“What’s wrong with your eyes?” Qu Yanning stared at Chu Zhou in shock.
Chu Zhou looked haggard, with obvious dark circles under his eyes. He yawned tiredly, dragging his heavy feet to the table. “Dreamed all night, didn’t sleep well.”
Qu Yanning hesitated, wanting to say something but holding back. He ladled a bowl of porridge for Chu Zhou, suggesting they have lotus seed porridge at night, since it helps with sleep.
Chu Zhou agreed listlessly.
After breakfast, Qu Yanning headed to the shop.
Around noon, the man from yesterday showed up again. He was wrapped up even tighter than before, his thin face now waxy yellow, and his expression even gloomier.
“Where’s Chu Zhou?” The man stood at the counter, staring straight at Qu Yanning.
Qu Yanning frowned. He could smell a faint corpse stench from the man, exactly like the one he’d smelled when he found Yang Chun Fang’s body on Xiuping Road.
“Sir, I don’t know who you’re talking about.” Qu Yanning’s expression was cold. Judging from Chu Zhou’s reaction yesterday, even if this man really was family, he didn’t seem like a loving relative—more like he had no choice but to come.
Not wanting to cause trouble for Chu Zhou, Qu Yanning picked up the phone by the register, pretending to dial. “If you keep interfering with my business, I really will call the police.”
The man stiffened his neck, glaring daggers at him, the whites of his eyes bloodshot.
Qu Yanning pressed the buttons, and the phone started beeping.
“Little brat, can’t see what’s in front of you.” The man spat viciously, left hand curled over his right chest, muttering under his breath, “If he doesn’t come back, the Shen Ling won’t let him go.”
“The Shen Ling will punish you all. You’ll be struck by heaven’s wrath.” The man’s eyes burned with fanaticism as he mentioned the Shen Ling. He shot Qu Yanning one last glare, then limped away.
The staff crowded over, chattering about where this nutcase had come from. If he came again, maybe they should call the hospital, otherwise he’d scare the customers.
Qu Yanning smiled and reassured them, saying it was fine, he probably wouldn’t come again. A few young girls clustered together, gossiping, until customers came in and they scattered to work.
Xie Qi jumped down from the high stool, walked over to where the man had stood— there was still a faint trace of deathly energy lingering there.
The man’s threats hadn’t done much, but the deathly aura on him could make ordinary people sick if they came into contact with it.
Xie Qi stomped on the spot a few times, and the last wisp of deathly energy quickly dissipated.
I need to find something to suppress the shop’s luck, Xie Qi thought, tilting his head.
He climbed up Qu Yanning’s leg to the counter, then used his furry paw to pat hard on the cabinet underneath.
Qu Yanning thought he was just playing around and ignored him. Xie Qi, annoyed, swatted at him, then patted the cabinet again.
This time, Qu Yanning understood and opened it. “What does my good boy want to do?”
Xie Qi jumped into the cabinet and dragged out a wooden box with some effort. This was the congratulatory gift Zhang Ren had brought at the shop’s grand opening.
Qu Yanning picked the cat up onto the counter and took out the box.
It looked familiar— after thinking for a while, he remembered: this was the gift Second Master Xie had sent through Zhang Ren. He’d been too busy that day and had forgotten all about it.
Xie Qi patted the box and lifted his chin, signaling for him to open it.
Qu Yanning opened the box. On the red velvet inside was a jade Yupixiu.
It was only half a palm in size, but exquisitely crafted.
The beast’s features were lifelike, and the jade’s colors and the sculpture’s pose blended perfectly, naturally and seamlessly. It looked expensive at a glance.
Qu Yanning stared at the Yupixiu, troubled, feeling like he’d never be able to repay Second Master Xie for this favor.
Xie Qi fished the Yupixiu out with his paw, rolled it across the table like a ball, and set it at the edge.
A Yupixiu could attract wealth and ward off evil. This one was a bit lower in quality, but it would do for now. Next time he went home, he’d find a better one. Xie Qi eyed the Yupixiu critically.
Qu Yanning had no idea what was on his mind. He just felt uneasy about leaving such a valuable thing out in the open, and tried to put it away.
But Xie Qi guarded it fiercely. Whenever Qu Yanning reached out, Xie Qi swatted his hand away.
After a few rounds, Xie Qi grew angry. He stood up, both front paws dangling in front, round eyes glaring unhappily at Qu Yanning.
Kitty is angry.
Qu Yanning immediately left the Yupixiu alone. People always say cats are liquid, but when his little darling stood up, his body seemed much longer than usual, furry paws dangling, eyes big and round— both pitiful and adorable.
Qu Yanning’s heart melted. He leaned in to nuzzle the furry belly. Xie Qi almost lost his balance, and had to hug his head with his paws.
The gesture was a bit embarrassing— like he was forcing the silly human to kiss his tummy. Xie Qi’s ears flattened, and he blushed quietly.
Qu Yanning had no idea about the cat’s thoughts, lost in the joy of snuggling the furry belly. Only when he had to get back to work did he reluctantly leave the soft warmth.
As for the Yupixiu — so long as the cat was happy.
When closing up that night, Qu Yanning specially swung by the market for lotus seeds. Fresh lotus seeds were already hard to find this season; he had to search the whole market before finding an Auntie selling them at the back entrance.
She’d already shelled them from the pods, packed in white plastic bags and sold by the bag— fifteen yuan each.
There were only a few bags left in the Auntie’s little bamboo basket. The seeds were plump, but looked a bit wilted from sitting too long. Qu Yanning checked them over and ended up buying them all.
The Auntie took the money with a squinty smile, enthusiastically telling him how best to cook them.
Qu Yanning listened patiently, and only when she tottered away with her basket did he head home.
Back home, Qu Yanning boiled the lotus seeds in hot water, peeled and cored them with practiced hands, and filled a bowl with the white seeds.
Then he washed some rice, poured both into the rice cooker, and set it to simmer.
Chu Zhou was sprawled listlessly on the sofa, his face waxy yellow, cheeks flushed with an unhealthy red—not just the look of someone who hadn’t slept well.
“Do you have a fever?” Qu Yanning touched his forehead, but the temperature was normal.
Chu Zhou shook his head, eyes half-closed in weakness, insisting he’d just not slept well.
Qu Yanning felt a little uneasy, remembering the man’s words, but seeing Chu Zhou like this, he decided not to bring it up.
He just said that once the porridge was done, Chu Zhou should have a bowl and rest; if he wasn’t better by tomorrow, they’d go to the hospital.
Chu Zhou agreed helplessly.
Qu Yanning went to check on the porridge, while Xie Qi, who’d been curled up at the other end of the sofa, stood up and padded over to Chu Zhou’s chest, looking down at him.
Chu Zhou grinned, “Here to check if I’m still breathing? If you two aren’t fighting over snacks, you’re fighting over Qu Yanning. Natural enemies, I swear.”
Xie Qi narrowed his eyes, staring at the faint black haze on Chu Zhou’s face. He pressed his paw to Chu Zhou’s forehead.
The furry paw pad against his skin felt warm. Chu Zhou didn’t have the strength to resist, so he let the cat press down, though he still had to tease, “Taking advantage of me while Qu’er isn’t here?”
“……” Xie Qi finished absorbing the black aura, then flicked him with his tail, his wrinkled cat face full of disdain.
Chu Zhou did feel a bit better, changed position on the sofa, and deliberately called out, dragging his words, “Qu’er, I’m so hungry…”
Qu Yanning hurried out with the porridge. He’d added rock sugar; the soft rice grains and plump lotus seeds mixed together, giving off a sweet, tempting aroma.
Chu Zhou had only meant to tease the vinegar jar of a cat, but whether it was the scent of the lotus seed porridge or that he actually felt better, his stomach rumbled at the smell.
Ignoring the heat, he picked up the bowl and ate in big mouthfuls.
Seeing Chu Zhou eating with appetite, Qu Yanning finally relaxed. He brought out food for himself and the cat as well, and the three of them sat together on the sofa, eating porridge.
After eating the lotus seed porridge, Chu Zhou slept soundly that night. The damp, cold aura faded away, and he felt warm and comfortable, no longer haunted by those old, moldy memories.
Not far from them, in a nearby alley, a man knelt by the wall, chanting. In front of him was a small statue, dressed in strange clothes and wearing a hideous mask, its red lips curled in a smile— eerie in the dark.
But the man was devout, kneeling and bowing over and over, mumbling under his breath.
After a while, a look of wild joy appeared on his sallow face. “Thank you, Shen Ling. I will definitely bring the Sheng Tong back.”
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