Chapter 32.1

“Is this really that string of data?”

　　Jing Xi toyed with the idea of playing deaf, but a sudden realization beckoned him toward a different choice. After all, dodging the situation now only meant he would have to face it later, and the curiosity tugging at his heart was not helping either.

　　In a moment of adorable bewilderment, his face mirrored the innocence of a curious rabbit. “Did you call for me, CEO Duan?” he questioned, casting a quick glance toward the view beyond the open balcony.

　　A botanical garden awaited just below, a miniature jungle of bamboo-like wonders reaching for the sky. These resilient shoots had woven a tapestry of nature, inviting anyone willing to be captivated by the spectacle.

　　Feeling a tad out of place, he noticed Duan Chi’s inviting gesture toward the empty chair. “Sit.”

　　Within the confines of the small balcony, two vibrant pots shared space with a charming table and chairs. 

　　As the glass door clicked into place, this petite space morphed into the perfect haven for chats and blissful moments of solitude.

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　　Zlv, Kkdt Dk pvsse vblal xsvksdzlpp. “Rp vblal psxlvbkdt R nyd blzr usw okvb?”
　　Rdpvlye, Pwyd Ubk kdpvawnvle, “Myjl y plyv qkapv.”
　　Ekvb y rszkvl elnzkdl, Kkdt Dk lmrzykdle, “Rv’p yzaktbv. R’x dsv ckt sd xkdtzkdt okvb pvaydtlap. Rq vblal’p dsvbkdt lzpl, R’zz vyjl xu zlyhl.”
　　Pwyd Ubk rascle, “Ps usw jdso Zk Hbsw?”
　　Kkdt Dk ydpolale, “Xq nswapl, R es. Rpd’v bl uswa ‘ralelpvkdle’ sdl? Ohlausdl kd vbl Gpvayz Slyzx jdsop vbyv.”
　　Pwyd Ubk ralpple qwavbla, “Tyhl usw bye ydu kdvlaynvksdp okvb bkx?”

　　G xsxldvyau rywpl bwdt kd vbl yka yp Kkdt Dk nszzlnvle bkp vbswtbvp.

　　Tlal sd vbkp zlhlz, vbl prynlnayqv oyp elnjle swv okvb y nypkds. Tsolhla, vbl aycckv oyp yp rssa yp y nbwanb xswpl, okvb dsv y rlddu vs bkp dyxl. Bdelvlaale, bl bye Fupvlx vaydpqla psxl qwdep qasx bkp ralhkswp ynnswdv.

　　Rd vbl alnlpplp sq bkp xkde, bl osdelale, “Uswze bl byhl vaynle vbyv vaydpqla?”

　　Fupvlx fszvle kdvs ynvksd, aynkdt ytykdpv vkxl vs elzkhla kvp hlaeknv, “Ls, cwv bl eke pdssr yaswde qsa elvykzp ycswv uswa nwaaldv cseu.”

　　Kkdt Dk zlv swv y pswde sq ynjdsozletxldv.

　　Fwal, vbkp Gavkqknkyz Fvwrkekvu xktbv pzkr wr snnypksdyzzu, cwv obld kv nyxl vs rwal vlnbdknyz rasolpp, kv oyp vbl vawpvu yppkpvydv vbyv dlhla qykzle vs kxralpp.

　　Tl alrzkle nyzxzu, “Ls.”

　　Duan Chi prodded, “Why the hesitation?”

　　Jing Xi responded, “I was deciphering the meaning behind your words.”
　　Yet, Duan Chi did not pursue the matter any further. “Do you think he’s good-looking?”
　　Jing Xi eagerly chimed in, “Yes, he certainly is!”
　　With a raised eyebrow, Duan Chi continued, “Are we a good match?”
　　Without a second thought, Jing Xi declared, “A perfect match!”
　　Humor curled at the corner of Duan Chi’s lips. “How perfect do you think we are together?”
　　Jing Xi could not help but be amused at the thought of this individual becoming rather shameless. As such, he put on a mask of innocence and admitted, “I’m not exactly eloquent enough to answer that.”

　　Duan Chi raised the glass of fruit juice to his lips and took a sip before setting it back on the table.

　　His arms casually lounged on the chair’s armrest, hands gently intertwined, and his body eased back ever so leisurely. The once assertive aura softened into an unmistakable air of ease, transforming him from a figure of authority to a picture of tranquility in mere moments.

　　Having shared more than six months of acquaintance, their familiarity had deepened considerably. As soon as Jing Xi caught sight of his demeanor, it was evident that Duan Chi had unequivocally affirmed his identity, causing an involuntary silence to descend upon him.

　　For some unknown reason, this CEO was able to draw a conclusion from merely observing him from a distance, watching him enjoy the scene, listening to him argue with a few people, and exchanging a few words on the balcony. Pray tell, who among ordinary folks would even dare to think in such a manner?

　　As a matter of fact, Duan Chi had also found this whole situation utterly absurd.

　　Much like Yi Zhou, the data suggested that the rabbit’s usual temperament had undergone a peculiar change. The sheer impossibility of this happening twice made it just too uncanny to ignore.

　　What mattered most was that he was unable to convince himself against his intuition. It was similar to their first meeting at the police station. With just a single glance, he was able to recognize the other person. 

　　Staying on track with the topic, he proposed, “No worries, I’ll teach you.”

　　As he said so, he swiftly pulled out his phone and dove into a flurry of searches. “Come here and read this.”

　　Upon hearing that, Jing Xi blinked his eyes momentarily. “But this seems to be unrelated to me, right? If you require a reader, it might be better to seek someone else for the task.”

　　“How is it unrelated?” Duan Chi recited the very words he had uttered to Hu Xiao, offhandedly spinning a tapestry of made-up anecdotes. “To sum it up, I’m practically your distant cousin. And hey, isn’t it what cousins are for? To share comforting words when things get tough?”

　　Jing Xi bit his tongue for a moment before blurting out, “I don’t believe you!”
　　Duan Chi reassured, “It’s true. I’ve checked our family tree.”
　　Jing Xi countered, “I’m referring to our relationship, not the family tree.”

　　He made his way over and took a seat before opening a document to draw.

　　In the realm of the beast tribe, family ties wound and twisted like a tangled web — a mystery that was deciphered best by the human mind. For these beastmen, they were all about the clan, leaving little room for the recognition of distant kin beyond direct blood relations.

　　“Look, your great-great-grandmother’s son-in-law was of the same generation as your great-grandmother. As for his nephew, he was also in the same generation as your grandmother,” Jing Xi elucidated while illustrating the family tree. He then raised his gaze and inquired, “Does this point make sense to you?”

　　In a hushed exchange of glances, Duan Chi and Jing Xi shared a silent understanding. 

　　Without uttering a word, Jing Xi assumed that Duan Chi ought to get it and resumed sketching the lines.

　　As they reached the end, he was unable to stifle his amazement. “What a small world, innit? That’s why you should address me as Uncle. Since I’m the second in line in the family tree, you can just call me Second Uncle.”

　　Despite that, Duan Chi merely brushed off the issue with a casual “Oh, Second Uncle.”

　　A satisfied grin crept across Jing Xi’s face. “Good boy.”

　　As System keenly observed the unfolding events, impatience started creeping in. ‘It was evident that they were engaged in a subtle game of testing each other, but how in the world did they even end up wandering into this bizarre territory?’

　　On that note, it came to realize that things would always take an odd turn whenever these two crossed paths. Suppressing the urge to gripe about it, System decided to play it cool. After all, fostering a family connection trumped Duan Chi’s relentless interrogation of Jing Xi’s identity.

　　And so, the newly recognized uncle and nephew duo found themselves caught in a “gloomy” vibe once more.

　　Jing Xi reckoned that a bit of fun would lighten the mood, but Duan Chi had different plans entirely — He just wanted Second Uncle to praise how well he and Yi Zhou looked together. With a patient nod, Jing Xi disregarded the heap of flattery he craved and complimented, “You two are like… a broken iron pot and a plastic lid.”

　　In a split second, his words left Duan Chi at a loss for words.

　　Jing Xi continued, “An old boat ticket and a small dilapidated boat; A three-legged toad encountering a five-legged frog; A mouthless bee landing on a pistil-less flower; A jubilant dung beetle rolling its prized possession…”

　　Sensing that he had gone too far with his words, he halted mid-sentence.

　　Just then, Duan Chi could no longer stand it and interjected, “That’ll do, My Darling.”

　　Jing Xi chided, “Show some respect and call me Second Uncle.”

　　Unfazed by the correction, Duan Chi silently observed him and queried, “Did it hurt?”

　　Despite the incoherence of the question, Jing Xi could still skillfully decipher its underlying meaning — Did it hurt when his soul was switched to a new body during the soul refraction? 

　　He lapsed into silence for a couple of seconds before reining in on his mischievousness. “Why?”

　　Despite the similar incoherence of the question, Duan Chi could also skillfully decipher the underlying  meaning.

　　Initially, he braced himself for a challenge, yet he was pleasantly surprised by his darling’s candor this time. “I can’t quite explain it, but I just knew it was you at first glance.”

　　A profound silence settled over Jing Xi anew.

　　Under Duan Chi’s intense gaze, unease pricked at him. It was not just about the fear of his identity being unveiled, but rather, it was an enigma that had plagued his thoughts ever since he departed from Howe.

　　That night, Duan Chi cradled him in his arms until dawn.

　　Having undertaken innumerable perilous tasks, heightened vigilance had long since become second nature to him. Yet, the embrace that enveloped him without even stirring his sleep could only be attributed to two possibilities: either Duan Chi had drugged him without System’s detection, or his unguarded subconscious revealed a truth he was unwilling to acknowledge.

　　If he were to piece that together with the scant memories he managed to recover, Department Head’s bizarre insistence on sending him out on missions, and the established facts like his presence at the Transmigration Department during the incident…