Chapter 26

“Duan Chi has actually wound up with an insane drama queen!”

Trigger Warning: This chapter mentions suicidal thoughts. Please read with care.

　　His furry ears exuded a cozy warmth beneath his fingertips.

　　Without a moment’s hesitation, Jing Xi surrendered to temptation as his fingers danced over them with a tender caress.

　　When he was at the Administration Bureau, a pang of regret swept over him for missing out on the chance to run his fingers through Duan Chi’s soft fur. However, just as disappointment threatened to take hold, a tantalizing thought took root in his mind — What if that trio devised more shrewd schemes to send him packing for good? If he had no chance of returning, caressing his fur would then become a distant dream.

　　Consequently, a surge of newfound confidence coursed through him, prompting him to stroke Duan Chi’s ears several more times.

　　Duan Chi’s laughter tinkled like a soft bell on the balcony as he smoothly drew out a chair. After seating himself comfortably, he positioned himself perfectly for Jing Xi to caress his ears.

　　Jing Xi’s morbid tastes had always been unconventional, but given the unique nature of their relationship, he managed to exercise restraint. Taking a momentary pause, he adeptly assessed the present circumstances.

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　　On the other hand, the AI had a bone to pick with him and decided to voice its dissent. 

　　To prevent the vibrant garden that Jing Xi had poured his heart into from withering during his extended absence, he granted Duan Chi access to the garden.

　　When Duan Chi swung by earlier, he instructed the AI to be silent. But as he departed silently this time, the AI could not refrain from blurting out, “You cannot just vault over the wall. That is far too dangerous!”

　　From across the divide, Duan Chi’s voice chimed in, “Add ‘Vault Over Wall’ into ‘Normal Behavior.’”

　　Caught in uncertainty, the AI turned to its master for instructions.

　　Jing Xi quipped, “Go ahead and add some clapping sounds while you’re at it.”

　　Upon hearing that, Duan Chi broke into gales of laughter. Stepping out from the fence barrier, he glanced back and noted, “Head on in and get some rest.”

　　Emitting an unhurried sound of acknowledgment, Jing Xi’s gaze followed the other man’s receding figure from behind. Only after he entered his own abode did Jing Xi cooperatively return to his dwelling.

　　At this juncture, System was unable to contain his curiosity any longer. “What do you think of CEO Duan?”

　　Jing Xi did not rush an answer, but instead, he took a moment to ponder. “Not too shabby.”

　　Despite his incredible superiority, the CEO wielded his power with finesse and moderation without imposing undue pressure on others.

　　After all, the pivotal factor resided in his temperament; had their fates not been intertwined by blood, they could have easily been the closest of pals.

　　On this note, System reckoned that these three words were signs of a blossoming relationship and remarked, “Of course, he is! Look at how a top-tier CEO, like him, would go out of his way to let you caress his ears in the middle of the night. Don’t you think that is someone worth considering? Since you have remained single for so long, do you not have an urge to fall in love?”

　　With a turn, Jing Xi splayed out onto the bed with a thump. “You know, there’s a whole world of things waiting for me to dive into. But seriously, where am I supposed to find the time for all that?”

　　The sun peeked through the curtains the following day, finding Jing Xi surprisingly cooperative as he underwent the medical exams. Upon receiving the feedback that there was no issue with his body, he made his way back to the campus, and his mind was already brewing mischief. While playing matchmaker was all well and good, there was nothing he loved more than this sort of delightful mischief.

　　Just then, System reported, “As fugitives, they have entrenched themselves on the exiled star to evade capture for years. As a matter of fact, Duan Chi has long since been hot on their trail and harbored suspicions about their hideout. But for some unknown reason, they were able to remain elusive.”

　　Jing Xi puzzled, “Given their years in hiding, how did they even conceive the idea of kidnapping Jin Yumeng in the original plot?”

　　“Just as the male lead’s identity as Duan Chi’s nephew and Jin Yumeng being his ‘predestined’ one were revealed one after another, the exiled star was caught in a whirlwind of power struggles. Amid the chaos, the very organization they holed up in had disbanded,” System recounted, “In tandem, the hidden forces Duan Chi nurtured over the years surged to prominence. Hunted and haunted by bounties, they found themselves driven to a corner.”

　　Jing Xi wondered, “Oh… Then, can you track them down?”
　　System answered, “I can, but it would not be easy.”
　　Jing Xi puzzled, “How so?”
　　System elucidated, “That is because they do not use the internet often. Can you believe it? Even in this day and age, they are still steering clear of smartphones with internet connections.”

　　However, such phenomena were a norm on the exiled star. Each inhabitant carried a pocketful of secrets, having fled here from distant corners of the universe. Here, even the quirkiest of behaviors raised no eyebrows. Adding to this, the planet was compounded by underdeveloped infrastructure, and its CCTV coverage was scant. As such, tracking the fugitives through them proved to be a challenging endeavor.

　　It continued, “They were once notable figures, but who knows what went through their minds when they decided to provoke Duan Chi? Only after witnessing their comrades being methodically incarcerated or eradicated by Duan Chi did it finally strike fear into them.”

　　Since then, their ensuing lifestyle became one of extreme caution, encompassing not only cosmetic surgeries and frequent name changes but also perpetually staying on the move.

　　Across the sprawling realm on the exiled star, their strategies worked like a charm, shrouding them in secrecy till this very moment.

　　System added, “Considering their status as the final boss and their current dire circumstances, their thirst for revenge against the Duan family remained resolute as they bid for their time until they had an opportunity to strike. As per the original storyline, the organization’s disbandment paved the way for a calculated recruitment drive, ultimately leading to the successful capture of Jin Yumeng.”

　　“Bears a grudge, huh…? Well, that makes it simple then,” Jing Xi smirked, “Since it’s a challenge to track them down, wouldn’t it be effortless for us to get them to seek me out instead?”

　　Before his voice had completely faded away, a light-bulb moment came to System. “You are thinking of becoming the bait?”
　　At Jing Xi’s affirming nod, System refuted, “Duan Chi will never agree to this.”
　　Jing Xi disagreed, “Oh, believe me, he will.”

　　As he said so, he invited Duan Chi to join him for dinner that very evening.

　　Duan Chi’s eyes sparkled with anticipation, as he could not possibly decline such an offer. Anticipating the evening ahead, he personally informed the head chef to whip up an extravagant spread of his all-time favorites. As the sun began its descent and cast a warm amber hue across the cityscape, Duan Chi knocked off work punctually. Upon returning home, he found himself face-to-face with Jing Xi at his doorstep.

　　Stepping inside, Jing Xi questioned, “Remember that hacker friend of mine?”

　　With a knowing look, Duan Chi shifted his gaze toward him, recognizing that today’s conversation would revolve around this cipher. With a thoughtful pause, he let out a contemplative “Hmm.”

　　Jing Xi began, “Remember those two enemies you mentioned? The ones skulking in the shadows? Well, I couldn’t resist digging deeper, so I had a friend do some snooping. Turns out, they may be on the exiled star.”
　　Duan Chi inquired, “Were you able to determine their whereabouts?”
　　Jing Xi responded, “It’s quite difficult.”

　　Yet, Duan Chi was unfazed by what Jing Xi had said. Instead, he was eager to hear his words to the end.

　　“You must understand that our relationship has gained significant recognition across the entire Astral Realm, so there’s no doubt they are also informed. For them to have unrestricted freedom out there unsettles me, so an idea has crossed my mind.” Jingxi reassured, “Don’t worry, zero danger is involved.”

　　Duan Chi abruptly ceased his stride and fixed his gaze upon Jing Xi.

　　Meeting his eyes in midair, a playful smile graced Jing Xi’s lips as he arched an eyebrow.

　　A shared moment passed between them before Duan Chi’s amusement bubbled into a deep chuckle, “Very well, go ahead and give it a shot.”

　　“…” The flabbergasted System could not refrain from exclaiming inwardly, ‘Wait a minute, did you both say something? Why can I not hear it!?’

　　After a pregnant pause, it noticed no sign of their conversation taking place. As such, System’s curiosity got the better of it, and it blurted out, “Alright, what is it that you are trying to accomplish?”

　　Jing Xi inquired, “Have you seen the comments they left on my social media account?”
　　After taking a gander, System rebutted, “Seems like a bunch of curious bystanders, so what is the fuss?”
　　Jing Xi hinted, “Exactly, and that’s just what I needed!”

　　After savoring a delightful meal, he strolled back home as the sun dipped below the horizon. With a contented sigh, he sprawled onto his bed and posted something on his social media account.

　　[Geez, the lucky one is brought up every single day. Seriously, is there ever going to be a stop to this? I will only be with whomever I please, so if he thinks he can just tie himself to me without my say, what reason does he have to demand my affection in return? With everyone falling over themselves for him, maybe I should just gift him to you! ]

　　Even after his identity came to light, he remained tight-lipped and avoided interviews. But lo and behold, the moment arrived when he decided to break his silence, causing his post to top Weibo’s list of trending searches.

　　Observing their demeanors, the bystanders conjectured that these two individuals might still need to resolve some lingering issues.

　　Jing Xi’s appetite for satisfaction could not be contained with a single post, so he went ahead and posted yet another.
　　[Could I kindly request that we all avoid engaging in unnecessary drama? As someone who appreciates the finer things in life, there appears to be no justification for any distress or vexation, and certainly no need for CEO Duan to intercede. After all, I currently reside within a luxurious mansion, drive extravagant automobiles, and satisfy my whims to go on a shopping spree whenever I’m bored — there’s hardly a reason for anyone to sympathize, wouldn’t you agree?]

　　Upon reading his post, the bystanders suddenly found their eyes welling up with tears. One after another, they began posting comments, such as “My heart goes out to him.”

　　Just moments later, a series of ding-dong notifications alerted him to consoling messages from the main leads, as if they had planned it beforehand.

　　At this juncture, the thought of cotton-padded jackets¹ 小棉袄: This metaphor refers to considerate and heartwarming daughters who have close relationship with their parents, as they are often compared to a “cotton-padded jacket in winter” for their parents. crossed Jing Xi’s mind. In response, he simply suggested for them to retire early for the night.

　　[Duan Xiuwen: Trust me, my uncle has never regarded you as the lucky one, and he really isn’t overly fixated on your blood.]
　　[Jing Xi: Just head to bed.]
　　[Duan Xiuwen: But it’s only 8.]
　　[Jing Xi: Hmm?]

　　Following that, Duan Xiuwen refrained from sending further messages.

　　As such, Jing Xi swiftly closed the messenger with a tap and gave System the task of monitoring the duo’s every move. Furthermore, he ordered it to keep a close watch on their social media accounts as soon as they logged on. 

　　System puzzled, “Will they contact you?”
　　Jing Xi answered, “Absolutely.”

　　With their hearts set on vengeance against Duan Chi, any whisper of news about him would undoubtedly snag their interest effortlessly.

　　And as for CEO Duan? With how he had become the town’s hottest gossip, there was no doubt that this matter would inevitably catch their ears.

　　Sure enough, it took them merely a day to send Jing Xi a private message.

　　The message entailed an individual being pursued by a renowned male celebrity. The world seemed unanimous in pushing him to say yes as it was an offer too good to refuse. But deep within him, a fire should have sparked, yet it did not. Instead, it triggered a whirlwind of inner conflict that raged for weeks. As such, he could completely understand what the blogger was going through right now.

　　With that, Jing Xi commenced his first step, “Unique.”
　　[*Sobs* You are the first to reach out with such comforting words in so many days. Thank you!]

　　Without wasting a moment, they sent a swift reply and plunged into a lively conversation with him.

　　Noticing that his first step was almost completed, Jing Xi dove into his second step, “Secret.”

　　[You won’t believe this, but I’m anything but a dandy, especially when I take feelings seriously. As for those words, it was partly my frustration talking and partly a ploy to deflate Duan Chi’s hopes. Here’s the kicker: you’re the only one in on this secret, so please keep this between us.]

　　Without a moment’s delay, they replied to Jing Xi’s message. [Sure.]

　　Since these two were sly old foxes, it took them no time to size up the situation and reach a conclusion after a brief tete-a-tete.

　　Being the first to offer comfort, they were able to effortlessly unlock his trust and foster an instant connection. To sum him up in a single word — Gullible. 

　　With that in mind, their enthusiasm ignited instantly, and both parties gradually delved into the world of online chatting.

　　On that matter, Jing Xi’s twisted sense of humor soon reared its ugly head. Counting on their unyielding need of him, he gleefully cranked up the dial on being unabashedly himself, quirks and all.

　　[I’ve really reached a breaking point. I just wanna die!]
　　[ [Image] I’ve got this knife in my hand, and I’m thinking of cutting my wrists. I want to search for a breathtaking seascape and share a picture of it with Duan Chi before taking a plunge into the sea. When all is said and done, he would never be able to find a trace of me anywhere! That way, he’ll know the consequences of driving me into a corner.]
　　[Jeez, this world is simply far too filthy for my liking.]

　　Elsewhere, the duo cracked a beer at the sight of Jing Xi’s messages. ‘It’s absolutely fab to see Duan Chi has actually wound up with an insane drama queen!’

　　After a brief celebration, they turned their attention to the screen.
　　“How do we even persuade him?”
　　“Basically, we have to agree with him and let him know we’re on his side before offering guidance from there. Think you’re up for that?”
　　“Do I strike you as someone up for the task?”

　　Their eyes met in midair as they collectively sunk into silence. ‘Darn it! It’s great that he’s a drama queen, but we’ve gotta deal with him first!’