Chapter 76: Lu Jingyu’s Engagement
Xie Qingling’s words put Lu Jingyu on alert. He frowned. "Your room is here?"
Xie Qingling smiled faintly. "I heard another guide joined the Alliance recently. Since we’re both new guides, I thought it would be good for us to live next door and look out for each other."
Lu Jingyu’s eyes narrowed, his gaze on Xie Qingling once again showing a hint of displeasure.
’For her to say that, she must have requested to live next to Xu Qingsui herself.’
’Xie Qingling always has an ulterior motive. An arrangement like this means she’s definitely up to no good.’
’I can’t possibly watch over Xu Qingsui twenty-four-seven to stop Xie Qingling from making a move on her.’
’Letting Xie Qingling live next door would be like throwing Xu Qingsui to the wolves.’
"Guide Xie, there are many other fine quarters in the Alliance. A person of your stature must prefer tranquility. I’ll have someone arrange a quieter place for you."
A team member standing to the side listened to their conversation and could faintly sense that the atmosphere was off.
’He really didn’t want to get involved at a time like this, lest he get caught in the crossfire.’
But it seemed there had been a mistake, and he had no choice but to speak up.
"Captain, Guide Xie... Elder Qi told me to prepare a room for Guide Xie. I’ve already gotten it all set up, but it seems there’s been a bit of a misunderstanding."
Seeing Lu Jingyu’s strong reaction, Xie Qingling had become even more determined to live here.
But now, seeing the team member hesitate, a bad feeling suddenly welled up inside her.
"What misunderstanding?" Xie Qingling’s voice grew urgent.
"Elder Qi told me to arrange for a room next to the new guide. I thought he meant Guide Xu Ruming, so I prepared the room on the other side."
Hearing this, the expressions on everyone’s faces changed.
Xie Qingling’s face was so dark it looked like it could drip ink.
’She had vaguely heard the names Shen Ling’an and Xu Ruming before. In any case, they were connected to Xu Qingsui somehow.’
’But she only cared about Xu Qingsui. Who the hell was Xu Ruming?’
Lu Jingyu, however, was visibly relieved. He had been forced to let Shen Ling’an and Xu Ruming join because Qi Qin had called in a favor.
That couldn’t be changed, but he didn’t want Xu Qingsui’s mood to be ruined by seeing that scumbag and bitch. So, he had specifically arranged for their quarters to be on the complete opposite side from Xu Qingsui’s.
Sending Xie Qingling over there as well was, for now, the best possible outcome.
"You’ve made a mistake. I want to live next door. You..." Xie Qingling suppressed her annoyance and tried to order the team member to prepare the other room.
But before she could finish, Lu Jingyu cut her off. "There’s no need. That location is quieter, perfectly suited for you. Guide Xie, please let them escort you."
Xie Qingling knew that with Lu Jingyu present, there was no more room for negotiation regarding her quarters.
Seething with silent fury, she shot a vicious glare at the team member who had come to find her.
Feeling her gaze, the team member silently lowered his head. ’I have the worst luck. I was just following orders, and now I’m caught between a rock and a hard place.’
"Guide Xie, if you please."
Not wanting to see Xie Qingling a moment longer, Lu Jingyu issued another order for her to leave.
Helpless, Xie Qingling had no choice but to leave. As she passed Xu Qingsui, however, she stopped.
"It seems we won’t be neighbors after all. But no matter. From now on, we’re all members of the Heiyu Alliance. We’ll have plenty of opportunities to get to know each other."
With that, Xie Qingling turned to leave. But after just one step, she turned back, her eyes flicking from Lu Jingyu to Xu Qingsui.
"You two seem to have a good relationship. But do you really know him? Do you know his story?"
At her words, Lu Jingyu’s face completely darkened. But Xie Qingling clearly wasn’t ready to back down.
"Did you know he’s already engaged? So, to avoid being mistaken for a homewrecker, you’d best keep your distance from him, you know!"
The moment the words left her mouth, everyone present was stunned. Even the team member forgot himself and began to scrutinize his captain.
He’d been in the Heiyu Alliance for a while, and all he’d ever heard were the captain’s legendary exploits—slaying powerful Mutants, securing medical supplies. He had never once heard that Lu Jingyu was engaged.
Everyone used to think Lu Jingyu might not even be interested in romance at all.
But with Xu Qingsui’s arrival, the immovable tree finally blossomed.
’Who knew he was already engaged this whole time?’
’Then what did that make him and Xu Qingsui?’
The more the team member thought about it, the thicker the scent of gossip in the air became.
His gaze darted cautiously between Xu Qingsui and Lu Jingyu.
Xu Qingsui was also stunned. She looked at Lu Jingyu, speechless.
A sour feeling welled up inside her, and she didn’t quite know what to make of it.
Lu Jingyu’s face was grim as still water, his tone icy. "Guide Xie, you’ve crossed a line. You should return to your quarters. And a final reminder: mind your own business. Don’t go spreading rumors about other people."
Seeing Lu Jingyu and Xu Qingsui’s reactions, Xie Qingling gloated inwardly. Ignoring Lu Jingyu’s warning, she finally followed the team member away.
Once Xie Qingling was gone, a flicker of panic crossed Lu Jingyu’s grim face. He turned to Xu Qingsui, his expression urgent.
"Don’t listen to her nonsense. It’s true that my family arranged a marriage for me, but I refused to accept it. That’s why I came to Zone 9 and have stayed in the Heiyu Alliance for so long, refusing to go back."
Although Xu Qingsui hadn’t said a word, Lu Jingyu was desperate to clear the air. He was terrified she would believe the lie and do just as Xie Qingling suggested—keep her distance from him.
"And that favor I’ve been meaning to ask you... I was hoping you would come home with me, pretending to be my girlfriend. It would put a stop to my family’s ideas and keep them from forcing a marriage on me."
Xu Qingsui never expected to find out about the favor Lu Jingyu found so difficult to ask in this way.
Watching him eagerly explain himself, Xu Qingsui suddenly broke into a smile.
The sour feeling from just moments ago vanished completely. She even found this side of Lu Jingyu to be a little cute.
Seeing Xu Qingsui smile, Lu Jingyu finally let out a breath of relief.
"Xie Qingling is from the Xie Family, who are old family friends of mine. We’ve known each other since we were kids. I had no idea she was coming. Elder Qi just called me to the conference hall to inform me."
Xu Qingsui nodded. Then, as if something had just clicked, her eyes widened as she looked at Lu Jingyu. "Don’t tell me... she’s your fiancée, isn’t she?"
’Now that I know they know each other...’ Thinking of Xie Qingling’s hostility toward her, it all suddenly made sense to Xu Qingsui.
’Telling me to keep my distance from Lu Jingyu... wasn’t that the classic attitude of a Main Palace Lady?’
Xu Qingsui stared at Lu Jingyu and subconsciously took a few steps back, putting distance between them.