Chapter 134: There Is Nothing Left for You in Fancheng

Elder Qi surreptitiously wiped his palms. Having mentored Zhong Yi for nearly half a year, he found the child truly brilliant—sharp enough to grasp a concept instantly and apply it to related matters.

As the saying goes, "One does not speak, but when one does, one surprises everyone." This little brat usually maintained a cool, aloof facade, but when she decided to roast someone, her tongue became a machine gun, firing off round after round.

Shen Qing set down her pen and looked up at Elder Qi. "Beat them half to death, and they won't dare to be arrogant anymore."

"..." Elder Qi rolled his eyes toward the heavens. If he, an old man, could actually best a young man in a fight, would he be here seeking advice?

"You are too violent," Elder Qi remarked. He glanced back at Shen Qing once more before closing the door behind him as he exited.

"Oh? Elder Qi, the door is unlocked?" The assistant, who had just returned with the keys, happened to walk up.

"Right. Give me the keys; you should head back and get some rest early."

"Understood." The assistant placed the keys in Elder Qi's palm, casting a glance toward the storage room before leaving. "Elder Qi, about that Miss Shen?"

Elder Qi swept a look at the assistant, his tone indifferent. "Don't concern yourself with this matter."

**

Shen Qing spent two hours refining her design drafts within the room.

She took out her phone and scrolled through her messages. Nie Huan had sent her a photo of Er Niu eating, as well as a picture of Nie Yu and Er Niu together.

*Buzz—*

A call came through from Xie Mingming. He had called several times previously, but Shen Qing hadn't noticed.

"Old Xie," Shen Qing said, tapping to answer.

There was a time difference of nearly five hours between Country M and China; it was likely around ten o'clock at night in Fancheng.

"Shen Qing, how are things going with your family?"

"..."

"All right, I understand your feelings," Xie Mingming interrupted, not wanting her to elaborate. In the event that it really was the old matriarch of the Yu family who had passed away, he was genuinely afraid that Shen Qing might reply with, "I'm quite happy."

"When can you come back for class? Twenty days is too long; your studies cannot be neglected."

"I have to go to the cemetery to pay my respects in January."

"Huh? So you really are observing mourning?" Xie Mingming paused. He deeply suspected that Shen Qing was simply trying to avoid attending class. "Are you aware that there is a joint examination in mid-January?" This exam was held across the entire city, with nearly thirty thousand students participating. Its difficulty was comparable to the college entrance exam, serving as a disguised mock test.

"Mhm, I will be back before the exam."

"Fine. Get to sleep early tonight; stop playing on your phone. Your eyes look like a rabbit's every single day, and you're like an owl."

"Oh."

"Mhm, don't forget to study. The class has received new worksheets; I will send the questions and answers to you. Finish them and check your work yourself. If there's anything you don't understand, just ask."

"Mhm."

Xie Mingming nagged for a bit longer before hanging up.

Shen Qing pulled a suitcase from under the bed containing some toiletries. There was a small bathroom in the room, so she grabbed her clothes and went in to shower.

After coming out, she discovered that Gu Ting had called her, and there were messages from him on WeChat.

【G: You didn't take the exam? What happened?】
【G: I'm downstairs at Tianyuan.】

Shen Qing narrowed her eyes. Lying on the bed, she slowly typed out a reply.

【No Such Person: I'm not in Fancheng.】
【G: ?】
【No Such Person: Had to take care of something.】

Gu Ting sat in the car, staring at the incoming message, his eyes dark and inscrutable.

【G: When are you coming to school?】
【No Such Person: The exam in January.】
【G: That long? Is there someone taking care of Er Niu?】
【No Such Person: Nie Huan.】
【G: Oh. Get some rest early tonight. Play fewer games and sleep more.】

Gu Ting waited for five minutes, but no message came.

Shi Yi turned his head and glanced at Gu Ting. "Sir, when shall we head back?"

His master had been sitting here waiting for over two hours.

"Mhm, now."

"Understood, right away." Shi Yi pulled the handbrake, started the engine, and slowly drove out of Tianyuan.

Gu Ting took out his phone and flipped through his chat history with Xie Mingming, which mentioned that an elder in Shen Qing's family was failing.

"Shi Yi, does Shen Qing have any elders in her family?"

"I don't think so. Miss Shen's grandfather passed away nearly four months ago. There is an old woman in the Yu family, but they aren't exactly family, are they?"

"Mhm." Gu Ting closed his phone, his eyes half-lowered. "Return to the Gu residence tomorrow."

There was nothing left worth staying for in Fancheng.