At that moment, the phone at home rang.
Qin Lin was the closest to it. He stretched out his long arm, picked up the handset with his slender hand, and placed it by his ear. “Hello? Who is this?”
“It’s me—your second brother. Has Manman gone back yet?” Qin Dingguo’s deep, rich voice came through.
“Yes. What’s going on?”
“I’m calling to report something about her. Your sister-in-law said that this morning, a couple she was mediating ended up breaking up because of her. In the afternoon, another young couple argued, and she actually encouraged the wife to hit the husband. Don’t you think she’s just causing trouble?”
Qin Dingguo sounded angry, but there was also a hint of satisfaction in his tone.
That girl really didn’t disappoint him—on her first day at work, she already turned the whole unit upside down.
He continued, “Their supervisor just called me asking what kind of people we’re sending over there. You tell me, what is she doing?”
The speaker volume was loud.
Old Master Qin, with his sharp hearing, caught every word clearly. He snatched the phone over.
“I was just about to settle accounts with you!” he barked. “You said mediation, I thought it was just couples quarrelling or neighbours having disputes—Manman just relaying messages as a middleman. Turns out she’s siding with whoever calls her? Since when is mediation done like this? Isn’t that misleading people?”
If a man had already been involved with his wife’s cousin, and still dared to ask for mediation to get his wife back, and they actually tried to persuade her—what kind of values were those?
She already had a wild temperament. If she stayed there too long, wouldn’t she turn bad?
The Su family only had her left. If she was ruined under his care, how could he face Su An after death?
Qin Dingguo: “……”
“Go ask clearly before questioning us,” Old Master Qin snapped and hung up.
The phone went dead with a beep, leaving Qin Dingguo stunned.
The old man was clearly biased—completely shielding her.
Old Master Qin let out a breath and turned to Su Manman, who looked innocent.
He softened his tone. “Manman, just stay home for now. The job isn’t urgent. I’ll arrange something suitable for you later.”
“I never said I wouldn’t work,” Su Manman replied.
She actually liked the job.
Just talking—no wind, no sun, but still getting paid. How comfortable.
She narrowed her eyes and continued, “Second sister-in-law told me at work to take it slow. But then she turned around and reported it to Second Brother, who reported it to you. One thing in front of me, another behind my back. Two-faced, scheming, and malicious! Tomorrow I’ll go to work and deal with her properly.”
Old Master Qin: “……”
“Speak properly, don’t hit people. She is still your second sister-in-law.”
“I knew you’d side with her! You’re biased!” Su Manman suddenly stood up and stormed off.
Old Master Qin’s head hurt. That temper—flaring up without warning.
Biased? He had already given her his most capable and promising son!
That ungrateful girl!
And that troublesome second daughter-in-law—clearly trying to stir chaos.
He took a breath to calm himself. “Third one, go comfort her.”
Qin Lin replied honestly, “How do I comfort her?”
Old Master Qin: “……”
This family really can’t survive without me.
……
Qin Lin knocked on the guest room door.
Su Manman was playing with a small gu insect in her hand. Hearing his voice, she quickly hid it in a jar under the bed. Then she opened the door slowly, face still sulky.
“What are you here for?”
“I didn’t offend you, did I?”
Su Manman paused. “What do you want?”
She leaned lazily against the bed, looking at the ceiling as if daydreaming.
Qin Lin looked at his little fiancée pouting in frustration and found her unbearably cute. He couldn’t help smiling. “You didn’t finish telling me what happened after that.”
Su Manman’s eyes lit up slightly. She sat up and met his gaze.
Seeing the faint smile in his eyes—and that she was reflected entirely in them—her mood improved instantly. She lifted her chin. “If you want to hear it, sit beside me.”
Qin Lin smiled and sat down obediently. “Can you continue now?”
Su Manman moved closer again, staring at his lips. They were slightly red, well-shaped, and moved beautifully when he spoke. For some reason, she suddenly wanted to bite them.
“Do you know how to kiss? Do you even understand things you shouldn’t talk about?” she asked bluntly.
Qin Lin: “……”
Was she really not trying to tease him?
He glanced at her soft pink lips and felt his breathing heat up, his throat going dry. He quickly steadied himself.
If she was pretending not to understand, then he would play dumb too.
“I don’t know. I don’t understand,” he said.
Su Manman looked slightly disappointed. “Alright then.”
She continued her story, explaining how she told a woman there were plenty of men with two legs, unlike three-legged toads, and suggested putting up a “ten-yuan husband recruitment” sign.
Qin Lin couldn’t help laughing.
“You’re laughing at me while I’m being scolded?!” she said in disbelief.
He quickly restrained his smile. “I’m laughing at the ten-yuan husband idea. It’s… very creative.”
Su Manman immediately brightened. “I knew my method was right!”
……
That night, under a rising moon and a deep blue sky, Su Manman sat in front of the television watching the news.
The countryside also had TVs, and everyone would gather noisily together.
Unlike the city, where every household closed its doors and neighbors barely interacted.
Meanwhile, Aunt Zhao was reporting that a matchmaker had come asking about Qin Lin’s marriage prospects.
Old Master Qin frowned. “Just say Third Young Master already has a partner.”
Aunt Zhao hesitated. “I’ll send her away then.”
Old Master Qin sighed. “It’s freezing outside. She came all this way and you won’t even offer her a cup of tea? What will she think of us? Invite her in. I’ll speak to her myself.”
Then he turned to Su Manman. “Manman, go call the third one out. You stay in your room.”
Su Manman reluctantly went inside and asked Qin Lin, “Did you hear what they said outside?”
Qin Lin looked up from his book. “What happened?”
“A matchmaker came to arrange a marriage for you. Your father told you to go out and told me to stay inside. What does that mean? Am I someone who can’t be seen?” she asked, clearly bothered.