How To Polish A Pearl

Chapter 70 - Asking

"Who is the second?"

"Xiaotao is joining us for breakfast too. I paid for a full twenty four hours so that we would have plenty of time. Might as well bring him over as soon as possible."

"When did you arrange this?"

"I couldn't sleep so I went and arranged everything with Shanyaun last night so that we could sleep in this morning."

The softness in Wen Ke Xing's eyes has vanished and is now replaced by that darkness that Zhou Xu surprisingly has missed. Yes, he is aware that he is teasing his man, the man that can be extremely violent and ruthless. Part of him does admit that he is also testing him. Testing what it takes for him to transform back to the man out on the plateau. Transform into the man from the wedding nights. Transform into whatever it was that choked him into oblivion that first night. Though he's not quite certain why he likes that man too.

"You look very formal this morning." Grabbing another steamed bun, Zhou Xu gets up from his chair and walks over to Wen Ke Xing. "Who are you trying to scare today? Lecherous Ghost or Xiaotao?" Placing the steamed bun in between his lips for safe keeping, his hands wander over Wen Ke Xing's upper body under the disguise of fixing his outfit. Reaching the belt, he follows it around that slim waist, checking so that it really is straight. Zhou Xu's hands moves down Wen Ke Xing's ass, squeezing each cheek.

Laughing, Wen Ke Xing fends off Zhou Xu's wandering hands with his folded fan, "Ah-Xu, if you keep this up our guests will be enjoying the breakfast by themselves whilst listening to you moan from the bed chamber."

Looking up into those black ones that are on the border of the abyss to then wander suggestively over his man's body, Zhou Xu smiles a crooked smile whilst pursing his lips, "Who says you won't be the one doing the moaning?"

This is also the first thing that Lecherous Ghost hears when he walks in through the door, flanked by servants and closely followed by Xiaotao. The blatant statement causes him to stop so abruptly that the second guest walks right into him almost knocking him over.

Hearing the commotion behind him, Zhou Xu winks at Wen Ke Xing before transforming into his marble self. He takes the steamed bun out of his mouth and turns around, "Ah, you are both here. Welcome."

"Guzhu."

"Nu Zhuren."

The greetings are spoken almost in unison by the two newcomers. Both bowing respectfully with their hands tucked inside their robes, the long sleeves not touching the ground, waiting for acknowledgement.

Wen Ke Xing, straightens his back and smiles that cold smile that never reaches his eyes. Waiting a little bit extra, just to make a point, before greeting them with his usual Guzhu tone of voice, "Lecherous Ghost."

Whilst the devil straightens himself and smile towards Zhou Xu, Wen Ke Xing walks closer to where the two guests are standing. Looking down at the flower beauty, he tilts his head a bit whilst observing the man that is bent forward with his head centered in the formal greeting. The man that the night before was naked in the hot spring with his husband. "I don't believe that we were properly introduced yesterday. You are Xiaotao?"

Unsure of what to do, Xiaotao slowly straightens his back and lowers his hands to rest at his sides. His breathing slow, his eyes clear and looking straight at Zhou Xu as he speaks with a soft voice and a brilliant smile, "Nu Zhuren. Guzhu. Thank you for inviting me."

Motioning with his right arm, Wen Ke Xing walks towards the table, "Please, sit."

Seeing the Guzhu appear makes Zhou Xu smile inwardly as he walks towards the table, still holding on to his steamed bun. This day may turn out better than expected.

Wen Ke Xing waits for Zhou Xu to join them before he sits down, allowing the rest to also take their seats. He watches his man purposely seat Xiaotao next to himself and clenches his fists under the table. Oh, so that is how you want to play this?

As soon as all four are seated, the servants are buzzing around them filling their cups and placing the last of the food before blending in against the wall to either wait for instructions or exiting the pavilion to get more food or drinks.

As soon as one plate is empty, a servant replaces it with a new filled with the same type of food. Neither the tea nor the wine runs out and there is always an invisible servant around at the exact moment they are needed. Zhou Xu is impressed with the impeccable and discrete level of service.

"Nu Zhuren, how are you enjoying the outskirts of Ghost Valley?" The question is coming from the man that is next to Zhou Xu. The man that Wen Ke Xing has already murdered in over ten different ways in his head, each way more painful and bloody that the previous.

"It is a bit quieter here than at Wu Ying," he says with a marble smile aimed at Xiaotao, "and the air, mountains and the waterfall reminds me of home. That is why I wanted to stay a few extra days." His thoughts wander and he smiles with longing in his exhale.

Only those who know Wen Ke Xing very well would have been able to tell how stunned he is hearing Zhou Xu speak of his past for the first time. He knew that Zhou Xu remembered some from before he came to Ghost Valley, but not to what extent. Wen Ke Xing, Wen Ke Xing, why have you never asked him what he remembers? You coward!

"Oh? May I ask where Nu Zhuren is from?" Xiaotao is used to making people open up. His income is directly depended not only on his extreme good looks and skills in the art of pleasure, but in how to bond with clients, build a connection, make them relax and most importantly−make them trust him.

Both Lecherous Ghost and Wen Ke Xing are inadvertently holding their breaths waiting for Zhou Xu to answer a question. Tough, the first one more out of curiosity than anything else, whilst the second one has an unreadable expression on his face.

Zhou Xu watches his Guzhu. Though the expression on his face is his normal Guzhu, his dark aura is strong with irritation and jealousy. Zhou Xu can see that the black ones are filled with questions that he has never asked. It's not that I didn't want to tell you, it's just that I don't know if you wanted to know. Technically it isn't lying if I didn't tell you everything, right?

⊙.☉