Ch. 662Side Story: Hua Qiangu Has a Friend, Scholar Hua
Ji Shu befriended Hua Qiangu, earning her trust and a surge of fortune as he learned about the suffering awaiting her. The next morning, Hua Qiangu brought Scholar Hua to meet Ji Shu, and her father began considering whether he could entrust her to him.
- Hua Qiangu told Ji Shu that villagers called her a monster because flowers withered at her birth and her blood harmed plants, and Ji Shu assured her he neither feared nor despised her.
- Ji Shu agreed to be Hua Qiangu's friend, raising her favorability to 98 and his fortune progress to 2.8%.
- Ji Shu spent the day exploring and playing with Hua Qiangu, then promised to meet her again at their secret base the next day.
- Hua Qiangu told Scholar Hua about Ji Shu and shared the food they had gathered, while Scholar Hua wondered whether Ji Shu was an immortal or a sect disciple.
- Hua Qiangu and Scholar Hua went to the valley at dawn, where Scholar Hua saw Ji Shu's cottage and considered entrusting his daughter to him.