Ch15 - Suspicion

After running two red lights in a row, they finally arrived Dixin community. Xie Yan unfastened his seat belt and looked at the similarly drenched Ji Qinghuai beside him. “If you don’t mind, come to my house to change your clothes.”

Ji Qinghuai originally planned to leave as soon as possible but didn’t expect Xie Yan to ask him that. Ji Qinghuai thought for a while and asked, “Is it convenient?”

“Convenient.”

“Then, I’ll have to bother you.” He pulled over and got out of the car with him.

He had already memorized Xie Yan’s address so there was no need for him to lead the way. However, he was afraid of arousing his suspicion so he let him lead the way up. However, Xie Yan had already seen through him but he accompanied Ji Qinghuai in his act and brought him home.

It has been nearly twenty days since Ji Qinghuai left Xie Yan’s house. When he returned to this familiar place again, Ji Qinghuai suddenly felt a little emotional. He suddenly sighed, as if he had seen little kitten Ji jumping up and down here.

Ji Qinghuai took off his wet shoes and asked deliberately, “Does Mr Xie live alone?”

“Yes,” he answered. “It’s quiet when you live alone.”

He put on his slippers and said, “Go take a shower first, I’ll get you a towel.”

Ji Qinghuai hurriedly refused, “Mr Xie, you’d better take a shower first.”

Looking at Xie Yan’s thin figure, Ji Qinghuai felt that his physique and resistance was weak and feared that he would get sick.

When Xie Yan was about to refute, Ji Qinghuai smiled and said, “Don’t just stand there, go shower now.”

His expression and tone were somewhat pampering. Xie Yan was a little stunned and suddenly felt a little uncomfortable. He took the clothes and went into the bathroom.

Ji Qinghuai’s clothes were all wet, so he could do nothing but wait. After a while, the door of the bathroom was opened and Xie Yan came out dressed neatly.

Ji Qinghuai: “!”

So fast!

Xie Yan wiped his hair with a towel and said to Ji Qinghuai, “The clothes and towels are inside.”

“Thank you, Mr Xie.” After saying that, he walked into the bathroom and closed the door. He could finally take off the wet and tacky clothes that clung to him.

A set of neatly folded clothes was placed on the shelf along with a dry towel next to it. He also noticed that there was no fragrance of the grapefruit shower gel in the bathroom, there was only the smell of the shampoo. It should be because it took too much time to wash the body.

Ji Qinghuai couldn’t help raising the corner of his mouth.  Xie Yan always appeared cold and distant but in fact, he was very attentive.

Ji Qinghuai took a quick shower and changed into clean clothes, feeling refreshed. His short hair didn’t need a hairdryer so he just casually wiped it with a towel.

Ji Qinghuai walked out of the bathroom and saw Xie Yan coming out with two plates of fruit. Peaches and watermelon were currently in season so Xie Yan had cut a plate of each.

In Ji Qinghuai’s opinion, Xie Yan was truly exquisite from the inside out. Although he lived alone, his house was clean and tidy every day. He was meticulous in whatever he did and always cooked nutritious meals. He would carefully arrange a plate of fruit before eating and he could act elegantly no matter the circumstance. Ji Qinghuai didn’t have the patience to even do half of what he could do.

Ji Qinghuai suddenly understood why his father always disliked him so much.

Ji Xianzhi’s style of doing things was somewhat similar to that of Xie Yan and the Qin Lang he taught was also very calm and low-key. Looking at him, he formed the biggest contrast. Except for their blood relationship and appearance, there seemed to be no similarity between the father and son.

Xie Yan placed the two plates of fruit on the table, “It’s still early. If you have nothing to do, stay for dinner.”

Although this proposal was good, Ji Qinghuai felt that Xie Yan was just being polite. He couldn’t be so ignorant and casually agree. Moreover, he had just invited him to lunch, how could he have the nerve to stay here for dinner?

“Thank you for your kindness, Mr Xie. Maybe next time.”

Xie Yan asked, “What’s the matter?”

Ji Qinghuai wanted to agree, but he didn’t want to lie to Xie Yan, so he changed his words and said, “It’s… nothing.”

“Then stay,” he said. “Didn’t you say that you wanted to learn cooking from me? I’ll teach you later.”

If Xie Yan hadn’t mentioned it, Ji Qinghuai would have forgotten what he had said casually. Last time he lied and said he wanted to learn cooking so he could get close to Xie Yan but didn’t expect that the other would remember it.

It was hard for Ji Qinghuai to refuse so he pretended to be flattered, “That’s great.”

Xie Yan smiled, “Have some fruit.”

Ji Qinghuai was quite familiar with Xie Yan now so he was not too polite with him. He picked up a fork and ate a piece of watermelon while Xie Yan opened the refrigerator and took out some ingredients for dinner.

Ji Qinghuai ate a few bites of fruit and reached out to wipe his mouth with a tissue paper but found that they had run out. Ji Qinghuai didn’t think much and went to the cabinet, opened it and took out another pack of tissue paper.

As soon as he turned around, he met Xie Yan’s gaze.

Ji Qinghuai: “…”

Oh, my hand moved faster than my brain.

He tried to explain, “My tissues are usually placed in the cabinet, so I’m used to searching in the cabinet first. I didn’t expect it to be really here…”

“You’re so smart.” Xie Yan praised Ji Qinghuai.

That didn’t sound sincere at all!

Xie Yan didn’t embarrass him too much. He took the ingredients to the kitchen, but he was more certain of one thing in his heart. There was something amiss about Ji Qinghuai.

But at the same time, he felt strange. He was not surprised that at the fact that Ji Qinghuai knew his address. It was easy to find out his address, but he even seemed to be familiar with his home. He could even find where the tissue pack was. How could this be explained?

With his vigilance, no one could spy on him so how could Ji Qinghuai’s behaviour be explained?

Besides… Xie Yan suddenly discovered that some of Ji Qinghuai’s actions seemed to be unintentionally exposed. If he had malicious intent, wouldn’t his IQ be a bit lacking?

Was it possible that Ji Qinghuai didn’t mean to harm him? But if so, what did all the coincidences mean? Why was Ji Qinghuai so intent on getting close to him?

Xie Yan couldn’t figure it out. This Ji Qinghuai, was he an enemy or a friend?

Ji Qinghuai also knew that his behaviour was too rash. If Xie Yan had delved deeper, he would have been exposed. It was too dangerous.

The two of them had their own thoughts, but they pretended as if nothing had happened. Since Xie Yan was willing to teach him how to cook, Ji Qinghuai was enthusiastic and went to the kitchen to learn earnestly.

Xie Yan assigned the first task to him – slicing potatoes.

Ji Qinghuai held a kitchen knife with one hand and pressed down on the potato with the other. He cut the potato into pieces with a few downward movements, and then cut it again using another knife. Ji Qinghuai looked at the potatoes he cut and admired them for a while, feeling quite satisfied with himself.

They were about the same size and thickness.

I’m such a genius. It’s not too difficult to cut potatoes.

Ji Qinghuai put down the kitchen knife and said, “I’m done.”

Xie Yan turned around and looked at his handiwork. He didn’t expect much from him, nor did he expect this spoiled young master to have any superb knife skills. All he wanted was for Ji Qinghuai to be able to thinly slice the potatoes.

But…

Looking at the half-finger thick potato chips on the chopping board, Xie Yan felt that he was wrong. He shouldn’t have expected anything in the first place.

Since the potatoes were cut this way, it would take time to cut it again so he said, “It’s okay, we’ll have french fries instead.”

“Okay.” Ji Qinghuai was completely unaware that something was wrong with his ‘potatoes’. Anyhow, the food Xie Yan cooked was so delicious that no matter what he cooked, he would not be picky.

After this incident, Xie Yan was certain that Ji Qinghuai really didn’t know anything about cooking, so he didn’t ask him to do anything. Ji Qinghuai watched from the side, never taking his eyes from Xie Yan. He couldn’t help but admire him.

As expected of someone he likes, even while cooking, he looks so pleasing to the eye.

Meanwhile, Xie Yan had no idea of the high evaluation that Ji Qinghuai had given him and continued cooking quietly. He made four dishes and one soup under Ji Qinghuai’s watchful gaze.

Ji Qinghuai helped put the dishes on the table, poured the soup into two bowls and let it cool. Meanwhile, the potato that he had cut before were fried into snacks for after dinner.

The two of them sat down face to face and the silence seemed to be a tacit understanding between the two. After not seeing the other for a while, Xie Yan’s cooking remained unabated. Ji Qinghuai couldn’t help but eat one more bowl of rice.

No wonder he had fattened up after spending a half month at Xie Yan’s place.

Although he couldn’t help Xie Yan with cooking, he could still wash the dishes and also clean the kitchen and table for him. By the time he finished, it was already eight in the evening.

It was not too early nor late, but he still had to leave. As soon as Ji Qinghuai opened the door, he found a pair of clean shoes by the door.

“Your shoes are also wet. You can wear mine first.”

“Thank you,” said Ji Qinghuai while trying on the shoes. The size of the shoes was just right.

Ji Qinghuai looked at Xie Yan, “Thank you for your clothes and shoes, I will return you new ones next time.”

After saying that, he gave a bright smile to Xie Yan. He  looked at Ji Qinghuai and saw that his beautiful eyes were exceptionally clear without a trace of impurity, resembling crystals.

He suddenly thought, ‘Is there a really misunderstanding between us?’

My Sifu telling us that cardio can complement and strengthen our martial arts: I highly encourage you to do some jogging or skipping consistently to strengthen your martial arts. Martial arts isn’t just about practising forms, punches and kicks, it’s also about your strength and endurance.

Me who stays in bed 24/7 unless there’s school: Yes Sifu, I completely agree with you!

This week’s releases have been released ahead of time~