Chapter 47: Human Day
Finally home!
When Jiang Hong arrived home, he felt the temperature in Chongqing was just perfect - distinct seasons but not too cold. Stepping into the community, he immediately forgot all about his idyllic retirement plans, realizing there's no place like home.
"Dad! Mom!" shouted Jiang Hong. "We're back!"
What greeted him was an empty house - as expected, his mother, despite her words of concern, hadn't missed any entertainment, and his father had gone to the company's year-end gathering with his colleagues.
Jiang Hong thought: It seems my presence at home doesn't really matter, and here I was feeling guilty for so long.
But in the evening, his parents did return. His mother cooked a big meal, and Jiang Hong shared many stories from his travels. When they learned that Lu Xiu would stay for the New Year, his parents expressed great enthusiasm.
Jiang's father was even more fond of Lu Xiu than his own son, engaging him in lengthy conversations, including about the last stock recommendation, each of which impressed Jiang's father with professional expertise and formal training, leading him to exclaim that knowledge is indeed power.
"How do you all see it?" asked Jiang's father. "I find these stocks lackluster in fundamentals."
"Divination," replied Lu Xiu modestly.
Jiang's father was taken aback, then burst into laughter.
After dinner, Jiang's father asked, "Baby, what's the situation with your senior's family? I don't feel comfortable asking him directly."
Jiang Hong had previously inquired with Lu Xiu and answered as rehearsed: "His parents are divorced, each with their own families."
"Oh—oh—" said Jiang's father, "Okay, okay. That's tough. He's bound to achieve great things in the future."
Jiang Hong thought that for a dragon, such things probably didn't matter much... But then his father changed the subject: "What do you think about Uncle Mo's daughter? She studied finance in the UK, doing her bachelor's and master's consecutively..."
Jiang Hong: "Isn't she the one you wanted to set me up with? Although I have no intention of meeting her, what does this mean?"
Jiang's father spoke earnestly: "She's not interested in you, but Lu Xiu would definitely be suitable. Even though his parents aren't around, he's as close to you as family. I think it's a good idea. How old is he this year?"
"One hundred and six!" Jiang Hong said.
Jiang's father: "I meant his age, not weight. Is he that heavy? It doesn't show."
Jiang Hong suddenly felt displeased and said, "No, they're not suitable."
Jiang's father lamented not having a daughter to firmly bind a young talent like Lu Xiu to the family, letting him divinate stocks for him daily.
Without Lu Xiu's knowledge, Jiang Hong sabotaged his father's matchmaking proposal. After all, Lu Xiu wouldn't mind. But if Lu Xiu were to find a partner, what kind would Jiang Hong accept? His possessiveness surged. Having considered Lu Xiu his own throughout the journey, whether as a brother or a summoned beast... If Lu Xiu had a girlfriend, perhaps Jiang Hong wouldn't spend every day with him anymore.
During Lu Xiu's week-long New Year stay at Jiang's home, he again impressed Jiang's father, who felt Jiang Hong had rarely fulfilled his duties as a son over the years. Jiang Hong, always waited on hand and foot, never volunteered to help, unlike Lu Xiu, who daily hung spring couplets, carried drinks, and ran errands... He was much more helpful than his own son, even playing tennis and chatting with Jiang's father during holidays.
Jiang's father felt like a servant in front of his son but regained the feeling of being a father with Lu Xiu.
On the 29th of the lunar year, the family of four went to Walmart to shop for New Year goods. Lu Xiu pushed the cart while Jiang Hong tossed in their favorite snacks. When Jiang's mother met acquaintances, seeing an extra person in the family, she introduced him as "our Old Jiang's nephew."
"My dear dragon, do you want to try this?" Jiang Hong asked Lu Xiu, holding a package and mimicking a feeding gesture.
"I could consider tasting it." Lu Xiu was always open to trying new foods.
"Bubble dragon, how about this?" Jiang Hong inquired again.
"I'll try it, but stop giving me these weird nicknames." Lu Xiu was now as docile as a Komodo dragon, tolerant of any treatment as long as his basic needs were met, never resisting his caretaker.
"This cured meat from Chengkou is the best," Jiang's mother commented, "It must be thinly sliced and steamed. I'll make it for you tonight... Oh, I mean auntie. Look at me, getting all muddled. Jiang Hong, go grab some fatty beef. We're having hotpot tonight!"
While Jiang's parents were discussing the weight and price of a box of bird's nest, Jiang Hong returned and noticed Lu Xiu lost in thought.
"What's wrong?" Jiang Hong waved his hand in front of Lu Xiu's face.
Lu Xiu snapped back to reality, shook his head, and said, "Nothing."
Jiang Hong knew that whenever Lu Xiu had this look, he was pondering something deep, so he said, "I've noticed you've been very cooperative lately."
"Cooperative with what?" Lu Xiu asked.
Jiang Hong said, "With most things. Like, if I ask you to do something, you do it."
Lu Xiu replied, "I always have."
Jiang Hong: "I remember you once told Teacher Xie that you are my summoned beast. Do we have a contract? I don’t recall signing one."
Without a second thought, Lu Xiu responded, "Your acknowledgment of me is the contract. Are you influenced by novels? Do we need a written agreement?"
Jiang Hong: "So if I summon you and ask for your help, you’ll always help me?"
Lu Xiu answered, "Yes, haven’t I always?"
Jiang Hong: "Oh… I see. But what are the limits? I remember Principal Cao saying in class that the summoning relationship is absolute, meaning..."
Lu Xiu: "What exactly do you want to ask? No need to beat around the bush. Yes, anything, everything. As long as you ask me to do it, I will, without question. But my abilities have limits, so not everything might be successful. As long as you ask, I'll try, even if I might fail."
Jiang Hong: "What if I wasn't myself... like before? I mean, if we were just friends."
Lu Xiu: "Is there something wrong with your brain again?"
Jiang Hong: "Just curious."
Lu Xiu: "Then, of course, there would be no contract."
Jiang Hong: "Would you still do it?"
Lu Xiu: "I would consider it, not unconditionally comply with everything."
Jiang Hong: "But in the end, you would still do it, right?"
Lu Xiu: "..."
Jiang Hong: "So now, with this contract, you don't consider anymore."
Lu Xiu: "I do consider! What are you thinking about, making such a mess?"
Jiang Hong: "Of course, I wouldn't do anything too excessive. I'm just curious... purely curious. Would you kill or set fires?"
Lu Xiu: "Oh, who do you want to kill? Give me a name."
Jiang Hong: "No, no... I was just asking out of curiosity."
Lu Xiu: "Where to set a fire? Expel someone?"
Jiang Hong: "I am a law-abiding citizen, I don't do such things... I would only make you save the world."
Suddenly, Lu Xiu fell silent, then after a moment, he replied, "Hmm, that does sound like something you would say."
Jiang Hong continued searching for things to feed Lu Xiu over the next few days. Suddenly, Lu Xiu added, "There's one thing I can't do."
"What's that?"
"Kill you, or help you commit suicide," said Lu Xiu, "or do anything that puts your life in danger."
Jiang Hong: "Crazy, who would have their contractor kill them?" He felt that calling him a "summoned beast" seemed disrespectful, so he changed the term, adding, "It sounds like the three laws of robotics. You're actually a mechanical dragon, aren't you?"
Lu Xiu, puzzled by Jiang Hong, asked, "Why are you asking all these questions? What exactly do you want me to do?"
Jiang Hong: "Uh... Can you tell me what you were thinking about when you were lost in thought just now?"
Only then did Lu Xiu realize that all this roundabout questioning was to ask this.
"I wasn't thinking about much," Lu Xiu honestly replied. "Just wondering what it would be like if I had a family. I don't have a father or a mother, nor any experience of living with them."
"Alright," Jiang Hong said apologetically, "I'm sorry, I thought you were troubled just now."
Lu Xiu also understood that Jiang Hong had always been worried about him.
"It's fine," said Lu Xiu. "These are the best days I've had since I became conscious."
Before the New Year, Jiang's parents returned home, and the family resumed their daily life: sleeping in, Jiang Hong reading or playing games, Lu Xiu occasionally preparing lessons on Jiang Hong's laptop, and playing sports with Jiang's father in the afternoon.
On New Year's Eve, Jiang's mother remarked, "This year is much livelier with Lu Xiu around. We were afraid Jiang Hong wouldn’t come home for New Year’s after going to university."
"So you two were afraid of an empty nest, huh," said Jiang Hong. "I thought you'd be having a better time without me."
Jiang's father said, "Normally, yes, but during the New Year..."
Jiang Hong, both laughing and crying, said, "That's just adding insult to injury!"
Jiang's father opened a bottle of Maotai and drank with Lu Xiu. Jiang Hong, aware of Lu Xiu's alcohol tolerance, kept signaling him to ease up on the middle-aged drinkers, and Lu Xiu understood the hint.
"By the way," Jiang's father suddenly remembered something during the New Year's Eve dinner, "Baby, do you remember that question you asked me about your roommate's visit?"
"What?" Jiang Hong looked confused.
Jiang's father said, "Didn’t you ask if one of our ancestors was a great feng shui master?"
Jiang Hong had completely forgotten about this, while Lu Xiu stopped what he was doing and looked at Jiang's father.
"During your trip to Tibet, a relative from our hometown visited and mentioned our family tree. He even found a copy for us," Jiang's father explained. "More than two hundred years ago, there really was a great feng shui master in our family named Jiang Shenghuang. But how did you know about this?"
Jiang Hong was utterly astonished and turned to look at Lu Xiu.
"This ancestor was quite famous," Jiang's father continued. "He established his own school of thought and taught many disciples from all over the country. Look, there’s a whole page about his deeds here. It even says he became an 'exorcist' in his later years, living to 115 and subduing many demons... Of course, these supernatural stories are just tales."
"That’s impressive," Lu Xiu commented, "I had no idea we had such a... distinguished ancestor."
"You can't use 'ancestor' like that," Jiang Hong corrected Lu Xiu's newly learned Sichuanese. "That’s a term used for scolding."
Lu Xiu quickly nodded and said, "Here, a toast to you."
Jiang Hong: "But I don't know any magic. I'm just an ordinary person."
Jiang Hong let this slip unintentionally, but his father didn't notice, and his mother added, "In this world, everyone is ordinary. To live a peaceful life and complete a lifetime is happiness, isn’t it?"
On New Year's Eve, after the countdown, Jiang Hong sat on his bed, unable to sleep, marveling at the wonders of fate.
"So it's true!" exclaimed Jiang Hong.
With his last doubt cleared, Jiang Hong asked, "But why is my heart chakra broken?"
Lu Xiu replied, "It's normal. Many descendants of exorcists can't use magic, especially after so many generations. Some exorcists prefer their offspring not to follow in their footsteps, considering it too dangerous, and would rather they live as ordinary people."
Alright... Jiang Hong looked at the awkwardly written deeds of his ancestor, composed in ancient grammar, while his WeChat group was constantly popping up with New Year's greetings, mostly from classmates.
Lu Xiu also sent and received a few messages in the teachers' group, saying, "I need to go back to school tomorrow for something."
"Oh," Jiang Hong, not looking up from his phone while lying on the bed, asked, "Is something wrong with Yuan Shiyu?"
"It's not about him," Lu Xiu, now completely comfortable discussing Yuan Shiyu with Jiang Hong, said, "You're not coming with me, right? You should spend more time with your family, especially during the holidays."
Jiang Hong thought about it, reluctant to leave Lu Xiu, but also feeling it wasn’t right to be away from home during the holiday season.
"Will you be coming back then?" Jiang Hong asked.
Lu Xiu hesitated, and Jiang Hong, calculating the time, noted that the New Year was late this year and they had to return for the school opening on the eighth day of the lunar year, then said, "I'll come to you earlier then."
"Okay," Lu Xiu agreed.
"What's the matter?" Jiang Hong asked again.
"Exorcist Committee business," Lu Xiu explained, "Next semester, there's an option between internships at the Exorcist Committee and the Demon Association. Principal Cao plans to visit some senior leaders of the Exorcist Committee on the second day of the lunar year with a few teachers. I also want to talk to him about your situation."
"Principal Cao is like your guardian, isn't he?" Jiang Hong looked up and smiled at Lu Xiu.
"Not really," Lu Xiu also lay down, putting his phone aside, and said, "But he, along with Chen Zhen and Xiang Cheng, are like older brothers to me, and have taken good care of me."
Outside, the sporadic sound of firecrackers heralded the first night of the New Year. Jiang Hong said, "Wishing you wealth and prosperity, Happy New Year," while playfully searching Lu Xiu's body like a monkey.
"What are you looking for?" Lu Xiu, tickled by Jiang Hong's searching hands, exclaimed, "Stop it now!"
"Looking for a red envelope!" teased Jiang Hong. He enjoyed the feel of Lu Xiu's abs and slim chest muscles—slender in clothes but surprisingly muscular underneath. Not too bulky, and particularly pleasant to embrace, he often couldn't resist taking advantage.
As Jiang Hong's hand slipped under Lu Xiu's T-shirt, reaching his chest, about to playfully pinch him, Lu Xiu also slid his hand inside.
"Hand over the red envelope..." Jiang Hong suddenly fell silent, feeling a thin scale placed in his hand.
"It's yours now," said Lu Xiu.
It was Lu Xiu's reverse scale. Jiang Hong sat up, lifting Lu Xiu's T-shirt to look at his chest.
On his left chest was a faint, crescent-shaped scar. Jiang Hong recalled seeing this mark when Lu Xiu changed clothes, after giving him the scale. The scar would disappear during their journey to Tibet, but now it reappeared.
It had returned.
"No, no." Jiang Hong tried to reattach the scale several times, but failed.
Lu Xiu said, "I never intended to take it back. Keep it, and summon me whenever."
Jiang Hong worried, "But then, when you transform into a dragon, your heart will be unprotected. What if someone shoots you with an arrow..."
"Won't I dodge?" Lu Xiu said, half-amused. "Lying down, no one could hit such a small spot covered by a scale."
Jiang Hong thought, 'But still, the reverse scale is a dragon's only weakness.' But Lu Xiu gently pressed his hand, guiding his fingers together, then made him lie down, turned off the light, and insisted he keep it.
"Happy New Year," Lu Xiu whispered.
"Hmm," replied Jiang Hong.
In the middle of the night, Lu Xiu suddenly said, "From the beginning to the end, Shuhu never erred, it was I who was mistaken. Fate has arranged for us to meet again, you are the descendant of a great feng shui master, this prophecy was accurate, Jiang Hong."
Lu Xiu glanced at the sleeping Jiang Hong, who was holding onto his waist, deeply asleep.
On the first day of the year, Lu Xiu bid farewell to Jiang's parents. They were quite surprised, but realizing that Lu Xiu had only decided to leave after spending the New Year's Eve, they understood there was no issue of inhospitality. Jiang's father insisted on driving him to the airport. Jiang Hong, despite his reluctance, couldn't dissuade him and had to let his father drive them both.
"We'll see each other in a few days." Lu Xiu gestured the size of the scale with his fingers as they said goodbye at the airport.
"Actually..." Jiang Hong always found it a bit embarrassing to say this, but since Lu Xiu would be away for a few days, it seemed easier to say now.
Lu Xiu: "?"
Jiang Hong: "Actually, I’m... quite happy to find out that I really am... the one you've been looking for. Maybe I've forgotten a lot, no, I don’t remember anything, and I’m not the same person from my past life... But knowing that there's still... this connection between us, makes me happier than anything... Yeah, that’s it. You understand what I mean."
Lu Xiu: "That's not important. Whether or not you are him doesn't matter anymore. I realized this when I came to visit you during my winter break."
Jiang Hong didn't fully understand what Lu Xiu meant by this, but such words between two boys were indeed very ambiguous.
"But I think you're quite happy too," said Jiang Hong.
"Yes," Lu Xiu replied, "Happier than when I first found you. I was too nervous then, even unsure how to talk to you, afraid of offending you... Never mind, it's too awkward."
Lu Xiu said this without daring to look at Jiang Hong.
Jiang Hong laughed and asked, "What about now?"
"The most precious thing in the world is not what you gain, but what you regain," Lu Xiu answered, then quickly left without saying goodbye.
Regaining what was lost, Jiang Hong thought, it seemed to be the case.
"Baby, when are you going back to school?" Jiang's father asked.
Jiang Hong: "On the eighth day of the lunar month... Why do you ask?"
Jiang's father: "Your mother and I are going to Sanya for a vacation on the fifth day. You'll be able to take care of yourself at home, right?"
Jiang Hong: "Here we go again! I knew it... so much for fearing a quiet New Year! Fine, I'll leave on the fifth, no need to drop me off at the airport."
Jiang's father: "Alright, alright... Huh? Baby, has Xiao Lu already left?"
"Yeah," said Jiang Hong, "What about it?"
Jiang's father: "I thought I saw him hailing a cab on the roadside. Did he forget something?"
Jiang Hong thought: It's your fault, he didn't even buy a plane ticket. Thanks to your insistence on driving him to the airport, Lu Xiu had to take a cab from there, find a secluded spot to get out, and then transform into a dragon to fly back.
"No," Jiang Hong firmly denied, "You must be seeing things."
Jiang's father chuckled and repeatedly said, "Alright, alright."
In the remaining days, Jiang Hong hung out with his high school friends, singing karaoke and playing murder mystery games, and time flew by. Lu Xiu sent him messages every morning and evening.
Jiang Hong: [You've become quite active in sending WeChat messages recently.]
Lu Xiu: [Wasn't I always like this?]
Jiang Hong scrolled up the chat history and realized it was true. Before the incident with Yuan Shiyu, Lu Xiu had always sent him messages morning and evening. Jiang Hong would reply when he saw them, engaging in brief chats, even during winter break.
But during that period, Jiang Hong hardly ever replied to him.
Oh, indeed… Jiang Hong now experienced the feeling of regaining something precious, something he had never paid much attention to before.
"Now I understand why there are so many homosexuals in the world," Jiang Hong mused aloud while lying in bed. "Hey Lao Sun, are you male or female? I guess you're male, right?"
When Lu Xiu was around, Lao Sun was very tactful, mostly silent when they traveled on National Highway 318, never interrupting their conversation, knowing well not to mess with Lu Xiu.
"Male… I guess," Lao Sun's voice was a bit hoarse, but distinctly male.
"Continuing like this," Jiang Hong said, "I feel like I might end up falling for Lu Xiu sooner or later. Ahhh!"
For the first time, Jiang Hong felt that his Hatsune Miku body pillow was so stiff and cold, lacking the slender waist, defined abs, and comforting arms to rest upon... Cough, cough! This wouldn't do. After sharing a bed with Lu Xiu so often, Jiang Hong felt he was losing control. He needed to toughen up!
Fortunately, returning to school meant no more sharing a bed with Lu Xiu, a perfect opportunity to solidify his wavering sexual orientation.
On the fifth day of the new year, Jiang Hong planned with his roommates to visit their teachers and ask for red envelopes. He went to the airport with his parents. Jiang's father and mother were sad to part, yet smiled brightly, eager for the sun and beaches of Sanya. Meanwhile, Jiang Hong was heading back to the snowy Qinling Mountains for school.
"Have a great time," Jiang Hong said expressionlessly.
Going back to school was actually exciting. The new term promised many novel and interesting things. Plus, Jiang Hong missed Lu Xiu a bit, even though it had only been five days apart. Given the choice, he would prefer to vacation and go diving in Sanya with Lu Xiu, who probably wouldn’t even need an oxygen tank. Maybe he could even take him deep-sea diving...
If he didn't have to work after graduation, spending every day exploring with Lu Xiu would be the perfect life. After all, with a lifespan of less than a hundred years, it was a shame to waste so much time making a living. Studying to be an exorcist, what job would he find in the future? Feng shui consulting?
Jiang Hong's thoughts wandered on the plane. He wondered if Lu Xiu would be sad after his death in this life and whether Lu Xiu would seek out his next incarnation.
But arriving at Xi'an Airport, he saw the familiar Kawasaki H2 and Lu Xiu astride it, clad in a sleek black racing suit, his long legs supporting the bike, attracting covert snapshots from people leaving the airport.
Lu Xiu, helmet on and adjusting his gloves, seemed not to have noticed Jiang Hong.
Jiang Hong, ditching his luggage with the school bus, ran over and hopped onto the motorcycle, asking, "You taking off, Master?"
Lu Xiu: "Where to?"
Jiang Hong: "How much to Qinling Scenic Area?"
"Eight yuan," Lu Xiu replied, starting the Kawasaki H2 and speeding off.
Back again!
Upon returning to the university, the campus was festively decorated. Although not many students stayed for the New Year, colorful lights were hung everywhere. The university, never short of funds, celebrated the festival grandly. By the fifth day, they were already preparing for the Lantern Festival.
From the first to the seventh day, the cafeteria offered free New Year buffets, including mini hot pots and Western cuisine. The teachers and students who stayed on campus, all dressed in traditional-style clothes, had an unspoken agreement. Lu Xiu took Jiang Hong to the cafeteria for a meal first.
"No one's been in your dorm for a month, it'll be cold. Sleep at mine tonight?" Lu Xiu suggested. "I've changed dorms."
"They're already back," Jiang Hong said.
"Oh," Lu Xiu pondered for a moment, then conceded, "Then I'll take you back."
Jiang Hong returned to his dormitory after spending half a day with Lu Xiu, waving goodbye to him. Back in his room, the familiar scent of the boys' dormitory greeted him - a mix of Jin's lion brand cologne and He Jian's perfume.
Zhang Xiting said, "Did you and the counselor go on a honeymoon during the winter break?"
"No! No! No!" Jiang Hong replied, "Don't spread rumors. I'm not close with that Tibetan fox. Here, I brought you all some Tibetan specialties."
Jin and He Jian also returned, and everyone began to look at Jiang Hong's photos, sharing their own winter break stories.
He Jian said, "Lu Xiu applied to be the assistant counselor for our grade, didn't you know?"
"Oh... really?" Jiang Hong responded, "Is our school that short of teachers?"
"I heard he could have graduated a while ago and even had the chance to stay on as a teacher," Jin said, "but for some reason, he's been hanging around as a graduate student."
Zhang Xiting joked, "Mrs. Counselor, we'll be counting on you to take care of this year's classes."
"No! No!" Jiang Hong climbed onto Zhang Xiting's bed and stuffed dried yak meat into his mouth, while Zhang Xiting cried out for mercy.
On the seventh day of the first lunar month, the students, like celebrating Halloween, swarmed to the teachers' dormitories, knocking on doors like mad dogs. The few teachers staying on campus were ready, with Cao Bin being the first to open his door, handing out red envelopes to everyone.
"Thank you, Principal!" everyone shouted.
"Should we kowtow?" Jiang Hong joked.
Everyone told him to stop talking nonsense and dragged him away. Xie Liao, who also stayed at school, came out to distribute red envelopes upon hearing the noise.
"How much did Principal Cao give?" Everyone in the corridor openly opened their red envelopes; Cao Bin's was two hundred yuan, bless him! Xie Liao's was one hundred and sixty, quite an effort to gather so many ten-yuan notes.
"Director Xuan—!" shouted the crowd.
"Come on, let's distribute a 5-million-yuan red envelope!" Xuan Hezhi also prepared a big stack, which was absolutely astonishing.
"What's inside?"
After Xuan Hezhi left, everyone whispered among themselves, "Could it be from the Sky-Earth Bank...?"
Inside the red envelope was a printed lottery ticket.
"Teacher Lu!" Upon seeing Lu Xiu, everyone turned into fawning admirers, eagerly pushing Jiang Hong towards him.
Lu Xiu handed over several neatly packed red envelopes to Jiang Hong, saying, "Wishing you all a Happy New Year," then turned and closed the door.
The students immediately rushed forward to snatch them. There was a hundred yuan in Lu Xiu's red envelopes. It seemed the teachers had agreed on the amount; Cao Bin gave the most, but Lu Xiu’s sheer number of envelopes outweighed this. Without discrimination, he gave several hundreds to Jiang Hong, which, when divided, meant each person could get two or three, making it the most generous share.
Jiang Hong noticed that although Lu Xiu was aloof, he was extremely popular among the students, perhaps due to his cool, youthful charisma, with admirers everywhere.
[There's a Seventh Day Tea Party in Class S today, are you coming?]
Leaving the teachers' dormitory, Jiang Hong received a message from Lu Xiu, took leave from his roommates, and headed to Class S.
Many previously insignificant festivals suddenly became meaningful at Cangqiong University, like the Seventh Day Human Day, traditionally believed to be the day Nüwa created humans. The cafeteria would even provide cakes for the human students today.
But in his previous life environment, where everyone was human, Jiang Hong had never seriously celebrated this festival.
"Everyone's back."
Cao Bin said with a smile as he opened the door.
In the activity room of Class S, there were afternoon tea snacks like cupcakes, biscuits, and chocolates. Cao Bin wore a white shirt under a slim-fit brown leather waistcoat, looking very dapper. With his sleeves rolled up while making coffee, he resembled a professional barista, stunningly handsome.
Xiang Sihui was also there, dressed in a red Tang suit with velvet pants-skirt, resembling ancient attire. His hair had grown quite long, and he was playing on a PlayStation.
"Hello, Principal," greeted Jiang Hong with a beaming smile, happy about his fruitful day.
"Seems like you had an interesting winter break," said Cao Bin. "Feel free to help yourself to the snacks."
"Did you bake these?" Jiang Hong was astonished.
"Sihui made them," Cao Bin replied.
"Don't complain if they don't taste good," Sihui casually said, eyes still fixed on the screen.
Jiang Hong had not the slightest clue that Sihui could bake cakes.
"How did you spend the Spring Festival, Principal?" asked Jiang Hong.
"With Sihui," Cao Bin answered. "We went to Li Mountain to soak in the hot springs."
What really was Sihui's true form? Jiang Hong was a bit curious but did not ask.
"By the way, Principal, I have a question to ask you," Jiang Hong suddenly remembered something he had been meaning to ask, having delayed it all winter break.
"Hmm," Cao Bin gestured for Jiang Hong to wait a moment, then said, "Before Pi Yunhao and Lu Xiu arrive, let me confirm something with you, Jiang Hong. Do you mind if I channel energy into you now?"
Jiang Hong: "Hmm? What kind of energy?"
Cao Bin: "Hasn't Lu Xiu asked you yet? He said you had already agreed."
"Ah, yes!" Jiang Hong suddenly remembered. Cao Bin was willing to channel energy into his heart chakra!
"Thank you, Principal, I'm so grateful, I really feel embarrassed..." Jiang Hong said, "I didn't expect it to be you, Principal. I'm incredibly honored... It's like being reborn!"
After listening to Jiang Hong's effusive praise, Cao Bin gestured for him to have some coffee. Jiang Hong asked, "Will it be very taxing for you? Could there be any adverse effects..."
Cao Bin: "Not at all, it's just a trivial matter for me, takes less than a minute, but..."
Jiang Hong took a sip of coffee, and suddenly, the image of Cao Bin in front of him blurred. He leaned on the bar, and then knew nothing more.
When he woke up, it was to the noise of Xiao Pi complaining loudly about unfairness, trying to snatch a card from Sihui, who refused to give it.
"You're awake," said Lu Xiu.
Jiang Hong found himself sleeping on the couch, covered with Lu Xiu's suit jacket. Lu Xiu was sitting on the carpet below the couch. Today, his attire was similar to Cao Bin's, both wearing a three-piece suit with a vest over a shirt, except Lu Xiu's suit was pure black, very sharp, making him look younger and more energetic than Cao Bin, who had a more gentlemanly air.
Jiang Hong: "How did I suddenly fall asleep?"
Cao Bin: "Get up and move around, see if you feel uncomfortable."
Jiang Hong yawned, then suddenly remembered the energy channeling, asking, "Is it done?"
"Yes," Cao Bin said, "It was quick, but for some unspoken reasons, I let you sleep for ten minutes longer. I assume you don't mind."
Having said that, Cao Bin exchanged a look with Xiang Sihui, who then turned his gaze towards Jiang Hong, watching him intently.
"It's your turn," said Xiao Pi.
Sihui said expressionlessly, "Don't cheat."
Xiao Pi: "How could I possibly cheat?"
"Four sixes, do you want them?"
Xiao Pi: "…"
"Four queens."
Xiao Pi: "………………"
"And a pair of jokers, that's it."
Sihui immediately made Xiao Pi endure three consecutive 'bomb' plays.
Jiang Hong thanked them repeatedly and sat up. Lu Xiu said, "Feel around your heart."
Jiang Hong took a deep breath and, using the method Xie Liao had taught him for channeling magical energy, he activated his newfound powers.
Chapter 47: Human Day
Finally home!
When Jiang Hong arrived home, he felt the temperature in Chongqing was just perfect - distinct seasons but not too cold. Stepping into the community, he immediately forgot all about his idyllic retirement plans, realizing there's no place like home.
"Dad! Mom!" shouted Jiang Hong. "We're back!"
What greeted him was an empty house - as expected, his mother, despite her words of concern, hadn't missed any entertainment, and his father had gone to the company's year-end gathering with his colleagues.
Jiang Hong thought: It seems my presence at home doesn't really matter, and here I was feeling guilty for so long.
But in the evening, his parents did return. His mother cooked a big meal, and Jiang Hong shared many stories from his travels. When they learned that Lu Xiu would stay for the New Year, his parents expressed great enthusiasm.
Jiang's father was even more fond of Lu Xiu than his own son, engaging him in lengthy conversations, including about the last stock recommendation, each of which impressed Jiang's father with professional expertise and formal training, leading him to exclaim that knowledge is indeed power.
"How do you all see it?" asked Jiang's father. "I find these stocks lackluster in fundamentals."
"Divination," replied Lu Xiu modestly.
Jiang's father was taken aback, then burst into laughter.
After dinner, Jiang's father asked, "Baby, what's the situation with your senior's family? I don't feel comfortable asking him directly."
Jiang Hong had previously inquired with Lu Xiu and answered as rehearsed: "His parents are divorced, each with their own families."
"Oh—oh—" said Jiang's father, "Okay, okay. That's tough. He's bound to achieve great things in the future."
Jiang Hong thought that for a dragon, such things probably didn't matter much... But then his father changed the subject: "What do you think about Uncle Mo's daughter? She studied finance in the UK, doing her bachelor's and master's consecutively..."
Jiang Hong: "Isn't she the one you wanted to set me up with? Although I have no intention of meeting her, what does this mean?"
Jiang's father spoke earnestly: "She's not interested in you, but Lu Xiu would definitely be suitable. Even though his parents aren't around, he's as close to you as family. I think it's a good idea. How old is he this year?"
"One hundred and six!" Jiang Hong said.
Jiang's father: "I meant his age, not weight. Is he that heavy? It doesn't show."
Jiang Hong suddenly felt displeased and said, "No, they're not suitable."
Jiang's father lamented not having a daughter to firmly bind a young talent like Lu Xiu to the family, letting him divinate stocks for him daily.
Without Lu Xiu's knowledge, Jiang Hong sabotaged his father's matchmaking proposal. After all, Lu Xiu wouldn't mind. But if Lu Xiu were to find a partner, what kind would Jiang Hong accept? His possessiveness surged. Having considered Lu Xiu his own throughout the journey, whether as a brother or a summoned beast... If Lu Xiu had a girlfriend, perhaps Jiang Hong wouldn't spend every day with him anymore.
During Lu Xiu's week-long New Year stay at Jiang's home, he again impressed Jiang's father, who felt Jiang Hong had rarely fulfilled his duties as a son over the years. Jiang Hong, always waited on hand and foot, never volunteered to help, unlike Lu Xiu, who daily hung spring couplets, carried drinks, and ran errands... He was much more helpful than his own son, even playing tennis and chatting with Jiang's father during holidays.
Jiang's father felt like a servant in front of his son but regained the feeling of being a father with Lu Xiu.
On the 29th of the lunar year, the family of four went to Walmart to shop for New Year goods. Lu Xiu pushed the cart while Jiang Hong tossed in their favorite snacks. When Jiang's mother met acquaintances, seeing an extra person in the family, she introduced him as "our Old Jiang's nephew."
"My dear dragon, do you want to try this?" Jiang Hong asked Lu Xiu, holding a package and mimicking a feeding gesture.
"I could consider tasting it." Lu Xiu was always open to trying new foods.
"Bubble dragon, how about this?" Jiang Hong inquired again.
"I'll try it, but stop giving me these weird nicknames." Lu Xiu was now as docile as a Komodo dragon, tolerant of any treatment as long as his basic needs were met, never resisting his caretaker.
"This cured meat from Chengkou is the best," Jiang's mother commented, "It must be thinly sliced and steamed. I'll make it for you tonight... Oh, I mean auntie. Look at me, getting all muddled. Jiang Hong, go grab some fatty beef. We're having hotpot tonight!"
While Jiang's parents were discussing the weight and price of a box of bird's nest, Jiang Hong returned and noticed Lu Xiu lost in thought.
"What's wrong?" Jiang Hong waved his hand in front of Lu Xiu's face.
Lu Xiu snapped back to reality, shook his head, and said, "Nothing."
Jiang Hong knew that whenever Lu Xiu had this look, he was pondering something deep, so he said, "I've noticed you've been very cooperative lately."
"Cooperative with what?" Lu Xiu asked.
Jiang Hong said, "With most things. Like, if I ask you to do something, you do it."
Lu Xiu replied, "I always have."
Jiang Hong: "I remember you once told Teacher Xie that you are my summoned beast. Do we have a contract? I don’t recall signing one."
Without a second thought, Lu Xiu responded, "Your acknowledgment of me is the contract. Are you influenced by novels? Do we need a written agreement?"
Jiang Hong: "So if I summon you and ask for your help, you’ll always help me?"
Lu Xiu answered, "Yes, haven’t I always?"
Jiang Hong: "Oh… I see. But what are the limits? I remember Principal Cao saying in class that the summoning relationship is absolute, meaning..."
Lu Xiu: "What exactly do you want to ask? No need to beat around the bush. Yes, anything, everything. As long as you ask me to do it, I will, without question. But my abilities have limits, so not everything might be successful. As long as you ask, I'll try, even if I might fail."
Jiang Hong: "What if I wasn't myself... like before? I mean, if we were just friends."
Lu Xiu: "Is there something wrong with your brain again?"
Jiang Hong: "Just curious."
Lu Xiu: "Then, of course, there would be no contract."
Jiang Hong: "Would you still do it?"
Lu Xiu: "I would consider it, not unconditionally comply with everything."
Jiang Hong: "But in the end, you would still do it, right?"
Lu Xiu: "..."
Jiang Hong: "So now, with this contract, you don't consider anymore."
Lu Xiu: "I do consider! What are you thinking about, making such a mess?"
Jiang Hong: "Of course, I wouldn't do anything too excessive. I'm just curious... purely curious. Would you kill or set fires?"
Lu Xiu: "Oh, who do you want to kill? Give me a name."
Jiang Hong: "No, no... I was just asking out of curiosity."
Lu Xiu: "Where to set a fire? Expel someone?"
Jiang Hong: "I am a law-abiding citizen, I don't do such things... I would only make you save the world."
Suddenly, Lu Xiu fell silent, then after a moment, he replied, "Hmm, that does sound like something you would say."
Jiang Hong continued searching for things to feed Lu Xiu over the next few days. Suddenly, Lu Xiu added, "There's one thing I can't do."
"What's that?"
"Kill you, or help you commit suicide," said Lu Xiu, "or do anything that puts your life in danger."
Jiang Hong: "Crazy, who would have their contractor kill them?" He felt that calling him a "summoned beast" seemed disrespectful, so he changed the term, adding, "It sounds like the three laws of robotics. You're actually a mechanical dragon, aren't you?"
Lu Xiu, puzzled by Jiang Hong, asked, "Why are you asking all these questions? What exactly do you want me to do?"
Jiang Hong: "Uh... Can you tell me what you were thinking about when you were lost in thought just now?"
Only then did Lu Xiu realize that all this roundabout questioning was to ask this.
"I wasn't thinking about much," Lu Xiu honestly replied. "Just wondering what it would be like if I had a family. I don't have a father or a mother, nor any experience of living with them."
"Alright," Jiang Hong said apologetically, "I'm sorry, I thought you were troubled just now."
Lu Xiu also understood that Jiang Hong had always been worried about him.
"It's fine," said Lu Xiu. "These are the best days I've had since I became conscious."
Before the New Year, Jiang's parents returned home, and the family resumed their daily life: sleeping in, Jiang Hong reading or playing games, Lu Xiu occasionally preparing lessons on Jiang Hong's laptop, and playing sports with Jiang's father in the afternoon.
On New Year's Eve, Jiang's mother remarked, "This year is much livelier with Lu Xiu around. We were afraid Jiang Hong wouldn’t come home for New Year’s after going to university."
"So you two were afraid of an empty nest, huh," said Jiang Hong. "I thought you'd be having a better time without me."
Jiang's father said, "Normally, yes, but during the New Year..."
Jiang Hong, both laughing and crying, said, "That's just adding insult to injury!"
Jiang's father opened a bottle of Maotai and drank with Lu Xiu. Jiang Hong, aware of Lu Xiu's alcohol tolerance, kept signaling him to ease up on the middle-aged drinkers, and Lu Xiu understood the hint.
"By the way," Jiang's father suddenly remembered something during the New Year's Eve dinner, "Baby, do you remember that question you asked me about your roommate's visit?"
"What?" Jiang Hong looked confused.
Jiang's father said, "Didn’t you ask if one of our ancestors was a great feng shui master?"
Jiang Hong had completely forgotten about this, while Lu Xiu stopped what he was doing and looked at Jiang's father.
"During your trip to Tibet, a relative from our hometown visited and mentioned our family tree. He even found a copy for us," Jiang's father explained. "More than two hundred years ago, there really was a great feng shui master in our family named Jiang Shenghuang. But how did you know about this?"
Jiang Hong was utterly astonished and turned to look at Lu Xiu.
"This ancestor was quite famous," Jiang's father continued. "He established his own school of thought and taught many disciples from all over the country. Look, there’s a whole page about his deeds here. It even says he became an 'exorcist' in his later years, living to 115 and subduing many demons... Of course, these supernatural stories are just tales."
"That’s impressive," Lu Xiu commented, "I had no idea we had such a... distinguished ancestor."
"You can't use 'ancestor' like that," Jiang Hong corrected Lu Xiu's newly learned Sichuanese. "That’s a term used for scolding."
Lu Xiu quickly nodded and said, "Here, a toast to you."
Jiang Hong: "But I don't know any magic. I'm just an ordinary person."
Jiang Hong let this slip unintentionally, but his father didn't notice, and his mother added, "In this world, everyone is ordinary. To live a peaceful life and complete a lifetime is happiness, isn’t it?"
On New Year's Eve, after the countdown, Jiang Hong sat on his bed, unable to sleep, marveling at the wonders of fate.
"So it's true!" exclaimed Jiang Hong.
With his last doubt cleared, Jiang Hong asked, "But why is my heart chakra broken?"
Lu Xiu replied, "It's normal. Many descendants of exorcists can't use magic, especially after so many generations. Some exorcists prefer their offspring not to follow in their footsteps, considering it too dangerous, and would rather they live as ordinary people."
Alright... Jiang Hong looked at the awkwardly written deeds of his ancestor, composed in ancient grammar, while his WeChat group was constantly popping up with New Year's greetings, mostly from classmates.
Lu Xiu also sent and received a few messages in the teachers' group, saying, "I need to go back to school tomorrow for something."
"Oh," Jiang Hong, not looking up from his phone while lying on the bed, asked, "Is something wrong with Yuan Shiyu?"
"It's not about him," Lu Xiu, now completely comfortable discussing Yuan Shiyu with Jiang Hong, said, "You're not coming with me, right? You should spend more time with your family, especially during the holidays."
Jiang Hong thought about it, reluctant to leave Lu Xiu, but also feeling it wasn’t right to be away from home during the holiday season.
"Will you be coming back then?" Jiang Hong asked.
Lu Xiu hesitated, and Jiang Hong, calculating the time, noted that the New Year was late this year and they had to return for the school opening on the eighth day of the lunar year, then said, "I'll come to you earlier then."
"Okay," Lu Xiu agreed.
"What's the matter?" Jiang Hong asked again.
"Exorcist Committee business," Lu Xiu explained, "Next semester, there's an option between internships at the Exorcist Committee and the Demon Association. Principal Cao plans to visit some senior leaders of the Exorcist Committee on the second day of the lunar year with a few teachers. I also want to talk to him about your situation."
"Principal Cao is like your guardian, isn't he?" Jiang Hong looked up and smiled at Lu Xiu.
"Not really," Lu Xiu also lay down, putting his phone aside, and said, "But he, along with Chen Zhen and Xiang Cheng, are like older brothers to me, and have taken good care of me."
Outside, the sporadic sound of firecrackers heralded the first night of the New Year. Jiang Hong said, "Wishing you wealth and prosperity, Happy New Year," while playfully searching Lu Xiu's body like a monkey.
"What are you looking for?" Lu Xiu, tickled by Jiang Hong's searching hands, exclaimed, "Stop it now!"
"Looking for a red envelope!" teased Jiang Hong. He enjoyed the feel of Lu Xiu's abs and slim chest muscles—slender in clothes but surprisingly muscular underneath. Not too bulky, and particularly pleasant to embrace, he often couldn't resist taking advantage.
As Jiang Hong's hand slipped under Lu Xiu's T-shirt, reaching his chest, about to playfully pinch him, Lu Xiu also slid his hand inside.
"Hand over the red envelope..." Jiang Hong suddenly fell silent, feeling a thin scale placed in his hand.
"It's yours now," said Lu Xiu.
It was Lu Xiu's reverse scale. Jiang Hong sat up, lifting Lu Xiu's T-shirt to look at his chest.
On his left chest was a faint, crescent-shaped scar. Jiang Hong recalled seeing this mark when Lu Xiu changed clothes, after giving him the scale. The scar would disappear during their journey to Tibet, but now it reappeared.
It had returned.
"No, no." Jiang Hong tried to reattach the scale several times, but failed.
Lu Xiu said, "I never intended to take it back. Keep it, and summon me whenever."
Jiang Hong worried, "But then, when you transform into a dragon, your heart will be unprotected. What if someone shoots you with an arrow..."
"Won't I dodge?" Lu Xiu said, half-amused. "Lying down, no one could hit such a small spot covered by a scale."
Jiang Hong thought, 'But still, the reverse scale is a dragon's only weakness.' But Lu Xiu gently pressed his hand, guiding his fingers together, then made him lie down, turned off the light, and insisted he keep it.
"Happy New Year," Lu Xiu whispered.
"Hmm," replied Jiang Hong.
In the middle of the night, Lu Xiu suddenly said, "From the beginning to the end, Shuhu never erred, it was I who was mistaken. Fate has arranged for us to meet again, you are the descendant of a great feng shui master, this prophecy was accurate, Jiang Hong."
Lu Xiu glanced at the sleeping Jiang Hong, who was holding onto his waist, deeply asleep.
On the first day of the year, Lu Xiu bid farewell to Jiang's parents. They were quite surprised, but realizing that Lu Xiu had only decided to leave after spending the New Year's Eve, they understood there was no issue of inhospitality. Jiang's father insisted on driving him to the airport. Jiang Hong, despite his reluctance, couldn't dissuade him and had to let his father drive them both.
"We'll see each other in a few days." Lu Xiu gestured the size of the scale with his fingers as they said goodbye at the airport.
"Actually..." Jiang Hong always found it a bit embarrassing to say this, but since Lu Xiu would be away for a few days, it seemed easier to say now.
Lu Xiu: "?"
Jiang Hong: "Actually, I’m... quite happy to find out that I really am... the one you've been looking for. Maybe I've forgotten a lot, no, I don’t remember anything, and I’m not the same person from my past life... But knowing that there's still... this connection between us, makes me happier than anything... Yeah, that’s it. You understand what I mean."
Lu Xiu: "That's not important. Whether or not you are him doesn't matter anymore. I realized this when I came to visit you during my winter break."
Jiang Hong didn't fully understand what Lu Xiu meant by this, but such words between two boys were indeed very ambiguous.
"But I think you're quite happy too," said Jiang Hong.
"Yes," Lu Xiu replied, "Happier than when I first found you. I was too nervous then, even unsure how to talk to you, afraid of offending you... Never mind, it's too awkward."
Lu Xiu said this without daring to look at Jiang Hong.
Jiang Hong laughed and asked, "What about now?"
"The most precious thing in the world is not what you gain, but what you regain," Lu Xiu answered, then quickly left without saying goodbye.
Regaining what was lost, Jiang Hong thought, it seemed to be the case.
"Baby, when are you going back to school?" Jiang's father asked.
Jiang Hong: "On the eighth day of the lunar month... Why do you ask?"
Jiang's father: "Your mother and I are going to Sanya for a vacation on the fifth day. You'll be able to take care of yourself at home, right?"
Jiang Hong: "Here we go again! I knew it... so much for fearing a quiet New Year! Fine, I'll leave on the fifth, no need to drop me off at the airport."
Jiang's father: "Alright, alright... Huh? Baby, has Xiao Lu already left?"
"Yeah," said Jiang Hong, "What about it?"
Jiang's father: "I thought I saw him hailing a cab on the roadside. Did he forget something?"
Jiang Hong thought: It's your fault, he didn't even buy a plane ticket. Thanks to your insistence on driving him to the airport, Lu Xiu had to take a cab from there, find a secluded spot to get out, and then transform into a dragon to fly back.
"No," Jiang Hong firmly denied, "You must be seeing things."
Jiang's father chuckled and repeatedly said, "Alright, alright."
In the remaining days, Jiang Hong hung out with his high school friends, singing karaoke and playing murder mystery games, and time flew by. Lu Xiu sent him messages every morning and evening.
Jiang Hong: [You've become quite active in sending WeChat messages recently.]
Lu Xiu: [Wasn't I always like this?]
Jiang Hong scrolled up the chat history and realized it was true. Before the incident with Yuan Shiyu, Lu Xiu had always sent him messages morning and evening. Jiang Hong would reply when he saw them, engaging in brief chats, even during winter break.
But during that period, Jiang Hong hardly ever replied to him.
Oh, indeed… Jiang Hong now experienced the feeling of regaining something precious, something he had never paid much attention to before.
"Now I understand why there are so many homosexuals in the world," Jiang Hong mused aloud while lying in bed. "Hey Lao Sun, are you male or female? I guess you're male, right?"
When Lu Xiu was around, Lao Sun was very tactful, mostly silent when they traveled on National Highway 318, never interrupting their conversation, knowing well not to mess with Lu Xiu.
"Male… I guess," Lao Sun's voice was a bit hoarse, but distinctly male.
"Continuing like this," Jiang Hong said, "I feel like I might end up falling for Lu Xiu sooner or later. Ahhh!"
For the first time, Jiang Hong felt that his Hatsune Miku body pillow was so stiff and cold, lacking the slender waist, defined abs, and comforting arms to rest upon... Cough, cough! This wouldn't do. After sharing a bed with Lu Xiu so often, Jiang Hong felt he was losing control. He needed to toughen up!
Fortunately, returning to school meant no more sharing a bed with Lu Xiu, a perfect opportunity to solidify his wavering sexual orientation.
On the fifth day of the new year, Jiang Hong planned with his roommates to visit their teachers and ask for red envelopes. He went to the airport with his parents. Jiang's father and mother were sad to part, yet smiled brightly, eager for the sun and beaches of Sanya. Meanwhile, Jiang Hong was heading back to the snowy Qinling Mountains for school.
"Have a great time," Jiang Hong said expressionlessly.
Going back to school was actually exciting. The new term promised many novel and interesting things. Plus, Jiang Hong missed Lu Xiu a bit, even though it had only been five days apart. Given the choice, he would prefer to vacation and go diving in Sanya with Lu Xiu, who probably wouldn’t even need an oxygen tank. Maybe he could even take him deep-sea diving...
If he didn't have to work after graduation, spending every day exploring with Lu Xiu would be the perfect life. After all, with a lifespan of less than a hundred years, it was a shame to waste so much time making a living. Studying to be an exorcist, what job would he find in the future? Feng shui consulting?
Jiang Hong's thoughts wandered on the plane. He wondered if Lu Xiu would be sad after his death in this life and whether Lu Xiu would seek out his next incarnation.
But arriving at Xi'an Airport, he saw the familiar Kawasaki H2 and Lu Xiu astride it, clad in a sleek black racing suit, his long legs supporting the bike, attracting covert snapshots from people leaving the airport.
Lu Xiu, helmet on and adjusting his gloves, seemed not to have noticed Jiang Hong.
Jiang Hong, ditching his luggage with the school bus, ran over and hopped onto the motorcycle, asking, "You taking off, Master?"
Lu Xiu: "Where to?"
Jiang Hong: "How much to Qinling Scenic Area?"
"Eight yuan," Lu Xiu replied, starting the Kawasaki H2 and speeding off.
Back again!
Upon returning to the university, the campus was festively decorated. Although not many students stayed for the New Year, colorful lights were hung everywhere. The university, never short of funds, celebrated the festival grandly. By the fifth day, they were already preparing for the Lantern Festival.
From the first to the seventh day, the cafeteria offered free New Year buffets, including mini hot pots and Western cuisine. The teachers and students who stayed on campus, all dressed in traditional-style clothes, had an unspoken agreement. Lu Xiu took Jiang Hong to the cafeteria for a meal first.
"No one's been in your dorm for a month, it'll be cold. Sleep at mine tonight?" Lu Xiu suggested. "I've changed dorms."
"They're already back," Jiang Hong said.
"Oh," Lu Xiu pondered for a moment, then conceded, "Then I'll take you back."
Jiang Hong returned to his dormitory after spending half a day with Lu Xiu, waving goodbye to him. Back in his room, the familiar scent of the boys' dormitory greeted him - a mix of Jin's lion brand cologne and He Jian's perfume.
Zhang Xiting said, "Did you and the counselor go on a honeymoon during the winter break?"
"No! No! No!" Jiang Hong replied, "Don't spread rumors. I'm not close with that Tibetan fox. Here, I brought you all some Tibetan specialties."
Jin and He Jian also returned, and everyone began to look at Jiang Hong's photos, sharing their own winter break stories.
He Jian said, "Lu Xiu applied to be the assistant counselor for our grade, didn't you know?"
"Oh... really?" Jiang Hong responded, "Is our school that short of teachers?"
"I heard he could have graduated a while ago and even had the chance to stay on as a teacher," Jin said, "but for some reason, he's been hanging around as a graduate student."
Zhang Xiting joked, "Mrs. Counselor, we'll be counting on you to take care of this year's classes."
"No! No!" Jiang Hong climbed onto Zhang Xiting's bed and stuffed dried yak meat into his mouth, while Zhang Xiting cried out for mercy.
On the seventh day of the first lunar month, the students, like celebrating Halloween, swarmed to the teachers' dormitories, knocking on doors like mad dogs. The few teachers staying on campus were ready, with Cao Bin being the first to open his door, handing out red envelopes to everyone.
"Thank you, Principal!" everyone shouted.
"Should we kowtow?" Jiang Hong joked.
Everyone told him to stop talking nonsense and dragged him away. Xie Liao, who also stayed at school, came out to distribute red envelopes upon hearing the noise.
"How much did Principal Cao give?" Everyone in the corridor openly opened their red envelopes; Cao Bin's was two hundred yuan, bless him! Xie Liao's was one hundred and sixty, quite an effort to gather so many ten-yuan notes.
"Director Xuan—!" shouted the crowd.
"Come on, let's distribute a 5-million-yuan red envelope!" Xuan Hezhi also prepared a big stack, which was absolutely astonishing.
"What's inside?"
After Xuan Hezhi left, everyone whispered among themselves, "Could it be from the Sky-Earth Bank...?"
Inside the red envelope was a printed lottery ticket.
"Teacher Lu!" Upon seeing Lu Xiu, everyone turned into fawning admirers, eagerly pushing Jiang Hong towards him.
Lu Xiu handed over several neatly packed red envelopes to Jiang Hong, saying, "Wishing you all a Happy New Year," then turned and closed the door.
The students immediately rushed forward to snatch them. There was a hundred yuan in Lu Xiu's red envelopes. It seemed the teachers had agreed on the amount; Cao Bin gave the most, but Lu Xiu’s sheer number of envelopes outweighed this. Without discrimination, he gave several hundreds to Jiang Hong, which, when divided, meant each person could get two or three, making it the most generous share.
Jiang Hong noticed that although Lu Xiu was aloof, he was extremely popular among the students, perhaps due to his cool, youthful charisma, with admirers everywhere.
[There's a Seventh Day Tea Party in Class S today, are you coming?]
Leaving the teachers' dormitory, Jiang Hong received a message from Lu Xiu, took leave from his roommates, and headed to Class S.
Many previously insignificant festivals suddenly became meaningful at Cangqiong University, like the Seventh Day Human Day, traditionally believed to be the day Nüwa created humans. The cafeteria would even provide cakes for the human students today.
But in his previous life environment, where everyone was human, Jiang Hong had never seriously celebrated this festival.
"Everyone's back."
Cao Bin said with a smile as he opened the door.
In the activity room of Class S, there were afternoon tea snacks like cupcakes, biscuits, and chocolates. Cao Bin wore a white shirt under a slim-fit brown leather waistcoat, looking very dapper. With his sleeves rolled up while making coffee, he resembled a professional barista, stunningly handsome.
Xiang Sihui was also there, dressed in a red Tang suit with velvet pants-skirt, resembling ancient attire. His hair had grown quite long, and he was playing on a PlayStation.
"Hello, Principal," greeted Jiang Hong with a beaming smile, happy about his fruitful day.
"Seems like you had an interesting winter break," said Cao Bin. "Feel free to help yourself to the snacks."
"Did you bake these?" Jiang Hong was astonished.
"Sihui made them," Cao Bin replied.
"Don't complain if they don't taste good," Sihui casually said, eyes still fixed on the screen.
Jiang Hong had not the slightest clue that Sihui could bake cakes.
"How did you spend the Spring Festival, Principal?" asked Jiang Hong.
"With Sihui," Cao Bin answered. "We went to Li Mountain to soak in the hot springs."
What really was Sihui's true form? Jiang Hong was a bit curious but did not ask.
"By the way, Principal, I have a question to ask you," Jiang Hong suddenly remembered something he had been meaning to ask, having delayed it all winter break.
"Hmm," Cao Bin gestured for Jiang Hong to wait a moment, then said, "Before Pi Yunhao and Lu Xiu arrive, let me confirm something with you, Jiang Hong. Do you mind if I channel energy into you now?"
Jiang Hong: "Hmm? What kind of energy?"
Cao Bin: "Hasn't Lu Xiu asked you yet? He said you had already agreed."
"Ah, yes!" Jiang Hong suddenly remembered. Cao Bin was willing to channel energy into his heart chakra!
"Thank you, Principal, I'm so grateful, I really feel embarrassed..." Jiang Hong said, "I didn't expect it to be you, Principal. I'm incredibly honored... It's like being reborn!"
After listening to Jiang Hong's effusive praise, Cao Bin gestured for him to have some coffee. Jiang Hong asked, "Will it be very taxing for you? Could there be any adverse effects..."
Cao Bin: "Not at all, it's just a trivial matter for me, takes less than a minute, but..."
Jiang Hong took a sip of coffee, and suddenly, the image of Cao Bin in front of him blurred. He leaned on the bar, and then knew nothing more.
When he woke up, it was to the noise of Xiao Pi complaining loudly about unfairness, trying to snatch a card from Sihui, who refused to give it.
"You're awake," said Lu Xiu.
Jiang Hong found himself sleeping on the couch, covered with Lu Xiu's suit jacket. Lu Xiu was sitting on the carpet below the couch. Today, his attire was similar to Cao Bin's, both wearing a three-piece suit with a vest over a shirt, except Lu Xiu's suit was pure black, very sharp, making him look younger and more energetic than Cao Bin, who had a more gentlemanly air.
Jiang Hong: "How did I suddenly fall asleep?"
Cao Bin: "Get up and move around, see if you feel uncomfortable."
Jiang Hong yawned, then suddenly remembered the energy channeling, asking, "Is it done?"
"Yes," Cao Bin said, "It was quick, but for some unspoken reasons, I let you sleep for ten minutes longer. I assume you don't mind."
Having said that, Cao Bin exchanged a look with Xiang Sihui, who then turned his gaze towards Jiang Hong, watching him intently.
"It's your turn," said Xiao Pi.
Sihui said expressionlessly, "Don't cheat."
Xiao Pi: "How could I possibly cheat?"
"Four sixes, do you want them?"
Xiao Pi: "…"
"Four queens."
Xiao Pi: "………………"
"And a pair of jokers, that's it."
Sihui immediately made Xiao Pi endure three consecutive 'bomb' plays.
Jiang Hong thanked them repeatedly and sat up. Lu Xiu said, "Feel around your heart."
Jiang Hong took a deep breath and, using the method Xie Liao had taught him for channeling magical energy, he activated his newfound powers.
