Chapter 68: Return to the Qin Family

Qin Miaoyu spent several peaceful days at the Liang household.

Each day, she would paint a little, occasionally tutor Liang Qibin, and even felt a rare sense of contentment.

After spending a few more days with Liang Qibin, Qin Miaoyu found herself genuinely pitying the child. He could learn everything the Liang family demanded of him quite well, but because he had never been allowed to pursue his own interests, he had developed a resistance to those things. Especially at his age—children are naturally more inclined toward rebellion, and the more one tries to suppress them, the more defiant they become.

She herself had once been like that in her teens, forced by her mother to study etiquette and painting. Outwardly, she dared not protest, but in private she would grumble to herself, wishing she didn’t have to learn etiquette, or painting, or curry favor with children her own age...

But Liang Qibin was only her nephew by the sudden twist of fate that reunited her with the Liang family. She had no right to interfere in these matters. The most she could do during her stay was occasionally let him paint, giving him a brief respite; that was already the limit of what she could manage.

Since Liang Qibin was staying at the Liang family’s old residence, her sister-in-law Wei Wei was also there most of the time. Sometimes, when Qin Miaoyu ran into her with nothing to do, she would seize the chance to probe a little.

Her second brother had remarked that her sister-in-law’s attitude changed too quickly, and Qin Miaoyu felt the same. So occasionally, she would casually ask why Wei Wei had suddenly decided to let Liang Qibin learn painting.

But her sister-in-law’s answers were always watertight. She simply said that seeing Liang Qibin sick for so long had made her feel sorry for him, so she allowed him to paint a little, and cautioned Qin Miaoyu not to tell her elder brother, since he was strongly opposed to it.

Recently, Liang Sixuan had also been uncharacteristically quiet, and did not cause trouble or target her at the old house.

That day, Qin Miaoyu received a rare call from her mother, Su Yaqing.

“You’ve been back in Nancheng for so long and haven’t come home for a meal. Why don’t you come by for lunch today? Lianzhu is here too—let’s have a family gathering.”

Qin Miaoyu didn’t really want to go and was about to refuse when her sister-in-law, nearby, remarked that Liang Sixuan seemed to be going to the Qin house that day as well.

She immediately changed her mind and agreed to go to the Qin house for lunch.

“Big Sister-in-law, how did you know Liang Sixuan was going to the Qin house today, and why did you specifically remind me?” Qin Miaoyu asked after hanging up.

Wei Wei took her time picking up her teacup from the coffee table, sipped her tea, and replied, “If this had been before, I would have sided with Sixuan and wouldn’t have told you. But these past few days, you’ve been teaching Qibin, and I’m grateful for it, so naturally, I’m on your side.”

Qin Miaoyu said nothing more and went to change her clothes.

Just as she arrived at the Qin house, she saw a flashy sports car parked on the lawn—Liang Sixuan’s beloved car. Anyone who knew her would know at a glance that Liang Sixuan was there.

The old housekeeper had been waiting at the door and hurried up to greet her as soon as he saw her.

“Miss, it’s been a long time since you’ve come home.”

Qin Miaoyu answered and walked inside with the old housekeeper.

“Have you been well lately, Grandpa Housekeeper?”

“Very well, very well. But you, Miss, you look thinner than before.”

Qin Miaoyu laughed. “Grandpa Housekeeper, you’re the only one who thinks I’ve lost weight. I just weighed myself recently and I’m actually two or three pounds heavier than last time I was home.”

“Miss, you’d have to gain at least another four or five pounds to be healthy. When you were little... ah, being too thin isn’t good for you.”

Qin Miaoyu knew exactly what the housekeeper was about to say. Because she had been taught to maintain her figure, she had gone a long time without ever eating her fill.

It was from then on that, in the housekeeper’s eyes, she had become as thin as a reed.

She was already much better now.

“Don’t worry, Grandpa Housekeeper, I just had a checkup recently—my health is excellent, not a single problem!”

“That’s good, that’s good. That young lady is here too,” the housekeeper added quietly.

“I know. Grandpa Housekeeper, you’re on my side, aren’t you?”

“Of course.”

Entering the living room, Qin Miaoyu was greeted by the scene of sisterly affection.

It was the first time she had seen Qin Lianzhu acting coquettish and sweet, her mouth full of compliments for Liang Sixuan.

Qin Miaoyu’s gaze shifted, and sure enough, she noticed a new handbag beside her—a different one from the last time she’d seen in a video call, but still worth nearly a hundred thousand.

Liang Sixuan sat there, smiling as she listened to Qin Lianzhu, but inwardly she was bored stiff. Qin Lianzhu wasn’t good at giving compliments; she kept repeating the same two lines, and for someone like Liang Sixuan, who had been flattered since childhood, it meant nothing at all.

She had hoped Qin Lianzhu could annoy Qin Miaoyu for her, but now she realized that was probably wishful thinking.

Still, she was counting on the Qin family to deal a blow to Qin Miaoyu, so she endured it and sat patiently on the sofa.

When she heard someone approaching, Liang Sixuan immediately looked over and saw Qin Miaoyu.

Her smile grew wider as she pulled Qin Lianzhu to her feet.

“Qin Miaoyu, you’re finally back! Uncle and Auntie said we should all have a meal together today. I thought, since you’re part of the family, I asked Auntie to call you home.”

“No wonder. I was surprised to get a call since you rarely contact me, but if you’re all family, why do you call them Uncle and Auntie?”

“I’m just not used to it yet, so I still call them Uncle and Auntie. Don’t you call your mom Mrs. Liang? Isn’t it about the same?”

“Is it really the same?” Qin Miaoyu smiled at Liang Sixuan.

Liang Sixuan did not answer.

Qin Miaoyu sat down beside Qin Lianzhu.

“How is it that after all this time, you don’t even call me ‘sister’ anymore?”

Qin Lianzhu grudgingly called her sister. As she lowered her head, she noticed the subtle logo on Qin Miaoyu’s clothes, and her eyes lit up.

“Sis, last time I asked you for a gift, you said you had no money. Now that you’ve been reunited with the Liang family, you must have some money, right? Didn’t you bring me anything?”

“No, I didn’t. Isn’t your real sister very generous with you? Next time you want something, just ask her directly. If she can give you such an expensive bag, I’m sure all those things you used to want are nothing to her.”

Qin Miaoyu’s words made Qin Lianzhu’s eyes sparkle as she turned her gaze to Liang Sixuan.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Liang Sixuan nodded, “If you want anything, just let me know. After all, Auntie gave me a gift too.”

As she finished speaking, Liang Sixuan showed off the bracelet on her wrist—a jade bangle, the most valuable piece the Qin family had ever bought.

Now it was on Liang Sixuan’s wrist.

Qin Miaoyu was no stranger to this bracelet. She had worn it herself before. It used to sit in her jewelry box on her dressing table, but it had never truly belonged to her.

Or rather, all the valuable jewelry in that box never belonged to Qin Miaoyu; her parents had warned her that those things belonged to the Qin family.

Who would have thought that now, the most precious bangle had been given straight to Liang Sixuan.