Venerable Demon King & The Doting Immortal (QT)-Chapter 192: Not picking calls again

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AN: Went a little overboard today with the words. I hope you like it.

After a hectic morning of running around, Xiang Yu finally managed to get the twins ready for school and into the car. Lian and Mei sat in the backseat, their faces visibly upset. As Xiang Yu drove, the twins couldn’t help but bargain and play the pitiful act, trying to convince him that school was pointless.

"Master, do we really have to go?" Lian whined, her voice tinged with desperation.

"Yeah, school is so boring," Mei added, her tone equally pitiful.

Xiang Yu kept his eyes on the road, ignoring their complaints. "Why are you so resistant to this? It’s just for the little time we have in this world. You get to experience different things, and school is one of them."

Lian folded her arms across her chest, her expression defiant. "Master, I would rather climb the tallest mountain peak in this world than go to school."

Mei chimed in, her eyes wide with exaggerated horror. "Or jump out of a plane! That sounds more fun than school."

Xiang Yu couldn’t help but chuckle at their dramatic declarations. As they drove into the school premises, he had to show the security guard the enrolment papers. The guard scanned the barcode before the boom gate opened, pointing to the left. "Drive straight down, and you will find parking," he instructed.

Xiang Yu nodded and drove in, glancing at the twins through the rear view mirror. "Come on, just try it. Give it a week, and if you really hate it, I’ll let it go, okay?"

Lian and Mei exchanged glances, their expressions softening. Despite their complaints, they were reasonable and didn’t like to make things difficult. They simultaneously responded, "Okay."

Xiang Yu parked the car and turned to face them, his expression gentle but firm. "I know it’s not what you want right now, but sometimes we have to do things we don’t like. It’s part of growing up."

The twins nodded, their earlier defiance replaced with reluctant acceptance. As they stepped out of the car, Xiang Yu felt a pang of sympathy for them. He knew how daunting new experiences could be, but he also knew that they were capable of handling it.

"After school, if I don’t pick you up, Little Bai will come," Xiang Yu instructed, his tone firm but gentle. "Be good and don’t make trouble or fight in school."

Mei, ever the negotiator, piped up, "Okay, but can we have ice cream after school?"

Lian, not to be outdone, added, "I want an ice cone."

Xiang Yu turned to face them after parking the car, his expression softening. "You can have any treat you want after school, okay? Message me if anything happens."

The twins nodded eagerly, their earlier reluctance momentarily forgotten. Xiang Yu walked them inside, joining the other parents of new students in meeting the principle. It was the first day of school for the year, and the atmosphere buzzed with a mix of excitement and anxiety.

As they waited, Xiang Yu couldn’t help but notice the glances from other parents. Their eyes lingered on the tattoos adorning his neck and arms, their expressions a mix of curiosity and disapproval. He could almost hear them warning their children to stay away from Mei and Lian. freewebnσvel.cѳm

It didn’t bother him at all. What mattered was that his little cuties were safe and happy. And if any of those kids dared to bully them, this demon king wouldn’t hesitate to step in, regardless of whether the offender was a child or an adult.

Once the introductions and formalities were over, Xiang Yu escorted the girls to their classroom. He gave them a reassuring smile before heading back to the car. Just as he reached it, he spotted the lady he had met at the salon, dropping off her child. He waved, and she waved back with a friendly smile before he got into the car and drove off.

When he arrived at the tattoo parlour, Little Bai had already opened the doors and was diligently dusting the surfaces. "Do I have an appointment today?" he asked.

Little Bai paused his cleaning and walked to the reception desk. He checked the schedule on the computer and nodded. "Yes, around ten you have an appointment with Qin Wu."

Xiang Yu blinked, momentarily taken aback. He had almost forgotten about the young man’s tattoo appointment. "Okay," he said, nodding. "I will be in my office if you need anything."

Little Bai nodded in acknowledgment, and Xiang Yu headed to his office. He sat down at his desk, mentally preparing for the day ahead.

***

Around half past nine, a soft knock echoed through the quiet of Xiang Yu’s office. "Come in," he called out, his voice calm and steady. The door creaked open, and Little Bai’s head peeked through.

"Yu-ge, Qin Wu is here early. He’s sitting in the waiting area," Little Bai informed him.

Xiang Yu nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Okay, offer him something to drink. I’ll be there just now."

"Okay," Little Bai replied, closing the door softly behind him.

After a few moments, Xiang Yu rose from his desk, leaving his phone behind. He walked out to find Qin Wu sitting with a cup of coffee in his hand. Leaning casually against the wall, Xiang Yu slipped his hand into his pocket and said, "You’re here early."

Qin Wu, startled, nearly spilled his coffee. He coughed, almost choking, and Xiang Yu quickly grabbed a paper towel from the small kitchen, handing it to him. Qin Wu’s ears turned red as he stammered, "Th-thank you."

"Don’t worry about it," Xiang Yu said with a reassuring smile. "Come, follow me."

They moved to the consultation space, a cosy area separated from the rest of the studio by a thin divider. Xiang Yu sat down, his demeanour professional and attentive. "So, what sort of tattoo are you thinking about?"

Qin Wu hesitated, his mind racing with thoughts he couldn’t quite voice. He had wanted to ask Xiang Yu if he was still on the StarMatch app, but the words stuck in his throat. Instead, he said, "I want a small one that people can’t see."

Xiang Yu nodded, understanding the unspoken hesitation. "Okay, where would you like it?"

Qin Wu lowered his head, feeling a bit embarrassed. He wanted it on his abdomen but felt shy about saying it out loud. Xiang Yu noticed his discomfort and leaned in slightly, his voice gentle. "It’s a safe space. Tell me where you want it."

Biting his lip, Qin Wu finally managed to say, "I want a small sparrow on my abdomen."

Xiang Yu’s lips curved into a slight smile, a teasing glint in his eyes. "Why are you acting shy like a little girl?"

Qin Wu’s face flushed a deep shade of red, his embarrassment palpable. Xiang Yu, ever the professional, asked gently, "Do you have a particular design in mind, or would you like to choose one from my reference book?"

Qin Wu shook his head, his voice barely above a whisper. "No, I don’t have one in mind."

"Wait here," Xiang Yu said, his tone reassuring. He walked to his office, scanning the bookshelf for the reference book that contained his bird tattoo designs. Finding it, he returned and opened the pages to the section with sparrows he had inked over the years.

Qin Wu didn’t take long to decide. His eyes lit up as he pointed to a sparrow with its wings spread out. "This one," he said, his voice a bit steadier now.

"Good choice," Xiang Yu replied with a nod. He went to prepare the stencil for the tattoo. Passing by the reception area where Little Bai was practising his drawing, Xiang Yu instructed, "Get Qin Wu a consent form."

"Okay, Brother Xiang Yu," Little Bai responded promptly.

By the time Xiang Yu returned, Little Bai had already sanitised the work area and set up the equipment and personal protective gear. Xiang Yu appreciated the thoroughness. He turned to Qin Wu and asked, "Can you bear the pain?"

Qin Wu lay down, nodding. "Sister Mo told me to put on numbing cream," he said, his voice a bit more confident.

"Good," Xiang Yu acknowledged. "Lift your t-shirt."

Qin Wu hesitated for a moment before saying, "I can take it off."

"It’s fine," Xiang Yu reassured him. "Which side do you want it?"

Qin Wu pointed to his lower right side, his face flushing again. Xiang Yu wiped the area with an antiseptic solution before carefully placing the stencil. Qin Wu checked the positioning and, satisfied, gave a small nod.

Xiang Yu began to outline the tattoo, his focus intense. He was so absorbed in his work that he didn’t notice his phone ringing on his desk in his office. The contact flashing on the screen was Boss Xin. At some point, the calls stopped coming through. It seemed the person had given up, but they were actually driving over to see him.

As Xiang Yu worked, the hum of the tattoo machine filled the room, blending with the soft background music. Qin Wu lay still, his initial embarrassment fading as he watched Xiang Yu’s skilled hands bring the sparrow to life on his skin. The atmosphere was calm, almost meditative, a stark contrast to the flurry of activity that had preceded this moment.

Little Bai hovered nearby, ready to assist if needed, his eyes wide with admiration for Xiang Yu’s artistry.