“It’s fine.”
Qiao Ying put away her smile and resumed her usual aloofness. She took the initiative to reach out and take the porridge from Qin Hanyue’s hands.
Thanks to Qiao Ying, the empty-stomached Cheng Jinyan also got a bowl. As he was drinking it, he saw Qin Hanyue looking straight at him, so he had to ask, "Master Qin, do you have something to say to me?"
Qin Hanyue had a subtle smile on his face. He said, "I just wanted to ask if Master Cheng spent the night here last night."
Cheng Jinyan: "Is there a problem?"
Cheng Jinyan’s tone was not very good.
In the eyes of outsiders, Master Cheng was gentle, gentlemanly, graceful and humorous.
He was serious when needed in the courtroom, and flexible when appropriate.
But the truth was that gangster princes didn’t have such good tempers, especially around Qiao Ying and Ye Si. It was easiest for him to expose his true nature.
And he had just been in a fight last night. Ye Si was still sitting next to him, so it was inevitable that the identity of the master lawyer was temporarily out of reach.
Not to mention that Qin Hanyue had just come over to challenge him, trying to take control from time to time. And now he was finding fault for no reason.
Cheng Jinyan's head was still hurting, so naturally he was not in a good mood.
Qin Hanyue: "We are all adults. Miss Qiao is still a girl. Master Cheng should understand the importance of reputation better than I do."
The photos of them embracing had already caused quite a stir.
When Cheng Jinyan heard this, he wanted to laugh.
Then he realized that he had seen the relationship between Qin Hanyue and Qiao Ying — Qin Hanyue had feelings for Qiao Ying.
Cheng Jinyan: "Is Master Qin managing too much?" Then he glanced downwards, "Besides, I just said that she and I have always been close."
So he saw him as a love rival.
Was he so impatient already? Nothing had happened yet. If that bastard Ye Si came back one day, wouldn't he be jumping mad?
Having figured out Qin Hanyue’s mindset, Cheng Jinyan really wanted to learn from Ye Si at this moment and see what Qin Hanyue would do.
Before Qin Hanyue could respond,
Qiao Ying mocked: "Reputation? When I lived under the same roof with Master Qin for those two months, why didn't Master Qin mention reputation?"
Qiao Ying was simply asking a question, not targeting anyone or anything.
Qin Yan: Miss Qiao, you leaked it yourself.
Cheng Jinyan: "What? When did this happen?"
Cheng Jinyan looked at her: "What are you hiding from me?"
Qin Hanyue was upset when he heard this. His first reaction was naturally to think that Qiao Ying was defending Cheng Jinyan.
But when he saw Cheng Jinyan get anxious, he belatedly realized that Qiao Ying's words had inadvertently confirmed something. Then he saw Qin Hanyue hook the corners of his mouth slightly, calm and unhurried.
Qiao Ying explained: “In the summer vacation, in M Province. Master Qin happened to be doing business there, so I went along.”
Cheng Jinyan: "Go to M Province to do business?"
What kind of improper business was this?
Qin Hanyue: "Is it so strange? Miss Qiao was on vacation in M Province at the time.”
Cheng Jinyan: What riddle are these two playing?
What is this girl hiding from him?
"I didn't tell you, this house belongs to Master Qin. Since the owner minds, you should leave quickly." Qiao Ying said at this time.
Cheng Jinyan: "???"
After taking a look at the secretly delighted Qin Hanyue, Cheng Jinyan asked in puzzlement: "Short on money or short on houses? Why stay in someone else's place?"
The word "someone else" trod on Qin Hanyue's toes a bit.
Qiao Ying: "Neither lacking, it was just timely."
Cheng Jinyan was inexplicably speechless: "Just like that?" Since when did she owe favors so casually?
Qin Hanyue took the opportunity to act magnanimous: “I don't really mind. It’s just that a man and a woman living together so close to the school can easily give rise to rumors. Master Cheng needs a place to stay. I still have a lot of properties around here. Master Cheng is always welcome anytime.”
Qiao Ying: “Master Qin is indeed thoughtful.”
Qin Hanyue: “It’s only right.”
Cheng Jinyan sneered. Qin Hanyue listened happily to such perfunctory words. He must be obsessed with this blood shadow.
After looking at the time: “It's about time to go to the airport — let’s meet another day if anything comes up, contact me.” After Cheng Jinyan finished speaking to Qiao Ying, he was about to leave.
Qin Hanyue stood up: “Let me see Master Cheng off.”
It was his house after all, so he regained confidence here.
Qin Yan: Nice counter move.
Cheng Jinyan looked at Qin Hanyue with a faint smile on the surface: “Don’t bother.” He glanced down slightly: “Nice watch.”
Qin Hanyue reflexively grasped his left wrist with his right hand. He took a look at Qiao Ying and said, "A gift from Miss Qiao."
Cheng Jinyan: “Such a precious gift, Master Qin must wear it securely.”
Don’t let Ye Si get a chance to see it.
He had a good temper, but Ye Si had a bad one.
"Of course." Hearing something in his words but not understanding it all, Qin Hanyue could only let it go.
After seeing Cheng Jinyan off, Qin Hanyue turned back and saw the girl on the sofa, oblivious, drinking porridge on her own.
Qin Hanyue sat back down: “Master Cheng said you are his old friend?”
Qiao Ying: “Does Master Qin feel that the term ‘old friend’ doesn’t quite suit me as an 18-year-old?”
Qin Hanyue: “It would be unfitting for others, but understandable if it were Miss Qiao.”
Qiao Ying laughed. She really liked how Qin Hanyue always hinted without spelling things out clearly.
She looked at Qin Hanyue with her mouth full of the fragrant porridge. For a moment she thought of something unknown, and suddenly said, "There will be opportunities for me to reintroduce him to Master Qin in the future.”
What did she mean by that?
If Qin Hanyue had not over interpreted it, was she saying that she would tell him about herself in the future when there were opportunities?
Having obtained these words, Qin Hanyue left contentedly.
On the way back,
Qin Yan couldn’t hold back: “Young Master, is there nothing you want me to investigate?”
He was the prince of a gang after all.
Qin Yan could accept Qiao Ying having the identity of an underworld boss, or beating a group of mercenary leaders in an underground fight club.
But for an 18-year-old Qiao Ying to be the old friend of a mob prince, Qin Yan found it a bit hard to accept.
One could ignore the questions of how a girl who had never left Yun City could have such terrifying skills and courage beyond ordinary people, even knowing things about M Province, and having intricate connections with the former boss of Heishui.
But Qin Yan was really curious about the matters between Qiao Ying and Cheng Jinyan.
Qin Hanyue: “No need, she will tell me herself.”
Because of Cheng Jinyan, Qiao Ying heard people talking about her no matter which corner of the school she was at.
The bolder ones even asked her when she could invite Cheng Jinyan to give lectures at school again, saying they didn't get to see him in person yesterday.
Qiao Ying completely overshadowed Huo Chengdong, Xu Zhixi and others at Beijing University.
Huo Chengdong came scrambling to find her.
“Sis Ying, did you get the money?”
“Yeah, what about you?”
Huo Chengdong: “Me what?”
Qiao Ying: “Watched people dance?”
Huo Chengdong almost choked on his own saliva.
“How... How is that possible? Why would I watch Su Qingyu dance something like that? With a washboard figure, watching her is worse than watching myself.”
Then he fawned up to her again: “Sis Ying, the National Day long weekend is coming up soon, seven days. Got any plans?”
Qiao Ying: “Not sure yet.”
Huo Chengdong heard there was a chance: “Not sure means there are activities right? Can I join one?”
Qiao Ying: “Killing, arson. Wanna come?”
Huo Chengdong: “Sis Ying you really know how to joke.”
Just as they were talking,
Huo Chengdong’s sister Huo Jingyue came: “Qiao Ying, I’m Huo Chengdong’s sister, Huo Jingyue. Nice to meet you.”
Qiao Ying looked at her and thought to herself: So she is the woman Huo Chengdong said who didn’t want Qin Hanyue?
Then she shook hands with her briefly.
Huo Chengdong: “Sis...you...”
Huo Jingyue: “Shut up, none of your business. I’m talking with schoolmate Qiao. Stay out of our way wherever is cool for you.” Huo Jingyue spoke extremely fast. She said emotionlessly and then immediately switched back to a smiling face looking at Qiao Ying.
“Schoolmate Qiao Ying, may I ask if you and Master Cheng Jinyan... are good friends?”
Qiao Ying: “Yeah.”
Huo Jingyue clenched her fists: “That’s wonderful.”
Qiao Ying: “What’s the matter?”
“It’s like this, I...” Seeing Huo Chengdong still there, Huo Jingyue glared at him: “Can you please get lost? Adults are talking, kids keep away.”
Huo Chengdong pointed at Qiao Ying speechlessly: “She’s even younger than me...”
Under Huo Jingyue’s fierce stare, Huo Chengdong shut his mouth and silently walked away.
“Is Master Cheng still in the capital?”
“No.”
Huo Jingyue's gaze visibly fell from expectation in a noticeable manner.
After that,
Huo Jingyue blabbered on and on about things related to Cheng Jinyan. Between the lines it was not difficult to hear her admiration and adoration for Cheng Jinyan.
Taking the chance while Huo Jingyue was catching her breath,
Qiao Ying interrupted her and asked, “Do you like him?”
Huo Jingyue was stunned for a moment, not expecting Qiao Ying to be so straightforward.
