Chapter 64: Family Dinner

Liang Sixuan returned to the banquet hall but did not see Qin Miaoyu anywhere.

She walked over to her mother and asked, “Mom, where did Qin Miaoyu go? Someone accidentally walked into the changing room just now, but thankfully she wasn’t inside.”

“She already left,” Xie Ruofen replied.

“She left?” Liang Sixuan hadn’t expected Qin Miaoyu to leave early, ruining her plans!

Just then, Xie Ruofen looked at her sharply. “Why didn’t you go ask your friends what she was up to?”

Liang Sixuan instinctively avoided her mother’s gaze. “Didn’t you say before that Qin Miaoyu shouldn’t embarrass the family? I remembered that, so I wanted to check what she was doing.”

Qin Miaoyu didn’t return to the Liang household until late the next morning. She had thought the house would be empty, but Liang Sixuan hadn’t left yet and seemed to be waiting for her.

“Why didn’t you change in the dressing room yesterday?”

“Why should I? Was there something in there?”

“Nothing, really. I went to look for you and didn’t see you, so I was curious.”

Qin Miaoyu put down her bag and sat on the opposite end of the sofa.

“What’s there to be curious about? Instead of wondering about me, maybe you should think about how to secure your position in the Liang family?”

“You—! Hmph, I’m not talking to you!”

Watching Liang Sixuan storm off, Qin Miaoyu fell into thought. Sixuan had specifically asked why she hadn’t changed in the dressing room; clearly, something had been intended to happen there. And she’d noticed Qin Miaoyu wasn’t there only after she’d left.

She searched the internet on her phone but found no related news.

That evening was the Liang family’s weekly dinner gathering.

This time, attendance was even fuller than before. Last time, only Liang Siquan from the eldest brother’s family had come, but this time his wife and two children were here as well. However, Siquan’s eldest son, the family’s first grandson, looked rather sickly.

Perhaps Qin Miaoyu’s gaze lingered too long, for Siquan’s wife, Wei Wei, explained, “Binbin is ill. He just returned from the hospital.”

Qin Miaoyu withdrew her gaze. “It’s hard for children when they’re sick.”

“Isn’t it? I’ve been at the hospital with Binbin day and night, haven’t had time for the company at all. Who knows what your big brother’s up to behind my back,” Wei Wei said, her face troubled.

Qin Miaoyu knew a bit about this eldest brother, Liang Siquan; he often appeared in the Southern City finance news, and sometimes in gossip columns. He had a decent business mind, but his relationships were messy, with several rumored lovers.

Wei Wei’s complaints drew no reply from Qin Miaoyu. She was neither familiar with her nor interested; it was none of her concern.

Unfortunately, Wei Wei didn’t notice her indifference and continued voicing suspicions and grievances about Siquan, leaving Qin Miaoyu a little speechless.

Just as she was looking for an excuse to escape, Liang Siyuan entered from the doorway.

“Big sister-in-law, second brother’s here. I’ll go greet him.”

Qin Miaoyu waved for Liang Siyuan to come over.

Siyuan approached with a smile. Seeing Wei Wei seated beside Qin Miaoyu, he said, “Big sister-in-law, I’d like to sit next to Miaoyu. Would you mind swapping seats?”

“You can sit here. I’ll go check on Binbin’s dinner.”

Once Wei Wei walked away, Siyuan settled in and asked with a grin, “Big sister-in-law was pouring out her woes, wasn’t she?”

Qin Miaoyu was polite to her second brother, but not warm enough to initiate conversation. She’d wondered why he approached so readily, but seeing who was seated nearby, she understood; he’d heard Wei Wei complain before.

She nodded helplessly. “Yes, she seems quite dissatisfied with big brother, so she keeps telling me all this. Maybe it makes her feel better.”

After all, nothing in her words hinted at wanting a divorce.

Liang Siyuan’s smile was tinged with amusement. “You underestimate our big sister-in-law.”

“How so?” Qin Miaoyu asked curiously.

“She never complains to someone without a reason, especially since you two barely know each other. When she does, it’s either to win your sympathy or because she wants something from you. I wonder which motive she had today.”

Qin Miaoyu wasn’t bothered. Whatever Wei Wei’s purpose, she could neither help nor was obliged to.

Catching sight of Liang Qibin out of the corner of her eye, Qin Miaoyu casually asked, “What illness does Binbin have? He doesn’t look well.”

Liang Siyuan glanced toward the boy, frowning slightly. “I don’t know. I rarely come home and don’t get along with Siquan, so no one tells me these things. But he does look quite unwell; why not stay at the hospital instead of coming to the old house?”

Qin Miaoyu had only asked out of politeness; it didn’t matter if she got no answer.

Because she’d specifically instructed the kitchen, several dishes with stronger flavors were set out near her at every meal.

Indeed, the Liang family’s chef was exceptional; the food was superb.

Seeing Qin Miaoyu’s eyes light up at the dishes, Liang Siyuan was amused—she really was just a young girl, ten years younger than him.

“Are you free Saturday? I’ve arranged dinner with Master Wu—would you like to join?”

“Master Wu? You mean Master Wu Pingran?”

“Yes!”

“Second brother, why are you suddenly inviting Master Wu?”

Liang Siyuan said, “I think your paintings are outstanding. I wanted to introduce you to Master Wu, maybe you could learn from her?”

Qin Miaoyu looked at Siyuan, her expression unreadable.

“Second brother, don’t you know about the issues between me and Liang Sixuan? And yet you’d introduce me to Master Wu?”

Her sudden coldness made Siyuan chuckle. “Precisely because I know. It’s a pity to see you stuck here. Don’t worry—Sixuan is my sister, you are too; I’ll help whoever’s in the right.”

Moreover, his relationship with Sixuan was lukewarm, while he felt a certain sympathy for Qin Miaoyu, which made him favor her.

Qin Miaoyu’s smile returned. “Let’s have dinner, then. I happen to know Master Wu as well. As for learning from her, that’s unnecessary. I’m just a hobbyist now; I don’t intend to pursue it further.”

Siyuan was puzzled. “I’ve asked several renowned artists—they all say you’re exceptionally talented, with limitless potential if you keep at it. If you’re worried about money, second brother can help with that.”

The sincerity in his words moved Qin Miaoyu. She explained, “I made up my mind when I was sixteen, and now, my heart is restless; I can’t study painting with the same single-minded focus as before.”

Nor could she bear the weight of others’ expectations.