The alarm blared through the sky.
A rapid knocking sound reached Lin Yu’s ears. It was Xia Yanran, who had heard the alarm and rushed over in a panic.
“I don’t know what’s happening, but let’s hurry and take shelter. I think I saw a shelter nearby.”
Xia Yanran grabbed Lin Yu’s wrist, about to pull him downstairs, but he shook his head, his expression a little strange.
“Hm?”
Lin Yu instead pulled her back into the room and led her to the window, gesturing for her to look outside.
“Let me see—”
Before Xia Yanran could finish speaking, her eyes widened instantly at the sight.
This was her first time seeing a Rift Beast at such close range—let alone a Rift Beast King. The shock it brought was unimaginable.
But in the very next second, she dragged Lin Yu down to the floor, pressing herself against the wall while tightly hugging him.
“It’s okay, it’s okay. It didn’t notice us. Its target should be Ringstar Town. It’s fine, we’re… mm…”
Hearing her incoherent words and feeling her trembling body, Lin Yu froze for a moment before quickly understanding.
This girl… she’s clearly terrified herself, yet she still wants to protect me…
His gaze flicked toward the door—more precisely, toward Qin Wuyue’s room.
With that woman around, he and Xia Yanran were most likely safe.
A massive crashing sound came from outside—it seemed the Beast King had begun a direct assault.
There was no time to think about why it had appeared here. Xia Yanran was right—taking shelter was correct, but it shouldn’t be just the two of them.
“Yanran.”
“Ah?” Xia Yanran’s face looked pale. She was clearly frightened.
Lin Yu patted her hand. “Wait here for a moment. I’ll go find Aunt Qin.”
“Find my mom? Then we—”
Lin Yu shook his head. “Yanran, stay here. I’ll be back soon, okay?”
There are things I need to say to Qin Wuyue alone. It’s not suitable for Yanran to hear.
Looking at his serious expression, Xia Yanran’s lips trembled. In the end, she lowered her gaze and nodded softly.
Lin Yu patted her head and quickly left.
The thunder-like crashes echoed continuously. Each time it sounded, Xia Yanran trembled. She curled up in the corner, covering her ears tightly with both hands.
Almost no one knew—even Lin Yu had forgotten—that Xia Yanran was afraid of thunder.
For some reason, it was like an instinct.
The reason Xia Yanran had such a strong dependence on Lin Yu was because, when she was little and Qin Wuyue wasn’t home, every time it thundered and rained, Lin Yu would stay with her.
Holding her, gently patting her back, whispering comforting words into her ear.
As she grew older, she consciously tried to overcome it. She never showed weakness during storms anymore—but she still found excuses to stay by Lin Yu’s side.
But just now, seeing the Beast King attack the fortress had awakened that fear again.
“Lin Yu… come back quickly… I’m scared…” she murmured, her voice trembling with sobs.
On the other side.
Lin Yu knocked for quite a while before Qin Wuyue lazily opened the door with a yawn.
She wore a nightgown, her fair legs exposed, standing barefoot at the door as she rubbed her eyes and looked at him.
“What do you want? Auntie’s trying to get her beauty sleep and you keep knocking.”
Lin Yu’s eyelid twitched. He suppressed the urge to complain, grabbed her wrist, pulled her into the room, and shut the door.
The moment they made contact, Qin Wuyue’s heart skipped slightly, but she still looked at him calmly with a faint smile.
“What are you trying to do? Auntie hasn’t even taken a bath yet.”
“…”
Facing away from her, Lin Yu rolled his eyes.
This woman… she really can’t go a day without teasing.
He pushed her onto the bed and stood in front of her, his expression serious.
“My dear Aunt Qin, can you be serious for once? There’s something urgent I need your help with.”
“Mm, I can help. But don’t I need to bathe first?”
“I—”
Lin Yu completely lost his composure.
He sat down on a chair across from her and got straight to the point.
“A Rift Beast King is attacking Ringstar Town. I want you to hold it off for a while so people can evacuate. Didn’t you hear that loud alarm?”
Hearing this, Qin Wuyue immediately lost interest.
She crossed her legs, resting her elbow on her knee while inspecting her nails.
“No. I sleep pretty well. At my age, a woman needs proper care, you know?”
“I kno—”
Lin Yu swallowed the rest of his words.
“Aunt Qin! Can you stop messing around? I know you’re strong—even Chief Lan can’t beat you. Just hold it off for a little while, okay?”
He was anxious. Extremely anxious.
He wasn’t related to the people in Ringstar Town—but that wasn’t the point.
Not having the ability to help was one thing.
Having the ability but choosing not to—he couldn’t accept that.
Hearing his tone harden, Qin Wuyue’s expression turned cold.
“Why should I save them? What do their lives have to do with me?”
“You—!”
A strange smile appeared on her lips—mocking, cold, perhaps even tinged with sorrow.
Lin Yu frowned deeply.
For the first time, he realized he might never have truly understood this woman.
“Why? You clearly have the ability… Is it because it’s too dangerous? Then—”
“No. I just don’t want to. What? Think I’m heartless?”
“…”
Lin Yu fell silent.
He didn’t want her to think that way—or say it out loud.
“Go pack your things. I’ll take you and Yanran back to Nest City. This place will be affected soon, and I don’t want trouble.”
She stood up and walked toward the wardrobe, preparing to change without caring that he was still there.
“Aunt Qin… are you afraid?”
Lin Yu suddenly said.
Qin Wuyue paused, then smiled indifferently.
“What a clumsy attempt at provoking me. Yes, I’m afraid. So what? Be good—go call Yanran.”
Her tone was light, as if nothing mattered.
Damn it…
Lin Yu clenched his fists.
“Aunt Qin, what would it take for you to help?”
He looked up, his gaze unwavering.
Qin Wuyue narrowed her eyes and slowly lowered her arm.
Her nightgown slipped off her shoulder.
Dressed only in lace undergarments, she walked toward him step by step, looking down at him.
“Lin Yu… are you saying you’ll agree to any condition?”
She smiled.
But that smile didn’t stir his heart—only a chilling sense of danger.
He swallowed. “Yes. Any condition.”
Her smile widened.
She lifted his chin with a finger and leaned close to his ear.
“Then promise me this—go date Yanran. Confess to her.”
“…?!”
Lin Yu was stunned—confused, shocked, and utterly bewildered.
I was ready to sell myself… and she wants me to date her daughter?