Around noon, a knock sounded at the door.
Was it Yanfei? Or Shenhe? Qin Yu wiped her hands on her apron and went to open the door.
"Are you... Ah—!"
Two figures stood before the door. One was Yanfei, of course, and the other was Shenhe, whom Qin Yu had been eagerly awaiting.
Finally! Qin Yu thought. It's still a bit surreal to see them together.
One was a half-Adeptus, while the other, though not an Adeptus herself, was a disciple of the Adeptus Clan who seemed more Adeptus-like than many actual Adepti. It was a pity that this rented apartment was so ordinary, hardly befitting their status.
Shenhe spoke calmly, "As you instructed, I inquired about your address and found it. I've been waiting for some time."
"Welcome! Did you encounter any trouble on the way?"
"Yes, but I resolved it."
Yanfei, standing beside them, tilted her head in confusion. "Hmm?"
Ha?
Qin Yu asked, "Re-resolved it? What does that mean?"
"Someone kept bothering me, asking if I wanted to 'play' with them. I ignored them, but then they tried to grab my hand, so I knocked them unconscious. Don't worry, no one else noticed."
It was just a pick-up attempt!
Unexpected, yet perfectly understandable. After all, Shenhe had a stunning figure, a beautiful face, and her white hair added an air of mystery and otherworldly grace that made her exceptionally captivating. Even other women would turn their heads to admire her.
Of course, I'm not that kind of woman!
While it was perfectly understandable that Shenhe would be approached, Qin Yu inexplicably felt annoyed and uncomfortable.
When she heard that Shenhe had knocked out all the harassers, her first reaction was relief. If she didn't need to maintain her composure, Qin Yu would have clapped and cheered.
You did great! The annoyance in her heart vanished, leaving her feeling refreshed.
But she still needed to say what had to be said.
Qin Yu asked worriedly, "Are you hurt?"
"No."
"That's good! I don't want to see you get hurt, Shenhe... If something like this happens again, please seek help from the Millelith."
Shenhe tilted her head in confusion. "Why? Wouldn't it be better to just deal with the troublemakers directly?"
Whoa, that's such a classic response.
Qin Yu patiently explained, "Because that minimizes the complications afterward!"
Yanfei agreed in principle, but something still felt off. Would most people really consider that first? Still, it was best to keep quiet for now.
Shenhe remained puzzled. "I don't quite understand, but if you say so, I'll do as you ask."
"Ahaha... Yes, let's do that. If you can't find the Millelith and there are other people nearby, you can shout for help. Someone will come!"
"Of course, if you're ever in real danger, prioritize your own safety," Qin Yu added.
Shenhe nodded thoughtfully. "I understand."
Qin Yu had been looking forward to showing Shenhe a good time during this rare trip down the mountain, but they'd run into trouble as soon as they entered the city. Tsk.
Fortunately, Shenhe didn't seem bothered.
Seeing the conversation winding down, Yanfei spoke up. "Is this Miss Qin's friend?"
"Yes," Shenhe replied.
Why did you have to answer so quickly?
Qin Yu smiled. "She's my dear friend, Shenhe. Shenhe, this is Miss Yanfei, also a friend of mine. Let's not stand in the doorway. Please come in—lunch is ready!"
Yanfei had been about to introduce herself, but decided it could wait until they were inside. More importantly, she was hungry. She accepted Qin Yu's invitation.
"Thank you for having me," Yanfei said as she entered the house.
Shenhe, however, remained outside, gazing at the house with an unreadable expression.
Could she be thinking this place is a bit shabby...?Impossible. If we're talking about shabbiness, Shenhe's own place takes the cake.
Lost in her own thoughts, Qin Yu asked, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Shenhe replied. "It's just my first time visiting a friend's home, and I wanted to take a good look."
What's so interesting about this place? Qin Yu wondered. It's not even a real home. Just a rented room for one person.
What kind of home is it if you'd be kicked out the moment you couldn't pay the rent? Qin Yu sighed inwardly.
"It's not really a home, just a place to stay," Qin Yu said. "Alright, alright, stop standing there. Come on in." She took Shenhe's hand and pulled her inside.
Shenhe let Qin Yu lead her.
When they first entered the city, they were met with crowded streets and then approached by people trying to strike up conversations. Though her expression remained impassive, Shenhe, who disliked crowded places, felt a flicker of annoyance.
The power of the Red Rope was limited. If she couldn't control herself, she would inevitably cause trouble.
Therefore, she needed to cultivate her mind and body, purging all distractions.
Logically, she should have found a secluded place to meditate or practice other methods to completely calm the restlessness in her heart. But remembering that Qin Yu might have been waiting for her, she came straight here instead.
With her hand held, Qin Yu's heart unexpectedly calmed.
"Incredible..." Shenhe murmured.
"Hmm? What's incredible?"
"Your hand... it calmed my heart."
"Ha? Uh, is that... is that so?"
What's wrong with this woman? It's just a hand-hold! Others simply hold your hand, and you're thinking about things like this? Really... Wait a minute.
Why does it smell like something's burning?
Yanfei said awkwardly, "I think... maybe... perhaps... it's possible that... the dish is burnt."
Qin Yu buried her face in her hands.
I forgot I was still cooking!
Whether it was luck or misfortune, the dish was burnt but still edible.
But serving burnt food to a guest? That was unacceptable. So Qin Yu pretended to throw it away, secretly stashing it away to finish later herself.
The taste must be awful.
Qin Yu chewed on her chopsticks, eyeing the remaining delicacies on the table. Her mind, however, was occupied with the imagined dryness and smoky flavor of the burnt dish...
Perhaps this minor misfortune was the price for gaining Yanfei as another major source of points.
Unlike Qin Yu, who was all smiles on the surface but inwardly miserable, Yanfei was genuinely delighted.
"This tofu and shrimp soup is absolutely delicious! I really think Miss Qin has the potential to become a great chef."
Shenhe ate quietly.
Qin Yu asked anxiously, "What do you think, Shenhe?"
"It tastes just like that day. I like it very much."
Why does she have to bring up that day?
Wait, why hasn't the System popped up with an evaluation yet?
Is it bugging out again? Or does this not count? Ha? Even after such blatant praise? And this woman has been throwing me off my game since we started.
"I'm so glad you both enjoy it. By the way, let's take this opportunity to introduce ourselves. You're both my friends, and I hope you'll get along well!"
Shenhe looked up and met Yanfei's gaze.
"Shenhe, disciple of the Adeptus Clan," she said with a flat expression, nodding in greeting.
Her emotional range is really limited... Yanfei thought, then cheerfully replied, "Hello, hello! I'm Yanfei, Liyue's top legal expert! Here's my business card—please take it!"
Shenhe accepted Yanfei's nameplate, studied it for a moment, and then put it away.
Seeing this, Yanfei smiled. "If you ever encounter any legal difficulties, feel free to consult me! Also, I'm currently Miss Qin's protector, so please look after me in the future."
"Protector?" Shenhe's interest was piqued.
"Yes, due to certain circumstances, I'm serving as her protector for now."
If she needs a protector, she must be in danger.
Then why didn't she come to me? Shenhe turned to Qin Yu, silently posing the question. Is there some special reason?
Qin Yu, meanwhile, was puzzled by Shenhe's gaze. What's going on? She looks like she wants to say something...
Shenhe withdrew her gaze and stated firmly, "She has my protection."
Yanfei raised an eyebrow. "Hmm?"