[Research Subject]: Dish Soap

[Anomalous Symptoms in Spiritual Manifestation]: Congenital inability to manipulate tail feathers.

[Reason for Current Record]: The first tail feather fluctuation was observed, lasting approximately three seconds without medical intervention.

[Cause of Fluctuation]: Unknown.

After a brief pause, Zhu Ming crossed out the word “Unknown” on the light screen and replaced it with: “Preliminary hypothesis suggests it was caused by a rapid emotional fluctuation triggered by external sensory stimulation.”

—He then added a large question mark beside it.

He turned to Xi Xianqing, sitting next to him, and asked once again, “So, when you were at the bathroom door, did you feel anything unusual in your body? Like a racing heartbeat ya, dizziness ah, or—”

Xi Xianqing looked out the car window and calmly denied, “No.”

Zhu Ming clicked his tongue and lowered his head to update the record: “The patient is uncooperative in reconstructing the scenario. Continuous observation is necessary. The use of a small amount of spiritual perception activator can be considered.”

At this moment, they were en route to their accommodations at a hotel in District Two.

It had been a week since the incident at the bathroom door where Dish Soap’s tail was observed shaking.

Although it was merely a slight twitch of the feathers at the buttocks and still far from full control, even a faint fluctuation signified a potential research direction for Zhu Ming in the future.

On top of this observation, several other noteworthy events happened over the past week.

For instance, they got a certificate.

A few days before they went through the formalities at the Civil Affairs Bureau in District Six, they even had a small verbal altercation.

“This ring, I really can’t accept it.” Zhu Ming said, returning the moonstone ring—nearly the size of a quail egg—to Xi Xianqing. “Thank you for the gesture, but its mission as a prop to convince my aunt of our deep love has been accomplished. Now, it should return to its rightful owner.”

At that time, Xi Xianqing was drafting a design. He glanced up briefly before returning his gaze to the design in front of him. “No need to be sentimental. It’s not something significant enough for me to consider as sacrificing anything.”

Zhu Ming wore a look that said, I’ve got you figured out. “Come on, my aunt even consulted an expert she knows. They said if this were put up for auction in District Six, it would fetch at least 200,000 Xi Star coins at market value.”

Xi Xianqing’s expression remained calm as he didn’t even bother to look up. “And? Moonstones aren’t rare. This one doesn’t even reach 8ct1Carat. and has some cotton wool. It’s hardly a masterpiece.”

“…Anyway, just take it back. I feel like wearing it for even a second is shaving years off my life.”

Arguing with these rich people for two seconds made Zhu Ming’s head hurt. “Besides, wedding rings are supposed to come in pairs. Me wearing something flashy alone doesn’t make any sense even if it’s gorgeous.”

This reasoning seemed reasonable. Xi Xianqing didn’t insist, casually tossing the ring onto the table beside him. “What do you want to do?”

“Don’t worry, I’m prepared.”

Zhu Ming slammed a shopping bag onto Xi Xianqing’s desk with a dramatic flourish, causing the white fox at his feet to sway its large tail triumphantly. “Take a look.”

Xi Xianqing silently watched as Zhu Ming pulled out two small boxes from the shopping bag.

“Two days ago, Zhou Zhou and I went shopping, and I specifically picked out a pair of wedding rings. We can wear them for the photo on the day we get the certificate.”

Zhu Ming slid one of the plain rings onto his ring finger, then shoved his hand in front of Xi Xianqing’s face with a big grin. “What do you think? Isn’t it super understated and elegant?”

“There’s no way I’m wearing this kind of thing.”

Xi Xianqing’s face was too unsightly. “And rings are all about proper sizing. You didn’t even bother to ask me for mine.”

Zhu Ming: “…What do you mean by that? The store clerk said this is 18k gold. Plus, it’s not like you’ve been free these past few days to take measurements since you’ve been busy preparing for your assessment. Anyway, Zhou Zhou’s only slightly shorter than you, and his build is pretty similar.”

Xi Xianqing rejected him outright: “Not wearing it.”

Zhu Ming pushed the box closer. “Aiya, don’t you usually love wearing all those shiny accessories? I’m giving you one now—just try it first.”

Xi Xianqing’s disdain was undisguised as if touching the ring would give him an allergic reaction.

He raised the fine-liner pen in his hand, the tip of its barrel pointed toward Zhu Ming’s face, and said coldly, “First of all, this thing can only be called an accessory, not jewelry. It’s not even worthy of being called an accessory, let alone having anything to do with art.”

Zhu Ming blinked.

Xi Xianqing glanced at the ring again and criticized it without mercy. “And it’s still this kind of rotten street-style design. It’s just a factory mold product.”

“You people from District Six and your ridiculous standards… What do you suggest then? We’ll get the certificate in three days. Am I supposed to wear a giant diamond the size of a pigeon egg while your hand stays empty? Do you think that’s reasonable?”

Zhu Ming couldn’t argue with him. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him. “How about you modify it?”

Although Xi Xianqing’s brows remained furrowed, he didn’t immediately dismiss the idea.

Zhu Ming’s eyes lit up, sensing an opportunity.

He raised his hand, gently clasping the fine-liner pen that Xi Xianqing was holding, and leaned in to close the distance between them. “I know, Big Designer Xi, you have plenty of clients. But if your kind heart could make an exception and bump me up in the queue to personally tweak our wedding rings just a little bit…”

After a pause, Xi Xianqing withdrew the pen from Zhu Ming’s hand. “I’ve been very busy lately.”

Zhu Ming blinked.

“…But it’s not impossible to find some time,” Xi Xianqing added after a long silence, his eyes still focused on the designs before him. “I can give it a try.”

He said he’d try, but to Zhu Ming’s surprise, he really followed through.

On the morning of their registration day, Zhu Ming received the finished rings.

“Just casually changed it,” Xi Xianqing said, pushing the ring box back toward Zhu Ming.

Xi Xianqing’s tone carried a clear ‘wear it if you want, don’t if you don’t’ attitude. With only two days left, Zhu Ming hadn’t expected much. However, the moment he opened the box, his breath caught.

Zhu Ming’s eyes widened as he murmured, “How did it turn into a ring?”

Xi Xianqing seemed somewhat pleased with his reaction and said calmly, “Look closer.”

Zhu Ming inspected it carefully and finally noticed the difference.

The two plain bands had been transformed. One side of each band was reshaped into a delicate and flowing wave pattern. The curves were designed so that the rings could interlock perfectly, forming what appeared to be a single, complete ring when joined together.

At the center of each ring was a small, grain-sized blue diamond. The modification stripped away the original dullness of the bands, replacing it with gentle, wave-like contours. The design, accented by the tiny, sparkling blue diamonds, resembled serene ocean waters shimmering under the light.

The interlocking curves brought the concept of a wedding band to life.

Zhu Ming, who didn’t understand art, could vaguely understand why Xi Xianqing had looked so insulted when he first presented the plain bands. The difference was staggering. For the first time, Zhu Ming truly grasped the distinction between a mere product and a genuine work of art.

Most importantly, the pale blue gemstone was small enough to relieve Zhu Ming’s earlier worries.

“I really like it,” he said earnestly, exhaling in relief. “It’s beautiful. Thank you.”

He heard Xi Xianqing reply with a nonchalant ‘en.’ “Let’s go.”

As they got into the car, Ye Lu’s gaze caught on Zhu Ming’s ring.

The moment she noticed the blue diamond, her eyes widened slightly. She raised her head to look at Xi Xianqing.

Seeing his usual indifferent expression, she composed herself and smiled. “Most of the formalities have already been done. Let’s go to the Civil Affairs Bureau and take a photo.”

The registration process in District Six was indeed simple—stamp the documents, take a photo, exchange rings, and receive the marriage certificate. Zhu Ming also took a photo in time to share it with Zhu Yingqing.

The marriage was considered a done deal.

Now, back to the present—they were en route to District Two.

Both of them, this pair of newlywed “fake lovebirds,” had challenging missions ahead: Xi Xianqing needed to spend the next two months striving to fulfill his dream of becoming a representative; Zhu Ming also had to do everything he could to find a way to make the fur on the butt of this future representative’s spiritual manifestation stand up.

District Two was a renowned gourmet vacation destination, often referred to as a “paradise on earth” where mountains and seas coexisted. Its agriculture and fisheries were highly developed, and its tourism and cultural industries were the ultimate in overall volume.

The existence of the ocean blocked the connection between District Two from other districts, so they had no choice but to take the Xi Family’s private plane to travel.

Upon landing, the current representative’s team in District Two warmly greeted and transported them. The hospitality was exceptional, with fresh flowers adorning their welcome drinks and snacks, showcasing the distinctive flair of the culinary district.

Sitting in the car, Zhu Ming gazed at the scenery outside the window. “I’ve always wanted to ask—your District Six’s internal assessment process, why are representatives from other districts willing to act as judges and join this massive play of yours?”

His choice of words was so outrageous that Xi Xianqing’s expression shifted slightly. “The Xi Family maintains close connections with other districts every year. Architecture, fashion, and industrial design are all collaborative fields. While it’s called an assessment, it’s essentially a form of diplomatic exchange.”

Zhu Ming nodded thoughtfully.

At the same time, he didn’t forget to make the most of their time in the car to fulfill his duties as a personal doctor. “Let Dish Soap out for a moment—I need to make some observations.”

The car’s privacy was excellent, and Xi Xianqing seemed to have gradually grown accustomed to revealing his spiritual manifestation in front of Zhu Ming. Without much fuss, he uncharacteristically let out the green peac0ck.

Xi Xianqing was flipping through a magazine when he heard the person beside him say, “Look over here.”

Lifting his head, Xi Xianqing found Zhu Ming holding up a holographic screen, his expression unusually serious as he stared at Xi Xianqing’s face.

However, the content on the screen was far from solemn—sunshine, waves, coconut trees, and a bikini-clad beauty flashing a bold wink at him. The title read: Winner of the 78th Xi Star Beauty Pageant.

Xi Xianqing: “…?”

Zhu Ming wasn’t actually looking at Xi Xianqing’s face. His eyes were locked on Dish Soap’s tail feathers. When he observed no movement, he let out a frustrated hiss. “Why is there no reaction at all anymore?”

Xi Xianqing couldn’t bear it anymore, “What exactly are you doing?”

“Conducting sensory stimulation on you when you’re unguarded to identify the trigger for Dish Soap’s tail-feather tremor last time.”

Zhu Ming retracted the light screen casually and jotted down his findings. “We can now rule out that ordinary visual stimulation is ineffective, so the cause of the fluctuation must lie elsewhere.”

Xi Xianqing averted his eyes in irritation.

The person beside him stopped for less than five minutes before Zhu Ming spoke again. “Look over here.”

Xi Xianqing took a deep breath.

Although Xi Xianqing had already braced himself for something ridiculous, the moment he turned his head, he couldn’t help but feel his eyes twitch—Zhu Ming had ditched the beauty queen this time and was now holding up a photo of a muscular male fitness model that he found somewhere.

Zhu Ming’s expression was filled with genuine concern as he earnestly asked, “Feeling anything this time?”

Xi Xianqing finally couldn’t stand it anymore and yanked the light screen out of Zhu Ming’s hands with a grim expression.

Zhu Ming froze before he stretched out his arm, trying to snatch it back. “Wait, I’ve got a couple of GIFs saved on the site—I haven’t tested those yet.”

Xi Xianqing’s calm façade cracked completely. “Can you stop for even a second?”

Zhu Ming: “Just give it back to me first. My observation record isn’t set to autosave—”

He probed over and stretched out his arm, wanting to snatch back his light screen.

His fingertips were just a hair’s breadth away from the edge of the screen, but in the next instant, the driver suddenly slammed on the brakes—

In the blink of an eye, Zhu Ming lost his balance, falling heavily onto Xi Xianqing’s lap!

What was worse, his legs gave way entirely, and the momentum caused him to pitch forward, his head hurtling dangerously close to the backrest of the front seat.

Startled, Xi Xianqing reacted swiftly, extending a hand to block Zhu Ming’s fall and pulling him back into his arms.

The good news was that Xi Xianqing’s quick reflexes prevented Zhu Ming from flying headfirst into the seat.

The bad news was that because Xi Xianqing had reached out to pull him back, Zhu Ming ended up crashing into his chest, the tip of his nose hitting his chest.

Zhu Ming winced and let out a muffled “wu.”

Xi Xianqing held his shoulders, “…Are you alright?”

He was far from alright—it hurt like hell. Mainly because the sharp pain radiating from his nose, an organ so intricately connected to the eyes, left him on the verge of tears.

Clutching his nose with watery eyes, Zhu Ming looked up in disbelief. “No, seriously—this coat of yours… The buttons are lethal ah. How are they so ridiculously hard ah?”

Xi Xianqing looked down and felt that he was being completely irrational: “Buttons are supposed to be hard.”

Not to mention these were high-grade, wear-resistant rhinoceros horn buttons—Xi Xianqing didn’t say this out loud.

His head felt like it was about to explode, and Zhu Ming couldn’t recover for a moment. “No, it hurts that I feel like dying…. Don’t move me yet.”

Curled up on Xi Xianqing’s lap, his face buried in his hands. Xi Xianqing couldn’t see his state. He frowned and reached out to gently lift Zhu Ming’s chin. “Move your hands. Let me take a look.”

In the midst of chaos, the car door on Xi Xianqing’s side was suddenly pulled open by someone from the outside!

Immediately after, a passionate voice could be heard, “Mr. Xi, Mr. Zhu, welcome to District Two!”

The moment the door opened, the enthusiastic smile on the lobby manager Li Shun’s face came to an abrupt end.

Li Shun, the esteemed lobby manager of a luxurious resort in District Two, was burdened with the heavy responsibility of personally welcoming the grandson of District Six’s current representative for an assessment visit.

District Two and District Six had long enjoyed close trade relations, and this Young Master Xi might be the future representative of District Six. Arriving with his newlywed partner this time, it was only natural that their reception had to be impeccable.

Having heard of the intricate etiquette expected of District Six elites, Li Shun had stationed himself at the resort’s entrance. Opening the car door himself was just one of many gestures he considered essential for proper service.

However, the moment he opened the door, the sight was unforgettable.

Two people.

One seated upright, the other sprawled across his lap.

One with disheveled hair, the other with slightly reddened eyes.

One gripping the other’s chin, the other clutching at his collar.

As the door swung open, both Xi Xianqing and Zhu Ming turned to look in Li Shun’s direction.

Xi Xianqing wordlessly inhaled sharply, striving to regain his composure as he straightened up. “…”

Meanwhile, Zhu Ming, still lying across Xi Xianqing’s lap and clutching his nose, weakly croaked, “It’s not what you think…”

It doesn’t matter if he doesn’t open his mouth, once he does, his voice, tinged with a hoarse rasp and paired with his tear-brimmed eyes, only served to add fuel to the fire.

Li Shun was silent for a moment, then he weakly closed the car door again.

“W-Welcome, you two, to District Two.”

Li Shun, displaying utmost professionalism, turned his back to them. His voice feigned nonchalance, but there was some slight tremble coming from outside the door. “No need to rush, take your time… finish up whatever you’re busy with first. There’s no hurry; we can check in later.”

It seemed there was no need to have the kitchen prepare too many welcome treats after all.

Li Shun thought numbly, Ah, youth—such boundless energy ah. The future representative of District Six must have already had his fill on the way here.

Author’s notes:

Our little fox is absolutely delicious!

There’s one more chapter coming~

Jie Jie: Sorry a day late! Been busy lately since our Christmas Party at work will be this Friday, had to prepare some things :blobcry:

Thanks for understanding!