LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 19:
Chapter 19: Qin Yi Calls:
At 7 p.m.
Wang Zhenxing arrived at Xu Yourou’s home with a bottle of red wine in hand.
“Why did you bring something again? Just come in!” Xu Yourou said as she opened the door, still wearing an apron. Seeing the gift-wrapped bottle, she couldn’t help but smile.
“It’s just a bottle of red wine. It’s great for women—good for the skin,” he said with a warm smile, his gaze lingering momentarily on her.
Tonight, Xu Yourou looked radiant. Her delicate makeup, complete with lipstick, made her appear bright and charming. Noticing the effort she’d put into her appearance, a knowing smile crept across his lips, but he didn’t comment.
Hearing it was red wine, her smile grew even warmer. At her age, maintaining her appearance was essential, and red wine was an indulgence she appreciated.
“Make yourself comfortable. I’ll get back to cooking,” Xu Yourou said cheerfully before turning toward the kitchen, her movements graceful.
Their earlier phone conversation had allowed her to estimate his arrival time, so she had started cooking in advance. In less than ten minutes, she had everything ready and brought the dishes to the table.
Garlic oysters, fried pork kidneys, roasted lamb scorpions, yam and goji berry soup, scrambled eggs with leeks—every dish was prepared with care.
Seeing the lavish spread, Wang Zhenxing blinked in surprise. “Isn’t this a bit… much?”
“I remember you saying work has been tiring lately, so I prepared some nourishing dishes. You don’t like them?” she asked softly, her tone carrying a hint of concern.
“I like them. I really do,” he replied with a chuckle, his gaze warm.
Indeed, he had been feeling a bit drained lately. Juggling work during the day and indulging in late-night cosplay explorations had taken a toll. Characters like Shui Bingyue, Mai Shiranui, Chun-Li, Platelet, Asuna, and Rem were becoming all too familiar to him.
“Good! I’m glad you like them,” Xu Yourou said, her smile widening. She served him a small bowl of chicken soup before sitting down herself.
As he tasted the dishes, he found himself nodding repeatedly. Her cooking skills were remarkable. Even someone accustomed to dining in fine restaurants would find it hard to criticize these homemade dishes.
“This is excellent,” he said genuinely, eating with enthusiasm.
Seeing how much he enjoyed the food, Xu Yourou’s expression softened with joy. The cozy ambiance of the small home, paired with the soft lighting, made the moment feel intimate and warm.
“Shall we have some wine?” she asked on a whim.
“If you want to drink, I’ll join you,” he replied without hesitation, opening the bottle of red wine he had brought.
The crisp clink of glasses filled the room as they toasted.
Taking a sip, Xu Yourou’s face scrunched slightly. “This wine is a bit strong.”
“Oh, I forgot to mention, this red wine has a higher alcohol content than usual. But it’s a top-quality wine—great for skin care. It’s worth 100,000 yuan a bottle, though someone gave it to me as a gift,” he explained casually.
“A 100,000 yuan for a bottle?!” she exclaimed, her eyes widening in disbelief.
Not wanting to waste such an expensive gift, she continued drinking despite the strong taste. Before long, her cheeks turned rosy, her eyes slightly unfocused as the alcohol began to take effect.
Meanwhile, though he had drunk a few glasses himself, Wang Zhenxing remained clear-headed. After finishing the meal, he sat in the living room, watching TV for a while.
“Which room’s drain is clogged?” he asked suddenly.
“The bathroom in my bedroom,” she replied.
He went to inspect the issue but found the drain working perfectly.
“That’s strange. It was definitely clogged before. How did it fix itself?” she murmured, puzzled.
Smiling to himself, he didn’t explain and returned to the living room.
“It’s getting late. I’ll call my driver,” he said after a while, taking out his phone.
Seeing this, Xu Yourou felt a twinge of anxiety.
However, after a few rings, the call went unanswered.
“This driver is so unprofessional. Has he already gone to bed?” he muttered, annoyed.
“That’s possible,” she said, suppressing her amusement.
“I’ll just call a taxi, then,” he said, rising from the couch. But his steps wavered slightly, betraying his slight intoxication.
“Zhenxing, you’ve had too much to drink. It’s late, and I’d feel uneasy letting you go home like this. If you don’t mind, why not stay here for the night?” she suggested softly.
“Wouldn’t that be inconvenient?” he hesitated, though his expression showed he wasn’t entirely against the idea.
“Not at all, as long as you don’t mind my humble home,” she replied warmly.
“Well… alright then,” he agreed, feigning reluctance.
…
At 10:30 p.m., as the soft glow of streetlights illuminated the quiet neighborhood, a green train chugged steadily along its tracks.
Inside one of the cars, Qin Yi dialed his mother’s number. After a few rings, the call was abruptly disconnected.
Frowning, he tried again, but this time the line was turned off.
It’s late.
Could Mom still be busy? Or maybe she blocked my number because she didn’t recognize it? he wondered, feeling slightly dejected.
Deciding to check on her through another means, he dialed a different number from memory. This time, he called Uncle Wang.
However, after ringing a few times, that call was also declined.
“Forget it. Uncle Wang must be busy too. I’ll call again tomorrow,” Qin Yi sighed, leaning back in his seat.
[The important female partner, Xu Yourou, has increased her favorability towards the host by +10. Current favorability: 79 (deep love).]
[The host secretly became Qin Yi’s stepfather, significantly altering the plot. Counterattack points +500. Protagonist Qin Yi’s luck value -100. Host’s luck value +100.]
[Congratulations to the host! Luck value exceeds 300! You may choose one of the following blessings: Wealth Luck, Gambling Luck, or Love Luck.]
As these notifications appeared, Wang Zhenxing, who was lounging comfortably, couldn’t help but smile.
The unexpected reward was a delightful surprise. Reviewing the options, he quickly dismissed Wealth Luck and Gambling Luck—he already had plenty of money, and financial gain wouldn’t directly help in dealing with Qin Yi.
Without hesitation, he chose Love Luck.
…
The next morning.
Sunlight streamed through the window into a neat and cozy bedroom. Xu Yourou was still asleep, a sweet smile gracing her lips.
Beside her, the biological clock within Wang Zhenxing’s disciplined mind stirred him awake. Rising naturally, he glanced at his phone as it buzzed on the nightstand.
Seeing an unknown number, he frowned slightly. The same number had called the previous night, but he had been preoccupied and ignored it.
Who could this be? he wondered, answering the call.
“Uncle Wang, it’s me—Qin Yi. I hope I’m not disturbing you,” a voice said on the other end.