Ji Xiunian wasn’t the type of person who was casually close to others, but for some reason, he was especially concerned about Lu Xu. He couldn’t resist continuing on, “I heard from Instructor Tao that you had somehow met some trouble. Is there anything I can help with?”
When Lu Xu had received the call from the investigation team, Tao Yingbo had been nearby. The voices around there were rather loud and he could only hear a little of what was going on, so he wasn’t too sure. However, Lu Xu always took things calmly, but this time, his expression had changed noticeably. Tao Yingbo didn’t know what exactly Lu Xu had come upon, so he could only subconsciously respond when Ji Xiunian asked.
“Nian ge, did you come specifically to find me?”
The person in front of him had his emotions displayed outwardly, his inner thoughts really too obvious. Looking at his hurried demeanour, he realised he was really worried about him.
Lu Xu had worked in the mortal realm for over 200 years and had seen all kinds of people. But it had to be said, this was the first time he had met someone like Ji Xiunian, who was so good to him without any ulterior motives.
Ji Xiunian fell into silence for a moment, then nodded. “I’m just a little worried about you…”
Lu Xu nodded, just as they heard the sound of someone walking outside. He glanced casually at the side, then smiled at Ji Xiunian. “Nian ge, should we talk somewhere else?”
“Ah, okay.” Ji Xiunian only then realised they were both still in the bathroom. This kind of environment really wasn’t suitable for happily chatting.
The two of them left the bathroom one after the other and ran into a few C-rank trainees. When everyone saw Ji Xiunian, they all politely greeted him. Only when the two of them were far away did they speak quietly to each other—
“Nian ge seems to have gone together with Lu Xu?”
“Maybe, I feel like their relationship is really good.”
“Right, did you guys see the commercial they filmed for DR, don’t even talk about fans going over their heads, I am a straight man and I even thought there was something else going on with that product…”
Lu Xu and Ji Xiunian went to the rooftop terrace together. At the moment, the weather was a bit gloomy. Not long ago, the sun had been burning in the sky, but in a flash, dark clouds had appeared, evidently signifying incoming rain.
The dorm building wasn’t as tall as the surrounding buildings, but they were more than twenty metres off the ground.
Lu Xu seemed like he was completely unconcerned, walking directly to the edge of the terrace and sitting down on it. Ji Xiunian felt a little worried watching him sitting with his feet dangling in the open air.
But Lu Xu’s expression was really too calm, making Ji Xiunian feel like he was just being too timid.
Ji Xiunian swallowed his words of admonishment and slowly walked over to Lu Xu before carefully sitting down.
Lu Xu turned his head around to glance at Ji Xiunian, pretending not to notice his nervousness, but the corners of his mouth rose up slightly.
Ji Xiunian had just found his balance, but when he raised his head, all he saw was Lu Xu’s absent-minded smile. He merely sat there with wobbly feet, without the slightest intention of looking down.
The wind at the top of the building was stronger than it was in any other place, and the corners of Lu Xu’s clothes lifted to reveal half a slim waist. His skin was smooth, white and dazzling.
Ji Xiunian subconsciously squinted, then his gaze returned to Lu Xu’s face. “So, is it convenient for you to tell me what happened?”
Lu Xu lifted his chin, his gaze towards Ji Xiunian carrying some hint of examination. But this only lasted for a moment before he smiled again, looking down at his palms as he said, “It’s not my issue, it’s my former colleague who has met with some issues.”
“Colleague?” Ji Xiunian remembered very clearly that Lu Xu apparently didn’t have much education and had been working from a young age. If he hadn’t come to participate in ‘Birth of an Idol’, he would’ve probably still been out there doing his best with working.
From the impressions he’d received, Ji Xiunian knew that Lu Xu worked in the sales industry. Although he didn’t know the specific job, any work that depended on gauging the clients expressions and performance wouldn’t be easy.
Considering Lu Xu’s current charisma, debuting was a definite event. If he wasn’t being modest, then it was also possible for him to debut in centre position.
With the fame that ‘Birth of an Idol’ had given him, Lu Xu didn’t need to worry about his future life plans. Even if he didn’t want to do it anymore in the future, he could take advantage of his popularity right now to pay for his living fees for the next few years.
No matter what, Lu Xu’s decision to participate in this competition show was an excellent choice. There were always some people who were born for the show industry. Lu Xu was definitely one of them.
He also remembered that Lu Xu seemed to have talked with a colleague on the phone about work before. It could be seen that he was a very responsible person. It also showed that Lu Xu’s previous job before the show had a good working atmosphere and that he hadn’t completely quit from his previous part-time job because of other reasons.
“The colleague you mentioned, is he the one who you called last time?”
“Yes. Honestly, the only colleague I respect is him.”
“Then he…”
Ji Xiunian wasn’t clear on what Lu Xu’s main industry was, so he naturally couldn’t think of a specific title.
Lu Xu shrugged and replied, “The company suspects that he has abused his power, so they brought him back to headquarters for an investigation.”
“Abuse of power?” Ji Xiunian couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows. This kind of thing could either be a big or small issue; the details had to be determined based on exactly what Lu Xu’s colleague had done. “Did they say what he did? The chain of evidence needs to be clear, perhaps your colleague is innocent.”
If it was just an investigation, then it didn’t mean that this person had done anything wrong.
Ji Xiunian didn’t know how to comfort Lu Xu, and could only think of any possible ways to help him. “Is the problem serious? There are a few lawyers I know who are very professional, I can help your colleague get in contact with them.”
Lawyers?
Lu Xu didn’t think Ji Xiunian would help him beyond just talking about it with him.
Ever since he had received the news that Xie An had been taken away, almost everyone had been telling Lu Xu that Xie An was guilty but just wasn’t confessing. Ji Xiunian was the first to immediately assume Xie An was innocent.
He smiled and shook his head, rejecting Ji Xiunian’s goodwill. “My colleague’s department is different from normal work settings, so there’s no need for a lawyer at this moment.”
“So it’s like that.” Ji Xiunian nodded, feeling like he couldn’t do much for Lu Xu at all. He couldn’t even find a way to help his colleague.
But Lu Xu’s current mood was surprisingly good. Ji Xiunian was right; if Xie An was guilty, there would be no reason for him to naturally want to fight for him.
“Thank you Nian ge, I’m feeling much better now!” Lu Xu turned his head around to look into the distance, the light in his eyes shining as if he was making a decision.
But within a few moments, Lu Xu had already recovered his former composure.
Even though he didn’t say anything, Ji Xiunian could also understand that he wouldn’t give up on his colleague.
An eighteen-year-old boy, not only bearing the responsibility of supporting himself but also of caring for his friends. Lu Xu was young, but everyone trusted him.
Wasn’t he the same, instinctually thinking he could rely on Lu Xu?
It was just that the more he was like this, the more Ji Xiunian ached for him. To be able to grow up into this kind of a person, heavens knew how much hardship Lu Xu had gone through when growing up.
Lu Xu was originally thinking of Xie An’s situation when he noticed Ji Xiunian’s expression and couldn’t help but raise his brows. “Nian ge, is there anything you want to say to me?”
“Mn.” Ji Xiunian couldn’t keep it to himself and said to Lu Xu, “I just want to tell you that in the future, no matter what happens to you, I will stand by your side. If you’re too tired, I’ll help you. Don’t live in exhaustion.”
He had already experienced much of the world’s ugliness. If he could, Ji Xiunian really hoped Lu Xu’s smile could always be this brilliant in the future.
This stunned Lu Xu.
He knew Ji Xiunian meant this as taking care of him for the rest of his life, but this was too serious, and it made Lu Xu felt very complicated.
“Nian ge, can I ask you a question?”
Ji Xiunian nodded. “Of course.”
“Are you so selfless to everyone?”
Ji Xiunian shook his head. “No. I have very few friends, and the only one I can chat so much with is you.”
Lu Xu shrugged. “So why are you so good to me?”
“No reason, it’s just that I purely think you’re a very good person, so I want to treat you well.”
Was this giving him the good person card?
Lu Xu quirked his mouth and suddenly his smile infused with a deeper meaning. “Nian ge, you shouldn’t treat me too well, otherwise, when someday you realise I’m not what you think I am, you’ll be disappointed.”
As Lu Xu spoke, he got up, his movements agile as he returned to the roof terrace.
Ji Xiunian didn’t understand why he would suddenly say this kind of sentence, but he felt like there was something he didn’t understand that he needed to be told.
Ji Xiunian wanted to follow Lu Xu’s rhythm and got up too, but his feet slipped and he almost fell off.
Lu Xu didn’t even think about it. He completely subconsciously pulled at Ji Xiunian’s wrist to stablise him, with the intention of saving him.
Just as Lu Xu ruminated whether or not he had lost out on a chance to harvest his soul, the Ji Xiunian who was led along by his wrist smiled and said, “I’ve never placed you within an ideal image, nor have I ever cared about the you in my imagination. No matter what you think of yourself as, as long as it’s you, I’ll treat you well.”
nao: let me represent xie an, i don’t go to law school for nothing!! this chapter is too cute ahhhhh
sorry for posting so irregularly we are falling behind aha but doing our best to update as frequently as possible!!