A small lamp was lit in the living room. Despite the delay on the road, her parents hadn't returned yet.
After washing up and double-checking the tea garden's accounts, Chu Zhishui heard movement at the door. She poked her head out of the room to greet the late returners: "You're back?"
"Mm." Xie Yan was changing her shoes when she carefully chose her words and asked, "What did you say to Sun Qiao?"
Liu Kemei had arranged for Sun Qiao to send someone home, but he returned incredibly quickly, looking quite upset when he sat down. Liu Kemei naturally kept asking questions, and the mother and son began whispering to each other. Before long, their conversation turned hostile, with pointed remarks directed at Chu Zhishui.
Chu Zhishui chuckled, asking with interest: "What did Sun Qiao tell you?"
Chu Xiaohe waved his hand: "Enough, let's not discuss this anymore. Why bring it up with her?"
"Dad, let's talk about it. I want to hear."
Xie Yan sighed and said gently: "Sun Qiao didn't say much. It was mainly Liu Kemei, saying you're too proud and can't continue like this."
"Well, isn't that just Sun Qiao tattling to his mom? That's all he's ever known how to do." Chu Zhishui laughed, "Liu Auntie wasn't even that polite about it. She should have just directly accused me of being unrealistic - that her precious son is more than good enough for me, and who am I to be picky when I only make two or three thousand a month."
Liu Kemei might seem enthusiastic at first glance, but once things don't go her way, she becomes passive-aggressive. She said Chu Zhishui lacked self-awareness - sure, getting into Yinhai City University was impressive back then, but fortunes change, and one shouldn't look down on the less fortunate. After all, she wasn't making much money at the Observation Bureau now.
"She didn't say it directly, but that was the gist of it," Xie Yan said wearily. "With that big mouth of hers, she'll probably be spreading rumors about you everywhere in a couple of days."
Chu Zhishui clapped her hands: "Let her spread them! I hope she tells everyone."
"You seem quite happy about it?"
"Of course I'm happy! Let her go around spreading the word. Then maybe people will stop trying to set me up with inappropriate matches. I came back to Huaijiang City for work, not to collect garbage. They shouldn't try to push every piece of trash my way."
Seeing their daughter's open-minded attitude, Chu Xiaohe and Xie Yan were amused by her words and couldn't stay angry.
"But what if someone decent hears her gossip and gets the wrong idea?"
"If they're so quick to believe such talk, they probably aren't very smart," Chu Zhishui said casually. "Then I'll just be your burden - you're not going to throw me out, are you?"
Xie Yan sighed: "How could we throw you out? We're just glad you're willing to come home."
"Exactly, staying at home is fine. I don't see any suitable matches around anyway," Chu Xiaohe said irritably. "They're all worthless trash, not good enough for my daughter!"
The family stopped discussing the wedding banquet incident and chatted about other things before getting ready for bed.
Though Huaijiang City wasn't large, news traveled fast.
Later, Chu Zhishui did hear some rumors, mostly Liu Kemei saying she was difficult and had too high standards, and that she'd regret it when she became an older unmarried woman. However, the locals in Huaijiang knew about Sun Qiao's questionable history and mocked Liu Kemei for being like the fox who couldn't reach the grapes and called them sour. When they met Chu Zhishui, they even offered words of comfort.
Chu Zhishui didn't care whether outsiders praised or criticized her. Small towns were all like this - people would console you to your face but might agree with Liu Kemei behind your back. It was all just casual gossip topics.
Having suddenly provoked a family of mad dogs, she wasn't in the best mood, so she simply got approval from Director Hu to announce that performance bonuses would be distributed starting this month.
Wasn't Sun Qiao's monthly salary five thousand?
Well, she'd increase performance bonuses by 100% - this month everyone would get eight thousand!
This news caused a sensation at the Huaijiang Observation Bureau. The fact that the bureau would have performance bonuses, and that the first distribution would be double, truly shocked all the supernatural beings. Before Chu Zhishui could even get to know all the supernatural creatures at the Observation Bureau, the Economic Development Department had already become famous.
In the office, Jin Yu checked her account repeatedly, afraid she might have misread the salary figures. She was so excited that tears welled up in her eyes: "Heavens, I just got two months' worth of salary for free!"
Chu Zhishui corrected her: "What do you mean 'for free'? This is what we earned through our hard work and diligent labor."
Jin Yu shook her head like a rattle drum: "No, no, no, I've worked hard at the bureau for so many years, and most of my labor never earned any money."
Chu Zhishui: "..." Those words were truly tragically tear-jerking.
"But weren't we supposed to plan this out and distribute it at the end of the year when it would be more appropriate?" Jin Yu asked puzzled. "Why suddenly give out double this time?"
The tea garden's business had gradually recovered its funds, and there was indeed money in the account, but Chu Zhishui had been holding back. Firstly, they needed to reserve funds for research and development, and secondly, performance bonuses needed to be distributed systematically, preferably increasing gradually month by month, with a large sum at the end of the year to ensure bureau employees had a good New Year.
"The tea garden project is almost over, so I wanted to share the joy with everyone. It won't be double every month," Chu Zhishui admitted. "Besides, I'm not in a good mood and wanted to reward myself."
Money couldn't buy her happiness, and she couldn't keep her frustration bottled up.
Jin Yu's eyes widened slightly as she carefully asked: "Then could you be in a bad mood more often?"
"?"
Jin Yu timidly suggested: "...Or at least be in a bad mood before payday?"
"Alright, just work hard and earn money. There will be more performance bonuses in the future. Let's strive to pay taxes and contribute to building our country," Chu Zhishui couldn't help but pat Jin Yu's head. "Right now, even calculating the whole year's income, we haven't reached the personal income tax threshold. We've barely started."
Jin Yu looked forward hopefully and said sincerely: "Then I hope the country gives me the opportunity to contribute to its development soon."
The Huaijiang Observation Bureau giving out performance bonuses was one extraordinary event; the Finance Department staff treating the Economic Development Department like royalty was another recent marvel. In the past, Jin Yu had to go through complicated procedures just to handle something at the Finance Department, but now the documents were delivered right to her without her leaving the office.
The female supernatural beings from the Finance Department specially came to the third floor. They gently knocked twice on the Economic Development Department's door and said softly: "Section Chief Chu, your stamped forms are here."
"Okay, thank you," Chu Zhishui was surprised. "You didn't have to climb up here, I could have gone down to get them."
"Don't mention it, Section Chief Chu, it's no trouble at all!"
It was during lunch break, and as Chu Zhishui chatted with the female supernatural beings, silver bell-like laughter occasionally drifted into the next room.
In the corridor, Wu Changgong leaned against the doorframe, hearing the joyful laughter and feeling quite depressed. The female supernatural beings from the Finance Department had always been straightforward and fierce, even daring to fight with the Observation Department when angry. Since when did they flutter around someone like giggling flowers?
"What kind of section chief is a deputy section chief? What kind of documents need to be delivered in groups?" Wu Changgong said sourly. Seeing He Shougui coming up the stairs, he quickly stopped the hunched old man to complain, "Director He, good timing."
He Shougui stopped slowly, looking quite dazed.
"Look at this, this newcomer doesn't take you seriously at all," Wu Changgong winked towards the Economic Development Department, where another burst of laughter erupted. Who knew what Chu Zhishui had said to make the female supernatural beings so amused.
"What—" He Shougui dragged out his words, leaning in as if hard of hearing, and responded belatedly, "The newcomer takes me seriously?"
"No, I'm talking about Chu Zhishui, always ordering the Finance Department around. This can't continue!" Wu Changgong said anxiously. "You need to do something about it. They're all your people, and now they're just crowding around her!"
He Shougui looked confused: "Oh— Section Chief Chu is doing great!"
Wu Changgong: "..."
"I'm old, my hearing isn't good anymore." He Shougui said and continued climbing the stairs, presumably heading to the fourth floor for business.
"Damn, the old turtle is playing dumb with me again. They're all in cahoots!" Wu Changgong angrily changed his words, "Humans and turtles working together, all in cahoots!"
Niu Shi sat in the Logistics Department, annoyed by his muttering: "Stop complaining. If someone hears you, you won't get paid next month."
Wu Changgong immediately shut up wisely - no one would mess with money.
In the Economic Development Department, while Chu Zhishui was chatting with the female supernatural beings, she suddenly heard a rhythmic knock on the door and looked up to see Miao Li. He wasn't wearing his Demon Suppression Robe today, and with his golden eyes, he looked quite casual as he smiled and waved.
"Section Chief Miao..." The female supernatural beings from Finance changed expression, their bodies suddenly tense, showing what seemed to be fear or perhaps resistance.
Jin Yu was so startled she shrank back, sensing the presence of a natural enemy. She started frantically bubbling and stammered: "I-I need to go deal with these bubbles!"
"We'll go with Jin Yu!"
In an instant, the room scattered like frightened birds and beasts, leaving only Chu Zhishui and Miao Li at the doorway. The last time she encountered a situation where other demons fled in such haste was when facing a certain thousand-year-old demon.
Chu Zhishui felt awkward explaining the others' hasty departure and was forced to handle the situation alone. She said mildly, "Director Miao certainly makes quite an entrance."
"I just used a little technique for processing documents before. Didn't mean to frighten them," Miao Li unconsciously scratched his face, displaying the cunning typical of felines. He tilted his head and said, "At least I didn't scare you away."
Chu Zhishui laughed nervously.
"I've rarely seen you these past few days?" Miao Li blinked, "We used to run into each other occasionally."
Chu Zhishui turned her head guiltily and said stiffly, "I've been spending time at the tea garden lately, sometimes I'm not in the office in the mornings."
Miao Li smiled sweetly: "I see, that's a relief. I thought you were avoiding me."
"..."
Good grief, the keen perception of felines must be an innate skill - this cat demon from the Observation Department was like Detective Black Cat!
Chu Zhishui felt extremely uncomfortable under his all-seeing golden eyes, completely unable to respond. She used to play with the black cat daily, but since learning his true identity, she couldn't face those embarrassing memories and naturally tried every way to avoid crossing paths with Miao Li.
Miao Li seemed to see through her unease. He lowered his eyes dejectedly and asked in confusion, "Why this sudden change? Did I do something wrong?"
"No," Chu Zhishui hurriedly replied, "Director Miao hasn't done anything wrong..."
"Then why are you avoiding me and being so formal?"
"...I'm just having a bit of trouble adjusting."
Chu Zhishui felt her scalp tingling from his questioning. She felt like a heartless woman - she couldn't exactly say that she only couldn't resist petting him when he was in his soft cat form, and now knowing he could transform into a man made her lose interest completely, entering a state of emotional detachment where she wished she could delete their awkward encounters.
Cats should just stay cats, why did they have to transform into human form?
It was the kitty form that was adorable!
Chu Zhishui's heart was bleeding with regret.
"Having trouble adjusting?"
"Yes."
"Right, this isn't how you used to see me," Miao Li pondered thoughtfully. "How about this?"
As soon as he finished speaking, fluffy cat ears emerged from his hair, along with a black tail that swayed lazily back and forth, slightly longer than when he was in cat form. Revealing part of his true form, his golden pupils shone brightly as he stared at her obediently and tamely.
Chu Zhishui watched the tail in surprise, her gaze unconsciously following its playful movements, inexplicably feeling an urge to touch it. The black tail was pure in color without any mixed shades, looking soft and silky - it must feel wonderful to touch.
Miao Li's cat ears twitched as he swayed his tail skillfully back and forth, asking, "Would you like to pet it?"
Chu Zhishui coughed lightly: "That wouldn't be appropriate."
"It's fine, it's not really different from my original form."
Those words were practically an invitation to crime - petting cats was an all-or-nothing affair.
Chu Zhishui watched the cat tail swing near her hand. Just as she tentatively reached out to stroke it, another hand beat her to it. Long fingers with distinct knuckles mercilessly gripped the black tail and pulled it aside, leaving her hand grasping at empty air.
Xin Yunmao had suddenly appeared. He coldly gripped the cat tail, his sharp gaze sweeping back and forth as he seriously examined the human and demon, as if they had some unspeakable relationship. He looked like he wanted to stare holes through their faces.
Chu Zhishui could read the subtext in his eyes, which clearly said "how degenerate, a lone cat and person alone in a room, surely up to no good," as a cold chill swept over her.
Miao Li's expression turned ugly as his tail was grabbed: "How unlucky."
In the next moment, the cat ears and tail vanished.
"That's my line," Xin Yunmao casually grabbed a tissue from the table to wipe his hands, saying with disgust, "I didn't expect that after so many years, you're still not skilled at maintaining human form, actually exposing your true nature."
Once demons transform into humans, they shouldn't reveal their original form - showing one's true form indicated insufficient power. Who would have expected Miao Li to pull such a stunt?
Chu Zhishui was surprised by the interaction between the two demons. Xin Yunmao usually didn't acknowledge other demons, yet he was directly engaging with Miao Li. It seemed Detective Black Cat's rank must be quite high - after all, he hadn't even spoken to Hong Ximing last time. Though both Hong and Miao were directors, the Observation Department was undoubtedly more powerful.
Miao Li: "I was talking to her, you're being quite intrusive."
"Laughable," Xin Yunmao sneered arrogantly. "Stop hanging around here. Do you think she'd still be interested in you after meeting me?"
Miao Li raised his eyebrows: "I think she is interested."
Xin Yunmao responded decisively: "You're mistaken."
"Am I mistaken?" Miao Li looked at Chu Zhishui pitifully, "My tail really hurts where he grabbed it."
Chu Zhishui was startled: "Ah, can cat tails break bones..."
Xin Yunmao couldn't stand his affectation and mockingly said: "You really can't break a cat's bad habits - usually acting aloof, but seizing any chance to play pitiful. What a slick and cunning face."
"You're the one everyone hates," Miao Li said strangely. "You used to speak one word at a time, why are you so talkative today and showing such hostility towards me?"
Chu Zhishui secretly answered in her heart - because he was intermittently aloof, rarely spoke, but once he started talking he wouldn't stop, especially when arguing.
"Anyway, I came to deliver a message," Miao Li had no desire to continue the confrontation and turned back to Chu Zhishui. "The ginseng spirit we caught the other day is asking to see you. Would you like to come to the Observation Department to talk with him?"
"See me?"
"Yes, but it's fine if you don't want to come. It's not really important."
Xin Yunmao clicked his tongue, thinking to himself that if it wasn't important, why did Miao Li come at all.
Chu Zhishui probed: "Would it disturb your work?"
"Not at all, you can come around three o'clock," Miao Li suggested proactively. "If you're interested, I can show you around. The Observation Department is very large, with additional sections underground."
"There are underground sections too?"
"Yes, although we're called the Huaijiang Observation Bureau, we don't just handle demons from Huaijiang - several neighboring provinces are within our jurisdiction."
This was why the Observation Department frequently went on business trips and had an extremely heavy daily workload.
Chu Zhishui hadn't expected there to be hidden areas to unlock. After seeing Miao Li out of the Economic Development Department, she turned to see Xin Yunmao's tense expression. Every pore of his body radiated displeasure, clearly showing his rejection and antipathy toward Detective Black Cat.
Chu Zhishui sighed: "Don't be unfriendly to colleagues."
Xin Yunmao frowned: "Don't go."
"Why not?"
"The demons imprisoned there are all ugly. You'll end up trembling in fear again."
"Don't make it sound like I'm such a coward," Chu Zhishui muttered. "I've gradually gotten used to the bureau."
Xin Yunmao stared at her for a long while, then crossed his arms and said: "Don't go. I can already guess what that demon will say to you. There's no point in you going."
"What will he say?"
"Demons are all no good. They just see that you're human and softer-hearted than other demons, so they try to get you to plead their case, only to bring you trouble," Xin Yunmao sneered. "Whether it's the captured demons or the ones doing the capturing, they're all the same, including that cat."
"That's a targeted attack."
"I'm not trying to sow discord. If you insist on going, that's fine," his chest felt tight as he spoke in an extremely displeased tone. "But I'm warning you beforehand - don't get too close to that cat."
"Why?"
"He can't give you a future. You two can never be together."
"???"
Chu Zhishui's mouth twitched upon hearing this, amazed at his train of thought: "What are you even talking about? Are you the demon world's guidance counselor?"
Why else would he be so zealous about cracking down on young love, acting like some strict master?
"Humans and demons getting too deeply involved leads to misfortune. If you accidentally violate the rules, your good days will be ruined," Xin Yunmao put on a stern face, wanting her to stay alert. He said proudly, "He doesn't have my noble character and self-discipline. He might lose control, and then you'll be the one who suffers!"
The existence of demons could disrupt established cause and effect, possibly causing people to lose their existing happiness. The rules constrained human-demon relationships - there was always a price to pay for any gain.
Although Miao Li probably wouldn't do anything bad, she might encounter other demons in the future. There was nothing wrong with emphasizing the serious consequences.
"Who would praise their own noble character?" After criticizing him, Chu Zhishui remembered something and hesitantly asked, "So is that why you said you couldn't respond to human feelings?"
Xin Yunmao's initial strict defensiveness and constant over-vigilant stance probably had something to do with this.
Xin Yunmao nodded: "That's one of the reasons."
"Fun fact, humans can live without love and marriage. Don't let your imagination run wild every time you see a man and woman together," she said irritably. "Besides, your statement isn't accurate - it's getting too involved with male supernatural beings that tends to lead to misfortune."
"What do you mean?"
Chu Zhishui responded candidly, "I'm quite happy in my relationships with Jin Yu and the others."
"You don't feel happy meeting me?" Xin Yunmao was stunned for a moment before reacting with surprise. "Even less than meeting those little fish?"
"Be reasonable - weren't you just saying that humans who deal with supernatural beings become unfortunate?"
Xin Yunmao was caught off guard and immediately backtracked, "Then I take that back. Now say what you said again."
Chu Zhishui gave him a sidelong glance before silently turning back to her computer, appearing unwilling to engage with him further.
Xin Yunmao had always been competitive. Upon hearing that he ranked below fish, he couldn't swallow this slight and persisted, "I've already taken it back, so why won't you say it again?"
"Say what again?"
"The happiness part."
"I won't," Chu Zhishui argued firmly. "Supernatural beings operate on reciprocity and positive cycles. I'm simply following the rules and local customs. If you become unfortunate upon meeting me, then naturally I'm unfortunate meeting you too."
"That's easy to fix," Xin Yunmao frowned, dissatisfied with her deflection. He declared righteously, "I'm very happy meeting you, now you say it back - that you're happy meeting me too!"
"..."
Hearing his wedding vow-like declaration, Chu Zhishui turned her head as if burned, her pupils shaking in panic as she stared at him like she'd seen a ghost, completely speechless.
Xin Yunmao suddenly realized what he'd said and froze, his expression quite remarkable: "..."
Moments later, a sunset glow unconsciously crept up his neck. He used his pale fingers to cover most of his face, but his ears still burned red like warm jade. His profile tensed up, his whole body stiff and awkward. Except for the sparkling waves in his eyes under the warm sun, he was as motionless as a statue on a mountainside.
In painting, the crucial touch is in the eyes - even the best work dies if the eyes fail, and the stiffest stone figure comes alive with a touch of brightness to the eyes. Though he remained silent and still, he was like a successfully animated statue, his eyes filled with embarrassment saying so much, piercing straight to the heart.
The summer breeze hadn't yet reached Huaijiang, but the office became stuffy and sticky.
Faced with his loss of composure, Chu Zhishui only felt the air growing restless, her face burning just as badly. It was clearly his mistake in speaking that made things awkward between them.
She took a deep breath and looked away, softly trying to ease the situation: "This is what happens when you don't watch your words..."
Now you've finally slipped up, haven't you?
Making things uncomfortable for both of them.
In the hallway, the shadows of human and supernatural being fell slanted on the wall, remarkably similar to their first meeting, again walking from the third floor to the second. The difference was that Chu Zhishui walked in front and Xin Yunmao behind, their positions reversed.
Xin Yunmao's slip of the tongue made both parties self-conscious, leaving even their descent down the stairs in complete silence, unusually free of their typical childish bickering.
Chu Zhishui actually recovered her composure quite quickly. She had never been one to read too much into things or let her imagination run wild, and by now she had basically mastered the key to communicating with him. He placed great importance on supernatural beings' rules - supernatural beings return favors when shown kindness, like Jin Yu giving bubble water. That's why he had always been so cooperative, following the principle of reciprocity and positive cycles.
When he said he couldn't respond to human emotions and that deep entanglements between humans and supernatural beings weren't good, he was probably being quite truthful. As for those surprisingly intense words, they were likely just him speaking thoughtlessly in the heat of the moment. The proud supernatural being couldn't stand being second place, like a child insisting on being first on a friends list - childish and stubborn.
If you analyzed him with simpler logic, his thoughts were actually quite pure, nothing worth overthinking.
However, while Chu Zhishui was quietly contemplating, Xin Yunmao gradually couldn't take it anymore, feeling this stretch of path was truly too long, even unnaturally quiet.
She hadn't spoken at all, unlike her usual self.
In the silence, he secretly observed her expression, finding it completely neutral, and began to worry about the awkward atmosphere, wondering if he had annoyed her. When she wasn't arguing with him, she basically showed no emotional fluctuations, leaving others unable to read her.
"Why aren't you saying anything?" Xin Yunmao's ears had cooled down, and he affected an arrogant tone, snorting lightly, "After hearing those words, shouldn't you be secretly delighted, clearly harboring ulterior motives toward me."
"You really switch between having shame and being shameless at the flip of a switch." Chu Zhishui heard him recovering and gave him an exasperated sidelong glance, saying with a pout, "Keep talking like that and I'll give you two punches."
Xin Yunmao's gaze flickered. After a moment's contemplation, he extended his arm: "Fine."
Chu Zhishui was taken aback: "What's wrong with you now?"
"I did misspeak, so it's fair if you want to punch me twice." His arm still hung in the air as he looked her up and down, as if assessing her strength. "Though with your tiny bit of strength, I'm worried you'll just hurt your own hand."
Chu Zhishui found him insufferable and actually threw a punch, hitting his upper arm.
Xin Yunmao suddenly took the hit and finally felt relieved, knowing the incident had passed. His whole body relaxed, and he even said leisurely: "Put some strength into it."
Chu Zhishui was provoked into clenching her fist, this time with a longer wind-up, landing a heavy blow on his back, though still unable to cause any damage. She had struck with all her might but only ended up with a numb hand. She shook it out with disgust, her cheeks slightly puffed up, as if deeply resenting his iron-like body. Her huffing and puffing only made others' hearts melt.
"Didn't even tickle," he stared at this scene, his eyes rippling like spring water, unable to hide his rising smile.
Chu Zhishui thought to herself that this guy was both deserving of a beating and able to take one - no wonder he'd gone unchecked for so long without anyone beating him to death.
However, after this commotion, their interaction atmosphere had returned to normal.
Chu Zhishui shook her wrist, hearing his smug tone, and looked him up and down disapprovingly, "Your whole body is as thick as your face."
Xin Yunmao's breath caught at her words, suddenly remembering what she had said that night and her unrestrained examining gaze.
He instinctively pulled his collar closer, cautioning: "Stop fixating on the parts you can't see."
Chu Zhishui: "?"
