Once the dishes were all served, they began to eat.
However, during the meal, Qin’s mother and the others tacitly avoided discussing the topic of the two of them, instead chatting about some amusing anecdotes.
For the most part, Jiang Ningyue and Qin Qingge were the ones driving the atmosphere. Aside from Lin Xinyuan and Qin Nanfeng playing along, Qin’s father rarely spoke.
Throughout the meal, Jiang Ningyue enthusiastically kept adding food to Lin Xinyuan’s plate, making the girl feel even more embarrassed, while a knot of anxiety remained in her heart.
After all, until Qin’s father and mother brought up that matter… she finally couldn’t hold back her worry.
But regardless, the overall atmosphere at the table was still harmonious. It was just that Qin Nanfeng and Qin’s father barely exchanged a word, leaving the two of them in a strained silence.
No one knew how much time had passed before Qin Nanfeng was the first to break the awkwardness. He poured himself a glass of baijiu, then handed it across the table to Qin Changkong.
“Dad… let me toast you.”
This was the first time in all these years that Qin Nanfeng had addressed his father in this way, so the words came out a bit dry and awkward.
He met Qin Changkong’s gaze without any fear. Though his face showed little emotion, a faint trace of guilt crept into his eyes.
Even if his father had always been busy with work and rarely cared about him, he had still tried his best to give him everything he could.
But that person… and myself… we only understood this far too late…
Or perhaps we already knew, but just couldn’t swallow our pride…
Luckily, now… it’s still not too late…
Qin Changkong froze for a moment. He had been thinking about whether he should be the one to lower his head first, but he hadn’t expected the young man to speak up first.
His usual composure in the business world crumbled slightly, but he managed to steady himself. After a long silence, he finally took the glass from Qin Nanfeng’s hand.
“Mm…” Staring at the clear liquor in the glass, he murmured, “It’s good that you’re back…”
No matter what…
In truth, he still regretted the slap he had given Qin Nanfeng that night.
Even after Qin Nanfeng had run away from home, he had thought about looking for him. But his pride and dignity as a father wouldn’t allow it…
In the end, he simply hadn’t frozen Qin Nanfeng’s bank card and had issued a harsh ultimatum for him to “make it on his own if he had the guts”…
He had thought the kid would eventually break and come back on his own. But he never expected that this brat was just as stubborn as him.
And on top of that, he had actually managed to start a successful business with just over a hundred thousand yuan?
In just over three years, it had grown into a mid-sized company, even gaining some recognition abroad.
Based on Qin Changkong’s instincts, he could feel that the young man’s company had immense potential for growth. He believed that, given enough time, it wouldn’t be long before it became a large-scale enterprise…
Not bad… worthy of being my son…
The father and son didn’t exchange many words after that. They just clinked glasses frequently, taking a bite of food and a sip of liquor—everything said through the drink, with no other words needed.
In the end, it was Qin’s mother who intervened to stop the two father and son from going too far and getting completely drunk.
After a few rounds of drinking, the meal finally came to an end.
But it was still early, and since it was the National Day holiday, Qin’s father and the others didn’t have work the next day, so there was no rush to leave.
And that meant they couldn’t avoid discussing the topic that made the girl most anxious…
Lin Xinyuan sat on edge beside Qin Nanfeng, her head down, not saying a word, her eyes flickering with unease.
Qin Nanfeng was a bit tipsy, but his mind was perfectly clear. He gently squeezed the girl’s small hand, rubbing it softly, feeling her soft warmth and trying to give her some sense of security.
‘Don’t be afraid.’
Lin Xinyuan understood her boyfriend’s intention, and a warm feeling filled her heart. Although it didn’t completely ease her anxiety, it was much better than before.
She took a deep breath and raised her head. No matter how scared she was, she knew this was something she had to face…
“Xiaoyuan, your situation… that girl has already told us.”
Seeing how nervous Lin Xinyuan was, Jiang Ningyue finally spoke up, letting out a silent sigh.
After learning about the girl’s existence from Qin Changyin and confirming it through Grandpa Qin, she had gone to find her daughter. From Qin Qingge, she had gotten a general idea of the girl’s situation.
She was Qin Nanfeng’s classmate, and had once been his roommate…
Her family was ordinary, which wasn’t a problem. But it seemed she had never been valued by her family, and had even developed a rare illness.
It wasn’t until Qin Nanfeng helped her through it that she gradually came out of her shell and got together with his son…
That’s right, after Qin Qingge’s embellishment, the story she told Qin’s mother had turned into a moving and special love story.
But although there were some differences, it was still close to the truth.
Jiang Ningyue didn’t think much of the fact that the girl had once been a boy. She had received a higher education and was open-minded, and she had no requirements for things like social status.
In her heart, all she knew was that it was this girl who had made Qin Nanfeng willing to come home early, and that she loved his son enough. That was all that mattered.
As for the rest, she didn’t overthink it…
Besides, just as Grandpa Qin had said, even though Jiang Ningyue felt Lin Xinyuan was a bit shy, she could see innocence in the girl’s clear, naive almond eyes.
She was a good kid. That was enough…
The last thing she wanted was for her son to bring home some scheming, well-disguised white lotus. She didn’t like palace dramas or modern catfights, and she certainly didn’t want a family inheritance struggle to play out…
Hearing this, Lin Xinyuan’s heart trembled.
“Auntie…” She hesitated, but then bit her lip and pressed on, “I really do love Feng Ge…”
The words slipped out involuntarily, but she immediately regretted them.
At that moment, the Qin family’s eyes were all fixed on her, and someone in particular was watching her with a hint of amusement.
The girl’s face flushed so red it looked like it might bleed. But before she could feel frustrated, Qin Nanfeng spoke up as well.
“Mom, Dad…”
“I’ve already decided on her.”
Qin Nanfeng stared at the girl’s delicate, beautiful face, his eyes full of stubbornness.
He naturally knew that his parents wouldn’t reject him being with the girl. After all, that person’s memories had told him so…
And he couldn’t give up.
Having gotten a second chance…
Even if he had once experienced a relationship that made him feel betrayed and disappointed, this time, he was certain—and had to be certain—that it was this girl.
Xiaoyuan…
She was his true love…
Forever…
The one who had taken her from him before was himself, so this time, he wouldn’t repeat the same mistake…
The moment she heard those words, all the hesitation in Lin Xinyuan’s eyes vanished. Her moist eyes held a shyness, but were just as firm as Qin Nanfeng’s.
The three Qin family members were stunned.
Jiang Ningyue and Qin Changkong’s hearts were shaken. Looking at this pair of deeply in love partners, they could clearly feel their sincerity.
This was nothing like a fleeting vow of passion. It felt more like a certainty that had been carefully thought through and left no room for doubt!
For a moment, Qin’s parents seemed to see themselves in their younger days.
After so many years, even though they had argued… and even because of Qin Nanfeng’s situation, they had been in a cold war for so long, their love for each other had never changed.
In that moment, it felt like they weren’t looking at a young couple, but at two intertwined souls.
The girl and the young man were partners, but they had already come to see each other as family.
They had long since moved past the early stages of love, bursting forth with even more vigorous vitality.
Logically, young people’s feelings were passionate, but when it came to depth… it was rare, far too rare…
They understood the determination of Lin Xinyuan and Qin Nanfeng. This was no fleeting whim.
It seemed he had finally met the right person…
And the knot that had been in their hearts for all these years could finally be untied…