Chapter 49: You’re Wearing Perfume?

Outside the Moonlight Inn

A group of Snow Smoke Pavilion players gathered together, chattering excitedly.

“Did you see that? I’m sure there’s something fishy going on between the Vice Leader and the Leader.”

“Is it okay for us to leave without saying goodbye like this?”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“What if the Leader gets mad?”

“If we stay there and act like third wheels, that would make her even angrier. People have to be flexible.”

“The Vice Leader and the Leader? They’re both girls, maybe they’re just really close.”

“From my years of experience, what the first-floor player said is absolutely right.”

“Hey, hey, you guys gossiping about the two leaders behind their backs—better watch out or they’ll find out and give you trouble.”

“We’re not saying anything bad, why would they? Aren’t you guys in the Moon Pavilion curious about the relationship between the two leaders?”

“Everyone, I have some new info about the Leader and Vice Leader. Interested?”

“Of course, tell us everything.”

***

At 10 PM, Chen Xiaoyan finished the daily sect missions and the cultivation task for Fragrance Intent and logged off.

Two hours later was game update time.

He was very much looking forward to this update.

Penguin Group Chat: (My biggest sucker boss)

Hongchen Old Dream: @Mu Qingxue, I’d like to join Snow Smoke Pavilion as well.

Mu Qingxue: Sure, very welcome. Join the group.

Mu Qingxue: [Penguin Group Chat Invite Link]

Qianlü Yunyan: Want to transfer to another pavilion?

Mu Qingxue: Yes.

Hongchen Old Dream: Okay, I’ve already joined.

Mu Qingxue: Snow Smoke Pavilion is divided into the Sun Pavilion and Moon Pavilion. Boys can only join the Sun Pavilion, but there are no restrictions for girls.

Hongchen Old Dream: Is Xiaoyan in the Moon Pavilion?

Mu Qingxue: No, she manages the Sun Pavilion.

Hongchen Old Dream: That works perfectly.

Mu Qingxue: ???

Mu Qingxue felt a bit puzzled—why did she have this feeling like she was inviting trouble?

Qianlü Yunyan: Then I’ll also go to the Sun Pavilion to hang out with Xiaoyan, hehe.

Mu Qingxue: … Fine.

Chen Xiaoyan skimmed through the chat history in the group and smiled quietly at these two bosses joining Snow Smoke Pavilion, but he didn’t get involved in the conversation.

Later, he casually ordered takeout through an app and went to the game forum.

He wanted to find out if other Tianxiang players had learned the same skills as him.

Otherwise, how did Mu Qingxue know about the Returning Wind Umbrella skill?

After browsing the forum, he found nothing.

“So where did she learn about Returning Wind Umbrella? That’s really strange,” Chen Xiaoyan muttered to himself.

Since there were no clues, he gave up on the matter.

“Forget it, time for a shower.”

He put down his phone, stretched on the bed, got up, put on slippers, grabbed his clothes, and went to the bathroom.

“Doo~”

At that moment, the phone on the bed started vibrating.

But Chen Xiaoyan was in the bathroom, and all he could hear was the sound of running water—he couldn’t hear anything else.

Ten minutes later, Chen Xiaoyan sat on the edge of the bed, towel-drying his hair.

The phone vibrated again.

He picked it up; the caller ID showed “Dead Fatty.”

“Hey, why is Dead Fatty calling me?”

“Damn, Yanzi, you finally answered. I called you so many times and you didn’t pick up. What were you doing? Don’t tell me you were…”

“Cough cough, enough jokes, let’s talk serious.”

“Alright, I’m in Qingzhou now. Come pick me up quickly, I’m gonna treat you tonight.”

“You’re in Qingzhou? Where? I’ll come get you.”

“Just got off the subway, Qingda Plaza.”

“Wait there, I’m on my way.”

Zhao Longjun was one of the few brothers Chen Xiaoyan had.

Although he usually acted careless, in crucial moments, he was someone you could truly rely on.

He was also loyal—back at their mediocre university, he had a pretty good reputation among the guys.

Chen Xiaoyan quickly put on some light clothes and left, taking a taxi straight to Qingda Plaza.

In the center of Qingda Plaza stood a fountain statue.

Zhao Longjun was standing beside the fountain, enjoying the cool breeze.

It was late May, and the weather in Qingzhou was suffocatingly hot.

[Chen Xiaoyan: Where exactly at Qingda Plaza?]

[I’m the master of my fate: Bro, I’m at the fountain statue.]

Seeing the message, Chen Xiaoyan slipped his phone into his shorts pocket and headed toward the fountain.

Because of the fountain, there were many people nearby—some sightseeing, others playing in the water.

After a while, he finally found the guy.

“Yanzi, over here.”

Zhao Longjun spotted Chen Xiaoyan, but Chen hadn’t noticed him yet.

Zhao had changed so much.

He wore a pure white shirt on top and blue casual shorts below, his face lit up with a warm, sunny smile.

Even standing by the fountain, Zhao was sweating profusely from the heat, making the white shirt nearly transparent.

Chen Xiaoyan felt a twinge of envy seeing the well-defined chest muscles beneath.

They’d only been apart two or three years since graduation, and the once-fat guy had transformed into a handsome man with a great figure.

The difference was hard to get used to.

“Yanzi, what’re you spacing out for? Are you stunned by my handsomeness?”

Zhao Longjun stepped out and slapped Chen Xiaoyan’s back hard.

“Wha—!!!”

Chen Xiaoyan staggered, nearly falling.

He glared back angrily at Zhao.

“Are you crazy? Why’d you hit me for no reason?”

“This…”

Zhao looked at Chen, then his own hand, surprised.

“I’m telling you, Yanzi, you need to work out. Your body’s too weak. I wasn’t even trying hard.”

Chen Xiaoyan rolled his eyes.

“Yeah right, I believe you.”

“Hey! I’m serious, and you don’t trust me?”

Zhao laughed, shaking his head, then gently hooked his arm around Chen’s neck and said, “Want me to help you get a gym membership…”

Zhao stopped mid-sentence.

His nose twitched a bit, then he smirked mischievously.

“Yanzi, are you wearing perfume?”

Chen Xiaoyan gave him a look like he was an idiot, glanced at Zhao, then pushed him away with obvious disdain.

“Why would I wear perfume for no reason? And don’t stand so close—you’re not hot but I am.”

“No way!” Zhao looked shocked.

“That can’t be. The scent’s definitely coming from you.”

He leaned in and took a big sniff near Chen’s neck.

Startled, Chen hastily put some distance between them.

“Damn, you’re acting like a pervert. Can you be normal for once?”

“Alright, alright, come on, take me out for dinner.”

Zhao didn’t press further. A guy wearing perfume wasn’t strange at all.

It was just that the scent was so familiar—it felt like he’d smelled it somewhere before.

***

A street-side food stall in downtown Qingzhou.

Zhao Longjun quickly bit off the cap of a chilled beer and placed it in front of Chen Xiaoyan.

“Here, Yanzi, tonight we drink like brothers.”

“Dead Fatty, nice teeth. I’m impressed.”

Zhao grinned smugly.

“Usually, I can bite open ten bottles in one go without tiring.”

“You’re really showing off now.”

Chen Xiaoyan glanced around.

The stall’s environment was decent, just crowded and a bit noisy.

“Should we go somewhere else?”

“No need. Those five-star chefs don’t necessarily cook better than street food. Besides, this place has atmosphere.”