Chapter 54: You Dislike Our Baby?
’Jian Yu had a theory, but she just needed to confirm it.’
"Yes, Jian, you heard correctly."
Unlike Ling Yanzhi, Lin Yu didn’t rely on the Red Snake to lock onto directions and targets.
As Ling Yanzhi’s executive assistant, he enjoyed most of his special privileges.
Having watched the entire surveillance footage, Lin Yu knew exactly who Jian Yu was talking about.
"It was Xu Jianjuan."
He hesitated for a moment. "If I’m not mistaken, she knew what happened to you and went there specifically for you."
The strange thing was, she brought an umbrella and a blanket, but after carrying Jian Yu outside, she took a call and just left.
"She bandaged your wounds, fed you medicine, and even draped a blanket over you. If a call hadn’t come in, she was planning to carry you to the school infirmary."
Lin Yu paused for a long moment before continuing, "The call was encrypted, so the surveillance couldn’t pick up what she said to the person on the other end, but I’m guessing that person might have been Xu Shaoqing."
Xu Jianjuan’s timely appearance didn’t make sense. Unless she was in on it.
Moreover, he had found that Xu Shaoqing and Xu Jianjuan had been in contact recently.
Lin Yu didn’t blink. "Should I bring her in for questioning?"
"No, that’s alright. Thank you." His gaze lingered a little too long, and Jian Yu started fiddling nervously with the chain on her wrist.
She lowered her eyes self-consciously, trying to ease the awkwardness.
School had started almost a month ago, and she didn’t know many people. Other than Lin Yu and his group, she had only just met Shen Gu today.
As for female classmates, she had only ever interacted with Xu Jianjuan.
’After avoiding Sheng Yue and the others, the heroine had accidentally ended up under Xu Shaoqing’s protection again.’
’According to the timeline, this was when the heroine was supposed to be connecting with Sheng Yue and Ling Yanzhi, while Duan Feiye and Pei Yin were also making their moves.’
’The part where Xu Shaoqing bullies the heroine was supposed to come right after that.’
’Xu Shaoqing’s exit from the story was supposed to happen a few days after the Beast Taming Competition.’
’The heroine probably thought Ling Yanzhi wouldn’t act against Xu Shaoqing and figured she still had to survive under her thumb, which is why she didn’t dare to expose herself.’
’On top of that, the heroine was so averse to F7 and the others getting close to her.’
Jian Yu turned her head and couldn’t help but explain, "She didn’t mean any harm."
"Mm, I know." Ling Yanzhi handed her the milk. "She helped you, babe. I’ll figure out how to thank her for you."
’Jian Yu didn’t know what to say. When it came to thanking someone, shouldn’t she be the one to do it?’
’Then again, it’s not like she had anything valuable to offer.’
’Even if she gave the heroine a huge sum of money, it probably wouldn’t be as valuable as a single word from one of the F6.’
’Besides, as a reborn heroine, her skill in developing medicine should be very high. She couldn’t be short on money like she was in her first life.’
Jian Yu took the milk and sipped it. Her thick lashes cast soft shadows beneath her eyes.
Lin Yu tried to observe her.
But Jian Yu’s expression was impassive, the emotion in her eyes barely perceptible.
It seemed her eyes had only subtly brightened when he took out the Star Coin Card and the planet protocol agreement.
"Have you had your fill of looking?" Ling Yanzhi said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
’Of course. He got irritated just from someone else looking at her for a second.’
’Let alone being magnanimous enough to let Pei Yin and the others join in.’
Lin Yu cleared his throat. "Sorry, I zoned out."
Ling Yanzhi took the milk away from her and set it down.
He pulled Jian Yu tighter into his embrace, his hand pressing possessively against her waist.
"Huh?" Jian Yu slowly lifted her head, her eyes unfocused. She looked a little dazed.
’She was still wondering whether she should give the heroine some money.’
"You know, she saved me. Should I give her money?"
"Why money? You’re willing to part with it, babe?" Ling Yanzhi watched her patiently.
He couldn’t forget how she’d looked like a little money-grubber at the hospital.
It was a rare, lively vibrancy that made her all the more precious.
"Nobody dislikes money." Jian Yu wanted to say with full confidence that she liked money, but after a moment’s hesitation, she rephrased.
"I’ll handle it for you, babe. You just hang on to your money." Ling Yanzhi glanced at Lin Yu. "If she needs anything, tell her to just ask."
"Understood." Lin Yu didn’t dare to look at Jian Yu again before he left.
He only glanced silently at the quiet Xi Yu next to them.
His gaze was heavy and clinging as he stroked Jian Yu’s calf through the blanket. His other hand had snaked underneath, and there was no telling what it was up to.
Utterly silent, like a gloomy, damp male ghost.
’If the lights were off, he would absolutely terrify Jian!’
’Poor Jian.’
"It’s warm now."
Xi Yu squinted coldly at Lin Yu’s retreating back and let go.
’He seemed to have felt a disdainful gaze on him.’
Jian Yu froze for a second. No wonder it felt so warm.
Flustered, she quickly pulled her leg back.
She touched her knee. She had to admit, the medicinal patch worked very quickly, and it was much more effective than the ones she had used before.
"Does it still hurt?" Ling Yanzhi saw her movement and frowned slightly.
He picked her up. "Let’s go to the infirmary and get it checked."
Jian Yu shook her head. "It’s fine, it doesn’t hurt. I want to go back and sleep."
She looked completely drained, slumping languidly as if she were ill.
Xi Yu stood up, looking worried.
Ling Yanzhi blocked him and raised an eyebrow. "Wash your hands."
Xi Yu was completely shocked. "You think our babe is dirty?"
"???" Jian Yu pouted.
Her ears grew hot, and a blush crept up her cheeks unconsciously.
"I’m disgusted with you. Please have some self-awareness," Ling Yanzhi said without even lifting an eyelid.
He explained perfunctorily, "She’s a germaphobe."
Xi Yu stood there for two seconds, thinking.
Then he actually went to wash his hands.
’Jian Yu leaned forward slightly, a look of bewilderment on her face. How did he train him like that? Could he do it again? She wanted to learn.’
"Don’t mind him." ’Ling Yanzhi rarely considered himself normal, at least not until he’d been around Xi Yu for a while.’
He adjusted his hold on Jian Yu, hoisting her up a little.
From his gentle tone, one could still hear a hint of casualness. "If you’re sleepy, just go to sleep. We’ll be there soon."
"Mmm-hmm."
A hand covered her eyes, and Jian Yu’s vision went dark for a moment.
The hand around her waist held her tightly, giving her a deep sense of security.
She blinked, her lashes fluttering.
"Go to sleep."
A kiss landed on her forehead, and her body sank into soft blankets.
Incense was lit in the room, its scent faint.
After smelling it for a while, the image of wisps of light smoke involuntarily floated into her mind.
Jian Yu slowly closed her eyes.
Her consciousness grew hazy, and a tear seemed to escape from the corner of her eye.
The warm pad of a thumb gently wiped it away, and she heard someone whisper "babe" by her ear.
’It’s embarrassing, but I like it.’
"Don’t cry, babe."
Her eyelids were heavy; Jian Yu couldn’t open them.
"Babe is so cute."
A different voice spoke up.
’It was a tone she recognized.’
A moment later, the bedroom fell silent.
Her breathing became even.
Ling Yanzhi nudged Xi Yu’s shoulder, signaling for him to head outside.
"Pick an executive assistant as soon as possible."
"When have I ever picked an executive assistant?" Xi Yu found it troublesome. "I don’t have time to play games with them."
Every year they told him to pick an assistant, and they insisted on sending a whole bunch of people his way. He couldn’t even get away from them fast enough.
Xi Yu looked wary. "You don’t have time to be with our babe, so you want me to be as busy as you are?"
He had already decided. Once Jian Yu’s Beast Egg hatched, he would stick by her side and never leave.
He didn’t believe any teacher would dare to kick him out.
Ling Yanzhi’s gaze drifted out the window. "I have a feeling that what happened today will happen again."
His gaze returned to Xi Yu. "Being able to do things under your name is benefit enough. What do they need you to teach them?"
Xi Yu fell into deep thought.
’That’s true.’
’But there’s no one who’s caught his eye.’
Ling Yanzhi sneered. "You look down on the students from the previous years, so just pick from this year’s freshmen. Just choose someone you find agreeable."
A strand of black hair, mixed with crimson, fell casually, brushing disobediently across his eyes.
He blew away the stray strands of intermingled black and red hair from his forehead, his expression defiant.
Xi Yu’s eyes landed on the crimson tips of his hair. "Like you? Pick a redhead?"
Lin Yu’s red hair, just like his master’s, was flamboyant and eye-catching.
Ling Yanzhi’s eyelid twitched.
’Mine are highlights!’
Ling Yanzhi also looked down on the silver-gray highlights in Xi Yu’s hair.
"If you don’t like redheads, you can always pick a gray-haired grandpa."
He couldn’t be bothered to retort. "Once you pick an assistant, it’ll be easier to manage the people the academy assigned to you. In the future, you can even have them run errands for our babe."
That sounded workable to Xi Yu.
He was a man of action. "I’ll go pick one right now."
Ling Yanzhi pursed his lips.
He went to put one hand in his pocket, only to find he didn’t have one.
Returning to the bedroom, he dispelled his cold aura. The moment he lay down, Jian Yu snuggled into his arms.
Her arm was even draped over his waist.
A mixture of surprise, joy, shyness, and amusement couldn’t help but light up his eyes.