Chapter 9
Ye Xiyao thought he was hearing things. The words “I’ll take you after lunch” just didn’t fit with Xing Xu at all.
Xing Xu was the type who didn’t seem to leave room for negotiation. His voice was deep, his tone sharp, making it obvious he was more used to giving orders than making suggestions.
Ye Xiyao couldn’t help but start overthinking. Could there be some hidden meaning behind those words? Or maybe, after “I’ll take you,” there were more words that he didn’t catch?
For example…
What if Xing Xu hadn’t said, “After lunch, I’ll take you to get your hair trimmed,” but instead meant, “After lunch, if you don’t fix that dog-chewed hair, I’ll take you to see the King of Hell.”
That… sounds reasonable!
Ye Xiyao laughed out loud at his absurd thought.
Not daring to zone out for too long, he cradled his head and went to find Qiao Linchuan.
On the way, he was a bit nervous. Ever since Xing Xu had called out his haircut, he felt like he was no longer safe.
He also started wondering about something: Could it be that the aftereffects of that incident were showing again? Was his body undergoing some changes he wasn’t aware of, causing his “low presence” buff to weaken bit by bit?
But the fact that he couldn’t smell the scent of humans was still true.
He was sure of one thing—he wouldn’t lose control and hurt anyone out of hunger.
But beyond that, if he could hide his succubus aura while no longer suppressing his human energy field… was that a good or a bad thing?
Ever since he was very young, Ye Xiyao had been suppressing his aura. In fact, he had never truly been noticed by others. He thought he was already used to living in the shadows. Facing this sudden exposure, he couldn’t help but feel a little nervous.
However, a few minutes later, when Ye Xiyao found Qiao Linchuan, he realized he was overthinking things.
His “low presence” buff hadn’t disappeared.
After putting away the AR glasses, Qiao Linchuan had planned to go back and find Ye Xiyao. But on the way, someone stopped him to talk, so he chatted for a bit and completely forgot about Ye Xiyao.
Even when Ye Xiyao stood right in front of him, Qiao Linchuan still didn’t notice him.
Qiao Linchuan was immersed in a conversation with his colleague, gesturing as he spoke: “In the afternoon, I’ll have a meeting with the R&D team. Once their tech tests are done, we should be able to try out the official version in the next few days.”
Everyone seemed pretty excited.
“I’ve been stuck working on that smart home appliances series for days—it’s been so boring. Perfect time to play some games and spice things up.”
“Consider yourself lucky. The smart home appliances project is solid. When you test the products, it’s pure enjoyment. Unlike me—I’ve been working on the family smart doctor, and it’s been driving me insane.”
“What? Did it diagnose you with something?”
“No, it said I’m in perfect health and could give birth to octuplets.”
“And that’s not good?”
“Who the hell wants to give birth to eight babies? I mean, come on!” Xu Xingyang cursed, “Stupid AI. I’m going to the tech team tomorrow to give them a piece of my mind.”
At that moment, Ye Xiyao, who had been completely ignored by everyone, timidly raised his hand. “Excuse me…”
Qiao Linchuan suddenly said, “Where’s Lu Kou? Is her project finished? They’re chasing us for feedback.”
“No idea, probably went off to find a place to nap. She’s been working like crazy, day and night.”
Ye Xiyao bravely spoke up again: “Excuse me…”
Qiao Linchuan asked, “Where’s Wen Jisheng? If I don’t see him for a minute, is he slacking off?”
Ye Xiyao: “Excuse…”
Qiao Linchuan continued, “Oh, by the way, we have a new general manager in the department, so that office can’t be used anymore. We’ll have to set up a rotation for the two safety experience rooms. And also, try to stay away from the manager’s office unless you have a good reason.”
“Why’s that?”
“It’s complicated,” Qiao Linchuan lowered his voice. “Let’s just say, if you want to live a long life, keep your distance.”
Ye Xiyao: “Excuse me…”
Qiao Linchuan: “Why do I keep feeling like there’s an echo around me?”
Others: “I feel the same.”
Ye Xiyao, frustrated, said, “Maybe it’s not an echo after all.”
Ignoring Ye Xiyao’s comment, Qiao Linchuan addressed the group, “Alright, enough chatting. We’ve got tight deadlines and heavy workloads. Let’s aim to finish some of the non-hazardous products this morning.”
Then he started assigning tasks.
“Qin Zai, you two continue working on the remaining household robots. Xu Xingyang, put the AI doctor experience on hold for now. If the technology isn’t up to par, send it back for redevelopment and testing. Focus on the self-driving segment for now. Lu Kou—oh, forget it, we’ll deal with her once she wakes up. Someone go find Wen Jisheng!”
Just when Ye Xiyao thought he’d been overlooked again, he actually heard Qiao Linchuan call him: “Oh, oh, the new guy, you’re here! Come, come, take a look at these video materials. Get familiar with our current priorities and try to catch up with the team.”
“Ah, okay.”
Caught off guard, Ye Xiyao was handed a tablet. It contained detailed information about the holographic game pods, including guides for the beta version of the game.
Qiao Linchuan even joked, “You’re way too quiet. Why didn’t you speak up when you arrived? Perfect timing, let me introduce you to your seniors.”
Everyone was quite welcoming. Upon hearing that Ye Xiyao had just graduated from university, they said, “If you don’t understand anything, feel free to ask us. Don’t be shy.”
Ye Xiyao replied, “Actually, I’m not shy.”
But no one heard him.
After a brief round of introductions, the seniors were all sent off to work by Qiao Linchuan. After quickly explaining the office environment and daily workflow to Ye Xiyao, Qiao Linchuan was also in a rush to leave.
Before leaving, he reassured Ye Xiyao, “I can tell you’re quite introverted, but don’t worry! Our department’s seniors are all very considerate. If you don’t like their enthusiasm, I’ll remind them to be more mindful and not bother you. If you’re not into socializing, just focus all your energy on work. Keep it up!”
Ye Xiyao opened his mouth, but in the end, he didn’t explain. He just said, “Okay, I’ll do my best.”
Once everyone had left, Ye Xiyao took the tablet and walked toward a quiet corner.
In the last ten minutes or so, neither Qiao Linchuan nor anyone else had noticed his haircut, nor had they really paid attention to him at all.
Ye Xiyao concluded that nothing uncontrollable had happened to his body. His aura was still well-hidden.
As for Qiao Linchuan… he was truly an unusual person. When it came to work, he seemed able to break through Ye Xiyao’s “low presence” buff, fully utilizing all available manpower around him.
How much must he love his job…
Ye Xiyao couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration.
But at the same time, he became even more confused.
Why had Xing Xu noticed something that no one else could?
—
By noon, everyone had wrapped up their tasks and was getting ready for lunch. Ye Xiyao put down the materials he had been reviewing all morning and, after some thought, decided to join them.
Fortunately, this time Qiao Linchuan didn’t completely ignore him.
“I was just looking for you!” Qiao Linchuan reached out as if to pat Ye Xiyao’s back, but Ye Xiyao discreetly avoided it. Qiao Linchuan noticed the small movement but didn’t say anything. Instead, he casually stretched and said to the others, “Alright, let’s go. Today we’re welcoming our new team member, Ye Xiyao, so let’s have a team lunch.”
This time, Qiao Linchuan pronounced his name clearly.
Ye Xiyao was taken aback and looked at him.
Qiao Linchuan smiled at him, “We were all too busy this morning, so I didn’t get a proper look at your file. I just realized I was pronouncing your name wrong. My bad. What do you feel like eating? Today’s your pick.”
Ye Xiyao sincerely replied, “I can eat anything.”
Qiao Linchuan praised, “A good kid who isn’t picky! Alright, today’s lunch is on me. I’ll take you to the best ‘mala tang’ (spicy hotpot) in the whole company!”
“Good heavens, did I hear that right? Is stingy Qiao actually treating us?” Xu Xingyang, who was on the verge of dozing off, exclaimed in surprise. “Is the world ending?”
Next to him, Lu Kou tied her waist-length hair into a high ponytail and chimed in, “Maybe. He started buying lottery tickets half a year ago. Perhaps he finally hit the jackpot.”
Qiao Linchuan glared at her. “Don’t spread rumors! I didn’t win anything, not even a cent.”
Xu Xingyang immediately squeezed beside him. “You’re getting defensive! Does that mean you actually won something? You know your eyes always give you away when you lie.”
“Get lost!” Qiao Linchuan pushed him away. “Don’t think you can get your hands on the little money I’ve got left. If you want to borrow money, go find Qin Zai. That guy’s swimming in cash—he just got a new car last week.”
Qin Zai, who had been playing on his phone, suddenly looked up in disbelief at Qiao Linchuan. “Do you have surveillance on me?”
Qiao Linchuan replied, “I just happened to see you cruising in your sports car while I was out grocery shopping on a shared bike over the weekend.”
The others looked at Qiao Linchuan with pity. “Why didn’t you ask him for a ride?”
Qin Zai chimed in, “Yeah, why didn’t you let me give you a ride?”
Qiao Linchuan smiled awkwardly, his lips twitching. “Because my vehicle only has two wheels. I couldn’t keep up with you.”
Qin Zai, puzzled, asked, “Why don’t you drive? Is it because you don’t like cars?”
“…Get lost.” Qiao Linchuan kicked him. “You make me sick!”
Before he knew it, Ye Xiyao had gone from being part of the lively group to standing at the edges of it. He was present, but not really a part of the excitement.
When something funny was said, Ye Xiyao would laugh along. When gossip was shared, he’d perk up his ears to listen.
It wasn’t that people were intentionally ignoring him; it was just that Ye Xiyao’s presence was so faint. Over time, he just naturally fell to the back of the group. It seemed like everyone had forgotten that the lunch gathering was originally to welcome the newcomer. They carried on chatting and laughing, completely absorbed in their own fun.
Ye Xiyao thought he should feel relieved. After all, keeping his distance from others allowed him to protect his secrets. But when his colleagues stepped into the elevator and pressed the close button before he could catch up, leaving him outside, he couldn’t help but feel a small pang of regret.
He pressed the elevator button, and luckily, the adjacent elevator opened. He quickly slipped inside.
This was what happened when he hid himself too well. It was already a rare occurrence for people to respond to him at all, let alone remember his presence when they were having fun.
He was used to this by now.
As Ye Xiyao stepped into the elevator and was about to press the floor button, another hand suddenly reached past him and pressed the button for the basement level.
Startled, Ye Xiyao looked up in shock, having thought he was the only one left on the floor. “!”
“You ran pretty fast,” Xing Xu, using his towering height to loom over Ye Xiyao, looked down at him, appearing slightly displeased. “Why didn’t you wait for me?”
The elevator doors closed, leaving just the two of them in the confined space.
“…” Ye Xiyao’s breath hitched for a moment. After a hesitant pause, he asked, “Why should I wait for you?”
“What do you think?” Xing Xu crossed his arms lazily, raising an eyebrow as his gaze landed on Ye Xiyao’s hair.
The meaning was clear.
Oh.
He got it.
He was being dragged off to get a haircut.
After a brief moment of surprise, Ye Xiyao dejectedly held his head.
…Is this haircut really that bad?
Bad enough that his boss is personally chasing him down?
—
In the car, Ye Xiyao’s fingers clutched tightly at the seatbelt. His body was tense, and his lips pressed into a firm line, while his eyelashes trembled anxiously.
Sitting beside him, Xing Xu glanced at him and couldn’t help but find the situation amusing.
It was true—people had always feared Xing Xu because of his intense aura. But Ye Xiyao was a demon, a demon who could knock people over even in his sleep.
A demon… afraid of a human?
Still trembling in fear?
Don’t exaggerate.
You’re overacting a bit, aren’t you?
Xing Xu drove out of the compound with a blank expression.
In his peripheral vision, Ye Xiyao suddenly raised his hand to rub his face.
Xing Xu was slightly startled. Unbelievable.
It was probably because Ye Xiyao’s skin was so unnaturally pale and delicate that the faint red mark on his wrist stood out so starkly.
How sensitive must his skin be for marks from this morning to still be there?
After a moment of silence, Xing Xu suddenly asked, “Does your hand still hurt?”
Ye Xiyao hadn’t expected him to strike up a conversation and replied, “It’s fine as long as I don’t touch it. It only hurts a little when I do.”
Xing Xu asked, “Then why didn’t you come find me?”
Ye Xiyao looked at him in surprise. “Find you? For what?”
Could it be that the boss felt guilty and wanted to give him some medicine or something…?
Xing Xu replied, “To have me arrested.”
Ye Xiyao: “?”
This guy holds grudges!
Ye Xiyao shoved his hands into his pockets, hiding them from Xing Xu. But he couldn’t help glancing at Xing Xu’s hand.
Because he had been so nervous earlier, he hadn’t noticed, but now he saw that Xing Xu’s left hand was wrapped in a white bandage.
In a small voice, Ye Xiyao asked, “Did you hurt your hand?”
“Yeah,” Xing Xu responded casually, clearly not wanting to elaborate.
Ye Xiyao was good at reading the room. Seeing that Xing Xu wasn’t in the mood to chat, he dropped the subject and started blending into the background, something he excelled at.
He was confident that as long as he stayed quiet, Xing Xu would soon forget he was even there.
At a red light, Ye Xiyao gently rubbed his eyes.
Xing Xu immediately asked, “What’s wrong?”
Ye Xiyao froze mid-action: “…”
He wasn’t used to getting this much attention. Normally, his low presence meant people tended to ignore him, and even when two unfamiliar people were sitting together, it shouldn’t trigger such a quick response to such a small action.
Not used to this kind of attention, Ye Xiyao blurted out, “I’m sleepy.”
Xing Xu acknowledged this with a simple “Hmm” and said, “Then sleep.”
Ye Xiyao lowered his head but subtly glanced at Xing Xu and asked, “Is the place you’re taking me far?”
“Not far,” Xing Xu said, still looking ahead.
Ye Xiyao hesitated. “Then I…”
I probably won’t sleep, he thought.
Before he could finish, Xing Xu added, “I could take you somewhere farther.”
Ye Xiyao: “…”
That’s not necessary.
Afraid that Xing Xu might actually insist on him sleeping, which would be too awkward, Ye Xiyao refrained from rubbing his eyes again. He said, “I’ll nap when I get back to the office later. Don’t want to hold you up.”
Xing Xu didn’t say much more: “Up to you.”
Though he seemed to keep his eyes on the road, Xing Xu was actually watching Ye Xiyao in his peripheral vision the entire time.
This was his mission.
He needed to get close to the demon and gather all the information he could about him.
Why else would he go out of his way to find an opportunity to be alone with Ye Xiyao?
Was he that free?
But since this was his first time doing an undercover mission like this, Xing Xu lacked experience. Following Luo Yiji’s advice to be as “friendly” as possible with the demon, he hadn’t expected the result to come off so stiff.”
Xing Xu: “…”
Alright, alright.
It turned out to be a cunning demon.
He learned how to hold a grudge so quickly.
The two walked towards the shopping mall, a journey of only ten minutes. But suddenly, Ye Xiyao became quite talkative.
Or maybe it wasn’t that he was talking more; it was just that he was expressing the nonsense he had previously swallowed down because no one cared, now speaking it out loud in front of Xing Xu.
“Manager Xing, how tall are you?”
“192 cm.”
“Wow!”
“Hmm.”
“Since I’m 22 this year, do I still have a chance to reach 190 cm?”
“No chance.”
“…Take that back.”
“No.”
In fact, the content of their conversation didn’t matter at all, or perhaps it had no content at all.
But for the first time, Ye Xiyao could get a response no matter what he said.
He found it so interesting—every word he spoke got a reply, and every expression was noticed.
Perhaps feeling too good, Ye Xiyao unconsciously walked more lightly, even playfully zigzagging in front of Xing Xu, deliberately blocking his path.
“Ye Xiyao, walk straight,” Xing Xu said, his tone slightly commanding.
But Ye Xiyao ignored the command and instead exclaimed happily, “You can see me!”
Xing Xu crossed his arms and coldly replied, “If you don’t want me to see you, then don’t bounce around in front of me.”
Ye Xiyao shook his head with a smile: “I want you to see me.”
“?” Xing Xu was so exasperated he couldn’t even scold him, looking helplessly at Ye Xiyao.
What was this demon so happy about?
Was it just because he was in the sun?
When Ye Xiyao jumped up for the third time, Xing Xu finally couldn’t help but remind him, “Ye Xiyao, you’re too lively.”
He wanted to remind the demon that humans start to be more composed by the age of 22. If you’re going to pretend to be human, at least do it convincingly.
However, Ye Xiyao clearly didn’t grasp the deeper meaning in Xing Xu’s words. He paused for a moment, turned around to glance at Xing Xu, blinking his round, bright eyes—
Was he lively?
Yes.
In fact, he was just a naturally lively person.
Ye Xiyao turned around and continued bouncing.
Xing Xu followed him at a leisurely pace, always keeping a half-step behind, so whenever Ye Xiyao wanted to talk, he could turn around and see him.
Honestly, Xing Xu found this scene quite exaggerated.
No adult would walk so childishly, bouncing around like that. That slender body, which seemed too fragile to Xing Xu, suddenly appeared nimble and light in this moment, as if it might actually take off and fly away.
Ye Xiyao would occasionally turn back and smile at Xing Xu, his mouth curving in a playful arc, asking, “Can you still see me?”
Xing Xu, with a blank expression, rubbed his eyebrows: “I can’t see you.”
Ye Xiyao: “Hey, I can see you.”
Just saying.
This demon really knows how to act cute.
