Qin Luming had seen Zhou Nan at Ma Shilong's house. Since Zhou Nan had found Ma Shilong, he must have read My Wife Is the Empress of Zhou.
Just based on that title alone, Zhou Nan probably thought Ma Shilong deserved a beating.
Since Zhou Nan had read the book and knew Gu Qing'an's identity, there was a considerable chance that Gu Qing'an had been killed... Qin Luming had read the book carefully. It described on several occasions how Ma Shilong sensed the crisis of imperial succession in Zhou Nan's empire.
It was also possible that Gu Qing'an had been caught up in it without Zhou Nan knowing his identity. Putting himself in Gu Qing'an's shoes, Qin Luming felt that if he encountered Zhou Nan in the real world, he definitely would not casually reveal his identity or tell Zhou Nan to read My Wife Is the Empress of Zhou before Zhou Nan even knew about the book.
Gu Qing'an and Ma Shilong had already narrowly escaped death... Seeing this group come here, Qin Luming somewhat suspected that this was now the final moment of their lives.
Life was unpredictable. Qin Luming watched them enthusiastically setting up camp not far away. They probably never imagined that some great demon king from another world might descend upon them at any moment, did they?
The troublesome part was that Qin Luming could not summon Zuozuo and Caicai anymore. This group had clearly seen that he was alone when they passed by earlier. If someone came over later and saw two little girls had suddenly appeared, they would probably nag endlessly about it. Annoying.
"Handsome, you look like you really know what you're doing with camping. We're all amateurs, and there are lots of things we don't know how to do." A girl came over to strike up a conversation with Qin Luming.
They knew nothing and still came out to camp in this wilderness? Why not go jump off a building for fun? Qin Luming was rummaging through the canned food in his cooler: Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, abalone, several tins of beluga caviar, canned snails that Qin Xiaotian had especially recommended to him, plus assorted things like foie gras and roe deer meat.
He was only staying for three days. Wouldn't fresh food have been better? Still, these had been gifts, and he had not really been picky. He casually picked up a tin of beluga caviar and asked the girl speaking to him, "Want one?"
"Thanks..." The girl took it casually and said with a smile, "We're not short on food. We brought plenty to eat. It's just that we have a whole group of people who need an experienced guide right now. We're a mess, and we haven't even gotten the tents up."
"Sure." Qin Luming nodded.
"Let's get acquainted. My name is Yang Xiaoyan, and I'm a news editor."
"Qin Luming, a sophomore."
Yang Xiaoyan was a little surprised, because Qin Luming looked quite mature and did not seem like a sophomore.
Qin Luming did not explain that he had taken a leave from school. He stood up and headed toward where they were setting up camp.
Yang Xiaoyan hurried after him and introduced everyone. Besides Yang Xiaoyan, there was another girl named Che Yun, her coworker. Two more girls were students. Of the remaining three men, the one who had shone a flashlight at Qin Luming earlier was a streamer called Brother Paris, while the other two were viewers Brother Paris had invited to join his livestream.
Qin Luming was happy to help. He helped them pitch their tents and told them which direction to go when they needed to relieve themselves. That was an important reason why he had been willing to come help. He did not want this group relieving themselves everywhere and making him uncomfortable. After all, if they did not disappear, they would leave tomorrow, while he still had to stay here for a while.
Once they were done, Qin Luming declined Yang Xiaoyan's invitation to eat with them and returned to his own campsite, moving some important supplies and equipment into his tent.
"Handsome, can we add you on WeChat?" The two female college students followed him over, looking shyly at Qin Luming with expectant eyes.
"No." Qin Luming shook his head.
The two girls parted their lips slightly. They clearly had not expected such a blunt rejection. After exchanging a glance, they both rolled their eyes at Qin Luming and walked back.
Qin Luming shrugged in incomprehension. Whether he agreed or refused was his freedom. Why were they rolling their eyes at him?
These women were all after his body... Qin Luming knew it perfectly well.
Back when he had just started middle school and puberty arrived, his young mind had been confused and sensitive. He had been a little chubby. Other than An Chacha, that trashy girl who liked to bully him, the other girls had not seemed particularly enthusiastic or interested in him either. After boys changed dramatically as they grew up, Qin Luming gradually began attracting a great deal of attention from girls. Of course, he had not forgotten what he had gone through before... These shallow, ignorant women.
Qin Luming glanced back and noticed that the two girls started chattering away as soon as they returned to camp. They were clearly talking about how Qin Luming had coldly refused to add them on WeChat. The men snickered a few times, and then Yang Xiaoyan walked over.
"Little Brother Luming, leave your big sister your WeChat, okay? We can hang out sometime. You're camping alone, after all. Isn't that boring?" Yang Xiaoyan's eyes sparkled. She had already interacted with Qin Luming and felt he was fairly easygoing with her. He had come help set up camp because she had called him over.
He had agreed to help her but refused the two girls' request to add him on WeChat. Didn't that mean he liked her better?
Women were always especially keen on this kind of contest of charm, particularly when the target was an incredibly handsome man.
"How do you know I'm bored?" Qin Luming sneered. What a presumptuous woman.
"..."
"Being kind to others is simply part of my upbringing. Don't read too much into it."
Yang Xiaoyan could hardly save face. Wasn't he directly saying that she was being self-indulgent and should not assume that just because she could get him to help, he had some favorable feelings toward her?
"You're not gay, are you?" Yang Xiaoyan had never met a man who gave girls so little face. She tilted her head, the corners of her lips lifting slightly without forming a smile. Her eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a trace of realization.
"Not being interested in you makes me gay? You have neither attractive looks nor interesting souls. Put yourself in my shoes. If you were an extraordinarily beautiful woman, constantly pestered by people hitting on you and asking for your contact information, what would your experience and reaction be?" Qin Luming waved a hand. "Go away. I'm allergic to non-virgins."
"You... you... sexist pig!" Yang Xiaoyan was furious. It was the first time she had heard someone claim to be allergic to that.
Qin Luming had already gone back to rummaging through his cooler. Yang Xiaoyan turned and left. She decided that tonight, she would still go to Brother Paris's tent. Only by proving her charm could she restore her emotional balance.
Qin Luming had originally wanted to eat canned Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, but the thick broth made it taste rather mediocre without heating it. He could only take some canned foie gras and caviar, eating a little with slices of bread.
Just then, Qin Luming saw a Big Black Pig standing not far away, staring intently at him with deep, inscrutable eyes.
Qin Luming actually felt that the Big Black Pig looked somewhat familiar.
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