Frankly speaking, Yan Qing still hoped Pharmacist’s Wish would argue with him. This obedient husky demeanor was a bit unsettling for him.

He took out something from his pocket and handed it to Pharmacist’s Wish, "Take it."

"What is this?" Pharmacist’s Wish looked at it. It was a dried-up finger, somewhat familiar.

"A gift from Rabbit Heroine, Dragon Roaming’s finger. Don’t ask how I got it, I won’t tell. It can upgrade any token to the Third-Transformation Curiosities level." Yan Qing stood up, ready to sneak away, "Your Bright King Armor is only Second-Turned Legendary, right? You’re supposed to traverse molten lava, so upgrade that armor."

Yan Qing had considered using Dragon Roaming’s finger himself, but after tallying his tokens, he found none were suitable. The Mountain Heart-Protecting Mirror was a Third-Transformation Curiosity, Bingzi Pepper Forest was Second-Turned Legendary, and the Hand of Melting Hundred Forms was Second-Turned Legendary... Plus, since Pharmacist’s Wish was going to traverse molten lava to save Rabbit Heroine, Yan Qing had to express some good intentions.

He pretended it was from Rabbit Heroine to avoid receiving Pharmacist’s Wish’s gratitude. However, Pharmacist’s Wish not only didn’t thank him but also grabbed his arm.

"Why am I only receiving my little sister’s gift today?" She glared at Yan Qing, "Didn’t you say she’s been in a coma all this time?"

"She told me before she went into a coma."

"Wasn’t that three days ago!? Why didn’t you give it to me then?"

"I forgot."

"You could forget something like this? But you didn’t forget to meet with Red Snake?" Pharmacist’s Wish felt a flame of anger burning through her stomach, "If I hadn’t come up with a feasible plan tonight, would you have just forgotten to give me this gift?"

"How is this my fault? Who was the one who drew a weapon without a word? You think I was going to give you a gift in that situation? Do you think I’m an idiot?" Yan Qing retorted without backing down, "You’re right, I didn’t give it to you on purpose. Why did you ruin my rendezvous with Red Snake? I’m only being lenient because you’re in a better mood tonight; otherwise, you could just jump into the lava river yourself and turn into charcoal!"

"You two are the ones acting inappropriately without considering the time! I was just upset!"

"Isn’t this the mission where you said you’d listen to me?"

"Listening to you doesn’t mean I can’t scold you. Where did I go wrong?"

"So you just stabbed at me that day?"

"I didn’t aim for your vital spots, you wouldn’t have died from it!"

Yan Qing and Pharmacist’s Wish were at each other’s throats, with Yan Qing gripping the knife handle and Pharmacist’s Wish clenching her fists, the air thick with tension. Shang Xinlei was ready to mediate. But in the end, it didn’t come to blows. Pharmacist’s Wish flung her sleeves and left, "You stay here and wait for me!"

When Pharmacist’s Wish slammed the door, Shang Xinlei turned to Yan Qing and raised an eyebrow with a subtle tone, "Dog couple? Rendezvous? Fooling around? So this is you saying it doesn’t concern me?"

"If you hadn’t heard it, then it wouldn’t concern you..." Yan Qing muttered, sighed, and turned to leave, "Sorry, okay."

"How do you make even apologies sound so annoying..." Shang Xinlei called after him, "Black Wolf said you should wait, so you’re just leaving?"

"What if she comes back with a weapon for revenge? Only a fool would wait."

But the next moment, Pharmacist’s Wish burst through the door again. Without a word, she charged forward, her whole body clad in Vajra Armor like a tank moving at full speed. Yan Qing was just at the door and quickly dodged to avoid being run into with the door by her!

"I told you to wait!" Pharmacist’s Wish gritted her teeth, "Now not only is your character in question, but your hearing as well?"

"I’d be happy to wait at a beauty’s invitation, but who would wait for a tin can like you?"

Pharmacist’s Wish was so furious her chest felt tight, she glared angrily at Yan Qing, not even the Black Wolf Mask could hide her anger. Yan Qing was genuinely worried she’d start a fight, so he softened his tone, "It’s late, whatever it is, let’s handle it tomorrow..."

"Take this."

Pharmacist’s Wish shoved a book into Yan Qing’s arms and turned away with one sentence, "I don’t owe you anything."

Yan Qing looked down—it was the Secret Technique Research Manual.

This was likely loot Pharmacist’s Wish acquired from the Central Courtyard in the Corpse Bone Forest. He thought she had used it already, but it was still here.

Thinking about it, Pharmacist’s Wish didn’t need it; she had the Comprehension Pill. Her natural talent was as exceptional as her looks, and she wasn’t afraid of hard work. She could easily master the secret technique on her own... Damn, saying it like that does make one a bit jealous.

"Did you tell her you needed the research book?" Shang Xinlei asked.

"No, you were there every time we talked." Yan Qing pondered, "She probably saw it on the trade board, after all, I’ve only sought the Secret Technique Research Manual there."

"Of course." Shang Xinlei scrutinized Yan Qing, "Were you carelessly or deliberately exposed? Don’t even try to cover your tracks when reselling?"

"...Deliberately careless." Yan Qing looked dejected.

How to cover it up? Almost all of Rabbit Heroine’s loot passed through her hands. If others might find one or two items familiar, Pharmacist’s Wish would feel that seven or eight items were familiar just by checking the records, and there’d be no hiding it.

"How nice, you gave her an enhancement item, and she gave you a Secret Technique Research Manual." Shang Xinlei’s tone was a bit sour, "Speeking of, you’ve seen Black Wolf’s true face, right? Is she pretty?"

Yan Qing didn’t answer that question, because he could already imagine Shang Xinlei would follow up with ’So who’s prettier, me or her?’ or something. He shoved the Secret Technique Research Manual into Shang Xinlei’s arms, "It’s yours."

Shang Xinlei was stunned, "Haven’t you been seeking one for days? Why don’t you want it?"

"Because I bought one today."

Yan Qing took another Secret Technique Research Manual out of the Storage Ring.

Today, he spent eighty thousand Spiritual Jade to buy one. If he had known Pharmacist’s Wish would give him one tonight... Yan Qing would most probably have bought it anyway—these things are never too much.

"But even if you’ve bought one, the Secret Technique Research Manual can still be used elsewhere. You have so many subordinates to support, why give it to me?" Shang Xinlei tilted her head, watching Yan Qing, "I’m nothing like Black Wolf, I have no gifts for reciprocation."

"...Black Wolf is already Third-Transformation. White Fox is nearly there, and just you, only grasped your first secret technique half a month ago. Absolutely no ambition." Yan Qing replied sulkily, "I just don’t want you to hold us back."

"If you feel bad, just contribute more to this mission." He paused, then added, "But make sure it’s within your capability. Don’t accidentally find yourself in a desperate situation. I don’t want to save you again."

Shang Xinlei looked down at the Research Book, then glanced at Yan Qing, her lips slightly curving upward, eyes smiling, and replied in a drawn-out voice, "Oh, is that so—"

"I’m sleepy, let’s discuss any issues tomorrow—"

"I don’t want this one, I want the one in your hand."

"Huh?"

Yan Qing was stunned. He had imagined Shang Xinlei might refuse, feeling it was too precious to accept, or perhaps she’d accept it comfortably, maybe even take advantage of the situation. But he never thought she’d actually want to swap books!

Both books are Secret Technique Research Manuals produced by the system, and they have the same effect, disappearing after use. Is there any need to swap?

However, Shang Xinlei just gave back the Research Book Pharmacist’s Wish had given her to Yan Qing, and then took the Research Manual Yan Qing had purchased today.

Though he couldn’t understand why, Shang Xinlei was obviously much happier, waving her hand and saying, "Alright, you can leave now, remember to come out for lunch tomorrow."

Now it was Yan Qing’s turn to be unhappy: "This is a Secret Technique Research Manual worth nearly a million Spiritual Jade. Aren’t you even going to say thank you?"

"You’re so troublesome, you know? It’s not like I asked you to give it to me. It was you who insisted on giving it to me, so I reluctantly accepted." Shang Xinlei shrugged, as if helplessly being pestered by a kid, she pulled Yan Qing’s hand, "Then come over here."

Yan Qing followed Shang Xinlei into her room, then crossed his arms and looked at her, "This time I won’t close my eyes and let you flick me."

"Are you still a child? Why are you so immature?" Shang Xinlei rolled her eyes at him, "Wait here for a moment, I’ll go prepare something, and then I’ll properly repay you." Saying that, she left the Thief’s House.

Really? Could it be that crying children do get milk? If he hadn’t complained a little, would he have missed this chance? Although logically he thought it was unlikely, Yan Qing couldn’t help but feel a subtle anticipation, his heart beating faster.

This time he finally had time to observe Shang Xinlei’s room. Last time he came, his attention was elsewhere, and he never noticed the details of the room. It was clear that Shang Xinlei frequently visited here, mostly using it as a personal storage space. The room was cluttered with various odds and ends, seasonings, makeup, tool bags, and even a set of cookware.

Although there was a lot of stuff, none of it was messy, showing that Shang Xinlei had put a lot of thought into it. She used various little items to decorate the room: wind chimes, paintings, potted plants. Compared to Yan Qing’s room, hers actually seemed cozier.

She probably treated this room as her secret base, decorating it with good things she found, even though she had a bigger, more spacious house outside... because this was her little world that only she knew.

"I’m back!"

Shang Xinlei appeared in the center of the room, with no change in clothing, only having removed the Red Snake Scarf and mask. She held two large ceramic bowls containing cherry-red ice cream topped with spoons.

"I knew it."

"Of course, by repayment, I meant a midnight snack, what else could it be? It’s late at night, you think I’d cook you a meal?" Shang Xinlei handed a large ceramic bowl over, "Hey, come and eat!"

"Where did you get ice cream?" Yan Qing was curious, "Aren’t you training at the Military Town now?"

"But I traveled there by carriage." Shang Xinlei scooped a big spoonful into her mouth, her face freezing with bliss, "My carriage has an ice cream maker. Didn’t you know? As long as the ingredients are delivered on time, I can have ice cream no matter where I am."

Darn rich people!

"Eat quickly, or it’ll melt." Shang Xinlei urged.

"I’ll take it back to eat."

"No way, I need to wash it later. Left too long, it’ll attract bugs."

Does the Thief’s House have bugs?

As Yan Qing took off his mask, Shang Xinlei’s face immediately showed disappointment: "You wore a mask, yet inside there are bandages too?"

"Just to guard against this move of yours." Bandaged weirdo Yan Qing smiled as he ate the ice cream.

"It’s not fair. You’ve seen me and Black Wolf’s real faces, but we don’t know anything about you." Shang Xinlei suddenly thought of a possibility, "Wait, does Black Wolf know what you look like?"

"We haven’t met. How would she know?"

"But Little Rabbit is your sister. She can describe your appearance!"

"Rabbit Heroine hasn’t seen me either, she wouldn’t describe my looks!"

"I don’t believe it! No way, now let me take a look." Shang Xinlei stood up and approached him, "Can’t have Black Wolf know but not me!"

"Whether Black Wolf knows is none of your business!"

"Don’t go!"

Yan Qing dodged while eating faster. Honestly, eating ice cream at night was quite satisfying. At that moment, Shang Xinlei didn’t notice the ice cream was melting. With a tilt of the bowl, a lump fell onto her thigh. Yan Qing immediately said, "Don’t move, this stuff falls to the ground and attracts bugs!"

Shang Xinlei indeed didn’t move, she looked down at the ice cream on her thigh, then glanced at Yan Qing, lips slightly curving upward: "To be fair, just a midnight snack really can’t repay you, how about... I allow you to help me change thigh socks again?"

Yan Qing blinked, "Really?"

"Really."

"Alright, you sit down."

Shang Xinlei obediently sat on a chair, waiting for Yan Qing to come over, then... Yan Qing flicked her forehead hard.

Ha, your expression shows you’re planning to take off my bandages when I kneel down, thinking I won’t be fooled?

"Never mind, I think this midnight snack was already enough," Yan Qing sat back leisurely, "Thanks for the treat."

Shang Xinlei, holding her forehead, her pretty face puffed like a blowfish, suddenly used her hand to wipe the ice cream from her thigh directly into Yan Qing’s mouth: "Like eating, huh!?"