Zhu Ming was really just simply asking.

After all, it was a rare sight to see the Eldest Young Master bending over and humbling himself to serve others. He was quite curious as to whether or not all clients could be treated in such a manner.

However, Xi Xianqing’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and after a moment, he replied, “When it comes to entertaining clients, most of the time, Aunt Ye handles the fittings for the guests.”

Zhu Ming felt it was quite reasonable and nodded, “I see.”

Xi Xianqing was silent for a moment. Then, for some reason, he suddenly added, “It’ll be the same tomorrow.”

“Then I’m honored ah,” Zhu Ming teased. “To have the future representative of District Six personally help me try on jewelry.”

A sudden chill spread across the skin of his neck—the cold touch of a gemstone. Immediately after, something warmer and softer grazed the same spot—it was Xi Xianqing’s fingertips brushing against his skin as he removed the gemstone and straightened up.

Zhu Ming asked, “All done?”

Without looking at him, Xi Xianqing nodded while removing his gloves.

Zhu Ming tilted his head, observing his movements. “Nothing else to say?”

He saw Xi Xianqing take what looked like a silent, deep breath.

“…Thank you.” His voice wasn’t loud.

“You’re welcome.” Zhu Ming nodded in satisfaction and maneuvered his wheelchair toward the door. “Well then, good night.”

After a while, he heard the person inside the room say, “Good night.”

Zhu Ming went back inside and had a good night’s sleep.

Early the next morning, he was awakened by the noise in the living room.

He sleepily opened the door to find Ye Lu and a few unfamiliar individuals standing in the living room. They were neatly dressed and carrying toolboxes, likely the team of craftsmen accompanying them.

The group surrounded Xi Xianqing. Since he was meeting the current representative of District Two, his attire was noticeably more formal. He wore a single small, elegant black onyx stud in one ear.

Seeing this proud and dignified look, paired with the familiar sparkling accessory, Zhu Ming realized Xi Xianqing’s composure had returned. He let out a sigh of relief.

Xi Xianqing frowned slightly, pointed at the blueprints in the craftsmen’s hands, and engaged in some sort of discussion.

Not wanting to disturb him, Zhu Ming wheeled himself to a corner of the courtyard and made a call to Zhou Zhou.

“Zhu-ge!” Zhou Zhou’s loud, cheerful voice came through. “I f*ckng ya! District Two really lives up to its name as the food capital. The number of restaurants here is insane!”

“You’re already here?” Zhu Ming asked.

“Just got off the plane!”

The background noise on Zhou Zhou’s end was very loud. “Did you know? Even the airport is full of trendy restaurants. Tons of pretty girls handed me samples to try—so enthusiastic!”

Zhu Ming lowered his voice and began to scheme. “On our way to the offline consultations today, we can stop to try some local specialties. I’ve heard they have a super popular dessert called White Jade Bayberry, something we can’t get at all in District Seven.”

Zhu Ming had come across this particular bayberry online by chance.

Unlike the usual deep red variety, this one was a crystal-clear, translucent pinkish-white, exuding a juicy appearance that also made the tip of his tongue sour.

Zhou Zhou: “White Jade Bayberry? Let me check… It does seem to be a specialty of District Two ai.”

His tone quickly turned dejected. “But from what I’m seeing, the netizens say that the production of this is especially low. It seems like you have to go to a high-class restaurant in the mountains to get it. The fan we’re visiting today seems to live in—”

Zhu Ming sighed. “Yeah, by the sea.”

District Two was a vast island, rich in resources.

The center was mountainous, surrounded by the sea. The cultural and tourism focus, as well as the cuisine, differed greatly between the mountain and coastal areas.

The White Jade Bayberries Zhu Ming wanted to try could only be found in the mountains, but the fan they were visiting today lived in a coastal town, making it inconvenient to detour.

“No big deal.” Though disappointed, Zhu Ming said, “I’m staying at a mountain resort right now, so I can always go and try them later.”

Zhou Zhou: “Got it… My bus just arrived. I’m coming to meet you now, we’ll talk soon!”

Zhu Ming said, “Alright, see you in a bit.”

Setting down his phone with a hint of regret, Zhu Ming turned his wheelchair around, only to freeze in surprise.

“Why aren’t you making a sound, too?” He asked.

—Xi Xianqing had somehow appeared behind him without a word. His face was expressionless, and he was quietly watching Zhu Ming from afar.

Xi Xianqing said indifferently, “You seem pretty busy.”

The seemingly random remark made Zhu Ming pause for a moment.

He quickly realized that Xi Xianqing had probably overheard his phone call just now.

With a smile, Zhu Ming explained, “Don’t worry. This morning, I’ll be in the lab pod working on your medication. However, the prepared formula will need a few hours to react. During that downtime, I plan to make a quick visit nearby for an offline consultation.”

It sounded like an employee justifying to their boss why they weren’t slacking off during work hours.

“You and Dish Soap will always be my top priority.”

He added tentatively, “I’ll just take a quick look and come right back.”

It might have sounded like flattery, but Zhu Ming truly meant it. After all, few things were as valuable for research as a mental manifestation as unique as a non-displaying green peac0ck.

Xi Xianqing stared at him for a moment before responding coldly, “I should be back before dinner.”

“Great. I should finish up in the afternoon, so I’ll probably be back earlier than you.”

Zhu Ming said gently. “Trust me, everything will go smoothly. Don’t be nervous.”

Xi Xianqing paused. “I’m not nervous.”

Zhu Ming didn’t press further, only responding with a smile.

He watched as Xi Xianqing and his design team got into the car, then let out a sigh of relief.

Zhu Ming entered the lab pod, organized the experiment records, analyzed the blood samples collected yesterday, and finally prepared the medication that Xi Xianqing would need in the future. He placed it in a temperature-controlled chamber to undergo the reaction process.

The next step was to wait—a process that would take ten long hours. During this downtime, Zhu Ming packed his belongings, met up with Zhou Zhou, and embarked on his first-ever offline consultation tour.

The limitations of livestream consultations were significant, making it difficult to fully understand complex cases.

Thus, taking advantage of the opportunity while accompanying Xi Xianqing for his assessment, Zhu Ming introduced this special benefit to his fans. At last, he could engage with them face-to-face instead of relying on a screen.

Their first offline patient happened to be in District Two.

“Even among good food, there’s a gap.”

Zhou Zhou commented as they stepped out of the taxi. He glanced around, hesitating before adding, “I heard the coastal areas of District Two have a more down-to-earth vibe compared to the mountains. Looking around now, that seems about right. The restaurants by the sea here feel… much more grounded ah.”

Zhu Ming just arrived in District Two yesterday and was directly sent to a secluded mountain resort. The resort was owned by the current District Two representative’s corporation and was designed with opulence and elegance in mind. Every detail of the service was meticulous, and its guests were all either wealthy or distinguished.

In contrast, the coastal town where they now stood had a completely different atmosphere.

As far as the eye can see the streets were lined with food stalls and bustling tourists. Affordable homestays, one after another, were the preferred choice for budget travelers.

Local villagers greeted them warmly, trying to promote their businesses. Some shop banners read, “District One General’s Approved Duck Legs,” or “District Seven Folks Eat This Pig Brain and Instantly Get Smarter.”

The lively atmosphere was brimming with a bustling charm, a completely different experience from the quiet luxury of the mountains.

“Let’s see ha. The place where we’re meeting this fan is called… Ji Family Pastry Shop.”

Zhou Zhou stared at the address on his phone. “But these small shops don’t have noticeable signs. With so many tourists, how are we supposed to find it ah?”

Zhu Ming hadn’t expected the area to be this confusing either. “Let’s ask for directions.”

So they stopped a local villager.

The villager took one glance and clapped his hands cheerfully. “Aiya, isn’t this A’Rong’s shop? Just keep going straight. Look for the one with smoke coming out, the busiest place, with the longest line—that’s the one!”

Obviously, it was someone else’s store, but the grandpa’s face lit up with pride. It was clear that the local residents had a very good relationship.

Zhu Ming was surprised. “Is it really that popular?”

“Of course! That girl takes after her old man—her skills are unbeatable.”

The grandpa said with a hearty laugh. “Her family’s pastries are so good ah, even we locals love them. Most outsiders go for the savory soy-flavored cakes, but her hot sesame and brown sugar pastries are the real specialty ah!”

Following his directions, they quickly found the shop.

As described, it was bustling with customers, the crowd thick and lively. It took them a long time to get through the line.

Finally seated, Zhu Ming stopped a young man clearing their table. “Excuse me, is there someone here named Liang Dachao?”

“Oh… you’re looking for Liang Dachao ba.”

The waiter, clearly exhausted and dazed, raised his head. “I think my name is Liang Dachao ah.”

Zhu Ming: “…?”

The moment Liang Dachao got a clear look at Zhu Ming’s face, the youngster’s previously dull and listless eyes lit up with excitement.

“You’re Dr. Zhu?” he exclaimed, grabbing Zhu Ming’s arm in a burst of enthusiasm. “You actually came! I’m a loyal fan! I’ve never missed a single one of your livestreams!”

Zhu Ming’s arm was nearly yanked out of its socket. “Thank you…”

“Please, have a seat.” Liang Dachao was about to dash into the kitchen. “You have to try our pastries!”

Seeing how busy the shop was, Zhu Ming quickly grabbed his arm and shook his head.

“It’s fine,” he said. “You’re swamped, so I won’t take up too much of your time. Let’s just get straight to the point and talk about your spiritual manifestation issue.”

“Oh, oh, right, the consultation, consultation.” Liang Dachao clapped his hands, looking embarrassed. “But actually… I’m not the one with the problem.”

He sneaked a glance toward the kitchen, then admitted with a wry smile, “I submitted the case on behalf of someone else. The one with the mental manifestation issue is ya… our boss.”

Following his gaze, Zhu Ming and Zhou Zhou looked toward the kitchen.

There, they saw a young woman with sun-kissed skin, wearing an apron and deftly working the dough in her hands.

Her cheeks were flushed with a healthy red from the kitchen’s steam, her hair naturally wavy and slightly frizzy, tied back with a headband.

Zhu Ming watched as the girl bent down, carefully pressing the flattened dough against the side of the oven with practiced focus.

“Is it convenient to talk to your boss?” Zhu Ming asked.

Liang Dachao swallowed, “I’ll try.”

He walked into the kitchen and leaned in to whisper something to the curly-haired girl.

The next moment, Zhu Ming saw the girl’s eyes widen in disbelief. She tore off her gloves and, without hesitation, smacked Liang Dachao on the head!

“Liang Dachao!” she bellowed, her voice brimming with vigor. “How many times do I have to tell you—I am not sick! If you’ve got nothing better to do, go mop the floor five more times!”

Zhu Ming and Zhou Zhou: “…”

Zhou Zhou muttered weakly, “The little boss sure is full of energy ah.”

Zhu Ming didn’t respond. His eyes were fixed on something through the gap in the kitchen door.

He saw a round, black sheep spiritual manifestation.

There was no problem with the sheep itself, it appeared calm and well-behaved as it squatted in the corner of the back kitchen. The problem lay at its feet: scattered around it were clumps of black, fluffy nerve fragments.

What’s more, as the girl moved and her emotions shifted, more tufts of downy black fragments—like dark feathers—began falling from the sheep’s body in a steady cascade.

—It was shedding fur like crazy.

Liang Dachao returned, clutching his head and looking utterly defeated.

“Sorry, Dr. Zhu.”

He wailed, “Business is really busy today, and A’Rong… Oh, that’s our boss, Ji Rong—she’s not in the best mood.”

Zhu Ming smiled lightly, “It’s fine, I’ve already seen her symptoms.”

Liang Dachao sighed deeply, shielding his mouth with his hand as he muttered, “It’s been three months. The primary nerve fragments can’t just be swept up; you have to pick them up with sensory gloves. It falls off every single day, when will it ever stop…”

Before he could finish, he made an “ow” sound.

Ji Rong, who had somehow emerged from the kitchen without anyone noticing, grabbed hold of Liang Dachao’s ear.

“I don’t need a doctor.” She declared, looking unceremoniously at Zhu Ming and Zhou Zhou. “Also, this shop only allows customers who’ve made a purchase to stay. If you’re not eating, please leave immediately.”

“But I’m just a customer who came all the way from District Six to try your baked goods.” Zhu Ming said softly. “Would you really kick me out?”

Ji Rong squinted at him suspiciously. “Then what do you want to order?”

Zhu Ming replied calmly, “Hot dough sesame and brown sugar flatbread.”

Ji Rong froze, finally giving the two a proper look.

This particular flatbread was a hidden menu item—only true food enthusiasts and regulars knew its name.

Ji Rong’s expression softened a little as she muttered, “Fine, but it has to be made fresh. Can you wait?”

Zhu Ming’s smile deepened. “Freshly made? All the better.”

Ji Rong hummed in acknowledgment. “Then, please have a seat and wait for a bit. Liang Dachao, pour some water for the guests.”

The freshly made pancakes from the Gourmet District had a crisp exterior and a chewy interior, with a sweet filling of hot brown sugar. The craftsmanship and flavor were far superior to the chain restaurants Zhu Ming had tried in District Seven.

He enjoyed them so much that he ordered another portion of savory pancakes to take away.

Seeing their genuine appreciation for the food, Ji Rong’s tone grew noticeably gentler. “If you’re eating it as a late-night snack, just heat it briefly in the microwave to remove the moisture. Otherwise, the pancake’s crust will harden too much.”

Although she had a bit of a temper, Ji Rong was really just a straightforward, tough-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside young woman.

Logically, this would have been a good opportunity to build rapport, but Zhu Ming merely thanked her softly, took the paper bag she had packed, and said, “Let’s go.”

Zhou Zhou was taken aback. “We’re not going to—”

Zhu Ming glanced at Ji Rong, who was bustling around, and at the little black lamb trailing behind her, shedding tufts of wool with every step. Shaking his head, he said, “Not today.”

Zhou Zhou was staying at a guesthouse down the mountain, he used the opportunity to meet an old friend from District Two. Zhu Ming, meanwhile, returned alone to the resort on the mountain.

The road was a bit congested, and by the time Zhu Ming got out of the car, the sky had already darkened. Just as he arrived, he encountered Ye Lu stepping out of a villa with a toolbox in hand.

So he took the initiative to greet, “Aunt Ye.”

Ye Lu seemed a bit distracted. It wasn’t until she saw Zhu Ming that she snapped out of it and smiled faintly. “It’s Xiao Zhu ah.”

Zhu Ming noticed her visible exhaustion and hesitated before asking, “How did the meeting go?”

Ye Lu’s expression turned somewhat complicated. “Today… was a bit hard to put into words.”

“Xianqing, that child, likes to shut himself in his room whenever he’s in a bad mood. We outsiders can’t really interfere.”

She shook her head with a light smile. “If it’s not too much trouble, could Xiao Zhu go and talk to him for a bit?”

Zhu Ming was stunned.

He wanted to say that he had only known Xi Xianqing for a few months and, compared to Ye Lu, he was probably the real outsider here.

Still, when he returned to the villa, he found himself standing outside Xi Xianqing’s door.

For once, the door wasn’t fully closed, leaving a small crack. Zhu Ming knocked but got no response. After a moment of hesitation, he gently pushed it open.

The room was dark, the lights off, with only dim light. Xi Xianqing sat at his desk, his back to Zhu Ming, staring into the thick darkness outside the window.

On the desk standing condescendingly was Dish Soap–Its slender, elegant plume cascaded downward like a waterfall, and its round, beady eyes were half-closed in an uncharacteristically aloof manner. It cast a glance at Zhu Ming, neither cold nor warm.

Zhu Ming felt something was off. “Want to talk?”

Xi Xianqing’s sharp jawline seemed to tense for a brief moment.

In the shadows, Xi Xianqing lifted his gaze to look at Zhu Ming but said nothing.

“Then I’ll return to the guest room first.”

Zhu Ming offered, choosing to step back. “If you feel like talking later, you can come—”

“Come in.” The person inside said.

The rest of Zhu Ming’s words—“find me”—died on his lips. He was slightly stunned as he stepped into the room.

Xi Xianqing finally turned to face him.

His suit jacket was casually dr4p3d over the side of the chair, and his shirt sleeves were slightly rolled up. The dim lighting in the room cast a faint glow over his features, highlighting his cold, jade-like green eyes.

Zhu Ming knew his own aesthetic preferences might be a bit unconventional, but he couldn’t help thinking that… Xi Xianqing looked more captivating when he was cold and hostile—his slightly furrowed brows and the sharp, stern edge to his expression added an intriguing vitality to his already handsome face.

On the desk, the peac0ck gave a little shake of its feet and, much like its owner, cast a frosty glance in Zhu Ming’s direction.

En, both of them were visibly in a bad mood.

Zhu Ming sighed and asked, “What happened today?”

Xi Xianqing stared at him for a long moment before suddenly, and suddenly asked inexplicably, “What time is it?”

Zhu Ming was bewildered, “…Ah?”

In truth, before stepping inside, Zhu Ming had already considered many possible scenarios—perhaps Xi Xianqing had clashed with the representative from District Two over personality differences or disagreements in design aesthetics.

It couldn’t possibly be worse than the awkward atmosphere during their first blind date.

What he hadn’t expected was that the anger this time would be directed at him.

Xi Xianqing’s expression was hard to read as he stared at Zhu Ming’s face.

“You promised you’d be back before dinner.”

After a long pause, he let out a cold laugh and turned back toward the window. “Do me a favor and take a look at the clock on the wall. What time is it now?”

Author’s Note:

It’s a Fire-Spitting Sparrow today.