Chapter 124: 124

124 "Third Brother, did you really get into this university on your own?"

In the mall restaurant.

Xie Jingting crossed his arms, looking at Tushan Jiu and Fang Qingyi sitting opposite, with a stern expression.

But the two of them paid no attention to his gaze, discussing what to order back and forth.

Xie Jingting: "......" He felt ignored.

So he spoke up first to bring up the topic: "Come on, when did you two 'secretly cross Chencang'?"

Tushan Jiu glanced at him and said, "Third Brother, did you really get into this university on your own?"

Fang Qingyi immediately added, "Are you sure you're using the phrase 'secretly cross Chencang' correctly?"

After saying that, the two simultaneously lowered their heads and continued looking at the menu.

Xie Jingting: "......"

"Sister-in-law, this place's tomato cheese baked rice is also delicious, want to try it?"

"Sure, sure, order one."

Tushan Jiu pointed at another dish on the menu and said, "I think this one should also be tasty, let's get one of this too."

Xie Jingting felt he couldn't get a word in, but what if he tried to force his way in?

One girlfriend, one sister-in-law, they're getting along fine without him!

But he's going to join them.

Noticing Tushan Jiu's hand pointing at the menu, now wearing a bracelet on her wrist, he asked, "Sister-in-law, that bracelet looks nice."

Tushan Jiu looked up at him, thought for a moment, and earnestly said, "Believe me, you don't want to know."

Xie Jingting: "why?"

Seeing his clueless look, Tushan Jiu and Fang Qingyi exchanged a smile.

For some reason, when they smiled like that, he inexplicably understood.

Now it's fine, he directly got hands-on with the wronged one.

He stood up, took the menu from Fang Qingyi's hand, then grabbed both of her hands and pressed them onto the table, saying, "Fang Qingyi, I'm jealous."

Fang Qingyi found herself laughing and crying at his words, a blush rising on her face; she tried to pull her hand away, but Xie Jingting wouldn't let her.

She coyly whispered, "Let go, sister-in-law is still here! I also bought you a gift, planning to give it to you tonight—who knew I'd run into you at noon."

Hearing that, Xie Jingting finally felt satisfied.

Of course he didn't care about the gift; even if she gave him a slip of paper, he'd think it fragrant.

This is the power of love.

How arduous his secret crush had been, the more he cherished it now that his wish had been fulfilled.

Tushan Jiu watched their interaction, the corners of her mouth turned up high and didn't come down.

Xie Jingting asked how they had met.

Fang Qingyi no longer hid anything, recounting from her first meeting with Tushan Jiu up to what happened today at the funeral shop, including her 'secrets'.

As she spoke, her tone was light, as if she were explaining someone else's past.

But a shadow fell over Xie Jingting's head; he clenched his back teeth, unconsciously tightening his grip on Fang Qingyi's hand, his heart feeling like it was being pricked by needles.

It turned out that all these years, she had been avoiding him because of her family's affairs!

Moreover, her relatives were truly despicable, bullying a young girl like her.

But he also blamed himself—what was a grown man being sensitive for? Those people had come after her several times, yet he hadn't reacted, failing to send someone to investigate.

Back then, all he did was obsess over how it was disrespectful to her, like a clueless youth, a good-for-nothing, leaving her to bear it alone for so long.

Fortunately she was unharmed; if something had really happened to her, he dreaded to think what reckless thing he might do.

Xie Jingting looked at Fang Qingyi; now she could laugh while telling those distressing matters, but back then?

When she faced those people alone, was she terrified inside?

At this moment, Xie Jingting was caught in a feeling of self-reproach and regret; afraid of hurting her, he restrained himself and pulled back his hand, then clenched it under the table, making a creaking sound.

But the more he restrained himself, the more the fear of losing her surged into his mind.

Finally, he couldn't stand it any longer, stood up, and said to Tushan Jiu, "Sister-in-law, I'm taking Qingyi out for a bit; you go ahead and eat."

Tushan Jiu raised an eyebrow, nodded, and said, "Go ahead, you two really need to talk."

Feelings require honesty and openness.

Previously, Fang Qingyi kept retreating because of family matters, ultimately becoming a small knot in their hearts.

Only by untying it could they deepen their feelings.

Xie Jingting isn't a timid person; the reason he didn't dare hold Fang Qingyi's hand the last time she and Xie Shiyu saw them on a date wasn't shyness but excessive caution.

He feared that if he acted rashly, she would retreat again or reject him.

So he didn't dare.

Now Fang Qingyi can speak of it lightly, showing she has taken that step; thus this is the best time for them to talk, and their feelings can grow deeper.

The two left, and the waiter served the dishes.

Tushan Jiu didn't wait for them; who knows if they'd come back.

As expected.

After she had just started eating, she received a call from Xie Jingting saying he had taken Fang Qingyi back first, letting her eat slowly on her own, and that he had already finished shopping.

Tushan Jiu replied with an okay.

After finishing her meal, Tushan Jiu wasn't in a hurry to leave; she sat there in a daze for a while.

Speaking of which, the efficiency of the Underworld's Yang-world office is top-notch.

Although she had only told Lin Xiu'er the day before yesterday, this incense factory has likely been producing low-quality incense for a long time.

They should have already received similar complaints by now.

How could they still not have finished handling it?

Tushan Jiu took out three coins from her bag, tossed them a few times, and got the result.

She narrowed her eyes; the owner of that incense factory doesn't look like a good sort.

He actually kept so many little ghosts fed.

No wonder no ghost dares to cause trouble at his place.

Who would dare go there if they never come back?

I guess the person in charge of handling this complaint at the office must be feeling overwhelmed.

That thing isn't a native ghost, and what's more, that person has kept three types of little ghosts.

That's pretty thorough.

The wealth‑bringing type can bring him fortune, making his business thrive.

The protective type can safeguard his safety, giving him a warning before danger strikes.

The last type is offensive; no matter what kind of occult practitioner shows up, they'll have to expend some effort.

Although the office staff aren't weak, it will probably take some time.

I had originally wanted to calculate further down.

But when she tossed the coins again, the omen showed chaos, not a proper hexagram.

What does that mean?

Will this incident later involve her a bit?

Otherwise, how could she later be unable to calculate anything?

Tushan Jiu took out a lollipop, unwrapped it, and put it in her mouth.

Since she can't figure it out, she might as well not bother and just go with the flow.

She gathered up the coins on the table.

As for that Boss Zhang at the funeral shop, he's gotten what he deserved, so naturally he now knows fear.

What Tushan Jiu finds laughable is that Boss Zhang himself runs a yin‑yang trade, yet he dares to disrespect ghosts and gods?

Do you really think ghosts are easy to fool?