Chapter 14: The Cat Who Gained a Spirit

“You’re here? Sit.”

Xie Qi opened his eyes and, not very skillfully, curved his lips into a faint smile.

“Second Master.” Qu Yanning was much more restrained.

He smiled awkwardly and sat down across from Xie Qi, his eyes flickering nervously, never daring to meet the other man’s gaze.

Today, Xie Qi wasn’t wearing his usual robes.

Instead, he had on a dark gray Tang suit.

His jet-black hair was slicked back, revealing a face of exquisite, striking beauty—cold as snow on a distant mountaintop, untouchable.

Qu Yanning couldn’t help but think that spending too much time with someone like this would make it hard to find a future partner.

“These past few days, thank you for taking care of…” Xie Qi paused, choosing a less awkward word, “…my cat.”

The mention of the cat visibly relaxed Qu Yanning.

His almond-shaped eyes curved with a smile, “It was nothing. Your cat is very cute—I really like him.”

Xie Qi pressed his lips together, winding a strand of wooden prayer beads around his wrist before letting them fall again. “Is that so?”

Qu Yanning nodded enthusiastically, his eyes sparkling as he described how obedient and well-behaved Guai Bao had been.

“He’s just a bit picky with food,” Qu Yanning concluded, sneaking a glance at Xie Qi.

Seeing no reaction, he added cautiously, “You… used to feed him too many different things.”

“There are some things… cats shouldn’t eat too much of.”

“He’s not an ordinary cat.” Amusement flickered in Xie Qi’s eyes. “You don’t need to be so strict. Just feed him whatever you eat.”

“Eh?” Qu Yanning looked surprised and couldn’t help but ask, “Is he… a cat spirit?”

Considering how powerful Xie Qi was, it made sense that his cat wouldn’t be an ordinary one. Maybe it really was some spirit king of cats.

Xie Qi chuckled, and the cold expression on his face melted into a blooming spring smile, “Mm. That’s not a bad way to put it.”

Now it all made sense. Qu Yanning also felt that Guai Bao was definitely more intelligent than the average cat.

“Let’s not talk about that.” Xie Qi picked up his chopsticks.

While they had been chatting, the food had been fully served. “Eat.”

The round rosewood table was covered with eight dishes and one soup.

The portions were modest but exquisitely presented just looking at the plates was already a feast for the eyes.

At the center was the restaurant’s signature dish: steamed Wuchang fish.

The fish had been flown in fresh from Hubei province, its meat tender and rich.

After being thoroughly cleaned, it was steamed with side ingredients and topped with a house-made sauce—milky white, glistening like jade.

Xie Qi picked out a piece of fish and placed it in Qu Yanning’s bowl. “Try it. This is their specialty—tender meat, few bones.”

Qu Yanning thanked him and took a bite.

The flavor really was excellent.

He smiled at Xie Qi. “It’s delicious.”

The curve at the corner of Xie Qi’s mouth grew a little more pronounced.

The two quietly ate their meal across from each other.

Occasionally, Xie Qi would introduce a dish, and Qu Yanning would softly respond.

The previously awkward atmosphere gradually warmed.

Second Master Xie wasn’t as hard to get along with as he appeared.

Watching Xie Qi calmly eat his fish, Qu Yanning thought to himself.

Eight dishes and one soup—two grown men polished off every last bite.

The steamed Wuchang fish was especially popular; only the fish bones were left on the plate.

Xie Qi wiped his mouth.

Once the server cleared the table and brought in tea, he finally got to the real reason he’d invited Qu Yanning.

“You brought the protection charm I gave you?”

Qu Yanning nodded. “Yes, I did.”

“Let me see it,” Xie Qi said.

Qu Yanning pulled out a small red pouch from inside his collar.

Ever since Xie Qi had reminded him, he’d worn it around his neck with a string, never taking it off except to bathe or sleep.

With long, slender fingers, Xie Qi untied the pouch.

Inside the yellow talisman paper was just a pinch of ashes.

Qu Yanning looked puzzled.

Xie Qi rewrapped the talisman and set it aside.

Then he pulled a fresh one from his pocket and tucked it into the pouch, “This one’s useless now. You’ve run into something again, haven’t you?”

“You… how did you know?” Qu Yanning looked shocked.

Xie Qi tapped him gently with a finger and smiled, “You smell like something got scorched.”

Qu Yanning sniffed hard at his own arm but couldn’t detect the smell Xie Qi was talking about.

“You can’t smell it,” Xie Qi said as he handed back the charm.

A human nose was no match for a cat’s.

Qu Yanning gave a soft “oh” and began recounting everything that had happened at the lakeside park that day.

The strange figure in white, the cryptic words—Qu Yanning had been deeply unsettled ever since.

Though instinct told him to avoid thinking about it, this was already the second time something so eerie had happened to him.

He wanted to run away from it, but he also knew he had to face it.

“Second Master… do ghosts really exist in this world?” Qu Yanning asked anxiously.

The events he’d experienced felt more like bizarre dreams than reality, and he was still unwilling to fully believe they were real.

“If you believe, they’re real. If you don’t, they’re not.” Xie Qi fiddled with his prayer beads, his voice deep and sonorous like a weighted instrument. “Ghosts aren’t so different from people. You could say… they’re just the ones who don’t want to reincarnate.”

Qu Yanning gave a half-understood “oh.” “Then… why can I see them?”

“Come here,” Xie Qi said, beckoning him closer.

Nervously, Qu Yanning moved to sit beside him.

From up close, he could smell the cool, elegant fragrance of agarwood on Xie Qi’s body.

“Give me your hand.”

Qu Yanning placed his hand in Xie Qi’s.

Xie Qi had large hands—slender fingers, clear joints—hands that looked strong.

Unlike his cold exterior, his hands were warm and steadying.

Xie Qi held his hand and carefully examined it.

Qu Yanning was born in a yin year, on a yin day, at a yin hour—he had a pure yin constitution.

People like him were born with weak life forces and couldn’t suppress wandering spirits.

They were often sickly, vulnerable to supernatural influences, and rarely lived to adulthood.

But Qu Yanning had grown up healthy and well.

He hadn’t even encountered many spirits before.

Xie Qi pondered this for a while, then pointed to his chest.

“Lift up your shirt. Let me see.”

Qu Yanning was confused, but Xie Qi looked serious.

After a moment’s hesitation, he obediently lifted his shirt.

His skin was very pale.

His ribs were clearly defined.

Near his heart, on the left side of his chest, was a small red birthmark the size of a mung bean.

“I see.” Xie Qi released his hand, his eyes sharpening. “Which family are you from?”

Qu Yanning looked at him in confusion.

Xie Qi frowned. “You’re not?”

“If you’re not from one of those few families, then who else would have the ability to alter your fate and conceal your destiny?”

Qu Yanning was even more confused.

He softly explained, “I was sick before. I don’t remember anything from my past.”

“Your parents? Any relatives?”

“I don’t remember them either. I woke up in a hospital. It was Chu Zhou who took me in.” At this point, Qu Yanning looked a little downcast.

He lowered his head, feeling disheartened.

Chu Zhou had gone with him to the police station to register.

His information had been posted on the missing persons database, but after all this time, no one had come looking for him.

Qu Yanning had gone from hopeful to resigned.

“I’m sorry.” Xie Qi hadn’t expected such a painful story behind it.

He pressed his lips together in regret, a little remorseful for asking.

Qu Yanning shook his head, quickly recovering from his gloom, “Is there a way to stop seeing those things?”

Xie Qi shook his head, his expression unreadable, “With your talent, you’d be a prized candidate in any of those old families.”

Being able to see spirits without relying on talismans or rituals—such innate ability was something even the disciples of prestigious sects could only dream of.