0130: The Young Lady Demanding an Update

Following Chu Fengyi downstairs, Xu Lin encountered two elderly men who often played chess in the neighborhood park. Xu Lin greeted them casually.

Unexpectedly, both waved toward Chu Fengyi and said, “Young lady, next time we won’t lose.”

“All right,” she replied.

Once they were out of earshot, Xu Lin turned to Chu Fengyi. “You still enjoy playing chess?”

“Yes, but I’m no match for Chu Qingchan. To put it simply, Chu Qingchan outshines me in badminton, chess… and even in physique.”

“Then you’re better at acting than she is? I mean now; she really wasn’t good at acting before.”

“...” Chu Fengyi rolled her eyes at him and then quickened her pace, leaving him behind.

They reached the sixth floor, and Xu Lin knocked on Chu Qingchan’s door. It opened—not by Chu Qingchan, but by Ji Yun, who was still in her school uniform, just having returned home.

“Xu Lin, I was just about to call you. You went out last night and didn’t come back all night.”

“I thought something had happened to you, but I couldn’t reach you. Sister Chu was really worried.”

“Sorry, sorry, I’ll explain later.”

Ji Yun’s tone carried a hint of displeasure, but she wasn’t the type to cause trouble. She looked at Chu Fengyi and still nodded politely.

“Teacher Chu, did you just get back today?”

“Yes. Is my sister not home?”

“She went to Teacher Guan’s place.”

“Your sister really trusts you—she didn’t even give me, her own younger sister, a key.”

Chu Fengyi launched straight into accusations, but Ji Yun remained calm, smiling gently.

“Sister Chu thinks you’re too busy and don’t come by often. If you need, I can lend you this set of keys for now.”

“No need. Let’s talk inside.” Chu Fengyi waved her off coldly and stepped inside.

This girl was definitely not easy to deal with. But Chu Fengyi didn’t believe there was anyone she couldn’t handle!

Besides, Chu Qingchan was really something—giving the key to someone she’d only known for a while, and an adversary at that!

“Ahem! Ji, it’s noon. Why aren’t you at home? What brings you here?”

Ji Yun suddenly realized Chu Fengyi seemed a bit hostile today. Usually, they exchanged few words but remained respectful. Today felt different... Had something happened?

She glanced at Xu Lin, who had already slipped over to the fridge looking for a drink.

“There’s some trouble at home. I don’t have anywhere else to go, so I planned to rest here, tidy up a bit, then go to school.”

“Your parents still haven’t sorted things out?” Xu Lin, hearing this, dropped the pretense of ignorance.

“No, Aunt Yao came to our house. My mother had to talk with her, and then they kicked me out.”

“I see. And your parents?”

“When I came home last night, they weren’t fighting and even ate together.” Ji Yun smiled faintly at the memory.

“That’s good. Chu Fengyi, what would you like to drink?”

“What do you have?”

“Soda and orange juice.”

“Soda—red or blue?”

“Red. Blue soda’s for dogs!”

“Then I’ll have red too. Ji Yun, is something troubling your family?”

Hearing this, Chu Fengyi seemed to recall something Chu Qingchan had mentioned—that Ji Yun’s parents were on the verge of divorce over a woman.

“Not really…”

“Talk to me. Maybe I can help. After all, I’m your teacher, right?”

“Okay.” Ji Yun had no choice but to sit beside Chu Fengyi.

Xu Lin initially wanted to stop Chu Fengyi from snooping, but on second thought, she meant no harm. Maybe talking would help improve their relationship. He trusted Ji Yun’s warmth—she had even softened the icy Chu Qingchan.

As Ji Yun spoke about her parents’ troubles, Chu Fengyi’s expression softened from initial disdain to something gentler. Her tone lost its edge. For Chu Fengyi, family matters deeply affected her.

Hearing Ji Yun’s story, she felt reluctant to press further. Her plan to give the youngsters a lesson was shelved.

Xu Lin sipped his cola, quietly amused. Harmony was good, but with Chu Fengyi’s temper, it wouldn’t last long.

“Is Aunt Yao really beyond treatment?”

“She’s in the late stages. Now she’s even having trouble moving on her own.”

“That’s true. Nowadays, there’s no cure for late-stage conditions...” Chu Fengyi sighed.

Some things, even money can’t fix. Like ancient people’s pursuit of immortality.

Though modern medicine and living standards have improved lifespans, some diseases remain incurable.

Xu Lin, standing nearby, pulled out a small precious pearl from his pocket. Maybe he could try it?

He hadn’t believed a single pearl could save someone, but after yesterday—when the system’s medicine healed Qin Yunhe’s severe wounds—he had to believe. Even if it couldn’t cure completely, extending life or easing pain was worth trying.

“By the way, you said Xu Lin didn’t come home yesterday?”

“He took leave in the afternoon to handle official business with Sister Qin.”

“Official business?”

Chu Fengyi looked at him, and Xu Lin’s mind began to fabricate. No, he really had gone on official business.

“Sister Qin is a police officer involved in a fraud ring case. A classmate of mine got mixed up, so I asked for her help.”

“Yesterday she infiltrated the group. At noon, she happened to see us eating. But I think she wanted to act alone and hadn’t informed her colleagues.”

“So I took leave and stayed nearby, ready to help or call the police if something went wrong.”

“Eventually, she was discovered and a conflict broke out. I stepped in to help. The two of us drove them off and then called the police.”

Xu Lin recounted the truth, then pulled out the story to placate his mother—that he was left there making statements until after seven.

Later, because he helped Qin Yunhe, everyone invited him to dinner and drinks. He drank too much and was carried to a policeman’s home, where he slept on the sofa.

Xu Lin altered the story slightly, changing the lodging from a hotel to someone’s home. Since Chu Fengyi was sharp, she might inquire about the hotel and check it out.

This way, she wouldn’t ask too many questions, and it sounded more responsible than leaving someone in a cheap motel.

“Hey, why didn’t you update yesterday?”

“Update... shoot! I forgot to update! Ah!”

Xu Lin panicked, quickly grabbing the phone he’d just gotten at home.

He found his QQ flooded with a dozen messages, plus a newly created reader group buzzing with activity.

Since last night, nearly a thousand messages flooded in, 90% pleading, “Lazy author, come out and update!”

Some weren’t just bandwagon posts but were discussing the issue.

“This lazy dog disappeared again? Not even one update a day!”

“Honestly, admins, what’s going on? Don’t authors usually notify when they take breaks?”

Admin: “I don’t know either!”

“Could he have quit?”

“Probably not.”

“I’m joking. With such success, no way.”

“But that big shot suddenly dropped off too.”

“Uh... now I’m worried.”

“Everyone calm down. I’m on a business trip tomorrow and will find the author in person to urge updates.”

“@Blonde Ponytail, do you know the author in real life?”

“Yes, I’m his master.”

“Master?”

“Really.”

“Then make him update a lot!”

“I’ll try.”

Xu Lin rubbed his eyes, staring at that username. Damn it! Chu Fengyi, you even infiltrated my book club!?