Chapter 61: Couple Outfit

“No, if you wear the same attire, won’t that be a couple outfit…”

Everyone looked towards Xu Yuan, who had uttered these words. Xu Yuan silently covered her mouth, feeling that she was speaking a bit too much today. So much that it was a bit hateful.

“What?” Fu Li’s mind was still full of regret about the imminent departure of his braised short-ribs, so he hadn’t heard what Xu Yuan had said. He turned towards Zhuang Qing, who was looking at Xu Yuan. He didn’t seem to have heard what she had said either.

“I said that the boss has good taste in clothes, he’ll definitely be able to guide you in choosing a suitable outfit.” Xu Yuan looked down at her watch and very seriously said, “Aiya. Anyway, it’s about time for us to get off work. Fu ge, you and the boss should quickly leave and choose the clothes.”

Fu Li glanced at Zhuang Qing.

Zhuang Qing said severely, “How can we leave work early during work hours? When it’s time to get off work, come to my office.” Then, he turned towards the other employees. “Do your work well, don’t discuss unrelated topics.”

“Will do, Boss!” Everyone nodded simultaneously.

After Zhuang Qing left, Zhang Ke spoke to Lin Gui with a blank stare, “Tortoise ge, pinch me.”

It was rare for such a request to be made voluntarily. Of course, Lin Gui mercilessly gave him a vicious pinch.

“Sss.” Zhang Ke charged towards his personal office, wild with joy. “I’ll give Sect Leader a call right this instant!”

“What’s wrong with him?” Fu Li directed a confused look at Wei Cang. “Did something urgent happen? Does he need our help?”

“No, senior brother is in a very good state.” Wei Cang hurriedly explained, “He’s just too happy, nothing major.”

The pinch had even caused him to suck in a breath, yet he was this happy. Humans really had unimaginable habits; fantastic oddities of every description.

On the cultivators’ forum, the cultivator that mocked the Qing Xiao Sect for indulging in wishful thinking was still arguing on the post with Qing Xiao Sect’s disciple. Regardless of what the disciple said, he would retort with the statement ‘if you’re so capable, invite Dragon Lord Zhuang Qing to participate in your sect leader’s birthday banquet’. Angered to bits, the disciple nearly used a positioning talisman to locate the cultivator so that they could engage in hand-to-hand combat.

But everyone was aware that using a positioning talisman to search for a daoyou on the forum violated the rules of the cultivation world. If such behavior was discovered by the management bureau, the individual could be fined and given a demerit if it was a light punishment, or could be imprisoned in the Spirit Lock Formation if it was a severe punishment. Either way, it would be detrimental to the individual if they wanted to find a job in the future.

Cultivators from other small sects watched the drama cheerfully. The Qing Xiao Sect could be counted as a major sect ranked in the top ten sects in the cultivation world. It had innumerable talents when it came to concocting pills and refining tools. Not only did it have yao cultivators as disciples, it also had human cultivators. As long as it was an individual produced by Qing Xiao Sect, even their backs would be a bit straighter than others. Now that Qing Xiao Sect was forced to concede, not only was there a complete lack of sympathy, they even gathered around and looked on with great fervor. There were even people who found it lacking in excitement and deliberately fanned the flames on the post.

At this juncture, a certain disciple of Qing Xiao Sect suddenly popped out and provoked: Let’s hear what kind of phone you’ll be eating first?

Instigator cultivator replied: If you guys really manage to get Dragon Lord Zhuang Qing to attend the birthday banquet, even eating two is fine, much less one.

Qing Xiao Sect’s disciple: Okay, I’ll pin this post as a symbol of your vow. If Dragon Lord Zhuang Qing attends the banquet, you’ll have to eat the Two-Star 8 and Pear X models.

Instigator cultivator: Sure. If Dragon Lord Zhuang Qing doesn’t go, I won’t request for much k2013; in the future, you’ll have to call me grandpa if you see you. Do you dare to take this bet?

Cultivators’ forum moderator: Warning. This forum strictly prohibits pornographic content, betting, and drugs. The next time you violate the rules, your ID will be locked, and you won’t be able to log into the forum for a year.

Instigator cultivator: Great god moderator, please let me off. I won’t make reckless comments again.

Qing Xiao Sect’s disciple: Since both parties have reached an agreement, it’ll be settled this way then. Just wait and see.

The cultivators eating melon seeds and watching both parties throwing ruthless words at one another were just short of directly waving flags and shouting ‘fight, fight’.

In a place like the capital, one could only have insufficient money. There was no money that could not be spent. Zhuang Qing brought Fu Li to a shop selling ready-made clothes, picked out a few sets of clothes, and gave them to Fu Li to try. Fu Li’s face was a bit on the smaller side, but his figure was very well-proportioned – he was a natural clothes rack. The sales assistant would claim that he looked good in every set worn.

Fu Li didn’t seem very accustomed to wearing a necktie. After the sales assistant tied it for him, he would tug on it in discomfort, causing the necktie to very quickly loosen. The sales assistant wanted to step forward and help Fu Li arrange it, but Zhuang Qing unexpectedly stood up from where he was seated at the couch reading magazines.

“You’ll look more lively if you wear a necktie with a suit,” Zhuang Qing went to help Fu Li arrange his shirt and collar. Then, he tied the necktie and took a step back, hands crossed over his chest. “This way, you can just barely be considered good-looking.”

“But this isn’t comfortable,” Fu Li turned his neck. The neck was a sensitive area for a few yao cultivators; having something strapped around it made Fu Li feel restricted.

“It’s your first time wearing it, so you aren’t used to it,” Zhuang Qing pressed on the hand that Fu Li made to tug on the necktie. “Look at the mirror first and see if it suits you.”

Fu Li walked to the mirror and took a look. He finally understood the true meaning behind the concept of ‘clothes make the man’. In this style of dress, he looked like an elite. Many elite figures were very well-read – did that mean that if he dressed like them, others would think that he was a very cultured person?

“Do the elites all like to dress like this?” Fu Li approached Zhuang Qing and asked in a low voice.

Zhuang Qing instantly understood Fu Li’s way of thinking. He nodded. “Yes, they all like to dress this way.”

“I’ll bear with it then,” He glanced around the store. “Don’t you have to buy clothes as well? Which set do you like? I’ll give it to you.” Fu Li never lacked disposable income after receiving the sum of money given by the rich second generation.

“Give?”

“Yup. You accompanied me to choose clothes, so I’ll give you a present,” Fu Li was confused. “You haven’t chosen one?”

Zhuang Qing stared at him for a few seconds before turning to look around the store. But after looking all over the store, he still felt that the one Fu Li was wearing looked the best. In the end, he chose the same model as him, but in a different color.

When Fu Li went into the changing room, he sighed and gave his bank card to the cashier.

The swipe of the card across the machine felt like a cut across Zhuang Qing’s heart. There was a bit of a sour, cold feeling, as well as a feeling of absurdity that he himself couldn’t make heads or tails of.

Fu Li had clearly said that he would give him the clothes, so why did he still foot the bill for both sets of clothes?

Fu Li only realized that Zhuang Qing had paid for the clothes after leaving the changing room. He thought about it and then said, “I’ll treat you to a meal.”

“Where?” Zhuang Qing asked.

“Let’s go to that Restaurant Night Owl from a few nights ago. Their mala soup is quite delicious,” Fu Li missed that taste a little.

Zhuang Qing: …

“You don’t like it?” Fu Li noticed that Zhuang Qing was silent. “Then let’s choose a different place.”

Clothes worth five figures in exchange for a bowl of mala soup – this level of cost-effectiveness was too high. When had he, Zhuang Qing, ever suffered such losses? Truly a joke of epic proportions.

“No, it’s quite good,” Zhuang Qing hated that his mouth wouldn’t abide by his commands.

Restaurant Night Owl opened shop at seven o’clock in the evening. Customers streamed in continuously for dinner or supper, filling the tiny shop with liveliness. This time, when Fu Li and Zhuang Qing visited, the customers in the restaurant were basically all human. Other than their outstanding looks inviting a few more glances from the customers, they didn’t attract too much attention.

Fu Li ordered two large portions of mala soup and even specially added two portions of fishballs.

“Handsome, you’re back again?” The restaurant’s boss smiled as he greeted the two of them. The mala soup was cooked with swift movements, filled with so many fishballs that they nearly dropped out of the pot for cooking mala soup. The boss’ sincerity was evident.

“You two seem to be fond of fish and shrimp?” The boss received the money with gloved hands before removing his gloves and giving his hands a wash. “This place of mine sells deep-fried yellow croaker, do you want a portion?”

“Yes,” Fu Li nodded without even thinking.

The boss placed a giant plate of yellow croaker in front of them. “Please enjoy.”

The yellow croaker had just been deep-fried and shone with a golden luster. The fish was crispy but not greasy. Only in the instant the fish entered their mouths was the fragrance cocooned by the crispy skin fully released. It was good enough to be termed a premium product among deep-fried yellow croakers.

The mala soup and fishballs were very quickly served. Fu Li ordered another two cans of herbal tea, to which the boss hesitated. “If you drink too much herbal tea, you won’t be able to stomach so much food. Why don’t I pour two cups of tea for you? They’ll be able to clean your palate too.”

“It’s fine, we’ll be able to finish it,” Fu Li was all smiles. “We’re both big eaters.”

“So that’s the case,” The boss glanced at Zhuang Qing, who was seated opposite Fu Li. This gentleman’s very solemn appearance made it virtually impossible to draw any link between him and the term ‘big eater’.

Not long later, he turned towards their table and realized that the yellow croaker had already been polished off. There were only a few fishballs remaining and most of the mala soup had already been drunk. The speed at which their chopsticks moved made it seem like they could still eat quite a bit more.

They really were big eaters. It seemed he had been overly concerned.

Seeing that Zhuang Qing liked the yellow croaker, Fu Li ordered another portion. He was an underaged dragon after all, having preferences when it came to food was normal.

After the meal, the two people were about to head to their respective homes when Zhuang Qing suddenly asked, “Are you going to tie the necktie yourself tomorrow when attending Sect Leader Zhao’s birthday banquet?”

Fu Li shook his head.

“Forget it, sleep at my place tonight. I’ll teach you how to tie it tomorrow,” Resentment was written all over Zhuang Qing’s face. “Get in the car.”

Fu Li stared blankly for two seconds. After getting into the car, he thanked Zhuang Qing, “Thank you, you’re really a good-natured dragon.”

Zhuang Qing’s eyes were fixed on the road ahead as he replied dully, “Should I be thanking you for your praise?”

“That won’t be necessary,” Fu Li replied magnanimously. “We’re brothers after all, there’s no need to pay so much attention to these things.”

Zhuang Qing side-eyed him. Who’s your brother?

That night, Fu Li was lying on a wide bed, looking at the gems embedded in the ceiling when he suddenly thought of something. Although he didn’t know how to tie a necktie, he knew how to manifest one. Wasn’t it a bit inappropriate for him to thicken his skin and spend a night in Zhuang Qing’s house just for the sake of tying a necktie?

He flipped over and thought with his eyes closed that he definitely couldn’t let Zhuang Qing know of such a silly thing.

Anyway, he really didn’t know how to tie a necktie.

The next morning, Fu Li and Zhuang Qing alighted from the car dressed in the same model of suit. Their appearance attracted a succession of raised eyebrows from the junior, senior staff, as well as the shrimp and crab guard. Why was Fu ge with the boss? And they were even wearing couple outfits?

They hadn’t heard of these two getting together.

The several painting yao at the front counter sent the two of them upstairs with their gaze and then swiftly huddled together. All of them were paintings done by scholars, who had then taken on human form after absorbing the worship and love of countless humans over the years. Therefore, they had heard of things like ‘pampering of homosexuals’ and ‘love between boys’. Now that they witnessed the boss, who put on a cold expression all year long, suddenly wearing a couple outfit with another yao, it was enough material for them to gossip about for half a month.

“Why do I feel like there’s something off about everyone today?” Fu Li glanced back. “What’s going on?”

Zhuang Qing responded with a cold look, “They might be looking forward to attending Sect Leader Zhao’s birthday banquet and got so excited that they’re not in the mood to work.”

Fu Li suddenly saw the light. “So that’s what it was.”