Wen Yunsheng’s gaze froze for a moment. His sudden laying out of the truth caught her completely off guard.
Wen Yunsheng immediately shook her head. “No.”
Qin Yanchuan’s eyes remained calm and unruffled. “That’s best. I don’t want any accidents or changes to occur. You should learn to cooperate as well.”
That year they spent together, unknown to others, should remain buried forever. Even the slightest leak would become an accident and a change for the Qin family.
Wen Yunsheng tightened her fingers around her handbag, pressing her lips together. “Mm.”
Qin Yanchuan got into the car and waited for half a minute before Wen Yunsheng finally opened the passenger door and got in.
Qin Yanchuan turned the steering wheel and drove away.
The car was quiet, and the atmosphere felt strangely tense. But Wen Yunsheng tilted her head slightly, glancing at Qin Yanchuan out of the corner of her eye. He was composed and indifferent.
In the past, although Qin Yanchuan wasn’t particularly talkative, he was never this cold and distant—like an unmelting block of ice or a fog that left one disoriented.
Wen Yunsheng realized belatedly that four years was indeed a long time. Everyone had changed; no one remained in the same place.
The Qin Yanchuan of today had long forgotten that brief year. He had already retreated to his original position, completely unperturbed.
She was just worrying unnecessarily.
Even before reaching the front door, they could already hear Qin Cisui’s cries of pain.
“Dad! I was wrong!”
Qin Mingqian struck him hard on the back with another rod.
“Ah!”
Wen Yunsheng’s hand tightened on the doorknob, her back stiffening.
Qin Yanchuan glanced at her tense little face. So she knew how to be afraid now.
Wen Yunsheng took a deep breath and finally opened the door, stepping inside.
Seeing them return, Qin Mingqian threw down the rod and pointed at Qin Cisui. “If you dare do such disgraceful things again, I’ll break your legs!”
Qin Cisui sobbed, “Mom.”
Aunt Jin hurried over, heartbroken, to help him up. “Nanny Liu, quickly bring the first aid kit!”
The servants also rushed over, helping to support Qin Cisui back to his room while others hurried to fetch the first aid kit. The living room was in chaos.
“Uncle.” Wen Yunsheng called out softly, feeling guilty.
Qin Mingqian’s face was stern. “You too, always indulging him and covering for him! He only takes advantage of your good nature!”
“I’m sorry.” Wen Yunsheng admitted her mistake honestly.
Qin Mingqian waved his hand. “Alright, don’t let it happen again.”
Wen Yunsheng breathed a sigh of relief. “Then I’ll go check on A-Ci.”
“Go ahead.”
Wen Yunsheng followed them upstairs.
Qin Mingqian sat down on the sofa, still furious. “I must have committed some sin in a past life to have such an unfilial son! Causing trouble and angering me all day long, acting like a tyrant at school—he’s completely disgraced our Qin family!”
Qin Yanchuan walked over and sat down on the adjacent sofa. “A-Ci is a bit willful, but he’s not the tyrannical type. There’s no need for you to worry too much, Dad.”
After all, he was his own younger brother, whom he had watched grow up. He knew him well. Even if he got into fights or caused trouble at school, it might not have been without reason.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have helped clean up his messes a few times before.
“If he doesn’t learn a lesson, he’ll grow up without knowing his place.”
“You’re right, Dad.”
He did need to be taught a lesson.
Qin Mingqian took a sip of tea, finally calming down a little. He asked, “But why did you think of going to his school for the parent-teacher meeting today?”
Qin Yanchuan had a pile of work at the company. How did he find the spare time to attend such a trivial parent-teacher meeting?Qin Yanchuan lifted his gaze, following Wen Yunsheng’s hurried figure as she ascended the spiral staircase.
“Principal Wang called me today about Ah Ci’s situation and mentioned the parent-teacher meeting. Since I had nothing to do this morning, I decided to go check it out.”
“That little rascal is quite cunning. Knowing he’d caused trouble, he even had Yun Sheng attend the parent-teacher meeting for him. How could he come up with such an idea!”
Qin Mingqian was both angry and amused.
Wen Yunsheng reached the second floor, walked past a short section of the extended carved railing, and soon disappeared behind a solid wall, vanishing from Qin Yanchuan’s line of sight.
That wall was an excellent blind spot. He had once kissed her behind it, and she had been so tense that her entire body stiffened, her soft cheeks flushing bright red.
He had gently kissed her lips and whispered, “Shengsheng, open your mouth.”
“You came back just in time. I have something to discuss with you too,” Qin Mingqian spoke again.
“What is it, Dad?” Qin Yanchuan asked calmly.
“Grandmother takes your marriage very seriously and has already asked Aunt Jin to help find suitable candidates for you. I know you’re busy with work, but make sure to find time to meet them and get to know them. Settling your marriage early will also put your grandmother’s mind at ease.”
Qin Yanchuan lowered his gaze, concealing the emotions in his eyes. “Understood.”
“Dad hit me three times. How could he be so cruel, wuwuwu.”
Qin Cisui finished applying medicine while wailing dramatically and was now lying on the bed, still restless.
Wen Yunsheng comforted him, “Uncle was just angry.”
“My brother is cruel too! He even froze my card. When I caused trouble before, he never went this far to cut me off!”
Wen Yunsheng pursed her lips, unsure of what to say.
Qin Cisui suddenly asked, “But how did he know about my parent-teacher meeting at school today?”
Wen Yunsheng certainly wouldn’t snitch.
She also found it strange.
Qin Cisui angrily pounded the bed. “He must have someone at school keeping an eye on me! He’s so ruthless!”
The door suddenly opened, and Qin Yanchuan’s tall figure stood at the entrance.
Qin Cisui immediately changed his expression, forcing an awkward smile. “Brother, what brings you here?”
Qin Yanchuan walked in. “Just came to check on you.”
“You’re so kind, brother.”
Wen Yunsheng: “…”
Wen Yunsheng tactfully stood up. “I’ll go help Aunt Jin.”
After Wen Yunsheng left, Qin Cisui grew even more nervous.
Despite his boldness at school, Qin Cisui had always been most afraid of his brother since childhood.
“Brother, I really wasn’t bad-mouthing you just now,” Qin Cisui declared earnestly.
Qin Yanchuan stood by the bed and glanced at his back. “Did you apply the medicine?”
“Already done,” Qin Cisui replied obediently.
“If you have the guts to cause trouble, you should have the guts to face the consequences yourself. Hiding behind a woman—Qin Cisui, are you even a man?”
Qin Cisui’s face suddenly flushed red, and he tried to defend himself. “I, I didn’t…”
But meeting Qin Yanchuan’s deep, dark gaze, he felt an overwhelming pressure.
Qin Cisui obediently admitted his mistake. “I won’t dare to do it again.”
Growing tired of lying on his stomach, Qin Cisui grabbed a plush teddy bear and tucked it under his chin, gloomily tugging at its ears.
Qin Yanchuan eyed the plush teddy bear, which stood out starkly in the room filled with a mecha-themed aesthetic, and narrowed his eyes. “Where did you get that?”
Qin Cisui had never liked plush toys since childhood and never kept them in his room. Instead, an entire wall cabinet across the room was filled with various mecha models and anime figurines.
There was only one person in the house who liked these kinds of plush dolls.Qin Cisui cheerfully waved the little bear in her hand: “Sister Yun Sheng gave it to me, a gift she brought back from abroad. It’s a limited edition, isn’t it cute?”
Qin Yanchuan looked at the adorably silly bear, his lips tightening almost imperceptibly.
“Sister brought back so many gifts this time—a tea set for Dad, a shawl for Mom, and oh, I even got a pair of shoes!”
As if suddenly remembering something, Qin Cisui asked: “What did she give you?”