Taboo Mage - Chapter 86 - A Chance Encounter on Snack Street

meone passionate about various delicacies.

The snack street was packed with people, but it didn’t affect my mood at all. I first found a seat and sat down, then ordered more than ten snacks from the menu at once. While waiting, I decided to casually grill Jue Chi.

“Monk, do you know why Chi Rui looked for me?” I asked with a teasing smile, chewing on a toothpick.

Jue Chi, not quite accustomed to the surroundings, frowned upon hearing my question and casually replied, “I don’t know.”

“Oh, then why did you suddenly decide to come to Shenyang?” I persisted.

“Gu Qingshu, you talk too much. Hurry up and finish eating. I need to rest,” Jue Chi said in a deep voice, gently brushing away a fly that had landed on the plate in front of him.

I widened my eyes, patted his shoulder, and earnestly said, “Jue Chi, didn’t your Buddha say that all beings are living creatures? That fly, being a creature with flesh and blood, is just trying to survive by eating something. So why would you chase it away?”

“All beings are living creatures, but their survival involves a cycle. Back then, Buddha sacrificed himself to feed an eagle, embodying righteousness. Now, if it came to feed on my flesh, I would naturally let it. But since it’s endangering so many people now, if I cling to benevolence, how would that be different from foolishness?”

Jue Chi’s words were so convincing that I was left in a daze, unable to react for a while. By the time I came to my senses, Jue Chi had already wolfed down the three grilled gluten skewers on his plate.

Having finished half of my food, I decided to get up and move to another stall. Just then, a familiar voice called from behind, “Mr. Gu, you’re here too?”

I turned around to see the glasses-wearing man holding two lamb skewers, smiling at me.

I chuckled, “I thought I saw you at the temple earlier. Didn’t expect it was actually you.”

The glasses-wearing man casually patted a nearby stool and sat down, then called the boss to bring his food to our table. I glanced at Jue Chi, who showed no signs of objection, so I sat back down.

“So, your wife and kid didn’t come with you?”

We hadn’t talked much because of the presence of his little girl and wife during our journey, but I still had a good impression of the glasses-wearing man despite his frugality.

The man adjusted his glasses and said, “They’re both asleep at the hotel. Usually, my wife doesn’t let me visit such places. After our daughter was born, she worried about her eating these unhygienic things, believing it’s bad for her health, so I don’t come often. Now that I finally have a moment alone, I just thought…”

He smiled sheepishly, and I nodded in understanding. It seems that men nowadays face the same issue of being overly managed, but that’s marriage for you-everyone has to make concessions.

Seeing the man’s helpless yet happy expression, Xu-Jie’s enticing face flashed through my mind.

I’ve been away for a while now, and I wonder how Xu-Jie and the others are doing.

Ever since I decided to come to Shenyang, I consciously tried to sever ties with my past life, including with Xu-Jie and the others. After changing to a new phone number on the road, I only notified Lin Huan.

Despite Xu-Jie’s colorful past, she was good to her husband. If they could put the past behind them and live happily ever after as a couple, it would certainly be enviable.

The glasses-wearing man chatted endlessly about his wife and child. Engrossed in the conversation, I suddenly remembered something Bai Wei mentioned on the bus and asked, “That day, your daughter mentioned she has two dads. I know it might be intrusive to ask, but I’m curious. If it’s inconvenient for you to explain, just ignore me.”

He waved his hand dismissively, “It’s no secret. The child isn’t biologically ours, which you might have already guessed.”

I clicked my tongue in surprise; it wasn’t that I hadn’t considered this possibility, but I was surprised my guess had been correct.

“How come?”

“Oh, don’t misunderstand. We adopted her. My wife and I were university classmates. We worked for a few years after graduating and then got married, but we couldn’t have children. After visiting the doctor, we found out that both of us have some health issues that make it difficult to conceive, and as my wife got older, we decided to adopt.”

“Does the child know?” I asked hesitantly.

The man downed a glass of wine swiftly, “It’s my fault! Six months ago, I had too much to drink and argued with my wife. We accidentally brought up the topic, and my kid overheard. She’s young, but quite sharp.”

I shook my head involuntarily.

The couple was too careless. Adopted children are often very sensitive. If they discover the truth inadvertently, it could lead to complex emotions. It could affect their bond with their parents and even cause psychological issues.

“So, is this trip to Shenyang meant to help your daughter relax?”

“Partly, yes. Ever since she found out about the adoption, it’s like she’s become a different person. She’s isolated, staying in her room and speaking erratically. The doctor suggested she might have autism. We heard that there’s a great doctor here, so we brought her for a consultation.”

As he spoke, tears welled up in his eyes, reflecting deep sorrow.

I felt sorry for him. That poor child, caught in such a situation, bringing distress to the entire family.

“Don’t worry too much. Since the doctor is renowned, there’s plenty of hope. Plus, I noticed Weiwei was quite lively during the journey. Maybe that doctor back home was wrong.”

I comforted him, patting his shoulder sympathetically. He wiped his tears, gesturing with a bittersweet smile.

The glasses-wearing man and I drank late into the night, and both of us were quite tipsy. Jue Chi called a cab and took us back to the hotel together.