Chapter 46: The Fiancée Who Came Knocking

What on earth? Shameless? Even the name of this bespectacled, chubby kid seems to carry a touch of self-critique.

Qiu Biao Lian swaggered over and sat down beside Shen Meng, saying, “Shen Meng, why are you hanging out with a slacker like him? If Auntie finds out you’re so close to a bad student, she’ll probably get sick from anger again! Come, sit next to me—keep your distance from him!”

“Qiu Biao Lian, mind your words! Ling Qiu is my friend! And he’s absolutely not a bad student!” Shen Meng was furious.

She quickly turned to Ling Qiu and said, “Ling Qiu, I’m sorry, this guy’s my neighbor.”

Qiu Biao Lian hurried to interject, “He used to be my neighbor, not anymore. Now we live in the Scenic Villa District! Shen Meng, do you know how expensive a house in Scenic Villa District is? Each unit costs several million!”

A flicker of distaste crossed Shen Meng’s eyes.

Qiu Biao Lian continued, puffed up with pride, “But don’t worry, Shen Meng—no matter what, I’ll always treat you as my friend! Oh, and let me tell you, once the grades are released, our family is throwing a dinner party. We’re inviting all the old neighbors from the street, you have to come!”

Ding-ling-ling!

Just then, the bell rang, signaling the end of the exam.

Qiu Biao Lian stood up, looking smug. “I’m off! Our driver is still waiting outside for me!”

He took two steps, then glanced at Ling Qiu, sneering, “Oh, and Shen Meng, honestly, you’d best stop associating with this kind of bad student. I’ve shared an exam room with him—every time, he hands in his paper after thirty minutes. No ambition, a hopeless loser! Destined to be useless his whole life!”

With that, he strode out of the lounge without a backward glance.

“You!... Qiu Biao Lian, you’ve gone too far!” Shen Meng couldn’t stand hearing Ling Qiu insulted, and rose to confront him.

Ling Qiu merely smiled, resting a hand on Shen Meng’s shoulder. “No need to let that sort of person get under your skin.”

Honestly, at Qiu Biao Lian’s level, Ling Qiu didn’t even bother to look twice.

…

The college entrance exam was over; school was on break.

Next came the task of filling out university applications and waiting for results.

During this period, Ling Qiu was searching everywhere for souls, but unfortunately… his quest was too slow.

Now that he had reached the Foundation stage, ordinary wandering spirits no longer satisfied his hunger.

And ghosts of the wild, the more powerful souls, generally possessed a strong sense of self—those weren’t so easy to find or capture…

Grrrr—

Early in the morning, Ling Qiu munched on bread, his stomach growling loudly.

He was truly starving…

He pondered how he could easily find wild ghosts to feed on.

Perhaps… open a ghost-catching studio?

That way, all sorts of supernatural cases would come to him, and he’d have plenty of opportunities.

After all, he’d already visited every hospital mortuary, crematorium, and cemetery in Jiang’an City—none of them offered enough sustenance.

Ling Qiu fiddled with the Yanluo Ring. “Tsk, Dizang, when you gave me the Yanluo Ring, why didn’t you think to toss in a Soul-Chasing Banner as well?”

Buzz!

No sooner had Ling Qiu finished speaking than the Yanluo Ring began to glow with golden light.

Hm?

Ling Qiu was taken aback.

What’s happening?

Buzz-buzz-buzz—

The golden light flickered faster, and Ling Qiu felt his hand pinned down by the surge—he couldn’t move!

As he gaped in astonishment—

Whoosh!—

A surge of invisible wind swept through the room, forming a miniature cyclone.

The golden light gathered, swirling within the storm, slowly taking shape.

After a moment, a radiant figure appeared before him.

Ling Qiu was stunned. “Di… Dizang?!”

Yes, the figure was none other than Dizang’s incarnation.

“Brother Ling, it’s been a while. How have you been?” Dizang’s incarnation stood with eyes closed and hands clasped, as unmoving as a mountain, spiritual energy billowing around him.

“How did you appear here?!”

“Amitabha. Brother Ling, when you were reborn, I noticed your heart was laden with obsession and worried you’d stray from your path. So I stored three strands of spiritual energy in the Yanluo Ring. Whenever you are lost, the energy will awaken my incarnation to guide you.”

Ling Qiu couldn’t help but smile.

Such a method was typical of Dizang!

“You’re just in time!—I won’t devour living souls, but you must tell me how I can fill my stomach. Honestly, ever since I came back to life, I haven’t had a proper meal!”

“Do you realize you are a descendant of the Ling family?”

Ling Qiu was taken aback. “Of course I know.”

“In that case… you need not shy away from your identity. Embrace the Ling family, and you’ll find an opportunity to solve your problem.”

Ling Qiu: ???

What does that mean?

How does accepting the Ling family help me feed myself?

“Amitabha… That is all I can say. Take care, Brother Ling.”

Whoosh!—

The cyclone howled, then vanished in the blink of an eye.

The awe-inspiring spiritual energy dissipated instantly.

The room returned to its usual state; Ling Qiu furrowed his brow.

Dizang… still the same, always speaking in riddles.

But Ling Qiu was used to it.

“Embrace the Ling family… and I’ll have a chance… Is he saying there’s a fated opportunity for me in the Ling family?”

Ling Qiu took a deep breath.

Just then, his phone rang.

Caller ID: Xu Wanxi.

Oh?

Opportunities come when you least expect them.

He picked up. “Hello, Ling Qiu.”

“What’s up, great beauty?”

“Be serious, I have something important to tell you.”

“Go ahead.”

“I’ve taken over some affairs on the Ling family side, but… as for the position of head, my qualifications are too shallow. I probably won’t ever be able to take that seat.”

Ling Qiu said, “Someone’s opposing you?—Whoever’s against you, just tell me and I’ll deal with them.”

Xu Wanxi chuckled at that. “See? You get straight to the point. This person—only you can handle them.”

“Oh?” Ling Qiu’s interest was piqued. “Tell me, who is it?”

Xu Wanxi teased, “This person… isn’t from the Ling family. But you’ve met them.”

Not from the Ling family?

Someone I’ve met?

Ling Qiu laughed. “If you keep me guessing, I’ll hang up.”

“Wait… look at you, so impatient!”

She paused, then smiled. “You lucky boy. Deng Ru Yan—does that name ring a bell?”

Deng Ru Yan?

In an instant—

A stunning woman flashed through Ling Qiu’s mind!

He had indeed seen her… but never in person.

Rather—

He’d seen her on countless entertainment news reports and television.

Deng Ru Yan…

The top diva of Huaxia!

Barely in her twenties, she’d swept major international arts awards!

And she was the heiress of the illustrious Deng Group!

The legendary goddess—beauty, talent, and pedigree all in one!

“...Aunt, please be more direct.”

Ling Qiu mused.

Xu Wanxi smiled gently. “Deng Ru Yan said, in this life, she’ll marry no one but you!”