Chapter 129: Let Them Misunderstand

Lin Xi had not intended to cry, but for some reason, a sudden wave of sentimentality washed over her. She simply could not hold it back. Yet, she truly wanted to express her heartfelt gratitude to her aunt.

"I..." Her voice trembled the moment she spoke.

Her aunt patted her shoulder and pulled her into an embrace. "I know, Xixi. You don't need to say a thing."

"In truth, I never felt these years were a burden. If anything, I always felt I owed you."

"After your younger brother and sister-in-law passed away, your uncle and I were determined to take good care of you and Lin Chen."

At the mention of Lin Chen, her aunt’s eyes also reddened. "You were abroad for so many years, and my heart was always uneasy. I was constantly worried that you wouldn't be able to adjust."

"Every time I wanted to visit, you told me there was no need. I knew you were doing it for our sake, but I missed you so much during those times."

Due to their status, traveling abroad was indeed complicated for them. Coupled with the long distance, Lin Xi had discouraged them from visiting to save them the trouble.

"Fortunately, you seem to have done well these past few years, with your uncle there to look after you. When you first returned to the country, your uncle and I finally felt at ease the moment we saw you. Seeing you in person is entirely different from watching you on a video call."

"And you have only been growing better and better; your uncle and I are truly happy for you."

"Alright, alright, stop crying now. You’re a good girl."

Her aunt’s voice was already choked with emotion.

Hearing the commotion in the living room, her uncle walked in from the balcony. Seeing the two women hugging, both with eyes redder than the other, he was taken aback.

"What... what is this? No, why is everyone crying?"

Her uncle was at a loss, a tough-as-nails man standing by, as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, not knowing who to comfort first.

—

Qin Yu and the others arrived half an hour later.

By this time, Lin Xi was upstairs tidying her appearance. She had stared at her reflection for a long time, but her eyes remained noticeably red from crying.

Hearing that the elders had arrived, Lin Xi couldn't sit still and had to go downstairs. Fortunately, from a distance, nothing looked amiss. Since the elders' eyesight wasn't what it used to be, she didn't dwell on it.

"Oh, look, the birthday girl is down," Grandpa Bai said the moment he saw her, calling out with a cheerful laugh.

Lin Xi stepped forward to pour tea for the elders.

"Did you return to Lin City this afternoon, Xixi? Why didn't you bring your grandparents with you?"

"They had matters to attend to this afternoon, so they couldn't make it. I’ll bring them to the compound next holiday."

"Yes, yes, the compound is lively with so many people. It’s better than those two old folks being home alone."

"Yes," Lin Xi nodded with a smile.

"Oh, that’s right, gifts! Gifts!" Grandpa Bai beckoned to Bai Xu, who was standing nearby. "Hurry, where are the gifts for Xixi? Come on."

Bai Xu brought the items over, one in each hand. "This one is from Grandpa. This one is from me."

Lin Xi took them and said to Grandpa Bai, "Thank you, Grandpa." She then thanked Bai Xu as well.

"Open them quickly and see if you like them," Grandpa Bai said, holding his teacup, his eyes crinkling into slits with a smile.

Lin Xi unwrapped them to find a jade bracelet.

"This jade nourishes the wearer; it’s just perfect for a young lady of your age."

"Quick, quick, Xiao Xu, help Xixi put it on."

Before Lin Xi could say anything, Bai Xu had already taken the bracelet from the box. "Give me your hand."

"..." Lin Xi extended her right hand. "Let’s wear it on this hand."

"Oh, that hand is so inconvenient. The left hand, the left hand is better," Grandpa Bai directed.

Bai Xu prompted, "What are you dazed for? Give me your hand."

Lin Xi hesitated, then extended her hand.

As Bai Xu was putting the bracelet on her, he suddenly gave her an enigmatic smile. Lin Xi tried to pull back, but he grabbed her hand firmly. He pushed up her loose sleeve, revealing the string of agarwood beads on her wrist.

"..."

Lin Xi had known it.

"Eh?" Grandpa Bai, being close by, spotted it immediately. "Is Xixi wearing prayer beads too?"

When she returned in the summer, Lin Xi would always take the beads off and hide them in her pocket, only putting them back on after leaving the compound, just so the elders wouldn't see. Most things were fine, but the Qin and Bai grandfathers were the ones most familiar with those beads.

"They look quite similar to the string your Third Brother has, hahahaha," Grandpa Bai said casually, not looking too closely.

Little did he know, while the speaker was unintentional, the listener was attentive.

Lin Xi’s heart skipped a beat. The next second, Bai Xu grabbed her hand and brought it toward Grandpa Qin. "I think they look alike, too. Grandpa Qin, take a look, don't you think they're very similar?"

"..."

Before Grandpa Qin could lean in to look, Qin Yu, who was standing nearby, firmly grasped Lin Xi’s wrist, his warm palm perfectly covering the beads.

Where the elders couldn't see, Qin Yu’s dark eyes narrowed dangerously as he cast a warning look at Bai Xu.

The latter, finding it no longer amusing, silently let go.

Lin Xi seized the opportunity to pull her hand back and pull down her sleeve.

Grandpa Qin witnessed this scene, the smile in his eyes deepening. Grandpa Bai was no fool, either; after this back-and-forth so many times, he had a pretty good idea of what the situation was.

Grandpa Bai said, "Qin Yu, that string on your wrist, take it off and let me have a look."

Bai Xu’s character of enjoying a good show must have been inherited from Grandpa Bai. The grandfather and grandson were practically cut from the same cloth.

"Did you lose your beads, Xiao Yu? I haven't seen them for a while," Grandpa Bai continued. "How could you lose something so precious? What have you been doing all day, child?"

"You aren't the type to be careless. What’s going on?"

"Didn't I tell you that, except for bathing and sleeping, you should never take them off?"

As Grandpa Bai spoke, he secretly observed Lin Xi’s reaction.

Qin Yu spoke at the right moment, "I didn't lose them. That string broke a few days ago and is being repaired."

"Is that so?" Grandpa Bai laughed, not bothering to expose them. Knowing Lin Xi was a young woman with a thin skin, he didn't press the point.

Lin Xi said, "I'll go brew some tea..." She found an excuse and hurried away with the teapot.

Seeing this, Grandpa Bai looked at Qin Yu and teased, "Good lad, doing big things quietly. Not going to follow her?"

Qin Yu stared at the direction Lin Xi had left for a moment before replying to his grandfather, "I'm going."

As he lifted his feet to leave, Grandpa Bai laughed and scolded, "Good for you!"

Once they were gone, Grandpa Bai excitedly patted Grandpa Qin’s hand. "Do you think it’s a done deal?"

Grandpa Qin was much calmer than him, remaining unmoved. "Who knows? Let them be."

"Tsk," Grandpa Bai gave him a look of disdain. "Qin Yu is perfect in every way, but he inherited one flaw from you. Always holding back, always putting on airs—it's so annoying!"

Grandpa Qin: "..."

Elsewhere, as Lin Xi was fetching water, she heard footsteps and turned around. "If you follow me here, won't they misunderstand even more?"

Qin Yu replied, "Let them misunderstand. In part, it’s the truth anyway."