My Supernatural Exes Are Desperate to Win Me Back - Chapter 15 - Sending Flowers with a Signature Means Courtship

Xu Xining stayed up all night finishing the report on Bailu Bridge Cave.

In the era of new media, chasing hot topics means going all out, disregarding everything else.

The fox came to check on her several times during the night, tugging at her pants to get her to sleep, and eventually even dragged the blanket over.

Xu Xining simply pulled it into her arms and hugged it, saying, “You go ahead and sleep, big guy. I’ll keep watch tonight. If the enemy comes, I’ll wake you up!”

Xie Yi watched her disapprovingly, helplessly lying on the table to accompany her as she wrote.

The night was quiet, with only the glow from the laptop and the monotonous sound of typing. Xie Yi had slept several times, yet she continued writing, not distracted by his wagging tail.

The girl used a pen to pin her golden hair up, a few strands falling loose, the screen’s reflection illuminating her pretty face, her clear eyes reflecting the small screen.

Xie Yi felt a slight stir in his heart.

He rarely saw the girl so serious and focused; she usually had a bit of a scatterbrained air, like a whimsical rabbit hopping around, but when she worked…

Xie Yi heard the slow rhythm of his own heartbeat, resting his head on his paw, gazing out at the city sleeping like a beast in the dark night.

…

It was so quiet.

Golden morning light filtered through the concrete jungle, filling the bay window. Xu Xining stretched lazily and sent the manuscript to editor Qin Minjin.

Qin Minjin: Good, changed a couple of sentences. You can continue with the follow-up report. No need to come to the office if you’re busy.

Xu Xining glanced out the window.

The sun hadn’t risen from the west, yet Qin Minjin was showing concern.

The fox curled up on the cushion, burying its head in its tail, sleeping soundly. Xu Xining gently covered it with a blanket, then went to take a hot shower.

The water was set high, her skin steamed red and white, the bathroom filled with mist.

She washed her hair, wiped her face, and turned around to see her reflection in the mirror.

Her golden hair was pinned up with a drying cap, revealing a beautifully curved neck, water droplets sliding down, pooling in the hollow of her collarbone.

On her collarbone were two natural blue birthmarks, intricately shaped and brightly colored, resembling leaves or fluttering wings.

Yu Yuanyuan often teased her, saying how lucky she was to have birthmarks prettier than tattoos.

Last night, when the withered hand reached for her, she seemed to feel the birthmarks heating up.

This heating had happened once before, seven years ago, after she had a concussion and was saved by Nansen, the birthmarks burned for a whole day and night.

She couldn’t see it at the time, thinking it was a neck abrasion causing the burning pain, but later found no marks, only the birthmarks becoming clearer and more prominent.

After leaving the bathroom, Xu Xining searched online for reasons for collarbone heat.

Baidu said it was coronary heart disease, leading to death.

It could also be angina, causing acute myocardial infarction, also leading to death.

Xu Xining: Hiss-

As expected, searching online always leads to terminal illness.

She casually tossed her phone aside and went to sleep.

Life and death are fated, but humans can defy destiny!

If something as trivial as this could kill Xu Xining, she’d punch the King of Hell (the Eastern lord of the underworld) twice when she reached the afterlife.

Xu Xining slept, unaware that her report “Unveiling the Mystery of Bailu Bridge Cave” was published at eight in the morning and went viral by noon.

The strange events at Bailu Bridge Cave had already caused a stir, with the disappearance of journalists and police pushing it to the forefront, attracting nationwide and even international attention, rivaling the popularity of “Approaching Science” back in the day.

Last night, the police successfully captured the criminal gang… of course, the criminals were Administration Bureau staff playing the role, staging a dramatic chase.

The police believed the criminals used diving equipment to lurk underwater, ambushing passersby, drowning them before robbing them.

The report released this morning was like a bombshell, spreading across social media and WeChat¹ groups.

Xu Xining wrote it vividly, as a firsthand witness, with a striking cover photo-a close-up of the Water Ghost.

The dark bridge cave, the vast water curtain, the black hair, the pale face, the withered hand, surrounded by eerie green light, grabbing attention everywhere.

After this report went viral, Xu Xining continued to churn out several investigative pieces over the next week.

One was about the last surviving victim, Aunt Chen, who sold grilled gluten; another about Aunt Chen’s unlucky son, who lost twenty yuan and was found naked after being unconscious for three days.

And of course, one about the brave young Mr. Zhan, who fought the criminals barehanded.

Zhan Xingye received a detailed “confession” from the Secret Department overnight, identical to the one given to the fake criminals.

According to the “confession,” during the underwater fight, he accidentally damaged the criminals’ diving equipment, forcing them to surface and get caught by the police.

Xu Xining finished the interview, using a recorder to press against his forehead like a bandit with a gun, fiercely saying, “Though the public praises you, I must criticize you! You can’t do such things in the future! Otherwise…”

She paused, looking at Zhan Xingye’s calm black eyes, realizing she was being a bully again, coughed, and said reservedly, “Otherwise, something very scary will happen.”

Zhan Xingye: “What scary thing?”

Xu Xining, fierce: “I’ll post your childhood photos in a dress online.”

Zhan Xingye: “…”

Indeed, very scary.

Mr. Zhan, under duress, obediently handed over everything, pushing it across the table.

Xu Xining picked up the transparent crystal flower in surprise, “Wow, long time no see, no money to spend¹!”

This crystal flower’s name-of course, named by Xu Xining-is “no money to spend.”

Zhan Xingye discovered long ago that he could bloom flowers, sometimes when he was with Xu Xining, sometimes when he thought of her.

In his years at the Administration Bureau, he had seen and killed countless Exotic Species, but he had never seen his kind; in a way, he was an Exotic Species among Exotic Species.

He was completely unfamiliar with himself, lacking the guidance and teachings of elders in his clan, unable to interpret or understand the series of changes and reactions occurring within him.

For their species… blooming flowers when in love, sending flowers means courtship.

Zhan Xingye didn’t know this; he simply instinctively wanted to give the flowers to Xu Xining.

From many years ago, when they were just innocent children, he sometimes dreamed of Xu Xining, waking to find his bed covered in transparent, ice-crystal-like flowers.

He followed his instincts, silently bringing them to Xu Xining, who exclaimed, “Wow, so pretty! Where did you pick them?”

Zhan Xingye remained silent; he didn’t know the flowers were his, and even if he did, he couldn’t say.

Xu Xining thought he was being mysterious, so she stomped on him a few times.

When the girl stomped, she was puffed up, stomping lightly, like an angry kitten pawing at him, soft and fluffy.

When she stomped hard, Zhan Xingye felt a tickle in his head.

…It seemed like he was about to bloom again.

Xu Xining’s series of reports went viral, Pianyu Media decided to make it a column, placing it on major platforms’ headlines for continuous playback, becoming a must-talk topic over meals, with total views quickly breaking ten million.

She also proposed a petition, addressing the lack of zebra crossings and pedestrian bridges near Bailu Bridge Cave, causing crowds to flood the cave during peak hours, posing a risk during Huai River’s flood season.

The petition received over ten thousand residents’ real-name responses, finally getting a reply from Huai City’s government, planning to adjust the intersection in early April.

It was a move deeply appreciated by the public, gaining significant attention.

Even Old Xu mentioned it on the phone: “I participated in the petition too. That area’s planning is problematic. Years ago, going to school required a twenty-minute detour. Your unit’s Qin Minjin did a great thing this time.”

Xu Xining hurriedly sought praise: “Why only praise Qin Minjin! What about me?”

Old Xu was surprised: “You participated too! Then our little one deserves credit.”

Xu Xining hung up, pondering, realizing something was off, clicked the link, and found the petition’s initiator was Pianyu Media’s editor Qin Minjin.

Upon further inspection, all the reports, except the Water Ghost photo credited to Xu Xining, were attributed to Qin Minjin!

Pianyu Media, conference room.

Qin Minjin was holding a routine meeting when the door was suddenly kicked open with a “bang.”

In the shocked eyes of everyone, the girl in a white coat stormed in like a golden whirlwind, crisply saying, “Qin Minjin! Do you have any shame?!”

Qin Minjin, expectedly calm, lifted her eyelids and said indifferently, “Oh, Xu Xining is here, late and making such a fuss.”

Arrogant demeanor, none of the previous flattery and appeasement calling her “Mrs. Xie.”

Xu Xining, furious, laughed: “The Bailu Bridge Cave report, you forced Shi Yixin to do it without regard for her safety. I took it over, and you just sit back and enjoy the fruits of my labor!”

Qin Minjin frowned: “Work is work. Isn’t it right for me to assign someone? How is it ‘disregarding safety’? Bailu Bridge Cave is such a hot topic. If Shi Yixin didn’t do it, I’d have to do it myself.”

“You do? What did you do?” Xu Xining threw the printed manuscript on the table, “Which interview wasn’t done by me? Which article wasn’t written by me? Even the petition initiator you want to snatch, truly desperate!”

Qin Minjin calmly retorted: “You say you took over? Who can prove it?”

Who can prove it? Xu Xining came to the office alone to discuss it, and it was never announced, so no one else knew.

Xu Xining had been busy with interviews and writing, not coming to the company, which Qin Minjin privately agreed to.

Who would have thought her purpose was to claim all the achievements while Xu Xining was absent?

Xu Xining took out her phone: “Proof? My chat records with you over this period are all proof!”

Qin Minjin sat down, leaned back in her chair, crossed her legs, looked Xu Xining up and down, and squeezed out a sharp, arrogant smile: “Xu Xining, you really should change your student-like demeanor. You’re an intern here to learn, not to claim credit. Even if you did the interviews, didn’t you gain valuable work experience? Without my edits, how could your work be published? You’re leaving next month. What do you want? To become the CEO of Pianyu Media?”

Xu Xining looked at her steadily, grabbed the manuscript, and turned to leave: “I have nothing to say to you. I’m going to see the chief editor.”

Qin Minjin truly laughed this time.

Shi Yixin stood up hurriedly, grabbed Xu Xining’s sleeve, and whispered, “You don’t know, the chief editor is her uncle… going to him might not help.”

The people in the conference room remained silent, exchanging glances.

Qin Minjin’s rise through connections was an open secret.

Qin Minjin looked at Xu Xining’s expression, feeling she had finally vented months of frustration, her pointed shoes swinging: “Xu Xining, you really overestimate yourself. You think the previous report on Xie Yi with millions of views was because of your skills? It was because Xie Yi is popular. That report, honestly, would have gone viral no matter who wrote it. It had nothing to do with you.”

Qin Minjin toyed with the pen in her hand, regretting: “It’s a pity, your relationship with him ends here. You can’t write the same report again, and you won’t reach the next Xie Yi. Know your place and act accordingly.”

…

The man strode briskly, his presence commanding, through the corridor, the receptionist running after him: “Sir, that conference room is in use. You can wait in the lounge if you’re looking for someone… ah!”

She saw the man’s face under the sunglasses, her eyes filled with shock and excitement, her heart racing: “Thank you, thank you…”

Xie Yi pushed his sunglasses back up his nose, extended a finger, pressing it to his lips, his alluring eyes above the sunglasses staring at her: “Shh-”

The receptionist covered her mouth, nodding vigorously, timidly approaching, smelling the man’s scent… the bold, oceanic fragrance, rich and intense like sea breeze or heat waves, enough to make one swoon.

Xie Yi paid no attention to her actions, his usual playful eyes now devoid of humor.

He had come to wait for Xu Xining after work, but his keen hearing had picked up things he shouldn’t have heard.

He shouldn’t interfere; human affairs shouldn’t be meddled with by the demon clan.

But his mind was filled with the image of the girl staying up all night, typing on her laptop, her lashes drooping from fatigue, her lips bitten white, and her eyes wet from yawning.

Xie Yi raised his hand to the door, the veins on his hand bulging from exertion.

He had never seen the bold and beautiful girl look aggrieved, but just thinking about it made his head ache as if it would explode.

Damn it.

Xie Yi thought, he had never troubled women in his life, but today seemed like he might break that rule.

Footnote:

1. 1. WeChat(微信): WeChat is a popular Chinese multi-purpose messaging and social media app similar to WhatsApp or Messenger.

1. 1. No Money to Spend(没钱花):“No money to spend” translates the Chinese “没钱花,” where “花” means both “spend” and “flower,” creating a pun in the original language.