Chapter 30: Good and Bad

As soon as he reached the ground floor, Lu Qi'an caught sight of Qin Miaoyu in her evening gown, her eyes lighting up the moment she saw him.

Before he could react, Qin Miaoyu lifted her skirt and ran over to him.

"Lu Qi'an, thank you!" she said, a little out of breath.

Though she could have resolved the matter today even without the surveillance footage, having it spared her a great deal of trouble.

Lu Qi'an immediately understood what she meant and replied indifferently, "It was just a small favor from a friend. No need to take it to heart."

But Qin Miaoyu shook her head earnestly. "It wasn't a small favor to me!"

The November wind in South City was already biting. Lu Qi'an took off his suit jacket and draped it over Qin Miaoyu's shoulders.

"I've called a car, it's parked over there. Let me take you home first."

Just as Qin Miaoyu was about to follow him, she suddenly remembered Ji Xuan.

"Qi'an, wait a moment. A friend of mine is also here. Let me go find her first."

She turned to look for Ji Xuan, and from a distance saw her friend with a man. The atmosphere between them was unmistakably intimate.

And that man was none other than Gu Xunan.

Qin Miaoyu paused, a trace of worry rising in her heart.

Though her impression of Gu Xunan had improved a little from their interactions, his numerous scandals were too convincing. The entertainment reporters seemed to have installed surveillance on him, recording even the tiniest details, and Gu Xunan had never bothered to clarify any of them.

Ji Xuan getting involved with such a man unsettled Qin Miaoyu. She truly feared her friend would get hurt.

Lu Qi'an, standing beside her, naturally noticed where she was looking.

He was aware of Gu Xunan's rumors too, but knowing him, those stories were likely untrue.

"Miaoyu, is the person with Gu Xunan your friend?"

"Yes."

"Don't worry. Gu Xunan is a decent man. If you're really concerned, you can ask your friend about it, and I can check with Gu Xunan."

Seeing the two, oblivious to their gaze, Qin Miaoyu could only nod. Before leaving, she remembered to send Ji Xuan a message.

Once in the car, when the driver heard Qin Miaoyu’s destination was a hotel, Lu Qi'an couldn't quite hide his surprise.

Qin Miaoyu simply laughed, unconcerned. "I don't get along with my family, so I don't want to stay at home."

"Are they unkind to you?" Lu Qi'an asked.

Qin Miaoyu gazed out the window, her expression lost. She had pondered this before, but could never find an answer.

"When I was younger, I did everything my parents asked. I thought they were good to me. But once I grew up and saw things more clearly, I realized what I thought was kindness wasn't truly so..."

She had to admit, her mother had raised her with care—she still benefitted from those lessons. But that upbringing was laced with calculation and purpose; it was meant to narrow the gap between her and the children of the elite, to help her infiltrate their circles, all for the benefit of the Qin family.

Whatever grievances she suffered, her parents ignored them. They either urged her to endure or distracted her with small rewards.

At first, she would bravely fight back, but over time, enduring became second nature. Perhaps she had faintly realized there was no one to stand up for her.

Lu Qi'an suddenly recalled when he first met Qin Miaoyu—she had been only twelve. At an age meant for innocence and liveliness, she already carried herself with the gravity of an adult. Only when she muttered to herself in a corner did she show a hint of childishness.

He felt a pang of regret for having only watched over her from a distance all these years. If he had paid more attention, perhaps he would have noticed these things, and maybe Qin Miaoyu would not wear such a fragile look now.

Though Lu Qi'an had a place to stay in South City, since Qin Miaoyu was staying at the Huasheng Hotel, he took a room next to hers.

The moment Qin Miaoyu entered her room, she let herself fall into the bed.

Thinking back on everything that had happened today, tears welled in her eyes—not from sadness, but from excitement.

It felt as though she had finally made up for a regret from years ago, for the time when, though clearly innocent, she had only been able to flee in shame amidst accusations and ridicule.

When Ji Xuan returned, she found Qin Miaoyu’s eyes red and swollen, and asked anxiously, "Gu Xunan said everything went smoothly today. Did he lie to me?"

"He didn’t lie. Everything was resolved smoothly."

"That’s good. I was worried you’d been wronged again."

Ji Xuan had been on edge, knowing about the past between Qin Miaoyu and Liang Sixuan. But apart from getting Qin Miaoyu inside, there was little she could do.

"I’m fine. But what about you and Gu Xunan?"

"We’re just… friends, I suppose?"

"Friends? That looked pretty intimate. You were practically nose to nose!"

Ji Xuan flopped down on the bed with a sigh. "We're... somewhere between friends and lovers, I guess..."

From Ji Xuan’s account, Qin Miaoyu learned the truth behind Gu Xunan’s scandals.

It turned out Gu Xunan had orchestrated the rumors himself, asking Ji Xuan to write them. Over time, they became close. Ji Xuan learned many secrets about the elite from him.

Spending so much time together, things naturally developed into what they were now.

"Who knows what the future holds? We’re so different. But I’m happy with things as they are, so I won’t worry about what’s next."

Qin Miaoyu felt reassured. She had only been afraid Ji Xuan might lose herself or fall too deep. Since Ji Xuan understood her own feelings, as a friend, she saw no need to interfere.

"By the way," Ji Xuan said suddenly, "when I came in just now, I saw a super handsome guy entering the room next door. He even greeted me! Really, he’s a rare gem—youthful vigor mixed with steady composure, perfectly balanced!"

Qin Miaoyu immediately knew who she meant.

Lu Qi'an was indeed just as Ji Xuan described. Even though he was four years older, he never made her feel any distance between them. And when things got tough, he was always reliable.

What kind of family could raise a man like that?

Qin Miaoyu had never been curious about Lu Qi'an’s family before, but now she found herself wanting to know.

"That was Lu Qi'an."

"Lu Qi'an... Wait, isn’t your flash-marriage contract husband called Lu Qi'an?"

"Yes, that’s him."

Ji Xuan’s jaw dropped in astonishment. "Girl, go for it! He’s a total catch!"

He was kind, handsome, and now her legal husband—surely she had the inside track.

Qin Miaoyu rolled her eyes. "Is that something you can just ‘go for’ on command?"

"Why not? From everything you’ve told me, it’s obvious he likes you! There’s nothing to lose if you give it a try!"