"A will?" Qin Yu couldn't imagine what kind of will-related issue could trouble Yanfei.
Yanfei sighed. "Well, technically, I'm acting as the executor of a will."
"Is that even within your job scope?" Qin Yu asked, astonished.
"Yes, though such cases are rare."
Yanfei explained, "In short, an elderly couple's will stipulates that they want to find their grandson. But their son and daughter-in-law passed away long ago, the wife suddenly fell ill and is bedridden, and their granddaughter has vanished without a trace..."
Wow, that's just awful.
After a moment of sympathy, Qin Yu understood. "So, Yanfei, your main problem is just finding this person?"
"Exactly! Tracking people down isn't exactly my forte. How am I supposed to know where to even start? Honestly, with their family in such dire straits, why is their grandson still wandering around?"
"Do you really have to do this?" Qin Yu asked.
Yanfei smiled. "Well, I am a legal consultant! Besides, I personally feel for this family. Helping them would be the right thing to do."
"It's just frustrating that I'm hitting a wall. I've asked so many people, but no one knows where he is. If I can't find him soon, I'll have to cash in a favor and ask Ningguang for help."
Wow, she's so kind.
Since Yanfei's struggling with this, maybe I could help her...
"Wow! You actually found him? Qin Yu, you're amazing! Thank you, you're the best friend ever!"—and my Evaluation would skyrocket, maybe even to S-rank!
That would mean more Points.
Perfect.
But finding people... My Skill can't filter for specific targets. If only I had a portrait or something to use as a clue...
Thinking of this, Qin Yu asked, "Do you happen to have a portrait or any other visual clue?"
"Yes, right here."
Yanfei pulled a sheet of paper from a drawer and handed it to Qin Yu.
"It looks like the grandson of that family drew this himself."
He drew this himself? He's an artist? Qin Yu took the paper, her interest piqued.
But what she saw startled her.
Ugh... what on earth is this supposed to be? One eye is huge, the other tiny, the nose is all twisted... it looks like a child's scribble!
Qin Yu forced a smile, certain she could draw a thousand times better.
"I... I don't think anyone could recognize someone from this drawing," she said tactfully.
Yanfei shrugged. "Exactly! But it's our only clue. I'm not exactly good at finding people to begin with, and now I have to work with something this crude? It's giving me a headache!"
"Haha, you must be exhausted," Qin Yu said sincerely.
Still, despite the drawing's abstract nature, one detail caught Qin Yu's attention: the scar on the man's face.
Closing her eyes, Qin Yu tried to recall. On her way to the law firm, she remembered seeing a man with a similar scar. He had stared at her intently, leaving a strong impression.
That's it! The scar is in the same place!
"I think I've seen him," Qin Yu announced.
"Really?" Yanfei exclaimed, her eyes widening in surprise.
"Yes, on my way here. He probably hasn't gone far. Let's go find him together!" Qin Yu seized the opportunity to join the search.
Yanfei hesitated. "But this is my job. I shouldn't trouble you. Just tell me where you saw him."
"I suppose that's fine, but Yanfei... do you really think you can recognize him based on just this drawing?"
Impossible! How could anyone recognize him from this?! Yanfei pressed her hand to her forehead. She was already astonished that Qin Yu could identify him. But this was her responsibility; she shouldn't burden Qin Yu with it.
No choice but to bluff. Yanfei forced a dry laugh. "W-we'll figure it out. Don't worry about me. I'm quite resourceful, you know."
"Mhm, I think Yanfei is very clever and reliable too."
Qin Yu suddenly leaned closer, her hands enveloping Yanfei's in a warm clasp. Yanfei's face flushed crimson.
"But no one is perfect. Yanfei says she's not good at finding people, but I am. I can compensate for your weaknesses. Or does Yanfei think I'll just hold her back?"
Yanfei's mind went blank, completely forgetting her earlier resolve. "No, no, not at all! I've never thought that."
"Then it's settled, right? Besides, I rarely get a day off, and I want to spend it with Yanfei. If you have to work, I'll naturally accompany you. Or does Yanfei dislike having a friend like me?"
"I don't hate it, of course not... Hmm, I see, I see. Then let's go together. But my work might be really boring for others, you know."
"With Yanfei around, I'll never be bored!" Qin Yu said with a gentle smile.
Yanfei felt her brain overheat with a sudden bang.
She wants to spend all her time with me? Does she really feel that way about me? Why else would she be so straightforward?
And she said she wouldn't be bored with me around. People get bored when they focus on things they're not interested in. If she says she won't be bored with me, does that mean her attention will be entirely on me?
Her eyes will follow me, her ears will listen to every word I say, and maybe... maybe she even wants to smell me... This is all moving way too fast! We should take things slower.
Such thoughts raced through Yanfei's mind, and she dared not look at Qin Yu again.
What a terrifying woman! She seems to hold me completely in the palm of her hand, yet I feel no resistance whatsoever. Instead, I'm thrilled and flustered by her direct affection... and I find her even more adorable because of it.
Yanfei felt she needed to calm down.
[Evaluation: C+]
Hmph, easy peasy. It feels good to be in control.
I'll have to get back at Shenhe someday too.
Suddenly, Qin Yu noticed a shallow cut on Yanfei's finger.
"Yanfei, what's this?"
Yanfei snapped out of her daze, her face still flushed but her composure slightly restored. She glanced at the cut, puzzled but unconcerned.
"I must have accidentally nicked myself earlier. It's nothing serious—just a scratch. As a half-adeptus, my self-healing abilities are quite strong. It'll close up on its own in a little while."
But Qin Yu continued to stare intently at the wound.
"It's bleeding..."
"It's just a tiny bit! See? It's already stopped. Come on, let's go! We need to act fast!" Yanfei tried to pull her hand away, but Qin Yu's grip remained firm.
Why does Qin Yu suddenly have so much strength? Staring at the wound like that... is she worried about me? How thoughtful! Yanfei reasoned to herself, her heart warming at this perceived act of kindness.
Then, Qin Yu leaned closer and gently pressed her lips against the wound.
The soft, fleeting touch sent an electric shock through Yanfei's entire being. Her gradually calming heart instantly began to race, her mind going completely blank as if it had short-circuited.
"Agh..." Yanfei slumped onto the sofa, limp and wide-eyed.
[Evaluation: B]
Qin Yu jolted back to reality, her face paling.
W-what did I just do?! Her expression shifted from shock to horror.
I actually kissed Yanfei's wound!
Ugh, ugh... The moment I saw the blood trickling from her injury, an irresistible urge surged through me. When I snapped back to reality, it was utterly disgusting!
Yanfei... Ah, she's not responding.
No matter how hard Qin Yu shook her shoulders, Yanfei remained motionless.
Qin Yu suddenly remembered her "Vampire Magic Eye" skill.
[Vampire Magic Eye 1: Transforms the user's eyes into those of a vampire, enhancing vision. When activated, it grants the passive skills "Biological Perception" and "Night Vision," and induces a mild fascination with red liquids.]
A mild fascination with red liquids—that explains it!
Qin Yu clutched her head, overwhelmed by confusion. Why did Yanfei's blood trigger such a repulsive impulse when other people's blood left her completely indifferent?
...Never mind. Let's just pretend this never happened, she finally decided.
Qin Yu exhaled deeply. First, she rummaged through Yanfei's cabinet for ointment, applied it to the wound, and then sat down casually to wait for Yanfei to wake up.
A moment passed.
"Ha! What happened to me...? Qin Yu? What was I just doing—"
Yanfei suddenly recalled the shocking scene from earlier, her thoughts swirling into chaos once more. "You... I... Um, Qin Yu, did you just...?"
"Hmm? Is something wrong?" Qin Yu feigned confusion.
Yanfei froze, puzzled. How could she act like nothing had happened? Could it have all been a hallucination?
Impossible! She felt perfectly fine. How could she have hallucinated something like that? Yanfei shook her head.
Besides, there was a cut on her finger, covered with ointment... Had Qin Yu applied it? How thoughtful... Wait! If the cut was still there, it meant that might have actually happened.
Yanfei was at a loss for words.
Qin Yu considered fabricating an explanation, but every lie she could think of sounded too flimsy. Rather than try to conceal the truth, she decided to pretend nothing had occurred and change the subject to divert attention.
Perfect. That's the plan.
Nothing happened... She would start by acting as if nothing had happened. Qin Yu nodded to herself inwardly.
Yanfei murmured softly, "Thank you. I was surprised, but I don't dislike it. Ah, the reason I don't dislike it is because I can feel how much you cherish me..."
Ha?
Don't flatter yourself. There's no cherishing involved—it was just a momentary lapse in judgment.
How much can one's imagination run wild to come up with such a reason?
I can't say that, damn it... Qin Yu gritted her teeth, forcing a smile. "Yes, I treasure Yanfei deeply. Even the smallest injury can't be ignored."
"Mmm..."
[Evaluation: B+]
Get lost notification. You're so annoying.