Still Secretly In Love With My Enemy Today - Chapter 30

Chapter 30: 

 

From the moment he sat down, Zhou Xun couldn’t take his eyes off Xie Huaishuang.

 

“This is the person I mentioned to you, Zhou Xun, the head of the Overt Division in Hengzhou.”

 

I wrote this in Xie Huaishuang’s palm as I watched him quietly size up the man across from him.

 

I had tested it several times just now and found that Xie Huaishuang still couldn’t hear, and his vision was still quite blurry—but he was already overjoyed. He stared at me for a long time, his eyes sparkling as he looked back and forth between the flowers, the walls, and finally, back to me.

 

“And this is…” Zhou Xun cleared his throat, “This is… who, exactly?”

 

“A… friend,” I said, glancing at Xie Huaishuang, feeling a bit reluctant. “A very good friend.”

 

Zhou Xun’s expression was bizarre, slightly distorted, much like when he couldn’t solve a circuit diagram back at the academy. He’s the type who wears everything on his face.

 

—Though I still don’t understand how anyone could fail to solve those things. Don’t you just look at them and see the answer?

 

“Ah? Oh… oh. Right. Okay.”

 

Zhou Xun hummed and hawed for a bit before waving at Xie Huaishuang. “Hello?”

 

Xie Huaishuang mirrored him: “Hello?”

 

He still wasn’t very practiced at social interactions. I could tell he was trying to be friendly, but in Zhou Xun’s eyes, he probably looked as expressionless as he had a moment ago.

 

The two fell into a strange silence. I looked at Zhou Xun. “Let’s get to business.”

 

“Oh, right… business.”

 

I spread out the map of Hengzhou, and Zhou Xun leaned in, spreading his own map as well. I showed him the markings I had decided on after consulting with Xie Huaishuang.

 

Xie Huaishuang, perhaps afraid I wouldn’t believe him, had explained the reasons for those changes in exhaustive—almost excessive—detail earlier.

 

Honestly, I had understood by his second sentence. When he finally finished, I showed him I understood and told him: “I will always believe what you say.”

 

What did Xie Huaishuang look like then? Behind the layer of green silk, he had looked up at me for a long time before finally nodding, the corner of his mouth curling into a barely perceptible arc.

 

After hearing the new arrangements, Zhou Xun just frowned and remained silent. I had to break down and re-explain everything Xie Huaishuang had said until a look of realization finally dawned on him.

 

“That actually makes a lot of sense.”

 

This man was usually talkative and meticulous, so naturally, he asked: “Senior Brother Zhu, how did you figure this out? Was it from your last trip to the Temple…?”

 

“No.” I had been waiting for him to ask. I immediately tugged at Xie Huaishuang’s sleeve. “It was my friend here who told me.”

 

Praise him, hurry up and praise him.

 

Xie Huaishuang, who had been sitting quietly with a detached expression, looked a bit confused at the sudden tug. He blinked and looked at me.

 

—This time, he was truly looking at me, rather than just following his senses to find the direction I was in.

 

Zhou Xun let out a few more “ohs.” His eyes brightened, but he didn’t speak; for some reason, the way he scrutinized Xie Huaishuang became laden with caution.

 

This was rare. Based on my knowledge of him, as soon as he knew someone was against the Temple, he’d usually be rushing over calling them brother or sister.

 

I was actually afraid he’d get overexcited and try to put an arm around Xie Huaishuang’s shoulder, so I was ready to intercept him—Xie Huaishuang still hadn’t broken the habits of many years; when others got close, he would instinctively react with a defensive counter-attack.

 

But Zhou Xun just sat there, motionless. Who was he trying to impress with this sudden “composure”?

 

Since he didn’t ask, I had to keep going: “He understands the Temple very well. He came up with all those adjustments. He’ll also help us refine the specific plans.”

 

But Zhou Xun just kept muttering “I see, I see, impressive, impressive” and fell silent. Isn’t he usually great at complimenting people?

 

I shot him a look.

 

—Say something nice! Praise him like you usually praise everyone else!

 

Zhou Xun seemed to receive my signal and nodded.

 

I knew it; we’re both from Iron Cloud City. Even if he can’t draw a map or calculate a route to save his life, he and I still have a certain unspoken understanding.

 

He was likely pondering the right words. While he was thinking, I told Xie Huaishuang: “He says you are very capable.”

 

Xie Huaishuang’s lashes fluttered, his eyes curved slightly, and he turned his gaze toward Zhou Xun.

 

“It’s nothing… hm?”

 

At some point, Zhou Xun had moved both himself and his chair half a foot back. I don’t know why he was twisting his face so weirdly. Seeing me look at him, he asked: “Was that not what you meant? Then how about this? Is this okay?”

 

“…”

 

Xie Huaishuang was stunned. While his gaze was turned away, I quickly asked Zhou Xun: “Why are you sitting so far away?”

 

Zhou Xun’s distorted expression froze, turning into confusion: “That wasn’t what you meant?”

 

How on earth did he interpret my look like that?

 

“…Sit back down!”

 

Zhou Xun still looked confused, but he said “Oh,” and obediently dragged his chair back. Xie Huaishuang turned back to me, looking bewildered, and mouthed: “Is this also… a custom of your Iron Cloud City?”

 

…

 

Zhou Xun only looks professional when discussing serious matters. After going over the layout and the actions, he pondered for a moment and tucked away his annotated map. “Understood. I’ll make the arrangements as soon as I return.”

 

“Notify me immediately if anything happens.”

 

“Will do.”

 

“What were you doing just now?” I asked.

 

Zhou Xun shrugged. “I was afraid you’d be unhappy—besides, I’ve always been a person with a strong sense of boundaries.”

 

Strong sense of boundaries? Since when does that involve being chummy with everyone across the four seas?

 

“That’s different.”

 

Zhou Xun pocketed the map and stood up. While Xie Huaishuang wasn’t paying attention, I pointed aggressively toward the front door. “I’ve checked the area; it’s perfectly safe. Can you use the front door this time?”

 

Xie Huaishuang values cleanliness. I couldn’t let him think that everyone in Iron Cloud City has a passion for climbing through chimneys!

 

“Senior Brother,” Zhou Xun sighed mockingly. “You’ve changed. You never used to care about these things.”

 

“…Well, I care now. So what?”

 

“Nothing—what could I possibly do to you?”

 

Zhou Xun shook his head theatrically, but stopped at the door. “By the way, have you heard anything about a newcomer joining the Hengzhou covert division?”

 

“No. Why?”

 

“No?” Zhou Xun frowned. “Strange. Lately, there’s someone in Hengzhou selling stories that lampoon the Temple’s abuse of power. The name is unfamiliar; I thought it was a rookie who hadn’t checked in with me yet. But even you don’t know?”

 

That did sound like something the Covert Division would do. I asked: “What’s the name?”

 

“Xian Hua Sheng (Leisurely Talker),” Zhou Xun reported. “Already made it onto the Temple’s wanted list—though at the very bottom.”

 

I thought back to the last time I had rushed into the bookstore—that pile of books I was worried would be an eyesore for Xie Huaishuang. I vaguely recalled seeing that name, but I had been in such a hurry that I just grabbed whatever the owner recommended and left.

 

“Got it. I’ll keep an eye out.”

 

Zhou Xun nodded. His gaze passed over my shoulder and lingered on Xie Huaishuang for a moment.

 

“I’ll only say one thing. An ordinary person wouldn’t have such a heavy aura of cold steel. He is no simple character.” Zhou Xun lowered his voice. “Senior Brother, are you sure you know where he came from?”

 

I followed his gaze. Xie Huaishuang was just sitting there quietly, much like the budding flowers swaying in the breeze. At most, his face was a bit cold and he didn’t talk much. Where was this “terrifying” aura?

 

“I’m sure.”

 

After a pause, I added: “You’ll see after you’ve met him a few more times. He’s a very good person.”

 

Xie Huaishuang is a good person. He deserves to have many friends, to be liked and loved by many, and to walk out into the bustling light of spring.

 

Zhou Xun didn’t speak. I continued: “He just looks a bit distant, but he’s not really like that. You’ll find out later…”

 

“I think,” Zhou Xun turned back and rubbed his chin, “your words right now have at most a thirty percent credibility rate.”

 

…Stubborn as a mule.

 

But it didn’t matter. After a few more meetings, he would surely see Xie Huaishuang’s virtues. Even if Zhou Xun isn’t the brightest, could even a fool fail to see that Xie Huaishuang is a good man?

 

After closing the courtyard gate, I crouched down and watched Xie Huaishuang fuss over a peony for a quarter of an hour. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense.

 

That was it. Even a fool could see he was a good person, and I am smarter than most people—the City Lord said so. Therefore, I like Xie Huaishuang most, the most in the entire world.

 

“This flower yesterday was still… hm?”

 

Xie Huaishuang looked up, cutting his sentence short.

 

“Were you talking to me just now?”

 

“Did I… did I speak just now?”

 

Xie Huaishuang nodded. My fingers suddenly froze in his palm.

 

“Can you… can you hear me?”

 

“No, I can’t hear you.” Xie Huaishuang pointed to my mouth. “But I can see a bit more clearly than before—I can see your lip movements.”

 

“But you spoke too fast just now, I couldn’t see it clearly…”

 

I let out a huge sigh of relief—it’s good he didn’t see clearly. Xie Huaishuang hasn’t had much experience with people; he probably can’t distinguish between feelings and love yet. How could I let him hear things like “I like Xie Huaishuang the most in the world” right now?

 

Afraid I’d forget, I had even written “Proceed Slowly” on a note a few days ago and stuck it on the corner of the table to remind myself.

 

“It was nothing,” I told him. “What were you going to say to me?”

 

With this kind of self-control, I can succeed at anything.

 

But now that Xie Huaishuang could see, I wouldn’t be able to write in his hand anymore, nor would I need to lead him around. What excuse could I find to hold his hand?

 

I don’t feel right if I don’t hold his hand at least once a day. But I can’t just grab his hand for no reason, can I?

 

Xie Huaishuang squinted his eyes at me for a moment, then reached out his hand again: “What did you say? You should probably still write it down. I can’t… see very clearly yet.”

 

As he spoke, he stuffed his hand into mine again, palm up.

 

Can he see clearly or not?

 

I didn’t know, but I knew he still couldn’t hear. So, I obediently repeated my words into his palm, while silently bad-mouthing him with my lips.

 

“You used to be somewhat reasonable, but now you’re completely unreasonable. You’re just taking advantage of the fact that I like you. Do you think you can do whatever you want just because I like you?”

 

A strand of Xie Huaishuang’s hair blew against my face, carrying a very faint scent of soap, light as a floating willow seed.

 

Fine. I reluctantly admitted: “Actually, you can.”