I’m Face-Blind, But I Devoted Myself To Three Guys - Chapter 38

Chapter 38: “You clearly like it very much.”

The two of them stood at the door for a long time. Qi Xu’s hand remained on the other’s wrist, his cool fingertips gradually warming under the influence of Xie Chengyan’s body temperature.

Xie Chengyan looked down at their joined hands, then glanced at a small snowflake resting on Qi Xu’s shoulder. It seemed he had just returned from outside.

“Do you want to…” “Then remember to see that psychologist.”

They both spoke at the same time, but only Qi Xu finished his sentence.

Xie Chengyan, who had been interrupted: “…”

“I feel like professional help is still necessary,” Qi Xu suggested sincerely, not having heard the half-uttered invitation. He was completely unaware of the other man’s clenched jaw.

Xie Chengyan stared at Qi Xu’s fair neck, silently grinding his teeth. “Young Master, do you think I have this illness just for fun?”

Xie Chengyan’s speech always carried hidden meanings that required translation. This time, Qi Xu’s mental processor whirred for a long while but ultimately failed to decode it.

“Huh?”

“Otherwise, why would you think I haven’t tried to treat it?” Xie Chengyan let out a frustrated laugh at Qi Xu’s persistence in sending him for treatment.

Qi Xu finally realized his mistake and opened his mouth in realization. Right—Xie Chengyan came from a wealthy family; he would naturally seek treatment the moment he got sick. It seemed Qi Xu had worried for nothing.

Qi Xu reconsidered and looked at the other’s hand. “…In that case, can you give me the business card back?”

Since he got it from Jiang Ying-shen, it might still be worth some Lickspittle Points. Better to take it back than have it thrown away.

Xie Chengyan looked at the boy’s obvious secondary motive and glanced at the card in his hand. For reasons unknown, he flipped his wrist and tucked the thin card into his own pocket.

“I’ll consider it,” Xie Chengyan said, changing his tune.

Qi Xu was baffled by this shifting attitude. He blinked and nodded. “Okay.”

It didn’t seem to make a difference; if he gave it to Xie Chengyan, he could still exchange it for some points. The wisdom of the system’s words continued to prove true: Licking is licking, regardless of the target.

Xie Chengyan scrutinized Qi Xu’s seemingly indifferent expression. Just as he was about to speak, the phone in his pocket rang. He frowned, not intending to answer.

However, noticing the call, Qi Xu reflexively let go of his wrist. “Um, you seem busy. I won’t disturb you. Goodnight.” He took a half-step back and waved.

As the grip loosened and the cold air rushed back in, Xie Chengyan subconsciously rotated his empty wrist. He watched Qi Xu, pursed his lips, and hesitated for a moment before letting him go without a word.

And so, Qi Xu returned home carrying the jujube paste cakes from Jiang Ying-shen.

It wasn’t until he saw the reflection of the bandage on his collarbone through the steam in the bathroom mirror that he suddenly remembered.

“Wait?”

Did Xie Chengyan still not say why he bit me?

Qi Xu scratched the edge of the sterile patch dampened by the hot water, blinking blankly.

After his shower, more than an hour had passed since he left Chi Hui’s house. Qi Xu tossed the bandage into the trash, opened his phone, and replied to Chi Hui’s message.

I’m home.

Five minutes later, a slow reply came: Got it.

Qi Xu lay back on his bed, holding his phone, and couldn’t help but smile. While showering, he had checked the system pop-up. Today was a lucky day; he had contact with all three male leads and successfully obtained points from each, though Chi Hui still provided the highest score.

Qi Xu licked his dry lips, opened Chi Hui’s friend profile, and silently added a note behind [Target 3: 187cm, Model, Orphan, Can cook]: [Easiest to lick].

It had been over two months since he bonded with the system, and Qi Xu finally felt like he was on the right track. He had successfully squeezed his way into the lives of all three protagonists; now, he just needed to follow the routine of pleasing them.

While he was being optimistic, the long-silent systems suddenly spoke up in unison.

Warning: The host must ensure that the world’s protagonists do not get too close to one another.

“?” Qi Xu froze, not quite understanding.

According to recent observations, when three protagonists appear simultaneously, the data of this small world experiences brief turbulence.

This was the first time three small worlds had merged, so they had only recently discovered this phenomenon.

To maintain the stability of the merged world, it is best if the host does not let the protagonists meet frequently!

Also, it is best not to let a protagonist discover that the host has other targets. Although gaining Lickspittle Points is proactive, the protagonist’s feelings toward the host will somewhat affect the calculation of those points~

The systems rarely appeared together, so it was clear these points were important. Qi Xu had always been careful about the latter, but he hadn’t deliberately avoided the former.

After quickly analyzing the situation, Qi Xu awkwardly ran a hand through his hair.

Is there… a bit of a problem?

All four of them lived in the same area. As long as Qi Xu acted as a bridge between them, making the protagonists avoid each other entirely would be difficult.

Fortunately, over the next few days, Xie Chengyan and Jiang Ying-shen were both busy. Aside from that one night, Qi Xu didn’t see either of them again, so he naturally shifted the focus of his “Lickspittle Great Cause” onto Chi Hui.

Although his job was technically a “life assistant,” there wasn’t much Qi Xu could actually help with while Chi Hui was recovering at home. Chi Hui handled small daily tasks himself, and for major issues, he would rather call Xu Changshu than trust Qi Xu’s handiwork.

Qi Xu felt that his value was probably similar to that of the dog, “What”—to keep Chi Hui from being bored by causing small-to-medium-sized disasters.

He had worried that he would be fired for doing nothing, but Xu Changshu had visited several times, always looking at him with a satisfied smile. Qi Xu didn’t know how much his “impoverished” background played into this, but it only strengthened his resolve to keep his “vest” (alias) secure.

“What do I need to do?” To avoid looking like he was taking money for free, he asked the manager again about his duties.

Xu Changshu smiled knowingly. “Just as you are is fine. I feel more at ease with you accompanying him. I haven’t seen him this energetic in a long time.”

Hearing this, Qi Xu glanced at the crutch he had accidentally broken that morning, trying to determine if Xu Changshu was being sarcastic. Is Chi Hui energetic because I’m making him angry?

The person in question, sitting nearby, didn’t even look up and let out a cold snort.

Qi Xu: “…” Just caused trouble, dare not speak.

“Don’t mind him, he just has a sharp tongue,” Xu Changshu said, looking at Chi Hui before smiling at Qi Xu comfortingly.

However, his words weren’t just polite small talk. Having worked with Chi Hui for a long time, Xu Changshu knew the man was naturally gloomy and lazy in private. That’s why he insisted on sending the Golden Retriever over—even if it caused trouble, it at least made him feel a bit more human.

He hadn’t expected the new assistant to be even more effective than the dog.

“You haven’t been moving your leg recklessly lately, have you?” Xu Changshu asked Chi Hui as a routine checkup.

Chi Hui flipped through a magazine and didn’t answer. Xu Changshu turned to Qi Xu instead. This was the right person to ask. Qi Xu raised his head and answered proudly, “He’s been resting obediently.”

Ever since he successfully took Chi Hui out for a walk in the wheelchair, Qi Xu had gained experience. Keeping Xu Changshu’s instructions in mind, he insisted on not letting Chi Hui walk on his own. Even at home, he had to be pushed around in the wheelchair.

Chi Hui had refused at first, but then Qi Xu would pull “What” to sit in front of him, and they would stare with four watery eyes. In this regard, Chi Hui was very similar to Jiang Ying-shen—he easily lost to Qi Xu in a staring contest.

Having his weakness discovered, Chi Hui eventually let Qi Xu have his way. If he got too annoyed, the most he would do was grit his teeth and glare.

At first, Qi Xu was a bit scared of the glares. “Will you hit me if you’re unhappy?”

Chi Hui laughed out of anger. “If hitting people weren’t illegal.”

“Oh, that’s great then. Hitting people is illegal,” Qi Xu said, relieved.

Chi Hui had no way of dealing with him and could only use his sharp tongue, but the words usually went in one ear and out the other, causing zero damage to Qi Xu.

After a week in the wheelchair, Chi Hui finally couldn’t take it anymore and asked Qi Xu to find his crutches. Hearing that he had crutches, Qi Xu was surprised. “Then why didn’t you use them before?”

Chi Hui, sitting in the wheelchair, didn’t bother to answer. Qi Xu, getting no response, kept muttering until Chi Hui’s head hurt.

“Because they’re ugly.”

Qi Xu blinked. Once it clicked, he wanted to laugh. He hadn’t expected Chi Hui to have such a childish side. Then, Qi Xu proceeded to drop and break the crutch right in front of Chi Hui…

After hearing Qi Xu’s answer, Xu Changshu was even more satisfied, feeling as though he had recruited Chi Hui’s natural nemesis. “Good, good, good. Little Xu, please put more heart into taking care of him.”

“Tsk,” Chi Hui couldn’t listen anymore. “I don’t know who’s taking care of whom.”

“Me, I’m taking care of you,” Qi Xu chirped confidently from the side.

After Xu Changshu left, Qi Xu conscientiously put the ingredients the manager had brought into the fridge. While rummaging through the freezer, he found an unexpected object.

Qi Xu poked the tiny snowman. The frozen block of snow wobbled, its icy surface a bit rough on his fingers.

“It’s still alive!” Qi Xu couldn’t help but shout happily to Chi Hui.

Chi Hui, who was drinking water, thought there was something living in the groceries Xu Changshu brought and pushed his wheelchair over. It wasn’t until he saw the tiny snowman in Qi Xu’s hands that he realized.

Qi Xu’s eyes curved. “Didn’t you say I couldn’t put it in the fridge back then?”

The snow had fallen for several days, and it had only started clearing up in the last two. Qi Xu had noticed long ago that the snowman on the windowsill was gone; he thought it had been blown away by the wind, but he hadn’t expected it to be safely stored in the freezer.

Having his secret move exposed, Chi Hui looked away, feeling a bit of shame turning into anger. “When did I say you couldn’t?”

Qi Xu poked the snowman’s twig arm with his fingertip, his smile exceptionally beautiful. “You clearly like it very much.”

His use of the word “like” made the man opposite him visibly freeze. Chi Hui stared at the boy squatting on the ground, noting those bright and earnest eyes. He swallowed subconsciously, his voice a bit weak. “Like… what?”

Qi Xu blinked, taking it for granted. “The snowman. Isn’t it cute?”

Since Chi Hui had given the snowman arms and secretly put it in the freezer, he must really like building snowmen, but he was probably too embarrassed to say so because of his image.

Hearing this, Chi Hui lowered his eyelashes, his gaze falling on the not-at-all-cute snowman. After a moment, he slowly turned his head and denied it. “No.”

“Huh?” Qi Xu didn’t understand the nonsensical answer. Was it “I don’t like snowmen” or “The snowman isn’t cute”?

“I don’t like snowmen,” Chi Hui repeated after a pause, his meaning much clearer this time.

Qi Xu pursed his lips, not quite believing him but choosing not to argue. A strange silence fell between them.

A moment later, the pensive Qi Xu looked up at Chi Hui again, his eyes full of expectation and inquiry. “Then can I take it home?”

“…No.” Chi Hui refused irritably, as if he hadn’t heard the words he wanted to hear.

His plan thwarted, Qi Xu lowered his eyelashes, looking a bit aggrieved. “But you don’t even like it.”

Better to let me take it home.

“Even so, no. It’s mine,” Chi Hui said, becoming uncharacteristically childish.

The two of them began to argue over the ownership of the tiny snowman.

“But I made it,” Qi Xu protested. “You said yourself you were making it for me, so it’s mine,” Chi Hui corrected.

Being in the wrong, Qi Xu was speechless for two seconds before finally pouting. “So you clearly do like it very much…”

Chi Hui stared dazed at the boy’s opening and closing lips before moving his gaze away imperceptibly. This time, he didn’t deny it.