Chapter 47: Taking Care

Even though a few weeks had passed, it felt like it had happened just yesterday. Xie Qi remembered the incident clearly.

After the two of them started dating, Xie Qi had a few minor disagreements with his boyfriend. Though Xie Qi felt a bit annoyed every time he thought back on it, he had to admit that Wen Jiang’s attitude toward him was far colder than he’d imagined. The number and frequency of their arguments after getting together exceeded his expectations by a lot.

That hot-and-cold demeanor, the accident at the hotel, and then rejecting his offer to help relieve the tension afterward—what, was he supposed to find someone else besides his partner for that?

Even stepping back ten thousand steps, why would he rather handle it alone than let his partner touch him? People from two centuries ago didn’t have such rigid views on chastity.

With all those emotions piling up, Wen Jiang not replying to his messages became the spark that lit the powder keg. Xie Qi straight-up investigated Wen Jiang’s whereabouts. What Qian Lang was referring to had to be that time when Xie Qi had someone check where Wen Jiang was going and who he was meeting—only to discover that he’d been stood up. Wen Jiang had been at Aili Bakery chatting with Lin Xun, eating cake, drinking beverages, and doing homework.

Recalling the unpleasant memory, Xie Qi lay on the sofa staring at the message, his face expressionless. He was too lazy to type, so he simply dialed Qian Lang’s number and tossed his phone onto the coffee table.

The call connected quickly. Airflow brushed the edge of the coffee table, linking through the surface to activate the touch-based Supernatural Ability connection system. As long as his power stayed within the proper range, it triggered the electronic screen. A virtual display popped up in midair, showing Qian Lang’s face.

Hooking Supernatural Ability use to everyday electronic conveniences was a form of indirect training. Xie Qi’s control over his power was exquisitely precise—as long as he could maintain his current stability.

Before Qian Lang could speak, Xie Qi cut in: “That was weeks ago. You’re slow on the uptake with messages.”

“Is that so?” Xie Qi shot back coolly. “I see you never miss a single piece of gossip.”

Once you entered the Secret Tower, that was it for life—Ability Users lived under its surveillance and control forever. Even seeing family required jumping through hoops. For an unstable S-Grade Ability User, it was like having a sword of lost freedom dangling over your head. Not exactly a cheery topic.

“Whatever, we’ll talk about that later.” Qian Lang’s head already ached at the thought. First things first: “Did you really check him out?”

But times changed. “Your Highness, you can’t ‘take care’ of people like that.” Qian Lang tried reason and emotion, earnestly advising the “Wen Jiang second-generation guardian” he’d appointed himself: “Nobody likes being investigated. Just communicate. Talk it out if there’s an issue.”

Xie Qi frowned. “Got it.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know you’re reluctant, but—” Qian Lang paused, then froze. “Wait, you agreed?”

“What else?”

Xie Qi snapped irritably. He’d even gotten a “warning” from Wen Jiang over it! Though Wen Jiang’s tone hadn’t been harsh—no real anger there. It was clearly a “this won’t happen again” vibe.

Xie Qi felt oddly like Qian Lang was nitpicking his relationship with Wen Jiang. After stewing for a moment, he added proactively: “We talked it out. Peacefully resolved. Don’t need you.”

“Huh?” Qian Lang scratched his neck. The pivot was too quick; he wasn’t sure if he should push his luck or switch to bragging about his matchmaking skills. “Oh… well, cut your losses in time, huh.”

He trailed off, feeling weird about it. First, he and Huo Xia Tong hadn’t even fought over it—just your standard couple friction, quickly talked out, back to lovey-dovey. Made the breakup hit even sadder in hindsight. Second, using a romance example to argue about friendships felt off.

Xie Qi seemed unfazed, oblivious. He looked away, knowing exactly what that “even if” meant. It was that tantalizing, wonderful temptation.

So easy, so simple—all the other’s traces laid bare before you. No more worrying about their safety, no endless imagining what they were up to. You could even peek at everyday snippets you never witnessed yourself. Just one tiny step, that little step, for peace and satisfaction.

Sure, using it to “catch cheaters” wouldn’t bring joy. But unless someone shoved ironclad proof in his face, Xie Qi had no intention of investigating.

Xie Qi fell silent, so Qian Lang assumed it sank in and circled back to his biggest headache: “What’s up with your Supernatural Ability?”

He and Xie Qi were both struggling with Supernatural Ability stability—fellow sufferers. Qian Lang figured he was a bit luckier; he could hole up in this overseas adjustment center, still with decent freedom and hope for a normal life post-release. Xie Qi? Secret Tower or bust.

That cruise night, they’d both been set to leave. Qian Lang threw the party to nurse his post-Huo Xia Tong heartbreak; Xie Qi hadn’t told anyone. Qian Lang saw him solo and bored, so he dragged him into games to soak up some outside-world buzz.

Xie Qi could’ve kept stringing along the Secret Tower folks—easy for the Xie Family. Everyone was shocked when he said he wanted in, but then it made sense. People were human; after years of tug-of-war, sometimes it wasn’t about strength but emotional exhaustion. Done dealing.

What had to come would come—that much he and Xie Qi both knew. Time dulled it to a joke: one day it’d be some facility or center. Just enjoy life as much as possible beforehand.

Maybe it was reluctance after all. Seeing Xie Qi fight back, Qian Lang touched his wrist, feeling a spark of his own “too late” fire. He eyed the walls, then his ID ring, and muttered out of nowhere: “My Supernatural Ability wasn’t too stable when I was dating either.”

The usually tight-lipped Xie Qi, who left others to “guess his holy will,” finally stirred. He glanced at Qian Lang, tone odd: “You too?”

Xie Qi, who’d only hugged Wen Jiang once since dating, felt his airflow waver again.

“What?” Qian Lang said listlessly. “Relationships are complicated…”

Qian Lang’s face stiffened, went blank, then his eyes turned profoundly complex—like witnessing pigs climbing trees, elephants doing handstands, sun rising in the west. He paused seconds, then rasped: “You… are you dating someone?”

Xie Qi ignored him.

“Hold up, lemme process.” Qian Lang paused him with a hand gesture, rubbing his temples in a brain storm. “I’ve heard rumors you might have someone, figured it was bullshit… no photos or anything…”

Qian Lang sucked in a breath, recalling the gossip followup, and blurted: “So the relationship troubles are real too? Some say you’re just being strung along—”