It remained unclear when Shenhe would descend the mountain and enter the city, but given her temperament and efficiency, she'd likely arrive within a day or two.
The A+ rating from yesterday had earned Qin Yu over ten thousand points - a truly enticing reward.
In a nutshell: Absolutely delightful!
Whether she could replicate yesterday's performance remained uncertain. After all, the previous day had been filled with unusual events that deviated from the norm.
This time, she would simply do her best. Even a B rating would be considered a gain.
Before Shenhe's arrival, Qin Yu decided she needed to prepare further.
First and foremost, she had to clean the house thoroughly!
Though Shenhe was a mountain forest young lady, her usual pristine appearance and spotless clothes made it clear she valued cleanliness.
Qin Yu's house couldn't be described as tidy - at best, it was barely manageable.
While she promptly disposed of trash, dust remained largely untouched. Unless struck by sudden inspiration or special holidays, she rarely undertook the effort of a full-scale cleaning.
If Shenhe were to enter this dwelling and witness such a scene, she might think: "I never imagined Qin Yu could be so untidy."
How could a perfect young girl let her house fall into such disarray?!
Absolutely not - she couldn't risk presenting anything less than her best self...
Yet a proper cleaning required substantial time. Unless she hired professionals, there was no alternative.
Firstly, Qin Yu didn't want to waste money on unnecessary expenses. Secondly, entrusting outside services meant risking exposure of her private life through their access to her living quarters.
So she would have to handle it herself.
Fortunately, she had the System.
Her abundant points allowed her to spend a bit more freely.
Regarding combat, she hadn't yet decided how to progress further, but she did have her eye on two production-type skills:
[ Cleaning Expertise 1 ] - Enhances one's cleaning capabilities, providing basic knowledge of how to handle high-value items.
[ Cleaning Time ] - Activating this skill enters you into a "Cleaning Fever" state. During this period, your cleaning ability, organization skills, and speed will fluctuate based on the level of dirtiness around you. The dirtier the environment, the greater the enhancement effect.
Cleaning Expertise was a passive skill, while Cleaning Time was an active skill.
With these two, even a major cleaning job would be child's play...
What? You think spending points on this isn't worth it? Hmph, time is points! This is part of the "sharpening your tools" strategy to ensure efficient work!
Qin Yu put on a mask and nodded.
"Alright, time to get to work!"
Cleaning Time, activate.
Instantly, a powerful urge flooded Qin Yu's heart - the desire to clean, to make this place spotless! Her senses sharpened, detecting odors and spotting stains...
Her entire body felt like it was on fire, filled with excitement and fervor.
Qin Yu was absolutely certain that, in her current state, even if the most beautiful woman undressed before her eyes, she wouldn't feel the slightest interest!
Though truth be told, she'd never had such interest to begin with!
But is my home really that dirty? It doesn't look dirty at all... Qin Yu felt somewhat conflicted; the gradual accumulation of dirt in unseen places was unsettling.
Still, today's cleaning would end here. Every corner, window, table edge—no nook or cranny escaped her scrutiny. She wielded her tools with practiced ease, each motion precise and purposeful.
The entire house's meticulous cleaning took less than two hours—a true master at work!
"Ugh, so tired... I don't want to move anymore..."
The price of this labor? Three hours of lazy indulgence on the bed.
As for why so long... Experience proved the wisdom of the saying: after bitter toil comes sweet rest. The leisure following completion was always the most delightful.
-
Afternoon arrived.
With the house perfectly cleaned, two preparations remained:
First: Seek help from acquaintances.
Second: Plan the day's itinerary.
The carefully cultivated social connections were now ripe for use.
"My friend is coming to Liyue Port soon, and I want to grow closer to her! Could you please say something nice when you see us?"
"Grandpa He, if you ever see me out shopping with a friend, could you say a few nice words about me? Reason? Ah ha ha, I want to get closer to that friend. Need to make a good impression, you know."
She delivered carefully chosen gifts to each person, making her request. Every time, she received a positive response.
Perfect. Now everything was set. Though it cost her some money, she'd definitely earn it back later. So investing time in building relationships really does pay off.
Along the way, Qin Yu caught wind of a troubling rumor.
"Little Yu, you need to be careful these days," Aunt Wang from next door suddenly warned.
"Why?"
"I heard this from someone else, so I'm not sure if it's true. But you should still be cautious."
She glanced around to make sure no one was listening before whispering, "That boy you turned down before? His family hired some muscle to help him. They still won't give up on you!"
"The guy's huge and looks mean. You can tell he's not a good person. He might try something dangerous. Little Yu, you have to be careful when you're out! Of course, we'll keep an eye on them. We can't let anything happen to you."
The stalker's family hired a thug? That certainly wasn't reassuring...
So he hasn't given up yet? What a nuisance. I thought his absence meant he'd finally abandoned his schemes, but it seems he's been scheming in the shadows all along.
Is this just a rumor? Hard to say. Creating something out of nothing isn't easy, but twisting the truth comes naturally.
Should I seek protection from the Millelith? But that might not eliminate the threat permanently. For a lasting solution, perhaps another approach is needed.
...Yes, that's best.
The Millelith could protect me temporarily, but if our adversary lies low during that period, they'll eventually consider the danger passed and withdraw their guard.
I can't fully trust them; they can't provide the security I need.
With that in mind, the course of action becomes clear—eliminate the threat at its source.
"Phew... So that's how it is. Thank you! Having you all here makes me feel safe. But Sister Wang, where did you hear this rumor from?" Qin Yu asked with a smile.
Still, it wasn't time to jump to conclusions. Better to gather more information first. Once everything was confirmed, and if things turned out exactly as she suspected, then it would be time to act.
No one can protect me, and no one will be able to harm me.