It was none other than Lin Qingyu inside the Maserati. He was thinking of her just before he took Hu Xiaoji to school, yet he did not expect that she would appear out of the blue before him.

A few months back, Lin Qingyu was taken from the Guan City rental apartment by Lin Qinghua and was never heard from again. Ning Tao had thought of her more than once. He had also analyzed her situation many times, but still failed to arrive at a conclusion. Then she suddenly appeared before him, still as youthful and beautiful as before, as if she had only left for a vacation.

The corners of Lin Qingyu’s lips turned upwards, revealing a somewhat cheeky smirk. “Why? Don’t you recognize me anymore?”

Ning Tao then made full sense of what was going on. “Qingyu, when did you return?”

Lin Qingyu continued, “I’ve already been back for a few days. Let’s find some place to have some drinks. I want to talk to you, is it okay?”

Ning Tao didn’t immediately respond. Lin Qingyu’s return was too coincidental. All the more, her older brother was Lin Qinghua. She had disappeared for months after being abducted. Who could guarantee that she had not become part of the Black Fire Company like Lin Qinghua? If it were in the past, he would not think twice after such an invitation, but he had no choice but to consider her motives.

A sense of resentment flashed in Lin Qingyu’s eyes. “What? Why are you hesitating?”

Without a sign, Ning Tao had already activated his state of seeing to diagnose Lin Qingyu’s innate aura.

Lin Qingyu’s innate aura was very normal. There wasn’t a shred of demonic aura.

That was a very normal result. No matter who turned into a new demon, they would have to pass the way of Heaven. There was no cure to demon illnesses, except for the Sky Clinic. Even so, there was only the offer of redemption. If Nicholas Conway and Lin Qinghua wanted to turn Lin Qingyu into a new demon, how would she be able to live without Ning Tao’s prescription pact to grant her a treatment at the Sky Clinic?

After the quick glance, Ning Tao deactivated his state of looking. “Alright, I want to talk to you too. You can pick a place.”

Lin Qingyu said, “There’s a cafe nearby which is pretty good. We can go there.”

Ning Tao said, “Lead the way, I’ll follow you.”

“I’ll drive slower then.” Lin Qingyu started her Maserati and steered to the road again, driving forward slowly.

Ning Tao was behind her on his God’s Will electric motorbike, maintaining a slow speed. Actually, even if Lin Qingyu’s Maserati was at its fastest, it would still be unable to go faster than the God’s Will electric motorbike, but he didn’t need to boast about the its speed to Lin Qingyu.

Lin Qingyu’s Maserati stopped at a cafe about a few kilometers away from Haidi Elementary and got off the car. She was wearing a black long dress; with legs so slender and long and an exceptionally pretty face, she had attracted many passersby.

Ning Tao parked his God’s Will electric motorbike next to the Maserati.

“Why don’t you buy a better vehicle? At least you would be able to drive on a rainy day, it wouldn’t affect your travels,” Lin Qingyu said.

Ning Tao smiled as he said, “I simply like riding my electric motorbike. Besides, I don’t know how to drive and have no time for a driving school.”

He would never agree to exchange his God’s Will electric motorbike, even if someone wanted to exchange the world’s most expensive limited edition sportscar for it. This was something he didn’t have to tell her.

The two entered the cafe. Since it was still early morning, the cafe had just opened for business and there were still no customers; the place appeared somewhat cold and quiet.

Lin Qingyu found a window seat and sat down. She ordered two cups of coffee and some snacks. After the server left, she just stared at Ning Tao and remained silent.

Ning Tao also looked at her as he felt the urge to contemplate about her motive and objectives for returning this time. Earlier on at the entrance of Haidi Elementary, even though he had confirmed that Lin Qingyu was not a demon with his state of looking, her innate aura was far stronger than before. It seemed that she had not taken a break in the months she was gone, making it seem as if she had undergone a series of training. Given such a situation, how could he not contemplate?

The server came with the coffee and snacks and left right after greeting them.

“Do you have nothing to say to me?” Lin Qingyu broke the silence between the two of them.

A smile surfaced on Ning Tao’s face. “I’m looking at you. You’re still as pretty as ever. It has been months and you’ve changed a lot, like you’re a different person now.”

Lin Qingyu also smiled. “You’ve also changed. You’re different from how I remember you. But I could also be wrong.”

This sounded a little romantically ambiguous. Ning Tao felt a little awkward and switched to another topic. “People are bound to change. Oh right, where have you been after we parted in Guan City?”

Lin Qingyu smirked faintly. “Are you going into the real conversation so quickly? I thought you would reminisce the past with me more.”

Ning Tao only smiled. He knew she used to like him but he wasn’t sure if she still did. However, he had never thought about being with her; not in the past and much less at the moment since he had Qing Zhui and Jiang Hao. He had only seen her as a very good friend, the type he could go through thick and thin with. However, he was no longer sure if they were still of such terms.

Lin Qingyu sighed gently. “My brother took me to the United States. I stayed there for a while. You may not believe it but I was confined in a farm in the suburbs of New York and I couldn’t leave. In those few months, my only joy was riding horses. I didn’t know how to ride before that, but now I’m an expert at it.” She laughed wryly. “Do you think this could count as a blessing in disguise?”

“How could your brother do that to you?”

“Don’t mention him anymore. I don’t have a brother anymore.” Lin Qingyu appeared to be clearly appalled.

Ning Tao said, “Alright, I won’t talk about him anymore. Then how did you return?”

Lin Qingyu said, “I don’t know either. Just a few days ago, the guards watching over me had left. Only a woman was left behind to take me to the airport. She even gave me an air ticket and passport. The destination was Beidu. Coincidentally, Tamao Takeda contacted me to say that he would be going to Beidu to discuss company matters with me so I stayed.”

“Why didn’t you call me?”

“I wanted too, but I…” Lin Qingyu paused for a moment and said, “You saved me back then yet I left without a word. It has been a few months, so I didn’t know how to explain to you. But this morning when I happened to meet you at the school entrance, I just couldn’t help but want to see you and have a proper talk.”

“What a coincidence,” Ning Tao said, but it wasn’t what he was thinking. He simply didn’t express it. He was actually thinking about Tamao Takeda whom he had almost forgotten about. He didn’t expect to hear about Tamao Takeda from Lin Qingyu.

With the emergence of the Emei Sect’s skull fragment, everyone had started appearing. None of the ones he was expecting had appeared, yet the ones he had least expected were all appearing. Could it be calm before the storm?

“Let’s talk about you. Is that little girl your friend or a relative?” Lin Qingyu asked as she looked at Ning Tao.

Ning Tao regathered his focus on the conversation. “That’s my daughter.”

“Ah?” Lin Qingyu was shocked. “You… who did you have her with?”

Ning Tao smiled as he said, “Don’t be mistaken. She was adopted; her name is Hu Xiaoji.”

Lin Qingyu put her hands to her chest, her tone slightly exaggerated, “You scared me to death! I thought I had time traveled.”

Ning Tao said, “Oh, where’s your brother?”

“Why did you bring him up again?” Lin Qingyu’s expression changed instantly. “I don’t know where he is and I don’t want to know.”

“I’m sorry, I forgot,” Ning Tao said.

“Never mind, let’s talk about something else. Who are you with right now?”

“Many people.”

“You know that isn’t what I meant. I meant which woman are you with. That female officer?” Lin Qingyu picked up her cup and drank a sip of coffee, gazing at Ning Tao affectionately.

Ning Tao said, “Jiang Hao and Qing Zhui, the three of us are together.”

Pft!

Lin Qingyu spat her mouthful of coffee and it was spilled all over the table. There was even some of it on Ning Tao, but the Heavenly Gem Magic Garment was impenetrable, so the coffee rolled off and fell the floor.

Ning Tao touched his face to wipe a few drops of coffee off and said restlessly, “Do you need to react so strongly?”

“Are… are they able to accept each other?”

“Of course.”

A wry smile appeared on Lin Qingyu’s face and she sighed, “Sigh! I had returned with a sliver of hope but little did I expect that you would destroy it like this…”

Ning Tao stayed silent before saying, “You deserve better.”

Whatever needed to be cut off should be cut off. He had never been the capricious womanizer type. Before Jiang Hao got together with him, he had already expressed clearly that Qing Zhui was his destined concubine and he had to be with her no matter what. If Jiang Hao couldn’t accept this, such a weird family unit would have never happened.

With that, tears welled in Lin Qingyu’s eyes.

Ning Tao wanted badly to console her but he was at a loss of words.

Lin Qingyu pretended to rub her eyes; there was already a smile on her face when she put her hand down. “I always knew that you were incredible. I wish you all the best.”

“Thank you,” Ning Tao said.

Lin Qingyu said again, “How about this? I’ll buy you three dinner. I want to meet your two girlfriends to get a sort of closure. This way I will no longer possess any more hope.”

Ning Tao thought for a while. “I will ask them when I get back. Wait for my call.”

Lin Qingyu smiled. “I don’t care, you have to come. I refuse to believe that they wouldn’t come if you do. Aren’t they afraid that I’ll take you away from them?”

Ning Tao had only responded with a smile.

“Then it’s decided. I’m going back to prepare now, I’ll give you a call when it’s time,” Lin Qingyu said and headed towards the door. She wiped off her tears when her back was facing Ning Tao. Even though she had concealed her feelings well, it was still discernible. It was perhaps why she had rushed to leave. She didn’t want Ning Tao to see her cry.

But Ning Tao didn’t go after her. Neither did he bade farewell. He only sat quietly.