“Why would I lie to you?” Zhu Ming asked strangely.

Xi Xianqing stared at his face for a few seconds before turning away. “A perfect score on the medical exam, even a top candidate—District Seven’s superstar doesn’t need to deceive people like this.”

“First, I won’t deny those two titles you mentioned.”

Zhu Ming raised his index finger. “But besides that, I wonder if you’ve ever heard a piece of wisdom from District Seven: ‘District Seven people don’t need love; they only need top-tier publications.'”

“What’s more, back then, I nearly became the top representative myself.”

The white fox at his feet flicked its big tail as he sighed softly. “Who has time for anything outside of academics?”

That was also why, when he’d barely pressed his lips down last night, Zhu Ming froze on the spot. He genuinely needed his brain to figure out the next move for a normal couple.

Luckily, he relied on his stellar acting skills to deepen the kiss and save face, but he hadn’t controlled the force, resulting in a “pop” so loud it trended all over Xi Star’s social media.

Once he said this, Xi Xianqing’s face seems to be slightly eased a little.

Xi Xianqing didn’t respond, his gaze shifting to the window. A moment later, he let out a barely audible “Mm.”

At first, Zhu Ming didn’t grasp what that “Mm” meant.

The two sat silently face-to-face for a while. Then, Zhu Ming suddenly lifted his head, realizing that Xi Xianqing might have been answering his initial question. “Was it your first kiss?”

An answer both within and outside his expectations.

Unexpectedly, because given Xi Xianqing’s family background and looks, it was obvious he had no shortage of admirers.

Expected because, with his arrogant and picky nature, Xi Xianqing indeed didn’t seem like someone who’d let others get close easily.

Zhu Ming made an effort to keep his expression calm. “Is that so ah.”

“Now, about Dish Soap’s tail display just now… I have a theory.”

Zhu Ming casually drew a few lines on the light screen. “It may sound absurd, and you might think I’m spouting nonsense, but I hope you can stay calm and hear me out.”

Xi Xianqing’s brow twitched slightly as he lifted his head.

Five minutes later.

“Xi Xianqing, calm down ha.”

Zhu Ming pointed at Xi Xianqing’s face. Both the white fox and the person silently shrank behind the sofa. “I already said, this is just an irresponsible guess on my part…”

“But the problem is, what you’re saying is baseless nonsense.”

As if hearing a wildly absurd joke, Xi Xianqing pointed incredulously at the innocent-looking Dish Soap, who had curled into a ball on the floor. “You’re saying the reason it can’t spread its tail is because I’ve never been in a relationship?”

“If I want to spread its tail, I have to kiss someone?”

His gaze turned to frosty ice, so cold it felt like it might cut into Zhu Ming’s skin. “Zhu Ming, you’re from District Seven’s medical school. Don’t you find what you’re saying utterly ridiculous?”

“Young Master Xiao Xi, could you stop twisting and embellishing my words?”

Zhu Ming bent down, trying to use his sensor-gloved hand to cover Dish Soap’s ears, doing his best to keep the innocent green peac0ck from overhearing their argument. “What I actually said was this: the reason Dish Soap can’t spread its tail might not be due to a pathological defect but rather the result of a psychological abnormality.”

“Perhaps physiological or emotional stimuli could be more effective than medication because fanning a tail to attract mates is an inherent instinct for peac0cks in nature. This process… might apply to spiritual manifestations as well.”

He said, “Such stimuli include kissing but are not limited to it.”

“This could also explain why you’ve never been able to autonomously activate mental spreading of its tail.”

Zhu Ming paused for a second, choosing his words carefully. “Because maybe, physiologically or emotionally, you haven’t had that kind of connection with anyone before…”

Xi Xianqing’s chest rose and fell irritably for a moment. “Do you have any evidence?”

“I don’t. Which is why I said it was just a theory.”

Zhu Ming looked at his face and sighed softly. “But you don’t have any proof to refute me, proving that Dish Soap’s inability to spread its tail isn’t for this reason, do you?”

The living room instantly fell into silence as the two of them remained locked in a standoff.

“Although the precise scientific mechanisms behind all this remain unclear.”

Zhu Ming looked at the medication record on the light screen, muttering to himself as he tried to sort out his thoughts. “If we want to determine who’s right or wrong, this theory is much easier to verify than drugs, and there are no R&D costs. We just need to test it again and let me observe Dish Soap’s—”

Before Zhu Ming could finish speaking, the person beside him interrupted as if squeezing the words through clenched teeth, “What do you mean by test it again?”

Zhu Ming had been distracted earlier, so when he blurted out the words, he hadn’t given them much thought.

Now, as he chewed the words over, only then did he realized as if waking up from a dream. The phrase “test it again” in this context was vastly different from his usual casual remark during testing medicines.

This seemed to mean… Xi Xianqing would need to go for another kiss.

“No, I—”

Zhu Ming, normally quick-witted, found his verbal agility crashing for the first time. “What I mean is… you could think of this as an experiment. After all, you’ll need to kiss someone again to figure out why Dish Soap fanned its tail ah.”

… Nope, it seems to be getting worse.

“First, you casually kissed me in public.”

As if hearing something unbelievable, Xi Xianqing glared angrily at Zhu Ming, his voice hoarse. “And now, to test your so-called ridiculous theory, you’re asking me to go kiss someone else? Is that what you’re saying?”

Zhu Ming frowned, completely unprepared for this person’s interpretation.

“I didn’t say to just find anyone to kiss. I was just—” He stopped abruptly.

No matter how he phrased it, the words felt strange. If he said, “I didn’t tell you to kiss just anyone,” it would sound like he was implying, “You can kiss someone you know.”

That sounded like… he was volunteering himself.

Zhu Ming froze in place.

Seeing that Zhu Ming hadn’t denied it, Xi Xianqing assumed he was tacitly agreeing to the idea of “casually kissing someone.” His face darkened, and his breathing quickened.

“And about last night, I’ve already apologized to you very sincerely.”

Zhu Ming’s mind was a chaotic mess as he rubbed his temples. “If it weren’t for the fact that I had too much to drink and couldn’t think of another solution at the time, I never would’ve done something like that. I really, truly regret it—”

Xi Xianqing’s expression was already grim, but at the mention of “regret,” he sneered coldly. “Did I ever ask you to take it upon yourself to help me?”

Zhu Ming froze, lifting his gaze in disbelief.

“If you regret doing it so much now, that’s your problem.”

Xi Xianqing didn’t look at Zhu Ming, speaking word for word. “I never begged you to get me out of trouble, nor did I force you to do something you found so unwilling.”

Zhu Ming felt like he’d just heard a ridiculous joke. “Xi Xianqing, do you even hear yourself?”

Yes, he had been reckless, and he had apologized for it. But the reason he did it was because he was out of options and genuinely wanted to help.

“Do you have any idea how your relatives talk about you and your sister behind your backs? How they’re constantly scheming to slander you?”

Zhu Ming laughed bitterly. “If I hadn’t been desperate to help prove that the two of us were really married, do you think I’d have rushed to place my mouth—”

“I know, I’ve always known what they said since I was a child.”

Xi Xianqing’s tone was icy. “But you didn’t just do it for me. You did it so we could keep up the charade of this fake marriage and fool your aunt, didn’t you?”

Zhu Ming couldn’t say anything.

“If you regret it so much,” Xi Xianqing’s dark eyes seemed frozen with ice, his tone devoid of any warmth, “then you can act as if nothing happened last night.”

“As for that absurd theory of yours, I have no intention of testing it again nor will I try it.”

He said, “Focus on your research and find a cure for me. That’s the responsibility you’re supposed to bear.”

If earlier Zhu Ming had only felt a misplaced sense of regret for his kindness being unappreciated, now he was so angry he nearly saw black spots in his vision when he heard this.

This problem had been troubling them both for months, and now that a glimmer of hope had appeared, this person suddenly decided to say, “I won’t try.”

Zhu Ming was so furious he laughed. After taking a few deep breaths, he said, “And what if I can’t figure it out? What if, in the end, no medicine works and the only way to make Dish Soap fan its tail is this one method—”

“Can’t figure it out? Then keep trying until you find an effective medication.”

Xi Xianqing said, cutting him off as he looked out the window. “That’s your responsibility in the first place.”

“Fine, fine.” Zhu Ming stared at him for a long moment, then nodded. “My responsibility.”

Suddenly, footsteps echoed from the distance.

Turning toward the source of the sound, they saw Xi Mufei emerging from the kitchen with a cup of water in her hand, a look of confusion on her face.

Although she couldn’t hear their argument, she sensed the tension in the air. Pressing her lips together, she placed the cup on a nearby table.

She gestured at Xi Xianqing, her expression laced with confussion.

It was a long time before Xi Xianqing raised his hand to reply in sign language, his voice hoarse as he spoke aloud, “We’re not arguing. We’re just… talking.”

Xi Mufei remained silent, her worried gaze shifting between the two of them.

Zhu Ming turned his face away, closed his eyes, and forced a slight smile, adjusting his expression.

They were obviouslys quarreling a second ago, but they pretended to maintain peace in front of Xi Mufei. While their faces could lie, the tension in the room was unmistakable.

Xi Mufei gestured again, her eyes signaling to Xi Xianqing to convey her words to Zhu Ming.

Xi Xianqing stood motionless for half a day.

Xi Mufei frowned and poked Xi Xianqing’s arm, silently urging him not to ignore her.

Xi Xianqing broke the silence, still avoiding Zhu Ming’s gaze. His voice was hoarse as he said, “She’s planning to go out for dinner tonight and wants to know if you’d like to join us.”

Zhu Ming shook his head and tucked the light screen into his bag.

“Please relay my gratitude to your sister for her kindness, but I’m afraid I can’t join you.”

Wheeling himself toward the door, Zhu Ming brushed past Xi Xianqing. “Because I need to get home and work to fulfill the responsibilities I’m supposed to carry.”

Xi Xianqing didn’t say anything.

Zhu Ming tilted his head back and offered Xi Mufei an apologetic smile before steering his wheelchair toward the villa’s front gate.

For the next two weeks, neither reached out to the other.

One lived in District Six and the other in District Seven, neither of them made a move to bridge the gap. It seemed they were prepared to let the stalemate last indefinitely.

True to his word, Zhu Ming efficiently carried out his responsibilities as a doctor.

Every three or four days, Xi Xianqing would receive a cross-district encrypted delivery—a thermally insulated box containing small centrifuge tubes filled with differently colored solutions.

Each thermal box was discreetly placed in a frozen dessert package of varying flavors, resembling an ordinary food delivery to maintain absolute confidentiality.

Inside each delivery was a small note. On the front, Zhu Ming meticulously listed the medication regimen and precautions. On the back, like a fill-in-the-blank form, it read: “Dosage time,” “Observation of fluctuations,” and “Duration of fluctuations.”

—He was instructing Xi Xianqing to monitor and record Dish Soap’s tail feather activity.

Every step was considerate and thorough, leaving no room for criticism.

He just stopped communicating with Xi Xianqing on his own initiative.

This went on for half a month until they were compelled to sit in the same car again for an assessment in District Four, forced to breathe under the same atmosphere.

In the front passenger seat, Ye Lu turned, seeming to say something but hesitates.

The two of them sat on opposite ends of the back seat, both staring out their respective windows, a vast ocean of silence between them, exuding the epitome of estrangement.

Ye Lu cleared her throat lightly. “Xianqing, Xiao Zhu, we’re about to enter District Four. Let’s… pay a bit more attention to how we appear to outsiders ha.”

The two people on the back seat stiffened at the same time.

A few seconds later, they each moved about a centimeter closer to the middle, exchanged an awkward glance, then quickly turned their faces away in sync with a ‘swish’.

Ye Lu: “…”

By the time they reached District Four, it was already 8 p.m. local time.

District Four, known for its fusion of cutting-edge technology and vibrant entertainment, was a dazzling city where neon signs lit up beautifully at dusk. The vivid advertising screens in the plazas, along with the unceasing flow of pedestrians and vehicles, made it a city that never seemed to sleep.

The person receiving them was a representative sent by LotusX headquarters—a young girl with black-rimmed glasses, dressed in a simple white suit, and wearing a silver lotus logo pin on her chest.

The woman stood at the hotel front desk, accompanied by her spiritual manifestation, a white owl perched on her arm. The owl tilted its head, its round eyes quietly observing the outsiders.

She said, “Hello, Mr. Xi, Mr. Zhu. I’m Nova, and I’ll be in charge of arranging all your schedules and accommodations during the assessment.”

The hotel they were staying at was a property under the LotusX Group, located in the most central area of District Four. The decor followed a minimalist yet comfortable modern tech aesthetic, spacious and luxurious.

After some brief pleasantries, Nova calmly asked, “Are you two socially anxious?”

Both were stunned. “…?”

“If you two prefer to avoid excessive interactions with others, we can provide our newly developed home-tour guide robot to explain the room’s amenities.”

She pointed to a small, round, silver robot by her feet, then observed them calmly for a moment. “But since you don’t seem to mind, I’ll take care of the introduction. First of all, on behalf of the entire LotusX team, congratulations on your marriage.”

Her tone was so devoid of inflection that one couldn’t help but wonder if she herself was the robot she mentioned.

Nova was a capable and calm person.

She briskly introduced the layout of the suite with a calm expression, speaking clearly and seamlessly, giving off a distinct impression that she was eager to clock out.

Finally, she and the owl on her arm simultaneously turned their heads and asked, “Mr. Xi, Mr. Zhu, besides the master bedroom, the suite also has a guest room. Would you two need it?”

Once these words came out, both of them were quiet for a little while.

After the incident at the banquet, words like “guest room” and “separate rooms” had become glaringly bold and underlined red flags—practically death traps for them.

Even someone as affable as Li Shun could potentially be a spy for Xi Hongming, prying into their privacy.

Thus, a question like this demanded extreme caution in the response.

However, Zhu Ming remained silent throughout, apparently unwilling to answer.

Xi Xianqing exhaled softly and answered flawlessly, “…We probably won’t be needing it.”

“Okay.”

Nova adjusted her glasses, her eyes emitting a peculiar glimmer. “Perhaps you two aren’t aware, but our company’s gaming products have ranked number one in District Four’s game sales charts for five consecutive years.”

“All games sold by LotusX can be played using our latest model of the holographic immersion game pod. It’s similar to the lab pod you brought with you, except it’s designed for lying use.”

When introducing her company’s products, Nova seemed to be filled with an invisible energy, her face radiating enthusiasm. “The reason we didn’t prepare earlier was the possibility that you might have friends or assistants needing the guest room.”

“Since that’s not the case, I’ll have two game pods delivered shortly so you can properly experience the quality of our regional products,” she said.

The air in the room suddenly froze for a split second.

Zhu Ming suddenly realized something. “Actually, I…”

Xi Xianqing’s face stiffened, “That won’t be necessary—”

“It’s no trouble at all. You simply must try them.”

For the first time since their meeting, a smile appeared on Nova’s face. The perpetually stern-looking owl on her shoulder even squinted its eyes in delight. “The game pods are our company’s latest patented technology and one of the most significant technical achievements that led our two founders to be chosen as representatives of District Four.”

“The bookshelf also contains data discs of every game our company has developed since its establishment. We hope you’ll personally give them a try.”

As Nova spoke, she pulled out her phone and quickly dialed a number, issuing instructions without the slightest delay. “Yes, the guests have arrived. You guys come over now and move the bed out of the guest room.”

Author’s Notes:

They’ll argue, but for the next two months, they can only share the same bed^_^