Chapter 52

Humans were advanced creatures, after all.

They couldn’t help but be drawn to shiny things.

Qi Jing was still young, and most of the jewelry in his collection before had been meant to match outfits, with few chances to wear it on its own.

He would occasionally forget about it.

But even just sitting there on display, it looked stunning.

The young man’s eyelids drooped slightly as he thought it over, then he said to Bo Chengyan, “I’m not mad at you anymore.”

One had to judge the situation wisely.

Qi Jing’s ear tips were red, his body temperature a little elevated, and the anklet chimed softly with every movement.

The sound was crisp.

It was beautiful.

“Then I’ll put it away.”

The young man nearly slid off the bed, but an arm lightly pinned his waist, holding him firmly in place.

Qi Jing looked over in confusion.

“Wear it for one night first.”

He had to test its effects.

Bo Chengyan clasped Qi Jing’s wrist and rubbed the pad of his thumb over it. The skin was so soft. Back when school had toughened it into calluses, Auntie had felt heartbroken and applied medicated oil to soften them.

The young man didn’t quite get it. He had a bit of a hoarding instinct—something so beautiful belonged in a box, not worn all the time.

It could get damaged.

Qi Jing said this earnestly.

But his slender leg was pulled back, making him tilt his head slightly as he immediately wrapped his arms tight around Bo Chengyan’s neck.

They faced each other in an embrace.

He was afraid of falling to the floor.

“If it breaks, I’ll just buy you a new one.”

Qi Jing tilted his head, thinking this sounded like the “rich and overbearing” type from the books.

He’d never earned any money himself.

But right now, he felt no guilt at all.

He could use it without a second thought.

Qi Jing frowned a little. He thought this change was very bad and told Bo Chengyan as much.

Shouldn’t he fix it?

“Do you feel burdened?”

Bo Chengyan’s voice was gentle and refined, his brows slightly lowered, his eyes deep and profound.

“A little bit.”

“But I really do like it. It’s beautiful.”

“Isn’t this what they mean by ‘it’s easy to go from frugality to luxury’?”

He was still a bit troubled.

Qi Jing didn’t want to become the “bad example” of mainstream values—treating luxury goods like everyday items wasn’t good.

It wasn’t even his money.

But it was so pretty.

The young man’s worries were simple and straightforward—or childish, if viewed from a god’s-eye perspective.

After all, in any society, who hadn’t agonized as a child over choices like Harvard or Yale?

Qi Jing’s life goals had shifted a little, but their core remained steady. He wanted to be a kind, ordinary person.

But a “kind ordinary person” wasn’t the same as a “kind rich person.”

The young man was conflicted because the latter seemed hypocritical at first glance.

Yes, hypocritical.

“No, you don’t need to be frugal, and there’s no transition from one state to the other.”

Bo Chengyan remained calm throughout until Qi Jing frowned and said, “No, before, back in those mountains…”

“Forget it.”

Qi Jing froze.

“There’s no need to remember those things.”

The tone carried a hint of authoritarian command, and Bo Chengyan even furrowed his brow.

Qi Jing tilted his head.

“Oh.”

He doesn’t like it when I bring up my past?

Why?

“You don’t need to feel burdened.”

Qi Jing shook his head, saying that was impossible. The young man was growing up bit by bit, his education, knowledge, and social views all updating along the way.

“A partner spends money on someone they love, but at its core, it’s a giver-receiver relationship. I don’t have the ability to earn money yet.”

“So it’s one-sided.”

The young man spoke calmly. After a moment’s thought, he added:

“But it can’t be just about money. I like you too. I’ve given you a lot of love.”

Qi Jing’s expression held a touch of confusion at this point. Midway through, he asked, “Is that emotional value?”

“Mm.”

Bo Chengyan zoned out for a moment.

In a way, raising someone was addictive. His thoughts and insights kept evolving.

From a fledgling, gradually growing its feathers.

This was the greenest, most unripe stage.

“Mm-hmm, pretty much.”

Qi Jing continued, “Money might be one-sided, but love is mutual.”

“When I earn money, I’ll buy you things too.”

The young man’s eyes sparkled, full of confidence.

It was like a child making big promises to their parents, lisping something like, “When I grow up, I’ll buy you a big mansion!”

Bo Chengyan couldn’t quite describe the feeling—like a stagnant body being infused with sweet nectar, slowly coming back to life.

His Adam’s apple bobbed.

“Good.”

The chime of bells rang out.

Mingled with the wet sounds of kisses.

Faint and indistinct.

~~~

996 was the last to realize it couldn’t enter the room. The entire system had crashed? No… this was possible?

Its bean-like eyes blinked.

It tried passing through the door.

But it bounced right back, intact. Propping itself up on tiny arms to maintain its round, plump form.

It felt increasingly frustrated.

It needed to upgrade!

996 immediately reported to the Main System, but the response it got was:

—Maintenance was scheduled and completed three months ago. Next maintenance in one year. See attached details for more…

Blah blah blah.

【…】

996 regretted eating too many snacks before, wasting its annual maintenance slot. It slumped at the door, its bean eyes full of resentment.

How did humans do it?

Sometimes even ordinary people could glimpse it.

It sighed.

It put itself into hibernation, but for some reason, the room kept emitting bell chimes now and then.

Sporadic sounds that lasted into the wee hours.

The next day.

Qi Jing was fed breakfast while being held, half-asleep as he swallowed, occasionally getting annoyed and pushing at the arm with increasing skill.

Serving someone was either zero times or countless.

Once the young man was fully awake in a daze, he noticed the things were gone from his hands, now in the tray beside him.

A breath suddenly drew near.

Qi Jing naturally leaned in for a kiss, his face innocent and earnest.

A good morning kiss.

He’d been taught yesterday.

Bo Chengyan gripped the young man’s hand, his features sharp and stern, though softened now as he said gently, “Stay home and wait for me today, okay?”

Not a second’s hesitation.

“Okay.”

“Go ahead.”

Qi Jing was still sleepy; even after washing up, he hadn’t shaken it off and instinctively tried to pull his hand free.

But it wouldn’t budge.

He looked up in confusion.

The man’s expression was complicated, but he still cupped the back of Qi Jing’s neck, forcing him to meet his gaze.

“Don’t leave this residence. The staff are here—tell them if you need anything.”

“Call me at noon.”

Qi Jing nodded.

He started to turn back to bed but was caught by the chin for another kiss.

Only then did Bo Chengyan leave.

996 lurked sneakily at the door. Seeing him go, it darted inside—only to be shoved right back out.

【…】

What the heck!

Fuming, it floated around the house, trying every method, but it still couldn’t enter, repelled within a fifty-square-meter radius.

Like an invisible boundary.

About four or five hours later.

The door opened.

Qi Jing nearly tripped over it. Looking down, he saw 996 and bent to pick it up.

His voice was hoarse.

【Why are you here?】

The blue slime said nothing, just tried heading back into the room—and got bounced again.

Its bean eyes blinked.

Qi Jing glanced into the room, then stood, cradling 996. Almost no words were needed; the young man stepped inside.

The slime in his palm was gorgeously squished aside.

The bean eyes were furious.

【Ah… I get it.】

Qi Jing’s lips were red, his face slightly uneasy. He walked back to the door and explained to 996.

The conclusion was roughly:

【He thinks you took me away, so he probably doesn’t like you much.】

【That jewelry set… I heard him say last night, it has some soul-soothing properties? Not sure.】

【But he took it off me this morning.】

The young man pursed his lips and told 996: 【Maybe… he’s accepted it somewhat?】

One person and one system stared at each other.

~~~

The upper class often placed great stock in feng shui and metaphysics—avoiding omens, divination. It was commonplace.

Bo Chengyan was well-traveled and knowledgeable, so he didn’t find it strange.

Until the moment Qi Jing was taken away—

He had indeed considered destroying that thing outright.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have called them.

The same family that had performed rituals and rites for his mother.

But matters were never simple, not something a few words could explain.

When the Temple Master mentioned “good karma,” Bo Chengyan actually paused, then asked directly:

“Doing this—will it block his good karma?”

The Temple Master waved it off. “Nah.”

“Hasn’t the kid already met you smoothly?”

It felt like sudden enlightenment.

Veins stood out on the back of his hand.

Qi Jing had no birthmark. His parents didn’t exist; there was no tracing the source.

“It was… because of it?”

The Temple Master grinned and shushed him.

Everything was left unsaid.

Unaware it had shifted from evil entity to lucky charm, 996 settled contentedly on Qi Jing’s shoulder, eyeing the food on the table with curiosity.

Egg tart.

He really wanted to eat one.

After taking a bite, Qi Jing held it up higher. 【Smell it.】

【……】

996 leaned in and took a sniff.

Propping his chin on his hand, the young man sent a message to Jiang Xiuyuan for the first time in ages to check on his situation. He felt much more at ease upon learning that the other man had opened a flower shop.

111: When are you coming back to Capital City?

Hates Broccoli: It’ll probably be a while.

111: When you get back, I’ll treat you to a meal.

Hates Broccoli: Sure, sure.

But just then, Qi Jing remembered something. He typed cautiously.

Hates Broccoli: How are things going with you and Chen Zhuo?

There was a pause of a few minutes on the other end.

111: We broke up.

Qi Jing froze for a moment. He was genuinely surprised—after all, that guy was a bit of a jerk.

But he had seemed…

It was hard to put into words.

Qi Jing didn’t know what to say. He typed and deleted, deleted and typed again. In the end, it was the other side who broke the silence.

111: Don’t worry about me. I went to the hospital for a checkup—I’m feeling much better. Go take care of your own stuff. I’ve got customers here.

It was a very polite way of wrapping things up.

Qi Jing figured it probably wasn’t really customers, but he set his phone down anyway and mulled it over. All right, then.

Chen Zhuo hadn’t struck him as a good person anyway.

But right at that moment, a servant approached with a gentle expression. “Little Jing, it’s noon.”

At first, they had addressed him as Mr., but Qi Jing had found that odd. He was still in school, after all—it didn’t quite fit.

So he’d simply offered his nickname instead.

It felt more casual that way.

“Oh, time for lunch already?”

After giving it some thought, the young man chatted idly.

Only when the servant looked at him with a troubled expression did Qi Jing remember the phone call he needed to make—