Qin Jianchuan arrived punctually that evening. Lin Baoguo, having learned what happened the night before, was still anxious. Luckily, Feng Xiaolong had been caught—otherwise, he wouldn’t have felt safe leaving the house to go to work.
Qin Jianchuan’s car trunk was packed full of gifts—chickens, ducks, fish, meat, fruits, cigarettes, and alcohol. To anyone who knew, it was clear he was visiting as a lifesaving benefactor. To anyone who didn’t know, it might even look like a son-in-law arriving.
Even Fang Shijun had never brought this much when visiting—just some perfunctory fruit at most.
Lin Ruyuan watched as the living room filled, no space left to step, while Qin Jianchuan finally finished unloading everything.
“Regimental Commander Qin, we should be the ones bringing gifts to thank you, and you…” Lin Baoguo hesitated, unsure how to respond. What did this mean?
“Uncle, what happened last night was my duty. Today is my first formal visit, so I prepared only a small token. Please don’t take offense,” Qin Jianchuan said modestly. If he’d had more time, he would have brought even more.
Lin Baoguo awkwardly twisted the corner of his mouth. How should he respond?
Lin Ruyuan frowned slightly. “When you leave, take these things with you.”
“Why would I take back gifts I gave?” Qin Jianchuan’s voice was low. “If you don’t like them, next time tell me what you and Aunt like, and I’ll buy accordingly.”
Lin Baoguo’s smile froze completely. That sounded even stranger!
Qin Jianchuan sat properly in a chair, chatting casually with Lin Baoguo.
Lin Baoguo asked casually about his personal life. “Regimental Commander Qin, someone as outstanding as you must be married by now, right?”
“No,” Qin Jianchuan said seriously. “I haven’t even had a girlfriend.”
“That shouldn’t be. Someone as accomplished as you should have taken care of marriage early.”
Qin Jianchuan’s sudden reply left Lin Baoguo stunned. “Since you think I’m outstanding, I suppose you have no objections.”
“What?”
“Apparently, Ruyuan hasn’t had the chance to tell you both yet—I’m currently pursuing her,” Qin Jianchuan said openly.
He went on to explain, “Even back when Ruyuan was engaged to the Fang family, I had feelings for her, but I never said anything—I always respected her choices. Now that she’s broken off the engagement, I no longer need to hide my feelings. I hope you can support me, Uncle and Aunt.”
Not only is Qin Jianchuan now a regimental commander, but the Qin family’s business is even larger than the Fang family’s. This prospective son-in-law was clearly superior to Fang Shijun.
A daughter as outstanding as theirs would naturally attract an equally exceptional future husband.
Lin Baoguo and Zhao Guixiang, however, always respected their daughter’s decisions regarding marriage. As long as Ruyuan agreed, they had no objections.
From the way Qin Jianchuan phrased it, he hadn’t won her over yet. If he had, he would say they were “dating,” not “pursuing.”
Lin Baoguo glanced at his daughter’s little face, almost puckered like a dumpling, and smiled. “If you came today as my daughter’s suitor, then when you leave, don’t forget to take all these gifts with you!”
“Uncle—” Qin Jianchuan opened his mouth to speak, but Lin Baoguo waved him off. “How you pursue her is none of our concern. You two haven’t even started yet, so we cannot accept these gifts.”
A woman shouldn’t take gifts from a man before any relationship is established.
The same applied when Ruyuan was dating Fang Shijun. Accepting gifts too early would make it seem like they were “selling” their daughter.
A relationship should be pure, without material entanglements.
Of course, if they eventually became a couple, bringing gifts would be a sign of respect to the parents, which is different.
“…Okay, I understand,” Qin Jianchuan finally said, relieved. At least they hadn’t rejected him personally, only the gifts.
Dinner was slightly awkward. Zhao Guixiang glanced at her daughter, who remained calm and composed.
After the meal, before Lin Ruyuan could suggest seeing him out, Qin Jianchuan took the initiative to leave first, carrying all the gifts back to his car.
Lin Ruyuan stood at the door, watching him off.
Qin Jianchuan looked at her helplessly. “Aren’t you going to say something?”
“Thank you?” Lin Ruyuan muttered. She didn’t know what else to say. His relentless attentions had left her mind in chaos.
In her second chance at life, her focus had been revenge; other matters hadn’t been on her mind.
Fang Shijun “pursued” her with empty words, but Qin Jianchuan acted with deeds.
“I said it—more than words, I prefer actions,” Qin Jianchuan said.
“Next time I visit, don’t return these gifts, alright?”
Lin Ruyuan: “……”
“Go inside now; it’s cold at night,” Qin Jianchuan’s deep voice was gentle. Lin Ruyuan turned and entered the courtyard, noticing her parents’ gazes, and felt slightly awkward.
“Nothing to worry about. Go inside and sleep early,” Zhao Guixiang said, laughing softly, nudging Lin Baoguo back into the house to close the door.
“Hey, do you think our daughter and him will work out?” Lin Baoguo asked, curious. Now that she had broken off her engagement, it was up to her. Qin Jianchuan seemed like a good match.
“I don’t know. Matters of the heart, how could I possibly know?” Zhao Guixiang shook her head. Her daughter had shown no signs yet.
“Aren’t you her mother? You know her better than anyone.”
“You’re her father! Do you know?” Zhao Guixiang shot back instinctively.
Lin Baoguo: “…” No idea.
“Our daughter is strong-willed. We don’t need to worry,” Zhao Guixiang said, though she still had concerns. The Fang family’s conditions hadn’t been as good as the Qin family’s, and they had treated their daughter dismissively. Would she be treated better or worse if she married into the Qin family?
Thinking of that, Zhao Guixiang couldn’t sleep. Their daughter was perfect in every way, except for marriage.
In the future, she would have to deal with in-laws. If they were unreasonable, her life could be difficult.
…
Qin Jianchuan didn’t return to the military compound but drove back to the Qin family’s townhouse in the city.
Perhaps hearing him return, a stylish and delighted woman—Xie Dongmei—came running out.
“How was it?”
Today was her son’s first day visiting for dinner, and she was overjoyed.
Before Qin Jianchuan could speak, Xie Dongmei saw the trunk filled with gifts and froze in surprise.
All returned?!
“Did they not like what I brought? Or do they not like you?”
Xie Dongmei thought the latter was more likely, though she hoped it was the former.
“They wouldn’t accept gifts from my uncle and aunt and made me take everything back. They also said I don’t need to bring gifts next time,” Qin Jianchuan explained.
Xie Dongmei sighed in relief. Thank goodness—it wasn’t because they disliked him.
“Can you stop being so slow in talking? I thought you were trying to scare me to death!”
She glared at him, annoyed. “You handle troops in battle, but getting a daughter-in-law is this hard? A young lady is the easiest to win over. Years have passed and you still haven’t succeeded. Let me remind you, her breaking off her engagement is your chance. If you don’t seize it, it’ll be gone for good!”
She wasn’t reminding him gently—she was practically stabbing him in the heart.
Qin Jianchuan wanted to secure her, he dreamed of it!
But some things had to be done step by step.