Xin Yunmao revealed a sarcastic smile, "You're not my believer, and yet you call me by my name?"
"You're not Voldemort either, can't I call your name?" Chu Zhishui knew she was in the wrong, her momentum gradually weakened as she mumbled, "...Besides, didn't you tell me to call you last time?"
It was him who told her to call out to him in case of any situation in the tea garden.
That's why she preferred to solve things independently. Otherwise, once she admitted her feelings, she wouldn't even be able to win an argument.
It's a pity that humans can't possess demon energy. She had once asked Jin Yu about this, but he was so frightened that he waved his hands repeatedly, advising her not to have such thoughts. If humans possess demon energy, they have to pay a huge price. Humans and demons must coexist in a positive cycle, and it's even more terrifying for humans to control demon energy.
Birds are born to fly, fish are born to swim, and demons naturally have demon energy. However, humans use tools and effort to solve the first two, but they still can't conquer the problem of demon energy. Or perhaps, not having demon energy is a kind of protection for humans.
Chu Zhishui was slightly made up today, her features were more delicate than usual, her face seemed to be veiled with a foggy gauze, her skin was hazy and jade-like under the warm light. Her eyes were very bright, revealing a stubborn and unwilling look, but her tone was mixed with a hint of grievance.
Humans can't learn to use demon energy, using this against her was indeed unfair.
"Never mind, since I've said it, I won't go back on my word." Xin Yunmao fell silent for a moment, he no longer argued, and was the first to walk away, "Let's go."
"Where to?"
"To take you home."
Chu Zhishui was taken aback and blurted out, "No need."
She was politely refusing Miao Li, not asking him to escort her.
Xin Yunmao mocked, "Then you get attacked on the way, call me over again, are you deliberately playing with me?"
"No, how could I do such a thing, don't think of people so negatively."
"Then let's go." Xin Yunmao turned around, leaving her with his back view, "You're wearing a necklace that can ward off evil, but it doesn't work against transformed humans."
"Wait, stop for a moment!" Chu Zhishui hurriedly stopped him, she looked at his attire, cautiously saying, "...Are you sure you want to go out in this outfit?"
"Is there a problem?"
The well-tailored dark green ancient robe, the tall and straight figure like a noble orchid, his current long hair was tied up, his clothes were flowing, indeed noble and flawless, but why would he unlock ancient costume skin after work?
She didn't understand but was greatly shocked, especially his tied-up ink-like long hair, which made her want to reach out and touch it, to distinguish the real material, always feeling that the quality of a wig can't be that good.
Chu Zhishui tactfully said, "The temperament is fine, the dynasty is the problem."
It's common to see Hanfu enthusiasts in Yinhai City, but it would be a bit conspicuous in Huaijiang City.
"What kind of look is that?" Xin Yunmao was unchanging, "Do you think it's not good-looking?"
Chu Zhishui didn't mean to offend his dressing preferences, she clapped her hands soullessly and praised, "Hmm, it looks good, very good-looking."
"Flattering." He couldn't help but curve his lips, and then seriously looked at her, "What did you put on your face just now?"
Her makeup was clean, shimmering subtly under the strong light, and her whole face was radiant.
Chu Zhishui said calmly, "It's just makeup. Haven't you seen it before?"
"I've never seen you wear it." Xin Yunmao was curious. "Why don't you usually wear it?"
"The foundation is expensive, and it's not provided by the office."
"?"
Chu Zhishui was mentally prepared for Xin Yunmao to walk down the street in traditional dress. To her surprise, he snapped his fingers, and in an instant, he was shrouded in a dark flame.
Under the long lamp, the cold fire licked the hem of his robe, and his dark green robe and black hair jade crown disappeared, replaced by a pure black windbreaker and neat short hair. His eyebrows were clear and his eyes bright, back to his usual modern attire. The traditional dress was as ephemeral as a mirage, leaving no trace.
Chu Zhishui thought, this scene really feels like the instant transformation of a small animal in a game.
Xin Yunmao noticed her curious gaze. He frowned seriously and scolded, "Are you just going to stare at me while I change? Don't you know it's impolite to stare?"
Chu Zhishui: "?"
Feeling wronged, she innocently said, "You didn't undress, so I don't think I need to look away."
Xin Yunmao's tone was cold: "Are you regretting it?"
"......"
Why is it so hard to communicate with him?
Chu Zhishui wanted to have a calm conversation with Xin Yunmao, but she always felt that he was sometimes really annoying. She put on a straight face and blatantly looked him up and down, from head to toe.
Xin Yunmao was puzzled: "What kind of look is that?"
"You didn't undress, so how do I know if I regret not looking..." Chu Zhishui's gaze was intense, moving from his face to his figure, as if she was trying to see through his windbreaker. She said casually, "Or if I regret looking."
Upon hearing this, Xin Yunmao was taken aback. His adam's apple bobbed, and he was speechless, staring at her in shock. His eyes were shimmering, like the broken moonlight, clear and bright, with a hint of panic.
His lips moved, but he said nothing, as if his arrogance had been knocked out by a hammer, and he was at a loss for words because of her bold statement.
Chu Zhishui was waiting for his arrogant counterattack, but instead, he just stood there, stunned. The air instantly became tense and restless.
The cool night breeze blew, but it didn't ease the standoff. Instead, it made the atmosphere more romantic and ambiguous.
She was incredibly frustrated. He usually said a lot of shameless things, so why was he acting so innocent now!?
It made her feel like she was teasing a virtuous man!
Chu Zhishui took a deep breath. She wanted to dispel the strange atmosphere, so she took the initiative to break the deadlock. Her voice softened, "Can we be a little friendlier? Talk normally, and get along."
Xin Yunmao's eyes flickered, and he finally came back to his senses: "Who do you think is not normal?"
Of course, you're not normal.
Chu Zhishui cursed him in her heart, but on the surface, she pretended to be fair: "Both you and I are not normal."
"What's not normal?"
"Do you think it's normal for us to communicate like this every day?" Chu Zhishui said with righteous indignation, "I want to be your colleague, but you're always cracking jokes with me."
She didn't mention the usual cross-server chatting. If it wasn't for his constant gibberish, how could she have been provoked to cross the line just now?
Xin Yunmao pursed his lips, "You reminded me, it's not nine to five now."
Chu Zhishui was taken aback.
"According to what you said before, you should admit that you're my follower." Xin Yunmao raised his eyebrows, "Are all humans this insincere?"
Chu Zhishui thought to herself, she clearly said they could be a bit more casual in private, but casual didn't mean becoming a follower. But he escalated the issue to the entire human race, she couldn't nitpick the wording without making humans seem petty.
"Fine, fine, I admit it." Chu Zhishui sighed, "I'm a follower, I worship you."
This was the first time Xin Yunmao heard her admit it, he was stunned, "Really?"
Chu Zhishui had given up, she continued to joke with him, "Of course it's true. We, the citizens of our socialist country, have honesty and kindness ingrained in us."
"The worship ceremony requires a wish." Xin Yunmao said, "What's your wish?"
"I want world peace."
"Wishes must be strongly related to your karma."
Chu Zhishui thought for a moment, "Then, good health for my parents."
"Are you deliberately making fun of me?" Xin Yunmao's face darkened slightly, "I said it has to be related to you."
"Isn't the well-being of my parents related to me?"
"Only a strong personal desire can establish the ceremony, otherwise it's useless."
Chu Zhishui realized something, "Wait, we haven't had a ceremony yet, how can you say I'm your follower?"
Xin Yunmao was speechless.
"Taking advantage of me not knowing your rules?"
"Am I taking advantage of you?" Xin Yunmao wanted to rub his temples, he sneered, "If I wanted to bully you, would you still see me today? You call me when you need me, but show no respect when you don't, you even refuse to admit your reverence for me."
"When have I ever disrespected you?" Chu Zhishui was getting a headache, "And your lines are too much like 'The Godfather'."
She thought of the classic line from 'The Godfather', "But you don't ask with respect. You don't offer friendship. You don't even think to call me Godfather."
"You openly belittle me, saying I'm not as good as a fish, you call my name, but then run to that cat." His face was mocking, "Or are you saying, since Miao Li said he would watch over you more, you think you won't need me in the future, so you can't even bother pretending?"
Even though she was wearing his token, she ran to other demons. Humans really were fickle creatures.
Xin Yunmao's words carried an unknowing sourness, "You better get it straight, he might have some power, but he's nowhere near me!"
"What the hell are you talking about?" Chu Zhishui's anger flared up, "I just mistook him for you, it's late at night and I can't see clearly, you always wear black clothes, anyone would get confused!"
Xin Yunmao was yelled at, his eyes widened slightly, as if he was particularly surprised.
Chu Zhishui pointed angrily at his pure black coat, "Look, it's still black, there's no fashion creativity at all, and you have the nerve to blame me!?"
Miao Li was in a black cloak, and so was Xin Yunmao in his black coat. Anyone could easily get their eyes crossed.
Suddenly, the two of them started to squabble, staring at each other.
The air froze, a human and a demon standing off against each other, the time seemed to stretch out like a century.
"So you really don't like black?" After a while, Xin Yunmao was the first to look away from her eyes. After hearing her angry explanation, the resentment in his chest also dissipated. He murmured, "Forget it, I was not originally this color."
He snapped his fingers, and in a second he changed his outfit, this time it was a white shirt.
He gently asked, "Is this okay?"
Chu Zhishui saw him change his clothes for a single sentence and specifically asked for her opinion. Her anger suddenly extinguished, and she didn't know what to say.
Her volume had been gradually increasing, not because she was disgusted with his sharpness, but because it seemed like she was using him, whether it was dealing with demons or the tea garden business. It was all caused by the Huaijiang Observation Bureau. If she wasn't in the Bureau, she wouldn't have to deal with all this. The situation was too similar to the past. It was obviously for Longzhi Video, but she was slandered as the biggest beneficiary.
She was clear in her conscience, and of course, she couldn't stand his harshness.
But he gave in again.
Chu Zhishui knew very well that whether people can get along for a long time does not depend on the first impression. That is a polite mask disguised by instinct, perfect but fragile. Only when pushed to the point of shouting, blushing, and raging, will a person's true thoughts and feelings be revealed.
When she was sharp, most men couldn't accept it, from Li Longke to Sun Qiao. Fragile male faces couldn't handle it.
But this male demon was the exact opposite.
Although he was usually cold-tempered and didn't talk much, his temperament was surprisingly soft when arguing, which confused her.
Xin Yunmao noticed that she was silent and hesitated, "White is also not okay?"
"White..." Chu Zhishui's eyes were subtle. She tried to calm her emotions and hesitated to say, "Okay, okay."
"Why do you seem so reluctant?" Xin Yunmao pointed to her pure white coat, "Isn't what you're wearing white?"
That was exactly why she felt reluctant!
Why did he have to wear the same color as her on the street?
Demons probably didn't have the concept of couple outfits. Chu Zhishui was driven mad by his way of thinking and asked patiently, "In the end, why do you insist on making me your follower?"
"Human and demon interactions are bound by rules, otherwise, it will disrupt the balance of the world." Xin Yunmao calmly said, "Then give me a reason, why am I here tonight if there's no worship relationship?"
"Can't it be because you are kind-hearted and draw your sword to help when you see injustice?"
Xin Yunmao expressionless, "In this world, there is only unprovoked hatred, not unprovoked kindness. Everything has a clear price, there must be a return."
"So I give you a pen, and you have to put a piece of candy on the table?" Chu Zhishui mocked, "Your rules are too petty, you can be this cautious."
"That's why there are so many people and demons who harbor the mentality of luck, and Hu Chenrui and his team have so many barbecues every year."
Chu Zhishui thought about the screams from the Observation Department and the inevitable fiery punishment for captured demons. She hesitated, "Would you be roasted if you made a mistake?"
Xin Yunmao scoffed, "Are they worthy of roasting me?"
"..."
Chu Zhishui now roughly understood the rules of demons. The difference in demonic energy and lifespan between humans and demons is too great, and if they get too involved, it will undoubtedly cause trouble. Some people would ask demons to fulfill their own wishes, such as overnight wealth, blooming love life, career promotion, etc., and they would need to sign agreements or perform rituals, exchanging something else for what they want.
If it's an equivalent exchange, the demons would draw power from the faith and refine their own talents and abilities. They would occasionally send their followers to do things, gaining demonic energy in various ways.
Of course, human labor contracts often lead to disputes, let alone agreements between humans and demons. The Observation Bureau catching demons is a common occurrence.
Chu Zhishui asked humbly, "So, would a wish like protecting me be acceptable?"
"No, those are just extras, not your personal desires." Xin Yunmao looked at her arrogantly, "They all have different talents, but they usually only specialize in one or two things and can't manage everything. Only I can fulfill any request. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you."
Chu Zhishui helplessly replied, "But I feel like your services aren't that extensive, and nothing you've said so far has piqued my interest."
"Shouldn't you be the one reflecting? I've never seen someone as difficult to serve as you in my hundreds of years."
Chu Zhishui attempted to refer to previous cases, asking, "What wishes have you fulfilled for others in the past?"
"Did you forget what I said?" Xin Yunmao said, "I clearly told you..."
"Oh, oh, oh, I'm the first one!" She remembered something when she saw his displeasure and quickly reassured him, "I didn't forget, I remember."
Only then did Xin Yunmao stop talking.
Facing the petty thousand-year-old demon, Chu Zhishui felt it was normal for him to have not opened for business for so many years. If all salespeople had his attitude, they would have lost their jobs long ago. She didn't want to argue with him and tried to negotiate, "How about this, I agree to worship you, but I really can't think of the kind of wish you mentioned. Let's save it for now, and when I think of something later, we'll talk."
"If you need me to do something, just tell me directly to avoid breaking the balance. Can we do it this way?"
To be honest, she didn't have any wishes. If it wasn't for fear of him breaking the rules, she might not even need to go through this.
Xin Yunmao paused for a few seconds, surprised, "This kind of worship, I've never heard of it."
"It's like a prepaid card. I'll charge more first, and then spend it slowly." Chu Zhishui said, "Or we can settle it transaction by transaction. For example, you came over today, and I'll treat you to a meal another day. Each time we give and take, in the end, it's still equivalent."
"Treat me to a meal?" Xin Yunmao recalled the sour and sweet taste, "A rice ball?"
"That was an exception, we'll have something better next time."
Chu Zhishui thought he was averse to convenience store food and planned to find a proper restaurant. Unexpectedly, after hearing her words, he seemed a bit regretful. She couldn't figure out what was so memorable about fast-food rice balls.
The two finally reached an agreement on the matter of worship, still working in shifts from eight to five, and didn't discuss anything else on the way home.
Once they crossed the long bridge over the river, the residential area was right in front of them. The journey was peaceful, with only the moonlight accompanying their shadows.
In the residential area, the children who had been playing during the day had already gone home. The small garden was quiet, with occasional rustling of tree shadows. The building was full of lights from countless homes, always waiting for those returning late at night.
"How are you getting home?" Chu Zhishui stood at the entrance of the residential area, taking out her phone and opening the app, "Should I call a cab for you?"
"I can go straight back to the office, just like what you're wearing." Xin Yunmao slightly lifted his chin, indicating the pendant she was wearing. Each teleportation required a specific medium, and he could freely shuttle back and forth.
Chu Zhishui questioned, "So, every time after watering the tea garden, you didn't need to take the car, you could have teleported back?"
The two of them had recently been going to the tea garden frequently. She would call him over, and then they would drive back to the office.
Xin Yunmao found her to be extremely perceptive. He stiffened and re-evaluated her, "What do you mean?"
Chu Zhishui was puzzled, "What do you mean?"
His jawline tightened, and he muttered, "You don't think I like taking the car, do you?"
"No, I thought you were worried I would be bored, so you specifically accompanied me back. I thought you were quite considerate." Chu Zhishui thought about his limited experience with cars, and seemed to have a realization. She blinked and said, "So you like to take a drive?"
Thinking back, he was very restrained the first time he took a car. Perhaps all of this was quite novel to him, just like how children would insist on eating instant noodles even when there was food at home. It wasn't nutritious, but it was fun. She thought taking a car was boring, but he might find it interesting.
"…"
For a moment, Xin Yunmao didn't know whether being considerate and accompanying her back was more embarrassing, or liking to take a drive was more embarrassing. Either way, neither was a flattering answer, so he shut his mouth in self-consciousness.
Especially when her eyes were shining, and she had the same look in her eyes when she looked at that fish. To put it nicely, it was a look of pity and full of maternal love. To put it harshly, it was like observing a fool who hadn't seen the world. It made him feel uncomfortable all over.
"I'm leaving."
He responded lightly, avoiding the main issue, and couldn't even face her directly. He stepped straight into the deep black crack, not daring to stay any longer.
Chu Zhishui watched as Xin Yunmao fled in a hurry, surprised by his contrasting hobby, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.
