Qin Siyang asked curiously, "How do you seem to know everything?"
A trace of disappointment appeared in Wen Shu's eyes, and the curve of her lips looked a little forced, "If I really knew everything, that would be nice."
Seeing that his question had dampened Wen Shu's mood, Qin Siyang immediately changed the subject, "What have you been reading lately?"
"The Psychoanalysis of Fire."
"The spirit of fire? What's that? Some kind of supernatural novel?"
Wen Shu casually tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and smiled, "Mm, it is."
"Is that book popular these days?"
"It's pretty niche. I'm just reading it for fun. By the way, have you seen Li Pengfei recently?"
When Wen Shu brought up Li Pengfei, Qin Siyang found himself missing that clever little boy.
"His dad's back now and takes great care of him, so I haven't had a chance to see him."
"Alright. If you get the chance, could you give this reading list to Professor Li? Li Pengfei asked me for it last time, and I only just finished putting it together."
Qin Siyang stared at the two sheets of A4 paper in Wen Shu's hand.
"That many books? It'll take him forever to finish them!"
"Kids have plenty of time. They read fast. It won't take that long."
"Alright. Anyway, I'm not the one reading them."
Qin Siyang tucked the papers away, didn't think much more about it, and continued enjoying dinner with Wen Shu.
———
[September 14, 2010, Blue Star Calendar]
[Tuesday]
[Lunar Calendar: Gengyin Year, Eighth Month, Seventh Day. Auspicious for bathing and demolishing walls. Avoid all other activities.]
As soon as Qin Siyang got up that morning, Zhao Longfei called him to the office.
Both Zhao Longfei and Lin Yaman were there. Qin Siyang became a bit more reserved.
Looking puzzled, he asked, "Principal Zhao, weren't you going to the Tranquil Night Chamber of Commerce to ransom your people? How did you get back in just one day?"
"The whole point of the ransom was to lure me away. Now that Quan Taibin has disappeared, there's no point anymore. We talked for a bit, and they released everyone."
"The United Government?"
"I won't say it outright. You already know. Oh, and the people from the Tranquil Night Chamber of Commerce have all been arrested. The entire organization has been wiped out. I'll have them interrogated for a couple of days, then I'll tell you who was behind the attempt on your life."
"Alright. Thank you, Principal Zhao."
Zhao Longfei wore an irritated expression, "Thank me for what? We couldn't even handle something this small properly. Makes me feel like I can't even hold my head up in front of you."
Qin Siyang smiled faintly, "If you can't hold it up, then don't. I prefer the humble and courteous Principal Zhao anyway."
"Get lost. One more thing. We couldn't read Lin Cheng's memories. The Samsara Church planted a countermeasure in his brain against memory reading. If we hadn't taken proper precautions, the person reading his memories probably would've become a vegetable."
Qin Siyang's eyes widened, "They can do that?"
Zhao Longfei sighed, "The Samsara Church has some real experts. Zou Yuan's brain probably has the same kind of protection. Tell Professor Li and the others to give up."
"Alright."
Qin Siyang nodded, unable to hide his disappointment.
"Principal Zhao, anything else? If not, I'm going to class. Today's Professor Lu's lecture on God-Hunting equipment. I can't skip it."
"One more thing. Secretary Lin just got back. She wanted to thank you in person."
Qin Siyang turned toward Lin Yaman.
From the moment he walked into the office, she had been staring at him.
It made him feel uncomfortable all over.
Lin Yaman sat down beside Qin Siyang and said gently, "Student Qin, may I call you 'Little Qin' like Principal Zhao does?"
Qin Siyang shifted awkwardly in his seat, "Uh... sure. Call me whatever you like, Secretary Lin."
"Little Qin, thank you. Truly, thank you so, so much."
"It was nothing, really..."
"No, it meant everything to me!", Lin Yaman shook her head, "You don't know this, but my father's death has been a shadow I've never been able to escape. I've dreamed of killing that bastard Lin Cheng for years!"
As she spoke, hatred flashed through her eyes, "It's a shame I never had the ability to find him, much less kill him. It's all thanks to you, Little Qin!"
Lin Yaman said apologetically, "Little Qin, my sequence ability is rather rare, but it can't really help you. I don't have anything of value now, and I don't even know how to repay you."
A hint of helplessness appeared in her expression, "If I were twenty years younger, I might've offered myself to you."
Zhao Longfei's eyes went wide. He was just about to stop her when Qin Siyang frantically waved his hands and immediately replied, "No! No! No! Secretary Lin! You can't repay kindness with revenge!"
Lin Yaman froze. She hadn't expected Qin Siyang to reject her so bluntly.
Qin Siyang hadn't given Lin Yaman any face, and Zhao Longfei didn't give Qin Siyang any either. He immediately smacked him on the back of the head.
Glowering at him, he scolded, "What kind of nonsense are you spouting? Secretary Lin is exceptional in looks, character, temperament, ideals, and wisdom! She's one in a thousand! How is that repaying kindness with revenge?"
Rubbing the back of his head, Qin Siyang glared back.
"Don't lecture me! Haven't you ever heard that everyone has their own tastes? I admit Secretary Lin is a good person, but does that mean I have to like her? There are plenty of good women in the world. Do I have to like every single one of them?"
Zhao Longfei still looked furious, "Secretary Lin isn't just any good woman! Ordinary good women aren't even close to her!"
Qin Siyang shouted back, "If she's that great, then why don't you marry her?"
"Why would I have to mar—Huh?"
Zhao Longfei had never expected Qin Siyang to throw that back at him, and he froze.
When fools argue, it's all about momentum.
The moment he hesitated, all his momentum vanished.
Seeing that, Qin Siyang couldn't help laughing, "Zhao Longfei, I'm single, and you're single too. You can teach me a thing or two about schemes and tricks, but what the hell can you teach me about romance?"
"..."
Zhao Longfei was about to say something to defend himself and salvage a bit of dignity.
But when he noticed the resentful look in Lin Yaman's eyes, he got stuck.
He scratched the scar on his scalp and said nothing.
Lin Yaman turned to Qin Siyang instead.
"Little Qin, don't argue with Principal Zhao. I was only joking. I've already prepared a gift to thank you for helping me avenge my father."
As she spoke, she took an exquisite red cloth box from her pocket.
Qin Siyang opened it.
Inside was an IOU.
The Qi Legion owes Mr. Lin Jiancheng 3 gold coins.
Holding the box, Qin Siyang asked in confusion, "Secretary Lin, this is..."
Before he could finish, Zhao Longfei snatched it away, "Secretary Lin, this is your lucky charm. You can't give it to him!"
"Lucky charm?", Lin Yaman adjusted her glasses and asked with a hint of reproach, "What? You can't protect me?"
[T/N: New fanfic chat—"Genshin Impact: Just Another Guy who Transmigrated". Currently, it has a Powerstones Goal for 5 bonus chapters. It ends on Monday, so rain those Powerstones.]