Chapter 067 Sea King – “…It’s the Song of Time and Scenery!!” (13/20)
Zhao Jiangcheng paused and looked at Ye Mingxu with some suspicion. Would Ye Mingxu really be that obedient?
Why was he so skeptical?
Zhao Jiangcheng scrutinized Ye Mingxu from head to toe. Ye Mingxu’s eyes were clear and pure, but as Zhao Jiangcheng’s gaze lingered on him, a hint of confusion and bewilderment gradually crept in his face.
Zhao Jiangcheng felt a pang in his heart.
…Could it be that he’d actually managed to persuade Ye Mingxu? What a joke—Ye Mingxu wasn’t the type to be persuaded so easily.
This student of his had always been the strong-willed, taciturn sort; you’d have to beat him three times just to get two words out of him. Otherwise, he wouldn’t still be refusing to turn on his smart bracelet—no amount of persuasion had worked.
…Wait a minute! Now that Ye Mingxu knew how to shop on SkyNet, did that mean he learned how to use his smart bracelet?
He hadn’t turned it on for years, yet he’s using it now. Why? To shop on SkyNet, of course!
Why shop there? To buy a gift!
Who was the gift for? For him, of course!
Thinking back to a few days ago, when several students had asked him what kind of gift Ye Mingxu was going to give him, Zhao Jiangcheng had been both shocked and bewildered at the time.
Even now, he still found it somewhat unbelievable. However, mixed in with that disbelief were some relief and smug satisfaction.
What was Lin Yiwen boasting about? His student was clearly respectful of his teacher and easy to get along with; he seemed like such a good kid. Of course he’d be thinking of Lin Yiwen!
But Ye Mingxu was different!
Ye Mingxu had a terrible temper, lacked common sense, and rarely talked to anyone. To turn a student like that into a respectful, well-behaved student took Zhao Jiangcheng an enormous amount of effort!
In an instant, Zhao Jiangcheng felt his own stature grow.
At least taller than Lin Yiwen.
“All right,” Zhao Jiangcheng said cheerfully, a hint of pride shining in his eyes as he looked at Ye Mingxu. “You’ve always been a student with a mind of your own. As long as you know what to do, that’s all that matters.”
Ye Mingxu nodded, his eyes filled with determination. He would definitely study hard with Xiao Ge!
Zhao Jiangcheng waved his hand, preparing to leave, but just as he lifted his foot, he stopped in his tracks.
…Wasn’t he being a little cold?
…Shouldn’t he give Ye Mingxu a little encouragement?
Was Ye Mingxu the kind of kid who cared about encouragement?
Zhao Jiangcheng was a bit doubtful, but the very next second, he banished that doubt to the farthest reaches of his mind.
How could he not care? What child wouldn’t care about praise and encouragement from an elder?
Although Ye Mingxu was a bit aloof and taciturn, he wasn’t that old, and he even knew to prepare a gift for his teacher!
Zhao Jiangcheng paused, turned to look at Ye Mingxu, and said slowly, “Don’t put too much pressure on yourself.”
Ye Mingxu: ?
“You’ve always been an excellent pharmacist. Teacher—” Zhao Jiangcheng paused for a moment before continuing slowly, “I believe in you.”
As soon as those four words left his mouth, Zhao Jiangcheng’s feet seemed to sprout wings, and he dashed away at top speed. It made him feel as if he’d been transported back to competing in the racewalking event at a school sports day.
Ye Mingxu stared blankly at Zhao Jiangcheng’s retreating figure, ultimately unable to figure out his teacher’s strange behavior, but he happily sent a message to Shi Jingge anyway.
Ye Mingxu: [Are you free this afternoon?]
Shi Jingge replied quickly: [Yes.]
Ye Mingxu was a little excited: [Then… can I come find you?]
Shi Jingge: [Sure. Shall we meet off campus?]
Ye Mingxu insisted: [I’ll come to Kalandi.]
Shi Jingge: !!!
At that moment, Shi Jingge was completely dumbfounded. A student from Siming Teji coming to Kalandi? What was this? A wolf walking into the tiger’s den?
Shi Jingge knew that metaphor sounded a bit awkward, but he didn’t have time to overthink it. He could only gently persuade Ye Mingxu not to come, insisting that meeting off-campus would be better.
But Shi Jingge had both underestimated Ye Mingxu’s stubbornness and overestimated his ability to catch social cues.
The bottom line was, Shi Jingge was too indirect and Ye Mingxu failed to get the message.
In the end, Shi Jingge decided to simply invite Ye Mingxu outright.
[I want to check some information at the downtown library and grab a bite to eat. I heard there’s a fantastic home-style restaurant over there. The chef even makes delicious desserts. Want to come with me?]
Ye Mingxu’s eyes lit up: [Yes!]
Shi Jingge answered quickly: [Then I’ll pick you up at your school. Since we’re going out to have fun, don’t wear your school uniform. Remember to change into something else.]
Ye Mingxu replied obediently: [Okay.]
Ye Mingxu basically wore his school uniform year-round; for this reason, he’d bought six sets of uniforms so he could change into a clean one anytime, anywhere. This had even led to some amusing incidents.
Rumors had once circulated at Siming Teji that Ye Mingxu came from a poor family, the kind that couldn’t even afford their next meal, and that he had to wear the same outfit year-round without ever changing, which was truly pitiful, and so on.
When Zhao Jiangcheng’s other four disciples first heard this rumor, they actually believed it to be true. They were even preparing to pool their money to buy Ye Mingxu eight or ten sets of clothes. Just as they were about to make the purchase, they consulted Zhao Jiangcheng for advice. Puzzled, Zhao Jiangcheng asked a couple of casual questions and only then discovered the truth behind the gossip.
At that moment, the complexity of Zhao Jiangcheng’s inner thoughts was simply beyond words.
Later, everyone found out that Ye Mingxu wasn’t without other clothes—on the contrary, he had two wardrobes full of them—he just didn’t want to wear them. Rumor had it he found it too much trouble, but Zhao Jiangcheng knew better than anyone that Ye Mingxu was simply lazy.
Why did Ye Mingxu like his school uniform?
Because it had no specific fit, no belt, and no embellishments whatsoever. He just had to slip it on and he’d be dressed in under two minutes.
So, the moment Ye Mingxu took off his school uniform, put on other clothes, and stepped out of his room, the two people playing video games in the living room were instantly stunned.
“B–B–B–Brother Xu!” one of them screamed, eyes wide.
The other person’s prized hand-held console slipped from his grasp, crashing to the floor with a loud thud.
“Aaaah, my console! ” The young man hurriedly tried to salvage it. “Thank heavens the shock-proof feature kicked in! My baby’s still alive.”
Ye Mingxu stepped forward and asked slowly, “Do I look good?”
The two stared at Ye Mingxu, their mouths dry and eyes wide with shock.
Ye Mingxu seemed to have guessed something from their reaction; he turned and went back to his room, deciding to change into something else.
“I just saw Brother Xu without his school uniform.”
“What a coincidence. I saw it too.”
“Hallucinations genuinely aren’t contagious, are they?”
“I don’t think so.”
“So everything that just happened was real?”
“Although I don’t want to admit it, it’s true.”
The two exchanged a glance, then sprinted out, banging loudly on the neighboring dorm’s door. Then they dragged the three guys from their dorm to their common room.
The three were completely baffled and kept asking what was going on.
“Don’t say a word. You’ll find out soon enough.”
“Trust me, you’ll understand in a moment.”
The three guys from the neighboring dorm: What the heck…?
Soon, Ye Mingxu’s door opened again. The group sat up straight and turned to Ye Mingxu.
In that instant, the three from the next dorm suddenly realized what was happening. In the five years since he’d attended Siming Teji, this was the first time Ye Mingxu had taken off his school uniform!
Is this real? Is it actually real?!
Ye Mingxu walked over. “How does this look?”
The five of them were utterly stunned; they nodded, their eyes vacant
Ye Mingxu furrowed his brow slightly. Why did he feel like this outfit didn’t look as good on him as it did on the mannequin?
“Really?” Ye Mingxu asked slowly.
The five of them instinctively shook their heads.
Ye Mingxu: ……
Did it look good or not?
Ye Mingxu frowned. “Come here.”
The five of them: !!!
Ye Mingxu turned and walked away while the five of them stared at him, frozen in place. Ye Mingxu reached the doorway and looked back at them. “Aren’t you coming?”
The five of them hesitated for a moment, then scrambled to follow him.
Ahhhhh, Brother Xu actually invited them inside his room!!
Ye Mingxu was extremely protective of his personal space; he never let anyone else in his room, not even Zhao Jiangcheng.
Now that Ye Mingxu had invited them inside, how could they possibly pass this up?
The five of them squeezed their way through the door.
Ye Mingxu opened three wardrobes and asked earnestly, “Which one looks good?”
The five of them: !
In that instant, their thoughts were surprisingly in sync.
There aren’t just two wardrobes—there are clearly three! And they’re extra-large, deluxe wardrobes!
The wardrobes were truly massive, with plenty of storage space inside, and neatly organized. They were divided according to outerwear, tops, and bottoms, and further categorized by the four seasons. At a glance, everything looked perfectly tidy.
Belts, accessories, shoes, and socks of all kinds were also allocated to separate compartments. The sight of a drawer overflowing with accessories the moment you opened it was truly breathtaking.
The clothes meant to be hung were still wrapped in protective plastic, looking fresh as new. Though it was highly likely they actually were brand new.
All five students were in a daze. How could this count as just wardrobes? These were practically treasure troves!
What was most infuriating was that the owner of these treasure troves had been wasting such a precious resource!
Compared to these clothes, what were their school uniforms? Ah!
Just as they were about to shoot a condemning glance his way, the question of who the owner of these treasure troves was suddenly came up, and they immediately backed down.
But soon, another problem arose.
After much deliberation, the five students picked out five different outfits, and each believed their own was the best and most suitable for Ye Mingxu, which quickly led to a heated argument.
“Mine is the best! It suits Brother Xu’s style perfectly! Absolutely noble and aloof!”
“That’s way too much! You’re trying to make sure there’s not a single soul within a hundred li of Brother Xu—they’d all be scared off by that icy aura.”
“Is your warm and lively style really that great? Brother Xu doesn’t have that kind of vibe at all; it’d look so awkward if you insisted he wear it!”
“Maybe two negatives make a positive!”
“Mine’s the best—it’s bursting with youth!”
Unable to reach a consensus, one of them casually asked, “Why did you decide to change clothes in the first place, Brother Xu?”
“Going out to hang out with a friend.” Ye Mingxu paused. “Not in my school uniform.”
The five of them: !!!
They turned to him and asked at the same time, “Where are you going?!”
Ye Mingxu furrowed his brow; the five of them cringed slightly, still in shock.
Ye Mingxu—a lifelong homebody whose daily life revolved around just three places: the classroom, the library, and the dorm—was actually going out to hang out with someone!
Wait a minute…
Where did Brother Xu even get friends?
The five students were both shocked and curious; it felt like a little kitten’s claws were tugging at their hearts, but they didn’t dare ask out loud. It was absolutely agonizing.
Since Ye Mingxu was going out with a friend, the cool and aloof style definitely wouldn’t work. The warm and lively style also didn’t really suit Ye Mingxu’s personality, and the “youthful and vibrant” style was ultimately ruled out as well. In the end, they realized that a casual look seemed to suit Ye Mingxu a bit better.
Choosing accessories was relatively simple: warm colors like creamy white would help balance out Ye Mingxu’s naturally pale complexion, toning down that icy aura and making him seem less aloof.
While waiting for Ye Mingxu to change, the five of them huddled together and started whispering.
“Do you guys think Brother Xu is in a relationship?”
The other four: !!!
“No way!”
“Absolutely not!”
“Can someone like Brother Xu even be in a relationship?”
“What makes you think he’s dating? Where would he even meet anyone?”
That person said wistfully, “We don’t know either. Where would Brother Xu even find friends?”
The other four: …
Damn, it actually did seem that way.
“We’ve known Brother Xu for so many years. When have you ever seen him take off his school uniform? Even back when the rumors were at their peak, he always wore it and refused to change. Even Teacher Zhao personally tried to talk him out of it, but he still wouldn’t take it off.”
“Now, all it took was one of Brother Xu’s friends telling him not to wear his school uniform, and he actually stopped wearing it.”
“Not only is he not wearing his school uniform anymore,” another person quickly added, “but Brother Xu has even started caring about whether he looks good in other clothes. For a die-hard school uniform-wearing nerd, who would believe this isn’t him dating someone?”
“Someone who never cared about his appearance suddenly starts paying attention to it—that’s a 50 percent chance he’s dating someone and a 49 percent chance he has a secret crush.”
“What about the remaining one percent?”
“Who knows?” The student shrugged. “I’m just leaving myself some wiggle room.”
“So, should we secretly follow him later to see what’s going on?”
“…You’ve got a lot of guts!”
But… it was very tempting…!!
Even knowing how it was like playing with fire, they were still so tempted!
The moment they thought this, Ye Mingxu’s door swung open.
Several of them turned to look at the same time. In an instant, their eyes widened, and they all froze in surprise.
Most of them knew Ye Mingxu was good-looking, but it was only at that moment that they truly grasped the full meaning of those three words.
Usually, Ye Mingxu wore his school uniform and had a cold demeanor; even a fleeting glance from him was enough to make people dare not meet his gaze, so very few people would ever stare at him. No matter how handsome his features were, if no one dared to look, his advantage was completely lost!
But at this moment, Ye Mingxu’s appeal was on full display.
That almost innocent, dreamlike boyish charm mixed with youthful sex appeal, combined with his naturally striking features, created such a magnetic aura that it was impossible to look away!
“What do you think? ” Ye Mingxu tilted his head slightly, his voice hoarse.
One of them clutched his chest—he was a total Face Con, and he was about to lose the battle!
That harmonious yet contradictory aura, enhanced by a touch of cuteness and innocence, was a charm that made him want to scream out loud.
Ye Mingxu received unanimous praise from everyone.
“T–Thank you.” Ye Mingxu slowly managed these two words, then walked past them.
Each step was slow, yet incredibly captivating. The sound of his shoes against the floor felt like a knock straight to their hearts. Even that hoarse voice carried an indescribable feeling.
The five of them just stood there, watching Ye Mingxu walk away from the dorm=.
Only when Ye Mingxu was out of sight did they let out a deep sigh.
Even though they’d been through so many scares today, getting to see Brother Xu like this was totally worth it!
And they even got a thank you! Even more worth it!
Two minutes later, someone suddenly snapped out of it. “Wait! We agreed to follow him and see what happens!”
The other four: ???
“Shit, I forgot!”
“Is it too late now?”
“Bro, Brother Xu’s been gone for three minutes. Do you really think it’s not too late?”
“How about we head straight for the school gate? Maybe we’ll run into him.”
“Our school has six gates. Which one should we head for? There’s only five of us.”
“So what should we do?”
One of them hesitated. “How about…telling Teacher Zhao?”
Everyone fell silent.
After a long pause, someone sighed, “It seems… that’s the only option left.”
Teacher Zhao—he’s like a brick, ready to be moved wherever he’s needed.
Ye Mingxu walked out of the dorm, attracting quite a few stares. He didn’t like the feeling of being watched, so he walked extremely fast.
Meanwhile, Shi Jingge had already reached the spot one block past the north gate of Siming Teji University.
Shi Jingge was quite experienced. He’d first taken a cab from Kalandi College to a bustling commercial street, then hailed another cab from there to Siming Teji Univeristy, staying one street over.
When he saw Ye Mingxu, Shi Jingge was genuinely taken aback, especially when Ye Mingxu smiled at him, radiating with full charm.
Shi Jingge couldn’t help but smile back at Ye Mingxu. “That outfit really suits you.”
Ye Mingxu’s eyes lit up, and he said slowly, “You look even better.”
Shi Jingge rested his chin in his hand. “Why do I feel like you look better?”
Ye Mingxu scratched the palm of his hand and whispered, “You… You look amazing.”
The two engaged in a fierce debate over who looked better with no clear winner. In the end, they looked at each other and broke into laughter at the same time.
Their laughter even made the driver up front feel a bit flustered.
Young couples these days—has dating become this mushy? It even made him start missing his wife.
The car sped along, and not long after Shi Jingge and Ye Mingxu finished their debate, they arrived at the library in the city center.
Ye Mingxu stole a glance at Shi Jingge; the more he looked, the more he felt that Shi Jingge was the most beautiful.
Then Shi Jingge caught him red-handed.
Ye Mingxu turned his head away, a little embarrassed. Shi Jingge gave a soft chuckle. Ye Mingxu blinked, realized he wasn’t upset, and turned back, staring at Shi Jingge openly.
Shi Jingge said with a smile, “Why are you staring at me?”
“You’re beautiful,” Ye Mingxu said those three words with remarkable clarity, as if he’d rehearsed them countless times in his mind.
Shi Jingge raised an eyebrow. “Do you just stare at whoever you think is good-looking?”
Ye Mingxu paused for a moment, then shook his head.
“If not, then why are you staring at me just because I’m good-looking?” Shi Jingge asked casually.
Ye Mingxu hesitated. “Well… then, if someone’s good-looking, I’ll just look at them. Is that… okay?”
“Oh?” Shi Jingge’s expression turned serious. “There are so many good-looking people out there. Do you want to look at all of them?”
Ye Mingxu shook his head. “Only you.”
Shi Jingge’s lips curled slightly.
Ye Mingxu rubbed the back of his ear and added, “Only you are good-looking.”
So, I’ll only look at you.
Shi Jingge almost laughed at Ye Mingxu’s words. Then, he fixed his gaze on Ye Mingxu.
Ye Mingxu grew nervous under his stare, not knowing what to do with his hands and feet. Shi Jingge narrowed his eyes and continued staring even more intently. Ye Mingxu’s ears began to turn red, bit by bit.
Ye Mingxu turned his head to look at Shi Jingge, then—imitating Shi Jingge—asked softly, “Why are you… staring at me?”
Shi Jingge echoed Ye Mingxu’s words, “Because you’re good-looking.”
Ye Mingxu’s face grew even redder, and he stammered, “Do you–Do you only look at whoever’s good-looking?”
“No,” Shi Jingge said, smiling warmly at Ye Mingxu, “I only look at the one right here beside me.”
Ye Mingxu paused for a moment, then asked with a stern expression, “So whoever is next to you, is that who you look at?”
Shi Jingge gazed intently at Ye Mingxu, then broke into a radiant smile. That smile was so beautiful it left Ye Mingxu momentarily speechless.
“We’re at the library now,” Shi Jingge said with a hint of regret. “We have to be quiet—no talking.”
Ye Mingxu stared intently at Shi Jingge, his expression tinged with a hint of disappointment.
Then Shi Jingge pulled him inside the library. Ye Mingxu’s gaze gradually drifted down from Shi Jingge’s face, finally settling on the hand he was holding. It was an exceptionally beautiful hand.
Slender, fair, and strong. Even his nails had a faint pinkish tint and were very glossy. His palm was warm, too. It was as if he could pass that warmth on to Ye Mingxu.
Ye Mingxu’s fingertips trembled slightly, then he slowly began to pull away. Shi Jingge froze for a moment, looking at Ye Mingxu with some confusion.
Ye Mingxu pulled from Shi Jingge’s grasp, then, with lightning speed, reclaimed Shi Jingge’s hand. He kept his head bowed, his ears so red they looked as if they might bleed, yet his grip on Shi Jingge’s hand was firm.
Shi Jingge suddenly felt the urge to tease Ye Mingxu a little.
He deliberately began to tug at his own hand as well, though not very hard. Ye Mingxu’s grip was so tight that Shi Jingge couldn’t pull away at all.
Ye Mingxu’s face was burning fiercely, though with his head bowed, few people could see it.
Shi Jingge whispered, “Let go.”
Ye Mingxu hesitated for a moment; he didn’t detect any anger or urgency in Shi Jingge’s tone, so he gripped his hand even tighter.
Shi Jingge raised an eyebrow.
“You said it yourself: no talking in the library. So whoever’s talking definitely isn’t you. Therefore, I won’t listen.”
Shi Jingge: !!!
“This logic is flawless!” Shi Jingge laughed. “Should I give you a thumbs-up?”
“No need, thanks,” Ye Mingxu murmured.
“But you can hear me, can’t you?” Shi Jingge raised an eyebrow.
Ye Mingxu quickly played dead, resolutely sticking to his act of not hearing a thing.
That earnest effort to look serious and proper was just too amusing, and Shi Jingge couldn’t help but come up with a few mischievous ideas.
Shi Jingge’s fingernails weren’t particularly long, but they were sturdy. He deliberately ran his nail lightly over Ye Mingxu’s palm twice. Ye Mingxu’s body jerked, and he stopped in his tracks.
Shi Jingge fought back a laugh and ran his nail over it twice more. Ye Mingxu’s face turned completely red; he was so flustered he lost his balance, stumbling sideways and nearly bumping into Shi Jingge!
Ye Mingxu looked up, glaring accusingly at Shi Jingge. Those beautiful eyes were a little moist, and his indignant expression was surprisingly adorable.
Shi Jingge couldn’t help himself and tickled Ye Mingxu more.
Ye Mingxu: !
Anger welled up inside him, and a mischievous streak took hold. Ye Mingxu was no longer going to play it cool. He was going to fight back!
So Ye Mingxu gripped Shi Jingge’s hand tightly, wrapping his fingers around the back of Shi Jingge’s hand and pressing them against the palm, then tickled him twice.
Shi Jingge had thought he wouldn’t react much; after all, they were an old married couple; this was nothing.
But in reality, Shi Jingge’s fingertips trembled slightly, and a wave of heat shot straight to the top of his head, spreading in all directions, making even the backs of his ears turn pink.
“Enough,” Shi Jingge said in a low voice. “I need to look up some information. Let go.”
Ye Mingxu stubbornly refused to, even sliding his fingers across Shi Jingge’s palm a couple more times. Noticing the pink flush on Shi Jingge’s ears, Ye Mingxu felt as if a whole new world had opened up before him.
He couldn’t help but lick his lips. Xiao Ge looked so beautiful like this. He smelled good too, even better than before.
Shi Jingge felt that Ye Mingxu’s expression looked rather familiar: like a wolf that knew no satisfaction and relentlessly pursued its hunt.
Damn it, I knew that guy’s usual sweet act was all a facade! A wolf is his true nature!
Embarrassed and angry, Shi Jingge shook Ye Mingxu’s hand off forcefully.
Ye Mingxu stared intently at him, his lips pursed. His eyes held a touch of puzzlement, yet were exceptionally stubborn, with a faint hint of accusation.
But in the end, yielding to Shi Jingge’s persistent stance, Ye Mingxu slowly lowered his hand. At the same time, his head drooped slightly. He actually looked a bit aggrieved.
“I’m just checking some information,” Shi Jingge said, nearly conceding.
Ye Mingxu reached out and grabbed Shi Jingge’s sleeve.Shi Jingge turned to look at him.
Ye Mingxu said slowly, “I’ll help you, Xiao Ge.”
“Thanks.” Shi Jingge told him what the information was about and didn’t forget to thank him.
Ye Mingxu turned to look at Shi Jingge and shook his head. “That’s not enough.”
Shi Jingge: ?
“A thank-you isn’t enough,” Ye Mingxu said softly. “Xiao Ge, you have to give me a… thank-you gift.”
Shi Jingge: ……
Ye Mingxu quickly grabbed Shi Jingge’s hand, then let go. He took a few quick steps forward before turning to look at Shi Jingge. His eyes were unusually bright. “A token of appreciation.”
Leaving those two sentences behind, Ye Mingxu vanished in a flash, leaving only Shi Jingge staring at his retreating back with a complex expression: partly annoyed, partly resigned, and partly nostalgic.
Sure enough, this tendency to push his luck etched deep into Ye Mingxu’s soul would never change. Shi Jingge felt both annoyed and amused, yet his eyes held nothing but tenderness.
No matter what world they were in, no matter how attractive their appearance, no matter what personality they had, their soul would always remain the same.
Ye Mingxu’s was just a bit more childish now.
Shi Jingge curved the corners of his lips slightly. Still, he liked it.
In this world, both Shi Jingge and Ye Mingxu were academic whizzes, and an essential skill for any academic whizz was the ability to easily and efficiently find the information they need.
Since Ye Mingxu was a genuine, born-and-bred academic genius, he was even faster at gathering information.
In less than two hours, Shi Jingge had gathered all the materials he wanted; all that was left was to go back and slowly go through them, finding the viewpoints and arguments he needed.
Shi Jingge glanced at the time and said cheerfully, “Let’s go. Dinner’s on me.”
Ye Mingxu nodded, his eyes fixed on Shi Jingge’s hand. Shi Jingge took a couple of steps, then noticed Ye Mingxu hadn’t moved and looked back at him in confusion.
Ye Mingxu hurried over and grabbed Shi Jingge’s hand. “A–A thank-you gift.”
It sounded a bit timid, yet there was an indescribable sense of righteous conviction to it.
Shi Jingge found it somewhat amusing. But for some reason, he felt a sudden wave of heat. His ears were burning so much that he couldn’t help but reach up to rub them.
At that very moment, Ye Mingxu also reached up to scratch his ear.
The instant their eyes met, they could both see just how red each other’s cheeks had become. For a split second, they both seemed to relax a little.
But their ears turned even redder.
Shi Jingge had already decided on their route; holding hands, the two of them walked slowly, step by step, toward the private dining restaurant.
Throughout the walk, their cheeks were so red they looked as if they might bleed.
Shi Jingge didn’t know what was wrong with him; he felt perfectly calm, yet the heat on his face just kept rising.
…It must be because of Ye Mingxu!
Shi Jingge turned his head and glared fiercely at the other man. Ye Mingxu was confused, but he just thought Shi Jingge looked unusually handsome, and his own cheeks flushed even more.
Shi Jingge: ……
……Damn it, why was his face getting even hotter too, aaaah!
The dining restaurant was also positioned at a high-end establishment. As soon as they walked in, a dedicated host greeted them. Shi Jingge tried to get Ye Mingxu to let go of his hand, but Ye Mingxu, even with his face flushed bright red, refused to let go.
The host noticed the couple’s little gestures and couldn’t help but let a hint of a smile flicker in her eyes.
Young people these days were just so adorable when they were in love!
She escorted them to a private room. Only after they sat down did Ye Mingxu reluctantly let go of Shi Jingge’s hand.
The look in his eyes as he gazed at Shi Jingge carried a hint of hurt, like a little animal that had been abandoned.
The host pursed her lips to suppress her smile. She dutifully introduced the restaurant’s specialties. When she mentioned a signature dish called “One Fish, Three Ways,” Ye Mingxu, who had been silent until then, suddenly said, “We’ll have that.”
The host confirmed the order with a smile, and a bold thought flashed through Shi Jingge’s mind, causing his fingertips to tremble slightly for a moment.
For the rest of it, Shi Jingge was somewhat distracted. They finished ordering quickly; after the host double-checked the order, she left the private room, leaving the space to the young couple.
Once she had left, Shi Jingge ran a finger along the rim of his water glass and said slowly, “Do you like fish?”
“No,” Ye Mingxu replied honestly. “It has a strong taste and it’s full of bones.”
“Then why did you order it?” Shi Jingge raised an eyebrow.
“Because you like it,” Ye Mingxu said with absolute certainty.
Shi Jingge’s heart fluttered slightly. He tilted his head back, struggling to suppress his emotions, his voice hoarse. “How do you know I like fish? Who told you that?”
Ye Mingxu froze.
Who told him that Shi Jingge liked fish?
No one.
No one around him had ever mentioned Shi Jingge.
Did Shi Jingge actually like fish or not?
Ye Mingxu bit his lower lip. “I don’t know. I just thought…you like fish. Do you?” Ye Mingxu looked at Shi Jingge, stubbornly waiting for an answer.
Shi Jingge was silent for quite a while before whispering, “I do. And I especially like grilled fish, preferably boneless ones and not too strong.”
Ye Mingxu thought for a moment, then replied honestly, “Boneless and not too strong—I like that too.”
Just one sentence—nine words—but it seemed to hit Shi Jingge’s funny bone, making him laugh uncontrollably.
Is it because it’s boneless and doesn’t smell fishy that you like it, or is it because I like it that you like it? Don’t you know that better than anyone, you fool?
But unfortunately, this particular fish let them both down. Not only was it full of bones, but it also smelled strong and tasted awful.
Even back in the world before last, when Ye Mingxu first learned to cook fish, it hadn’t been nearly this bad.
Ye Mingxu diligently picked out the meat, carefully removed the bones, and placed it in Shi Jingge’s bowl, waiting to see his reaction. Shi Jingge couldn’t bring himself to say it was disgusting, so he finally forced himself to swallow it down. “Let’s try something else.”
Ye Mingxu read something in Shi Jingge’s expression. He took a bite himself and voiced the words Shi Jingge hadn’t spoken. “It really is awful.”
Shi Jingge nodded in wholehearted agreement.
“Next time, I’ll cook for you,” Ye Mingxu said, looking up solemnly.
“You know how to cook?” Shi Jingge asked curiously.
“No,” Ye Mingxu said bluntly, “but I can learn. It’s not that hard.”
Shi Jingge: “……”
Was this the confidence and determination of a top student?
The two of them ate in silence for a while. Ever since arriving in this world, Shi Jingge had realized just how painful eating could be.
Ye Mingxu whispered, “What are we going to do later?”
Shi Jingge replied, “Go back to school.”
Ye Mingxu frowned. He didn’t want to go back to school. He wanted to stay with Shi Jingge a little longer, but he didn’t know how to say it.
Ye Mingxu poked at the food on his plate, having lost his appetite.
After they finished eating and were about to leave the private dining room, the door across from them swung open.
It was a family of three. The little boy in the middle had delicate features and wore a birthday crown on his head, looking just like a little prince.
Just then, a server ran over, exclaiming repeatedly, “Mr. Li, Mrs. Li, your pet is still inside!”
“What pet do we have?” the man said coldly. “Don’t bring all kinds of animals here. If you don’t want them, just throw them away. Why are you bothering our guests?”
The server froze for a moment, and the family of three walked away without looking back.
The staff member hurriedly called out, “Mr. Li! Mrs. Li!”
But this time, the family of three didn’t even turn their heads.
Two other staff members nearby walked over. “What’s going on?”
“They left a cat behind!” A flicker of pity crossed the server’s eyes. “That cat’s in bad shape—it looks so pitiful, and it’s injured. If we just throw it out, it’s anyone’s guess whether it’ll even make it through the night. It’s still in their private room, tied to the table with a rope. It’s really pitiful. That cat is even a rare breed—it has more than one tail.”
Shi Jingge paused before turning back. Ye Mingxu looked at him in confusion and followed suit.
“Excuse me,” Shi Jingge asked, trying to keep his composure as much as possible, “could we take a look at that cat?”
The server hesitated slightly and glanced at the other two servers.
“You can’t save it, but I can,” Shi Jingge said in a calm tone that was nonetheless convincing.
“All right,” the server said, gritting his teeth. “Follow me. If you really can save it, that’d be a good thing.”
Shi Jingge and Ye Mingxu entered the private room next door. The little kitten, tied to the table, let out a piercing cry. That cry gradually overlapped with the voice of another little kitten in Shi Jingge’s mind, sending a shiver down his spine.
Shi Jingge took off his jacket, intending to use it to wrap the kitten in a moment.
The kitten was tightly bound by the rope; there were traces of blood on its fur, and its eyes looked distinctly off. One larger than the other.
The moment Shi Jingge’s hand touched the rope, the kitten let out a piercing cry and snapped at Shi Jingge’s hand!
“Sir!” The server jumped in surprise, and Ye Mingxu took a step toward Shi Jingge.
Shi Jingge snapped, “Don’t come any closer!”
Ye Mingxu stopped.
“Don’t be afraid,” Shi Jingge said, softening his voice, threading a hint of spiritual energy into it. “I’m here to take you home. You don’t have a home yet, do you? Why don’t we make one together? Do you want to hear a song? How about asking a certain clueless guy to sing one for you? He’s not very good at it though. Please don’t look down on him, okay?”
Shi Jingge turned to look at Ye Mingxu, but how could Ye Mingxu know how to sing?
Ye Mingxu stared blankly at him, then steeled himself, cleared his throat, and hummed a random tune. The melody carried a hint of mental energy, which, combined with Shi Jingge’s gentle voice, gradually helped the kitten relax.
It eased its bite on Shi Jingge’s hand, no longer trying so hard.
Ye Mingxu suddenly felt a bit uneasy. He couldn’t quite put his finger on why he felt that way.
He walked over slowly, humming a tune he didn’t even recognize himself, then crouched down to help Shi Jingge untie the rope around the kitten.
Once the rope was successfully untied, the kitten tried to bolt, but Ye Mingxu was quick on his feet and caught it. The kitten thrashed and managed to bite him, its eyes flashing with ferocity.
Ye Mingxu continued humming that little tune and whispered, “Don’t be afraid.”
The kitten stiffened, then gradually relaxed. It seemed to realize that someone had saved it; slowly, it relaxed its claws and, looking somewhat guilty, licked his wound.
“It must have been hurt by someone before. That’s why it’s so afraid of people.”
Shi Jingge took off his jacket and wrapped the kitten in it. “Let’s take it to the vet first.”
Ye Mingxu nodded sullenly, and the two of them took the kitten to the veterinary clinic together.
When the veterinarians received the kitten, their expressions changed, and they immediately began arranging for an operation.
A nurse noticed the injuries on both their hands and said gently, “Sir’s, why don’t we help you take care of those?”
Shi Jingge nodded. “Thank you.”
The nurse led the two to have their wounds tended to. Just then, not far away, a man rubbed his neck, glanced around, and suddenly froze in his tracks.
“Jiang Cheng, what are you looking at?” asked a clear, bright female voice.
Zhao Jiangcheng hesitated slightly. “I think I saw one of my students.”
“If it’s a student, then it’s a student. Why say ‘I think’?” the woman asked with a chuckle.
“I’m not sure.” Zhao Jiangcheng frowned. “This student of mine is a total homebody—he never goes out, let alone come here…”
Zhao Jiangcheng craned his neck to look and even took a few steps closer. Then, he saw Ye Mingxu walking out from the vet clinic.
Zhao Jiangcheng opened his mouth to call out but then, he saw Ye Mingxu turn to speak to someone behind him!
That person turned out to be Lin Yiwen’s student, the rising star from Kalandi’s Intermediate Division, none other than…Shi Jingge!!
Author’s Note:
Zhao Jiangcheng: Damn it, I got a full-on view of his face—I couldn’t help but recognize him.
Krone: i was giggling like an idiot while reading this and then suddenly i wanted to cry xD the emotional rollercoaster is kinda all out there
Choux_Choux: Author was chugging energy drinks writing this haha
Annoucment: So Knoxt is rolling out a new system of revenue to keep the site running, a new ad partner and a coin system(optional). Personally, I don’t believe fan translations should be put behind a paywall unless its an direct contribution to the original author. I do this because I like the stories and want to share them, if im translating them for myself I might as well post them so others don’t have to waste effort on the same task! I do not want to treat a hobby as a job/side-hustle, therefor None of my chapters will EVER be paywalled. (Ko-fis are a wonderful surprise that makes my day when I get them as its not very often. ) If it gets overwhelming with ads please let me know and I will think about moving elsewhere (i’m only here because its easier than trying to figure out hosting by myself). — Shiotamari
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Weakkitty On RIACMET Chapter 1