The shadows filling the courtyard were dispelled.
A beam of sunlight pierced through the open gates, falling directly onto Song Xinya.
She turned around and saw Qin Yuhe standing against the light.
His tall figure was lean and sharp, his entire body bathed in a layer of golden light. His aura was unfathomable, powerful, and noble.
Song Xinya looked at Qin Yuhe, her eyes full of astonishment. Mr. Qin...
Wasn't he on a business trip to Shanghai?
Song Xuanli, Zhang Yingying, Li Cuirou, and the butlers and maids who had gathered in the courtyard were equally astonished the moment they saw Qin Yuhe, as if struck by lightning.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Qin Yuhe strode over to Song Xinya's side. He placed his hand on her shoulder in a protective gesture, pulling her gently into his embrace.
His gaze swept over the people standing in a circle. Is this situation a siege against my wife?
My wife. Those two words were spoken with resounding force.
Everyone felt a surge of fear.
Song Xuanli squeezed out an apologetic smile. President Qin, what are you saying? In a civilized society ruled by law, it's not like we would hit Song Xinya. She took something of ours, and we just want it back.
Qin Yuhe glanced at the USB drive in Song Xinya's hand and stated, No matter whose it was, as long as it is in my wife's hands, it belongs to my wife.
Everyone was dumbfounded.
Song Xuanli asked, President Qin, what do you mean by that?
Qin Yuhe replied, It means that no matter what happens, you are the ones in the wrong. My wife is never wrong.
Everyone was shocked once again.
This was too protective.
The completely unreasonable kind of protective. His heart was entirely biased toward his wife.
Everyone always said that Qin Yuhe, the crown prince of the capital's elite circle, was strictly impartial and had the demeanor of a gentleman. Seeing him today, why was he so different from the rumors? He seemed just like a doting wife-slave.
Song Xuanli protested, President Qin, you can't say that. Right or wrong, true or false, there must be a standard of judgment.
Qin Yuhe retorted, I am here to back up my wife, not to be a referee. A standard of judgment? My wife is the standard of judgment.
Everyone froze again.
There was nothing left to say about Song Xinya taking the USB drive, because President Qin had spoken: his wife was never wrong, and she was the standard of judgment.
Zhang Yingying looked at Song Xinya, who was sheltered in Qin Yuhe's arms. Throughout the entire negotiation, she hadn't said a single word, yet she was already retreating completely unscathed.
She had never experienced the feeling of being so firmly defended by a man.
Her heart felt as if it were soaking in vinegar, and flames of jealousy ignited in Zhang Yingying's eyes.
Seeing Zhang Yingying's jealous glare, Song Xinya curled her red lips and raised an eyebrow.
Jealousy itself was a form of looking up to someone. Zhang Yingying's jealousy only proved that Song Xinya was better than her.
Receiving the other woman's dismissive and provocative look made Zhang Yingying feel even worse.
She wanted to open her mouth and hurl insults at Song Xinya, but upon seeing Qin Yuhe beside her, she fearfully shut her mouth.
Qin Yuhe guided Song Xinya outward with his arm around her.
Everyone in the courtyard stared blankly at his retreating back.
The number of times they would see such a prominent figure in their lifetimes could be counted on one hand.
Song Xuanli eagerly tried to curry favor. President Qin, since you're already here, why not stay for a meal before you go? I am Song Xinya's father. No matter what, we are all family.
Qin Yuhe didn't break his stride, continuing to walk forward. Wait until my wife acknowledges you as her father before you speak the word family to me.
The Rolls-Royce was parked in front of the Song family's gates.
The crowd in the courtyard watched as Qin Yuhe bent down to open the car door for Song Xinya, placing his hand against the roof of the car to protect her head as she slid inside.
Once she was seated, even the way he closed the door was incredibly gentle.
The Rolls-Royce drove off, leaving only a trail of exhaust for the people in the courtyard.
...
Inside the car, Song Xinya and Qin Yuhe sat in the backseat.
Their thighs were pressed together.
The woman's thighs were exceptionally soft, and through the two layers of fabric, the warmth of her skin radiated over continuously.
Song Xinya turned her head to look at the man beside her. Why don't you ask me what just happened?
There's no need to ask, Qin Yuhe said, his voice deep and firm. Behind closed doors, I will reason with you, but to the outside world, I will always protect you unconditionally.
As her husband, he had to do this.
He wanted to send a clear signal to everyone: he protects what is his, and no one has the right to point fingers at her.
At that moment, the overhead light in the car was on. The cool white light shone on his face, carving out his sharp, three-dimensional features. His nose was straight, his lips a deep red. His striking, almost gorgeous facial features exuded a sense of magnificent beauty.
Song Xinya stared at him in a daze.
She had always known he was handsome, but now, she found him increasingly attractive.
It had reached the point where every time she looked at him, she would lose herself.
Her heartbeat accelerated.
Logically, the longer two people spent together, the less novelty there was, and the frequency of their hearts fluttering for each other would gradually decrease.
But Song Xinya's feelings for Qin Yuhe were not like that.
Astonished by his heavenly looks upon their first meeting, she admitted she was attracted by his physical appearance, yet the string in her heart called rationality had remained firmly anchored in the center.
But now, that string of rationality had gone off course, tilting to one side.
It felt as though it was about to break free from her control entirely and fly straight toward him.
...
The Rolls-Royce pulled up at Zijin Huating.
Song Xinya and Qin Yuhe walked into the living room.
A rich scent of fresh grass rushed to their noses.
Song Xinya looked toward the inner hall and saw Song Tingye and Qin Yuyan sitting by the table.
Several plates were laid out on the table.
Hearing footsteps, Song Tingye turned around. Sis!
Hey! Brother-in-law, you're here too! Weren't you out of town on a business trip?
Qin Yuhe's tone was casual. Stop pretending. Don't you know best why I'm here?
Song Tingye scratched his head. Brother-in-law, what do you mean? How would I know best?
Qin Yuhe replied, When you called me earlier, you specifically mentioned that your sister went to the Song family. Wasn't that your way of telling me to go to the Song family?
Song Tingye lowered his hand from his head and flashed a bright, cheeky grin. You even saw through that, Brother-in-law. You truly are a man who does great things.
Qin Yuhe had no reaction to his low-level flattery.
Song Tingye continued, But still, Brother-in-law, I told you to go, and you went. This just shows that my status as your brother-in-law in your heart is like the sun to the earth—absolutely essential.
Qin Yuhe let out a faint scoff. Could it be because your sister's status in my heart is very important?
Song Tingye was quite open-minded about it. We grew up together and kept each other company. My sister and I are inseparable. You treating my sister well is the same as treating me well. My sister being important in your heart means I am important.
Qin Yuhe said, You and I do share one common goal...
He took Song Xinya's hand. To protect my wife well.
The string in Song Xinya's heart tilted another inch.
A youthful, childish voice chimed in as Qin Yuyan asked, Then who's going to protect me?
Qin Yuhe replied, Women should be strong and independent.
Qin Yuyan pouted, Then why doesn't my sister-in-law have to be strong and independent?
Qin Yuhe said, Have a little self-awareness, kiddo. Can you even compare to your sister-in-law?
Qin Yuyan thought for a moment and replied, "You guys can all go protect my sister-in-law. I don't mind, because my sister-in-law will protect me, haha."
She lifted her chin toward Song Xinya. "Sister-in-law, you'll protect me, right?"
Song Xinya said, "I will."
Qin Yuyan felt a burst of sweet delight in her heart.
Song Tingye picked up his chopsticks, tapped the edge of his bowl, and reached out his hand toward Qin Yuhe. "Brother-in-law, hurry up and hand over tonight's steamed cornbread buns to me and the little princess. I've already prepared the dishes, now we're just waiting for the cornbread to eat with them."
Qin Yuhe walked over to their dining table and took a look. "Your standard of living has certainly improved. You're even having four dishes and one soup now: stir-fried wild greens, steamed wild greens, pan-fried wild greens, a cold wild greens salad, and wild greens soup."
Song Xinya chimed in, "Purely natural with no additives. Isn't this exactly the organic green food that modern people are always after?"
Song Tingye, the little smart aleck, quickly said, "Sis, if you give me two pounds of beef, I'll trade you this entire table of organic green food for it."
A servant walked over carrying the steamed cornbread. Qin Yuhe picked one up and stuffed it right into Song Tingye's mouth.
"Just hurry up and eat your cornbread and greens."
Qin Yuhe took Song Xinya by the hand and led her to another dining table, where the servants brought out their prepared meal.
Braised shark fin, rock sugar bird's nest, scallion roasted sea cucumber, an abalone and chicken wing claypot, and a sea cucumber and morel mushroom chicken soup.
It formed a stark contrast with the adjacent table's stir-fried wild greens, steamed wild greens, pan-fried wild greens, cold wild greens salad, and wild greens soup.
They were both having dinner, so how could the difference be so massive?
Song Tingye was so frustrated that he opened his mouth and took a huge, angry bite of his cornbread.
Good heavens, for a background NPC extra like him, was it really necessary to arrange so much bitter melodrama!
Slurp, slurp, slurp! Song Tingye downed three more large bowls of wild greens soup!
