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Qin You asked, [Wasn't the earlier increase recorded?]

The system replied, [No. Records of favorability only began after the emergency mission was unlocked...]

Qin You listened to the end and pondered.

Favorability had decreased.

If there was no mistake in the system's data, that could only be the conclusion.

He looked at the target, who was taking medication with water handed to him by a caregiver.

That they had hit it off in their conversation that morning was only the system's guess.

The target had undergone a traumatic change three years ago and had learned to conceal his emotions. Now it seemed that conversation had had the exact opposite of the intended effect.

He thought back over their conversation.

Had he disliked having the past brought up?

Or did he simply not believe Qin You would help him?

[But Host, the favorability increase means things are getting better!]

Afraid that its host, who was already prone to dragging his feet, would lose heart, the system hurried to encourage him. [As long as you keep at it, you'll definitely succeed!]

Qin You sighed softly.

After dealing with one difficult father, favorability had only risen by one point. The road ahead was long and arduous.

[Besides, Host, the target's initial favorability toward you was as high as ten percent! That means he's truly grateful that you saved him. With that foundation, the rest of the mission is sure to go smoothly.]

The system had a keen eye of its own and continued its analysis. [Besides, even if the Mainline Favorability Task can't be unlocked, all you need to do is have a few more intimate encounters with the target, Host.]

Qin You: "..."

All of a sudden.

A phone rang inside his clothes.

It was Cui Ling.

His tone had returned to the formal politeness of their first meeting.

"Young Mr. Qin, are you still at the hospital?"

"Yes."

Cui Ling said, "Please wait for me in your room. I'll be there in an hour."

Qin You asked, "What is it?"

Cui Ling said, "It's not convenient to discuss over the phone. I'll explain when I get to the hospital. Goodbye."

Then he hung up.

Qin You chuckled and put his phone back inside his clothes. Seeing that the medical staff had all come in, and that Yan Tingshen was there too, he didn't stay. He gave the target a brief gesture and turned back to his own room.

The police arrived before Cui Ling did.

Not long after they finished taking his statement, there was a knock at the door.

As Cui Ling knocked, he was still giving instructions to the bodyguards behind him. He entered the room, and when he heard the crisp sound effects filling it, his grip tightened on the documents in his hand. His face darkened as he looked toward the bed.

The second-generation heir lay there at his leisure. Hearing the noise, he only glanced in Cui Ling's direction, his hands never stopping. "You're here. What is it? Go ahead."

Cui Ling couldn't understand it. "Why are you still playing this game?"

Even if he didn't care about the task the chairman had assigned him, something had happened at the company that afternoon, and he was still injured. Cui Ling couldn't fathom how Qin You could be so unflappable that he could play a game as though nothing had happened.

Qin You glanced at him again and slightly raised his injured left hand. "Can't help it. My options for playing anything else are limited."

Cui Ling: "..."

He took a deep breath and dropped the subject, changing it abruptly. "I'm here to help you check out of the hospital, Young Mr. Qin."

Check out?

Qin You said, "The reason."

Cui Ling said, "The chairman instructed that, until Manager Qi's situation has been investigated, Young Mr. Qin should recover at Zeshui Bay. Xiao Li and the others will be responsible for your safety until you've fully recovered."

Qin You said, "It's safe enough here."

Seeing his indifferent reaction, Cui Ling couldn't help asking, "If there's really something suspicious about this, it means someone wants to hurt you. Aren't you afraid?"

Qin You turned to the six burly men behind him. "Do I need to be?"

Cui Ling didn't know where he got such fearlessness, but he didn't seem to be putting on an act. After hesitating for a while, he waved the men behind him away and explained to Qin You, "Young Mr. Qin, the president's illness actually came on fiercely, and the chairman has long been plagued by doubts. Now something has happened to you after your return to the country, and he really can't put his mind at ease."

So that was it.

No wonder they were making such a big fuss over Qi Xianghe alone.

Qin You put down his tablet. "Even so, there's no need for me to check out."

Cui Ling said, "I'm sorry, Young Mr. Qin. The chairman is thinking of your safety."

As soon as he finished speaking, he opened the door to the room again.

The six burly men took their cue from him and stepped forward together, prepared to use force.

The system panicked. [Host, if you leave the hospital, won't you lose your chance to do the mission?!]

Qin You was at a loss too.

He had intended to draw Qin Hengzhong's attention to Qi Xianghe's little schemes, but his original aim had been to get Qin Hengzhong to warn the Qi Household off so he could have a few peaceful days.

He really hadn't expected things to develop this far.

"Young Mr. Qin, it's time to go."

Qin You got out of bed.

When he reached the door, he looked toward the room next door and said to Cui Ling, "Wait for me here."

With that, he walked toward Yan Tingshen's room.

Inside.

Having seen Qin You's displeasure several times, Pei Sheng didn't approach this time.

Qin You didn't notice him either. As he walked toward the bed, he asked Yan Tingshen, "Do you want to leave the hospital?"

Yan Tingshen said, "Leave the hospital?"

Qin You said, "Your father already knows you're here. Sooner or later, he'll come back. Why not come to my place? At least no one will bother you there."

Yan Tingshen didn't answer immediately.

Qin You had already reached him. "Didn't we work together well before? What are you still worried about?"

Worked together?

Yan Tingshen raised his eyes and looked straight into those peach-blossom eyes that always seemed so earnest.

Beside them, Pei Sheng listened to their conversation, hesitating over whether he should leave them alone.

He didn't take Qin You's suggestion seriously.

For that reason alone, how could Tingshen possibly—

"All right."

Pei Sheng froze.

He turned to look at Yan Tingshen, and it took him a long moment to recover.

That was true. Now that Mr. Yan knew where Tingshen was, the company wouldn't be kept in the dark either. It really wasn't quite appropriate to stay here.

But...

Even so, he didn't have to live with Qin You.

There were so many places to choose from. Given Tingshen's personality, how could he move into someone else's home?

At that thought, Pei Sheng paused.

Tingshen's personality.

Yes, Tingshen had already made so many exceptions for this Young Mr. Qin. One more made no difference.

Pei Sheng came back to himself and saw Yan Tingshen moving. He was about to speak when he thought again of Qin You's attitude toward him and stopped where he was.

Qin You spoke then. "Get changed first. I'll wait outside."

Yan Tingshen said, "Okay."

The system was immensely impressed. [Host, you're so smart! You'll have a world for just the two of you!]

Qin You couldn't be bothered to answer it and turned toward the door.

With medical staff, security, hourly workers, and assistants and secretaries like Cui Ling, how could it be a world for just the two of them?

When he pushed the door open, Cui Ling was waiting beside it.

He thought Qin You had gone to say goodbye to Yan Tingshen and even asked, "Young Mr. Qin, can we leave now?"

Qin You said, "Get things ready. A-Sheng is coming with me."

"..." Cui Ling was stunned for a couple of seconds. "What?"

Yan Tingshen?

Coming with him?

That was no ordinary relationship.

Had he been mistaken? Had the second-generation heir and Yan Tingshen not met only after Qin You returned to the country, but known each other before?

But at a time like this, take Yan Tingshen to Zeshui Bay with them?

He chose his words carefully. "Young Mr. Qin, the chairman won't agree."

Qin You glanced at him and only then remembered that he was still Qin Hengzhong's informant.

He must have deserved the most credit for the original owner's pursuit of the target being discovered.

For now, Qin Hengzhong could misunderstand and think he was merely close to Yan Tingshen. But as time passed and the misunderstanding cleared up, the events in the original story would play out again.

He had to avoid that.

Cui Ling continued, "Besides, the hospital has better medical facilities. Let—"

Qin You interrupted him. "Assistant Cui."

Hearing his tone, Cui Ling looked at his smiling face. "...Young Mr. Qin?"

Qin You looked at him too. "As for what goes on between A-Sheng and me, I don't want anyone interfering. That includes the chairman."

Cui Ling picked up on the deeper meaning in his words and frowned. "But—"

"No buts."

Qin You said, "From now on, don't involve yourself in anything that concerns A-Sheng."

Cui Ling was confused. "What do you mean by 'involve myself'?"

"It's safest not to mention a single word."

Qin You said, "Otherwise, whether or not the chairman is backing you, I'll make you leave the Qin Group."

Cui Ling fell silent.

He wanted to question the second-generation heir's seemingly groundless threat, but after spending nearly a day with him, he could tell that Qin You wasn't the sort of rich second-generation heir who could be easily manipulated. On the contrary, Qin You almost always meant what he said and had a mind of his own.

It was just that, for now, he only applied that independent streak to frivolous matters.

Besides, the Qin Group was ultimately the Qin Household's company, and Qin You was currently its only heir. If Cui Ling were the chairman, he wouldn't have a second choice either.

In the end, he bowed his head. "I understand."

Qin You patted him on the shoulder, then asked, "Have you ever been in a relationship?"

The subject had changed so quickly that Cui Ling was stunned for another couple of seconds. "...Yes."

Qin You said, "Good. There's something I want to ask you."

Cui Ling was bewildered. "Go ahead."

Qin You said, "How can you raise someone's favorability in a short time?"

Raise someone's favorability?

Cui Ling was even more bewildered.

But the next second, inspiration flashed through his mind, and an incredible guess took shape in an instant.

His eyes widened. He glanced at the room behind Qin You, then looked back at him.

"Young Mr. Qin... this..."

Cui Ling's mind was in a tangled mess. "When it comes to... these things, I don't think I'm allowed to involve myself..."

Qin You smiled. "You can pretend I'm not asking about him."