Since he didn’t have Second Master Xie’s contact information, Qu Yanning could only reach out to Zhang Ren first.
Zhang Ren was straightforward. After asking what it was about, he gave Qu Yanning Xie Qi’s phone number. “Second Master might not be available to answer, but he should be returning to Shen City in the next couple of days.”
Qu Yanning agreed, and the frown on his face finally eased a little.
Over the phone, Zhang Ren added, “Once Second Master’s back, he’ll probably take the young master home to stay for a while.”
Qu Yanning’s hand paused.
Xie Qi, dissatisfied, pushed Qu Yanning’s hand back onto his furry belly, demanding more belly rubs.
Snapping out of it, Qu Yanning responded softly, “Just let me know ahead of time when you’re coming.”
Zhang Ren said, “No time like the present—how about this afternoon?”
“……” Qu Yanning, already feeling down, sank even deeper into gloom.
After hanging up, he patted the little furball on his lap and muttered unhappily, “Second Master wants to take you back.”
Xie Qi rolled over and sat up, placing a paw between Qu Yanning’s brows.
He had heard the phone call too— so this was why the human had been so sullen yesterday… all over a wronged ghost.
Qu Yanning grabbed his fluffy paw and kissed his paw pad gently. “I’m going to miss you. Don’t forget me after you go home.”
Xie Qi’s ears tilted back slightly.
He nuzzled against Qu Yanning’s hand and let out a serious-sounding meow.
He was only going to be gone for two days.
Was this human really that dependent on him?
He gave a quick shake of his ears, and his tail flicked up and down reflexively— he was feeling a little warm again.
Placing his paw back into Qu Yanning’s hand, he meowed solemnly, “I’ll be back soon.”
To Qu Yanning, the string of meows sounded like his precious baby was promising not to forget him.
Elated, he scooped up the cat, rubbed their noses together, and gave him another kiss.
Qu Yanning perked up again— worst case, he’d just shamelessly go to Second Master’s place to visit the cat.
……
That afternoon, Zhang Ren drove over. Qu Yanning reluctantly handed over the cat, fussing and nagging, “My sweetie’s gained a little weight lately. Don’t feed him anything too fatty. And make sure to play with him more, get him some exercise…”
Zhang Ren: “……”
Awkwardly cradling the cat, Zhang Ren’s mouth twitched. “R-right. Got it.”
Xie Qi coldly flicked him with his tail.
Zhang Ren got the message and quickly said goodbye, cat in arms.
Back in the car, Zhang Ren carefully placed the cat on the backseat before circling around to the driver’s seat.
In the back, Xie Qi transformed back into his human form, buckled his seatbelt with a blank expression.
“Second Master,” Zhang Ren asked cautiously, “Should we head straight to Cuiyuan?”
Xie Qi’s eyes were half-lidded.
He gave a soft, indifferent hum in response.
******
The next day, Qu Yanning received a call from Xie Qi.
The man’s voice over the phone was noticeably softer than in person, though it still carried that same distant chill that made him hard to approach. “Zhang Ren said you were looking for me?”
Qu Yanning gave a quiet “Mm” in response, then explained the situation with Yang Chunfang.
At the end, he asked nervously, “Is there… anything you can do to help her? Like a… a ritual to help her pass on or something?”
“She’s just a wrongly-dead ghost. Is it really worth making such a fuss?” Xie Qi replied coolly. “What is she to you?”
“N-no one, really…” Qu Yanning stammered, his voice growing weaker. “It’s just… if no one helps her, it’s too pitiful…”
Xie Qi let out a faint snort.
He didn’t immediately agree, but instead said, “I happen to have business nearby this afternoon. Wait for my message at three. If I have time after I’m done, I’ll go with you.”
Qu Yanning hadn’t expected him to agree so readily and answered with surprise and delight.
After hanging up, he thought to himself, Second Master really is a good person.
******
Before heading out, Xie Qi specially changed into a different outfit— a moon-white Tang suit patterned with delicate floral medallions.
As he walked, the silk fabric shimmered like rippling water.
He wrapped a string of wooden prayer beads twice around his wrist, took one last look in the mirror at the person who radiated otherworldly elegance down to the tips of his hair, and finally stepped out the door, satisfied.
At 2:10 PM, Zhang Ren dropped him off at a café near Xiuping Road.
Xie Qi ordered a cup of coffee and let it sit in front of him.
When the clock on the wall neared three, he took out his phone and called Qu Yanning.
“My business is finished. You can come now,” he said.
He sent his location, then resumed sitting by the window like an aloof and beautiful iceberg.
Qu Yanning rushed over as soon as he got the call.
He was still slightly out of breath when he sat down.
Xie Qi frowned, a little annoyed, and signaled the server to bring over a cup of warm water.
Cradling the cup and taking a sip to soothe his throat, Qu Yanning said, “Have you been waiting long?”
“Not really,” Xie Qi replied coolly. “I just got here too.”
Qu Yanning smiled sheepishly and said, “Sorry to trouble you again.”
“Consider it payment for taking care of the cat these past few days,” Xie Qi said, standing up. “Come on, let’s go take a look.”
Qu Yanning quickly got up and followed him out.
The café wasn’t far from Xiuping Road, so the two walked over.
Qu Yanning trailed a step behind, keeping a respectful distance—not too close, not too far.
Xie Qi was a little displeased by this but said nothing.
Instead, he brought up a topic, “I’m leaving Shen City again the day after tomorrow.”
“Huh?” Qu Yanning was caught off guard, his mouth hanging slightly open.
“The cat still needs you to look after him,” Xie Qi said directly.
“Oh— of course!” The unexpected surprise left Qu Yanning momentarily stunned.
“I heard from Zhang Ren you think the cat’s gotten fat?” Xie Qi walked at a relaxed pace, speaking casually.
“He has put on a little weight recently,” Qu Yanning chuckled, recalling the cat’s soft, pudgy belly. “But he’s still within a healthy range. As long as his diet is managed and he gets enough exercise, it should be fine…”
“……” Xie Qi’s expression darkened slightly.
Fingering the prayer beads on his wrist, he said flatly, “Is that so?”
Completely unaware of the shift in tone, Qu Yanning nodded cheerfully. “Yeah.”
Xie Qi: “……”
He managed to maintain his cold expression, but the rest of the walk passed in silence— until they reached the place where Yang Chunfang lingered.
“That’s her?” Xie Qi pointed toward the female ghost standing by the roadside.
Qu Yanning nodded.
Compared to the last time he saw her, Yang Chunfang looked even more fragile.
She stood there dazed, her expression blank, with no trace of life left in her form.
“Can she still be put to rest?” Qu Yanning asked uncertainly.
Xie Qi studied her briefly and replied, “She’s a wrongful-death ghost. Find her body and give her a proper burial—that’ll be enough.”
“Her body?” Qu Yanning froze.
He suddenly realized he didn’t even know when Yang Chunfang had died.
“But… I don’t know where her body is.”
“Isn’t it right there?” Xie Qi gestured toward a nearby alley.
It was a narrow side street.
In recent years, the urban village surrounding Xiuping Road had been undergoing redevelopment.
Many roads were closed off, and the area Xie Qi pointed to was one such dead end— piled high with trash, a broken garbage bin in the corner, filthy and cluttered.
People usually avoided it altogether.
Standing at the mouth of the alley, Qu Yanning hesitated. “Are you here?”
Xie Qi stood beside him, frowning.
The stench was overwhelming, and it made him uncomfortable. “It’s best to call the police and let them handle it.”