(Self)deception | XueXiao

1.6

Dinner passes almost in silence. Xue Yang still can't decide what to talk about, and Xiao Xingchen seems to have used up all his vocabulary in a day. They probably should have stayed for a meal at Chuishen's, but Xue Yang was very anxious to be alone with Daozhang.

Xue Yang finds the right words while washing the dishes. Usually this is the responsibility of Little Blind, but because of the girl's absence, her household chores are divided. The cold water dampens the itching in hands, so Xue Yang doesn't even mind.

"I thought about what you said for a long time," he finally begins.

"About what exactly?" Xiao Xingchen asks cautiously. Apparently, he already feels some kind of catch and for good reason.

"The fact that those who are good-looking are black in soul."

"Actually..." Xiao Xingchen starts, obviously about to protest, but doesn't have time to finish.

"And I have bad news for you, Daozhang," Xue Yang interrupts him, setting the wet bowl aside. In the light from the hearth, he sees how Xiao Xingchen's eyebrows, half-covered by a white bandage, arch incredulously. This can be taken as a call to continue. "According to your opinion, you must be the most notorious villain without a single pure thought."

Xue Yang is incredibly proud of himself — he thought for a very long time about how to gracefully insert a compliment about Xiao Xingchen's appearance. Return the favor in some way. He can't just say, "You seem to be a connoisseur of male beauty here, and your face also doesn't disgust me, so let's indulge in carnal pleasures!" He must show himself to be courteous and witty.

However, Daozhang doesn't seem happy. He is in a stupor for several moments before he understands what he has heard, and his lips curl in martyrdom. It was as if he received not praise, but a terrible insult, backed up by a blow to the kidneys. He repeats Xue Yang's recent gesture, reaching a hand up to his face, touching his cheek, and swallows nervously.

"I don't know how to answer this, except that I once again apologize for saying too much," Xiao Xingchen drawls not too confidently. And then he says, "Maybe I should clear my mind and go meditate before bed."

After that, he gets up from the table, performs a slight farewell bow and leaves. Xue Yang stares after him dumbfounded, and then, having no choice, heads to his own room. What's wrong with Daozhang?!

***

"What didn't he like?" Xue Yang quietly asks, pulling out the cork from the bottle of medicine granted by the old woman.

Inside is some kind of viscous oily liquid with a sugary floral smell. He carefully smears the slippery substance over his hands and suppresses the urge to immediately wipe his palms on the already not very clean sheet. Xue Yang is extremely sensitive to his remaining fingers, therefore he doesn't give in to such faint-hearted impulses.

The sweet smell beckons — it's hard to resist and not lick off a shiny drop running down the wrist. It tastes just like some kind of oil, even a little bitter — so-so delicacy! Xue Yang remembers the times in Lanling again. Yao had (and probably still has) a huge arsenal of all kinds of rubbing for the body, with which he smeared himself from head to toe at any opportunity. And these ointments tasted much better! Xue Yang chuckles, remembering his friend's hoarse yells about how full bowls of sweets around, but one dunce needed his precious peach cream, which has been preparing for almost a week. Why did he leave his cans open unattended?

Yes, life was much simpler there, and the hated Daozhang existed exclusively on the periphery and didn't annoy with his antics. What to do with him (except for the final part of the seduction plan), Xue Yang has absolutely no idea. He was completely sure that Xiao Xingchen would immediately blush like a girl from his compliment, and it would be possible to develop the topic, but no! Who even does this? Damned Taoists, there is no way to deal with them.