Taboo Mage - Chapter 53 - Ready to Depart

Xu-Jie’s remarks were overly ambiguous, prompting me to quickly wave my hands and say, “Xu-Jie, if you have something to say, just say it.”

Perhaps my tone was too stiff, as Xu-Jie’s usually gentle expression froze for a moment before she forced a smile, though it seemed somewhat strained.

A twinge of guilt flashed through my heart. It’s not that I lack compassion for a beautiful woman; Xu-Jie has indeed helped me a lot. But now, I am intent on distancing myself from my past life. Beauty matters, money matters, but my life matters more. I am clear on that.

“It’s nothing, just came to see you,” Xu-Jie said with a somewhat awkward smile.

I didn’t quite believe her words and coughed discreetly, struggling to think of what to say next. My gaze instinctively shifted towards Jue Chi, hoping he could chime in with a response.

Jue Chi brought his hands together, uttered “Amitabha,” and then excused himself, saying he was off to sleep. He walked away, completely ignoring my pleading look!

I glared at his retreating back, then turned to look at Xu-Jie, suddenly feeling a bit nervous about being alone in the room with her.

Xu-Jie walked over and sat on the sofa, her gaze lowered, making it hard to read her expression. I sat at the dining table, unsure of what to say.

The room was filled with nothing but awkwardness. Just as I was contemplating whether to break the silence, a muffled sobbing broke through.

I looked up to see Xu-Jie covering her eyes with her hands, her shoulders shaking.

“Xu-Jie, what’s wrong? Why the sudden tears? I certainly haven’t bullied you!”

I raised my hands in a gesture of innocence, but Xu-Jie’s sobbing only grew louder, eventually turning into loud wailing with a pillow in her arms.

“Xu-Jie, if there’s something bothering you, just tell me. Crying won’t solve anything.”

I’ve always found women’s tears bothersome, solving nothing and only adding to the frustration. Annoyed, I scratched my head and scolded her a bit harshly.

Xu-Jie immediately stopped crying but still couldn’t help sniffling a few times.

From Xu-Jie’s intermittent narration, I learned that her husband finally couldn’t bear the mental pressure and committed suicide by jumping off a building. His brain matter splattered everywhere, like tofu dregs, witnessed by Xu-Jie herself.

As he was dying, the man was still muttering the name of his first love. I felt contempt. If that was the case, why did he marry Xu-Jie in the first place?

Moreover, once married, one should live a good life, not harm both women to end up like this, and then just kill himself by jumping off a building in front of his wife.

“Coward!”

I couldn’t help but curse aloud, but as soon as I did, Xu-Jie’s crying grew louder.

I had seen this woman’s flirtatious demeanor and her commanding presence in the business world, but I had never seen her cry so pitiably and vulnerably.

Perhaps there is an innate protective instinct in men towards women, especially when a strong woman suddenly shows vulnerability, it makes one want to hold her tight and protect her fiercely.

In fact, my actions were already a step ahead of my thoughts; I had Xu-Jie in my arms, feeling her faint crying by my ear, and the soft pressure of her breasts against my body.

I sighed softly, knowing that it wasn’t right since Xu-Jie had just become a widow, and I shouldn’t harbor ill intentions towards her.

However, if a man could control his lower half, then he wouldn’t really be a man.

With my left hand around Xu-Jie’s delicate waist, feeling her trembling body pressed against my lower half, and her soft breasts against my chest, my right hand slowly moved up along her waist.

“Qingshu.”

Xu-Jie looked up, her moist, rosy lips seemingly tempting me. I couldn’t help but swallow my saliva and pressed down on her neck to kiss her.

“Amitabha.”

Just as I was about to lose control over my desires, a Buddhist chant reached my ears. I woke up as if from a dream and abruptly pushed away the person clinging tightly in my arms.

Xu-Jie fell back onto the sofa, looking at Jue Chi standing on the steps, her face a mix of confusion and shyness.

I took a deep breath and stood up. “Well, it’s getting late. You should head back. I’ll be traveling for a while, and I’ll look for you when I return.”

“Where are you going?” Xu-Jie stood up, eagerly following up with her question.

I frowned, sizing up the woman in the black dress with suspicion, a hint of annoyance flashing through my mind. Although everyone loves a beautiful woman, those who pry into men’s whereabouts are the most annoying, especially when they have no real connection to you.

“I’m sorry, I’ve spoken too much.”

Xu-Jie, catching the fleeting expression on my face, smiled awkwardly, glanced at Jue Chi still standing there, and quickly left with her bag.

The door slammed shut, and I collapsed onto the sofa, relieved, giving Jue Chi a thumbs up.

The departure was scheduled for three days later, and those days passed without incident, strangely calm.

Strange or not, it was good that nothing happened.

On the morning of the third day, I got up early and went to the guest room to call Jue Chi. Lin Huan told me that Jue Chi had already gone downstairs.

I hurried downstairs and sure enough, Jue Chi was still in his grey Kasaya, carrying a small bundle, and nodded with a smile when he saw me.

I pulled out my suitcase and called Jue Chi to get ready to leave.

Suddenly, Lin Huan grabbed Jue Chi, looked him up and down, and said, “Jue Chi, that outfit is a bit too conspicuous, don’t you think about changing?”

Hearing Lin Huan’s words, I looked over Jue Chi’s attire. Having gotten used to it, I hadn’t thought much of it, but now that Lin Huan mentioned it, it indeed stood out.

“Also, this bundle… What era are we in? Even if you don’t use a suitcase, carrying a backpack would do. Why insist on carrying a bundle?”

Jue Chi glanced at his attire, then looked at me. I rubbed my chin and nodded.

Indeed, with Jue Chi dressed like this, stepping outside would definitely draw attention. We decided to leave a few days early to prepare, just in case something came up and we were caught unprepared.

But with Jue Chi dressed like this, the moment we stepped out of the Shenyang train station, Chi Rui would likely know we had arrived.

Jue Chi was about to refuse when I pulled the bundle off him, handed it to Lin Huan, and asked him to prepare a suitcase. Then I dragged Jue Chi upstairs to change clothes.