The driver’s abrupt braking nearly gave Zhu Ming a nose injury and almost caused a dent in Xi Xianqing’s reputation as well.

The two awkwardly straightened their clothes before getting out of the car again.

Fortunately, both Li Shun and the welcoming staff from District Two were professionally trained. They maintained calm and composed expressions throughout, expertly guiding the pair to check in as if nothing had happened.

“Although our district is best known for its culinary culture, the mountain and sea views are also quite remarkable.”

Li Shun introduced enthusiastically. “While the seaside is lively, the restaurant where our representative earned a star last year is nestled in the mountains. So, we’ve arranged a private villa in the mountain resort for you two. Firstly, to facilitate commuting. Secondly, to provide Mr. Xi with a tranquil environment for creative work during the assessment period.”

Xi Xianqing said, “Miss Shen has been very considerate.”

Li Shun flashed a row of gleaming white teeth. “It’s our pleasure. This way, please.”

After a brief introduction to the villa’s layout, Li Shun finally led them to the master bedroom, his smile suddenly turning mysterious.

“Our representative heard about your recent marriage and specifically instructed us to decorate the master bedroom for you. Wishing you both a happy wedding,” he said.

Xi Xianqing stared silently at the bed covered with vibrant rose petals and said nothing.

Zhu Ming glanced at the towels folded into kissing swans and hesitated to speak.

“Your luggage will be delivered shortly. Oh, right,” Li Shun suddenly remembered something. “I noticed there’s a large lab pod—is that also yours?”

Zhu Ming: “It’s mine.”

Though Li Shun had done his homework in advance and knew Zhu Ming was from District Seven, he hadn’t expected such a textbook stereotype: a District Seven native so devoted to research that even on a honeymoon, they brought along their equipment.

Still, he maintained his professionalism. “No problem. I’ll have someone move it to the backyard for you.”

“Mr. Xi,” Li Shun turned back to Xi Xianqing, “since you’re meeting with our representative tomorrow, let me go over the detailed schedule for the day with you now.”

While they discussed matters, Zhu Ming maneuvered his wheelchair to explore the spacious villa.

The resort was tucked away in serene, undulating mountains, surrounded by fresh air. The villa itself was fully equipped with all amenities. As Zhu Ming wheeled around, he even discovered a guest bedroom in one corner.

The jolt from the car ride had left his nose feeling slightly sore. Raising a hand to rub the tip of his nose, Zhu Ming tilted his head back to stare at the ceiling, taking a moment to recover.

As his mind wandered, a pair of indifferent, dark green eyes suddenly appeared in his view.

Zhu Ming blinked in slight surprise and sat up. “Did he leave?”

Xi Xianqing looked over at him and let out an “en”.

“Don’t worry. There’s a guest room in the corner.”

The couple-themed suite, adorned with sweet decorations, was undeniably awkward. Zhu Ming promptly shared his discovery. “I can stay there. That way, we each have a room to ourselves.”

Xi Xianqing didn’t respond, merely casting him a brief glance before turning back to the living room to organize the clothes in his suitcase.

Unable to gauge what Xi Xianqing was thinking, Zhu Ming assumed he was thin-skinned—still awkward after being seen in that compromising position on the car ride earlier.

Not one to make things awkward, he took his luggage to the guest room and rested for a while.

When he woke up in the evening, the resort staff had already set up a candlelit dinner on the dining table.

Since Xi Xianqing had stayed holed up in his room, Zhu Ming enjoyed the candlelight dinner by himself.

True to its reputation as the pinnacle of cultural tourism, District Two’s hospitality was impeccable. The meal was exquisite, with even the plating featuring unique floral designs for each dish.

The dessert was a generously sized, heart-shaped strawberry mousse.

Feeling it would be a bit rude to eat the whole thing, Zhu Ming carefully sliced the heart down the middle and saved half for Xi Xianqing, placing it in the refrigerator.

However, even by dusk, Xi Xianqing’s door remained firmly shut.

Driven by his “responsibility to his patient” mindset, Zhu Ming wheeled himself to the door before bed. After some deliberation, he figured that this person’s mood must have improved at least slightly by now, so he raised his hand and knocked twice.

A few seconds later, the door opened.

Xi Xianqing’s collar was open with two buttons. Behind him, the desk was cluttered with scattered manuscripts. He stood silently, gazing at Zhu Ming’s face.

Judging by his expression, Zhu Ming realized he had miscalculated—his mood hadn’t improved much at all.

Zhu Ming gestured toward the medical kit in his hand.

“Don’t worry, I’ve learned my lesson. I won’t use weird images to harass you anymore.”

Zhu Ming sighed softly. “But since you’re meeting the District Two representative tomorrow, you’ll likely be busy. So, I was wondering… could I draw some blood in advance for basic tests?”

Xi Xianqing stared at him for a moment before stepping aside to let him in.

Once seated, Zhu Ming donned gloves, disinfected his hands, and retrieved a tourniquet and blood-drawing needle from his medical kit.

“Roll up your sleeve and clench your fist,” Zhu Ming instructed. “By the way, can you bring out Dish Soap for me to take a look?”

Xi Xianqing glanced up, his expression wary. “What are you up to again?”

“Just want to take a look,” Zhu Ming replied innocently. “I’ve disinfected my hands, and my light screen is in my guest room. I promise I won’t bother you with any weird stuff again.”

Xi Xianqing said nothing. A few seconds later, the green peac0ck slowly materialized at his feet.

The room fell into silence as Zhu Ming skillfully carried out the routine venous blood draw. However, at the moment the needle pierced the vein, he cast a quick glance at Dish Soap by Xi Xianqing’s feet.

The large peac0ck remained motionless, its tail feathers perfectly still.

As expected. He sighed in his mind.

Even the pain stimulus didn’t cause the feathers to move. What, then, had triggered the reaction he’d observed at the bathroom door… the other day?

“Relax your fist,” Zhu Ming said, withdrawing the needle and pressing a cotton ball to the puncture site. “All done.”

After placing the blood sample back into his kit, Zhu Ming looked up to see Xi Xianqing already standing, pressing his arm as he walked toward the desk behind him.

Zhu Ming felt that the gesture seemed to convey, “That’s the end of our conversation. I’m going back to work.”

He didn’t want to stay. Zhu Ming tidied up the table and prepared to leave.

But as his gaze inadvertently fell on the large green peac0ck at his feet, Zhu Ming froze in place.

“Can I trouble you to explain to me,” Zhu Ming asked after a moment of contemplation, “what’s going on with Dish Soap?”

Xi Xianqing paused mid-step but didn’t turn around. “What?”

Zhu Ming continued to stare at the large green peac0ck on the ground, “Maybe take a look yourself?”

During the blood draw, he had been focused solely on observing the tail feathers for any movement. He hadn’t noticed that the once proud and majestic peac0ck from this morning had somehow slumped into the shape of a listless, crouching hen with its rear end sticking out.

Xi Xianqing looked back and was also stunned.

In the next instant, the peac0ck’s glowing outline began to blur. Zhu Ming raised his voice. “No, no, don’t be so quick to withdraw it. What’s going on here?”

Xi Xianqing didn’t say anything.

Zhu Ming fixed his gaze on him. “If it’s about the images in the car and you’re still angry, then I’ll take this opportunity to apologize to you right here.”

Zhu Ming rarely wore a face without a smile, but he felt this was a matter that needed to be addressed immediately.

Xi Xianqing’s chest rose and fell slightly. “I’m not angry with you.”

Zhu Ming assumed he was just being stubborn. “But as a doctor, I’m simply exploring viable treatment options. If I had another chance, I’d still try every method to provoke Dish Soap’s tail feathers into moving.”

“I’m really not angry with you.” Xi Xianqing turned his face away, his voice so faint it was nearly inaudible. “I’m… just a little nervous.”

Zhu Ming didn’t immediately register the statement and continued his own train of thought. “And since you’ve asked me to be your personal doctor, you’re obligated to communicate with me—wait, what did you just say?”

Zhu Ming was silent for a few brief seconds, “You? Nervous?”

Xi Xianqing’s expression remained taut.

Zhu Ming’s expression was thoughtful. “You’re nervous?”

He repeated the question so many times that Xi Xianqing finally couldn’t bear it and he turned back, glaring at him.

Zhu Ming’s thoughts churned, but his expression stayed calm. “What’s going on? Want to talk about it?”

The large peac0ck remained huddled on the ground, its neck retracting slightly as it feebly edged closer to Zhu Ming’s feet.

Unable to control his embarrassingly submissive spiritual manifestation, Xi Xianqing forced himself to look away. “Tomorrow’s assessment I think…I might not be ready for it.”

Since the beginning of his career, Xi Xianqing had organized countless large-scale exhibitions and jewelry shows, excelling in management, planning, and execution. He had calmly handled unexpected situations calmly.

He had also encountered clients with extremely tricky demands, but in the end, he was always able to rely on his talent and skills to successfully resolve the challenges and deliver results that exceeded perfection.

However, this assessment by the District Two representative was entirely different because his target audience… had no inherent need for jewelry.

This meant that, unlike the “show-stopping necklace for a banquet” or the “birthday party gift for a daughter” commissions given by Madam Xu, this time, there was no predefined theme.

To create a piece that would resonate emotionally and gain recognition, he had to start from scratch—delve into the life story of this District Two representative and unearth inspiration.

Designer’s professional skills were secondary. The real challenge lay in his ability to communicate well and interpret unspoken nuances which became the first difficult point of the examination.

And therein… was exactly the field that Xi Xianqing was least good at.

Zhu Ming was silent for a moment before asking, “What’s the process of the assessment?”

Xi Xianqing glanced up in mild surprise, apparently not expecting him to take an interest in this topic.

“My grandfather’s requirement is a two-month timeframe. During the first month, I can meet with the representative three times to discuss and exchange design ideas.”

Xi Xianqing said, “The last month is reserved for refining the piece, submitting the final work, and taking a commemorative photo. That’s the complete process.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he frowned and added, “But representatives are different from clients because—”

He paused, unsure how to explain his difficulty to Zhu Ming.

However, Zhu Ming nodded and hit the nail on the head, “The problem is that, unlike clients who actively seek you out with specific requests, District Two’s representative has no demand for jewelry.”

“You’re worried your lack of social skills will make it hard to connect with the representative, uncover her needs, and find relevant inspiration?” he asked.

Xi Xianqing was stunned and nodded.

“That’s why the first side of the bargaining tomorrow will be very important.” He said hoarsely.

Zhu Ming nodded. “So, what’s your plan?”

“I’ve looked at some District Two representative’s interviews, most of them are about her restaurant, and they don’t give any hint of her aesthetic preferences.”

He hesitated before pushing a tray filled with gemstones toward Zhu Ming. “I’ve only managed to prepare some loose stones in advance, hoping she’ll choose one, so I can get a sense of her preferences.”

Zhu Ming glanced at the tray. “Are these rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and… oddly colored pearls?”

“…” Xi Xianqing regretted placing any hope in this man. “Pigeon’s blood ruby, aquamarine, peridot, and opal.”

Raising an eyebrow, Zhu Ming withdrew his gaze. “I think, since the first meeting is so critical, you shouldn’t dive straight into talking about jewelry.”

“To build rapport and understand her personality and interests, you need to become her friend.”

Smiling, Zhu Ming continued, “Start the conversation with something from her area of expertise. A dish, a cup of tea—those could be great icebreakers.”

Xi Xianqing frowned. “But I didn’t want to make friends in the first place.”

Zhu Ming: “But people didn’t need your jewelry in the first place.”

Xi Xianqing’s expression turned icy. He wanted to argue but had to concede that Zhu Ming made a valid point. Pressing his lips together, he murmured, “But what if I can’t get her to talk at all?”

“You can talk about jewelry, but leave it for the end. You want to show that your primary goal is to make a connection, not to finish an assignment,” Zhu Ming said.

“Moreover, District Two’s representative is probably an outsider to the jewelry industry, just like me.”

Zhu Ming thought for a moment, “So when introducing, stick to straightforward terms like color ah or rarity ah. These kinds of words are more intuitive for laymen to use when making simple descriptions. Avoid bombarding them with jargon. For example, that whatever it was—‘ouba’…”

“Opal.” Xi Xianqing lightly corrected.

Zhu Ming coughed lightly, “En. You get what I mean.”

The air was still for a moment, and he heard Xi Xianqing let out an “en”.

Zhu Ming glanced at the floor and noticed that the previously curled-up Dish Soap had stood up. The peac0ck gave its legs a small shake and seemed to regain some of its earlier vigor.

Zhu Ming’s lips curved upward slightly. “So, anything else on your mind?”

Xi Xianqing raised his eyes to him after a moment.

“As you suggested, I won’t focus much on the design tomorrow.” He said, “But I’ll still bring a batch of gemstones for an initial color screening. It will give the team and artisans a clearer direction for production.”

Xi Xianqing looked toward the tray of gemstones. “My current plan is to design earrings, using a pink or red center stone, but the range is still too broad.”

“So I need a reference close to the representative’s skin tone to test light effects and select a few suitable options to take with me,” he said.

It turned out that a model was missing.

Zhu Ming nodded. “Happy to help, but I don’t have pierced ears… How do you want to do this?”

Xi Xianqing looked at him, “No need, just sit down.”

Zhu Ming blinked in mild surprise as Xi Xianqing slipped on gloves, picked up the velvet tray of gemstones, and walked toward him.

Without a word, Zhu Ming turned his face slightly to cooperate.

When working with gemstones, Xi Xianqing’s usual aloofness softened into a focused gentleness. His elegant features seemed to relax, making him appear more approachable and serene.

The cold, faceted surface of a gemstone pressed lightly against Zhu Ming’s earlobe. He could feel Xi Xianqing adjusting the angle of the stone.

Zhu Ming also felt Xi Xianqing’s gaze—to be precise, he was observing how the gemstone’s color and brilliance interacted with his skin.

Adjusting the position, Xi Xianqing’s fingertips inevitably brushed against Zhu Ming’s earlobe. His fingers were slightly warm, stirring an inexplicable itch.

Zhu Ming’s eyelashes quivered silently.

Xi Xianqing first tried a few well-cut red spinels against Zhu Ming’s ear. While they met his expectations, their brilliance was a bit too striking and lacked the depth and elegance he sought.

He then selected a ruby with a richer hue from the tray and bent slightly to compare its color effect on Zhu Ming’s skin.

When he inadvertently raised his eyes, he met Zhu Ming’s gaze. Those were soft, dark eyes, quietly focused on him, clear and gentle.

The deep red of the pigeon-blood ruby in his hand burned like a fiery flame, its richness accentuating the fairness of the person before him. Sitting in the wheelchair, Zhu Ming’s rosy lips and pearly teeth exuded a faint smile, radiating a brightness that surpassed the gem itself.

Xi Xianqing’s heartbeat inexplicably skipped.

He had been too absorbed earlier, only now realizing that his current gesture… resembled a soft caress on Zhu Ming’s face.

Feigning calm, he withdrew his hand and met Zhu Ming’s gaze. “What is it?”

Zhu Ming smiled slightly and shook his head. “Nothing. Just some questions from a layman.”

He had indeed made offhand remarks like “Isn’t sapphire just silicon dioxide?” before, which could easily raise anyone’s blood pressure. But now, bringing it up unprompted, he made Xi Xianqing feel rather unsettled instead.

“…Ask away,” Xi Xianqing said.

He saw Zhu Ming nod.

“I’m just a little curious.” Zhu Ming brought his face a little closer, his voice carried a light, teasing lilt. “When you meet with District Two’s representative tomorrow, will you also personally try earrings on her like this?”

Author’s Notes:

Xiao Xi, how will you respond

Jie Jie: Thank you for your patience and understanding! Finally got to update! :blobsnuggle: