Eldritch Horror Theatre

As much as he marveled at Young Master Qin’s logic, Fu Qian still appreciated his friend’s concern.

Given his usual habits, having this many people even notice his sudden disappearance was a pleasant surprise.

”Speaking of which, where exactly did you go these past two days?”

Qin Mingze bounced back quickly, aiming the question at Fu Qian.

Judging by the look on Wu Qingyu’s face beside him, he was just as curious.

”Oh, I spent the last two days at the house of a rich woman surnamed Wen.”

Fu Qian rolled his eyes and answered casually.

This was the absolute truth.

He rarely lied to his two friends.

Of course, how they interpreted it was none of his business....

Qin Mingze was speechless once more, but looking at Fu Qian’s deadpan expression, it didn’t seem like he was making it up.

”So it actually matches my guess... Three whole days!”

Beside him, Wu Qingyu muttered to himself, his voice dropping in despondent awe.

”A strong body really is your greatest asset!”

”Then again, I used to disappear occasionally too. Weren’t your reactions a bit over the top this time?”

Fu Qian didn’t bother correcting their wild imaginations, choosing instead to voice his own confusion.

”I was just about to ask you about that.”

Hearing this seemed to jog Qin Mingze’s memory, and he sat bolt upright.

”I heard you dropped 180,000 to buy Tan Ying’s Bracelet?”

”One hundred and eighty thousand!”

Before Fu Qian could say a word, Wu Qingyu gasped in shock.

”You only told me it was a lot of money, but isn’t that a bit too much?”

”That’s why I didn’t take your disappearance too seriously at first. But the more I thought about it, the more off it felt. I was worried you’d been set up.”

Qin Mingze continued.

”But based on what you just said, it all makes perfect sense now. Wait a second—”

He slapped his forehead.

”I almost forgot something. Let me make a call first.”

...

He quickly dialed a number, and the call soon connected.

”Yeah, he’s back. It was a false alarm...”

”Right, you don’t need to keep an eye on things anymore...”

After a few brief instructions, Young Master Qin hung up the phone.

”What was that about?”

This time, Fu Qian looked at him curiously.

”Tan Ying. I asked her to help keep an eye on Xu Meng.”

Qin Mingze said nonchalantly.

”Didn’t you two have a little run-in before? When you mysteriously vanished, I was worried that guy hadn’t swallowed his anger.”

”Is it really that extreme? Even if he took his anger out on me, the worst he’d do is break a leg or something. Could he really just make me vanish from the face of the earth?”

Fu Qian looked at Qin Mingze, his expression suggesting his friend was overthinking things.

In fact, he had just noticed that since returning, President Xu’s voice hadn’t appeared in his mind once.

Clearly, his previous attempt had yielded good results.

After suffering a Mind Blast, the man might have even sealed away that memory out of self-preservation. It was honestly tragic that he was still taking the blame for this.

”That’s why the money matters!”

Qin Mingze shook his head.

”You don’t get it. There are too many ways to deal with a person. If you hadn’t suddenly produced such a huge sum of money, I wouldn’t have even thought of this.”

”Don’t worry. Every last bill of that 180,000 was my hard-earned cash.”

Fu Qian felt his heart bleed as he said this.

Even with a daily salary of 30,000, that money wasn’t easy to earn.

”I understand, I understand. That really wasn’t easy for you.”

Hearing this, Qin Mingze nodded repeatedly in deep agreement.

...

While he was shooting the breeze with Qin Mingze and Wu Qingyu, the doorbell rang again.

Fu Qian got up to open the door. Tan Ying, with her long hair and slender waist, stood prettily outside, and beside her was Pei Yanqing in a long green dress.

”You’re back?”

Before Fu Qian could greet them, Tan Ying spoke first, looking him up and down.

”You look like you’re in good shape. Seems like we worried for nothing.”

She shook her head and squeezed right in through the open door.

”You didn’t run into any trouble, did you?”

Seeing this, Pei Yanqing followed up with a smiling question, though there was a peculiar gleam in her eyes.

”Everything is normal.”

Fu Qian answered breezily, letting her into the apartment as well.

Even Pei Yanqing was alarmed by this? I really did cause quite a bit of trouble.

The last time he had seen Pei Yanqing was at Tan Ying’s birthday party. It was a bit surprising that these two hung out together.

”Young Master Qin told us that, since you felt bad for causing everyone so much trouble, you decided to treat us to a meal to apologize. So I dragged Pei Yanqing along. She’s been helping out these past two days too.”

Sitting down casually, Tan Ying rested her chin on her hand and shot Fu Qian a wink.

”Sure, pick wherever you want.”

Fu Qian agreed without hesitation.

He had been listening right beside Qin Mingze during the phone call and had no objections.

He was a reasonable guy. They had spent a few days running around trying to track him down; treating them to a meal was only fair.

”Good. You’re a rich man now anyway. One meal won’t bankrupt you.”

Seeing Fu Qian agree so readily, Tan Ying revealed a satisfied smile and even deliberately flashed her empty wrist.

Fu Qian knew Tan Ying was trying to remind him about the Bracelet he had bought, but his attention was elsewhere.

Although she still looked as lively as ever, she had already stifled three subtle yawns since walking through the door, and her long, charming eyes were slightly puffy.

”You look a little pale.”

Fu Qian noted tentatively.

”Mhm.”

Tan Ying hummed in response.

”It’s probably because my beloved item was taken away.”

”Bought.”

Fu Qian emphasized.

”Fine, bought.”

Covering her mouth to stifle a small yawn, Tan Ying continued explaining.

”Anyway, ever since then, I’ve just been a bit fatigued. Plus, with all the running around to find you these past two days, I really am a little tired.”

”I’ve seen that Bracelet. For 180,000, you took huge advantage of Little Ying, you know that?”

Qin Mingze punched Fu Qian in the shoulder with a weird chuckle.

I’d rather not take that kind of advantage.

Fu Qian thought to himself.

It wasn’t surprising that Tan Ying was in this state. The Bracelet, now sitting in the Warehouse, had essentially altered her body, keeping her in a seemingly healthy and active state.

Now that it was off, a period of adjustment was perfectly normal.

...

”Sorry for dragging you into this too.”

Young Master Qin quickly called Tan Ying over to quietly discuss the situation with Xu Meng, so Fu Qian took the chance to exchange pleasantries with Pei Yanqing.

”It’s the least I could do.”

Pei Yanqing smiled and shook her head.

”I was completely in the dark before. It wasn’t until Tan Ying told me that I realized you actually got into trouble because of me and He Xian.”

”I’ve been a bit worried ever since. I’m just glad you’re okay.”

Got into trouble?

It took Fu Qian a moment to realize that Pei Yanqing was referring to his grudge with Xu Meng.

Given that Xu Meng had come looking for trouble, it wouldn’t have been hard for Qin Mingze and Tan Ying to find out about him throwing the cola at the guy. They had probably filled her in.