Chapter 77

After hanging up the phone for a long time, Xie Wantang wondered if she had gone mad.

Otherwise, why would she feel that Lu Yanshen's words carried a faint reluctance toward her?

Would he be reluctant to let her go?

How could that be?

Just after signing the divorce papers, he immediately topped the hot search, staging a romantic tale of lovers finally united with Xia Meng, making those who didn't believe in love believe in it again.

With such a scumbag, would he be reluctant to let her go?

Isn't that ridiculous?

Xie Wantang, you really need to wake up.

At that moment, Shen Ye returned.

Faced with her strange gaze, Shen Ye walked over looking bewildered, sat down beside her bed, and said, "What's wrong? Why are you staring at me like that? Want some fruit?"

"I thought you went chasing after a star," Xie Wantang teased him, a rare occurrence.

"Xia Meng?" Shen Ye realized.

Xie Wantang gave no response, pulled a banana for herself, peeled it, and ate it.

For now, she didn't dare to trouble him.

"You little brat, what's on your mind all day? Am I, your Senior Martial Brother, the type to chase stars? Do I even have that time?" Shen Ye reached out and flicked her forehead affectionately.

"Senior Martial Brother, why did you have me go to the hospital that day?" Xie Wantang still asked.

She knew that waiting for Shen Ye to explain himself would likely be in vain.

"That day I was at the hospital, I ran into Lu Rourou, didn't want to see her, so I wanted you to pick me up; I didn't know Lu Yanshen was also there." Shen Ye explained.

That wasn't the truth.

Xie Wantang didn't pursue the matter further.

Shen Ye was hiding something.

Xie Wantang saw through it but said nothing.

Since Shen Ye wasn't willing to say, she let it go.

She didn't ask.

Soon, the three Qin brothers arrived.

After greeting them, Shen Ye received a call and then left.

Later, Xie Wantang received Shen Ye's explanation, but it wasn't about why he had her go to the hospital that day; it was about what he had been doing when he chased after Xia Meng earlier.

"Xia Meng gave me a Morse code; I had someone decode it just now, and the result: the real Lu Yanshen has gone missing."

……

Xie Wantang's expression changed instantly.

Morse code?

Xia Meng actually knows Morse code?

The result is that the real Lu Yanshen has gone missing?

The real one?

This information is truly huge—so huge that even someone as steadfast as Xie Wantang finds it hard to accept.

"What's wrong, Tang Bao? What did you see that frightened you like this?" Qin Third Brother approached, full of concern.

Xie Wantang hung up the phone, not daring to let the three brothers know about this.

"No, it's just that big data pushed a horror‑movie clip at me; I wasn't paying attention and got startled." Xie Wantang casually made up an excuse.

Fortunately, when she was young she really was inexperienced yet loved watching that stuff; back then, being immature, she liked horror films, but the visuals and music would scare her into hiding behind her three brothers.

"You're all grown up and still don't know those are fake?" Qin Second Brother frowned in disdain.

"I know, I just wasn't mentally prepared."

"Tang Bao, Lu Yanshen said he'd give you one billion; the eldest brother decided for you and took the money."

"Even if we don't use it, let's take it first, put it aside; later, if he regrets or you don't want it, we'll talk then."

"Mm." Xie Wantang nodded, not blaming her eldest brother for deciding on his own.

Since Lu Yanshen intended to give it, she would just take it for now.

Seeing her so unsurprised, Qin Muyang raised an eyebrow: "You knew about this? Did that brat Lu Yanshen tell you?"

"Yes." Xie Wantang did not hide it.

"Is he worried I'd hide it from you?" Qin Muyang raised an eyebrow.

"He might be afraid I won't accept it, elder brother. Mom and Dad said they're returning to Haishi tomorrow, and Lu Yanshen also said the transfer still needs paperwork—tell me what I need to sign; I'll sign it now, and I want to go back with Mom and Dad tomorrow."

"Mm, I'll go ask."

Qin Muyang went out.

Qin Second Brother and Qin Third Brother came over: "Tang Bao, at least that kid has a conscience—this one billion, we'll take it and spend it slowly; don't worry."

"Second Brother, Third Brother, we're divorced; his money shouldn't be spent by me."

"But that's your marital joint property; however much he earns in the future, naturally it shouldn't be spent by you, but the money from before—we should spend it." Qin Second Brother said.

"Right." Qin Third Brother agreed.

"Bao." At that moment, Xu Yanqiu pushed open the ward door and shouted excitedly.

"Qiuqiu." Xie Wantang curled the corners of her mouth.

Seeing Xu Yanqiu made her very happy.

"Hello, Second Brother Qin, Third Brother Qin." Xu Yanqiu greeted the Qin family's second and third brothers.

"Hello, Miss Xu."

The two young masters of the Qin Family, knowing these two close friends wanted to chat privately, asked Xie Wantang what she wanted to eat for lunch; they would go get takeout for her shortly.

Xie Wantang thought for a moment, then ordered several strongly flavored dishes.

She had nothing wrong with her, yet she had to stay in bed every day, rely on a wheelchair for movement, and was required to keep a bland diet.

"You can eat these after you recover, or just have plain soup dumplings and sour cabbage noodles," said Qin Laoer lightly.

"..."

Xie Wantang pouted, why even ask her that?

In front of her family, Xie Wantang was no different from a little girl.

Actually, Xie Wantang didn't really want to eat those strongly flavored dishes; she was just venting her dissatisfaction a little.

Her family didn't know the inside story, and those who knew it couldn't speak of it.

"Miss Xu, would you like to eat together with Tang Bao?" Qin Laosan politely asked Xu Yanqiu.

"Okay, thank you, both brothers."

"..."

After Qin Laoer and Qin Laosan left, Xu Yanqiu went to lock the door.

"Bao, I've quit my job at the platform; I've decided to go to Haishi with you," Xu Yanqiu said. She wanted to completely escape her parents and that unambitious younger brother; leaving Sijiucheng was the best choice.

"Hmm."

"But we agreed that I won't stay at your place; I'll rent my own apartment. Once we're in Haishi, we'll just meet up occasionally like we did in Sijiucheng."

"I'll follow your lead, but for the first week after we get there, let me stay at your place—just to keep you company."

"... Okay."

"So what are your plans from now on? Are you not going to do livestreams anymore? Focus on creation?"

"Hmm, let me try writing a script first. I've been studying it all along; once we're in Haishi and I stop livestreaming, it'll be the perfect time to calmly give it a proper try."

Anyway, with savings, Xu Yanqiu isn't afraid even if she has no income for a year.

That's the benefit of saving money.

With savings, you can start over whenever you want.

"I support you, and I also plan to go back to school."

"You're still going to school? What are you going to study?"

"Study voice lines; I feel I still lack some skill in what I enjoy."

"What are voice lines?"

"..."

Xie Wantang didn't explain; she knew Xu Yanqiu wouldn't be interested in explanations of those awkward texts.

"Simply put, it's about distinguishing people by sound; I think it's quite fun."

Xu Yanqiu couldn't understand those highly intelligent, quick-learning people.

Ordinary people learn skills or livelihood techniques to live well, aiming to earn a living; these remarkable people, however, can study a field ordinary people can't even touch, just for fun.

People really are vastly different from each other.