316 Safe Travels

Ye Qingxuan was prepared, but he was still shocked when the man from the Fifth Department knocked on his door. "Richard?" He gaped at the senior who had graduated and apparently went back to his hometown. "You?"

"Oh, you still remember my name?"‘Richard’ still wore a black uniform and a strange smile. "Then you can call me Richard. Mr. M told me to give this to you. See, I told you we’re fated."

Ye Qingxuan was speechless. So the school’s executive office was the reserve for the Fifth Department? Maxwell truly was creative. Ye Qingxuan could not think of how a student organization in a musician academy was related to the Fifth Department.

Not even ten minutes after Richard had left, someone else came. Ye Qingxuan, frantically packing and with a sweater on his head, opened the door and froze.

"Seton?"

The burly man who practically blocked the door turned and pointed at the carriage behind him. His gesture meant, the Boss wants to see you.

-

"Heard you’re going to Auschwitz?" The fat middle-aged man across from Ye Qingxuan smiled warmly. But seriously, who was he? Hermes? Where did the handsome young man go? Ye Qingxuan felt lied to.

"Ah, you can’t recognize me? Seems I’ve changed a lot." Hermes rubbed the bristly hair on his chin and cackled. "Don’t mind me. I’ve been growing quickly these days but it should settle down soon."

Trying not to insult him, Ye Qingxuan just sighed. "Boss, how may I help you?"

"Didn’t I already say it? I heard you’re going to Auschwitz?"

Ye Qingxuan blanched. "I just found out an hour ago. News travels fast."

"No need to bother with the details." Hermes pulled out a check from the Church and wrote a long number. "Since you’re going there, help me bring some money over. I fund a child there…"

"Boss, can you just get to the point?" Ye Qingxuan’s expression was troubled.

"That is the point." Hermes’s was serious. "Go and check for me. You’re just going there to study some stupid books, right? You’ll have a lot of free time so just help me take care of the girl. If she doesn’t need anything then you don’t have to care. Spend the extra money for yourself. I’ve also helped you buy a first-class ticket for tomorrow’s luxury cruise so you can travel comfortably!"

Ye Qingxuan was stunned. After a while, he said awkwardly, "I misunderstood you. I’ve never seen you care so much about other people."

"She’s not ‘other people’!" Hermes grew troubled. "She’s like…my daughter?"

Ye Qingxuan spat his tea out. "Your what?"

"I’m kidding. Don’t take it seriously." Hermes whistled and raised his hand. "Seton, come and send him off! Look at you, you don’t have any manners. He still has a sweater on his head and you dragged him over. What if you keep him from packing?"

Ye Qingxuan sighed. He finally had the time to pull the sweater over his head. He had not worn it in a long time and, as expected, it was a bit small.

In the end, Hermes saw him to the door and asked casually, "Oh right, are you still wearing that pocket watch?"

Confused, Ye Qingxuan looked down at his chest. The tick-tocks from the Double Snake Time Meter answered him.

-

For dinner, they held a celebration at a restaurant outside the Academy for Charles’s discharge from the hospital. Charles was like a starved beast. When Ye Qingxuan arrived late, he discovered that his portion was practically gone already.

Hearing Ye Qingxuan’s mission, Abraham nodded. "Since it was assigned by the Musician Union, it shows that they think highly of you. I’ll prepare some resources and books related to interpretation tonight. You can read them on the way there."

"You’re leaving?" Bai Xi squeezed in. "Where?"

"Auschwitz. It’s a small place but it’s a pressing matter. I’m leaving tomorrow."

Hearing this, Bai Xi went blank. "Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I haven’t packed yet."

"I’m going by myself." Ye Qingxuan tapped her forehead. "You still want to go out after failing all those classes? Focus on your credits first."

"Oh." Bai Xi lowered her head and did not say more. Soon, she lowered her utensils. "I’m done." Without waiting for the others, she rose and left. They heard the door slam in the distance. Old Phil, chewing on a bone beside the table, looked in the direction she went, then back at Ye Qingxuan. He shook his head judgmentally, picked up the bone, and ran off as well.

Charles snorted. His mouth was stuffed with meat and he could hardly breathe from laughing. Ye Qingxuan looked to his teacher for help but Abraham just shrugged helplessly.

Ye Qingxuan sighed and chased after Bai Xi. They ran all the way to the music history building. Bai Xi ran into her room and slammed the door. After organizing his words, Ye Qingxuan got ready to knock on the door but then he heard a click. She locked the door.

"Bai Xi?" Ye Qingxuan knocked. "Bai Xi?"

"There’s no one here!" a voice traveled from behind the door.

After thinking, Ye Qingxuan grabbed a chair and two books. I don’t believe you’ll never open the door! If you want, try staying there the entire night! But Bai Xi really did not open the door the entire night.

Good girls were not supposed to open the door for men at night. Bai Xi was a good girl and kept the door closed. If she said there was no one there, then there was no one. She said nothing the entire night.

The next day, Ye Qingxuan waited by the Academy’s gate for a long time but Bai Xi did not come to see him off.

"She’s probably angry you’re not taking her with." Charles patted his shoulder. "Don’t worry, she’ll get over it. She’ll probably forget by the time you’re back."

"I hope." Ye Qingxuan scratched his face awkwardly and climbed into the carriage with his luggage.

-

When he arrived at the pier, he realized that another unexpected person was waiting for him. It was a black carriage without any marks. The driver raised the brim of his hat and smiled at the youth. It was Maxwell. Ye Qingxuan did not know why Maxwell suddenly wanted to dress up as a driver, but he was used to his principal’s oddities.

"Oh, you’re here to see me off?"

"Not me." Maxwell shook his head and tossed something over. "This is for you."

The small box felt heavy. Ye Qingxuan opened it and discovered a black velvet pouch. It was filled with dried tobacco that smelled expensive. What attracted his attention was the thing beside the bag. It was the familiar stone pipe. Under the Eye of Silence, the pipe was covered with beautiful flowing light. Stunned, Ye Qingxuan looked up.

Maxwell smiled and jutted his chin toward the carriage. "She thinks this suits you."

He could see a vague but delicate silhouette in the carriage. "The princess?" Ye Qingxuan gaped at Maxwell. "Hey, old guy, did you…"

Maxwell looked away. "Her Highness used the Queen’s authority to read your files. This isn’t my fault."

Ye Qingxuan raised his hand expressionlessly, showing the Jiu Xiao Huan Pei on his finger. "Principal, can you at least shield your heart when you lie?"

Maxwell hit his forehead awkwardly. "Sorry, I forgot."

"Maxwell, I’d be dead long ago if I believed you."

"Well, it’s nothing bad for you." Not only was Maxwell unapologetic, he even extended a hand as if nothing was wrong. "She hurried over to see you off so early in the morning and even brought a gift. Are you going to let her return empty-handed? Where’s your gift for her?"

After a short pause, Ye Qingxuan felt around his body and took off a defense bracelet, putting it in Maxwell’s hand. "It’s not really auspicious but this is the only thing I can give now. It saved me many times and it’s meaningful to me."

"You really ruin the mood." Maxwell shook his head. Casually glancing at Ye Qingxuan’s chest, he said meaningfully, "Whatever, it’s the thought that counts."

"Also, say sorry for me," Ye Qingxuan said lightly. "I lost that thing a while ago." Maxwell froze. He looked down at Ye Qingxuan; Ye Qingxuan looked up at him. After a short staring contest, Maxwell looked away. He sighed; regret flashed past his eyes.

"Safe travels, kid," he said, and whipped his horse. The black carriage faded away into the distance. The vague gaze from the carriage disappeared as well.

-

Not too far away from the pier, a big yellow dog squatted on the rooftop of a shop and gazed in Ye Qingxuan’s direction. Beside it, Bai Xi scribbled on the ground with a tree branch. Hearing the whistle in the distance, she pursed her lips. "Old Phil, did that guy leave yet?"

The dog barked. Not yet.

Bai Xi looked back and saw the youth’s lonely figure on the empty square before the ship. The stressed out worker beside him was trying to convince him of something. He did not move. The whistle sounded again but he still did not move. He looked in Old Phil’s direction, saw Bai Xi, and waved. However, he still did not move as if he was waiting for something. If it did not come, he would not go.

Bai Xi pursed her lips and huffed. She jumped down and walked over unwillingly.

"Why aren’t you leaving?" Bai Xi muttered in annoyance with her head down. "Stop making things hard for others." This was totally uncharacteristic for her. She always did what she wanted and never cared about others. Hearing this, Ye Qingxuan smiled. "I’m waiting for you."

"Oh." Bai Xi looked up and then looked away. She asked quietly, "Are you going to spend Feast of Winter Veil there too?"

"It won’t take long." Ye Qingxuan fluffed her hair. "It’s just two months. I’ll be back before winter ends."

Bai Xi broke free and smoothed her hair. "You don’t have to tell me that."

"Sorry, I haven’t had time to play with you. I’ll bring a gift for you."

"Oh." Bai Xi lowered her head.

Ye Qingxuan asked, "Then I’m going now?"

"Oh." Nibbling on her lower lip, Bai Xi looked away.

Ye Qingxuan chuckled. With one last glance, he picked up his luggage and walked toward the ship. When he started climbing the steps, he heard someone call out, "Cousin!" Looking back, he saw a small figure duck under the workers’ blocking and run over. Without waiting for his reaction, she opened her arms and hugged him lightly.

"Safe travels," she said.

Ye Qingxuan was stunned but he quickly laughed. "Okay!"

-

Under the blaring whistle, the ship slowly left the port. The white-haired girl and yellow dog at the port gradually faded into the distance. Ye Qingxuan stood at the bow and stared at Avalon as it grew further away.

When he came here, he only had a suitcase, a few thousand dollars, some clothes, and a dog. He left all of that in Avalon. Thinking like this made him sad but he still had himself, at least. And a hug. It was great. No matter what, he would not be lonely anymore.