Chapter 22: Unraveling the Knots of the

Returning to the Xue family was an event that took place three days later. Why a journey that should have lasted a single day stretched into three was, besides Xue Xi’s covert meddling, simply beyond anyone else’s capability aboard the ship.

Once again arriving at the Xue residence, Chen Hongxu’s first impression was of a much diminished crowd. Compared to the first time he visited, when he was met with throngs of attendants, now the bodyguards and servants carried a palpable trace of lingering fear in their eyes.

Chen Hongxu opened the car door and accompanied Xue Xi to where Xue Baishu had been waiting for some time.

Though Uncle De had already called and relayed the news that Chen Hongxu and Xue Xi were safe, seeing them return unharmed brought visible relief to Xue Baishu. He swept his gaze across those gathered at the door and spoke calmly, “You may all disperse. Tonight, let’s host a proper celebration.”

After the crowd dispersed, Xue Baishu led Chen Hongxu to the study, with Xue Xi naturally clinging to Chen Hongxu’s arm, refusing to take a single step away.

No sooner had Xue Xi closed the study door than Chen Hongxu handed over the Xue family’s black card and said blandly, “I am glad not to have failed my mission.”

Xue Baishu stared at the black card Chen Hongxu offered, hesitated for a moment, then waved his hand, saying, “We’re almost family now. This card is safer with you than with the Xue family.”

“Dad!” Xue Xi protested, tugging at Chen Hongxu’s arm and shaking it vigorously, speaking shyly, “When did I ever say I wouldn’t marry anyone but him? Besides, your daughter is only eighteen—are you in such a hurry to give me away?”

Xue Baishu looked at Xue Xi with doting amusement. “Then why are you holding him so tightly, afraid he might run away?”

The odd pair of father and daughter bantered playfully. Chen Hongxu smiled and shook his head. His hand remained outstretched, interrupting Xue Baishu: “This card belongs to the Xue family. I cannot accept it.”

Xue Baishu’s brows furrowed, and Xue Xi’s grip tightened; both took this as a sign of Chen Hongxu’s rejection.

Chen Hongxu paused and continued, “Naturally, the Xue family must cultivate its own talents. Besides, I already have another black card.” With that, he pulled another black card from his pocket and waved it before Xue Baishu. “So, as a solitary man, having two black cards is pointless.”

Xue Xi’s expression brightened, patting her chest with pride and raising her head challengingly at Xue Baishu. “See, old man? My man isn’t living off anyone.”

Since Chen Hongxu had explained himself and didn’t object to Xue Xi’s affectionate address, Xue Baishu let go of his lingering concern. It wasn’t that he doubted his ability to handle a master like Chen Hongxu; he simply feared for his daughter’s feelings.

Xue Baishu carefully accepted the black card and, before Xue Xi and Chen Hongxu, placed it in a safe behind a painting. He then looked at Chen Hongxu and said, “Your abilities are beyond doubt. With my daughter by your side, she’s happy, and I am reassured. But have you thought about what comes next? Remember, with great power comes great responsibility.”

Seeing Chen Hongxu’s puzzled look, Xue Baishu explained, “I’m not expecting you to earn vast fortunes. The Xue family’s assets are so extensive that even if we started inventorying them now and stopped all profits, it would still be enough for you and my prodigal daughter to squander for generations. The main point is, since you’ve joined the Black List, you count as part of a national organization. I fear you’ll soon be entrusted with a series of missions. I am concerned…”

Xue Xi’s expression grew heavy. Chen Hongxu might not immediately grasp Xue Baishu’s meaning, but Xue Xi knew her father was hinting at the risks of such missions—just as her grandfather had faced.

“Next, I plan to study hard, get into a university, and then study even harder,” Chen Hongxu replied with a smile, as if it were only natural. “As for the future, I haven’t decided. Regarding the organization…”

Chen Hongxu hesitated, “I don’t intend to interact with them for now. I’m a student, after all; academics should come first.”

Xue Baishu nodded. His words were simply meant as a reminder to Chen Hongxu not to act recklessly, rather than to dictate his future path.

“Then, when your relatives and friends have time, let’s all sit down together and formalize these ties,” Xue Baishu shifted the topic, his motivation clear. According to Uncle De’s intelligence, Chen Hongxu’s home housed a woman of enchanting beauty—mysterious, with no traceable origin despite all his investigations.

“Relatives?” Chen Hongxu gave a bitter laugh. If his opportunistic kin discovered he was to be engaged to such a wealthy family, they would eagerly try to push him forward. But could those people truly be called his relatives?

Xue Xi, meanwhile, wore a strange expression, her eyes narrowing and lips pursed, as if pondering something.

…

Time slipped away as Chen Hongxu recounted his trip to Japan. Naturally, he concealed the matter of Su Xiaoxiao, but his experiences left Xue Baishu and Xue Xi utterly astonished. Though they were from a prominent family, they were still a step below the nation’s true elite; such mysterious affairs were entirely beyond their reach. As for the confidentiality regulations mentioned by Fan the Fool, no one had yet verified Chen Hongxu’s identity or formally informed him of any rules, so his actions could not be deemed a breach of secrecy.

As Chen Hongxu spoke of being hunted by Team G, Xue Xi’s eyes remained red, her lips bitten until they seemed ready to break, clinging tightly to him.

“Knock, knock, knock!” The sound of knocking came, and then a servant pressed the video doorbell outside, respectfully announcing, “Sir, Miss, young master, it’s time for dinner.”

“Mm!” Xue Baishu grunted heavily through his nose, dismissing the servant. He looked at Chen Hongxu with guilt and explained, “I truly apologize for this time. I didn’t know the Black List would be different from before. If anything had happened to you…”

Chen Hongxu shook his head, indicating it was fine. Though he had initially suspected he’d been manipulated by the Xue family, after thorough investigation, he was certain this Black List event had been a last-minute decision; the mission was genuine, and any lingering resentment had long since vanished.

Chen Hongxu raised a hand to pinch Xue Xi’s cheek, gently wiped her red eyes, and said, “It’s alright. If you keep crying, you won’t look pretty.”

Xue Xi pouted and nodded.

…

The trio left the study for the hall. After the lesson of the previous incident and Xue Baishu’s cleansing efforts, the surrounding branch family members were clearly too intimidated to cause trouble.

They greeted the three respectfully; even Chen Hongxu, the outsider, was now addressed with affectionate terms like “brother-in-law.”

Chen Hongxu smiled silently, occasionally nodding in response to those around him. Xue Xi, meanwhile, wore a look of smug satisfaction the whole way.

The gathering was, as expected, a party. But with fewer quarrels and disturbances, it ended noticeably early. A group of Xue family branches, intent on repairing relations, took advantage of Xue Xi’s time upstairs for her bath to invite Chen Hongxu out for nightlife entertainment.

Before Chen Hongxu could decline, Xue Xi—just upstairs moments before—somehow got wind of it, rushed down in a fury, and glared viciously at one of the young men. “Xue Bao, stop your little tricks! Don’t lead my man astray. I’ve worked hard to win him over, so he wouldn’t be interested in your common girls anyway, right?”

With that, Xue Xi made her hand into a claw and placed it at Chen Hongxu’s waist, demanding his answer.

“Of course, of course,” Chen Hongxu replied, having never intended to go. Seeing Xue Xi rush down like a little lion, he dared not refuse.

The crowd dispersed, no longer daring to scheme against Chen Hongxu. Even with him in the house, in their eyes it was Xue Xi who truly held sway.

Looking at the empty hall, Xue Xi glanced at Chen Hongxu, half-smiling, half-serious. “Disappointed I didn’t let you go?”

“Nonsense,” Chen Hongxu rolled his eyes.

…

“After my bath, I’ll come find you in your room,” Xue Xi called as she ran upstairs, leaving only her back to Chen Hongxu. Her ears, red as though about to bleed, perfectly reflected her mood.

True to her word, Xue Xi was a woman who followed through. She arrived at the door to Chen Hongxu’s room in cartoon pajamas, her hair still dripping water onto the floor, and gently kicked at the door.

“Asleep!” Chen Hongxu’s feelings were conflicted. If he, a young man, claimed not to long for intimacy, it would be a lie. He and Xue Xi were mutually attracted; it would be only natural for something to happen. Yet every time he recalled Bingling’s warning that “a soldier is a bringer of misfortune,” he feared for Xue Xi’s safety and forcibly suppressed his feelings.

“Bastard!” Xue Xi kicked the door hard, tears in her voice. “Bingling has already slept with you, and I’m so unwanted that even when I offer myself, you don’t want me?”

At that, Chen Hongxu had no choice but to open the door. He looked at Xue Xi and, before she could speak further, pulled her inside, spreading his hands helplessly: “I never slept with Bingling. You’re imagining things.”

Xue Xi clearly didn’t believe him.

With no other option, Chen Hongxu decided, since he’d already told Xue Xi many supernatural stories that afternoon, she could probably handle more. “Bingling, come out. Look at the mess you’ve caused.”

With his low call, a vague shadow gradually took form; who else could it be but Bingling?

Xue Xi covered her gaping mouth in astonishment.

“You see? She’s a spirit I happened upon—there’s nothing sordid between us,” Chen Hongxu exhaled.

“Like the ghost in the romance?” Xue Xi blinked, scheming in her mind.

After a round of ideological persuasion, Xue Xi finally accepted that Chen Hongxu and Bingling were innocent.

In the end, Xue Xi forcefully stole Chen Hongxu’s first kiss, and, dragging along the unwilling Bingling, declared it was all for the sake of cultivating feelings, leaving Chen Hongxu’s room with a smile.