Chapter 12: The Young Lady Has Been Eating Sand for Three Years Now (11)

Qin Ye felt greatly gratified, while Gu Yeting was left in a haze of disbelief.

Had he really been thrown flat on his back by Qin Yue’s over-the-shoulder move?

Ha, this must be a dream.

Who was Qin Yue, after all?

She was radiant and beautiful, yet utterly fragile. Innocent and pure, she seemed the most pristine, needing protection, a precious existence in the world.

How could such a flawless, delicate being greet him with such a display of strength?

It was false, all an illusion—everything was an illusion.

Surely it was because he had witnessed Ye Xiaoxiao arguing fiercely in public for a mere few coins, and had accidentally juxtaposed that image with Qin Yue, leading to this hallucination.

Even as he was dragged away by the security staff, Gu Yeting remained convinced that it was all a figment of his imagination, absolutely unreal.

If Qin Ye had known what Gu Yeting was thinking at this moment, he would have been tempted to dissect Gu Yeting’s brain, curious if it was constructed entirely differently from ordinary people.

As a straightforward and impoverished sword cultivator, Qin Ye’s exposure to the diversity of humanity was limited, leaving him shocked and baffled.

Gu Yeting’s sneaking around the villa this time hadn’t caused any real harm, but it was enough for the property management to blacklist him.

Because of his little escapade, the property staff nearly lost their year-end bonus.

Naturally, the security department harbored deep resentment toward Gu Yeting.

As the saying goes: cutting off someone's livelihood is akin to killing their parents.

Beyond that, Gu Yeting’s actions that day also shifted the hue of Qin Yue’s memories about him from vibrant to gray.

For most, the boy they once adored in their youth would remain a beacon for life. Yet for her, that light had abruptly become a stain.

Well, it didn’t matter.

Qin Yue had no interest in such matters of the heart. She continued on her usual path—meeting with other second-generation elites, socializing, even working at the Qin Group.

But none of it stirred her enthusiasm.

She hardly spared a thought for Gu Yeting, yet others seemed to see things differently.

The next time she heard news of Gu Yeting, it was from the young heir who had previously provoked him.

“You’re saying Ye Xiaoxiao is missing?”

“Yes.”

Qin Yue frowned. “No report to the police?”

“The news came from Gu Yeting. He’s in a bad way—he’s abandoned the company he founded and spends his days drinking alone.

His business partners say he’s so distraught, he wishes he could end himself. Only now, after Ye Xiaoxiao’s departure, has he realized he was in love with her all along.”

The young man’s expression was tinged with mockery, clearly unimpressed by Gu Yeting’s so-called devotion.

Qin Yue fell silent. She had once genuinely liked Gu Yeting, but now, looking back, she wished she could go back and knock some sense into her former self.

“This has nothing to do with me. I have nothing to do with Gu Yeting. Don’t bring me news about him again.”

The young heir laughed. “I’m not here to amuse myself at your expense. Actually, I came to warn you—to be careful of Gu Yeting.”

“What do you mean?”

“Gu Yeting’s mind isn’t right. Ye Xiaoxiao left him, and instead of reflecting on himself, he blames you for everything.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you. He believes Ye Xiaoxiao left him because of you. Now he hates you, and it’s likely he’ll soon start approaching you with bad intentions.”

Qin Yue couldn’t comprehend.

He hated her?

Her?

What did any of this have to do with her?

The mess only made Qin Yue more impatient.

Just as the young heir predicted, Qin Yue soon began to run into Gu Yeting repeatedly.

Each time, Gu Yeting wore a mask of deep affection, but beneath it, his gaze was laced with disgust and resentment, performing a drama meant only to move himself.

After several such encounters, Qin Yue stopped going out altogether.

How did Gu Yeting always know her whereabouts?

Qin Yue hadn’t fallen out with her father, so naturally, he was the first person she thought to turn to.

She recounted all of Gu Yeting’s harassment to Qin Ye.

Qin Ye pondered for a moment, then placed a call. As soon as the line was picked up, he spoke solemnly: “Someone is stalking my daughter.”

On the other end:!!!!

Soon enough, Qin Yue found that she no longer ran into Gu Yeting, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

What she didn’t know was that, after a few days at home, when Qin Ye encouraged her to go out for a walk, Gu Yeting still managed to show up wherever she went, as if he had installed a tracking device on her.

But this time, as soon as Gu Yeting appeared near Qin Yue and was about to approach her, several figures suddenly rushed out and efficiently tackled him to the ground.

Before he could react, he was taken away.

When he regained his senses, he was in an interrogation room, confronted by stern officials with righteous faces, eyeing him warily.

“Speak. Who sent you?”

Gu Yeting replied, “Who are you? Do you know who I am? Let me go now, and I’ll pretend nothing happened.”

“A tough one, eh?”

Gu Yeting still carried the air of the young master of the Gu family.

But even if the Gu family hadn’t collapsed—and even if it had grown stronger—when it came to the bottom line, the Gu family was nothing more than fragile porcelain.

Compared to Qin Ye’s current status and undertakings, the mere fact that Gu Yeting could pinpoint Qin Yue’s location so precisely was enough to raise suspicions of espionage.

Qin Yue, however, was oblivious to all this.

Qin Ye was informed, because after Gu Yeting was apprehended, the relevant personnel called him specifically to let him know the hidden threat had been resolved.

Qin Ye knew Gu Yeting wasn’t a spy, nor was he after any of Qin Ye’s research investments.

Gu Yeting was simply a mentally unstable male lead.

Eventually, he would be released, but not without some ordeal. Given his temperament, it wouldn’t be surprising if he truly contemplated treason after this.

In any case, it was of little concern to Qin Ye.

He sat expressionless, staring at Qin Yue. She felt uneasy under his gaze, but met it without flinching.

“Have you made up your mind?”

“I have.”

“You must understand that Antarctica is an extreme place. Even with the backing of an entire nation, many researchers have met their end there, victims of sudden natural disasters.”

“I understand.”

Qin Yue’s eyes shone with resolve.

Seeing this, Qin Ye handed her the wooden sword he had carved and nourished with his soul, then arranged the necessary equipment and personally sent her off.

Qin Yue’s decision was prompted by an invitation from a former collaborator.

The partner wasn’t from the lion observation research team, but from a documentary crew. Last time they filmed lions on the savannah; this time their subject was emperor penguins in Antarctica.

Learning that Qin Yue’s mentor had been injured and, due to age, the original team had disbanded, they extended the invitation to her.

Perhaps they valued her mentor’s connections and the resources behind Qin Yue, or perhaps they saw merit in Qin Yue herself.

Either way, the invitation was a fact.

After careful consideration, Qin Yue accepted.

She had expected her father to oppose her choice.

Now, she understood why Qin Ye had sent her abroad so abruptly before—it was to keep her away from Gu Yeting.

Looking back, the Gu matriarch’s cold calculation and dismissiveness had never been genuine affection. It was just that she couldn’t see it then.

Qin Yue also knew that if her father had told her Gu Yeting was unworthy, she likely wouldn’t have listened.

Sending her away was only to keep her from sinking deeper into Gu Yeting’s orbit. But now she was leaving of her own accord, and onto a far more perilous path.

She imagined a fierce quarrel, her stubborn insistence, and her loving father's reluctant acquiescence.

Just as she had once tried to leverage her father’s love to help the Gu family through crisis.

Qin Yue felt guilty, yet she had no intention of living her life according to her father’s wishes.

But contrary to her expectations, her father did not argue. He calmly asked a few questions and then arranged everything for her.

Upon arrival, the documentary team received her warmly. Through them, she learned that her father had provided the best equipment and vessels.

Moreover, he had managed, through connections unknown to her, to ensure that should she face danger, she could seek help from the official Antarctic research base.

Qin Ye had no idea how deeply his arrangements touched Qin Yue. To him, he was simply doing his utmost to protect his mission objective, and the price for that protection had long been paid.

He remained immersed in his military equipment research.

As he read more, Qin Ye began actively participating in development. Though only a supporting role, his succinct insights often helped researchers break through obstacles.

Time passed swiftly. One day, as Qin Ye left the research base, he suddenly paused, sensing the wooden sword he had given Qin Yue had been destroyed.

Strangely, Little Third had issued no warning.

Qin Ye knew Qin Yue was unharmed and likely would remain so. He was simply curious—what had happened to her?

What had happened to Qin Yue?

The Antarctic glaciers melted, the emperor penguin breeding grounds collapsed, and the chicks faced annihilation.