Chapter 45: I Will Marry No One But You!

“So, can you tell me the origin of that tattoo now?” Ling Qiu asked directly.

“What tattoo?” Sister Gardenia smiled charmingly. “I don’t quite understand what you’re talking about.”

Ling Qiu’s brows knitted. This woman could turn on a dime, faster than flipping a page. Just moments ago she’d spoken about the tattoo, and now she acted as if she’d forgotten entirely?

Noticing Ling Qiu’s expression, Sister Gardenia blew out a puff of smoke, grinning. “No need to look at me like that. That tattoo on Xiao Zhou’s body isn’t just interesting to you—I've always been quite curious about it myself.”

Ling Qiu: ???

Sister Gardenia laughed softly. “Xiao Zhou used to be a mercenary, and now he works for me. On the day I first met him, he already had that tattoo. I’ve asked him about it, but he has no recollection whatsoever. So, the reason I called you here wasn’t to tell you anything, but rather…”

She turned her chair to face Ling Qiu head-on. “I wanted you to tell me how much you know about the origins of that tattoo.”

“You... are you playing games with me?” Ling Qiu said.

Sister Gardenia smiled mildly. “I don’t need to play games. Lying and scheming are the tactics of the weak. Rest assured, kid, with your background and skills, I have no need to waste my efforts on you.”

She paused, then continued. “In Jiangnan Province, many experts have that same tattoo. I’ve investigated—these experts share one thing in common: none of them know the origin of the tattoo on their bodies. So, many people are curious about it. Countless powerful figures are secretly investigating this matter.”

Ling Qiu stared intently into her eyes. He was certain she wasn’t lying. Thinking back, when he’d questioned Xiao Zhou about the tattoo, the young man had genuinely looked bewildered—he clearly didn’t know its origin either.

Given this, Ling Qiu felt somewhat disappointed. He’d thought he’d found a new lead on the evil spirits, but this trail had snapped before he could follow it further.

Well, it was just a shot in the dark anyway. He hadn’t really expected ordinary people to know much about such mysterious matters.

“In that case, I’ll take my leave,” Ling Qiu said, rising with little enthusiasm and turning to go.

“Wait.” Sister Gardenia called him back.

“What is it?”

“You haven’t thanked me yet.”

Ling Qiu smiled. “If I’m not mistaken, your intervention today was because of the Qin family, right? So if I must thank anyone, it should be them, not you.”

“No, no.” Sister Gardenia said, “I meant the matter of the tattoo.”

“What do you mean?”

“Secrets like this aren’t for the curiosity of someone with a simple background like you. You should be grateful you met me today. If you'd encountered some other big shot... you might just be a corpse right now.”

“Is that so?” Ling Qiu turned, half-smiling. “Then you should thank me as well.”

“Thank you? For what?”

“Because if I hadn’t shown restraint today, your club would already be a pile of rubble.”

With that, Ling Qiu pushed open the door and left.

The door closed with a thud. Sister Gardenia was stunned for two seconds, then smiled, pursing her lips. She shook her head slightly, amused. Over the years, Ling Qiu was the first man to dare speak to her like that. What made it more interesting was that Ling Qiu was still just a young student!

However, Sister Gardenia glanced toward the security monitor behind the bar. She’d watched clearly as Ling Qiu had subdued Xiao Zhou in the fourth-floor lounge. His skills were truly remarkable.

“This kid has such abilities and is so curious about the tattoo’s origin... Could it be... he and Xiao Zhou are the same kind of people?”

A bold speculation flickered through her mind, and her smile grew even more alluring.

“What a pity—I forgot to have him take off his shirt and check if he has that tattoo as well.”

...

In the days that followed, sunlight poured down. After a few good nights’ sleep, the students and teachers who’d been frightened in the Sky Garden recovered their usual composure. It was as if everything that had happened was nothing but a dream.

Such is human nature. If someone spends every day in uneventful routine, then suddenly experiences something extraordinary, after a while they begin to doubt whether it really happened at all.

To be honest, Ling Qiu felt somewhat the same. At this moment, heading toward the exam hall, he recalled his brief encounter with that fairy-like Sister Gardenia and felt it had all been trivial.

Investigations, conspiracies both overt and hidden, schemes and struggles, endless bloodshed—he’d grown weary of such days during his years in the Underworld.

He much preferred a simple, joyful life. How delightful to be a free-spirited student!

For example...

In the first Chinese exam, he was the first to hand in his paper. Thirty minutes was all it took to answer every question, and then, under a mix of complex gazes from the entire room, he exited with style. It felt wonderful.

In the second math exam, again he was the first to finish. The third, the fourth... For two days straight, he was always the first to hand in his paper. Each time, precisely thirty minutes—no more, no less.

He was timing himself, after all...

In truth, if he wanted, he could have finished in ten minutes.

But... he had to consider the feelings of the other candidates, didn’t he?

After the last exam ended, Ling Qiu left the hall and went to the candidates’ lounge. According to exam regulations, since others were still testing, phones couldn’t be used there, so he closed his eyes to rest and quietly gathered his energy.

Unknowingly, half an hour passed.

“Ling Qiu!”

Someone called his name. Ling Qiu opened his eyes to see Shen Meng enter the lounge.

“Shen Meng?—It’s only been an hour, and you’re already done?”

Shen Meng stuck out her tongue. “I’m really bad at this subject, so staying longer would just be a waste of time…”

Actually, only the first half of her words were true. The real reason was that she’d seen Ling Qiu passing by the window from her seat in the exam hall.

Since her mother was discharged a few days ago, she hadn’t seen Ling Qiu again, and in her heart... she missed him a little.

Shen Meng sat beside Ling Qiu, hesitated for a while, then finally spoke. “Um... I wanted to ask you something.”

“What is it?”

“Which university do you plan to apply to?”

Ling Qiu shook his head. “I haven’t decided yet. What about you?”

Shen Meng said shyly, “I’m dragging my score down in this subject... I don’t dare aim for the best schools. I’m planning to apply to Jiangnan University, and with my art major results, I should be able to get in…”

If other candidates overheard this, they’d probably faint on the spot. Jiangnan University wasn't exactly a top-tier school nationally, but it was quite prestigious in Jiangnan Province!

Still, Shen Meng was a model student—even if she lagged in one subject, her other scores and art specialty would easily secure her a place at Jiangnan University.

“You’re planning to go to Jiangnan University?”

“Yep! What about you? Have you thought about it?”

Ling Qiu smiled gently. “No need to consider any further.—I’ll go to Jiangnan University too.”

“Huh?” Shen Meng stared at Ling Qiu in disbelief, quickly saying, “Don’t joke around, Ling Qiu... I really want to know which university you want to attend, so when I fill in my application, I’ll have a reference... Honestly, I’m not that confident about Jiangnan University myself…”

As she spoke, her cheeks flushed a little...

In truth, deep down, she longed to go to the same university as Ling Qiu. It was just... she knew Ling Qiu’s grades had always been poor, so Jiangnan University probably wasn’t likely for him.

“I’m not joking.” Ling Qiu suddenly grew serious, looking at Shen Meng. “Wherever you go, I’ll go. From now on, I’ll stick with you, so you’ll have to look after me.”

“Haha!! You really dare to dream! Do you honestly think... Jiangnan University is a place for a loser like you?”

Just then, a grating voice rang out.

Looking up, they saw a chubby, arrogant boy with glasses strutting into the lounge.

Shen Meng was taken aback. “Qiu Biaolian?”