Chapter 164: Stealing Fragrance (19)
After several rounds of testing yielded no results, the few doubts remaining in Pei Yinnian’s heart were essentially dispelled.
But humans have a sixth sense. Pei Yinnian felt his dream wasn’t that simple. In all the time he had lived, he had had countless dreams, but only this one about “Xiao Ji” was exceptionally clear. Even the expressions, gestures, and words of the “Xiao Ji” in the dream were vivid, as if they had actually happened once and remained in his memory.
Either it was a premonition, or…
He couldn’t figure it out, so he simply said to Xiao Ji:
“If one day I die, you must have the capital to survive on your own.”
Xiao Ji said indifferently, “No need. If you die, I won’t stay alive either.”
Pei Yinnian didn’t take these words too seriously. There were so many couples in the world, and he had rarely seen one where one partner died and the other actually followed.
He laughed and scolded, “If you can observe a few more days of mourning for me, I’ll be grateful.”
Xiao Ji ignored this nonsense as his hands and feet began to get restless. He felt that the reason Pei Yinnian was talking so much annoying nonsense early in the morning was mostly because he was “hungry.”
Sure enough, after a “breakfast” that lasted until noon, Pei Yinnian became quiet and behaved.
Feelings between people are built through spending time together. Although Pei Yinnian had yet to give Xiao Ji a formal, legitimate status, his testing of Xiao Ji during this period had essentially placed their relationship in the open. Now, anyone in Huating who knew anything was aware that Pei Yinnian kept a schoolteacher living in the Pei Residence.
Xiao Ji wasn’t exactly satisfied with this state of affairs, but it was better than the situation Pei Yinnian had initially intended, which was to keep him entirely out of the light. Therefore, his attitude toward Pei Yinnian wasn’t too mechanical; there was some warmth. At the very least, Pei Yinnian could feel that their relationship could no longer be considered “forced.”
At noon, Lin Shu called, but Pei Yinnian didn’t answer. So, Lin Shu came to the Pei Residence in person and knocked on the door.
“Master, are you up yet?”
Xiao Ji was leaning against the headboard reading a book. Hearing the noise, he pinched the drowsy Pei Yinnian who was leaning against his chest.
“Lin Shu is here.”
Pei Yinnian opened his eyes and yawned, shouting irritably toward the door:
“What is it? Didn’t I say not to bother me today?”
Lin Shu stood at the door and said, “Lieutenant General Lu called last night. He invited you to a banquet at the Lu Residence tonight.”
Pei Yinnian was stunned. “Lu Huachuan? How old is his youngest son already? What kind of banquet is he throwing now?”
Lin Shu cleared his throat. “He’s taken another concubine.”
Pei Yinnian cursed under his breath as he sat up from the bed. “A man destined to die in a woman’s bed.”
Xiao Ji frowned. “Is it necessary to go?”
Pei Yinnian hummed in affirmation. “If the Pei family ever falls, Huating will belong to the Lu family.”
Xiao Ji fell into thought. Given Pei Yinnian’s abilities and luck, the Pei family wouldn’t necessarily fall, but in this era, war and conflicts broke out at any moment; there were many troubles. In the future, if possible, if Pei Yinnian could let go of power, Xiao Ji wanted to take him away from Huating.
When Xiao Ji didn’t speak, Pei Yinnian thought it was because he had finally promised to spend the whole day with him, and now that plan was being disrupted by this sudden nonsense, making Xiao Ji unhappy.
He leaned over and kissed the corner of Xiao Ji’s mouth.
“Come with me?”
Xiao Ji didn’t like such occasions, and more importantly, Pei Yinnian still hadn’t given him a formal status. He wasn’t willing to join the bustle and refused:
“You go tend to your business. I won’t get involved.”
Truth be told, Pei Yinnian didn’t really want to take Xiao Ji either. Not because he didn’t want him to be seen, but because the Lu Residence wasn’t a good place to be. He was afraid that if he drank at night, he wouldn’t be able to take care of Xiao Ji if trouble arose.
Thus, Pei Yinnian didn’t insist. He told Lin Shu he understood and sent him away.
After lunch, he spent a bit more time reading with Xiao Ji at home before heading out.
Xiao Ji was now free to come and go from the Pei Residence as he pleased. No one could interfere with him. Not long after Pei Yinnian left, Xiao Ji also went out. He wanted to return home to see Mother Xiao and Xiao Ran.
Pei Yinnian didn’t know Xiao Ji planned to go out, so he hadn’t arranged transportation. Xiao Ji walked leisurely through the streets alone, planning to walk back slowly.
As he passed an alley, he heard a commotion and saw a crowd gathered in front of a tea house not far away. It seemed like a dispute had broken out. He turned around without hesitation, planning to take another route.
But the next second, 037’s voice jumped into his mind.
[Immortal Lord, it’s an acquaintance.]
Ever since Xiao Ji had known 037, the system had never addressed him so formally.
Xiao Ji was a bit surprised: [Which acquaintance?]
037 said: [It’s Immortal Lord Changming’s dao companion, Siyan.]
The time nodes and flow of a small world are different from the Upper Realm after leaving. The principles involved are complex; in short, it’s a Schrödinger’s timeline. Without actually entering and being part of it, no one can say for sure if the time inside is frozen, looping, or constantly flowing.
Xiao Ji gave an “oh” but didn’t stop, continuing in the opposite direction.
Whether it was Immortal Lord Changming or Siyan, Xiao Ji knew of them. But to put it bluntly, they had no professional dealings or personal friendship, so what did it have to do with him?
Xiao Ji never owed anyone favors, nor did he like others to owe him. Everything has a cause and effect, and Xiao Ji never meddled in the karma of others.
But 037 was different. 037’s heart was in the right place. If it hadn’t encountered them, that would be one thing, but now that it had seen a long-time old friend, it was hard to stand by and do nothing.
Seeing that Xiao Ji not only had no intention of helping but was walking away so swiftly, 037 couldn’t help but say anxiously:
[Immortal Lord, please stay. Just consider it helping me with a favor. I will surely repay you double in the future.]
Xiao Ji could stand by while Siyan was in trouble, but for the time being, 037 was still useful to him. They were in a partnership; if his Yinnian made some request in the future, he would still need 037 to handle things.
So, he changed direction and walked back toward the tea house.
As he got closer, he saw a fierce-looking man grabbing a delicate youth by the collar, trying to drag him across the street. As he pulled, he cursed:
“You little b*tch, just a stage actor. I give you some face and you don’t even know your own name anymore! It’s an honor that I fancy you, you ungrateful brat!”
Nan Siyan’s eyes were filled with tears, and his clean little face was full of anger as he struggled, kicking and hitting the man. Unfortunately, he was as thin and weak as an undernourished kitten, lacking any threat.
Xiao Ji always acted decisively. He pushed through the crowd, walked up to the fierce man, and without a word, delivered a heavy punch to the man’s distorted face.
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