Chapter 10: The Eldest Miss Has Eaten Sand for Three Years

After bidding farewell to each of her colleagues and friends on the team, Qin Yue went to see the lion pride one last time.

By now, the pride had already taken on a new name. The original lion king had been defeated by a pair of wandering brothers, and the pride was no longer the one it had once been. The cubs left behind by the former king had all been killed by the new rulers. Even the desperate efforts of the lionesses could do nothing to stop it.

Qin Yue had watched, again and again unable to resist the urge to intervene, but her mentor had always stopped her. Humans may find it hard to bear, may struggle to accept such things, but this is the law of nature. The era of the star lion king had ended, and a new pair of star kings was now rising.

These new rulers were still young, and unlike their predecessors, they did not act alone—they advanced and retreated as brothers. Barring unexpected disasters—poachers, reckless challenges, or provoking an elephant herd—it was foreseeable that this generation of star kings would reign for a long time.

Qin Yue felt reluctant to part, but not as much as she had imagined. What would she do after leaving East Africa? She didn’t know. With uncertainty in her heart, she boarded a plane and returned to her homeland after a long absence.

Yet nothing felt especially unfamiliar. Every festival, she would bring gifts and the company of friends who missed her, flying across continents to visit her father. There was Zhang Ma, who had watched her grow since childhood, and even after long separations, friends whose bonds remained deep when they met again.

For the first time, Qin Yue felt her life had been so enriched.

Half a month after her return, she received letters and greetings from friends far away. After reading them, she sought out Qin Ye, who looked as if he had aged considerably. Words she wanted to say stuck in her throat.

Her distant friend confessed that she still could not return to ordinary life. Even in dreams, she yearned for her passion. So, after an honest conversation with her family, she decided to once again set out for the frontlines of wildlife research.

All of Qin Yue’s confusion vanished in an instant. If her friend could be so resolute, was she not the same? How strange—over a decade’s worth of experiences and habits could be so easily overturned by just three years.

Walking with carefree young friends through the clean, bustling mall, she found herself disinterested. When friends threw her a party and invited all their old acquaintances, she only felt boredom—even when among them was the one to whom she had once secretly pledged her heart in youth.

Sensing Qin Yue’s distraction, the girl who had organized the party quickly changed the subject, livened up the atmosphere, and made sure no one pestered her.

Qin Ye, single-minded in his pursuit of military technology, cared for profit only as a means to invent the powerful weapons he envisioned. Years later, though he remained far from achieving his dream weapon, countless byproducts had emerged from his research.

Qin Ye’s own sword-like resolve enveloped the research institute, so that the researchers, as if invigorated by elixirs, burst forth with constant inspiration. Since Qin Ye left the main characters untouched, the so-called third wheel kept silent, letting Qin Ye do as he pleased.

Qin Ye’s goal was to develop a weapon infused with technology but as lethal as a cultivator’s magical sword. If he could realize this, it would be a blessing for all sword cultivators. Are you still impoverished by the cost of a life-bound sword?

No need for 1,998, not even 998—only 98 would get you the perfect substitute. Tempted? If so, act now!

Of course, this was all just Qin Ye’s fancy. How could it be so simple? Besides, technological creations required energy, and if cultivators could not afford to maintain their swords, how could they support the vast logistical demands of modern tech?

Even so, Qin Ye’s enthusiasm never waned. With his growing commitment and the advantage of his remarkable abilities, though still far from matching the life-bound swords of cultivators, his research continued to produce a stream of unexpected innovations.

At first, Qin Ye had to strive hard for funding, pouring every cent into the bottomless pit of research. But as the Qin Group grew larger—so large that Qin Ye was summoned by the authorities to receive encouragement and support—the world itself seemed to change at a breathtaking pace.

During a natural disaster, the latest Qin Group smartphone deployed a transparent shield straight out of science fiction, saving lives that would otherwise have been lost. The company’s reputation soared.

Qin Yue’s return was inevitable. Her security clearance was instantly upgraded, though not before some had slipped through the cracks, perhaps with ill intentions—kidnapping, for example, to threaten Qin Ye.

Qin Yue knew nothing of this, and Qin Ye never spoke of it to her. Others, however, watched the transformation of the Qin Group with keen eyes. Now, especially in society, they understood the weight of Qin Yue’s status.

Thus, at the gathering, many old acquaintances sought to curry favor with her.

Gu Yeting, in truth, no longer belonged among these heirs of privilege. After his family’s bankruptcy and a string of setbacks, he finally accepted reality and returned to his studies. With Ye Xiaoxiao’s tireless help and his own protagonist’s luck and intelligence, his grades quickly improved.

After the college entrance exams, most of the second-generation heirs went abroad to polish their résumés. Gu Yeting might have done the same, but his family’s bankruptcy altered his path. He was accepted to a fairly good university and became much more reserved, no longer the brash youth he once was.

In college, he tried his hand at entrepreneurship. Compared to other students—many of whom still drifted without direction—Gu Yeting’s modest success was considerable. Surrounded by envy and jealousy, he remained humble, knowing that his small ventures were nothing.

Once, Gu Yeting had loudly and proudly declared his feelings for Qin Yue, claiming her as his own and challenging anyone who approached her. But he never mentioned this again, and now even those close to him were unaware of his past.

He attended the gathering only because Qin Yue had once liked him too. He hadn’t wanted to come, but in the end, he couldn’t resist the stirring in his heart; he came, spurred by Ye Xiaoxiao’s pleading and even threats.

After the hostess had drawn the crowd away, Gu Yeting found himself standing before Qin Yue, who, though tanned, was still as luminous and flawless as ever. He felt dazed.

When he came to his senses, he was already standing in front of her.

“It’s been a long time,” Qin Yue greeted him, breaking the silence.

“It has,” Gu Yeting replied, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

Silence fell once more, endless and heavy.

Qin Yue was distracted, her thoughts lingering on dreams and reality, those philosophical questions. Suddenly, Gu Yeting realized that a vast chasm now separated him from Qin Yue—a gulf that would have existed even if his family had never gone bankrupt.

To the others, however, the air between them felt charged with something extraordinary. After all, Qin Yue’s old acquaintances were also Gu Yeting’s, and everyone knew their romantic history. Seeing the two face-to-face, in such apparent harmony, some onlookers grew anxious.

Before, when the Gu family was wealthy and Gu Yeting was the most eligible, everyone had tolerated it. But now—what was Gu Yeting compared to them?

Unfortunately, Gu Yeting’s old rival, Shen Yu, was not present; otherwise, he would surely have intervened. Unlike Gu Yeting’s public displays, Shen Yu’s affection for Qin Yue was more restrained—so much so that only he, Gu Yeting, and a select few were aware of it.

Still, someone approached, glass in hand.

“Well, if it isn’t Brother Gu. After your family went bankrupt, you disappeared. I hear you’re trying your hand at business now—need any help?”

Qin Yue, snapped out of her reverie, asked, “The Gu family went bankrupt?”

She truly hadn’t known. As if Qin Ye would keep her updated on the leads’ lives—if he were inclined to do so, he wouldn’t have shipped her off to the East African savanna in the first place.

Though a third party had often reminded Qin Ye that the savanna was, indeed, grassland, he stubbornly insisted it was all sand, refusing to admit he was mistaken.

Gu Yeting was reluctant to revisit the past, especially in front of Qin Yue. But the young scion at his side was only too eager to elaborate as soon as Qin Yue asked.

Qin Yue remembered how Mrs. Gu had once asked her to help the Gu family—how imperiously she had made her request. Back then, Qin Yue had only wanted to help Gu Yeting, even threatening her own father with her life.

Now, in retrospect, she realized how misguided she had been. Her time in East Africa had taught her much.

On hearing of the Gu family’s downfall, her expression did not change, but inwardly, she sighed.

Noting the young man’s intent to embarrass Gu Yeting, Qin Yue smoothly changed the subject. He followed her lead, but not before casting Gu Yeting a provocative smile.

As the night wore on and the gathering neared its end, Qin Yue kept to her usual routines—tonight was already a late one for her. For these heirs, however, the night was only just beginning.