ABFMV Chapter 51

Xu Linlang nodded. “Mom, I promise I won’t bring shame to the Xu family.”

Rong Ruoyue gently patted her head. “I know.”

Just as the mother and daughter shared this tender moment, the doorbell rang. They turned to the intercom and saw Qi Ye at the door.

His expression was unreadable, yet he kept pressing the doorbell without pause.

Rong Ruoyue frowned. “What’s gotten into him?”

Xu Linlang guessed, “He’s probably here about the team assignment.”

She pressed the remote to unlock the door. Qi Ye walked in with a sour expression, and Rong Ruoyue hesitated a step behind him.

She had already wiped away her tears and restored her composed demeanor. “Is it something for Linlang?”

Being asked like that, Qi Ye glanced at Xu Linlang, his voice tinged with a hint of grievance. “I heard about the team assignment.”

Xu Linlang felt a pang of guilt and instinctively explained, “I didn’t know either. Elder Jiang arranged it directly. When he told me, the decision was already made.”

For some reason, she subconsciously didn’t want Qi Ye to misunderstand.

Qi Ye lowered his gaze. “The department head told me the Manufacturing Department wouldn’t participate in this mission. If it weren’t for him, I would’ve applied to team up with you myself.”

Xu Linlang hadn’t expected that twist. “It’s okay. Next time, we can team up in advance.”

Qi Ye looked slightly resentful. “Too bad it’s not this time.”

Rong Ruoyue, having caught the gist of the situation, asked, “Sweetheart, who’s your partner?”

Xu Linlang: …

This was like opening a can of worms.

Under the gaze of the two, Xu Linlang slowly said, “Lu Xiao.”

Rong Ruoyue’s face showed surprise, and Qi Ye’s expression darkened for a brief moment.

“Sweetheart, didn’t you say you don’t like Lu Xiao anymore? Why are you teamed with him?”

Xu Linlang quickly waved her hand to explain. “I don’t like him, but it seems Elder Jiang doesn’t know what’s happened recently and still thinks I like him. So he paired us together…”

Rong Ruoyue chuckled. “Looks like Elder Jiang cares about you. While I don’t approve of you and Lu Xiao, he’s upright and capable. I can feel a little reassured knowing you’re teamed with him.”

Xu Linlang glanced at Qi Ye. His expression was less than pleased, but she could understand why he cared.

At Lilan Military Academy, they had been close and knew each other well.

Now, she was paired with someone else without prior notice. To him, it must have felt like a betrayal of their bond.

If Qi Ye had been forced to team with someone else without telling her, she might have been a little upset too.

But that’s the sort of thing that usually happens between middle school girls.

Stop. Xu Linlang stopped letting her thoughts wander, looked up, and met his eyes. “This pairing was purely accidental. If I had a choice, I’d choose you.”

Qi Ye’s ears twitched slightly. He looked a little awkward. “I… I feel the same. Take care during this mission. Contact me immediately if anything happens.”

“And if possible, don’t show off your talent during the mission.” He seemed to remember something and cautioned her carefully.

Since learning about the royal family’s hostility toward the Xu family, Qi Ye had been worried about Xu Linlang’s safety.

Being too capable wasn’t good for her right now, and he didn’t have the strength to shield her from everything.

Xu Linlang understood his intention. “Don’t worry. I won’t act recklessly.”

She knew the risks of standing out—especially with so many variables in a mission, she could become a target.

She had to be extra cautious.

Qi Ye stepped forward, took something from his pocket, and opened his hand, placing it in front of Xu Linlang.

She looked down to see a crystal chain made of a polished blue gemstone resting in his palm.

The translucent light blue had no flaws. Staring into it was like watching rippling water, ever-changing. From different angles, it revealed entirely new beauty.

Xu Linlang immediately recognized it: the rarest gemstone in the game, Isabla Light Stone, symbolizing uniqueness.

Its rarity was evident—royal wedding rings used it.

Jewelry made from Isabla Light Stone was coveted by countless noble women. But the stone was almost impossible to obtain; outside of what the royal family received as tribute, very few existed.

Isabla Light Stones were found at the bottom of the Extreme Joy Lake on Blue Sand Planet, requiring millennia to achieve their brilliant hue. But the lake was perilous—ordinary people who ventured there faced almost certain death.

Many players spent immense effort mining it, selling it for enormous profit. Most players might only acquire one in the entire game. Two was extremely lucky. Some might not get a single one by the end.

Xu Linlang remembered how she had spent a whole week in the game just trying to get one.

One Isabla Light Stone could fetch astronomical prices in the interstellar market!

And now, Qi Ye casually placed this gemstone chain in her hand, as if it were an ordinary trinket.

This gift… was incredibly precious.

Xu Linlang froze, her hand suspended mid-air. “This is…”

Qi Ye nonchalantly looked away. “It’s a token of thanks for someone I helped. I’m not a girl, so it’s useless to me. Thought it’d be better to give it to you.”

Finally, his gaze fell on the purple crystal around her neck. “This blue necklace matches your crystal better than silver does.”

Xu Linlang looked up, her eyes meeting Qi Ye’s deep ones. She had a premonition that things weren’t as casual as he made them sound.

This was an Isabla Light Stone—no one gave that away lightly.

Qi Ye must have paid a steep price to obtain it.

This chain… was meant specifically for her.

Almost imperceptibly, Xu Linlang’s eyelashes trembled.