Chapter 49 - 48: He, Pei Xuan, and Xie Qingshi Are Sworn Enemies!
Chapter 49: Chapter 48: He, Pei Xuan, and Xie Qingshi Are Sworn Enemies!
Pei Xuan opened the file folder; inside, as expected, was a stack of photographs.
In the photos, Xie Qingshi wore a hat and a mask, and was even bundled up in a scarf.
Pei Xuan frowned. "Bundled up so tightly, how could anyone recognize that it’s Xie Qing... Xie Lin?"
"Young Master, you don’t realize that the paparazzi in this line of work must possess the Eyes of Golden Flame," Housekeeper Pei said mysteriously. "Never mind being bundled up like this; even if he were reduced to ashes, they would still recognize him!"
Pei Xuan offered a rare word of praise. "Their professional skills are quite strong. If they were born in ancient times, they could easily be deployed as scouts."
He continued flipping through the photos. Upon seeing the fried skewer stall, he scoffed softly. "Sneaking out in the middle of the night to eat fried skewers? He won’t even touch stir-fried dishes if they have a little too much oil."
Housekeeper Pei was incredibly baffled, deeply curious about what kind of grudge their Young Master actually had with this Master Xie Lin. Could it be because this Master Xie Lin was simply too good-looking? But their Young Master wasn’t lacking in that department either! However, Housekeeper Pei didn’t dare speak out of turn and only dared to mutter these thoughts to himself.
After viewing all the photos, Pei Xuan’s lips curled into a smirk. "He certainly has a kind heart. He probably saw that the little girl had no money for food. It’s a pity that in this era of advanced technology, coupled with the fact that he’s a popular figure, every single one of his actions will be magnified."
Housekeeper Pei wondered why their Young Master understood this Master Xie Lin so well. "Then shall we help him suppress this fake scandal?" he suggested. "These paparazzi really don’t do anything decent!"
"Suppress it? Why should I suppress it?" Pei Xuan raised an eyebrow. "Leave it be, and add fuel to the fire. It’s almost the end of the year, and the media needs to hit their performance targets. How could I possibly cut off their source of wealth?"
When they served as officials in the previous dynasty, he and Xie Qingshi were mortal enemies. Why would he help his mortal enemy clean up a mess? He certainly wasn’t that kind-hearted.
Housekeeper Pei was stunned but immediately complied. "Yes, Young Master."
"Leave the photos here with me. This is a rare piece of leverage." Pei Xuan sealed the photos back into the file folder and had Housekeeper Pei place them in his study drawer. Whenever he was in a bad mood, he could take them out to appreciate and mock Xie Qingshi.
***
The slightly crisp sunlight fell upon the stone steps of the detached villa, casting a faint, golden glow. Shaoyuan emerged from the bathroom, wearing only a white bath towel tied loosely around his waist, completely uncaring that his exceptional physique was exposed. Drops of water slid down the tips of his jet-black hair and vanished beneath his tight, powerful waistline. He walked into the kitchen and leaned against the dining table, taking unhurried sips from a cup of hot tea.
DING-DONG!
The doorbell rang abruptly, shattering the silence of the morning. Shaoyuan ignored it; clearly, no external matter could disturb his personal routine. Only after finishing his hot tea did he change into his Jianghuai High School uniform and finally open the door.
Sitting at the entrance was an exquisite, six-inch cake box. Shaoyuan picked it up with one hand while pulling out his phone with the other, tapping open a chat window.
[Shaoyuan]: Next time you make a cake, remember to make it nine tiers.
[God of Delicious Cake]: ?
[God of Delicious Cake]: I already told you I’m the number one pioneer in cutting-edge tech equipment. Baking cakes is just a hobby!
[God of Delicious Cake]: I haven’t even asked you yet, who exactly is the girl that added me? Do you have a girlfriend now? Didn’t you say you were just bored and went to high school to experience life? I remember high schools don’t allow dating! You’ve betrayed our noble bachelor class!
[Shaoyuan]: Put away your overactive imagination.
The other party instantly shut up.
Shaoyuan still didn’t carry a backpack, bringing only the cake box. When he walked into the Grade 12 Class 17 classroom, Shi Changying was still earnestly working on practice problems. It seemed she truly, intensely wanted to take his place.
Placing the cake box in front of her, Shaoyuan asked casually, "How did you convince him to make a cake so quickly?"
Shi Changying shoved her phone into his hand and let him read it himself; she had a cake to eat.
Shaoyuan had no intention of snooping on other people’s chat histories, nor was he interested, but the words on the screen had already entered his line of sight.
[Only I am the first]: Great God of Delicious Cake, I want to eat a cake made by you tomorrow.
[God of Delicious Cake]: What flavor do you want?
[Only I am the first]: Matcha, chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, cheese, mango...
This message covered the entire screen. Shi Changying had listed dozens of flavors. Shaoyuan fully believed that if she hadn’t only ever eaten snacks in these specific flavors, she could have written several more pages.
[God of Delicious Cake]: ...Are you a Taotie?!
[Only I am the first]: I only eat what tastes good, and you are the great God of Delicious Cake.
[God of Delicious Cake]: Of course the cakes I make are the most delicious in the world. Just wait!
That was the extent of the conversation. Shaoyuan’s eyebrow twitched, and a hint of a smile surfaced in his fox-like eyes. "He doesn’t have a great temper, and his personality is even more eccentric, yet you certainly know how to coax him."
Shi Changying had already rapidly devoured the palm-sized cake, still wanting more. "I’m not full."
Shaoyuan leaned back in his chair. "Next time, have him make a nine-tier one."
Shi Changying felt this made perfect sense. She took her phone back and sent another message.
[Only I am the first]: Great God of Delicious Cake, only a nine-tier cake can truly highlight your top-tier baking skills.
[God of Delicious Cake]: Don’t try to provoke me; I don’t fall for that!
Ten seconds later—
[God of Delicious Cake]: A nine-tier cake takes too much time. Wait until I finish researching my new masterpiece.
Shi Changying continued doing her practice problems. Suddenly, a voice sounded from right above her head. "Look up."
Shi Changying looked up. Shaoyuan lowered his head slightly and pressed a tissue to the corner of her mouth. His warm fingertips brushed against her cheek.
"You had frosting on your face," he said. "Get back to your problems."
Without even looking back, he tossed the crumpled tissue with perfect precision into the trash can behind them. Shi Changying checked the small folding mirror Lu Mi had given her. After confirming her face was clear of frosting, she threw herself back into her fierce battle against physics.
***
At noon, Xu Zhao Yu arrived at the Old Xu Mansion for lunch. Old Madam Xu held her hand with a beaming smile. "Your complexion looks much better."
"It’s because Mom and Dad have taken such good care of me," Xu Zhao Yu replied with a smile. She paused for a moment before speaking with a pointed tone. "Mom, Xiao Jing told me that Changying went out in the middle of the night yesterday. Was she meeting someone?"
"In the middle of the night?" Old Madam Xu frowned. "What is going on?"
Housekeeper Xu caught her drift and immediately had Xiao Jing brought in. Xiao Jing, who was responsible for pruning the garden, spoke respectfully. "Old Madam, I got up to use the restroom at two in the morning and saw Miss Changying climbing over the wall by the garden to leave. She didn’t return until a few dozen minutes later."
"Mom, who knows where Changying went out so late." Xu Zhao Yu hesitated for a moment. "It was the middle of the night, and there are many bad people out there. What if she got involved in something..."