"What kind of face? You're a suspect, and you still have face?"
Upon hearing that familiar mockery, Shen Lingshuang's eyes brightened, and she stood up abruptly, exclaiming, "Qiu Tu? You've come!"
As she spoke, Qiu Tu, with his hands in his pockets, strode in from outside the courtyard.
His legs were long, his figure perfect, and the black uniform of the Political Department looked exceptionally crisp on him.
Plus, with his handsome looks that rivaled Yanzu, bathed in the glow of the setting sun, Shen Lingshuang was momentarily mesmerized.
108 Ways to Enhance Affection #7: If you have outstanding physical attributes, be sure to use them to your advantage. This can help you quickly conquer a woman's heart.
Stepping up to Shen Lingshuang, Qiu Tu gestured with a wave of his hand for the Special Service Detectives and the maidservant by her side to leave.
The Special Service Detective, seeing this, clearly breathed a sigh of relief. He saluted Qiu Tu respectfully before hastily making his escape from the yard.
The maidservant also left in a hurry, but not before she snatched the little cat from Shen Lingshuang's arms—then, with tears in her eyes, she ran off clutching the kitten.
Watching the two flee as if avoiding the plague, Qiu Tu was full of question marks: What exactly did Shen Lingshuang, the little witch, do to make those guarding her act like they've seen a ghost...?
By then, Shen Lingshuang had also finally snapped back to reality.
Looking at the handsome Qiu Tu, her face blushed slightly. But her strong pride still made her hold her head high as she asked, "Where did you go today? How come you didn't come to... didn't come to interrogate me?"
Qiu Tu frowned slightly, not indulging her rebuke, "What does it matter to you what I do?"
But after the rebuke, he still added, "I am the captain of the Security Team; naturally, I must be guarding Miss Shuman."
When Qiu Tu first rebuked Shen Lingshuang, although she found it satisfying, she still felt somewhat indignant.
But as soon as she heard what Qiu Tu said next, her attention was diverted,
Muttering the name, Shen Lingshuang couldn't help but recall the celestial-like woman she saw when she was sent to the Qin Family.
It was beauty that she, as a woman, envied.
She felt a slight sense of loss, and then, as if possessed, she asked, "So, who do you think is prettier, Miss Shuman or me?"
Qiu Tu looked Shen Lingshuang up and down upon hearing this.
The young girl was actually quite attractive, but because she hadn't fully blossomed yet and was too green, it was a bit humiliating for her to compare herself with Qin Shuman...
"How can Qin Shuman compare with you?"
108 Ways to Enhance Affection #9: Offer some compliments that you know are false, as it can quickly increase the other person's favorability.
Shen Lingshuang, who unexpectedly received such an answer from Qiu Tu, blushed and asked awkwardly, "Do you really think so?"
"Of course." Qiu Tu raised his hand to swear, "I swear on the life of my immediate superior, Yan Chen, that if there is a single false word, he shall have no place to be buried."
Upon hearing that, Shen Lingshuang felt a sweet sensation in her heart. After all, who didn't know that Yan Chen was Qiu Tu's benefactor, and that his young age as a First Level Detective of the Political Department was entirely due to Yan Chen's patronage.
—Shen Lingshuang had indeed learned quite a bit about Qiu Tu from the detectives guarding her today~~
Shen Lingshuang nodded contentedly, and although she didn't say it out loud, she felt very pleased inside.
Meanwhile, Qiu Tu, having finished boosting Shen Lingshuang's goodwill, also timely started the topic he came to Shen Lingshuang for, "Ling Shuang, I need you to do something for me."
Although just moments ago Qiu Tu's two "combination punches" had successfully hooked Shen Lingshuang, she still habitually played coy in response.
She tilted her head, pouted her lips slightly arrogantly, and said, "Just because you tell me to do something, I have to do it? How embarrassing for me."
Qiu Tu, however, said, "This is a command, not a question."
"If you don't agree, I can only help you remember yesterday's punishment."
Listening to Qiu Tu's domineering yet ambiguous words, Shen Lingshuang felt an inexplicable shiver in her heart.
Her cheeks flushed, she turned her head away and muttered insincerely, "Fine, I'll do it... no need to threaten people..."
After speaking, she asked without much enthusiasm, "So what do you want me to do?"
Qiu Tu took out a package from his pocket and handed it to Shen Lingshuang.
Shen Lingshuang was rather casual when receiving the package, but when she saw what was inside, her eyes widened in an instant, "Aurora Stone! Tears of Moonlight!"
After recognizing these two precious Cataclysmic Materials, Shen Lingshuang couldn't help but look at Qiu Tu in surprise, "Where did you get these two things from?"
Qiu Tu shook his head, refusing to answer, "That's a secret, you shouldn't pry."
Shen Lingshuang was indeed obedient. When Qiu Tu told her not to ask, she didn't ask any further. However, as her handcuffed hands brushed over the two Cataclysm Materials, her gaze still became extremely complex.
Putting away the playful expression on her face, she looked at Qiu Tu and asked seriously, "Our relationship shouldn't be good, right? How can you trust me with these items?"
"Aren't you afraid that I will deliberately sabotage and ruin the potion?"
"You haven't seen a Cataclysmic Potion before, have you? Aren't you afraid that I might secretly make a fake potion and pocket these two Cataclysmic Materials?"
"And... have you ever seen my alchemy skills? Aren't you afraid that I'll fail in making it?"
Qiu Tu did not directly answer Shen Lingshuang's barrage of questions, but instead fired back, "Would you intentionally spoil my Cataclysmic Potion?"
Shen Lingshuang shook her head, "I wouldn't."
Qiu Tu then asked, "Would you pocket these two Cataclysmic Materials then?"
Shen Lingshuang shook her head again, "I wouldn't."
Qiu Tu finally asked, "Then, do you think you can successfully create the Cataclysmic Potion?"
This time, Shen Lingshuang hesitated for a moment. But in the end, she nodded, "I am at least 90% certain."
Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu said with a smile, "Then what do I have to worry about?"
"You may think our relationship is not good, but I find you very trustworthy."
"So..... I trust you."
Accompanying those final words, Shen Lingshuang stood frozen in place.
Possibly having never been trusted so much by anyone, Shen Lingshuang was somewhat at a loss for what to do. She stuttered, "But, but, I, you...."
After a moment, she took several deep breaths, forcing herself to calm down.
Then with a complex look in her eyes, she gazed at Qiu Tu, "But Qiu Tu, I can't guarantee that the potion I make will truly cause a Cataclysm Awakening when you drink it."
"You know... the awakening rate of the Cataclysmic Potion is less than 20% now; it's completely a gamble with one's life."
Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu heavily patted Shen Lingshuang's shoulder and said earnestly, "Then I entrust my life to you."
Time seemed to stop at that moment, as Shen Lingshuang felt the world around her so vast, yet as if it could only fit a single person, Qiu Tu....
Tomorrow is my daughter's birthday, so the two chapter updates will probably both be in the evening. Everyone can enjoy reading them together later; it'll be more satisfying that way.