Lu Xiaoqing was stunned for a moment upon learning that Qu Shangbo had compensated her, and not just tenfold, but had also personally called to apologize.
However, she quickly realized it was all Qin Yi's doing, and her shock subsided.
She felt nothing but gratitude towards Qin Yi.
That evening, Lu Xiaoqing went to the hotel and brought Qin Yi and Xiong Zhentian to her home for dinner.
Since Xiong Zhentian had been sleeping soundly at the hotel that afternoon, he was completely unaware of what had happened in Qin Yi's room next door.
Therefore, when he saw Lu Xiaoqing showing Qin Yi such immense gratitude and warmth again, he was utterly bewildered, not understanding what was going on.
Of course, Qin Yi didn't bother to explain.
"Xiao Yi, you're from Haicheng, aren't you?"
During dinner, He Dongmei, who had only regained her ability to speak that day thanks to Qin Yi, suddenly asked Qin Yi.
Lu Xiaoqing had introduced Qin Yi and Xiong Zhentian as her friends to He Dongmei, so He Dongmei addressed Qin Yi as "Xiao Yi" in the manner of an elder.
"Yes, Auntie, I am from Haicheng!" Qin Yi replied.
"How old are you this year?"
"Twenty-seven!"
"Twenty-seven..." He Dongmei pondered for a moment and muttered to herself, "That's good, quite suitable!"
She then continued to ask Qin Yi, "Xiao Yi, you're not married yet, are you?"
Qin Yi paused his eating: "No!"
"Then do you have..."
He Dongmei was about to ask something more.
This time, before she could even finish her question, Lu Xiaoqing interrupted her: "Mom, are you interrogating him? Now that you can speak, can't you say less during dinner!"
"What do you mean interrogating? I'm just asking about Xiao Yi's situation!"
He Dongmei turned to Lu Xiaoqing, saying with some annoyance, "Xiaoqing, you're thirty this year, and still single. What's going to happen if this continues? You're going to become an old maid!"
"Mom..."
However, He Dongmei didn't heed her words and turned back to Qin Yi, saying, "Xiao Yi, what do you think of my Xiaoqing? If you think she's not bad, you two could try dating!"
Qin Yi: "!!!"
Xiong Zhentian, overhearing this, almost spat out the food he had just put in his mouth, but managed to hold it in.
He Dongmei, ignoring their expressions, continued on her own: "Our Xiaoqing is truly outstanding. She graduated from university, started from scratch, founded Qingniao Group, and in just six or seven years, developed it to its current standing! I dare say, few people can match her capability!"
"And Xiaoqing isn't bad-looking either. She has both beauty and a good figure. Many people used to pursue her..."
As she spoke, Qin Yi could clearly sense the pride in He Dongmei's tone.
Indeed, she had reason to be proud.
Lu Xiaoqing came from an ordinary family, built everything from scratch, and managed to found Qingniao Group, developing it to its current scale. Her ability was truly rare and incomparable to most.
He Dongmei's words continued: "So Xiao Yi, although Xiaoqing is two or three years older than you, you really could..."
"Mom, that's enough. If you continue like this, I'm going to get angry!"
Lu Xiaoqing put down her chopsticks and even stood up from her seat.
The blush on her cheeks was as deep as if she had smeared tomato sauce on them.
Seeing this, He Dongmei had to swallow her unfinished words and stop.
"Cough cough..."
Qin Yi coughed awkwardly. "Xiaoqing, don't get agitated. Auntie is just talking. Sit down quickly and eat, or the dishes will get cold!"
"Mom, you're not allowed to say another word!"
Lu Xiaoqing said this quietly to He Dongmei before finally sitting back down.
Following this, due to He Dongmei's attempt to matchmake Qin Yi and Lu Xiaoqing, the dinner became incredibly awkward.
As soon as they finished eating, Qin Yi, with Xiong Zhentian in tow, fled Lu Xiaoqing's house as if escaping.
And without any surprise, the moment Qin Yi and Xiong Zhentian left, Lu Xiaoqing couldn't help but say to He Dongmei, "Mom, what are you doing! I finally managed to invite them over for dinner, and you had to say all that nonsense?"
"What nonsense? You're thirty and still don't have a partner. Do you want to be single your whole life?" He Dongmei said with great helplessness. "I couldn't speak before, so I couldn't do anything about you. Now that I can speak, I can't just ignore it!"
"Even if you're anxious about my lifelong happiness, you still need to consider the person and whether they're suitable?" Lu Xiaoqing retorted. "Qin Yi and I are completely unsuitable!"
"How are you unsuitable?"
"This..."
Lu Xiaoqing paused for a moment and then uttered a few words: "I'm not good enough for him!"
Hearing this, He Dongmei, sitting in her wheelchair, froze. After several seconds, she finally said, "Xiaoqing, are you alright? Why would you think that?"
In He Dongmei's eyes, Lu Xiaoqing was the president of Qingniao Group, with assets in the hundreds of millions, and possessed top-tier looks and figure. With such superior conditions, who wouldn't be good enough for her?
To be honest, a significant reason she wanted to matchmake them today was because Qin Yi had enabled her to speak again with his superb medical skills!
Otherwise, she would have thought that Qin Yi was somewhat unworthy of Lu Xiaoqing!
"Sigh, Mom, you don't understand some things. Just don't try to force us together anymore!"
Lu Xiaoqing certainly wasn't going to explain Qin Yi's identity to He Dongmei. She left with that sentence, preventing her mother from saying more, and then fled back to her room.
...
As Qin Yi and Xiong Zhentian drove away from Lu Xiaoqing's home, Xiong Zhentian wore a strange smile on his face.
Sensing it, Qin Yi said calmly, "You seem to enjoy laughing. Believe it or not, I can make you laugh forever."
As he spoke, he produced a silver needle.
Seeing this and feeling the faint, cold glint emanating from the needle, Xiong Zhentian's smile instantly vanished.
"Divine King, I didn't mean to. I just couldn't help myself just now..."
"It's okay if you couldn't help yourself, I can also make sure you never laugh again!" Qin Yi said, playing with the silver needle.
Xiong Zhentian shivered and quickly admitted his mistake: "I'm sorry, Divine King, I was wrong. I won't dare to do it again!"
With Qin Yi's medical skills, he had no doubt that one needle from him could make him unable to laugh for the rest of his life!
Only then did Qin Yi put away the silver needle and say, "Drive. Let's go back to Haicheng."
Xiong Zhentian looked surprised. "We're going back now? We're not staying another night?"
According to their original plan, they were supposed to stay in Ning City for another night, and they hadn't even told Lu Xiaoqing that they were returning to Haicheng that night.
"No more staying. Let's go back!"
Xiong Zhentian didn't ask any further questions. He started the car and drove towards Haicheng.
Subsequently, Qin Yi sent Lu Xiaoqing a text message, informing her that he and Xiong Zhentian had returned to Haicheng and that she didn't need to come to the hotel to look for them tomorrow.