasy. He leaned in and whispered something to Ye Lu.

“Relax. Your banquet hall’s carpet doesn’t have tassels. I’m unlikely to get stuck,” Zhu Ming joked lightly. “Go on.”

Xi Xianqing nodded after a long time, “I’ll be back soon.”

Zhu Ming knew there were plenty of unfriendly eyes in the banquet hall. Not wanting to stir up unnecessary trouble, he ate his fill, grabbed a glass of wine, and slipped out to a quiet balcony for some fresh air.

He sipped his drink, gazing down at the city’s nightscape, enjoying the soft evening breeze.

The gentle wind stirred the white fox nestled on his lap. Its nose twitched, and Zhu Ming’s brow lifted slightly as he caught a whiff of nicotine.

A sharp voice suddenly cut through the silence behind him. “You’re the District Seven guy who married Xianqing-ge?”

Zhu Ming sighed lightly.

In a sense, he was also a little bit convinced. He’d deliberately sought out a secluded corner, yet it seemed he still couldn’t avoid the people who took the initiative to pick holes in him to come to his doorstep.

Turning his head, Zhu Ming saw a young man with a baby face and a proud, arrogant demeanor.

Perched on his shoulder was a tiny canary, puffing out its chest. One person and one bird openly scrutinized Zhu Ming from head to toe without the slightest attempt at subtlety.

Zhu Ming pondered for a moment before softly asking Ye Lu, “Troublesome relative?”

Ye Luh’s expression grew more complicated. She leaned in and whispered, “This is Xi Xianqing’s younger cousin, Xi Jiacheng. He’s from the Third Uncle’s branch of the family.”

After a brief pause, she added with a hesitant tone, “He’s not exactly bad, per se. He also studies jewelry design. It’s just that this child, ever since he was little… he’s had this weird obsession with Xianqing. And, well, he doesn’t think things through before acting.”

That is a stupid relative, Zhu Ming raised his eyebrows.

Xi Jiacheng crossed his arms and gave Zhu Ming a once-over. “A District Seven guy who doesn’t know a thing about jewelry or aesthetics? I can’t understand why Xianqing-ge would marry someone like you.”

Zhu Ming smiled faintly and said, “How do you know I don’t know anything?”

Xi Jiacheng hesitantly sized him up again. “Then let me test you. Tell me—which one is more valuable, the pearl or the yellow diamond on my brooch?”

Zhu Ming didn’t seem offended. He simply waved him closer. “Come closer, let me take a look.”

Xi Jiacheng pursed his lips, then took two steps forward. Zhu Ming leaned in to examine it and after a brief pause, he dragged out a slow “Ah~”

He said, “I don’t know, looks ugly.”

Xi Jiacheng was furious. “What are you talking about! Do you know that this pearl is a rare wild freshwater pearl from District Four—”

“I don’t know.”

Zhu Ming pointed at the canary on Xi Jiacheng’s shoulder, which was trembling uncontrollably, its tiny legs shaking like leaves in a storm. “But I do know that if you don’t address your spiritual manifestation’s ADHD soon, it won’t be able to stand still for much longer.”

Xi Jiacheng fell into a peculiar silence.

Zhu Ming studied the canary for a moment before speaking. “Judging by the severity of the symptoms, it’s been about a month, hasn’t it?”

A few seconds later, Xi Jiacheng swallowed, glanced around, and lowered his voice. “You… you tell me more in detail.”

“Sure.” Zhu Ming smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement. He beckoned with a finger and tapped the cigarette in Xi Jiacheng’s hand. “But you’ll have to give me one of those.”

Ten minutes later, the balcony of the banquet hall was completely packed.

“…Then go to a pharmacy and get these two medications. Take them continuously for a week.”

Surrounded by the crowd, Zhu Ming, with a cigarette between his teeth, tucked the napkin scribbled with the medication names into Xi Jiacheng’s pocket, and put the pen down. “Starting today, avoid any food or drinks containing caffeine, and definitely no more staying up late.”

Seeing Zhu Ming raise his hand, Xi Jiacheng quickly placed his wine glass respectfully in Zhu Ming’s hand. “Dr. Zhu, is there anything else I should watch out for?”

Zhu Ming leisurely sipped the wine before Xi Jiacheng respectfully took the glass back from him.

“Other than that…”

Zhu Ming turned his head slightly, locking eyes with him for a moment before smiling faintly. “You should also practice moderation in your personal life. I don’t think I need to elaborate, do I?”

Xi Jiacheng immediately understood and coughed lightly. “Got it.”

Zhu Ming nodded. Just as he bit down on a new cigarette, Xi Jiacheng promptly lit it for him.

A young girl on the sidelines couldn’t help but also put out her spiritual manifestation—a willow warbler. “Dr. Zhu, could you take a look at me too? My spirit animal’s feathers have been looking dull lately, and it just don’t look good enough for the camera.”

Zhu Ming squinted at her for a long moment. “You’ve been dieting, haven’t you?”

“Yes, because the graduation ball is coming up soon at school.”

The girl’s face flushed slightly. “What should I do ah? I can’t have both glossy feathers and a slim figure. I’ll be laughed to death by my friends ah…”

Zhu Ming wanted to say something.

Previously, he thought that Dish Soap’s inability to fan its tail was no big deal.

But it wasn’t until today that he realized the extent of the people from District Six’s private anxiety about appearances and their relentless criticism of others’ looks—far beyond anything he could have imagined.

If the fact that Xi Xianqing couldn’t fan his tail were to become known to outsiders… Zhu Ming couldn’t begin to imagine the kind of gossip his relatives would spread or how it might affect Xi Xianqing’s career prospects.

Zhu Ming pinched the cigarette “If a short-term diet is necessary, we can prescribe something to improve the shine of its feathers, but if you keep it on a long-term diet, you might as well prepare for it to go completely bald.”

Xi Jiacheng was about to light another cigarette for Zhu Ming when Zhu Ming glanced at the growing crowd of onlookers and felt that the situation was spiraling out of his control.

“No more smoking,” he said, waving his hand before hesitating. “By the way, don’t you all need to go and congratulate Old Master Xi?”

“There are already so many people falling over themselves to curry favor with the Old Master—when is our turn ah.”

Xi Jiacheng snorted and muttered, “Besides, anyone with half a brain can see that this year’s main attraction is Xi Sen and her father, Xi Hongming. Even if we don’t go, the Old Master won’t even remember we exist.”

The name Xi Sen sounded vaguely familiar. Zhu Ming pondered this.

One drink after another went down, and soon Zhu Ming’s stomach and temples were faintly warm. He was well aware of his own alcohol tolerance—one more sip, and he might end up doing something he’d regret.

Understanding the importance of cutting his losses, he maneuvered his wheelchair and pushed through the crowd. “I’m going to the restroom.”

The restroom was located in a quiet corner outside the banquet hall. Zhu Ming washed his face, finally gaining a moment of peace in the world.

On his way back to the banquet hall, he drowsily operated his wheelchair for a while before coming to a stop, lost in thought.

—He seemed to have gotten lost.

The alcohol was getting to him, and the mirrored symmetry of this luxurious hotel didn’t help. Identical checkered tiles, identical enormous vases, and identical golden-toilet-brush-like flowers arranged in each vase.

After wandering for some time, his dizziness only worsened. Suddenly, he faintly heard voices in the distance.

He paused and glanced through the gaps between the flower arrangements. He vaguely spotted a parrot spiritual manifestation and realized it must belong to one of Xi Xianqing’s relatives.

To avoid unnecessary trouble, Zhu Ming decided to wait until they left before proceeding. He maneuvered his wheelchair backward and hid behind one of the large vases.

He saw three people: a young, sharp-looking woman with short hair, and a well-dressed man and woman who appeared to be a married couple.

“Sen Sen ya,” He heard the woman addressing the young woman. “When you see the Old Master later, make sure to mention how hard things were for you recently in District One. You need to make him feel sorry for you ah.”

Zhu Ming froze momentarily before realizing that these people were the Xi Sen and Xi Hongming family that Xi Jiacheng had mentioned earlier.

Xi Sen’s expression was tired. “The officers in District One treated me with great hospitality. How am I supposed to make up hardships to tell Grandpa?”

“Even if there aren’t any, you have to make something up,” Xi Hongming snapped, his brows furrowed. “Isn’t the climate in District One hot and humid? Just say you nearly had heatstroke several times. How else will Old Master know that your dedication to the assessments far surpasses Xi Xianqing’s?”

Xi Sen’s expression grew even more fatigued. She turned her face away and remained silent.

“Don’t blame your mother for nagging. I heard that District Two’s representatives were extremely impressed with Xi Xianqing’s work this year. You need to push yourself harder.”

Zhang Yuan gritted her teeth and continued, “When the Old Master brought those two siblings back home back then, everyone was on guard against the elder one. Who would’ve thought that now…”

Zhu Ming was originally still drunk and listening to gossip.

Unexpectedly, as he was halfway through enjoying the gossip, Zhu Ming realized the conversation had turned to his own family. The revelation sobered him up considerably.

“At least Xi Mufei is a useless deaf person who likes to draw those absurd, nonsensical things.”

Xi Hongming sneered. “But who would’ve thought that the younger one is even harder to guard against.”

“And he’s completely different from the other family members—none of those indulgent, hedonistic habits.”

Zhang Yuan sighed in agreement. “Without any weaknesses to exploit, and with the Old Master favoring him so much, what are we supposed to do ah…”

Zhu Ming’s eyelids jumped.

At this moment, he finally understood the meaning behind what Xi Xianqing had once said when they first met: “If you don’t eventually reach the top, you’ll spend your entire life living in fear.”

The atmosphere grew tense. Through the gaps in the expensive floral arrangements, Zhu Ming saw Xi Hongming’s lips curl into a shadowy, ambiguous smile. “No flaws at all… that’s impossible.”

“I’ve heard from some contacts in District Two that during the assessment period, he and that crippled person from District Seven stayed in separate rooms the entire time.”

Xi Hongming said slowly, lighting a cigarette. At his feet, the parrot spiritual manifestation pecked at its feathers with evident satisfaction. “Newlyweds are supposed to be deeply in love—how could they have stayed in separate rooms the whole time?”

“This marriage was tied in such a hurry at that time, I felt odd.” He said with a grim expression, “Looking at it now, there must be some unspeakable secret behind this marriage.”

---

Author’s notes:

The fake marriage has been discovered and is about to be exposed. What measures will the little fox take to deal with it?

A. Use telepathy to urgently inform the big peac0ck in the distance!

B. Sit back and wait for death.

C. ?

Thank you very much, Roz for the kofi! :googleredheart:

---

The delicate paper bag was cradled in Zhu Ming’s arms, who returned with a full load. Letting out a long breath, he felt that the energy spent shopping this time far exceeded what he had used in his rehabilitation session that morning.

The two sat quietly in the sightseeing car, watching the vibrant nightscape of District Six on their way back to the parking lot.

The evening breeze was cool and pleasant, and the fountains rose and fell under the bright lights. The old Zhu Ming would have scoffed at his current self, but now he finally understood why some people were so enamored with a life of indulgence, why they were willing to spend hundreds of thousands just for two bags of fabric.

—Because it was utterly exhilarating.

Zhu Ming murmured, “You know, the dopamine rush from shopping really is irreplaceable. If I didn’t think about the few missing zeros in my bank account, I might’ve stayed happy for a while longer.”

Beside him, Xi Xianqing seemed distracted, only responding with a belated “Mm” after a long pause.

He turned to look at Zhu Ming, his lips moving slightly as if he wanted to say something.

Zhu Ming, however, didn’t notice his expression. His phone vibrated in his pocket, and he answered the call. “Hmm? I’m in District Six right now. I’ll head back in a bit.”

Whatever the person on the other end said made Zhu Ming raise his eyebrows. “…Hmm, next week? That should be fine ah. You can go ahead and set it up.”

After hanging up, Zhu Ming caught Xi Xianqing’s gaze and smiled as he explained, “It was my aunt. She’s planning to go to a friend’s farm in District One next week to pick some fruit and asked if I wanted to tag along for a couple of days.”

“Let me tell you some gossip oh.” Leaning in slightly, he grinned mischievously. “I suspect this so-called friend is actually her new partner.”

Most people would show some interest in gossip, but Xi Xianqing seemed to freeze. He asked, “When are you leaving next week?”

Zhu Ming slipped his phone back into his pocket and thought for a moment. “She said next Friday. Probably just for the weekend.”

Xi Xianqing didn’t say anything for a long time.

Upon learning that Zhu Yingying had a new romantic development, Zhu Ming’s mood brightened considerably. He pinched the edge of the high-end paper bag in his hand and hummed an off-key tune. After a while, the unsettling silence beside him caught his attention. “What’s wrong?”

A moment later, he heard Xi Xianqing reply, “…It’s nothing.”

Zhu Ming sensed that something wasn’t right and wanted to press further, but the person beside him had already turned his face away. His sharp jawline disappeared into the dense darkness of the night.

When they got home, Zhu Yingying was startled by the large number of shopping bags Zhu Ming had brought back.

Rather than scolding him for being extravagant, she was so happy that she and the little rabbit hopped around the living room several times. Then she added hay to the rabbit’s cage, muttering to herself for quite a while.

“Xiao Man ah.”

She squatted in front of the rabbit cage and spoke to the lop-eared rabbit, its cheeks puffed full of food. “Don’t worry over there. Xiao Ming is already married la, just came back from his honeymoon, and even enjoys going out more now…”

Zhu Ming’s lips twitched slightly.

After a long day, he wanted nothing more than to head straight to bed. But when he thought about how much the clothes had cost, he decided he should hang them in the wardrobe first. A few minutes less sleep wouldn’t matter.

A while later, Zhu Yingying appeared at his bedroom door and suggested, “How about inviting Xiao Xi to join you for this weekend’s trip?”

“No,” Zhu Ming replied, decisively refusing while unzipping a suit’s garment bag. “And I’m not planning on going myself, either.”

Zhu Yingying was shocked, “Why?”

“Let me guess, your so-called ‘friend’ probably didn’t plan on inviting me in the first place, did they?”

Zhu Ming poked at this with a sly remark, and purposely pronounced the word ‘friend’ with more emphasis, “I’m not going to be a light bulb.”

The little rabbit at Zhu Yingying’s feet twitched its ears, but she pretended not to understand and put her hands on her hips. “W-What are you talking about?”

“Alright la, you two just enjoy yourselves this time.” Zhu Ming said with a faint smile, hanging the last piece of clothing in his wardrobe. “When you get back from your trip, why not do what I did with Xi Xianqing? Bring your ‘friend’ over to our house for a meal.”

Zhu Yingying’s cheeks flushed crimson, and she huffed angrily. “If you keep spouting nonsense, I’ll really get mad! Chen Cheng and I are truly just friends right now—”

The white rabbit at her feet narrowed its eyes slightly. Zhu Ming caught onto the keyword. “Right now? And what about later?”

Zhu Yingying froze, stomped her foot in frustration, and stormed out of the room, unable to speak. Her face burned with the rabbit in tow.

On Friday morning, Zhu Yingying cheerfully carried her luggage and headed off to District One, leaving Zhu Ming to an empty home.

Keeping in mind his role as a personal physician, Zhu Ming didn’t idle away the day. He buried himself in the lab, experimenting with a few new medications in the pod.

While organizing the thermostat storage, he noticed that one of the medications would lose its potency in just a week. After some deliberation, he decided to deliver it to Xi Xianqing so he could try it out as soon as possible.

He sent a text, but there was no reply from Xi Xianqing.

Weighing the options of either “letting his hard work go to waste” or using a “cross-district courier service”, Zhu Ming thought back to the chaos caused by Dish Soap during the last allergy episode. In the end, he decided to deliver it personally and explain the precautions for use in person.

What he didn’t expect was for the person who opened the door to be Xi Mufei.

Xi Mufei was still barefoot, standing on the wooden floor, holding a light screen and an electronic pen. The white peac0ck beside her rested elegantly, its eyes—identical to her brother’s small, beady ones—half-closed as it lounged leisurely at her feet.

Zhu Ming immediately recognized the dress she was wearing. It was one of the two purple dresses that Xi Xianqing had bought that day.

It seemed to be the lavender purple one—En, he wasn’t entirely sure.

When Xi Mufei saw him, her expression displayed a subtle, slightly surprised complexity.

Then she smiled, her eyes curving, and waved enthusiastically at Zhu Ming.

Zhu Ming wordlessly tucked the sealed bag containing the medication behind his wheelchair and slowed his speech. “Is Xi Xianqing here?”

Xi Mufei shook her head, opened the door wider, and motioned for Zhu Ming to come in.

After entering, Zhu Ming saw her write something on the light screen in her hand before handing it to him.

He focused on the screen and read the line: “He went to our grandfather’s birthday banquet.”

At the end, there was even an emoji sticking out its tongue.

Birthday banquet?

Zhu Ming froze for a moment, sensing that something wasn’t quite right. Pressing his lips together, he took the electronic pen and wrote back on the screen: “Did he go alone? Aren’t you going?”

Xi Mufei leaned over to take a glance, shook her head, and replied with the pen: “I don’t like those kinds of events.”

And added, “He never lets me go either.”

Zhu Ming was slightly stunned and nodded.

It seemed that today’s trip was destined to be in vain. After all, Xi Mufei wasn’t aware of Xi Xianqing’s condition… so there was little chance the medication would make it to him.

As Zhu Ming was lost in thought, Xi Mufei handed the light screen back to him.

There was a sentence written on it: “I heard he originally wanted to invite you to grandfather’s birthday banquet with him.”

Before Zhu Ming could process this, Xi Mufei took the light screen back and quickly scribbled another line with bold, flowing strokes: “But it seems you turned him down oh ^_^~”

Zhu Ming: “…?”

Zhu Ming stared at the wavy line at the end of the message on the screen, wondering if there had been some sort of miscommunication between him and Xi Mufei.

He had no recollection of this at all. He was absolutely certain, without a shred of doubt, that he had never even heard the words “birthday banquet” from Xi Xianqing’s mouth.

This time, Zhu Ming didn’t take the pen. Instead, he pointed to himself with his finger. “Me?”

Xi Mufei nodded, then scribbled another line on the holographic screen: “For the past two days, he’s secretly been sulking all by himself oh.”

It was followed by a crying “(>﹏<)”.

Zhu Ming didn’t know whether to laugh or cry but he genuinely believed he had been wronged. He took the screen and wrote down his defense: “You must’ve mistaken me for someone else. He really didn’t invite me.”

Xi Mufei pursed her lips, her expression serious. She shook her finger as if scolding him, then wrote: “His mind works in very unique ways. You can’t interpret what he says like a normal person would.”

Worthy of being her own sister, she scolded without any softness at all.

Zhu Ming couldn’t help but chuckle.

He watched as Xi Mufei casually filled the screen with more text: “Sometimes, you might not realize he’s inviting you. And other times, you might not realize you’ve already rejected him.”

Zhu Ming froze, his smile faltering slightly. He shook his head with a faint laugh, about to say, “How could that be?”

But then, fragments of memory suddenly surfaced in his mind, and the smile on his face stiffened.

Noticing the subtle shift in his expression, Xi Mufei smiled enigmatically and placed the pen into Zhu Ming’s hand.

Zhu Ming slowly grasped the pen, the tip hovering over the screen, but it didn’t touch down.

First, there was his inexplicable behavior of suddenly buying an expensive formal suit.

Then, there was that interrupted sentence in the fitting room by the sales lady “Next week—”

After leaving the mall and finishing the call with Zhu Yingying—when she asked about the travel date—Zhu Ming recalled Xi Xianqing’s expression, one that seemed to conceal unspoken words.

“Oh no,” Zhu Ming muttered. “It looks like… he really did try to invite me.”

The car traveled smoothly along the road. Xi Xianqing sat quietly, gazing out the window at the steady stream of banquet guests arriving.

After Xi Jianfeng’s grand 90th birthday celebration, every subsequent banquet adhered to the same level of extravagance.

The consequence of this tradition was that each year’s event became increasingly ostentatious. By the time of his 95th birthday, the scale had reached staggering proportions.

Unlike an ordinary family gathering, the banquet served as a public display for the media and countless spectators. Prestige and grandeur were paramount.

Unsurprisingly, the venue was the highest-rated hotel in District Six. Besides the Xi Family, numerous celebrities, wealthy business magnates, and artists connected to Xi Jianfeng had gathered here.

Therefore from the entrance of the hotel, it was already a grand spectacle.

Xi Xianqing looked out the window the entire time, while Ye Lu, who was sitting on the side, looked as though she had something to say but hesitated.

“Xianqing.” Ye Lu’s expression was uncharacteristically laced with a hint of helplessness. “The Old Master specifically mentioned this time that he wanted to meet Xiao Zhu in person. You even went to Tacheng, and picked out clothes, but in the end, why didn’t you say anything to invite him?”

Xi Xianqing spoke faintly. “He already had plans. What would’ve been the point of asking?”

Ye Lu closed her eyes briefly and, with a still-present smile, forced her voice through gritted teeth. “But Xiao Zhu has always been good-tempered and considerate. If you’d asked, he might’ve been willing to adjust his plans to join you—”

“His aunt is important to him,” Xi Xianqing interrupted. “If I had asked, it wouldn’t have been an invitation. It would’ve been putting him in a difficult position.”

Ye Lu was slightly stunned.

A moment later, Ye Lu sighed softly. “I understand, but you two are newlyweds. In a setting like today’s… if Xiao Zhu doesn’t come, Second Uncle’s side will probably make a fuss again.”

Xi Xianqing didn’t respond.

“I’ll go check the crowd at the hotel entrance.” Ye Lu, reading the room, realized she shouldn’t press further. “With so many reporters here today, I’m sure some of them don’t have the best intentions. Best to steer clear of them.”

Xi Xianqing nodded, and Ye Lu got out of the car.

The air inside the vehicle felt stifling. He rolled down the window, exhaled deeply, and closed his eyes to rest.

After an unknown amount of time, he opened his eyes again and absently looked out the window.

It was already close to evening, the sunset evening sun was soft and the traffic was weaving.

On the opposite side of the road, which had been empty only moments ago, a figure in a wheelchair suddenly appeared.

For a moment, Xi Xianqing thought his eyes were deceiving him.

His pupils contracted, and after a long time, he rolled the car window down further, trying to get a clearer view of the figure.

But it was the middle of a green-light interval. Cars blurred past in the evening traffic, making it nearly impossible to see clearly.

It wasn’t until the light stopped red that he was able to get a good look at the person’s face.

A sharp chin, pale skin, and a sleek black velvet suit. The man sat in his wheelchair, seemingly lost in thought, his gaze downcast as he absentmindedly fiddled with his cufflinks.

Then, as the light turned green, Zhu Ming suddenly lifted his eyes. Across the busy street, his gaze met Xi Xianqing’s through the car window.

Zhu Ming in the distance was stunned for a moment and looked at him, then his lips hooked out a faint smile.

Xi Xianqing’s breathing stopped slightly.

His mind went blank. Entirely driven by instinct, he pushed open the car door, stepped out, and strode forward in disbelief, staring incredulously at the face in front of him. “Why are you—”

Zhu Ming had just wheeled himself across the street, and now the two stood face-to-face by the roadside.

Surveying the opulent hotel before him, Zhu Ming spoke in an easy, unhurried tone, “What a coincidence ah. I was just debating whether to give you a call and now I don’t have to.”

“I’d originally planned to let that 320,000-yuan suit of mine make an appearance tonight, but going back to District Seven and then coming here probably would’ve made me late.”

He glanced at Xi Xianqing’s face, shaking the cuffs of his slightly longer suit. “In the end, your sister found one of your suits for me. It fits well enough. You don’t mind, do you?”

Recalling something, Zhu Ming’s expression grew pensive. “Oh, right. Your wardrobe is really big ah.”

Xi Xianqing’s brain was still buffering. “Aren’t you… supposed to be on vacation with your aunt?”

“I don’t want to be a light bulb.”

Zhu Ming shrugged and smiled. “Besides, she’s headed to some rural farmhouse in the suburbs of District One. Meanwhile, you’re staying at the most luxurious hotel in District Six. I know which one’s more worth checking out.”

“But come to think of it, I don’t think I actually received an invitation ha.”

He bit his lower lip, fixing his gaze on Xi Xianqing’s face, revealing a somewhat embarrassed look. “Aiya, do you think the hotel security will throw me out as soon as I step through the doors?”

Nightfall deepened. The city hummed with noisy traffic as they silently stared at each other by the roadside.

“They won’t,” Xi Xianqing said, his throat tightening. He tried to keep his expression in check, his words faltering. “You’re… you’re invited now.”

Zhu Ming didn’t speak again, just staring at his face with a smiling face.

After a long time, Xi Xianqing dryly ordered, “Raise your hands.”

Zhu Ming obediently raised his hands.

Xi Xianqing lowered his gaze and helped unfasten Zhu Ming’s cufflinks, then neatly rolled up both sleeves to a more suitable length.

Straightening up, his eyes fell on Zhu Ming’s unadorned lapel.

Zhu Ming followed his gaze and let out a soft “Ah.” “Right oh, for an event like this at your family’s level, shouldn’t I be wearing something sparkly ah?”

He heard Xi Xianqing say, “It’s fine.”

Zhu Ming assumed that “it’s fine” meant that it wasn’t a big deal to attend without jewelry or accessories.

He murmured an acknowledgment, but when he raised his eyes again, he saw Xi Xianqing tilting his head slightly, removing the earring from his right ear.

Zhu Ming recalled that during Zhu Yingying’s birthday banquet, Xi Xianqing had deliberately dressed modestly to avoid stealing attention from the host.

However, tonight’s attire was nothing like that. Xi Xianqing was wearing a dark navy embroidered suit that demanded attention.

The craftsmanship was already intricate and luxurious, so he had forgone additional embellishments. The only thing that could be described as shiny was the pair of earrings of the same color on his ears.

—They were a pair of peac0ck plume-shaped studs crafted from sapphire, tsavorite, and diamonds, vividly striking pieces that few could pull off.

Yet on Xi Xianqing’s sharp, handsome features, the bold design blended seamlessly, highlighting the intensity of his refined, striking appearance.

At this moment, Xi Xianqing took off the plume earring in his right ear.

Lifting his hand, he hooked a finger around Zhu Ming’s lapel as if about to pin the earring onto it.

Zhu Ming was stunned and caught his wrist. “If you use it as a brooch for me, you’ll be left with just one earring.”

Unbothered, Xi Xianqing replied calmly, “Wearing just one won’t make me look bad.”

Zhu Ming: “…”

Zhu Ming found himself unable to argue—after all, that person’s face spoke for itself. Wearing earrings on both ears exuded radiant elegance, while a single earring added a touch of sharp, clean-cut charm. Either way, it looked impeccable.

So, he didn’t push back any further and let go of Xi Xianqing’s wrist, allowing him to adjust the earring on his lapel.

After a few seconds, he heard Xi Xianqing say, “Done.”

Zhu Ming lowered his head and lightly touched the tiny diamonds on the peac0ck feather with his fingertip. Then, he looked up, smiled, and softly asked, “How is it? Does it look good?”

Based on what he knew of Xi Xianqing, the response would likely be something along the lines of “Not bad,” “Passable,” or “Barely acceptable.”

As the night deepened, the young man’s emerald eyes seemed to grow darker and more profound. He stared at Zhu Ming’s face, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he awkwardly shifted his gaze away.

“En.” Not knowing whether he was talking about the brooch or the person, his voice was hoarse. “Good-looking.”

---

Author’s Notes:

The secretly delighted big peac0ck plucked its most beautiful feather and carefully adorned it on the little fox’s body!

To be honest, the last time Zhu Ming heard the phrase “cleared the area” was on a dog-blooded idol drama in District Six that Zhu Yingying had been chasing, filled with over-the-top melodramatic CEOs.

In TV shows, it’s a classic plot device, brimming with blatant golden fingers. But in real life, being surrounded by service staff in such an emperor-like fashion gave Zhu Ming a faint sense of helplessness.

“Young Master Xiao Xi, I know you like making an impression, but is this really necessary?”

Unable to resist, Zhu Ming tugged on Xi Xianqing’s sleeve, his tone full of disbelief. “This is such a massive mall—just not getting lost here is already a challenge—and now you’re clearing it out? Do you know how much money they’re losing in sales for the day because of this ah?”

At that moment, Xi Xianqing had just stepped into a refined, high-end women’s clothing store. He casually picked up a dress from the rack, stared at it for a moment, and furrowed his brow.

“First of all, I don’t like crowded places, and I especially detest wasting time on meaningless things like waiting in line.”

The next second, he placed the dress back on the rack with an air of indifference. “Second, Tancheng is, after all, a business under the Xi Family name. Even if there are losses, it won’t affect anyone else.”

He picked up a skirt and pinched the fabric between his fingers. After assessing its texture and thickness, he asked, “Any other questions?”

“…” Zhu Ming made a gesture of zipping his lips shut and said, “I’ll stop talking. Happy shopping ha.”

The young master visited his family’s business, any further commentary from Zhu Ming would simply be overstepping.

Zhu Ming glanced around and was a little surprised—he hadn’t expected the first store Xi Xianqing would walk into to be a women’s clothing store.

Xi Xianqing’s method of choosing clothes resembled selecting the finest radishes at a vegetable market.

Quick, precise, ruthless, and without any hesitation—his likes and dislikes for the clothes were written plainly on his face.

Clothes that didn’t meet his aesthetic standards were greeted with a disdainful furrow of his brow; those that were mediocre were passed over mercilessly with the tips of his fingers. Anything that barely caught his eye was immediately plucked from the rack and handed to the attendant trailing behind him.

Zhu Ming watched as Xi Xianqing picked out two nearly identical purple dresses, compared them for a brief moment, and handed them both to the store clerk.

Zhu Ming sneaked a glance at the price tag on the first dress. His vision went black for a second. Then he checked the second one, and the number of zeroes on the tag made his hand tremble involuntarily.

He knew he’d regret asking, but he still couldn’t hold back. “So, uh, are these two dresses any different? Are you sure you need both?”

Xi Xianqing turned his head and glanced at him. “Of course they’re different. One is jacquard fabric, and the other is a wool blend. Additionally, one is wisteria purple, and the other is lavender purple. The brightness and the undertones of the colors are completely different.”

He looked at Zhu Ming with a strange expression. “These distinctions are so obvious. Don’t you see them?”

Zhu Ming: “…”

He really shouldn’t have asked.

After observing for a while, Zhu Ming realized that Xi Xianqing was genuinely enjoying the process of shopping. He examined each piece of clothing like he was judging a work of art, selecting his preferences with seriousness and care.

With inhuman efficiency, he moved smoothly through the sea of luxurious clothing, finishing his shopping in the first store in no time.

Xi Xianqing glanced at the pile of clothing the sales assistant was holding, which now resembled a small mountain. He picked out a beige chiffon dress from the pile. “Take this one and adjust the waistline down by one size.”

Then he pulled out a skirt. “She likes sitting on the floor while drawing. Get another one in black; it won’t show stains as easily.”

Zhu Ming raised an eyebrow.

As expected, all these clothes were for Xi Mufei.

He decided not to interrupt any further and quietly followed at a distance behind Xi Xianqing’s entourage.

But accompanying someone on a shopping trip was no easy task either. Zhu Ming hadn’t had anything to drink since leaving the hospital and was feeling a bit parched. Gently, he asked the sales assistant beside him, “Excuse me, does the store have any water?”

The sales assistant’s spiritual manifestation was a chipmunk. Upon hearing Zhu Ming’s request, she immediately straightened up, and the chipmunk at her feet swished its tail in sync. “Yes, yes. Would you like plain water, mineral water, sparkling water, or lemon water?”

Zhu Ming hadn’t expected there to be so many options for a simple glass of water. “Uh… lemon water, I guess.”

Zhu Ming watched as the sales assistant turned her back and spoke into her earpiece.

Five minutes later, someone arrived with a freshly prepared glass of lemon water on a silver tray.

The sales assistant handed the water to Zhu Ming and asked softly, “Mr. Zhu, are you satisfied with the temperature and humidity in the mall? If you have any thoughts or requests, please don’t hesitate to let us know. There’s nothing we can’t arrange for you.”

The little girl’s speech was quite interesting, and Zhu Ming couldn’t resist teasing her. After taking a couple of sips, he joked, “Then, if I suddenly wanted ice cream and hot pot, could you arrange that too?”

The sales assistant playfully winked. “What flavors would you like?”

Zhu Ming burst into laughter, thinking the young woman had quite a sense of humor.

Three seconds later, his laughter died down. Staring at her face, he asked, “You can’t be serious, right?”

While Xi Xianqing finished picking out clothes for Xi Mufei, Zhu Ming had already been savoring a three-scoop ice cream waffle cone for quite some time.

The sales assistant, now directing the security team to carry the shopping bags, dashed over to Xi Xianqing. “Mr. Xi, the stores you frequently visit on the fifth floor have already been notified, and the store managers are prepared. Shall we head there now?”

“No rush,” Xi Xianqing replied, naming another store. “Let’s check this one out first.”

The sales assistant looked momentarily surprised and glanced at Zhu Ming behind him, then smiled knowingly. “Understood. This way, please.”

Meanwhile, Zhu Ming, with one hand operating his motorized wheelchair and the other hand enjoying his ice cream cone, leisurely followed the group into another store.

As he was engrossed in admiring the intricate and ornate sculptures at the entrance, his ice cream was suddenly snatched from his hand. A shadow fell over him immediately afterward.

Zhu Ming, still chewing his ice cream, mumbled, “Hmm?”

When he looked down, he saw Xi Xianqing holding a white suit jacket in one hand, draping it over Zhu Ming’s body to compare sizes.

The next moment, Xi Xianqing raised an eyebrow, seemingly satisfied. He communicated with the entourage behind him, “Have the tailor come over, and bring the leather shoes from the display window as well.”

The store clerk immediately acknowledged the order.

Zhu Ming was still a little confused at first, but when Xi Xianqing picked out three different styles of suits and kept comparing them against him, Zhu Ming finally realized something was off.

Xi Xianqing seemed to be… choosing clothes for him.

While Xi Xianqing was busy discussing details with the sales assistant, Zhu Ming hesitated for a moment before sneakily picking up a nearby garment. He turned it over, trying to catch a glimpse of the price tag.

To his surprise, this store was different from the one where they had bought dresses for Xi Mufei—none of the clothing here had price tags, not even washing labels. Only the logo of the brand was stitched discreetly on the collar.

A store clerk, appearing out of nowhere like a ghost, seemed to read his mind. Smiling brightly, she explained, “Mr. Zhu, this is one of our spring-summer haute couture runway collections. All embroidery and beading are handcrafted by our artisans. The jacket costs 170,000, and the pants are 150,000.”

Zhu Ming: “…How much?”

He felt like things were spiraling out of his control.

Taking a deep breath, he called out to Xi Xianqing, who was standing in front of a mirror, “Come here for a second.”

Xi Xianqing was trying on a cobalt-blue suit jacket and surrounded by attendants. He turned his head at the sound, glancing at Zhu Ming before walking over.

“I—” Zhu Ming had been about to say something, but as he looked at Xi Xianqing in the vibrant suit, he paused for a moment. “You know, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you wear bright colors before. It actually looks pretty good on you.”

Xi Xianqing’s expression remained unchanged. He slightly raised his chin, nodded, and looked into the mirror. “I know.”

“…That’s not the point.” Zhu Ming snapped back to his senses and took a deep breath. “The clothes you just picked for me—I’m not taking them.”

Xi Xianqing’s face changed slightly.

He took off the jacket, handed it to the attendant behind him, and stared directly at Zhu Ming. “Why?”

Zhu Ming said, “I don’t have any occasion to wear them, and even if I buy them, they’re far too expensive. I can’t accept them.”

Xi Xianqing’s gaze was slightly cold, “This store belongs to the Xi Family—”

Zhu Ming shook his head. “Whether it’s your family’s store or not, I can’t take them for free.”

“And I have a question.”

Zhu Ming looked straight into Xi Xianqing’s eyes and asked softly, “Did you bring me to a place like this and buy these clothes for me because you think my usual attire embarrasses you when we go out together?”

He asked with a smile, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. The corners of his eyes lifted slightly, and his dark gaze rested calmly on Xi Xianqing’s face.

Xi Xianqing froze, seemingly not expecting Zhu Ming’s thoughts to head in that direction. “Of course not.”

His Adam’s apple moved slightly as he pressed his lips together. After a moment of hesitation, he said, “Actually, next week I—”

“Mr. Xi, Mr. Zhu, the tailor has arrived.”

The store clerk hurriedly returned, out of breath. “The shoes you requested are also ready. Our sizes tend to run small, so we’ve prepared two options for you to try on and see which fits better.”

Both of them froze and simultaneously turned toward the door.

The tailor, the store clerk, and the sales assistant were all holding various boxes, their eyes filled with anticipation as they looked at the two of them.

They had all gathered here… solely for Zhu Ming to try on a single suit.

Zhu Ming had never been particularly mindful of his wardrobe. For important occasions, he only had a handful of formal outfits, all leaning toward casual styles, relying primarily on his looks to carry the day.

Ever since the accident left him unable to walk, he had even less interest in dressing up, let alone spending hundreds of thousands on a formal suit with no occasion to wear it.

However, Zhu Ming also felt that dragging everyone into this ordeal only to leave empty-handed would be even more embarrassing. Stuck in this awkward position, he could only grit his teeth and say, “Fine, since we’re already here, I’ll try it on.”

At worst, he figured he could pay for it himself. After all, he hadn’t touched most of the research bonuses he had received over the years.

When he came out of the fitting room wearing the suit, everyone instinctively fell silent.

Even Xi Xianqing didn’t say a word; he simply stared at him.

Zhu Ming felt uncomfortable, “…What’s wrong?”

Still, Xi Xianqing remained silent. Zhu Ming maneuvered his wheelchair to the large floor mirror and was also stunned.

Looking at his reflection, Zhu Ming muttered thoughtfully, “This suit really does have a reason for its price.”

White was undeniably a color that suited Zhu Ming. The suit had an exceptional texture and elegant tailoring, with intricate hand-embroidered beadwork delicately adorning the shoulders and sleeves, perfectly highlighting his gentle and languid temperament.

Zhu Ming examined the man in the mirror with interest. “I have to admit, your taste is actually pretty good.”

Xi Xianqing, as always, replied with the same words: “I know.”

Clearly satisfied with his own sense of style, he crossed his arms and stood behind Zhu Ming, adopting an air of critique. “Now hurry up and change out of those shoes so we can see the full effect.”

Today, Zhu Ming had come out wearing a pair of comfortable flat sneakers, which clashed starkly with the refined elegance of the exquisite suit.

Zhu Ming murmured an ‘en’ and lowered his head to take off his shoes.

The box containing the matching leather shoes was sitting on the sofa beside him, but there was a bit of distance between him and the box since Zhu Ming was seated in his wheelchair.

Too lazy to maneuver the wheelchair closer, Zhu Ming stretched out his arm, trying to grab it.

His fingertips were just a hair’s breadth away. Zhu Ming pressed his lips together and extended his arm further in another attempt.

Xi Xianqing, standing nearby, didn’t think much of it. Seeing how Zhu Ming was struggling, he simply reached over, and took a shoe out of the box.

He turned Zhu Ming’s wheelchair opposite him and bent slightly, “Don’t move.”

He lifted one of Zhu Ming’s legs, his hand naturally sliding down to hold the back of his ankle, and with practiced ease, helped him put on the first shoe.

His fingers deftly caught the delicate laces, tying them neatly in one swift motion.

It wasn’t until he picked up the second shoe that Xi Xianqing suddenly noticed the odd stillness in the room.

The fitting room was small, and when he glanced up, he caught a glimpse of an unfamiliar expression on Zhu Ming’s face—one of surprise, as if he was in a bit of a daze.

Xi Xianqing paused, his hand holding the shoe frozen midair.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the reflection in the mirror: he could see the people crowding in the front of the dressing room–the sales assistant standing at the door, her eyes slightly widened, and the chipmunk spiritual manifestation on her shoulder, its mouth comically agape. The store clerk and the tailor nearby were struggling to maintain polite smiles, their gazes filled with unmistakable amusement and teasing curiosity.

It was then that he realized what he had done.

Back in District Two, during the hot springs, fireworks, and the banquet, he had done things far more intimate than putting on shoes, such as hugging.

But all of those moments had come with a clear premise: Zhu Ming couldn’t walk and genuinely needed help at the time.

Putting on shoes, however, was a small task… one well within Zhu Ming’s current abilities. It was something he didn’t actually need help with.

Sharing the small, mundane tasks of daily life—those tender, boundary-crossing gestures—was something typically reserved for couples deeply in love.

In reality, not every couple, even in the throes of romance, would go so far as to help each other put on shoes. Yet, Xi Xianqing had done just that for Zhu Ming, and not privately, but openly in front of everyone.

Xi Xianqing had already picked up the second shoe. His other hand had just lifted Zhu Ming’s leg, and he was mere moments away from putting it on him.

But then he froze. His hand loosened slightly before he released Zhu Ming’s leg, awkwardly shoving the second shoe into Zhu Ming’s hand. “This one you can put on yourself. I… I still need to go try on my own clothes.”

He abruptly straightened up and then bumped into an empty shoe box on the floor in his haste.

Through the mirror, Zhu Ming saw Xi Xianqing’s figure pause for a brief moment. But he didn’t look back. Instead, he gripped the doorframe and quickly strode out of the fitting room, his footsteps hurried.

The sales assistant’s gaze trailed after him, and the chipmunk on her shoulder twitched its tail nervously before scurrying after him in panic. “Mr. Xi, the direction you’re headed is toward the women’s lingerie section…”

Zhu Ming, who only had shoes on one foot at the moment, “…”

His gaze dropped to the shoe in his hand, lingering there for a long time without saying a word.

After a moment, he leaned forward slightly, slipping the shoe onto his foot and methodically tying the laces.

Whether it was the overly bright, searing light of the fitting room or something else entirely, Zhu Ming wasn’t sure. He looked up and stared at himself in the mirror, his cheeks and the tips of his ears felt faintly warm. A strange flutter seemed to rise in his chest.

After a while, Zhu Ming shook his head, exhaling softly. Then, turning toward the service staff behind him, he smiled faintly and said, “I’ll take them all.”

---

Author’s notes:

The peac0ck was stunned, the peac0ck was flustered and exasperated, and the peac0ck fled!

The little fox in his brand-new clothes seemed lost in thought.

Thank you very much, Mei-jie for the ko-fi! :blobaww:

---

A few days later, Xi Xianqing’s studio, which had been silent for quite some time, posted three pictures on its official account.

One was a close-up of the finished brooch, and another was a photo of him and Shen Ying under the cherry blossom tree at Mo Xue Ji during the assessment.

The last one was of a plate of glossy, jade-like bayberries.

It was the first time Xi Xianqing had proactively revealed his spiritual manifestation on social media. Although there was no accompanying text, the post quickly swept across the trending lists of all Districts.

“A few years ago, some shady media outlet in District Six claimed that Xi Xianqing didn’t reveal his spiritual manifestation because it was too ugly. Now, all of them are dumbfounded—turns out it’s a green peac0ck… It’s so stunning it’s like a dream come true ah ah ah ah!”

“The brooch’s scale inlay technique is pure showmanship… so amazing! Plus, the quality of those wild pearls must be worth a fortune! As a current jewelry student in District Six, I’m literally drooling qwq…”

“Speaking of, didn’t Xi Sen recently post a group photo too? I sense an undercurrent brewing within the Xi Family—it’s all blood and thunder, oh~”

“I can understand the first two pictures, but what does the last picture mean?”

“That looks like the white jade bayberries from our District Two? Could it be that Young Master Xi loves eating them? Great, I’ve finally found a common trait between me and the District Six heir (munch munch munch)”

Whatever the case, the first assessment concluded on a fairly satisfactory note.

Zhu Ming’s body had mostly recovered, though his hands were still a bit weak when holding things.

Without external spiritual energy support, Dish Soap had reverted to its typical self—dragging its long plumage and staring with its bean-like eyes, carrying an air of quiet arrogance.

In their last few days in District Two, they enjoyed a brief, relaxing vacation.

They first visited the seaside and eventually returned to the snack street, where they bought Zhu Yingying some locally made specialty desserts.

Before leaving, they also paid a visit to Ji Rong’s pastry shop again.

Ji Rong let them try the corn cakes they had missed last time and asked them to give honest, genuine feedback.

Zhu Ming smiled. “These are truly delicious snacks—I really can’t find any fault with them.”

Ji Rong responded with a simple “Hmm.”

Beside him, Xi Xianqing silently wiped his mouth with a napkin, offering no comment.

Ji Rong glanced at him. “What about you? Any comments or suggestions?”

Xi Xianqing’s tone was light and faint, “Are you sure you want to hear it?”

At this, Zhu Ming’s expression became hesitant as if he wanted to speak but decided against it.

Ji Rong didn’t know Xi Xianqing’s temperament, so she pulled out the small notebook from her apron, ready to take notes. Hearing the remark, she looked up in confusion. “Huh? I’m sure ah.”

“First of all, the raspberry sauce is overly sweet, masking the rich flavor of the pastry itself,”

Xi Xianqing remarked, lifting his chin slightly. “Secondly, the pastry cools down too quickly. You might want to consider some insulation measures.

“Lastly, the aesthetic color coordination of the napkins and bamboo baskets still leaves room for improvement.”

He continued in an even tone. “My suggestion would be to opt for brighter tones, such as lemon yellow or light green, which would better match the theme of a seaside shop.”

“But overall, the flavor is decent. Despite the flaws, it’s still acceptable,” he concluded.

Ji Rong: “…”

The corner of Zhu Ming’s mouth twitched. Leaning in, he whispered into Ji Rong’s ear, “You should know when he gives a critique like that, it basically means ‘really delicious.’”

Before leaving, Zhu Ming performed a final check on Ji Rong’s black sheep spiritual manifestation and casually chatted for a bit.

When the topic shifted to Shen Ying, Ji Rong said with an air of nonchalance, “Oh, she, ah. A couple of days ago, she did mention wanting to open a shop at the foot of the mountain in the future.

“But I haven’t agreed to help her with that yet.”

Ji Rong added, tilting her chin upward. The little black sheep behind her wiggled its butt as well. “She’s quite a busy person. For all I know, it might’ve just been something she said offhandedly. I’m not putting much mind into it.”

Zhu Ming raised an eyebrow, then smiled and casually remarked, “Your new apron looks great.”

Ji Rong froze and hurriedly covered the pearl sheep brooch on her apron with her hand.

“I-I suddenly remembered there’s a new cake I haven’t let you guys try yet.” Cheeks flushed, she turned and rushed to the kitchen, stammering as she went. “I’ll go get it right now…”

On the day they left District Two to head home, the resort’s lobby manager, Li Shun, personally came to see them off and asked about their stay. “Have you both been comfortable these past days? If there’s any feedback, please share it with us, and we’ll be sure to improve in the future.”

Zhu Ming replied politely, “Everything was wonderful. It’s been even more comfortable than at home. If I were to make a suggestion, it’d just be to add some anti-slip measures to the stones by the pool.”

Li Shun was startled and quickly nodded. “Of course, absolutely. I’ll report that to management right away.”

Xi Xianqing glanced sideways at Zhu Ming.

Zhu Ming’s expression remained composed as he said with impeccable politeness, “Thank you for all your efforts.”

Li Shun watched them leave by car, exhaled a breath of relief, and returned to inspect the villas.

In the villa, staff were cleaning the living room. Li Shun entered the master bedroom for a quick check. Just as he was exiting, he suddenly froze mid-step, craning his neck toward the guest bedroom. “Wait, why does it look like someone stayed in the guest room too?”

Cleaner: “Yes.”

Li Shun paused. “Do you know who was staying there?”

The cleaner thought for a moment. “It seemed to be the gentleman in the wheelchair.”

Li Shun’s brows furrowed slightly as he looked out the window, staring thoughtfully at the car that had already driven far away.

Their trip to District Two hadn’t been particularly long, but with all the comings and goings, nearly three months had passed. Zhu Ming, carrying bags full of specialty snacks and desserts, first made a stop at Zhu Yingying’s home in District Seven.

The little rabbit was so excited it bounced around joyfully. As Zhu Yingying unpacked the gifts, her smile widened so much she could hardly close her mouth. She peppered him with questions. “When did you get back? Why didn’t you tell me beforehand? Where’s Xiao Xi? Didn’t he come back with you?”

“He has his home in District Six. We can’t be stuck to each other like glue all the time.”

Zhu Ming glanced around the villa’s interior. “Enough about me. How’s everything been here? How have you been lately ah?”

Zhu Yingying’s hands froze momentarily as she unpacked a box of desserts, but she replied nonchalantly, “What else could it be ah? Same as usual ya. The house is just as it was before ah.”

“Is that so?” Zhu Ming nodded. “But I seem to remember that before I left, there wasn’t a huge bouquet of roses in the corner of the living room ah?”

Zhu Yingying was eerily silent for a split second.

Zhu Ming’s gaze shifted thoughtfully to the coffee table. “And I don’t recall the tablecloth being this design either. Let me see… Hmm? Isn’t this a unique batik fabric from District One?”

At his feet, the little rabbit’s ears twitched nervously.

“And knitting now, too? Very refined of you, Madam Zhu Yingying,”

Zhu Ming’s eyes fell on the knitting needles and the half-finished sweater in her hands. “Is that for me? Though… the size seems a bit big?”

The little rabbit stood alert, its ears upright. Meanwhile, Zhu Yingying scrambled to shove the ball of yarn behind her in a flustered panic.

She stammered, “The house is so big, I just bought some flowers to decorate it ah. What’s wrong with that?”

“A while back, I thought some crafts from District One were pretty, so… so I ordered them online.”

She added, her voice involuntarily raising. “And the sweater, that’s just something I’m learning for fun. You know, to pass the time.”

The more she covered up, the answer in Zhu Ming’s heart became clearer and clearer.

“Well, that’s great ah. A change of pace, learning new skills—your life sounds quite fulfilling ah.”

He raised an eyebrow but didn’t expose her. Instead, he smiled and maneuvered his wheelchair toward the bedroom. “Alright, let’s stop chatting for now. There’s too much to unpack. I’ll go sort out my luggage.”

When Zhu Ming made the decision to enter a contract marriage, he hadn’t been without doubts.

He had questioned whether the decision was worth it, whether it was too impulsive, and whether it would truly have any meaning. It was only at this moment that he finally confirmed it had been the right choice.

As soon as he entered the bedroom, his phone vibrated. Opening it, he saw a message from Xi Xianqing: “When are you starting rehab?”

Zhu Ming was slightly surprised that Xi Xianqing remembered this and replied: “Tomorrow morning, with Dr. Wu.”

His fingers hovered over the keyboard, typing out, “Do you want to”

But after a moment of hesitation, he shook his head and deleted the unfinished sentence.

Before he could think of a new reply, a decisive response from the other side popped up: “The car will be at your door at 9 a.m. tomorrow.”

Zhu Ming was stunned and replied with the word “Okay”.

This time, Zhu Ming surprisingly arrived for rehab punctually, without pulling any tricks or skipping out, which caught Dr. Wu slightly off guard.

He also made sure to tell Dr. Wu about the brief sensation he experienced in his legs by the pool.

“It could have been caused by shock, or it might be the result of the experimental medication from last time. But either way, this is definitely good news.”

Dr. Wu said, glancing at the two of them. “Since your fiancé is here today, let’s proceed with exoskeleton-assisted walking therapy and continue with the medication afterward.”

The little nurse filing medical records nearby interjected with a cheerful laugh. “Dr. Wu hasn’t been keeping up with the news lately. They’re not engaged anymore—they’re married now la!”

Compared to their first rehabilitation session, which was clumsy and full of mishaps, this time their coordination was far more seamless.

Using the exoskeleton was still challenging, but Zhu Ming’s physical condition had improved significantly since the last time. He could even take a few steps without relying on Xi Xianqing’s support.

Although it was only two or three small steps, seemingly insignificant, it was a monumental breakthrough for Zhu Ming.

Any change, no matter how slight, was a reason for hope.

This rehab didn’t seem so long in Zhu Ming’s eyes.

During his infusion, Zhu Ming behaved impeccably, although he succumbed to the medication’s effects and dozed off for a short while. By the time everything was finished, it was only just starting to get dark.

As they waited by the hospital entrance for the driver to bring the car around, Zhu Ming sincerely thanked the person beside him. “That, thank you for coming all the way out here to keep me company today.”

“No need,” Xi Xianqing glanced at Zhu Ming and said, “Just consider it payback for helping me spread its tail manually last time.”

Since he’d framed it that way, Zhu Ming didn’t insist further. He nodded and accepted it graciously.

After the rehabilitation session, they were supposed to head back to their respective homes.

However, as it had been nearly a week since they returned from District Two and Zhu Ming hadn’t checked on Dish Soap’s condition in a while, he wanted to take a look before parting ways.

Then, remembering Xi Xianqing’s fastidiousness about public settings, Zhu Ming hesitated and started to say, “By the way, could you—”

Unexpectedly, Xi Xianqing spoke at the same moment. “You still—”

Both paused simultaneously, falling into silence. Zhu Ming raised an eyebrow. “You speak first.”

Xi Xianqing’s gaze remained fixed on the road ahead. After a brief moment, he said, “Do you have any other plans for today?”

Zhu Ming: “Hmm? No, I’ve been pretty free lately, mostly just stuck in the lab testing your medications.”

Xi Xianqing nodded. “Previously, I owed you three date photos. We already took two while in District Two, but there’s still one left that hasn’t been done.”

Zhu Ming: “Huh?”

At the time, Zhu Ming had agreed with Xi Xianqing to take three couple photos together, but he had nearly forgotten about it. Hesitating, he said, “Oh, right, but…”

Xi Xianqing’s brows furrowed slightly, and he pursed his lips as if dissatisfied with Zhu Ming’s lack of comprehension.

“I don’t like owing favors.”

Xi Xianqing stood straight, his tone was flat and unwavering. “I happen to be going to Tancheng in District Six today to pick up some items. Do you want to come along? We can take the final picture while we’re at it.”

In the end, his roundabout way of speaking boiled down to an invitation.

After a moment of contemplation, Zhu Ming cheerfully agreed, “I don’t have anything else going on today. Sure ah.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the driver pulled up in front of them. Xi Xianqing nodded his head and glanced at Ye Lu, who stood behind them.

Catching his meaning immediately, Ye Lu said, “I’ll make the arrangements right away.”

Xi Xianqing let out an “en,” and then got into the car.

Zhu Ming was confused and secretly asked Ye Lu behind him “Aunt Ye, what kind of place is Tancheng?”

Ye Lu was on her phone, discussing details with someone on the other end. Hearing his question, she paused for a moment, then smiled and lowered her voice as if selling a secret. “It’s a place Xi Xianqing likes very much.”

Zhu Ming: “Huh?”

Tancheng—was really a very vague name.

At first glance, it sounded like the name of an elegant, antique-style teahouse. But since people from District Six had a habit of pretending to be cultured, it also wouldn’t be surprising if it turned out to be a mass-market KTV with a refined name.

An hour later, stepping out of the car, Zhu Ming tilted his head back and was left utterly speechless.

“Mr. Xi, long time no see.”

Before they even stepped through the door, a sales assistant in a small dress and small high heels came clicking over, enthusiasm radiating from her as she offered welcome drinks and a steaming hot towel. “Mr. Zhu, welcome to your first visit to Tancheng. Please, both of you, board the vehicle now. We’ll escort you to the main entrance.”

Xi Xianqing used the towel to briefly wipe his hands, gracefully handing it back to the staff. Zhu Ming, on the other hand, pressed the towel against his face as he stared in contemplation at the massive castle-like structure before him.

Zhu Ming murmured, “The place… you like is a mall?”

​​Xi Xianqing remained silent for a moment before responding, “I don’t dislike it.”

Which clearly meant he liked it very much.

Zhu Ming swore to the heavens that this was, without a doubt, the largest, most extravagant, and most opulent mall he had ever seen in his life.

Oh, to be precise, “mall castle” would be a more fitting term.

District Six residents centered their lifestyles around beauty, and the care they put into designing commercial spaces that sold beauty itself went without saying. Naturally, this meant it couldn’t be compared to the standard shopping centers Zhu Ming had visited back in District Seven.

But in front… It was on an entirely different level.

—Zhu Ming had never seen a mall with a magnificent fountain and luxurious floral arrangements at its entrance, nor a mall that resembled a brilliantly lit castle. Let alone ever needed to take a ten-minute sightseeing ride just to reach the main entrance of a shopping center.

Xi Xianqing disembarked the vehicle nonchalantly, turning back when he noticed Zhu Ming lingering. “What’s the matter?”

Only then did Zhu Ming snap out of his daze and board the wheelchair with the help of the sales assistant. “Nothing.”

Although Zhu Yingying was a bit of a rich lady herself, Zhu Ming was momentarily taken aback by the mall’s grandeur. He quickly composed himself, determined not to look like someone who had never seen the world.

A suited security officer bowed and pushed open a set of gold-embossed doors with intricately carved patterns. A hint of refined sandalwood incense wafted through, filling the air.

Zhu Ming surveyed the interior of the bustling mall and blinked, “Honestly, for someone of your caliber, I would’ve thought there’d be no need to personally shop. I figured people would just deliver clothes straight to your doorstep for you to try on.”

“There are times when I do, but I don’t like people coming and going from my place as they like.”

Xi Xianqing said indifferently, “I prefer to buy everything I need in one go. Besides, there are too many shops I want to visit, so it’s more convenient to choose things myself.”

Zhu Ming’s gaze landed on an ornate, gold-patterned trash can. Zhu Ming gave a dry laugh. “Very down-to-earth. But if the shops you want to visit happen to be crowded, what if you have to wait in line?”

Xi Xianqing lowered his eyes and lightly glanced at him.

His expression remained calm as if Zhu Ming had asked a very stupid question.

Zhu Ming, puzzled, was about to speak when the sales assistant walking ahead of them communicated something through her earpiece. Then, she turned around with a bright smile—

“By the way, Mr. Xi, as per your usual preference, we’ve already cleared the area in advance today.”

The sales assistant gave a slight bow, her gloved hand gesturing toward them. “The store managers of the entire mall are standing by, ready to serve you. This way, please.”

---

Author’s notes:

The vain Emperor Great Peac0ck proudly takes the little fox out at the palace for a date!

Thank you very much, Mei-jie for the ko-fi! :blobaww:

---

Actually, Zhu Ming had felt more uncertain than anyone else last night.

Although the literature mentioned that this method of physical interaction was feasible, it also detailed the potential damage rapid loss of spiritual energy could cause to the brain.

At first, he had asked Zhou Zhou to join him, thinking it might help lighten his burden by a feather or two.

But after the two of them fumbled through the process, they quickly realized there was a reason why the technique of channeling spiritual energy was banned in clinical settings.

—It was just too difficult to control the degree of energy transfer.

Zhou Zhou tried helping by prying a few tail feathers: if he transferred too little spiritual energy, the feather he had just pried would snap right back with a whoosh; if he gave too much, the foolish roe deer almost blacked out, coming dangerously close to being entirely drained.

In the end, Zhu Ming had to quickly pull Zhou Zhou aside to let him rest, then took over the task himself.

137. Zhu Ming would never forget that number—it was the total count of tail feathers Dish Soap had.

Halfway through prying, he was already struggling, his vision starting to darken.

But it was too late to regret now. Dish Soap, with its bead-like innocent eyes, was staring at him in confusion. Its plume was a pitiful sight, half of its feathers sticking up while the other half drooped, a ridiculous yet pitiful image beyond words.

Stopping here now, what on earth does it look like?

Zhu Ming’s perfectionism, paired with a touch of obsessive-compulsiveness, wouldn’t allow such a result. He worked until the middle of the night, finally and painstakingly manually spreading all of Dish Soap’s tail feathers into a beautiful display.

The aftermath of severe spiritual energy depletion was like running eight kilometers on an empty stomach. Completely spent, he hadn’t even admired his work for long before collapsing onto the guest room bed, sleeping straight through to now.

Zhu Ming didn’t feel like he had sacrificed anything.

After all, he had signed the agreement, gained a marriage, and secured a top-tier experimental lab pod. He had every obligation to take responsibility for Xi Xianqing’s tail spreaing—this was simply his duty.

But at the same time, he didn’t feel that he had done anything wrong.

“I don’t understand. You were the one who asked me to help you spread its tail.”

Although Zhu Ming hadn’t expected a word of thanks, being berated out of nowhere made him lose his temper. “Regardless of the process, I accomplished the task you asked of me. What exactly are you dissatisfied with?”

His rebuttal was bold and unapologetic, causing Xi Xianqing to widen his eyes silently before giving a cold laugh. “So you still think you did the right thing, correct?”

Zhu Ming, already irritated, raised his eyes. “What did I do wrong?”

Zhu Ming felt that half-lying down like this robbed him of all authority—it was impossible to gain the upper hand while arguing with Xi Xianqing in such a state.

Though he couldn’t stand, he resolved to at least sit at the edge of the bed for a fair face-to-face confrontation.

Who would have thought that just the moment he struggled upright and prepared to speak, a wave of darkness enveloped him?

The overwhelming dizziness hit like a tidal wave. Zhu Ming froze for a moment before silently slumping backward.

Xi Xianqing’s pupils contracted as he quickly reached out to steady him. “What’s wrong—”

Zhu Ming’s gaze lost its focus, and a cold sweat broke out silently on his forehead. He turned his head slightly, teeth clenched. “I… suddenly can’t see anything.”

Blurred vision, fainting, blindness…

Symptoms Xi Xianqing had read about online resurfaced one by one in his mind.

Xi Xianqing’s heart sank sharply. Whatever disagreements they’d had moments ago were now forgotten as he bent over and gripped Zhu Ming’s arm tightly. “You’ve gone blind?”

“Oh, it seems to have returned.”

The next second, Zhu Ming rubbed his eyes. His hand then slid slowly down, pressing against his flat stomach. “It’s not blindness. Probably low blood sugar—I haven’t eaten all day.”

“So hungry,” he murmured, his eyelashes fluttering as he spoke almost to himself. “En, my head’s spinning too. I’m so hungry I can’t even walk anymore.”

Xi Xianqing: “….”

As if you could walk when you weren’t hungry.

Recalling the meal prepared by the resort staff on the dining table, Xi Xianqing let out a slow exhale, turned around and strode briskly out of the room.

The corners of Zhu Ming’s mouth twitched, and called after his retreating back, “I left the white jade bayberries in the freezer. Don’t forget to bring them ah.”

Xi Xianqing’s footsteps halted.

Without looking back, he continued out the door.

After a while, the future representative of District Six returned with a tray brimming with food—pineapple fried rice, chicken skewers, lemon tea, and, of course, a small frosted dish holding the chilled white jade bayberries.

Setting the tray on the bedside table, Xi Xianqing glanced at Zhu Ming. His lips moved slightly, as though he wanted to say something.

Zhu Ming, however, interrupted him with a “stop” gesture, picking up a spoon. “Save the file. Let me eat a few bites first. Once I have some strength, we can resume the argument.”

Zhu Ming was so hungry that he could devour an elephant and decided to start with the most appealing dish on the table—the pineapple fried rice. He scooped a large spoonful, added a cashew, and topped it off with some golden pineapple chunks.

The spoonful, piled high like a miniature mountain, was just about to be devoured in one swift bite. However, the moment the spoon neared his lips, Zhu Ming’s wrist gave a sudden tremor—

The fried rice fell back into the bowl, fluttering down like snowflakes.

Xi Xianqing, who witnessed the entire scene nearby: “…”

Zhu Ming admitted that his earlier weakness from low blood sugar after waking up might have been a bit exaggerated.

But this trembling hand wasn’t an act—his right wrist was genuinely sore. He had spent all of yesterday prying feathers, and the material of the sensor gloves wasn’t exactly soft. The last time his wrist had felt this achy was back in District Seven when he crammed for his medical exams during his teenage years.

Clicking his tongue, Zhu Ming shakily picked up the spoon and tried again.

But Xi Xianqing couldn’t stand watching him struggle any longer. He reached out and took the spoon right out of Zhu Ming’s hand.

Zhu Ming: “… What are you doing?”

Xi Xianqing didn’t say anything. He simply sat down on the edge of the bed.

He exhaled quietly and followed Zhu Ming’s earlier actions, scooped up a large spoonful of fried rice, complete with cashew and pineapple chunks.

Then with one hand holding up the spoon and one hand resting underneath, he raised it to Zhu Ming’s mouth.

Even someone as shameless as Zhu Ming couldn’t help but feel a bit embarrassed about being fed like this.

His face heated up, and he reached out to take the spoon back. “It’s fine. I can do it myself…”

“Eat,” Xi Xianqing said calmly.

With no other option, Zhu Ming leaned in and took a big bite.

The moment the warm, sweet rice filled his stomach, he felt rejuvenated.

When he looked up again, Xi Xianqing was already holding another spoonful, quietly waiting by his lips.

Zhu Ming didn’t bother being polite this time. Starving to the point his eyes turned green, he took spoonful after spoonful, savoring the delicious food. In no time, he had polished off nearly half the bowl.

With his stomach no longer feeling so hollow, he made a request for a change of menu. “I want some bayberries.”

Xi Xianqing paused briefly, then brought over the small dish of bayberries and placed it in front of him.

Zhu Ming didn’t feel right letting Xi Xianqing continue feeding him, so he shakily raised his hand, picked up a bayberry, and popped it into his mouth.

Then, he heard the person’s indifferent voice beside him, “Did you give any to someone else?”

Someone else? Zhu Ming searched around in his head.

“Oh, you mean Zhou Zhou? That kid has been eyeing this box of bayberries for a while.”

Zhu Ming responded, “But then I thought about it, I already finished the box you brought back last time. Miss Shen said this one is the final batch of the season.”

“Besides, these were a favor you got for me. You haven’t even tried them yet, so I decided not to let Zhou Zhou have any. I gave him something else instead.”

Zhu Ming tremblingly held the bayberry between his fingers, he raised it to Xi Xianqing’s lips, his eyes curving into crescents. “Here, try one.”

Xi Xianqing said nothing. He stared at Zhu Ming for a long moment, his expression unreadable.

Then, after a brief pause, he lowered his gaze and bit into the bayberry.

Zhu Ming chuckled softly, rubbing his fingers together. “Tasty?”

​​Xi Xianqing said after a moment, “Not bad.”

Behind him, the green peac0ck flicked its tail and took a step to the side, clearly in a good mood.

Zhu Ming smiled without saying anything and lowered his head to eat one as well.

“I admit it was my fault for not discussing the means to spread its tail with you beforehand.”

The sweet and tangy juice burst in his mouth, making him sigh contentedly. “The number of feathers a bird’s spiritual manifestation really isn’t a joke. I don’t have the guts to pull a stunt like that again for the next assessment photo. I’ll stick to working on the medication for you.”

Xi Xianqing shot him a glance. “If you lack the courage and know the risks to your body, why did you take such a risk in the first place?”

“Because I’ve seen how hard you’ve been working recently. So, for that final photo, I wanted it to be as perfect as possible.”

Zhu Ming’s tone was calm and straightforward. “Otherwise, as a doctor, I’d feel like I hadn’t done my duty. And as your teammate in this assessment, I’d feel deeply regretful.”

Xi Xianqing’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, but he said nothing.

“But Xi Xianqing ya.” Zhu Ming tilted his head slightly and leaned closer, his voice soft as he called out his name. “You obviously care about me. So why can’t you just learn to express it properly?”

Under the warm light, Zhu Ming’s clear amber eyes gleamed with a mesmerizing glow, as if gently coaxing someone to hand over their heart.

Xi Xianqing retorted almost reflexively, “Who cares about you?”

Zhu Ming smiled faintly, laying all his cards on the table. “The white jade bayberries—you clearly got them specially for me. Why couldn’t you just tell me that outright?”

Xi Xianqing: “…”

“And just now, you were clearly worried about me. So why did you have to use such a cold, accusatory tone and bring up divorce?” He asked gently.

The room suddenly fell silent. The air seemed to chill, as if it might freeze solid at any moment. Zhu Ming felt like the person in front of him was turning into a statue.

After a long pause, Xi Xianqing finally spoke. “I didn’t mention the bayberries because I thought there was no need to. It was just a small favor, nothing worth talking about.”

Still being stubborn. Zhu Ming sighed in his heart.

“As for earlier, it’s true that I was a bit anxious and spoke out of turn a bit.”

Then, Xi Xianqing turned his face slightly to the side. “And what I said in front of Teacher Yang… wasn’t what I really meant, either.”

The smile on Zhu Ming’s face faltered for a moment.

Realizing what he’d just heard, he suspected if he was hallucinating. “If I didn’t misunderstand… are you trying to apologize to me?”

Xi Xianqing’s ears were dyed a thin red nearly instantly.

He didn’t deny the apology. Instead, he shot Zhu Ming a glare and added, “But you shouldn’t have given me the cold war, either.”

Cold war?

​​Zhu Ming didn’t react and pointed at himself, “Me?”

Then he pointed at Xi Xianqing. “Giving you the cold war?”

Xi Xianqing avoided direct eye contact, staring at the floral pattern on the curtains instead. After a long moment, he said coolly, “Are you saying you didn’t?”

Zhu Ming was wronged to death, “…When did I ever ah?”

Xi Xianqing’s voice was cold as he accused, “There were several times when we crossed paths in the kitchen, and you ignored me, wheeling yourself away without a word.”

Zhu Ming: “Huh?”

He seriously wondered if Xi Xianqing was talking about someone from a parallel universe. “Ignoring you… in the kitchen?”

“Oh, those times ah.”

Zhu Ming suddenly reacted and didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Because I was busy making medicine for you ah”

“Some of the medications require precise timing to monitor their reactions. If I don’t stop the reaction in time, the medicine won’t be effective. Back then, I could only rush out to grab a sip of water. Where would I find time to chat with you?” He explained.

Xi Xianqing shot him a skeptical glance, pursing his lips before presenting new evidence. “And you… didn’t check on Dish Soap for several days.”

“Because you were working most of the time ah.”

​​ Zhu Ming replied, both amused and exasperated. “I did peek through the door crack a few times, but Dish Soap’s tail wasn’t moving at all. I didn’t want to disturb you.”

Xi Xianqing fell silent again.

Both of them were quiet for a while.

“Make the most of it while you can. The nerve relaxant you drank will only last for about 20 more hours.”

Zhu Ming casually changed the subject. “Soon, you’ll regain control over Dish Soap. Naturally, his tail will go back to normal, too.”

As he spoke, he happily reached for the sensor gloves on the bedside table. “But I have to say, after the display, I haven’t had a proper look at my masterpiece yet…”

​​Before his fingers could touch the gloves, it was swiftly snatched away by someone.

Holding the gloves in his hand, Xi Xianqing looked down at Zhu Ming with a cold expression. “From now on, I’ll be keeping these.”

“…Just let me touch it once.”

“No.”

Zhu Ming sighed, reluctantly laying back down on the bed, “Okay.”

His pitiful appearance caused a slight twitch in Xi Xianqing’s brow before he quickly turned his face away.

“The last time I wasn’t feeling well from an allergy, you helped me.”

Xi Xianqing said, his back turned as he began tidying up the empty dishes. His voice remained calm and collected. “Fair is fair. If you have any requests, tell me now.”

Zhu Ming blinked in surprise before realizing that this was the great Young Master’s way of offering a truce.

“To be honest, it’s a bit cold.”

Zhu Ming said openly after a moment’s thought. His gaze swept over Xi Xianqing’s attire. “That suit you’re wearing today looks even fancier than the coat you had during my last rehab session.”

Zhu Ming blinked. “I wonder if it’s warm enough to use as a blanket?”

Xi Xianqing glanced at him without a word. After a brief pause, he took off his suit jacket and tossed it over.

Zhu Ming caught it with a smile, slipping his arms into the sleeves without hesitation. He shook them lightly before wrapping the jacket snugly around himself and lying back down on the bed.

​​Bundled up in the luxurious suit, he resembled a small animal wary of the cold, curling up under the covers with a satisfied expression as he soaked in the comfort.

This action of his caused Xi Xianqing to be stunned, “Are you… that cold?”

The loss of spiritual energy was akin to the physical depletion that came after a blood transfusion. It wasn’t something that could be quickly recovered.

Zhu Ming yawned and casually fooled around. “It’s nothing serious. I’ll be fine after a nap.”

​​Xi Xianqing didn’t say anything else and stood up.

“Then I’ll take another nap oh.” Zhu Ming assumed he was leaving and murmured drowsily, “You can spend some more time with Dish Soap. Take more pictures or something. After all, by tomorrow morning, the kid will again—”

With a ‘click’, the room was plunged into darkness.

It was Xi Xianqing who turned off the bedroom light.

Zhu Ming blinked in surprise, momentarily stunned. “Left so fast.”

​​The air was cold and silent in the darkness for a moment.

Then came a faint rustling sound from the other side of the bed.

Zhu Ming opened his eyes in confusion: “…?”

Before he could figure out what was happening, a hand firmly gripped his shoulder. There was a brief pause, and then he felt a gentle tug—

The next thing he knew, his cheek and upper body were pulled into a warm, solid chest.

“Then now…” Xi Xianqing’s voice sounded from above his head, slightly awkward, with a brief hesitation, “…does it feel a little better?”

Zhu Ming’s breathing suddenly stopped.

His mind went blank for a moment as he registered what had just happened. The darkness seemed to slow his thoughts, making it harder to process.

Half of his body was wrapped in a comforting, toasty warmth. After lingering for a moment, Zhu Ming spoke honestly, “Uh… yeah, I think it really does feel a lot warmer.”

His voice was muffled by the fabric, and he wasn’t sure if Xi Xianqing could hear him clearly.

After a long silence, he heard Xi Xianqing give a low, soft “en.”

Zhu Ming lifted his head, about to say something more, but Xi Xianqing’s hand pressed gently on the top of his head. His fingers slid into Zhu Ming’s hair, firmly but wordlessly pushing his head back against his chest.

The hand lingered for a moment, awkwardly adjusting its position. Finally, it settled stiffly on Zhu Ming’s shoulder, hovering briefly before tentatively patting it in a clumsy, light gesture.

“…Then sleep quickly,” He heard Xi Xianqing say.

---

Author’s Notes:

The big peac0ck shyly yet domineeringly held the little fox into his arms!

Shock and joy surged through Xi Xianqing’s brain in an instant.

His breathing nearly stalled as he stared at Dish Soap in stunned silence for a few moments. His first reaction was to leap out of bed, rush out of his room, and head straight to Zhu Ming’s door.

However, just as his fingers were about to knock on the door, Xi Xianqing’s hand froze mid-air.

He suddenly calmed down.

First, he belatedly realized that he and Zhu Ming were still in that ambiguous cold war stage of “Please don’t disturb my work” and “Okay, I won’t bother you.”

Second, it was only nine in the morning. Zhu Ming’s door was slightly ajar, and Xi Xianqing could vaguely see that the bedroom curtains were drawn, indicating that the person was still sound asleep with his back to the door.

Third, he realized that if last night’s potion had indeed worked, Zhu Ming must’ve discovered Dish Soap’s ability to display its feathers before he did.

Yet Zhu Ming hadn’t shared the good news with him right away. He had simply left his bedroom door open and quietly placed Dish Soap back into the room.

Xi Xianqing’s hand hanging in front of the door retracted again.

Just then, the villa’s doorbell rang. Xi Xianqing exhaled a breath and turned to open the door.

Leading the group at the entrance was Ye Lu, holding a suit neatly packed in a garment bag. Following her were craftsmen, bodyguards, stylists, and photographers.

The moment Ye Lu caught sight of what was behind Xi Xianqing, her expression lit up with astonished delight.

She quickly stepped closer to him, lowering her voice in disbelief to avoid being overheard. “Xianqing you… can?”

Xi Xianqing lifted his gaze to the living room, where Dish Soap elegantly spread its feathers and strutted about as if proudly showing everyone how healthy it was. For a moment, it felt as if it was a lifetime ago.

“En,” he rasped. “Looks like we can go ahead with the photoshoot with Shen Ying today.”

“That’s wonderful.” Ye Lu let out a long breath, unable to hold back a smile. “I’ve seen Xiao Zhu practically living in the lab these past few days. He must’ve been completely swamped… Oh, by the way, is he coming along today?”

“He’s not going.” Xi Xianqing paused, then added with a hint of irritation, “Developing the medication is something he’s supposed to do anyway.”

Ye Lu’s expression turned hesitant as if she wanted to say more but held back.

Despite his words, Xi Xianqing fell silent for a moment, and the corners of his lips twitched upward briefly, almost imperceptibly.

He thought that maybe after the group photo, he could take a step back and thank him… It wouldn’t hurt.

Dish Soap quietly observed its owner, spreading its feathers wide and leisurely twirling in place, proudly displaying its elegant plumage.

Xi Xianqing suddenly frowned.

Although the green peac0ck was indeed spreading its plumes, when he adjusted his spiritual energy, he realized that he… still couldn’t control the precise movement of each plume.

The display was there, but it seemed… that there was no way to close the plumes.

A subtle sense of strangeness immediately surged into his heart.

“Xianqing, the stylist is ready,” Ye Lu said gently, interrupting his thoughts. “Shall we get you changed now?”

Xi Xianqing snapped back to reality and glanced at Dish Soap again.

No matter what, the peac0ck looked healthy and energetic at the moment. That was enough.

Pushing aside the minor oddity, Xi Xianqing took the suit Ye Lu handed him and said in a low voice, “En. Let’s get ready and head out soon.”

Ye Lu nodded and led the craftsmen into Xi Xianqing’s workspace, carefully packing the completed brooch into a box.

Everything was ready. Before leaving, Xi Xianqing glanced through the gap in the guest room door once more.

The person curled up under the blanket only had a tuft of soft black hair peeking out, still deeply asleep.

Xi Xianqing averted his gaze and left.

–

The photoshoot with Shen Ying went remarkably smoothly.

When the final brooch design was unveiled, Ye Lu, wearing gloves, gently helped Shen Ying pin it to the left side of her cheongsam collar.

“There’s a small mechanism connecting the snake and the lamb. It’s hidden on the back of the brooch.”

Xi Xianqing introduced, “By activating it, the piece can be separated into two independent brooches. If you wish, you can gift one to someone special.”

Shen Ying’s fingers traced along the intricately crafted agate scales of the snake, lightly tapping them before letting her hand fall on the pearl-inlaid body of the sheep.

“Thank you.” She said, “I like it.”

The photographer directed them to adjust their poses and look at the camera. Without speaking further, they stood side by side beneath the cherry blossom trees in the garden of the Mo Xue Ji Restaurant, each releasing their spiritual manifestations.

Cherry blossom petals drifted down gently. Xi Xianqing stood on the left, his green peac0ck spreading its dazzling tail feathers with pride. Shen Ying placed her hand over the brooch on her chest, while a graceful snake coiled elegantly around her arm.

The two looked toward the camera.

During a brief break as the photographer adjusted his equipment, Shen Ying spoke quietly. “In another year, I plan to hand this restaurant over to my team and open a small shop at the foot of the mountain.”

Xi Xianqing was stunned.

“We’ve talked it over and decided not to change the paths we’ve each chosen to follow.”

It was as if Shen Ying had read Xi Xianqing’s mind. “She has her life, and I need time to handle the social obligations my father left behind. It’s not something you can just let go of overnight.”

Xi Xianqing remained silent for a long while before asking, “What kind of cuisine do you plan to serve at your new shop?”

Shen Ying looked at Xi Xianqing like she was surprised and laughed.

“I haven’t decided yet. Honestly, if I didn’t have to consider customer preferences or public opinion, I’ve always wanted to open a cake shop since I was little.”

Her tone was lighthearted. “But the seaside is already saturated with dessert cafés. It might be hard to get started.”

Xi Xianqing looked at her thoughtfully. “Perhaps you could consult with someone experienced in running small shops by the sea for advice.”

Shen Ying was stunned and smiled slightly.

“To be honest, when we first met, I was a bit wary of you.”

She spoke openly. “I’d heard rumors about you—most of them saying that Young Master Xi was aloof, arrogant, and had a superiority complex.”

Xi Xianqing: “…”

Shen Ying chuckled. “But after these few conversations, I’ve found that Young Master Xi is far more perceptive and considerate than I initially thought. You’re much more humane.”

The photographer signaled that the next shot was about to begin. They both fell silent and turned to face the camera again.

The flash went off, followed by the crisp sound of the shutter clicking. The first assessment was officially over at this moment.

But Xi Xianqing remained lost in thought, Shen Ying’s words echoing in his mind.

Perceptive, considerate, and humane, is that person really himself?

Or if he had gone to District Two alone, would he have completed the assessment as smoothly? Would he have earned this kind of evaluation from Shen Ying on his own?

He heard Shen Ying speak softly in his ear, “In any case, you can rest assured about Old Master Xi’s response and assessment.”

Xi Xianqing said hoarsely after a moment, “Thank you.”

After the photoshoot, Shen Ying invited the entire team to have lunch at Mo Xue Ji Restaurant as a celebratory gesture.

Everyone on the team had poured their efforts into the project, and Xi Xianqing couldn’t refuse. By the time he returned to the villa, it was already nearing dusk.

He changed his shoes and paused for a moment at the entrance before heading toward the guest room.

However, as he passed the dining table, his steps suddenly halted when he spotted an unexpected guest.

Xi Xianqing’s brows wrinkled instantly, “What are you doing here?”

Zhou Zhou was happily munching on a chicken wrap while scrolling through research papers. Hearing the question, he looked up in confusion, and the dumb-looking roe deer spiritual manifestation by his feet looked blankly as well.

He pointed to himself. “Me? I’m waiting for Zhu-ge to wake up ah.”

Xi Xianqing was wordlessly and slightly stunned.

It’s already completely dark outside. What time is it? This person is still not up?

Snapping back to reality, Xi Xianqing’s tone turned cold. “Why are you looking for him again?”

The roe deer beside Zhou Zhou blinked once more, mimicking its owner’s expression. “I’m here to continue helping Zhu-ge figure out how to help you spread your feathers ah.”

Xi Xianqing felt that this idiot’s brain wasn’t too bright and pointed to the green peac0ck behind him. “Aren’t I already well?”

Zhou Zhou was bewildered. “Fine? Who told you that?”

He glanced at the peac0ck behind Xi Xianqing, swallowed the last bite of his chicken wrap, and a puzzled look flickered in his eyes. “Did Zhu-ge not tell you how he got your peac0ck to spread its feathers yesterday?”

Xi Xianqing sensed something was off and pressed his lips into a tight line. “What do you mean?”

Zhou Zhou’s expression suddenly tensed as he realized he might have accidentally let something important slip.

The roe deer shifted its gaze uneasily. Zhou Zhou took another slow bite of his chicken wrap, clearly stalling with terrible acting. “It’s nothing ah. It’s just, it’s just—”

Xi Xianqing had no patience for Zhou Zhou’s hesitant tone anymore. He took a deep breath, then directly snatched the half-eaten chicken wrap from Zhou Zhou’s hand.

Zhou Zhou: “…!”

When he raised his eyes, he saw Xi Xianqing’s cold, piercing gaze as the man pressed him further. “Are you saying the reason my peac0ck could display its feathers isn’t because of the potion he gave me yesterday?”

​​Zhou Zhou, whose beloved chicken wrap was pinched in someone else’s hand, was nearly soulless. He blurted out in a panic, “Of course not. The potion Zhu-ge gave you yesterday was just a mental relaxant to reduce the tension in your consciousness linked with your spiritual manifestation ya!”

Xi Xianqing frowned, “What?”

Zhou Zho stiffened strangely and looked at Xi Xianqing’s face, immediately realizing that he appeared to have stirred up a huge basket.¹Exposed something significant.

“A few days ago, Zhu-ge asked you to release your spiritual manifestation in the lab pod, then he closed the door.”

Zhou Zhou stammered, avoiding eye contact. “D-do you remember?”

Xi Xianqing had an impression and nodded slowly. “At that time, he said he wanted to run a small test.”

Zhou Zhou gave an ‘en‘. “At that moment, Zhu-ge had a sudden idea. He figured that if chemical methods like medicines weren’t effective, maybe switching to using a certain type of physical method might work instead.”

Xi Xianqing frowned habitually. “…Physical method?”

“Do you remember the sensor gloves Zhu-ge often wears?”

​​Zhou Zhou’s mood shifted as he entered his professional zone, becoming more animated. “Under normal circumstances, those gloves can only transmit spiritual energy temporarily, allowing for basic actions like petting or inspecting spiritual manifestations.”

“But if you take an appropriate dose of neuro relaxant, lose control over your spiritual manifestation, and Zhu-ge, while wearing gloves, transmits enough spiritual energy,” Zhou Zhou said, “Then not only will he be able to touch your spiritual manifestation, but he’ll also be capable of performing certain interactive actions that are normally impossible.”

Xi Xianqing’s Adam’s apple shifted slightly.

“For example, prying apart your feathers barehanded.”

Zhou Zhou patiently elaborated, the roe deer behind him nodding along with its head swaying. “Actually, if it’s just helping to lift up a drooping tail ah or propping up sagging ears, those are relatively easier tasks.”

“It’s just that for you, Mr. Xi, your peac0ck… feathers are just too much and too long.”

Zhou Zhou scratched his head. “Manually handling all of them would result in excessive spiritual energy depletion. So, initially, we only considered the idea but decided to try other feasible medications first.”

“But—” He paused, leaving the sentence unfinished.

​​Xi Xianqing’s throat unconsciously tightened. “But since the medicines developed afterward didn’t work, so…”

“Yes.” Zhou Zhou cautiously swiped the chicken wrap from Xi Xianqing’s side. “So last night, Zhu-ge manually pried apart the tail feathers of your spiritual manifestation, one by one.”

“The reason you can spread your tail feathers now isn’t because you’ve regained the ability to do it on your own.” Zhou Zhou swallowed. “It’s just that Zhu-ge transmitted his mental energy to your spiritual manifestation, temporarily giving it the semblance of a peac0ck spreading its tail.”

“You can think of it as him manually… opening your tail for you last night.”

–

Zhu Ming opened his eyes drowsily.

Tiredness and coldness seeped into him from every pore. The exhaustion from spiritual energy depletion left him feeling like a mammal in hibernation; he reckoned he could sleep for another three days and nights.

But ultimately, he chose to force his eyes open—not for any other reason but simply because, after sleeping a whole day, his stomach was empty, and he had no energy left.

Hibernating animals could rely on stored fat to survive, but he wasn’t one of them—he was literally starving to death.

The curtains were drawn, the lights were off, and the view was pitch black.

He groggily propped himself up and switched on the bedside lamp.

—His vision gradually cleared. Zhu Ming yawned lazily, intending to pull the wheelchair closer, but as he lifted his head, he was nearly scared out of his wits.

Not far from the bed, Xi Xianqing sat silently on the sofa.

He had likely just returned from the group photo session. He wore a black satin-lapel suit adorned with classical golden double-breasted buttons. His long legs were crossed elegantly, exuding a poised and aristocratic air.

Standing silently beside him was Dish Soap, whose tail feathers were still fanned out. The peac0ck twisted its butt, arrogantly dipped its head, and pecked at its chest feathers, casting what felt like a cold and disdainful glance toward Zhu Ming.

Beautiful.

As if admiring a cherished work of art, Zhu Ming didn’t hold back his praise in his mind.

Immediately after, his gaze moved slightly and fell back onto the green peac0ck’s owner’s face.

Freshly woken, his vision was a little blurry, and the light from the bedside lamp was dim. Zhu Ming squinted slightly to make out Xi Xianqing’s expression—cold, gloomy, and exceptionally grim.

Zhu Ming immediately felt a sinking feeling in his gut but he still kept his composure.

“When did you come back?” The words left his mouth before he realized how hoarse his voice sounded.

Zhu Ming quickly cleared his throat and raised his volume slightly. “…Why are you sitting there the whole time? You could’ve woken me up.”

The person on the sofa still didn’t say anything.

The atmosphere was eerily quiet. Zhu Ming paused for a moment before taking the initiative to speak again. “How did the group photo go? Shen Ying—”

Xi Xianqing interrupted him. “You used your spiritual energy to help me spread its tail, didn’t you?”

That stupid roe deer’s broken mouth… really can’t be trusted.

Zhu Ming gritted his teeth and cursed Zhou Zhou a thousand times in his heart.

Still, he maintained his composure outwardly, curving his lips into a relaxed smile. “…Aiya, well, it was an urgent situation, so we had to resort to some unconventional methods.”

Xi Xianqing enunciated each word clearly. “Do you understand that rapid spiritual energy depletion can lead to blurred vision, unconsciousness, or even blindness?”

This man had searched it online, it wasn’t easy to fool around.

“What you’re referring to is the general information online.”

Zhu Ming rubbed his nose sheepishly. His tone softened as he patiently explained, “But if the person transmitting the spiritual energy is a professional with a medical background, they’ll be very measured in their approach. The whole process is relatively safe—you just need a couple of good naps to recover.”

“Besides, look at Dish Soap—it’s fully fanned out.”

He lifted his face, gesturing toward the green peac0ck beside him, its massive tail feathers spread wide in elegant silence. “How beautiful is that ah? Doesn’t it look like a giant banana leaf fan…”

“Zhu Ming.” Xi Xianqing called out his name.

If before Zhu Ming had only a vague sense that Xi Xianqing was in a bad mood, the moment his full name was spoken, Zhu Ming realized with absolute clarity that the man was angry.

Very angry.

Xi Xianqing stood from the sofa and took deliberate steps toward the bed.

The smile on Zhu Ming’s face gradually faded. His body instinctively leaned back slightly as he looked up at Xi Xianqing’s face.

The white fox lying on the pillow shook its tail, burying its face warily in its fluffy fur. Its eyes darted cautiously between the two tense individuals.

Xi Xianqing finally stopped.

“If the next time you take the liberty of using your own body to perform your so-called treatment without consulting me,” Xi Xianqing gazed morosely at Zhu Ming’s face and coldly said, “Then I will terminate our agreement and divorce you.”

---

Author’s notes:

The Spitfire Sparrow’s limited return ψ(｀∇´)ψ

The banquet mentioned in the synopsis will take place in just a few chapters. As for this instance, Dish Soap didn’t fan out its tail willingly—it wasn’t Xiao Xi’s voluntary act. So, this can only be considered a rehearsal, not the true first time. (Serious nod)

---

Chapter title: Manually Spreading Its Tail

Jie Jie: I decided to omit it from the Chapter Title section as it would be a spoiler :blobpeek:

“Look, Xi Sen just posted a group photo on social media.”

At the workbench, Yang Jiahe eagerly shared the latest gossip with Xi Xianqing. “She went to District One for the assessment, right? You’ve got to admit, this girl’s foundation from the Fashion Academy is very solid. The representative officer of District One is famously strict and ruthless, but with that modified uniform, she managed to give off a bit of that man of steel star vibe.”

Xi Xianqing lifted his gaze and glanced at the phone Yang Jiahe held up.

Xi Sen’s assessment had started earlier than his, so she had already completed her journey through District One’s military base.

In the group photo, she stood beside District One’s current representative. The camera had captured the moment when her spiritual manifestation, a Jackdaw, spread its wings.

It was undoubtedly a remarkably healthy Jackdaw spiritual manifestation—with a gaze as calm and cold as its owner’s. Its powerful wings stretched wide, revealing sleek, jet-black feathers. It’s a commemorative photo with a great sense of power and camera-readiness.

Even in Xi Xianqing’s eyes, this was a near-perfect assessment group photo that left no room for criticism.

“Her affairs have nothing to do with me. It’s enough to focus on myself.”

Suppressing the suffocating feeling in his chest, Xi Xianqing shifted his gaze back to the design draft in front of him. “For the Sakura petals, I still want to use bezel-free inlay for the topaz. It’ll create a stronger visual impact.”

“You’re quite thoughtful.”

Yang Jiahe chuckled. “Fine, fine, fine. Let’s try bezel-free inlay for the Sakura petals. As for the pearl inlay process, we’ll stick with what we discussed earlier for now. But regarding the angle for the agate scales, I think we should prepare an alternative design…”

Xi Xianqing nodded absentmindedly, sketching a few refined lines on the draft.

When he inadvertently looked up, his line of sight fell to the garden lawn outside the living room’s floor-to-ceiling window.

The door of the experimental lab pod standing in the middle of the garden was slightly ajar, and bright incandescent light streamed from a small window on the cabin wall. He couldn’t tell what the person inside the pod was busy with.

Before long, Zhou Zhou tiptoed out of the cabin, crossed the lawn, and stepped into the villa.

Rustling noises came from the living room. Out of the corner of his eye, Xi Xianqing saw Zhou Zhou enter the guest bedroom where Zhu Ming was staying.

A few minutes later, Zhou Zhou came out, holding the light screen that Zhu Ming often used, and headed back toward the garden.

However, after taking a few steps out of the guest bedroom, as if he suddenly remembered something, he once again returned to Zhu Ming’s bedroom.

When he emerged again, he was carrying two pillows. Behind him, his Siberian roe deer spiritual manifestation wagged its head happily from side to side. One person and one roe deer made their way back toward the garden.

“Hey, are you still listening?”

Yang Jiahe tapped Xi Xianqing’s elbow with her pen. “Your soul completely flew.”

Xi Xianqing came back to his senses and wordlessly squeezed the pen in his hand.

“Still saying you didn’t care about the assessment, but ever since you saw Xi Sen’s photo, you’ve been out of it.”

Yang Jiahe only thought that he was distracted because of the assessment. She shook her head with a laugh and stood up. “Come on, just tell me where the wine cabinet is. Let’s have a drink as master and disciple and relax a little.”

Xi Xianqing didn’t usually drink while working, but after staring at the messy scratches on his paper, he said after a long moment of silence, “The wine cabinet is next to the fridge in the kitchen.”

The alcoholic Yang Jianhe, patted his shoulder and walked toward the door.

Xi Xianqing forced himself to focus, exhaling slowly before sketching a few more refined lines on his draft.

Soon after, there was a knock at the door. Assuming it was Yang Jiahe returning with the drinks, he called out, “Come in.”

However, Xi Xianqing immediately realized something was off—Yang Jiahe’s high heels would never make such a quiet sound.

Looking up, he realized that it was Zhu Ming peeking his head through the door. At some point, he’d left the lab pod. “Are you busy?”

Xi Xianqing’s hand froze mid-stroke, though his voice remained indifferent. “What is it?”

Zhu Ming said softly, “Did I disturb your work?”

Xi Xianqing: “It’s fine.”

Zhu Ming nodded but didn’t enter the room. “If you don’t mind, could you come to the experimental lab pod for a moment?”

The man in the wheelchair spoke softly, his tone polite and measured, maintaining a boundary so flawless that it was nearly impossible to pick out any faults.

However, Xi Xianqing inexplicably felt a pang of strangeness in his heart.

No one spoke on the way from the living room to the garden.

When they entered the experimental lab pod, they saw Zhou Zhou in his lab coat, who was busy at the back of the pod, handling various bottles and jars in front of the equipment.

With his back to Xi Xianqing, Zhu Ming slipped on a pair of sensory gloves and said, “Can you release Dish Soap?”

Xi Xianqing frowned, not sure what he was up to, but he complied, summoning his green peac0ck.

Zhu Ming bent down and gently stroked the peac0ck’s long, beautiful plumes. Then he straightened up and looked at Xi Xianqing. “Can you take five steps back and stay still?”

Xi Xianqing was puzzled, but after a moment, he still did as he was told.

Then he saw Zhu Ming nod once before swiftly raising his hand and with a “bang”—

He closed the experimental lab pod without hesitation.

Xi Xianqing: “?”

His spiritual manifestation was left inside the pod, while he himself was unceremoniously locked out. He could only make out faint voices from within the pod.

The second before Xi Xianqing’s chest heaved, his fury threatening to boil over, the door was finally opened again.

Zhu Ming sat in his wheelchair by the door, his gaze lowered as he stared thoughtfully at his gloved right hand.

Standing quietly at his feet, Dish Soap held its head high, its tail feathers still drooping in a calm and composed manner.

Zhu Ming gently exhaled, removed the glove, and made a few notes on his light screen. “Aright la. There’s nothing more I need to check.”

Xi Xianqing’s brows furrowed, “What did you do?”

“Just a small test.” Zhu Ming switched the light screen to the calendar, his pen pausing briefly. “By the way, when’s your assessment photo due?”

Xi Xianqing spat out, “17th.”

Zhu Ming’s pen halted before circling the date on the calendar. He muttered with some headache, “Hmm, only 23 days left.”

The harsh incandescent light of the pod accentuated Zhu Ming’s thin and pale jawline. With his head lowered, he seemed different—his usual playful indifference replaced by a rare trace of concern, his brow slightly furrowed.

As if demons and gods were at work, Xi Xianqing parted his lips slightly and spoke in a hoarse voice, “Actually, just now at the door…”

Zhu Ming lifted his gaze and met Xi Xianqing’s eyes.

Xi Xianqing pursed his lips, and before he had time to speak again, Zhou Zhou’s loud voice echoed from behind him. “Zhu-ge, for each well, it’s still an extra 0.1 microliters of reagent, right?”

Zhu Ming turned his head. “Yes, 0.1 of both forward and reverse reagents. Use pure water as a control for the same volume below that, and repeat each set three times.”

Zhou Zhou chuckled. “Got it, got it. You’re still sticking to your old habits ah… Say, after this batch is done, can we eat the white jade bayberries? I’m craving for them.”

Zhu Ming: “Finish adding the reagents first, don’t be distracted. Use the pipette gun.”

Zhou Zhou shouted cheerfully, “Got it la.”

Zhu Ming exhaled quietly before turning back to Xi Xianqing and looking at him. “What were you about to say?”

Xi Xianqing didn’t speak for a long time.

His striking green eyes locked on Zhu Ming’s face, and he replied coldly, “Nothing. Just wanted to remind you that there isn’t much time left for the assessment. I hope you’ll show results soon.”

The corner of Zhu Ming’s mouth moved slightly, “I will try my best.”

After a brief pause, Xi Xianqing added, “We’re at a critical stage in the team’s design process right now. I hope you’ll keep things quiet on your end. Don’t keep wandering around the garden—it’s distracting people.”

“Understood. We’ll try to stay in the experimental lab pod most of the time and avoid disturbing you.”

Zhu Ming gazed at him calmly, “But perhaps you could consider drawing the curtains in the living room. That might be more effective. What do you think?”

His tone was so calm that he couldn’t be picked on.

Xi Xianqing glared at him, a knot of frustration stuck in his chest. “I will. Don’t worry.”

Zhu Ming sat in the wheelchair and didn’t speak.

After staring at him for a long moment, Xi Xianqing clenched his jaw, turned on his heel, and walked away.

The curtains in the living room had been drawn tightly shut for nearly three weeks, sealing off both sunlight and moonlight and cutting all visual connection between the living room and the garden.

Xi Xianqing, along with Yang Jiahe and the artisans, meticulously discussed the intricate details of inlaying. From initial modeling, polishing, and stone selection to the final steps of embedding and polishing, each phase demanded the utmost precision and could not be rushed.

The two-in-one jewelry design itself was complex. Each piece had to stand alone with its own unique integrity, yet also complement the other when stacked together.

The snake element was polished repeatedly, with each scale’s angle measured to perfection. The pearl representing the sheep underwent a stringent selection process until they finally chose the most vibrant and lively one.

True to his word, Zhu Ming barely disturbed Xi Xianqing during this time.

Over the course of 20 days, their daily interaction was limited to one peculiar routine—Zhu Ming would hand over bottles of strange, colorful potions with different tastes. Xi Xianqing would drink them, attempting to channel his spiritual energy and control Dish Soap’s tail feathers.

However, every single day, it invariably ended in failure.

“No movement.”

Another night, Zhu Ming removed his sensory gloves and rubbed his temples. His gaze lingered on Dish Soap, whose feathers remained utterly still. For the first time, his usually composed expression revealed a hint of bewilderment. “13 different potions… and surprisingly, none of them worked. You might as well be the ultimate immune body.”

Xi Xianqing’s face wasn’t good either.

The first psychoactivator Zhu Ming had made for him—the one that caused the allergic reaction and sent Dish Soap into a frenzy—was supposed to be the most efficient among his expectations.

The subsequent potions targeted different receptors with lower expected efficacy. Even so, Zhu Ming and Zhou Zhou had worked tirelessly in the experimental pod, hoping sheer quantity would yield results. All they needed was the faintest reaction to prove they were on the right track.

Zhu Ming was already in a bit of a trance. He ruffled his hair and exhaled. “Your photo assessment is the day after tomorrow, right?”

Xi Xianqing was silent for a little while, “Tomorrow.”

Zhu Ming froze, disbelief written all over his face. He quickly opened the calendar on his light screen and checked the date. His expression twisted for a split second, like a student stuck on the final exam question. “Even one more day would’ve made all the difference ah.”

Back when the first potion caused an allergic reaction, Xi Xianqing had already anticipated the outcome. Achieving a successful plume display before this first assessment was unlikely.

A condition he hadn’t been able to cure since birth wasn’t going to be magically solved. He wasn’t pinning his hopes on Zhu Ming developing a panacea in just two months.

“I’ve been in touch with Aunt Ye and Shen Ying. We managed to secure a chance for a second photo session a few months from now. Unexpectedly, Shen Ying didn’t ask much.”

Xi Xianqing calmly said, “Publicly, we’ll claim that the photo is being withheld for confidentiality reasons. Unlike Xi Sen, we won’t be releasing it on social media right away.”

Zhu Ming seemed to be relieved.

However, he immediately stared at Xi Xianqing’s profile with hesitation. “But if you don’t release the photo right after the assessment, won’t it seem too much of a cover-up? Won’t people start speculating that something’s wrong?”

“The assessment photo is a Xi Family tradition. If it’s delayed too long, there will certainly be rumors spreading.”

Xi Xianqing faintly said, “But compared to releasing a photo showing Dish Soap unable to display his tail, which would spark endless rumors, this is the best solution we can manage.”

Zhu Ming fell silent for a long while.

His brows furrowed slightly, and his fingertips lingered on the red circle on the calendar, lips pressed together as if deep in thought.

Xi Xianqing’s heart stirred. In a seemingly casual tone, he asked, “Do you want to come to the photo session tomorrow?”

Zhu Ming, lost in thought, took a moment to process the question. He then looked at Xi Xianqing and shook his head. “I… don’t think I’ll go.”

Xi Xianqing said nothing.

“After all, you know I don’t really understand much about design.”

Zhu Ming smiled at Xi Xianqing. “Your artisans and Aunt Ye will be there with you, right?”

Xi Xianqing originally wanted to say something, but the moment Zhu Ming’s light-hearted self-deprecating remark came out, the depths of his throat tightened and he couldn’t make a sound.

Because this was precisely what he had personally said a few days ago.

Zhu Ming didn’t notice the subtle change in Xi Xianqing’s expression. His gaze dropped to the green peac0ck huddled by his feet. “I’m planning to make a final desperate attempt tonight. Could you leave Dish Soap in the living room? Zhou Zhou and I want to run one final test.”

Xi Xianqing listened with growing irritation and sneered, “After so many days, why did you drag it out to the last day and not try earlier?”

Zhu Ming didn’t retort and seemed to be in a bit of a trance.

Finally, he exhaled softly, like someone making a final decision. Reaching into the medical kit, he pulled out a small vial of liquid, gently rolling it between his fingers. “This is the last one. Let’s try it, shall we?”

He handed the centrifuge tube containing the potion to Xi Xianqing.

The potion inside the centrifuge tube shimmered a pale mint green—a striking color compared to the countless dull ones Xi Xianqing had already consumed over the past few weeks.

Xi Xianqing studied it with a furrowed brow before tipping his head back and downing it in one gulp.

As Zhu Ming had requested, Xi Xianqing had left Dish Soap In the living room for him to observe before going to bed.

Even after closing his bedroom door, faint voices filtered through. Zhou Zhou’s loud, animated speech, followed by Zhu Ming’s calm reminders to “Keep it down” or “Let me try first,” reached his ears.

Xi Xianqing couldn’t hear much, nor did he want to, so he picked up the noise-canceling earplugs and stuffed them into his ears.

The potion seemed to contain some soothing ingredients. After spending the entire morning making final adjustments to his work, Xi Xianqing lay down and immediately felt an immense sense of relaxation. His eyelids grew heavy, and he soon fell asleep.

When he opened his eyes again, daylight streamed through the windows.

A casual glance at the bedside table first brought him face-to-face with Dish Soap’s beady little eyes. Only then did he notice the bedroom door was slightly ajar—someone had returned the peac0ck at some point without him noticing.

Xi Xianqing shifted his gaze, squinting at the clock. It wasn’t even nine yet.

The group photo was scheduled for 10:30. There was still time to sleep a little longer, and then…

Xi Xianqing sat up violently.

He was in disbelief. He locked eyes with the green peac0ck perched beside his bed, and for a moment, he thought he must still be dreaming.

The green peac0ck at the bedside shook its foot and puffed out its chest, standing even straighter. Its beady eyes widened with a sense of pride as it stared at its owner, boldly flaunting its form.

—Behind it, every one of its beautiful tail feathers was raised high, standing tall and erect.

The layers of tail feathers overlapped, with vibrant, jewel-like blue eye-shaped patterns adorning them. Together, they formed a massive, stunning fan-like display that shimmered like silk.

It had spread its tail.

---

Author’s Notes:

Dish Soap: I’ve decided to flaunt it la ψ(｀∇´)ψ

Inside the Mo Xue Ji Restaurant, Xi Xianqing had his final formal meeting with Shen Ying during this assessment.

Shen Ying had prepared exquisite and delicious autumn-themed refreshments for Xi Xianqing, and in return, he presented his design sketches to her.

The design featured a brooch in the shape of a snake.

The snake’s body was crafted with a platinum base, its scales adorned with gradient pink chalcedony¹A micro-crystalline type of quartz occurring in several different forms, including onyx, agate, and jasper. and white mother-of-pearl with embellishments. The design perfectly captured the snake’s agile curves, imbuing it with a sense of dynamic vitality.

Xi Xianqing gently slid his fingers along the sketch and introduced, “The snake’s mouth is delicately holding a sakura petal made of pink topaz, symbolizing your name.”

Shen Ying studied the design for a moment and couldn’t help but praise, “This is truly a stunning piece. Even as an amateur like me, I can see how intricate the craftsmanship is. I’m very satisfied.”

Xi Xianqing nodded.

“However, the snake’s body is more slender and lightweight, leaving some empty space in the center when it’s crafted into a brooch. Visually, this creates a slight sense of incompleteness, and it may not look as refined when paired with clothing.”

Xi Xianqing said, “Therefore, I’ve prepared an alternative design as a second option for you to consider.”

A hint of surprise flickered in Shen Ying’s eyes as she watched Xi Xianqing take another sketch from Ye Lu’s hands.

The moment she saw the centerpiece of the design, the smile on Shen Ying’s lips froze silently.

“This design features an irregular wild black pearl as the fluffy, soft body of a black sheep, with its ears, head, and limbs simply outlined in white agate.”

Xi Xianqing stacked the two sketches together. “If this pearl is embedded within the snake’s body, it would fill the central void perfectly. The contrast of black and white—ink and snow²The Mò Xuě in the restaurant’s name means these two words.—would also align beautifully with the name of your restaurant.”

When Xi Xianqing drew these two sketches, he used translucent tracing paper.

At this moment, he overlapped the two sheets of tracing paper, revealing the pink-and-white spirit snake gently wrapping around the body of the pearl sheep. The once-empty center of the brooch was now filled by the sheep’s plump, rounded form.

The spirit snake was intricate and elegant, while the sheep was simple and stately. The two figures nestled closely together and inseparable.

Shen Ying remained silent. The brocade snake on her wrist tightened its coils, wrapping firmly around her arm.

Xi Xianqing placed the two sketches on the coffee table and calmly asked, “Between these two designs, which one do you prefer?”

It was a long moment before Shen Ying lifted her head. The corners of her mouth twitched awkwardly. “I—”

In the next instant, the door of the box was pulled open from outside.

Zhu Ming had a faint smile on his lips as he appeared in the doorway.

Shen Ying’s pupils shrank imperceptibly. She stood up almost instantly, staring in disbelief at the person standing behind Zhu Ming.

“When we saw your poster in the magazine earlier, we didn’t even recognize you.”

The air was silent. Ji Rong’s gaze fell on Shen Ying’s smooth and elegant silk cheongsam, and she let out a smile. “As expected, without the store’s apron… you look much better.”

Shen Ying’s body trembled, but she said nothing, her eyes stared at blankly on Ji Rong’s face.

“It’s just that I’ve never been able to figure it out, A’Ying.”

Unlike her earlier outburst of tears, Ji Rong’s emotions were now calm and resolute after seeing Shen Ying. “I just want an answer. I want to know why.”

“You obviously have your own, glorious life path,” Ji Rong said softly. “Why did you come to the bakery back then? And why did you leave without a word in the end?”

The room was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

Shen Ying remained silent for a long while before taking slow steps toward Ji Rong.

It was only after a deep breath that she finally spoke. “A few years ago, I made a bet with my father, Shen Zhaoshan.”

“My father wanted me to follow in his footsteps and open a restaurant in the way he envisioned. It would undoubtedly become one of the restaurants representing District Two. But I didn’t want that.”

She continued, “I bet with him that if I could become a representative of District Two without using his resources or connections, he would stop imposing his will on me and let me own a restaurant entirely my own—from the design to the menu.”

“When I ran away from home, I happened to encounter you and your family’s bakery. I thought it was a business with great potential for development.”

Shen Ying said lightly, “Of course, the final result proved that I wasn’t capable enough. I lost the bet.”

“As for your family’s bakery, it was just a stepping stone I used for the wager.”

Shen Ying’s tone was detached, her words perfectly logical and nearly flawless. “When the bet ended, I naturally had no reason to stay.”

However, Ji Rong pulled the corners of her mouth and mercilessly exposed her lies. “Is that so?”

“If we were just an experiment or a stepping stone, then during last year’s rainstorm, who secretly sent so many supplies to the back door of the bakery?

“And a few months ago, when Liang Dachao’s mother fell ill and was inexplicably moved to an upgraded VIP ward, who arranged that?”

Ji Rong stepped forward, pulling out a napkin pressed beneath the dishes, and questioned, “And what kind of mindset leads someone to embroider a design created with their stepping stone onto a napkin?”

“Does Miss Shen treat all her stepping stones with such lingering care?”

Her voice trembled slightly as she stared at Shen Ying’s face. “Worthy of being the youngest and most outstanding representative of District Two. Such generosity and grandeur ah.”

Outside the window, the petals of the cherry blossom tree fluttered in the wind.

Shen Ying stood rigidly in place, unable to speak for a long time.

“Thank you for your kindness, Miss Shen. Sorry to have disturbed you.”

Ji Rong glanced around at the opulent decor of the restaurant, her eyes glistening with unshed tears as her lips curled into a faint sneer. “At the same time, I hope you won’t interfere with our lives again in the future.”

With that, she turned around, ready to leave the room.

Shen Ying was startled. Without thinking, she stepped forward and grabbed Ji Rong’s wrist.

“I… I can’t forgive myself,” Shen Ying said, her voice trembling.

“Whether it was the representative campaign or the goal of earning a star, all of it was something I selfishly imposed on you. I gave you hope, but in the end, I didn’t have the ability to help you achieve that dream.”

She paused, lowering her eyes with a bitter smile. “And with this painfully ironic title of identity… I’ve never had the face to return and face you guys again.”

Ji Rong froze, then abruptly turned her head back. “This is why you disappeared without a word?”

Shen Ying remained silent.

“We’ve always known better than anyone that a bakery could never earn a star.”

Ji Rong shook her head. “If one can’t be a representative then one can’t, because to us, that title was never the most important thing.”

“The most important thing was that in that winter, we met A’Ying.”

She said, “It was she who gave us our first common goal, who inspired us to work together, to sweat and strive to transform the bakery.”

Ji Rong gazed into Shen Ying’s eyes and said softly, “The time I spent with her—those days—are my most treasured memories.”

Shen Ying’s shoulders trembled sharply.

Silence fell over the private room. Zhu Ming exchanged a quiet glance with Xi Xianqing, then wordlessly stepped out, gently closing the door behind him.

They headed to the small pavilion beneath the cherry blossom tree in the restaurant’s garden, leaving the two inside the room with some privacy.

“You made one call and dragged her straight to the bakery without a word.”

Through the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the garden, Xi Xianqing glanced at the two people inside. “If they end up arguing, my first assessment will be ruined because of you.”

Zhu Ming chuckled lightly. “You say that, but when you abandoned your initial idea of designing earrings and switched to this brooch, weren’t you already thinking the same thing as me?”

Xi Xianqing didn’t speak again.

“It’s a risky move with a high risk but with an extremely high reward.”

Zhu Ming said casually. “There’s even a one-in-a-million chance that your assessment piece will receive an unprecedented, stellar review because it helped restore an incredibly precious relationship oh.”

Xi Xianqing said after a long while, “I hope so.”

Zhu Ming glanced back at the room, a smile tugging at his lips. “No need to hope—it already has.”

Following his gaze, Xi Xianqing turned to look inside and saw that, at some point, the two women had started trembling and were now tightly embracing each other.

Xi Xianqing watched for a moment before turning his eyes away.

A strange and subtle feeling swirled in his chest. Initially, he had approached this assessment with a strong sense of resistance.

Socializing with others wasn’t Xi Xianqing’s strength, nor did he care about other people’s lives. All he wanted was to design the perfect piece and complete the assessment flawlessly.

But in this moment, Xi Xianqing realized… he genuinely felt happy for them.

As they left the restaurant, Shen Ying took the initiative to see them off.

Ji Rong claimed she had something to take care of, but given Zhu Ming’s understanding of her, it was likely both the human and the sheep had cried themselves into an unpresentable state.

Shen Ying’s eyes were slightly red, and her previously immaculate hairstyle was now a bit disheveled. She no longer had the flawless, composed demeanor she’d displayed earlier.

Yet, to Xi Xianqing, this was the most genuine version of her he had seen since they met.

They didn’t say anything.

“If it were the old me, I probably would’ve thought the first option was the safest choice”

Shen Ying said softly as they reached the restaurant’s entrance. “But now I think that the alternative design you proposed might be what I’ve truly needed all along.”

It sounded like she was referring to the two sketches Xi Xianqing had shown her earlier. After a moment of silence, he replied, “There’s never a right or wrong choice. As long as it follows your heart, it’s the right one.”

Shen Ying seemed lost in thought. After a while, she looked at Xi Xianqing and smiled faintly. “I look forward to the final piece.”

Then, turning to Zhu Ming again, “I apologize for not greeting you properly earlier. You must be Mr. Xi’s spouse, Mr. Zhu, right?”

Zhu Ming’s eyes held a gentle warmth. “A pleasure to meet you, Miss Shen.”

“And thank you for the gift you sent me last time,” Shen Ying said as she bent slightly in a polite bow. “More importantly, thank you for bringing her here today. She asked me to pass on her thanks as well—your medicine worked wonders.”

Zhu Ming’s tone was soft. “Miss Ji’s heartache is difficult to heal. My medicine is only supplementary. If paired with the dose of your future companionship, Miss Shen, it might just cure her completely.”

Shen Ying paused, then looked up in slight surprise. “I will.”

“I’d been curious about the kind of person who could occupy Mr. Xiao Xi’s mind even during an assessment.”

She smiled and shook her head, “Now I finally understand.”

Zhu Ming: “En?”

Xi Xianqing: “…?”

“When we first met, Mr. Xi mentioned that you really liked the white jade bayberries from our mountain. He even specifically asked me for a batch.”

Shen Ying didn’t notice that the atmosphere was off, and pointed in the direction where the back kitchen was, “Now, although the bayberry season is almost over, I still have a batch frozen, so please take them with you today.”

Zhu Ming’s mind was spinning a bit.

He did indeed craved for white jade bayberries, and Xi Xianqing had previously brought a box back for him.

But if he remembered correctly, the explanation Xi Xianqing had given at the time was that “District Two’s representative took the initiative to give them.”

Then where did Shen Ying’s claim that “Xi Xianqing personally requested them” come from?

The body of the person beside him abruptly stiffened, and Zhu Ming hesitantly opened his mouth, “I—”

“No need, thank you, Miss Shen.”

In the next instant, Xi Xianqing’s emotionless voice cut through the conversation. “We have other matters to attend to, so we won’t stay any longer. Let’s end today’s meeting here.”

On the way back to the resort villa, the air was oppressively silent, nearly frozen in place.

Shen Ying had insisted on gifting the frozen white jade bayberries to Zhu Ming, and in the end, Zhu Ming couldn’t refuse her generosity.

The bayberries were packed in a lacquered wooden box filled with dry ice, and Zhu Ming, worried about the bumps during the ride, held them on his lap the entire time.

Xi Xianqing kept his gaze fixed on the window, avoiding any opportunity for interaction or questions from Zhu Ming.

The memory of that night—his allergic fever and the image of Zhu Ming’s face by the pool flashing before him—was enough to unsettle Xi Xianqing.

But at the time, he had attributed it all to the effects of the medication and temporarily pushed it to the back of his mind.

But now, with the bayberry incident surfacing and everything stacking together, his chaotic thoughts only grew more tangled.

The most frustrating part was that Zhu Ming didn’t ask anything. He sat beside Xi Xianqing in an unusually calm and silent manner, as if he had silently accepted something.

They were so silent all the way back to the villa.

As soon as they got out of the car, they saw Yang Jiahe standing at the door, holding a toolbox.

“You brat, you really made me wait ah.”

Yang Jiahe strode forward, gritted her teeth, and gave Xi Xianqing a punch on the shoulder. “I’ve been standing out here in high heels forever. If you don’t invite me in for a drink tonight, you’ll owe me one big time.”

Xi Xianqing froze briefly, suddenly recalling that he and Yang Jiahe agreement from a few days prior. Once the final drafts were settled, they had planned to discuss the gemstone inlay techniques together.

Xi Xianqing gave a quiet “en,” his steps slowing as he glanced back.

Zhu Ming had just gotten out of the car, holding the box of bayberries on his lap. Seated in his wheelchair, he quietly observed the scene ahead.

Yang Jiahe seemed to forget her annoyance entirely. Her face lit up as she eagerly approached. With a bright smile, she introduced herself, “Ai, you must be Xiao Zhu? I’m Yang Jiahe, this kid Xi Xianqing’s former mentor. Just call me Yang Jiahe.”

Zhu Ming smiled and extended his hand. “Hello, Teacher Yang. I’m Zhu Ming.”

Yang Jiahe shook his hand warmly, but her gaze fell on the faint gleam of a clear blue ring on his finger. “Oh, your ring, is it also—”

Xi Xianqing’s body stiffened abruptly.

Yang Jiahe was about to pull Zhu Ming’s hand to scrutinize it, but in the next instant, her arm was pulled away by a large, powerful hand.

“Teacher Yang, it’s getting late.”

Xi Xianqing’s face was obviously a bit stiff. “Let’s head to my study to look at the designs.”

“What’s the rush ya?”

Yang Jiahe reluctantly let go of his hand, her interest in Zhu Ming clearly not waning. “What’s the difference between going to the study and looking at it in the living room? It’s spacious, and we can all sit down and have a chat.”

Xi Xianqing grew increasingly restless when he heard her say they should “have a chat,” and he instinctively rejected the idea with irritation. “No.”

First the box of bayberries, and now this ring—why did everything have to come up at this exact moment?

Yang Jiahe was depressed, “Why ah?”

Right now, all Xi Xianqing wanted was for the two of them to separate as soon as possible.

His brows furrowed, and he brushed her off coldly and dismissively. “He’s from District Seven. He doesn’t understand design, and he has no interest in jewelry. What’s there to talk about?”

As soon as he exited, everyone was silently shocked.

The atmosphere suddenly went cold and silent.

Yang Jiahe frowned. “You kid, did you eat gunpowder?”

Zhu Ming quietly traced the edge of the wooden bayberry box with his fingers, his gaze steady on Xi Xianqing’s face. He said nothing.

When their eyes met, Xi Xianqing’s heart sank. He opened his mouth to speak, but the words got stuck in his throat.

A few seconds later, Zhu Ming’s lips curved slightly upward. He took the initiative to break the awkward silence. “It’s fine. I’m originally a layman, after all. To me, diamonds are just the hardest form of carbon.”

Yang Jiahe burst into laughter, causing the Iris branches behind her to shake as well. “Aiya, look at the other person’s temperament.”

“Forget it. The kid’s assessment is at a critical stage right now.”

She casually slung her arm around Xi Xianqing’s neck and gave Zhu Ming a carefree smile. “We’ll be busy for a bit. Let’s chat later.”

Yang Jiahe patted Xi Xianqing’s shoulder, “Come on, I brought a whole box of top-quality hardest carbon for you to see.”

Zhu Ming lowered his eyes slightly and nodded, the polite smile on his face remaining calm and polite.

Just as Xi Xianqing was about to head back inside with his mind in turmoil, a loud voice suddenly rang out—

“Zhu-ge!”

Everyone was stunned.

Turning around, they saw Zhou Zhou, drenched in sweat and carrying a travel bag, waving enthusiastically at Zhu Ming from the end of the path.

“My goodness ya!!”

Zhou Zhou ran over, panting heavily, while the exhausted roe deer behind him staggered in exhaustion. “This place is way too fancy la. It took me half an hour to walk all the way here from the gate!”

Zhu Ming’s expression was slightly helpless. “Zhou Zhou, you could’ve just taken the cable car from the entrance.”

Zhou Zhou let out an indignant “Ah?” “Damn it ah! Why didn’t that security guard tell me!”

He happily jogged up to Zhu Ming, squatted down to show him his phone’s photo album. “But one thing is for sure, the scenery along the way was beautiful. I didn’t really mind walking. Look, I even took a picture of a frog…”

Yang Jiahe bit her fingertip, watching with interest. “And this is…?”

Xi Xianqing didn’t say anything.

Noticing the curious gazes from the two at the door, Zhu Ming paused for a moment before introducing, “My assistant, Zhou Zhou.”

It was only then that Zhou Zhou noticed there was someone else standing at the door. He stood up and waved awkwardly.

Zhu Ming smiled faintly before turning his attention back, lowering his voice as he spoke gently. “It’s too dangerous to go down the mountain alone. If it gets too late tonight, stay here with me. Understand?”

Zhou Zhou nodded eagerly, and the roe deer behind him wobbled happily along with him. “Okay! Thank you, Zhu-ge!”

Xi Xianqing’s jaw tightened silently.

Sensing the subtle tension in the air, Yang Jiahe’s gaze flitted between the group with growing interest.

With a teasing tone, she fanned the flames. “Aiya, didn’t someone just say he wasn’t interested in design and shouldn’t be included? But from the looks of it, he seems to have plans of his own tonight.”

Xi Xianqing immediately reined in his lingering gaze.

He turned around expressionlessly and prepared to close the door behind him.

Just then, Zhou Zhou’s booming voice rang out, cutting through the silence. “Ai, Zhu-ge, what’s inside this pretty box ah?”

Xi Xianqing’s hand, resting on the door handle, paused slightly—

“White jade bayberries.”

After a moment of silence, Zhu Ming’s soft, ethereal voice floated through the narrow gap in the door. “Once we’re tired from working, we can wash them and have a taste.”

---

Author’s Notes:

It’s all a mess ah. Someone’s mind is in turmoil, and his words are all over the place ah.

The sound of running water in the bathroom hadn’t ceased.

Recalling the fleeting glimpse of that figure earlier, Zhu Ming couldn’t help but marvel at how well-developed young people were these days. It didn’t seem like things would conclude anytime soon.

Feeling awkward just sitting idly, Zhu Ming spaced out for a moment before heading to the kitchen to prepare a new ice pack.

As a meticulous researcher, he was always ready to document every minute change in his experimental subjects. He didn’t forget to take out the light screen and quickly recorded this rather extraordinary discovery.

Earlier, Zhu Ming had reviewed various documents and compiled the details of the peac0ck spirit’s physical structure and potential treatment methods into a folder titled “How To Use Xi Xiangqing’s Feathers.”

However, considering the possibility of losing the notebook, which could expose the embarrassing fact that District Six’s future representative’s spiritual manifestation couldn’t get up, he discreetly renamed the folder to “How To Use His Feathers.”

[Research Subject]: Dish Soap.

[Current Observational Fluctuations]: The flying feathers responded with high-intensity feedback, almost out of control. No visible movement was detected in the tail feathers.

[Medication Administered]: 2ml of Spirit Activator, initially determined to cause a mild allergic reaction. Future treatment should explore other potential targets.

Just then, the bathroom door was pushed open from the inside.

Warm steam wafted into the bedroom as Xi Xianqing stepped out, his hair still damp and wearing a bathrobe. The two men’s gazes met and clashed for a brief moment before swiftly averting.

A faint awkwardness filled the silence.

Xi Xianqing’s ears were still burning red, and his cheeks and neck flushed as if he’d had a strong drink. However, his eyes appeared clearer, indicating that the relief had been somewhat effective.

If it were an ordinary clinical patient, Zhu Ming could have straightforwardly asked, “Did it work?” or even more bluntly, “Did it come out?”

But this particular individual’s pride was no joke.

After carefully sifting through his vocabulary, Zhu Ming tentatively asked, “Do you… feel a bit better now?”

Xi Xianqing didn’t say anything. He continued drying his hair with a towel, casting him a sidelong glance.

Zhu Ming knew it was useless to press further, so he used his eyes to seek answers.

He discreetly glanced at Xi Xianqing’s lower body, confirming that the storm had passed, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. He jotted something down on the light screen.

With that, he once again raised his hand.

Xi Xianqing looked at him, hesitated for a moment, and then reluctantly put down the towel. He bent down slightly and pressed his face back into Zhu Ming’s palm, though with visible reluctance.

Zhu Ming assessed the situation. “En, your body temperature has dropped a bit, but it seems like you still have a slight fever.”

Xi Xianqing cast him a sharp glance through the damp strands of his hair. “And it’s not thanks to you.”

Zhu Ming, nearly immune to his sarcastic tone by now, got straight to the point. “By the way, do you want to stay the night?”

Xi Xianqing’s eyes snapped up, “…What?”

“After all, I’m the one who caused the medical incident. As a doctor, I should at least take full responsibility tonight.”

Zhu Ming’s finger slid on the light screen a few times and sighed. “Of course, it’s also to prevent you from making any noise in the middle of the night and banging on my door again.”

“Stay,” he said.

And so, the newlyweds spent their first night sharing a bed after marriage.

—Only separated by a distance as great as the sea.

Xi Xianqing, cheeks flushed with fever, lay rigidly on the left side of the bed with a cold pack on his head. Zhu Ming lay comfortably on the right side, keeping a watchful eye on the condition of this big sick bird.

To prevent any new movements from occurring, the room remained softly lit by a bedside lamp.

The slight coolness seeping out of the ice pack did little to quell the restless thoughts swirling in Xi Xianqing’s mind.

He finally couldn’t hold back and glanced to his side.

—Only to find the very doctor who had insisted on “taking full responsibility” now breathing steadily, his eyes peacefully closed, already resembling Zhou Gong.¹The God of Dreams. It also meant that he was already deep in his slumber.

Xi Xianqing: “…?”

What an utterly unprofessional amazing doctor.

Between them, a white fox lay sprawled across the two people’s pillows, its eyes closed in bliss, mirroring its owner’s contentment. The fluffy, snowy tip of its tail twitched occasionally, either idly or intending to hook people.

Fragments of earlier events in the bathroom flashed through Xi Xianqing’s mind once more, leaving him agitated. He turned over decisively, refusing to look at the man and fox beside him.

The moment he turned over, his gaze landed on something atop the nightstand, making him pause.

After a moment, he looked away and lay flat on his back again.

—Not before casting another silent glance at the sleeping person beside him.

After another five seconds, Xi Xianqing held his breath, twisted his head, and once again looked toward the object on the nightstand.

As if drawn by some invisible force, his Adam’s apple bobbed, and his hand moved involuntarily toward the sensory glove on the nightstand, and silently tugged one off.

After scrutinizing it for a moment, he recalled the method of Zhu Ming’s earlier explanation about “transferring spiritual energy to the fingertips to interact with a spiritual manifestation” when he examined Dish Soap.

Driven by an inexplicable impulse, Xi Xianqing tentatively slid his right hand into the glove.

Clenching his hand lightly into a fist, he looked at the white fox lying on the pillow.

His hand hung in the air for a long time, trying to condense his spiritual energy, and after a short while, he paused and gently brushed his fingertips against the fox’s soft, fluffy tail.

The moment he touched the tail, Xi Xianqing’s hand jerked back as though shocked by electricity, his knuckles twitching oddly in mid-air, almost as if savoring the sensation.

His Adam’s apple shifted again. This time, Xi Xianqing lowered his hand once more—not just his fingertips but his entire palm.

He touched the white fox’s tail again, then his body experienced a warm, solid, vivid, magical touch that couldn’t be described in words.

—That was when a soft voice sounded. “Does it feel good to touch?”

Xi Xianqing: “…!?”

He jerked his head up to see the person who had been sleeping soundly moments ago on his side, opened his side at some point. Zhu Ming’s half-lidded eyes gleamed with amusement, his hand propping up his face as he leisurely stared at him.

Xi Xianqing’s mind spun in a split second.

Pulling his hand away now would only make him look guilty. After a brief pause, Xi Xianqing raised his hand, feigning nonchalance. “It’s just okay.”

Zhu Ming didn’t have any other reaction.

He glanced down at the white fox on the pillow, his lashes lowering slightly as his lips curved into a smile. “While the tail does seem the best to touch, you might also want to try the ears. Others have said that they’re unexpectedly pleasant to the touch.”

The white fox lay quietly between the two as if it understood the conversation, it meekly stared at Xi Xianqing’s face.

Its eyes were round and shiny black, and just above them, a pair of sharp, furry ears came into view…

Xi Xianqing averted his gaze

He yanked off the glove and lay back down, perfectly straight. “…Not interested.”

Zhu Ming raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He yawned lazily and reached out casually to feel Xi Xianqing’s forehead. “En, the fever’s mostly gone now.”

He said, “Looks like the drug’s effects have almost worn off.”

Out of nowhere, the person beside him asked, “Have you let others touch it before?”

Zhu Ming didn’t immediately catch his meaning. When he realized Xi Xianqing was talking about his spiritual manifestation, he replied matter-of-factly, “Of course la.”

There was another silence, “Who?”

“My aunt.”

The air returned to a long stretch of silence. Zhu Ming’s eyelids grew heavier, and he nestled further under the blanket.

Just as he was about to drift off, the person beside him abruptly spoke again. “Why… aren’t you asleep yet?”

“Hm,” Zhu Ming mumbled vaguely, “because I’m thinking about you.”

Beside him suddenly quieted down.

Zhu Ming sighed softly, a tinge of melancholy in his voice. “We can’t use the Spirit Activator medicine anymore in the future—it’s going to make things a lot harder.”

He shifted his position, staring up at the ceiling, and yawned again. “There are still a few backup medications to try, but with just one month left before the photo shoot, time’s tight. Looks like I’ll have to drag Zhou Zhou into overtime work ah…”

His eyelids drooped further as Zhu Ming’s voice grew softer, eventually fading into near silence.

​​The room quieted down, and he once again fell into a sweet dream.

After an unknown amount of time, Xi Xianqing wordlessly turned his face and stared at the side of the person beside him, “Zhu Ming?”

The person beside him breathed evenly, his expression was peaceful. There were truly no movements this time.

Xi Xianqing’s Adam’s apple bobbed faintly as he calmly stared at the ceiling.

A moment later, a rustling sound rang out.

Xi Xianqing retrieved the sensory glove hidden under the blanket. Silently, he slipped his hand back into it, channeling spiritual energy to his fingertips as he took a deep breath.

Curling his fingers slightly, he turned his gaze to the white fox on the pillow.

Lifting his hand, his fingertips brushed against the white, soft tip of the fox’s ear—

A gentle pinch.

After one night, the effects of the Spirit Activator had completely dissipated.

Dish Soap returned to its usual haughty demeanor, head held high, with its tail as unresponsive as ever. Xi Xianqing, however, kept his silence about what had transpired that night.

Zhu Ming, on the other hand, seemed unable to get over this hurdle. He stayed holed up in the lab pod for several days straight.

Zhu-District Seven’s First Perfect Score Medical Exam-Former Popular Representative Candidate-Ming was finally forced to admit that he had hit the first major stumbling block of his research career.

“So, it’s not the medicine—it’s just that you happen to be one of the unlucky one-in-ten-thousand cases prone to an allergic reaction.”

He had scoured all the relevant literature and finally compiled a meticulous review to prove he wasn’t a quack. “Look, it’s written here. Especially in young, vigorous males, these symptoms might occur.”

The incident from that night was already an awkward topic, yet Zhu Ming brought it up repeatedly with a calm expression as if it were a casual observation.

Xi Xianqing’s ears turned faintly red as irritation brewed within him. “Enough, I get it. Just hurry up and develop a new medicine.”

This inexplicable cold war, sparked by the remarkably potent drug, was inadvertently saved like a file but never revisited again.

Zhu Ming buried himself in the lab pod for several days, carefully analyzing allergens, recalibrating dosages, and producing several new formulations.

After Xi Xianqing took it, he didn’t experience any more peculiar side effects. However, Dish Soap’s tail feathers remained stubbornly unresponsive.

There wasn’t much time left for them.

Before long, it was time for Xi Xianqing’s third and final meeting with Shen Ying.

The night before the meeting, while Zhu Ming was tidying up his desk after drawing blood from Xi Xianqing, his eyes fell on a set of schematics laid out on the desk. “Is this… the finished design you’re planning to show Shen Ying tomorrow?”

“Part of it,” Xi Xianqing picked up another sheet of semi-transparent tracing paper. He layered the two sheets together. “This is the complete design.”

Zhu Ming took a closer look, then nodded in understanding with a knowing smile. “So that’s how it is.”

Early the next morning, Xi Xianqing and his team headed to Shen Ying’s restaurant for their final meeting to discuss the project drafts.

Zhu Ming was bitterly nestled in the living room poring over research papers.

It was drizzling outside. Just as Zhu Ming was starting to doze off, the doorbell rang.

He opened the door to find an unexpected visitor.

Ji Rong stood there, her curly, fluffy hair dampened and disheveled by the rain. Behind her, her black sheep spiritual manifestation was shivering.

She clutched two large paper bags and blushed deeply the moment her eyes met Zhu Ming’s.

“Dr. Zhu.” She mumbled, “I… came to apologize.”

Zhu Ming hurriedly opened the door. “Come in, don’t catch a cold.”

“When I met with you²italicized you = formal way. twice before, I yelled at you every time.”

Ji Rong sniffled, then held out the bulging paper bags in her hands to Zhu Ming’s face. “I’m sorry.”

Zhu Ming was stunned and took it, discovering it was two warm, freshly-made pancakes.

It was only ten in the morning, and considering the long journey from the foot of the mountain to the seaside, these pancakes were likely prepared by this girl early morning specifically for this occasion.

Ji Rong pressed her lips together, and the black sheep behind her obediently lowered its head along with her. “The medicine you gave me, I’ve been taking it regularly. It really works well.”

“I know I’m sick, but I just… never wanted to admit it.” She said in a small voice.

“That’s not true.”

Zhu Ming spoke gently, “Taking medicine doesn’t necessarily mean you’re sick. When emotions in your heart can’t be properly expressed and reflected in one’s mental state, medication can help relieve it. But that doesn’t mean you’re an unhealthy person.”

Ji Rong stared blankly at Zhu Ming’s face for a moment. “You… you’re³The first you she said was in formal way (您) while the second-where she changed it, was the casual you (你). so eloquent. No wonder you’re a professional physician from District Seven.”

“I’m just a shopkeeper from a small store in District Two.” Her hands unconsciously fiddled with the hem of her skirt. “I haven’t seen much of the world and have never been outside District Two. Other than tourists, I rarely have a chance to interact with scientists from District Seven.”

“I’ve barely even visited resorts like this one in the mountains of District Two.”

She looked around the interior of the villa and broke into a grin. “Such a high-class, beautiful place—it’s no wonder everyone loves it. If they had the means, who’d want to stay by the seaside every day?”

Zhu Ming wordlessly frowned.

“High-end restaurants may serve exquisite and elegant dishes, but eating them every day would only lead to boredom.”

He said softly, “The warm, unique charm of real life is often only found in humble little shops.”

Ji Rong kept her head down. After a moment, she let out a muffled “Mm.”

She suddenly quieted down and stopped talking, Zhu Ming felt a little strange.

Just as he was about to ask, he noticed the girl’s shoulders start trembling. Even the black sheep behind her twitched its butt and began shaking in small, rhythmic shivers.

…Oh no.

Zhu Ming sighed in his heart.​​

Sure enough, when Ji Rong looked up again, her large eyes were brimming with tears. She pouted, looking at Zhu Ming pitifully. “Wu ah—”

She looked around the interior decor of the villa, tears streaming down her face. “Wuwu… Such a beautiful house like this—just a month’s rent could probably buy up our entire snack street, right? Wuwuwu…”

While the owner sobbed uncontrollably, the little black sheep behind her hung its head as well, black manifested cotton wool fell from its body like a torrential storm.

Zhu Ming: “…”

He suddenly thought of something. He silently reached for the sensor gloves on the table, bent slightly, and discreetly pinched a piece of the falling cotton wool between his fingertips, placing it into a sample bag.

Then exhaling a breath, he softly consoled, “Don’t cry.”

Ji Rong couldn’t control herself at all and continued wailing, “It’s true—opening your own restaurant in a resort like this and gaining recognition from representatives must be the life most people dream of, right?”

Zhu Ming: “You should—”

“It was my fault for kicking you and your lover out of the store last time.”

Ji Rong sobbed profusely, tears cascading like a fountain. “It’s just, whenever I hear that name, I can’t keep my emotions in check wuwu… We’re from completely different worlds, yet she had to force her way into my life, only to then…”

“—No more crying.” Zhu Ming took a deep breath, raised his voice, and interrupted her directly. “If you stop crying right now, I’ll take you to a restaurant up the mountain for lunch.”

Ji Furry’s hand wiping her tears gave a strange pause.

Even the black sheep’s shedding slowed noticeably. Ji Rong stared straight at Zhu Ming. “You… You’re not talking about that restaurant…”

With a huff, she added sourly, “I don’t even want to go there anyway.”

Zhu Ming: “Well, if you don’t want to go, we won’t. We can still enjoy the pancakes instead.”

Ji Rong stiffened, sniffled, and muttered, “But if you really want to go, then I guess I…”

Suddenly remembering something, Ji Rong pouted again. “Besides, they have that exclusive member reservation system. One can’t book a table unless it’s three months in advance. How are we supposed to—”

Zhu Ming made a “shh” gesture and took out his phone in his pocket.

“No more crying.”

He pointed at his phone screen and grinned slyly. “Let me ask my lover to see if we can skip the line.”

---

Author’s Notes:

Certain Someone: I didn’t originally want to touch them, but since he took the initiative to invite me, I reluctantly agreed to do it. Still, I must state that I have no interest in fluffy ears. It was purely because of his invitation—rejecting it felt a bit too cold-hearted. That’s the only reason I ended up touching them.

Xiao Zhu (grinning): So, does it feel good to touch?

​​Certain Someone: …Not bad.