Puppet Notes (Wearing Book) - 135

 

| PN | Pose | 135

The first person to learn that the association had sent someone to the villa was not Qi Chao, but Shen Yuxi.

In the greenhouse, Shen Yuxi placed the watering can on the table. His soft blond hair fell down his back, and every movement he made was imbued with a kind of elegance that made it hard for anyone to look away.

"Oh? They really do know how to make plans."

It wasn't difficult to guess the association's intention in sending people to Qi Chao's villa.

Shen Yuxi's gaze shifted from the flowers on the ground to Ayu, and he let out a soft chuckle, adding a hint of coldness to the quiet atmosphere of the greenhouse.

Ayu took off her navy cap and placed it on her chest. She nodded slightly, just about to say something when she paused for a moment and then said instead, "Father, they have arrived."

There was no need to explain who "they" were.

Shen Yuxi responded with a hum, the smile in his blue eyes becoming much more genuine.

Seeing her father's pleased expression, Ayu's straight posture relaxed a little. She hadn't spent much time with Qi Chao and had only exchanged a few words with him, but Ayu had a good impression of Qi Chao nonetheless.

As long as Qi Chao was around, her father would always be happy.

Originally, Ayu thought her father would turn around and leave the greenhouse to head back to the living room to greet Qi Chao and the others.

But in reality, Shen Yuxi made no move to turn around; instead, he continued to leisurely water the flowers.

"Father?"

A hint of confusion appeared in Ayu's eyes.

Shen Yuxi glanced at Ayu, as if he knew exactly what she was puzzled about. However, he had no intention of explaining. He pressed his lips together lightly and said softly, "It's fine, you can go rest."

"Okay."

Ayu found her father's behavior a bit odd. Ever since he met Qi Chao, her father would occasionally act strangely. She was silent for a moment, then put her navy cap back on.

"I'll head back to the living room now, see you later, Father."

After hearing her father's soft hum of acknowledgment, Ayu turned and left the greenhouse. She hadn't even reached the living room of the villa when she could already hear the sound of noisy commotion coming from inside.

Before Qi Chao and his group arrived, this villa was like a lifeless tomb, forever cold and desolate.

Ayu paused slightly, feeling inexplicably uneasy about the place she was about to enter. She pulled down the brim of her white navy cap, revealing only the lower half of her delicate face. 

Then, as usual, she walked in with a cold and defiant demeanor.

Inside the villa, the place was in an uproar. Li Bai seemed perfectly at home, as if he were in his own house, carrying his luggage and running from the first floor to the second, racing around with Lan Luo all over the place.

Qiu Qiu, on her first outing, was especially excited, fluttering her transparent wings as she admired the surroundings. However, because she was carrying her little yellow backpack, she flew particularly low. If her load were any heavier, she might have ended up crawling on the ground, unable to lift off.

Compared to them, the other puppets were much more composed. Xuan Jian and Shuang Jian followed Xiang Yue obediently, quietly organizing their room on the second floor. 

Unfortunately, trailing behind the three orderly puppets was Agu, who seemed to only be holding them back.

Qi Chao sat with Moss on the sofa, occasionally discussing doll hairstyles with him, and the atmosphere between them was quite harmonious.

"Did your father have breakfast?" Qi Chao asked.

"When I left, my father hadn't eaten yet," Moss replied in a hoarse voice.

Qi Chao nodded thoughtfully.

Ever since he arrived at the villa, Qi Chao hadn’t caught a glimpse of Brother Shen, and Moss also had no idea where he had gone.

Qi Chao was quite eager to see Brother Shen.

Thinking that Brother Shen might have gone out for some reason, Qi Chao decided not to search elsewhere. He stayed in the living room, his gaze occasionally drifting toward the doorway.

It was at that moment that Ayu walked in.

Qi Chao’s and Ayu’s eyes met quite by chance. When he saw the puppet dressed in a white naval uniform, a smile unconsciously tugged at the corner of his mouth, and his dark brown eyes gleamed with amusement. "Ayu, you're back?"

The usually cool and distant Ayu stood still, giving a slight nod. Her movement was a bit stiff, as if she wasn't quite used to this kind of warm conversation.

"Yes, it's a pleasure to see you," Ayu responded calmly after a brief pause. Her right thumb subtly rubbed against the whip at her waist, discreetly easing her own tension.

What a formal answer.

Qi Chao almost wanted to laugh at Ayu's words, but he managed to hold it back. Clearing his throat, he asked gently, "Do you know where your father is?"

Ayu nodded, "He's in the greenhouse."

The greenhouse?

Qi Chao considered this for a moment. Since Brother Shen was in the greenhouse, it didn't seem like anything urgent was occupying him. Standing up, he slipped one hand into his pocket and gave Ayu and Moss a smile. "I'll go find your father first."

"Alright," Ayu said, stepping slightly to the side to make way for Qi Chao.

After Qi Chao left the living room, Ayu finally moved again. She had just taken a few steps toward her own room when she suddenly stopped, a suspicion forming in her mind.

Perhaps her father had purposely stayed in the greenhouse, and wanted to make Qi Chao come to him. 

Ayu glanced up toward the second floor, where a group of puppets was making a ruckus. Agu was even clinging to the neck of a black-haired puppet, insisting that the other carry him on his back, creating a lively scene.

This kind of relaxed atmosphere had never existed here before.

Ayu adjusted her hat brim down again and pressed her lips together. Even if her father had done this on purpose, she was sure he wouldn't hurt Qi Chao. There was no need for her to worry.

Meanwhile, Qi Chao left the living room and headed straight for the greenhouse. He had lived in this villa for a long time and was very familiar with Brother Shen's place. Even though he hadn't visited in a few months, he still remembered the layout of the house.

It was the height of summer, and the plants in the greenhouse were in full bloom.

As soon as Qi Chao stepped inside, he was met with a strong floral fragrance, much more intense than the scent of his own greenhouse.

He thought to himself that Qiu Qiu, Xuan Jian, and Shuang Jian would probably love it here. All three of them enjoyed spending time in the greenhouse.

Lost in thought, Qi Chao was suddenly brought back to reality by the faint sound of water nearby. He turned his steps in the direction of the sound and soon spotted Shen Yuxi watering the flowers.

By the round table in the greenhouse, the warm sunlight streamed through the glass windows, casting a glow on the man’s figure, making his silhouette appear even more delicate and slender. 

As he bent his head slightly, his neck looked pale and elegant, and his soft blond hair gleamed more brilliantly in the light.

Sensing the movement behind him, Shen Yuxi turned slightly, revealing the sharp line of his jaw. 

When his beautiful almond-shaped eyes fell on Qi Chao, he seemed startled for a brief moment, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. But almost immediately, a touch of gentle affection spread through his eyes, sparkling like gemstones, even more dazzling in the sunlight.

Qi Chao couldn't help but think that his Brother Shen was truly beautiful.

As his gaze rested on Shen Yuxi's face, Qi Chao thought to himself that, at the end of the day, he was just an ordinary person. Seeing this scene, he couldn’t help but imagine how much more breathtaking Brother Shen would look lying among the flowers.

Brother Shen’s skin was so fair.

If he were to lie on those vividly colored petals, it would likely make his already pale skin appear even whiter. Or perhaps the petals might tint his skin with an indescribable flush.

Meanwhile, back inside the villa, Agu, who had successfully fulfilled his duty of protecting Qi Chao without doing anything at all, seemed to finally relax as if he had just returned from a vacation. 

He walked down from the second floor and raised his hand to wave at Ayu.

"Sister, you're back!" Agu called out.

Ayu had long since grown accustomed to Agu calling her "sister." She knew that he used that term as a way to tease her, trying to get a rise out of her, and that ignoring him was the best response in moments like this.

When Agu didn't get a reaction, his grin didn't falter. Instead, he asked, "Where did Father go?"

This situation seemed a bit off. Given her father's controlling nature and his tendency to be a homebody, he should have been eagerly waiting to meet Qi Chao as soon as he arrived. It was strange that he hadn’t shown up by now.

"Father's in the greenhouse," Ayu replied. With that, she stopped paying attention to Agu and headed up to the second floor with her long strides.

Agu was left standing there, a thoughtful look on his face.

The greenhouse, huh?

Qi Chao rarely visited, and his reclusive father was hiding away in the greenhouse? 

Agu stroked his chin thoughtfully. Knowing his father's suspicious nature, he suspected that Shen Yuxi was definitely up to something.

Agu wasn't wrong—in fact, he knew Shen Yuxi's bad nature better than anyone else.

Seeing Qi Chao's reaction, Shen Yuxi realized that Qi Chao was still very much interested in him, which he considered quite a positive sign. After all, even with their daily video calls, there was no guarantee that someone would maintain their interest over time.

This interest wasn't about love.

Shen Yuxi never doubted Qi Chao's feelings for him; he knew how much Qi Chao liked him. 

What he was talking about was their most primal desire for each other.

With that thought, Shen Yuxi set down the watering can and walked over to Qi Chao. He gently touched Qi Chao's cheek with his fingertips and said softly, "I thought you all would be coming later. I didn't expect you to arrive so early."

Before Shen Yuxi could finish his sentence, Qi Chao caught his hand and tucked it into his own pocket.

"Yesterday, the kids and I packed our luggage in advance. This morning, when Moss came by, we didn't waste any time—we headed straight over," Qi Chao explained, smiling.

Noticing that Shen Yuxi's fingers were a bit cold, Qi Chao's earlier inappropriate thoughts quickly vanished, replaced instead by a sense of concern akin to that of a caring older brother. 

"It's still early in the morning. Even though it's summer, you should wear something warmer. Your hands are freezing."

Previously, Qi Chao had insisted that Shen Yuxi go to the hospital, where the doctor had merely said he had a cold constitution and should take better care of himself.

As Qi Chao held both of Shen Yuxi's hands and tucked them into his own pockets, to an outside observer, it looked as if Shen Yuxi was hugging Qi Chao.

Qi Chao's attention always shifted quickly.

Shen Yuxi thought about this and didn’t feel anger; in fact, he found it quite nice. He leaned his forehead against Qi Chao's shoulder, feeling unusually relaxed.

The greenhouse was filled with a delicate fragrance.

Even Shen Yuxi himself hadn’t noticed that when Qi Chao was by his side, he rarely experienced any negative emotions. 

For him, Qi Chao's presence felt like a harbor; no matter what happened outside, he could not help but relax around Qi Chao. It was more effective than any tranquilizer.

"Is everyone in the living room now?" Shen Yuxi asked.

"Yeah," Qi Chao replied with a smile. "I'll need to introduce you to Qiu Qiu later; she’s only seen you on the hologram."

Shen Yuxi gave a gentle "mm" in response.

As Qi Chao lowered his head slightly, he could feel Shen Yuxi's soft, golden hair brushing against him. 

In truth, Brother Shen loved to act spoiled.

More than any of the children at home.

Thinking of this, Qi Chao's smile deepened. "Have you finished watering your flowers? If not, I can help."

"I've finished," Shen Yuxi said.

Or rather, he had probably overwatered them. Usually, the watering tasks were handled by machines, and if Qi Chao had come just ten minutes later, there might have been little streams running through the flower beds.

Qi Chao hummed in acknowledgment, his right thumb gently stroking Shen Yuxi's hand. His deep brown eyes gazed out the glass window. Although they had finished watering the flowers, Qi Chao didn’t feel like leaving the greenhouse.

He missed Brother Shen.

With so many children at home, all of whom were cute and well-behaved, there was rarely a chance for Qi Chao and Shen Yuxi to be alone together. Now that they had this opportunity, he wanted to enjoy some quiet time with Brother Shen.

As Qi Chao pondered this.

Shen Yuxi who was often possessive and obsessive felt even more strongly about it. 

When Shen Yuxi heard Qi Chao ask if he needed any more watering, he mistakenly thought Qi Chao wanted to return to the living room, which made him feel a bit displeased. 

After waiting for a few seconds without further prompts from Qi Chao, he seemed to understand the underlying intent.

"The temperature in the greenhouse will rise soon, and since the kids are playing in the living room, it wouldn’t be good to disturb them. Would it be alright if we went to the basement together?" Shen Yuxi suggested softly, his peach blossom eyes curving gently.

"Of course," Qi Chao replied immediately.

Their exchange felt like a secret code. The two adults shared a glance, understanding that they both wanted the same thing: some private time together.

As Qi Chao thought about this, he felt his ears grow warm, and a strange sense of embarrassment settled in his heart. He didn’t have any lewd thoughts; he just wanted to spend a little more time with Brother Shen. 

Yet, in this unspoken understanding between them, anything they did seemed to carry an air of ambiguity.

If it were nighttime, that ambiguity might be part of the fun, but it was still daytime, and Qi Chao wasn't quite ready to play that openly.

Shen Yuxi seemed to share his embarrassment, as they both remained quiet during their walk. 

Unable to bear the heavy silence any longer, Qi Chao took Shen Yuxi's hand again and offered an excuse. "Be careful, Brother Shen; it's a bit dark going down the stairs."

"Okay," Shen Yuxi replied.

He was more than happy to watch Qi Chao’s various expressions and actions, his fluttering eyelashes concealing the laughter in his eyes.

Meanwhile, in the living room, Li Bai, Lan Luo, and Qiu Qiu had just finished playing and were coming down from the second floor.

"Where's Dad?" Qiu Qiu asked, looking around in confusion. She turned in circles, searching for her father, her transparent wings drooping behind her.

"He's with Father," Lan Luo replied as he played along with them, he was also keeping an eye on the dynamics in the living room.

The calmer puppets gathered together, and at a glance, there were at least seven or eight of them. 

The group in the living room could easily be described as a crowd, especially with the presence of chatty ones like Agu, Li Bai, and Qiu Qiu, who filled the room with their incessant chatter. This lively atmosphere was something only pampered puppets could experience.

At first, Moss was focused on styling the plush doll's hair, but after several failed attempts due to the chaotic noise around him, he pursed his lips tightly. Eventually, he activated the spatial vortex and left for the trial ground.

Who would have thought that the trial ground would become a refuge for peace one day?

Moss sat on a tree branch, glancing at the grotesque puppets chasing a bloodied man below. 

After a moment, he coolly averted his gaze and resumed working on the plush doll's hair.

After enhancing the capabilities of the grotesque puppets , the trial ground had quieted down significantly. Even the bizarre characters who occasionally spouted lines from their narratives appeared less frequently now.

How nice, Moss thought. He really enjoyed the current tranquility.

Meanwhile, the book traveler Zhang Li finally learned to use his powers in the cave. His face was flushed as he activated his ability under the excited gazes of his companions.

In the next moment, he spotted a puppet wrapped in bandages sitting atop a tree fifty meters away, meticulously styling the hair of a plush doll in its arms.

Zhang Li: !!!

It was a scene brimming with childlike innocence, but if it weren't for the fact that he recognized this bandage-wrapped puppet as the leader of the demon puppets, he might have found it adorable.

The leader of the demon puppets, damn! 

Just how ruthless could that being be?! 

Although the demon leader was supposed to die in the book, the plot had changed drastically after Qiao Sheng entered the trial ground. 

Zhang Li felt a shiver run down his spine—there was a chance this leader might not only survive but also be wielding a weapon capable of wiping them all out!

Just the thought of this possibility made Zhang Li feel cold all over, and sweat began to trickle down his back. With the demon leader so close, where was the villain?! 

If they were nearby, would they just eliminate them on the spot?!

As Zhang Li's fear intensified, his breathing became rapid, and his face turned pale. 

Overwhelmed by fear, worry, and anxiety, combined with his overexertion of energy, he fainted.

Unbeknownst to the unconscious Zhang Li, his worries were completely unfounded.

At that moment, the villain was in the basement, polishing his collection of diamonds with his lover, entirely too occupied to pay any attention to them.

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