There’re Always Paranoid Thoughts to Monopolize Me - Chapter 30.1

“Ke Ke, this timing is a bit rushed. I haven’t had a chance to contact suitable classmates yet,” Gu Xinqing apologized on the other end of the phone. “But don’t worry, you entered school as the top student in your grade, and with your recent monthly exam results, I’m sure I can help you find a tutoring job for someone who wants guidance.”

“Mm, okay, thank you.”

Hearing Gu Xinqing’s assurance, Qin Ke felt slightly relieved.

Unlike her closed-off and introverted self back in junior high, Gu Xinqing had an outgoing personality and got along well with classmates. She also knew many students from other public schools.

So when Qin Ke realized she might have a decisive conflict with Qin Yan and even the Qin family over the competition issue, she had asked Gu Xinqing to help her find a tutoring job before going home.

“But Ke Ke, do you really urgently need to find a tutoring job right now?”

Gu Xinqing hesitated, then carefully probed, “Did they really pressure you after you went home tonight?”

“Mm.” A hint of mockery flashed in Qin Ke’s eyes. “Qin Yan’s mother told me that if I don’t give this opportunity to Qin Yan, I’m being selfish.”

“…”

Gu Xinqing seemed to choke for a while on the other end of the phone before angrily bursting out, “How can this family be so shameless? When you mentioned it before, I thought you were overthinking…This, this is just too much!”

Qin Ke sighed inwardly.

“Today, Qin Hanyi already used raising me as leverage, so I can only become independent as soon as possible. I remember there’s a prize for winning the math competition, but that part is still too slow. I’m afraid I can’t wait, so I can only…”

Her voice trailed off as Qin Ke frowned slightly.

“I understand.” Gu Xinqing’s tone was firm. “Don’t worry, Ke Ke. I’ll help you find a connection as soon as possible — at least to help you become independent early and move out. The further away from them, the better!”

“Thank you for your trouble.”

“It’s no problem. I’ll let you know as soon as I have any news!”

“Mm.”

After hanging up, Qin Ke stood by the windowsill for a while, lost in thought, before putting down her phone and walking back to the desk.

She picked up the desk calendar.

The last Saturday of this month was circled in red marker — that day was Huo Jingyan’s birthday.

After a month of interaction, Qin Ke quickly became close to Huo Jingyan, relying on her knowledge of his habits and interests from her previous life. However, Huo Jingyan hadn’t mentioned a word about his personal love life.

Silently counting the remaining days in her mind, Qin Ke frowned, inwardly making a resolution — it seemed she couldn’t continue to let things take their natural course.

She needed to find a suitable opportunity to get information from Huo Jingyan. Only then would it be possible to change the tragic fate of the woman he loved most in her previous life…

Thinking this, Qin Ke took out her phone and searched online for a bunch of recent art-related news and reports. Her eyes lit up.

She quickly composed a text message and sent it to Huo Jingyan.

[Teacher Huo, do you have time this weekend? There’s a Gothic-style art exhibition at the art gallery in Qiancheng at 2 PM this Saturday. The works in this style are quite bizarre, and I’m a bit afraid to go alone. So if it’s convenient for you, I’d like to invite you to visit the exhibition together.]

After sending it, Qin Ke began waiting for a reply. However, a long time passed, and her phone showed no activity.

Unable to do anything else, Qin Ke put her phone on the desk, gathered her fresh clothes, and went to the bathroom to take a shower.

After Qin Ke entered the bathroom and closed the door, the sound of rushing water quickly started.

About two minutes passed.

In Qin Ke’s room, where only the sound of water could be heard, the keyhole of the locked outer door suddenly darkened.

A key was inserted.

Someone outside quietly opened the door, and Qin Yan silently walked in.

Qin Yan’s expression was somewhat unpleasant.

She had originally intended to come and question Qin Ke about whether she truly wouldn’t give up that opportunity no matter what. But when she heard that Qin Ke had locked her door, she deliberately asked her mother Yin Chuanfang for the house key, specifically planning to sneak in and give Qin Ke a shock.

—

She wanted to let Qin Ke know: Qin Ke was now just a homeless orphan, charitably cared for by her parents, and should be more sensible about their demands!

In fact, while she valued the math competition spot, she didn’t value it that much as well.

Because she knew that with her grades, she couldn’t possibly win any awards, but she just couldn’t stand the idea of Qin Ke taking the spot — especially thinking that Qin Ke might actually win, which made her even more resentful.

Coming over tonight, what she wanted more was to warn Qin Ke to stay away from Huo Jingyan — Wu Qingyue’s resources and connections were no longer available for her to use, and Huo Jingyan was Qin Yan’s last option.

Over the past month, she had clearly noticed that Qin Ke and Huo Jingyan’s relationship was getting closer and closer…

Thinking of this, Qin Yan couldn’t help but clench her fists in anger and jealousy.

However, after entering, Qin Yan realized that Qin Ke wasn’t in the bedroom, but had gone to the bathroom.

Qin Yan coldly glanced at the bathroom door, scanned the room, and finally sat down expressionlessly by the desk.

She casually tossed the key on the desk, folded her arms, and leaned back in the chair, adjusting her posture.

—