Category: How To Use His Feathers (Page 6 of 7)

“I have a small question.”

Zhu Ming pondered for a moment. “Your sister… what kind of manhua artist is she, that she needed to ask questions like this to collect material?”

Xi Xianqing was expressionless, “What do you think?”

Zhu Ming raised his eyebrows in surprise, musing, “No wonder. She certainly has an extremely wild and bold side that doesn’t match her artistic appearance.”

“The earlier questions were indeed difficult to answer, but the second one—it has a very obvious answer.”

Zhu Ming pointed to his own knee and sighed wistfully, “In my current state, I belong to the category of even if I had the will, I lack the ability ah.”

Xi Xianqing probably never imagined in his life that not only could someone ask such an outrageously explicit question, but there was also someone who could answer it so calmly without changing color.

He stared at Zhu Ming in disbelief for a moment before muttering irritably, “You two really are cut from the same cloth.”

Letting the joke end there, Zhu Ming quickly switched topics. “Your sister’s hearing—was it congenital?”

Xi Xianqing nodded. “Actually, with a hearing aid, she can regain a significant portion of her hearing. But when she’s creating, she prefers to let the world go silent, so she doesn’t wear it often.”

Zhu Ming asked, “No cochlear implant? I remember the cochlear technology in District Seven is highly advanced now.”

“She missed the optimal age for implantation at that time, so it’s unlikely she’ll want to fully recover her speech system.”

Xi Xianqing replied calmly, “She did try a cochlear implant once, but it caused a rejection reaction, and it had to be removed. Even though the materials and technology have improved significantly since then, she’s unwilling to go through another implantation.”

Zhu Ming was a bit stunned for a moment.

Although rare, rejection is indeed one of the potential complications of cochlear implantation surgery.

What surprised him even more was this: why would a family as prominent as Xi Xianqing’s allow a child to miss the optimal age for cochlear implantation?

Zhu Ming vaguely sensed something but noticing Xi Xianqing’s expression, he realized this question was likely a private matter. He simply nodded and refrained from probing further.

“You once said that I don’t seem to sympathize with you,” Xi Xianqing glanced at him. “Rather than lacking sympathy, I’d say I don’t see you or your sister as any different from ordinary people.”

“She’s remarkable. She’s published many works and built a little world of her own.”

Xi Xianqing didn’t meet Zhu Ming’s eyes. “Of course, when she’s angry, she’ll curse me in sign language.”

“Although her hearing will remain as it is for the rest of her life, that’s a result we voluntarily accepted after many attempts. We have no regrets.”

His gaze shifted to Zhu Ming’s legs. “But your legs… there are still new drugs being developed, which means there’s hope for change.”

Zhu Ming was stunned.

Xi Xianqing paused for a moment. “I know I can’t interfere with your decisions.

I just think that even if there’s only a sliver of a chance, you should try to seize it,” he said.

Since the two had met, Xi Xianqing had rarely taken the initiative to speak at such length. His tone and expression were more earnest than Zhu Ming had ever seen.

“Don’t worry. At least this time, I won’t run away.” Zhu Ming’s lips curled into a smile as he tilted his head back. “I’ve already signed the clinical trial agreement with Dr. Wu. I’ll obediently play the role of the guinea pig this time.”

Xi Xianqing studied his face for a while as if trying to determine whether he was being serious or just brushing it off.

Seeing Zhu Ming’s sincerity, Xi Xianqing eventually turned away and let out an “en.”

“Alright,” Zhu Ming said, staring at the opulent palace before him. “Now you owe me an explanation. Why am I at your house?”

Xi Xianqing replied nonchalantly, “First, you should ask yourself how a human can sleep so much. Then, you might want to ask your aunt what she was thinking.”

Zhu Ming was confused. “What are you talking about? What does my aunt have to do with—hey! What are you doing?”

He almost screamed in shock–the scenery around him began to shift rapidly. Without bothering to explain, Xi Xianqing walked behind him and pushed him straight into the living room.

A minute later, Zhu Ming stood frozen, staring at the pile of luggage on the floor and the experimental lab pod in the courtyard. He was dumbfounded as he asked, “Wait, am I… getting kicked out of my house?”

Xi Xianqing neither confirmed nor denied it.

Yesterday, Zhu Ming, who was clutching his expensive coat, had slept in the hospital until dusk.

When conventional methods failed to wake him, Xi Xianqing hesitated for a moment before deciding to call Zhu Yingying just before resorting to stronger measures to wake him up.

After briefly explaining that he had accompanied Zhu Ming to rehab, Zhu Yingying was overjoyed and repeatedly thanked him.

But then, out of nowhere, she added, “Xiao Xi ah, there’s something I want to ask you. You have to be honest with me.”

Before Xi Xianqing could react, Zhu Yingying sighed on the other end of the line. “Am I… interrupting your two-person world?”

Xi Xianqing was stunned: “No, you–”

Zhu Yingying cut him off. “Aiya, aiya, I know you’re a considerate child. And I know Zhu Ming, this kid loves me, which is why he’s always by my side and hasn’t said anything.”

“But young couples are glued together every day. You two are going to get married, yet you’re living apart all the time. It’s so awkward for me to be in the middle like this.”

She sighed, then quickly adopted a mysterious tone. “I’ve noticed you’ve been sending him pictures of your spiritual manifestation every day. You two must be missing each other like crazy, huh? Hehe.”

For the first time in his life, Xi Xianqing felt completely at a loss for words. “No, we really aren’t…”

“It’s better this way since you two are together now, so let Zhu Ming, this kid, stay with you first tonight.”

Zhu Yingying cheerfully made the decision on her own and enthusiastically organized things. “And I remember, aren’t you two planning to live in District Six after you’re married? I’ll start sending his stuff over bit by bit. Come, come, come. Give me your address, quick!”

“Oh, and Xianqing, Auntie really has to praise you, don’t be embarrassed.”

At the end, she added with a chuckle. “That big green peac0ck of yours is truly stunning ya. You District Six people ya, not only are you all good-looking, but even your spiritual manifestations are gorgeous. Next time, send me a picture when it’s showing its plumage¹Feathers that cover a bird. ha!”

At that moment, Zhu Ming stood staring at the pile of luggage that filled the living room. His gaze slowly shifted upward to Xi Xianqing’s face. “You know, you could’ve just woken me up, right?”

Xi Xianqing sneered. “I called your name three times. You didn’t react, even when the nurse was pulling out your IV. I was about to pinch you awake, but Dr. Wu stopped me and said it was probably the effect of the medicine.”

Zhu Ming knew he wasn’t lying—his head still felt groggy.

Taking a deep breath, “This medication is seriously messed up… forget it.”

Their agreement didn’t include providing housing, and Zhu Ming had originally planned to find a place outside District Seven after the wedding, just to give Zhu Yingying some space in her life.

Now it seems that the plan needs to be slightly advanced.

“I’ll trouble you to give me two more days. I’ll find a place to stay in District Six.”

Looking at the pile of luggage filling the living room, Zhu Ming somewhat painfully sucked in a breath of cold air. “Sorry about this. I’ll clear some space for you as soon as possible.”

Then he saw Xi Xianqing’s brows furrow.

Zhu Ming: “What’s wrong?”

Xi Xianqing: “This is my private residence. Only my sister and I live here. One more person doesn’t make a difference.”

Seeing Zhu Ming’s surprised expression, Xi Xianqing looked away, tilting his chin slightly. “Besides, after we get our marriage license, I’ll be heading to District Two for the assessment. So, staying here temporarily isn’t an issue.”

Unexpectedly, Zhu Ming shook his head. “No, no, no. When you go to District Two for the assessment, I’ll be going with you.”

Xi Xianqing stiffened and turned to him. “…What?”

“Because I’m your personal private doctor ah.” Zhu Ming replied, giving him a puzzled look. “And if I remember correctly, after spending two months in each district, you’re required to take that photo. Before that, I need to make sure Dish Soap shows off its plumage, right?”

Clearly not expecting Zhu Ming to know his schedule so well, Xi Xianqing’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly.

His voice remained cold. “There’s no need to go that far. As long as the medication is developed quickly, it doesn’t matter whether you’re there or not.”

“That won’t do. How am I supposed to develop medication in thin air?”

Zhu Min’s demeanor was calm. “You’ve already helped me deal with my aunt. In return, I should naturally fulfill my duties as your doctor.”

“And besides, I have some personal business in District Two as well.”

Zhu Ming picked up a package from the ground and casually unwrapped it. “There are a few patients from my livestream who couldn’t explain their conditions clearly online. This is a good opportunity for an in-person consultation.”

The person next to him remained silent for a long time.

Zhu Ming looked up and was speechless for a moment, “No, what’s wrong?”

The coldness in Xi Xianqing’s eyes was sharper than the thousand-year-old ice atop the snowy peaks of District Seven. “Before signing the agreement, you didn’t mention you’d also be taking care of other patients besides me.”

Zhu Ming hadn’t expected him to fixate on something like this. “And before signing the agreement, you also didn’t tell me that after marriage, you’d be bouncing between three districts, leaving me to guard an empty house alone ah.”

Truly, whoever spoke had a point.

“In my practice, you and Dish Soap will always have the highest treatment priority.”

Zhu Ming sighed softly, stepping back a little. “How about this: I’ll only see other patients when you’re busy with assessments. The rest of my time will be entirely yours. Deal?”

The air froze subtly for a brief moment, and

“I still have things to do,” Xi Xianqing finally said, turning away. His voice was icy. “Hurry up and put your stuff away.”

Though he didn’t give a direct answer, Zhu Ming knew this was Xi Xianqing’s way of saying “fine.”

Zhu Ming raised his voice, “Wait, wait. I need to shower later. There are so many rooms here—can you lend me one?”

All he got in response was Xi Xianqing’s retreating back. “Use whichever.”

Zhu Ming let out a “tsk”.

Looking at the luggage scattered across the floor, he sighed and began unpacking a few more items with difficulty. He only felt his back and waist ache.

It was a big project but for now, he decided to set it aside. What mattered more was getting a shower as soon as possible—hospitals were full of germs, and after falling asleep right after arriving, he felt anything but fresh.

Remembering that Xi Xianqing had said “use whichever,” Zhu Ming opted not to bother him further. Retracing his steps, he returned to the room where he had woken up earlier and headed straight into the bathroom.

Ever since he’d lost the ability to walk, Zhu Ming had forced himself to adapt to self-care quickly. Showering wasn’t a problem anymore as long as he had a stool to help support his body.

In the corner of the bathroom, there happened to be a wooden bench for placing towels. Zhu Ming breathed a sigh of relief, and closed the bathroom door.

Meanwhile, in the study, Xi Xianqing exhaled deeply and opened the safe by the cabinet. He began sorting through the raw stones he planned to take for the assessment in District Two.

Last year, District Two had chosen a young female representative, so Xi Xianqing filtered out the overly traditional or somber stones. After some deliberation, he jotted down a list of potentially suitable options.

While he busied himself, the green peac0ck stood silently behind him, its slender, graceful neck bent downward. Its beady eyes quietly followed its master’s every move.

Suddenly, a heavy and muffled “thud” echoed from somewhere nearby.

Xi Xianqing’s hand stalled.

The sound seemed to come from the guest room—not far from the study—where Zhu Ming had stayed the previous night. Frowning slightly, Xi Xianqing impatiently closed the safe’s door.

Then another muffled sound came from the distance.

Xi Xianqing’s chest rose and fell soundlessly for a split second.

Logic told him Zhu Ming should be capable of basic ability to take care of himself, and he should ignore the commotion and focus on his work.

But the thought of the unfamiliarity of the house for this person, along with the memory of him clumsily toppling over at the hospital, Xi Xianqing took a deep breath, and finally headed in the direction of the guest bedroom.

The guest room door was open, but the bathroom door was firmly shut. There was no sound of running water, just an unsettling silence that was a little alarming.

Xi Xianqing walked to the bathroom door, his hand hovering over the doorknob. Before he could decide, the door suddenly opened from the inside.

–Through the steamy haze of the bathroom, Zhu Ming sat in his wheelchair, looking up at him with some surprise.

It was clear that Zhu Ming had just finished showering. His hair was messy and damp, and the belt of his bathrobe was tied loosely and carelessly.

The loose bathrobe left little to the imagination. Not only was his chest completely exposed, but his thighs were barely covered, and his slender waistline was clearly visible.

His fair skin was marred by faint scars stretching from his waist down to his thighs, standing out starkly against the paleness.

Xi Xianqing’s pupils constricted sharply before he quickly averted his gaze. “You—”

Zhu Ming didn’t expect that the moment he opened the bathroom door he would bump into a big living person which made him also startled. “Why are you here, at least make a sound ah?”

The stifling heat from the bathroom made Zhu Ming not think much after his shower. He had barely tied his bathrobe and simply intended to step out for a breath of fresh air before drying his hair.

“…I came to grab something,” Xi Xianqing’s jaw tightened, his gaze resolutely fixed somewhere far away. “Put on your clothes.”

Zhu Ming sighed and lowered his head as he tightened the bathrobe and secured the belt with a firm knot.

He said, half exasperated and half amused, “All right, it’s done. Besides, I’m the one who got exposed—what’s with your discomfort?”

Only then did Xi Xianqing glance back at him, his lips pressed tightly together.

Water droplets trailed from the end of Zhu Ming’s damp hair. Zhu Ming had a faint flush on his cheeks and neck. He leisurely gave Xi Xianqing a sidelong look, sighed, and began drying his hair with a towel.

“You came to grab something, but what were you doing standing outside the bathroom door?” As he wiped, he looked up at Xi Xianqing.

Xi Xianqing remained silent.

“Or maybe when I knocked over the body wash just now, you heard the sound and got worried I might—”

“No.”

The denial was a little too fast.

Zhu Ming was silent for a few seconds then let out an ‘oh’. He set down his towel, “It wasn’t a concern for me. You must’ve been standing here purely to spy on me showering, then?”

Xi Xianqing: “…?”

This person’s unseemly meaning completely misinterpreted Xi Xianqing’s goodwill. He couldn’t even be bothered to defend himself. With a dark expression, he turned to leave the room without saying another word.

But just as he turned around, his arm was pulled by the person behind him.

The palm was still moist, cool, and slightly clammy against his dry forearm. He heard Zhu Ming’s urgent voice behind him: “Don’t move.”

Xi Xianqing froze mid-step and turned his head back. “…What are you doing?”

When he saw Zhu Ming’s expression, he stopped short.

Because Zhu Ming’s eyes were burning with a strange luster– his eyes were wide open as if he was overjoyed, and his gaze burned with an inexplicable intensity as he stared at something, completely transfixed.

And his focus wasn’t on Xi Xianqing’s face—it was fixed somewhere behind him.

“Don’t move. Don’t even think about moving,” Zhu Ming murmured and repeated.

Because of his excitement, his tone quivered slightly as he added, “I think just now, the feathers on Dish Soap’s tail… twitched a little.”

---

Author’s Notes:

Hello, everyone! This story will officially enter its V tomorrow, with an update of two chapters totaling over 9,000+ words.

There are a few things that I need to give everyone a warning about:

1. The worldview in this story is relatively unique. Once our Big Peac0ck begins their journey to the various districts for assessments, plots of new characters from other districts will inevitably appear. These characters primarily serve to drive the emotional development between the Bird and the Fox, while also improving the worldview of the districts.
   So, for readers who prefer purely romance-focused content, please consider subscribing carefully. While the non-romantic plot elements are minimal, they do exist in small portions.
2. This book won’t be a purely sweet and fluffy romance. There will be some sour twists and turns (the sweet-to-sour ratio is 70:30). The overall tone will remain sweet, but if you only enjoy pure sugary fluff, please consider carefully before proceeding.

This work is entirely outside my comfort zone, and I hope you’ll enjoy it regardless! Bow~

---

Jie Jie: The next chapters onward will be VIP chapters. If you guys can, let’s support the author by buying the raws~ Here’s how and here’s the novel link.

Anyway, I already bought all the chapters ‘cause I needed to read it :bloblul:

Thank you! :blobsnuggle:

p.s. I was already in bed when I saw the time and realized I forgot to post an update LMAO

It was quite interesting—this was actually Zhu Ming’s first time seeing Xi Xianqing in casual attire.

No expensive, well-fitted suits or sleekly tailored trench coats. Instead, he wore a simple white short-sleeved T-shirt. The usual distant and aloof air was softened, replaced by the refreshing vitality of someone his age.

The simpler the clothes, the more they highlighted his naturally superior physique. Veins ran down his strong arms to his wrists. Standing at the end of the corridor, his upright posture remained unchanged, with that innate, familiar arrogance intact.

Zhu Ming saw Xi Xianqing walk up to Xi Mufei, frowning as he asked, “Why are you barefoot again? And you’re not wearing your hearing aid either.”

His speech was slower than usual, but his gestures in sign language were practiced and fluent.

Xi Mufei set down her pen, smiled at him, and responded in sign language.

“I know inspiration strikes you suddenly, but that doesn’t mean you can—”

Xi Xianqing frowned and instantly lifted his gaze. He noticed Zhu Ming standing behind Xi Mufei. His expression immediately turned slightly awkward. “You… woke up pretty quickly.”

Zhu Ming raised an eyebrow, “No introduction?”

“This is my sister, Xi Mufei,” Xi Xianqing said hesitantly. “She—”

Xi Mufei used sign language to gesture something at Xi Xianqing.

Zhu Ming: “What?”

Xi Xianqing’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly as he glanced at Zhu Ming, clearly reluctant to relay the message. “She… said your eyes are beautiful.”

Zhu Ming was momentarily stunned into silence. He hadn’t expected someone as stiff and picky as Xi Xianqing to have a jiejie who was so straightforward and open with compliments.

He curved his eyes into a smile. “En… please thank her for me, and tell her she looks very beautiful and kind as well.”

This response made Xi Xianqing fall into a brief silence. After a moment, he turned to Zhu Ming and said, “No, that will be the biggest misunderstanding you’ll ever have about her.”

Zhu Ming: “Ah?”

Still, Xi Xianqing turned around and translated for Xi Mufei.

The smile on Xi Mufei’s face deepened. She looked at Xi Xianqing, then at Zhu Ming, blinking a few times before raising her hands to sign something else.

Xi Xianqing’s temple twitched; it was clear he didn’t want to translate this time.

But faced with Zhu Ming’s probing gaze, he reluctantly conveyed it with a seemingly calm expression: “She said… thank you for the compliment, my stolen blind date.”

Zhu Ming: “Pfft.”

He felt like he was starting to understand what Xi Xianqing meant earlier.

This beauty, who appeared so serene and elegant on the surface, seemed to harbor a sly, cold sense of humor beneath it all.

Suddenly recalling something, Zhu Ming asked curiously, “I’ve always wondered—when my aunt was setting up the blind date, how did she even find your family? As far as I know, her social network isn’t that extensive ah.”

Xi Xianqing glanced at him. “Your aunt met my sister once at the opening of an art exhibition a few years ago.”

“They hit it off and exchanged contact information at that time. Your aunt even provided her with the most advanced hearing aid available in District Seven for free,” he said.

These sounded like the kind of things a warm-hearted Zhu Yingying would do.

“So later, when your aunt suggested the blind date, my sister didn’t refuse. Since she can’t hear, I was supposed to go along with her.”

Xi Xianqing glanced over at Xi Mufei. “But my sister is a manhua artist who mostly works from home. The scheduled date happened to coincide with a tight deadline for her serialized work. Plus…”

“—Plus, you weren’t exactly thrilled about your sister going on a blind date with someone who’s disabled, and you conveniently discovered that I’m someone who can heal mental manifestations..”

Zhu Ming helpfully completed the rest of the explanation with a grin. “So, you decided to step in personally and go on the blind date for her?”

Zhu Ming spoke the words ‘disabled person’ with ease, but for some reason, an inexplicable discomfort rose within Xi Xianqing’s heart, even more than at the mention of ‘stepping in for his sister on a blind date.’ “At the time, that was indeed my thought, but now…”

Zhu Ming watched his expression and shook his head with a smile, “It’s okay, I understand.”

When Zhu Yingying arranged the blind date with Xi Mufei, it was likely with the idea of having two individuals with physical challenges get to know each other and see if they could manage life together.

But from Xi Xianqing’s perspective as a younger brother, it was entirely reasonable not to push his sister into another difficult situation.

Zhu Ming glanced at Xi Mufei, who was peeking curiously from behind Xi Xianqing, clearly trying to figure out what they were discussing. “Then does she know about you…?”

With his back to Xi Mufei, Xi Xianqing shook his head. “She’s never been interested in the trivial matters of the family. She only knows that I’m about to participate in the representative’s assessment. She doesn’t know about my inability to manifest a display, let alone the agreement between us.”

Zhu Ming was vaguely startled.

The bracelet on Xi Mufei’s wrist, Xi Xianqing’s fluent use of sign language—these small details made it obvious, even to an outsider like him, just how deep the bond between this pair of siblings ran.

“I can completely understand you wanting to hide it from those malicious relatives at home.”

Zhu Ming felt that Xi Xianqing seemed to be overly paranoid about hiding all the pressures he was under, and unconsciously frowned, “But even your own sister… you’re not willing to confide in her a little?”

“She’s living happily now.”

After a long time, Zhu Ming saw Xi Xianqing shake his head. “There’s no reason for her to know about these things.”

“As for me, I don’t need her to worry about me. It’s enough for me to see that she’s living her life well.”

After a pause, Xi Xianqing added, “So, just like how I played along with you in front of your aunt, now I need your help to smooth things over for me.”

Behind them, Xi Mufei looked at the two with a puzzled expression.

She couldn’t hear what they were saying, but she didn’t like being excluded from the conversation. Raising her hand, she poked Xi Xianqing’s arm to express her dissatisfaction.

Xi Xianqing looked deeply at Zhu Ming and turned around, “What’s wrong?”

Xi Mufei pursed her lips, first pointing at Zhu Ming, then at Xi Xianqing. She then brought her thumbs together, bending them twice in a gesture that resembled two people bowing to each other.

Xi Xianqing didn’t translate, but Zhu Ming seemed to roughly understand what she meant.

“En, it seems that Aunt Ye told you,” Xi Xianqing said. “We’re about to get married.”

Xi Mufei glanced at Zhu Ming, the confusion in her eyes undiminished. She frowned slightly.

She used one hand to gently stroke the back of her other thumb, her expression soft yet filled with a kind of tender concern. Her gaze settled on Xi Xianqing, eyebrows raised slightly as if seeking confirmation.

Xi Xianqing froze in place, standing stiffly and unable to respond for a long time.

Although Zhu Ming couldn’t understand her exact meaning, he noticed the worry on Xi Mufei’s face and connected it with the context, vaguely guessing her thoughts.

So Zhu Ming smiled and spoke, “Yes, we are deeply in love.”

Xi Xianqing turned to him in shock. “You understand sign language?”

Zhu Ming chuckled. “Not really, but I have a good brain and I’m good at using context to guess the story.”

Xi Xianqing: “…”

This marriage was indeed rushed, and as an elder sister, Xi Mufei would naturally worry if there was some hidden agenda behind it.

Zhu Ming met Xi Xianqing’s gaze bluntly, urging him, “Go on, tell her for me.”

In reality, the phrase “we are deeply in love” was simple—just five words. Xi Mufei could read lips and had already roughly figured out what Zhu Ming had said.

However, she still quietly looked at Xi Xianqing, wanting to make sure she understood correctly.

Xi Xianqing’s body remained tense. After a brief pause, he finally raised his hands to translate for her.

To make the story more convincing, Xi Xianqing even added some details of his own: “We’ve been dating for a while now. I brought him back this time because I wanted you to meet him before I leave for the assessment.”

Zhu Ming saw a relieved smile bloom on Xi Mufei’s face, and the white peac0ck behind her fluttered its feathers in excitement.

She pointed at her sketchbook, her eyes lighting up with enthusiasm. Turning to Xi Xianqing, she signed something quickly, then gestured toward Zhu Ming before signing a few more rapid motions.

Xi Xianqing’s expression turned slightly disgruntled. Being used as a translator by the two people that he could do nothing about the most was a fate he could only endure. Patience was his only option.

After a moment, he crossed his arms, looked at Zhu Ming, and faintly said. “She said she’s looking for inspiration for her manhua. She has a few questions for us and wonders if you’d be willing to help.”

Zhu Ming was a bit surprised, but still said, “With pleasure.”

Xi Xianqing nodded to Xi Mufei.

Xi Mufei smiled and wasn’t polite as she gestured a series of movements to Xi Xianqing.

Not knowing what questions she asked, Zhu Ming saw that Xi Xianqing’s pupils shrunk slightly, and was very visibly stuck in place. “You…”

Xi Mufei paused to think, her eyes brimming with inspiration. Suddenly, she clapped her hands in excitement and signed something else to Xi Xianqing with great enthusiasm.

Although Zhu Ming couldn’t understand her gestures, he clearly saw the tips of Xi Xianqing’s ears turn a faint shade of red.

Zhu Ming curiously said, “What did she ask?”

Xi Xianqing didn’t answer.

A few seconds later, Zhu Ming watched as Xi Xianqing took a deep breath, placed his hands firmly on Xi Mufei’s shoulders, and decisively turned her around, pushing her down the corridor without mercy. “I think you should go work on your draft, Sister.”

The word “sister” was practically said through clenched teeth.

Xi Mufei, unsatisfied with the lack of answers, turned her head with a disgruntled expression, clearly intending to press Zhu Ming further. But Xi Xianqing raised his arm and leaned it against the wall, creating a firm barrier between her and Zhu Ming.

“Catch up on the manuscript,” he said icily.

The tall and handsome youth was simply like a wall in front of her.

Faced with Xi Xianqing’s unwavering stance to act as a translator, Xi Mufei, unable to hear and with Zhu Ming unable to use sign language, found herself at an impasse. After a moment of silent confrontation, she conceded defeat.

With a resigned look, she tried to pry Xi Xianqing’s arm away, then stood on her tiptoes and waved regretfully at Zhu Ming.

Zhu Ming was unsure. “What’s wrong? What exactly did she ask?”

Xi Xianqing didn’t reply. Xi Mufei, however, glanced at her brother’s reddened ears, and a mischievous smile played at the corners of her lips. She silently mouthed “bye-bye” to Zhu Ming.

Then she bound away barefoot with her sketchbook in hand, her white peac0ck hopping along after her.

Turning back to Zhu Ming’s probing eyes, Xi Xianqing spoke with a subtle expression, “You wouldn’t want to hear it, and you definitely wouldn’t want to answer.”

But Zhu Ming, being as rebellious as ever, only grew more determined to dig to the bottom of the matter when faced with such a dismissive response.

He directly grabbed Xi Xianqing’s sleeve and stared him down. “You didn’t even translate. How do you know I wouldn’t want to hear it?”

Xi Xianqing averted his eyes, looking stiffly out the window. “She asked too many questions just now. I can’t remember them all.”

Zhu Ming: “…Do I look that easy to fool?”

“Your sister only wants inspiration for her manhua. Such a gentle and multi-talented beauty—no matter how abrupt her questions might be, I’d still be more than happy to answer them.”

Zhu Ming sighed lightly and said in a heartfelt tone, “But you—forget that this is the first time we’ve met, you didn’t even bother translating properly. And as her didi, wasn’t your attitude a bit harsh when you just chased her off?”

“…”

“And your sister, in the end—”

“Who chased who first? Where was the first kiss? Who initiated it? Did it involve tongue?”

Zhu Ming: “…?”

“—And, on the bed, who’s the top and who’s the bottom?”

Zhu Ming froze entirely, his expression utterly blank. Perhaps emboldened by this reaction, Xi Xianqing crossed his arms and leaned casually against the wall, his jaw slightly raised as he spoke each word without a hint of emotion: “Answer, and I’ll immediately convey it to her.”

---

Author’s Note:

Sister: A wildly imaginative and renowned pure love manhua artist from District Six; is a yellow peac0ck.

“Is that so ah.”

Dr. Wu didn’t seem too puzzled by the answer. She simply nodded before her tone suddenly shifted. “Then I have to say something to you. During the previous rehab sessions, why didn’t you accompany him? As a family member, don’t you think that’s a bit irresponsible?”

Xi Xianqing, who was suddenly scolded out of nowhere: “…”

Zhu Ming almost laughed out loud.

This pot really shouldn’t be carried by Xi Xianqing. Zhu Ming raised a hand, lightly tugging at Xi Xianqing’s sleeve as if to soothe him. “He was busy with work before. Alright, Dr. Wu, since someone has already made the decision for me, I’ll listen to you and give it one last try.”

Dr. Wu, familiar with Zhu Ming’s personality, was surprised by his trust in Xi Xianqing. “Alright, then I’ll have someone prepare the medication for you.”

“One infusion session will take quite some time. You really don’t need to stay here with me.”

After Dr. Wu left, Zhu Ming was still trying to persuade Xi Xianqing to leave, attempting to coax him. “I’ve promised you, so I’ll obediently finish the infusion. I won’t run off.”

Xi Xianqing didn’t believe a single word. “It won’t take long.”

“Adverse reactions can’t be that simple.”

Zhu Ming continued to scare him. “For all you know, I might break out in a full-body rash or vomit all over your expensive coat. You still have time to leave now.”

Xi Xianqing stared at him expressionlessly.

Zhu Ming thought about his own words for a moment and realized how gross it sounded. Feeling bored, he lay back down on the hospital bed.

A while later, a little nurse came in with a cart and an IV drip. She helped with the infusion.

For someone who had just been loudly complaining about walking a few steps, Zhu Ming was surprisingly calm and silent when the sharp needle pierced his skin. It wasn’t because of anything else; it was just that, after essentially living in the hospital for the past year, he had grown entirely used to it.

The cold medicine slowly flowed through his veins, making Zhu Ming feel a bit chilly. As he huddled up, staring absentmindedly at the IV bottle, he suddenly felt a warmth envelop him–

He looked down, “This is…?”

Xi Xianqing had his back to him and was closing the window, so he couldn’t see the expression on his face.

“An expensive coat,” he said in an indifferent tone. “Be careful when you throw up later.”

Zhu Ming’s lips twitched. He was indeed cold, so he didn’t refuse. Instead, he shamelessly buried his face into the coat’s collar.

There was no dramatic vomiting as he’d joked about earlier—adverse reactions to most medications didn’t show up that quickly. However, the medication’s effects, combined with the exhaustion from his earlier rehabilitation session, left Zhu Ming feeling drowsy. His eyelids grew heavier despite his efforts to stay awake.

Though instinctively, he didn’t want Xi Xianqing to see him looking too frail. Forcing himself to stay alert, he said, “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Dish Soap.”

Xi Xianqing heard the hint in his words and raised his eyes, “This is a public place.”

Zhu Ming said with a straight face, “But the door to the ward is closed. Besides, as a responsible doctor, I need to conduct regular, thorough check-ups.”

“…I just took pictures last night to show you.”

“Seeing it with my own eyes is entirely different from seeing it in a picture, don’t you think?”

Xi Xianqing, sitting at the bedside, remained silent for a long time, clearly unwilling to entertain him.

But in the next moment, the familiar, glowing green neurotic proton particle disease slowly coalesced beside the bed, a sign that Xi Xianqing had ultimately given in.

Supporting his head with his non-IV hand, Zhu Ming leaned lazily against the headboard, smiling as he greeted the large peac0ck. “Long time no see ya, Dish Soap.”

The green peac0ck stared at him with its beady eyes, maintaining its usual proud, elegant posture.

Zhu Ming extended a hand, attempting to poke the feathers on his neck from afar. However, his fingers merely passed through the intangible neurotic proton particles, leaving him grasping at empty air.

Zhu Ming sighed regretfully. “If I’d known we’d meet today, I would’ve brought my sensory gloves. It’s just not the same unless I can touch it myself.”

Xi Xianqing glanced at Zhu Ming’s restless hand before averting his gaze. “You’re hooked up to an IV. Stop fidgeting so much.”

Zhu Ming stopped moving his hand, but he remained sprawled on the bed, whispering softly to the peac0ck. “Hmm, your feathers look great. In a couple of days, once my medicine is ready, you’d better perform well for me…”

While Zhu Ming’s interaction with the peac0ck was in full swing, Xi Xianqing remained silent, watching the steady drip of the medication in the IV tube.

After a while, he couldn’t help but ask, “Your leg, how did the accident happen?”

The person who had been chattering non-stop just moments ago fell silent.

When Xi Xianqing turned his head, he saw Zhu Ming curled up at the bed, his eyes closed, eyelashes resting peacefully against his cheeks, fluttering gently with the rhythm of his breathing.

He had fallen asleep—one hand still clutching the collar of Xi Xianqing’s coat, while the other hung off the side of the bed in the same position it had been in when interacting with the peac0ck. The tip of his index finger hovered just above the edge of the peac0ck’s tail feathers, mere millimeters away from touching it.

Xi Xianqing rarely revealed his spiritual manifestation in public. Even in the privacy of his home in District Six, he only allowed it out sparingly.

Although the peac0ck’s inability to spread its tail wasn’t an issue visible at first glance, there were servants and bodyguards at home, and the more people there were, the more likely rumors could spread. He wouldn’t risk even the slightest chance of exposure.

At that moment, the hospital room door was only ajar. Someone could walk in at any second.

Xi Xianqing’s eyes moved away from the sleeping person on the bed.

In the end, he didn’t retract the large peac0ck standing at his feet.

Zhu Ming had rarely slept so peacefully.

There were no fragmented nightmares of the accident, no nerve pain in his limbs, and no cold sweats to jolt him awake. When he opened his eyes, he felt completely refreshed, as if his body had never been lighter.

However, the moment he woke, Zhu Ming turned his head, saw the bright sky outside, and fell into deep thought.

Zhu Ming: “…Ah?”

His first reaction was to wonder if the sedative component of the medication was unusually potent. How else could he have slept straight through to the next day? How did this even pass clinical testing? He should probably report this to Dr. Wu immediately.

But a chill ran down his spine as he took a closer look at his surroundings.

First of all, this wasn’t his house.

Because his place could never look so… opulent. The bedside table held an expensive porcelain vase filled with fresh flowers, an oil painting framed in intricately carved classic wood hung on the wall, and the floor was covered with a large wool rug adorned with tasseled edges—edges that would almost certainly snag on his wheelchair.

These were all impossible to appear in his daily living environment.

Zhu Ming pondered for a moment and once again turned his head to look out the window.

Outside, the leaves of the trees were round and flat, adorned with pale yellow, plump flowers in full bloom. Zhu Ming recognized the plant—it was called Qingyue Flower, a member of the oleander family.

He had only ever seen Qingyue Flowers in the greenhouse of the District Seven Ecological Museum. Not only were they exorbitantly expensive, but these delicate tropical plants also required a humid and rainy climate to survive, making it impossible for them to grow in the snow-covered landscape of District Seven.

Based on this, Zhu Ming deduced that he was likely in a rainy western region.

For instance… District Six.

The only connection he had to District Six was one person. Zhu Ming took a deep breath and tentatively called out toward the door, “Xi Xianqing?”

There was no response.

Fortunately, his wheelchair was right beside the bed. With some effort, Zhu Ming got up, using his arms to shift his body into the wheelchair. Carefully avoiding the tasseled edges of the rug, he moved cautiously toward the room’s exit.

The hallway was empty, with its marble floors gleaming in a way that exuded luxury. Zhu Yingying’s villa in District Seven was already considered extravagant, but this mansion, with its vast spaces and opulent décor, was so over-the-top that Zhu Ming began to wonder if he was wandering through a palace.

Just as he started to think he might get completely lost, he finally encountered another person.

To be precise, a woman with delicate features and a tranquil aura.

She was wearing a long, lavender gauze dress, her hair loosely pinned up, and she was sitting barefoot on a windowsill, holding a pencil as she bent over a notebook, sketching something.

Zhu Ming noticed that she wore a bracelet of arranged pearls on her wrist, with a beautifully cut pale pink gemstone dangling from it—a gem so exquisite and valuable that its worth was immediately apparent.

The gemstone’s gentle, luminous glow complemented her calm demeanor perfectly.

For most people, wearing such an expensive bracelet would make them afraid to even breathe the lightest, but the woman casually worked the pencil against the rough paper, completely indifferent to the friction between it and the gem.

When Zhu Ming had woken up earlier, he had guessed that he might be in Xi Xianqing’s home. However, as he observed the woman, her demeanor made her seem more like the mistress of this grand mansion.

Still groggy from sleep, Zhu Ming struggled to make sense of his surroundings. Hesitantly, he asked, “Excuse me, do you know Xi Xianqing?”

The woman seemed to sense something. She turned her head toward him, her expression one of mild confusion.

Then Zhu Ming saw that her eyes widened as if in some surprise.

Zhu Ming felt that something was wrong, but he couldn’t tell.

The woman gave a gentle, bashful smile, tucking her hair behind her ear as she raised a hand to point to it. She shook her head somewhat embarrassedly towards Zhu Ming.

Finally, she opened her mouth, “I… can’t hear you clearly. Could you… speak a bit slower?”

Although her words were somewhat intelligible, her enunciation was extremely unclear.

Zhu Ming reacted at once.

She was a hearing-impaired person.

Judging by the extent of her speech impediment, it was likely congenital deafness, as she must have lost her hearing before developing her language skills.

A subtle tremor ran through Zhu Ming’s chest. He slowed his speech, carefully enunciating his words to make his lip movements easier to read. “I was asking… if you know where Xi Xianqing is—”

He didn’t finish his sentence, as his gaze fell on the space behind the woman.

He saw her spiritual manifestation: a peac0ck.

But it wasn’t the familiar, prideful green peac0ck he knew. This was a female white peac0ck, her feathers shorter and rounder, her posture gentler and more approachable.

The white peac0ck shared the same round, beady eyes and an elegant fan-shaped crest atop its head, but lacked the green peac0ck’s aristocratic, flowing tail feathers. Its demeanor was lighter, livelier, and carried a playful energy.

Zhu Ming, who had been groggy until now, was instantly alert. His eyes widened. “You must be—”

At the same time, footsteps echoed from the far end of the hallway. Zhu Ming paused, instinctively turning toward the sound.

The woman, though unable to hear the approaching footsteps, noticed the change in Zhu Ming’s expression.

Realizing something, she pursed her lips, her face falling into a guilty pout like a child caught misbehaving. Then, with a pitiful expression, she turned around.

“Xi Mufei, the publisher said that you’re dragging out your manuscript again this month.”

At the end of the corridor, Xi Xianqing’s face was devoid of expression. He raised a hand and signed fluently in practiced sign language as he addressed the woman: “The editor just called me. You’d better give me an explanation right now.”

---

Author’s Note:

En, one can’t walk, one can’t hear, and the other seems fine—except the feathers on his butt can’t get up.

Xi Xianqing had never been a man of little patience, but today was an exception.

The more Zhu Ming aggressively tried to drive him away, the more determined he was to stay. Not for any noble reason, but simply to pierce through the facade of false warmth that Zhu Ming always wrapped himself in with a smile.

The two stood in tense silence by the lakeside, locked in a standoff.

Finally, it was Zhu Ming who let out a helpless sigh, stubbed out his cigarette, and tilted his head slightly. “Let’s go.”

“… What?”

“Didn’t you say you’d accompany me to my rehabilitation?” Zhu Ming replied with a wry smile. “Then let’s go.”

Xi Xianqing pushed Zhu Ming back to the rehabilitation center.

At the front desk, two young nurses were chatting animatedly with their phones in hand. When they noticed the two of them entering together, their eyes lit up with an odd glint, likely having just looked up the nature of their relationship online.

Back at the rehabilitation center, Zhu Ming seemed to revert to his usual calm and gentle demeanor.

As the therapist communicated with him about the rehabilitation program, Zhu Ming occasionally nodded in agreement, maintaining the appearance of someone attentively listening.

Standing off to the side, Xi Xianqing couldn’t help but think that this man probably had a thousand different faces–The sharp-tongued, provocative figure by the lake earlier was likely just one of the many personas he switched between at will.

Lost in thought, Xi Xianqing suddenly noticed Zhu Ming and the therapist looking his way.

Zhu Ming asked, “What do you think?”

Xi Xianqing: “What?”

“I’m suggesting that Mr. Zhu try using an exoskeleton device to assist with walking today,” the therapist explained. “The exoskeleton robot can help with neural function recovery and prevent muscle atrophy and joint degeneration in the legs.”

“But since Mr. Zhu hasn’t been to rehab for such a long time, it might be a bit challenging for him to adjust.”

The therapist said with a resigned glance at Zhu Ming. “It would be best if a family member could accompany us for the entire process to ensure safety.”

Zhu Ming, ever considerate, added, “That said, this process is going to be extremely, extremely boring. So if you’re too busy, there’s no need to force yourself. The little nurse-jie can accompany me instead.”

He was clearly pulling out all the stops, eagerly hoping Xi Xianqing would leave right away.

However, this didn’t work on Xi Xianqing.

Glancing at Zhu Ming, Xi Xianqing said to the therapist, “That’s fine.”

Zhu Ming’s smile froze ever so briefly.

The process of donning the exoskeleton was relatively complicated, starting with the lower limbs. The therapist and Xi Xianqing each took responsibility for fitting one leg.

Through the fabric of his pants, Xi Xianqing’s hands inevitably touched Zhu Ming’s calf–Because of prolonged immobility, Zhu Ming’s legs were unnaturally thin, weakened from the long-term inability to exercise. The bones near his knees were even sharp to the touch.

Realizing that Xi Xianqing was determined to stay, Zhu Ming turned his face slightly to the side during the fitting process, his gaze unfocused, and remained silent.

The final step in wearing the exoskeleton—and also the most challenging—was for the person in the wheelchair to stand up and place their arms into the upper limb supports.

“You start by helping the patient up, ” the therapist instructed. “Then, I’ll adjust the straps of the upper limb apparatus.”

Xi Xianqing looked up and saw Zhu Ming tilting his head, raising an eyebrow with an expression that said, I gave you a chance to leave earlier, didn’t I? Then, Zhu Ming spread his arms wide toward him with a flourish.

Xi Xianqing let out a silent breath and bent down, picking Zhu Ming up from the wheelchair.

Household matters were always handled by someone else, and Xi Xianqing had never served anyone before. At first, he was unsure of how to position himself, awkwardly supporting Zhu Ming’s waist with one hand while holding under his arm with the other. With some clumsiness, he managed to half-push, half-lift Zhu Ming into a standing position.

The therapist said, “Hold this position for a moment. I’ll finish the adjustments to my side.”

And so, they maintained this stiff, silent embrace for a few seconds.

Once the upper limb apparatus was fitted, Zhu Ming tried to wriggle free from Xi Xianqing’s support to stand independently.

However, because he had skipped too many rehab sessions in the past, the more impatient he was, the less stable he became. His legs were weak, and his core and arm strength were insufficient. Attempting to show off only resulted in him nearly toppling backward and falling to the ground.

Luckily, Xi Xianqing reacted quickly, pulling him back into his arms. “What’s the rush?”

His tone was a bit firm, but Zhu Ming didn’t refute him.

Resting his forehead against Xi Xianqing’s shoulder, Zhu Ming’s breathing was rapid, and for once, he seemed obedient.

Caught off guard, Xi Xianqing softened his tone slightly. “It’s almost done. Just wait a bit longer.”

After a long time, Zhu Ming finally spoke softly. “Fiancé ya.”

Xi Xianqing felt like he was becoming immune to this title, “…What?”

“It’s like this, even though most of the sensation in my lower body is gone, I still have some feeling where it connects to my waist.”

“En.”

“Um, so, could you maybe move your hand off my butt?”

Xi Xianqing: “…?”

In his haste to grab hold of Zhu Ming just now, he only thought about grabbing and pulling the person tightly, and his hand subconsciously looked for a piece of area that wasn’t covered by the machine and propped it up.

Looking down, this place is coincidentally–

Meeting the smirk in Zhu Ming’s eyes, Xi Xianqing’s hand shot back as though it had touched a hot potato.

His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly as he abruptly turned to the therapist, asking coldly, “Can we start now?”

The therapist, who had been suppressing laughter after witnessing the entire exchange, cleared his throat. “All set. I’ll support the machine from behind, and you can assist him slowly from the side. Let’s try taking a few steps.”

When Zhu Ming first stood upright, he still had the energy to tease. Staring at Xi Xianqing’s face thoughtfully, he said, “You know, this is the first time I’ve looked you straight in the eye. Does everyone in District Six grow this tall? Must be some excellent nutrition over there.”

But once he walked slowly, Zhu Ming was somewhat unable to speak.

Zhu Ming wobbled awkwardly through two steps before starting to pant. “I’m tired.”

Xi Xianqing: “…We haven’t even made it past the doorway.”

At first, he thought Zhu Ming was joking. But hearing the faint tremble in Zhu Ming’s voice, he realized the tiredness wasn’t feigned.

Recalling the therapist’s earlier instructions, Xi Xianqing didn’t relent. “The therapist said you need to walk at least ten steps.”

Zhu Ming muttered in a small voice, “Fine.”

Staying close by, Xi Xianqing hovered a steadying hand near Zhu Ming’s waist, helping him find a walking rhythm.

It had been far too long since Zhu Ming last stood up.

He had nearly forgotten what walking felt like. His legs, still largely numb, struggled to maintain balance, leaving him unsteady with every step, as though treading on uncertain ground.

On top of that, his stamina was abysmal. He was so tired that sweat dampened his hair, causing it to cling limply to his forehead. His pale cheeks flushed faintly pink with the heat radiating off his skin.

After a long pause, he lifted his head again, saying nothing, but casting a pitiful glance at Xi Xianqing.

His dark, misty eyes glimmered with exhaustion—or something else entirely. Without uttering a single word, they seemed to say everything, brimming with unspoken grievances, all contained in the depths of that black pool.

Xi Xianqing looked away, refusing to be swayed. “Just three more steps to make it ten.”

Seeing that his pitiful act wasn’t working, Zhu Ming gritted his teeth and pushed himself to take a few more labored steps. “Are you really from District Six, or are you an admiral from District One’s military? Is it necessary to be this unyielding?”

Struggling forward, Zhu Ming trudged on, with Xi Xianqing following beside, or rather, supervising him.

After some time, Xi Xianqing decided they’d done enough and said, “You can take a break now.”

Zhu Ming, however, ignored it and continued to move forward.

His face was turning pale, and sweat dripped from his sharp chin. Xi Xianqing had a growing suspicion that Zhu Ming’s stamina was almost completely drained.

Sensing something was wrong, Xi Xianqing reached out and grabbed his arm. “That’s enough. The therapist said you’ve been out of rehab for too long. This session can’t be overdone. Just walking back to the starting point is enough.”

Zhu Ming lowered his head, panting softly as he rested for a moment. Then, looking up at Xi Xianqing.

He pulled a faint smile onto his sweat-drenched face, “Too little isn’t enough. Too much is also no good. What will it take to make you happy ah, fiancé?”

Xi Xianqing: “…?”

Where on earth was all this pent-up frustration coming from?

It was obvious that when someone’s stamina reached its limit, even the gentlest person could become sharp-tongued. Zhu Ming’s lips parted slightly, as though he wanted to voice another complaint. “And besides—”

But just as he began to speak, his brows furrowed, and his expression twisted in pain. The rest of his words dissolved into silence, swallowed deep in his throat.

The sound of pain didn’t seem fake, and Xi Xianqing’s chest tightened inexplicably. “What’s wrong?”

Zhu Ming kept his head lowered, refusing to meet his gaze, his brow furrowed as he panted softly.

This kind of oil and salt attitude finally eroded Xi Xianqing’s patience. Taking a deep breath, he reached out and firmly tilted Zhu Ming’s chin upward. “Look at me. Speak. Where is it uncomfortable?”

After a long pause, Zhu Ming murmured, “…Hurts.”

“Where does it hurt?”

“Lungs hurt,” Zhu Ming replied faintly, turning his face slightly away. His voice was barely audible. “I walked too fast… got a stitch. Just don’t touch me for now.”

Xi Xianqing: “…”

They finally returned to the consultation room in what could be considered a sorry state.

Zhu Ming slumped into a chair, clutching his chest and sitting perfectly still. Xi Xianqing silently worked to unfasten the straps of the upper-limb device. Neither of them said a word.

“Why are you fighting with me?”

Xi Xianqing said, “Rehab is for your own good. Don’t you understand that? How are you any different from a kindergarten kid afraid of getting a shot?”

Still catching his breath, Zhu Ming held his ribs and chuckled weakly after a long pause. “Mr. Xiao Xi, I’m older than you. Even if it were kindergarten, I’d be in the senior class while you’d be in the junior class.”

“Less than three years older only,” Xi Xianqing lightly added, completely ignoring Zhu Ming’s teasing tone. “You’re a doctor yourself. Why are you avoiding rehab?”

Zhu Ming froze for a moment, then chuckled softly.

“It’s precisely because I’m a doctor that I know better than anyone what the prognosis and recovery trajectory of a spinal cord injury look like.”

He straightened up, raising his hand to unfasten the strap of the left-hand device. His tone was casual. “So, I know better than anyone that it’s going to be very difficult for me to stand up again.”

Xi Xianqing didn’t say anything.

“At first, I attended every session without fail. Every so-called cellular repair therapy, electroshock treatment—I tried them all.”

He absentmindedly rubbed the red marks on his wrist left by the device’s straps, not noticing Xi Xianqing’s gaze. “I kept hoping my body would show some kind of response, that there would be even the slightest improvement.”

Xi Xianqing’s throat felt dry. “So… there was no change?”

“Maybe there was, but it’s really too minimal,” Zhu Ming replied with a faint twitch of his lips. “In short, I couldn’t feel it at all.”

Xi Xianqing met his eyes directly. “But District Seven’s medical technology is so advanced. Maybe it’s just a matter of time. That’s not a reason to avoid rehab.”

Zhu Ming shook his head, “It’s not because it doesn’t work that I’ve chosen to avoid it.”

Xi Xianqing was stunned.

“Rehab sessions like today do give me a fleeting sense of regaining control over my legs. But, as you’ve seen, once I’m out of the machine, I’m still bound to my wheelchair.”

Zhu Ming said, “Compared to being unable to walk long-term, I actually find it more unable to accept the occasional glimpse of heaven, only to be dragged back into reality again.”

“That’s why I chose to avoid it.” His eyes bent. “You’re right, in a way. My mentality is probably worse than a child’s.”

“But right,” he said abruptly, shifting his tone, “I have to say, my aunt has brought me to rehab, and Zhou Zhou accompanied me once too. Out of everyone who’s been with me during rehab, your attitude is by far the worst.”

Xi Xianqing: “…?”

He couldn’t refute it. After all, he wasn’t good at taking care of others. His chest tightened with frustration, and he turned his face away, speaking coldly. “If it weren’t for your aunt begging me, do you think I’d want to—”

“But then again, today was one of the best rehab experiences I’ve ever been in the mood for.” Zhu Ming added briskly.

Xi Xianqing turned to look at him.

However, Zhu Ming didn’t seem inclined to explain further. He simply lowered his head and began adjusting the hem of his pant leg.

Xi Xianqing stiffened after a long time, “What do you mean?”

“Ever since I lost the ability to walk, almost everyone has treated me with extreme caution. Even saying something like ‘take a walk’ comes with a nervous glance to gauge my reaction.”

Zhu Ming explained, smoothing out his pant leg. “But you’re different. You don’t pity me. You even make demands of me in a less than polite manner.”

“In other words, you treat me as an equal, just like you would anyone else.” He smiled softly and said in a low voice, “Thank you.”

The words caught in Xi Xianqing’s throat. His lips moved slightly.

He wanted to say something, but before he could, the door to the hospital room was pushed open from the outside.

“Yo, what a rare guest ah.”

A friendly-looking female doctor said as she entered with medical records in hand. When she saw Zhu Ming, her surprise was evident. “Nurse Xiao Zhou told me you were here, but I didn’t believe it. I thought it must’ve been someone with the same name.”

Zhu Ming coughed awkwardly, sounding a bit guilty. “Aiya, Dr. Wu, aren’t I sitting here obediently? Don’t scold, don’t scold.”

Dr. Wu, a straightforward and amiable person, wasted no time and got straight to the point. “K University has developed a new batch of medications, and they’re recruiting patients for Phase IV clinical trials. I assume you’ve heard about it?”

Zhu Ming sighed: “Are you taking me as a guinea pig again?”

“Well, it’s a new drug, so it comes with both risks and potential benefits. You understand this even better than I do.”

Dr. Wu said, “Besides, your results from previous treatments haven’t been ideal. I don’t want to put you through more unnecessary trials. This time, the choice is yours.”

Zhu Ming hadn’t even had the chance to respond before the person beside him answered decisively, “He’ll try it.”

Dr. Wu raised her eyebrows, her gaze shifting back and forth between the two men. “What is your relationship with him? How can you make decisions for him?”

Xi Xianqing’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly as he turned his head toward Zhu Ming.

The person in the wheelchair, however, simply raised his eyebrows innocently and spread his hands, the smile in his eyes teasing and unhurried. The message was clear: You dug this hole yourself; now you can figure out how to climb out.

Xi Xianqing: “I’m…”

The answer was right there, but despite his composed expression, a faint tightness crept into his voice as he spoke–

“His fiancé.” He said.

---

Author’s Note:

It rolls off the tongue quite smoothly ah, Qing.

A week later, Ye Lu brought the perfect final version of the agreement.

The two of them weren’t planning to hold a complicated or formal ceremony; registering their marriage would suffice. After reviewing the finalized agreement, Xi Xianqing sent it over to Zhu Ming.

However, Zhu Ming didn’t reply immediately.

Since they weren’t a real couple and both had their own careers, they didn’t communicate much outside of necessity. Xi Xianqing was preparing for the upcoming assessment in District Two, while Zhu Ming was busy with his live-streaming work.

In addition to Xi Xianqing sending daily pictures of Dish Soap to Zhu Ming before bedtime for record-keeping, and Zhu Ming occasionally updating him on the progress of his drug research, the two of them wouldn’t talk about too many other things.

As stipulated in their agreement, they treated each other with respect and avoided interfering in each other’s affairs. Xi Xianqing was satisfied with this arrangement.

He didn’t expect Zhu Ming to respond immediately but was surprised that it took him so long.

After discussing the details of wax mold casting with a craftsman, Xi Xianqing checked his phone again, only to see an unexpected missed call notification on the screen.

“Is this Xianqing?”

Upon answering, he heard Zhu Yingying’s hesitant voice on the other end of the line, tinged with a hint of awkwardness. “I have a favor to ask, if that’s alright?”

Xi Xianqing paused. “Please go ahead.”

“I hope you can accompany Zhu Ming for a rehabilitation session.” Zhu Yingying sighed. “First, because after marriage, this will inevitably become part of your life together. Second, he never lets me go with him, so I suspect this kid’s not taking it seriously.”

“So please don’t tell him. Just secretly check for me to see if he’s following the doctor’s instructions properly, alright?”

If this invitation had come directly from Zhu Ming, Xi Xianqing would have flatly refused—it wasn’t part of their agreement, and he had no obligation to comply.

The issue, however, was that this request came from Zhu Yingying. In the eyes of this overly enthusiastic aunt, he was Zhu Ming’s fiancé, deeply in love and about to step into the sacred bond of marriage.

Even if Xi Xianqing wanted to refuse, he couldn’t bring himself to bluntly reject her at that moment.

Thus, at 2 PM local time, Xi Xianqing appeared in the rehabilitation medicine section of a private hospital in District Seven.

Behind the reception desk, a young nurse was humming a tune as she meticulously organized wheelchair user manuals on the shelf. When she turned her head, she saw a strikingly handsome young man standing in front of the desk.

With sharp features, broad shoulders, and long legs, he wore a well-tailored trench coat and stood straight in the hallway. He didn’t look like someone coming for treatment—he looked more like an actor who had just wandered off a film set.

He asked, “Excuse me, is there a patient in a wheelchair named Zhu Ming?”

His voice was deep and composed, carrying an air of restrained elegance. His tone was polite yet distant.

The nurse’s heart skipped a beat at first, but after hearing his question, she couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m new here, so I haven’t memorized all the patient names yet. But, sir, in this side of rehabilitation center, there aren’t many patients not in wheelchairs.”

Xi Xianqing added a more specific description. “He’s a young male patient who… is always smiling.”

The nurse tried hard to recall. “Hmm, that does sound familiar. Is he delicate-looking, fair-skinned, with especially gentle and beautiful eyes?”

The choice of adjectives gave Xi Xianqing a moment of pause. Eventually, he responded vaguely, “En. His spiritual manifestation is a white fox.”

“Ah, I know who you’re talking about!” Another little nurse poked her head out from a nearby room, grinning as she joined the conversation. “You must be looking for Xiao Zhu-gege, right?”

“He did come today, and if I remember correctly, he should be over at the artificial lake getting some fresh air.”

Xiao Zhu-gege.

On the short walk toward the artificial lake behind the private hospital, Xi Xianqing silently chewed these four words over in his mind.

Half of District Seven’s terrain was covered by snow-capped mountains, giving the region a dry, cold climate. The wind by the lake was strong, and there weren’t many people outdoors.

Most patients were accompanied by family members, making the lone figure by the lakeside particularly noticeable.

Beside the wheelchair lay a curled-up white fox, its fluffy tail wrapped around its body as it slept soundly.

Xi Xianqing stood behind Zhu Ming’s side and called his name, “Zhu Ming.”

He saw the figure in the wheelchair freeze briefly before turning to look at him.

The wind by the lake wasn’t small. Zhu Ming was only wearing a thin sweater, which loosely exposed his pale neck.

A thin cigarette rested between his fingers, and his hair, blown soft by the wind, moved gently.

As Zhu Ming exhaled a puff of smoke, the mist rose around him. He squinted slightly in contentment, his moist eyes gazing hazily through the fog.

“It’s you ah.” Zhu Ming didn’t seem particularly surprised. He gave a small smile and turned his gaze back to the lake. “I thought my aunt was here to catch me.”

The scent of nicotine lingered in the air, causing Xi Xianqing to frown silently. “She did send me.”

Zhu Ming nodded at this, then seemed to recall something as he glanced at Xi Xianqing curiously. “Wait, how did you know I was by the artificial lake? Clairvoyance?”

Xi Xianqing spat out four words, “Xiao Zhu-gege.”

The inexplicable term made Zhu Ming pause, momentarily confused.

But then he caught on, biting the cigarette between his teeth as he chuckled and nodded. “Oh… it must’ve been Nurse Xiao Zhou who told you, right?”

Xi Xianqing said coldly, “If your aunt’s schedule for you is correct, you should currently be in the therapy room for rehabilitation, not smoking irresponsibly by the lake.”

“First of all, to avoid bothering anyone else, I wheeled myself all the way to this deserted lakeside before lighting a cigarette. That makes me a very considerate citizen of District Seven.”

Zhu Ming said, gesturing with his chin toward a smoking area sign not far away. “Second, I’m just trying to get some pleasant nicotine and dopamine before rehab starts. Once I finish this, I’ll obediently report to my therapist.”

His tone was blatantly self-assured.

“Finish this cigarette, light the next one, and keep myself pleasantly occupied until 4:30, then snap a photo at the nurse’s station for my aunt and head straight home by taxi.”

Xi Xianqing’s expression remained impassive as he calmly dismantled the lie. “This is what you call obedient rehabilitation?”

Zhu Ming’s hand, holding the cigarette, froze for a moment. He narrowed his eyes slightly, finally meeting Xi Xianqing’s gaze directly.

A faint, meaningful smile appeared on Zhu Ming’s face. After a moment, he raised his hand and beckoned Xi Xianqing closer.

Xi Xianqing’s chest rose and fell faintly, already suspecting that whatever Zhu Ming was about to say wouldn’t be good.

“Fiancé ya.” Sure enough, as soon as he leaned closer, Zhu Ming’s gentle, sly voice brushed against his ear. “Why are you suddenly so meddlesome today ah?”

The address was so absurdly intimate that Xi Xianqing sharply turned to look at Zhu Ming’s profile, his jaw tightening. “You—”

“And if my aunt asked you to come, why didn’t you just brush her off with an excuse? Why go to the trouble of coming all the way from District Six to District Seven? Why so obedient?”

Zhu Ming continued, tilting his face upward slightly. His expression was curious, his tone teasing with a hint of laughter. “Are you that concerned about me? What’s this? Are you planning to turn our fake relationship… into the real deal?”

In the glow of the cigarette, Zhu Ming’s normally dark eyes shimmered faintly with an amber hue. He was so close that his lips nearly brushed against Xi Xianqing’s ear.

During their previous interactions, Xi Xianqing had already expressed dissatisfaction with Zhu Ming’s lack of boundaries.

But this—this overtly suggestive and borderline provocative remark—was trampling all over Xi Xianqing’s personal limits.

As expected, Xi Xianqing abruptly straightened up, his expression darkening. “Don’t flatter yourself. Do you really think I wanted to come here?”

Zhu Ming spread his hands, the smile on his face unwavering. “Then you can leave now ya.”

Xi Xianqing stared at him for a long moment before abruptly turning to leave.

He wasn’t cheap. He had come all the way from District Six out of consideration for Zhu Yingying’s feelings, only to be met with such treatment. There was no reason to stay any longer.

However, after taking a step, he again stumbled on his feet and looked back.

Zhu Ming had his back to him, his dark hair gently brushed by the wind.

He was sitting alone in the wheelchair, smoke spreading from the cigarette at his fingertips, just staring at the lake motionlessly and quietly.

Xi Xianqing frowned silently.

Despite Zhu Ming’s usual flippant and carefree demeanor, Xi Xianqing had to admit that Zhu Ming’s family upbringing and way of handling things were actually something that couldn’t be faulted.

However, the words he said just now, such as “Why are you so meddlesome?” and “You can leave now”, were sharp and biting.

It was so unlike him, so deliberately harsh, that it almost seemed as though he was purposely making his words unpleasant and mean in order to achieve some purpose.

–Zhu Ming was deliberately provoking him to leave.

The moment he realized this fact, Xi Xianqing calmed down.

The silence around him led Zhu Ming to believe Xi Xianqing had already left.

As the cigarette in his fingers was about to burn out, Zhu Ming reached into his pocket for his pack, ready to light another. But just as he caught a glimpse of movement in his peripheral vision, his hand froze.

Xi Xianqing stood behind him, arms crossed, his expression cold and unyielding. The hem of his coat fluttered slightly in the breeze by the lake. He said nothing, simply staring at Zhu Ming quietly.

A hint of unease crept into Zhu Ming’s mind. “Why are you still here?”

“Didn’t you say you’d go to rehab after finishing that cigarette?” Xi Xianqing said from where he stood, his tone calm. “I’ll wait here until you’re done.”

Zhu Ming’s hand holding the cigarette silently trembled.

He glanced at Xi Xianqing in disbelief before plastering on a faintly mocking smile. “Fiancé, how truly considerate of you ah. Even a real lover wouldn’t go to such lengths.”

But instead of rising to the bait, Xi Xianqing remained composed. Still standing in place with his arms crossed, he gave a small, indifferent nod. “You’re welcome.”

Zhu Ming: “…?”

Xi Xianqing: “I promised your aunt I’d watch you complete your rehab, and I intend to give her a full report.”

The fox-like façade of leisure Zhu Ming wore began to crack.

Forcing a smile, Zhu Ming drawled through gritted teeth, “Rehab takes at least three hours. Don’t you have a packed schedule as a big designer? And shouldn’t you be preparing your luggage for your trip to District Two for your assessment…”

Xi Xianqing ignored the feeble attempts to distract him.

Instead, he stepped closer to Zhu Ming, bent down, and picked up the pack of cigarettes resting on Zhu Ming’s lap.

Taking one, he held it between his fingers, then leaned forward to light it using the smoldering embers of Zhu Ming’s nearly spent cigarette.

The tips of the cigarettes touched, and two small orange flames flickered in the gentle breeze by the lake.

Zhu Ming thought Xi Xianqing was simply lighting a cigarette for himself.

But in the next moment, the nearly burnt-out cigarette in Zhu Ming’s hand was taken away. In its place, the freshly lit one was gently slipped between his index and middle fingers.

–-Xi Xianqing calmly helped him to light a new cigarette.

“Just keep taking in your nicotine and dopamine.”

Xi Xianqing said as he straightened up, his tone tranquil. “I’m not busy today—I have plenty of time to spend with you.”

---

Author’s Notes:

The great peac0ck firmly caught hold of the little fox trying to escape treatment!

Everyone originally assumed he was just a timid fledgling not worth paying attention to, only to discover later that he was an unpolished gem. During his teenage years, he underwent a quiet transformation, eventually shining brilliantly.

By the time they realized it, his talents had already astonished everyone.

These family banquets were traditionally planned on a rotating basis, each host trying their best to win over the old man’s favor. This time, it was Xi Xianqing’s second uncle, Xi Hongming—who was also Xi Sen’s father—in charge of the arrangements.

The purpose of this dinner was obvious to everyone: it was a last effort to boost Xi Sen’s favorability in front of Xi Jianfeng before the upcoming assessment.

Xi Hongming’s spiritual manifestation was a loud, multicolored macaw. He had always been known for his ostentatious taste in these matters. The table was adorned with the most expensive seasonal flowers—peony chrysanthemums and fragrant orchids. Even the tea set was decorated with intricate multicolored enamel, extravagant yet perfectly in tune with the festival’s theme.

Xi Hongming earnestly said, “Father, it’s the prime season for cordyceps. Please have a taste of this soup.”

Xi Xianqing idly stirred the soup in his bowl with a spoon.

Wolfberries, don’t like them: Red dates, don’t like them: The hideous cordyceps: absolutely don’t like them.

A homemade glutinous rice lotus root inexplicably came to mind.

His hand paused for a moment, but he eventually took a sip of the soup. After all, as the dinner progressed, he’d likely need to conserve his energy for what was to come.

This family dinner was Xi Hongming’s stage, and his incessantly chattering mouth never once stopped.

He talked about art and boasted about culture. As the alcohol took effect, the conversation veered into stories of beautiful women and romantic escapades, with no regard for the fact that his wife and children were sitting right beside him.

Xi Sen, unable to conceal the disgust on her face, stood up and excused herself, saying she needed some fresh air.

A few minutes later, Xi Hongming suddenly exclaimed an ‘Aiya’. “Look at this mouth of mine, once I start talking, I just can’t stop. I’ve been going on about myself this whole time.”

“By the way, Xianqing ya,” he said, his tone deliberately pausing as if recalling something, “I saw some news this morning. It said you and someone from District Seven… are getting married?”

He paused briefly, then feigned surprise as he asked, “Is that true ya?”

“Yes ah, and I also heard that this person has some issues with mobility?”

Xi Hongming’s wife, Zhang Yuan, chimed in to back him up. “Xianqing, your parents passed away early, so only your family members can give you advice. Young people ya, are often impulsive when it comes to matters of love. But those from District Seven ya, they’re simply not on the same path as us.”

“Especially someone from District Seven who can’t even walk properly ah.” Xi Hongming emphasized with a sigh.

Their continuous remarks, made under the guise of concern, were nothing more than thinly veiled criticisms. The subtext was clear: they were portraying Xi Xianqing as a reckless fool, blinded by love.

“My parents passed away early. So, for as long as I can remember, whenever my sister and I faced difficulties, we’ve always relied on ourselves to get through them.”

Xi Xianqing faintly said, “It’s really strange. I don’t recall you ever greeting us back then. How come you’re suddenly so deeply concerned with my private life?”

Xi Hongming hadn’t expected him to push back so directly, and his face turned a shade darker. “How can you speak to your elders and family this way, all because of someone from another district?”

Xi Jianfeng’s expression remained neutral as he fiddled with the sandalwood beads in his hand. After a long silence, he finally asked, “When did you meet? And what happened to that child’s leg?”

Xi Xianqing: “I met him at the beginning of the year. He had an accident a few years ago and suffered a spinal cord injury.”

Xi Jianfeng frowned: “Why is the wedding being rushed? Have you chosen a venue?”

Xi Xianqing shook his head and replied calmly, “We’ve already committed to each other. We don’t need an elaborate ceremony—just an early promise to each other is enough.”

When these words came out, everyone was shocked.

People in District Six were notoriously particular about rituals and appearances. Even a birthday banquet would be an extravagant affair, with everyone trying to outdo each other—let alone something as significant as a wedding.

Xi Hongming instinctively sensed that something was off and quickly countered, “How can that be? Marriage is not a child’s play, it’s not something you can just brush over…”

Xi Xianqing didn’t say anything.

“You really take after your father,” Xi Jianfeng’s thumb paused on the sandalwood beads as he glanced at Xi Xianqing. “If the two of you are truly in love and trust each other, then making an early commitment is not a bad idea.”

Xi Hongming opened his mouth to argue further, but Xi Jianfeng said, “The next time that the child has time, bring them home for a meal.”

The several people on the table who were about to move suddenly lost their voices.

The phrase “bring them home” implied that Xi Jianfeng had already accepted the person as part of the family. Anyone who dared to criticize now would be a slap on his face.

Xi Xianqing was also stunned, and after a long time said, “Alright.”

The rest of the meal proceeded with everyone harboring their own thoughts. Xi Xianqing had no intention of staying longer than necessary. After dinner, he found an excuse to leave early.

As soon as he stepped outside, he ran into Xi Sen, who was taking a breath of fresh air by the window.

Xi Sen’s spirit animal was an ink-colored Jackdaw, quietly perched by her hand.

The cold Jackdaw looked at Xi Xianqing warily, then leaped onto its master’s shoulder, alerting her that someone was coming. Xi Sen turned her face to look at Xi Xianqing.

Although the two were currently the strongest contenders, it was not Xi Sen herself who actively targeted Xi Xianqing—it was mostly her father, Xi Hongming.

Now that they had encountered each other, there was a brief moment of silence, but it wasn’t filled with hostility.

“I’ll be heading to District One the day after tomorrow to begin the assessment.” Xi Sen took the initiative to break the silence. “Although it’s really my parents who are more invested in the representative position, I will respect this competition and give it my all.”

After a brief pause, she straightforwardly added, “Also, I wish you a happy wedding in advance.”

Xi Sen, a graduate of the top fashion design academy in District Six, was fully focused on developing her own high-fashion studio. She was talented, forthright, and direct.

The two of them were well-matched—worthy opponents who respected each other.

So Xi Xianqing nodded, “Thank you.”

Xi Sen nodded her head in return, brushing past him as she headed back into the private room.

Once he got into his car, his phone in his pocket vibrated. Xi Xianqing glanced down to see that Zhu Ming had sent over a document.

Zhu Ming: “Here’s the first draft of the treatment plan. Take a look.”

Almost immediately, another message followed: “Oh, right. I need you to take a photo of Dish Soap every day. I need shots from four angles, the front, back, left, and right, plus a top-down view. I’m documenting its form for a long-term experiment.”

And then came another addition: “Especially focus on the feathers around its backside—I need a close-up.”

Xi Xianqing still couldn’t quite get used to referring to it as “Dish Soap.” He responded, “…Is it really necessary to take pictures every day?”

There was a long pause before Zhu Ming replied: “I have a question.”

Xi Xianqing replied with a “?”

The opposite side didn’t send another message.

Ten seconds later, Zhu Ming directly popped over a voice message.

When Xi Xianqing played it, a soft, gentle voice came through: “Excuse me, but am I the doctor, or are you the doctor ya?”

Xi Xianqing: “…”

The final word “ya” had a playful lilt to it. Even through the screen, he could easily imagine Zhu Ming sitting in his wheelchair, eyes curved with a mischievous smile as he tauntingly looked over.

Xi Xianqing remained expressionless, his hand hovering over the text input box.

Yet, for some inexplicable reason, instead of typing a response, his fingers shifted slightly, and he sent a voice message back: “…Stop rushing me. I’m outside right now. I’ll take the pictures for you once I’m back.”

---

Author’s Note:

Grand Peac0ck’s criteria for food selection: won’t eat anything that isn’t exquisite, too spicy, high in fat, or ugly in appearance.

Evaluation of the Little Fox’s household meals: simple, but just barely edible.

A week after officially signing the contract, Zhu Ming decided to announce his marriage publicly.

Zhu Ming’s social circle was extremely simple, mainly consisting of two groups: Zhu Yingying and his fans.

Zhu Yingying’s side had been perfectly settled over dinner. As for his fans, Zhu Ming didn’t beat around the bush. During a live stream, he casually mentioned the news of his marriage.

“Don’t ask too much. The person is from District Six, a jewelry designer, younger than me. I can’t reveal more than that.”

After consolidating the cases on his desk, Zhu Ming felt a sudden thirst and waved his hand dismissively. “Besides, I might do a few offline medical inquiry tours in the future. There’s nothing much to say. I’m logging off.”

Busy searching for water, he hastily ended the live stream.

He didn’t even notice that the chat was flooded with question marks and comments like, “Aren’t there only a few well-known young jewelry designers in District Six?” “Could it be who I think it is?”

When Zhu Ming returned with a plate of fruit from the kitchen, he saw Zhou Zhou holding his phone, hesitating to speak. “Zhu-ge, you and Xi Xianqing are on the hot search now.”

Zhu Ming with watermelon in his mouth: “… Ah?”

Five minutes later, Zhu Ming put down his phone and said in a depressed manner. “Strange, I didn’t even mention a name ah. How did they figure it out ah?”

“First of all, the bridal carry you pulled off at the birthday banquet already sparked a lot of rumors.”

Zhou Zhou sighed in exasperation. “Second, I don’t need to remind you how much buzz surrounds Xi Xianqing. If he ever entered the entertainment industry, it would be a complete storm. Plus, with the details you shared, it’s really easy to decode.”

“Lastly, Zhu-ge, I hope that you really have a more accurate understanding of your own popularity.”

Zhou Zhou advised earnestly. Behind him, the roe deer bobbed its head in agreement. “Do you know how long it takes me to handle your private messages every day? Do you know how many agency invitations I’ve turned down on your behalf?!”

Zhu Ming was really a bit shocked.

He simply intended to give his fans an explanation, but he greatly underestimated both the size of his fan base and Xi Xianqing’s popularity. He also hadn’t anticipated how quickly information spreads on today’s streaming platforms.

Worried that this might have some impact on Xi Xianqing, he hesitated for a moment before sending him a message: “Sorry, I didn’t expect things to blow up like this. Will you be in trouble?”

After a while, Xi Xianqing replied, “It’s fine.”

Zhu Ming didn’t think that he was really fine.

However, given that their relationship was merely a contractual arrangement and not a genuine romantic one, if Xi Xianqing said he was fine, Zhu Ming saw no need to press further for the truth.

In reality, Xi Xianqing wasn’t entirely unbothered.

This hot search came rather suddenly, and at that time, Xi Xianqing was in the process of changing his clothes for the dinner party.

Ye Lu put down her phone with a hint of concern and suggested, “How about we tell the old man that you’re busy preparing for the assessment tonight? We could use this as a chance to lay low for now.”

Xi Xianqing glanced at the phone screen briefly before turning away, “No need.”

“They’ll find out sooner or later,” he said, lowering his gaze as he adjusted his watch strap. “Rather than explaining it myself, it’s better to let the news leak early. Who knows? It might even throw some people off balance in advance.”

Ye Lu thought it over carefully and couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m sure your Second Uncle is already losing his cool, probably plotting how to make things difficult for you tonight.”

Today was Spring Flower Day in District Six, which marks late spring and early summer when flowers and plants are at their most vibrant. Though it was a minor mid-year festival, it carried the meaning of reunion and joy. According to Xi Family tradition, it was necessary to gather for a meal.

The Xi Family was large, and their gatherings were typically held in a spacious, cleared-out venue to ensure peace and quiet.

However, just as Xi Xianqing stepped out of the car at the restaurant entrance, the sharp cries of a child echoed from a corner.

Turning his head, he saw a well-dressed woman yanking a young girl by the ear. “It’s just a short congratulatory message, why can’t you remember it? Stuttering like that, how will you recite it for your grandfather later?”

The little girl was sobbing so hard she could barely catch her breath. Her spiritual manifestation, a tiny yellow oriole, trembled as it huddled at her feet.

Xi Xianqing had little interest in interfering with others’ family matters. But as he stared at the tear-streaked face of the girl, he finally paused and spoke in a light, indifferent tone, “Cousin-in-law.”

The woman had been about to scold further, but upon looking up and seeing Xi Xianqing, her expression froze. She hurriedly pulled the girl behind her. “Aiya… it’s Xianqing ya.”

Xi Xianqing: “It’s time to go in.”

“Yes, yes.” The woman retreated awkwardly, “we’re heading in now.”

Xi Xianqing’s gaze lingered on the girl’s sobbing figure but he remained silent.

Ye Lu shook her head. “Everyone’s desperate to have their children gain the Old Master’s favor. Poor child, only seven or eight years old, at an age when she should be playing, yet her wings are forcibly clipped.”

Xi Xianqing withdrew his gaze, “Let’s get in.”

As the waiter pushed open the doors to the banquet hall, the moment Xi Xianqing stepped in, the spacious room fell into silence.

A myriad of gazes landed on him—some feigning warmth, some gibberish, but most carried traces of resentment and ridicule. Over the years, Xi Xianqing had grown accustomed to such looks, and he walked into the hall with quiet composure.

At the head of the round table sat an elderly man wearing glasses, his expression unreadable, with a stately white crane standing behind him. This was none other than Xi Jianfeng, District Six’s most renowned civil engineering expert and the current leading figure who had made timeless contributions to the field of architecture over the past decades.

Setting down the agarwood beads he had been fiddling with, Xi Jianfeng beckoned, “Xianqing, come sit.”

Xi Xianqing nodded, “Grandfather.”

To Xi Jianfeng’s right sat a young woman with sharp features and neatly cut short hair—Xi Sen.

The seats to his left and right were occupied by two young people, making it blatantly clear: in a few years, when Xi Jianfeng passed, the position of the family representative would fall to one of these two.

In his youth, Xi Jianfeng was famously a romantic and a brilliant talent. He had three wives over the years, resulting in five sons and two daughters

Each of these children had their own accomplishments in the arts. In the early years, they all believed themselves to be Xi Jianfeng’s successor.

On the surface, they appeared to share a bond as siblings, but behind closed doors, they engaged in fierce and relentless battles. It was a cutthroat competition: you might sabotage my art shop’s reputation, while I’d spit on the paintings displayed at your art exhibit.

However, as decades went by and with rapid advancements in technology and healthcare, the old man defied expectations and lived into his 90s. By then, his children had grown gray at the temples, and their desire to continue the rivalry had waned.

Realizing they no longer had a shot at becoming the family’s representative, they shifted their focus to a new competition—pitting their descendants against each other. The eagerness to highlight others’ shortcomings often surpassed their concern for their own children. If someone mocked their daughter’s lack of artistic talent, they’d retaliate by criticizing another’s son for his poor character.

Any small incident would be exaggerated and brought up during family gatherings, all in the hopes that their child would catch Xi Jianfeng’s attention.

Over the years, the competition had narrowed down to just two remaining candidates who were beyond reproach.

One was Xi Sen, the daughter of Xi Xianqing’s second uncle. She had grown up as the apple of everyone’s eye, renowned as a brilliant and talented woman.

The other was Xi Xianqing.

Xi Xianqing’s talents had been unexpected to all, largely because his father, Xi Mingsong—the fourth son of Xi Jianfeng—was considered the family’s unspoken disgrace.

An oil painter who pursued romance, Xi Mingsong had left home at a young age. It was only after he passed away somewhere far from home that the Xi Family discovered the existence of his son and daughter and brought them back into the fold.

When Xi Xianqing first arrived at the Xi Family home, he was only about five or six years old—a child with a face as cold as frost, clutching tightly to his sister’s hand, standing silently at the entrance.

The moonlight was hazy, and the budding roses shyly lowered their heads. For an instant, the passage of time seemed to slow.

From an outsider’s perspective, their current position might appear to be lovers lost in a deep, lingering kiss. But to them, it felt more like a strange, awkward, and overly intimate embrace.

“… Is she gone?”

With his chin pinched in someone else’s hand, Zhu Ming’s voice came out somewhat muffled. “It’s been 30 seconds. I doubt even real couples have that kind of lung capacity.”

Xi Xianqing’s grip loosened slightly as he turned his head, glancing out of the corner of his eye at the floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room behind them.

Zhu Yingying’s figure had indeed disappeared.

As Xi Xianqing turned back, just as he was about to say something, his words caught in his throat when he looked at the person in the wheelchair.

The person in the wheelchair had disheveled hair, with faint red fingerprints on his cheeks. Everything about him seemed disordered and suggestive, except for those clear, bright black eyes staring intently at him.

“Still not gone?”

With his view blocked by Xi Xianqing, Zhu Ming craned his neck to look. “She’s pretty hard to fool… should we try a hotter pose?”

“Gone.”

A subtle feeling finally registered in Xi Xianqing’s heart as he abruptly straightened up. “It’s getting late. I’ve fulfilled my part of the agreement. I hope in the future, you can also—”

“Don’t go yet.” Before he could finish, the person before him tugged at his sleeve and interrupted in a soft, suggestive tone. “Tonight, can you stay a little longer?”

“…?”

Ten minutes later, inside the latest biological lab pod in District Seven.

As expected of the latest model, it incorporated District Seven’s cutting-edge space compression technology. The experimental space it offered was vast, and the instruments it came equipped with were state-of-the-art—a dream lab pod for any researcher.

Back when Zhu Ming was at the District Seven Research Institute, he had submitted a request to secure one for his team. It would have allowed his students and colleagues to work from home, ensuring they could take proper breaks during holidays. This way, they wouldn’t have to rush back to the lab daily to change the culture medium during cell cultivation.

Of course, his request was promptly denied by the institute director, with the justification that people in District Seven generally don’t take holidays.

He never imagined that one day his dream would come true, albeit thanks to someone from District Six.

“Relax a bit,” Zhu Ming said politely in front of the lab table. “And release to your heart’s content.”

Xi Xianqing: “…”

Xi Xianqing remained silent as neuroproton particles slowly gathered around his feet, their crystalline glow gradually taking shape.

Zhu Ming focused intently, jotting down every minute observation in his lab notebook.

The elegant, beautiful grand green peac0ck reappeared before Zhu Ming—it first cast a haughty glance at him with its beady eyes, then lowered its head to peck at the feathers on its chest.

The white fox resting on Zhu Ming’s lap leapt to the ground, sniffed curiously at the green peac0ck’s long, graceful tail feathers, but quickly lost interest. It curled up at Zhu Ming’s feet and fell asleep.

After completing the most basic observations, Zhu Ming instructed, “Good, now try implanting a suggestion in your mind. Focus all your mental strength on the tail feathers.”

Xi Xianqing pursed his lips.

Ten seconds later, Zhu Ming stared at the motionless peac0ck tail, pondering aloud, “Are you really trying?”

Xi Xianqing’s expression darkened. “If I could do it on my own, would I even be here looking for you?”

Zhu Ming: “Relax and try again.”

Xi Xianqing silently exhaled and closed his eyes.

Ten seconds later, the large peac0ck finally showed some movement—it turned arrogantly, then lay down next to the white fox, presenting its butt to both Xi Xianqing and Zhu Ming, and promptly settled into a resting state.

Not a single feather on its buttocks moved.

“Not even the slightest fluctuation, it’s more serious than I thought.”

Zhu Ming closed his lab notebook, arriving at a conclusion. “Now, I’m going to ask you a few questions. Don’t lie, and don’t argue. I’m a doctor, and you need to answer with a sense of responsibility toward yourself.”

“…Ask.”

“First question: Do you consider your spiritual manifestation as a part of yourself, an independent entity, or both?”

Xi Xianqing’s brows furrowed, “What do you mean?”

Zhu Ming pointed to the fox at his feet and explained gently, “For example, I personally view this fox as a part of my own body. However, some people are more inclined to see their spiritual manifestation as pets, existing independently from themselves.”

Xi Xianqing stared at the motionless green peac0ck on the ground.

After a moment he vaguely said, “It should be the latter.”

“Good.” Zhu Ming made a note. “And does it have a name?”

“…Doesn’t have a name.”

“Then I’ll help you come up with one. It’ll make it easier for us to communicate about your condition, and it’ll be helpful for record-keeping.”

“Whatever.”

“Okay.” In the next moment, Xi Xianqing heard Zhu Ming cheerfully say to the peac0ck, “Xiao Qing, relax ha, I’m going to touch you now.”

Xi Xianqing took a deep breath. “Can you pick a different name?”

“Sure ya. Xiao Lu,¹Little Green Cui Cui, or Bi Bi.²Bluish-green; green jade Take your pick.”

Zhu Ming pondered for a moment, then suggested, “Or maybe a homonym for a name? Let me think. Xi Xianqing, Xi Xianqing… how about Dish Soap?³Xi Jiejing What do you think?”

“…” Xi Xianqing just wanted this torturous session to end as quickly as possible. Frustrated, he muttered, “Whatever you want.”

“Now, I’m going to put on this sensor glove to focus my mental energy into my palm temporarily. The goal is to establish a connection with Dish Soap.”

Zhu Ming slipped on the glove. “In simple terms, I need to touch it to make sure there are no issues with the connection between its feathers and its body.”

Xi Xianqing felt somewhat relieved that he hadn’t chosen the option of viewing his spiritual manifestation as a part of himself. Otherwise, Zhu Ming would be saying something like “touching you” right now, which would’ve sounded incredibly awkward. “…Go ahead.”

Zhu Ming wheeled himself closer, put on the sensor glove, and bent forward with some difficulty to gently stroke the peac0ck’s feathers.

Even though it was just his spiritual manifestation, the scene still gave Xi Xianqing an indescribable feeling, causing him to turn his face away.

“Dish Soap’s physical form appears to be quite healthy.” A moment later, Zhu Ming straightened up, drawing a conclusion. “So, unfortunately, the issue lies with you.”

Xi Xianqing’s expression was blank. “Thank you. I honestly wouldn’t have figured that out without your insight.”

Zhu Ming ignored the sarcasm in his words. “I have a second question. This one isn’t directly related to our treatment, so if it makes you uncomfortable, you can choose not to answer.”

Xi Xianqing paused for a little while and nodded.

“Actually, while your symptoms are relatively rare, compared to other cases I’ve encountered, they don’t seem to have significantly affected your quality of life.”

Zhu Ming carefully chose his words, trying to keep his tone tactful. “I’ve seen patients who were extremely self-conscious because their spiritual manifestation was a fly and asked if a spiritual manifestation transplant was possible. I’ve also dealt with patients whose spiritual manifestation were congenitally obese, pleading with me to arrange a weight-loss treatment.”

“These patients shared a common trait: their spiritual manifestations’ abnormalities had already impacted their everyday social interactions.”

Zhu Ming’s gaze returned to the large peac0ck before him. “But as for Dish Soap…”

He hesitated, unsure of how to express his thoughts. However, Xi Xianqing calmly took over the conversation. “You think that being unable to spread its tail is merely a minor aesthetic issue and doesn’t affect my life, right?”

“I wouldn’t say that.”

Zhu Ming shook his head. “A spiritual manifestation is deeply significant to everyone. Even the slightest change in its appearance is closely tied to psychological abnormalities.”

He gently stroked the peac0ck’s beautiful tail feathers with his sensor-gloved hand. “I’m simply curious—do you really think that treating this symptom is worth the cost of a marriage?”

After the words were spoken, Zhu Ming realized he seemed to have asked a stupid question.

In District Six, beauty is a way of life, and the Xi Family, where Xi Xianqing hailed from, was at its very heart. For someone constantly in the spotlight, an obsession with even the smallest details wasn’t exactly incomprehensible.

Zhu Ming looked at the person sitting across from him and hesitated before adding, “It’s actually understandable. Your district places a much higher value on the aesthetics of spiritual manifestations than other districts do…”

“It has nothing to do with aesthetics.”

Xi Xianqing interrupted him with a steady tone. “The reason I want it to spread its tail is because it’s one of the decisive factors in my candidacy for District Six’s representative.”

“The spiritual manifestation is related to your family’s representative’s race?” Zhu Ming was completely taken aback by this explanation, his eyes widening. “Are you saying that your district requires you to be able to spread its tail to become a representative? That’s ridiculous…”

A vein twitched at Xi Xianqing’s temple. He seemed eager to refute that claim but found himself at a loss for words.

With a slight clench of his jaw, he conceded, “The reality is a bit more complicated than that, but yes, essentially, that’s the case.”

A century ago, Xi Star originally consisted of only six districts. After the war with the neighboring star ended, the quality of life improved rapidly, and the golden age of religion and aesthetics began to unfold.

Thanks to the vigorous advocacy of the Xi Family’s ancestors early on, District Six was able to separate from the West to focus exclusively on aesthetic research, while the former District Six evolved into what is now known as District Seven.

This is also why District Six is the only one where the representative position is inherited through a family-based system.

Artistic flair seemed to run in their veins as if it were a natural trait for artists. The Old Master Xi Jianfeng, in his youth, traveled through various districts in search of inspiration. One could say he journeyed through a sea of flowers and came back with 800 petals stuck to him.

Over the years, he had too many descendants—some already married with three children, others not even past infancy. Deciding who would inherit his position became a significant dilemma.

In the end, Old Master Xi could only filter them out one by one: first, those with mediocre talent unlikely to achieve anything great, and then those with a bad reputation and indulgent lifestyles.

In the end, two people were left, Xi Xianqing and his cousin, Xi Sen.

Xi Xianqing explained, “A long time ago, the Xi Family established a supposedly fair assessment system.”

As a native of District Seven, Zhu Ming’s understanding of assessments was rather superficial. “So, do you guys have to take exams and answer questions too?”

“Of course not.” Xi Xianqing shot Zhu Ming a glance. “If you want to test a designer’s ability, you can only evaluate their works.”

“The cousin I just mentioned, Xi Sen, is a high-fashion clothing designer. Her task is to design a gown for the representatives of Districts One, Three, and Five.”

Xi Xianqing said, “For me, I have to travel to Districts Two, Four, and Seven to design a unique piece of jewelry for each of their representatives.”

Zhu Ming felt like he was listening to a scene on a dog-blooded soap opera about power struggles within a wealthy family, mixed with the plotline of a dungeon-crawling game.

He instantly became interested as well, propping his chin on his hand and asking, “What about your judging criteria, how do you set them?”

“For the sake of fairness, the district representatives don’t communicate with us directly. Instead, they convey their evaluations to my grandfather.”

Xi Xianqing said. “So, ultimately, the scores are still subject to the old man’s personal judgment.”

Zhu Ming seemed thoughtful. “I still don’t understand—how does this relate to your need for your spiritual manifestation to spread its tail?”

Xi Xianqing fell into an odd silence, and even the large peac0ck stopped pecking at its feathers.

Zhu Ming blinked, and the sleepy white fox at his feet suddenly came to life because of the gossip, it stared intently at Xi Xianqing with its round black eyes.

Xi Xianqing slowly said, “The problem is that, after the assessment, once the creations are given to the district representatives I… need to take a group photo with them.”

“Huh?”

“This group photo will be preserved in the family’s album as part of the assessment process. It’s also a tradition that the Xi Family has upheld for many years.”

He paused before adding, “The requirement for the group photo is that every candidate must have their spiritual manifestation appear in the picture, and it must… spread their feathers.”

Zhu Ming: “…?”

Avoiding Zhu Ming’s gaze, Xi Xianqing continued with a stoic expression, “Because all the Xi Family’s spiritual manifestations are birds.”

The person sitting across from him stayed silent for a long time, and Xi Xianqing couldn’t help but glance up.

He found Zhu Ming pursing his lips and staring at himself with a serious expression.

Xi Xianqing coldly said, “If you want to laugh, just go ahead.”

Zhu Ming’s shoulders shook as he turned his face away, fist pressed to his mouth, trying to stifle his laughter. “Pfft—”

“Sorry, I really… ahem, ahem.”

He was practically choking on his suppressed laughter. To cover it up, he cleared his throat. “So, hypothetically speaking, if you took that photo without having your spiritual manifestation spread its tail, what would be the consequences?”

Xi Xianqing shot him a chilly glance.

“As a District Six native, especially a member of the Xi Family, the emphasis we place on spiritual manifestation is something you can’t possibly comprehend. Even the slightest flaw would be magnified. It would be seen as a sign of poor health and will be criticized as imperfect.”

The cold white lights of the lab pod cast a stark glow, and Xi Xianqing sat in the dim corner, his profile half-submerged in shadow. “And it could very well cause me to miss out on my chance to finally becoming the representative.”

Zhu Ming looked at his face and smiled slightly, “I understand.”

“In fact, I should probably be encouraging you to fight for the representative position. That way, you’d be more willing to marry me.”

Zhu Ming spoke softly, “But I still have to ask: you’re very young, already highly respected in your field. Is it really worth sacrificing your life and marriage just for an honorary title?”

As he asked, the smile on Zhu Ming’s face faded. His dark eyes fixed on Xi Xianqing with an uncharacteristic intensity.

In truth, Xi Xianqing could have easily dismissed the question with a casual “It’s worth it.”

But inexplicably, he felt that this question was important to Zhu Ming.

After a moment of silence, Xi Xianqing responded, “Resources, status, and prestige are the obvious benefits. But at its core, the reason I’m vying for this position is the same as why you sought an arranged marriage with me.”

Zhu Ming was stunned, “The same as me?”

Xi Xianqing nodded. “To outsiders, it might seem like there’s little controversy over the District Six representative seat. After all, it’s always going to stay within the Xi Family.”

“But a large family is made up of many smaller ones, and the infighting among those bound by blood can be the most ruthless and cruel.”

Xi Xianqing rose from the shadows, the cold white light of the lab pod spilling over his profile. His tone was calm, detached: “Born into such a family, if you don’t eventually reach the top, you’ll spend your entire life living in fear.”

“Just as you wish to protect your aunt, I also have someone I want to protect,” he said. “The person you were originally set up for a blind date—my sister.”

As Zhu Ming hesitated over where to place the tie in his hand, he heard Zhu Yingying’s surprised exclamation from behind. “Ai, is that Xiao Xi?”

Seeing the two of them frozen at the doorway, Zhu Yingying asked in confusion, “What’s going on? Why are you both just standing there and not coming in?”

Earlier, it was Zhu Ming who had repeatedly reminded Xi Xianqing not to slip up while acting. However, now that the three of them were actually face-to-face in the living room, it was Zhu Ming himself who was momentarily caught off guard.

Meeting Zhu Yingying’s inquisitive gaze, his lips parted slightly, “We were just…”

Fortunately, Xi Xianqing was quicker to react. He calmly got up and stood by Zhu Ming’s side, “You¹Polite form was used in here. must be Aunt Zhu?”

Zhu Ming quickly collected himself, discreetly tucking the tie into Xi Xianqing’s pocket. “Aunt, this is Xianqing. We were just discussing the gift he prepared for you.”

Zhu Yingying grinned from ear to ear. “Aiya, what’s with the gifts ah! Just bringing yourself here is enough. Come in, come in. The food is already ready.”

As soon as Xi Xianqing stepped inside and changed his shoes, he heard Zhu Ming cough lightly.

His steps paused, recalling the rules they had agreed upon earlier. A cough meant…

Sure enough, when he turned around, Zhu Ming had switched into full film emperor mode, pointing at the handles behind his wheelchair. “Xianqing ya.”

Xi Xianqing: “…?”

Xi Xianqing with his questioning eyes, “Isn’t your wheelchair electric?”

Zhu Ming responded with a shy, awkward smile and similarly replied with a look: “Because we’re acting ah.”

In a soft, gentle voice, he reminded, “Push me a little.”

Xi Xianqing took a deep breath and reluctantly placed his hands on the handles, pushing Zhu Ming into the living room.

With his hands freed, Zhu Ming was quite at ease, now giving directions left and right: “The dining room’s over there—yes, yes… push faster, I’m starving.”

Xi Xianqing, his face taut, quickened his pace.

Zhu Yingying watched their interaction intently the entire time. To her, they truly seemed like a bickering couple, which made her suppress a smile. “Quick, sit down and try the bamboo fungus and water chestnut soup I made.”

Once everyone was seated, the servants quietly brought in the dishes.

The dining room was a bit stuffy. Xi Xianqing took off his suit jacket, about to hang it on the back of his chair, when Zhu Ming let out another barely audible cough.

Xi Xianqing’s hand froze. “…”

Looking up, he saw Zhu Ming’s expression remained perfectly normal. Meanwhile, Zhu Yingying, seated across from them, blinked but kept her eyes glued to the pair without saying a word.

A vein throbbed on Xi Xianqing’s forehead.

In the end, he abruptly changed course, hesitantly offering, “Do you… want to put this on?”

Zhu Ming looked up with feigned surprise. “Now that you mention it, it does feel a bit chilly. Sure.”

Exhaling silently, Xi Xianqing dr4p3d the jacket over Zhu Ming’s shoulders.

Zhu Yingying watched them with a beaming smile as if it might overflow at any moment.

After the soup, it was time for the main dishes.

During their first meeting, the young master Xi Xianqing’s shocking declaration of “not dining in outer districts” left a deep impression on Zhu Ming.

Thus, prior to this meal, Zhu Ming had privately messaged Xi Xianqing with a request: “When the time comes, could you at least pretend to eat a little?”

Xi Xianqing replied with full self-assurance: “Food from the outer districts usually doesn’t suit my palate and could pose potential safety risks. That’s just a fact.”

Zhu Ming was at a loss with him. “Alright, how about this: send me a list of the foods you don’t like, and I’ll have my aunt avoid preparing those.”

Five minutes later, Zhu Ming received a huge PDF file.

At this moment, Zhu Yingying placed a piece of glutinous rice lotus root on each of their plates, resting her chin in her hands as she asked, “How did you two meet ya?”

Though they were eating, each bite and scoop was layered with subtle probing.

Thankfully, Zhu Ming and Xi Xianqing had already divided their roles in advance: Zhu Ming will fabricate about how they met and fell in love, while Xi Xianqing will fabricate inquiries about their future plans and wedding.

This question fell under Zhu Ming’s domain. “Didn’t I tell you before? We met during the blind date. Later, he helped me out during the birthday party, and gradually we got closer.”

Xi Xianqing observed the piece of glutinous rice lotus root in his bowl for a moment before gracefully picking it up with his chopsticks and quietly placing it into his mouth.

After a few more questions, Zhu Yingying added a spoonful of crab roe tofu to their plates and asked, “So, how do you… plan to handle the wedding?”

This question was for Xi Xianqing.

They had already agreed on the response, and Xi Xianqing replied flawlessly, “We don’t want to make it too extravagant. We’ve decided to hold a small ceremony and simply invite close family and friends for a meal.”

Zhu Yingying had no objections. “That’s good, that’s good.”

After eating a couple more bites, Zhu Yingying couldn’t hold back her curiosity any longer. “What about the future? Where do you plan to live ah?”

This sort of question fell into the “future plans” category and was supposed to be handled by Xi Xianqing.

But before he could speak, Zhu Ming jumped in with an answer, “Most of my work is done online, so it’s quite flexible. Unless something unexpected happens, we’ll likely move to District Six.”

Xi Xianqing: “…?”

Zhu Ming reached under the table and tapped on Xi Xianqing’s thigh, signaling that he would explain to him later.

Of course, Zhu Ming had no intention of actually living with Xi Xianqing. The main objective of their contract marriage was to provide him with a legitimate excuse to leave Zhu Yingying’s household.

Zhu Yingying’s expression became a mixture of emotions, caught somewhere between sadness and relief.

She pursed her lips and asked, “By the way, Xiao Xi, I read in the news that the assessment for the next representative of District Six is about to begin. Will your position… require you to travel frequently to other districts?”

Xi Xianqing put down his chopsticks and looked at Zhu Yingying: “Yes.”

Zhu Yingying: “When will it start? To which districts?”

Xi Xianqing replied, “It starts in a month. My grandfather has arranged for me to undergo inter-district assessments, starting with District Two, followed by District Four, and then District Seven, spending about two months in each.”

This time it was Zhu Ming’s turn to be completely at a loss: “…?”

Zhu Yingying sighed. “Aiya, that sounds exhausting. So… will you two be traveling together?”

Zhu Ming whipped his head around to look at Xi Xianqing, but the latter simply picked up his cup of warm tea and took a calm sip.

The next moment, Zhu Ming felt a gentle tap on the back of his hand under the table from Xi Xianqing, indicating that he would provide a reasonable explanation later.

Zhu Ming had long stopped keeping up with current affairs, and he was too lazy to read news of his own district, let alone news from a district as distant as District Six.

What assessments? What inter-district travel? Was he, as Xi Xianqing’s personal doctor, now expected to accompany him to every district? At this rate, his wheelchair might as well catch fire from overuse.

Then he heard Xi Xianqing’s calm response, “Yes, the Xi Family has a private jet, so inter-district travel won’t be too taxing. Everything will be arranged smoothly, please rest assured.”

“Good, good. “It’s your decision, and traveling to other districts will broaden your horizons. It’s definitely a good thing.”

Zhu Yingying’s expression became both wistful and sentimental as her thoughts drifted. “The position of a representative isn’t easy to secure ah. It’s always the most outstanding individuals from each district who fight tooth and nail for it. Back in the day, this brat Zhu Ming, in a district as competitive as District Seven, this kind of genius—”

“Aunt,” Zhu Ming interrupted gently, “I’m craving something sweet. Didn’t you say you made lotus seed soup today?”

“Oh, right, right. I’ll go get it.” Zhu Yingying snapped back to the present, offering them a smile before heading toward the kitchen. “I’ll be right back.”

The dining room fell into sudden silence. Xi Xianqing turned his head to glance at Zhu Ming.

“This glutinous rice lotus root is a bit too greasy. I think they added too much sugar.”

Zhu Ming didn’t respond verbally. He simply lowered his head, took another bite of the lotus root, and stuck out his tongue. “In a while, I’ll definitely need that lotus seed soup to balance out the sweetness.”

The lotus seed soup was light and refreshing. Zhu Ming finished his bowl in a few quick gulps and then sweetly asked for a second serving.

Xi Xianqing found it hard to put down his spoon after just two sips.

At Xi Family banquets, meals were served on long tables, meticulously prepared with exquisite dishes, and a lot of attention to detail. Given Xi Xianqing’s picky palate, he often finished such meals with an empty, cold stomach.

But today, something was different. Despite the simplicity of the home-cooked dishes on the table, he felt a strange, comforting warmth spreading through his chest as he ate.

For someone as restrained as Xi Xianqing when it came to food, it was surprising that today, without realizing it… he had eaten his fill.

After the meal, Zhu Yingying said, “The table will be cleaned up by someone. The moonlight is beautiful tonight. Why don’t you take Xiao Xi to the garden and show him the roses and climbing roses I planted?”

On the way to the garden, there was a small incline.

Having spent the entire evening in character, Xi Xianqing’s actions had become almost automatic. Without thinking, he placed his hands on Zhu Ming’s wheelchair handles and pushed him down the slope.

When he looked up, he saw Zhu Ming’s eyes curved into a smile, gazing at him warmly.

“Aiya, your conscience has been found la, Xianqing.” Zhu Ming teased.

“…” Xi Xianqing released his grip expressionlessly. “I see you’ve regained your strength after eating. You can handle yourself now.”

“You’ve really got quite the temper.” Zhu Ming chuckled, then added, “Alright la, let’s take a stroll in the garden.”

Under the clear, beautiful moonlight, the pink roses were in full bloom, their fragrance perfuming the air. Zhu Ming closed his eyes, taking a brief rest, his breaths slow and light as if he might drift off to sleep.

After Xi Xianqing had enjoyed the flowers for a while, he turned around and saw such a scene.

He paused, then quickly averted his gaze, searching for a topic to break the silence. “Earlier, I saw a rabbit in a cage in your living room.”

Zhu Ming kept his eyes closed. “The one in the cage in the living room? That’s my mom.”

Xi Xianqing: “…?”

“Well, to be precise, it’s a substitute for my mom’s spiritual manifestation.”

Zhu Ming explained, anticipating Xi Xianqing’s confusion. “My mom passed away early on. Both her and my aunt’s spirit guides were rabbits, so my aunt raised this one as a sort of keepsake.”

“Thinking about it, it’s not so bad to have a common spiritual manifestation, even if it means it looks like everyone else’s.” He added this with a playful tone.

Xi Xianqing was silent for a long time, “You clearly care deeply for your aunt. Why go through all the trouble of a contract marriage… just to leave her?”

“Because I love her and she loves me, so I know that the current me will only hold her back.”

Zhu Ming said, “That’s why I have to leave her.”

At first glance, his reasoning seemed illogical. Normally, loved ones would want to stay close and connected, but here Zhu Ming was determined to distance himself.

Yet, recalling Zhu Yingying who was busy at the dinner table, Xi Xianqing instantly understood the meaning behind Zhu Ming’s words.

A moment of silence settled, Xi Xianqing’s gaze drifted beyond the rose bushes. After a pause, he muttered, “Your aunt… she seems to be peeking at us.”

Zhu Ming was stunned and glanced up.

Sure enough, Zhu Yingying could be seen through the large floor-to-ceiling windows separating the living room from the garden. She was half-heartedly feeding the rabbit, all the while stealing glances in their direction, pretending to be casual about it.

“You see, she can’t let go at all.” Zhu Ming sighed with a bittersweet smile.

“Though I’ve troubled you enough for one day,” Zhu Ming straightened up his posture and exhaled in resignation, “But if you can, please do me one last favor.”

Xi Xianqing: “…What?”

Before he could react, he felt a sudden tug at his collar, and his body was pulled forward uncontrollably. “You—”

This wasn’t the first time today that Zhu Ming had grabbed him by the collar.

But Zhu Ming’s hand didn’t stop at his collar–it slid up to rest on Xi Xianqing’s Adam’s apple, tracing it slowly upward. His fingers gently mapped the sharp contour of Xi Xianqing’s jawline, finally coming to rest tenderly against his ear. With a soft touch, Zhu Ming cupped his face.

Then Zhu Ming lowered his eyes and pressed his face over.

From a distance, they appeared like lovers locked in an intimate, tender kiss. But only Xi Xianqing knew the truth: Zhu Ming’s lips hovered so close, almost touching yet maintaining just the faintest sliver of restraint.

Xi Xianqing’s entire body tensed up. Realizing this was merely an act for Zhu Yingying, he suppressed his instincts and refrained from pushing Zhu Ming away, though his jaw clenched tight. “…Zhu Ming.”

“En?”

“Do you have any sense of boundaries at all?”

“I really don’t.”

“Do you know that in District Six…”

“Unruly, uneducated, impolite, will be scolded, I know.”

“…I’m only going to act with you just this once.”

“Fine.”

“I’m adding it to the agreement. If there’s ever a next time, you have to give me advance notice.”

“Fine, I’ll listen to you. Let’s just stay like this for a little longer.”

Zhu Ming’s voice was extremely soft, and with each word, his warm breath brushed against Xi Xianqing’s cheek. “No one kisses this stiffly. Try to be a bit more convincing.”

Zhu Ming only wanted to enhance the realism of their act, unaware that his words were merely fanning the flames.

The handsome young man, whose expression was already far from pleasant, suddenly seemed to be holding something back. His breaths grew heavier. Without warning, he grabbed Zhu Ming’s wrist and, with a swift motion, pushed the wheelchair-bound man back forcefully—

Zhu Ming’s pupils trembled.

His back slammed against the wheelchair’s backrest, the fabric of his clothes rustling. The tips of their noses brushed together, and Zhu Ming felt a sharp pain along his jaw as Xi Xianqing’s hand seized his face, forcefully pulling him closer.

–The dominant party of this kissing scene changed in an instant.

“…You’re no better than me.”

His brows furrowed coldly, his demeanor commanding and condescending. But after staring at Zhu Ming for a moment, his jaw tightened as he slightly turned his face away. “Kisses don’t have to look the same every time. If we’re going to put on a show, at least make it somewhat believable.”

---

Author’s Notes:

The cunning fox who took things too far, and the furious peac0ck.

In the evening, in Xi Xianqing’s studio.

Xi Xianqing’s villa was located in an elegant, secluded, affluent area of District Six, designed personally by the Old Master Xi Jianfeng himself.

Xi Jianfeng never hid his affection for his grandson: the villa boasted spacious and comfortable living areas, a workspace with exceptional lighting, and a high-security vault, all meticulously considered to meet every need.

District Six had no shortage of talented jewelry designers, yet Xi Xianqing, young and low-key, stood out among Xi Jianfeng’s many heirs as the most talked-about.

His looks are one of the reasons, but his talent is also unrivaled.

Countless popular celebrities desired to wear his creations, but he adhered to his own stringent criteria for selecting clients, insisting on quality over quantity. His design team was small and elite, and he seldom collaborated with others.

Naturally, this arrogant style was often criticized.

However, every time a new piece he crafted was worn, industry professionals couldn’t resist examining the techniques he employed, inevitably succumbing to admiration for his talent and skill.

“Absolutely stunning.” Xu Rong touched the necklace on her chest, her smile brimming with delight. “My old man’s company’s annual meeting is next month. I’ve been looking forward to seeing the finished piece every day, and today, wearing it, I know it was worth the long drive here. You didn’t disappoint me one bit.”

Xu Rong’s spiritual manifestation was a luminous blue nocturnal pearl butterfly, fluttering happily on her shoulder.

She was originally from District Six but had married the head of a tech gaming company in District Four when she was young. She was known for her boldness and generosity, and since she frequently attended banquets and galas, she entrusted Xi Xianqing with designing jewelry for her entire family.

People from District Four embraced a lifestyle of enjoying life in a timely manner, and Xu Rong’s husband’s company was filled with trendy young people. Yet, Xu Rong couldn’t part with the traditional refined aesthetics of District Six. Finding the perfect jewelry that matched both her tastes and the occasions proved challenging.

Thus, when designing this necklace, Xi Xianqing primarily used crisp, geometric woven lines that intersected to highlight an unheated pear-cut sapphire at the center. In the end, he added a single irregularly shaped wild pearl, resulting in a piece that was bold and avant-garde yet retained an elegant, delicate beauty in its details.

“But you can’t take it with you today,” Xi Xianqing said, putting on gloves and carefully placing the necklace back in its box. “I still need to adjust the chain length.”

“Alright, alright, I’ll listen to you, you perfectionist,” Xu Rong laughed. “Ai, by the way, I heard that your District’s representative assessment is starting in two months. Aren’t your troublesome relatives… going to give you a headache again la?”

Xi Xianqing didn’t answer directly. “I’ll give it my all, and we’ll each rely on our own abilities.”

Xu Rong chuckled, playfully chiding him. “But once you’re busy, it’ll likely be for half a year. So, for my girl’s birthday party, are you telling me you won’t have anything ready this year?”

Though she sounded cheerful, wealthy women of her caliber rarely made such remarks purely in jest.

Xi Xianqing didn’t say anything but only nodded to Ye Lu behind her.

Ye Lu opened another case on the table, revealing a set of jewelry resting quietly inside.

“These are conch pearls I selected from the coastal areas of District Two. They’re the finest shades of peachy pink and deep pink.”

Xi Xianqing said, “But the young lady might prefer traditional gemstones, so I also prepared a playful Padparadscha sapphire as an alternative. Even if I’m not in District Six, the designs and samples will be closely managed by the team’s designers.”

Unlike traditional pearls cultured artificially within mother shells, the cultivation of conch pearls cannot be artificially controlled. Their extended maturation period further adds to their extreme rarity. Xu Rong gazed at the conch pearls, each with a fine, flame-like pattern, all flawless in color and saturation—either meticulously selected or won at auction.

She was ecstatic. “Aiya, you’re really. Why did you sneakily prepare so many? Quickly bring it closer, let me take a good look.”

Ye Lu was about to step forward, but since Xi Xianqing was already wearing gloves, he waved a hand, indicating he’d handle it himself.

But he didn’t expect that the next moment, the phone on the desktop would start to vibrate.

Xu Rong was in a good mood and said, “It’s okay, don’t delay your business, pick it up.”

Xi Xianqing hesitated briefly, concerned it might be the caretaker calling about Xi Mufei, so he removed one glove to answer, while his other hand held one of the best-quality conch pearls from the box.

Normally, Xi Xianqing’s hands were exceptionally steady, able to carve intricate facets on gemstones, so holding a pearl of small weight wasn’t an issue.

However, just two seconds after answering the call, Xi Xianqing’s pupils trembled, and his hand shook unexpectedly!

Fortunately, he quickly regained his composure, firmly clasping the conch pearl in his palm before it could fall onto the carpet and get scratched. Mrs. Xu, standing beside him, clutched her chest and gasped, “That was close!”

And the person from the other end of the line, a voice as clear as it was gentle came through—

“Dear, are you busy?”

Hearing no response from Xi Xianqing, the other side’s breathing paused for a moment, then continued in a soft, intimate tone, “It’s me. I miss you. Why don’t you come over this weekend and have a meal with me?”

Ever since Zhu Ming’s accident, the Zhu Family’s villa had rarely been lively.

When Zhu Ming was bedridden and recovering, the numerous servants often whispered about it in private. Upon discovering this, Zhu Yingying was furious, dismissing most of them and keeping only a few to handle cooking and cleaning.

During that time, Zhu Ming’s health was so frail that he would often fall asleep for an entire day. Zhu Yingying handed her work over to her subordinates and spent her days by his bedside, waiting anxiously for him to wake.

She took care of Zhu Ming to the point of being a bit neurotic. Naturally, Zhu Ming had argued with her over it, feeling that Zhu Yingying’s constant hovering only reinforced his own sense of uselessness.

He urged Zhu Yingying to go back to managing the company, to go on dates with that District One officer pursuing her, and to live her own life.

But each time he broached the subject, Zhu Yingying’s tears would flow as suddenly as a floodgate opening.

Eventually, Zhu Ming realized that he had already accepted his inability to walk, but it wasn’t him who couldn’t move on—it was Zhu Yingying.

This time, although Xi Xianqing was only coming over for a simple home-cooked meal, Zhu Yingying still arranged for a private chef from District Two to come and prepare the food.

Full of enthusiasm, she instructed the chef, “Today’s guest is from District Six, so the tastes are different from ours in District Seven. Let’s add an extra dish, a light lotus seed soup.”

Zhu Ming watched the lively bustle in the kitchen, with Zhu Yingying moving back and forth. For a moment, he felt as if he were in a dream.

The villa’s doorbell rang and Zhu Ming’s thoughts drifted back.

Guiding his wheelchair to the door, Zhu Ming opened it to find himself face-to-face with Xi Xianqing’s dark green eyes.

The call back then had been hasty.

Especially since Zhu Ming opened with “Dear, I miss you,” which likely gave the person on the other end quite a shock. Five seconds later, he could hear only the faintest sound of breathing.

The call was on speaker, and though it had connected, the other end remained silent for a long time, causing Zhu Yingying’s expression to turn increasingly puzzled.

Feeling a mixture of anxiety and guilt that he died, Zhu Ming gritted his teeth slightly and forced a stiff smile, saying, “Say something, dear. Are you free this Sunday?”

Zhu Ming intentionally used the most cloying and affectionate tone, hoping that Xi Xianqing would catch on quickly.

The person on the other end finally seemed to grasp what was happening “…Can.”

Relieved, Zhu Ming responded in a gentle tone, “Alright, I’ll send you the address later. Goodnight?”

“…Good night.”

Zhu Ming hung up the phone almost instantly.

“He’s always like this.”

Covering his phone, he smiled at Zhu Yingying with flawless composure, “Not much of a talker, very reserved.”

Now, back in the present.

Zhu Ming stared at the impeccably dressed young man before him, tall and broad-shouldered like a supermodel on a runway. “Mr. Xiao Xi, this is my home, not your District Six high fashion week.”

A faint blush appeared at the tips of Xi Xianqing’s ears. “You insisted I dress formally when meeting your family.”

“I meant not to wear a T-shirt—”

Zhu Ming paused briefly, rubbing his temples. “My mistake. Thinking about it, you probably don’t even own clothes like that.”

His gaze shifted slightly to the line of bodyguards behind Xi Xianqing, and he asked, “Are you planning to rob my house?”

Xi Xianqing’s expression grew irritated. “At that time, it was also you who said to prepare a gift.”

After looking closely, only now did Zhu Ming realize that each bodyguard was holding an exquisitely wrapped gift box, giving him a headache. “I just meant don’t come empty-handed. This setup… were you planning to celebrate the New Year?”

From childhood to adulthood, Xi Xianqing had attended countless jewelry shows and elite auctions but had never actually been a guest in someone else’s home.

It was at this moment that he finally, belatedly, realized he might have gone a bit overboard with his preparations.

Caught between embarrassment and frustration, Xi Xianqing clenched his jaw and said coldly to the people behind him, “Leave the fruit and pastries. As for the rest, take it all back.”

But then Zhu Ming spoke up, pointing to a specific item in one of the bodyguards’ hands. “Wait, what’s in that little wooden box?”

Xi Xianqing paused. “It’s a five-tooth comb made of purple sandalwood with magnolia carvings. If you don’t want it, I’ll have them take it back as well.”

The comb’s price shouldn’t be excessive. Observing the delicate carvings on the packaging, Zhu Ming thought it might actually be an appropriate gift.

In a gentle tone, he addressed the bodyguard behind Xi Xianqing, “Please leave that one as well. Thank you.”

Xi Xianqing didn’t say anything, but his face softened a bit.

As the line of bodyguards cleared out from the doorway, Zhu Ming could finally take a much-needed breath of relief.

He looked Xi Xianqing up and down, scrutinizing his outfit for a moment before gesturing him over. “Come a bit closer.”

With a stony expression, Xi Xianqing cast him a sidelong glance and reluctantly inclined his head slightly.

Still not quite close enough, Zhu Ming simply raised his hand, placing his index finger on Xi Xianqing’s tie, then giving it a slight tug—

The distance between them narrowed instantly, and Xi Xianqing heard Zhu Ming’s soft voice. “Thank you for everything you prepared. It’s exquisite and very thoughtful.”

Xi Xianqing’s body stalled.

“It’s just that the ring and lab pod you sent have already put my aunt under a fair amount of pressure. If that mountain of gifts actually made it through my door today, she’d probably scold me to death.”

Tracing the edge of the silk tie with his fingers, Zhu Ming contemplated how to undo it. “No one’s ever put this much care into preparing something for me before. Even if you’re simply fulfilling a term of our agreement, I still wanted to say thank you.”

“People from District Six would never be disrespectful in their manners.”

After a moment of silence, Xi Xianqing spoke. “If you truly understand the trouble you caused me today, then please let me see, sooner rather than later, the value you can bring as a doctor.”

“That’s natural.”

Zhu Ming, not particularly skilled at undoing ties, gave it another tug. “But as for this tie, let’s leave it off tonight. It’s just a family dinner—let’s keep it casual.”

Xi Xianqing stumbled slightly from the pull. “…!”

When attending major events, District Six media always enjoyed analyzing Xi Xianqing’s attire and accessories, using it as a predictor for upcoming fashion trends.

His taste was never questioned, let alone anyone daring to touch his clothes.

Yet his mind had been thrown off balance by Zhu Ming’s sincere words of thanks, and now, with their close proximity, Xi Xianqing’s gaze could only settle on Zhu Ming’s fine, duck-feather thin eyelashes, leading down to his delicate, refined nose.

With his gaze frozen and unsure where to land, he actually forgot to stop Zhu Ming’s hands from undoing the tie.

“By the way, a cough means you’re to go along with my act, and tapping my leg means not to speak up or object.”

Zhu Ming didn’t notice Xi Xianqing’s expression while untying the knot in his hand, he reminded, “Remember?”

Seeing Xi Xianqing’s silence, Zhu Ming tugged at the half-undone tie and tilted his head, asking, “The signals we agreed on last night—don’t tell me you forgot?”

“…Zhu Ming,” Xi Xianqing murmured, his eyes downcast, voice hoarse, “you’d better be able to cure me soon.”

“Then play along with me tonight.” With a smile in his eyes, Zhu Ming smoothed out Xi Xianqing’s collar. “In return, I’ll naturally give it my all for you in the future.”

---

Author’s Note:

The little fox would never know that his single line, “Dear, I miss you,” nearly cost the big peac0ck two top-of-the-line lab pods ^_^