Chapter 19: Xiao Ming

With the previous 4 points, Qin Hao now had 9 Luck Points. To reach the 10 points required to return to the main world or enter the next world, he only needed to complete one more task.

However, Qin Hao was in no rush. It was a rare opportunity to experience a different life, and furthermore, the existence of the Luck Mall made him decide to accumulate more Luck Points—better to be prepared.

On the 22nd floor, Qiu Yingying was apologizing to Fan Shengmei. Ever since the scumbag Bai was exposed to the entire internet, she had been feeling a lingering sense of fear; she couldn't believe she had associated with such a person. She felt she had been blind.

Fan Shengmei comforted her, "It's okay, Yingying. That's just how women are; you're bound to encounter a few scumbags. As long as you remember to keep your eyes peeled in the future, it'll be fine."

"Mm, Sister Fan, you're so kind. From now on, you're my real sister. And Guan Guan, I was possessed by a demon to blame you both back then. Thinking about it now, I really deserve a beating," Qiu Yingying said, slapping her forehead hard.

Guan Ju'er quickly grabbed her hand, "Alright, Yingying, we didn't blame you. And honestly, we didn't really do anything. It was that scumbag Bai who did too many bad things. Heaven will deal with him!"

"Guan Guan, you little white rabbit, you're too naive. In this world, good people don't live long, while villains live for a thousand years. 'Heaven will deal with him'? What are you thinking?"

The door to 2202 was open. Fan Shengmei had just finished showering and had opened the door to let some air in, just as Qu Xiaoxiao came out to take out the trash and overheard their conversation.

Guan Ju'er pushed up her glasses and said indignantly, "Qu Xiaoxiao, what do you mean? Are you saying that Bai being exposed to the whole internet was someone's intentional move?"

Qiu Yingying and Fan Shengmei also looked at Qu Xiaoxiao in surprise.

Qu Xiaoxiao curled her lip. "Isn't it obvious? Use your little brains and think: who did Bai offend recently? The ones exposing him online are all self-media accounts. What does Qiu Yan do?"

"You mean Qiu Yan did this? To get revenge for Yingying?" Guan Ju'er blurted out.

Both Fan Shengmei and Qiu Yingying wore expressions of disbelief.

"How is that possible?"

Qu Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes. "What's impossible about it? The facts are right there. Besides Qiu Yan, who else would go to such great lengths to deal with a scumbag like Bai?"

Fan Shengmei looked at Qiu Yingying with a mix of envy and heartache. Comparing people is a recipe for misery; look at how well she has it with her brother.

Guan Ju'er looked at Qu Xiaoxiao, suddenly thinking of something. "Qu Xiaoxiao, you've been avoiding Yingying these past few days. Why the sudden urge to tell us this? Don't tell me you're... envious of Yingying?"

"Nonsense! Me, envious of her? Envious of what? Envious of her having no brain and being a pushover?" Qu Xiaoxiao turned to walk away.

However, Qiu Yingying called out to her and walked toward her.

"What are you doing? Qiu Yingying, don't think I can't beat you! I've been battle-hardened since I was a child..." Qu Xiaoxiao warned warily, but before she could finish, Qiu Yingying gave her a bear hug and didn't let go for several seconds.

"Even though you're just doing this to prove your charm, I still want to thank you for helping me see that scumbag's true face."

Only then did Qu Xiaoxiao realize what was happening. She curled her lip in disgust. "Who wants your thanks? Don't flatter yourself."

"Haha~~~" Seeing Qu Xiaoxiao's stubborn, "dead duck" attitude, Fan Shengmei and Guan Ju'er couldn't help but laugh together.

"Crazy people, what's so funny!" Qu Xiaoxiao stomped her foot hard and went back to 2203.

Qiu Yingying stood at the door hesitating for a moment before walking to 2201 and ringing the bell.

Fan Shengmei and Guan Ju'er both curiously crowded to the door just as Andy opened it.

Andy looked at Qiu Yingying with curiosity.

Qiu Yingying said solemnly to Andy, "Sister Andy, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have doubted you all before. I was so stupid to believe that scumbag and not you..."

Listening to Qiu Yingying's continuous rambling, Andy finally learned about the incident of the scumbag being exposed to the entire internet.

Fan Shengmei walked over at this time as well.

"Qu Xiaoxiao just said that this was very likely done by Qiu Yan."

Andy frowned slightly. "Qiu Yan?"

"That night at the hairy crab dinner, didn't Qiu Yan say he wanted to look into Bai's background? And all the accounts exposing him are self-media accounts. Isn't Qiu Yan's company in the self-media business? I think Qu Xiaoxiao's analysis makes sense," Fan Shengmei explained.

A trace of an inexplicable smile appeared on Andy's face. Although she felt Qin Hao's methods were somewhat excessive, hearing how many bad things the scumbag had done made her feel he got what he deserved.

"If he can uncover so much secret information about that scumbag, can he find my brother's whereabouts?" A thought suddenly occurred to Andy.

After Qiu Yingying and Fan Shengmei left, Andy sat in her house for a while. After chatting with Singularity on her computer, the thought in her mind grew uncontrollably, like grass spreading in spring.

Without further hesitation, Andy went down the stairs to the 21st floor.

Qin Hao had just finished showering and was planning to rest when he suddenly heard a knock. He was somewhat surprised to see it was Andy when he opened the door.

"Andy? It's so late, why are you here?"

Andy didn't answer, but instead asked, "I have something I'd like to ask your help with. Can we go inside and talk?"

"Of course, please come in." Qin Hao let Andy in and handed her a bottle of mineral water.

"Thank you." Andy took it but didn't drink; she just held it. After a moment of silence, she laid out the whole story regarding her brother.

Qin Hao remembered that Andy's brother was at the Daishan Nursing Home, though he wasn't sure which specific one.

"Andy, why did you suddenly think of asking me to help find your brother?" Qin Hao did not agree immediately.

Andy recounted Qu Xiaoxiao's analysis. Qin Hao nodded inwardly; speaking of which, Qu Xiaoxiao was indeed very clever, but unfortunately, she only possessed petty cleverness rather than true wisdom.

"Alright, I'll have someone look into it for you. However, you will have to bear the costs yourself." Qin Hao didn't care about the money, but business is business between brothers. He wasn't like Tan Zongming, who had a decade-long friendship with Andy; when being friends, the greatest taboo is being too intimate too soon.

"No problem. As long as my brother can be found, I don't care how much it costs." As Andy spoke, she moved to hand her credit card to Qin Hao.

Qin Hao shook his head. "There's no rush for that. I'm also hiring others to help you, so I'll have to confirm the specific fee structure first."

"Then... alright. Thank you." Andy hesitated for a moment before putting her credit card back.

"Alright, it's getting late. Go back and rest first. I'll notify you as soon as there is news."

【Ding! Task updated. Andy's Wish 2: Andy hopes to live together with her brother, Xiao Ming. Task Reward: 8 Luck Points.】

This task was quite difficult. Xiao Ming was Andy's half-brother from the same mother. Tragically, Andy's mother suffered from mental illness, and Xiao Ming was conceived after she was raped by a man who also suffered from mental illness. In other words, Xiao Ming had a double inheritance of the mental illness gene.

However, judging from the situation in the drama, Xiao Ming seemed to lean more towards autism.

After much hesitation, Qin Hao accepted the task. On one hand, it was the task with the highest Luck Point reward so far; on the other hand, it would help complete the task of helping Andy live a normal life, making them complementary.

(End of Chapter)