Chapter 27 – Moving House

Perhaps the effects of the feng shui arrangement were too significant. In less than three days, the transfer of the new house was completed. Manager Cheng even wanted to bring people to help Master Wei move, but Wei Yang naturally couldn’t let them see his shabby little rental apartment. He sternly refused, explaining that some ritual tools could only be handled personally, thus managing to send off the overly enthusiastic Manager Cheng. Choosing a day with clear skies and gentle breezes, he drove the company’s minivan and moved into the new house in the most low-key manner possible.

Although he didn’t have much luggage, Wei Yang still enlisted Sun Muhua to help. During this period, Sun the Otaku, who no longer had to play the filial son at the hospital, felt quite relieved. However, to maintain secrecy, Jiang Xiaofeng, the star of Jieshui Studio, had been whisked away by the old rogue under the pretext of accompanying her, leaving Sun the Otaku to handle all the reception work himself. He had been complaining nonstop, so today, he was somewhat happy to take a breather by helping his old and new idols move. That is, except for…

“Brother Yang! Your turtle bit me again!” Holding the turtle basin, Sun Muhua looked on the verge of tears as the turtle stretched its neck to gnaw on his sleeve, almost making him kneel before this “lord.”

“Lao Ye is just reminding you to be careful and not damage his home.” Wei Yang didn’t even turn his head, one hand on the steering wheel while the other patted the bag containing the turtle on the backseat. Reluctantly, Lao Ye opened its mouth, releasing the already frayed sleeve, and let out a sound that seemed like a threat. Sun Muhua didn’t dare get any closer, shrinking to the side of the car door to avoid the turtle’s gaze. However, as he turned his head, he caught sight of the newly decorated fountain in the community.

“Ah! The fountain’s already covered!” Sun Muhua lamented, his face full of regret. “I wanted to take a closer look. Why did they cover it up so quickly?”

Indeed, Chaoyang Community had undergone a transformation. Several buildings had been repainted in a light yellow shade, reportedly to enhance the earth energy in the area. The central fountain had also been redesigned, with a white jade lotus bud covering the water outlet, completely obscuring the feng shui ball. Now, only the gentle flow of water from the bud could be seen. Additionally, several surveillance cameras had been installed nearby to prevent theft.

These changes were undoubtedly significant. Half the residents in the community had heard that the construction group had invited a feng shui master to adjust the area’s energy. Some well-informed individuals even pointed out that the master had performed rituals on the 13th floor of the haunted building, creating such a commotion that the entire building had heard it. Later, the fountain’s design was altered, completely eradicating the evil aura.

Most of these rumors, whether true or false, had been spread by Wei Yang through Manager Cheng. In reality, very few people had witnessed the feng shui arrangement, and even fewer would gossip about it. However, the subsequent large-scale changes were precisely to reassure the residents and put their minds at ease. Regardless of how exaggerated these rumors were, the atmosphere in the community had noticeably improved. During the day, many housewives could be seen chatting outside, especially around the fountain. Since the fountain was part of a genuine feng shui formation, the air quality there was slightly better than elsewhere, unconsciously attracting more people and, in turn, using their presence to stabilize the formation.

Quite satisfied with the construction group’s thoughtful arrangements, Wei Yang didn’t waste any words. He parked the old minivan downstairs, picked up the luggage and the bag containing Lao Ye, and took Zhang Xiuqi and Sun Muhua upstairs in the elevator.

The 1203 unit had been completely renovated. Although there were signs of hasty work, the previously modern and minimalist style, which leaned toward a feminine aesthetic, had disappeared. Now, the apartment exuded a dignified and grand Chinese style, with a complete set of nanmu furniture, an elegant bookshelf and desk, and renowned calligraphy and paintings on the walls. Even the bathroom had been refurbished, radiating a “master’s” aura throughout.

Standing at the entrance, Sun Muhua took a deep breath. “Wow, the new furniture doesn’t smell at all. It seems the construction group put in a lot of effort!”

This set of environmentally friendly and aesthetically pleasing furniture alone would cost at least 200,000 yuan. To have it all arranged within three days was far more considerate than simply buying a bigger house, showcasing the construction group’s high regard for “Master Wei.” However, Wei Yang frowned slightly. There was only one bed in the two-bedroom apartment. He’d probably have to set up a small bed in the study. After finally moving into a new home, he couldn’t keep sharing a bed with Brother Qi…

That’s right. In the days leading up to the move, Wei Yang had indeed gritted his teeth and shared a bed with the Little Celestial Master for a few nights. The man’s unshakably good sleeping posture had emboldened him. After all, since he wouldn’t be discovered, why sleep on the hard floor? Now that they’d moved into a new home with more privacy, it was a good thing. Smiling contentedly, he directed Sun Muhua to place the water basin on the balcony, while he bent down to set Lao Ye on the floor, gently patting its shell. “Lao Ye, how’s the new place? Much better than the old one, right?”

Lao Ye, being one to make its own decisions, wasn’t listening to Wei Yang at all. It slowly waddled off to inspect the rooms, making its way through the two bedrooms, living room, kitchen, and bathroom. Eventually, it chose the small balcony in the bedroom, plopping down and letting out a series of sounds.

“Alright, Woody, move the water basin over here. It seems Lao Ye prefers the bedroom balcony.” Wei Yang was both pleased and a bit helpless that the turtle wanted to stay in the same room even after moving. He instructed Sun Muhua to move the basin again, finally settling Lao Ye in its new spot.

Meanwhile, Zhang Xiuqi had already placed his travel bag in the study and laid out cinnabar and yellow paper on the desk, clearly claiming the space for himself. Sun Muhua’s eyes lit up. “Brother Yang, is the Little Celestial Master going to draw talismans?”

“Don’t cause trouble. Curiosity killed the cat.” Wei Yang gave him a light smack on the head without hesitation, then turned to Zhang Xiuqi. “Brother Qi, let’s eat first. After moving into a new home, we should at least have a housewarming meal.”

A housewarming meal, or “liao guo di,” is a tradition of inviting relatives and friends to cook and celebrate after moving into a new home. Although Wei Yang didn’t have many relatives in Shanxi, he had these two friends. Sun Muhua was delighted to help with the move and earn a meal from Brother Yang, bouncing around excitedly to help. Wei Yang, however, pushed him back. Despite it being a housewarming meal, none of the three men knew how to cook, so they ended up ordering a hot pot delivery, enjoying a lively meal together.

Well, “lively” might be an overstatement. It was mostly Sun Muhua who kept chattering away, while Wei Yang didn’t mind, occasionally smiling and adding some sauce or meat to Zhang Xiuqi’s bowl. Unsurprisingly, Zhang Xiuqi had never had hot pot before and was unusually sensitive to spicy food. After accidentally eating a couple of items from the spicy broth, his usually stoic expression cracked slightly, nearly making Wei Yang burst out laughing. Suppressing his laughter, Wei Yang added some milder items from the non-spicy broth to Zhang Xiuqi’s bowl, then turned to see Sun Muhua staring at them curiously, a pair of chopsticks in his mouth.

“What? Not enough for you?” Wei Yang took a sip of beer.

“No, it’s just that I didn’t expect you and Brother Qi to be so close.” Sun Muhua complained with a pout. “You’ve only been living together for a few days, and you’re already serving him food. You’ve never been this nice to me.”

Raising an eyebrow, Wei Yang opened a can of beer with a pop and placed it in front of Sun Muhua. “Oh, feeling neglected, are we? Should I serve you a couple of dishes now?”

Imagining the scene, Sun Muhua shuddered for some inexplicable reason and quickly shook his head. He picked up the can and clinked it with Wei Yang’s, knowing the otaku was easy to please. Wei Yang didn’t refuse, clinking cans with him several times and nearly drinking Sun Muhua under the table. The meal was filled with smoke and steam, and soon the elegant and grand new apartment was filled with the rich aroma of hot pot, completely dispelling the aura of a lofty master.

After finally finishing the meal and sending Sun Muhua off, Wei Yang cleaned up the apartment and then unceremoniously flopped onto the soft bed, letting out a satisfied burp. He had drunk quite a bit today, though he hadn’t shown it in front of others. Having his own house genuinely pleased him. Since he was eighteen, he had been drifting around without saving a penny. After all these years, he had finally settled down, a gratifying change for a young but seasoned wanderer like him.

Turning his head, Wei Yang was surprised to find Lao Ye had crawled to the edge of the bed, stretching its neck to look at him. Amused, he reached out and patted the turtle’s slightly damp shell. “We won’t have to move around so much anymore. Do you like this place?”

The turtle rubbed its cool, long neck against Wei Yang’s fingers, a gesture that seemed both comforting and affectionate. Wei Yang chuckled. “I don’t know how old you are, but you haven’t changed at all over the years. That’s good, though—better than cats and dogs that don’t live long… I wonder why you took a liking to a brat like me back then…”

Wei Yang had found this turtle by chance when he was sixteen, shortly after his grandfather passed away. His grandmother’s hostility toward him had escalated beyond reason, and she barely wanted to see him. Although his uncles were kind, Wei Yang had grown up under his grandparents’ care and couldn’t bear his grandmother’s animosity. He eventually packed a small bag and left for a boarding school in the city.

That day, instead of taking the suburban bus, he walked to the city. Along the way, he encountered the turtle. At the time, Lao Ye was already this size, but its feet were dirty, and its shell was dry and cracked. It was slowly crawling by the roadside, seemingly trying to cross the road to reach the woods ahead. For some reason, Wei Yang kindly picked it up to help it cross, only to nearly get bitten. After a playful struggle, he eventually left some food and poured a bottle of water over the turtle, accompanying it for a while to ensure it safely crossed the road before continuing on his way.

Unexpectedly, that small act of kindness made Lao Ye follow him. It no longer hid in the woods but trailed behind Wei Yang all the way to the city. Worried that someone might capture it for soup, Wei Yang eventually took it to his dorm, secretly raising it there.

Seven or eight years had passed since then. The brash young boy was long gone, and the world around him had changed, but Lao Ye had steadfastly remained by his side. Wei Yang gently patted the turtle’s smooth little head. “Lao Ye, if anything’s bothering you, let me know. We’re going to live more comfortably from now on.”

It was unclear whether the turtle understood, but it lazily yawned and began crawling back to its new spot on the balcony. Watching its slow, deliberate steps, Wei Yang smiled, then rolled over on the bed in an undignified manner, almost bumping into someone.

“Damn it, Brother Qi, you should really get a pair of slippers.” Flushing slightly, Wei Yang scooted back and looked at the man standing by the bed. He hadn’t heard Zhang Xiuqi enter—the man’s footsteps were naturally light, and the temporary hotel slippers made him nearly silent. Without speaking, he was like a ghost.

Zhang Xiuqi ignored him, simply patting the pillow on the bed and placing his own pillowcase over it. A faint scent of shampoo wafted from him, and his hair was still slightly damp, indicating he had just showered. Wei Yang felt a sense of accomplishment for having taught Zhang Xiuqi how to use the water heater, but was it already past nine? Did that mean he’d have to sleep on the couch again? Struggling on the bed for a moment, Wei Yang eventually lay back down like a dead dog, scooting over to make room on the bed.

Zhang Xiuqi didn’t seem to mind, obediently lying down beside him with his hands resting on his stomach, ready to sleep. Perhaps the lingering effects of the alcohol had drained Wei Yang of all his cunning and vigilance, as he didn’t even bother to move. Instead, he simply reached out and turned off the main light. Warm, comforting darkness enveloped the two, feeling neither awkward nor out of place, but rather carrying a sense of warmth that was somewhat endearing. Feeling the warmth emanating from the body beside him, Wei Yang curled up and closed his eyes in peace.