Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Qi Jing, already hungry, nodded upon hearing the elevator was out of order and began to eat.

Yet, a strange feeling lingered.

Did the other person know he had kissed him?

Do aphrodisiacs truly cloud one's mind?

Qi Jing’s grip on his chopsticks tightened imperceptibly until Bo Chengyan’s voice broke the silence: “What are you thinking about?”

The young man froze.

This question had been posed countless times.

Even Qi Jing, for all his obliviousness, had begun to notice. His eyelids drooped slightly as he transferred some food to his bowl, then carefully set down his chopsticks.

He looked up,

as if called upon to answer a question in class.

“I wasn’t thinking anything. Why do you always ask me that?”

996, nestled behind the dining table’s floral arrangement, blissfully devoured a long strip of bacon, its button eyes flickering with white static.

A momentary glitch.

Bo Chengyan’s expression remained unperturbed, betraying no hint of concealment. “Because I want to know.”

Perhaps it was a surge of possessiveness.

A darker emotion.

“Of course, you don’t have to tell me.”

At that moment, he reverted to his refined demeanor.

Qi Jing sometimes struggled to grasp the other’s meaning. He pursed his lips. “Actually, I wasn’t thinking too much—”

*Clang!*

The vase on the table suddenly toppled, spilling water.

Before Qi Jing could react, he was swiftly lifted by the waist and moved away.

996, still with an unfinished petal in its mouth, was drenched and looked utterly bewildered. It had just switched from greasy meat to eating petals.

As if something had tugged at it.

Qi Jing remained completely dry, his gaze fixed on the tabletop culprit.

Bo Chengyan set him down from his lap, pulled out the chair to his right, and said gently, “Sit here.”

A fresh breakfast immediately appeared.

Qi Jing took the chopsticks, feeling a wave of awkwardness. Hadn't he just eaten for nothing?

He’d be uncomfortably full.

When the maid arrived, she looked perplexed. “How did it tip over? Did I not place it properly?”

Jinjiang Villa, spanning three floors, exuded elegance in every detail. Not only were the exterior windows adorned with meticulously tended roses, but fresh flowers were also delivered daily for the interior.

Bo Chengyan simply said calmly, “It was just an accident. There’s no need to place flowers on the dining table next time.”

“Understood, sir.”

The brief interlude quickly passed.

But when he turned to look at Qi Jing, the young man was staring intently in one direction, shaking his head.

Bo Chengyan followed his gaze.

The spot was empty.

*

Once back in the bedroom, Qi Jing let out a long sigh and picked up 996. “You can’t eat when there are people around! You’ll be discovered.”

“…That meat was too greasy.”

Ever since 996 discovered that human food could produce a tingling sensation, it had grown increasingly enthusiastic about trying everything, determined to sample every kind.

But it hadn’t achieved that goal yet.

“It’s fine! So what if we get caught?”

The blue slime floated over to the desk and settled down, muttering,

“It’s not like it’s the first time anyway…”

Qi Jing pulled out a chair and sat down, his complexion a little rosier, though he still hadn’t fully composed himself.

Until 996 began to offer solutions.

“Here’s the thing. My last mission also deviated from the plot. In situations like this, it’s actually very simple.”

The young man looked up, a confused expression on his face.

“Change the protagonist.”

996 stated earnestly, “Because the world’s perspective is from the protagonist’s side, their partner is the other protagonist.”

Qi Jing half-understood, lowering his eyelids. “I know that.”

“Isn’t it Bo Chengyan?”

“…”

The thought alone made 996 seethe, unable to let it go, losing sleep over it.

In under thirty minutes, the man had moved it from the restaurant to a hotel.

Hmph, what’s the big deal about eating two slices of your meat!

“Dump him!”

Qi Jing blinked, looking up. “Dump him?”

His tone was utterly bewildered.

996 simply stated, “Our top priority is finding that headliner.”

*

The situation had developed beyond initial expectations. Qi Jing never got the chance to move out and couldn’t even find his luggage.

996 went off to work again, claiming it needed to search for ducks within a ten-mile radius because it had been too upset at the time to properly identify who was pressuring the protagonist.

Qi Jing now had an additional task: to help Ruan Hang find his one-night stand.

“…”

But he had barely spoken to Ruan Hang.

All he knew was that the other was at Jing University.

Jing University?

Qi Jing’s spirits lifted. He decided to go to Jing University to find Ruan Hang, so a week before the semester started, he bravely voiced his idea at the dinner table:

“I want to live on campus.”

Bo Chengyan frowned and looked over. He had been coming home every day lately, primarily to keep him company at meals.

Not long ago, he had just dealt with the hotel drugging scandal, and now here was another issue.

“Why?”

Qi Jing bit his lip and answered earnestly, “Most university students live on campus. I want to experience it too—maybe I can make new friends?”

Bo Chengyan thought he would say something discouraging, like how dorm beds were narrow, conditions were poor, there would be water/power cuts, or there would be drama with roommates...

But in the end,

What he said was, “Alright.”

“Xiao Jing should make some new friends.”

Qi Jing hadn’t expected it to go so smoothly this time. His eyes lit up, and he even had an extra bowl of rice.

Finally, he waved cheerfully and said, “I’ll head upstairs first.”

And then he left.

Bo Chengyan remained seated for a while, faintly sensing that Qi Jing didn't cling to him as much as before. Teenagers' enthusiasms came and went quickly.

It was normal.

Perfectly normal.

*

Early September.

Huang Ze went abroad as his parents had planned, Lin Yuze attended university in Shanghai, and Jiang Yao surprised everyone by enrolling in a military academy.

Not only were the admission scores high, but the programs were also incredibly rigorous.

Jiang Yao put it this way: “Why assume I’d study humanities? I have grander ambitions. Are only boys allowed to study national defense?”

She was radiant, full of spirit.

Qi Jing was utterly clueless about his paleontology studies, but his low spirits quickly vanished—he was genuinely happy for his friends.

Since coming here, he’d gained far more than he had given.

The group of young friends gathered one last time under the tree in front of the school gate, bathed in the sunset. Huang Ze blurted out, “Xiao Jing, who was the person who picked you up after the cave incident? I didn’t even see them.”

His voice tinged with jealousy.

Lin Yuze frowned. “You and your nosy questions—”

“My sponsor,” Qi Jing replied frankly, looking up. After a pause, he added, “He treats me very well.”

Jiang Yao quirked a brow.

She said gently, “That’s good.”

Huang Ze, usually carefree, hadn’t expected this to be the truth. His heart immediately went out to him, and he enveloped Qi Jing in a bear hug.

“Ah, I won’t get to see you anymore. Will Xiao Jing miss me?”

Under the tree’s shade, Lin Yuze pulled him away. “Do you not know how heavy you are?”

“Haha, you’ve definitely put on weight…”

The girl crouched down and pointed at him.

“I’ve been working out! Can’t you see my biceps?” Huang Ze retorted, exasperated.

Qi Jing stood to the side, feeling content.

Their shadows stretched long, long under the setting sun.

High school life was over.

For some reason, Qi Jing felt a little empty. He waved goodbye to his friends, then turned around.

His heart suddenly skipped a beat.

Because across the tree-lined avenue, someone was waiting for him.

*

At first, Qi Jing walked, but soon he couldn’t resist breaking into a run, skidding to a halt by the car.

Gasping for air—he wasn't even sure why.

Bo Chengyan was leaning against the car door. Naturally, he reached out, took Qi Jing’s wrist, and guided him into the passenger seat.

“No driver?” the young man asked innocently, looking up. Bo Chengyan arched a brow outside the car.

Qi Jing had never seen him drive.

“I am.”

They returned smoothly to Jinjiang Villa. Before Qi Jing could even eat, he was led to the study.

Outside, the sky had darkened slightly, and rose bushes swayed beyond the window.

“Don’t stand there. Come sit.”

Qi Jing had rarely visited the study—it was where Bo Chengyan occasionally worked, even with an expansive desk.

But there was only one chair.

He was pulled over with no chance to refuse.

His fair skin glowed against the dark chair as the young man tilted his head to watch the other handle documents, unconsciously biting his lip.

He didn’t know what was happening.

Until a brand-new ID card, household registry, and a thick stack of documents were laid out on the table.

For a moment, Qi Jing’s thoughts froze.

“You’re an adult now. I’ve transferred your household registration.”

Qi Jing’s face paled slightly. At first, he hadn’t known his household registration was under the Bo family—he only found out after going to Macau. And ever since then…

He had gradually grown lax in his duties as the “caged bird”…

His sense of self had slowly grown independent.

“Are you kicking me out?”

Qi Jing could hardly bear to look at the documents on the table. Instinctively, he gripped the armrests of the chair, as though preparing to bolt.

But Bo Chengyan blocked his path.

“Why would you say that?”

“But…” The young man looked up, his eyes glistening.

A quiet satisfaction stirred in Bo Chengyan.

It lasted only a few seconds.

Qi Jing felt fingers brush the corner of his eye, then a large hand traced up his neck into his hair—a comforting touch.

Fleeting, then withdrawn.

“You’re an adult now. Of course, you should have your own independent household registration. The Macau one was just a stopgap measure. I won’t let you shoulder the responsibility of supporting others.”

Qi Jing realized belatedly—he had never even seen the original household registry.

And that alleged “relative” in Macau—he had never met them either.

“Once you’re in university, you’ll need to fill out all kinds of forms. Beijing residency will be more convenient.”

“Beyond that, nothing will change.”

Qi Jing’s eyes were rimmed red. His gaze fell on the stack of accompanying documents—what were those?

“My estate distribution.”

“And your shares.”

“Congratulations on your admission.”

*

Two days earlier—

Lin Se was puzzled by one thing. While having his assistant retrieve the prescribed medication, he couldn’t help but ask, “You agreed to let Xiao Jing stay in dorms?”

“That doesn’t seem like you.”

A declarative statement.

Bo Chengyan merely answered evenly, “He’s an adult now. Entering a completely new environment in university, quickly making friends is necessary. Dorms provide the setting for that.”

Lin Se narrowed his eyes slightly and drawled, “You’re really not afraid he’ll start dating?”

“College boys… age is just their only advantage.”

The words were blunt, but also a well-meaning reminder.

Yet the other man didn’t seem concerned.

He only said serenely:

“Xiao Jing should go out and explore the world.”

“And then realize home is better.”