ebookland Chapter 103: Sage’s Love
Chapter 103: Sage’s Love
“…”
Yu Xiao stared at the Sage, completely dumbfounded, her mind a blank slate. What the hell did he just say? How did he see six years ago that he would fall for her today?
Yu Xiao was usually a confident girl, but she couldn’t wrap her head around that idea. Unless…
A light bulb went off in Yu Xiao’s mind. Maybe the Sage wasn’t wrong, because there was a way this could happen.
The Sage had been watching her like a hawk, so he caught Yu Xiao’s slight shift in expression. He asked, “Did you figure it out?”
“Uh?” Yu Xiao blinked. “Figure out what?”
“Why things are different from what I saw,” the Sage said.
“I have no clue,” Yu Xiao shook her head. “How would I know?”
The Sage could see right through her, whether she lied or not. He took a few steps back, turning his back to her, looking at the fiery red sunset through the window. He threw a question at Yu Xiao, “Do you believe in fate?”
‘Fate? That was a random topic, considering we were just talking about being in love with each other.’
Yu Xiao didn’t have much to say about fate. She had never given it much thought. She guessed most young people these days didn’t either. First of all, most of them were atheists, and second of all, they had too much on their plates to waste time on such mystical stuff.
Online novels had taught most young people a catchy mantra: “my fate is determined by me, not by heaven.”
Yu Xiao didn’t buy into that nonsense, but she liked to hedge her bets. When things went her way, she thanked fate. When they didn’t, she cursed it and vowed to change it.
Things weren’t going her way lately. Fate had given her cancer at the ripe old age of twenty-one. She spat in its face and said, “I don’t believe it.”
The sage shrugged and said, “Me neither.”
Then he went back to his window seat, resuming his bored stare at the horizon. He looked like he had seen it all and nothing impressed him anymore.
Yu Xiao followed him and plopped down next to him. She said, “You can see the future, right? You know why I’m here?”
“Hmm.”
“So, do you agree?” She pressed, “Will you help us save the hospital?”
He took his time before answering, “Nope.”
“…” Yu Xiao blinked, then asked, “Can you tell me why?”
He shook his head and said, “Nope. I just don’t feel like it.” He reached for a plate of snacks on the coffee table and stuffed his mouth with cookies. He chewed slowly, savoring the crumbs. He looked like he could doze off any second.
Yu Xiao frowned and asked, “Then why did you even see me? What’s the point?”
“You’re the most interesting thing in my life right now,” the Sage said, biting into a dried apricot that made him wince. “I wonder if I’ll fall for you, like I saw in my vision.”
Yu Xiao had no words. She stared at him, then at the window he was gazing out of. The city sprawled below them, a hundred stories down. It was a sight to behold, sure. But it was still just a city. “Don’t you ever get sick of this view?”
The Sage said, “I’m sick of it already.”
“Then why do you keep looking?” Yu Xiao couldn’t figure him out. He was a mystery wrapped in an enigma. “Why don’t you go out and have some fun?”
The Sage said, “Out there is no fun either.”
“What?”
“I know everyone and everything in this city. I know what’s going to happen before it happens. Going out would be like watching a rerun of a boring show. No thanks.” The Sage shook his head. “I’d rather stay here and conserve my energy.”
Yu Xiao felt like she had entered another dimension. She couldn’t wrap her head around it.
But she didn’t have time to try. She was here for a reason, not for small talk. She felt a surge of malice in her chest. She clenched her fists and glared at the Sage. “You can see everything, huh? Do you know what I’m going to do to you?”
The Sage looked away, his face a mask of boredom and contempt. “You won’t do anything.”
“How do you know?” Yu Xiao narrowed her eyes, her voice dripping with menace. “Sometimes I lose my cool, and I even surprise myself.”
The Sage’s voice was flat and final. “You won’t.”
Yu Xiao had been hoping for some sage wisdom, maybe a riddle or a prophecy. Instead, he hit her with a low blow. “You know, I have your bestie in my hands.”
Yu Xiao’s mouth fell open. She glared at the bushy-browed bastard, who had the nerve to smirk at her. She lowered her hands, feeling the blood drain from her face. “Don’t you dare.”
“I don’t dare anything,” the Sage said, shrugging. “I just do what I have to.”
Yu Xiao decided to change tactics. She put on her most mysterious smile and said, “Do you have any idea what this world really is? Do you think it’s all there is?”
She saw a flicker of doubt in his eyes. He frowned, as if wrestling with some inner demon. He took a long breath, then relaxed his face. “You know the truth of this world?”
“Of course I do,” Yu Xiao said, arching an eyebrow. “More than you, anyway.”
The Sage looked uneasy. “I’ve been
“I’ll do you a big favor tomorrow,” the Sage said with a grave expression. “You need to stay here with me tonight. It’s the least you can do for me.”
Yu Xiao: “…”
She didn’t have much choice, so she agreed to stay with him in his fancy suite. He took charge and ordered dinner for both of them, and to her surprise, he already knew her preferences. She had to admit that he was good at getting things done.
They ate without saying much, until her phone started ringing. It was Zhao Lan: “Hey, Smiley, how are things going on your end?”
“Smooth as silk,” Yu Xiao popped a garlic shrimp in her mouth. “The Sage is on board with our plan. He’ll go to the hospital with us tomorrow morning. How about you guys?”
“We’re fine, just a little hungry. Did you get in touch with Precious?”
“I did. She’s still under the influence of that weird card and hiding somewhere. She’ll join us at the hospital gate tomorrow morning,” Yu Xiao said. “What about Liu Yu and the rest? Are they okay?”
“They’re fine, don’t worry,” Zhao Lan said. “When are you coming down? Want to grab a bite with us?”
“No, thanks, I’m eating right now,” Yu Xiao said, glancing at the Sage who was watching her with a piercing gaze. “I won’t be able to see you tonight. Let’s meet at the hospital gate tomorrow morning.”
She hung up the phone and the Sage threw a peeled shrimp into her bowl.
Yu Xiao felt a flush of heat on her cheeks as Sage peeled another shrimp for her. No one had ever shown her such gentle care before. She muttered, “You should eat some too, you know.”
Sage smiled and handed her the shrimp. “I enjoy watching you eat more.”
Yu Xiao shivered, not from pleasure, but from dread. She wished he would stop with the cheesy lines. She popped the shrimp in her mouth and chewed silently, hoping he would change the subject.
He did. “What’s your world like?” he asked. “Can you tell me about it?”
“Sure.” Yu Xiao was relieved. She could talk about anything, as long as it wasn’t romantic. “My world is like yours, but bigger. And there are no Sage guys like you…”
She didn’t realize how much she was saying until she noticed the sun peeking through the curtains. She had been babbling non-stop to a secondary NPC, answering his curious questions and sharing her stories. They had moved from the table to the sofa at some point, probably when she felt sleepy.
Yu Xiao rubbed her eyes and looked around. She couldn’t remember when she had fallen asleep.
A face loomed over her, inches from her own. Yu Xiao’s scream died in her throat as she recognized Sage.
“Good morning, sleep well?”
Yu Xiao’s heart raced, but not in a good way.
“Yeah…” She pushed him away and sat up. “Were you watching me sleep?”
“Of course,” he said, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
Yu Xiao shuddered. She hated the idea of his eyes on her while she was unconscious.
“You should get ready,” he said. “I ordered breakfast for us.”
He gestured to a table laden with food.
They ate in silence, then headed to the elevator. Sage held her hand, squeezing it gently.
It was a rare occasion for Sage to leave his penthouse. He had his bodyguards clear the way, making sure no one could approach them. He wore a flawless Tang suit, his black hair flowing behind him. He looked like a king, and his employees gazed at him with awe.
They stepped out of the building, into the sunlight. Sage blinked and looked around.
“How do you like it?” Yu Xiao asked.
“It’s fine,” he said. “Let’s take a walk.”
Yu Xiao snorted. “What, you want to admire the view some more?”
Sage gazed at her. “I just want to be with you.”
Yu Xiao rolled her eyes. Not this again!
She clamped her mouth shut, hoping he wouldn’t say anything else. Did he really expect them to walk around like a couple?
They weren’t far from the hospital. Yu Xiao could see the building looming ahead. She was glad. This function card had been handy, but it came with a price. She wouldn’t use it again unless she had to.
“—Hey!”
“—Hey!!”
A voice shouted from behind. Yu Xiao turned and saw a fat man running after them. He looked familiar.
He caught up with them, panting. He noticed Sage and frowned. What was with the weird outfit?
“You’re…” Yu Xiao recalled, “the phone guy.”
He feigned hurt. “And you forgot me in one day?”
Yu Xiao was confused. “Did you need something?”
“Yeah.” He nodded and held out a phone charger. He looked sheepish. “I remembered I had an old one at home. It was my dad’s. He died a while ago. I kept it. Here, take it.”
Yu Xiao blinked in disbelief. “This…”
“Take it, take it. It’s no good to me,” the shopkeeper said, shoving a charger into her hands. “You need this, right? To check your phone for any messages elders left?”
“Uh, yeah. Thanks a lot,” Yu Xiao said, clutching the charger.
“It’s nothing, really. Don’t mention it,” the shopkeeper said, scratching his head sheepishly. He handed her the charger and hurried back to his shop. “You better get going. I have to watch the store.”
Yu Xiao stared at the charger, feeling a mix of gratitude and guilt.
“Come on,” the Sage said, pulling her along. “We have to get to the hospital.”
They were almost at the entrance when a shadowy figure leaped out from behind a dumpster. “Smiley!!!!”
Yu Xiao squinted and saw a filthy, ragged person reeking of garbage. She recognized the voice as Zhou Xiao Zhen’s.
“Precious?” Yu Xiao recoiled.
“It’s me, it’s me,” Zhou Xiao Zhen said, wiping her face with a dirty sleeve. “Don’t you know me anymore?”
“What happened to you?”
Zhou Xiao Zhen looked like a walking disaster. Her clothes and shoes were torn and stained, making her resemble a veteran of the beggar’s guild.
“Boo hoo hoo… I’ve had such a hard time, you have no idea. Yesterday, I was chased by a mob of angry people, and I barely escaped. Then, the rats and roaches came after me…”
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