Chapter 13

Finally, it's at home, not in the stairwell or restroom of a hospital.

Qiao Yan is more relaxed when receiving pheromones and no longer has to be nervous about whether someone will come in and see what she is doing.

There was more than one guest room on the second floor, but because Qiao Yan didn't have many friends, all the rooms except the one Nan Ya Yin was currently staying in were converted into rooms she needed.

For example, she converted this room into a well-lit study where she often works. The bookshelves are filled with books she uses for work and her collection of picture books.

"The books you like to read don't seem to be very profound." Nan Yayin just looked up at them without taking them down.

Qiao Yan sensed his pheromones in the room. She had thought she would be wary of such a scent, but she wasn't.

She took a picture book from the bookshelf. "I don't like reading so many words, but it's easier to understand when there are pictures."

This was originally a story about otters and seashells.

“I joined the expeditionary force when I was very young, and I don’t expect to immerse myself in dry texts as soon as I retire.” Qiao Yan turned a couple of pages of the picture book and closed it. “If there’s anything here that interests you, you can take it anytime.”

Nan Yayin's thoughts were exposed, "I don't want to read it. The books you read are too childish. They're more suitable for Shuyin to read."

"Really?" Qiao Yan chuckled lightly. Actually, it's still quite suitable.

"What are you laughing at?" Nan Yayin frowned.

“The stories in the picture book are very interesting. I can’t help but laugh when I read it,” Qiao Yan explained. Her calm demeanor convinced Nan Yayin to believe her.

"Why didn't you stay in the expeditionary force? You're 26, which doesn't seem like an old age." Nan Ya Yin knew she had a problem with her legs, but seeing how easily she walked, it didn't seem like that was the case.

He asked her because he wanted to understand her, but then he wondered if he had accidentally touched a nerve. He felt a pang of regret, which made the scent of sage in the air even more bitter than before.

“It’s not my leg.” Qiao Yan saw his gaze fixed on his right leg. “My leg is healed. It was a psychological issue. I have a very low tolerance for stress. Even though I’ve made great contributions and been to many unfamiliar planets, I’m still easily scared. The team’s doctor advised me not to continue. People who have been through many battles always have some psychological problems. Once I stopped, I never wanted to go back.”

"Do you think I'm very fragile?" Qiao Yan asked him.

How would Nan Yayin know what to answer? Answering "of course" would be hurtful, while answering "no" would seem insincere.

Finally, he had to say, "I've never been a member of the interstellar expeditionary force, I don't know."

He's not good at comforting people. "But this isn't something I can decide. If I say you're fragile, does that mean you really are? You're too naive. You need answers from other people."

After saying that, he started to feel annoyed again. His original intention was to tell Qiao Yan that there was no need to think about these things. He thought that words like "You only live once, so just be happy" had only just popped into his head. He should have said that.

Nan Yayin's worst skill in life is saying nice things, and he's afraid Qiao Yan will sigh the next second.

"No, I'm asking who told you you're fragile?" Nan Yayin rubbed her hair. "I'm going to beat him up."

Within that minute, Qiao Yan took in Nan Ya Yin's expression. She realized that he was so easy to understand, unlike anyone she had ever met before. She was happy to be living among simple people and things.

"No one, it's just my own question," Qiao Yan said. "Speaking of questions, who was that person who appeared in the park that day?"

Nan Yayin paused for a moment before remembering who was talking about, "A thug."

"Thugs?" Nan Yayin's living conditions were quite difficult, but she never expected to be entangled with thugs.

“He’s in cahoots with Nan Ze.” Nan Ya Yin had finally had a few days of peace and quiet. Nan Ze and his gang of cronies seemed like a thing of the past. “They’re all no good. I don’t even know how he got involved.”

"A locator?" Qiao Yan thought for a moment.

Nan Yayin scoffed, "He can't afford such high-end goods. If he had that money, he would have gambled it away long ago."

Qiao Yan had met several gamblers, and what impressed him most was their passion for gambling.

"If you see them, don't worry about them. Tell them to get lost, get as far away as possible," Nan Yayin said sternly. He hated them the most, but now he was also afraid that these people would come to Qiao Yan's doorstep. They definitely wanted money.

"Don't listen to them and offer you money, they definitely won't dare to hit you," Nan Yayin said urgently.

Seeing his worried expression, as if he had been tormented by them for a long time, Qiao Yan realized that the information Shu Juan had given him was not complete.

"Don't worry, just take good care of yourself," Qiao Yan said. She felt it was about time, so she suggested going out for dinner or some cake, so that those delicate desserts wouldn't go to waste.

Nan Yayin nodded, then, remembering something, asked, "Are you going to the classroom and dormitory today too?"

Qiao Yan turned around and nodded, "Of course."

Night fell quickly. After finishing his dinner, Qiao Yan drove away quietly in his hovercar, leaving only him, Nan Shuyin, and the strange robot Xiao Lu in the house.

"Why doesn't eldest sister live here?" Nan Shuyin asked her brother. She now really liked Qiao Yan and felt that Qiao Yan was the best person in the world to her, second only to her brother.

Nan Ya Yin didn't know how to answer, and even heard what she wanted to say from her mouth. She actually hoped that Qiao Yan would live at home. This was her own home, so why shouldn't she live there?

But she's already gone, so should I call her back?

"It's probably because she has to deal with things at school. After all, she was too busy to come to the hospital to see you a few days ago," Nan Yayin said. "But she'll be back in a few days, not too long."

Nan Shuyin nodded obediently. Then she heard the sound of small stones hitting the windowpane outside. She looked towards the area where the curtains were already drawn, and then saw that Nan Yayin seemed not to have heard anything. She continued to say to her, "Although it's still a while before you start school, she just sent me some study videos to prepare for the exam. Do you want to watch them?"

"Yes!" Nan Shuyin nodded.

The lights in the living room were turned off, and a light was turned on in one of the bedrooms on the second floor. Nan Shuyin watched the video and forgot everything that had happened before. Her brother was right beside her, and so was her sister Qiao Yan! She felt safe now and no longer had to worry about her father suddenly hitting her.

Xiao Lu, who was cleaning the lobby, also heard the sound of the window being knocked on. She sent a message to Qiao Yan and also recorded a video of the surveillance cameras outside.

There was nothing unusual; it was probably just a bird that had hit it.

After taking a look, Qiao Yan decided to go back tomorrow to check it more carefully. As long as the front door wasn't opened, there shouldn't be any problems; no one could get in.

She sent a message to Nan Yayin, telling him not to open the door at night and to send her a message if anyone knocked.

Just then, Nan Yayin fell asleep. Although the VIP ward was nice, it couldn't compare to sleeping in a cozy place. He had originally planned to watch videos with Nan Shuyin, but he had fallen asleep first.

He woke up in the middle of the night and saw that the terminal was out of power, while Nan Shuyin was lying on his arm.

He gently pulled his numb arm away, his mouth was too dry and he wanted to go downstairs for a drink of water, when he heard a rustling sound at the front door.

Nan Yayin was all too familiar with that sound. He grabbed a spatula from the kitchen and went to the doorway.

Xiao Lu also squeezed through the doorway. When it saw Nan Ya Yin coming over, it greeted her first, "Good evening, guest. You should go to sleep now."

He's wide awake now, the sound of someone trying to break in is enough to wake him up.

"Can you see what it looks like outside?" Nan Yayin asked it.

"Of course." On Xiao Lu's screen, a lewd-looking man was half-bent over, using tools to pry open the lock at Qiao Yan's door. It was exactly as he had imagined. These people would only use such despicable methods in a different place.

He grew angrier the more he thought about it. Why did he have to chase after him when he had already run away? Did he have to drag him down with him?

Nan Yayin gripped the shovel tightly, wishing he could open the door right now and shovel it at her.

"Guest, please don't act rashly. The door lock has a safety current attack." Xiao Lu remembered Qiao Yan's instructions, "The host said we can call her first."

Calling Qiao Yan? No way. If I messaged her, the next second she'd say he'd be fired. Who would want to be bothered by someone like me?

“I can handle this myself. I’m used to seeing this kind of people.” Nan Yayin said, holding a shovel.

There was a sound transmission system outside, and Nan Yayin shouted, "Get lost, go back to your old home."

The man wasn't afraid of Nan Yayin's voice. He chuckled twice and said, "What, you think you're a phoenix just because you've flown to a higher branch? If you ask me, you're your father's son, so you should be filial to him. And I'm your father's friend, so you have to listen to us, right?"

"If you don't get out of here, I'll take out a knife and chop you up," Nan Yayin said through gritted teeth.

"If you really kill me, do you think you can hold up on this branch now?" The man chuckled, completely ignoring his words. "At first, we told your dad to sell you to the casino, but he wouldn't listen, saying you could make money. We didn't believe him, but it turns out you really can. This is the Lily of the Valley district in the new area, even a fool knows it's a place for rich people. I never thought you could sell yourself for such a high price just because of your looks. I should have dressed up a bit too."

Nan Ya Yin felt like vomiting just listening to him speak. He was about to open the door and fight him when the man suddenly let out an "Ah!" as if he had touched something, and the sound of prying at the door stopped.

Is it a safe current? Nan Yayin wanted to open the door to check, but Xiao Lu had just said she needed to call Qiao Yan first.

"Good evening." Qiao Yan's voice came from outside. "It's that same person again. I've already called the police. I hope he won't just be locked up for a few days and then released."

Nan Yayin thought she had misheard and hurriedly opened the door. Standing outside was indeed Qiao Yan.