“Shut up,” Qin Suixi cut him off, a layer of goosebumps rising beneath his shirt. He said, “Speak properly.”
The boy immediately repeated his greeting, which sounded much more normal this time: “Young Master Qin, we met two months ago at Zuiyue. I was called in to pour drinks for you then, and I’ve been thinking of you ever since.”
As he spoke, the boy’s voice grew quieter. Whether it was the red hue from the ambient lighting or a blush of shyness, his cheeks were flushed.
Two months ago?
Qin Suixi vaguely recalled such an incident—someone had indeed poured him a drink—but he had long since forgotten the person’s appearance.
He said, “Sorry, I don’t remember.”
The boy looked disappointed, but quickly perked up, saying, “Then let me pour you another drink this time. I hope you’ll remember me a little longer this time.”
Qin Suixi lifted his eyelids to glance at him and asked, “Are you very short on money?”
The boy froze, then nodded. “Yes, I have a father who gambles, a…”
Qin Suixi interrupted him: “And let me guess, a sick mother and younger siblings in school, all of whom have created a broken you?”
The boy: … You stole my lines, what am I supposed to say?
He gave a dry laugh. “How did you know, Young Master Qin? Have you been secretly worrying about me this whole time?”
Qin Suixi shattered his unrealistic fantasy. “No, you’re the fourth person to tell me this. I’m just curious: do your mothers all go to the same hospital, and do your siblings attend the same school?”
The boy: … Damn it.
Qin Suixi looked genuinely puzzled: “Is this a basic requirement for being a host?”
What could the boy say? He could only brace himself and reply, “Young Master Qin is truly brilliant to know even that.”
“I don’t believe a word of it.”
Qin Suixi said this with a cold face, scaring the boy so much he almost thought he’d misheard. Just as he lifted his head, he heard Qin Suixi add: “Someone, drag him out.”
The “Rainbow Squad” (his entourage) got the order and jumped off the sofa. The one with purple hair was the most enthusiastic; he made a slicing motion across his throat and winked. “Brother Qin, like this?”
The boy looked terrified.
No, no way, I was just trying to seduce him, surely it’s not a capital offense?
The boy couldn’t stop trembling, his lips quivering, eyes welling up with real tears this time.
He looked at the man on the seat—so cold and ruthless, the gaze directed at him was like a god looking at an ant.
What to do? Am I going to die today? If I’d known, I wouldn’t have come over. Why couldn’t I have just stayed put?
He wanted to open his mouth to beg for mercy, but before a sound came out, he saw the man put down his wine glass, thin lips parting: “No.”
That single word caused his heart, which had been hanging in his throat, to drop instantly. Yet, what followed was the fear of the unknown.
The boy pricked up his ears, waiting nervously.
“No,” Qin Suixi said, “This is a society ruled by law; we can’t hurt people. Just drag him out and toss him out the door. Don’t worry about the rest.”
The purple-haired guy looked a bit disappointed but said, “Understood. Leave it to us.”
The Rainbow Squad lifted the boy’s limbs, hoisted him onto their shoulders, and dumped the still-dazed boy outside the door.
The door closed, leaving the bewildered boy standing in the hallway. Even though it was a warm place, he felt a cold chill—the temperature of his soul.
So, rich young masters don’t just kill or beat people on a whim.
His cold heart gradually warmed up. He felt he had been reading too many novels. He closed his jaw, which had been hanging open, and wobbled his way back.
I should dream a little less in the future.
Ren Xing had watched a good show and clapped his hands, laughing: “Every time someone comes up to pester you, why is it so funny?”
Qin Suixi: “…Perhaps it’s my special talent.”
He lifted his chin and asked, “Why did you stop dancing?”
The girls, who had been trembling in fear, thinking they’d accidentally witnessed a cover-up for a murder—when it was actually just a farce—replied: “…What dance would the guest like to see next?”
Qin Suixi didn’t understand this area, so he looked at Ren Xing: “He’s asking you.”
As soon as he said this, the girls felt things were about to go south.
Sure enough, Ren Xing had a flash of inspiration. “The Drunken Butterfly!”
The girls: Is this what it feels like to live an elderly life ahead of schedule? Why are they requesting square dance music?! Do young rich people these days really like this stuff?
Qin “Rich Young Master/CEO” Suixi said with satisfaction: “Excellent, you really know your stuff.”
He gestured with his wine glass: “Keep the music playing, keep the dancing going.”
The dizzying, chaotic song started up again. Everyone in Room 301 spent an unforgettable night.
The girls: Actually, only we found it unforgettable.
They didn’t stay too late, as they had a flight to catch the next morning.
When suggesting they leave, Ren Xing wiped away fake tears: “Will we see each other again?”
Qin Suixi looked at the date on his phone screen and said: “My grandfather’s birthday is in twenty-some days. See you at the old house.”
Ren Xing was speechless, muttering: “You’re the only one who isn’t afraid of such a serious occasion.”
Ren Xing was terrified of his grandfather; the old man was always pedantic, and the mere twitch of his mustache was enough to make Ren Xing jump, fearing he’d done something to displease him.
Usually, Qin Suixi’s attitude toward Ren Xing was friendly and casual. He put on his coat and said: “You can pick a weekend to come over. Generally, I’m free on Saturdays.”
He supposed his old man still had some humanity, knowing to give him one day off every Saturday, leaving the work to his two secretaries. Of course, this was only when things weren’t busy; if they were, the CEO had to work overtime too.
Qin Suixi wasn’t exactly thrilled about it, but he was a responsible person and wouldn’t be as hands-off as his father.
Ren Xing remembered. “Almost forgot you’re the Young President Qin. You’re too dedicated; no wonder my mom dotes on you. Next time I visit, you have to open the door for me.”
Qin Suixi: “Whatever you want.”
The place he was living in now was an apartment he bought himself. As for why he moved out, Ren Xing thought he’d been kicked out by his dad, but that wasn’t the case.
The Qin family villa was large, but his father had bought a very remote place with a large lake behind it. Although he liked it too, it was too far from the company. Since he had just taken over and had so much to learn, it was inconvenient to commute. So, he simply bought a place nearby to save time.
Ren Xing punched Qin Suixi’s chest. He was surprised when he retracted his hand: “Those pecs are well-trained. Classic CEO standard.”
Qin Suixi: “You could have them too.”
Ren Xing was full of resistance: “I don’t have that kind of perseverance.” Who would wake up early every day to go running? Certainly not him.
Under the reluctant gazes of Ren Xing and the Rainbow Squad, Qin Suixi left early.
The door to the private room perfectly isolated the music inside. Qin Suixi got into his car, ready to head back. While waiting at a red light, he happened to see someone walking a dog and suddenly remembered something. He took a detour to a pet store and, when he got back in the car, he had a white bag in his hand.
Qin Suixi had left the lights on at home, so the place was brightly lit.
As soon as he pushed the door open, the fox was waiting at the entryway. Qin Suixi’s eyes softened, he changed his shoes and walked into the living room, the fox trailing obediently by his feet.
The pillows on the sofa were scattered—Qin Suixi knew exactly whose masterpiece that was. But it was better than the fox tearing up the house; he’d seen online how pets could make a mess of things, and Qin Suixi didn’t like that.
He put the bag on the table and looked around, finding everything in order except for the slightly messy sofa.
“Not bad,” Qin Suixi praised, “You’re quite obedient.”
Ning Qi’an, who had been watching TV for three hours, puffed out his chest: Obviously.
The water in the glass was already ice-cold. Qin Suixi poured it out and refilled it, drinking to soothe the lingering haze from the alcohol.
Seeing the other’s lips press against the rim of the glass, Ning Qi’an felt a sudden pang of guilt. When I snuck a drink, did my tongue touch the glass… maybe?
Ning Qi’an wasn’t sure, but he knew one thing: this secret would stay buried in his heart.
The gaze from below was too noticeable. Qin Suixi assumed it was thirsty, pointed to the balcony, and said: “Your water bowl is over there.”
Ning Qi’an rolled his eyes, but his fox eyes were already large; no matter how he rolled them, he could only show a little bit of the whites. Qin Suixi, looking down, saw the fox’s eyes flicking upward at him, appearing somewhat pitiful.
Qin Suixi didn’t understand. He bent down to pick it up, forcing Ning Qi’an to meet his gaze.
“Are you acting cute? No, that’s not it.”
Qin Suixi quickly rejected his own thought. He pondered for a moment and concluded: “You definitely did something you shouldn’t have.”
Ning Qi’an, who had snuck looks at the TV and used the man’s water glass: … I did, but something feels off.
Ning Qi’an tried to dodge, but the scruff of his neck was held firmly—there was no escaping.
Qin Suixi frowned and asked: “You didn’t tear up the house, did you?”
Ning Qi’an shook his head vigorously.
No! I am a sensible, well-behaved fox. How could I tear up the house?
Seeing the fox provide such a human-like reaction, Qin Suixi was shocked. An absurd idea popped into his head, but it was quickly dismissed by his 23 years of materialist belief. It must be a coincidence.
He decided not to dwell on what bad things the fox might have done, as long as it didn’t relieve itself in the house.
Back on all fours, Ning Qi’an scrambled to the side, afraid of being picked up again. Seriously, every time he grabs me like that, the skin behind my neck is going to stretch out.
“Oh, right.”
With his back to Ning Qi’an, Qin Suixi reached into the mysterious white bag and pulled out a yellow doll. It was a憨-looking (simple-minded/charming), cute little yellow chicken toy.
Ning Qi’an’s mouth twitched. Don’t tell me this is for me. That’s for three-year-olds; a twenty-year-old fox would only despise it.
Qin Suixi placed the little chicken in front of Ning Qi’an and pressed a button on its back. The yellow chicken shivered all over, walked toward Ning Qi’an on its short legs, and emitted childlike chicken chirps from time to time.
Ning Qi’an: …
He took a step back to avoid this silly thing.
Seeing Ning Qi’an staring, Qin Suixi assumed it liked the gift. “Whenever I’m not here, let it keep you company.”
Ning Qi’an looked at him with complex emotions. He stiffly picked up the toy; his canine teeth happened to press the button on the doll’s back. Resisting the shame, he carried the fluttering chicken back to his nest and released it; the chirping stopped instantly.
Qin Suixi’s lips curved upward. He hadn’t expected the fox to like the gift so much that it even wanted to sleep with it.
The “sensible” fox had no comment.
He had to go on a business trip tomorrow, and it was about time to sleep after a shower. Qin Suixi turned off the living room lights, plunging the environment into darkness. Ning Qi’an’s eyes instantly turned into glowing green beastly orbs in the dark.
Qin Suixi glanced at him and turned to go into his room.
Now that it had a nest, Ning Qi’an no longer had to sleep on the balcony.
Animals have their own biological clocks, and even without looking at a watch, he could guess the time. Ning Qi’an’s eyelids were heavy. Although Qin Suixi was annoying and always misinterpreted his intentions, he was at least the boss’s son, his mission target, and his source of food. Plus, he gave him gifts. Even if it was a gift Ning Qi’an didn’t like, he was still willing to put on an act to make Qin Suixi happy.
Qin Suixi didn’t close his door all the way, leaving it slightly ajar. Ning Qi’an pushed it open with his head; he didn’t see anyone, but the sound of water trickling came from the bathroom.
Another shower? Right, he wouldn’t be able to stand sleeping with the smell of alcohol on him.
Speaking of which, he suddenly remembered he hadn’t bathed in two or three days. Although a fox form didn’t need daily baths, he’d been in a human form for so long he felt uncomfortable.
Ning Qi’an suddenly felt unclean. He decided to find a way to bathe before contacting his friends while Qin Suixi was away tomorrow.
Tomorrow’s problems for tomorrow. He stood guard in front of the bathroom, forehead pressed against the wall, eyes struggling to stay open. Listening to the hypnotizing sound of water, Ning Qi’an couldn’t help but yawn. Just then, the bathroom door was pushed open, and a wave of white mist hit Ning Qi’an in the face, forcing him to step back.
Seeing the man finally come out, Ning Qi’an mustered up some energy and looked over with sleepy eyes.
Perhaps because he’d just showered, Qin Suixi’s hair was damp. His upper body was bare, with a pure white towel wrapped around his lean waist, barely covering the rest of his lower body.
Ning Qi’an’s eyes widened, and he sobered up instantly.
My god, aren’t those the eight-pack abs you only see on the internet?
Ning Qi’an compared himself: his own body was like a boiled chicken compared to Qin Suixi’s! To have a fox compare itself to a chicken, what a tragic reality!
Ning Qi’an was deeply envious.
The drowsiness from his biological clock vanished, replaced by a fox’s jealousy—no, envy.
Ning Qi’an stared blankly at Qin Suixi’s upper body. A crystal-clear drop of water slid down his jawline, was caught by his chest, and influenced by gravity, slid steadily down his defined abdomen before being absorbed by the towel on his waist.
In the misty air, Qin Suixi didn’t notice the gaze at the door and walked to the bed to get his pajamas.
Ning Qi’an realized what was happening and hurried over before the man could untie his only cover.
A light tickle brushed against the top of his foot; Qin Suixi moved his foot and looked down at the fox rubbing against him. Qin Suixi’s vision was far beyond that of an ordinary person; even from over a meter away, he could clearly see his own reflection in those deep golden eyes.
It was his own image, appearing in the lively, quiet eyes of a fox.
It seemed filled with a thousand words, yet constrained by the fact that the fox couldn’t speak, it could only convey emotion through its eyes.
The tipsiness from the alcohol was fading with the cool water, and his mental intoxication grew heavier.
It wasn’t uncomfortable; it was a feeling of inexplicable relief, like a gentle stream flowing through his brain, bringing the rest he desperately needed after exhaustion.
In that instant, he understood the other’s meaning and whispered, “Goodnight.”
The best way to rest is sleep, and that bedtime greeting was a blessing for a good dream.
He hadn’t misinterpreted it. Upon hearing the “goodnight,” the fox pulled away. Looking at the dark doorway—narrow enough only for a fox to pass—out of some unknown impulse, Qin Suixi didn’t close the door.
Whatever. If I have a nightmare or there’s a thunderstorm, if the fox is scared, let it come over and sleep. I can keep it company.
Ning Qi’an was a fox who knew his place. Without a clear invitation from Qin Suixi, he wouldn’t stay the night in his room.
As if! Can Qin Suixi let me sleep on the bed? Is the cold floor more comfortable than a cotton-filled nest?
The answer was obvious. Ning Qi’an pretended not to see Qin Suixi’s silent invitation and buried his head into his soft nest like an ostrich.
The light in the room stayed on for over ten minutes before clicking off. Qin Suixi put down his phone, feeling puzzled: Aren’t dogs supposed to be clingy with their owners? Why is this one different? Is my fox an introvert?
Qin Suixi recalled the fox’s attitude toward Auntie Liu and dismissed his own hypothesis. No, why am I worrying about this? Better to get some sleep.
Just before drifting off, he thought hazily: No wonder my dad treats this fox like a son. I’m no different.
“Achoo—”
Ning Qi’an in the living room sneezed. He kicked the little chicken doll out of the nest, but as soon as he lay down, he felt something was wrong. He got up, stood in a daze for a while, and then retrieved the doll from under the TV, lay down, and tucked it under his chin.
That’s much better.
A toy doesn’t work for a twenty-year-old fox, but it makes a perfect pillow.
Under the moon, it was a dreamless night.
The next day, under Ning Qi’an’s eager gaze, Qin Suixi stood at the entrance with a suitcase.
Just as the door was half-open, he suddenly stopped and began to nag: “While I’m away, Secretary Chen will come at 12:00 to take care of you. Don’t make a mess of the house, and since you know how to use the toilet, make sure you don’t relieve yourself randomly.”
When Ning Qi’an first came, he had preemptively demonstrated his ability to use the toilet for Qin Suixi, shocking the man who had been standing outside the bathroom door into a momentary stupor.
I don’t want to be watched while using the toilet, that’s too embarrassing and might cause constipation.
But now, Ning Qi’an just felt that Qin Suixi was being long-winded. He nodded at every sentence. Just as he thought the lecture was over, Qin Suixi opened his mouth to start another long speech.
“And…”
“Stop with the ‘and’s!” Ning Qi’an howled: “Why are you saying so much when the fox can’t understand you!”
Qin Suixi: ?
After Ning Qi’an stopped howling, he said, “And you…”
Ning Qi’an howled again.
Qin Suixi: !
He probed: “And…”
Ning Qi’an closed his eyes in pain, stopping the noise.
Qin Suixi: Giving up already? He thought the fox was just being playful.
Being interrupted like this, Qin Suixi forgot what he was going to say. He left behind a “Wait for me to return,” and dragged his suitcase away.
The person was finally gone. Ning Qi’an grinned and went straight for the remote to turn on the TV.
This time, it wasn’t to watch TV.
He glanced at the time on the screen.
9:00
He quickly turned it off. This house is so big but doesn’t even have a clock. Having to turn on the TV just to check the time, life is so miserable.
There were 3 hours until Secretary Chen arrived—just enough time to make a trip back to the Fuxin residential complex.
Worried Qin Suixi might return halfway, Ning Qi’an stood at the door with his ears pricked for over ten minutes. Certain the man wouldn’t be back, he transformed back into a human, carefully opened the heavy door, and poked his head out to look around.
Qin Suixi lived in a single-unit-per-floor apartment; he was the only one on this level. After confirming there was no one, Ning Qi’an timidly stepped out and, like a thief, closed the door. Even though he knew the environment was safe, he still tiptoed to the elevator.
Once in the elevator, his tense mood eased slightly. Once he relaxed, his brain found space to think.
I seem to have forgotten something.
The elevator door slowly opened, and that bit of thought was discarded.
Whatever. I’m already out, what’s there to worry about?
The apartment complex’s security system was very strict, but only for people.
Finding a blind spot for the security cameras, he transformed back into a fox and squeezed through a gap in the iron fence.
Once out, he transformed back into a human. He had to admit, it was fortunate he was a fox, or he wouldn’t be able to come and go so freely.
Fuxin Complex wasn’t too far; it was a twenty-minute walk, but Ning Qi’an compressed it into six minutes by sprinting.
The reflection in the elevator door showed a slightly hunched figure. Ning Qi’an panted, wiping the light sweat from his forehead. He looked at his flushed face in the reflection and caught his breath, his nasal passages stinging from the cold wind.
Running in winter is truly exhausting, but…
The elevator door opened. Looking at the familiar, long-lost door, Ning Qi’an rubbed his nose and smiled smugly.
He had no regrets.
The place rented by the Demon Bureau wasn’t as luxurious as Qin Suixi’s. He dug the key out from under the doormat and returned to the small apartment he had been away from for three days.
The cockroach in the shoe cabinet was nowhere to be seen—likely playing somewhere in the house. As long as it didn’t enter his bedroom, Ning Qi’an would spare its life.
He took a lightning-fast “battle shower,” pulled out his phone from under his pillow, and turned it on—fully charged.
Opening WeChat, he saw only four contacts. Ning Qi’an sent a message to Bai Tu.
[Fox Doesn’t Eat Pears: Are you there?]