Xie Ji glanced at the Big Orange out of the corner of his eye. Although it had lost its little bell, it had been completely impressed by Lu Xunji's cooking skills in just one night. The orange cat was now munching away on its food in front of its bowl.
Just now, when Lu Xunji walked over, it even fawned over and rubbed against Lu Xunji's feet.
"..."
It felt like Lu Xunji was treating him like a dog.
Xie Ji gave up, scratched his head, and said, "Actually, there was a party at the mecha maintenance department, Mu Yao asked me to join in the fun."
" Mu Yao." Lu Xunji forced a cold snort through his nose.
Look!!
I told you you'd get angry!!
"If you're unhappy, I won't go." Xie Ji noticed he seemed a bit off and quickly tried to coax him back, "I'll talk to him right now!"
"No need." Lu Xunji stood up. "I said I wouldn't restrict your friendships. In fact, I'm not a controlling person. You can do as you please."
Xie Ji: "..."
Dude, sometimes you don't really have a full understanding of yourself.
"Besides, I think anyone with a modicum of sense wouldn't abandon me for him, right?"
Xie Ji nodded quickly, taking Lu Xunji's hand. "I know, I know!"
Lu Xunji lowered his eyes, looked at his hand, and after a long while said, "Be back before midnight, I also have something very important to do."
Xie Ji stood at attention. "Don't worry! I'll be even more punctual than Snow White at midnight!"
"Hmm." Lu Xunji turned his gaze away, saying nothing more.
Xie Ji was finally relieved and quickly fell asleep on the bed. Before falling asleep, he saw Lu Xunji sitting at the desk by the bed with his back to him.
A top student truly lives up to their name; no one can disrupt their plans!
The next day, before the party started, Xie Ji took Jin Li the Department of Maintenance to find Mu Yao.
"You've arrived." Mu Yao smiled charmingly when he saw Xie Ji. "I knew you'd come."
Xie Ji patted Mu Yao on the shoulder. "Don't worry, I won't let you down just for those two cufflinks! But let me make this clear, I definitely have to leave at eleven o'clock, not even Jesus can stop me."
Mu Yao's expression darkened. "... Why?"
" Lu Xunji said so," Xie Ji sighed. "He only allows me to stay out this late."
Mu Yao snorted, "Who is he to you? What gives him the right to boss you around like that?"
Xie Ji opened his mouth.
If he remembered correctly, he seemed to have agreed to date Lu Xunji back in the training room.
Does that count as confirming a relationship?
I guess so?
However, his relationship with Lu Xunji remained unchanged after that, and Lu Xunji never called him boyfriend again, so Xie Ji often forgot about it.
Are he and Lu Xunji... considered to be dating?
If we count, wouldn't that mean we have to admit to everyone that we're from Nantong?!
Xie Ji was a little shy, scratched his head, and changed the subject.
"Anyway, I don't want to stay outside for too long. I'm going to sleep at midnight too," Xie Ji said. "Your repair department is off tomorrow, but I have classes."
Mu Yao pursed his lips. "You can just sleep here then."
Xie Ji waved his hand. "No, no, I'm not used to sleeping in the same bed."
If Lu Xunji finds out he didn't come home at night, he'll skin him alive.
Xie Ji sadly wiped away imaginary tears from his face.
It gives the impression that a husband is having a blast outside the home but still has to take care of his wife at home.
And he's also the kind of scumbag who doesn't really want his friends to know that the woman at home is his wife.
After all, Xie Ji had been a man for so many years, and suddenly having a male wife made him somewhat embarrassed to speak up.
"Let's wait a little longer, "Xie Ji thought. "I'll wait until I'm fully prepared before I confess my relationship with Lu Xunji to everyone."
Mu Yao prepared suits for him and Jin Li to wear to the party.
This was the first time Xie Ji had worn such an outfit, and the dress was designed entirely according to Mu Yao's aesthetic sense.
The white silk shirt has a beautiful drape and a lustrous texture. It's loose, comfortable, and sexy, complementing the light and silky ribbon around the neck. The cinched waist design, tucked into high-waisted casual black suit pants, perfectly accentuates Xie Ji's slender waist.
She exudes casual elegance under normal lighting, but when illuminated by the bright lights of a ball, she becomes somewhat hazy, revealing glimpses of her fair skin beneath her shirt, arousing a strong sense of desire.
Xie Ji had no idea about any of this; he only felt that the ribbon around his neck was too tight, and besides, what kind of grown man would wear a ribbon around his neck, especially with a bow tied in it? It looked so effeminate.
So he casually ripped off the ribbon around his neck.
Without the ribbon to hold it in place, the already deep V-neck shirt became even more disheveled, revealing large expanses of dazzlingly white skin with every movement.
Xie Ji didn't care. He's a grown man, and he didn't reveal anything, so it shouldn't affect the city's appearance.
Jin Li, who was standing next to him, was a little shorter and dressed more energetically. Her overalls and white shirt made her already youthful baby face look even more lively and cute.
When Mu Yao led them into the arena, all eyes were on Xie Ji.
Xie Ji's blonde hair was tied in a high ponytail, which shone brilliantly under the lights and hung down her back, where her beautiful shoulder blades were faintly visible, giving off an aloof and unapproachable feeling.
"..." The gazes fixed on him were so direct and intense that Xie Ji frowned, feeling a little uncomfortable. He looked down at Jin Li and said, "Damn it, why are they all looking at me like that? Am I zipping up my pants?"
Jin Li paused for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Right now, you should be more worried about whether your buttocks have opened up yet."
Xie Ji: "..."
What are you saying, bro?!
"Does your husband know you're here to be Mu Yao's dance partner?" Jin Li pulled Xie Ji to the window in the hall, using the dark red velvet curtains to hide Xie Ji's figure. "Don't tell me you came without his knowledge, or I really can't save you."
Xie Ji clicked his tongue. "What are you talking about! Do I need his permission to go anywhere?"
A man's head may be severed, blood may flow, but a man's dignity must not be lost!
Jin Li whispered, "Are you two dating?"
"How could you...!" Xie Ji paused abruptly, then quickly changed the subject. "What nonsense! No, no, I'm not from Nantong."
"The 'friend' you mentioned last time was actually yourself, wasn't it?" Little Jin Li snorted. "He was holding your hand today and publicly rejected Shen Ting. And you still say you two aren't dating?"
"What does that prove!" Xie Ji downed half a glass of champagne. "I just happened to be passing by!"
Jin Li glanced at him. "Stop being stubborn, I can see through you."
Xie Ji: "..."
"Just tell him whether he knows you're here."
Xie Ji: "... I know."
"That's fine then." Jin Li looked around the entire party. "Why didn't you tell Mu Yao that you're dating the Top Scorer Bro?"
Xie Ji blushed deeply, "Dating is my own business, why should I tell others?"
"And..."
A hint of confusion appeared in Xie Ji's eyes.
"I don't even know if Lu Xunji and I are actually dating. What do you guys do when you're dating?"
Jin Li: "Kiss?"
Xie Ji paused for a moment, then whispered, "This doesn't count. Besides this, what else?"
"So that's a date, right?" Jin Li rested her chin on her hand. "Have you ever gone on a date with the Top Scorer Bro? Did he give you any tokens of love?"
Xie Ji thought for a moment and said, "No."
So, are he and Lu Xunji actually dating?
Xie Ji stood behind the curtains for a while, pondering his relationship with Lu Xunji, but he didn't think for long before quickly pulling Jin Li the food area to eat.
Just as I was enjoying my meal, a soft sneer came from behind me, "Isn't this Xie Ji from the Individual Combat Department? What's he doing at our Maintenance Department's party? Dressed like that... which young master is he here to curry favor with this time?"
Xie Ji stuffed a piece of very flavorful baked beef from the dinner into his mouth while lifting his eyelids to look at the person.
Since he enrolled, although most idiots have been wise enough not to dare to mess with him, there are still some who don't know what's good for them.
The reason for this is probably because he looks too easy to bully, and this is a military academy, a place where the weak are bullied and the strong are feared.
Jin Li instinctively hid behind Xie Ji. Xie Ji chuckled softly as he ate, "I'm here to curry favor with your father, intending to become your stepfather. Come here and call me stepfather, will that make you happy?"
The newcomer was dressed in a well-tailored suit and had bright red hair, looking quite flamboyant.
Xie Ji's words clearly angered the red-haired man. He frowned, strode forward, and reached for Xie Ji's collar: "What the hell did you say—"
"If you have an ear problem, you can make an appointment to get it treated." Xie Ji didn't dodge at all, and stepped forward to kick the man. "I said, I'm your living father! Get your dirty hands off me, don't touch my clothes!"
Before Red Hair could grab Xie Ji by the collar, Xie Ji kicked him in the waist, leaving a black footprint on his snow-white suit.
"You fucking dare to kick me!" Red Hair got up from the ground, spat to the side, and immediately tried to grab Xie Ji.
Before he could even regain his footing, he was kicked away by another foot.
"I just went downstairs to order a drink, and now everything's daring to come up in front of me." Mu Yao withdrew his foot and scoffed, "Dude, are you crazy?"
Red Hair gritted his teeth and pointed at Mu Yao: "Do you know who I am? Your Mu Household's business still relies on my dad..."
"I don't care who you are." Mu Yao grabbed a wine bottle and smashed it at the feet of the red-haired man. "I've been a spendthrift since I was a kid. Sorry, I picked the wrong person, young master. Please give my regards to your doctor. I'll pay all the medical expenses."
After saying that, he casually picked out a wine bottle that looked good and walked towards the red-haired man. Xie Ji quickly stopped him, saying, "Wait."
Mu Yao tilted his head slightly. "You don't still want to go easy on me, do you?"
Xie Ji shook his head, sighed, and said, "There have been a lot of rumors about me at school lately. Can you tell me who's spreading these rumors? I've heard far too many of these things since Lu Xunji and I enrolled. I'm getting tired of it."
He and Lu Xunji had only been in the Imperial Military Academy for half a month when they entered the school, and they did not offend anyone during that time, unless they had a grudge against someone long before they entered the military academy.
However, Xie Ji did not have this person in his memory, so he was very curious about who was spreading such harmless rumors that would only occasionally attract some foolish flies to amuse him.
Red Hair cursed, "So what if I can't stand that an idiot like you can get into the Imperial Military Academy?"
Xie Ji leaned down and carefully examined the expression on the red-haired man's face, confirming that he really wasn't lying.
It seems he didn't know that the mastermind behind it all was just a fool led astray by rumors.
He reached out and tapped the red-haired man on the shoulder, saying, "Come see me again in three days."
Red Hair paused for a moment, then said, "Who the hell wants to see you, you—"
Before he could finish speaking, Xie Ji straightened up and interrupted him, "You will come looking for me, just like this."
His gaze fell on the entrance to the banquet hall, and everyone followed him toward the entrance, completely bewildered.
A few seconds later, a figure appeared at the entrance to the banquet hall.
He was wearing a school uniform, his face was filled with terror, his hair was messy, his eyes were bloodshot, and he had a stubble beard.
Others might not recognize him, but Jin Li knew him.
Isn't this the guy who bullied him in the cafeteria and got taught a lesson by Xie Ji? Back then, Xie Ji even said he'd make him afraid of Xie Ji's name from now on. It's only been two or three days, what happened to him?
Upon seeing Xie Ji, the man's usual arrogant and domineering demeanor vanished completely. He practically scrambled to his knees before Xie Ji Xie Ji, grabbing his trouser leg and stammering, "You've been behind all this trouble these past few days, haven't you?"
Xie Ji moved his feet away. "What am I doing?"
"It must be you! I can't think of anyone else who could possess such evil magic! Ever since I saw you that day, everything has been wrong! On my way back to the dorm from the restaurant that night, at least six flowerpots fell from above my head! Back in the dorm, I choked on water, tripped and fell on flat ground, and always felt like something was tripping my legs! The power suddenly went out while I was showering at night, and I broke my leg in the bathroom. Every time I close my eyes to sleep, all sorts of terrifying scenes appear before my eyes!"
As he spoke, his expression quickly turned sorrowful. "I've been so unlucky, I almost got hit by a car several times while dragging my broken leg to the hospital, what did you mean that day? Why have I had this feeling these past few days that the whole world wants me to die unexpectedly?"
Xie Ji sighed, "You said it was an accident, how would I have known?"
"It must have been you! You're the one who did this!" The man gritted his teeth, stood up, took a deep breath, and then knelt heavily before Xie Ji: "I'm sorry, I was wrong, please forgive me!"
Xie Ji lightly tapped his finger on the silver plate beside him, then took out a talisman from his robes. "Dear, to ward off disasters and misfortunes, it only costs 88,888."
The newcomer paused, somewhat puzzled, and asked, "What is this?"
"A peace charm." Xie Ji shook the talisman in his hand. "I just wrote it yesterday."
The man glanced at the two "Peace" characters written in elementary school handwriting on the yellow paper, and a somewhat indescribable expression appeared on his face.
"Do you want it or not?" Xie Ji glanced meaningfully at the red-haired man beside him. "If you don't want it, I'll save it for someone else."
"Yes, yes, yes!" The man quickly snatched the talisman and took out a card. "Swipe the card."
Xie Ji waved his hand dismissively, "Put it in my meal card, thanks."
"..."