Chapter 40: A Willing Teacher Meets a Willing Student

After returning to her own room, Lan Jin took a hot shower, feeling instantly refreshed and clear-headed. Yet every time she recalled the little tricks Li Qingcheng played with Qin Chuan before they left the Li family estate, she was consumed with irritation.

“It must’ve been then that Li Qingcheng whispered something suggestive,” she fumed inwardly. “What a shameless enchantress. I really should’ve made things more difficult for her when we were walking around Crescent Lake, to let her know how formidable I am.”

Lan Jin kept replaying the afternoon in her mind, convinced she had only displayed thirty percent of her true abilities. It was like those arguments where, afterward, you realize you hadn’t performed your best, and once you’ve calmed down, your mind teems with clever, razor-sharp retorts you wish you’d said. In those moments, regret wells up—if only you’d used those words during the quarrel, you could have left your opponent speechless and utterly defeated.

“How disappointing!” Lan Jin sighed in frustration. Her gaze fell on her phone lying on the bed, and without further hesitation, she quickly found Lin Wanyu’s number. After a moment of uncertainty, she finally dialed.

Since their last disagreement over Qin Chuan, the two hadn’t spoken. Every time Lan Jin called, she’d only get a message that the number couldn’t be reached, and she strongly suspected Lin Wanyu had blocked her. But this time, the call connected, and Lin Wanyu picked up almost immediately.

“It’s so late—has something happened?” Lin Wanyu’s voice was as cool and clear as ever, yet her concern came through naturally.

A warmth blossomed in Lan Jin’s chest, and suddenly she felt a wave of grievance. “Sister Yu, I thought you were ignoring me!”

“How could I? My tone wasn’t right last time either. It’s all in the past now. Come on, tell me—what kind of trouble did you get into today?” Lin Wanyu asked with a gentle laugh.

Lan Jin held nothing back and recounted everything that had happened at the Li family estate that day, detailing even Li Qingcheng’s brazen attempts to seduce Qin Chuan.

Lin Wanyu sensed something was off in her friend’s mood. Was she upset because she was jealous? They’d only known each other for a few days—how could she be jealous already?

“Jin’er, do you resent Li Qingcheng?” she probed.

“Of course I do!” Lan Jin replied without the slightest hesitation. “She knew I was Qin Chuan’s companion, but she still approached him. That’s a clear provocation.”

“But Qin Chuan didn’t exactly refuse her, did he?” Lin Wanyu gently guided her, hoping Lan Jin would realize the true issue herself.

Lan Jin nodded. “No, he didn’t.”

“So are you angry because of Li Qingcheng’s provocation, or because Qin Chuan didn’t firmly reject her advances?” Lin Wanyu, seeing Lan Jin still hadn’t caught on, decided to be direct.

Lan Jin’s whole body tensed, and she fell silent, questioning her own heart for an honest answer.

Yet, weighing the two reasons, she found herself unable to distinguish exactly what she was angry about.

“Jin’er, the fact that you hesitated already speaks volumes,” Lin Wanyu’s voice sounded a touch melancholic.

Lan Jin felt as if she’d been struck by lightning—Lin Wanyu’s words made perfect sense. If this had happened a few days ago, she would’ve answered without a doubt that she was angry solely because of Li Qingcheng’s provocation.

Hesitation meant uncertainty. Perhaps her personal feelings weren’t very deep yet, but she couldn’t deny it: she definitely felt something for Qin Chuan. She even felt a faint discomfort whenever she saw him being close to another woman.

Her cheeks burned with embarrassment, and once again, she was engulfed by the shame of a secret agent going undercover in enemy territory, only to be converted by the opposition.

“Sister Yu, what should I do now?” Lan Jin’s voice brimmed with helplessness.

Lin Wanyu sighed softly, her own emotions a tangled mess. Back then, when Lan Jin had teased her, she’d never expected her words to become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

More than anything, Lin Wanyu was puzzled. How could Lan Jin, after less than a week with Qin Chuan, already start developing feelings?

She knew her friend’s standards were extremely high—otherwise she wouldn’t still be single. Unless… Suddenly, Lin Wanyu had a revelation: maybe it was precisely because Lan Jin had no experience in romance, that someone like Qin Chuan—skilled in the art of seduction—could seize the opportunity.

“Jin’er, let me teach you a few ways to guard against a player’s tricks. If Qin Chuan often uses these tactics on you, then you’ll know he’s a thorough scoundrel, and you can avoid falling into his trap,” Lin Wanyu advised in a worldly tone.

Lan Jin eagerly agreed, nodding her head. She didn’t believe Qin Chuan was a player, but at least she could avoid being manipulated, right?

So, one novice earnestly taught, while the other listened with utmost concentration. Soon, they even embarked on a highly specialized discussion.

In the end, they collaborated to create a “Handbook of Anti-Player Tactics.” The only thing missing was publishing it and becoming renowned relationship experts.

After hanging up, Lan Jin was brimming with confidence, ready to put theory into practice. She quickly reviewed the methods for spotting a player, then marched downstairs and knocked on Qin Chuan’s door.

Knock, knock, knock!

A moment later, Qin Chuan’s voice sounded from inside, “I’m already in bed! If it’s not urgent, let’s talk tomorrow.”

“Brother Chuan, I just watched a horror movie and got scared. I’m afraid to sleep alone, so I thought maybe—”

Before Lan Jin could finish, the door swung open. Qin Chuan’s voice had seemed distant, but now he stood before her as if he’d teleported.

“Hooked him!” Lan Jin thought gleefully, slipping into the room.

But before she could make her next move, Qin Chuan grabbed a pillow, tossed it onto the floor, and spread a blanket out beside it.

“You take the bed, I’ll sleep on the floor. That way, if you toss and turn and cross the line, you won’t be able to accuse me of taking advantage.”

Watching him cut off every possible avenue, Lan Jin felt as though she’d just punched a pillow—her strength utterly wasted.

“Why doesn’t he just put a pillow in the middle of the bed, swear he’ll never cross the line, and then, when the lights are out, use ‘tossing and turning’ as an excuse to cross over and take advantage?”

“Maybe he’s using retreat as advance, trying to lure me in by appearing indifferent?”

As Lan Jin’s thoughts ran wild, Qin Chuan suddenly said, “Maybe I should call Li Qingcheng to come keep you company. That way, there’s no chance for rumors about us being alone together. I don’t mind, but it could harm your reputation and even affect your future marriage prospects.”

With that, he took out his ancient phone and started looking for the number.

Lan Jin was utterly at a loss. Why was he not playing by the book? There didn’t seem to be a chapter for this in the “Handbook of Anti-Player Tactics”!

Seeing her flustered and uncertain, the corners of Qin Chuan’s mouth curled into a barely noticeable smile. “So, you want to play tricks with me? You’re still a long way off.”