Chapter 55: A New Mission

The cashier girl exclaimed, “Boss, your clothes are soaked.”

The young man looked down at their joined hands and said softly, “Qin Che, what’s wrong? You’re trembling, and your palms are sweating…”

Ji Xiao’s gaze gradually calmed. He reassured him, “I’m fine.”

He released the young man’s hand. “Give me a pack of cigarettes.”

The cashier girl asked, “What brand does the boss want?”

“Any will do.”

“…”

She hesitated for a moment, then took the most expensive pack and bagged it. “Is this okay?”

“Yeah.”

Ji Xiao casually tucked the pack under his arm and took the young man’s hand to walk out.

They went home.

The young man entered the house, a bit reserved and worried. “Qin Che, what’s wrong?”

Although he hadn’t known Qin Che long, every time he saw him, he had always been mature and steady, not like today, so out of sorts.

Ji Xiao smiled at him. “I’m fine. You’re also soaked. Take a shower first, and I’ll get you some clothes.”

“Qin Che…”

The young man was gently guided to the bathroom.

The door closed.

Ji Xiao silently walked to the living room, opened the cigarette pack, took out a cigarette, and paused for a moment. Fortunately, he found a lighter in the packaging, saving him the embarrassment of having a cigarette but no fire.

He put a cigarette in his mouth and lit it.

His gaze was deep, his lips sarcastic.

Did the memory crave smoke?

Or was he being deceived by the memory?

His wet hair clung to his cheeks, and a drop of water fell.

He lowered his eyelids.

If not for occasionally running into Song Chu’s cat in the latter half of his life, and if not for secretly exercising, maybe when he locked eyes with the black cat in the supermarket, he would have been exposed for bluffing.

Good thing the black cat was a stupid cat.

He took a deep drag of his cigarette.

“So, why am I afraid of cats?”

…

When the young man came out after showering, Ji Xiao had already adjusted his emotions. He handed him a hairdryer and said softly, “Dry your hair. I’ll take a shower too.”

“Okay.”

Water sounded in the bathroom.

The young man picked up the hairdryer, plugged it in, and dried his hair while looking around the house.

It was a large two-bedroom, two-living-room, two-bathroom apartment.

So why didn’t Qin Che use the other bathroom? Because it wasn’t often used and lacked daily necessities?

Originally, he had only come to say goodbye to the person who had made his heart race. But he had circled around outside the supermarket and hadn’t seen him.

He had resigned himself to the possibility of passing by without a word.

Yet… he appeared.

Ji Xiao, wrapped only in a towel, looked at him with amusement. “Your hair is all standing on end. What were you thinking? You can’t even focus on drying your hair.”

He walked over to the young man, took the hairdryer, and started drying his own hair.

The young man pressed down his hair, a bit embarrassed.

Ji Xiao only dried it briefly, stopping when it was no longer dripping, and set down the hairdryer.

The young man’s gaze wandered as he looked at Ji Xiao’s bare upper body.

Ji Xiao chuckled lightly, went back to the room to put on some clothes, and walked toward the fridge. “What would you like to drink?”

“Cola.”

Ji Xiao looked in the fridge. Fortunately, there was cola.

He took out a can of cola and a bottle of soda water, sat on the sofa, and beckoned to him. “Come over and talk.”

The young man responded and moved over.

“Sit next to me. The seat across got wet from me sitting on it earlier.”

“…Okay.”

Ji Xiao opened the cola and handed it to him. “Why were you standing stupidly in the rain earlier? Didn’t you know to go inside the supermarket to take shelter?”

He took a small sip of cola, a bit sheepish. “I was about to go in…”

As if.

If Ji Xiao hadn’t shown up, he would have just turned and left.

“Don’t be so silly next time. Whether it’s sheltering from the rain or buying an umbrella,” Ji Xiao said helplessly, “it’s better than just standing in the rain like an idiot.”

Hearing this from someone who had once made his heart race but he had tried to let go, the young man’s face reddened. “I understand.”

Ji Xiao took a sip of water, looking at him with a helpless tenderness.

The young man’s heart stirred. He put down the cola. “Qin Che, do you still remember me?”

Ji Xiao smiled but said nothing.

“I’m Chen Shuhui…”

“Of course I remember.”

A faint smile appeared on Chen Shuhui’s face. “I thought you might have forgotten.”

“If I had forgotten, why would I offer you my umbrella and bring you home?” Ji Xiao looked at him meaningfully. “I’m not someone who casually brings strangers home.”

Chen Shuhui’s courage, which had been fading, suddenly surged back. He clenched his fingers slightly. “Qin Che…”

“Hmm?”

“I like you.”

“…”

Chen Shuhui didn’t hear his response, but he kept staring at him. “I like you. Can you be my boyfriend?”

Chen Shuhui’s eyes curved, and he leaned in.

He had deliberately not accepted the plot. But the moment he met Chen Shuhui, he felt that this was his mission target.

Strange, right?

He smiled enigmatically.

If he hadn’t suddenly decided to go downstairs to buy cigarettes, he might have met Chen Shuhui later, after receiving the plot. But meeting him earlier…

Chen Shuhui rested his head on Ji Xiao’s shoulder, his heart racing. “There’s something I want to tell you.”

Ji Xiao’s fingers traced his back. “Okay, go ahead. I’m listening.”

Chen Shuhui was nervous. “My childhood friend and his wife died in an accident, leaving behind their eight-year-old son. I want to adopt him…”

That was why he had wanted to…

Because he thought no one would agree to such a condition, letting his lover adopt an unrelated child.

But contrary to expectations.

When he was about to give up, he appeared.

The feelings he had suppressed not only didn’t fade but grew stronger.

Now, he felt both anticipation and fear.

He had only just agreed to his confession…

Ji Xiao pulled back slightly and met his eyes.

Chen Shuhui’s lips moved. “Qin Che…”

“It’s okay.”

“Huh?”

“I said it’s okay to adopt him. I’ll take care of him with you.”

Chen Shuhui’s eyes welled up. “Thank…”

Ji Xiao leaned in and pressed his lips to his.

Outside, thunder roared and rain poured.

Inside, breaths mingled, gentle and unrestrained.

Ji Xiao suddenly saw a black cat appear on the table. His pupils contracted. He quickly closed his eyes and subconsciously tightened his hold on Chen Shuhui, his gentleness turning urgent.

Chen Shuhui could barely breathe and gently pushed him away.

Ji Xiao released him, letting him catch his breath in his arms, and shot a cold glare at the black cat. [Go back!]

The black cat slowly extended a paw and licked it. “Aren’t you not afraid of me anymore?”

Ji Xiao: “…”

This stupid cat had no idea where it had been or who it had found.

But now it definitely knew he was still afraid of it.

The black cat flicked its tail and meowed.

Ji Xiao: [Get lost.]

The black cat: “Fine, I’ll go.”

The system said.

He had been with it for five worlds. Although he was afraid of cats, he knew it was a cat. In the last world, Song Chu had kept a cat in the latter half of his life. Though the cat had its own room, they could still see each other.

Gradually, his fear of cats had lessened.

But it wouldn’t disappear.

In short, his host was putting on an act!

The black cat wanted to be tough and scare him more.

But ultimately, it was afraid he would give up on the mission entirely, so it backed off.

Black cat: Must be a tolerant and generous cat.

When they finished eating, the storm gradually subsided, and the clouds cleared.

After dinner, Chen Shuhui said he wanted to go home. He said softly, “I have work tomorrow. I’ll message you when I get home.”

“I’ll see you off.”

“No need, it’s not far.”

Chen Shuhui indeed lived not far from Qin Che’s home—just in the next neighborhood.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have met in the supermarket.

“Alright. Send me a message when you get home.”

“Okay.”

After Chen Shuhui left, the black cat finally gave Ji Xiao the plot.

In the original story, Qin Che and Chen Shuhui met in the supermarket.

Two men with similar orientations developed feelings for each other.

Before their relationship was clarified, Chen Shuhui’s childhood friend and his wife died unexpectedly, leaving behind an eight-year-old son. Before dying, they entrusted the child to Chen Shuhui.

Chen Shuhui suppressed his feelings and adopted the son, Liang Fei.

Who would have thought that when he met Qin Che again, Qin Che would confess to him?

After Chen Shuhui honestly explained his situation, Qin Che said he didn’t mind and was willing to take care of Liang Fei as his own.

Chen Shuhui was a high-speed train attendant. His job required him to travel out of town, and he didn’t always return every day.

He originally planned to hire a babysitter for Liang Fei, but after Qin Che’s offer, he was deeply moved and moved in with Liang Fei to Qin Che’s house.

At first, Qin Che’s treatment of Liang Fei wasn’t good or bad, but Liang Fei, having lost both parents, became gloomy and taciturn. Sometimes Qin Che’s warmth was met with coldness, which Qin Che disliked.

When Chen Shuhui was around, Qin Che showed Liang Fei care; when he left, Qin Che ignored him completely.

One time, Qin Che encountered a difficult customer at the supermarket and returned home in a bad mood. Seeing the silent, gloomy Liang Fei, he couldn’t help but start yelling.

Liang Fei didn’t argue, as if mute.

After that, Qin Che often scolded and hit Liang Fei, venting all his frustrations on him.

Until once, when Qin Che cursed Liang Fei’s parents, Liang Fei, who had never resisted, suddenly rushed out of the house.

Qin Che didn’t go after him, thinking he would come back on his own.

Chen Shuhui only found out the next day that Liang Fei had been out all night. He hurried to look for him.

In the end, the hospital called him.

It turned out that Liang Fei, while wandering in despair, was hit by a car. The driver immediately called an ambulance. After a night of resuscitation, Liang Fei still didn’t make it.

He held on until Chen Shuhui arrived, said he was going to find his mom and dad, and then passed away.

Chen Shuhui was overwhelmed with guilt and nearly collapsed. He broke up with Qin Che on the spot.

No matter how much Qin Che begged, he was unmoved.

Afterward, Qin Che had a few other boyfriends, but none made him as heartbroken as Chen Shuhui. He thought of Chen Shuhui until the day he died.

The black cat: “The mission in this world is: don’t let Liang Fei run out. You can raise him, but don’t give him a single cent, and kick him out at eighteen. Stay with Chen Shuhui forever.”

Ji Xiao didn’t speak. He lit another cigarette.

The black cat asked carefully, “Host, are you not satisfied…”

“Was I ever satisfied?” He exhaled smoke. “Do I only deserve to play scumbags?”

The black cat: “I can’t help it either…”

Ji Xiao sneered.

Afraid he would quit, the black cat said aggrievedly, “Actually, host, I left for a while just now to apply for welfare for you.”

“What welfare?”

“Originally, you had to become an S-level host, or rank in the top fifty in performance, or complete two hundred missions to end the contract and gain a new life.”

“And now?”

“Now, if you just finish the next few missions, that’s enough.”

“A few?”

“A few.”

“I asked you how many?”

“Just a few, okay?”

“…”

The black cat started crying again. “Host…”

“Stop bothering me. I’ll do it.”

“I knew you were the best host. I love you, mwah.”

Ji Xiao let out a soft laugh, looked down, and tapped his cigarette ash, hiding the coldness in his eyes.

The black cat noticed nothing and was even very happy that it had stabilized its host. It wanted to meow on the spot but was afraid of scaring him, so it just spun around a few times.

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