Chapter 348

Chapter 348

◎Green-Eyed◎

As the New Year approaches, the holiday spirit in Yulan City grows stronger. The streetlights and decorations are adorned with bright red Chinese knots, though the number of pedestrians has noticeably dwindled—most are taking advantage of the rare long weekend to reunite with their families.

Located in the south, Yulan City rarely sees snow, but the chill cuts straight to the bone.

Usually by this time of year, Xiao Ye would already be in Haicheng accompanying his grandfather. But this year, his elder brother and sister-in-law managed to take leave during the holidays, so he stayed behind, planning to go to Haicheng with them once their vacation started. In the meantime, he could squeeze in some fun with Ji Nanxing.

However, the weather outside was too cold for outdoor activities, so they stuck to indoor entertainment—board games, murder mystery games, spa baths, indoor aquariums, and amusement parks. Ji Nanxing had no idea his hometown had so many places to explore.

Xiao Ye didn’t just want to spend time alone with Ji Nanxing; he genuinely hoped Ji Nanxing would enjoy himself. So, he always made sure to invite Zhang Yuan, Jiang Tangtang, and the others along—the more, the merrier.

After days of running around, even Ji Nanxing, who was fairly fit, felt exhausted. When Xiao Ye suggested visiting a climbing and shooting range next, Ji Nanxing outright refused: “I’m tired. Today, I want to stay home and do some studying. I haven’t chanted at the Ancestor’s Altar in days.”

Hearing that he was tired, Xiao Ye didn’t push further. “Alright. I’ll be heading to Haicheng in a couple of days to spend the New Year with my grandpa. I’ll come back right after. Is there anything you want? Do you still like the zodiac chocolates I brought last time? I can get you another set. Oh, and the Vans collab sneakers are about to launch. We won’t be able to get them here—not even a reservation code—but it should be easier in Haicheng. Let’s get matching pairs. Do you want blue or black? Blue looks good on you. Should I get you a blue pair?”

Ji Nanxing leaned back on the sofa. “Sure. The handmade preserved fruit you bought last time was good too. Bring some more when you come back.”

Hearing Ji Nanxing’s requests, Xiao Ye felt needed, instantly shaking off the mope from not seeing him today. He bounced back instantly. “No problem, I’ll get them for you! If you think of anything else you want, just let me know anytime.”

Ji Nanxing mmm-hmm’d and chatted with him a little longer before hanging up.

After setting his phone aside and stretching a bit, he went to the altar dedicated to the Ancestor’s Altar, lit incense, and began meditating and chanting sutras.

Once he finished a round of chanting, Ji Nanxing closed the sutra and turned to see half a head peeking through the door crack.

Realizing her son had finished his studies, Mom pushed the door open. “Xiao Bao, are you done?”

Ji Nanxing nodded. “Did you need something?”

His mother walked in. “If you’re done, come shopping with me.”

Ji Nanxing let himself be pulled a few steps before the word “shopping” made him turn back toward his room. “No, I’m sleepy. I’m taking a nap.”

His mother grabbed his wrist and pinched his cheek. “No, wake up. After shopping, I’ll buy you a treat.”

Ji Nanxing noticed that everyone around him seemed intent on feeding him. He wasn’t particularly picky about food—as long as it wasn’t bad, he was fine—so he wasn’t easily tempted. Yet, people around him seemed convinced that the promise of “something delicious” would lure him in.

He still refused. Shopping was exhausting and boring. He’d rather take on a case from the Management Bureau and hunt ghosts than waste time like that.

Unfortunately, his objections were overruled. Since he was the only one left at home, if his mother didn’t drag him along, she wouldn’t have anyone to accompany her.

She practically hauled him out, justifying it with: “You’re grown up now. You should have your own sense of style. You can’t just wear whatever your mom or brothers buy you, or whatever happens to be in your closet. You need to pick and match things yourself. Clothing is personal—it should reflect your taste. So, let’s go pick some out. Retail therapy fixes everything.”

Ji Nanxing yawned against the car window. “I don’t have any troubles.”

His studies were stable, his career balanced, his relationships smooth, his needs met—even his karmic merits were steadily accumulating, extending his life. What troubles could he possibly have?

His mother said, “Then think of it as helping your dad and brothers solve their troubles.”

Ji Nanxing glanced at his mom in confusion. “What troubles do they have?”

Was their business not doing well? During breakfast this morning, he hadn’t noticed any bad vibes around them.

His mother sighed. “The trouble of having too much money and not knowing how to spend it. You’d think with so many people in our family, someone besides me would know how to spend. Your dad was a workaholic, only focused on his job. Even after retiring, he never picked up a hobby. Your two brothers and sister are all career-driven—they only know how to earn, not spend. And then there’s you. You’re the same—all work no play, clueless about splurging. That’s no good. People should know how to spend to truly enjoy life.”

Ji Nanxing rolled his eyes. As a student, where was he supposed to spend money? Everything’s provided for—where’s left to spend it?

Mrs. Ji was still instructing her son on how to spend money: "When you enter the store, pick out the clothes in the colors you like the least, then casually point and say, 'Wrap up the rest for me,' it's that simple."

Ji Nanxing couldn't help but laugh: "That sounds like how a nouveau riche would shop."

Their family had custom-made outfits designed for formal occasions, and for everyday wear, they selected from the latest styles and samples sent by their preferred brands, which were then tailored to their individual sizes. Who would bother going to a mall and pointing randomly, let alone find it tiring? This method might work while traveling, though.

Despite his complaints, he still accompanied her shopping.

From the bag store to the shoe store, and then to the clothing store, they swiped cards all along, until Ji Nanxing began to doubt if his stepmother even knew what she was buying. He stopped her just as she was about to have a doghouse wrapped up, saying, "We don't have a dog at home."

Mrs. Ji responded with an "Oh," and said, "Then forget the doghouse. Wrap up everything else I pointed out just now."

They didn't need to carry the purchases themselves; the mall manager would arrange for them to be delivered directly to their home. Ji Nanxing strongly suspected that his parents had had an argument, and his stepmother was now retaliating by using his father's secret stash card.

The evidence was when his stepmother passed a display cabinet in the middle of the store, saw a beautiful car inside, and pointed at it, asking him, "This is so nice, do you like it? Mom will buy it for you. You can ride it to school and get three more minutes of sleep in the morning."

Ji Nanxing glanced at the Trek iridescent blue and replied, "It's only a short distance to school; I don't need a bike worth over a hundred thousand for that."

Mrs. Ji grew more fond of it: "Why not? It's not expensive, cheaper than one of Mom's small handbags. Let's get this one. Besides, we're using the card where your father hid his private savings. I won't go home until it's empty."

Ji Nanxing knew there must be a reason for the sudden shopping spree, and it turned out the hidden savings had been discovered.

He silently prayed there wouldn't be too much money on the secret card, hoping his stepmother would finish shopping quickly. Just then, a plump, wealthy lady, arm in arm with a handsome young man, approached Mrs. Ji: "Mrs. Ji, what a coincidence."

Mrs. Ji instantly regained her composed demeanor: "Mrs. Ding, it's been a long time. And who is this?"

Mrs. Ding introduced him with a smile: "This is my nephew, Su Zhe. Zhe, say hello to Mrs. Ji."

The young man beside her smiled and greeted Mrs. Ji: "Hello, Aunt Ji."

Mrs. Ji merely smiled and didn’t correct his address. She pulled Nanxing over, who had no choice but to say, "Hello, Mrs. Ding."

Mrs. Ding smiled at Nanxing: "This must be your youngest, right? Truly inherits the best from both of you."

Nanxing’s expression remained unchanged, while Mrs. Ji laughed and said, "Indeed, he looks like me, and his height is like his father's. If he grows a bit more in the next couple of years, he might even surpass his father."

Mrs. Ding: "Boys should be tall. Standing there with a tall, handsome figure, straight as an arrow, the girls will be crying and begging to marry him in the future."

As she spoke, Mrs. Ding continued: "In a few days, Azhe has a concert. I just got his suit tailored, and I thought I should get one for myself too. If it weren’t for the time being so tight, I would have ordered it in advance. Now, buying in a rush, I’m not sure if I can find something suitable. Could you help me choose, Mrs. Ji?"

Mrs. Ji didn’t refuse. While the relationship between the Ji family and the Ding family wasn’t particularly close, there were no conflicts. Since Mrs. Ding had asked, she felt obliged to give her some face. Seeing her son’s battery about to run out, Mrs. Ji said, "Aren’t you tired? Go sit outside and wait for me."

Nanxing immediately agreed and went to find a place to sit.

Mrs. Ji shook her head helplessly, "This child, the older he gets, the less he likes shopping with me."

Mrs. Ding said, "Boys are all like that. Azhe, why don’t you also find a place to rest? I won’t drag you along to shop with me."

Su Zhe politely smiled, "I’ll wait outside. Auntie, take your time, no rush."

Nanxing had just sat down and taken out his phone when Su Zhe walked over, "Young Master Ji, what would you like to drink? I can go buy it for you."

Nanxing glanced at him, "No need."

Su Zhe: "There’s a café downstairs. I’ll pick something up."

Without waiting for Nanxing to refuse again, he turned and went to buy coffee.

Nanxing ignored Su Zhe, opened his phone to check messages, and found it strange that Xiao Ye hadn’t messaged him all day.

Xiao Ye was also at the mall at this moment. Ji Nanxing said he was tired and didn't want to come out, so he just lay at home playing games. Perhaps it was during the holiday, or maybe his teammates were too inexperienced, or they were all kids; the more he played, the angrier he got. Eventually, he gave up on the game and decided to sleep.

At this moment, Zhang Yuan called and dragged him out to help buy gifts.

Zhang Yuan: "I want to buy a small set of figurines for a life of plenty. I've asked many stores, but they only have pendants for bracelets or necklaces, not figurines. Only this store has those small figurines."

Xiao Ye: "You saved up your money for a whole semester just to buy this?"

Zhang Yuan: "Yes, for my new nephew, to give him a good blessing."

Since he had already picked out what he wanted, the purchase went quickly. They were in and out of the store in less than twenty minutes. As Zhang Yuan was about to leave with his small gift bag, Xiao Ye squinted and looked upstairs: "Do you see that? Isn't that Ji Naona?"

Zhang Yuan's eyesight wasn't bad, but there were quite a few people coming and going in the mall, and he couldn't spot Ji Nanxing after looking for a long time.

While he was still squinting to find the person, Xiao Ye had already started up the stairs.

When they reached the upper floor, Xiao Ye immediately saw Ji Nanxing sitting by the glass railing. Zhang Yuan clicked his tongue: "It really is him. Do you have radar in your eyes or something? You can see from so far away."

Xiao Ye couldn't control the smile spreading across his face. He thought he wouldn't see him today, and yet they ran into each other outside without planning. What a coincidence.

However, halfway through their walk, Xiao Ye's smile faded. A boy had bought two cups of coffee, placed one in front of Ji Nanxing, and then sat down opposite him.

Zhang Yuan immediately checked Xiao Ye's expression and instinctively tried to soothe him: "Maybe it's just a friend. Everyone has some private life, which is pretty normal."

Xiao Ye: "I asked him to meet me this morning, and he said he was tired and didn't want to come out."

Now, here he was, having coffee with someone else.

Was it because he thought Xiao Ye was too clingy, always wanting to play with him? Or did he feel that Xiao Ye was always around, invading his privacy? Or was it because Xiao Ye's possessiveness was too strong and he found it annoying?

If you don't like him being clingy, you can tell him. It's his first time liking someone, and he doesn't know how to do it well. He instinctively wants to see you all the time, to be with you. The moment you're out of sight, he misses you. So many of his actions happen naturally, without any restraint.

But he isn't disobedient. When Nao Nao said not to disturb him, he never did. Even when he was worried during ghost hunts, he didn't interfere recklessly. When Nao Nao was in the small room doing his ancestral studies, sometimes for half a day, he never barged in or pestered him.

It was only because Nao Nao didn't refuse that he became more indulgent.

Zhang Yuan was about to say that it might be his client, but when he turned around, he saw Xiaoye looking as if he were about to be abandoned, his whole person shrouded in a shadow of despair.

Zhang Yuan: "..." Must he be so emotional? This isn't a TV drama.

Just as he thought Xiaoye would turn and leave with a heart full of sorrow, he saw him stride over instead.

The moment Xiaoye came up, Ji Nanxing noticed him immediately. Even if he hadn't seen him, he could sense that familiar yang energy from afar. Seeing him standing there motionless for a while, Ji Nanxing was about to go over when he saw Xiaoye walking toward him, so he just sat still.

Su Zhe was trying to find a topic to chat with this young master of the Ji family when he heard footsteps approaching from behind. Before he could turn around, a boy had already walked up beside them.

Xiaoye glanced at the items on the table, reached out, and moved the cup of coffee slightly. "What do you want to drink? I'll go buy it for you. Don't drink this; it's bitter and cold, and it will upset your stomach."

Although Ji Nao Nao drinks coffee, he drinks very little, never anything like a pure iced Americano. At most, he drinks lattes.

After saying that, fearing that Ji Nanxing might think he was too domineering, he couldn't help but add, "I'm not trying to control you; I'm just worried you'll feel uncomfortable."

Drinking an iced Americano in this cold weather, does he have an iron stomach?

Ji Nanxing smiled. "I wasn't planning to drink it. What are you guys doing here?"

Zhang Yuan walked over, draped his arm over Xiaoye's shoulder, and held up a gift bag in front of Ji Nanxing. "I dragged him out to buy gifts with me. Are you out shopping too? Who is this?"

Zhang Yuan looked at the young man and asked on Xiaoye's behalf.

Jinan: "I was about to go to bed, but my mom dragged me out. She’s shopping for clothes inside. I’m tired, so I came out to sit for a while. He’s the nephew of another aunt."

Su Zhe introduced himself proactively: "Hello, my name is Su Zhe."

Zhang Yuan: "Hello."

Xiaoye’s eyes lit up instantly. So, Ji Naonaonao wasn’t lying about not wanting to go out and then going out; he had no intention of going out at all and was forced to come. The thought that he had just doubted Ji Naonaonao made Xiaoye feel incredibly guilty, and he hurriedly apologized: "I’m sorry."

Zhang Yuan looked bewildered: "???" What happened? Did he miss something? Why did Xiaoye suddenly apologize?

Seeing his reaction, Jinan laughed and said: "What are you apologizing for? You didn’t think I was lying when I said I didn’t want to come out, did you?"

Xiaoye’s face showed his guilt at being caught: "I shouldn’t have thought that. It’s my fault. Please don’t be angry."

Jinan: "So, you were standing there motionless because you were angry?"

Xiaoye wished he could kneel on a bed of thorns to show his sincerity in apologizing: "Naonaonao, please calm down. It’s my fault. I overthought it. Do you want to eat some small cakes? I’ll go buy them for you."

Zhang Yuan, standing beside them, suddenly lost his ability to express himself. From an accuser, he instantly became the one apologizing. Xiaoye, you really have a way with people.