The palace guards didn’t question why the immortal master had brought a man back with him after going out, but Xiao Nian himself felt disgusted at entering the prince’s residence even physically nauseated.
According to the male lead’s usual behavior, he shouldn’t have reacted this way.
Once they arrived at the lodging with no outsiders around, Xiao Nian’s expression finally relaxed.
He casually found a place to sit and began looking around. “This place is far worse than where you used to live. How can someone as picky as you stand it?”
Why would he deliberately bring someone back to irritate himself?
That was the only question occupying Shu Chen’s mind.
“Do you know when you’re the most likable?”
Xiao Nian was momentarily stunned, then a familiar fake smile curled at the corner of his mouth. “Most of the time I’m quite likable in certain people’s eyes. But if you’re asking like that hard to say.” After all, you’re a little pervert.
Shu Chen automatically filled in the rest of that sentence in his head and immediately shot back, “When you’re half-dead, too weak to even speak.”
“If you keep deliberately provoking me, I’ll make sure you stay in the state I like.”
Xiao Nian turned around, adopting an air of “I can’t be bothered to argue with you.”
Something was off. Although the male lead had given in to him before, surrendering without any resistance was truly unusual.
Shu Chen’s gaze swept over Xiao Nian and landed on his storage pouch. A flash of inspiration struck, and the words tumbled out: “Are you afraid I’ll interfere with your plans?”
Xiao Nian replied with a nonchalant tone, “Yeah, afraid you’ll go crazy.”
With that, he casually picked up a small stone and hurled it at a nearby rockery.
Shu Chen intercepted the stone mid-air. “Don’t touch that. If you move anything here even an inch, they’ll panic.”
Xiao Nian looked at him with a feigned admiration that said “one should regard someone with new eyes after three days’ separation.” “I thought you knew nothing.”
Shu Chen: “The moment I stepped in here, a bunch of spiritual artifacts on me started warning me. Hard not to know.”
He looked at Xiao Nian and asked, “So how do you know?”
Xiao Nian gave a faint “oh.” “Nothing special. Just thought it looked out of place sitting there.”
He walked around the area, frowning as he sighed, “You’ve got some nerve!”
Shu Chen: “I didn’t before, but now I can rest easy.”
Xiao Nian sensed there was more to his words. “What do you mean?”
A faint, elusive smile played on Shu Chen’s face. “Nothing. Just suddenly find it looks fine now.”
The other man was speechless for a moment before asking, “Since you brought me back, I can pick a room here, right?”
Shu Chen: “Pick whichever you like. It’s not mine anyway.”
Xiao Nian didn’t stand on ceremony and really did pick one at random. The moment he pushed the door open, he heard, “Not that one. Someone’s taken it.”
Although, as far as Shu Chen knew, Qin Yu’an had only stayed in there for a brief moment last night still, it was indeed the one he’d chosen first.
Xiao Nian sensed that someone was about to start trouble again and quickly moved away, finding a room that the little pervert would definitely never choose.
With the male lead acting like this, Shu Chen felt awkward about continuing to test his limits.
The two remained at peace until the young prince came calling.
Lin Jin seemed to be in a good mood today, as if something pleasant had happened.
“I heard the immortal master brought a man back with him today. He must be a friend of yours, so I came to pay a visit.”
Xiao Nian had indeed hidden himself far away so far that Lin Jin didn’t even hear the sound of furniture exploding in the room.
Shu Chen smiled amiably at the expectant Lin Jin. “Perfect timing. My friend here also caught something he wanted to give you, young prince.”
Lin Jin was delighted. “Something for me?”
Shu Chen smiled at the male lead, who was walking over against the light. “Right? Friend.”
Lin Jin turned around and instinctively wanted to step back.
Xiao Nian was naturally tall and imposing, with a face so handsome it was flawless. When he wanted to, he could easily win people over. But right now, anger was rising in him, his expression dark and intimidating, radiating overwhelming pressure.
Shu Chen: “I only accidentally made you angry an hour ago. Is it really worth staying mad this long?”
Lin Jin breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. At least he wasn’t the target of that anger.
Still, he carefully sidestepped a bit, keeping what he considered a safe distance from Xiao Nian.
Seeing this, Xiao Nian curled his lips into a mocking smile and played along with Shu Chen’s cover. “If you did something wrong, you should apologize. Why haven’t you done anything after all this time? Do you not even think you’re in the wrong?”
Shu Chen: ??
Xiao Nian pretended to be magnanimous. “Forget it. I’ll settle the score with you later.”
Shu Chen:
Lin Jin gave an awkward smile. “So you two have made up?”
Xiao Nian looked at him with unfriendly eyes. “Who told you we made up? Can’t you see it’s me unilaterally compromising?”
Shu Chen: Don’t push your luck.
Lin Jin wasn’t used to being treated like this, but he had to endure it. He spoke in a conciliatory tone, “Then I’ll step out first and give you two some time to talk things through?”
Shu Chen stopped him and said to Xiao Nian, “Give the young prince his gift first, then we’ll settle our problem.”
Xiao Nian was briefly confused, but meeting Shu Chen’s gaze, he instantly understood what “gift” meant. “Right, I really should give it to you. It’s useless keeping it with me anyway.”
After saying this, he pulled an enormous headless snake out of a palm-sized storage pouch right in front of Lin Jin.
Shu Chen watched expressionlessly as Xiao Nian tossed the snake carcass into his own room.
Lin Jin stood frozen, his face pale. “This… what is the meaning of this?”
Shu Chen: “This is the snake demon we captured in the prince’s residence. To prevent it from feigning death and harming anyone, we have already removed its head. It is now completely safe, and the young prince may take it back and dispose of it as you see fit.”
Lin Jin took several steps back, asking in disbelief, “There really are demons?”
Shu Chen: “At the end of the day, it is just a snake. There is no need for the young prince to be alarmed.”
Hearing this, Xiao Nian smiled silently, stepped forward, and grabbed the snake by its tail. “So, where should I take it?”
Lin Jin hastily stopped him. “You must not.”
Meeting Shu Chen’s puzzled gaze, he quickly explained, “If word gets out that a demon was captured in the prince’s residence, it will surely cause panic among the people. I must ask both immortal masters to keep this matter confidential.”
“Additionally, I would trouble the immortal masters to dispose of this snake for me. The fee will be settled separately.”
Shu Chen pondered for a moment. “We will take it to a secluded place and dispose of it thoroughly tonight. Please rest assured, young prince.”
Lin Jin: “Thank you, Immortal Master Shu.”
Xiao Nian stared at Shu Chen, lost in thought.