Chapter 324: Chapter 266 Five Watches

Qin Zhen was busy until after 10 p.m. When he finally arrived home, just about to enter, he heard a voice calling him, “Qin Zhen.”

Hearing the somewhat familiar voice, Qin Zhen turned his head, “It’s you! What are you doing blocking my way in the middle of the night?”

Qi Yan stepped forward, “I’m not blocking you, I just got off work and am heading home. But I indeed needed to see you.”

Qin Zhen was puzzled, “What do you need me for?”

Qi Yan glanced at him and asked, “Do you know who lives next door to your cousin?”

“How would I know that? I’ve been there a few times and never met anyone, and besides, why would I go around asking about neighbors?” Qin Zhen looked at him suspiciously, “You’re asking this in the middle of the night… Is there something wrong with that neighbor?”

Qi Yan didn’t answer his question but countered, “Then do you know that Ming Liping lives in the courtyard house to the left?”

As soon as Qin Zhen heard the name, his brow furrowed deeply, “You’re saying Ming Liping’s house is next to Qin Ye? That’s impossible! Would the Ming Family buy her a courtyard house?”

That courtyard house was not cheap; he had snagged a bargain when he bought it with Qin Ye.

Qi Yan said, “Believe it or not, that house is indeed where Ming Liping lives. I found out just tonight.”

Qin Zhen really detested hearing that name.

“No, why are you investigating her?” he narrowed his eyes, “Did she cause trouble for Qin Ye?”

Qi Yan smiled, “It seems your keen sense hasn’t dulled. Tonight, your cousin and his wife went to the police station and delivered a potted plant worth five hundred, which was given to them by their neighbor next door. Your cousin’s mother-in-law received it but didn’t have time to return it before the person left, so your cousin and his wife took the item to the police station.”

Hearing this, Qin Zhen’s expression turned grim.

And he realized something was off.

“Is there something else wrong with this item?”

Qi Yan gave him an approving look, “Exactly, according to your cousin’s wife… that thing can cause infertility. However, we cannot just take her word for it; it’s been sent for testing and the results will be out tomorrow.”

Qin Zhen’s face was completely darkened now.

The rage within him had reached its peak.

“If my cousin’s wife said so, then this is certainly happening.”

Although Qi Yan also acknowledged this, he needed evidence.

“… Why do you say so?”

“Her medical skills are very good. Those nourishing pills your family elder has been taking lately… She made them. How could she not recognize it?”

Qi Yan was bewildered.

The nourishing pills his grandfather had been taking had been tested by him secretly for safety, due to his concerns, and indeed they were found to be exceptionally beneficial. His grandfather, after starting them, plainly showed remarkable improvement.

And significantly, knowing he had secretly tested the pills, he had almost locked them up in a cabinet.

“Are her medical skills really that good?”

Qin Zhen scoffed coldly, “Believe it or not, but you’ll see the test results tomorrow. You didn’t mention it to anyone else when you sent it for testing, did you?”

Qi Yan, understanding what he was implying—whether the Ming Family knew—shook his head, “No, just the night shift colleagues.”

“Let’s wait for the evidence then! It ends here for now.” Qin Zhen didn’t want to stir up any trouble over it tonight.

Of course, Qi Yan understood what he meant; their many years of understanding each other weren’t for nothing.

“I’ll head back then.”

Once Qin Zhen watched him leave, he then entered his yard.

He felt extremely irritated.

He really wanted to swear.

Had Ming Liping lost her mind? What business did Qin Ye and his wife have with her to warrant such vile and malicious conduct?

Was she seriously ill?

He took a deep breath to suppress the anger in his heart.

However, upon cooling down slightly, he realized something amiss.

Ming Liping sending gifts personally… was like handing over the handle to someone else.

Was she that foolish?

It felt like there was more to the situation than met the eye.

****

The next day, Qin Yu rose early.

He looked toward the kitchen and noticed the light was on, so he walked over.

“Auntie.”

“You’re up just in time, come sit down and eat.” Today, Madam Rong had made him syrupy eggs. She had also steamed buns, “Eat these meat buns, they’ll fill you up.”

“Thank you, Auntie.” Qin Yu felt as if his aunt was just like his real mother.

He really liked this home, which gave him an unprecedented sense of warmth.

“What’s there to thank me for, go on and eat, I’ll pack a few more for you.”

“Auntie, you don’t need to do that, it’s so hot today, they might go bad easily, and my cousin said the army cafeteria provides enough food! I heard there are even fruits after meals.”

Madam Rong: …

Could it be that his cousin had tricked him?

Believing that the food would be filling was one thing, but fruits after meals? That seemed too good to be true.

At that moment, there was a knock at the door.

Madam Rong immediately said to Qin Yu, “Yu, eat slowly, I’ll go answer the door, it must be your cousin.”

Originally getting up to open the door himself, Qin Yu, hearing this, reluctantly sat back down.

Madam Rong went to open the door.

Indeed, it was Qin Zhen outside.

“Auntie, good morning!”

Madam Rong, enthusiastic as ever, said, “Come in, Yu is having breakfast. I’ve made some for you too, eat before you go.”

Since Qin Zhen truly considered this family as his own, he did not bother with formalities.

“All right!”

As he entered the courtyard, he also saw Qin Ye coming out from his room.

“Auntie, you go ahead with your work, I’ll talk to Qin Ye for a bit.”

Madam Rong, of course, stepped away.

Qin Zhen walked up to Qin Ye, his voice soft, “About that potted plant yesterday…”

But before he could finish, Qin Ye cut him off, “Did that Ming woman come because of you?”

Qin Zhen: …

Was he that sharp?

“Well, it’s a long story…”

Qin Ye, with an expressionless face, stared at him, “Then make it short, just saying yes or no will do.”

Caught off guard, Qin Zhen finally nodded under that piercing gaze, “…It probably is.”

“She used to want to date me, but I wasn’t interested in her. And now, who knew she would go crazy and start troubling you guys.”

He thought Qin Ye would say something, but he didn’t utter a word and just went straight to the kitchen.

This attitude left Qin Zhen quite puzzled.

What did he mean by that?

Not understanding, he also stepped into the kitchen.

Seeing him enter, Madam Rong warmly invited, “Why not eat in the dining room?”

“No need, here is just fine.” Qin Zhen casually found a spot and sat down.

Madam Rong immediately served him.

“Here are some small wontons, and buns, here are some eggs…”

Qin Zhen: …

Was breakfast always this lavish?

He really had been shortsighted.

The quality of life was clearly better here!

“Auntie, I think I want to come over for breakfast every morning from now on.”

“No way,” Qin Yu immediately objected.

Qin Ye gave him a cold glare, “In your dreams.”

Qin Zhen: “…Just kidding, just kidding!” Why so serious?