Chapter 118

Chapter 118

Xie Qingfeng also snapped back to reality, but was still startled by the ribbons, balloons, and colorful decorations everywhere. He didn’t realize what was happening at first, until he saw the cake on a nearby table, and then he couldn’t help but laugh.

The original host always celebrated his Gregorian calendar birthday, so he had been observing that day every year. But the lunar calendar date could change each year, which he hadn’t paid much attention to. Unexpectedly, Jing Xi had chosen to celebrate according to the date before he had time-traveled.

He had never paid much attention to his birthday before. After researching to celebrate Jing Xi's birthday, he hadn’t expected... Jing Xi to surprise him as well.

Although the colorful decorations were a bit over the top, his smile never faded.

He had already noticed the person hidden among the balloons in the corner but pretended not to see. Changing his shoes, he walked towards the table.

Looking around the room, he deliberately called out, but naturally, no one responded.

He continued forward, the balloons on the floor parting with his steps, finally stopping at a corner filled with balloons, where a large gift box was placed.

The gift box was topped with a huge bow made of satin ribbon. He brushed away a few balloons on top, examined it closely, and mused, “It must be a big item, I’ll wait for him to come back to open it.”

After speaking, Xie Qingfeng almost guessed the shocked expression of the person hiding in the box and took out his phone to dial a number.

The person inside was smart enough not to bring their phone along.

The ringing came from the room, and he turned to walk away, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw the box move involuntarily, dislodging some small balloons next to it. He took a few steps forward, then suddenly turned back, his hand moving to untie the ribbon. The top of the box sprang open, revealing the person inside who was still fretting.

The person inside was noticeably different from usual, lips tightly pressed, eyes filled with indecision – whether to reveal himself or wait for Xie Qingfeng to return.

But the sudden brightness caught him off guard. He instinctively looked up to meet Xie Qingfeng’s half-amused gaze, sighed helplessly, and was about to speak when he saw Xie Qingfeng, who had been smiling, suddenly freeze.

Quickly, his expression changed to one of bemusement and disbelief. His eyebrows twitched, and after a moment, he couldn’t help but cover his eyes and laugh, though silently. His shaking shoulders gave away his amusement, making Jing Xi aware of his own outfit.

Jing Xi huffed, shaking himself as he stood up, the feathers on his back unfurling in the same instant, expanding to a span of two to three meters almost instantly.

The dense and vividly colored feathers dramatically accentuated the elaborate body paint on Jing Xi, making him look exceptionally glamorous and enchanting. The fusion of the whole look, along with the long hair tied with colorful ribbons, didn’t mistake his gender but added an unusual beauty to his appearance.

Xie Qingfeng stopped laughing and lowered his hand, only to be stunned by the sight before him. He stood frozen, initially thinking Jing Xi was playing the wild man in the box, unable to spread his wings. Now, with this spectacular transformation, it was a scene he hadn’t anticipated, and he couldn’t help but stare in awe.

The next moment, Jing Xi kicked the box open from all sides. Jing Xi, shaking his feathered body, began... a peacock’s display.

Not only had he opened up, but Jing Xi also began to twirl around Xie Qingfeng. His upper body was bare, adorned with colorful body paint, and he wore loose-fitting pants on the lower half. Standing still, he was stunning, but his movements were unexpectedly comical.

Xie Qingfeng stared blankly, taking a while to come back to reality. Meanwhile, Jing Xi, oblivious to the absurdity, circled around him several times, finally opening his arms with feathers and embracing him: "Why aren’t you reacting?"

Xie Qingfeng felt like he was enveloped in a pile of feathers. He had managed to hold back his laughter at first, but finally couldn’t help but chuckle: "What kind of reaction were you expecting?"

Jing Xi looked even more aggrieved, thinking, 'This isn't right. Wasn’t my successful "courtship" supposed to be moving?' He felt misled by the store!

Jing Xi shook the feathers on his body: "Isn’t it beautiful? Look at these wings." He had presented himself as a gift, hoping for a successful courtship, envisioning a beautiful evening.

Xie Qingfeng, unable to resist, rested his forehead against Jing Xi’s shoulder, then finally spoke in his usual calm voice: "It’s beautiful, but don’t you think you look like… a feathered spirit?"

Jing Xi: "..."

After laughing, Xie Qingfeng looked up, noticing the body paint covering Jing Xi's chest, seemingly indifferent: "And this body paint is pretty. Who did it for you?"

Jing Xi, fluffing his feathers, was about to speak but then hesitated: "Why do you ask?"

Xie Qingfeng: "Can’t I be curious?"

Jing Xi was about to say it was self-done but quickly changed his mind, casually replying: "The store where I bought the feathers suggested it. They said it’s a part of the package, painted by a popular artist at their shop."

Jing Xi kept talking, but his dark eyes intermittently fixed on Xie Qingfeng, noticing the National Teacher’s expression growing more indifferent. Finally, he looked down and responded softly: "It is quite beautiful."

Jing Xi's eyes brightened, and suddenly, he swept Xie Qingfeng off his feet in an unexpected embrace.

Xie Qingfeng, lifted off his feet, instinctively embraced Jing Xi's shoulders, looking down and frowning: “Are you crazy?”

Jing Xi, looking up while holding him tightly around the waist: “Are you jealous? Are you, are you?”

“Are you a parrot?” Xie Qingfeng's expression momentarily faltered before quickly recovering, “Why would I be jealous?”

“Hmph, still not admitting it. But you know, I painted this body art myself. I got the colored pattern from that guy and copied it using a mirror.” Sensing Xie Qingfeng's mood shift, Jing Xi pretended to say, “But I’m not as good as a professional. Maybe next time I’ll let that guy do it.”

Xie Qingfeng looked down at him, and after a moment, couldn’t help but utter slowly, “You, dare.”

Jing Xi turned around with him in his arms, placing him on a nearby cabinet, the smile in his eyes too intense to ignore: “So you still won’t admit it?”

Xie Qingfeng's ears heated up, trying to appear composed, but before he could speak, he was kissed by Jing Xi, who couldn’t wait any longer, determined to make the Grand Master admit it.

After all, the night was still young.

***

Just a few days after Xie Qingfeng’s birthday came the Dragon Boat Festival, and in less than half a month, his Gregorian calendar birthday. The foster parents had planned to call both kids back for the celebration, but unexpectedly, the two called the day before the festival saying they wanted to spend it together and had already celebrated the birthday.

Xie Qingfeng, not wanting to upset them, said his friends and classmates had thrown a party for his lunar birthday, so there was no need to celebrate it again.

The foster parents thought it made sense; nowadays, young people choose a time to party for their birthdays. They decided to buy a cake and prepare a meal in advance for the kids as a gesture of love.

Xie Qingfeng and Jing Xi arrived early on the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, and the foster parents took a day off and didn’t open the shop.

After the festival, Xie Qingfeng got busy again, and Jing Xi, with his company expanding, couldn't leave work early anymore, staying at the company. Facing Hao Jixin's resentful gaze, Jing Xi coughed and said, “I’ll give you a raise.”

Hao Jixin's eyes widened in excitement, almost jumping for joy: "Really? Wait a minute, am I getting too addicted to working? Do I look like I'm short of money? I want a holiday! A holiday!! I want to take my annual leave!"

Jing Xi glanced at him: "The company hasn't even been open for a year yet. What annual leave are you talking about?" He was in the midst of romantic bliss with the National Teacher, and it might free him and the National Teacher by keeping Hao Jixin occupied.

Hao Jixin, full of complaints: "Who says you can’t take annual leave within the first year?"

Jing Xi: "I, the boss, haven’t taken any leave yet. I’ll triple your salary. Don’t forget, you have shares in the company too." Though small, it's still something, right?

Hao Jixin shamefully tempted: Three times the salary... He might not be short of money, but this was his hard-earned income. It had a different meaning, even though the Master also gave him quite a lot. But the Master was busy with exams and constantly preoccupied, and on weekends, this guy here kept him tied up. It had been days since he last took up a job.

So, in a real sense, his actual job was this one right in front of him.