Chapter 49: Could it be that the Five Poison Cult is about to welcome a Cult Leader’s wife?!

Faced with the staff member holding the oversized Pikachu, Qian Heng simply kept both hands in his pockets and slightly tilted his chin upward.

“Give it to her.”

This move made the staff member pause in surprise.

“Sir, this Pikachu is really big and kind of heavy. It’d be better if you helped your girlfriend carry it.”

Qian Heng replied with a deadpan expression,

“I’m not her boyfriend.”

The staff member clearly misunderstood. She gave a small smile, winked at him, and said in a low voice,

“Then all the more reason you should carry it! That’s peak boyfriend energy right there! If you carry it for her the whole time while playing around here, she’ll totally be your girlfriend by the time you head back!”

“…”

Cheng Yao wanted to shout: Excuse me, miss! I may be young, but I’m not deaf! I heard everything, okay?!

“Xiao Peng, come help real quick!”

“Coming!”

Just as Cheng Yao was about to clarify, the staff member was hurriedly called away by a colleague. Before leaving, she flashed Qian Heng another smile—and without giving him any chance to refuse, shoved the massive Pikachu right into his arms.

Qian Heng, with his aloof elite air, stood there frowning while holding a fluffy Pikachu. The contrast was jarring, to say the least. With his height, long legs, and ridiculously good looks, the whole image was oddly striking. Not just the surrounding young women—even Cheng Yao found herself sneaking a few extra glances at him.

But sneaking peeks was one thing. Asking the Cult Leader to carry a Pikachu for her? She wasn’t that suicidal.

“Thank you, Boss! You’ve worked hard! I’ll carry it myself!”

As she spoke, Cheng Yao reached out to take the Pikachu back from Qian Heng. But what she hadn’t expected was that—just as the staff member had warned—it was really, really heavy. The moment she took it into her arms, she staggered backward two steps from the sudden weight.

She had no choice but to take a deep breath and muster all her strength to tighten her hold. But this Pikachu was just way too big. Cheng Yao soon realized her arms weren’t even long enough to wrap around it properly. The fuzzy Pikachu kept slipping down with every step she took, and every few steps, she’d have to stop, adjust its position, and hug it tighter again.

Even so, the sheer weight was wearing her down.

Just as she stopped for another breather, a pair of hands reached over and effortlessly scooped the Pikachu out of her arms.

Qian Heng’s tall figure stood in front of her. He was so tall that the Pikachu, which had almost swallowed Cheng Yao whole, looked… kind of small in his hands.

His entire vibe was completely at odds with the cutesy Pikachu, but Qian Heng casually carried the oversized plush with one hand, his face still striking yet unreadable. He glanced at Cheng Yao, then lowered his gaze.

“I won the Pikachu. It’s my prize and my souvenir,” he said, not even looking at her. His voice, blurred by the sea breeze and waves, sounded almost distant. Aside from the faint redness at the tips of his ears, he was shockingly calm and assertive as he added,

“So it’s mine now.”

Cheng Yao: ???

And just like that, before she could even react, Qian Heng walked off in style—one hand still in the pocket of his slacks, the other coolly carrying her beloved Pikachu…

Just what kind of man steals someone else’s Pikachu with such confidence?! Isn’t this basically daylight robbery?!

Not to mention, just a second ago he looked like he wanted to murder someone when the staff dumped it into his arms—and now he’s suddenly grown fond of it?! What kind of emotional U-turn is this?!

Watching Qian Heng walk steadily away, carrying that Pikachu she had long coveted, Cheng Yao could only stare in despair, one thought screaming in her mind:

Why did you go full throttle into a plot twist and leave me here bawling in confusion?!

***

No matter how you looked at it, after Qian Heng had rudely snatched away her beloved Pikachu , Cheng Yao actually found herself walking a lot more freely. She strolled along, playing as she went, while Qian Heng followed behind her the whole time, holding the giant Pikachu with a stiff expression.

“Boss, I’m gonna run to the restroom real quick!”

After telling Qian Heng, Cheng Yao dashed toward the carnival’s bathrooms—only to be met with a painfully long line for the women’s side. By the time she finally emerged, Qian Heng was no longer standing where she’d left him.

Luckily, he wasn’t hard to spot. With that giant Pikachu in his arms, he stood out like a sore thumb. Cheng Yao scanned the area, and sure enough, she quickly located him at a shaded rest area nearby.

The rest area was fairly packed—no seats were left, though there was still standing room. But what surprised Cheng Yao was that Qian Heng… wasn’t alone. Standing next to him was a high school–aged boy, and Qian Heng was still holding the Pikachu with one arm, looking all cool and expressionless as he talked to the teen.

Cheng Yao wanted to head over, but the stream of people weaving through the rest area blocked her path. Still, she was close enough to hear what they were saying.

“Gege*, I’m begging you—could you please sell me that Pikachu? I’ll pay whatever price you want,” the high school boy pleaded, looking adorably earnest. “The prize counter at the Whac-A-Mole game said they’re out of Pikachus. My crush really, really wanted one. The moment she heard they were all gone, she nearly cried.”

*(Note: “Gege” is a respectful or affectionate way to address an older male, like “big brother.”)

“Please,” the boy continued, trying his best to win him over. “You’re tall and handsome, I could tell at first glance you’re a good guy! I just know you have a kind heart—you’ll definitely…”

Unfortunately, before the poor kid could finish his flattery, Qian Heng shut him down coldly with just two words:

“No way.”

The boy blinked in confusion, then glanced at the girl not far away who was watching him with hopeful eyes. Gritting his teeth, he pressed on. “Gege, seriously—if you let me have it, you’d basically be playing Cupid for us! We’d owe you so much. If we ever get married, we’ll totally invite you to our wedding banquet! Here, let’s exchange contacts—”

You could tell the kid was truly smitten. His whole heart was focused on that girl. And while his approach was a little clumsy, his sincerity was written all over his face.

Ah, young love—it’s like poetry. Even Cheng Yao, who had a strong attachment to that Pikachu, admitted inwardly that if she’d been in Qian Heng’s shoes, she probably wouldn’t have had the heart to turn the boy down. She’d most likely have let it go, even if it hurt a little, to help young love bloom.

But Qian Heng? He never played by the script.

He looked the kid up and down. “What grade are you in?”

“Senior year—final year of high school.”

“Oh. What was your score on your most recent mock exam?”

The boy was clearly thrown by the question but still answered with a number, looking confused.

…

Cheng Yao, watching from nearby, instantly recognized the expression on Qian Heng’s face. She knew what was coming for the poor kid—an unrelenting downpour of harsh truths.

Sure enough—

“With a score like that on your mock exam,” Qian Heng sneered, “you won’t even make it into a tier-three university. Honestly, even junior college would be a stretch. And you’re thinking about dating?”

“You don’t need a Pikachu,” he went on, “you need a prep book. ‘Five Years of Gaokao, Three Years of Mock Exams’ —buy that.”

(Note: This is a famous series of test prep books in China for college entrance exams.)

“Don’t give me that crap about seizing youth and not missing your chance. Sure, you two could date now. But with a high school diploma and no college prospects, you’ll graduate straight into unemployment. No house, no car, no designer bags, can’t even afford a decent dinner. Even if you did manage to get her a real Pikachu, what else could it do besides charge itself? Can it be eaten? Is she really going to stay with you?”

“…”

Qian Heng concluded mercilessly: “Focus on your studies. Work hard. Be better.”

The boy looked like he might cry, face full of dismay and defeat as he turned around to walk away.

But just then, Qian Heng called out to him.

“Here. Take this.”

The boy turned back, bewildered, to see Qian Heng holding out a voucher.

“I-It’s a…?” the kid asked hesitantly.

“A two-person buffet dinner coupon for the Intercontinental Hotel,” Qian Heng said, a little awkwardly. “Take her there.”

“Why… why are you giving me this?” the boy asked, stunned.

“Take your little girlfriend out for a nice meal,” Qian Heng muttered. “But the Pikachu’s not negotiable.”

“Studying hard is non-negotiable too. But if you really can do that, well… maybe chasing the girl you like isn’t out of the question either.” He paused, then added with finality: “Just remember to study hard, got it?”

The boy’s eyes lit up like stars. It was like he’d seen hope again. He looked longingly one more time at the Pikachu still in Qian Heng’s arms. “Thank you, gege! I’ll study really hard! But… are you sure you can’t give me that Pikachu?”

“Don’t even think about it,” Qian Heng replied coolly. “Because I’m giving it to someone else.”

The boy was bold enough to ask: “To who? Is it a pretty jiejie*?”

(Note: “Jiejie” means older sister, often used flirtatiously or admiringly for pretty women.)

Cheng Yao hadn’t expected Qian Heng to answer that. But oddly enough, while he still wore his cold expression, he showed surprising patience with the kid.

And he did answer.

“Yeah. She’s pretty.”

Cheng Yao perked up instantly.

Something’s up!

Wait—don’t stop there! Keep asking! Keep digging!

The little boy seemed to have heard Cheng Yao’s inner cry. He continued, “Does she have a good figure?”

Qian Heng snorted. “Very good.”

“Then what kind of person is she?”

“An idiot.”

“…”

“Do you like her?”

“I don’t.”

“…”

After that, Qian Heng and the little boy said a few more things, but due to the distance and the surrounding noise of people chatting, Cheng Yao couldn’t make out the rest.

Still, just from those few words, Cheng Yao was already thoroughly shocked.

Even though Qian Heng didn’t outright admit it, he’d been carrying around that Pikachu all day clearly intending to give it to someone—what else could that mean if not that he liked her?!

Qian Heng, that toxic guy, actually liked someone!!!

This… this…

This was breaking news! The juiciest gossip in the entire Cult of Five Poisons!

She instinctively opened WeChat and scrolled to the group chat that only included Bao Rui, Tan Ying, and herself—the “Wealth and Glory Trio”—and posted her shocking discovery:

“Explosive gossip! Qian-par has a crush!”

Almost the moment Cheng Yao hit send, Qian Heng turned and saw her. At some point, the little boy beside him had left, and Qian Heng was once again alone, still hugging the giant Pikachu.

Pretending as if nothing had happened, Cheng Yao flattered him, saying, “Ah, Boss, there were too many people in the women’s restroom. I just got out. Where to next?”

Qian Heng said coldly, “To eat.”

By the time Cheng Yao finally finished eating and got a moment to check WeChat again, she discovered that her one simple message had caused the three-person group chat to explode with the energy of thirty.

Bao Rui: “Oh my god oh my god oh my god, I can’t believe I’m alive to see this day. I’m literally in tears—like an old father marrying off his son!!!”

Tan Ying: “Quick! Spill the tea! Who is it? Do we know her? How old is she? What’s her background? Education? Is her family rich? What does she look like? Is Qian-par’s future mother-in-law going to be a problem?”

Bao Rui: “Wait, wait—do you think it might be one of our clients?”

Tan Ying: “No way, that’s not okay! We lawyers can’t be involved with our clients. That’s a total breach of professional ethics! And most of our female clients are married anyway! I can’t believe Qian-par’s this spicy! A married woman and an ascetic lawyer! Aaaaah! My mind’s racing at 200 mph—I can’t take it—traffic police uncle, arrest me!!!”

Bao Rui: “Wait, wait, let’s calm down. First things first—are we sure it’s a woman? I kinda feel like it might not be…”

Tan Ying: “If it’s a male client, I think that guy from the insurance dispute case, Wang Kairui, is pretty suspicious. I’ve seen the way he stares at Qian-par’s perky butt—it’s like he’s in a trance!”

Bao Rui: “No way, I thought he liked me ! He stared at my perky butt for quite a while too, all lusty and stuff!”

Tan Ying: “Please, what part of your butt is perky? Compared to Qian-par’s, yours is like a flat-screen TV!”

Bao Rui: “Ah-ha! Busted! So you have been checking out both our butts!”

Tan Ying: “Stop getting sidetracked! Focus on Qian-par! Our Qian-par has finally fallen for someone! Who could it be? To move Qian-par’s heart—it must be someone extraordinary!”

Bao Rui: “Cheng Yao? Cheng Yao, where are you? You dropped half the gossip and ghosted us—so unethical!”

…

The two of them went on and on after that, and Cheng Yao didn’t even have time to read it all. She just took a quick moment when Qian Heng wasn’t looking to reply a few lines.

Cheng Yao: “Pretty! Great body! But probably not very smart!”

Bao Rui: “A dumb beauty?”

Tan Ying: “So the reason I didn’t get picked by Qian-par is because I’m too smart?! Tragic!”

Bao Rui: “Wait, why do you say she’s not very smart? You saw her?”

Cheng Yao: “Nope, but Qian-par called her an idiot!”

Tan Ying: “That doesn’t count… In Qian-par’s eyes, 99% of people are idiots…”

Bao Rui: “Honestly, if she’s pretty, has a great figure, and chooses to be with our toxic Qian-par, maybe she is an idiot.”

At that, Cheng Yao couldn’t help but laugh.

It’s true—most people were either weaklings or idiots in Qian Heng’s eyes. Hadn’t he just called her an idiot earlier?

Actually, Cheng Yao hadn’t felt so lighthearted earlier. When she first heard that Qian Heng had someone he liked, she had a strange mix of emotions—shock, confusion, and a vague, indescribable feeling.

“What are you laughing at?”

Just as Cheng Yao’s mind was drifting again, Qian Heng’s cold voice brought her back to reality.

Ever since dinner started, Qian Heng had noticed Cheng Yao was distracted. She kept glancing at her phone while eating, with WeChat notifications constantly popping up. It was obvious she really wanted to check them, but held herself back because he was there. And sure enough, the moment they finished eating, she immediately picked up her phone.

Checking your phone after a meal was perfectly normal, but for some reason, Qian Heng was extremely displeased. He thought, In front of someone as exceptional as me, Cheng Yao dares to space out this blatantly?! Who allowed this?!

He shifted his gaze and casually asked, “Is it a client?”

Completely unaware of Qian Heng’s subtle irritation, Cheng Yao put down her phone and explained, “No, just chatting with Bao Rui and Tan Ying about random stuff.”

“Oh.”

Qian Heng didn’t ask further. He simply lowered his head and started fiddling with his phone as well.

Not long after, wails erupted in the “Wealth and Glory Trio” group chat—

Bao Rui: “MOM!!! HEAVENS ABOVE!!! Qian-par just messaged me, ‘Your workload doesn’t seem saturated,’ and then dumped a whole pile of tasks on me! There’s a new bar in the CBD near our office and I was gonna go tonight! Now I have to work overtime!”

Tan Ying: “I got blasted too! Qian-par suddenly sent me 20 contracts to revise… my health bar is empty! I’m going dark, bye bye!”

After that, the group went quiet again…

Cheng Yao looked up at Qian Heng, who was now sitting serenely like nothing had happened, and couldn’t help but shiver. The boss’s heart was like a bottomless ocean—who knew what had triggered Qian Heng’s wrath? Could it be… just because she mentioned Bao Rui and Tan Ying?

She glanced at Qian Heng, seated upright and dignified as always. If only he didn’t have that gigantic Pikachu beside him—the ridiculous contrast was honestly too much.