The next morning, a knock sounded at the door.
Qin Yu pulled the covers over her head. She had been organizing her notes late into the night and, being both sleep-deprived and prone to lingering in bed, she couldn't bring herself to get up.
But the knocking persisted.
How annoying! Qin Yu snapped upright, furious. Who's banging on the door so early? She stomped toward the entrance.
Halfway there, she remembered her disheveled appearance and retreated to her vanity.
Inhale, exhale. Calm down.
I can't let something so trivial make me lose my temper and reveal my bad side... My hair's a mess, I should at least comb it. Whoever this is, they'll have to wait!
Soon, the door opened, revealing Qin Yu with a gentle smile.
"I'm sorry I'm late. May I ask who's here?"
"Good morning! I apologize for the intrusion. My name is Yanfei. You might have heard of me—I'm a legal expert. I know this visit is sudden, and I'm truly sorry, but I have something important to tell you. Please, hear me out!"
Wow, she's stunning. Wait, are those antlers beneath her hair?
Her outfit's a bit revealing, though. Shenhe too... Is this the current fashion trend? Should I try it out too...?
No way! Just stick to something normal.
Yanfei? Qin Yu racked her brain. The name rang a bell.
She's supposedly a trustworthy half-adepti lawyer. But I've never consulted her, so we've never crossed paths. We've only heard of each other.
A lawyer showing up at my door claiming urgent business? That's odd.
Might as well hear her out.
Qin Yu nodded, her expression puzzled. "Alright, please speak."
"You're being targeted!"
"Huh?"
What did it mean to be "targeted"? She'd just sent away a creepy simp yesterday—could there be another one? Being popular was nice, but this was getting ridiculous!
Qin Yu looked flustered and uneasy. "What does this mean? Ah, this isn't a good place to talk. Come inside."
"If you insist."
Just as Yanfei was about to step into the entryway, Qin Yu suddenly remembered her messy apartment and panicked.
"Please wait! The apartment isn't ready yet—it'll only take about five minutes!"
"Wow, that's fast! Actually, I don't mind—"
Thud. The door slammed shut.
She hadn't even finished her sentence. Yanfei sighed in exasperation. There was really no need to fuss. As part of her job, she often visited people's homes and had seen far messier places.
Still, it was a thoughtful gesture.
Yanfei nodded slightly, confirming Qin Yu's reputation for politeness. She didn't dislike people like that.
After about five minutes, Qin Yu opened the door, breathless and forcing a smile. "It's all ready now. Please come in."
"Thank you. You really didn't have to bother. I don't mind at all."
"No, no, of course I'd want to be a good host for such a beautiful visitor!"
"A beautiful visitor? Are you talking about me?" Yanfei asked in surprise.
Who else could I be talking about? Qin Yu thought to herself, smiling outwardly. "Yes, Miss Yanfei. Your eyes are very lovely. I'd be embarrassed if you saw my messy house."
Yanfei stared in stunned silence.
"Is something wrong?" Qin Yu asked.
"Hmm? Oh! N-nothing at all! It's just... it's the first time I've ever been complimented like that. It's a little embarrassing, haha..." Yanfei's cheeks flushed slightly.
[Evaluation: D-]
Huh?
[Target list updated]
[Target: Yanfei]
Ha?
Qin Yu's expression froze.
Is she another "cuddle-worthy" target? Does she have some unique trait like Hu Tao or Shenhe?
More than joy, worry and confusion washed over her. Each target had possessed a unique quality that had repeatedly surprised her.
Yanfei, who had already stepped into the entryway, didn't notice Qin Yu's subtle shift in demeanor. She didn't look around aimlessly either, but politely sat down on the chair Qin Yu offered.
...I just couldn't seem to calm down. Yanfei crossed her arms, her index finger tapping lightly against her elbow.
When she said, "Your eyes are beautiful," it didn't sound like a polite remark. Could it be that she genuinely liked my eyes?
Why would she call them beautiful if she didn't? As the saying goes, "The eyes are the windows to the soul." Praising someone's eyes as "clear" indirectly compliments the purity of their heart.
So, when she said she liked my eyes, was she implying she liked my soul?
But this was our first meeting! How could that be possible? Unless she possessed some special ability to see into people's hearts.
"Seeing an untidy room reflected in your eyes makes me feel embarrassed." Was she particularly concerned about her image in front of others?
Yet she specifically said "your eyes," not "others' eyes."
Could it be that she cared about my opinion? Was she embarrassed because she wanted to present a good image to me? People only try to impress those they care about.
She... cared about me? But we'd just met! Unless she'd been secretly observing me. When did this connection begin? I hadn't noticed at all!
She looked like she had just woken up, yet her hair was neatly combed, as if she had taken the time to groom it properly.
Could she have been preparing while I was knocking? Yanfei wondered, her thoughts spiraling deeper into confusion. Did she want to present the best possible image to me?
This was one of her bad habits.
When studying the Law, she didn't just memorize the articles; she also analyzed the underlying principles and motivations behind each rule, treating it like a reading comprehension exercise.
Perhaps this legal mindset had become ingrained, because even in everyday interactions, she couldn't stop herself from applying the same analytical approach.
With just a few words, her mind could conjure up countless interpretations.
[Evaluation: D+]
Qin Yu froze.
Did I do something? Why did my evaluation suddenly increase? She hadn't done anything special—just exchanged a few words and invited Yanfei inside for a more detailed conversation.
Could this system be glitching?
Still, she figured, you can never have too many points. Qin Yu's morning grumpiness vanished completely, replaced by a genuine welcome for Yanfei's arrival.
Noticing Qin Yu's improved mood, Yanfei blinked. "You seem to be in good spirits?"
Most people, upon hearing a legal expert rush over to say they had urgent news, would immediately assume they'd done something wrong and their spirits would plummet. They certainly wouldn't be smiling.
Qin Yu startled, realizing her joy had been too obvious. She felt a pang of embarrassment.
But this is a perfect opportunity to say something nice! Seizing the moment, Qin Yu chuckled, "No, nothing like that. I'm just really happy to finally meet Miss Yanfei."
"Happy to meet me?" Yanfei was stunned.
What's going on? Why would she be happy? Oh, right—she seems to have been secretly interested in me. Now that she's finally met me in person, she's overjoyed?
"Yes! I've always wanted to meet you. Unfortunately, I never had the chance."
After all, who goes looking for a lawyer for no reason? Qin Yu thought to herself.
I knew it!!!
Yanfei turned away, pressing her hands to her cheeks in an exaggerated expression reminiscent of The Scream. She couldn't believe her suspicions had been correct—this woman really had been secretly watching her!
But why?
What reason could an unfamiliar woman have for secretly watching her? It was baffling! Yet, at that moment, Yanfei's mind erupted with a flood of inspiration.
All the clues suddenly connected!
She needed to reverse her thinking.
Instead of focusing on the cause, she should consider the result.
In other words, what did this woman gain from her actions? That's it—satisfaction! Throughout history, those who secretly observed their objects of interest had almost always done so to fulfill their own desires.
In other words, was Yanfei the kind of person who could satisfy her? Yanfei was stunned.
Satisfaction only comes from fulfilling a need...
In other words, was Yanfei the one creating that need in her? Yanfei was stunned once more.
[Evaluation: C]
What's going on? The ratings keep climbing! It must be some kind of bug.
Great! More, more! This feeling of earning points without doing anything is absolutely wonderful.
And all of this might be thanks to this lawyer lady's visit.
"Thank you for coming. I'll pour you some tea right away. Please wait a moment," Qin Yu said with a radiant smile.
"—!!"
It's really happening!
Yanfei couldn't utter a single word, her cheeks burning as she recalled Qin Yu's earlier smile. No wonder people go crazy over her... no wonder someone would be interested in her...
This woman is a witch.