Xianzhou Luofu, Divination Commission, Archives.
"Gah!"
Qingque, who had been napping on her desk, suddenly sensed something and jolted awake. She sat up straight and began flipping through books. This was a "Slacker's Sixth Sense" she had honed over years of getting caught; it allowed her to wake up instantly upon sensing a sharp gaze.
Sure enough, shortly after she sat up, a small but majestic pink silhouette walked into the archives.
The visitor walked with a light, graceful step, causing her purple long skirt, adorned primarily with "Auspicious Cloud" patterns, to flutter like a purple butterfly. A golden hairpin was tucked into her soft pink hair, styled in a "Flying Sky" bun, with two waist-length twin-tails flowing behind.
On her chest sat a purple astrological disc, held in place by purple silk cords that left her back smooth and exposed. Below, she wore white stockings and small black leather shoes—the picture of cuteness.
Yet, to Qingque, this adorable figure looked like a demon... or at least, she did before that dream. Now, Qingque's gaze toward Fu Xuan had become complicated. After all, this majestic and extraordinary Master Diviner had shown "certain" expressions under her forced cooperation with Luo Hong. Qingque found it nearly impossible to look her boss in the eye.
"Qingque, how are the tasks I assigned to you coming along?"
Noticing Qingque avoiding her gaze, Fu Xuan's amber eyes sharpened. she looked like a little lion ready to pounce.
"They are finished, Master Diviner." Slacking is slacking, but Qingque always gets the job done. She handed over the reports, still refusing to look up. Every time she caught a glimpse of Fu Xuan, she remembered those glazed, unfocused eyes... it was a sin of her own making!
"Mm." After scanning the results, Fu Xuan sounded satisfied. But then—
"Qingque, why do you refuse to look me in the eye? Is there a problem with this work?" She crossed her arms. She wasn't looking for trouble; it was just that Qingque's reaction was far too abnormal. Usually, Qingque was so slippery that it was impossible to find a flaw in her. You had to catch her in the act of slacking, or she'd escape every time.
"Master Diviner, you wrong me," Qingque said, instinctively putting on a piteous look. "To finish your tasks, I worked with such diligence and trepidation. I didn't even allow myself a moment of joy upon finishing before diving straight into checking for errors. Not a hint of negligence!"
Naturally, she was lying. But—
"There really aren't any errors," Fu Xuan muttered, frowning after a second check. "Then... have you done something to betray me?" Her eyes narrowed as she scrutinized her reliable but lazy subordinate.
Truthfully, Fu Xuan had come here because of an inexplicable sense of unease. While her divination hadn't revealed the specific cause, it pointed directly to Qingque.
"Ha... haha... Master Diviner, you must be joking," Qingque said with a forced smile. "With my meager skills, how could I possibly do anything to betray you?"
"I think you could, and I think it's something big!" Fu Xuan leaned over the desk, exerting immense pressure. "Confess what you know, or else..." Her amber eyes glinted. "You can forget about playing Celestial Jade ever again!"
She expected this to be the killing blow, but she noticed Qingque secretly let out a sigh of relief.
"Master Diviner, I really know nothing!" Qingque thought. Since she could play Celestial Jade in her sleep tonight anyway, she was more than happy to stay silent in reality.
"Hmph!" Seeing Qingque remain stubborn, Fu Xuan snorted. "Some things cannot be hidden forever."
But I really don't dare tell you this. You'll have to find out for yourself, Qingque thought, recalling the image of the Master Diviner from the end of the dream. She was afraid her boss simply wouldn't be able to handle the truth.
"What could I possibly hide from you, Master Diviner?" Qingque continued her act. "I worked so hard; even if there's no credit, there's the effort. Is it right for you to treat me this way?" She finally looked Fu Xuan in the eye. After all, while she did feel a sense of "revenge" later in the dream, she had been forced. All the sin belonged to Luo Hong!
"...My apologies," Fu Xuan said after a pause. Qingque looked normal now—the same slippery little sparrow she could never quite catch. "You've worked hard." She took the documents and left the archives.
However, in her heart, she marked Qingque. Something big was being hidden from her—something so significant that even the threat of losing Celestial Jade couldn't shake Qingque's resolve. She decided to keep a very close watch.
Once Fu Xuan was gone, Qingque collapsed onto the desk. She now understood why that scoundrel Luo Hong insisted on making her get her hands dirty. If she hadn't participated, she definitely would have confessed the dream to Fu Xuan. But now? How could she open her mouth?
I hope the Master Diviner takes a long time before she enters that world, Qingque muttered. She didn't dare nap at work anymore. She knew that after she went offline, Luo Hong would continue "persuading" her body. Sleeping now would be like walking into a tiger's den. She only hoped the game tonight would be a "proper" match of Celestial Jade.