IMMFBCG Chapter 38 V2

Bai Liu perked up, momentarily forgetting the water, and put down his glass. “Master Aunt, you ran into something?”

Ye Xue simply opened her right hand to show them.

She casually dropped a misshapen ghost onto the floor, and it landed right at Bai Liu’s feet.

The ghost lifted its head, its face twisted and barely recognizable.

Bai Liu let out a shocked yell, “What the—!” catching everyone’s attention.

He quickly waved his hands, grinning awkwardly. “Sorry, I just stepped on my foot.”

The others returned to their meals.

Yu Qi watched as the ghost slowly reformed on the floor, taking the shape of a man, his expression shifting subtly.

Bai Liu leaned in, excited. “No way, Master Aunt, you’re like Conan come to life! Only you could run into a ghost while getting hotpot. Where’d you run into this guy?”

Ye Xue grimaced. “Don’t get me started. I almost got spooked while using the bathroom. This idiot tried crawling in under the door to scare me, so I gave him a little beating.”

Yu Qi frowned upon hearing that.

Bai Liu, half-sober now, felt a rush of anger. “What a perverted ghost!”

He was about to grab something to hit the ghost with when it let out a piercing scream and began to smoke, disintegrating into thin air.

Ye Xue’s face registered surprise, and Bai Liu’s eyes went wide as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

The two of them instinctively looked at Yu Qi.

Yu Qi calmly retracted his hand, his face unreadable, his fingers absently touching a black obsidian bracelet around his wrist as the glowing pattern of a mystic symbol faded.

When he noticed Ye Xue’s curious stare, he lowered his eyes, as if he’d done something wrong, and murmured, “It slipped.”

Bai Liu looked at him, astonished beyond words.

For a ghost to be obliterated like that, just how clumsy do you have to be?

After dealing with the ghost, the three of them lost their appetite and decided to head back to the temple.

When Bai Liu went to settle the bill, the front desk told him it had already been paid. He pocketed his wallet, glanced over at a familiar figure nearby, and understood instantly.

Forget it; when someone buys your meal, you go easy on them.

As they left the hotpot place, Yu Qi’s car pulled up, and the driver, Uncle Wang, greeted them with a smile, “The young master said you all drank a bit, so he asked me to drive you back.”

Though the temple wasn’t far, it was still a good twenty-minute walk, and Bai Liu was feeling a little dizzy himself, so he agreed.

He was about to sit in the back with Ye Xue and let Yu Qi take the front seat, but Yu Qi gently helped Ye Xue into the car.

Bai Liu: “…Fine.”

Resigned, he took the front seat.

Ye Xue, still a bit tipsy, gazed out the window, eventually feeling drowsy. She leaned her head against the window, her eyelids gradually closing, and drifted into sleep.

The car rolled forward, and suddenly, they hit a bump, causing it to jolt.

Bai Liu was startled awake, snapping to attention.

Ye Xue, who had been leaning against the window, started to slump sideways but was caught by a pair of hands.

Yu Qi adjusted her position, but before he could let go, Ye Xue’s head tilted and rested directly on his shoulder.

Yu Qi’s body stiffened, and he didn’t dare to move. Instead, he instinctively sat a bit straighter to give her a more comfortable resting spot.

He looked at Ye Xue’s sleeping face and, lowering his voice, whispered, “Uncle Wang, drive smoothly.”

Uncle Wang acknowledged, and the car began moving more gently.

Yu Qi stared ahead, but his gaze kept wandering back to Ye Xue. Noticing her furrowed brow and the stray strands of hair hanging down, he instinctively reached to smooth it. Just before he touched her, he realized what he was doing and jerked his hand back, looking slightly stunned.

Yu Qi stared down at his right hand, lost in thought.

Bai Liu, not so lucky to have someone to hold him up, had just smacked his head against the window, wincing as pain shot through his face.

Rubbing his forehead, Bai Liu casually glanced forward, but when he saw the scene in the rearview mirror, he nearly jumped.

He looked back, shocked, at Ye Xue leaning comfortably against Yu Qi, sound asleep.

Though there wasn’t anything overtly intimate about the scene, to Bai Liu, it was a major red flag. After all, Yu Qi was someone who avoided physical contact at all costs! There had been a time when someone accidentally brushed against his clothing—Yu Qi had shown no reaction at the time but had quietly gone to change right after.

Anyone who knew Yu Qi knew about his cleanliness fixation.

Bai Liu felt like his worldview had been turned upside down ever since they left the house, staring in awe.

Yu Qi seemed to notice Bai Liu’s stare and looked over at him, calm and composed, without the slightest hint of embarrassment.

Yu Qi’s gaze remained steady, while Bai Liu quickly looked away.

Bai Liu muttered to himself, forcing himself to focus on the road ahead.

Soon, the car came to a stop.

Ye Xue slowly opened her eyes, groggy. “Are we there?”

Yu Qi answered, “Yes, we’re here.”

Hearing his voice, Ye Xue realized she was leaning on Yu Qi’s shoulder, and her face flushed. Embarrassed, she asked, “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

Yu Qi shook his head and glanced at the faint marks her cheek had left on his shoulder before looking away, saying, “No, not at all.”

Ye Xue straightened up, putting a little distance between them, and only got out after she was fully awake.

The group walked from the plaza back toward the temple.

Yu Qi accompanied them until they reached the temple entrance, then stopped. Ye Xue noticed he wasn’t following and asked, “Aren’t you coming in?”

He looked at her, smiled softly, and shook his head. “No, I have some things I need to think through.”

Then, looking at her seriously, Yu Qi added, “Ye Xue, I’ll come see you again next time.”

Ye Xue felt a strange warmth at his words and nodded. “Alright.”

Bai Liu had already gone inside but turned around, calling from the temple entrance, “Hey, there’s food! Are you coming?”

Ye Xue replied, “I’ll be there in a bit!”

She hesitated, watching Yu Qi standing at the entrance, and said, “So, I’ll head inside?”

Yu Qi reached into his pocket, pulled out a beautifully crafted protective talisman, and held it out to her. “Here, take this.”

Before she could respond, he added, “I’ve wanted to give this to you for a long time.”

Ye Xue raised her brows in amusement. “How long, exactly?”

Yu Qi’s tone was serious. “Since we first met…”

Though he’d tried to give it to her several times, there had never been the right moment.

Ye Xue paused, then took it from him, her fingers brushing his hand briefly.

For some reason, the air suddenly felt warmer, and her earlobes tingled with heat.

She carefully tucked it away. “Thank you. I’ll keep it safe.”

Yu Qi smiled again. “Good. Go on in.”

Ye Xue turned to head into the temple.

After a few steps, she looked back. Yu Qi was still standing there, watching her from afar, and he waved goodbye.

…

Uncle Wang waited patiently until he saw Yu Qi walking back to the car.

Something seemed to have clicked for him, and there was a faint smile on his face.

As Uncle Wang gripped the steering wheel, ready to drive, he heard Yu Qi say, “Uncle Wang…”

Uncle Wang looked at him, nodding, “Yes, Mr. Yu? What is it?”

Yu Qi touched his shoulder as if it still held the warmth of someone resting there.

He drew back his hand, his eyes curving into a smile, and said earnestly, “I think… I’m falling for someone.”