CHAPTER 45: CHAPTER 45: RETURN TO B CITY, FIRST APPEARANCE

And so, both of Lin Jing’s daughters-in-law were married into the family. Once Qin Jianguo saw that everything was settled, he began to reveal the news of his marriage alliance with the Zhen Family.

When Lin Jing heard that Qin Jianguo had allied with the Zhen Family, she was so shocked that she spat out a mouthful of blood...

The Zhen Family, a family of scholars, revered among the literary circles of B City.

Lin Jing felt discontent. Both her sons from the Qin Family could only marry into the declining Jiang Family and the lesser Fang Family.

Why could Qin Jianguo marry a daughter from the Zhen Family?

Lin Jing was unwilling and wanted to cause trouble, but this time, Qin Jianguo didn’t even need to act. The old Qin patriarch issued a warning first: anyone who dared to ruin the marriage alliance between the Qin and Zhen families would be expelled from the Qin Family.

Upon hearing this, Lin Jing, though still unhappy, dared not make any moves.

After the marriage, Qin Jianguo officially took over all affairs of the Qin Group, once raising the Qin Group to another level.

Initially, Qin Jiantai and Qin Jianming also joined the Qin Group, but every project they handled encountered problems. In anger, the old Qin patriarch expelled them from the Qin Group.

When he was dying, the old Qin patriarch even directly made a will, leaving all the shares of the Qin Group to Qin Jianguo, along with the Qin Family’s ancestral home.

But Qin Jianguo didn’t want it—the ancestral home had never brought joy to him or his mother.

What use did he have for such a place? Moreover, ever since Qin Jianguo moved out of the ancestral home at the age of eight, aside from occasionally coming back to see the old patriarch or having meals during festive seasons, he rarely stayed there...

Even though Qin Jianguo didn’t like the ancestral home, he didn’t give it to Lin Jing’s family. After the old patriarch passed away, Lin Jing and her family were driven out by Qin Jianguo, leaving the ancestral home vacant to this day.

After hearing Qin Mother’s words, Xiao Li said softly, "Mom, don’t worry! I’m not someone to be easily bullied. I usually keep calm because no one dares to bully me. But if anyone dares to, I’ll show them what happens when a gentle cat gets angry."

Qin Mother smiled upon hearing this, "With you saying that, I’m relieved."

As the two were talking, Qin Xiao came in. Seeing their cheerful conversation, he asked, "What are you chatting about? You look happy..."

As he spoke, he walked over and picked up Mianmian, who was playing with toys...

Qin Mother said with a smile, "I was telling Xiao Li about those troublesome families."

Qin Xiao didn’t care, saying, "If they’re troublesome, why tell Nini? People like that aren’t worthy of her ears."

Qin Mother shook her head, "I know you don’t want Xiao Li to hear all this mess, but we’re going back now, and it’s inevitable that we’ll encounter them. If you don’t tell Xiao Li in advance, she’ll be caught off guard later..."

Qin Xiao sneered, "As if they’re worthy of troubling Nini?"

He looked at Xiao Li and said, "Don’t worry about them. With me here, those people aren’t worth your attention."

Xiao Li smiled, "I know you’ll protect me, but I want to handle it myself.

First, I’m not a sheltered flower. If others want to bully me, they’d better be ready to get pricked by thorns.

Second, I find it quite fun to irritate people. Let me play a bit.

If I do end up pushing someone too far, I’ll need you to back me up, uncle."

Qin Xiao laughed, reaching out to pat Xiao Li’s head, "Feel free to play. If someone gets upset, worst-case scenario, I’ll just pay for their medical bills—I can afford it..."

Listening to their banter, Qin Mother found it amusing. Seeing that Xiao Li wasn’t afraid, she wasn’t worried either and got up to leave.

A few days later, at a villa in B City, Qin Father, Qin Mother, and Qin Xiao’s family of three had all returned.

This villa wasn’t the one Xiao Li stayed at during her last visit to B City. Last time, they stayed at Qin Tan’s villa. Today, they were at the villa where Qin Father had lived since moving out of the Qin Family home; it has been decades, a very old villa.

Qin Xiao and Xiao Li would first stay here and only leave three days later after Mianmian’s first birthday party, moving to Qin Xiao’s villa in B City.

On the day of Mianmian’s first birthday party, the servants of the villa were busy early. The main venue for today’s party was set up in the villa’s garden, and the entire area was being decorated.

In a room on the second floor, Xiao Li was dressing Mianmian. Today, for her birthday, Mianmian wore a set of red Hanfu. After putting it on, Xiao Li also styled her hair...

Mianmian’s hair wasn’t long enough to braid, so Xiao Li simply smoothed it out and clipped two small cherry clips on each side...

After dressing Mianmian, Xiao Li finally let Qin Xiao, who was already in his suit, hold her. Qin Xiao picked up Mianmian and said with a smile, "Our little princess looks so beautiful today!

Let’s wait a little longer for my big princess to get ready, and then we’ll all go down together..."

After Mianmian was born, Xiao Li was promoted from little princess to big princess, giving Qin Xiao two princesses at once.

After handing Mianmian to Qin Xiao, Xiao Li went to change into her outfit—a light purple strapless tulle gown, a haute couture piece from the Meini brand.

Xiao Li’s skin was naturally fair, and the light purple dress made her look even fairer.

Once she’d put on her dress, a hairstylist who had been waiting came over to do her hair and makeup...

When everything was ready, Qin Xiao, Mianmian in his arms, and Xiao Li holding his arm, the family of three descended from the second floor.

In the living room on the first floor, some guests had already arrived. The moment they saw the three of them coming down, they all turned to look...

None of the guests had seen Xiao Li before, but seeing her coming down with Qin Xiao, they knew that she was the elusive second Young Madam of the Qin Family.

Seeing Xiao Li come down, Qin Mother approached to introduce her to the guests.

Though Xiao Li felt the scrutinizing gazes, she still calmly followed Qin Mother to meet the other ladies...

Qin Mother first introduced the noble woman in a black gown standing in the center, "Xiao Li, this is your sister-in-law’s mother, Wen Xin, and also my childhood friend."

Xiao Li was a bit surprised when she heard the woman was also surnamed Wen, as it happened to be the same surname as her mother.

After a brief pause, Xiao Li quickly bowed respectfully at a fifteen-degree angle to Wen Xin, "Hello, Auntie."

Wen Xin smiled and extended her hand to Xiao Li, who promptly extended hers as well. They shook hands for a few seconds before releasing.

Wen Xin said with a smile, "I heard from Xiaojie that her sister-in-law is quite charming and just the kind of character I like. Now, having met you in person, it seems Xiaojie was right..."