Chapter 46: A Good Match

Xie Xiaobao picked up the thin Cat-Shaped Paper Doll and held it up to the light.

The white paper and black ink were clear, and the bloodstain dotting the middle of the forehead had completely disappeared.

Instead, the golden shimmer faintly flowing within the black ink seemed even richer.

“How do you turn it back?”

Xie Qi recited the Incantation to him and carefully explained the precautions.

“The magic will automatically expire after five hours. One sheet of paper can be used up to three times. You have to keep track of the time yourself.”

One sheet can be used three times, meaning three drops of blood can last for fifteen hours.

That should be enough for the day after tomorrow’s audition, but the filming afterward might take longer, so it’s safer to prepare more paper dolls.

Xie Xiaobao hid the paper doll behind his back, smiling obediently at Xie Qi.

“I have to film then, can I get you to make a few more?”

“Get lost.”

Xie Qi looked down at him, and Xie Xiaobao tilted his head up.

If he weren’t currently in human form, Xie Qi would have suspected his foolish little brother was about to put on a slapstick performance right there.

“Fine.” Xie Qi maintained his big brother authority, and even though he agreed, his expression remained cold.

“Go shower early and get some rest. Don’t stay up late.”

Xie Xiaobao jumped happily, his dimples deepening on both cheeks.

“Got it.”

Xie Xiaobao obediently went to shower and rest, but Xie Qi stayed in the study.

He returned to his desk, picked up his brush, and drew another Xie Xiaobao.

Then he beckoned to Serious Face nearby.

Serious Face pulled Comical Face over and stood upright in front of Xie Qi, awaiting orders.

“Draw this one. One pile of paper each.” Xie Qi divided white sheets into two piles before the paper dolls.

After some thought, he took some sheets from Comical Face’s pile and added them to Serious Face’s side.

Comical Face looked curious and reached for a brush on the brush holder, but Serious Face stopped him and pulled him into a bow toward Xie Qi.

Xie Qi slumped back into his chair and pulled out his phone to scroll through Weibo.

Serious Face held Comical Face steady and blew a breath mouth-to-mouth onto him.

The flat paper doll slowly puffed up.

Its flattened body became plump, and Comical Face bounced excitedly, wriggling his body.

After Serious Face finished passing on his breath, he shifted his own form, grabbed two equally sized brushes, and handed one to Comical Face.

The two paper dolls stood side by side, drawing cats together.

Qu Yanning came in partway through to check on him and saw Xie Qi lounging in the chair like a lord, playing on his phone, while the two paper dolls were working hard at the desk, struggling to draw.

“You really keep coming up with new functions,” Qu Yanning muttered softly.

Xie Qi’s ears were sharp; he put away his phone, pulled Qu Yanning in, and hugged him.

“Having two useless bums around means they have to do some work.”

The paper dolls’ bodies had been upgraded, so their abilities were much stronger than before.

No reason not to use them.

Qu Yanning pushed him away and went to look at the drawings.

The paper dolls were quite good at copying.

“So many—want me to help you draw?”

“No need, I’ll handle it. Just a few talismans.”

These papers were only a vessel.

The most important part was the specially made ink and the talismans Xie Qi drew on top.

Xie Qi was firm, and Qu Yanning didn’t insist.

After refusing a hug, he went to check on Xie Xiaobao.

Xie Xiaobao had finished showering and was drying his hair.

His phone was propped up in front of him—it was on a video call.

“Who are you video chatting with?” Qu Yanning knocked and entered.

Xie Xiaobao smiled, “Talking about the audition the day after tomorrow.”

Qu Yanning had met He Yu before and found it strange how close the two had suddenly become.

Last time at Grandma Li’s birthday, Xiaobao had looked at He Yu like he was a mortal enemy.

After greeting He Yu, Qu Yanning didn’t disturb their chat.

He told Xie Xiaobao to go to bed early and then left, closing the door behind him.

“Your Brother-in-law still looks so young,” He Yu joked.

“He looks like he’s in his twenties.”

Xie Xiaobao’s heart tightened.

Afraid He Yu would notice something was off, he hurried to explain, “Everyone in my family looks young. I do too.”

He Yu had said it casually, but Xie Xiaobao took it seriously.

He Yu couldn’t help but laugh.

“Yeah, you’re the youngest one.” He looked like a child.

Xie Xiaobao secretly watched his expression.

Seeing that He Yu didn’t pursue the topic further, he cautiously breathed a sigh of relief and changed the subject.

They continued chatting intermittently over video.

Xie Xiaobao curled up under the blankets, soft and warm.

He Yu’s voice seemed to carry a gentle magic, and before he knew it, he was holding his phone and falling asleep.

On the other end, He Yu watched the sleeping figure in the video, chuckled, took a few screenshots, softly said goodnight, and ended the call.

***

Early the next morning, Xie Xiaobao was curled up sound asleep when his cold older brother dragged him out of bed.

Xie Xiaobao had transformed back into cat form.

The blanket was pulled away, so he buried his face into his belly and covered it with his paws, trying to keep sleeping.

“Get up.” Xie Qi poked his round, fluffy belly, which sank softly under his finger.

Xie Xiaobao curled tighter, pressing his ears against his head, refusing to get up.

Xie Qi grabbed his exposed tail and tugged it.

“It’s nine o’clock. Get up and go running. You need to lose weight.”

Xie Xiaobao reluctantly opened his eyes, rubbed them with his paws, and his ears drooped limply on his head.

Xie Qi looked down on him, eyes scanning his body before pinching the back of his neck in disgust.

“Getting rounder and rounder.”

Still half-asleep and holding back morning grumpiness, Xie Xiaobao swatted him once and indignantly turned his butt toward him.

“Hurry and wash up, then come running with me.” Xie Qi gave his tail another tug.

Xie Xiaobao quickly retracted his tail and hid it under his belly, meowing, “Got it.”

Satisfied, Xie Qi left the room.

After washing up, the sulky Xie Xiaobao followed Xie Qi out for their run.

Jogging along the tree-lined path, they passed the He family courtyard, and Xie Xiaobao stopped to greet Grandma Li.

The old lady had gotten up early and had already been practicing Tai Chi in the yard for some time.

Seeing Xie Xiaobao, she was delighted.

“Back to visit? Haven’t seen you in ages. Come here, let Grandma have a look.”

Grandma Li looked him over carefully for a while, smiling and complimenting him on his increasingly blessed appearance.

‘Isn’t that just a fancy way of saying you’ve gotten fat again?’ Xie Xiaobao thought irritably.

“He Yu said he’ll be coming back today too.” Grandma Li suddenly remembered and said to her little grandson, “You met last time, right? Come to Grandma’s for lunch.”

‘He Yu was coming back?’ Xie Xiaobao was surprised.

“We had a video call yesterday, but he didn’t say he was coming.”

Grandma Li hadn’t realized they were still in contact privately.

She paused, then happily said, “You’re still in touch? That’s good. Grandma was worried you and He Yu wouldn’t get along. He’s got a personality… gets less likable as he gets older!”

Xie Xiaobao immediately retorted, “He Yu is really nice and easy to get along with.”

Grandma Li just took it as him trying to cheer her up.

She took his hand and smiled, telling him to come over for lunch later.

“I’ll have He Yu come pick you up.”

Xie Xiaobao nodded in agreement.

Xie Qi was waiting, so after saying they’d see each other at noon, he followed his brother to continue running.

Nearby, He Father and He Mother exchanged glances.

He Mother, restless by nature, asked first, “Old He, don’t you think it’s…?”

He Father frowned, expression serious. “Hard to say.”

“Actually…” He Mother hesitated.

“If it really is the Xie family’s child, that’s not bad. At least they’re well matched, from similar backgrounds, and know each other well.”

Since He Yu’s ambiguous words at Grandma Li’s birthday, the couple had read a lot of literature and materials related to homosexuality.

Both were intellectuals.

Although psychologically it was difficult to adjust at first, rationally they understood that sexual orientation couldn’t be changed.

Besides going along with their son’s wishes, they couldn’t bring themselves to do otherwise.

After some inner struggle, He Father and He Mother chose to support him.

But having learned more, they also knew how complicated that world was.

If their son could find someone familiar and trustworthy, even a male son-in-law would be acceptable.

He Father sighed and patted her shoulder.

“Don’t overthink it. We’ll see when the time comes. Besides, even if they agree, what use is it? There’s no trace of this in the stars.”

After running, they showered and ate breakfast.

Xie Xiaobao lay in the hammock in the yard, basking in the sun.

The autumn sunlight wasn’t harsh; the temperature was just right, warm and gentle on his body.

Xie Xiaobao closed his eyes contentedly, enjoying the warm sunbath.

Suddenly, a shadow fell over him.

A familiar voice came softly.

“Fell asleep?”