Chapter 71
When Qu Banqing returned from Shadow Isle, the house was empty. After feeding the kittens, the storage room door opened.
Ning Zhixia, limp and nestled in Audrow’s arms, looked like a lovesick emperor.
Seeing the satisfied merman walk past, Qu Banqing sighed dramatically, well, what could he do, his precious jewel was desirable.
Resigned, Qu Banqing went to the kitchen to stew some chicken soup for Ning Zhixia.
Ning Zhixia, after waking up, felt a pang of sympathy for Audrow, remembering his past, and generously granted him access to his entire manga collection, even complying with his embarrassing requests at night.
“Caring for a man is the beginning of misfortune,” Qu Banqing reminded him coldly, but continued serving them bowls of fragrant red bean and rice cake soup.
Ning Zhixia insisted that he had to pamper his fish, it was only natural.
“I’m not even human,” Audrow said calmly, playing with Ning Zhixia’s hair.
Audrow’s matter-of-fact tone was infuriating, especially his recent habit of clutching his chest and sighing dramatically, and Qu Banqing snorted angrily, removing a rice cake from his bowl.
The continuous rain cooled Yucheng down. The mischievous cats, perched on the windowsill, their tails swaying like pendulums, watched the gloomy humans going to work in the cold rain.
This weather was perfect for staying home, wrapped in blankets, watching TV and eating snacks, but business at the branches was booming, and Ning Zhixia was forced to work on new designs, grumbling.
He was planning a zodiac-themed press-on nail collection, something new for all his customers, regardless of their plane.
He worked until the rain stopped in the afternoon, then stretched and changed his clothes.
The sound of flipping pages stopped. Audrow looked up from his nutrition textbook and asked softly, “Going out?”
“Yeah, let’s go to the new mall.” Ning Zhixia put on the chunky knit hat Qu Banqing had made for him, his eyes bright. “I want to buy you a gift.”
A smile appeared on Audrow’s lips, and he closed the book with a snap, standing up, “Let’s go.”
The newly opened mall was in the new district of Yucheng, filled with luxury stores, the air thick with the scent of money.
“This is so annoying, how much longer do we have to wait? Can’t they let more people in at once?” Zhang Bin and his mother were queuing outside a luxury jewelry store, craning their necks impatiently.
He was about to propose to his girlfriend, and although he had cultivated a “nice guy” image, her family wasn’t easily fooled, insisting on a proper betrothal ceremony and gifts.
The city’s finances were tight, many projects had been halted, and his family’s supplier business was struggling. Considering his girlfriend’s family’s status, he had reluctantly come to buy an engagement ring from her favorite brand.
“Her parents work for the Planning Bureau, they can help us with projects later, we’ll easily recoup the cost.”
His mother tried to comfort him, but the thought of the upcoming expense made her wince, “Still, these girls are so materialistic these days, the Three Golds are enough, why insist on a diamond ring…”
They had only learned upon arrival that without an appointment, they had to queue. Bored, they noticed a familiar figure.
Zhang Bin focused and saw Ning Zhixia walking towards them.
A long-haired man carrying a dessert box was beside him, leaning down and whispering something.
The bright lights made it difficult to see his face clearly, but his figure and aura surpassed even the celebrities on the advertising screens, making everyone else look dull in comparison, and Zhang Bin straightened up, annoyed.
“Who is that, do you know him?” His mother pulled him forward in the queue.
Zhang Bin, remembering the incident at the Cultural and Creative Street, said sullenly, “Who else, Ning Zhixia.”
“Him.” His mother vaguely remembered him. “Where does he work now?”
“Runs some nail salon, wasting his life.”
His mother snorted dismissively. Art students were all good-for-nothing spendthrifts, what future could they have?
Seeing him with another man, she pulled her son closer, afraid that Ning Zhixia would try to cut in line using their old classmate connection.
An elegantly dressed sales manager emerged, seeing Ning Zhixia, and politely led him inside, “Mr. Ning, this way, we have refreshments prepared.”
“Oh, snacks!”
Ning Zhixia’s eyes lit up, and he pulled Audrow along, quickly walking past Zhang Bin and his mother, who stared after them, dumbfounded.
“Why doesn’t he have to queue?” His mother exclaimed.
The other customers, already annoyed by her loud videos, turned to look at her as if she were an idiot.
“Need you ask, he has an appointment.”
Just an appointment, a simple phone call, what was so special about it?
She muttered, feeling a twinge of envy. Making an appointment wasn’t difficult, but you needed to spend over a million yuan a year to qualify.
Ning Zhixia wasn’t that extravagant yet. This shop was affiliated with the luxury brand endorsed by Yin Fuliu, so having a celebrity connection was naturally convenient, the VIP treatment allowing him to browse leisurely.
Ning Zhixia sat on the sofa, gave Audrow a small pastry, and while he was slowly savoring it, turned to the sales manager and said, “Um… I’d like to see some couple rings, both men’s.”
“Certainly, I’ll bring them right away.” The sales manager, understanding, smiled and gestured for someone to bring a tray.
Zhang Bin and his mother had also entered the store, comparing the basic designs, wanting a large diamond but unwilling to spend much, hoping the diamonds were cut as thinly as possible.
They saw a sales assistant carrying a tray of limited edition rings, the pave diamonds and large square stones dazzling, and Zhang Bin was stunned. Running a nail salon was that profitable?
“Is that some respectable job? No different from those who sell their smiles and services here.” His mother pushed him, and the sales assistant in front of them lowered her eyes and remained silent.
Ning Zhixia, after browsing, chose a pair of square, ice-like diamond rings with pave bands, the craftsmanship exquisite, the design simple and elegant, naturally expensive.
“Pretty?” Ning Zhixia nudged Audrow’s shoulder.
Audrow tilted his head, glanced at the rings, and nodded.
Ning Zhixia, ready to pay, “Okay, we’ll take them.”
Zhang Bin, burning with envy, seeing Ning Zhixia seemingly keeping a pretty boy, hesitantly raised his phone.
Just then, the long-haired man, whose face had been obscured, suddenly turned around, his cold gaze sharp as a blade, and Zhang Bin’s hand trembled as he snapped a few photos.
“Zhang Bin? What are you taking pictures of?”
Ning Zhixia turned around and saw him quickly put down his phone, his expression strange.
“N-none of your business, I’m video calling my girlfriend…” Zhang Bin retorted, then, seeing people looking at them, he sneered, “I knew you were always hanging around girls when we were young, so you like men, huh? Disgusting, not only a sissy, but also a homosexual!”
His voice rose, and he rubbed his arms with a disgusted expression, as if afraid Ning Zhixia would be interested in him.
Curious and inquisitive gazes fell upon them, and Ning Zhixia, his face expressionless, straightened up, looked around, and asked, “So what? Is it illegal?”
He took Audrow’s hand, his gaze fixed on Zhang Bin’s face, and said disdainfully, “Don’t worry, I’m not interested in just anyone.”
Yucheng was a tolerant city, and the onlookers, glancing between Ning Zhixia and Zhang Bin, chuckled.
Zhang Bin, embarrassed, his face turning red, spat at Ning Zhixia’s feet and turned to leave.
“He, he just took pictures of you and your lover.”
The sales assistant who had been serving Zhang Bin and his mother suddenly spoke.
“You little bitch, what nonsense are you spouting!” Zhang Bin’s mother reacted instantly and pushed the girl, who stumbled and was caught by other sales assistants just before hitting a display case.
The girl thanked them, her voice slightly shaky but firm, “He did! He even sent them to a group chat, check the security footage if you don’t believe me!”
“Stop lying!” Zhang Bin, furious, raised his hand to hit her.
Amidst the gasps, before Ning Zhixia could stop him, several girls grabbed his arm, twisted it behind his back, and one of them tossed his phone to Ning Zhixia, their movements swift and practiced.
Ning Zhixia, although small, was imposing. He knew his pretty fish was too kind to fight with humans, so he turned to Audrow, his face serious, and said, “Don’t worry, Xiao Ao, I’ll protect you.”
Audrow blinked, enjoying this novel experience, and stepped back politely, gesturing: After you.
Zhang Bin angrily tried to lift his head, but a heavy gaze fell upon him, and he froze, unable to move, his heart pounding with unease, as Ning Zhixia went through the photos and hateful messages in his phone.
Ning Zhixia felt disgusted. There were even upskirt photos taken in subways and elevators, clearly a habitual offender.
The sales manager was horrified to learn about the upskirt photos, some even of their own staff, and called security to restrain Zhang Bin, preparing to call the police.
Zhang Bin’s mother panicked, pushing the security guards and yelling, “Call the police! Go ahead! You’re violating his privacy, I’ll sue you all!”
“No need to bother.” The girls who had subdued Zhang Bin showed their police badges and sneered, “Come with us, let’s take a trip to the station.”
Zhang Bin and his mother were dumbfounded, their minds reeling as they pleaded for mercy, then, seeing that it was useless, they started struggling and yelling.
Audrow, incredulous that a human could make such a racket, narrowed his eyes and snapped his fingers, and a choking sound came from the struggling figures.
At the police station, Zhang Bin’s mother was dismissive, thinking that taking a few photos in public was no big deal, and she cried dramatically, claiming they had been falsely accused.
But when the screenshots of the incriminating evidence were presented, she trembled, her back turning cold.
She looked at her son, who was still trying to defend himself, then at the two young men standing not far away, and slumped back in her seat, defeated.
“Bye, come visit our shop sometime, we do custom press-on nails!”
Ning Zhixia waved at the police officers, not forgetting to promote his business.
It was late when they left the police station, the streetlights casting long shadows.
They had planned to have a sashimi dinner at the rooftop garden of the mall, but it was too late now.
Ning Zhixia, his plans ruined by Zhang Bin, slumped his shoulders dejectedly.
Audrow didn’t care about dinner. He opened the dessert box, fed Ning Zhixia a cupcake, and gently wiped the cream from his lips.
The young man smelled a little bitter today, he needed some sweetness.
Ning Zhixia, understanding, took the ring box from his pocket: “Audrow…”
“Hmm?”
Audrow stopped, the lamplight casting shadows under his eyelashes, his expression softening, his eyes gentle.
Ning Zhixia opened the box and put on one of the rings: “I know you’ve seen countless treasures, and these jewels are nothing compared to your hoard.”
He took out the other ring, held it up to Audrow, and continued, “But I hope you’ll accept it. A human’s promise isn’t worthless, at least… mine isn’t.”
His voice trembled slightly, and he exhaled slowly after the last word.
Audrow’s gaze softened, and as if amused by having his plan preempted, he chuckled softly, “I thought you would think it’s too fast.”
“Is it fast? Maybe.” Ning Zhixia scratched his head and grinned shyly, “But the thought of seeing you every day makes me happy.”
The clumsy but heartfelt confession was like Cupid’s arrow, and a gentle smile appeared in Audrow’s light-colored eyes.
He put on the ring, admired it under the dim streetlight, then turned and asked politely, “Can I kiss you?”
Ning Zhixia paused: “Ah? Now?”
Audrow nodded: “I really want to kiss you.”
Before he could reply, a large hand cupped his neck, the cool touch of the ring against his skin, and Ning Zhixia, abandoning his surprise, tilted his head up, grabbed Audrow’s collar, and kissed him—
“What, what are you doing?!”
A sudden shout broke the intimate silence.
The car window across the street rolled down, and a middle-aged man, his face red with anger, yelled.
Ning Zhixia turned around in shock, his face pale: “Dad?”
