The Yandere Queen's Manual for Training Her Wife - Chapter 27

“Hua, I need to step out for a bit.”

Xia Mingtang hadn’t fully processed the words when Qin Yan had already changed clothes and grabbed an umbrella at the entrance.

So late, and it was still raining outside—did he really have to go out, and at a time like this?

Xia Mingtang pouted, cheeks puffed out like a pufferfish, her dissatisfaction a hundredfold.

But she only grumbled in her mind. After all, Boss Qin was his own person—what right did she have to interfere?

Qin Yan put on his shoes and left a kiss on Xia Mingtang’s cheek. “Get some rest, don’t wait up for me.”

Without waiting for a response, he walked out without looking back.

Xia Mingtang stared at the door now closed behind him, annoyed: “Who said I was waiting for you anyway.”

It seemed Qin Yan wouldn’t be back anytime soon.

Xia Mingtang slumped back onto the sofa, flipping through TV channels in boredom.

Within two minutes, she had switched through dozens of channels and found nothing worth watching.

She then pulled out her phone and started browsing online; the recent news was bizarre.

#Passenger on Flight A7 Suffers Heart Attack; 37 Medical Students Respond Simultaneously#
#Man Lives in Pigsty Long-Term, Forms Special Bond with Mother Pig#
#Woman Confronts Attackers Alone During Rainy Night#

Xia Mingtang’s thumb froze mid-scroll at the last headline.

“Woman… rainy night… attacked?”

Could it be Qin Yan?

She recalled the last time she visited Qin Yan in Meishan; there had indeed been an assailant.

Back then, Qin Yan subdued him in a few swift moves, and Xia Mingtang had been so captivated by his skill that she hadn’t noticed anything suspicious.

It was deep in the mountains; someone bringing a knife or weapon to attack a small inn owner wasn’t spontaneous—it seemed premeditated.

But why this attack?

First, robbery could be ruled out—Qin Yan’s only valuable item at the time was a phone, which the attacker didn’t even glance at when she used it as a thrown weapon.

Could Boss Qin have an enemy?

But she was just an inn owner—how could she have a mortal enemy?

A crime of passion? Revenge? A dispute over interests?

Xia Mingtang’s little brain spun in circles until she felt dizzy.

After thinking it over, she decided to call An Ran.

The phone rang over ten times before being answered.

“What’s up? I just got home from work, my phone was on silent,” An Ran explained while taking off her coat.

Looking at the clock, Xia Mingtang admired her partner’s diligence and felt a twinge of guilt—she herself had been far too lazy.

After a brief moment of polite concern, she got straight to the point. “Senior, I have something I’d like your help with.”

Her tone was unusually polite, not like her usual commanding self.

An Ran’s sharp intuition picked up immediately: “Something personal?”

Xia Mingtang didn’t answer.

An Ran didn’t press further. “Just tell me, I can handle it.”

This was exactly what Xia Mingtang was waiting for. “It’s the inn I’m staying at—Boss Qin Yan. I want you to check her background.”

She stated her request plainly, without giving a reason, unwilling to lie.

An Ran processed quickly. “Is this related to the number you asked me to check last time?”

Xia Mingtang thought: It was the same person from the last call, but this time it was different.

“Kind of,” she said evasively.

“I understand. Just wait for the info,” An Ran replied.

Xia Mingtang hung up, knowing the information wouldn’t come immediately.

When she first thought of those headlines, her first concern wasn’t Qin Yan’s connection to the Ji family, but whether he was in danger.

After all, they had met and formed a connection—if Boss Qin got into trouble, she could step in to handle it.

She imagined swooping in like a winged angel of justice, rescuing Qin Yan from peril, and being so gratefully admired that he would wish to offer himself in return…

Well, offering himself? Better not.

Being an unsung hero suited her more.

Lost in her thoughts, Xia Mingtang didn’t notice the clock ticking to ten o’clock.

Half an hour had passed since Qin Yan left.

Having just woken up earlier, she now felt energetic and decided to go see Yi Yi.

The inn was quiet at night; Yi Yi was happily watching TV in her room when a slightly random guest knocked on the door.

Xia Mingtang had a habit: when she had a purpose in mind, she either became dramatic or exceedingly polite. This time, it was the latter.

“Yi Yi, watching TV? You’ve been working hard these past few days. Boss Qin must really trust you to assign you so many tasks.”

Yi Yi glanced at this oddly chatty guest and, seeing that she was now the boss’s favorite, didn’t bother arguing.

Polite and proper, she replied, “I’m just watching TV. I’m used to it, it’s not tiring. Boss Qin doesn’t assign me many tasks anyway, but I guess she does trust me.”

Xia Mingtang had only meant to be polite, but after the reply, she paused, then continued probing.

“Then if she trusts you, she must tell you some things too, right?”

Yi Yi thought to herself: She’s telling me less than she’s told you. But she caught the hint.

The TV now showed the reborn female lead appearing at a royal banquet, dazzling everyone with insider knowledge.

Not wanting to be disturbed during such an exciting part, Yi Yi got straight to the point: “I don’t know where she went, but she’ll come back. You just wait and relax.”

Xia Mingtang: ?

Everyone in this inn must have mind-reading abilities.

Seeing Xia Mingtang’s expression, Yi Yi knew she had guessed correctly, and in the fastest words of her life added:

“She won’t tell me where she went, but she’ll be back. Don’t worry.”

Xia Mingtang had no interest in TV or browsing anymore. Seeing the books on Qin Yan’s shelf, she pulled out one to pass the time.

Most of Qin Yan’s books were very hardcore, but she finally found an older collection of stories.

It contained records of unusual figures throughout Chinese history—some ridiculous, some bizarre. Xia Mingtang found herself completely absorbed.

She flipped through half the book, finishing stories like The New Bride, The Tiger’s Revenge, Ventriloquism Defeats Thousands, when she finally heard the door click open.

Sounds of shoes changing, raincoat removal, footsteps approaching the study.

“I wasn’t waiting for you,” Xia Mingtang said preemptively, eyes still glued to the book.

“Heh,” Qin Yan exhaled softly, saying nothing, and came to her side, glancing at the storybook in her hands.

Feeling Qin Yan’s gaze, Xia Mingtang didn’t turn around, speaking casually: “This storybook isn’t bad.”

“It was a gift from a friend. If you like it, you can read it slowly,” Qin Yan said.

He reached out, intending to ruffle her fuzzy hair, but changed his mind and turned toward the bedroom.

Xia Mingtang: ?

The study and bedroom were only separated by one door. Qin Yan didn’t close it fully.

Through the crack, she could see him take off his coat, revealing well-defined arms.

She stared enviously, thinking: Boss Qin really looks slim in clothes and muscular when he takes them off… wait, why are there bloodstains on his arm?

She jumped from her chair and crossed to his side. “You’re hurt?”

“Huh?” Qin Yan was slightly surprised by her sudden appearance but quickly replaced it with a gentle smile.

“I’m fine. The blood isn’t mine,” he said.

To prove his point, he grabbed two tissues, wiped the blood, and held out his now clean arm for her inspection.

Xia Mingtang tilted her head, examined it, and the arm looked spotless.

She exhaled in relief, but scolded lightly: “Going out late at night and coming back covered in blood…”

Qin Yan looked at the faint red smudges on the tissue, sighed at his own carelessness, and gently took her finger in his. “You’re worried about me?”

“Who’s worried about you,” Xia Mingtang turned away, pouting: “I just hate the smell of blood—it’s disgusting.”

Qin Yan held the tissue to his nose to check. Did it smell?

He didn’t argue, instead stroking her hand. “My fault. I’ll be more careful next time.”

“Next time?” Xia Mingtang almost blew a fuse.

“No more next time,” Qin Yan quickly corrected, “I promise I won’t leave you suddenly again.”

Her worries and frustration finally eased with that sentence.

She bit her lip, “Alright, but don’t call me Xia Hua anymore. Now that we’re closer, using my full name feels too formal.”

Xia Xiahua? Terribly old-fashioned! Every time Qin Yan called her that, she regretted it.

“This is really your full name?” Qin Yan asked in surprise, genuinely.

“Of course it is,” she said, forced to maintain the lie she had started.

“The ‘Hua’ in my name wasn’t randomly chosen. My mother looked through all the classical poetry and finally chose a line: ‘No one understands the east wind’s meaning; spring is all for the begonia.’”

She finished proudly, as if saying, Got it?

It was a difficult metaphor for most people, but Qin Yan was no ordinary person. He looked at her, expression lighting up in understanding.

“So your ‘Hua’ is from the begonia flower. Can I call you Tang Tang from now on?”

Xia Mingtang nodded with relief. “I like that.”

“Tang Tang,” Qin Yan kissed her forehead softly, his voice tender.

Support