"Manager... what's going on with Brother Qin and them?"

Song Xiaoxi stared curiously at the empty courtyard.

Manager Pang Cheng watched the Liu Clan girl who had just run off crying, then recalled that foul-mouthed brat from earlier. He let out a slight hiss of confusion and turned his head.

He was also puzzled about what had happened.

How had the Liu Clan girl suddenly shown up in their shop's courtyard and bumped into Qin Ling?

Bumping into each other was one thing, but why did they act like strangers meeting for the first time, yet spark this whole bizarre chain of events?

"Uh! No! These two definitely didn't just meet!" Pang Cheng bit his chubby cheek as he analyzed.

"Right! Didn't I tell the Liu girl to keep an eye on Little Green? How did she run over here herself?"

"If she came, Little Green must be nearby too. Little Green is Qin Ling's assistant—he even entrusted her with the Divine Gene..."

"Hm!? Hmph!"

Suddenly, Pang Cheng's squinty eyes snapped wide open.

A sly grin spread across his chubby face.

"I've got it!" he declared.

Song Xiaoxi asked curiously, "Manager, what did you figure out? Can you—"

"No!" Pang Cheng cut her off bluntly. "You're just a kid. Don't ask."

"..." Song Xiaoxi fell silent.

She was in her twenties, clearly older than Qin Ling and Liu Xiyun. Why was she treated like the younger one? Why couldn't she ask?

Sensing her confusion, Pang Cheng paused, then said, "Xiaoxi, I think you might have a little crush on Qin Ling."

"Huh? No way." Song Xiaoxi froze for a second, then shook her head quickly.

But that momentary pause didn't escape Pang Cheng's seasoned eyes. He said meaningfully, "Xiaoxi, I know Qin Ling's handsome. Girls like you will naturally have thoughts, but—"

"But what?" Song Xiaoxi looked at him.

Pang Cheng smiled, then sighed helplessly.

"These days, kids play around a lot. Look at him—if he entered showbiz, he'd be a national heartthrob. Do you think he'd have only one girlfriend?"

"Let's not even mention Zhang Xiaolu, who just broke up with him—she initiated it. Just now, with the Liu Clan girl... don't you think I've seen others before her?"

"..." Song Xiaoxi finally understood.

All this talk just meant Brother Qin was two-timing.

After a moment, she nodded seriously. "Manager, I get your point. But it's just dating, not marriage, right?"

"Hmm, Qin Ling isn't married—that's true," Pang Cheng nodded, but something felt off. He asked, "But you're not bothered by that?"

"..." Song Xiaoxi, ever capable, turned and walked into the express store to sort packages. Only after Pang Cheng entered with a helpless expression did she say, "I have no feelings for Brother Qin."

"Hmm, I know," Pang Cheng shrugged, his face full of resignation. "You don't need to explain personal matters to me. But I'll warn you—getting involved with that kid isn't wise."

Song Xiaoxi didn't respond.

Pang Cheng fell silent. The store resumed its sorting work.

Meanwhile.

In a corner near the Fishy Express courtyard, Zhang Xiaolu had witnessed everything.

Seeing Qin Ling reject Liu Xiyun and make her cry and run off, she now doubted his orientation.

"He can't actually like men, can he!?" Zhang Xiaolu gasped.

Could she really encounter something this rare?

Gay men?

This wasn't common!

Especially for her to stumble upon it!

Or... could Qin Ling be into both?

She shook her head. "No! If he liked women, why reject Liu Xiyun? Why make her cry?"

"Confirmed! He's definitely gay!"

Worry filled her. How could she make a gay man change his mind and hand over those elixir formulas?

"No! I need a detailed plan to win over Qin Ling!"

"Qin Ling! You won't escape my grasp!"

Zhang Xiaolu left the corner.

Unseen, Qin Ling watched her go from a building diagonally opposite.

He had also seen Liu Xiyun run off crying.

His emotions wavered—a rare thing since leaving the mountains years ago.

Unable to help himself, he turned his gaze inside.

On the sofa lay a set of women's clothes...