Surveillance

In the room, Qin Lin sat down gently beside the sleeping Xu Qing, her eyes filled with an inexplicable tenderness.

She felt that a warm atmosphere had permeated her home, making her no longer feel that the house was empty and cold.

"So, after falling for someone, they become exceptionally bright and warm in your eyes, as if they are the center of the world," Qin Lin murmured.

For the first time in over twenty years, her heart felt such a flutter, and the object of her affection was a young man nearly ten years her junior.

"Qin Lin, oh Qin Lin, you really are..." Qin Lin whispered to herself.

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

"Ah, no, I fell asleep," Xu Qing sat up abruptly, the surrounding environment reminding him that he was currently in Qin Lin's home.

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

"You're up. Are you hungry? If you are, I'll have them send a meal up immediately," Qin Lin said gently when she saw him emerge.

Xu Qing smiled awkwardly, "No need, I'm not hungry yet."

Then, he walked over to the balcony and sat down as well.

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

"This is a novel. If you want to read, there are more on the bookshelf. There are many other types of books there, too; you can pick whatever you like," Qin Lin noticed his small movements and smiled.

Xu Qing looked to the side and saw, sure enough, a row of bookshelves filled with many books.

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

As it turned out, the more he read, the more he started to doze off; clearly, he had no interest in novels—even less than he had for his classes.

Shaking his head, Xu Qing put the novel back, sat down, and began to stare blankly into space.

Seeing him like this, Qin Lin found it somewhat amusing and called the service staff to send up some refreshments.

The meal arrived quickly, consisting of very exquisite food.

"The food here is quite good; you should try some," Qin Lin said.

Xu Qing picked up a piece and took a bite; the taste was indeed excellent, and he couldn't help but reveal his true colors, using both hands at once to dig in.

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

Watching Xu Qing with cream all over his mouth, Qin Lin couldn't hold back and burst into laughter; he looked just like a greedy little kitten.

Xu Qing felt incredibly embarrassed, but he pretended to be thick-skinned, acting calm as he used a napkin to wipe his mouth and hands clean.

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

Qin Lin didn't say anything; although she wanted Xu Qing to be more relaxed, it wasn't easy to bring up right now.

When evening came, Qin Lin ordered a luxurious feast, and Xu Qing ate his fill.

At night, lying in bed, Xu Qing thought, It feels about the same as being at home. Right, I still haven't talked to her about the rent. She's letting me eat so well and stay in such a nice place; I definitely need to pay more so she doesn't lose out.

I must remember this tomorrow.

The next morning, Xu Qing got up the moment his alarm went off; he didn't want Qin Lin to know he liked to sleep in.

Breakfast was again sent up by Qin Lin, and it was just as delicious.

After breakfast, Qin Lin took Xu Qing to school.

"Xiao Qing, how does it feel living at Teacher Qin's house?" Xu Xin asked.

Xu Qing thought for a moment, "It's quite good. Her house is very big with many rooms, and the food is great. Oh, Sister Xin, I need to pay more rent."

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

Seeing that Xu Qing wasn't uncomfortable, she felt relieved. Now, it was just a matter of whether their relationship would develop.

Time flew by until the end of December.

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

It was said that he had run into a rat tide in the wilderness and fought until he died of exhaustion, shocking the entire Jiangnan Base City.

That evening, while Xu Xin and Xu Qing were walking around the school, Xu Qing scanned the surroundings and frowned, "Sister Xin, why are there always people hanging around us? Who are they?"

"They are likely from the Wang Family. Just ignore them," Xu Xin said, pretending not to see them.

"The Wang Family? Is it the people sent by that young master from the Wang Family? This is so annoying, it's like being monitored. Besides, he's not a good person. If he dares to have designs on you, Sister Xin, I'll beat him to a pulp," Xu Qing said, clenching his fists.

"Xiao Qing, don't do anything rash," Xu Xin shook her head.

He was just a young master of the Wang Family, and she didn't take him too seriously. There was more than one young master in the Wang Family, and even if he had taken a fancy to her, she wasn't forced to marry him.

Moreover, the other party hadn't come from Kyoto Base City to Jiangnan Base City for her, but for the Xu Family behind her.

The man wanted to bring the Xu Family under his banner to serve as a bargaining chip for his succession to the head of the Wang Family, so he naturally had to be polite to her, the daughter of the Xu Family.

To achieve his goal, he had sent people to hover around her, likely wanting to drive away any men she came into contact with.

This method was indeed annoying, but 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, surprised.

"What is there to be angry about? Let him toss and turn however he likes; it doesn't affect me anyway. But you, Xiao Qing, if he comes looking for you, don't pay him any mind," Xu Xin cautioned.

"If he dares to come looking for me, I'll carve him up," Xu Qing curled his lip.

That young master of the Wang Family had come knocking the very first day he transferred to Jiangnan University, and he had done so with such fanfare, wearing an expression of arrogance and unbridled insolence.

He even went as far as to say that Xu Xin was someone he had set his sights on, and that he would break the legs of anyone who dared to get close to her.

Hearing that made Xu Qing want to break the guy's legs right then and there. What kind of bullsh*t young master of the Wang Family was he? Did he really think that just because he had a few War General-level bodyguards by his side, he was actually someone important?

Without those bodyguards, he was nothing but a weakling, and if he didn't have the status of a Wang Family young master, he would be even less than an ant that could be crushed at will.

"Alright, don't worry about that kind of person. How have you been living at Teacher Qin's place lately? Are you getting used to it?" Xu Xin changed the subject.

"Mm, I'm quite used to it. It's just... how should I put it... it's nothing, really," Xu Qing scratched his head.

"Is there something you can't tell me? Did something interesting happen? If so, you should tell me even more," Xu Xin laughed, her tone playful.

Xu Qing glanced at her sideways. "Sister Xin, are you trying to make a joke out of me? If so, you're going to be disappointed—nothing happened."

"Really?" Xu Xin didn't believe him. Xu Qing had been living at Qin Lin's place for over a month now; there had to be some developments, right?

Or could it be that Qin Lin had truly been behaving herself the entire time, without ever expressing her feelings to Xu Qing at all?

If that were the case, it would be just a bit too... frustrating. Xu Xin actually quite hoped that the two of them would make some progress.

After all, Qin Lin was the girlfriend she had handpicked for her foolish younger brother, Xu Qing.