Chapter 66: Biyu

Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Biyu

Xi Yunxui remained standing where Huo Jingchen had left her, the beautifully packaged backpack still held carefully in her hands.

Her eyes followed his retreating figure until he disappeared from her sight.

Only then did she lower her gaze to the bag again.

A faint crease appeared between her brows.

How should I thank him?

The backpack had clearly not been cheap. Even though Xi Yunxui was still unfamiliar with many things in this modern world, she could tell from its design, the packaging, and the place it had likely come from that it was valuable.

And more importantly—

Huo Jingchen had personally bought it for her.

The thought made Xi Yunxui’s fingers tighten slightly around the handle of the shopping bag.

Should I cook something special for him?

No... I already cook for him.

Perhaps I should make something he particularly likes?

Before she could continue thinking, the system’s voice sounded in her mind.

[Host does not need to think about how to thank Huo Jingchen.]

Xi Yunxui blinked.

Why not?

[Huo Jingchen has already stated that the backpack is a reward for the delicious meals host has prepared for him.]

Xi Yunxui gave an understanding hum.

Oh.

That did make sense.

If it was a reward for her cooking, then perhaps repeatedly thanking him would be unnecessary.

"All right," she murmured softly.

However, even after accepting the system’s explanation, a small part of her mind continued thinking about it.

Still...

I should do something for him.

After all, she had never been someone who enjoyed accepting things from others without returning the kindness.

Xi Yunxui was still lost in thought when—

Ahem.

Someone cleared his throat behind her.

Xi Yunxui jumped slightly.

She immediately turned around.

And froze.

The Huo patriarch was standing several steps behind her.

At some point, he had apparently come out into the garden without her noticing.

King C was comfortably resting in his arms.

The goat-like creature looked entirely too pleased with himself.

Xi Yunxui’s eyes briefly landed on King C.

How comfortable you look.

Then her gaze moved to the Huo patriarch.

The old man’s eyes were filled with amusement.

"Young lady," he began leisurely, "do you believe in fortune-telling now?"

Xi Yunxui froze.

For a moment, she simply stared at him.

Then her head shook sharply.

"No!"

Her answer came so quickly that even the Huo patriarch raised his eyebrows.

"No?"

"No."

Xi Yunxui’s expression immediately became serious.

She had already made the mistake of offending the Huo family’s patriarch without knowing who he was.

The last thing she wanted was for him to believe she had suddenly become interested in fortune-telling.

The Huo patriarch’s lips twitched.

Then he slowly repeated the words he had spoken earlier that day.

"And you will offend people you absolutely should not offend."

Xi Yunxui’s eyes widened.

Her mind immediately returned to the market.

---

The old man.

The fortune-telling stall.

Her anger the moment she saw him.

Her accusing him of deceiving innocent people.

And then—

The strange fortune he had told her.

Xi Yunxui’s expression slowly stiffened.

Her eyes shifted toward the Huo patriarch.

Then back toward the garden.

Then toward him again.

He was talking about himself.

Her mind went completely blank.

The Huo patriarch watched the realization slowly appear on her face.

A laugh nearly escaped him.

Xi Yunxui finally looked at him properly.

"That..."

She paused.

Her brain desperately searched for an explanation.

"Patriarch, about what happened at the market—"

"Relax."

The patriarch interrupted her before she could continue.

Xi Yunxui stopped.

He looked at her calmly.

"Did you truly think I would take offense over a few words?"

Xi Yunxui hesitated.

The honest answer was—

Yes.

He was the patriarch of the Huo family.

She had openly accused him of being a fraud.

And she had done so while he was pretending to be an ordinary old fortune-teller.

However, she wisely kept her thoughts to herself.

The Huo patriarch smiled faintly.

"I was the one pretending to be a fortune-teller. You merely reacted according to what you saw."

Xi Yunxui stared at him.

"So..."

"No one will punish you over what happened at the market."

Relief immediately appeared on Xi Yunxui’s face.

The Huo patriarch noticed.

His amusement deepened.

Then Xi Yunxui suddenly remembered something else.

"The garden!"

The patriarch looked toward the damaged garden.

Xi Yunxui immediately lowered her head.

"Patriarch, about the garden, I—"

"That as well."

Xi Yunxui stopped speaking.

The patriarch’s eyes crinkled slightly.

"Do not worry about it."

She slowly raised her head.

"You won’t hold me accountable?"

"No."

Xi Yunxui blinked.

"Not even a deduction from my salary?"

There was a brief silence.

The Huo patriarch stared at her.

Then his lips twitched.

"...A deduction from your salary?"

Xi Yunxui realized she had accidentally spoken her thoughts aloud.

She immediately straightened.

"I mean—"

The patriarch burst into laughter.

His laughter was deep and genuine, echoing softly through the quiet garden.

King C, who was still in his arms, looked up at him in confusion.

Xi Yunxui, meanwhile, wished she could disappear into the ground.

After a moment, the Huo patriarch finally calmed down.

"You truly are an interesting young lady."

Xi Yunxui could only stand quietly.

The patriarch looked at the damaged flowers again.

"I’ll haven’t someone restore the garden."

Then he glanced at her.

"Your salary will remain untouched."

Xi Yunxui’s eyes brightened.

The patriarch noticed immediately.

Once again, he had to suppress a smile.

"But," he continued, "make sure those two troublesome creatures of yours don’t destroy anything else."

Xi Yunxui quickly nodded.

"Yes, Patriarch!"

King C immediately turned his head toward her.

His eyes widened in disbelief.

Why was he suddenly being blamed?

Xi Yunxui ignored him.

The Huo patriarch looked down at King C.

Then, without warning, he stretched his arms forward.

"Take him."

Xi Yunxui blinked.

"King C?"

"Yes."

Xi Yunxui immediately understood.

She carefully placed the fancy shopping bag over one arm and reached forward with both hands.

The patriarch handed King C over.

The moment King C entered Xi Yunxui’s arms, he immediately made himself comfortable.

Xi Yunxui narrowed her eyes.

You certainly don’t look like someone who caused trouble earlier.

The Huo patriarch watched the two of them for a moment.

Then he turned toward the villa.

"Young lady."

Xi Yunxui looked up.

"Yes, Patriarch?"

He smiled.

"Try not to offend anyone else."

Xi Yunxui’s lips parted.

Before she could respond, the patriarch began walking back toward the villa.

As he walked away, he appeared to mutter something quietly beneath his breath.

Xi Yunxui strained her ears.

But she couldn’t hear a word.

She blinked.

Then looked at King C.

"Did you hear what he said?"

King C stared at her.

Then arrogantly looked away.

Xi Yunxui sighed.

"Of course."

---

Xi Yunxui returned to the staff quarters with King C in her arms.

The fancy shopping bag containing her new backpack hung neatly over her shoulder.

She walked carefully along the quiet path until she reached her room.

Once inside, she closed the door behind her.

She walked over to the dressing table and carefully placed the shopping bag on top of it.

The backpack was still safely inside its box.

Xi Yunxui looked at it for a moment.

A faint smile appeared on her lips.

Then she turned her attention to King C.

"Come."

She walked toward the bed and gently placed him down.

King C immediately sat comfortably on the soft mattress.

He looked up at her.

"What?"

Xi Yunxui crossed her arms.

King C narrowed his eyes.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Xi Yunxui’s expression softened.

"Thank you."

King C froze.

Xi Yunxui continued.

"For what happened during lunch."

King C’s ears twitched.

"You helped me."

She sat beside him.

"If you hadn’t alerted the Huo patriarch, I don’t know what would have happened."

King C stared at her.

For once, he did not immediately say something arrogant.

His expression became strangely awkward.

He turned his face away.

"Hmph."

Xi Yunxui smiled.

King C lifted his chin.

"It was nothing."

Despite his words, his chest puffed up slightly.

He was clearly flattered.

Xi Yunxui noticed.

But she wisely decided not to point it out.

Otherwise, his arrogance would probably become unbearable.

Her gaze then shifted toward the other side of the bed.

The chicken-like creature was awake.

Its brilliant green eyes were staring directly at her.

The moment their gazes met, it made a soft sound.

"Kion."

Xi Yunxui smiled.

"You’re awake."

The creature immediately flapped its strange wings slightly.

"Kion!"

Xi Yunxui tilted her head.

"I’ve been thinking."

The creature stared at her curiously.

"I should give you a name."

King C immediately turned around.

The creature’s green eyes brightened.

Xi Yunxui placed a finger against her chin.

"Hmm..."

Before she could think of anything, King C suddenly spoke.

"How about calling it Red Chicken?"

Silence.

Xi Yunxui slowly turned toward him.

The chicken-like creature also turned toward him.

King C looked between them.

"What?"

Xi Yunxui stared at him.

"...Red Chicken?"

"Yes."

King C nodded confidently.

"It is red."

He pointed toward the creature.

"And it looks like a chicken."

He nodded again.

"So Red Chicken."

The creature immediately flapped its wings.

"KION!"

The sound was unusually loud.

Xi Yunxui’s lips twitched.

"See? Even it doesn’t like the name."

King C frowned.

"Creatures these days have no appreciation for good names."

Xi Yunxui ignored him.

She looked at the red creature again.

"Let me think."

Her eyes slowly moved across its flaming-red feathers.

Then to its beautiful emerald-green eyes.

A name suddenly appeared in her mind.

"Biyu."

The creature blinked.

Xi Yunxui smiled.

"Biyu."

碧羽 (Bìyǔ).

"It means jade-green feathers or emerald feathers."

She gently touched one of the creature’s wings.

"Your feathers aren’t green, but your eyes are."

The creature stared at her.

Xi Yunxui smiled.

"And your wings are too beautiful for you to simply be called a chicken."

For a moment, the creature remained silent.

Then—

"Kion!"

It flapped its wings excitedly.

"Kion! Kion!"

Xi Yunxui’s smile widened.

"I’ll take that as approval."

The creature immediately climbed closer.

Xi Yunxui gently stroked its head.

Biyu closed its emerald eyes happily and leaned into her hand.

King C watched from the side.

His expression slowly darkened.

Xi Yunxui continued stroking Biyu’s head.

King C stared.

She continued.

King C stared harder.

Finally, Xi Yunxui noticed.

She turned her head.

King C was sitting stiffly on the bed.

His expression was completely blank.

But his eyes kept shifting toward Xi Yunxui’s hand.

Then toward Biyu.

Then back toward her hand.

Xi Yunxui’s lips slowly curled upward.

"Oh?"

King C immediately looked away.

"What?"

Xi Yunxui leaned closer.

"Are you jealous?"

King C nearly jumped.

"Jealous?"

He stared at her in disbelief.

"Of that chicken?"

Biyu immediately opened one eye.

"Kion!"

King C glared.

"I wasn’t talking to you."

Xi Yunxui burst into laughter.

King C’s ears twitched.

"I am not jealous."

"Of course not."

Xi Yunxui nodded seriously.

"You’re too dignified to be jealous."

King C narrowed his eyes.

Xi Yunxui smiled innocently.

Then, without another word, she stretched out her other hand and gently rubbed his head.

King C froze.

His entire body stiffened.

Xi Yunxui continued stroking his head.

"Thank you, King C."

For several seconds, King C did not move.

Then he slowly lifted his chin.

"Hmph."

His voice was arrogant.

But he leaned slightly into her hand.

Xi Yunxui’s eyes filled with amusement.

On one side of her was Biyu, happily accepting her affection.

On the other was King C, pretending that he absolutely did not care.

Xi Yunxui looked between the two creatures.

Then she laughed softly.

Perhaps...

Life in this strange modern world wasn’t so bad after all.

~~~~~

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