FI CH41: The Waves Come

“He’s been too possessive lately.”

The butler abruptly looked up, a violent tremor in his eyes!

Director Li was no less shaken than the butler.

He stared at the gray-haired, knowledge-thirsty “security guard” behind the desk, speechless for a long moment.

Lin Su quietly took half a step back, letting the two face each other directly.

After a long while, Director Li recovered from his shock, his gaze complex and indescribable. “An old steed in the stable still aspires to gallop a thousand miles. A hero in his twilight years is still filled with high aspirations. To think that even a security comrade at our school is so diligent and striving… Good, good!”

The three of them: “…”

Having expressed his feelings, Director Li looked at the butler with emotion. “I’ve heard about your heroic deeds today as well. How about this, don’t snatch the students’ homework anymore! Come with me to my office. I have years of past exam papers and a full set of exam prep books there.”

The butler’s lips trembled. “No…”

Lin Su turned his head and said slowly, “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about, Uncle Security Guard. Just go on up… stairs with peace of mind.”

The butler wanted to say more.

A cold gaze fell upon him.

He Zhenling asked, “Is there anything else you are not satisfied with?”

The open mouth closed again.

The butler let out a whimper through ventriloquism, then rose and followed Director Li, silent and heavy-hearted.

“I’ll be going then, Mr. He!”

After Director Li finished speaking, he left with the butler.

After the two figures disappeared down the corridor.

In the once-again quiet classroom, Lin Su gave He Zhenling a deep look. “You’ve made progress too, Little He.”

He Zhenling turned to him steadily. “I’ve just learned to ‘be my own master’.”

Lin Su’s face turned slightly red. “Don’t tell me your previous ‘master’ was me? That’s not right, I…” He was halfway through his teasing when he suddenly realized and looked sideways.

“You saw the post bar broadcast?”

He Zhenling let out a “heh,” a smile that wasn’t quite a smile. “Supervisory work.”

The Xuenima quietly climbed onto his shoulder: [Did he see the thousands of miles of ice in his own eyes?]

“…” Lin Su couldn’t hold it in. “Hehe…”

“What are you laughing at?”

“Nothing, I just thought of something funny.”

Lin Su paused, then sighed, “You sacrificed the butler. My dinner is gone.”

He Zhenling snorted with a laugh, slinging his jacket over his shoulder as he turned.

Lin Su blinked: ?

The person in front turned back. “Aren’t you going to eat dinner? Let’s go.”

He followed, enlightened: …Damn, he dotes on me so much.

A high-pitched sound: […Heh!]

As the two were about to leave the classroom, He Zhenling turned his head back before turning off the lights. “Not taking your homework?”

Lin Su shook his head. “The butler will take it when he gets back.”

“…”

The classroom light was switched off with a click!

…

By now, the sky was dark.

Lin Su found a barbecue place near the apartment and had Lao Zhang park the car by the roadside.

He Zhenling hadn’t eaten either and joined him.

The two set up a table on the street and sat down, ordering an extra plate of small steamed buns to feed the Xuenima.

The warm yellow light cast upon the table, smoke and fire swirling.

The Xuenima lay by his hand, eating the small buns one by one. Lin Su took two bites of grilled fish tofu, sipped his tea, and looked up.

“Why did you come to school today?”

He Zhenling sat up straight, his movements exuding a noble air. “Because of the waves you stirred up at noon, the principal contacted me.”

Lin Su squinted. “To hold you accountable?”

“To express his gratitude to me.”

“…”

It seemed the principal was also greatly troubled.

He gnawed on two rows of corn, then paused. “About the renovation, you told the principal you would take it over.”

He Zhenling looked up, seeming to give a very light smile. “‘Little Boss’ is taking charge?”

“…” Lin Su dabbed his mouth demurely. “In public, you… you have no shame.” He put on a serious expression. “I don’t mean for you to spend your money for nothing. Just negotiate it first, and don’t push away Zhu Jianren’s side either.”

He said, “I won’t let you pay for this.”

He Zhenling paused for a few seconds, a dark light flashing in his eyes. “Alright.”

His chopsticks moved around the grill pan, then suddenly stopped. “Where did the grilled chicken skin come from?”

Lin Su, gnawing on his corn, looked over. “I ordered it.”

“…Don’t you not eat chicken skin?”

“Don’t you like to eat chicken skin?”

“…” He Zhenling gently put down his chopsticks and looked straight at him. “I can just ‘tolerate’ it.”

The two looked at each other for a few seconds.

Lin Su turned his head. “Lao Zhang has been waiting in the car for a long time. He must be hungry, right?”

He Zhenling moved the five skewers of grilled chicken skin to the side. “We’ll bring him some late-night snacks later.”

He Zhenling was highly efficient.

During the break the next day, Lin Su heard a broadcast from Chen You:

“I heard that Boss Zhu threw a temper tantrum in the principal’s office, shouted for a while, and then left.”

It seemed he knew He Zhenling had taken over the matter. But given Zhu Jianfei’s shameless character…

Lin Su asked, “He left on his own?”

Chen You, “Uncle Security Guard threw him out.”

“…” Very good.

“Oh, look.” Chen You brought up the post bar again. Lin Su glanced at it and saw the description: A mass of black energy coiled under the security cap, as if accumulated resentment had found an outlet. He grabbed the person and threw him out.

Chen You gossiped, “It says Uncle Security Guard (Dark Version). I wonder why.”

Lin Su was silent for a few seconds. “Perhaps knowledge changed his destiny.”

“?”

The Xuenima: [Did the knowledge the butler wasn’t supposed to bear change Zhu Jianren’s destiny?]

A hand quietly pressed it down.

…

But in any case, peace returned to the school.

The new semester was about to start anyway.

On the rest day before the start of the semester, Lin Su went to the Tianshi Association for the first time in a long while.

President Meng was not in.

Ge Lili and Shu Yang were playing cards in the office.

When Lin Su strolled in, both of them were startled! Ge Lili swept up the cards with a whoosh:

“Great One, what brings you here?”

He then explained nervously, “This, these cards are…”

Lin Su said lightly, “It’s just slacking off during work hours, not like you’re having a party in the office.”

Ge Lili was horrified. “That would be too arrogant!”

Lin Su skipped the topic. “It’s been a while, I came to see if there’s anything.” His gaze was already roaming the desktop. “Is there any fresh gossip to eat?”

“…No, it’s been pretty peaceful lately.”

A regretful sigh fell from the air.

After being caught slacking, Shu Yang had returned to his computer and was now clattering away at his work.

Lin Su scanned it and suddenly asked, “What’s this?”

Shu Yang made a sound of “huh?” He followed Lin Su’s gaze to the file and explained:

“Oh, this is for the record. Ever since the Sanqing Weir incident, President Meng said that all cases, whether ‘accepted’ or ‘not accepted’, must be entered into the archives, to avoid any arguments later.”

A hand reached over and clicked the mouse.

Under the [Not Accepted] cases, a familiar name appeared: Zhu Jianfei.

Lin Su asked, “What’s this about?”

Shu Yang said, “It should be from a couple of days ago, a common request to change feng shui. But our colleague who went said he felt very uncomfortable and came back without accepting the commission.”

Slender white fingertips tapped on the table.

Lin Su, “I’ll go take a look.”

The two in front of him turned their heads at once. “Huh?”

Lin Su, “I happen to have something I need to confirm. Reply to them and say the Association has accepted it.”

Shu Yang “oh-ed” twice and immediately complied.

Ge Lili, for some reason, cautiously squinted over. “Then… do we need to report this to President He?”

Lin Su thought for a moment. “Not for now. He’s been too possessive lately.”

The two of them: “…”

Their faces turned pale, and they typed furiously. “Mmm, mmm, okay, okay.”

Although Zhu Jianfei was from Xun City, the house he usually lived in was bought in the neighboring city.

Lin Su took the next day off directly.

He changed into a black outer robe and put on tassel earrings before going out. The Xuenima landed on his shoulder:

[Why aren’t you taking Little He this time?]

Lin Su pinched his earlobe, savoring the memory. “My psychic powers are surging like they haven’t in a long time. I kind of want to start a tsunami. It’s not good to bring Little He.”

His reasoning was ample. “Besides, absence makes the heart grow fonder…”

The Xuenima interrupted: [On the level of rumors, you two are currently newlyweds.]

“…”

Lin Su caught it and pinched it. “When adults are talking, children shouldn’t butt in.”

…

Zhu Jianfei’s house was in the suburbs of the neighboring city.

This whole area was a villa district.

Lin Su got out of the car and saw a detached house with a lawn and a small garden in front of him.

The sun was bright overhead, but the villa exuded a gloomy coldness.

His gaze fell, slowly sweeping over a certain spot…

Just then, the door opened with a creak.

Zhu Jianfei came out upon hearing the news. He was surprised to see him, then his anger flared up:

“What are you doing here!?”

Lin Su retracted his gaze and curled his lips slightly. “Here to accept the commission, of course.”

“Commission? You??” Zhu Jianfei was even more surprised, looking him up and down. “How old are you? You…”

His words suddenly trailed off.

Lin Su usually wore a school uniform, which suppressed his colors somewhat. Today, he was in a black robe with dark gold patterns, exuding a noble air. The crimson tassel earrings added a touch of flamboyance to his coldness.

Zhu Jianfei had previously been so annoyed by him that he had ground his teeth to bits. Now, seeing him looking like this, he immediately forgot the pain, his thoughts turning over and over, and he stepped aside:

“Hmm, fine. Then come in and take a look.”

He emphasized, “You have to take a good, good, look.”

Lin Su narrowed his eyes slightly. “Of course.”

As he was following the man inside, his phone suddenly vibrated. He took it out and saw two WeiXin messages pop up.

[Ling]: Took a day off from school today?

[Ling]: Where are you.

“…” Lin Su.

His fingertip moved, just about to reply.

Another WeiXin message followed immediately: “My heart is closed today, where are you.”

“…” Lin Su.

[Su_Wakes_Naturally]: Then I might have run to the wrong door, wait for me a little longer. [heart]

After sending it, he put his phone away and walked in with a serious expression.

…

Meanwhile, on the other side.

In the office of the Tianshi Association.

Ge Lili was playing cards with Shu Yang when a figure walked in. He glanced over from the corner of his eye and was so startled that he stood up instantly, greeting cautiously:

“President He, what brings you here?”

He Zhenling paused, then got straight to the point. “Where is he?”

Ge Lili reacted for two seconds, keeping his mouth shut. “The Great One told me not to tell you he took a case!”

“…”

He Zhenling looked at him calmly.

Ge Lili immediately covered his mouth, looking left and right. “Aiya.”

__

Author’s Note:

Ge Lili: (Peeks sneakily)

Lin Su: Little He is not here, let the waves come—

He Zhenling: Heh, so one can even run to the wrong heart’s door.

*”An old steed in the stable…” is from Cao Cao’s “Step Out of the Summer Gate: Though the Tortoise Lives Long.”

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