Although Qin Yu's original request had been to improve her relationship with Ningguang, both Ningguang and Keqing had subsequently rewarded her with a substantial sum of Mora.
Combined with her upcoming salary, she could easily afford to quit her job and move to a new place without worrying about money for quite some time.
Not bad at all.
After Qin Yu's probationary period ended, Ningguang left the estate and returned to the Jade Chamber. Qin Yu couldn't help but wonder if Ningguang had stayed for a week solely because of her.
But that's probably just wishful thinking, she thought.
Life settled into a monotonous routine: work during the day, evening strolls to clear her head, or curling up with a book in her room. The only other variation was popping over to Shenhe's or the others for a few quick "interactions" to accumulate Points.
Then her second day off arrived.
"Another day off..." Qin Yu groaned, a headache forming.
Free time always left her adrift.
She was certain she wasn't a workaholic, but when faced with leisure, she felt compelled to make the most of it. This very determination paralyzed her with indecision.
The fear of wasting her precious holiday time weighed heavily on her.
The pressure bred anxiety, and anxiety bred aimlessness. What exactly constituted "making the most of time"? The more she pondered, the more frustrated she became, the clock ticking away relentlessly and fueling her agitation.
It was a vicious cycle.
"Tch... Whatever. When in doubt, the easiest way to avoid 'wasting time' is to cuddle."
Shenhe...I don't feel like dealing with her right now. She always disrupts my pace. Skip.
Hu Tao...Heh, skip.
Ningguang and Keqing?Those two are workaholics. How could I bother them? Besides, Keqing's always so stiff anyway. Skip.
By process of elimination, the answer became clear.
Time to visit Yanfei!
Qin Yu quickly freshened up and headed to Yanfei's law office.
Knock, knock, knock. She rapped on the door.
"Come in!"
Yanfei hadn't expected a visitor so early. I was just thinking of going to see Qin Yu, she thought. I'll have to postpone any non-urgent cases. She looked up and startled.
"Qin Yu?!"
Why is she so surprised to see me? Qin Yu wondered inwardly, but she kept a smile on her face as she held up the bag of sweets she'd brought.
"Good morning, Yanfei. Am I disturbing you?"
Yanfei shook her head. "Not at all! I was just about to come find you myself. But why are you here so early? Are you planning to go somewhere? I have some free time—I'd love to join you!"
Qin Yu stepped closer, leaned in with a smile, and offered the bag.
"These are snacks. Remember to eat them after your meal. As for why I came to see you... well, of course, it's because I've been wanting to hang out with Yanfei for ages! Work keeps me so busy, I haven't had the time. But as soon as I got a day off today, I rushed right over."
Yanfei's thoughts raced!
She's still as considerate as ever. But she's been wanting to hang out with me for "ages"? Does that mean she's been thinking about me all this time? Even while she was working?
She rushed over as soon as she got a day off... that means she was so eager to see me, she couldn't wait, right?
If she feels that strongly, does it mean I've become someone special to her? Could she really harbor romantic feelings for me? But...
[Evaluation: D]
"What's wrong?"
Yanfei snapped out of her reverie at Qin Yu's voice, startled. She quickly regained her composure and tapped her forehead with the corner of her book.
Yanfei's old habit had resurfaced, and she felt a pang of embarrassment.
Regardless, she was genuinely happy to see Qin Yu. Whatever the exact nature of their bond, it clearly showed they were close, right?
Yanfei cleared her throat and accepted the bag with a smile. "It's nothing. I was just marveling at how remarkably aligned our thoughts are. I was actually planning to come find you myself, but you showed up first!"
As she spoke, Yanfei noticed a subtle shift in Qin Yu's expression.
Why are you talking like that too? Qin Yu thought irritably.
"Did I say something wrong?" Yanfei asked, puzzled.
"Huh? Oh, no! I'm just surprised we were thinking the same thing."
Her surprise stemmed from the lack of anticipation. We didn't foresee this, yet it feels like mutual understanding... Has our bond truly grown this deep? Yanfei held the bag, her mind drifting into restless thoughts.
[Evaluation: D+]
How did this even raise my evaluation?
"Anyway, please sit down. It's rare for both of us to be free at the same time. It would be a shame not to catch up."
"Mm."
Qin Yu settled onto the sofa. Yanfei poured tea, arranged pastries on a plate, brought it over, and placed it on the coffee table before sitting across from her.
Hmph, this is an opportunity too... Qin Yu thought, rising and casually settling down beside Yanfei.
Why did she have to sit right next to me? Yanfei's cheeks flushed slightly.
"It's easier to talk this way, don't you think?" Qin Yu said with a smile.
"I suppose so..." Yanfei still felt the distance was a bit close. Am I overthinking this? she wondered. There's nothing wrong with two women sitting this close, especially since we're friends.
[Evaluation: C-]
Hmph, she's still as easy to deal with as ever. Just the way it should be!
Shenhe, Ningguang, Hu Tao—especially Hu Tao... Even though I'm the one taking the initiative, I always end up on the defensive, forced to play by their rules. It's utterly chaotic.
I still have the points, but that doesn't make it any less annoying!
Compared to them, Yanfei is so much better.
But what she said earlier... Ugh, I hope she doesn't pick up bad habits. Qin Yu couldn't help but worry.
"How's the job going? I'm sure you're doing fine, but being Ningguang's maid must be stressful. I hope you're not feeling overwhelmed. It's best if you're enjoying yourself, of course," Yanfei said, changing the subject.
Enjoying myself? Not in the slightest.
Qin Yu was always woken up early in the morning by the head maid, who would shout, "Get up, or your wages will be docked!" Every day, she was startled awake by the threat.
And the work was all manual labor.
Despite her silent complaints, Qin Yu couldn't voice them. After all, Yanfei had recommended her for this job.
Don't worry about me, Qin Yu thought, smiling faintly. "It's going great! Everyone's friendly, and the work is manageable. I owe it all to Yanfei for helping me get this job."
"Oh, don't mention it! I didn't do much at all. But if you're happy, that's what matters! There's nothing better than finding joy in your work. I love my job too—it's fulfilling and makes me happy."
Being a lawyer can't be easy, yet she manages to enjoy it... Qin Yu felt a surge of admiration for Yanfei. No wonder she's so reliable.
Yanfei's cheeks flushed as she waved her hand modestly. "You're too kind! It's simply unprofessional to perform poorly in one's field. Of course, that's just my personal principle. I can't speak for others."
Speaking of which, Yanfei couldn't help but notice how much more charming and endearing Qin Yu had become. Every gesture, every glance, every smile radiated a fragile charm that tugged at her heart.
Had she changed, or had my perception of her changed?
If it was the latter, then wouldn't that mean... Yanfei's mind reeled in confusion.
[Evaluation: C]
No, no! Yanfei snapped back to reality, refusing to dwell on those thoughts any longer.
She abruptly changed the subject. "Actually, I've been struggling with a particularly tricky case lately. I don't even know where to begin, and it's been really frustrating."
Qin Yu exclaimed in surprise, "Even Yanfei finds something frustrating? What is it? Maybe I can help!"
"Oh, no need. It's just part of my job... but it wouldn't hurt to talk about it. It's actually about a will."