Chapter 66: Liang Qibin

Compared to the indifferent attitude of her uncle and aunt, Qin Miaoyu felt that Liang Siquan almost acted as if she didn’t exist at all. On her first day back at the Liang household, had it not been for her aunt’s reminder, Liang Siquan might not even have greeted her.

With Liang Siyuan, her second brother, as a comparison, it was hard for Qin Miaoyu not to develop unfavorable feelings toward her eldest cousin. So, when her sister-in-law suggested something, Qin Miaoyu politely declined. Even though Wei Wei’s expression soured, she did not change her mind.

It was Liang Qibin who spoke up: “Mom, since Aunt doesn’t want it, don’t force her. You keep talking and I can’t concentrate on my reading.”

“Alright, alright, you read. I won’t talk to your aunt anymore,” her aunt replied.

Previously, Qin Miaoyu had thought Liang Qibin was simply a polite child, but now she realized he also had a decisive streak. This was just a fleeting impression, though; she had no intention of probing further. After all, her purpose in returning to the Liang family was not to stay there.

With nothing else to do, she noticed the flowers in the greenhouse of the back garden blooming beautifully, so she gathered her supplies and went there to paint.

Halfway through her painting, Liang Qibin arrived. He looked at the picture and asked, “Aunt, are you painting that flower?”

He pointed accurately at the blossom she had chosen as her subject.

Qin Miaoyu’s eyes showed surprise. “You even want to learn painting?”

Liang Qibin shook his head. “I haven’t really studied it, but I’ve listened in secretly sometimes, and heard Qishi and the others talk about it.”

Her gaze returned to the painting. “You seem quite gifted, then.”

“Auntie, would you teach me how to paint?”

“If you really want to learn, you could just have your parents hire a master to teach you.”

Liang Qibin’s expression darkened. “Dad, Mom, and Grandpa won’t let me learn. They say this isn’t something I should study…”

This reminded Qin Miaoyu that Liang Qibin was the eldest grandson of the Liang family, destined in their eyes to inherit the family business. Pursuing art like painting would be seen as frivolous, unproductive.

But Qin Miaoyu didn’t see herself as a capable teacher. “You could ask your cousin Si Xuan. She’s studied with a master.”

“No,” Liang Qibin firmly rejected the suggestion. “Her paintings aren’t as good as yours. I saw the room you redecorated—the other painting in there was yours, right? I really like it!”

The sincerity in his eyes startled Qin Miaoyu. She said, “Flattery won’t help.”

Liang Qibin, seeing she didn’t believe him, grew anxious. “It’s not flattery… cough… cough cough…”

Overcome with emotion, he began to cough violently, trembling as he covered his mouth.

Seeing him in such distress, Qin Miaoyu quickly set aside her brush and gently patted his back.

“Alright, I believe you, I believe you! Should I go find your mom?”

She started to rise, intending to find Wei Wei, but Liang Qibin grabbed her sleeve. “Auntie, don’t call my mom. I came here secretly. If she knows I asked you about painting, she’ll scold me.”

Seeing he had recovered, Qin Miaoyu did not insist.

“Alright, Aunt, you keep painting. I’ll just sit here and watch.”

It wasn’t until the distant sound of the butler calling for Liang Qibin echoed through the garden that he finally left.

As she finished her painting and packed up, Qin Miaoyu saw Liang Qibin watching her from the glass corridor window.

She sighed almost imperceptibly. People always yearn for what they cannot easily reach.

When she entered the living room, Liang Qibin was already sitting obediently on the sofa, reading his book.

Wei Wei came downstairs after selecting clothes. Seeing Liang Qibin quietly reading, she smiled with satisfaction and spoke to Qin Miaoyu in a gentle tone: “Miaoyu, you’re back from painting in the garden?”

“Yes, and I haven’t given Qibin a welcome gift yet. I can’t afford anything extravagant, so I’ll give him this painting. I hope you don’t mind that it’s humble,” Qin Miaoyu said with a smile.

Whatever Wei Wei thought privately, outwardly she showed no sign of disdain.

“Qibin, Aunt is giving you a welcome gift. Take it quickly.”

Liang Qibin put his book on the table and solemnly accepted the painting from her. The vibrant flowers brought a genuine smile to his face.

“Alright, Qibin, keep Aunt’s painting safe, and then get back to your reading. The teacher will be here this afternoon.”

“Isn’t Qibin still not fully recovered? Why schedule lessons for him this afternoon?”

“Miaoyu, Qibin’s lessons have already been delayed for a long time. If he doesn’t catch up soon, he won’t keep pace with the planned schedule. It’s just sitting and learning—it won’t affect his health.”

Qin Miaoyu watched Liang Qibin’s face change. Physical health might not be affected, but who could say about his mental wellbeing?

That afternoon, however, the scheduled teacher fell ill and did not come.

Wei Wei immediately tried to call another subject’s teacher to give a lesson instead.

With nothing to do, Qin Miaoyu noticed Liang Qibin’s mood drop sharply. She suggested, “Learning is learning, no matter the subject. Why not let Qibin spend a lesson painting with me? He can relax and still learn something.”

She had expected to be refused, but to her surprise, Wei Wei agreed without hesitation, leaving Qin Miaoyu somewhat astonished.

Since permission was granted, she went to her room for supplies and brought Liang Qibin back to the garden.

Wei Wei watched them through the corridor’s glass window for a while, then headed to the surveillance room.

“Pull up the footage from the greenhouse after 10:30 this morning,” she instructed.

The security video showed Qin Miaoyu and Liang Qibin spending quite some time together in the greenhouse, and a smile appeared on Wei Wei’s face.

Following Qin Miaoyu into the greenhouse, Liang Qibin sincerely thanked her.

Qin Miaoyu said little, simply had Liang Qibin sit and began teaching him some basics, then let him try painting on his own.

As he painted, Qin Miaoyu realized her earlier comment about his talent was no exaggeration. For a child with almost no formal training to reach such a level could only be attributed to innate talent.

Still, she did not say this aloud.

The word “talent” was too heavy—especially for Liang Qibin, who was forbidden from pursuing painting yet possessed a gift for it. Knowing this would only add to his troubles. She would have to find an opportunity to discuss it with her sister-in-law.

After all, Wei Wei had not objected to her teaching Liang Qibin to paint, so perhaps her stance on forbidding him from artistic pursuits was not so absolute.

On Saturday morning, Lu Qi’an drove to the Liang family gate to pick up Qin Miaoyu.

Xi Ruofen, hearing the housekeeper mention what kind of car her son-in-law was driving, looked at Qin Miaoyu with a hint of surprise in her eyes. She asked, “Your husband drives such an expensive car?”