His indifferent gaze shifted away from her, lingering for less than a second, before he walked to the opposite side of the dining table, pulled out a chair, and sat down.
Qin Mingqian chided, “Why are you only coming back now? You arrived later than Shengsheng. I called you two hours ago and even wanted you to pick Shengsheng up.”
“Busy with company matters,” he replied coldly.
“Alright, alright. It’s good enough that Yanchuan could make it back despite being so busy. Let’s eat first,” Aunt Jin said.
Qin Mingqian was in a good mood today and didn’t feel like making a fuss over such a small matter. He then asked Wen Yunsheng about her graduation.
“You’ve finally graduated this time. Do you have any plans?”
Wen Yunsheng looked at Uncle Qin and said slowly, “I’ve already sent my resume to several companies and received three interview invitations. If nothing unexpected happens, I should be able to officially start working next month.”
“No need to rush. Take some time to relax first. You haven’t had a chance to properly explore since you returned, nor have you met up with old friends and classmates, right? As for work, we can have your brother arrange something for you later. You could even join the family company directly.”
As Qin Mingqian spoke, he glanced at Qin Yanchuan.
Wen Yunsheng quickly said, “No need, Uncle Qin. I already have some leads on jobs. I’d prefer to rely on myself.”
Her voice lowered slightly as she added, “I’ve already caused you enough trouble.”
“What kind of talk is that? We’re family—there’s no such thing as trouble,” Aunt Jin said.
“You’re just too sensible, this child, never wanting to trouble the family at all. Look at your brother—how much trouble does he cause every day!”
As Qin Mingqian spoke, he glared at Qin Cisui.
Qin Cisui lowered his head in frustration and shoveled rice into his mouth.
Wen Yunsheng pursed her lips into a smile. “Anyway, I’ve graduated now, and I want to rely on myself. Once I start earning money, I’ll buy gifts for you and Auntie.”
Aunt Jin smiled and placed food into her bowl. “Alright, alright. We’ll be waiting.”
The Qin family had only two sons and no daughters. The elder son was cold, and the younger son was troublesome—neither was particularly considerate.
Although Wen Yunsheng was an adopted daughter, she had come to the Qin family at the age of three. She was sensible, thoughtful, and as quiet as a little cloud dumpling, naturally endearing to everyone.
The atmosphere at the dining table was warm and harmonious, with only Qin Yanchuan’s coldness standing out.
But Qin Mingqian and his wife were used to it. Over the years, their eldest son had grown colder and colder.
Perhaps it was because he had taken over the company. With the many and complicated matters at work, and being young, he was bound to stumble a few times. Things weren’t going smoothly, and his mind had grown increasingly steady. Still, he had never disappointed them in important matters.
During the meal, Qin Mingqian and Aunt Jin kept asking Wen Yunsheng about her studies and work. Qin Cisui couldn’t sit still either, and even Wen Yunsheng barely had a chance to interject. Naturally, no one paid particular attention to Qin Yanchuan’s silence.
“Hey, why do you only have one suitcase? Where are your other belongings?” Qin Mingqian suddenly asked.
With that question, the lively atmosphere at the dining table came to an abrupt halt.
Everyone at the table looked up at her, including Qin Yanchuan.
Wen Yunsheng met Qin Yanchuan’s gaze, her eyes darting away before she looked at Qin Mingqian.
“I was thinking that since I’ll be working outside, it wouldn’t be convenient for me to live here. You previously gifted me an apartment in the city center, and I plan to move there.”
The Qin family’s villa was in the suburbs, with inconvenient transportation to the city center.
This was the excuse Wen Yunsheng had long prepared.
Qin Yanchuan, watching her evasive eyes, guessed her thoughts, and a hint of coldness deepened in his gaze.”What’s the inconvenience?” Qin Mingqian frowned. “We’ll arrange a car for you later.”
Qin Cisui chimed in, “Exactly, Sis, you’ve finally come back. How can you stay outside? Just stay at home. Your room has always been kept ready for you.”
Wen Yunsheng had a gentle temperament; she could agree to whatever others said and never resisted any arrangements made by the family.
Only twice had she insisted otherwise. Once, four years ago, when she was determined to go abroad.
And once, now.
Wen Yunsheng lowered her eyes, poking at the rice grains in her bowl with her chopsticks, her lips pressed tightly together. “I… I still want to…”
“Stay at home.”
Qin Yanchuan interrupted her, his cool voice carrying a hint of command.
“Dad and Aunt Jin are getting older. They’ve been looking forward to your return for so long. Don’t disappoint them.”
Wen Yunsheng stiffly raised her head, meeting his deep, unfathomable dark eyes.
His voice remained calm, without the slightest ripple. “I’m usually very busy and not at home. You should spend more time with them.”
The atmosphere suddenly grew tense.
Aunt Jin quickly tried to ease the mood. “Yes, yes. Yanchuan is usually busy with company matters and hardly ever comes home. Shengsheng, just stay at home for now. Your other place has been empty for so long; it’ll need some tidying up anyway, right? There’s no rush.”
Wen Yunsheng pursed her lips and finally nodded. “Okay.”
Qin Mingqian smiled and said, “We’ll have someone help you unpack your luggage later. You should rest well too. Aunt Jin has been cleaning your room every day.”
Wen Yunsheng forced a smile. “Thank you, Uncle and Aunt.”
The atmosphere at the dining table became cheerful again.
She secretly glanced at Qin Yanchuan and saw him eating his food with a cold expression, not even looking at her.
Of course. Four years had passed. Who would still dwell on something that happened four years ago?
He had probably long forgotten.
She lowered her eyes and took a bite of shrimp.
After the meal, Qin Yanchuan said he still had work at the company and left directly.
Qin Cisui grumbled, “Brother is always busy with company stuff. He never has time for us anymore.”
“Your brother manages the entire Xinyu Group. How could he be as idle as you?” Aunt Jin scolded him lightly.
“Idle? I’m in my second year of high school—I’m busy too!”
Aunt Jin ignored him and took Wen Yunsheng upstairs.
“Come on, let’s go see your room first. See if anything’s missing, and I’ll get it for you as soon as possible.”
Wen Yunsheng let Aunt Jin lead her upstairs.
When she pushed open the door, it was still the same pink-and-white princess-style room from before.
It was as if time had stopped in that summer when she was nineteen.
Aunt Jin had even filled her bed with dolls. “Look, aren’t these the ones you liked? Some were a bit old, so I replaced them with new ones.”
Wen Yunsheng couldn’t help but laugh. “Aunt Jin, I’ve grown up now.”
“No matter how old you get, you’re still my goddaughter.”
Aunt Jin lovingly stroked her face. “You must have suffered a lot all alone out there these years, haven’t you?”
“It wasn’t that hard. Besides, I had friends with me.”
“Ji Beicun? That reckless boy—how could he take care of anyone? How could I rely on him?” Aunt Jin frowned repeatedly.
Sighing, Aunt Jin added, “Back then, when you said you wanted to study abroad, I didn’t agree…”
Wen Yunsheng tightened her grip on Aunt Jin’s hand. “Aunt Jin, it was my own decision.”
Aunt Jin’s eyes reddened. “Shengsheng, what happened in the past is in the past. Aunt Jin truly cares about you. Don’t leave again. Stay home and be well.”
Wen Yunsheng hugged her, leaning into her embrace, savoring the long-lost warmth.Before the age of three, her life was shrouded in darkness, filled with hysterical madness. After turning three, she came to the Qin family, but the shadows of the past continued to haunt her, making her timid and afraid to speak.
It wasn’t until she was six, when Aunt Jin married into the family, that things changed. Aunt Jin treated her like her own daughter, showering her with care and protection. She had long since come to see Aunt Jin as a mother figure.
“So you ended up staying at your family’s house after all?”
Lin Xi’s gossipy voice came through the phone.
Wen Yunsheng, soaking in the bathtub, replied quietly, “Mm. They said to stay for a while first, and I’ll move out once my place in the city center is ready.”
“I knew you wouldn’t be able to move out. Uncle Qin and Aunt Jin have missed you so much all these years. Even though you’re not their biological child, they raised you for twenty years—how could they just cut ties like that?”
Wen Yunsheng lowered her eyes. “But I…”
“Are you worried about Brother Yanchuan? Listen, you really don’t need to worry about him. Don’t you know how popular he is? The women chasing him could line up all the way to France! After you dumped him once, he probably doesn’t want to see you for the next eight lifetimes…”