novelraw Chapter 76
Chapter 76
Chapter 76 “Mom, do you know that boy?”
Li Jinghe’s face showed undeniable surprise.
“Yes, I know,” Grandma Qin said with a smile, her wrinkles seeming to stretch with her happiness. “Xiao Yu lived across from my house for several years. How could I not know him?”
Li Jinghe thought for a moment and her expression became more serious.
“Is he the one you mentioned who always lived alone?”
“Yes, that’s him. The boy is well-behaved, sensible, and cooks very well. He’s very polite to elders…”
Grandma Qin praised him extensively, making Qin Qing more and more doubtful if this was indeed Wen Yufeng she knew.
As she thought about it, she looked up at Grandma Qin and saw her giving her a knowing wink.
“……”
All right then.
Qin Qing gave a wry smile—
This was her grandmother helping Wen Yufeng win favor with her mother.
Li Jinghe’s gaze shifted to Qin Qing. “When did you get to know him?”
“About around when we transferred to Yishi High School. Later, when I skipped a grade, I happened to join his class, and we became familiar.” Qin Qing explained.
“So you two were—”
“……No.”
Qin Qing blinked guiltily, trying to look honest and reliable.
After she finished speaking, Qin Qing cautiously glanced at Grandma Qin.
She always had a feeling that Grandma Qin knew something back then.
Fortunately, Grandma Qin still had a warm smile, showing no signs of disapproval.
Seeing Qin Qing’s glance, Grandma Qin thought Qin Qing needed her help again and spoke to Li Jinghe, “Jinghe, our Sweetie is 24 this year, and it’s time to consider relationships and marriage—other parents are eager to marry off their daughters, but why are you always trying to pull her back?”
“I’m not against her dating, Mom,” Li Jinghe said helplessly. “But don’t be fooled by Sweetie being 24; she hasn’t even left school yet and doesn’t understand many things—I’m afraid she might be deceived!”
She then turned to Qin Qing, “I’m telling you clearly, that boy tonight gave me a very bad first impression—you shouldn’t feel wronged. No parent wants to see their daughter cling to an unfamiliar boy in the hallway. From tonight, his sense of responsibility and maturity are questionable to me!”
“Mom, tonight’s situation was… special.”
Qin Qing felt awkward, not knowing how to explain.
If she said it was a long-lost reunion, then her earlier explanation of their past innocence would have major issues…
“Special situation?” Li Jinghe said, “So you haven’t seen each other for several years and suddenly met downstairs in our new home, in a locked apartment building?”
“…………”
Qin Qing was stunned.
— With all the various incidents and surprises today, it had caused her mind to become muddled. Only now, with Li Jinghe’s reminder, did Qin Qing suddenly realize—
How did Wen Yufeng know where my home is?
And how did he get through the access control that required a card and a password?
Qin Qing unintentionally thought of the scene years ago when Wen Yufeng’s uncle had climbed in through the kitchen window.
Qin Qing: “……”
Could it be……?
At this moment, the complex and entangled thoughts in Qin Qing’s mind were unknown to Li Jinghe.
She only thought Qin Qing was unable to argue back.
Seeing her daughter’s lost expression, Li Jinghe couldn’t help but sigh internally.
She recalled the boy she saw today. …He did look good.
Li Jinghe had seen many good-looking young men, but she had to admit, compared to the boy who was with Qin Qing tonight, those others seemed lacking in some aspect.
As for his character…
Li Jinghe remembered when she first called out Qin Qing’s name, the boy looked extremely nervous and stiff—though his reaction was quick.
Later, when she entered the elevator and the boy followed out with Qin Qing, his expression had already calmed down.
It was evident he was still worried, but at least he hadn’t forgotten his manners and hadn’t done anything inappropriate.
After analyzing the entire process she had observed tonight, Li Jinghe’s frown softened a little.
“Qin Qing.”
“……Ah?”
Qin Qing was brought back to her senses by Li Jinghe.
“Tonight’s boy,” Li Jinghe asked. “What does he do?”
“……” Considering that this question might be asked, Qin Qing managed to respond calmly, “He used to serve in the special forces.”
Both Grandma Qin and Li Jinghe were taken aback.
The Qin and Li families were both scholarly families who mingled with academics and artists, and they had rarely interacted with military personnel.
It could be said they were more accustomed to scholarly pursuits and were not used to interacting with straightforward people who didn’t adhere to “reason,” or it could be that the two professions were too distant with little intersection.
Hearing that Qin Qing’s current interest was not only a soldier but also from the special forces, Li Jinghe and Grandma Qin were momentarily stunned.
Li Jinghe was the first to react, her previously relaxed brow furrowing again.
“You said ‘used to,’ so what about now?”
Knowing she couldn’t avoid this question, Qin Qing could only muster the courage to speak, “Mom, my relationship with him was actually quite good in high school—but at that time, there was absolutely nothing inappropriate, just focusing on studies…”
“So?”
“We had some conflicts over the years, and we just met again recently…I’m not sure about his current situation.”
Li Jinghe sighed with a look of reproach. “And you don’t even know his situation, yet you brought him to the house?”
Qin Qing: “…………”
She truly had no words to refute…
“All right, it’s getting late. You should rest.”
Li Jinghe said, “Aren’t you returning to school for your defense the day after tomorrow? When you come back, bring him home.”
Qin Qing was a bit surprised and looked up.
“What, can’t he be seen?”
“Ah, no, it’s not…” Qin Qing couldn’t help but smile, her pretty almond eyes curving up. “Okay, I’ll definitely bring him.”
“Set a time in advance and let me know before you come.” Li Jinghe said, “I’ll have your father come back to Qingcheng too.”
“……”
A family tribunal…
Qin Qing sighed inwardly, “Okay, Mom.”
Qin Qing, still apprehensive, went back to her room. She wanted to contact Wen Yufeng immediately to reassure him, but then realized she didn’t even know how to reach him now.
Qin Qing stood there hesitating for a while before pulling out her phone and finding Qiao An’s number to dial.
After a few rings with no answer, the mechanical voice came on.
Qin Qing sighed and hung up.
She stood there for a while, still conflicted, before heading to her wardrobe.
Opening the wardrobe, she found a bag with several ladies’ handbags, took one out, and sat back down on the bed.
Taking out an old phone from the bag, Qin Qing noticed it was at least six or seven years old.
Turning it on, the functions were very minimal.
She wondered if Wen Yufeng, like her, might still keep this old number and continue to top up its balance, always hoping that one day this phone might ring again.
It wasn’t that it never rang. Qin Qing’s lips curled slightly as she lay back on the soft bed, letting her thoughts wander.
She had received a few advertisements, scam calls, and two wrong numbers.
But never had she received a call from Wen Yufeng.
Qin Qing pressed the only number still saved in the contacts with her fingertip, and with a hopeful mindset, she dialed it.
Not hearing a “power off” or “number not in use” message, Qin Qing felt a huge sigh of relief.
A familiar piano melody played on the phone.
The old model had poor reception, but Qin Qing could hear the ringtone even when the phone was a dozen centimeters away from her eyes.
It was the somewhat overplayed “Für Elise.”
But in the quiet surroundings, the number she had memorized was displayed on the screen, and every note and melody was enchanting.
Then the call was answered.
A deep voice sounded—
“Sweetie?”
With a touch of anxiousness and uncertainty.
Qin Qing couldn’t help but smile and brought the phone back to her ear.
With the distance provided by the phone, not having to face him directly, Qin Qing’s courage grew.
She forced herself to keep her smile and deliberately lowered her voice: “Sir, did you dial the wrong number? This isn’t Sweetie.”
“……”
On the other end, Wen Yufeng sighed with relief.
Then, a slightly hoarse laughter followed.
With an alluring magnetism.
“Didn’t Auntie give you a hard time?”
Hearing Qin Qing still joking with him, Wen Yufeng felt most of his worry ease.
He leaned back against the wall, looking up at the deep blue starry sky above.
“My mom didn’t make things difficult for you, but she will definitely make things difficult for me later.”
Mentioning this, Qin Qing gave a bitter smile.
“I’m not afraid.”
“My mom is really scary, you know.”
The air was quiet for a moment.
After a few seconds, he spoke.
“……You’re back by my side.”
His voice was slow and slightly hoarse, like the resonant tones of a cello, carrying the texture and richness of well-aged wine—
“What could I possibly fear, Sweetie?”
Qin Qing was momentarily stunned. She realized that her feelings when she followed Li Jinghe upstairs were exactly like this.
“Hmm.”
She responded softly.
With a smile in her eyes.
“Because I’m with you, I’m not afraid of anything.”
“That’s good. Then I can rest easy.”
“……You haven’t left yet?”
Wen Yufeng sighed with a smile, “I was hoping that if Auntie threw you out, I could sneak in and take you home.”