Noble Boys' Academy's Detective 27

27

Ji Yue returned home just as dawn was breaking.

The living room had only a single floor lamp lit, the view dim and heavy. Xie Zhen hugged a cushion on the sofa, looking as if he'd fallen asleep. Hearing the movement, he suddenly opened his eyes and looked outward.

'...You're back.'

'Were you sleeping here?'

Ji Yue sat down in the entryway to change his shoes. He bent over, and his long black hair cascaded from his shoulders, covering most of his face. Xie Zhen still noticed, though—the weariness between his brows was unmistakable. He'd been on a plane all day; he was clearly exhausted.

Xie Zhen had wanted to tell him about today's frustrating matters, but on second thought, he decided against it.

The butler was just then reporting to Ji Yue: 'Today the mad dog probably didn't come. Only some relatively normal-looking dogs showed up. After considering it, I didn't chase them away.'

Ji Yue hummed. 'He'll come again. Set out some animal traps.'

The butler nodded. 'I'll go prepare some right away.'

Xie Zhen didn't know what they were talking about—maybe there were some stray dogs near the villa complex.

The lighting was too dim. Only when Ji Yue stood up and came closer did Xie Zhen notice that behind him, besides the butler, there was another person following.

A silver-haired boy, tall, standing in the shadows, watching Ji Yue change his shoes without blinking.

Xie Zhen's expression changed immediately.

Just tonight, he had blocked this person of unknown origin who claimed to be a classmate here to see Ji Yue.

Xie Zhen called out to Ji Yue, his tone carrying obvious wariness: 'How did you let this person in?'

'He's my classmate.'

Ji Yue answered thus.

Si Jing stood right behind Ji Yue. Even being targeted like this, he kept his head low and said nothing. Only before going upstairs did he glance at the younger brother—Ji Yue's didi—without a trace.

In Xie Zhen's view, this was provocation.

He knew Ji Yue was always naive about matters of the heart, insensitive to same-sex advances, easily deceived by those seemingly innocent green-tea men. This silver-haired one's gaze at Ji Yue—he saw it clearly.

'Your didi seems unhappy. He must really dislike me, right?... Coming over like this, will I cause trouble for your family?'

Si Jing lowered his head, nervously expressing his unease.

'Let him dislike me if he wants.'

Ji Yue was very tired and didn't want to waste words with him.

Just now, arriving at his front door, he'd seen Si Jing standing alone by the gate, looking pitiful in the middle of the night.

Remembering that loaded message hinting he already knew about the detective identity, Ji Yue considered for ten seconds, then decided to bring the person home for interrogation.

—Disgusting green-tea man.

Meanwhile, Xie Zhen couldn't help but flare up behind them.

Ji Yue went upstairs and pushed open the bedroom door, turned on the light, and ordered without looking back: 'Come in.'

There was no movement behind him.

He turned around. Si Jing was still lingering at the doorway, backlit, his expression unreadable.

'Come in.'

'This...' Si Jing finally spoke, biting his lip. 'Would that be inappropriate? This is your bedroom.'

[This guy doesn't think you're inviting him to sleep here tonight, does he?!]

'Because I have something to ask you.'

Si Jing hummed softly, then walked in.

This was his first time in Ji Yue's bedroom.

The bedroom was much softer and warmer than he'd imagined, not at all matching the person's personality. The shelves were filled with various little trinkets, the bookcase neatly lined with horror manga and mystery novels. The desk had many small ornaments, the wardrobe was large, and a pale blue sea horse-hair sweater was casually draped over the sofa.

Si Jing's gaze swept past those books, finally landing on a bed across the room.

The bed looked very soft, with a creamy-yellow floral sheet, matching duvet and pillows. Under the mushroom-shaped warm yellow bedside lamp, it looked like a princess's bed from a fairy tale.

As for the princess herself, she was right beside him now.

Si Jing hadn't expected that he could be this happy in his life.

Although Ji Yue had deceived him, there was a reason—he was just a dedicated detective, a mystery novel enthusiast, not deliberately hiding his identity. At heart, he was still kind.

Besides, Ji Yue didn't deceive anyone else, only him. This showed his character was good.

Even though most of their interactions were lies, Ji Yue had still been good to him—traveling all the way to the countryside to spend a day with him, saying verbally there was no signal and he didn't like it, but actually going in tsundere-like fashion to sleep on an old bed, accompanying him to the market, and now, calling the person squatting at his front door into the bedroom...

Ji Yue, you're really good.

'Sit.'

Ji Yue gave him an order.

Si Jing obediently sat down. His downturned eyes made him look very submissive, with no intention of resistance. His messy silver-white hair reminded one of some countryside stray dogs.

Definitely not like that, Ji Yue thought. This person had sent him a message hinting he knew about the detective identity. Combined with what He Yuanxi had said, this was clearly Si Jing's threatening hint.

Tonight, he had to make Si Jing agree to keep quiet.

Ji Yue lowered his head and said nothing more.

Si Jing didn't know what he was thinking. The weariness still lingered between his brows. The expression on this face was cold, even showing a hint of hidden anger.

Did I do something wrong?

Si Jing sat on pins and needles, beginning to ruminate over what he might have done today to offend Ji Yue.

Nothing.

Except sneering and taunting his didi a few times.

'I hope you don't mention anything about me.'

Ji Yue spoke slowly, still in a commanding tone.

'I haven't said anything to anyone.'

Si Jing immediately denied it.

'If that's the case, then that's best.'

The atmosphere seemed to ease a little. Si Jing turned his face toward him and suddenly asked: 'Is there anything you want to ask me recently? I can answer.'

'Why don't you tell me—what is it you want to say to me?'

What a sharp detective.

Si Jing drafted his words several times in his head before deciding to speak: 'Someone has been trying to influence our relationship. I'm not talking about those people from the Noble Boys' Academy, it's... I don't know who either. Have you encountered something like this?'

Ji Yue understood immediately upon hearing this. He was talking about the person who had leaked the detective information to him.

He looked at Si Jing: 'Who do you think it is?'

'I don't know.'

Si Jing didn't understand the person's intention. Logically, only the client and the detective himself should know about the investigation.

What he actually meant was: Ji Yue, you should know who it is, right?

But from this reaction, Ji Yue himself wasn't sure either.

If it was the client—

Both fell into the same contemplation: why would the client reveal the detective's identity to the investigation subject?

What benefit was there in this?

Make the detective and the subject fight?

And then?

They puzzled over it endlessly.

Si Jing suddenly laughed, figuring out why Ji Yue liked playing detective games. It really was interesting, very suited to his eccentric personality.

Only, the enemy was in the dark while we were in the light. Finding the person wouldn't be easy.

'What are you laughing at?'

A face suddenly leaned close.

An expressionless face, yet excessively beautiful, white without flaw, thick lashes fluttering. In the dim light, Si Jing could see a point of deep blue light in his eyes.

'I...'

Si Jing hadn't had any other thoughts originally.

He just thought the detective profession was indeed a bit interesting, and Ji Yue's personality was well-suited for related work.

Before he could explain, this face suddenly enlarged before his eyes, beginning to interrogate him.

For some reason, his Adam's apple rolled uncontrollably.

Si Jing gazed at him, involuntarily beginning to trace the shape of these cat-like eyes in his mind, and noticed his pressed-together lips.

Late at night, only the two of them in the bedroom, in the distance, the warm yellow light, the soft bed...

Their relationship was already ambiguous and unclear, and now they were this close, inviting imagination.

'Speak.'

'What I mean is, you as a detec—'

The moment the 'detec-' sound left his mouth, his mouth was covered.

Soft finger pads, pressing against his lower face.

Not only that, a strange force suddenly pushed Si Jing down into the corner of the sofa, and a small knife appeared from nowhere, pressed against his lower abdomen.

The cold blade tip slowly traced along the hem of his clothes... the blade against skin, a silent warning.

Their bodies were very close.

A little too close.

Si Jing's back was sunk into the corner of the sofa, nowhere to retreat.

Ji Yue leaned down, quietly watching him.

He could feel his slight breathing, the faint fragrance on his body.

Si Jing's gaze had to dodge away.

Not because of fear of the knife, but because that face was too close.

At the moment of mutual contact, he felt that a certain part of him had already reacted somewhat.

What kind of play is this?

'Dont say that word. Blink if you understand.'

Ji Yue gave him his first command.

Rule Number One of the Strange Rules—F4 elite students must not speak of Ji Yue's detective identity.

Si Jing blinked once, waiting for the second command.

'Dont tell anyone about my affairs, otherwise, I'll... you understand?'

'...'

He wouldn't have told anyone anyway.

Si Jing's mind was wandering. He wished others didn't know.

It seemed there was no third point. Ji Yue signaled him not to move, then moved his hand away himself.

Si Jing stayed motionless, still on the sofa.

Probably frightened, his face was flushed, his body was hunched, and he didn't dare look at him.

Ji Yue poked his chest with the knife handle and said: 'Stop pretending, get up. I know you're not hurt.'

[Good, the elite student seems to have been severely threatened by the detective, scared! Wait, is this standing up?!]

'I'm indeed not hurt.'

Si Jing's voice sounded like it was squeezed through gritted teeth, his breathing heavy, suppressing some strong emotion.

'Mm.'

'You... get some rest early,' Si Jing said, head lowered. 'I should go too.'

Ji Yue nodded.

Si Jing got up and walked to the door, then suddenly stopped.

After a long while, he turned back and said quietly: 'Everything I said before was true. If you want to know about me, I'll tell you everything... If there's anywhere I can be useful, please tell me.'

[Mm mm mm?? Why is the elite student suddenly pledging allegiance??]

[Could it be that the elite student wants to be the great detective's assistant? He also has hobbies of exploring the world and cosplay?]

Hard to say.

'Goodbye.'

After Ji Yue finished speaking, he slammed the bedroom door shut.

Another ten-odd minutes later, after finishing today's detective reasoning notes, he got up again and opened the bedroom door, intending to have the butler come in to discuss Yuwen Qing's matter.

But there was an extra figure in the corridor, standing eerily by the wall.

A handsome, spirited face, not resembling his own.

Xie Zhen.

'Not asleep yet?'

He asked Xie Zhen.

'Mm, you should sleep too.'

Xie Zhen lowered his eyes.

'Goodnight.'

Ji Yue yawned.

It was already daylight, and he was really very sleepy.

Yuwen Qing's matter... tomorrow then.

But just as he lay down and fell into dreams not long after, the bleating of his electric sheep in the dream was suddenly interrupted. A golden retriever inexplicably pounced on one of the lambs, revealing the metal shell and circuit board beneath the sheepskin.

A nightmare.

Ji Yue sat up, sleepy-eyed.

A little dizzy.

He opened his eyes and first saw a figure before him.

'...Xie Zhen?'

'You can even recognize the wrong person?'

Sunlight leaking through the never-closed curtains dyed a head of golden hair an especially brilliant color. This face was looking down at him from above.

Yuwen Qing.

He wore a hint of mockery: 'Can you see clearly who I am now?'

'How did you get in?'

Yuwen Qing raised his chin, gesturing for him to look at the windowsill.

Wind was rushing in from outside, lifting the curtains high.

The front door was locked so he couldn't get in, so he simply climbed through the window?

[Uh uh uh, he's not here to get revenge on you, is he?! He's already discovered you're not really into him, just investigating—]

Before the words finished, Yuwen Qing sat down on the edge of the bed, looking him up and down.

Ji Yue was wearing thin cotton-white pajamas, snow-white skin exposed from the collar.

His ink-black long hair was scattered messily, gleaming richly in the morning light.

Yuwen Qing was just watching his eyes—slightly upturned, cold, carrying wariness and distance, really resembling some kind of wild animal that often didn't warm up to people.

...After all that, Ji Yue simply wasn't into him, just investigating.

A pang of sourness in his heart.

First love, vanished just like that.

Climbing up to his house in the middle of the night, and in the end doing nothing, just sitting here, looking at this cold face.

'What are you investigating these people for?' Yuwen Qing's expression was confused, even looking somewhat pained. '...I really don't understand you.'

[Warning! Warning!]

His temples ached from the alarm in his mind.

'Dont say that.'

'Why can't I say it? You're a private detec—'

Before the words finished, a pillow smashed into Yuwen Qing, interrupting his mockery.

The pillow carried the same shampoo scent entwined with hair, rushing toward him—the faint, maddening hormonal scent of Ji Yue's body.

Along with it came a weak yet vicious remark: 'If you say what I am again, ask the reason again, I'll smother you with this pillow.'

Huh?

With your small frame...

The floral pillow fell into his arms. Yuwen Qing clicked his tongue.

He didn't ask again why Ji Yue wanted to be a private detective. This person didn't seem to lack money, nor did he seem like the type to be coerced, so it could only be interest.

'Auntie asked us to go eat at noon.' Yuwen Qing kneaded the pillow, as if kneading someone's face, and sneered again: 'Going or not? If you go, I'll come pick you up.'

[What the hell, shouldn't Yuwen Qing be furious and put you in a sack?]

[Uh uh uh I think something's off! What does he want! Will he suddenly grin and say your body should compensate for his emotional damages?!]

The System's bizarre program acted up again, turning everything into the color of a BL novel.

Ji Yue actually didn't understand. So far, the others had all been threatening him. The one who looked most irritable and neurotic, Yuwen Qing, hadn't said a word.

Was it because the two families had decent relations, and if something really happened, it would be hard to explain?

So he could only threaten quietly like this.

[Is there a possibility that Yuwen Qing, considering you almost became his wife, chose to forgive with tears?]

...

Who would care about this kind of childhood engagement.

Just thinking of this, he simply asked: 'Aren't you angry?'

'A little.'

'Can't tell.'

'I won't lose my temper at you, after all you're... I'm only like this to other people. Weren't you at the airport yesterday too, heh.' Yuwen Qing raised an eyebrow. 'Since that's the case, let's talk about it later.'

[Doesn't hit his wife, only hits his love rivals?] The System scratched its head. [Really? He usually looks like a manic.]

...

What did this person come here for anyway.

Didn't want to care anymore.

Currently three people had threatened to reveal his identity. The small-world task had suddenly become like a little horse on a cliff.

All this, let's sleep first.

—Just going to sleep like that?

Yuwen Qing was still sitting on the edge of the bed, watching him lie down, bury his face in another pillow, the fair cheek flesh squeezed out a little.

He pinched Ji Yue's cheek, the soft and sticky texture, said 'Sleeping?', and was immediately slapped away by a palm.

Ji Yue closed his eyes, only his thick lashes slightly visible fluttering.

Breathing was light, very even.

Not a bit of guard.

After being exposed as a detective by others, this person just slept like that?

Yuwen Qing stared at that side face, momentarily saying nothing more.

The wind and sunlight from the windowsill rushed in together, spilling over this head of ink-black long hair. The spread, soft strands of hair rose and fell gently with his breathing.

...Tsk.

Did he know what he was doing at all?

When he woke up from a nap, it was already noon.

Ji Yue went downstairs, pushed open the back door, and unexpectedly saw a golden-haired man in the yard. Yuwen Qing was standing in front of a strange green plant, holding a watering can and seriously watering, as if in his own backyard.

Only, this strange green plant didn't seem to appreciate it, crazily shaking its leaves and fiercely splashing water droplets on him. The moment it saw Ji Yue appear, it immediately stopped, looking wronged.

Yuwen Qing cursed: 'What's the meaning of this?'

'Why are you still here?'

Ji Yue said coldly.

'Why would I go back? Eating together at noon.' Yuwen Qing scoffed, continuing to water those wide leaves, watering them to death.

...

The aunties returned from outside at this time, with Xie Zhen following behind. A group chatted and laughed, preparing to set off for the Restaurant.

In front of the elders, Yuwen Qing became decent and warm, knowing the proper bounds. He smiled and exchanged pleasantries with the two aunties, complimenting one auntie on looking well today, every word comfortable.

In contrast, Ji Yue and Xie Zhen, the two brothers, were rather silent.

Arriving at the Restaurant, waiters filed in.

A waiter opened a bottle of wine.

The auntie was a wine lover, naturally wanting to taste some.

Xie Zhen leaned close, coming to whisper in Ji Yue's ear: 'Are you very familiar with this Yuwen family's boy?'

'Casually, we're classmates.'

'Haven't seen him before.'

'Mm.'

Yuwen Qing glanced toward Ji Yue: 'What are you talking about?'

Yuwen Qing sat across from Ji Yue, the distance neither too close nor too far.

The elders were chatting about the social circles, and then brought up stories from when the children were young.

Xie Zhen sat beside Ji Yue, head lowered, peeling boiled shrimp.

Yuwen Qing didn't really chime in on this topic.

He was carefully listening to Ji Yue's childhood situation—his health had always been poor, often sick, his personality was even worse, the auntie, nannies, and butlers all had a hard time.

The topic quickly turned to recent charity scandals, and the two ladies discussed intensely.

Yuwen Qing held his wine glass, his gaze inadvertently passing over the glass and wine bottle, stopping on the person across from him.

Ji Yue was eating the peeled shrimp.

He seemed distracted today, eating very slowly, head lowered, cheeks slightly puffed.

Nothing worth looking at.

Yuwen Qing's gaze only stopped for a second, then moved away, saying a few words to the auntie.

A few minutes later, his gaze inadvertently turned to the opposite side again.

The young man pressed his lips together, took a glass of water and drank, seeming to have eaten something he didn't like, turned his head and complained to his didi Xie Zhen: 'Not good.'

'Yuwen-ge.'

Xie Zhen interrupted his wandering thoughts.

'You and Ji Yue met after transferring, right?'

Xie Zhen's eyes held some scrutiny.

'Yes.'

'Can't tell, you two don't seem very familiar?'

...

Yuwen Qing raised an eyebrow.

What did this kid mean?

'Sorry, I hadn't heard Ji Yue mention you before. I thought you were just an ordinary relative.'

Xie Zhen said with a smile.

Yuwen Qing sneered: 'Ji Yue doesn't tell you everything either, does he? Last time I visited his home, you probably didn't know, right?'

Yuwen Qing and Xie Zhen both looked at the other person at the table—Ji Yue didn't even raise his head, drinking a small cup of lily sugar water, as if paying no attention to the conversation here.

After a while, finally noticing something, Ji Yue raised his head, glanced at the two, and asked: 'What are you talking about?'

'Nothing much. Your didi is usually pretty strict with you, isn't he.'

Yuwen Qing said with a half-smile.

Xie Zhen said nothing, just placed two shrimp in Ji Yue's bowl.

[What are these two competing about??]

The System didn't understand.

Probably just chatting about this and that. Ji Yue didn't intend to pursue the question, opened the door and went out to wash his hands.

The corridor was quiet, could hear the ladies' faint old-money laughter. After washing his hands and coming out, he bumped into Yuwen Qing leaning against a Roman pillar.

The afternoon sunlight was fierce, Yuwen Qing's golden hair was especially dazzling. Probably because he'd gone to play rowing again after coming back, his whole body was more tanned, standing there like a sturdy tree trunk.

Yuwen Qing stared at his face, examining him: 'Feeling better today?'

'What?'

'You look like you're sick.'

'I'm fine.'

'How's your mood?' Yuwen Qing raised an eyebrow. 'You're not about to cry later, are you.'

'No.'

'Just because of that thing, you're giving me this face? I admire you. I haven't told anyone, as for whether to tell others later... we'll see then.'

...

Even bringing up this dangerous incident, Ji Yue still had a cold face, as if nothing had happened.

This cold-violence personality—if he'd really been engaged to such a wife back then, how terrible would that be? Could these days even be lived?

Yuwen Qing thought this way.

Reality was another matter.

...Just looking at him like this, there was an indescribable ambiguous feeling.

Yuwen Qing closed his eyes briefly, then opened his mouth to remind him: 'I don't know why you're observing these people, including me, but you'd better not touch them anymore.'

'Why?'

Ji Yue slightly furrowed his brow.

A clue, from one of the F4 persons involved.

Yuwen Qing was unwilling to say more: 'Can't tell you now.'

Again like this.

Both F4 and the elite student seemed to know something, but everyone kept their mouths shut, must wait until the semester ends.

...Can't brush off the detective!

Ji Yue was unhappy about giving up the deduction like this, pestering Yuwen Qing all the way, making him speak quickly.

'Dad's sake, you stepped on me again, how many times are you going to step on me.' Yuwen Qing exploded.

Only then did Ji Yue slowly retreat one step, his eyes still reluctantly peeking at him.

'Go eat.' Yuwen Qing looked at him for a few seconds, then quickly moved his gaze away, pushed open the Restaurant door, and walked in without looking back.

On the way back, the car was very quiet.

Mom looked in the mirror applying lipstick, suddenly asked: 'The holiday is almost over, you haven't spent many days at home.'

Because the detective profession rarely had holidays.

Ji Yue naturally couldn't explain what he was busy with, could only say he went out sketching.

'Are you also this unsociable at school?'

'Mm.'

'You can hang out with Yuwen Qing more, make more friends. You two have a good relationship, right? He seems to have a decent personality.'

'Noted.'

Xie Zhen, hearing this, turned his face toward the window.

[How would mommy know, that golden-haired junior can make the child's butt hurt!]

Mom closed the mirror, turned and looked at him.

'Are you willing to marry the Yuwen family's child? Tell your father, both families would be happy.'

Don't want to.

Ji Yue quickly shook his head like a rattle.

Two days left in the holiday.

Ji Yue returned home and fell asleep immediately.

Being a detective was really too tiring.

Don't know if it was hallucination because of this, after he woke up again, the world timeline had a problem.

[Oh god, we've time-traveled to the next plot point of the original? No!! According to the original's timeline, the detective is about to be caught by F4!!]

The System was greatly shocked.