Chapter 25 Li Xiao's Independent Side Story - Obsession (10)
Li Xiao had never seen Yu Qingzhou lying ill.
Not to mention being bedridden, that guy never even had a headache or fever once a year.
Working non-stop for more than ten days straight without sleep for official duties is a daily routine that can be described as pushing the limits of human endurance.
Even Li Xiao, who is a demon, looked quite tired, but Yu Qingzhou herself seemed unaffected.
He was so energetic that Li Xiao suspected he might be secretly taking some kind of super tonic.
Or perhaps he's practicing some kind of sorcery he's never even heard of.
In short, it's highly suspicious.
While the boy was lost in his fantasies, Yu Qingzhou was listening to a report from his subordinate.
The discussion about the status of branch operations, the reasonable coordination of fiscal revenue and expenditure and personnel casualty compensation, and several suggestions for the procurement of refining equipment, etc., was utterly boring.
Li Xiao, who was listening nearby, was getting drowsy and yawned through her teary eyes. When she opened her eyes again, the people reporting in front of her had changed.
"When will this ever end?" the boy muttered to himself as he drew circles in the corner with a twig.
"...So, is there something you're unhappy about?"
A gentle voice sounded overhead.
Li Xiao, engrossed in drawing circles, didn't notice anything amiss. His hands continued moving, and he kept complaining, "Tch, I'm exhausted, what's the big deal—"
The words came to an abrupt halt.
The boy looked up and saw Yu Qingzhou's slightly smiling face—however, that smile looked anything but malicious.
"Are you done with your work?"
Li Xiao forced a smile: "I thought it would take a little longer..."
"I've been a bit busy lately, since it's almost the end of the year."
Yu Qingzhou looked down at the boy, revealing an understanding expression: "But seeing how bored you are that you can only play with tree branches, you must have been extremely bored lately, right?"
"Well... I'm not that free."
Upon hearing this, Li Xiao immediately threw down the branch, clapped his hands, and stood up from the ground with a sincere expression.
"Haha, I'm just worried about your health. Such a large sect, if something happens to you as the sect leader... that would be really bad."
"Oh, I didn't realize you cared about me so much?"
Yu Qingzhou glanced at him indifferently, then smiled noncommittally: "I thought you were hoping for my death sooner or later."
As they spoke, the man seemed to move closer to Li Xiao, his voice lowered as if he were talking about something that couldn't be known by others, a secret that belonged only to the two of them.
Li Xiao stared at Yu Qingzhou, who was so close to him, from her smooth forehead to her bright eyes under her long eyelashes, and then to her pale lips that opened and closed below her delicate nose.
The boy paused for a moment, and his previously somewhat pretentious smile suddenly became more genuine.
How could that be?
The boy replied with a smile, "After all, you are my master now."
"To be clear, they are creditors."
Yu Qingzhou smiled and corrected him, casually patting the boy's cheek: "Remember, I made such a big fuss for you."
Clearly...
What they did was to forcibly abduct demons and use them as slaves and commodities for people's amusement—a despicable act.
That time too, if Li Xiao hadn't been lucky, he probably would have been killed on the spot. Now, however, he speaks as if he were a benefactor.
—How should I put it? They really are shameless.
However, after spending so much time by Yu Qingzhou's side, the young man had gotten used to it.
You could even laugh and agree with such nonsense when you hear it.
"Thank you for your kindness."
Then stand still, putting on a docile and teachable look.
They're just waiting for the other person to have their fun and then go find something else to do.
But this time, the hand that was messing with his face refused to leave, and to be honest, Li Xiao felt that side of his face was starting to hurt.
Just as Li Xiao couldn't help but reach out and pull that hand away, he heard Yu Qingzhou click her tongue softly, and her gaze seemed to carry a hint of...disdain?
"Have you grown taller again?"
"ah?"
"The flesh on its face has thinned out, so it's not as easy to touch as before, and this height isn't as comfortable to hold as it used to be."
Yu Qingzhou answered seriously, her usually expressionless face revealing obvious displeasure: "Can't things always be like before?"
Same? Same in what way?
Is it a crime to grow taller through normal development?
These words sound so arrogant, so unreasonable, so... Yu Qingzhou.
Li Xiao really wanted to ask the other person, rather impolitely, "Listen to yourself, are you even speaking human language?"
After thinking it over, the boy ultimately held back.
If the other party gets upset and goes so far as to force-feed him drugs, that would be a huge loss.
"Oh well, never mind."
Over there, Yu Qingzhou suddenly sighed again: "Indeed, practicality is more important than appearance." As she spoke, she took something out of her pocket and tossed it to Li Xiao.
The boy caught the object and examined it. It turned out to be a half-armor for covering the face—or more accurately, a magical artifact made in the style of half-armor, with familiar spiritual energy flowing over it.
"What is this?" Li Xiao asked, somewhat puzzled.
"This is for you."
Upon hearing this, Li Xiao became even more puzzled: "But why?"
Why... did I suddenly give him something?
"Isn't it Chinese New Year?"
"So, this is a New Year's gift?"
"Yes, you can think that way too."
Hearing Yu Qingzhou's ambiguous explanation, Li Xiao didn't know what to think—he really didn't expect that the first New Year's gift he would receive in his life would come from his own creditor.
"……Thanks?"
"You should say, 'Happy New Year and wishing you prosperity,' that would make me, as your creditor, a little happier."
As Yu Qingzhou spoke, she suddenly suggested, "Why don't you try them on?"
The boy put on the mask as instructed. It felt very light and thin, and apart from a slight coolness, it didn't feel very real. However, he still felt uncomfortable and reached out to hold it.
"Clumsy."
A low chuckle suddenly came from nearby, and then he reached out his hand as if he couldn't help but chuckle.
Li Xiao stopped what he was doing and let the other person put their hand around his ear.
Two people of similar height standing face to face like this is a bit too close.
Li Xiao could clearly smell the sweet scent of flesh and blood on Yu Qingzhou's body. He subconsciously swallowed and then turned his head away slightly, feeling a little uncomfortable.
However, given Yu Qingzhou's prior instructions, Li Xiao didn't make a big movement when turning his head.
So close...
They were as close as a hug.
The boy held his breath slightly, his heart pounding wildly as if it were out of his control.
Yu Qingzhou, however, seemed completely oblivious to the boy's chaotic thoughts.
He slowly tightened the straps in his hands, adjusted the position of the mask, and then casually brushed aside the boy's slightly disheveled hair.
"alright."
Yu Qingzhou stepped back and gazed intently at the boy in front of her, as if admiring a work she was satisfied with.
Li Xiao opened her eyes and met the man's smiling eyes. His green eyes blinked silently, as if fireflies were flickering within them.
“This looks much better,” Yu Qingzhou suddenly said.
Upon hearing this, Li Xiao suddenly felt a pang of inexplicable sorrow: "...Because you covered your face?"
Yu Qingzhou smiled slightly, then suddenly raised a hand in front of her and recited in a serious tone: "Don't you know that looking at flowers through the mist, or gazing at the moon in the water... often the things that are most difficult to understand are the ones that people yearn for the most? Don't you think so?"
No matter how you look at it, it all boils down to not liking his face.
At that moment, Li Xiao remained silent on the surface, but he was thinking silently in his heart.
Only after time had passed did Li Xiao realize that Yu Qingzhou's words seemed to be quite true.
Just like him in the past, even when he was on the verge of death and his chest was ripped open by the other person... in the end, he still didn't understand the other person's heart at all.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com