Chapter 28: Using My Grandmother to Spread Rumors About You

Lu Qiaoge couldn't be bothered to ponder the reason. Just as she was about to ask how to get it up, she heard the Old Turtle say: [A human is coming. It's that handsome young man from the room you walked into by mistake.]

Lu Qiaoge turned around and saw Qin Hengzhi walking toward her unhurriedly, carrying a fishing rod and an iron bucket.

The area was deserted at the moment, though a military factory patrol tower stood not far away.

Even so, upon seeing a strange man approaching, Xiao Si quickly dropped his net and rushed to Lu Qiaoge's side, staring at the approaching man with wide, vigilant eyes.

Even though the man was exceptionally handsome, Xiao Si did not let down his guard.

Lu Qiaoge glanced left and right, then looked silently at the fishing rod and small iron bucket in Qin Hengzhi's hands.

While she didn't think Qin Hengzhi had come specifically to find her, it felt like a fact.

So, what had caught his attention?

Where had he been hiding before he spotted her?

Lu Qiaoge gave a gentle smile. "It turns out it's Representative Qin. Good morning!"

She then rubbed Xiao Si's head. The little fellow's small frame was actually trying to protect her. "Xiao Si, this is Representative Qin from the military factory. Say hello."

By now, Qin Hengzhi had reached Lu Qiaoge. He cast a subtle glance at the cat, the turtle, and the swallow still perched on Lu Qiaoge's shoulder, then gave a faint smile. "Good morning."

His voice was pleasant, like a spring breeze brushing against the face.

Even Lu Qiaoge couldn't help but daze for a moment.

Being greeted by a beauty first thing in the morning was quite a pleasant experience.

Lu Qiaoge looked at Qin Hengzhi with a beaming smile.

This "chance encounter" put her in a good mood; perfectly timed, as she had something to warn him about.

Xiao Si looked up, blinking his large eyes, and said softly, "Good morning, Representative Qin!"

Even though Qin Hengzhi's eyes held a smile, his aura carried a sharp, icy edge.

Xiao Si had always been sensitive. Unlike Lu Qiaoge, who didn't care, he shifted his body uncomfortably.

The Naughty Swallow finally reacted, flapping its wings and flying away. The Old Turtle didn't dare move; this man was formidable—he had once dived underwater to inspect sunken steel billets.

Lu Qiaoge also felt that Qin Hengzhi wouldn't show up without a reason.

Could it be that he was on a mission and happened to see her?

She told the Old Turtle in her mind: "Just keep eating. Pretend you don't know anything."

The Old Turtle estimated the distance. Given its speed, it wouldn't make it in time if it tried to run.

It could only bury its head in food, though it wasn't particularly worried.

Regarding Lu Qiaoge, it felt very at ease.

Sensing Xiao Si's wariness and tension, Qin Hengzhi gave the boy a warm smile. "I saw you fishing just now. How is it? Are there many fish?"

Sensing his kindness, Xiao Si felt much better, though he still spoke softly: "It's alright."

Lu Qiaoge reminded him faintly, "Xiao Si, you dropped your net just now."

Only then did Xiao Si's eyes widen, and he bolted toward the spot where he had left it.

Lu Qiaoge glanced at Qin Hengzhi. "Is Representative Qin not working today? Are you here to fish?"

The corners of Qin Hengzhi's mouth curled slightly.

He pointed at the cat. "I remember it was there at the restaurant that day."

Lu Qiaoge nodded. "You remember correctly. That is my cat, Huahua."

Qin Hengzhi pointed to the swallow that had flown far away and said meaningfully, "That swallow looks familiar too. I remember it was with your tabby cat back then."

Lu Qiaoge looked at him in disbelief. "Swallows all look exactly the same. How can you be sure that swallow is *that* swallow?"

She then explained patiently, "However, my tabby cat does indeed have several swallow friends."

Qin Hengzhi laughed. "A cat and a swallow being friends? Is that even possible?"

Lu Qiaoge nodded seriously. "Anything is possible!"

Qin Hengzhi let out a light laugh, his dark eyes appearing as if they had fallen into flecks of sunlight.

"That's a fresh way of putting it."

He didn't press further, instead slowly setting up his fishing rod. Lu Qiaoge stood very close to him and asked in surprise, "Are you really going to fish?"

Qin Hengzhi glanced at the girl standing so close. Up close, he noticed her eyes were as clear as an autumn sky.

They seemed to contain no impurities, transparent to the bottom.

But in reality, this girl was not that simple!

Qin Hengzhi slowly hooked the bait, saying nonchalantly, "What else?"

Lu Qiaoge gave a mischievous smile. "I thought you saw me and wanted to come talk to me."

Qin Hengzhi paused, turning to look at the smiling Lu Qiaoge in bewilderment.

But Lu Qiaoge didn't give him a chance to speak, and the smile vanished from her face.

She said, "Actually, even if I hadn't run into you, Representative Qin, I would have gone to find you."

The young girl was being so polite, constantly using "you" and "Representative."

But, she was looking for him?

Qin Hengzhi stood tall by the lake and cast his line into the water, replying in a low voice, "What business do you have with me?"

Lu Qiaoge acted mysteriously. "I've offended a few people. They plan to report me soon, and they want to use my grandmother to spread rumors about you."

Qin Hengzhi nearly choked on his own saliva.

Did she mean it literally? Or was there a subtext?

Gazing at Lu Qiaoge, Qin Hengzhi asked calmly, "What kind of rumors?"

Lu Qiaoge kept her voice low. "Since you saved me, the people I offended are planning to use that to make things difficult."

Qin Hengzhi asked back nonchalantly, "What kind of 'things' can they make out of that?"

Lu Qoge raised an eyebrow. "...I'm still figuring that out myself."

Qin Hengzhi:...

Wasn't it just something about ruining her reputation or something similar?

Qin Hengzhi looked ahead, his elegant features bathed in a layer of pale golden light from the morning sun, making him look somewhat ethereal.

However, his fishing rod jerked. While he was speaking, a carp about half a foot long was pulled from the water by the quick-reacting Qin Hengzhi.

[Save me, Lu Qiaoge! I know you can understand me. Please, save me!]

The large carp was wailing in despair.

[Serves you right. That's what you get for being greedy and coming here to eavesdrop. Little girl, don't mind it. If it becomes a meal for those soldiers, it's actually a good deed.]

That was the Old Turtle's voice.

Lu Qiaoge had been wondering how to tell Qin Hengzhi that these people intended to use her "purity" against her, but she hadn't expected a large carp to be suddenly fished out, now struggling violently and terrified in mid-air.

[Lu Qiaoge, if you save me, I'll go find that grass the Old Turtle mentioned for you!]

[Meow meow meow! I want to eat the big carp!]

[You damn cat, you dare try to eat me? I'll make my bones choke you!]

[Little Mistress, I want to eat steamed carp!] The tabby cat raised its head, refusing to be outdone.

Lu Qiaoge's mind was a chaotic mess, but she immediately ran toward the lake, grabbed the fishing line, and in doing so, caught the fishing rod and the terrified large carp.

This was no small fish.

The Old Turtle was likely right; if not for excessive curiosity, one wouldn't be able to catch such a large fish in such shallow waters.