Lu Qingyue immediately muted her phone and waited a long time until the caller gave up.
However, not long after, another call came in.
"Why aren't you answering?"
Shen Xiao turned and glanced at the phone screen lying there.
He managed to catch the word "Bank" on the caller ID before Qingyue snatched it away.
"It's nothing," Qingyue answered hurriedly as she ran out of the room.
Shen Xiao usually didn't care about other people's personal business, but the "Bank" label put him on alert. Banks usually call for two things, offering credit cards or collecting debts.
Looking at the look on Qingyue's face, it was clearly the second.
Considering Qingyue's family background from his previous life, this was likely a massive debt problem.
Helping the future Empress pay off her debts?
I can do that.
Shen Xiao had 50 million yuan in savings, and if that wasn't enough, he could sell some Spirit Stones from his system.
His strength had surged thanks to Qingyue, so it was only right that he helped when she was in trouble.
Moreover, helping with money matters could net him hundreds of lottery tickets, a very profitable investment!
A few minutes later, Qingyue returned with a look of disappointment that she tried to hide with a forced smile.
"If you're having trouble, tell me," Shen Xiao said calmly.
"Even though we haven't known each other long, we are teammates who have gone through life and death together. I can help... for example, with borrowing money."
Hearing the words "borrow money," Qingyue hesitated.
Her family's debt was over three million yuan, a figure that an average person might never earn in a lifetime.
She was afraid that if she borrowed it, Shen Xiao would look down on her or feel burdened.
"I... that was the bank calling," Qingyue finally shared.
"They know I'm an ability practitioner now. They want me to take a Rank D mission for them."
The bank offered a deal: If Qingyue could complete a mission that was actually Rank C but for Rank D rewards, they would reduce the interest on her family's debt this month.
"Of course we'll take it. Tell me the details," Shen Xiao replied.
"But this mission is difficult, Shen Xiao. Six teams have already failed," Qingyue explained anxiously.
"There's a villa on the outskirts of Ku County that's haunted. The owner defaulted on a loan and the bank seized the villa, but it can't be sold because of the disturbance. The Ability Association doesn't want to waste energy there because there have been no fatalities, so the bank issued its own bounty."
Because the profit was small, the bank only offered a 500 yuan reward.
Strong teams refused because the pay was too low, while weak teams always failed.
"This mission helps me a lot, but it will be a loss for you, Shen Xiao. The reward is very small," she whispered.
"Contact them. We're taking the mission," Shen Xiao stated firmly.
"But Shen Xiao, six teams have already failed..."
"You don't believe in my abilities?"
Shen Xiao got out of bed and sat next to Qingyue, gripping her hand tightly.
"You don't consider me a friend anymore?"
Qingyue shook her head quickly.
"It's not that! It's just that the reward is only 500 yuan, and you're injured..."
"I'll help a friend in need. Besides, my strength hasn't fully recovered yet, so a simple mission like this is perfect for a warm-up. The risk of failure is small since all the previous teams survived, right? It's probably just a naughty little mutated animal."
Shen Xiao decided in his heart.
After this mission, he would go straight to the bank and secretly pay off the rest of Qingyue's debt.
He didn't want the girl of his dreams to lose sleep over such a small amount of money.
Ding!
[Gained Lu Qingyue's favorability, Fate Ticket +100]
"Thank you, Shen Xiao. You've helped me so much. I will definitely repay you one day!"
"No, you've helped me a lot too."
...
The nurse's chair was actually only meant for one person, but now the two of them were squeezed into it.
While holding Qingyue's slender hand, Shen Xiao realized their faces were very close, close enough to feel each other's breath.
Much closer than when he was feeding her earlier.
His hand unconsciously wrapped around Qingyue's slim waist.
He hesitated for a moment, but seeing Qingyue start to close her eyes without any sign of rejection, he knew this was silent consent.
Should I kiss her now?
...
Click!
The ward door opened just as Shen Xiao's lips were about to reach their target.
Startled, Lu Qingyue reflexively pulled her hand away and jumped back, her face turning as red as a boiled crab.
Someone walked in carrying a lunch box and a large banner.
"Huh? Where's Lu Zihao?" Su Qiao asked while looking around.
Shen Xiao answered with a sharp tone he couldn't hide, "He's out taking care of something."
Su Qiao snorted, "He's taking forever. Oh right, Shen Xiao, if Qingyue's cooking isn't enough, you have to try mine. Look at this!"
She unfurled the banner in her hand.
[Su Qiao: The Miracle Healer].
"Yesterday, a patient who had lost his sense of taste tried my cooking, and suddenly his taste buds returned from the shock! He gave me this banner. Great, right?"
Shen Xiao swallowed hard. He remembered Lu Zihao's description of "mass destruction biochemistry."
"Thanks, but I'm already full from Qingyue's cooking."
Su Qiao felt something was off. The atmosphere in this room felt... awkward?
She saw Lu Qingyue suddenly becoming very busy tidying the window curtains.
Su Qiao whispered to her friend, "So? Are you guys official? Did you kiss?"
Qingyue just stood there frozen.
Su Qiao finally realized, "Ah! I came at the wrong time, didn't I? Hahaha... sorry, please continue! I'm leaving!"
"Wait for me!" Qingyue hurriedly grabbed her bag and followed her out.
"Shen Xiao, we're going back to the hotel to pack. Be careful on the road."
Shen Xiao could only stare at the ceiling of the ward in frustration.
Dammit, so close!
Why couldn't she have come five minutes later?
He even briefly thought about actually changing teammates, but seeing that Lu Qingyue didn't reject his advance earlier, he felt this was a good start.
...
In the afternoon, the four of them drove toward Ku County.
Their target was a villa complex on a mountainside.
The location was remote, silent, and creepy.
The villa they were heading for was very striking, its entire walls were covered in withered vines that looked like black veins, and the yard was buried in thick dried leaves.
The iron gate creaked loudly when pushed, adding to the horror movie feel.
"Are we really going in? What if Sadako suddenly appears?" Su Qiao began to shiver in fear.
She immediately jumped onto Lu Zihao's back and gripped his neck tightly.
"Su Qiao! Get down! I can't move if you're clinging like this!" Lu Zihao cried out in frustration.
"No way! In a place like this, separating means death! I'll be your rear guard!"
It should be noted that Su Qiao's superpower is Magnetism.
She can make objects or beings she touches attract or repel each other for five minutes.
Because she is weaker than Lu Zihao, when she uses her power, she is actually "sucked in" and permanently attached to Lu Zihao's back.
"Su Qiao! Turn off your magnetism!" Lu Zihao shouted while trying to shake her off, but it was futile.
Shen Xiao shook his head at their antics.
However, he noticed Lu Qingyue also looked pale. It turned out that the future Empress was terrified of ghosts.
"Let's split up. Don't act alone," Shen Xiao ordered.
"Right! Lu Zihao and I will check the backyard. Maybe the mutated animal is hiding under the leaves!" Su Qiao chirped while steering Lu Zihao, who was still carrying her, toward the back of the house.
Now only Shen Xiao and Lu Qingyue stood in front of the dark main door.
Qingyue gripped the edge of Shen Xiao's shirt very tightly, her eyes alertly staring into the cold hallway of the house.
"It's okay, Qingyue. Stay behind me. I will protect you," Shen Xiao whispered softly.
Ding!
[Gained Lu Qingyue's favorability, Fate Ticket +100]
Shen Xiao smiled faintly.
It turned out this ghost mission had its own benefits.
the Empress was becoming very dependent on him!