Chapter 113: Don't Settle

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Grandpa Qin gently patted the back of her hand. "You can tell Grandpa anything. If he's ever given you trouble, I'll make things right for you."

"No, that's not it." Lin Xi shook her head again. "Third Brother has always... treated me well."

"He's just cold on the outside but warm on the inside—sharp tongue, soft heart. As for how he feels about you, Grandpa can guarantee it's completely sincere."

"Your Third Brother's only flaw is that he's not good at expressing himself. If only he were more like Cheng Si, then I could rest easy."

Lin Xi kept her head lowered, saying nothing in reply.

Seeing this, Grandpa Qin knew the problem between them ran deep. "I suspect by now you can guess what Grandpa is trying to say."

"I never wanted to meddle in you young folks' affairs. But seeing the state your Third Brother is in, I can't help but worry for him. I'm afraid he doesn't know how to speak his mind and might have said something hurtful."

"Grandpa wants to ask—do you have any feelings for your Third Brother?"

"If you do, then you needn't worry about anything else. Grandpa is here for you. If you don't, I'll go back and tell him to keep his distance, so he doesn't make you uncomfortable."

"..."

Old Master Qin knew everything. He had watched these young ones grow up, and he could see clearly what was in each of their hearts.

Before, no matter what happened, he hadn't wanted to interfere. But now, he truly couldn't bear to watch any longer.

From midday to this evening, the two of them had sat at the same table for both meals. He'd observed them for a while, and the pair had barely exchanged a single word.

Their expressions were each gloomier than the other's. Forget idle conversation—they probably hadn't even made eye contact once.

It seemed like they were deliberately avoiding each other.

Even if these two youngsters couldn't end up together, he didn't want their relationship to become so strained.

He wanted to find a suitable pretext to make peace between them.

But he didn't know what Lin Xi was really thinking, and he didn't dare act rashly. That was why he'd called Lin Xi out alone tonight.

"Don't worry about anything else. Just tell Grandpa the truth, and I won't breathe a word to anyone."

"About your Third Brother..."

Before the old man could finish his sentence, Lin Xi suddenly shook her head.

Seeing this, Old Master Qin sighed quietly, then offered a smile. "Alright, Grandpa understands. I'll have a good talk with him when I get back. But Grandpa also hopes you two won't stay so stiff with each other."

"No matter what, he's still your Third Brother."

"Mhm, I know."

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"About that matter with Song Ning, Grandpa owes you an apology too."

"What?" Lin Xi turned to look at him.

Grandpa Qin explained, "Back then, when your Aunt Rong suggested setting your Third Brother up on a blind date, I knew about it, and I silently approved."

"You don't need to apologize to me." Lin Xi smiled with a sense of release. "No one was at fault in that matter, and it had nothing to do with me anyway."

"I did like Third Brother a lot back then, but I never clearly told him so. So even if he went on that blind date, or really did get engaged to Song Ning, you don't owe me an apology."

"In fact, I'm the one who should have been apologizing all along. I was too stubborn back then, too impulsive. I'm the one who made a mess of everything."

Grandpa Qin stared at her for a few seconds, a hint of tenderness in his eyes. "Xi Xi is a good child. No matter what happens, Grandpa hopes you'll meet someone in the future who genuinely loves you, and whom you love in return."

"Never settle for less."

---

After seeing Grandpa Qin off, the moment Lin Xi stepped back inside, she caught the smell of alcohol.

It wasn't until she entered the dining room that she realized Uncle and Qin Yu and the others were drinking with great enthusiasm.

"Xi Xi's back? Why don't you sit down and have a bit more to eat?" Aunt and the housekeeper had just made two more dishes to go with the drinks and brought them over.

Hearing her voice, Qin Yu looked up and glanced toward the dining room entrance.

Their gazes collided unexpectedly. Lin Xi was the first to look away. "No, thanks. I'll head upstairs to work on my report—I have a very important meeting tomorrow."

After speaking to Aunt, Lin Xi swept a glance over the people at the table and gave a slight nod. "I'll be going upstairs now."

Back in her room, Lin Xi closed the door, shutting out the noise from downstairs.

Whether it was because her room had good soundproofing, or because they'd consciously lowered their voices, she truly couldn't hear a trace of commotion.

Sitting down by the window, Lin Xi rested her head on the desk and let out a long breath.

It seemed like everyone around her already knew about her and Qin Yu.

A matter that should have been declared finished was being dragged up again and again.

Lin Xi was just about to fall asleep sprawled across her desk when a knock came at the door.

"Xi Xi." It was Aunt's voice.

Lin Xi had barely straightened up when her aunt pushed the door open, set some fruit in front of her, and reminded her, "Don't work too late. Get some rest early."

Lin Xi gave a vague reply, then turned to look at her aunt. "Are Third Brother and the others still downstairs?"

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"Your uncle's got them drinking. That man—he has no sense of moderation at all. I told him your Third Brother and the others still have work tomorrow, but he wouldn't listen."

"Tell Uncle to drink less. It's not good for his health."

"I've told him, but he won't listen to me. He listens to you. Go scold him a bit."

Lin Xi smiled helplessly and nodded. "Alright, I'll go have a word with Uncle."

Lin Xi had only just dozed off moments ago, so her face was flushed with sleep as she stood up, still a little dazed.

When she returned to the dining room, the number of empty bottles on the table was rather alarming. She'd only been upstairs for less than half an hour—how had they drunk this much?

She stepped forward, picked up a bottle, and examined it closely. The alcohol content was no joke.

Uncle and the others had no interest in imported liquor—they were all drinking the strongest baijiu the north had to offer.

"Uncle, it's too late tonight. Let's stop drinking."

Seeing that her uncle was about to open another bottle, Lin Xi's expression shifted in alarm, and she hurried forward to stop him. "Some other day. Let's drink another time."

If anyone else had tried to talk him out of it, Uncle wouldn't have listened. Because he had no children of his own, he treated Lin Xi like his own daughter—but Lin Xi was, after all, a girl.

She could hold her liquor, but he didn't want her to drink with him. So now that he'd finally gotten hold of rascals like Qin Yu and the others, of course he wanted to drink to his heart's content.

But with Lin Xi, although Uncle felt it wasn't quite satisfying, he obediently handed her the bottle in his hand.

"It's almost ten o'clock—enough, no more drinking." Uncle waved his hand.

At that, Bai Xu and Cheng Si let out sighs of relief. They really couldn't outdrink Uncle—they were already on the verge of throwing up.

Uncle wasn't much better off. He waved his hand and made to head upstairs, swaying as he walked, which startled Lin Xi into rushing over to steady him. Aunt hurried over at the commotion, scolding Uncle while taking him from Lin Xi's hands.

"Xi Xi, go back and look after your Third Brother and the others." Before leaving, Aunt hadn't forgotten the remaining few in the dining room.

Lin Xi acknowledged with a sound, but by the time she returned to the dining room, Bai Xu and Cheng Si were nowhere to be seen. They'd been slumped over the table just a moment ago—and in the blink of an eye, they were gone.

The next second, Lin Xi turned her head toward the only figure still remaining in the dining room...

Their eyes met, and the man's gaze was scorching.

(End of Chapter)

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