To Raise a Soul 40.2

Yu Zhen didn’t want to return home for food nor did he want to eat out. He only wanted to meet Yin Yan but he hesitated to go.

He drove around B City aimlessly and, without meaning to, he ended up outside the building Chi Nan lived at.  

Without the swirling evil energy from the previous day, the building had transformed into a much more normal looking place. Although the place still left a feeling of discomfort in him, it was a minor issue. It might cause the building’s residents to have a small amount of bad luck, but it would no longer cause the tragic deaths of innocent people.

Yu Zhen parked by the side of the road. Leaning against the steering wheel, he stared at the building’s entrance, blankly watching the residents enter and leave. Recalling something, a frown slowly deepened on his face. Sitting up, he then started the car. 

This time, he did not hesitate to drive to the construction site. It was only after he had entered the construction site that he realized he hadn’t called Yin Yan to see if he was still there, so he took out his phone and dialed his number.

The call went through after the first ring. Yin Yan calmly asked, “What’s the matter?”

“Where are you?” Yu Zhen replied with his own question. He walked to the construction site and quickly continued, “I was just at Boli Building and I remembered something. You’d said that the Taoist priest had borrowed the residents’ life expectancy and fates. We can talk about the issue of the people who were already deceased later, but first, what happens to those who are alive? For example, Chi Nan. His life span and fate which were taken away…”

“You’re at the construction site?” Yin Yan suddenly asked.

Yu Zhen stopped in his tracks. He glanced at a large machine that had suddenly started up and walked to a quieter corner. “En. Where are you? How come I can’t see you around? Did you go for lunch?”

There was a brief silence on the phone before Yin Yan replied, “I’m at the company. Did you not see my short text^[1]?”

Yu Zhen: “…”

What short text? What even is a short text? My brain just short-circuited^[1], how could I have noticed a short text?

“Come to the company. I’ll take you to lunch.” From Yu Zhen’s silence, Yin Yan was able to deduce the answer to his question.

His voice was still calm, but possibly because it was right next to his ear, Yu Zhen read a sense of helpless pampering from Yin Yan’s tone.

Yu Zhen’s ears heated up. After being suppressed by important business, Yu Zhen’s chaotic feelings filled his mind again. Lowering his head, he made a quiet reply.

Before he hung up, Yin Yan asked, “Did you drive? If you didn’t, I’ll come and pick you up.”

If we were real husbands, Yin Yan would be the best and most perfect husband! A 24/7 obedient husband!

Look at how considerate and enthusiastic he is!

Husband.

Yu Zhen suddenly coughed, his ears and face flushed. He quickly added, “No, that’s alright.” 

He hung up and stuffed his phone into his pocket. He pretended to survey the construction site, but when he met the eyes of the workers, he realized how foolish and obvious his actions were. After a quiet cough, he turned around and marched towards the exit with large strides. 

He got into the car and fastened his seatbelt, but it wasn’t until he moved to set his destination into the navigation system that he had another realization.

…Where is the company that Yin Yan mentioned?

I’ve been married to Yin Yan for so long, but I don’t even know the name of the Yin family company. I only know that this family is very wealthy.

…

…..

He rubbed his face again as it turned red. It would be too embarrassing to call Yin Yan again, so he opened up the browser on his phone and entered Yin Hexiang’s name.

Usually, there would be Wikipedia-type entries for large companies and their owners. I-I’ll have a look first. If I can’t find anything, then I’ll ask Yin Le.

A ton of information popped up, mostly business-related. The latest article was about Yin Hexiang’s activities as the chairman of Jinjiang. It covered where he went, the kind of meetings he attended, what sort of projects were brought up in those meetings, and his opinions on them. It also included a leader’s approval of his views.

Jinjiang.

Yu Zhen stared dumbly.

After repeatedly confirming that it wasn’t someone else with the same name and surname, he was left completely dumbstruck.

I knew that the Yin family was in the real estate business and Mom had a cosmetics company, but I had no idea the Yin family’s company is actually Jinjiang^[2]!

In practically all of China’s large cities, whether it’s a landmark, a public square, a shopping mall, or a leisure center, there is a place called Jinjiang.

And of course, a Jinjiang was also in H Province. When I was in college, I would pass by it sometimes, but I’d never been inside. I was a poor student and couldn’t afford the price of things in that store. 

…

He gulped and clenched his phone tightly. He pulled off his scarf and then, with a shaky hand, Yu Zhen entered Qiu Feiqian’s name.

As before, information flooded the screen. He didn’t click on the first search result that appeared. Instead, he clicked on a result with information about her.

Qiu Feiqian, chairman and executive officer of the Xiangfei Group. Born on the day x, month x of 19xx. She graduated from XX University… In 19xx, she established the Xiangfei Group. They mainly worked with products of daily necessities before developing the high-end cosmetics brand Qianle.

Xiangfei. Qianle…

Yu Zhen lowered his phone and cold sweat appeared on his forehead. 

I had no idea that the Qiu Feiqian who chaotically teaches her kids and the unassuming Yin Hexiang were both such powerful people.

What do I do? The gap between Yin Yan and I has just gotten wider.

No, no, that’s not right. Yin Yan isn’t really Yin Yan. His true self isn’t some rich young master, just a remnant…

The scene from within Yin Yan’s mustard space popped into his mind, and he also recalled the upper-class habits that Yin Yan sometimes displayed. He clenched his phone.

Not a young master?

Uncertainty and a feeling of defeat overcame him.

In Yin Yan’s past as a cultivator, he probably wasn’t a young master, but the more powerful “master”. The kind of master that could instruct young masters to do what he wished. 

I’m finished. I ended up liking someone this powerful. Do I have any hope of winning him over in this lifetime?

He leaned against the steering wheel again, looking lifeless with his shoulders slumped. After a few seconds, he sprang up as if he’d been injected with chicken blood^[3] and started the car. We’re both damaged souls! Who cares about high and low status?!

Grandpa once said that I’d be a bachelor my whole life. If-if the worst that could happen is to be a bachelor, th-then I might as well try something. If I don’t try, how would I know if things wouldn’t work out in the end?

And, my life and fate are connected with Yin Yan’s. And, we’ll be stuck with each other for a long time before we can fix our souls. There was a saying that ‘the pavilion closest to the water enjoys the moonlight first’. If I put in the effort, even a steel bar can be ground down  into embroidery needles.

He drove to the headquarters of Jinjiang, psyching himself up with those encouraging thoughts. After parking, he tidied up his appearance and walked up the steps to the building. Once he had entered the building, he halted again. 

Say… What floor is Yin Yan on?

He didn’t have any work identification and the watchful eyes from the reception desk had fallen onto him, looking as if they would write down his name as a visitor. Guards at the entrance watched him from the corner of their eyes and had their hands on their walkie-talkies. 

With his five senses sharpened, Yu Zhen very quickly noticed their gazes. He stood awkwardly, as if he were a frog whose skin was being peeled back to reveal what was underneath to the public. Trying to keep his emotions under control, he smiled at them and went to sit down at a lounge area on the left side of the lobby. He pulled out his phone and called Yin Yan.

He could no longer see the staff at the front desk, but the guards were still in his line of sight.

Immediately, a reception staff brought over a glass of water to him and gave him a polite smile.

Jinjiang staff are really good.

He murmured his thanks quietly just as the call connected, then he asked which floor Yin Yan was on.

“Are you here?”

“En. In the lobby.”

“Wait for me, I’ll come down.”

Yin Yan then hung up and Yu Zhen lowered his phone. The reception staff stepped forward and asked with a smile, “Excuse me, sir, who might you be looking for? I can help you get in contact with them so you don’t have to wait for long.”

“Thank you, but that won’t be necessary. The person that I’m looking for is already on their way down.” Yu Zhen expressed his thanks, but still felt the eyes of the guards on him. He shifted uncomfortably.

What’s the matter? Do I really look suspicious? Why do the guards keep looking at me?

As he pondered the situation, the special elevator which stood the furthest into the lobby opened and Yin Yan strode out. A scarf and coat hung off an arm. When his gaze fell on Yu Zhen, he paused for a moment. Then he walked quickly towards Yu Zhen. 

A sense of nervousness crept up on him and he stood up like a singled out student made to stand up in front of the whole class by a teacher. He pulled at his clothes and sleeves. It was only then that he noticed the streaks of mud on his clothes and he promptly froze in position.

Damn, I was on the mountain acting like a hoodlum. I got mud on me and forgot to get changed.

“How did this happen?”

Yin Yan, having arrived by his side, reached out and helped Yu Zhen remove his scarf. Then he very naturally unbuttoned Yu Zhen’s coat.

“I-I went and played with the mountain god for a while.” Yu Zhen was extremely embarrassed and finally understood why the guards had watched him the whole time. He hurriedly complied with Yin Yan’s actions but he didn’t dare to look up.

I’ve just realised my feelings, and the first thing I do is appear in front of him looking sloppy. And in a public place too. This is too embarrassing.

And Yin Yan has only just started at the main office – he should be setting his image and establishing his reputation. But I ended up coming to see him like this. It’s too terrible. 

“Sorry, I didn’t notice.”

His body was suddenly warmed as Yin Yan put his coat over Yu Zhen’s shoulders. He then indicated that he should stretch out his arms. “Wear this – it’s cold outside. I’ve booked a Japanese place since you said that you’d like to have sushi.”

While he was putting on the coat, Yin Yan practically surrounded him in his arms. Yu Zhen looked up blankly and met Yin Yan’s gaze. Flustered, he looked down and promptly took the scarf off Yin Yan’s arm. He didn’t say a word and simply wrapped himself up so that only the top half of his face was showing.

Yin Yan paused and looked down at Yu Zhen. Seeing the red ears and face which peeked out from above the scarf, a corner of his lips lifted. He knocked Yu Zhen on the forehead and then, like he was looking after a child, he straightened out the coat and said, “So now you know how to be embarrassed. Are you ashamed of playing and coming back covered with mud?”

Then he glanced at the receptionist and the security guards in the lobby and said, “Don’t stare so attentively. He’s thin skinned.”

After that, he buttoned up the coat and took Yu Zhen’s hand as he led him in the right direction. With a dirty coat in one hand and a person in the other, Yin Yan left wearing only a wool sweater.

The receptionist and guards: “…”

Oh, my God! I think I just saw something amazing!