Volume 1, Chapter 175: A Calculating Exit

Many viewers in the live chat were boldly speculating about Xie Wanqing's future life, but Qin Yu chose to completely ignore them.

"Growl~"

A sensation of hunger came from her stomach.

Qin Yu glanced at the time, then waved to the screen to say goodbye, "Today's three divination sessions have concluded. See you tonight at midnight, don't miss it."

Qin Yu was always like this—saying goodbye and ending the stream instantly. The viewers were used to it, yet still couldn't find it habitual.

Qin Yu turned off her phone and went downstairs. Lu Jinyuan had already returned at some point, sitting with his legs crossed, a newspaper resting between them.

Seeing Qin Yu come down, Lu Jinyuan's face clearly lit up with joy as he casually folded the newspaper away.

"Going out tonight?"

Qin Yu tilted her head slightly.

Considering her live-streaming schedule, it was hardly a surprise that Lu Jinyuan knew about it.

She nodded. "There might be some issues at the Deijing Medical College, and I need to handle them in person."

As for the specific situation, she needed to check it out herself before deciding.

Lu Jinyuan gave a slight nod, a subtle hint of nervousness underlying his tone. "D-Do you need me to drive you?"

Qin Yu pursed her lips, appearing to consider the offer. "Is it convenient?"

Lu Jinyuan blurted out, "Very convenient!"

Realizing perhaps that he had answered a bit too quickly, Lu Jinyuan quickly added an explanation, "I have a gathering with some friends tonight, and it happens to be on the way past Deijing Medical College."

Qin Yu gave a sweet, obedient smile, showing her small, pearly white teeth.

"Then thank you, Mr. Lu. I will pay the fare!"

Lu Jinyuan was about to say it wasn't necessary, but remembering Qin Yu's strict principles, he swallowed his words and said nothing more.

---

When Lu Jinyuan received the "fare," he felt a momentary flicker of confusion because the talismans looked familiar yet distinctly different.

Seeing right through Lu Jinyuan's thoughts, Qin Yu explained, "The malevolent energy inside your body has mutated following the last incident, and the ordinary evil-suppressing talismans we used before are no longer effective. This is my newly upgraded evil-suppressing talisman! Its power is much stronger!"

A warm feeling flooded Lu Jinyuan's heart. He carefully tucked the talisman into his trouser pocket.

The words " thank you" were right on the tip of his tongue, but looking at Qin Yu's exquisite and beautiful profile, he found himself unable to say them.

"Mr. Lu, is something wrong?"

After waiting for a long time without seeing Lu Jinyuan get into the car, Qin Yu leaned out and asked.

Lu Jinyuan shook his head, offering a small smile. "Coming right now."

Once inside the car, Qin Yu remembered Xingqiao, whom she hadn't seen for a while, and casually brought it up. "Has Xingqiao been found?"

"She was sold by the villagers to a family in a neighboring village. That household has eight sons and was desperately wishing for a daughter. Xingqiao hasn't suffered any mistreatment there; that family is taking very good care of her."

Lu Jinyuan answered truthfully, leaving out only the detail that Xingqiao actually looked a bit plumper and fairer now.

Qin Yu nodded. Xingqiao was always the most sensitive to danger.

However...

"What about her now?"

"That family was detained on suspicion of human trafficking. She came back with us, but..." Lu Jinyuan hesitated, glancing at Qin Yu several times before continuing, "She seems to want to stay with that family."

Qin Yu nodded in quiet understanding.

Xingqiao had never experienced paternal or maternal love since childhood; naturally, experiencing familial affection now would move her.

Nevertheless...

Qin Yu's gaze deepened, though she said nothing more.

When Lu Jinyuan drove the car to the medical college, it was five minutes shy of midnight.

Just as Qin Yu stepped out of the car, Lu Jinyuan stepped out right behind her.

As Qin Yu prepared to start her broadcast, she noticed Lu Jinyuan following her and asked in confusion, "Aren't you going to your gathering?"

Lu Jinyuan paused his steps. "There's no rush."

Qin Yu shook the phone in her hand. "I'm about to start streaming."

The gesture meant to ask whether he needed to step away or avoid the camera.

However, Lu Jinyuan showed no intention of dodging; instead, he reached over and tapped the broadcast button for Qin Yu.

There were already plenty of viewers waiting for Qin Yu's stream, and the moment it went live and they saw the two of them in the same frame, the chat exploded...

"Whoa, what's going on here? Deep in the night, a lone man and woman—is this the rhythm of making things official?"

"Looks like it to me!"

"I am a staunch Hua-Yu shipper! I do not approve of this pairing!"

"He's handsome, she's gorgeous. Looking at it this way, they actually make a great couple!"

"..."

Qin Yu looked somewhat awkwardly at the cascade of comments scrolling through the live chat, casting a secret glance at Lu Jinyuan. Seeing that he wore a neutral expression, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"They just love talking nonsense. Don't take it to heart."

"It's not nonsense."

Qin Yu froze, momentarily failing to grasp what he meant.

Lu Jinyuan didn't give Qin Yu a chance to question him further. He simply patted her head. "Time for the gathering, I'm off. Send me a message when you're done here, and I'll come pick you up."

The sudden head pat left Qin Yu feeling a bit displeased, and she rubbed her hair.

The moment she turned back, she saw the chat flooding with messages: "Oh my god! This is way too pampering! The classic head-pat kill!"

"Wuwuwu! Are you guys seriously not dating!"

"I'm shipping this couple in advance!"

Qin Yu twitched the corner of her mouth in a smile that didn't reach her eyes, "It seems none of you want to get a good night's sleep tonight."