“Xiao Feng…”
Jiang Ningyue looked at the young man before her, tears glistening in her eyes.
She wanted to say something, but the words caught in her throat, refusing to come out.
In the end, she simply reached out and patted his arm.
A thousand emotions flashed through her gaze, but she turned her face away, masking her feelings as she remarked, “You’ve grown so tall… Even a bit taller than your dad…”
Hearing this, the middle-aged man still seated at the table, who had been quietly observing everything, twitched the corner of his mouth slightly.
“Mom… I’m sorry…”
Qin Nanfeng’s voice was low, laden with unspoken feelings. After holding it in for so long, this was all he could manage to say.
Perhaps to outsiders, he was the eloquent Qin Nanfeng, or the rising star in high-tech companies, or the young entrepreneur gaining recognition from city and provincial leaders…
But no matter how little time his mother had spent with him as a child, leaving him without much attachment to his parents back then, he knew deep down they had always treated him well.
They worked hard—just to give him a better life…
His rebellious phase back then was nothing more than an immature attempt to get their attention.
After the experiences of these past few years, and the subtle influence of that person and those memories… he had long since matured. He was no longer that bratty kid.
When emotions ran deep, words failed him.
After saying this, Qin Nanfeng offered a bitter smile and lowered his head slightly.
Seeing this, Lin Xinyuan naturally felt his emotions, her heart stirring in response. Her “little claws” unconsciously tightened around his warm, large hand.
If the occasion weren’t so awkward, the girl would have wanted to comfort him…
At his words, Jiang Ningyue was even more affected. Her eyes began to redden, but she held back, unwilling to shed tears in front of her child.
Besides Qin Nanfeng, there were others present now…
Thinking this, she sniffled softly, her gaze unconsciously shifting to the shy girl beside her son.
The excitement and sorrow faded from her face, replaced by a neutral expression.
Sensing the woman’s attention, Lin Xinyuan’s palms were sweating from nervousness.
“Auntie… Uncle, big sister, hello!”
She blurted out anxiously, feeling the urge to hide behind Qin Nanfeng but suppressing it. She forced a stiff smile at the elegant middle-aged beauty before her.
“Sister, why are you so nervous? It’s not like my mom’s going to eat you, hahaha…”
Qin Qingge, who had followed her mother over, couldn’t help but let out a clear, cheerful laugh at the girl’s flustered state, only making Lin Xinyuan more tense.
“I… I… um…”
Lin Xinyuan stammered, her eyes darting around nervously. Her fair face, tinged with red, looked pitifully endearing.
Seeing this, Jiang Ningyue shot a glare at her daughter, finally silencing her. She then turned back to continue scrutinizing the girl.
Just as Lin Xinyuan felt the woman’s gaze and the faint, intangible stare from behind Jiang Ningyue, her heart nearly leaped into her throat.
Her scalp tingled, and she instinctively lowered her head, growing more flustered.
But she had no choice. For Feng Ge’s sake, she had to face this, waiting for Mother Qin’s “judgment”…
A short while passed, yet it felt like an eternity to the girl.
Then, Jiang Ningyue’s previously expressionless face finally softened into a warm smile.
“So you’re Xiao Yuan? You’re really pretty.”
With that, Jiang Ningyue gently reached out and took one of the girl’s delicate hands.
Feeling the movement, Lin Xinyuan’s hand went stiff, like a puppet following her lead.
But despite her fear, she couldn’t help but glance up at Jiang Ningyue. To her surprise, she saw no displeasure—only warmth and satisfaction.
“Um… thank you, Auntie…” Lin Xinyuan was momentarily stunned, still processing. She just nodded dumbly and said, “You’re very beautiful too…”
After that, she didn’t know what else to say, falling into silence. Yet sensing the woman’s kindness, her heart finally relaxed a little.
Still, even without any obvious signs of disapproval, the weight in her heart never fully lifted.
After all, even Feng Ge’s sister knew about her past. How could Auntie and Uncle not know?
With that thought, Lin Xinyuan bit her pink lip, glancing at the young man beside her.
But Qin Nanfeng just raised an eyebrow, looking like he was enjoying the show.
She couldn’t help but feel a bit annoyed inside.
‘Wasn’t he supposed to help me? Instead, he’s just standing there like a door god, right?’
‘Hmph…’
Seeing their interaction, Jiang Ningyue’s eyes shimmered with a hint of satisfaction.
Noticing Lin Xinyuan’s hesitant look at her and the others behind her, she guessed what the girl was worried about.
But just as she was about to speak, Qin Qingge cut her off first.
“Mom, why don’t we sit down first? I’ll go call for the food. It’s almost dark.”
Hearing this, Jiang Ningyue came to her senses. She nodded and smiled warmly at the couple before her.
“Yes, let’s eat first. We can talk about everything after the meal.”
“Okay.”
“Yes, Auntie!”
Lin Xinyuan finally pulled herself together, forcing herself to calm down and trying not to be so shy.
After all, being too timid might leave a bad impression on some parents, right?
‘No… I have to be more composed…’
Thinking this, she put on a serious expression, trying to reshape her image in Mother Qin’s eyes.
But her attempt only made Jiang Ningyue find her cute. She couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh, full of goodwill.
“Xiao Yuan is really adorable. No wonder Xiao Feng fell for you. That’s wonderful.”
Lin Xinyuan’s face turned bright red at the comment, flustered and at a loss. At the same time, her heart swelled with joy.
At least Auntie seemed to approve of her, didn’t she?
The girl held Qin Nanfeng’s hand, unwilling to let go, while her other hand was still in Jiang Ningyue’s grasp.
In this awkward state, they made their way to the dining table.
Jiang Ningyue seemed to take a liking to her, sitting close just like Qin Nanfeng did, while Qin Father and Qin Qingge, who had gone to call for the food, sat on the other side.
As soon as she sat down, Lin Xinyuan naturally caught Qin Changkong’s gaze.
Unlike Jiang Ningyue’s warmth or Grandpa Qin’s gentle authority, Qin Changkong clearly played the role of a judge.
His demeanor spoke volumes, and his silence carried an invisible pressure that made it hard for Lin Xinyuan to breathe. It felt much heavier than Mother Qin’s presence.
The young man noticed. Under the table, his large hand gently rubbed Lin Xinyuan’s soft palm. Though it tickled a bit, it helped ease her nerves.
As for Qin Nanfeng himself, he seemed unfazed by Qin Changkong’s sharp gaze, no longer the confrontational youth of the past.
Finally, Jiang Ningyue noticed and shot a glare at her husband, prompting him to withdraw his scrutinizing look. Qin Changkong simply gave the girl a final nod as a greeting.
“Hmph…”
Jiang Ningyue snorted coldly before turning back to the girl with a warm smile, ready to fuss over her.
But then she noticed the jade hairpin in Lin Xinyuan’s hair.
She paused, then a look of understanding crossed her face. She didn’t ask further.
“Don’t mind your uncle. He’s always like this in private. At the company, he’s all high and mighty, though.”
The girl nodded awkwardly, not daring to respond, and just stammered out a vague reply.
“Uh… yeah…”