Chapter 22.1 - Take off your shirt

"Ah, found it!" after searching for a while, Li XinWen finally found the small shards of jadeite carelessly thrown into the black plastic bag. He got up from his crouching position then put the shards in his pocket. Li XinWen could tell how excited LanYu became the moment he placed the shards into his pocket. As if triggered by something, the amount of spiritual energy LanYu sent throughout Li XinWen's meridians started fluctuating and gradually increased, prompting Li XinWen to reprimand LanYu affectionately, as if talking to a child. 'Relax, LanYu. Xue Rui is still here. I'll let you see them later.'

"Did you find what you were looking for??" Xue Rui, who kept him company, asked.

"En. Found it. Now I can leave," Li XinWen replied, already feeling happy with the current outcome.

"Leave?" Xue Rui sounded confused.

Li XinWen noticed the tone in Xue Rui's voice, so he quickly corrected himself. "I'll leave this place and go to the shop to buy something for mom. I've been unfilial for making her worry. I should really get her something special to show my sincerity."

'And... as a token of apology for taking over her son's body,' he added in his mind.

The two made their way to the Hundred Treasure Antique Shop and quickly went inside. Occasionally, Li XinWen's gaze would rest on Xue Rui's figure. Specifically, the chest area of his dress shirt where a shoeprint occupied the center.

Xue Rui noticed Li XinWen's gaze and suddenly remembered the altercation he had with his twin. He looked down at his dress shirt and noticed the shoeprint. He seemed to have underestimated his brother's strength.

'Ah… this was an Oscar de la Renta, what a waste,' Xue Rui thought as he recklessly reached up to his chest to try and wipe off the dirt. When he touched the injured area, he couldn't help but wince in pain.

Li XinWen noticed Xue Rui's actions and almost immediately reached out to grab Xue Rui's hand to stop him from aggravating his injury. But Li XinWen was a little late and could only roll his eyes upon seeing Xue Rui wince in pain. He closed his eyes and sighed heavily and reprimanded Xue Rui like a mother reprimanding her child.

"Could you be any more careless? What are you a six-year-old? Don't aggravate your injury by touching it carelessly," Li XinWen said as he held Xue Rui's left wrist at the same time looking around the shop where he could inspect Xue Rui's injury.

'Is he worried about me? Li XinWen is worried about me?' Xue Rui thought as he lowered his gaze, a gentle smile forming on his lips and warmth started bubbling inside him.

Li XinWen noticed a person approaching their direction, and based on the person's attire, he assumed that this was the high standing manager of the shop. He was about to speak when the manager welcomed them, addressing Xue Rui in particular.

"Welcome, Young Master Xue. I did not expect to see you again so soon, was there any problem with the items you purchased previously?" the manager asked, slightly anxious.

"No. Everything is fine. We are here for something else. Last time, my wif-..." when Xue Rui was about to slip up, Li XinWen gave him a warning glare. "I mean, a friend of mine liked the items I bought here so he wanted to see if there's anything he can buy for his mother," Xue Rui quickly corrected himself.

"Ah, is that so? Then please follow me," the manager said happily, relieved that it was not due to a problem with any of their products. He led the two esteemed guests to the VIP room before he had them sit on the sofa. "This young master, I still have yet to know your name," the manager politely queried Li XinWen.

Li XinWen just stared at the manager and noticed how the manager treated him like a young master from one of the first class families back in Long Xing. "It doesn't matter who I am. Just show me your goods. I don't want to waste any more time."

"Ah, of course, of course! This young master wants a gift for his mother, correct? Fortunately, we have  shipments that arrived just recently. Let me get them for you to see," then the manager quickly left the room.

The moment the manager left, Li XinWen's attention moved to Xue Rui. "Take off your shirt."

'Did I hear Li XinWen correctly? Take off my shirt?! What kind of development is this? I must have misheard him… I should clarify things…' Xue Rui thought as he continued to stare at Li XinWen with a blank expression. After mulling things over, he finally opened his mouth and asked, "Excuse me? XinWen are you asking me to take off my shirt? In this place?! Right now?!"