Eldritch Horror Theatre - Ch. 153: Forty-Nine-Story Pagoda
Tan Ying arrived even faster than expected.
Although Fu Qian claimed it was a minor issue, she clearly didn't agree.
"I told Qin Mingze, but he's tied up over there."
Tan Ying said as she walked over, instantly attracting the attention of everyone around, including Xu Meng, who was sitting across from Fu Qian.
The moment he saw Tan Ying, Xu Meng's expression became uncertain and alarmed.
His gaze darted back and forth between Fu Qian and her, unable to help but guess the relationship between the two.
"What's the situation?"
Tan Ying merely glanced at Xu Meng before turning her eyes back to Fu Qian's face.
"Nothing much. Boss Xu here asked me to help find the murderer who harmed his son."
"Since when did you become a private detective?"
Tan Ying looked confused.
"I am the culprit."
...
"Just had some questions to confirm with Mr. Fu."
Xu Meng's face was so dark it looked like it could drip water. After a long silence, he finally spoke.
"Now it seems it was all just a misunderstanding. I have business to attend to, so I'll take my leave."
"What exactly is going on?"
Watching Xu Meng leave, Tan Ying tossed her bag on the table and sat right next to Fu Qian.
"The desperation of losing a son."
Fu Qian recounted what had just happened.
"So it was him. No wonder he looked a bit familiar!"
Tan Ying immediately realized.
"You know him?"
"I know of him. He has some influence in Lincheng, but I couldn't match the name to the face."
"Mm."
Fu Qian nodded.
"He looked like he recognized you."
"Can't help it. Some people are just naturally the center of attention."
Tan Ying flicked her hair and shot him a playful wink.
"His reputation has always been poor. With his son having an inexplicable accident a couple of days ago, it's not surprising he'd do something like taking his anger out on others."
Obviously, she didn't for a second consider the possibility that Fu Qian actually did it.
"But don't worry about it. With your big sister covering you, he won't dare do anything to you."
So confident? Just as Young Master Qin said, Tan Ying's family background was truly extraordinary.
"But speaking of which, doesn't this mean I saved a life today?"
Tan Ying realized something, rested her chin on her hand, and looked at Fu Qian with a sly expression.
"You could say that."
Fu Qian nodded, counting on his fingers.
"Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. You just built a—"
He recalled the number of men Xu Meng had brought with him.
"Forty-nine-story pagoda."
What?
Tan Ying frowned, clearly not quite grasping Fu Qian's math, but she didn't probe further.
"In that case, can I ask you for a favor?"
Tan Ying gave him a suggestive look.
"Shoot."
Although he didn't owe Tan Ying any pagodas, Fu Qian always kept his debts and favors clear.
He had previously asked her to take Pei Yanqing home, so strictly speaking, he still owed the eldest Miss Tan a favor.
"Are you free the day after tomorrow?"
"I am."
Fu Qian thought for a moment; that would be the last day of his vacation.
"It's my birthday. Would you do me the honor of attending?"
Hmm?
Fu Qian glanced at Tan Ying, who blinked at him.
"Don't overthink it. It's just a cliché birthday banquet, boring and full of people."
She's worried Xu Meng won't let it go, right?
Fu Qian instantly understood her intention.
Xu Meng clearly knew Tan Ying's background. After seeing her and failing to figure out their relationship, his departure didn't mean he had completely given up.
By inviting him to stroll through her birthday banquet, she was somewhat explicitly offering him protection.
He had to admit, she was quite thoughtful.
"Sure!"
Fu Qian nodded.
A matter like this was just lifting a finger.
After all, this old man isn't some demon.
He was kind to others and disliked disputes.
...
Three days later.
As the sun set, Fu Qian arrived at the appointed time.
Out of respect for the host, he had even dressed up a bit.
For a moment, in his suit and leather shoes, although his expression remained lazy, he radiated an overwhelming wicked charm—making Young Master Qin, who was acting as his driver, burn with jealousy.
True to his previous judgment, the eldest Miss Tan's family background was extraordinary. The mansion where the banquet was held was top-tier, and the hall was packed with guests.
Obviously, Tan Ying's parents had turned her birthday into a networking event.
Of course, as a male guest personally invited by Tan Ying, Fu Qian naturally attracted quite a bit of attention.
However, in a setting like this, most people had good sense. At most, they took a few extra glances, allowing Fu Qian to leisurely eat and drink.
He had planned to just slack off until the end, but facts proved he had thought too highly of Tan Ying.
"Hello, 'body artist'!"
"Is your name really Fu Qian (Pay Money)? What an interesting name!"
"You really are handsome, Xiao Ying didn't lie to us..."
Before long, Fu Qian was surrounded by a group of Tan Ying's classmates.
This group of vibrant, early-twenties girls giggled as they looked at Fu Qian, unabashedly evaluating him to his face.
He didn't know how Tan Ying had introduced him to them, but judging by their words, it seemed every single one of them knew about the Photoshopped picture incident.
Amidst the laughter, Tan Ying, the host of the banquet, stood by with a posture of purely enjoying the show.
Seeing Fu Qian look over, she even offered a provocative smile.
She's really still holding a grudge over the black dress incident!
Fu Qian thought to himself.
Having been outplayed by him last time, she clearly couldn't swallow that resentment.
Although she was helping him out this time, she was more than happy to use the opportunity to pull him and Young Master Qin together to mock them and get her revenge.
Poor Young Master Qin had looked so excited on the way here, anticipating swimming happily in a pond of fish.
Fu Qian even saw Pei Yanqing covering her mouth and laughing not far away.
Tan Ying actually invited her too!
Dressed in an elegant, simple long dress, she didn't lose out in the slightest compared to the various high-society ladies present.
Under such intense scrutiny, even Young Master Qin, a future legal shark, couldn't hold on and used the bathroom excuse to escape after a while.
Only Fu Qian, with skin as thick as a city wall, casually picked up various delicacies, eating and handling the situation with ease.
"Besides being an artist, what else do you usually do?"
Amidst the joking, a girl looked at Fu Qian and asked.
"Oh, too many things."
"Demon slaying, home invasions, consulting... I do it all."
Another burst of roaring laughter followed.
"Then do you have any hobbies?"
Hobbies...
Fu Qian recalled his various experiences over the recent period.
"Exploring the physical body?"
"...And?"
The girl was clearly not giving up.
"Exploring human nature?"
Exploring the physical body and human nature?
The girl, who looked quite pure, froze for a long moment, then lowered her head and whispered.
"BDSM?"
All in all, despite a few misunderstandings, Fu Qian's banquet trip was fairly relaxing and pleasant.
Tan Ying's classmates were generally older than Fu Qian, but they were in the prime of their lives.
The natural confidence brought by their youth and beauty made their every move full of vigorous vitality, making conversation with them effortless.
The only disappointed one was Tan Ying. Fu Qian's effortless handling of the situation undoubtedly left the eldest Miss Tan feeling somewhat unresigned, her ambitions unfulfilled.
But it was fine. Seven, eight, or nine out of ten things in life don't go as planned—even on your birthday.
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