Chapter 27: Qin Yu and Song Ning Had a Conversation for a While

Cheng Si was desperately hinting, just short of blurting out the name itself.

Lin Xi wasn’t foolish; she could easily pick up on his insinuations.

Was it really just because of what she’d said?

That night she’d mentioned Song Ning provoking him—so he actually went and did this?

She asked Cheng Si, “Is it really him?”

“Who else?” They avoided the name, but their mutual understanding was clear.

Seeing his affirmative gaze, Lin Xi felt no joy—only confusion.

“He really doesn’t care about any sentiment, goes this far?”

Cheng Si flicked her forehead with his finger. “What goes on in that head of yours?”

Lin Xi covered her head, lips parting slightly. “Is there something wrong with what I said?”

“What sentiment is there between Third Brother and Song Ning? If there’s any sentiment to be considered, shouldn’t it be with you?”

“How could you compare yourself to an outsider? Third Brother knows which matters more.”

“Even if he was kicked in the head by a donkey, he wouldn’t disregard you to favor some outsider.”

“You seem clever enough, so why do you only spout nonsense when it comes to serious matters? Too much overtime lately? Overworked your brain?”

“Do you need me to give you a few days off to rest your mind?”

Lin Xi: “……”

Seeing the grievance in her eyes, Cheng Si leaned back, putting some distance between them—mostly for fear she’d hit him.

“Don’t glare at me like that, I’m serious. Your little head is all wisdom; truly, it can’t take any more. So when it’s time to stop, you must stop.”

She didn’t bother bantering with him, pulling the conversation back on track. “I mean, Third Brother and Song Ning were classmates in university, weren’t they? I heard there was some history there?”

She didn’t know what had happened when they studied abroad together. Her relationship with Qin Yu had only started to grow after he returned home.

Before that, after Qin Yu went abroad, she only occasionally heard his name from her brothers.

Apart from that, Qin Yu would come back for New Year’s, bringing her a gift. Yet every time they met, their exchanges were few. Qin Yu would ask about her life, just as a formality, and then there would be nothing else to say.

Back then, she didn’t enjoy being around him either. If he stopped asking, she’d turn and find someone else to play with.

She didn’t know the details, but Cheng Si certainly did.

Among their circle, Cheng Si and Qin Yu were closest in private. Cheng Si genuinely regarded Qin Yu as a brother; if their group ever split, Cheng Si would stand with Qin Yu without hesitation.

It wasn’t an exaggeration—if Cheng Si had to choose between her and Qin Yu, he’d pick Qin Yu without a second thought.

There were always secrets between those two.

“A story, hmm…” Cheng Si paused, thought for a moment, then nodded. “There’s a bit of one.”

Lin Xi lowered her eyes, refilling his teacup, acting as though she had no interest in whatever he was about to say.

“I don’t know much. Anyway, Song Ning pursuing Third Brother is definitely true. As for whether they were ever together… What did Third Brother tell you?”

At this point, Cheng Si watched her face closely.

He knew perfectly well there was nothing between Qin Yu and Song Ning; his question was just bait, hoping to catch a big fish and then turn it over to Qin Yu for profit.

Ah, guaranteed gains.

He caught the subtle tremor in Lin Xi’s hand as she poured tea; his smile deepened. The fish had taken the bait.

Just as he expected, Lin Xi’s first thought upon hearing the question was that Qin Yu had lied to her.

Qin Yu had told her he’d never been with Song Ning. If that were true, Cheng Si wouldn’t have to skirt around it; asking now seemed more like he wanted to hear Qin Yu’s version, so they could coordinate and fool her together.

But quickly, Lin Xi realized what was happening.

Cheng Si was a smiling fox, cunning and shrewd. He must be fishing for information.

After all these years, Lin Xi wasn’t foolish enough to hand herself over.

“Third Brother?” She smiled faintly, filling his cup to seven-tenths, and only continued after she set down the teapot. “He told me that during their studies abroad, they dated for a while.”

As soon as she finished, she looked up at Cheng Si, meeting his gaze directly. His fleeting astonishment didn’t escape her notice.

After a brief moment, she smiled, and Cheng Si smiled too.

He shook his head and leaned back lazily. “A few years studying abroad really makes a difference; not as easy to fool as when you were little.”

“Not easy to fool? Ha, when you lured me to Feiyun, that’s not what you said.”

“Hey, hey, why bring that up again? Could I ignore Third Brother’s orders? My hands were tied.”

“So, between Third Brother and me, you still lean toward him. All that talk about blood being thicker than water—bah.”

“Hahahahaha.” Cheng Si covered his eyes, laughing till his shoulders shook. “It’s hopeless, Third Brother’s really gotten me into trouble this time.”

“Our relationship is like this tea—gone thin.”

“What kind of talk is that?” Though he knew she was joking, Cheng Si still tried to amend. “Let’s put it this way: if you both fell into a river, I’d definitely save you first!”

Lin Xi snorted coldly—sweet words.

“If I ever catch you teaming up with him to trick me again, we’ll really be done.”

“……”

He paused, his smile freezing briefly. Lin Xi widened her eyes. “Are you hiding something else from me?”

Cheng Si clenched his fist to his lips, coughing a few times to cover up. “What do you take us for? We’re family; what’s there to hide?”

“Right, where were we? Oh, Song Ning. Nothing happened between Third Brother and her—Song Ning’s just got a one-sided crush, they’re not close.”

“I saw them together with people from another company when I went on that blind date.”

Not close? How so?

“You mean that?” Cheng Si relaxed. “That’s got to do with Song Ning’s father; she was invited, nothing to do with Third Brother.”

With that, he stood, checked the time. “It’s getting late—stay for dinner tonight?”

He clearly intended to avoid the subject. Lin Xi gave him a long look and laughed quietly.

He smiled awkwardly, unable to hide his guilty conscience.

—

Lin Xi timed her return home carefully; the Lu mother and son had already left.

The aunt was tidying the tea set on the table. When Lin Xi saw the photo album, she paused. “Who took out my photo album?”

Her aunt emerged from the kitchen. “The Lu boy and his mother were here earlier. While chatting, we mentioned your childhood, so I brought out the album.”

Lin Xi hadn’t looked at this album in ages.

It held all her photos from birth up to now. Even after going abroad, she’d sent photos home regularly, all kept here by her grandfather.

She flipped through it casually, then suddenly found a group photo of six people tucked inside.

In the photo, Qin Yu stood behind her, his gaze resting on her.