"What face? You're a suspect, and you still care about saving face?"
Hearing that familiar teasing voice, Shen Lingshuang's eyes lit up. She sprang to her feet and cried, "Qiu Tu? You're here!"
As her words fell, Qiu Tu strolled in from outside the courtyard with his hands shoved in his pockets.
He had long, slender legs and a flawless build, the black Political Department uniform fitting him with immaculate sharpness. Bathed in the evening glow, his striking features—handsome enough to rival Daniel Wu—left Shen Lingshuang dazed for a moment.
*108 Ways to Deepen a Relationship, Method 7: If you possess superior physical traits, make sure to use them. It helps you quickly conquer a woman's heart.*
Stepping up to Shen Lingshuang, Qiu Tu waved a hand at the Special Service Department agent and the maid standing guard nearby, gesturing for them to leave.
The Special Service agent visibly breathed a sigh of relief. He offered Qiu Tu a respectful salute and practically bolted out of the courtyard in long strides.
The maid moved just as swiftly, though before dashing off, she didn't forget to snatch the kitten back from Shen Lingshuang's arms, fleeing with tears welling in her eyes as she clutched the animal.
Watching the pair scramble away as if fleeing a plague, Qiu Tu was utterly baffled. What on earth had this little witch Shen Lingshuang done to terrify her guards like they had seen a ghost?
By now, Shen Lingshuang had finally regained her senses.
Looking at the handsome Qiu Tu, a faint blush touched her cheeks. Her fierce pride, however, made her hold her chin high as she demanded, "Where did you go today? Why haven't you come to keep me company—I mean, interrogate me?"
Qiu Tu frowned, refusing to indulge her attitude. "What does my business have to do with you?"
After rebuking her, he added, "I'm the commander of the guard corps. Naturally, my daily duty is to protect Miss Shuman."
Shen Lingshuang had secretly enjoyed his initial scolding, even if she felt a little defiant. But hearing his second sentence immediately diverted her attention.
"Miss Shuman?"
Muttering the name, Shen Lingshuang couldn't help recalling the celestial beauty she had seen when she was first brought to the Qin estate.
Even as a woman, she couldn't help envying such beauty.
A twinge of disappointment crept into her heart. As if possessed, she blurted out, "Then who do you think is prettier, me or Miss Shuman?"
Qiu Tu looked her up and down.
The girl actually had very striking features, but because she hadn't fully matured yet, she was still too green. Comparing herself to Qin Shuman was practically asking for humiliation.
Therefore...
"Definitely you."
"How could Qin Shuman compare to you?"
*108 Ways to Deepen a Relationship, Method 9: Offering compliments that the other person knows are false is effective for rapidly winning their favor.*
Shen Lingshuang, clearly not expecting that answer, blushed crimson. A bit bashful, she asked, "Do you really think so?"
"Of course." Qiu Tu raised a hand in an oath. "I swear on the life of my direct superior, Yan Chen, that if there's half a lie in what I said, he will die without a burial place."
Hearing that, Shen Lingshuang felt a rush of sweetness in her heart. After all, who didn't know Yan Chen was Qiu Tu's patron? The only reason Qiu Tu could become a Rank 1 agent in the Political Department at such a young age was thanks to Yan Chen's patronage.
Shen Lingshuang had pried a great deal of information about Qiu Tu out of the agents guarding her that day.
She nodded with satisfaction. Though she kept quiet, she was thoroughly pleased inside.
Having farmed Shen Lingshuang's goodwill, Qiu Tu chose the right moment to broach the reason for his visit. "Lingshuang, I need you to do something for me."
Even though Qiu Tu's two-hit combination had hooked Shen Lingshuang hook, line, and sinker, her stubborn streak kicked in out of habit.
She tilted her head, pouted, and said with a touch of petulance, "Just because you tell me to do something means I have to do it? Where's my pride in that?"
Qiu Tu replied, "This is an order, not a request.
"If you refuse, I can only help you reminisce about yesterday's torture."
Hearing his overbearing yet strangely intimate tone, Shen Lingshuang felt her heart flutter unpredictably.
Her face flushed slightly, and she turned her head away, muttering insincerely, "Fine, I'll do it... What's with the threats?"
Then she snapped, "So what do you want me to do?"
Qiu Tu took a package from his pocket and handed it to her.
Shen Lingshuang accepted it rather casually, but the moment she saw what was inside, her eyes went wide. "The Aurora Stone! And the Moonlight Tear!"
Recognizing the two precious Cataclysm materials, Shen Lingshuang looked up at Qiu Tu in astonishment. "Where did you get these?"
Qiu Tu shook his head and refused to answer. "That's a secret. Don't pry."
Shen Lingshuang proved obedient enough; since he told her not to ask, she really dropped it. But as her hands, bound in silver handcuffs, lightly stroked the two Cataclysm materials, her gaze turned remarkably conflicted.
Wiping the playful look from her face, she looked at Qiu Tu and asked seriously, "You and I aren't on good terms, are we? You're really comfortable entrusting these to me?
"Aren't you afraid I'll sabotage the brew on purpose?
"You've probably never seen a Cataclysm potion before, right? Aren't you afraid I'll secretly whip up a fake potion and pocket these two materials?
"Besides, have you ever seen my brewing skills? Aren't you afraid I'll fail?"
Instead of directly answering her barrage of questions, Qiu Tu countered, "Would you deliberately sabotage my Cataclysm potion?"
Shen Lingshuang shook her head. "No."
Qiu Tu asked, "Would you pocket these two Cataclysm materials?"
Shen Lingshuang shook her head again. "No."
Finally, Qiu Tu asked, "Do you believe you can successfully brew the Cataclysm potion?"
This time, Shen Lingshuang hesitated for a second. In the end, she nodded. "I'm at least ninety percent sure."
Qiu Tu smiled. "Then what do I have to worry about?
"You might think we're not on good terms, but I consider you trustworthy.
"So... I trust you."
As those words left Qiu Tu's mouth, Shen Lingshuang froze on the spot.
Perhaps no one had ever trusted her so completely. For a moment, she was utterly flustered, stammering, "B-But... I... you..."
After taking several deep breaths, she forced herself to calm down.
Then, looking at Qiu Tu with a complex expression, she said, "But Qiu Tu, I can't guarantee that drinking the potion I brew will truly grant you a Cataclysm Awakening.
"You know this too... The awakening rate for Cataclysm potions right now isn't even twenty percent. It's an outright gamble with your life."
Qiu Tu gave Shen Lingshuang's shoulder a firm pat and said solemnly, "Then I leave my life in your hands."
Time seemed to stand still in that instant. Shen Lingshuang felt as if the vast world before her had shrunk until it held only Qiu Tu.
Chapter 27