Chapter 10: The Struggle of Little Sparrow, Caught Between Leisure and Work

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If looks could kill, Qingque would undoubtedly have been riddled with holes by now.

I didn't, I haven't, don't make things up—I'm being framed!

In that moment, Qingque finally understood the treachery inherent in human nature. And worst of all, she couldn't refute it; few within the Divination Commission knew Fu Xuan's preferences, yet she had managed to uncover them all too well.

Qingque's favorite tactic was to bribe the Grand Diviner with sweets whenever caught slacking off, hoping to lessen her punishment. Consequently, among everyone at the Divination Commission, Qingque stood out as the prime suspect.

This is so malicious! She's really going too far—bullying an honest person like this! Qingque glared pitifully at Su Jinyan, her expression both timid and fierce. Wanting to explain herself, she felt utterly helpless against the cold whispers spreading across her face, leaving her no chance to defend.

Twisting her delicate fingers nervously, Qingque forced a smile. "Um, Grand Diviner..."

"If I were to say he guessed it himself, would you believe me?"

Fu Xuan's expression remained cool. "What do you think, Qingque?"

Su Jinyan rose from his seat and stepped inside the teahouse, returning moments later with a cup of taro bubble milk tea held carefully in his hands.

"Lady Fu Xuan, your work must be quite demanding, isn't it? Please enjoy this while it's warm."

"I know you prefer Dragon Girl's special medicinal teas, which unfortunately, I don't have here. However, this cup of taro bubble milk tea is personally prepared by me, infused with abundant star taro flavor."

A hint of suspicion crossed Fu Xuan's face; something about these words seemed odd.

Feigning confusion, Qingque interjected, "Eh, why does this milk tea look familiar? Didn't you buy it from that Luofu street vendor? Or am I mistaken?"

Su Jinyan fell silent.

Oh, Qingque, Qingque, who knew your heart could harbor such pettiness? Your retaliation comes swiftly indeed.

Fu Xuan shook her head slightly. "Give it up; don't bother trying to curry favor with this venerable one," she said firmly. "I have no feelings for you and will not accept your advances."

Su Jinyan pondered for a moment before responding, "How about this? You can consider it a gesture of appreciation for your hard work—what do you say?"

Fu Xuan pursed her lips, her expression wavering slightly. "Is that so?" she asked. "But what if I told you that despite such gestures, your salaries would still be docked? Would you still offer me this cup of milk tea then?"

Wait, first you punish me before accepting my gift, and now you'll punish me again afterward? Then isn't this f*cking gift just wasted, goddammit?!

Upon hearing this, Su Jinyan swiftly inserted a straw into the cup with a sharp snap and held the milk tea up to Qingque's lips.

"Well then, I might as well give it to Little Sparrow instead. Come, here you go."

Qingque frantically waved her hands away. "A-Yan, I've always treated you well; why would you want to harm me?"

Undeterred, Su Jinyan persisted, guiding the milk tea closer to Qingque's mouth until the straw touched her fragrant lips. With this move, Fu Xuan was even less likely to accept the drink.

Qingque gazed pitifully at Su Jinyan, adamantly refusing his gesture of goodwill. Even the most foolish person would know not to accept this cup of milk tea at such a moment; doing so would be akin to slapping their superior's bottom or insulting their face.

And Qingque was far from foolish—she was quite clever.

Su Jinyan threatened, "If you don't drink it, I'll have it myself."

"But Qingque, your saliva is on there now. If I take a sip, does that count as an indirect kiss?"

"Hmm, a milk tea tainted with a pretty girl's saliva must taste especially sweet," Su Jinyan mused aloud, preparing to take a sip.

Just then, Qingque swiftly snatched the cup away, her delicate cheeks flushed pink. "Hey, hey, hey! What are you saying? That's going too far!"

Fu Xuan observed coolly, "Ah, seems like you two are getting along quite well. In just a few short days, your relationship has progressed this far."

Sighing, Su Jinyan replied, "My affection lies with Fu Xuan, but alas, she remains indifferent."

Unable to resist teasing him, Qingque quipped, "Why do you make Grand Diviner sound like a third wheel?"

"Grand Diviner, A-Yan is belittling you! Make him write a self-reflection—it's absolutely necessary!"

Fu Xuan's brows furrowed deeply; she had never been rendered so speechless in her life.

Su Jinyan, now serious, declared, "I will forever cherish Lady Fu Xuan. In my heart, she is the most beautiful."

Fu Xuan responded coldly, "Your salaries have already been docked, and if this continues, do you even want to keep your job?"

Quickly changing his tune, Su Jinyan said, "No longer cherished, as Lady Fu Xuan has utterly broken my heart. Leader, you're not at all what I imagined from Lady Fu Xuan."

"And just how did you imagine this venerable one?" Fu Xuan asked.

"She would never abandon you," Su Jinyan replied, "never disappoint you, never forsake you. Never make you cry, never bid farewell, and never harm you with lies."

"Most importantly, she would never abuse her authority."

Fu Xuan's gaze was icy. "Excellent. This venerable one indeed never abuses authority, always upholding justice—your job is gone."

Thud.

Su Jinyan slumped forward, muttering, "What?! I created the legend of the quickest dismissal from the Divination Commission?"

While Su Jinyan and Fu Xuan were preoccupied with their conversation, Qingque stealthily prepared to make his escape.

Fu Xuan frowned. "Enough now," she said, "I was only joking just then."

"Stop picking on this venerable one, or they truly will get angry."

"To cut to the chase, this venerable one has come here with a mission for you both."

"Qingque, hold it right there—!"

Instantly frozen, Qingque scratched his head sheepishly, grinning awkwardly.

"Grand Diviner, I believe we should give plenty of training opportunities to newcomers."

"I've already divined today's fortune: unsuitable for official duties, nor is overtime advised."

"Just assign any tasks to A-Yan; work him to the bone if you must, I have complete faith in him."

The unspoken message beneath these words was clear: If anything needs doing, look to him—not me.

Taken aback, Su Jinyan asked, "Is this really something my friend Qingque would say?"

Qingque stuck out his tongue. "Authentic, guaranteed."

Fu Xuan's face remained impassive. "Neither of you will be allowed to slack off."

At Luofu's Cloudford, Fu Xuan had assigned them a straightforward task: adjust the guiding compass at Cloudford to its correct position, directing the star ferries safely back to port.

It was indeed a leisurely duty, neither difficult nor demanding, just somewhat tedious.

Qingque pouted, visibly sulking as she occasionally sipped her milk tea. Throughout their walk, she hadn't uttered a single word to him.

Su Jinyan stopped, gazing earnestly into Qingque's lovely eyes with unwavering sincerity.

"Little Sparrow, don't be angry anymore—it's all my fault, I messed up. How about this? You can hit me a few times if you want."

Qingque's eyes sparkled, but just as she raised her hand, Su Jinyan caught her wrist.

"Ah, you couldn't bring yourself to do it." He gently shook his head.

Qingque stared, bewildered.

"How about cursing me out instead?" Su Jinyan suggested.

"You—" Qingque parted her lips, ready to speak.

Su Jinyan hastily interrupted, "You wouldn't say it."

Qingque blinked, now utterly confused.

Toughening up, toughening up—Qingque clenched her fists, glaring furiously.

Is this something humans should even do?

She wrenched her hand free from his grasp, fists tightened and rage burning.

"It's all your fault! Even Grand Diviner herself now suspects my loyalty."

"What have I gained? Just a cup of Star Tarot Bubbles milk tea."

"And what have I lost? The trust of the Grand Diviner."

"Qingque," Su Jinyan said, "is it possible that the Grand Diviner has long been aware of your questionable integrity?"

"So, her trust in you may already be dwindling to almost nothing."

Qingque shook their small head vigorously, like a rattle drum.

"I wish Grand Diviner wouldn't place such high expectations on me."

"My abilities are limited; why does she keep relying on me?"

"As soon as I'm idle for a moment, Grand Diviner appears and hands me more trivial tasks, just like today."

"Sigh, being idle is no easy feat..."

Buzz—

Su Jinyan's phone vibrated with a received encrypted text message from the black-robed figure.