In the living room, the men were drinking tea and chatting, while the women gathered together to gossip about domestic matters.
Only two young girls sat to the side, having no intention of joining the conversation. They either scrolled through their phones or occasionally looked up at a TV drama that no one was truly watching.
“Sis, your hairstyle looks so good today!”
Suddenly, Tang Yayun leaned in close to the young girl and whispered her admiration.
“Is… is that so…” Lin Xinyuan’s face couldn’t help but flush slightly upon hearing such direct praise from her cousin.
Since receiving the Hairpin last night, she had woken up early this morning and specifically followed an online tutorial to tie her hair into a half-updo using it.
Looking at the results now, it really was effective. Judging by how most of the day had gone, she felt that stinky blondie had been looking at her significantly more often…
Thinking of this, a sweet feeling bubbled up in Lin Xinyuan’s heart.
But even if she knew it, there was no way she would say it out loud himself…
“Of course it is!” Tang Yayun wore a “don’t you dare doubt me” expression, her mouth continuing to mutter near her ear. “Look at your man; he’s been stealing glances at you the whole time. I caught him several times even during breakfast!”
Upon hearing this, Lin Xinyuan was both embarrassed and annoyed. She shot her a glare. “Don’t talk nonsense…”
This girl was getting bolder and bolder, constantly liking to say all sorts of messy things, as if she were doing it on purpose…
Clearly, she used to call him ‘Brother-in-law,’ but now she dared to call him ‘your man’ behind his back…
Ugh… although he really was hers, it still felt extremely strange to hear it like that…
“Tsk… Sister Yuan really says one thing but feels another~” Tang Yayun curled her lip.
Seeing the girl motion as if to give her a slap, she hastily dodged away before leaning back in with a giggling face. “Hey, I was just joking!”
“…”
Lin Xinyuan eventually just let out a soft huff, having no further intention of teaching Tang Yayun a lesson, but her face grew even more radiant.
Because she noticed that certain fellow was looking over again…
Qin Nanfeng lifted his teacup and took a sip, silently watching the embarrassed and annoyed girl not far away.
As if noticing his gaze, the girl couldn’t help but peek over. As a result, she only embarrassed herself further, flurriedly shifting her gaze away, her small face blushing a cute shade of red.
It had to be said, it really suited her…
Qin Nanfeng composedly retracted his gaze. His mind was filled with the girl’s every frown and smile; every time she blushed, it pulled at his heartstrings.
It was a pity they were right here. It was a pity it wasn’t convenient, and even more so a pity that he couldn’t push it…
Otherwise, he really wanted to make this girl’s shyness bloom for him at every moment…
Hmph…
There probably wasn’t a boyfriend in the world more considerate than him, right?
Thinking about it this way, he really was a great guy… Heh…
A hint of malice flashed in the depths of Qin Nanfeng’s eyes, but by the time he set the teacup down again, his expression had long since returned to normal. That previous instant seemed like nothing more than an illusion.
A faint, non-committal smile returned to the corners of his mouth as he continued to discuss the previous topic with the elders…
On the other side, Lin Xinyuan didn’t breathe a sigh of relief until she sensed that burning gaze had finally moved away, yet her heart was filled with both bashfulness and joy.
“Missy, when did you buy this Hairpin? It’s very pretty.”
At this moment, the girl beside her who was still sizing up her hairstyle seemed to have discovered something, and she couldn’t help but cry out softly.
As she spoke, she reached out to touch it, only to be glared back by Lin Xinyuan.
“Hmph~ stingy. If you won’t let me look, then you won’t let me look…” Tang Yayun imitated her tone from earlier, grumbling and acting quite affected.
Black lines appeared on Lin Xinyuan’s forehead as she shook her head helplessly.
But before she could catch her breath, the girl hugged her arm again, using a volume that only the two of them could hear: “I haven’t seen this before, and you treasure it so much… Could it be a gift from my Brother-in-law?”
The girl’s body trembled slightly, but she didn’t speak. However, the way she shyly lowered her head was already a silent answer.
Seeing that Tang Yayun had every intention of prying further, Lin Xinyuan waited until the others weren’t paying attention and directly raised her hand to give her a light knock on the head, causing her to cry out “Ouch!” in pain.
Now the girl behaved. The excitement in her eyes vanished, replaced by a look of total innocence.
She piteously covered her head and muttered, “I’ll stop talking… Is it okay if I stop talking now…”
“Humph… you’re asking for it, you need to be taught a lesson…”
***
After dinner in the evening and taking a short walk to digest, Lin Xinyuan went upstairs as usual and took a shower first.
But after finishing everything, she lay on the bed writing until 9:30 PM, and still didn’t see any sign of a certain fellow.
She felt a bit strange and sent a message to Qin Nanfeng to ask: [Brother Feng, why haven’t you come up yet?]
Before long, the other party replied: [Come down, there’s something good to eat.]
[What’s good to eat?]
[You’ll know when you come down.]
Seeing this, Lin Xinyuan became even more puzzled. But no matter how she asked, Qin Nanfeng didn’t give a straight answer.
Being so secretive, what exactly was he trying to do…
So, after thinking about it, she decided to go down and see. After putting on a coat, she left the room.
It was only then that she noticed that not a single light was on in her cousin’s room or the others…
Filled with curiosity, Lin Xinyuan scratched her head and went downstairs with a “pitter-patter” of her slippers.
But after going downstairs and reaching the courtyard, she didn’t hear a single sound. It was so quiet it was terrifying.
Only the large light in front of the first-floor main door was on…
“Xiao Huang?”
Lin Xinyuan’s heart inexplicably began to panic. She started calling for the little yellow dog, but the expected barking didn’t sound. There was only the “whoosh” of the wind blowing.
She unconsciously swallowed her saliva, her legs trembling slightly, not quite daring to go in.
Connecting this to what Qin Nanfeng had said earlier, she already had some guesses in her heart, but she was still afraid nonetheless, unable to stop her mind from wandering.
Although it was quite pathetic to admit, the things the girl had been most afraid of since childhood were snakes and supernatural things…
Creeping to the front door, Lin Xinyuan leaned in to listen. Finding that there was no sound inside either, she became even more flustered.
After pondering for a long time, she finally bit her lip and decided to go in and see.
After all… it was also a bit scary outside…
And she was already down here…
The door, as expected, was not locked. Lin Xinyuan pushed it open easily, but only saw pitch-black darkness before her.
“Grandpa?”
“Mom?”
“Brother Feng?”
Lin Xinyuan called out every name, but still, no one answered.
Seeing this situation, she had already retreated, prepared to go back first and send a message to Qin Nanfeng to ask.
But just as she was about to close the door and step back, several dark figures suddenly rushed out from somewhere—
Lin Xinyuan couldn’t react at all to this sudden movement. It scared her so much she closed her eyes on the spot, her body freezing in place, while her mouth felt blocked, unable to make a sound.
Following that, she felt her body become light, as if she had been picked up by someone.
“Haha, Sister Yuan really is a coward!”
Just as a sweet girl’s voice arrived, the lights in the house suddenly turned on.
It wasn’t until she heard this voice and her nose caught that familiar, clear scent that the girl finally snapped out of it.
“Happy Birthday!”
As soon as she opened her eyes, under the stinging lights, she saw the smiling faces of the elders, her cousins, and her older brothers filled with blessings.
Even Xiao Huang was there, barking incessantly, seemingly very unhappy with the guy holding her from behind.
Even though Lin Xinyuan had already guessed this routine, it was clearly very effective on her. It really had given her a massive fright…
Lin Xinyuan bit her lower lip, looking at everything before her, then turned her head to look at the certain fellow still holding her. Tears couldn’t help but begin to well up in her eyes.
That stinky blondie… he actually dared to laugh…
But even as she thought this, she couldn’t stop the happiness in her heart; she had no grievances.
“Xiao Yuan, Happy Birthday…”
At this time, Lin’s Mother pushed the cake out with a trolley, smiling.
She had ordered this in town yesterday. Fortunately, that cake shop hadn’t closed because of the pandemic…
Speaking of which, for her, a mother who hadn’t acted like a mother, this was the first time she was truly celebrating a Birthday for her daughter…
Thinking of this, Lin’s Mother felt even more distressed, her eyes filled with tenderness and guilt.
Mom wants to thank you, for giving Mom this chance…
But… how many more birthdays can I spend with Xiao Yuan…
She didn’t know.
At some point, Lin Xinyuan had been set down by the young man. Right now, she was staring blankly at the cake pushed in front of her by her mother.
The crystal droplets in her eyes had unconsciously fallen, wetting her fair little face.
But being stared at by so many people, she felt very embarrassed. She instinctively turned her head and buried her face into Qin Nanfeng’s chest, not wanting them to see her sorry state.
She didn’t want to cry, but she just couldn’t control it!
She was clearly a man before, so why… why was she being so girly now…
Seeing this, Qin Nanfeng held her with his hands. He didn’t speak, only gently patting her back.
After a long time, the girl’s emotions finally calmed down. She began to desperately wipe her tears on Qin Nanfeng’s clothes before finally leaving his embrace, making him feel both amused and exasperated.
Lin Xinyuan turned around, her gaze lowered, still not daring to look at their expressions. Her voice still carried a hint of a sob: “Thank you, Mom… Thank you, everyone…”
She had never eaten cake before…
She didn’t know if it was sweet, but she thought it probably would be…
“Stop crying. Xiao Yuan, come make a wish!” At this time, Grandmother spoke up with a smile, even though the corners of her own eyes were slightly wet.
From her daughter’s mouth, she naturally knew that her granddaughter’s past had actually not been good…
But she couldn’t say anything to her daughter…
She also blamed herself for believing this girl’s nonsense back then and not asking clearly… allowing her to marry that scumbag…
It was true that he saved her life, but it was also true that he ruined her daughter’s entire life…
“Mhm…”
The girl nodded gently and took a deep breath.
She took one last look at her stinky blondie, then quickly scanned everyone else. Seeing that they were all looking at her with smiles, a warmth rose in her heart.
A moment later, she slowly closed her eyes—
If wishes really are useful…
I hope… the people here… as well as Eldest Uncle’s family and Brother Feng’s family are all well…
Ugh… let me be a little greedy then…
I hope Brother Feng will always be mine, and will always love me…
Uh… let’s leave it at that…
It shouldn’t be considered too much.