Nyoi-Bo Studio

  Nyoi-Bo Studio

  The person on the other end of the phone first called out in surprise, “Y-young Madam?” “The Fourth Young Master is…… alright.”


  Alright?

  Qin Shu could tell from Shi Yan’s tone that he was not telling her the whole truth. “I want to speak to him. Let him answer the phone himself.”


  “The Fourth Young Master had too much to drink last night…… He is resting at the moment. My apologies, but he can’t answer the phone right now.” Shi Yan replied hastily.

  Shi Yan’s words and how he spoke were obvious tells. Qin Shu felt her heart lurch with worry. The only reason she could think of, which would explain why he felt the need to conceal the truth from her, was that he had nothing but bad news for her.

  Qin Shu’s tone of voice took on an icy edge. “Tell me the truth. What’s wrong with him?”


  “Young Madam, it’s nothing. W-why don’t I ask the Young Master to return your call when he’s feeling better?”


  “There’s no need.”


  Qin Shu frowned and hung up the phone.

  Shi Yan was about to say something else when the Young Madam ended the call. He realized that Young Madam Fu had hung up the phone on him. There was no mistaking her displeasure in the way she cut off the line so abruptly.

  The flight from Jiangcheng to North Star was eleven hours long.

  By the time the plane touched down at North Star International Airport, it was already seven in the evening. Qin Shu used satellite positioning to triangulate Fu Tingyu’s whereabouts.

  The hired car chauffeured Qin Shu from the airport to the hotel Fu Tingyu was staying in, and from there, she asked for his room number at the front desk. Once she had obtained the information she was looking for, she marched to the elevator, intent on reaching her husband’s guest room.

  She bumped into Yan Shuang in the lobby.

  Yan Shuang squeaked, more than a little startled by how swiftly Qin Shu had arrived. “Ling Bao, y-you’re here!. That was quick.”


  On the other hand, Qin Shu was not surprised to see Yan Shuang. Fu Tingyu was in North Star in the first place because they were cooperating with her on a certain project. That project was almost complete.

  “Of course I’d be here. Where else would I have gone? I took the first flight flying to North Star as soon as I ended my call with you. What’s wrong with Tingyu? What happened?”


  Thoughts sped through her mind at lightning speeds. Cautiously, Yan Shuang said, “The Xu Family’s daughter woke up early this morning and said Ling Yan offended her. Tingyu was drunk last night, and only she knows the specifics. You must believe in Ling Yan. He is not someone who would act recklessly even under the influence of alcohol.”


  Qin Shu did not know what to make of Yan Shuang’s words and clarified, “Are you saying that he drank too much last night and offended the daughter of the Xu Family?”


  “It’s a set-up. I’m sure of it. While the investigation is underway, we should refrain from making hasty judgments. I wanted to break the news to you in person so that you wouldn’t misunderstand. I’m sure we will learn the truth soon enough. Have faith in Ling Yan.” Yan Shuang’s indignance shone through her impassioned words.

  Qin Shu remained silent, her fists clenched into tight balls.

  “Ling Bao, are you alright? Why don’t you stay at my place and wait? I’ll bring you news of the results in a day……”


  Before Yan Shuang could finish her sentence, Qin Shu turned down her offer. “There’s no need. I appreciate your kindness, but I have a score to settle with him.”


  Qin Shu stalked away, anger being the most prominent emotion in her gait.

  “Settle…… settle the score?” Yan Shuang reacted by grabbing hold of Qin Shu’s hand. “Ling Bao, calm down. If you need to vent and get it out of your system, I’ll help you. We’ll talk it out. Don’t act on impulse, please!” Yan Shuang earnestly pleaded.

  Stopped by Yan Shuang, Qin Shu growled through gritted teeth, “I’m not going to roll over and take this lying down. Unhand me this instant!”


  Yan Shuang felt her anxiety spike with how angry Qin Shu was. “Ling Bao, the truth is still uncertain. Please, calm down. What if Ling Yan didn’t do anything while he was drunk? What if these are all baseless accusations the Xu Family’s daughter has cooked up? If there’s someone to blame, then blame Xu Qianjin. She’s the one levelling these accusations at Fu Tingyu.”


  Yan Shuang took a deep breath and continued softly, “She’s gone for a checkup. Notwithstanding any accidents……”


  “No,” Qin Shu squeezed out, “I’m going to get even with him.” With a forceful twist of her wrist, she freed herself from Yan Shuang’s grasp and made a beeline for the elevator.

  “Ling Bao, wait! At least hear me out first……” Yan Shuang tried to grab hold of Qin Shu again, but her hand found no purchase but empty air. Qin Shu had already entered the elevator, leaving her behind.

  It was too late for her to stop Qin Shu. She prayed nothing bad would transpire between Ling Bao and Ling Yan while she was seething with rage.

  Ye Luo carried President Ba in one hand and a suitcase in the other. When he saw Yan Shuang, he gave her a blank look, barely acknowledging her existence.

  Ye Luo treated everyone like this. Outside of the Fourth Young Master and Qin Shu, Ye Luo greeted everyone in this manner.

  “.……” Yan Shuang glanced at Ye Luo but remained unphased by his indifference. She had done what she could; now, it was up to fate. Giving the direction in which Qin Shu left one last look, Yan Shuang left.

  –


  The elevator stopped on the 20th floor.

  “Ding!”


  The doors slid open. Qin Shu stepped out of the elevator with a frigid expression, searching for the room Fu Tingyu was occupying.

  She stopped outside Room 806 and knocked on the door.

  No one answered.

  She knocked again and waited for about three minutes, but still, no one opened the door.

  Fu Tingyu had only brought Shi Yan with him. If Shi Yan were inside, he would have opened the door immediately. Five minutes had passed, yet the door stayed close. It could only mean that Shi Yan was not inside.

  She did not continue knocking on the door. Instead, she pulled out Broken Moon and stroked the door lightly. A soft click and the door unlocked itself.

  Broken Moon was so sharp it could split the finest hairs and cleave through iron like mud.

  She pushed the door open, closing it behind her.

  The faint smell of tobacco wafted into her nose. Fu Tingyu must have been smoking.

  She surveyed the room, taking a peek in the direction of the balcony, but did not find Fu Tingyu. She noticed the door to the master bedroom was open.

  She walked in and heard the sound of rushing water. Qin Shu turned to look at the source and was stunned.

  Most hotels use glass panels as doors to the shower area. Though they were not transparent, they were translucent enough for most people to see through them.

  In the shower was the slender figure of a man.

  Oddly enough, the bedroom did not smell of tobacco. Perhaps Fu Tingyu had developed the habit of not smoking in the bedroom. Only the smell of his cologne hung in the air.

  Looking away, Qin Shu made herself comfortable on the couch. She crossed her legs and sat in the posture of a big shot. She held Broken Moon in her hand, skillfully rotating it in her palm. Qin Shut up was not about to sheath her dagger.

  The sound of running water eventually stopped. Ten minutes later and the bathroom door opened with a resounding crash. Fu Tingyu was dressed in a silver-grey bathrobe, his hair still dripping from the shower he took.

  Qin Shu eyed him coldly, Broken Moon gleaming with a ferocious light that made any who saw it shiver in fright.

  Fu Tingyu had no idea he was not alone in the room. Not in his wildest dreams did he envisage his wife suddenly appearing in his hotel room when she should have been in Jiangcheng.

  With his martial strength diminished, Fu Tingyu could not detect threats as easily as he once could. Otherwise, he would have sensed Qin Shu’s presence as soon as she entered the room.

  Since he had not expected anyone to be in the room with him, Fu Tingyu did a double-take when he passed the sofa upon feeling a familiar aura. A flash of cold light stopped him.

  When he finally realized who was sitting on the couch, he nearly jumped out of his skin.

  Qin Shu offered her husband a faint smile, Broken Moon twirling in her hand, emitting a murderous aura.

  Fu Tingyu reacted on instinct. “Babe, what are you doing here? When did you arrive? Why didn’t you let me know in advance?”