Saving the overbearing CEO

Chapter 85: First World: Ghosting

Ghosting is when one suddenly cuts off personal relations with someone without an explanation and Wen Qinxi had become an unfortunate victim. For two and half months the CEO hadn't even spared Lin Jingxie a single glance well, at least not in public. Whenever they crossed paths, Wen Qinxi was handed an ice-cold shoulder as though they didn't know each other. 

At first, Wen Qinxi thought he hadn't seen him but after being bypassed four times it finally dawned on him. Qie Ranzhe didn't respond to him even when he called out his name in public. The group of men treated him like air making it seem like he was a lunatic talking to himself in the street. The last time he tried to call out to him, Wen Qinxi yelled out loud, "Qie Ranzhe you are a fuckin jerk," hoping to rouse a response out of him but only the guild members flinched a little. Qie Ranzhe seemed unfazed as he continued walking away.

Wen Qinxi was perplexed by Qie Ranzhe's behaviour venting out his frustration to the system. "He fuckin ghosted me, Jolie, just like that with no reason. Such an ungrateful bastard! After all we have been through, he treats me like shit!" he angrily professed the day he realised Qie Ranzhe was icing him out. 

He hoped the system would give him some form of explanation as it always defended its boss but at such a critical juncture, Jolie suddenly became mute speaking a mere handful of words. Like this, two months went by and the rest of the Lin family joined him only to find a disoriented Lin Jingxie locking himself up in his room. They brushed it off as Lin Jingxie being stressed out about the impending imperial exam results and comforted him accordingly.

While his family thought the anxiety of the imperial exam had made Lin Jingxie lose his mind, Wen Qinxi was going through an endless loop of the four stages of grief unable to reach the fifth. Though the system remained resolute in its decision to keep its mouth shut, it was just too painful to watch.

Wen Qinxi was after all a human being with actual feelings unlike the NPCs in the game so whatever relationship he built with Qie Ranzhe, to him it was as real as the sun. Though he cursed and yelled at Qie Ranzhe each day he had grown accustomed to his presence regarding him as a friend. Having suddenly lost that friendship he couldn't help but grief.

Today was such a day were Wen Qinxi was going through depression, the fourth stage of grief yet again. It had happened so many times that Jolie was now treating it as an endless menstrual cycle. His limbs were sprawled on the bed with his eyes tightly shut whining, "Ah that heartless bastard. Why do l feel like a used tampon? He befriended me, got what he wanted and just threw me out like a dirty old kitchen rag. He's such a slag man."

"Why are you behaving like a girl who just got dumped after freely handing over her virginity. Have forgotten why you are here in the first place?" said the system attempting to motivate Wen Qinxi by any means necessary.

Wen Qinxi didn't say anything mulling over what Jolie had said. The system was right, he wasn't here to make friends with Qie Ranzhe. All he had to do was help him win this world and he didn't have to interact with him to do that. The grey cloud that had been hovering above his head for more than two months gradually vanished as he sat up straight grinning happily. "Fuck! You are right. All l need to do is keep an eye on Prince Anzhie and hinder his plans then we can finally win this level," he exclaimed before jumping out of bed.

The system wasn't certain whether this was a good or bad thing but at least he wasn't stewing on the bed like salted fish anymore. "Where are you going?" asked the anxious system just as Wen Qinxi opened the door.

"Have you already forgotten? Today we are getting our imperial exam results so l need to get ready. Oh, l also need to spy on Prince Anzhie and find out what he's been up to," he said before rushing off to take a bath.

In under two hours, he was ready to leave wearing a dull coloured garment that everyone who participated in the imperial exam was required to wear. Though it wasn't his style, he looked extremely eye-catching that Madam Lin couldn't help but comment.

"Ah, my little scholar looks exceptionally handsome. Don't worry even if you don't win first place at least you will be the most handsome there," she said straightening out his clothes in a motherly way.

Master Lin freed him from Madam Lin's grasp nudging him to leave not forgetting to warn him, "Don't bother coming back home unless you are in the top five. The emperor will have a field day with me if you didn't perform well." Wen Qinxi nodded in acknowledgement before exiting the mansion with Lin Mingxu as his personal escort. Ever since they arrived at the capital, he could tell his brother was going through something but Lin Jingxie refused to spit it out no matter what. Lin Mingxu could only endure watching his older brother sulkily shrivel up like cabbage left in the sun for too long. He tried everything to cheer him up which sometimes worked but Lin Jingxie would soon revert back to his gloomy self.

Seeing him quite energetic today, Lin Mingxu couldn't hold back and asked, "Did you get dumped or something? You haven't been yourself lately and l know it has nothing to do with the exam," sjust as they entered the palace gates.

Wen Qinxi lightly chuckled before blurting out, "Ming Ming you think too much. I just lost a friend that's all." Lin Mingxu hadn't seen Qie Ranzhe around ever since he reached the capital. He had been so happy thinking that Qie Ranzhe was too busy with his princely duties finally giving Lin Jingxie some space but didn't realise that weren't friends anymore.

"For how long?" asked Lin Mingxu with a complicated expression on his face.

Wen Qinxi stopped walking looking back at him as though studying his expression. He didn't need an ability to read minds to tell what Lin Mingxu was thinking and so he scolded him, "Why do you look like a brother whose sister just got dumped by a slag man? You know what.....l have to go. I will see you when l get home." Without any hesitation, he walked away leaving Lin Mingxu rooted in one spot.

Lin Mingxu should have been celebrating but having personally witnessed his brother's depressive state he couldn't help but want to beat up that asshole. Like a parasitic vine, he had grown roots in Lin Jingxie's life making him used to his presence then ditched him at the drop of a hat. If he didn't beat Qie Ranzhe up today then his name isn't Lin Mingxu.

Unaware of Lin Mingxu's dangerous thoughts, Wen Qinxi arrived at the main court picking a random spot to stand. He was standing amongst a boisterous crowd of scholars both young and old with an atmosphere brimming with anxiety. He wasn't at all concerned about his results mapping out how to get rid of Prince Anzhie so he wouldn't make trouble for Qie Ranzhe. 

"Bow before the emperor!" announced a stout old eunuch beckoning the group of scholars to kowtow. The emperor unhurriedly ambled to his throne occasionally glancing sideways as though looking for someone. But because they all looked the same especially in their uniforms and bowed heads he decided to give up.

Wen Qinxi had always been a bit curious to know how much the emperor resembled Qie Ranzhe plus he could see how an aged version of Qie Ranzhe would look like. Though curious this wasn't the right place or time to snoop so he suppressed his desire to look up.

The entire court was silent with only sounds of unhurried footsteps. Just as the emperor passed him, Wen Qinxi's nose suddenly itched as an autumn wind blew dust all around him. He sneezed twice successfully attracting the emperor's attention. The once faint footsteps grew louder and louder before gold brocade boots halted right in front of him.

The oppressive force coming from above him caused his back to subconsciously shudder while thinking, 'Don't tell me l will get executed for sneezing?'

"Rise!" commanded the emperor leaving Wen Qinxi no choice but to look up. 

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