After a long and winding journey, I was finally captured by Si Jiangchen and brought back to his side. But this time, I was willing.
He couldn't see ghosts and didn't know it was Si Tong who attacked me, so he didn't hesitate to use the Yin Five Thunder spell. To protect Si Tong's soul, I had no choice but to take the powerful spell head - on.
The Yin Five Thunder is different from the Yang Five Thunder, which summons the thunder from nature to deliver divine punishment. The Yin Five Thunder activates the law of mutual generation and restraint of the five - element elements within all things, disintegrating from the inside out! Whether it's a spirit or a living being, once hit by the Yin Five Thunder spell, they will surely be devoured by their own bodies. There's no way to avoid it!
I had to stay by Si Jiangchen's side. He got injured for me. If he suddenly lost consciousness like when he entered the door just now and blew himself into pieces, I'd be entangled in even greater karma!
He's a zombie outside the cycle of reincarnation. The evil deeds he's done will surely be punished by the heavens. If I cause him to suffer less because of me, wouldn't all the disasters that should have befallen him fall on me instead?!
However, living together doesn't mean cohabiting. I don't want to sleep in the same room as this guy.
When I asked him to prepare a separate guest room for me, Si Jiangchen's eyes flickered for a moment, but then he still nodded with a smile.
Si Jiangchen's house is a square courtyard. The round dining table is placed in the main hall. On the rosewood table, there's a small basin with milky - white congee and fresh red cubes, accompanied by green scallions. It looks really pleasing to the eye.
"Takeout?"
The last time I was at Si Jiangchen's place, I was drowsy but still stuffed with delicious food. For a moment, I was a bit confused looking at the apron on him. He once said he didn't like eating, so he shouldn't know how to cook... right?
"I made it. Try it, Xiao He."
Si Jiangchen's answer really shocked me. He... how could he cook? Isn't he only fond of eating people?!
A small bone - white bowl with gold - painted patterns was filled with a large portion of the fragrant congee and pushed in front of me.
"Xiao He depleted your qi and blood for me. I should definitely cook something delicious to replenish them for you."
Si Jiangchen pulled out a chair and sat down opposite me. He casually lit a cigarette and put it between his lips.
I was already starving. Smelling the aroma of the congee, I couldn't help but scoop up a large spoonful and put it into my mouth. The tender blood and the fresh and salty scallops immediately made my stomach growl embarrassingly.
"Don't be in a hurry. Be careful not to burn your tongue."
Si Jiangchen's slightly upturned peach - blossom eyes were veiled in the light - blue smoke. His laughter rumbled from his nose, sounding sensually alluring.
But my mind was completely focused on the food in front of me.
I've been on the run with my grandfather Du Wenzhong for so many years, and we've never been particular about eating and sleeping. I remember once when we were being chased by the Du family, we hid in a cornfield where the cornstalks were just starting to grow for three whole days. We dared not make a fire or drink water. We survived the pursuit by gnawing on the tender cornstalks.
That's when my symptoms of anemia and hypoglycemia gradually got worse.
I'm not picky about food, but I'm not very interested in any of it. This is the second time I've tasted the congee made by Si Jiangchen. The delicious taste that made me want to swallow my tongue immediately conquered my stomach.
"Si Jiangchen..."
After I buried my head and ate half a bowl of congee, and the hunger in my stomach subsided a bit, I finally had the chance to speak.
"Hmm?"
He turned his head and looked at me.
"I have three conditions for staying here temporarily, and you have to agree to them."
I was actually a bit nervous when I said this. If he really didn't agree, I'd be helpless...
Unexpectedly, Si Jiangchen nodded with interest, signaling me to continue.
"First, I don't want to live in the same room as you."
I was a bit parched. The spoon in my hand unconsciously poked at the red in the bowl. "My grandfather said that girls should be chaste. I can't... anyway, your house is so big. You can spare a room, right?"
"Um..." Si Jiangchen lowered his eyes. His emotions were hidden in the smoke and were hard to read.
I just assumed he agreed.
"Second, I have my own job."
I glanced at the purple - copper enamel - inlaid wall clock hanging on the wall in the living room. It was just a little past six in the morning. Thanks to Si Jiangchen's fast means of transportation, I wouldn't be late on my first day at work!!
I was lucky enough to experience the benefit of buying time with money.
"You're not allowed to interfere."
My grandfather's soul is in the Haiyue Building. I must find him. Now I'm not sure if it's the Du family who captured his soul. Logically, since they know where my grandfather is, they don't need to go through so much trouble to catch me. They could just wait for me at the ICU door where my grandfather is, right?!
I was a bit confused and didn't want to think about it anymore. I simply decided to follow my instincts.
"Xiao He has a sense of career. That's good."
Si Jiangchen nodded, looking quite approving. "Let's talk about the third point later."
As he said that, he actually stood up, scaring me so much that my spoon fell into the bowl with a clear "ding - dang" sound.
"Hehe..."
Si Jiangchen was amused by my jumpy look and the corners of his lips curled up.
He turned around and walked out of the room. In an instant, he came back with a small plate of sliced red - sugar glutinous lotus root.
"Kids with hypoglycemia have endured a lot of hardships in life. Try this."
Si Jiangchen picked up a slice of the red lotus root and stuffed it into my mouth.
Immediately, the unique fragrance of osmanthus mixed with the strong sweetness seeped into my taste buds. It was a hundred times more delicious than any dessert I'd ever eaten!!
"Did you make this too?"
I chewed the chewy lotus root hard, and the surprise on my face became even more obvious.
He doesn't need to eat. Why can he cook so many delicious things?!... And with his status, does he still need to cook for himself?!
"Of course."
Si Jiangchen lowered his head and licked the honey off his thumb. "Only the ingredients I pick myself are to my liking."
My heart skipped a beat... Am I also an ingredient he personally picked?!
Si Jiangchen's dark eyes looked at me again and said, "Go ahead, Xiao He. What's the third condition?"
"Um..." I was caught off - guard for a moment and just stared at him like a silly goose.
Si Jiangchen suddenly let out a soft laugh. He leaned over, pinched my chin, and quickly kissed me. His soft tongue brushed across my lips, making me jump in surprise.
"Why are you being so touchy - feely again!"
My face blushed uncontrollably again.
"Xiao He is sweeter than honey." Si Jiangchen was tall. Even though I pushed him away a bit, he still gave me a sense of overwhelming pressure.
"The third condition is! I'll leave after I take good care of you!!"
I pushed hard against Si Jiangchen's chest. "You were backfired by your own thunder qi. It seems that you can heal yourself... I can support you until you're fully recovered!"
When I first met Si Jiangchen, I even smashed his head with a compass, but when I saw him again, there wasn't even a scar left. His body's recovery ability must have exceeded that of demons!