CHAPTER 416: CHAPTER 386: I DISAGREE

"Since you’ve already seen it, why did Mr. Lin come over tonight?" Qiao Yuxian asked Lin Huai Shu gently.

Gu Yanjing sat beside Qiao Yuxian, looking calmly at Lin Huai Shu.

Lin Huai Shu was momentarily stunned by the question, then replied earnestly, "I wanted to ask if it’s serious? How should it be treated, and can I help?"

Qiao Yuxian looked at him.

Lin Huai Shu was quite handsome and well-mannered, possibly due to his personality, always having an air of refined elegance and relaxation.

Very casual.

But his tone was incredibly sincere and serious.

Regarding privacy, Qiao Yuxian didn’t know what Qiao Lechu thought, or if mentioning it would be more helpful to her, or...

So she pondered and gave an ambiguous answer, "Serious or not... I don’t know the medical terms for defining serious, or what level counts as serious."

Lin Huai Shu knew she didn’t want to elaborate but pressed on, "Is that why she hasn’t gone to school?"

Qiao Yuxian nodded.

Lin Huai Shu clenched his fingers.

When did Qiao Lechu take a break from school, when did she stop attending classes.

He didn’t need to intentionally investigate; a slight inquiry at Kyoto University and he could know it all.

If it wasn’t from previously having mild depression, then she must have gotten ill recently.

"How is she now..." Lin Huai Shu asked again.

"As you can see," Qiao Yuxian said, "She went to see a doctor on her own."

Qiao Lechu seemed much better, able to communicate normally with people, and no longer resistant to seeing others.

But she went to see a doctor on her own.

Whether this was a good sign or not was uncertain.

Whether she wanted to proactively talk to a doctor, or thought it was severe and was trying to save herself.

Saw Qiao Lechu at the hospital in the afternoon.

She was very nervous, completely unwilling to let others know.

Lin Huai Shu naturally noticed this and found a clumsy excuse to protect Qiao Lechu’s feelings.

Though clumsy, it still eased Qiao Lechu’s emotions.

After returning home, Qiao Yuxian didn’t dare to ask much.

She feared that in such a short time, her questioning would immediately trigger Qiao Lechu’s nervousness again.

Lin Huai Shu was silent for a moment, then after a while said, "Sister-in-law, I want to pursue Lechu."

Suddenly hearing this, Gu Yanjing slightly raised his brows.

Qiao Yuxian didn’t expect him to be so straightforward, was momentarily stunned, then slightly smiled and said, "She’s ill, and you still want to pursue her?"

"Yes." Lin Huai Shu replied firmly.

"And if her illness is very serious?" Qiao Yuxian asked.

"I’ll be there for her treatment." Lin Huai Shu replied.

Qiao Yuxian looked at him and continued to ask, "Do you really like her?"

"Yes. I like her." Lin Huai Shu replied.

"You haven’t known each other for long. Lechu is very beautiful and has a nice personality," Qiao Yuxian said. "It’s not surprising that you like her. But can you be sure that your feelings aren’t just a passing fancy? Can you be sure it’s genuine?"

Lin Huai Shu slightly smiled and said, "Didn’t Sister-in-law and Yanjing get married despite not knowing each other for long?"

Gu Yanjing turned his head to look at Qiao Yuxian.

"Yes." Qiao Yuxian nodded, "Not only did we know each other for a short time, but we only met twice and hardly spoke."

Lin Huai Shu asked, "What were you thinking at the time, Sister-in-law?"

Qiao Yuxian paused in thought and said, "Nothing special. I’m the type of person who acts on impulse. If I want to do something, I just do it. He looked good to me, and I liked him at first sight, wanting to make him mine. So I leaned on Grandpa Gu to force the marriage."

Gu Yanjing silently listened from the side.

"Anyway, I must have what I like. If it’s not suitable, we’ll just divorce. I haven’t thought too much, as I won’t wrong myself," said Qiao Yuxian.

Listening quietly, there was a sudden stillness in Gu Yanjing’s eyes.

Lin Huai Shu glanced at Gu Yanjing, then asked, "Can Sister-in-law understand me?"

"I can." Qiao Yuxian replied directly, "But I don’t agree."

Lin Huai Shu failed to gain an ally, fell silent for a moment.

Qiao Yuxian said, "I’m fine living any life, walking any path. Whether good or bad, I accept and can bear it. But my sister can’t. I want her to be happy and joyful. I don’t want her to gamble with her feelings. I don’t dare say my marriage was right, for I followed my heart, but I hope her every step is steady."

Lin Huai Shu listened quietly.

"I hope you can think carefully, be serious if you’ve decided. Be serious about her and your feelings," Qiao Yuxian said slowly, "If you’re earnest, whatever the outcome, whether together or apart, whether growing old together or parting midway, it’s between you two. I have no right to intrude. After all, whether lovers or spouses, separations happen. But being serious means not letting each other down."

Gu Yanjing’s fingers on his leg moved slightly, and his eyes fluttered briefly.

"What I ask is just that you don’t hurt her," Qiao Yuxian continued to Lin Huai Shu, "If you’re unsure of your feelings, or unclear of your current affection, I hope you don’t get close to her."

"Otherwise..." Qiao Yuxian chuckled slightly, her gaze icy despite her warm tone, sending a chill to listeners, "If Lechu gets even mildly hurt, I’ll take your life."

Lin Huai Shu leaned back on the sofa, taking a deep breath, avoiding Qiao Yuxian’s sharpness, "Sister-in-law, I can see my heart clearly. I know what I’m doing. I came today partly to ask about Lechu and partly to get your permission."

Qiao Yuxian looked at him.

Lin Huai Shu continued, "I like her, I’ll pursue her gradually, absolutely won’t harm her, and will respect her. If she likes me back, I’ll consider it my blessing. If she doesn’t, I’ll step back."

He didn’t specify how far back he’d step, nor did he dare to think about it.

"Will you keep your word?" Qiao Yuxian asked.

"I will." Lin Huai Shu said confidently, adding, "If I don’t, Sister-in-law can come at me with a knife."

Qiao Yuxian smiled kindly, then somehow procured a butterfly knife, spinning it in her hand.

She spun it so fast that it created afterimages.

Then she drove the knife into the snacks before them.

The blade pierced the pastry, cracking the porcelain plate with a sharp sound.

The plate broke into two.

Lin Huai Shu looked at the knife embedded in the pastries.

Qiao Yuxian said, "If that day comes, I’ll definitely opt for a bigger one."

Having said that, she got up and said, "You two talk, I’m going to check on Zhaocai."

"Okay." Gu Yanjing responded.

After Qiao Yuxian left, Lin Huai Shu collapsed onto the sofa, unbuttoning his collar while gasping for air.

Gu Yanjing looked at him, "Weren’t you calm earlier?"

"I was pretending. Couldn’t show weakness, could I?" Lin Huai Shu said, "Yanjing, Sister-in-law is too intimidating. My back is soaked."

"You’re just too nervous, don’t besmirch our image," Gu Yanjing said calmly.

Why so nervous was naturally because he cared too much, hoping her family would accept him.

Lin Huai Shu: "......Isn’t a friend’s life valuable as well?"

Gu Yanjing glanced at him and ignored him.

Lin Huai Shu said, "I was genuinely worried Sister-in-law would dismiss me, thinking I wasn’t good enough for Lechu. Or tell me to stay away from her."

"Are you really sure?" Gu Yanjing asked.

"Of course." Lin Huai Shu sat upright, like a love-struck teenager, a bit silly, "I genuinely like Lechu. Really like. I want to be with her."

"As long as you’re clear," Gu Yanjing said flatly, "Don’t drag me into it later."

Lin Huai Shu: "......You really don’t care about your buddy’s life anymore!"