Sheng Qing blinked. Did Qin Shi have a cleanliness obsession?
Feng Xiaojing’s face flushed bright red. It was only the food in front of her that was dirty—everything else was clean.
Butler Zhong had the kitchen serve new dishes.
Qin Zhen frowned. “Xiaojing, did you really say that?”
Feng Xiaojing hastily explained, “Brother Qin Zhen, I just saw that Sheng Qing had changed her style today and made a casual comment or two. I wasn’t trying to stir up trouble.”
Butler Zhong brought Qin Shi a fresh cup of coffee.
The coffee gave off a fragrant aroma.
Sheng Qing picked up her milk and took a couple of sips, then said leisurely, “I was just making a casual remark too. No need to be so nervous.”
“…” Feng Xiaojing cursed Sheng Qing out in her head. “How am I nervous? If you’re unhappy, just tell me to my face. Why are you spreading discord in front of Brother Qin Zhen?”
Sheng Qing turned to look at Qin Zhen. “Brother-in-law, do you think asking you directly counts as spreading discord?”
Feng Xiaojing: “!!”
Damn, this Sheng Qing didn’t play by the rules at all.
Qin Zhen: “Of course not. Spreading discord means gossiping behind someone’s back. You said it right in front of all of us—that’s honesty.”
Sheng Qing nodded sincerely. “Right? I think I’m pretty honest too.”
Qin Shi lowered his gaze, a low chuckle escaping his throat. This wild girl—Feng Xiaojing was no match for her.
Feng Xiaojing gritted her teeth and pushed her chair back to stand up. “Brother Qin Zhen, I’m going to be late for work. You all take your time eating. I’ll head off first.”
Sheng Qing: “Then you’d better hurry. You still have to catch the bus.”
Feng Xiaojing shot her a vicious glare and stormed off.
Sheng Qing looked aggrieved. “I was looking out for her, and she glares at me?”
“…” Qin Zhen wasn’t stupid—how could he not see that Sheng Qing was, more or less, deliberately targeting Feng Xiaojing, both openly and subtly?
He said thoughtfully, “Sheng Qing, starting from last night, you seem to have changed.”
Sheng Qing knew she couldn’t fool the sharp minds of the Qin family.
She set down her milk cup and said seriously, “Brother-in-law, I was immature before. From now on, I won’t do anything reckless again.”
Could a person really undergo such a dramatic transformation?
Qin Zhen shot a look at his fox-like younger brother, signaling him to probe for answers.
Qin Shi couldn’t be bothered with pleasantries and asked directly, “Didn’t you always think the Qin family was a wolf’s den, wishing everyone here was dead? Why the sudden change of heart?”
Qin Zhen: “…”
I told you to probe, not to probe that directly!
Sheng Qing’s eyelashes trembled. “Everyone makes mistakes in their lifetime. I’ve made mistakes too.”
“But I’ve come to my senses now. I don’t want to be as reckless and immature as I was before.”
“You might not be used to it, but give it time, and you’ll gradually come to accept my change.”
“Oh?” Qin Shi’s gaze was deep and unreadable.
The words were sincere, earnest—even he couldn’t find fault with them.
Sheng Qing was still a bit nervous, honestly.
After all, these two men of the Qin family were formidable figures who wielded power and influence in both the business and military worlds.
Being stared at thoughtfully by them made her feel like she might crack.
Especially Qin Shi’s deep, dark gaze—it seemed to see straight through her soul.
“Brother-in-law, I’d like to go upstairs and check if Sister is awake.”
“Alright, go on up and take a look.”
Sheng Qing hurried away.
“She… suddenly had an epiphany?” Qin Zhen found it curious.
From her very first day at the Qin residence, she had shown resistance, anger, and resentment.
Now she’d suddenly become gentle, obedient, and sensible—it was like she’d become a completely different person.
Qin Zhen looked at his younger brother. “What do you think?”
Qin Shi leaned back in his chair, lit a cigarette, and took a slow drag with narrowed eyes. “She’s an adult now. She should understand some things. The military’s crime of harming a soldier carries a minimum sentence of death.”
Qin Zhen glanced at his own arm and frowned. “You’re saying she deliberately softened up and said all those nice things because she’s afraid I’ll throw her in prison?”
“Who knows.” Qin Shi let out a light laugh, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
Qin Zhen fell silent, unsure for the moment whether he should believe Sheng Qing.
After breakfast, Qin Zhen stood up. “I have something to say to you. Come with me to the study.”
Qin Shi stubbed out his cigarette.
The two went upstairs, passing by the bedroom.
Suddenly, Sheng Xue’s weak, hesitant voice drifted out: “Qingqing, are you forcing yourself to call him brother-in-law because you’re afraid he’ll send you to prison?”
Qin Zhen’s footsteps halted.
Qin Shi raised an eyebrow.
…
Seeing her sister’s pale, worried expression, Sheng Qing smiled gently. “Sis, do you believe that even if I didn’t soften up and didn’t call him brother-in-law, he still wouldn’t send me to prison?”
In her previous life, Qin Zhen had indeed entertained the thought of sending her to prison.
But in the end, for her sister’s sake, his heart had softened.
Sheng Xue shook her head. “You don’t understand. When he really loses his temper, it’s terrifying. Don’t think that just because you’re young, he’ll always tolerate you…”
“Sis, don’t you get it? Brother-in-law isn’t letting things slide because I’m young—it’s out of respect for you that he chooses to be tolerant.”
“We have no parents. Without you, I’d be an orphan. So no matter how much he dislikes me, he’s never once said he wanted to kick me out.”
Sheng Xue was stunned.
Sheng Qing continued, “Brother-in-law is a good man. He treats you well, and he treats me well too. Just feel it with your heart.”
Sheng Xue was dumbfounded. “Didn’t you always say he was a bastard and tell me to leave him?”
“He repaid kindness with enmity, tore apart your family, and forcibly kept you by his side… Because of all that, I truly hated him before.”
“Then why—”
“People always change.”
Sheng Xue lowered her head and bit her lip.
Sheng Qing let out a sigh. “You’ve never been willing to accept him. Is it because you’re still hoping Dong Changping will come find you?”
“He’s my husband. He’ll definitely come for me…”
Sheng Qing said, “It’s been five years already. Why hasn’t Dong Changping called you even once?”
“Your number has never changed. Has he sent you a single text message?”
“If he truly loved you, would he have left you in the Qin family all these years?”
The color drained from Sheng Xue’s face in an instant.
This was what she had never wanted to face.
Seeing her sister’s ashen complexion, Sheng Qing swallowed back some of the words on the tip of her tongue.
Some truths couldn’t be spoken.
Otherwise, her sister wouldn’t be able to bear it.
If she hadn’t been given a second life, she wouldn’t have known Dong Changping’s true face either.
“Forget him, Sis. It’s been so many years, and he’s never come looking for you. He’s probably already forgotten you long ago.”
Sheng Qing held her sister and said softly, “Qin Zhen isn’t as gentle as Dong Changping, but he’s no worse than him either.”
Outside the door, Qin Zhen was shocked to his core.
Qin Shi was also somewhat surprised. Was this little girl genuinely trying to bury the hatchet with the Qin family?
Back in the study, Qin Zhen sat in his office chair without speaking.
After a long while, he finally spoke: “So this girl suddenly changed her tune because she found out about that Dong business.”
Qin Shi lounged sideways on the sofa. “So, are we still sending her to prison for reform?”
“That kind of place—how could a delicate little girl like her endure it?” Qin Zhen waved his hand dismissively. “Just think of it as being cut by your own daughter. We’ll accept it.”
“If you two are father and daughter, then what does that make you and Sheng Xue?”
Qin Zhen: “…”
After a moment of silence, Qin Zhen said, “As long as she no longer harbors hatred toward the Qin family, from now on, she is one of us.”
“Bring me Lu Yunan’s file. I want to take a closer look.”
His mindset had shifted, and with it, his perspective on the matter.
An hour ago, Qin Zhen had felt nothing about “Sheng Qing dating a boyfriend.”
Now that he regarded Sheng Qing as family, looking at it from that angle made his heart ache.
She was so young—how could she be dating someone?
Staring at Lu Yunan’s photo, Qin Zhen wished he could go to the Lu family right now and teach that bastard a lesson.
“If he genuinely cared for the girl, that would be one thing, but his intentions aren’t pure—he’s asking for death.”
The file slammed heavily onto the desk. Qin Zhen said, “I wouldn’t trust anyone else to handle this. Qin Shi, you deal with it.”
Qin Shi raised an eyebrow. “Me?”
“What, you’re not willing to teach a scumbag a lesson for your sister?”
“…” Qin Shi wasn’t unwilling, exactly.
It was just—where did this sudden sister come from?
The Qin family had strong genes; for generations, they’d produced mostly boys, and his uncles’ families were the same.
Delicate girls were a rare commodity in the Qin household.
Qin Shi didn’t want to deal with these troublesome matters, but Qin Zhen glared at him.
He had no choice but to step up to the desk and pick up the file. “Fine, I’ll handle it.”
Qin Zhen knew his younger brother’s methods better than anyone.
He cautioned uneasily, “Go easy on him. Don’t kill the man. I can tell that girl is quite fond of Lu Yunan.”
…
When Sheng Qing came out of her sister’s room, she happened to see Qin Shi emerging from the study.
In the past, when she’d lived at the Qin estate, they’d barely exchanged a few words.
He hadn’t liked her.
And she hadn’t liked him either.
But when she was in danger, he was the only one by her side.
He’d even lost his life for her.
At the thought of it, Sheng Qing’s heart ached unbearably.
“Crying again? Are you planning to cry every time you see me?”
Only then did Sheng Qing realize tears had fallen without her noticing.
She quickly wiped them away and said awkwardly, “No, it’s just—dust accidentally got in my eyes…”
Qin Shi: “Hm??”
Sheng Qing froze, then realized what she’d said and covered her face in embarrassment.
A low chuckle escaped Qin Shi’s throat. “I think your mouth grew on your hand.”
Sheng Qing said ruefully, “Second Brother, stop teasing me.”
Qin Shi’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “Second Brother?”
Sheng Qing gazed at him with her moist, glistening eyes. “If you don’t like me calling you Second Brother, then I’ll call you Second Young Master, like Uncle Zhong does.”
Whatever he didn’t like, she wouldn’t do.
“Given how much Big Brother dotes on you now, if he found out you were calling me Second Young Master, he’d skin me alive.”
Qin Shi tapped the folder lightly on top of her head. “Come with Second Brother.”