Jiang Lan had never encountered a man like Qin Yuehan before—elegant and resilient, yet soft-hearted.
“Try this.” Jiang Lan used the serving chopsticks to pick up a piece of sweet and sour ribs from the dining table and placed it in Qin Yuehan’s bowl. She spoke with a gentle expression between her brows.
Upon hearing this, Qin Yuehan remained silent but obediently picked up the ribs.
“It’s delicious!” Qin Yuehan said, his gaze fixed intently on Jiang Lan’s stunning face.
Qin Yuehan’s gaze was just like the man himself—gentle yet so firm that it was impossible to ignore.
“If it’s delicious, have some more. Did something happen? In the study earlier…” Jiang Lan asked, her words trailing off.
Qin Yuehan was taken aback by her question. His handsome brows furrowed slightly, and his peach blossom eyes were filled with a somber hue.
“The medicinal herbs at the pharmacy haven’t matched the records for the past two months,” Qin Yuehan said, looking up to meet Jiang Lan’s attentive gaze.
Then, as if something had caught in his throat, his words abruptly stopped on the tip of his tongue.
Seeing that he did not continue, Jiang Lan tightened her grip on her chopsticks slightly, her gaze falling silently onto the dishes on the table.
Qin Yuehan couldn’t bear to see Jiang Lan like this, and the vague worry in his heart was pushed aside.
He had a feeling that Jiang Lan, unlike other women, would not despise his unconventional ways.
“The pharmacy manager recently wanted to resign and return to her hometown. When I checked the accounts, I found discrepancies in many of the medicinal herb records. But she has been with me for many years, and now I don’t know how to handle this,” Qin Yuehan said, his usually clear voice now sounding low and hoarse.
Jiang Lan was momentarily stunned, her mind quickly recalling the worldline System 009 had provided her.
In the original worldline, after Left Prime Minister Qin Jianfu fell from power, Jiang Lan became the favored official of Crown Prince Liang Ruoyu, while the courtesan Su Qinghe completely replaced Qin Yuehan.
Stripped of all support, Qin Yuehan was pushed into an abyss by the very pharmacy manager he had trusted for years during his destitution.
The empress died, and Crown Prince Liang Ruoyu ascended the throne.
At that time, Left Prime Minister Qin Jianfu was imprisoned, and Qin Yuehan’s father consort, unable to bear so many upheavals, succumbed to his long-standing illnesses and passed away.
Upon learning of this in prison, Left Prime Minister Qin Jianfu took his own life.
As for Qin Yuehan, he was ignored by Jiang Lan. In the vast Jiang Manor, he, the Lord of the household, was treated as less than a servant in Su Qinghe’s presence.
…
The progression of the original worldline now played out scene by scene in Jiang Lan’s mind.
“Do you trust her?” Jiang Lan asked.
Her stunning face now wore an earnest expression as she gazed intently at Qin Yuehan, showing no trace of impatience.
Almost as if guided by an unseen force, Qin Yuehan chose honesty and slowly shook his head.
“Although the manager never says it, I know she has always looked down on me because I am a man. In the past, she was respectful in her attitude, but there was no genuine respect in her heart,” Qin Yuehan said, his voice tinged with bitterness.
Hearing this, Jiang Lan felt a pang in her heart. The ache of pity for Qin Yuehan was so intense it felt suffocating.
“It’s my fault,” Jiang Lan said apologetically, reaching out to hold Qin Yuehan’s hand beside her.
Qin Yuehan had been busy at the pharmacy all day, and by evening, flipping through the account books had left him utterly exhausted.
Hearing Jiang Lan’s words at this moment, he froze completely.
Jiang Lan looked at Qin Yuehan’s slightly bewildered face and ultimately couldn’t suppress the tenderness in her heart.
She then rose to her feet, walked to Qin Yuehan’s side, and drew him into her embrace.
“Leave this matter for me to handle, alright?” Jiang Lan asked, stroking Qin Yuehan’s back with a comforting gesture.
By now, Qin Yuehan had completely stiffened. His elegant and noble face appeared expressionless due to his confusion.
Qin Yuehan had probably never been so cherished by his wife before.
Thus, he didn’t know how to relax his body, remaining rigidly nestled in Jiang Lan’s arms.
Yet Jiang Lan’s forceful embrace made him feel as if he had returned to his father consort’s arms, sensing warmth welling up from the depths of his heart.
“Wife, are you going to handle this matter for me?” Qin Yuehan asked, wrapping his arms around Jiang Lan’s waist before lifting his gaze to her. His pair of dark, profound peach blossom eyes now sparkled like scattered stars.
“Yes, I’ll handle it for you,” Jiang Lan said, gently stroking Qin Yuehan’s thick, raven-black hair as she spoke.
Upon hearing this, Qin Yuehan revealed a smile.
Jiang Lan was stunned by such a pure smile.
It was so pristine, like the first thaw of ice and snow, sunlight spilling over the earth, and all things coming back to life.
“Qin Yuehan, I am your wife. You can try to trust me,” Jiang Lan declared, her tone quite authoritative.
The dining room now held only the two of them.
Qin Zhong had been perceptive enough to dismiss all the servants when Jiang Lan stood up to embrace Qin Yuehan, leaving the space solely to them.
Gazing at Jiang Lan’s exquisite face, Qin Yuehan felt a slight pang in his heart.
He didn’t dare fully believe Jiang Lan’s words, yet he couldn’t help wanting to trust what his wife said.