Chapter 68

Chapter 68

After saying this, Xie Qingfeng expected to see Jing Xi's happy expression, but instead, Jing Xi was stunned for a long time before squeezing out, "...Enough already?"

Xie Qingfeng, close by, quietly watched the reflection of the swiftly changing lights outside the car window in Jing Xi’s eyes, "Yes, I thought it wouldn't be enough until after the 11th. But with what Mr. Zhang and Mrs. Zhang just gave, plus what we had before, it’s already enough. Aren’t you in a hurry to terminate the contract?"

He ended his explanation with a sudden question.

This made Jing Xi, who had been planning to delay further, swallow his words abruptly. He felt that if he continued to postpone, the national master might become suspicious. After all, it was plausible before, but now that they had enough money and were in City B, his continuous delaying would seem abnormal.

Jing Xi agreed, "Alright, since it's like that, I'll arrange a meeting with Agent Liang. We'll go over when it's scheduled."

Xie Qingfeng, showing no suspicion, settled back into his seat. "Okay, let me know once you've fixed the time."

Jing Xi absentmindedly acknowledged, his mind elsewhere. Meeting Liang Chenglei alone wasn't an issue, as long as he concealed his face and played along.

But getting Zhu or the entire Minghuan Entertainment to cooperate was unlikely. Any slip-up, and the National Master would definitely notice.

At that point, Jing Xi feared he might be unceremoniously cast out.

Xie Qingfeng, appearing to scroll through his phone, subtly angled the dark screen towards Jing Xi, capturing a fleeting reflection of his furrowed brow.

Xie Qingfeng wondered, was this guy hiding something from him?

As the trio headed back to the hotel, the Xie family's ejection from the Zhang family banquet hall went largely unnoticed, though some guests did whisper inquisitively among themselves, unable to glean the full story.

In a corner, a middle-aged man nudged his distracted companion, "Mr. An, what's got you so lost in thought? Something bothering you? Don't tell me you're thinking of approaching Elder Zhang too? You saw what happened; even forced attempts at conversation didn’t sit well with Elder Zhang and only led to annoyance."

Their company was too insignificant in Elder Zhang's eyes to be anything more than familiar faces.

Mr. An, pale-faced, was disheartened. He'd put so much effort into attending the banquet, yet failed to find an opportunity to connect with Elder Zhang. Even his carefully chosen gifts were returned, deemed too extravagant by the Zhang family butler, who insisted Elder Zhang simply wanted a lively celebration without burdening the guests.

Thus, Mr. An's gifts, though noticed by the Zhangs, failed to make a lasting impression.

Resigned to his fate, Mr. An realized he'd missed his chance to even engage Elder Zhang in conversation, let alone learn about the esteemed Xie Qingfeng from him.

But what had he just seen? When Mr. Zhang was stopped by that family of three, he saw three people following Mr. Zhang, especially the young man standing next to Mr. Zhang. Despite wearing a mask and hat, Jing Xi recognized the trio.

After all, this trio was too memorable. Even if they changed clothes, one of them, tall with long hair, was unforgettable. And Mr. Hao wasn't wearing a mask.

But the master he had initially suspected to be a charlatan, who later proved to be very capable, was actually... walking with Mr. Zhang? And seemed to be highly trusted by Mr. Zhang?

His mind was buzzing. He suddenly recalled the strange look Mr. Hao gave him when his assistant came to deliver the gift list and he expressed his desire to connect with the Zhang family and invite Master Xie.

At this moment, an unbelievable thought flashed through his mind, and he suddenly understood the meaning behind Mr. Hao's look back then. If the person with Mr. Zhang was Master Xie... everything seemed to make sense.

Moreover, the person was indeed surnamed Xie, and the Daoist priest he later invited was extremely respectful to this master.

The middle-aged man who first spoke watched as Mr. An's face turned paler and paler, and suddenly, with a mix of laughter and tears, he stumbled and slapped himself.

With a loud smack, the man was startled: "Damn, Mr. An, don't scare me? What's wrong with you?" Weren't you just fine a moment ago? You haven’t been possessed, have you?

Mr. An wiped his face, coming back to his senses, and waved his hand: "I'm fine, just realizing... I've missed out on a billion."

Even more painful than that, just thinking about how he had the opportunity to befriend the renowned Master Xie so effortlessly, and yet he ruined it all himself, made him want to slap himself a few more times. But now, it was all too late for regrets.

Xie Qingfeng and his companions were unaware of Mr. An's remorse. Since they had been delayed on the road tonight, the three went straight to bed upon returning to the hotel. Before entering his room, Xie Qingfeng looked back and reminded, "Don’t forget to ask Agent Liang."

Jing Xi paused while swiping his card to enter the room, then quickly turned back with a gentle smile: “Okay, I won’t forget.”

After seeing Xie Qingfeng enter his room, Jing Xi returned to his own room. Once the door was closed, he sighed softly: “I always feel like something's going to happen.”

The next day, Xie Qingfeng woke up early. He had taken the remaining jade stones from Mr. Zhang the night before and used them to cultivate overnight, as he had expended a lot of spiritual power.

Despite not sleeping all night, he showed no signs of fatigue and felt refreshed.

After Xie Qingfeng finished his morning routine and checked the time, it was already seven o'clock. Usually, Jing Xi would have knocked on his door by now, but there was no movement yet.

He ordered two breakfasts, and after finishing one, he took the other to the next room and knocked on the door.

After a moment, Jing Xi opened the door, coughing a few times with his face turned aside and mask on: “Why are you up so early?”

Xie Qingfeng examined him, noticing his abnormal flush and bloodshot eyes, indicating a lack of rest and sickness.

Surprised, Xie Qingfeng asked, “Are you sick?”

Jing Xi, touched by Xie Qingfeng's gesture of bringing breakfast, stepped aside to let him in.

Xie Qingfeng entered, closing the door behind him, and handed Jing Xi the breakfast: “How did you get sick? Weren’t you fine last night?”

Jing Xi explained as he put down the breakfast: “I couldn’t sleep, so I practiced some boxing. I took a cold shower afterward and then turned the air conditioning too low. It's just a minor cold; it won’t affect our plans today.”

After removing his mask, Jing Xi’s face was visibly flushed, a clear sign of illness.

As Jing Xi turned to face him, Xie Qingfeng stepped closer and touched his forehead, checking for fever.

Jing Xi, caught off guard, felt the warm touch on his forehead, which seemed to ignite all the heat from his cold shower and air conditioning.

Startled, he asked, “What’s wrong?”

Xie Qingfeng, concerned at Jing Xi's feverish state, said, “You have a fever,” noting the high temperature.

He then pressed Jing Xi to sit down, thankful that the breakfast he had ordered was porridge, perfect for someone unwell: “Eat first, I’ll get someone to bring some medicine.”

Jing Xi initially declined, but considering this was his intention all along, his expression grew even more listless and defeated. As he sat down, he lifted his head to reveal a pitiful look: "Will it interfere with your plans?"

Xie Qingfeng replied, "No, it won't. Just rest well today. Hao Jixin and I will go out for a bit and be back soon."

"Just a short trip today, we should be back by around ten. I didn't arrange for Hao Jixin to meet with any employers this afternoon since we planned to visit Minghuan Entertainment."

Jing Xi naturally had no reason to refuse. He had decided that once the imperial advisor left, he would rush to Minghuan Entertainment to sort things out and bring back the termination contract, claiming that he had already terminated it.

Hao Jixin arrived just as the medicine was being delivered and brought it in, looking curiously at Jing Xi: "I never thought the famous actor Jing would fall ill?"

Jing Xi glanced at him with a deep look: "I'm human, of course, I can get sick."

Hao Jixin clicked his tongue twice: "Look at this pitiful little thing."

Since he knew Jing the actor, he had always appeared tough and indestructible. Hearing about his illness was almost unbelievable at first, but now, seeing him, he believed it; the sickness was evident.

Jing Xi ignored him and turned to Xie Qingfeng with a cooperative demeanor: "I've arranged with Agent Liang to go there this afternoon."

Xie Qingfeng hummed in response: "I'll be out with Hao Jixin in the morning and back before noon. Transfer all your money to one card and give it to him directly."

Jing Xi hadn't expected the imperial advisor to trust him so implicitly without even asking; the porridge in his mouth suddenly lost its taste: "Okay..."

Xie Qingfeng watched him finish his porridge and take his medicine before standing up, only to leave for the bathroom before departing.

Jing Xi, caught up in guilt, didn't find it strange that Xie Qingfeng's room was next door; why he went to his bathroom.

Xie Qingfeng entered the bathroom, not to wash his hands, but to glance at the shower door and then at the full-length mirror. He reached out to touch it. Though it was wiped clean, he could still feel the dampness. Looking at his reflection, Xie Qingfeng laughed wryly.

Xie Qingfeng left the bathroom with no change in expression, but before he left, he took a pen and paper from the room to draw a talisman, handing it over: "Keep this with you after taking the medicine. It's a charm to ward off illness and help you recover faster."

Jing Xi accepted it: "Alright, I'll keep it with me."

Xie Qingfeng gave him a meaningful glance: "That's good."

Once they had walked a good distance away, Hao Jixin couldn't resist rubbing his hands together: "Master, do you think I could have a charm to ward off illness too, as a precaution?"

After all, he was the liaison between the master and the employer. How could he afford to fall ill at such a critical time?

He had thought he was safe, but if even the renowned actor Jing could fall ill, shouldn't he take precautions?

Xie Qingfeng glanced at him: "You don't need one."

Hao Jixin let out a sound of surprise. Xie Qingfeng calmly added, "Besides, that wasn't a charm to ward off illness."

Hao Jixin: "Then what was it?"

Xie Qingfeng smiled mysteriously: "It was a tracking charm."

Hao Jixin: "?!"