Chapter 87

Chapter 87

Xie Qingfeng and Jing Xi were separated by several desks, but his enhanced hearing allowed him to catch the boy's confession.

Xie Qingfeng paused in his steps, belatedly blocking out the sound and then turning to wait at the door. Soon, the boy came out looking pale and disoriented before quickly disappearing.

Jing Xi then leisurely walked out with a bag of exercise books and some of Xie Qingfeng's, joining him. Glancing at Xie Qingfeng's profile, he felt a lump in his throat, wondering if the Master didn't care about him being courted by someone else.

Xie Qingfeng, noticing Jing Xi's silence, turned to him and asked, "Shall we eat out or go back for lunch?"

Jing Xi kicked the step in front of him: "Let's eat out." Before, he could prepare meals in advance at home, but now, following the Master to classes, he had no time. If they went back now, it would probably be two before they could eat.

Xie Qingfeng agreed, and they walked outside in silence, the atmosphere between them strangely tense.

Jing Xi couldn't hold back first: "Aren't you going to ask me? About that person... I don't know him."

Xie Qingfeng tilted his head to look at him: "Actually, I'm more curious about something else."

Jing Xi's eyes lit up, thinking perhaps the Master was jealous but didn't show it. "What is it?"

Xie Qingfeng, thoughtfully looking him over: "You've only been here a few days. How did that guy know you're into men?" He guessed Jing Xi had definitely rejected the guy, but Jing Xi hadn’t spoken to anyone else in days, so how did that guy know his sexual orientation?

Jing Xi: "...That's it?"

Xie Qingfeng: "What else?"

Jing Xi took a deep breath, then another, and walked ahead briskly. He decided to order extra dishes later to eat the Master out of house and home!

Xie Qingfeng quickened his pace: "Hey, you haven't answered yet. What's different about you?" How come he had never noticed? Was "likes men" written on Jing Xi's face?

Xie Qingfeng was curious about the unknown. If it was true, he was quite curious whether he himself liked men or women, as he couldn't see his own fate. He was quite interested in how his future would turn out.

When Hao Jixin came to find Xie Qingfeng in the afternoon, he noticed something was off with Emperor Jing. He quietly asked Xie Qingfeng: "Master, what's with Emperor Jing? Did someone step on his tail?" His mood seemed so off, especially while staying by the Master's side. It was so unusual.

Xie Qingfeng glanced at Jing Xi. Since the other hadn't mentioned it, he wouldn't share someone else's private matters. Instead, he changed the subject: "What's the situation with the job we're taking later?"

Hao Jixin's attention shifted immediately, describing the situation at their next client's home: "It's not difficult this time. A rich second-generation student at the university, not much trouble but pays well. We should resolve it once we get there. He thinks there's something wrong with his eyes, always seeing strange things at midnight. But it could also be that his house isn’t clean, so he wants the Master to check it out."

Xie Qingfeng hummed in response. He wasn't really interested in the details; it was just a diversion. Seeing Hao Jixin reassured and continuing to lead the way, he turned his gaze to the window.

But recalling Hao Jixin’s recent question, he wondered if the little emperor was really upset. Had he missed something? Since they came out, although they hadn’t talked much, their expressions seemed the same as always, and he hadn’t noticed any difference.

He wasn't the type to initiate conversations, partly due to his reserved nature and also for fear of Jing Xi misunderstanding his intentions.

Xie Qingfeng turned to look at Jing Xi, and upon closer inspection, he did notice some differences. Despite trying to hide it, Jing Xi’s head was constantly turned to the other side. After a moment of thought, he moved closer and asked in a lower voice, “Is it because I’ve been pushing you too hard with studies these past few days?”

Jing Xi turned around at the sound, then sighed at Xie Qingfeng’s blunt question: “No.”

Xie Qingfeng, not being foolish, realized he might have upset him by not caring about the previous incident: “Or should I say I care, would you believe that?”

Jing Xi hadn’t really expected him to care, knowing well that the National Teacher was oblivious, but he couldn’t help feeling disappointed, a sourness in his heart. It wasn’t anger towards the National Teacher, just plain unhappiness.

Xie Qingfeng saw him slowly shaking his head, his expression neither sad nor happy, and felt a sudden softening of his heart. He empathized, thinking how he would feel if someone he liked was indifferent to being confessed to by someone else.

But he couldn’t grasp that feeling of hurt, so he lowered his eyes and said softly, “I’m sorry.”

Jing Xi shook his head: “It’s my own issue, it has nothing to do with you. But why were you curious about that person knowing I like men?” Initially, Jing Xi was somewhat upset, but talking with the National Teacher eased his mood. Relaxing, he leaned back, almost touching the National Teacher’s shoulder, feeling happier.

Xie Qingfeng noticed the subtle change in Jing Xi’s mood, realizing the reason, and an odd emotion rose in his heart, making his voice even softer: “I was curious, as you know, I can’t see my own fate.”

Jing Xi tilted his head to look at him: “I’ve heard the Taoist master mention that.”

Xie Qingfeng lowered his eyes: “I’m curious about who I will like…” He said the word ‘like’ very softly. These two people didn’t seem to have any relation to him, but now, thinking about the person next to him and his feelings, a strange emotion spread between them.

Jing Xi’s eyes widened in shock, staring at Xie Qingfeng, his voice hoarse: “You… want to know?”

Xie Qingfeng was always forthright, seeing no shame in curiosity: “Yes, why wouldn’t I want to know?”

Jing Xi was taken aback, staring intently at Xie Qingfeng’s close features, almost reaching out to touch his forehead but restraining himself: “I can’t read fates.” So, he really couldn’t tell.

Xie Qingfeng asked, “Then how did that boy figure it out?”

Jing Xi touched his nose: “That boy likes the same sex. He saw us together often and thought we were a couple, but wasn’t sure, so he came to ask. Though I have... those feelings for the National Teacher, I couldn’t tarnish your reputation. I told him it wasn’t true, and then he confessed to me.” Jing Xi added, “But I rejected him,” just as the National Teacher had walked away.

Xie Qingfeng didn’t expect that, but then he remembered something – the original body liked men…

But he quickly shook his head, reminding himself he was not the original person.

Jing Xi, however, sat up straight, his eyes shining as he looked at Xie Qingfeng: “How about we find a master to read your fate?” If the National Teacher really liked men and if his destined one was him, couldn’t he use this opportunity to start building a relationship with the National Teacher ahead of time?

Xie Qingfeng glanced at him helplessly, seeing through his little scheme: “And what if it’s not?”

Jing Xi: "...National Teacher, can you not sting my heart like that? If it leaks out, you'll be the one at a loss in the end."

Xie Qingfeng: "How would I be at a loss?"

Jing Xi: "After all, I was wholeheartedly devoted to you. If it leaks, that devotion lessens, it won't be wholehearted anymore, leaking everywhere." He laughed at his own words.

Xie Qingfeng, not knowing what to say in response, but seeing Jing Xi's mood improve, simply let it be and returned to his seat to gaze out the window.

Hao Jixin, stealing a glance in the rearview mirror, increasingly felt the two seemed like a secret couple. He glanced at Jing Xi with a hint of lament: What if this guy really rises to a prominent position by the National Teacher's side, becoming the so-called 'boss's spouse'? Would he make things difficult for him?

This time, their client, surnamed Li, was a third-year university student, not from C University but from another nearby. His family was from A City, not close to C City, and they wanted him to study management to eventually take over the family business.

But Li didn't want to inherit the family business and secretly chose to study journalism instead, aspiring to be a director or work behind the scenes.

Li rented a house off-campus, where he had lived for three years without issue. But starting a month ago, he began waking up occasionally at night, and if it happened to be around midnight, he would see strange shadows.

Initially, he thought he was just half-asleep, but after several occurrences, Li became terrified of sleeping at night.

When Xie Qingfeng and his team arrived at Li's rental, they found him dazed and listless, as if drained of energy, haggard and with dark circles under his eyes. Seeing Hao Jixin, he almost cried: "Mr. Hao, where’s the National Teacher? Please, help me, I can’t go on without sleep."

He hadn't slept properly for half a month, initially thinking the problem was with the house. He tried staying in a hotel for a few days but still saw bizarre things at night, realizing the issue was with him. He suspected something from the rental was haunting him, or perhaps his eyes were malfunctioning.

As Hao Jixin and the others entered the room, he pointed to Xie Qingfeng: “This is the National Teacher. We’ll need to see what’s going on.”

Li, surprised, noted the youthfulness of the National Teacher. Maybe it was the mask that made him look young. He hurriedly bowed to Xie Qingfeng: “National Teacher, please help me.”

Hao Jixin was amused by his gesture but didn’t interfere, stepping aside to let the National Teacher work.

Xie Qingfeng had been silent since entering the room. He surveyed the surroundings quietly, his gaze finally resting on Li, his expression serious.

Li, frightened by his reaction, looked down at himself: “National Teacher, is there something wrong with me?”

Xie Qingfeng initially thought Li might have accidentally encountered bad energy, weakening his yang energy and causing him to see unclean things. But upon arriving, he discovered the room was filled with bad energy, not due to the house itself, but because of Li’s presence, who was spreading it everywhere.

Li seemed to be a source of bad energy himself, wherever he went, the energy followed. Although it was heavy, it hadn’t caused him any significant harm.

Xie Qingfeng, observing Li, finally focused on his neck: “You have a strong fate.”

Li, taken aback, uttered in confusion: “Huh?”