Chapter 69

Chapter 69

On the way to the employer's house, Hao Jixin couldn't help but sneak glances at the master through the rearview mirror, still puzzled by the tracking charm the master had mentioned. Why would he give a tracking charm to actor Jing of all people?

Could it be... did actor Jing do something to wrong the master?

The more Hao Jixin thought about it, the more he felt that must be the truth. After all, the master could never be wrong. If there was a mistake, it had to be actor Jing's fault!

Who would have thought the respectable actor Jing would do something to betray the master behind his back?

Then, Hao Jixin thought, if actor Jing was ever caught and ousted by the master, wouldn't that make him the master's only, and sole, assistant?

At this thought, Hao Jixin couldn't hide his glee, drawing Xie Qingfeng's attention, who then looked up, "What's wrong with you?" noticing his mix of frowning and silly smiling.

Hao Jixin quickly shook his head: "I was just thinking about something regarding the employer, something I haven't mentioned to the master yet."

On the way to their destination, Hao Jixin briefed on the matter of their current employer.

The employer, surnamed Qiu, is an architect with a modest reputation in the industry. His career has been smooth sailing, but his personality, combined with a privileged background, makes him resistant to both soft and hard tactics. Privately, his temperament has offended many, though he seems indifferent to it.

Since he never disclosed his family background, his colleagues found him difficult to work with, perceiving him as both arrogant and vain.

The issue involving Qiu Dexuan came to them through the Zhang family, who have good relations with the Qiu family. Qiu Dexuan is from the Qiu family but shows little interest in their business. With many children in the family, they don’t lack an heir.

After graduating, he plunged into the industry he loved. However, his blunt manner during business meetings with superiors led to not only failed negotiations but also offended others, resulting in his superiors excluding him.

"Normally, this wouldn't be a problem since his expertise and several awards gave him significant influence in the company. But his personality did offend many privately... Last month, he won a major award, and it seems it may have caused jealousy at his company. Since then, he's been experiencing a streak of bad luck. It started with minor injuries, but last week, he nearly died when something fell from the roof of his company's building."

Hao Jixin couldn't help but sigh at this, thinking how ruthless someone must be to try to take a life over such a trivial matter.

Xie Qingfeng hummed in acknowledgment: "So, he wants me to find out who's trying to harm him?"

Hao Jixin eagerly agreed: "Right, the Qiu family has always been believers in this, and with the connections of Elder Zhang, they suspected something was amiss. They got Qiu Dexuan a talisman for protection from a renowned master, and after wearing it, the problems ceased. But Qiu Dexuan couldn’t let it go and had the master visit his company, though they couldn’t identify the culprit. Now that the master is visiting B city, they've asked for our help."

So, the task was simple: just visit the company to identify the culprit. With a payment of two million from the Qiu family, it was certainly a profitable deal.

Having finished his explanation, Hao Jixin again thought of becoming the master’s sole assistant and couldn’t help but smile joyfully. His wide grin caught the attention of Xie Qingfeng, who glanced at him through the rearview mirror with a complex expression.

Hao Jixin blinked in confusion, then realizing something, found himself in a dilemma whether to explain or not.

How could he explain? With Qiu Dexuan in such a plight, here he was, laughing so heartily...

But could he really reveal the true reason?

Qiu Dexuan was already waiting for them at the agreed time. He had heard about Master Xie, far more formidable than the master who crafted his protective talisman. He stood there with pursed lips, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, and a bandage on his forehead.

The falling object hadn't taken his life, but in dodging it, he had hit his head on the corner of a flower bed, bleeding profusely, though not fatally.

He had called the police immediately, but the surveillance showed no one going to the roof at that time. It seemed as if the object had fallen on its own.

But how could that be? The only explanation was that the culprit, capable of cursing him with bad luck, must also have a master on their side. Perhaps they had prepared the object with a talisman in advance, or maybe they had placed an even more powerful curse on him, still not giving up.

He loved his profession and had grown accustomed to the company. He didn't want to change jobs, and more importantly, why should he step aside for someone trying to harm him? Wasn't the perpetrator's intent precisely to drive him away? Well, he had no intention of leaving.

Once he found the culprit, even without evidence, he wouldn’t mind giving them a taste of their own medicine.

If they liked cursing others with misfortune, he would make sure they experienced it themselves.

When Hao Jixin drove up, he saw a tall, young man in a suit standing nearby, notably with exceptionally long legs, a bandage on his forehead, and wearing glasses. Despite his good looks, there was a gloomy aura about him.

Unfamiliar with the area, Hao Jixin wasn't sure where to park the car, so he simply stopped nearby: "Mr. Qiu?"

Qiu Dexuan looked up: "Master Xie?"

Hao Jixin chuckled: "No, I'm the master’s assistant." Soon to be the only assistant!

Qiu Dexuan glanced through the half-open car window, meeting a pair of calm and indifferent black eyes. Even with a mask, the person appeared significantly younger, even younger than him: ?? Wasn't this supposed to be a powerful master?

But with only two people in the car, and the driver clearly not being the master, that left the other person: "Master... Xie?"

Xie Qingfeng nodded in acknowledgment, slightly surprised by Qiu's good looks, but merely glanced and then stepped out of the car, instructing Hao Jixin where to find parking while he went ahead with Qiu.

The task wasn't complicated; just identify the culprit and discreetly point them out, no need for Hao Jixin to follow: "You go to the parking lot; I'll find you once I'm done."

The parking lot wasn’t far but required a detour, taking about fifteen minutes to reach – enough time for him to finish his task.

Hao Jixin thought it over and agreed, heading off in a different direction.

By now, Qiu Dexuan had reined in his earlier expressions, uncertain what to say, accompanied by a man of few words. It wasn't until they were in the elevator and had pressed for the 24th floor that he couldn't resist stealing glances at the master from the mirror.

Especially the master's cool and indifferent aura, which inexplicably made him want to look more, the first time he felt so drawn to someone without even seeing their face.

Qiu Dexuan had chosen a major related to architecture instead of finance, not only because he liked the field, but also because he was attracted to men.

Fearing his family's disapproval, he decided early on not to join the family business, ensuring he had a career and a way out should his orientation be revealed.

Yet, in the years since graduation, he hadn't met anyone he liked.

Xie Qingfeng had long noticed his gaze, especially how Qiu's expression, which had been normal at first, noticeably brightened upon meeting him.

Xie Qingfeng: “……”

He felt a tumult of emotions and looked up at his employer, saying bluntly before stepping out of the elevator on the 24th floor, "It's impossible between you and me."

Jude Xuan: ?!?

Shocked and rooted to the spot, he soon turned beet red, realizing something. Nearly missing the closing elevator doors, he hurried out, following the master and rubbing the back of his neck fiercely.

Now he was utterly convinced of the master's prowess, who understood his thoughts with just one glance. Yet, the more he realized this, the brighter his eyes shone.

It was still the National Day holiday, and everyone in the company was off, but Jude Xuan persuaded the boss, using the Qiu family's influence for the first time, to hold a company-wide video conference during this period.

The boss, only then aware of his capable subordinate's affluent background, dared not object.

When Xie Qingfeng and the boss went to the office, there were just five minutes left to the scheduled time. The boss had been waiting and stood up upon seeing them, "Young Qiu, and this gentleman is?"

Jude Xuan, following behind Xie Qingfeng, said, "He's the master I've hired."

The boss, aware of the meeting's purpose, worried about its impact on future projects, but it was nothing compared to offending the Qiu family.

The video conference began soon after, with Xie Qingfeng and Jude Xuan standing out of the camera's view, watching as employee faces appeared in each small window.

Xie Qingfeng, expressionless, scanned each face, his gaze settling on a man in his thirties: "First row, sixth one."

Not just Jude Xuan, but the boss heard it too, and seeing the man, he froze, "This..."

Without mentioning the name, he quickly left the video conference, fearing being overheard, planning to fabricate an excuse to explain to the staff later.

He turned to look at the grim-faced Jude Xuan, "Could it be a misunderstanding? Manager Zhao has been mentoring you since you joined the company..."

He had considered many people but never expected the always amiable Manager Zhao, a longstanding and capable employee of the company.

Jude Xuan took a deep breath, also surprised, "Believing it or not is now up to me."

Having said that, he nodded to the boss and then escorted Master Xie to leave first.

The boss sighed, unable to fathom what was going on with Old Zhao.

Jude Xuan was also taken aback, looking quite upset, as he had never suspected Manager Zhao.

As they waited for the elevator, Xie Qingfeng glanced at him: "The matter is resolved. Mr. Qiu needn't see me off."

Jude Xuan came to his senses, wiping his face: "No, it's a rare visit from the master. Let me treat you to a meal."

He spoke impulsively, then realized it was barely past 9:10, too late for breakfast and too early for lunch, clearly just an excuse.

Xie Qingfeng remained silent, just quietly looking at him.

Jude Xuan’s ears slowly reddened, and he didn't dare follow into the elevator, watching helplessly as Xie Qingfeng left.

Xie Qingfeng went to the parking lot to find Hao Jixin, sat in the car, and with a flick of his finger, used his spiritual power to write a talisman, calculated a bit, and gave Hao Jixin a location to head to.

Hao Jixin, recalling the previous tracking talisman, became excited: "It's happening!"

However, en route, he couldn't help but glance at the master sitting behind him, who seemed in a somewhat bad mood. "Was Mr. Qiu's issue difficult to handle?"

Xie Qingfeng: "It's been dealt with." Just that an unexpected romantic entanglement had left him with mixed feelings.

Especially upon leaving, Jude Xuan not only hadn't given up the idea, but his infatuation had become... even more fervent?

Meanwhile, Jing Xi, after Xie Qingfeng and Hao Jixin left, messaged Liang Chenglei, setting a time, and asked him to bring a termination contract he had thought up the previous night, with the severance pay as previously used to deceive Xie Qingfeng.

Liang Chenglei clearly didn’t expect to be deceiving someone again, but with his own artist involved, he had no choice but to comply.

However, he had to make a trip to the company first, as the company seal was with the boss. After some hassle, they settled on 9:30.

He initially wanted to schedule it for 10:00, but Jing Xi strictly refused.

He arrived back at the hotel around eleven, worried that if the Grandmaster returned early, it might arouse suspicion.

So, he insisted on Liang Chenglei advancing the meeting to 9:30. After resolving everything, he should be back by ten, just in time.

Jing Xi, wearing a mask and hat upon entering the café, immediately drew the attention of the customers inside, his stature and appearance too striking to ignore.

As soon as Jing Xi appeared, Liang Chenglei hurriedly gestured, and Jing Xi, catching the signal, walked towards the booth.

The booth, semi-private, only obscured the seated figure. Standing up, one could overlook the entire café.

Jing Xi got straight to the point upon arriving: "Did you bring it?"

Liang Chenglei, conflicted: "Are we really doing this? Director Zhu already asked me, I almost couldn't keep up the lie."

Jing Xi covered his mouth, coughing a few times, still sick: "I need to go back soon, let's sign this first. I’ll explain later." He pushed over a card, "There's eighty million in there, keep investing in Director Zhu's project."

Liang Chenglei swallowed hard: "You didn’t... rob a bank, did you?"

Jing Xi gave him a look, quickly scanned the contract, signed on the last page, and was about to hand it back to Liang Chenglei.

But before Liang Chenglei could take it, a slender arm reached out, taking the contract first: "I put in the money, shouldn't I have a look first?"

Jing Xi, sick and distracted, was shocked to hear a voice that shouldn't be there, and looked up in disbelief.