Chapter Sixty: Negotiation

Qin Yu chatted with the three for a while longer, then spent the night resting at the temporary lodgings of Zhao Meng and the others.

Early the next morning, when Qin Yu awoke, she was greeted by the sight of Xia Cheng and Zhao Meng intimately preparing—breakfast—together.

Qin Yu’s lips twitched; if she didn’t know this was the apocalypse, she might have thought it was a peaceful era.

Calling it breakfast was really nothing more than slicing bread into neat pieces. Of course, for most people in the end times, such effort was unnecessary, but Zhao Meng and Xia Cheng seemed to relish the leisure.

As soon as Zhao Meng saw Qin Yu, she waved enthusiastically. “Xiao Yu~ Xiao Yu~ Come have some bread~”

Qin Yu responded with a quiet “mm,” sat beside Zhao Meng, and began eating without a word.

Zhao Meng wriggled out of Xia Cheng’s embrace and poked Qin Yu. “Xiao Yu~ What’s wrong? Are you unhappy?”

Still silent, Qin Yu kept eating. Xia Cheng, watching from the side, pulled Zhao Meng back into his arms and said, “Boss Qin~ She must be feeling lonely! Don’t mind her, Xiao Meng, let’s enjoy our breakfast. I’ll feed you~” He picked up a slice of bread and, holding it in his mouth, offered it to Zhao Meng.

Qin Yu watched this scene and shot Xia Cheng a vicious glare. This guy! He’s begging for trouble.

Zhao Meng caught Xia Cheng’s comment, her eyes flicking mischievously, a lascivious smile spreading across her face. “Right, right! I know! Xiao Yu’s lonely for sure! Don’t worry, Xiao Yu, I’ll find you a good man, just wait! Haha~”

Qin Yu brushed the crumbs from her hands and said, “No need, Xiao Meng. You just enjoy your own man. I’m going to check if the others are awake.” With that, she left the room…

Leaving Zhao Meng and Xia Cheng to continue their cozy routine…

Once everyone else was ready, Qin Yu gathered the group and asked, “What happened between you and the Falcon Squad?”

The group fell silent. Qin Yu frowned, her gaze filled with doubt as she looked toward Xia Cheng.

Receiving Qin Yu’s look, Xia Cheng cleared his throat and replied, “It’s really nothing major. Xiao Meng accidentally bumped into that woman, and she wouldn’t let it go. No idea what her problem is. She’s been pestering us ever since. Hah! She even made my Xiao Meng cry, damn it!”

“I see… Looks like we need to talk to her,” Qin Yu said, rubbing her chin.

Everyone nodded in agreement, then turned their attention to Qin Yu, awaiting her instructions. Unbeknownst to them, they’d already begun to revolve around her as their center…

Qin Yu thought for a moment and said, “Xia Cheng and Xiao Meng, you come with me—it concerns Xiao Meng. As for the rest of you… Liu Xue, you join us too. Your fighting spirit is quite intimidating~”

The others considered Qin Yu’s reasoning and agreed one by one.

With the plan decided, Feng Xiao and Chen Mo stayed behind, while the rest headed to the Falcon Squad’s territory to negotiate…

Arriving at the Falcon Squad’s base, the guards saw it was Qin Yu and paid no attention to those accompanying her, promptly ushering the group inside. After all, Captain Qian had long instructed them: whenever Qin Yu arrived, she was to be brought in immediately. As for the others… well, who cared?

Qin Yu was surprised at how easily they gained entry, thinking the Falcon Squad’s vigilance lacking, never suspecting it was Qian Ying’s deliberate arrangement.

Inside, Qian Ying had already been informed that Qin Yu had brought several people. He immediately set aside his work to welcome her.

“Xiao Yu~ You’re here. Is there anything I can do for you?” Qian Ying greeted Qin Yu with a smile as she entered.

Qin Yu smiled in return. “Captain Qian, please call me Qin Yu. We’re not so familiar. I did come today to discuss something with you.”

Hearing Qian Ying address Qin Yu so intimately, Zhao Meng and the others began speculating about their relationship. Zhao Meng even steeled herself for a self-sacrificing act. This captain—he’s certainly capable, though she thought he wasn’t worthy of Xiao Yu! Hmph~ But… if Xiao Yu liked him, she’d reluctantly accept it.

But seeing Qin Yu’s demeanor, the group snapped out of their daydreams, realizing it was only the captain’s wishful thinking.

Qian Ying paid no mind to Qin Yu’s attitude, still smiling warmly. “Oh? What matter brings you here personally?”

“It’s like this: a good friend of mine accidentally collided with someone from your squad a few days ago. We apologized, but… someone keeps refusing to let it go. What do you make of that?” Qin Yu said, feigning a bit of difficulty.

Qian Ying glanced at Zhao Meng behind Qin Yu, comprehension dawning on his face. “Ah, so that’s it! Since you’re asking, Xiao Yu, let’s put it behind us. It’s over!”

Qin Yu’s smile grew. “I think Captain Qian misunderstands me. We didn’t come to seek forgiveness. We’re here to inquire. I’d like to know where the woman Xiao Meng bumped into is. We have something to discuss with her privately.”

Qian Ying’s face stiffened for a moment, then quickly recovered. He replied with some difficulty, “Xiao Yu, since you’re set on this, I won’t stop you. But… Feng Mei’er, she…”

“Oh? What is it? Is Captain Qian reluctant to hand her over, cherishing her? Or do you doubt we just want to talk? If so, rest assured, Captain Qian—I guarantee with my own integrity, it’s truly just a conversation!” Qin Yu said with a touch of seriousness.

Qian Ying frowned. “Xiao Yu, it’s not that I’m reluctant, nor am I worried. The issue is, Feng Mei’er…”

“What happened to her?” Qin Yu suddenly felt a bad premonition…

“Since yesterday, she hasn’t left her room. She hasn’t eaten, not even a sip of water. When someone checked in, she just replied she was fine. I knocked on her door earlier, but there was no response. So… perhaps you won’t see her today,” Qian Ying answered.

Qin Yu breathed a sigh of relief; she had feared something worse. Still, she was at a loss for words, sighing helplessly. She suspected Feng Mei’er’s odd behavior was tied to yesterday’s incident with Zhao Meng, but she wasn’t foolish enough to share that.

And now, being at the Falcon Squad’s base, they couldn’t force their way in to see the woman. It seemed they’d have to return another day.

Qin Yu looked disappointed as she turned to Qian Ying. “In that case, we apologize for the intrusion. We’ll visit again soon!” She vowed inwardly to get answers about what Feng Mei’er had done to Xiao Meng.

Qian Ying glanced at Qin Yu, who was about to leave, and stepped forward. “Xiao Yu, leaving already? Why not stay a bit longer? Or… let me see you off!”

Qin Yu shook her head. “Thank you for your kindness, Captain Qian, but there’s no need. We know the way…”

Just as Qian Ying was about to say more, someone rushed out from within and whispered urgently to him. Qian Ying’s expression changed, and without so much as a farewell to Qin Yu, he walked off, his steps heavy…

Qin Yu was delighted not to have to deal with someone who always seemed to harbor ulterior motives.

Yet, watching Qian Ying’s retreating figure, Qin Yu couldn’t help but feel that questioning Feng Mei’er might not go as smoothly as she had hoped…