The next morning, Song Xinya woke up and looked at Qin Yuhe’s exhausted face.
“Didn’t you sleep at all last night?”
Qin Yuhe gave a quiet “Mm.”
Song Xinya’s heart immediately ached for him. Just look at her husband—he had worked through the entire night without sleep to earn money and support the family.
How touching! Sob, sob.
Song Xinya threw back the covers, jumped out of bed, and went to the kitchen to make a bowl of abalone and sea cucumber tonic soup.
It was a reward for her husband’s hard work all night.
When Qin Yuhe saw the abalone and sea cucumber soup his wife had prepared, he thought, As expected, she wants it.
She had made this kidney-nourishing, virility-boosting soup to hint that she wanted to be intimate with him tonight.
Otherwise, why would she make this kind of soup?
His guess had to be right.
Since his wife wanted him, as her husband, he had a duty to satisfy her.
To show his sincerity, Qin Yuhe picked up the bowl of tonic soup and drained it in one go.
When he finished, he held the empty bowl up for her to see.
“Another bowl.”
Song Xinya felt even more distressed. Look at him—just how exhausted must her husband be if one bowl of tonic soup wasn’t enough?
She hurriedly poured him another bowl.
Qin Yuhe drained that one as well.
Song Xinya asked cautiously, “Do you want more?”
Qin Yuhe, who found it awkward to refuse his wife’s kindness, replied, “Yes.”
Song Xinya’s heart practically twisted in pain. Her husband was working so hard. Sob, sob.
So she filled another large bowl for him.
After finishing it, Qin Yuhe began to worry that she might pour him another one.
He really couldn’t drink any more.
Just then, Song Tingye walked out of his room.
Qin Yuhe immediately stood up, strode over to him, grabbed him by the arm, and held on tightly.
Song Tingye exclaimed, “Wow, Brother-in-law, you’re being so affectionate!”
Qin Yuhe dragged him to the dining table, forced him into a chair, and said, “Your sister made abalone and sea cucumber soup. There are several bowls left. Hurry up and drink.”
Song Tingye’s eyes lit up at the sight of the food. “Brother-in-law, you’re so good to me!”
Qin Yuhe pressed down on his head. “Stop talking and drink.”
If you don’t drink it, your sister will make me drink it.
Song Tingye downed four bowls in one breath.
When there was only one bowl left, the chopsticks in Song Xinya’s hand smacked against his hand.
“Stop drinking. Leave it for your brother-in-law.”
Qin Yuhe said, “He’s in his final year of high school. This is the time when he needs brain food. Let him have it.”
Song Tingye agreed, “Exactly! Sis, why are you being so stingy? Look how much Brother-in-law cares about me. He won’t even eat the good stuff himself—he gives it all to me.”
Qin Yuhe lifted the bowl and held it to his lips. “Hurry up and eat!”
Song Tingye cried out, “Oh my gosh, you’re even feeding me! Brother-in-law, you’re really too good to me. I’m so touched I could cry.”
Qin Yuhe said, “Don’t cry. Eat.”
Song Tingye obediently slurped down the entire bowl.
Not only was Song Tingye moved, but Song Xinya was touched by Qin Yuhe as well.
“Look at you. You barely ate anything yourself, and you gave it all to Xiaoye.”
Qin Yuhe replied solemnly, “It’s nothing. This is what I, as his brother-in-law, should do.”
After breakfast, the two of them prepared to go to the office.
Then Old Madam Qin called.
“Yaya, Little He, Grandma has something urgent to discuss with you. Come to the old residence.”
Song Xinya and Qin Yuhe exchanged a glance. They had already guessed what this was about.
When they arrived at the Qin family’s old residence, they saw Zhao Yinian holding onto Old Madam Qin’s arm.
As expected, it was because of her.
When Old Madam Qin saw Song Xinya and Qin Yuhe, she prompted Zhao Yinian, “It’s hot outside. Go pour some iced tea for Yaya and Little He.”
This gesture meant that she was trying to act as a mediator, smoothing over the conflict between Zhao Yinian, Song Xinya, and Qin Yuhe. If they drank the tea Zhao Yinian had poured, they would be accepting a favor from her, which might help ease the tension between them.
Zhao Yinian placed two cups of iced tea in front of Song Xinya and Qin Yuhe, then sat back down beside Old Madam Qin.
Old Madam Qin said, “Drink.”
Qin Yuhe said, “Grandma, you really are fearless. You’ll let your own grandson drink anything. Aren’t you afraid that your hot-blooded grandson will be poisoned until he ends up a cold corpse in a coffin?”
The hopeful, conciliatory expression on Zhao Yinian’s face instantly turned ashen.
Old Madam Qin said, “What kind of thing are you saying? How could I possibly poison you?”
Qin Yuhe’s words were unmistakably pointed. “You wouldn’t poison me, but who knows whether the poisonous mushroom sitting beside you might.”
Zhao Yinian’s face went green.
She argued, “I didn’t put poison in the tea.”
Qin Yuhe said, “Your self-awareness is excellent. You’ve admitted yourself that you’re a poisonous mushroom.”
Zhao Yinian’s face flushed crimson with embarrassment.
Qin Yuhe added, “You’ve gone from a bitter bolete to a blood-red milkcap.”
Song Xinya nearly died laughing.
The Crown Prince Qin’s mind really did work fast. Using two different kinds of mushrooms, he had accurately described the dramatic change in Zhao Yinian’s complexion.
How had he managed to think of “bitter bolete” and “blood-red milkcap” in the space of a second? She was impressed.
Song Xinya laughed for quite a while.
Zhao Yinian looked to Old Madam Qin for help.
Looking at Qin Yuhe, the old madam scolded him. “Don’t speak to Nian-Nian like that. She’s your younger sister. You should be more accommodating toward her.”
Qin Yuhe said, “Grandma, stop talking. If you keep this up, you’re going to turn into an annoying old woman.”
Old Madam Qin paused. “Really?”
Qin Yuhe replied, “I’m a busy man. I don’t have time to tell you lies.”
Old Madam Qin said, “I used to be very well-liked.”
Qin Yuhe said, “Don’t remain immersed in the glory of the past. People need to look forward and be prepared to face the risk of being criticized.”
Old Madam Qin fell silent.
Qin Yuhe continued, “Now, back to the matter at hand. I’d like to hear what Zhao Yinian said to you that made you go to so much trouble today and willingly play mediator to plead for her.”
Old Madam Qin glanced at Zhao Yinian.
“Nian-Nian, I have something to discuss with Little He. Go outside for a moment.”
Zhao Yinian said, “Grandma, I’ve always conducted myself properly and have nothing to fear. Whatever you have to say, you can say it in front of me.”
If she stayed, Old Madam Qin—who was her elder and whose life Zhao Yinian had once saved—would naturally feel too embarrassed to repeat Zhao Yinian’s words to Qin Yuhe exactly as they were. She would inevitably try to defend Zhao Yinian.
That was why the old madam wanted her to leave.
She wanted to hear the truth.
But Zhao Yinian insisted, “I’m not leaving. I’m staying right here.”
A layer of ice settled in Qin Yuhe’s deep eyes.
“I gave you a chance to preserve your dignity, but you refused it. Don’t blame anyone else when your pride is stripped away.”
He looked toward the door.
“Come in. Drag Zhao Yinian out.”
Two strong household servants entered the room.
Zhao Yinian realized she was in trouble and regretted refusing to leave. She hurriedly said she would go on her own.
Too late.
The two servants grabbed her without a word and hauled her outside.
Zhao Yinian lost both her dignity and her reputation.
Old Madam Qin then began recounting Zhao Yinian’s words truthfully.
“Nian-Nian said that when Yaya was spending time with a high school senior, she failed to maintain proper boundaries, which caused that boy to develop romantic feelings for her and want to do something improper to her.”
“Nian-Nian said that that boy named Sheng was sweet-looking and an excellent student. His teachers and classmates all said he had a good character and would one day be an outstanding candidate for Tsinghua or Peking University. Because of a series of inappropriate actions on Yaya’s part, she had affected the boy’s future.”
Zhao Yinian had actually twisted the truth to such an outrageous extent!
Sheng Tianjun wanted to rape Song Xinya, yet somehow managed to make it all her fault!
Song Xinya couldn’t listen to any more of it. She walked out the front door and went after Zhao Yinian.
Song Xinya had never believed that the wicked would eventually get what they deserved. She would be her own heaven!
Zhao Yinian was walking away when Song Xinya caught up with her and blocked her path.
“Song Xinya, what are you doing here?”
Song Xinya raised her arm and slapped her hard across the face.
“I’m here to hit you!”
