Chapter 48 – The Truth
Qin Feichen didn’t hide his emotions. He leaned in to examine the ring, its simple and elegant design perfectly matching Yan Shengping’s aesthetic. He exclaimed in amazement, “Damn, who is it? Who would dare— ahem!” Qin Feichen quickly cut himself off, nearly blurting out the whole truth.
“That’s not cool of you, getting married without even inviting me for a wedding drink!” Qin Feichen feigned anger.
Yan Shengping lowered his gaze, a sudden weight in his heart. That was right; he still hadn’t given Lin Ganzhi a proper wedding. “We haven’t had one yet. I want to wait a while.”
This balanced things out in Qin Feichen’s mind, but why did Yan Shengping look a little disappointed?
At this moment, he was extremely curious about this sister-in-law he had yet to meet. His eyes scanned the surroundings, but aside from some restless guests, he didn’t see anyone with a particularly unique aura.
Yan Shengping also looked up. It had been over ten minutes. Was that little fool planning to empty out the Qin family’s food supply?
Just then, Lin Ganzhi appeared, carrying two large plates full of food, looking rather impatiently at the relatively plain-looking man in front of him: Sang Xiangwen.
“Hmph, is the Qin family’s banquet undergoing reforms now? Why are they inviting just anyone? Anyone who knows would think you’re attending a banquet. Anyone who doesn’t would think you’re stocking up on supplies,” Sang Xiangwen’s gaze fell on Lin Ganzhi’s hands. He had lost face to Lin Ganzhi last time, and today, he was determined to get it back.
Lin Ganzhi’s expression hardened. He retorted, “Why do you need to know so much? Go ask the Qin family. Why are you picking on the weak and blocking my way!” Lin Ganzhi’s retort was just as sharp.
This scoundrel who sold him out deserved no courtesy!
“You!” After a few months, Lin Ganzhi’s mouth had become increasingly infuriating. And it wasn’t just his mouth. When he first saw Lin Ganzhi, without the gaudy makeup and bad acting, he was actually quite good-looking!
“Who do you think you are to the Qin family? How dare you use their name to build yourself up?” Sang Xiangwen held his breath and continued the argument.
At this moment, Lin Ganzhi really wanted to smash the plate of food in Sang Xiangwen’s face. Why was he so annoying! Who wanted to have a childish squabble with him? It wasn’t even half as enjoyable as arguing with Yan Shengping!
Lin Ganzhi unconsciously started to apply a double standard.
Suddenly, a grin spread across his lips, and his eyes took on a sinister glint, completely at odds with his cute demeanor. On closer inspection, it was even a little creepy. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he looked like a sociopath whose cover had just been blown.
Sang Xiangwen was used to a life of debauchery and had never seen anything like this. Thinking Lin Ganzhi was about to hurt him, he instinctively took several steps back.
Lin Ganzhi, however, slowly took a few steps closer, his voice sinking low and his eyes gloomy. “And who do you think you are? You conspired with my aunt to sell me out, and now you expect me to be nice to you? What do you think you have to threaten me with now? Even if you tied up my aunt and her whole family, I wouldn’t even bat an eye. After this incident, I’ve seen things clearly. At worst, if you provoke me again, I’ll just take us both down with me!”
Lin Ganzhi enunciated each word, his tone as cold as it could be, truly like a desperate madman who cared for nothing.
Sang Xiangwen took several more steps back, the tough words he wanted to say getting stuck in his throat, scared back by Lin Ganzhi.
“Mr. Lin, do you need me to help you carry that over?” A middle-aged man in an exquisite tuxedo, who seemed to be the Qin family’s butler, Uncle Liu, walked over from behind.
Like a switch had been flipped, Lin Ganzhi reverted to his pure and harmless appearance. He said very politely, “No need, I can manage. Thank you~”
Uncle Liu knew what was important and didn’t insist. He just said, “The young lady is still dealing with some business. She instructed me to tell you to feel free to take whatever you’d like to eat. You and Mr. Yan are the honored guests of her birthday banquet. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to find me.”
Uncle Liu’s attitude was much warmer than it was towards ordinary people. Sang Xiangwen, standing to the side, was stunned. Honored… honored guests? Even his family had barely managed to get an invitation to this banquet. How did a minor celebrity like Lin Ganzhi become an honored guest of the Qin family?
Lin Ganzhi smiled and nodded. “Then I’ll go find my husband first.”
With Uncle Liu’s intervention and Lin Ganzhi’s earlier threat, Sang Xiangwen didn’t dare to say another word. He could only watch as Lin Ganzhi walked away with light steps.
Turning back, he saw Uncle Liu still smiling at him. Sang Xiangwen gave a dry laugh, made a random excuse, and left.
Uncle Liu watched Sang Xiangwen’s rather pathetic retreat and his smile faded. It seemed the young lady was right; too many people at today’s banquet wanted to find trouble with Lin Ganzhi and Mr. Yan. He would have to keep a closer eye on them.
Yan Shengping’s side waited another five minutes before the late-coming Lin Ganzhi appeared, carrying two large plates of food with a triumphant smile on his face.
Yan Shengping: Just as I thought…
Qin Feichen also noticed Yan Shengping’s gaze turning towards Lin Ganzhi. He looked unfamiliar, and he thought it might have been the previous one. But this one looked quite cute too. It was the first time he had seen a guest who so genuinely enjoyed their family’s food. After all, everyone came with similar motives; those who truly wanted to eat were a minority.
“Yan Shengping, your matcha cake!” Lin Ganzhi used a pair of tongs to place the matcha cake on a small plate, his peripheral vision catching sight of Qin Feichen sitting at their table.
Qin Feichen was naturally sociable. He immediately stood up and extended his hand, smiling brightly. “Hello, sister-in-law!”
The tongs in Lin Ganzhi’s hand trembled, and his ears turned a ghostly red. It was the first time anyone had called him that. Lin Ganzhi looked helplessly at Yan Shengping, like a dazed little hamster clutching a large nut. Yan Shengping found Lin Ganzhi’s somewhat dependent gaze very satisfying.
“This is Qin Taotao’s older brother, my friend, Qin Feichen. He just got back from the military.”
Lin Ganzhi hesitated slightly in his heart: Yan Shengping has friends?
But Qin Feichen seemed very enthusiastic, and there was no malice in his eyes. Lin Ganzhi put down the tongs and extended his hand to shake his. “Hello, my name is Lin Ganzhi. I’m currently an actor.”
“I knew you looked photogenic, sister-in-law. So you’re an actor! You have such a great presence, a perfect match for my Brother Yan!” Qin Feichen quickly laid on the flattery.
The obscure celebrity Lin Ganzhi felt a little guilty.
Yan Shengping: Only that last sentence was pleasing to the ear.
After a round of pleasantries, Lin Ganzhi’s nervousness slowly eased.
“Brother Qin, long time no see! Do you remember me? I was in the class next to yours in elementary school. I’ve been wanting to treat you to a meal for a while now. I didn’t expect you to join the army. It’s really different after serving; your whole demeanor has changed. Do you remember that piece of land near our elementary school? It was abandoned for so long, and we always lamented it. Well, recently, that piece of land…”
“Today is my sister’s birthday. As for the land, you should make an appointment with my father. That’s all, excuse me.” Qin Feichen’s expression changed abruptly when dealing with the guest who couldn’t resist coming over to greet him. His business-like demeanor was as if he wasn’t the same person who had been smiling and chatting with them just moments ago.
Yan Shengping also stood up and then looked at Lin Ganzhi, who was eating a small pastry. “Are you coming up with us?” In this situation, he still respected Lin Ganzhi’s choice.
Lin Ganzhi roughly knew what Yan Shengping was going to talk about upstairs. He thought for a moment and, holding his plate, asked, “Can I eat upstairs?”
Yan Shengping’s serious face almost broke. He reached out and pinched Lin Ganzhi’s chubby cheek. “If the food and I both fell into a river, who would you save?”
!!!
A jolt went through Lin Ganzhi. He never expected his boss to ask such a deadly “choose one” question. After a moment of consideration, Lin Ganzhi looked up. “If it’s not packaged, I’ll eat while I save you. If it is packaged, I’ll jump in, throw it to the shore, and then come save you. Don’t worry, I’m a very fast swimmer!”
Lin Ganzhi’s strangely confident answer was met with an exasperated laugh from Yan Shengping.
Standing to the side and eating Dog Food, Qin Feichen thought: You two seem to be playing a very new kind of public display of affection.
Finally, having received an affirmative answer, Lin Ganzhi followed Yan Shengping and Qin Feichen up to the second-floor study, carrying his carefully selected food. The guests below watched with expressions of envy, jealousy, and hatred.
“When he was at home before, I never saw him being close to anyone!” Madam Zhong’s face was grim. But now that he was in trouble, even Qin Feichen had shown up. This feeling of being deceived made her exceptionally unhappy!
Zhong Jingyi’s face was dark, and he didn’t speak. He had thought that with Yan Shengping’s downfall, it would be a case of rats scattering from a falling tree, and no one would help him. He would be despised by everyone. How long had it been, and in these two months, he had been constantly on the defensive.
Even Zhong’s Chips had run into such a big problem. If he couldn’t star in Zhuang Wenduan’s movie this time, he would have to make corresponding changes to his plans.
The Qin family’s study, compared to the Zhong family’s gloomy and solemn one, was designed with more floor-to-ceiling windows. Meticulously cared-for plants and flowers could be seen everywhere. The semi-transparent curtains were half-drawn, revealing a boundless starry sky outside. It didn’t feel so restrictive inside; instead, it could be enjoyed as a scenic view.
Lin Ganzhi followed Yan Shengping to the sofa in the lounge area. Qin Feichen sat opposite them. At this time, a servant came in with three cups of coffee. Lin Ganzhi’s and Yan Shengping’s were both mochas with milk, sweet and mellow to drink. It seemed Qin Feichen really knew Yan Shengping well, to be so thoughtful.
“Brother Yan, what happened during this time?” Qin Feichen put away his smiling facade from outside and asked seriously.
Yan Shengping took a sip of coffee and then, without changing his expression, added a small sugar cube. “This past June, on Zhong Jingyi’s birthday, I stabbed him with a fountain pen.”
Hearing this, Lin Ganzhi felt a sharp prick in his heart, like a fine needle. The facts written in the book, when spoken from Yan Shengping’s mouth, carried an indescribable sense of injustice. He instinctively believed that Yan Shengping was not that kind of person.
“The young master of the Zhong family? He’s back? Is this a rumor? Brother Yan, I trust your character. You wouldn’t do something so self-destructive,” Qin Feichen’s attitude was extremely firm.
Yan Shengping’s cool fingertips traced the rim of the coffee cup. This was the first time he had mentioned this matter since the incident. The sealed truth was slowly being unveiled.