RIIDMDR chapter 52

 

That night, Tingchuan told him that the Bai family had almost stopped treating demons after the patriarch changed. The fortune that the family had saved over the past two hundred years while seeking cures from everywhere was probably almost gone. The Bai couple only had a little over four thousand silver coins, which was a sign of this. Zhixing probably knew this, which is why he had been helping out as much as possible.

“But the owner treats me well, and I don’t want to take advantage of him.” Zhixing raised his eyes, his bright, clear gaze fixed on Nanxu. “Can I still help the inn?”

Nanxu hesitated for a few seconds. He could tell Zhixing was serious. If he didn’t agree, he wouldn’t be able to live peacefully in the mountains.

“How about this? I’ll hire you as an inn employee to do small tasks like sweeping the floor and serving tables. Room and board are provided, but there’s no salary. Is that feasible?” Nan Xu asked.

Zhixing’s eyes lit up. “Is there really something this good?”

Nan Xu: …

Nan Xu scratched his head, somewhat puzzled. Are all demons this simple-minded? Zhi Xing is one of four employees at his inn, yet Nan Xu hasn’t paid any of them. No one has mentioned it, and Zhi Xing thinks it’s a great arrangement.

Nan Xu looked puzzled. Zhi Xing was still waiting for a response, his eyes piercing him.

Nan Xu repeated, “No wages.”

Zhi Xing nodded with a smile and said, “I heard you. The owner provides food and lodging.”

Nan Xu said, “Okay, so you’re just another one who heard about the free food and lodging.”

“So, what can I do now?” Zhi Xing was eager to start working.

Nanxu thought he really should let Tingchuan come see this model employee. Back when Tingchuan first arrived, he would sleep on the lounge chair every day, watching him work hard. But now that the running-in period had passed, Tingchuan himself was also busy in front and behind the house every day, so Nanxu didn’t make fun of him for that anymore.

“There’s no need to be so eager. Just watch how Tingchuan does things,” Nanxu said.

I thought Zhi Xing would learn how to slack by following Tingchuan. After all, Zhi Xing had been unconscious for a while. It’s good for a child to be energetic, but we can’t overwork him.

Zhi Xing looked puzzled. “Why do you want to learn from Senior Tingchuan?”

This stumped Nan Xu. “Of course… because… we’re all employees!”

Zhixing’s eyes widened, and he covered his mouth. He was unable to speak for a long time. “Is Senior Tingchuan still just an employee?”

Nanxu: “Why not promote him to lobby manager?”

Zhixing: “Huh?”

The two stared at each other for a long time, neither understanding the other’s intentions. They dropped the subject.

After this conversation, a new employee arrived. Seeing that Tingchuan hadn’t come out yet, Nanxu worried that he would eat the entire pot of dried fish. He stood up and headed for the kitchen. “Tingchuan, stop stealing! Leave some for the customers!”

He yelled as he left. Zhixing remained seated on the stone bench, slowly stuffing dried fish into his mouth while gazing at the kitchen. Had Senior Tingchuan done something to displease the owner? Otherwise, why had they been sleeping in the same bed for so long yet the owner still referred to Tingchuan only as an employee?

The owner is so good-tempered that it’s hard to imagine how Senior Tingchuan could have offended him. It’s intriguing, but I hope they can reconcile soon.

Zhixing had many thoughts, but he hadn’t considered that Nanxu and Tingchuan were simply employer and employee. After all, Nanxu had said himself that saving Zhixing earlier was also related to wanting to help Tingchuan repay a favor. If they weren’t close, how could he have thought of such matters for Tingchuan?

Tingchuan was in the kitchen when he heard the commotion. He quickly stuffed a few more small fish into his mouth. He clapped his hands, trying to get rid of the greasy stains. When he realized it wasn’t working, he quickly performed a body cleansing ritual.

“How did you eat so much?” Nanxu remarked as he entered the room and saw that the pile of fried fish he had previously piled up was gone.

Tingchuan coughed lightly and calmly said, “Just a few. Not as many as you say.”

Nanxu poured the rest into a small bowl. “Just a few? Don’t worry about getting an upset stomach. I’ll boil some water later. Remember to make some bamboo leaf tea to clear your bowels and avoid discomfort at night.”

He wasn’t feeling bad for the small fish; he was just worried that Tingchuan might get an upset stomach from eating too much oily food.

Aware of his concerns, Tingchuan responded, “Have you made peace with that kid?”

Nanxu nodded, a look of melancholy on his face.“I spoke to him, but that child is too stubborn. I don’t know if he convinced me. I’ll hire him to do odd jobs at the inn so he can live comfortably. You can help keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn’t overwork himself. Otherwise, not even the spiritual spring at the top of the mountain might be able to save him.”

It was rather funny for someone who looked so young to be calling others children.

“Okay, got it.” Regarding Zhixing’s health, Tingchuan didn’t refuse Nanxu’s request.

Having eaten too much fried fish, Tingchuan wasn’t interested in dinner, so Nanxu and Zhixing each had a bowl of porridge. As soon as they had cleared the dishes, Luo Yi came down with a bowl after being upstairs for a long time. Seeing Nanxu, she happily came over and said, “Boss, your fish tastes really good. My senior sister loves it.”

“As long as you like it, here are some snacks,” said Nanxu.

Nanxu washed dishes in the kitchen. Luo Yi sat on a small stool by the stove door and watched him work. Nanxu felt sorry for her expensive brocade dress sitting so carelessly in the dustiest place.

However, he didn’t initiate a conversation with her. He thought she was just sitting there thinking, not wanting to talk.

Sure enough, about fifteen minutes later, Luo Yi stood up. Perhaps realizing it was almost time, she stood up and left the kitchen. Before leaving, she glanced back as if she wanted to say something to Nan Xu but ultimately remained silent.

Nan Xu glanced at her and saw her go upstairs, wipe the water off the stove, and return to the bedroom.

Candles burned in the bedroom, and Tingchuan lay on the bed with his hands under his head. Nan Xu entered and closed the door. He said, “These two guests are quite strange.”

Tingchuan glanced sideways and said casually, “Hmm? What’s strange about them?”

Nan Xu thought for a long time before saying, “I can’t really explain it. I just feel like they have other concerns.”

Tingchuan chuckled softly, but not joyfully. Nanxu could even detect a hint of sourness in his laughter. “You really care about them. How could you have noticed, even though I was trying so hard to hide it?”

Nanxu: “Hmm? When did I ever care about them?”

“I got up early this morning to milk the goats for them,” Tingchuan said.

Nan Xu: “Didn’t you say last night that you wanted to try our human milk tea? If we make too much, we can give some to them and save them money.”

“At noon, you made grilled fish and asked about their preferences. Since when have you, the innkeeper, cared so much about guests’ preferences when cooking?” Tingchuan continued leisurely.

Nan Xu: “The chili peppers we grow are too spicy. I just asked if they like spicy food.”

“You had a great conversation with the mermaid in the kitchen tonight. You even gave her fried fish?” Tingchuan asked.

Nan Xu looked at Tingchuan teasingly. “Oh, after all this, you’re still upset that I didn’t let you eat the little fish?”

Tingchuan: …

“So what? I just ate a few more fish, and you felt bad for them. You didn’t even frown when you gave them to someone else.”

Nan Xu stared at Tingchuan for a long moment. Man and demon stared at each other. Suddenly, Nan Xu picked up his pillow and threw it over Tingchuan’s face. “You’d better keep quiet, you white-eyed vixen. Don’t provoke me.” “I’m not happy.”

The pillow completely covered Tingchuan’s face. His slender fingers tried to pry it away but failed. He simply lay down and let Nanxu do as he pleased. A muffled voice rang out from under the pillow. “Is the owner trying to kill me to silence me? Is it because I know his secret? Or is he just pissed off?”

Nanxu took the pillow back and hit it several times. Dejected, he lay down again, hugging the pillow but facing away from Tingchuan. He closed his eyes and ignored him.

Tingchuan tilted his head to look at Nanxu; the word “angry” was written all over his face. He chuckled softly and poked Nanxu’s back. “Just falling asleep?”

Nanxu twisted around, itching, but didn’t respond.

Tingchuan poked him again, and he whispered, “Don’t move!”

Tingchuan replied, “You covered me with your pillow. I haven’t called you out for being disrespectful, and now you’re scolding me?”

Hey? Turning the tables!

Nan Xu suddenly rose, knelt on the bed, and looked at Tingchuan with a stern expression. “You’re my employee. Know your place. How can you accuse the owner of being disrespectful?”

Tingchuan lay in bed, smiling at Nan Xu’s righteous words. “Well, I was the one who was incompetent.”

Nan Xu: …

He lay down again with his back to Tingchuan and said, “I’m going to sleep!”

As expected, Tingchuan didn’t bother Nan Xu again. Nan Xu had no idea what was going on with him in the middle of the night. He would never have argued with Tingchuan in the past. It was only after they became familiar with each other that he became so reckless.

He wasn’t really mad at Tingchuan. If they were serious, the atmosphere wouldn’t be so peaceful. He knew Tingchuan’s personality well. Tonight, Tingchuan’s words and emotions were a mixture of truth and falsehood, and his message was unclear.

Nanxu’s biological clock was ticking, and he fell asleep without much thought, hugging his pillow. But before falling asleep, he felt as if he had forgotten something. What had he and Tingchuan been talking about? It seemed as if Tingchuan was about to ask something, but how did the conversation end up on fried fish?

The person beside him was breathing slowly. Tingchuan tilted his head to glance over. Nanxu usually liked to sleep with his head on his pillow, but tonight, he thought his head might steal his pillow.

Tingchuan clutched his pillow tightly and closed his eyes.

Late at midnight, a cool breeze blew into the room through the open window. Nan Xu shivered and hugged the pillow tighter to his chest. However, the small pillow didn’t block much of the wind, and his neck felt uncomfortable again. He turned over, found a source of warmth, and arched his body, pressing closer to the other person. He found a comfortable position for his head and murmured softly as he fell into a more peaceful sleep.

Tingchuan opened his eyes and saw the young man sleeping soundly on his chest in the darkness. He lightly tapped his fingers on the top of Nan Xu’s head a few times, and spiritual energy rippled in the air around him — but only for a moment.

In the darkness, Tingchuan sighed softly.

In the valley below the main peak, the leaves of thousands of trees rustled simultaneously, creating an eerie, midnight-like melody. Alarmed, Xu Ji rose to investigate. Though there was no wind, the shadows of the trees swayed.