“You’re back?”
The old man had heard the youth’s voice in the courtyard and doubted his ears, but he still came out to take a look.
When he opened the door and saw that it really was his grandson, he was quite happy deep down, but his expression remained unchanged.
He froze for a moment.
However, he immediately caught sight of the girl beside Qin Nanfeng. The old man instantly blurted out, “And this is…?”
He quickly looked Lin Xinyuan up and down, his gaze lingering on their joined hands for two seconds.
Lin Xinyuan froze on the spot. She stood there foolishly, at a loss. The various lines she had prepared in her mind had long since vanished into thin air, leaving only a complete blank.
Qin Nanfeng noticed the change in the girl’s expression.
Seeing how she had been full of momentum earlier only to deflate like a poked pufferfish after a few glances from the old man, he couldn’t help but find it amusing.
Thus, he spoke up to help his girlfriend out of the awkward situation.
“Grandpa, your future granddaughter-in-law. What do you think? Isn’t she pretty?” As he spoke, he arched an eyebrow with his usual flippancy.
Upon hearing this, Grandpa Qin withdrew his gaze and nodded with some satisfaction. But when he looked back at Qin Nanfeng, his tone turned inexplicably stern.
“She’s pretty, but you don’t deserve her! What? Are you done playing around with those women? Have you come to ruin this poor girl now?”
His son, who only cared about business, hadn’t mentioned that matter, but his daughter-in-law had brought it up to him.
Grandpa Qin thought it was childish and absurd, but he had never lectured Qin Nanfeng about it.
He understood his grandson’s character well enough. After all, when the youth’s parents were busy during his childhood, it was he and his wife who had raised Qin Nanfeng.
Of course, Grandpa Qin had been very busy back then, so it was mainly Grandma Qin who took care of him.
And although Qin Nanfeng usually looked cheerful and unreliable, Grandpa Qin knew the youth’s personality was just as stubborn as his father’s.
He was the type that ten donkeys couldn’t pull back; only Grandma Qin could ever persuade him.
However, ever since Qin Nanfeng was taken to Tianbei City, Grandma Qin had passed away. Qin Nanfeng, who was still a teenager at the time, hadn’t even had the chance to see her one last time.
Later, he became more and more rebellious. Because of that incident, he became increasingly reckless, playing around with countless girlfriends as if it were a game.
Now, it seemed he was here to ruin this beautiful girl.
Even though he knew Qin Nanfeng might not have actually done anything untoward with those girls, and even though Grandpa Qin didn’t want to interfere, it didn’t mean he approved.
Therefore, he spoke bluntly, right in front of the girl.
“You’re joking, Grandpa,” Qin Nanfeng said casually, not taking offense. Suddenly, his tone became solemn. “If I wasn’t serious, I wouldn’t have brought Xinyuan to see you.”
As he spoke, he squeezed Lin Xinyuan’s small hand and said softly, “Xinyuan? Why don’t you say hello to Grandpa?”
It wasn’t until she heard the youth’s words that Lin Xinyuan finally snapped out of it.
She glanced at Grandpa Qin’s eyes as he looked over again. She was still a bit flustered, but sensing the old man’s kindness, the pressure in her heart finally eased a little.
“Grandpa… h-hello!” Lin Xinyuan took a deep breath.
Her voice was strangely dry, and she unconsciously gave the old man a very serious bow. Her voice trembled even more. “I am Lin Xinyuan… Brother Feng’s girlfriend… um…”
After saying that, she didn’t know what else to say. She just shifted her eyes, occasionally glancing at Grandpa Qin.
She wanted to appear elegant and didn’t want the old man to look down on her.
However, out of timidity and nervousness, coupled with her shy personality, she couldn’t help but shrink behind Qin Nanfeng’s back.
For a moment, the conflicted girl looked very awkward, frowning one moment and forcing a smile the next.
However, her behavior made the previously stern Grandpa Qin suddenly burst into laughter.
“Hello, little girl! Your name is Xinyuan, right? This grandson of mine hasn’t been bullying you, has he?”
As Grandpa Qin spoke, he shot a questioning glance at Qin Nanfeng. He wondered how this brat had decided to turn over a new leaf and how the girl seemed not to mind his reputation at all.
Qin Nanfeng felt slightly speechless. He knew his past actions were too confusing.
Although his grandfather hadn’t scolded him, the old man was actually quite dissatisfied with him.
The impression was deep-seated. No matter how much he said, it would be useless; he could only change it through actions.
So, he didn’t say much in response to Grandpa Qin’s questioning look.
“He hasn’t, Grandpa!”
Hearing Grandpa Qin’s words, Lin Xinyuan hurriedly shook her head. Soon, her eyes filled with shyness as she looked at a certain someone who was staring at her with a smile.
Admittedly, though this guy loved to tease her, he really was good to her.
‘I… I really like him…’
“Brother Feng takes great care of me… He’s very good to me…”
“That’s good.” Seeing the girl’s blushing face, Grandpa Qin nodded gently, but the doubt in his heart only grew.
‘Was this so-called “taking care of her” actually taking her to bed?’
But he dismissed the thought. He knew his grandson. Although his behavior had seemed absurd over the past few years, he still had a basic bottom line.
He wouldn’t deceive someone or force them into anything.
‘She must have taught him well…’
Thinking of something, Grandpa Qin felt a sudden wave of loneliness. He thought of his late wife, a woman who was incredibly gentle.
Once upon a time, when she was young, Grandma Qin had been just as beautiful as the young lady before him.
His greatest regret was how he had treated his wife. They had fallen in love when they were young.
It hadn’t been an arranged marriage or a blind date, but a relationship of pure, free love. In the village back then, that was truly rare.
However, his work had been very demanding back then, and he was often busy from morning until night.
Consequently, he left many things for his wife to handle. And she had no complaints… right?
‘There must have been some…’
But for the sake of the family, he had to do it. It was his lifelong pursuit, but it was also the reality of daily life—the difference between marriage and romance.
In the past, his wife had to take care of Qin Nanfeng’s father and aunt.
A few years after Qin Nanfeng was born, she had to take care of her grandson because her son and daughter-in-law were busy.
It could be said that his wife’s whole life had been destined for such a fate.
He had promised her that they would live a good life and that he would take her traveling.
But by the time he finally achieved that goal and his son had become successful, everything had improved except for the fact that the beautiful woman was no longer there.
Thinking of this, Grandpa Qin’s gaze toward the girl became one of approval and care, growing more and more kind.
“Come in, quickly. Why are you still standing outside? Does Young Master Qin need me to personally invite you?”
Grandpa Qin gestured for them to enter. He reached out and took the plastic bags Lin Xinyuan was holding, only then seeing the ingredients inside.
He didn’t need to guess to know that Qin Nanfeng must have bought them.
He couldn’t help but grumble, “If you’re coming, just come. Why bring things? And these green crabs—I just went out and bought some this morning, yet you brought more back?”
Qin Nanfeng shrugged. “How was I supposed to know? At worst, we’ll just cook them all today.”
“Then you’re the one cooking! I want to see how much your skills have dropped after being away these past few years!” Grandpa Qin handed all the bags over with an overbearing air, crossing his arms.
“Fine by me. Xinyuan was curious about my cooking when we were buying the groceries. I’ll just cook for her then.”
Qin Nanfeng seemed to have expected this. He nodded casually, then remembered something and looked at his grandfather with a chuckle.
“But you’re the one in charge tonight. I definitely can’t compare to a Master Chef like you. Besides, Xinyuan quite likes the flavors around here. I want her to try some authentic Lu cuisine. Also, Grandpa Xiao is definitely coming tonight.”
“Oh?” Upon hearing this, Grandpa Qin was surprised. He looked at the still-nervous girl. Seeing Lin Xinyuan nod repeatedly in embarrassment, he gave her a warm smile.
He had already made up his mind, but the old man still shot the youth a glare.
“Enough talk. Don’t worry about tonight yet; go get things ready now! I’m afraid a brat like you won’t be able to finish the preparations on time…”
“Heh, you got it.”