Volume I, Chapter 21: They All Deserve to Die

Qin Yu responded with a simple “oh” and continued eating, as if Su Nianxin’s punch had landed on cotton—soft and without effect.

Catching sight of Qi Huairou coming out, Su Nianxin immediately shed her sharp, caustic demeanor and became as docile as could be.

Qi Huairou had brought double portions of pastries and fruit tea. When Su Nianxin noticed this, her gaze darkened.

Qin Yu let out a burp. “Mrs. Su, I’m finished eating. I’ll return to my room now.”

“Take a cup of fruit tea with you! It’s freshly squeezed!”

Qin Yu didn’t refuse and carried the fruit tea upstairs.

Watching her retreating figure, Su Nianxin bit down hard on her straw in frustration.

When she saw Qi Huairou’s gaze shift toward her, she quickly changed her expression. “Mom, I know Sister grew up in the countryside, but isn’t she a bit too uncouth?”

She was referring to Qin Yu’s public burping.

Qi Huairou’s brow furrowed, a faint look of dissatisfaction appearing on her well-maintained face. “You and Yu Yu are sisters. No matter what she’s like, you shouldn’t speak ill of her behind her back.”

Qi Huairou was somewhat disappointed in her. Nianxin hadn’t been like this before; how had she become so prone to gossip now that Yu Yu had returned?

Su Nianxin immediately changed her tune, adopting a posture of “thinking of the Su family.” “I’m not criticizing Sister. I just think she’s different now—she represents the Su family, after all. Her words and actions should match her status.”

Qi Huairou was surprised. So Nianxin had been carrying such a burden in her heart.

She took Su Nianxin’s hand and spoke earnestly. “Our Su family isn’t some grand clan in Dijin. There’s no need for you to bring honor to our name. Your father and I only wish for you to live as yourselves.”

This was a truth she’d come to understand after losing Qin Yu. She no longer wished for her children to be famous, only for them to have peaceful lives.

But Su Nianxin couldn’t accept Qi Huairou’s words, believing them to be nothing more than an excuse to favor Qin Yu.

Looking at Qi Huairou’s profile, resentment grew within her.

—

Because there was no livestream, Qin Yu’s inbox was flooded with several times the usual private messages.

From among them, she precisely identified Shu Tiantian’s account.

Shu Tiantian: “Master, this isn’t something I can explain in a few words. If you have time, call me and we can talk in detail.”

Shu Tiantian: “Here’s my number.”

Qin Yu called. The phone was picked up on the third ring.

“Shu Tiantian, it’s me, Dianqiu.”

“Master, you finally called! I was worried something happened to you!”

Because Qin Yu had suddenly stopped streaming, netizens had begun speculating wildly.

Qin Yu had no idea about the rumors and was only concerned about the statue. “What’s the story with the statue in the photo?”

“I took that photo when I was with Lu Jia. When I saw your stream yesterday, the statue looked so familiar. Later, after searching through all my photos, I realized Lu Jia’s family had one just like it.”

“There’s a locked room in his house that he never lets me enter. But he spends an hour in there every day. He says his family is blessed by an immortal. Could the immortal he speaks of be that statue?”

Thinking about Li Yue’er’s stolen lifespan, Shu Tiantian grew more and more uneasy. “Master, I was with Lu Jia for quite some time. Could my own lifespan have been stolen?”

“When I read your face the other day, there was no indication of that. But sharing a roof with such a strange statue is bound to have some effect. In the future, do good deeds and accumulate blessings.”

Just as the call ended, a call from an unfamiliar number came in.

Qin Yu noticed the sequence of sixes and eights and wondered which wealthy person this could be.

“Qin Yu, are you alright?”

When she answered, a pleasant male voice carried a hint of barely perceptible concern.

Qin Yu paused. “Lu Jinyuan, how did you get my number?”

“Did you forget? You were my rideshare passenger.”

Qin Yu frowned slightly, thinking to herself, Does this platform have no privacy at all?

“So, why are you calling?”

There was a brief silence before he replied, “You should check the comments on your broadcast suspension notice. Since you’re fine, I won’t bother you further.”

He hung up decisively.

Qin Yu, puzzled, opened the comments beneath her announcement—

Enthusiastic Netizen 1: “Did something happen to Master Dianqiu?”

Enthusiastic Netizen 2: “That statue yesterday was so creepy. I asked Old Li—Master Dianqiu took the statue home, didn’t she…?”

Enthusiastic Netizen 3: “Did Master Dianqiu get bewitched by that weird statue and is now worshipping it at home?”

Enthusiastic Netizen 4: “Now that you mention it, I’m getting scared…”

Enthusiastic Netizen 5: “Master Dianqiu, are you alright? @Dianqiu”

Enthusiastic Netizen 6: “Don’t say things like that—Master Dianqiu wasn’t bewitched by the statue, she just got into a car accident.”

This netizen even thoughtfully attached a photo.

…

As she scrolled through the comments, Qin Yu’s eyelid twitched.

So in the few hours she hadn’t streamed, she’d already experienced “a car accident,” “a group beating,” and “death”?

Qin Yu: …

These netizens sure had vivid imaginations—but perhaps a little too vivid.

Suddenly, she understood why Lu Jinyuan had called. With photo “evidence” and detailed speculation, even she would’ve been confused reading it all.

So, Qin Yu posted another announcement.

“I am alive. The livestream will resume tomorrow at the usual time. See you there.”

She raised her hand, about to ask Mu Ling to check the authenticity of the statue at Lu Jia’s residence, only to remember he was on leave.

—

Evening.

At the Su family dining table.

Noticing the empty seat at the table, Su Jin frowned, his sharp brows lifting. “Why didn’t you call Yu Yu down for dinner?”

“I already did. She said she wasn’t hungry and didn’t want to eat,” Su Nianxin answered quickly.

“Yu Yu ate a lot this afternoon, so she’s probably still full. We only just got her back—let her do as she pleases,” Qi Huairou said.

Su Jin glanced upstairs. “Rou Rou, you can’t spoil her just because you feel guilty. Yu Yu isn’t a child. I looked into it—she never attended formal school at the temple. That’s not right. She’ll fall behind society like this.”

Qi Huairou’s dignified face clouded with worry. “What do you propose?”

Su Jin had ideas, but feared Qin Yu would refuse. “Let’s discuss it with Yu Yu before making any decisions.”

Hearing the two of them talk back and forth about Qin Yu, Su Nianxin grew even more resentful.

She used to be the one her parents talked about all the time. Now that Qin Yu was back, she’d stolen them away!

Su Nianxin’s dislike for Qin Yu deepened.

Things you hate shouldn’t exist at all!

A voice echoed in her mind, startling her so much that her hand trembled around her chopsticks.

Then, as if realizing something, her eyes, filled with hatred, grew resolute.

Yes, anything Su Nianxin despises ought to die!

Qin Yu, if you end up dead, don’t blame me! You brought this on yourself, trying to steal my parents!