Chapter 2: We Can't Let Qingqing Suffer.

The reason for suggesting to start with her own brother isn't to set him up.

According to Chu Qingqing's explanation, it's best to avoid preconceptions when reasoning.

If one approaches with the subjective impression that 'the two cousins have bigger issues,' it's easy to overlook any clues that may exist with her own brother.

The elder brother, Chu You'an, is in his early thirties and is a sixth grade supernatural. There's a high probability he'll reach the fifth grade in the future. However, he's more focused on scientific research within the family, leading a project team, so he's not very enthusiastic about cultivation.

It's not like he's relying on natural bloodline growth anyway. As for the negligible daily increase in ability from practicing his powers, he doesn't really care about that.

"Ah Suan, is this your friend?"

Walking out of the pressure laboratory, Chu You'an frowned at Cheng Jinyang, asking Chu Qingqing.

His gaze sized up Cheng Jinyang, who also calmly sized him up.

Chu Qingqing's eldest brother, dressed in that indigo workwear, doesn't look like a scholar; more like a seasoned artisan from a factory, with traces of metallic lead gray on his forehead.

"Yes," Chu Qingqing explained to her brother, "He's from the Shendu Cheng Clan, like me, he also comes from a humble background who later gained citizenship. It's said he has the talent to strive for the fifth grade."

Chu You'an nodded slightly, his gaze softening as he looked at him. Since there is potential to enter the fifth grade, it's also acceptable for him to interact with my younger sister. Of course, marriage is out of the question, and I'll have to advise my sister later not to get too close.

While the two kept Chu You'an occupied, Xing Yuanzhi had also stealthily used invisibility and light body techniques to sneak into Chu You'an's office.

For an academic supervisor, they don't actually spend much time in the lab; their office is where they usually reside. Especially for those bosses who have subordinates, it's rare for them to visit the lab even once a month.

Today, they happened to catch Chu You'an going to the laboratory for inspection, so Chu Qingqing and Cheng Jinyang held him at the door to create an opportunity for Xing Yuanzhi's infiltration search.

After quickly flipping through the surrounding documents, Xing Yuanzhi locked her gaze on the computer.

From a theoretical perspective, it's unlikely for a mole to store information on electronic media, as even thorough deletion can leave traces, whereas paper documents can be completely destroyed by burning.

However, practically speaking, paper documents are less convenient compared to electronic media; it would be odd to have a fire pit in an office.

Pulling out a USB drive containing a trojan, Xing Yuanzhi inserted it into the computer, then quickly sent out a message from her phone:

"Xiao Wangshu, okay, help me check this computer."

"Leave it to me (.ˇ.)"

The other party quickly replied.

On the other side, Chu You'an and Cheng Jinyang exchanged a few polite words, but soon found themselves with nothing more to say. So Chu You'an intended to return to the office.

"Um, that... brother!" Chu Qingqing hurriedly stopped him. "I have something I want to tell you."

"What is it?" Chu You'an asked.

He still likes this adopted younger sister very much - as it turns out, compared to the real sister who grew up together, always fighting for resources and arguing, those later added, non-blood-related and already sensible adopted sisters are more likely to win the favor of the brothers.

As for the family orthopedics, ethics and morality are still highly valued in this world, so the Tauren shouldn't harbor any illusions.

Chu Qingqing hesitated slightly, and Chu You'an immediately saw that she was deliberately delaying, and smiled:

"Okay. I still have a few papers to review. If you remember anything else, come find me in the office later."

"Wait, actually..." Seeing Chu You'an about to head back to the office, Chu Qingqing panicked inwardly, her mind racing.

Suddenly, she had a clever idea, and she pretended to be shy and anxious, hesitantly asking:

"Big brother, what do you think of Jinyang... um, how is he?"

Cheng Jinyang: ???

Chu You'an: !!!

The former's expression immediately appeared confused, feeling very wrong, clearly something was amiss, definitely some mistake had occurred.

The latter's face stiffened, with a hint of icy coldness in his eyes.

"Ah Suan, you..." he pretended to smile and joked, "you've finally grown up, huh?"

"Big brother." Chu Qingqing affectionately hugged Cheng Jinyang's arm and shyly said, "I'm not a child anymore~"

Cheng Jinyang: ......

For most people, upon realizing they've been suddenly manipulated, their initial reaction is probably annoyance and denial.

But Cheng Jinyang, having been influenced by Ah Zhi and Miss Wang, is no longer ignorant of social interactions. If he denies it here, it will directly rupture his cooperation with Chu Qingqing.

Clarifying the truth at the cost of breaking the cooperation, will Chu You'an really regard him highly? Not necessarily.

Compared to 'my sister being fooled,' it's not something to be happy about if someone looks down on one's sister. Knowing the truth, Chu You'an would certainly quickly drive him out of the Chu family to avoid his any further contact with Chu Qingqing.

So when Chu Qingqing abandoned her dignity and pretended to be his girlfriend, in Chu You'an's mind, he was either 'the toad trying to covet his sister' or 'the toad who couldn't appreciate his sister', there were only these two options.

In the end, it's because the foundation and history of the Cheng family can't match up to the Yangdi Chu family, and his innate talent isn't as great as what Chu Qingqing has. So, once there's any ambiguity with her, it will always be seen as wrong in the eyes of the Chu family—so why not just offend them completely? At least, cooperating with Chu Qingqing can be maintained.

At this point, Cheng Jinyang remained silent, only smiling at Chu You'an.

In Chu You'an's eyes, it naturally meant 'this guy has already taken down his sister'.

So he nodded towards Chu Qingqing and said gently:

"Ah Suan, I want to talk to your boyfriend, is that okay?"

"Ah, sure." Chu Qingqing was just pondering what to say next to stall for time when she heard this, she immediately replied crisply, "Brother, you can't make it difficult for him, okay?"

"Am I that kind of person?" Chu You'an turned to face Cheng Jinyang and made an inviting gesture towards him.

At this point, he certainly didn't feel like going back to the office, so he hurried to find a place to solve the problem!

Chen Jinyang calmly followed Chu You'an into the laboratory and saw several graduate students conducting experiments on metal materials inside.

"Today is a day off, let's stop here," Chu You'an said loudly.

The graduate students, of course, were tactful; no one jumped out saying, "Oh, my experiment isn't finished yet." Everyone quickly changed out of their lab coats and left the laboratory one by one.

Pushing the items on the table aside, Chu You'an placed his hands on the table and revealed the typical composed smile of a senior research supervisor, saying, "Please, have a seat."

Cheng Jinyang sat down on the chair in front of him.

"Well, let's start with introductions," Chu You'an said leisurely, taking out his phone to look up his information.

"Alright," Cheng Jinyang replied, assuming the posture of a junior and patiently introducing himself.

"Alright. I understand your situation," Chu You'an nodded and said, "I'm Ah Suan's brother. Ah Suan is her previous nickname. After being adopted under my father's name, she changed her name to 'Chu Qingqing'."

"Qingqing, although not born of my parents' bloodline, is cherished and loved by them more than their own biological daughter by a thousand times. As for her choice of spouse, while we don't want to intervene forcefully, considering her young age, we can't let her choose freely either. Can you understand?"

"Understand, understand," Cheng Jinyang could only respond with 'understanding' and 'reasonableness.'

"That's good," Chu You'an said gently, "Her bloodline talent is at least fifth grade, can strive for the fourth grade, so in terms of prospective suitors, we hope the best candidate is at least with the fourth grade talent. This way, it not only matches our family's reputation but also doesn't make Qingqing feel too aggrieved."

"I've also looked into your profile; you have great potential. Although your potential is currently at the sixth grade, can strive for the fifth grade, who knows what the future holds? So, one must diligently practice their abilities and not slack off..."

He continued with earnest advice, seemingly caring about the younger generation's future, but subtly manipulating the conversation.

'Only a fourth-grade talent is worthy of marrying Qingqing.'

How can one rise to the fourth grade? Of course, it's by naturally aging through the passage of time.

But would the Yangdi Chu family allow Chu Qingqing to wait for you to age into it?

Surely, bu then they must have already betrothed her to other young talents who possess the guaranteed talent of the fourth grade!

The strategic language of delaying tactics is quite impressive indeed. If it were a naive boyfriend, he would probably express profound gratitude, bowing to the senior, then go back to diligently hone his abilities, only to find out several years later that Chu Qingqing had been promised to someone else. He would then rush to the Yangdi Chu family residence to demand answers, only to be driven out with a beating...

Unfortunately, this time it's Cheng Jinyang he ran into. He's neither foolish nor Chu Qingqing's boyfriend, so he just maintained a smile, a look of 'I understand everything,' leaving Chu You'an somewhat puzzled.