Chapter 63: Knife-Style Tenderness

Chi Zhai.

Su Xi surveyed this five-courtyard mansion; just across the alley was the Guozhang Fu that Zhou Chuchen had bestowed upon the Su family, so it was quite close.

Chi Ruiniang said, "Six years ago, my brother brought us, mother and child, to Yun Du. He said Yun Du was the most stable place, and that we could live very well here. Later, I realized he actually just wanted to be closer to you. And the Su family was the easiest place to learn news of you, so I became a helper at the Su family."

Su Xi looked at her.

Chi Ruiniang hurriedly said, "I have no ill intentions toward the Su family. Working as a helper at the Su family is the best livelihood I have had since I can remember, and I really need it."

"Mm, I heard from my brother that you are very good." Su Xi opened the System Map and saw that Chi Jue was painting in the study, and the person in the painting... was her.

【Host, he has a crush on you!】

【Don't talk nonsense!】

【Then why not paint someone else, but paint the Host? Not only a crush, but a one-sided, bitter love.】

【You... you should watch less of the Hai Hou Series.】

【It's good, I love watching it!】

Su Xi directly used Teleportation to appear outside the door of Chi Jue's study.

She knocked on the door.

Chi Jue replied without lifting his head, "Come in."

Su Xi pushed the door and entered, "What are you busy with?"

Hearing Su Xi's voice, the hand Chi Jue used to hold his brush trembled suddenly, and the red ink from the tip of the brush fell onto the earlobe of the person in the painting, as if she were wearing a ruby earring.

Realizing he was painting her, he hurriedly took a handkerchief to cover it.

"I am getting married, would you like to come and have a cup of wedding wine?" Su Xi pretended not to notice he was painting her and handed him a wedding invitation.

【Host, you are really twisting the knife in his heart!】

【Go away, what kind of way is that to talk. I am cutting the Gordian knot; I cannot respond to any of his hopes, so letting him give up early and seek other opportunities is for the best.】

【The Host is truly a 'knife-style' tenderness.】

【……】

Chi Jue took the wedding invitation, "I will definitely go."

【Host, when the System Map was opened just now, Er Miao discovered Xue Fuyi; she is celebrating Lady Xue's birthday. Lady Xue should be dying soon.】

【She certainly has filial piety... no, wait, as a cultivator at the Nascent Soul Stage, it should be very simple for her to extend her mother's life by a few years.】 She thought to herself and chuckled softly, 【She is truly focused on cultivation; once Lady Xue dies, her karma in the mortal world will be severed.】

Su Xi looked into Chi Jue's eyes, "Xue Fuyi is in Yun Du; perhaps you should return to Mo Yu first. Don't get caught by her; she is now at the Nascent Soul Great Perfection."

Chi Jue's features gradually changed, finally becoming very ordinary, and the color of his pupils also turned gray-brown, "I learned a technique for disguise; I can also change my aura."

【Can you tell?】 Su Xi asked Er Miao.

Er Miao replied: 【I can.】

Su Xi looked at Chi Jue's face, "If something happens, you can call me using a sound transmission talisman."

Just as she was speaking, a sound transmission talisman flew toward Su Xi.

Su Xi opened it—【Xi-niuer, come back for lunch.】

Su Xi's expression instantly stiffened, "It's truly outrageous, is that a name he is allowed to call me?"

Chi Jue laughed, "Is that your nickname?"

"Mm, my parents call me that." Su Xi put away the sound transmission talisman, "Let me treat you to a meal, palace delicacies."

"……If it's not too much trouble."

"Of course it's not, let's go."

Chi Jue followed Su Xi to the Huang Gong.

Once they arrived at the Huang Gong, Chi Jue changed back to his own appearance. It truly caused many palace attendants to blush and steal glances.

When Zhou Chuchen saw Su Xi, he was very delighted; it was truly as Er Miao said, a day apart is like three autumns.

But upon seeing Chi Jue following behind Su Xi, his male instinct for defense made him immediately pull Su Xi behind him, asserting ownership.

Chi Jue was not surprised by his actions; if it were him, his reaction would only be greater. He bowed and saluted, "Commoner Chi Jue, pays respects to Your Majesty, long live."

Su Xi said to Zhou Chuchen, "He is a merchant who travels between Yun Du and Mo Yu, known as Shopkeeper Bai. He is a disciple of the great merchant Yue Hua."

Zhou Chuchen surveyed Chi Jue again, "Xi-niuer, how do you two know each other?"

Hearing him call her by this nickname, Su Xi was caught between laughter and tears, "It feels so awkward, call me by my name."

"No, it's not intimate enough. You haven't answered my question yet." Zhou Chuchen's guard had not diminished in the slightest, and even a hint of obvious hostility had emerged.

Chi Jue said, "My life was saved by the Empress."

The Empress... this title caused Zhou Chuchen's expression to instantly turn from cloudy to clear, "Young Master Chi hasn't eaten yet, right? Just in time to taste the craftsmanship of the imperial chefs in my palace."

"Many thanks, Your Majesty." Chi Jue looked at Su Xi.

Su Xi invited him to take a seat, "No need to be so formal, just treat it like eating at your own home."

Chi Jue smiled and took his seat as Su Xi indicated.

Su Xi sat opposite him, and Zhou Chuchen was naturally the host.

The palace attendants began to serve the meal.

Su Xi said to Zhou Chuchen, "You are not allowed to call me Xi-niuer again; that is what my parents call me."

"I think it is excellent," Zhou Chuchen insisted.

Su Xi glared at him, "Call me by my name—Su, Xi."

"Xi-niuer."

"Zhou Chuchen!"

"Xi-niuer, I want to eat that lotus root stir-fry by your side."

"……" Su Xi helplessly pushed the plate over.

Then she chose a plate of osmanthus shark fin that she ate quite well for Chi Jue, "You try this, I quite like eating it."

"I can do it myself." Chi Jue tasted a bite and praised, "It is indeed delicious."

"Xi-niur, I think your chopsticks are easy to use."

"……Here, take them, take them."

"Xi-niur, help me pick out the fish bones."

"……Picked, they're picked."

"Xi-niur……"

……

Over the course of one meal, Su Xi had forced herself to get used to hearing the name Xi-niur.

Although Chi Jue ate quite a bit, he simply couldn't taste the various flavors, knowing only that in the end, his mouth was filled with bitterness and sourness.

Su Xi saw Chi Jue out of the palace, "You had better change back into your previous disguise; I will feel more at ease."

"Are you worried about me?" Chi Jue's eyes suddenly brightened, striking and intense.

Su Xi nodded, "Of course."

Chi Jue beamed, "In that case, I will always be in that appearance from now on."

As he spoke, he disguised his appearance and climbed into the carriage, feeling incomparably joyful.

Su Xi waved her hand, "If you want to find me, just send a sound transmission talisman. As long as I am free, having a meal or tea together is no problem."

"Mm!" Chi Jue drove the carriage away.

But he hadn't gone far before he jumped off the carriage and turned back.

Su Xi was just about to return to the palace, and seeing this, she stopped again, "What is it?"

"This is my sound transmission talisman; if you don't mind, you can find me at any time." Chi Jue handed an exquisite box to Su Xi.

Su Xi took it and smiled gladly, "Of course I don't mind."

Chi Jue paused, "Then I will head back now."

Su Xi nodded, watching Chi Jue's carriage gradually move into the distance.

"They're already out of sight, and you're still looking!"

Zhou Chuchen appeared via Teleportation, his mouth full of sour jealousy.