37: The age of wolves and tigers

Yu Heng sighed. He stood for a moment before turning back to his computer.

He opened the browser, hesitated for a second, and typed in 'Sony camera'.

Yu Heng stared at the screen, his finger scrolling on the mouse.

The webpage displayed the introduction page for Sony cameras.

The A7 series, full-frame mirrorless cameras.

In 2018, the legendary A7M3 had just been released.

Yu Heng clicked on the detailed specifications.

24.2 megapixels, 693 phase-detection autofocus points, 4K video recording, five-axis stabilization... "Holy crap..." he muttered to himself.

These specs were absolutely top-tier back in 2018.

To film short videos for Ning Yutong, a phone would actually suffice.

But the gap between a phone and a camera was like the gap between a bicycle and a car.

They both look like modes of transportation, but the experience is completely different.

Yu Heng glanced at his bank card balance.

He had some income from his recent livestreams, plus what he had left over; he had a bit of spare cash.

Not much, but buying a camera... wasn't out of the question.

He opened a shopping site and searched for "Sony A7M3".

The price popped up: 14,000 yuan.

Yu Heng stared at the number and fell silent.

14,000.

For a college student, that was no small sum.

Adding a lens, which wouldn't be cheaper than the body and might even be more expensive for a good one.

But for a transmigrator... this was a necessary investment.

In content creation, equipment is the foundation.

Good equipment can improve content quality, attract more viewers, and earn more money.

It was a positive cycle.

Yu Heng took a deep breath and moved the mouse to the 'Buy Now' button.

He hesitated for a few seconds.

Then he clicked, ordered, and paid.

14,000 yuan was deducted from his account.

His balance instantly dropped by a large chunk.

Looking at the 'Payment Successful' page, Yu Heng felt a bit of a sting in his wallet.

But more than that, he felt excitement.

With this thing, the quality of the videos he filmed would jump up several levels.

He could also package Ning Yutong much better.

It was worth it, totally worth it.

It's just that this money...

Spent like water... In the hospital ward, Bai Xinran leaned against the headboard, an IV needle in the back of her left hand.

Bais Mother sat by the bed peeling an apple, while Bais Father stood by the window looking out.

The ward was very quiet, save for the faint hum of the air conditioner.

"Xinran," Bais Mother said, handing over the peeled apple, "have some fruit."

"Thanks, Mom." Bai Xinran took it and took a small bite.

Bais Father turned around. "The doctor said two more days of IV should do it. Once the inflammation goes down, you'll be fine."

"Mm." Bai Xinran nodded. "After you guys leave, I can come by myself."

As they were talking, the ward door was pushed open.

A nurse walked in carrying a tray and glanced at the IV bag. "It's almost finished. I'll pull the needle out for you."

"Okay." Bai Xinran held out her hand.

The nurse skillfully peeled back the tape, pulled out the needle, and pressed a cotton swab against the puncture site.

"Keep it pressed for a bit so it doesn't bleed," the nurse said, glancing at Bai Xinran. "Did your boyfriend go back?"

Bai Xinran froze. "What boyfriend?"

"Wasn't your boyfriend here with you all night last night?" the nurse said casually.

Bai Xinran's face instantly flushed. "That wasn't my boyfriend!"

"Oh?" The nurse raised an eyebrow, glanced at Mother and Bais Father sitting by the bed, and then back at Bai Xinran. "Did I remember wrong then?"

Bai Xinran hurriedly said, "That was my classmate! A male classmate!"

The nurse narrowed her eyes, seemingly noticing the confusion in Mother and Bais Father's eyes. She didn't say anything more and checked the IV bag again. "Alright, once this bag is done, you're finished for today. Come back tomorrow morning."

With that, she picked up her tray and left.

The ward door closed.

Silence lasted for a few seconds.

Bais Mother looked at Bai Xinran. "Didn't you say your classmate brought you here last night?"

"Yeah," Bai Xinran said, "a male classmate."

"A male classmate is that enthusiastic?" Bais Mother's tone was a bit subtle. "Bringing you to the hospital in the middle of the night?"

"Yeah," Bai Xinran said, bracing herself. "I'm very popular at school."

Bais Mother stared at her for a few seconds and suddenly smiled. "If you're dating, just say so. We're not forbidding it."

"It's really not like that!" Bai Xinran grew anxious. "He's really just a classmate!"

"Alright, alright," Bais Father stepped in to smooth things over. "If the kid says she's not dating, then she's not. When has Xinran ever lied since she was little?"

Hearing this, Bai Xinran's face turned even redder.

Actually, I've lied plenty, she thought, it's just that they were all so perfect they were never caught!

Bais Mother glanced at Bais Father, didn't press further, and got up to wash the fruit knife.

Bais Father sat by the bed and whispered, "Really not dating?"

"Really not," Bai Xinran whispered back. "Just an ordinary classmate."

"It's fine if you are," Bais Father nodded. "You're in college now; if there's someone suitable, you can give it a try."

"Mm." Bai Xinran responded, but her heart felt a bit complicated.

Was Yu Heng... considered a boyfriend?

It didn't seem so.

It was just a boss-employee relationship.

But last night, he really did stay with her all night.

He even paid the hospitalization fees.

Would an ordinary classmate go that far?

Bai Xinran didn't know.

She bit her lip, her mind a mess.

She didn't want to date at all!

Just as Bai Xinran was thinking, Yu Heng sent a message: "How are things?"

"The IV is finished. Boss, my parents seem to have misunderstood something," Bai Xinran typed back.

Yu Heng raised an eyebrow and typed: "Misunderstood what?"

"Misunderstood that you're my boyfriend."

Yu Heng smiled and replied: "So what did you say?"

"I said you weren't."

"And then?"

"They don't believe me, mostly because of that nurse! She just had to blabber! Asking if my boyfriend went back. Seriously, why is she so gossipy!"

Yu Heng couldn't help but chuckle at the message and typed back: "It's fine. Let them misunderstand. We can explain if the chance comes up later."

...The next day, Sunday.

At 2 PM, the doorbell rang right on time.

Yu Heng pulled open the door. Qin Lu was standing outside, still with that gentle updo, wearing a beige knit dress that hit just at the knee, her legs wrapped in thin, flesh-colored stockings.

Qin Ya followed behind her, still in a hoodie and hot pants, looking like she hadn't quite woken up yet.

"Come on in." Yu Heng stepped aside.

Qin Lu gave a slight nod and walked into the entryway to change her shoes.

She braced one hand against the wall, her calf hooked back as she took off her high heels with the other hand.

Tsk, that posture.

She really exuded the charm of a mature woman at every moment.

Qin Ya stood in the living room looking around. "Where's the computer?"

"Upstairs," Yu Heng said to her. "I set up a separate room for you today."

Qin Ya turned her head and raised an eyebrow. "A separate room?"

"Mm," Yu Heng pointed to the room further back on the second floor. "That one's been cleared out. You'll stream there from now on. All the equipment has been moved over."

Qin Ya's eyes brightened for a moment, then she snorted. "I'm not going to say thank you!"

She turned and headed upstairs, her footsteps pitter-pattering on the wooden stairs.

Yu Heng and Qin Lu sat down on the living room sofa.

On the coffee table were two mugs of tea Yu Heng had just brewed using tea bags.

"Have some tea. I don't know how to make fancy Kung Fu tea, so please don't mind, Counselor." Yu Heng handed her a cup.

Qin Lu took it and smiled. "It's fine. It's better than what I have in my office."

She took a sip and looked up toward the second floor.

"That child," Qin Lu shook her head gently. "She won't even tidy her own room at home, but she's so proactive here."

"Interest is the best teacher, after all." Yu Heng also took a sip of tea.

The two of them were silent for a few seconds.

Being alone was still a bit awkward.

He cleared his throat and started a conversation. "Counselor, actually, if you're busy, you don't have to wait here the whole time. You can just come pick her up when Qin Ya's stream is over."

He paused and added, "Or I can call a taxi to send her home."

Qin Lu looked up at him and said calmly, "It's fine. I don't have anything to do on the weekend. It's quite nice waiting here."

Yu Heng nodded, not rushing to press further.

After a while, the sound of Qin Ya's livestream drifted down from upstairs, muffled by the door:

"Welcome... Watch if you want, if not, get lost..."

"What do you care what time I start streaming?"

Yu Heng and Qin Lu looked at each other and both laughed.

"That child..." Qin Lu shook her head helplessly. "She's still so blunt."

"Having a distinct personality is a good thing," Yu Heng said. "Competition in streaming is fierce nowadays. Without a personality, nobody will watch."

Qin Lu nodded thoughtfully.

Yu Heng took another sip of tea and continued the previous topic. "What about weekdays? Won't it be too rushed for you to come drop her off after work? Or I could go pick her up."

He paused, looking at Qin Lu, and added, "Or your husband could drop her off. I could just give you a key."

On the surface, Yu Heng was concerned about the convenience of transportation, but in reality, he wanted to fish for information about her marital status.

Qin Lu's hand holding the mug paused.

She looked up at Yu Heng.

Her eyes weren't particularly large, but they were bright. There were fine lines at the corners of her eyes that didn't make her look old, but rather added a touch of mature charm.

Yu Heng felt a bit guilty under her gaze, but he kept a smile on his face.

Qin Lu looked away, her tone flat. "I'll drop her off. I can just head back to school after dropping her. It's on the way anyway."

She didn't mention her husband.

He hadn't managed to bait anything out.

Yu Heng pursed his lips and continued, "That sounds like a lot of trouble. Is Qin Ya's father usually busy with work? Maybe I can set a fixed time here so you don't have to keep running back and forth."

Qin Lu narrowed her eyes, revealing a half-smile.

"Her father is usually out of town," Qin Lu said, her emotions unreadable. "He doesn't come back often."

Out of town, doesn't come back often.

Separated? Divorced? Or just a simple job transfer?

He didn't ask further; it would be too obvious if he did.

"Oh..." Yu Heng nodded, pretending to understand. "That really is quite inconvenient."

Qin Lu didn't respond and lowered her head to drink her tea.

The living room fell silent again.

Yu Heng's gaze inadvertently swept over Qin Lu's calves.

The lines wrapped in flesh-colored stockings were very well-proportioned. Her knees were slightly together, her sitting posture dignified and elegant.

A woman in her thirties was at an age of peak desire.

Usually being alone... then this woman must not have had... Upstairs, Qin Ya's livestream was still going on.

Occasionally, the sound of her slapping the table or laughing loudly could be heard.

It seemed she was in good form today.

Yu Heng checked the time; it was 3:30 PM.

There was still over an hour until the stream ended.

He looked at Qin Lu.

The woman sat quietly on the sofa, holding the mug with both hands, her gaze fixed on a point on the coffee table as if she were lost in thought.

The lines of her profile were soft, her neck slender, and her updo revealed the fair skin of the back of her neck.

Yu Heng's throat felt a bit dry.

He picked up his teacup and took a large gulp.

It was incredibly bitter.

But he didn't get up to change it.

Being alone with this mature woman was also a kind of pleasure.

From time to time, the sound of the young girl snapping at people came from upstairs.

He leaned back into the sofa, restless thoughts beginning to stir in his mind.

Raising a child alone, living near the school, having time on weekends to accompany her daughter to stream... this meant there were many opportunities to be alone.

Yu Heng lowered his eyes, hiding the flash of light in his gaze.

Opportunity always favors the prepared.

And right now, he was very well-prepared.