My Supernatural Exes Are Desperate to Win Me Back - Chapter 6 - Childhood Friend

Another “Okay.”

As expected, there was no further response from the other side. Ning’s profile picture remained silent.

Twenty minutes later, the other Executors, who had been left far behind, finally caught up, panting heavily. They were numb to the sight of the corpse, spreading out to handle the scene, take photos, and transport the body.

“Why is there another dead one?!” A subordinate was in despair. “Boss! We’ve had several dead suspects in a row! How am I supposed to write my task report?!”

For some reason, ever since the boss inexplicably chased Xie Yi with a big knife, he seemed to have become more irritable, like a late-onset teenage rebellion.

He always stood next to the corpse, expressionless, saying, “It was an accident.”

Accident my foot! The knife is in your hand! What kind of accident is that?! Did the guy just sprint and slide into your knife or something?!

“Wei Cheng, refused arrest, attacked an Executor, and died in the ensuing fight,” Zhan Xingye said flatly, looking up at him. “White turtleneck sweater or gray casual suit?”

The subordinate looked dazed.

What the heck, do those two sentences have anything to do with each other?

A clever burly man nearby said, “The boss is asking you which outfit looks more like a regular person.”

Their profession was strictly confidential. They couldn’t just hand out business cards saying, “Hi, I’m an Exotic Species Killer.” Some claimed to be salespeople, others insurance agents.

The Administration Bureau even bought an entire floor of the Xinmao Building as a fake office to deal with visiting family and friends.

“White turtleneck sweater, I guess. I see the male leads in Korean dramas wearing that,” the subordinate said. “After all, the boss is so young.”

In the moonlight, Zhan Xingye was wearing a hoodie with a Snoopy pattern…

Strictly speaking, he was still a college student, just one who had been recruited by headquarters before graduation.

Because of his age, his displeased expression often gave the impression he was worried about his GPA… if not for the fact he was silently wiping blood off his knife.

“From the surveillance footage, Wei Cheng had an accomplice, species unknown, who frequents Bailu Bridge Cave and is suspected of serial killings. Can we meet here tomorrow night after sunset?” the subordinate asked.

“I’m taking leave tomorrow,” Zhan Xingye said.

Everyone was shocked.

“Boss, are you… are you okay?” the subordinate asked cautiously.

After all, Zhan Xingye was a well-known workaholic. It was said he had been working for headquarters since he was a minor, never taking a day off, and single-handedly racking up achievements that made the Execution Department highly competitive.

“I have something to do tomorrow.”

Zhan Xingye slung his shoulder bag over his back and noticed everyone had frozen, even the people moving the body were staring at him, as if he had just said, “Haha, I’m not living past tomorrow!”

Zhan Xingye paused and explained, “She asked me to come home for dinner.”

He seemed to think he had explained clearly enough, pulled his hat down, and jumped off the steel beam, landing on the ground and walking away silently over the rubble.

Leaving a group of Executors bewildered in the wind.

Who is “she”?!

This explanation is as good as no explanation at all!!

Didn’t you lose your parents at nine? Where’s this home coming from?!

Don’t leave us hanging like this!!!

The next evening, as previously arranged, Xu Xining and Zhan Xingye went to Li Hua Lane to visit Old Xu.

Back in the day, Lin Wei and Xu Chengnian were the perfect example of a rich girl and a poor student.

Lin Wei was the eldest daughter of the Lin Group, born with a silver spoon in her mouth, while Xu Chengnian’s parents were rural folks who happened to have a diligent, intelligent, and handsome son. After twelve years of hard study, he got into Capital University B as the top science student in the province.

But fairy tales always end. They not only ended up divorced but did so without any semblance of civility.

At that time, Lin Wei, dressed in a white Chanel suit and high heels, followed by her secretary, bodyguards, and a lawyer in a suit holding documents and a recorder, strode through the hospital corridor.

She looked down at Xu Xining, who was sitting on a bench outside the ward, and said, “I’ll ask you once, are you going with Xu Chengnian or with me?”

Twelve-year-old Xu Xining, wearing her school uniform and carrying a backpack, looked very obedient.

She looked up, expressionless, and said, “I’m going with Dad.”

Lin Wei said coldly, “If you go with Xu Chengnian, I won’t give him a penny. The villa you live in will be gone, the driver who takes you to and from school will be gone, the Switch controllers will be gone, and even the deep-sea sushi you like will be gone.”

Xu Xining said, “I’m going with Dad.”

“With his current situation, he can’t even support himself, let alone you…”

Xu Xining repeated, “I’m going with Dad.”

Lin Wei stared into her eyes for a long time, then said in a low voice, “If you go with Xu Chengnian, don’t ever come looking for me again!”

Xu Xining smiled, showing her sweet little tiger teeth, like the most obedient girl teachers loved.

She bit into the candy in her mouth, lifted her eyelids, and said word by word, “Manager Lin, you said you’d only ask once. Do you not understand what I’m saying?”

Lin Wei’s tense face trembled with anger.

For a moment, Secretary Tong couldn’t help but step forward, fearing she might slap Xu Xining.

But Lin Wei just looked at her for a moment, then turned and left.

After Lin Wei left, Secretary Tong and Lawyer Qian squatted down and tried to persuade her gently, looking regretful and reproachful, as if she had made a big mistake and only needed to apologize to Lin Wei to be forgiven.

Xu Xining ate her candy, swinging her legs, thinking these adults were funny.

Lin Wei had given her a choice, she made her choice, and Lin Wei got angry.

If the choice didn’t exist, why ask?

…Besides.

Ever since she got a stomachache from eating bad food four years ago, she hadn’t eaten deep-sea sushi.

After the divorce, Xu Chengnian left with nothing but his daughter, moving out of the garden villa and into the rundown Li Hua Lane, known for its old, shabby houses.

Li Hua Lane was a maze of narrow, winding alleys cluttered with rusty bicycles and discarded cardboard boxes. The dilapidated walls on both sides blocked the twilight, making it perpetually cold and gloomy, with sparrows perched on tangled wires.

The smell of food wafted through the door crack.

Xu Xining, carrying fruits and Snow Beer, pushed the door open with her shoulder and shouted, “Old Xu! I brought beer!”

Old Xu, wearing an apron and holding a spatula in the kitchen, smiled and poked his head out. “Hey, the kid’s back.”

Behind him, Zhan Xingye, wearing a white turtleneck sweater, expressionless, nodded at her while holding a knife at the cutting board.

“Xingye arrived two hours ago. I told him to sit, but he insisted on helping,” Old Xu said, wiping his hands on his apron, looking radiant. “You wouldn’t believe it, but Xingye is now a master at cleaning fish!”

Xu Xining was shocked, squeezing into the kitchen to whisper in Zhan Xingye’s ear, “We agreed on six o’clock. Why did you sneak over? You’re making things difficult for me!”

Zhan Xingye, sensing her tone, silently extended his foot.

“I don’t want to step on you!” Xu Xining said, exasperated, pulling his arm to whisper in his ear, “Old Xu always thinks I’m bullying you. Give me a break, and show some deep friendship today, okay?”

Her soft lips, speaking quickly and lightly, brushed against his ear.

Zhan Xingye slightly turned his face away and nodded.

“Okay.”

The house was only fifty square meters, with one bedroom and one living room. The living room had a dining table, separated by a curtain, behind which was Xu Xining’s former bed and desk.

Because the house was so small, it was almost impossible to give the girl any privacy. Old Xu had personally hung the curtain, solemnly designating it as her area, which he would never enter.

In high school, when Old Xu brought her fruit, he would knock on the curtain first, saying, “Knock, knock, can I come in?”

Xu Xining would lift the curtain with a smile, welcoming him, “Come in, come in.”

Although Xu Xining had moved out, her old homework and clothes were still there, untouched.

Even if it was junk, Old Xu considered it her junk and wouldn’t throw it away without her permission.

Xu Xining poked her head out. “Old Xu! You can throw away the remaining stuff!”

Old Xu, carrying a plate of food, said cheerfully, “Sure.”

His daughter, who had declared independence, was coming home for dinner for the first time, and with Zhan Xingye, whom he had practically watched grow up, Old Xu was treating it like a high-class banquet.

The table was piled high with steaming dishes: sweet and sour Lemon Chicken Shreds, fried squid, braised bamboo shoots with pork, and Kung Pao Jade Shrimp Balls.

“The highlight is this!” Old Xu proudly introduced, “Steamed Bass! Very fresh!”

But the bass seemed a bit small. For three people, it should have been at least two pounds, but it was squeezed into a narrow strip by a mountain of broccoli and bean sprouts on the large plate.

Xu Xining leaned over, a bit puzzled. “Isn’t this fish a bit small…”

Halfway through the word “small,” she keenly noticed Old Xu’s deflated look, his previous enthusiasm suddenly gone.

Old Xu took a deep sip of beer, looking pained. “I caught the fish myself.”

Xu Xining slapped her thigh. “Oh my goodness!”

Old Xu’s bitter drink seemed to hurt his heart. “Is it really that small?”

Xu Xining lied through her teeth. “Big! It’s huge! I’ve never seen such a big fish in my life! Even a whale isn’t this big!”

Old Xu looked even more heartbroken. Xu Xining quickly changed the subject to Zhan Xingye. “By the way, what internship are you doing recently?”

Zhan Xingye said, “Civil servant.”

“Civil servant is good, stable,” Old Xu said appreciatively, patting his shoulder.

Zhan Xingye was actually adopted by Zhan’s Father and Zhan’s Mother, supposedly found by the roadside on the same day as a spectacular meteor shower, which coincided with Xu Xining’s birthday.

Old Xu had joked back then, saying, “You’re just jealous I have a daughter, so you had to pick one up too.” Zhan’s Father replied, “Isn’t this great? When your daughter marries my son, we’ll be in-laws!” Old Xu retorted, “Get lost! No one is marrying my daughter. She’s a celestial being who needs no man!”

Despite his words, he actually cared deeply for the boy. After Zhan’s Father and Zhan’s Mother died in an accident, he treated Zhan Xingye as his own.

For some reason, a few years ago, Zhan Xingye suddenly distanced himself from them. Old Xu didn’t think, “This ungrateful kid,” but rather, “Kids grow up and go through rebellious phases, it’s normal.”

Just like when Xu Xining came home in her first year of high school with dyed blonde hair, Old Xu was so shocked he couldn’t speak for a while, his emotions all over the place. Finally, he managed to say, “Looks good.”

“What kind of civil servant? What exactly do you do? Is the job busy?” Old Xu handed him a can of beer.

“Meeting clients.” Zhan Xingye placed a chicken leg on Xu Xining’s plate. “Busy during peak season, not so much during off-season.”

Three kills a day during peak season, one kill every three days during off-season.

“Do you have to work with others?” Old Xu always felt he wasn’t good at that.

Zhan Xingye placed a piece of fish belly on Xu Xining’s plate. “Yes.”

For instance, slamming a client’s head into the ground or tearing off their wings with bare hands.

“Haven’t seen you around lately,” Xu Xining asked casually. “Is it peak season?”

Zhan Xingye placed a shrimp ball on her plate. “Got penalized at work.”

Because he had gone after Xie Yi with a big knife, the Administration Bureau deemed him a danger and had to give the demon clan an explanation, subjecting him to three days of closed psychological counseling and investigation.

“Penalized?” Old Xu was surprised. “Are you okay?”

Zhan Xingye placed a piece of stewed meat on Xu Xining’s plate. “I’m fine.”

The Administration Bureau protected their ace Executor, and the demon clan didn’t pursue the matter.

Xie Yi’s exact words were: “It’s a domestic issue, no big deal. I used to bite my dad all the time when I was a kid.”

No one understood what Xie Yi meant.

Some speculated Xie Yi was being sarcastic, implying the Administration Bureau was a pushover.

Xu Xining curiously asked, “By the way, how did you end up living right across from me?”

Zhan Xingye choked, completely unsure how to explain.

He couldn’t possibly say that as soon as he was reassigned to Huaijiang, he noticed Xie Yi was eyeing Xu Xining, got too worried, and used an emergency execution order to buy the apartment across the hall overnight. He couldn’t help but listen to their house at night, fearing he’d hear something, yet also fearing he’d hear nothing.

He stood up to pour Xu Xining some wine.

Old Xu chuckled, pulling him back to his seat. “Why do you keep taking care of her? Can’t she eat by herself? Why do I feel like you’re afraid of her?”

Xu Xining kicked him under the table.

You’re supposed to show we’re close, not make it look like you’re serving a boss! Next thing, you’ll be lighting her cigarette and calling her “Big Sis”!

Old Xu looked at Xu Xining kicking under the table with a complex expression and said, “Stop kicking, you’re going to break your old man’s legs.”

Xu Xining was shocked. “Why didn’t you say something!”

Old Xu sighed, got up, and brought an old photo album from the coffee table. “I found this while cleaning the house the other day.”

Opening the album, it was filled with childhood photos of Xu Xining and Zhan Xingye.

The first photo showed them holding hands on their way to kindergarten, surrounded by blooming purple morning glories.

Young Zhan Xingye was quiet and solemn, while Xu Xining looked sweet as an angel, smiling broadly at the camera.

Old Xu reminded, “Look closely.”

Xu Xining’s eyes widened.

The seemingly innocent little angel Xu Xining was mercilessly stepping on little Zhan Xingye’s foot.

Xu Xining: “…”

The second photo showed them on a spring outing, climbing a mountain. Little Xu Xining, in a lemon-yellow dress, was hopping ahead, while little Zhan Xingye was struggling behind, carrying two backpacks.

Xu Xining: “…”

In another photo from elementary school, little Zhan Xingye was standing outside the classroom, being punished for not doing his homework.

But on closer inspection, the homework book in his hand was actually Xu Xining’s, with her name hastily crossed out and replaced with Zhan Xingye’s.

Xu Xining: “…”

Xu Xining wanted to climb a tree to pick loquats, and Zhan Xingye acted as her footstool.

Xu Xining wanted to eat all the strawberry tips, leaving Zhan Xingye with the bottoms.

Xu Xining wanted to play with makeup, and Zhan Xingye had to go to school with bright red lips, forbidden to wash his mouth all day.

…

The entire album was not a testament to a long-lasting childhood friendship but rather the blood and tears of Zhan Xingye, the lower-class servant, and Queen Elizabeth Xu, the heartless imperialist.

Old Xu wasn’t wrong to think she bullied him; she seemed, perhaps, a bit heartless and imperialistic as a child.

Feeling a pang of guilt, Xu Xining sincerely moved her chair next to Zhan Xingye. “Brother, Zhan-ge¹, Ye-ge, I’m sorry for being such a jerk when we were kids. How about I invite you over tomorrow and treat you to ten pounds of strawberries?”

Zhan Xingye, lost in thought, lightly traced the plastic-covered photos with his fingers and absentmindedly said, “Sure, I’ll wash them for you.”

Wait, something’s off!

How did it turn into him being exploited for labor again?!

Zhan Xingye’s fingers traced over a photo of little Xu Xining, looking like a delicate rice dumpling with pigtails and a sailor hat, bright and cheerful, her eyes curved in a smile.

He lowered his eyelashes, the emotions in his eyes like warm waves crashing on the shore at night, almost… nostalgic.

Xu Xining looked at him, then at his eyes, his fingers, and the little Xu Xining under his fingers.

Oh no.

-He looks like he wants to crush me with his fingers.

“Stop looking, stop looking,” Xu Xining smiled, leaning in and covering Zhan Xingye’s eyes with her hand. “The past is a grave! We need to look forward, comrade!”

Zhan Xingye turned his eyes to her, puzzled, his hair black, his skin pale.

At first glance, he seemed almost gentle and mild, but on closer inspection, there was a sense of danger, like walking on thin ice over a deep winter pond, suddenly seeing an unfathomable abyss below, only to think it was an illusion, just a clear, clean layer of ice.

Xu Xining couldn’t help but look at him again, comparing him to the bullied kid in the photos, feeling puzzled.

Zhan Xingye had an average face as a child, completely a background character next to Xu Xining, neither ugly nor beautiful, plain and unremarkable, with a round face, round eyes, small nose, and small mouth.

It was as if someone had taken an average and randomly molded a face, almost “carelessly.”

But as he grew up, it was like a lump of clay meticulously sculpted into a slender, elegant porcelain piece.

His features were so delicate they seemed gentle, not showing any sharpness at first glance. However, the closer you got, the more you noticed the fine, detailed beauty, with a high nose bridge balancing the overly soft facial lines, and even the single eyelids and puffy eyes forming two cold, straight folds.

Xu Xining leaned closer, pondering, “Why do you look so different from when you were a kid?”

Zhan Xingye, nearly pressed onto the table by her, leaned back, averting his gaze, his knuckles cracking from tension.

Old Xu walked past her, knocking on her head. “Stop staring at Xingye! Take him to watch TV.”

Xu Xining protested, holding her head. “We’re not kids anymore; do I still have to take him?”

Old Xu didn’t let them wash the dishes, so they sat side by side on the sofa watching TV.

In the past, the remote control was always in Xu Xining’s hand.

Today, Zhan Xingye surprisingly grabbed the remote first.

“I have a movie I want to watch,” Zhan Xingye said.

Xu Xining, eager to make up for her childhood bullying, immediately raised her hand. “Watch whatever you want! No problem!”

Zhan Xingye found the movie library and started a film: “Heart-Pounding Man-Eating Fox.”

In an old countryside mansion, an ignorant woman picked up a five-hundred-year-old evil spirit, a blue-faced fox demon, who repaid her kindness by revealing its true form at midnight, sucking out human souls and going on a killing spree.

Five minutes in, the fox demon was already slurping up the woman’s brains.

Xu Xining was stunned.

She elbowed Zhan Xingye. “Brother, isn’t this a bit too gory?”

Zhan Xingye nodded, went back to the movie library, and started another film: “Fox Spirit’s Revenge.”

A group of college students on a trip deliberately ran over a fox, and the fox’s ghost returned to the group, killing them one by one in revenge.

Ten minutes in, a female student was bathing, suddenly noticing the entire bathtub turning blood red, followed by her intestines, bitten off by the fox ghost, floating up…

Xu Xining hiccuped, feeling she had eaten too much at lunch and was about to throw up.

Xu Xining: “Brother, how about we change it again?”

Zhan Xingye nodded and started another movie: “Heart-Pounding Man-Eating Fox.”

Xu Xining: “…”

Is it just me?

Why does it feel like you’re targeting someone?

Footnote:

1. 1. Ge(哥):In Chinese culture, it is quite common to address someone as “xx 哥” (pronounced as “xx ge”). The term “Ge” means “older brother” and, when used in this context, typically carries a sense of affection and friendliness. It indicates respect and amiability towards the person, similar to calling someone “bro” or “big brother” in English.