Chapter 068: Revealing Their Relationship

The reward item for the "Social Engagement" side quest was an incredibly rare Guardian Summon Ticket—a resource almost unobtainable by any means other than these fortuitous events. Ever since he had unlocked the "Guardian" feature and, on his first free summon, obtained Yu Muqiu, Song Ye hadn’t drawn for a new guardian again.

A guardian’s skill could be used only once per day, but that limit applied to each individual guardian. If Song Ye had several, he could use each of their skills once per day, accumulating several trump cards for critical moments. However, the total number of guardian skills he could use per day was capped at five. That meant, even if Song Ye somehow amassed ten guardians, in any given battle he could only deploy the skills of five of them.

Thus, facing different foes or circumstances, Song Ye would have to carefully select the best combination of guardian skills. Of course, he currently had just one guardian—far from the point of strategizing about skill combinations. His immediate goal was simply to gather five guardians.

Therefore, when a side quest offered a Guardian Summon Ticket as its reward, it was absolutely imperative to complete it, no matter the cost. There was no question. Besides, the requirements for this particular quest were refreshingly simple—all he had to do was have breakfast with Qin Xuanxi. After all, for a young couple, sharing a meal was only natural.

Song Ye entered the magistrate’s office, where the first thing he saw was Zhao Zhigao’s dumbstruck face.

“T-the Lady... she looks exactly like your former fiancée!”

Song Ye had guessed correctly—Qin Xuanxi was already inside. Zhao Zhigao must have met her by now, but he seemed to think the Lady and Song Ye’s ex-fiancée were two different people, merely sharing a striking resemblance.

“The Lady is waiting in the rear courtyard. She gave orders that you be brought to her as soon as you arrived!”

With that, Zhao Zhigao led Song Ye and Song Yan to the back courtyard.

There, Qin Xuanxi had indeed set a table brimming with food. Seated beside her were Wang Demao, the prefect of Yan City, and Qi Shuyi, the two-star Purple Yu Guard.

But for a morning meal, the table was piled with a dazzling array of delicacies—there was even a hotpot, and on a side table, both a whole roast lamb and a whole roast pig! This was no breakfast; Song Ye half wondered if he’d walked into a modern buffet restaurant.

Seeing Song Ye enter, Prefect Wang Demao promptly stood and called out, “Brother Song Ye, come, have a seat!”

To address him as “brother”—Wang Demao clearly knew how to treat people, which explained how he’d risen so swiftly from county magistrate in Cheng County to prefect of Yan City.

Qin Xuanxi also stood up and, with the shyness of a young maiden, softly said, “Ye, you’re finally here!”

She then glanced down at Song Yan, whom Song Ye still held by the hand.

Song Yan was five now, a little taller, but still had the cherubic roundness of a child. It was clear Song Ye had cared for her well. Qin Xuanxi felt reassured that her decision to entrust Song Yan to him had been the right one; she had not let Liang Fang’s dying plea go unfulfilled.

Bending down, Qin Xuanxi gently patted Song Yan’s head, silently vowing: “Song Yan, may you grow up carefree—I will bear the weight of your vengeance.”

Qin Xuanxi had lived for revenge; she did not mind shouldering yet another deep grudge.

“Little sister, come, sit with me and have something delicious!”

Qin Xuanxi seated Song Yan on her left, while the empty chair on her right was clearly reserved for Song Ye.

Song Ye, who had never dated in the modern world, felt a strange sense that Qin Xuanxi, this “girlfriend,” was announcing their relationship before his colleagues.

“Ye, come and sit!” she called again, pointing to the empty seat beside her.

Song Ye had no choice but to sit at her side.

“You should sit as well!” Qin Xuanxi beckoned to Zhao Zhigao.

It was apparent she intended to win Song Ye’s favor by treating even his friends with courtesy.

Zhao Zhigao, momentarily stunned, pointed to himself. “Me? I can sit too?”

Wang Demao immediately barked, “What’s all this hesitation? The Lady invites you—sit down!”

“Alright, alright!” Zhao Zhigao settled in beside the prefect.

With Song Ye’s closest colleague and his boss both present, Qin Xuanxi turned to the latter and asked, “Prefect Wang, do you think Ye and I are well-matched?”

“Perfectly matched! The two of you are a pair made in heaven,” Wang Demao replied with keen perception.

A faint smile graced Qin Xuanxi’s lips. “I think so as well. I’ve reached the age to marry, and I wish to wed Ye soon. Prefect Wang, what do you think?”

“And Prince Xiang—what is his opinion?” Wang Demao asked cautiously. Marriage was a family matter, and he dared not speak out of turn.

“My father has already given his blessing and left the decision entirely to me,” Qin Xuanxi said.

At once, Wang Demao replied, “Then the sooner the better! Brother Song Ye is not so young anymore—a man should marry before establishing his career.”

At last, Song Ye understood: Qin Xuanxi had not come merely to show off their relationship at his workplace. She meant to use his boss to pressure him into marriage!

Seeing his silence, Qin Xuanxi took the initiative and placed a piece of lamb in his bowl. “Ye, try this lamb and see if it suits your taste.”

Song Ye realized that, cornered like this, he had to tread carefully—best keep his mouth shut and just eat. So he picked up the lamb with his chopsticks and tasted it.

The moment he finished, a game notification echoed in his mind:

“Ding! Congratulations, player [Song Ye], for completing the side quest [Social Engagement]!”

“Ding! You have received: [Guardian Summon Ticket]!”

“Ding! You have gained 300,000 experience points!”

Song Ye was stunned. Was this “Social Engagement” side quest really so perfunctory? Had he truly completed it by eating a single piece of lamb?

Checking his game inventory, he saw a brand-new Guardian Summon Ticket.

Song Ye’s heart raced with anticipation. He was dying to find out what powerful new guardian he might summon this time.