Surveillance

Inside the room, Qin Lin quietly sat down beside Xu Qing, who was sound asleep. Her gaze was indescribably gentle.

She felt that the house now had a warm, cozy atmosphere. It no longer seemed empty and cold.

"So this is what happens when you fall for someone. In your eyes, he becomes especially bright and warm, like the center of the world," Qin Lin murmured.

For the first time in over twenty years, her heart had fluttered like this—and it was for a young man almost ten years her junior.

"Qin Lin, oh, Qin Lin, you really are..." she whispered.

By the time Xu Qing woke up, it was already past four in the afternoon.

"Oh, no, I fell asleep!" Xu Qing shot upright. His surroundings reminded him that he was at Qin Lin's house.

He hurried out of the room and saw Qin Lin sitting on the open-air balcony, drinking tea and reading a book.

"You're up. Are you hungry? If you are, I'll have them bring some food up right away," Qin Lin said warmly when she saw him.

Xu Qing gave an awkward smile. "No, I'm not hungry yet."

Then he walked over to the balcony and sat down too.

Xu Qing stole several glances at Qin Lin, trying to see what kind of book she was reading.

"It's a novel. If you want to read one, there are more on the bookshelf. There are lots of other kinds of books too. They're all over there, so you can pick one yourself," Qin Lin said with a smile, noticing his little movements.

Xu Qing looked to the side and saw that there was indeed a bookshelf lined with books.

He went over to take a look, picked out a novel, and sat down to read.

But as he read, he started nodding off. It was obvious that he had little interest in novels—he was even less interested in them than in class.

Xu Qing shook his head, put the novel back, then sat down and started zoning out.

Seeing him like that, Qin Lin found it rather amusing. She called the staff and asked them to bring up some snacks.

The food arrived quickly, and every dish was beautifully prepared.

"The food here is pretty good. Try some," Qin Lin said.

Xu Qing picked up a piece and took a bite. It really did taste great, and before long, he couldn't help reverting to his usual self, using both hands to eat as fast as he could.

By the time he realized he wasn't at home, it was too late.

Seeing Xu Qing with cream all over his mouth, Qin Lin couldn't hold back her laughter. He looked just like a greedy little kitten.

Xu Qing felt mortified, but still tried to act thick-skinned and composed as he used a napkin to wipe his mouth and hands.

After that, he didn't dare eat like that again and became much more refined.

Qin Lin didn't say anything. Although she wanted Xu Qing to feel at ease, it still wasn't the right time to bring it up.

That evening, Qin Lin ordered another lavish meal, and Xu Qing ate his fill.

That night, Xu Qing lay in bed. It feels pretty much the same as being at home. Oh, right, I still haven't talked to her about rent. She's been feeding me so well and giving me such a nice place to stay. I should pay her more. I can't let her lose out.

I have to remember to bring it up tomorrow.

The next morning, Xu Qing got up the instant his alarm went off. He didn't want Qin Lin to find out that he liked sleeping in.

Qin Lin had the staff bring breakfast up again, and it was just as delicious.

After breakfast, Qin Lin took Xu Qing to school.

"Xiao Qing, how do you like staying at Teacher Qin's house?" Xu Xin asked.

Xu Qing thought for a moment. "It's pretty good. Her house is big, with lots of rooms, and the food's great. Oh, right, Sister Xin, I should pay more rent."

"I'll take care of the rent," Xu Xin said.

Seeing that Xu Qing had settled in comfortably, she felt reassured. Now all that remained was to see whether their relationship would develop.

Time flew by, and before long it was the end of December.

At the beginning of the month, a major incident had occurred in Jiangnan Base City: a War God had fallen.

People said he had run into a rat tide in the Wilderness Zone and fought until he was completely exhausted, dying in battle. The news had shocked all of Jiangnan Base City.

One evening, as Xu Xin and Xu Qing strolled around campus, Xu Qing glanced around and frowned. "Sister Xin, why are there always people hanging around us? Who are they?"

"They're probably from the Wang Family. Ignore them," Xu Xin said, pretending not to notice.

"The Wang Family? Are they people sent by that young master? It's so annoying, like we're being watched. And he's not a good person, either. If he dares to make a move on you, Sister Xin, I'll beat him to death." Xu Qing clenched his fists.

"Xiao Qing, don't do anything reckless," Xu Xin said, shaking her head.

He was only one young master of the Wang Family, and she didn't take him too seriously. There were plenty of young masters in the Wang Family. Even if he had his eye on her, she didn't have to marry him.

Besides, he hadn't come from Kyoto Base City to Jiangnan Base City just for her. He was after the Xu Family behind her.

He wanted the Xu Family to join his faction and become a bargaining chip in his bid to become the Wang Family's heir. So he would inevitably have to treat her, a daughter of the Xu Family, with courtesy.

To achieve his goal, he had sent people to linger around her, probably hoping to drive away any men who tried to get close to her.

It was certainly an irritating way to go about things. Unfortunately, Xu Xin didn't have many male friends to begin with, and Luo Feng wasn't at school either.

"Sister Xin, aren't you angry?" Xu Qing asked in surprise.

"What's there to be angry about? Let him do what he wants. It won't affect me anyway. But you, Xiao Qing—if he comes looking for you, don't engage with him," Xu Xin cautioned.

"If he comes looking for me, I'll beat him up," Xu Qing said with a pout.

On his very first day after transferring to Jiangnan University, that young master of the Wang Family had come straight to find Xu Xin, making a huge scene and acting arrogant and overbearing.

He had even said that Xu Xin was the woman he had his eye on, and that anyone who dared get close to her would have their legs broken.

Xu Qing had wanted to break the man's legs right then and there. What kind of nonsense was this Wang Family young master spouting? Did he really think he was somebody just because he had a few War General Level bodyguards?

Without those bodyguards, he was a weakling. Without his status as a young master of the Wang Family, he'd be nothing more than an ant that could be crushed at will.

"Come on, forget about someone like him. How have you been getting along at Teacher Qin's lately? Have you gotten used to it?" Xu Xin asked, changing the subject.

"Yeah, I've gotten used to it. It's just... how do I put it... never mind," Xu Qing said, scratching his head.

"Is there something you can't tell me? Did something interesting happen? Then you should definitely tell me about it," Xu Xin said with a smile, clearly teasing him.

Xu Qing gave her a sidelong glance. "Sister Xin, are you hoping to laugh at me? You'll be disappointed. Nothing happened."

"Really?" Xu Xin asked skeptically. Xu Qing had been staying at Qin Lin's for over a month, so surely something had happened.

Or had Qin Lin really been perfectly proper the whole time, never once showing Xu Qing how she felt?

If so, that was a little... frustrating. Xu Xin was hoping the two of them would make some progress.

After all, Qin Lin was the girlfriend she had picked out for her silly younger brother, Xu Qing.