The Fox King

Chapter 42: Only Zhe Huo

Zhe Huo didn’t notice the food she was eating at all, because her attention was completely focused upon Tao Feiyan, sitting opposite. One might describe her current mood as confounded.

At Feiyan’s side was a young man, with skin as fair as snow, polite and demure, pouring wine for him, and even feeding him by hand… every so often, Feiyan would even lean over and give the lad a little kiss.

Every time that happened, it would take a moment before Zhe Huo remembered to cover Luo Qinghan’s eyes, while pleading to Feiyan, “Mr Tao, please exercise some discretion! There’s a child present, here! What if he picks something up from you?”

Following this, she would turn to the boy to add, “Qinghan, you can’t grow up to become someone like Mr Tao. Understand?”

Although Zhe Huo personally felt that a beauty like Tao Feiyan was a ravishing sight no matter whom he was with, she drew the line where Qinghan was concerned. He was still an impressionable little boy… what if, having seen Feiyan’s example, he went on to seek the company of other men, himself? She’d never forgive herself.

Qinghan looked up at her, blinked his bright, clear eyes, and said in response, “I only like Zhe Huo.”

He said this with eyes full of sincerity, the deep blue irises reflecting only her.

Zhe Huo nodded distractedly. “Good. That’s good.”

At the time, all she understood by that was that he liked her in the casual way that a child might come to like anyone.

“Zhe Huo, seeing the way you behave irks me greatly.” Feiyan pushed aside his youthful companion with a laugh. “Alright, you can go now. Tell the others waiting outside to leave, as well. I shouldn’t corrupt an innocent child.”

As he said that final bit, he gave Qinghan a meaningful look.

Once the staff had left them alone, Zhe Huo was finally able to loose a sigh of relief. She shot Feiyan a sharp look. “Indeed. If it were just me and you here, you could do as you please and I would make no comment—but you simply mustn’t do this sort of thing in front of little Qinghan!”

“Oh…” Feiyan drawled enigmatically. He flicked his gaze towards her. “How about this? Let’s go out again, just the two of us.”

Zhe Huo’s eyes sparkled, but while her mind worked to envision what it might be like, coming to a place like this with someone like Feiyan, Qinghan’s quiet, clear voice pierced through her fantasies: “You’d dare?”

Her heart leapt into her throat. She supposed Qinghan didn’t understand such things. Nevertheless, she glanced over anxiously, and found Qinghan glaring at Feiyan, his eyes promising bloody murder.

Feiyan remained cheerful, not the least bit bothered by Qinghan’s hostility.

Understanding that Qinghan was only worried for her sake, Zhe Huo laughed apologetically. “Let’s discuss this another time,” she said to Feiyan.

Unexpectedly, Feiyan went along with this effort to placate the boy. “Certainly.”

Halfway through the meal, something seemed to occur to Feiyan, all of a sudden. He tilted his head in thought for a moment, then looked across the table. “Tell you something, Zhe Huo: If you want to be number one on the leaderboard, all you need to do is bring down a legendary creature.”

“Legendary creature? What do you mean?” Zhe Huo slapped both hands on the table, overcome with curiosity and excitement.