Chapter 172: Stealing Fragrance (27)
As soon as Xiao Ji spoke, Fu Hui froze.
He was someone accustomed to high status and flattery. He didn’t expect Xiao Ji to be so blunt.
But looking at Xiao Ji’s face, he couldn’t get angry no matter what. After the initial shock, he actually laughed:
“President Xiao is quite interesting. I meant no ill will. This dinner was intended as an apology for auditing the bank without your permission. I hope you understand.”
Xiao Ji had nothing to say to that. He nodded:
“I understand.”
Seeing his cold attitude, Fu Hui wasn’t embarrassed. He continued:
“The higher-ups sent me here for an investigation. I wonder if it would be convenient for President Xiao to tell me about Governor Pei?”
“I heard you two used to be… quite close…”
He trailed off, his tone carrying a faint, ambiguous edge.
Xiao Ji’s obsidian eyes fixed on Fu Hui:
“As you said, that was ‘used to be.’ What I know, I’m sure you know. As for what happened later—what you don’t know, I don’t know either.”
Fu Hui nodded understandingly. “I heard that later, a rift formed between you and the Governor?”
A “rift” was not something people of their level would state plainly.
It was mostly a matter of everyone knowing, but the parties involved remaining ambiguous and not admitting it, which made it feel more real.
Although Xiao Ji disdained learning the twists and turns of those in power, he instinctively knew how to speak.
In response, he only gave a questioning “Oh?” before feigning a look of realization:
“The Governor’s status is such that a small bank president like me can’t afford to offend him. It was just a misunderstanding. I don’t know where you heard that.”
Seeing Xiao Ji wouldn’t admit it, Fu Hui didn’t ask further. He just smiled and shook his head with an air of “we both know,” then poured wine for Xiao Ji.
He toasted Xiao Ji and downed it in one go.
Xiao Ji’s lips were sealed, and Fu Hui was very patient.
After their first meeting, they played a round of verbal Tai Chi before parting ways.
Coming out of the hotel, Xiao Ji watched Fu Hui leave before calling a rickshaw to the Xiao Residence.
On the way, 037 reminded him:
[He sent someone to follow you. Be careful.]
Xiao Ji acknowledged it and returned to the Xiao Residence, pretending to be completely unaware.
He originally thought that once Fu Hui’s man was gone, he would go to the Pei Residence to update Pei Yinnian.
But unexpectedly, Fu Hui’s man was a stubborn one. He stayed near the Xiao Residence all night, never letting his guard down.
Pretending to be strangers by day and sharing a bed by night was the routine and unspoken agreement Xiao Ji and Pei Yinnian had established lately.
Xiao Ji not showing up all night made Pei Yinnian uneasy. He was about to call him, but feared the phone was tapped. After pacing the room a few times, he was about to send someone to check on the Xiao Residence when a tapping sound came from the window.
Pei Yinnian had the curtains drawn. At first, he didn’t care, thinking it was raining.
But the tapping was strange. Listening closely—da-da-da, da-da-da—it was a three-beat cycle, very rhythmic, like someone knocking on a door.
Only then did Pei Yinnian get up. Pulling back the curtain, he saw a Long-tailed Shrike perched on the windowsill, pecking at the glass with its beak.
Pei Yinnian frowned, thinking that when one is frustrated, even things like this seem to have come alive just to be annoying.
He opened the window, intending to shoo the bird away, but it flew in and landed on his arm, lifting its right leg.
Only then did Pei Yinnian see a small paper tube tied to its leg.
Raising an eyebrow, he removed the tube. He saw Xiao Ji’s familiar handwriting; the content was short, telling him to be patient as Fu Hui’s men were watching, and now was not the time to be exposed.
Pei Yinnian understood the logic. Less trouble was better than more. If possible, it would be best to see Fu Hui off peacefully.
Having received the message, he felt reassured. He tapped the little shrike’s head:
“What breed of carrier pigeon are you?”
The shrike chirped twice, opening its beak at him, trying to beg for a treat.
But Pei Yinnian didn’t take the hint. He pinched the shrike, stroking its round head. Thinking it was cute, he swallowed his saliva and opened his own mouth at it.
Seeing this, the shrike’s alarm bells went off. It struggled.
Taking advantage of the moment Pei Yinnian loosened his grip, it flapped its wings and flew out the window.
It was hard to tell what Fu Hui’s angle was. Everyone knew he was there to investigate Pei Yinnian, but for a whole week, he never once visited him.
By day, he visited various officials, asking random questions and checking odd things. By night, he waited at the bank for Xiao Ji, inviting him to dinner.
Xiao Ji was very slow when it came to emotions.
He and Yinnian had known each other for countless years and gone through so much before he recognized love.
Thus, he never believed in groundless or shallow affection.
In most cases, he categorized others’ interest in him under the framework of “this person is sick.”
Having eaten with Fu Hui for a week straight, Xiao Ji was clearly losing patience.
Seeing Fu Hui waiting at the bank again, his face darkened. He asked:
“Do you have further instructions?”
Fu Hui was a person obsessed with aesthetics; anything ugly could not enter his eyes.
In Jinghua, he had no private life—not out of self-discipline, but because he pursued perfection and was unwilling to be near anyone with physical flaws.
After meeting Xiao Ji, he had finally found his ideal of physical perfection.
Most importantly, Xiao Ji had a history with Pei Yinnian, proving his high acceptance of men.
Even if Xiao Ji’s words always had a certain sharpness, for Fu Hui, just seeing that face was a treat.
He stared at Xiao Ji. “No instructions. It’s just that I have no friends in Huating, and I happen to get along with President Xiao, so I’m willing to have a few more meals with you.”
Xiao Ji already had no good feelings toward Fu Hui. Plus, Fu Hui had been watching the Xiao Residence lately, preventing him from sneaking into Pei Yinnian’s bed.
This made him loathe Fu Hui even more. He said:
“Do you have nothing to do?”
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