Chapter 75: A Family Connection

“Where are we going?”
Ling Qiu asked calmly.

“To somewhere we can talk privately!” Qin Siyao noticed the curious stares all around and felt a twinge of annoyance; she disliked being the center of attention.

“We can talk here,” Ling Qiu replied, still indifferent. “Zhao Dezhu, step aside for a moment.”

“Huh?” Zhao Dezhu hadn’t caught on yet. He stared blankly at Ling Qiu, then at the stunning beauty beside him, his emotions a tangled mess of envy and shock.

My goodness…

Such a gorgeous woman—she actually…

Knows Ling Qiu?

And judging by their conversation and demeanor, it seems this beautiful woman is the one pursuing Ling Qiu!

Zhao Dezhu looked at Ling Qiu with pure admiration, nearly unable to resist calling him master on the spot.

“Master, what did you just say?”

Ling Qiu: ???

Master?

“I told you to step aside.”

“Oh, oh!” Zhao Dezhu hurriedly shuffled back half a meter, but continued to watch Ling Qiu and Qin Siyao with eager eyes.

Ling Qiu: …

Qin Siyao: …

“Forget it, let’s find somewhere else to talk.” Ling Qiu couldn’t help but smile. Truth be told, the blazing sun made this place far from ideal for conversation. Although he and Qin Siyao were barely acquaintances, since she had sought him out, she must have something important to say. Might as well hear her out.

Thus, under the amazed gazes of the crowd, Ling Qiu and Qin Siyao walked side by side off the sports field.

—

At the school gate, they found a rather quiet café.

“What would you like to drink?”

“Anything.”

“Two lattes, then.”

Before long, the coffee arrived. Ling Qiu showed no intention of drinking, instead absorbed in his phone.

Qin Siyao’s brows furrowed slightly. “Are you planning to keep pretending you don’t know me?”

Ling Qiu didn’t look up. “I truly don’t.”

“…Heh, you’re right, we’ve only met once.” Qin Siyao had been studying Ling Qiu intently, but no matter how she looked, she couldn’t see through him.

She had recalled countless times the way Ling Qiu saved her grandfather, and after some investigation, she believed most likely Ling Qiu was versed in ancient Chinese medicine. In that tradition, there was a mysterious lineage that used breath to heal patients.

This seemed the most plausible explanation to her.

But after digging deeper, she found Ling Qiu had no record of medical training whatsoever. So she guessed he must have a mysterious past unknown to anyone.

“I know you have some abilities, but there’s no need to be so arrogant.” Qin Siyao, seeing Ling Qiu wasn’t going to ask, went straight to the point: “I’m here to tell you, don’t think saving my grandfather gives you free rein. Our Qin family will remember your kindness and offer help, but if you keep stirring up trouble, one day, even we won’t be able to protect you.”

Ling Qiu: ???

“Sorry to interrupt.” Ling Qiu smiled. “What makes you so deeply misunderstand me?”

“Misunderstand you? How?”

“You think I need your Qin family’s… assistance.”

“Heh.” Qin Siyao shook her head with a smile. “Perhaps you don’t realize—back at the Sky Garden in Jiang’an City, you nearly died inside. If I hadn’t stepped in, called in a favor, do you think you could have walked out unscathed and unbothered?”

“Believe me,” Ling Qiu suddenly said, “the one you saved that night wasn’t me, but those who crossed me in the Sky Garden.”

It was the truth.

If Qin Siyao hadn’t contacted Sister Zhizi and suddenly ordered his release, anyone trying to stop Ling Qiu that night would have been crushed beneath his feet.

Qin Siyao: ???

This Ling Qiu… was he overly confident, or simply naive, unaware of the dangers lurking beyond the obvious?

Ling Qiu shook his head. “That woman was right; your skills are too shallow. Confidence is good, but don’t let it become hubris.”

The “woman” he referred to was clearly Sister Zhizi.

Qin Siyao didn’t notice this detail, instead retorting, “Don’t be overconfident?—Shouldn’t I be telling you that?”

“Suit yourself.” Ling Qiu had no patience for argument. He stood up. “Remember, I, Ling Qiu, need nothing from your Qin family. Let me repeat: I never intended to save your grandfather; it was merely a coincidence. So, don’t trouble yourself—don’t bother me again, understand?”

With that, he turned and walked away.

Qin Siyao hadn’t expected the conversation to end so abruptly—and with such a conclusion!

“Wait!” Qin Siyao called after Ling Qiu, hurried forward, and pulled a bank card from her purse. “There are twenty million in this account; the password is three sixes, three eights. I know you’re the abandoned son of the Ling family, with no support—this is a fortune for you now. We Qin family members don’t like owing favors. Don’t think I enjoy keeping an eye on you; I just want to repay your kindness. If you don’t want our help, take the money.”

Ling Qiu paused, squinting at Qin Siyao without speaking.

Qin Siyao hesitated, then said, “Is it not enough?”

After a moment’s thought, she took out a black card. “This one holds fifty million! Same password. Both cards are yours—consider it our Qin family’s repayment.”

In truth, to Qin Siyao, her grandfather’s life was priceless.

She wouldn’t flinch even if she gave Ling Qiu a hundred million.

But in reality, heirs of great families may be wealthy, but most assets are tied up in property, businesses, and shares; liquid funds are limited.

These two cards were her entire available cash.

“Take them!” Qin Siyao shoved the cards into Ling Qiu’s pocket.

At this moment, Ling Qiu’s brow finally furrowed.

He silently took the two cards from his pocket and handed them back to Qin Siyao.

What did that mean?

Refused?

For some reason, at that moment Ling Qiu seemed to radiate a faintly oppressive aura.

“What I give, I never take back.”

“Fine.” Ling Qiu said coldly, then gripped the cards in his hand—crushing them into countless fragments.

“You… what are you doing?!”

Ling Qiu turned, walking out without a backward glance, and threw one last chilling remark behind him: “It’s rare for me to truly dislike someone. But now, when I see you, I feel nothing but disgust. Don’t let me see you again.”

Bang.

He left, closing the door.

Leaving Qin Siyao alone, staring in disbelief at the shattered remains of the cards on the floor.

Her mind buzzed.

Ling Qiu’s parting words were like a heavy hammer, smashing into her heart.

Disgust?

Having grown up always surrounded by admiration and praise, Qin Siyao had never heard a man say…

He hated her.