As soon as Qin Lin stepped into the main courtyard, a young woman’s questioning voice—still carrying a hint of childishness—reached his ears.
“You said your son isn’t married and doesn’t have a girlfriend, but I saw him chatting and laughing intimately with a very beautiful older sister.”
Qin Lin: “……”
Nonsense! When were they ever intimate?
Old Master Qin quickly defended himself. “A while ago, your mother even tried to arrange blind dates for him. He happened to be on a business trip so none of them worked out. If he already had someone, why would he agree to blind dates?”
“He even agreed to blind dates?”
Old Master Qin said, “He’s not young anymore. If he didn’t agree, would I let him off? That must’ve just been a colleague.”
“It really was a colleague,” Qin Lin said calmly.
Old Master Qin laughed. “The person himself is back now. No misunderstanding anymore, right?”
Su Manman turned around. The young man walked into the room at an unhurried pace. She felt both shy and unconvinced, and huffed proudly, “Who misunderstood? Want some hawthorn candies? I bought them specially for you.”
Old Master Qin waved his hand. “Bad teeth. Can’t eat them.”
“Alright then, I’ll eat them myself.”
Su Manman bit into a candied hawthorn while staring directly at Qin Lin beside Old Master Qin.
So handsome.
Old Master Qin couldn’t bear to look. He remembered Shen Lanxin used to be very shy, often blushing in front of Su An.
How did she raise a granddaughter like this?
Staring at his grandson like a hungry wolf seeing meat.
He only hoped his grandson could handle it.
Silently, he stood up and left.
Only the two of them remained in the room.
Qin Lin lowered his gaze awkwardly. “Don’t look at people like that.”
Su Manman asked innocently, “Then how should I look?”
Qin Lin: “……”
Su Manman stood up and moved to sit right beside him. “Like this?”
Her delicate face suddenly came close.
Qin Lin instinctively held his breath. “If you eat too many sour things, you won’t be able to eat later.”
“This is sweet. Want to try?” Su Manman handed him another skewer.
Qin Lin’s eyes fell on her hand—slender fingers, smooth like jade. For a moment, he even had the strange urge to hold it.
Just as he was about to reach out, she pulled it back. “Never mind, I’ll eat it. It does seem a little sour—you might really not be able to eat later. I’m fine.”
Qin Lin: “……”
So she just wanted to eat it herself anyway.
Saying she bought it for the old man was probably just an excuse.
“I want to sleep in your room tonight, you—”
“Cough, cough—!”
Qin Lin suddenly choked on his water and coughed violently.
Su Manman kindly patted his back while criticizing him mercilessly. “You’re such a big person and you still choke on water. Honestly.”
Qin Lin: “……”
Who exactly made him choke?
Just as he recovered, a finely embroidered pouch appeared in front of him. It looked like an ancient-style sachet.
Su Manman’s clear voice rang out. “A gift for you. I made it myself. There’s a bell inside, and inside the bell is a small medicinal pill. It can repel insects.”
Originally, she had planned to tell him it contained her bonded gu insect.
But Old Master Qin said Qin Lin was highly educated and didn’t believe in such things.
If he knew, he would only lecture her to study more and be less superstitious.
Qin Lin instinctively took it.
The pouch was exquisitely made, with a lifelike peony pattern. He hadn’t expected her embroidery skills to be this good.
As it moved slightly, a faint fragrance drifted out, refreshing and pleasant.
“It’s very beautiful,” he said.
Su Manman smiled. “Glad you like it. Once you accept my gift, you’re mine, you know.”
Qin Lin: “……”
That was way too direct. Even as a man, he felt his ears heat up for her.
……
On the other side, Qin Xingyun rushed angrily after Qin Lin and stopped when he saw Aunt Zhao.
“Auntie, there’s a wild girl at home. Do you know who she is?”
Aunt Zhao made a complicated face. “That’s the chubby girl your grandfather told you to marry the other day.”
Qin Xingyun’s pupils shrank. “Her? Are you kidding me?”
“At first I reacted like you too. The night she stayed here, she was extremely ugly. The next day she looked completely different, and today she’s even prettier. She says it’s an allergy. Do you believe that?” Aunt Zhao was still amazed.
Qin Xingyun scoffed. “Sounds like a fairy tale. Who would believe that?”
“It’s all true,” Old Master Qin said as he passed by. “Regret it now? Too late. She’s going to be your little aunt.”
Qin Xingyun: “……Grandpa, stop joking.”
Old Master Qin rubbed his forehead. He couldn’t blame Su Manman for looking down on this idiot.
“How did you even become a university teacher and still not understand basic speech? Don’t call her a wild girl again.” He walked away.
……
Qin Xingyun returned to the main courtyard and ran into Su Manman at the moon gate.
“Hmph!” she snorted at him unhappily.
Qin Xingyun: “……”
What attitude was that?
He went inside and saw Qin Lin packing his luggage.
“Uncle,” he said quickly, “Grandpa says that wild girl is going to be my little aunt. Did Grandpa force you? Don’t let him morally kidnap you. You don’t need to repay his debt with your whole life.”
Qin Lin replied calmly, “The logic makes sense, but I don’t reject it.”
Qin Xingyun: “……You’re blinded by beauty.”
Qin Lin: “……”
He admitted the girl was indeed pretty and cute, but he didn’t think he was the kind of person easily swayed by beauty.
“Xingyun, I’m your elder. Mind your words.” He closed the door, shutting him outside.
Qin Xingyun rubbed his nearly hit nose, frustrated.
Fine. If they wanted to act like this, he was done caring.
On his way past the front courtyard, a soft, sweet tune reached his ears.
He followed the sound.
Through a gap in the curtain, he saw the girl lying lazily on a bed in a light beige inner robe, her arm raised as she examined it.
Her exposed wrist was pale and delicate, glowing like jade.
So white.
Like fine porcelain.
If only her personality matched her appearance.
Just as he sighed, a dark green red-headed centipede crawled out from her sleeve.
It moved along her hand, then was picked up and placed on the blanket. It turned around and crawled back onto her hand again.
She played with it back and forth like it was a toy.
Qin Xingyun felt his scalp go numb.
Oh my god.
In over twenty years of life, he had seen people walk cats, dogs, and birds—but this was the first time seeing someone play with a centipede.
Wasn’t she afraid?
Did his uncle even know about this hobby?
He rushed back to the main house and knocked on Qin Lin’s door.
“Uncle, it’s me.”
“What now?”
“That girl… your fiancée… keeps centipedes as pets.”
Qin Lin’s voice turned colder than the winter air outside. “It’s below zero. How would there be centipedes? Xingyun, if you’re going to lie, at least make it logical. I’m not an idiot.”
Qin Xingyun: “……Who’s lying?! I’m serious! I’m not badmouthing her, but everything about her is weird. She was a fat, dark-skinned girl with rough hands just days ago, and now she’s a stunning beauty. That’s not normal. She’s like those demons in books who drink blood to regain youth. Grandpa is repaying a favor and just sold you off without caring about her background. Don’t be fooled!”
“Finished? Get out,” Qin Lin said flatly.
“……”
Qin Xingyun stood frozen in anger.
Fine!
When you end up sharing a bed with her, and a centipede crawls into your pants, don’t come crying to me!