Chapter 33: Done on Purpose

The thing most feared is when the air suddenly falls silent, and at this moment, the atmosphere in the dining room was as if a spell of stillness had been cast—each member of the Lin family frozen in place.

Of them all, Lin Wanyu’s expression changed the most—shock, embarrassment, anger, and a cascade of other emotions flickered across her face in quick succession, like the rapid transformations in Sichuan opera.

She was shocked: how had Qin Chuan discovered her time of the month? Embarrassed, for although everyone present was close family, she was after all an adult woman now, and having such a private matter revealed in public was acutely awkward. As for the anger, she could not understand why Qin Chuan, knowing perfectly well why she was treating him so coldly, insisted on putting the blame on her; it was truly the case of the guilty party making accusations first, with an added measure of unjust condemnation.

“You—Qin—” she began.

“Calm down, calm down. It’s best not to get angry these days, or you could easily trigger irregularities or dysmenorrhea. For women, it can even accelerate skin aging, and in the worst cases, it may lead to depression or breast cancer…”

Qin Chuan cut her off before she could finish.

“Stop… just stop talking!” Lin Wanyu had intended to shout these four words, but recalling the consequences Qin Chuan had just listed, she forcibly softened her tone, transforming her rage into a gentle calm.

Yet in that gentleness, there was still the faintest trace of gritted teeth, evidence of Lin Wanyu’s formidable emotional control. All of this, in Qin Chuan’s eyes, gave him a peculiar sense of satisfaction. He thought to himself: I do so enjoy seeing you unable to stand me, yet unable to do anything about it, even forced to compromise and follow the path I set.

“Uncle, Auntie, look at her. I kindly warned her about the aftereffects of losing her temper, and not only does she show no gratitude, she even glares at me resentfully. Truly, a good heart is mistaken for ill intent.”

Qin Chuan wore a look of aggrieved innocence, making the Lin couple’s hearts ache.

Their daughter was being unreasonable. It was one thing to dismiss his good intentions, but to glare at him so fiercely—poor Qin Chuan, how wronged he must feel.

Yet, the Lin couple sensed something was off, though they could not quite put their finger on it.

“Wanyu, apologize!” Lin Jiancheng said sternly.

Lin Wanyu bit her lip, her gaze icy as she looked at Qin Chuan, tears brimming in her eyes.

“Uncle, there’s really no need. As men, we ought to be magnanimous. Even if some women are unreasonable, stir up trouble, or… no matter how excessive they are, we must learn to be tolerant. As the famous writer Lu Xun once said, ‘A real man does not quarrel with a woman!’”

This was the final straw that broke Lin Wanyu’s composure. Her tears spilled over, but in her pride, she refused to let this detestable man see her break down. Crying, she ran upstairs to her room, the heavy slam of the door a testament to her last shred of stubbornness.

“Qin, Wanyu has been spoiled by us, I hope you’ll forgive her rudeness,” Lin Jiancheng said apologetically.

Qin Chuan waved his hand, indicating it was nothing.

Li Yulan, worry etched on her face, looked upstairs. She knew her daughter was not the type to make trouble without reason; she had not been coddled since childhood. In truth, Lin Wanyu had grown up under strict discipline from both parents.

“I’d better go check on her,” Li Yulan said, rising, but Qin Chuan spoke first to stop her: “Auntie, there’s no need to worry. It’s best to let her vent; bottling up emotions for too long can lead to illness.”

“You provoked her on purpose, didn’t you?” Lin Jiancheng, quick-witted, realized the truth at once.

No wonder something had seemed off—Qin Chuan’s deliberate efforts were all too apparent. He had been provoking his daughter, guiding her emotions toward an outburst.

As Li Yulan looked on in shock and puzzlement, Qin Chuan nodded and explained, “People who suppress their emotions for too long can develop all sorts of illnesses. Miss Lin is clearly very rational. Even when something makes her furious, she forces herself to keep calm. While that helps in dealing with many issues logically, the negative feelings just build up inside. Push them too far, and the mind can break. By then, treating it becomes far more difficult.”

“Thank you, Mr. Qin.” Out of gratitude for Qin Chuan’s foresight in helping his daughter, Lin Jiancheng even changed the way he addressed him, signaling respect.

Qin Chuan smiled. “No need to be so formal, Uncle Lin. It was nothing, really.”

In truth, Qin Chuan’s aim was to seize the initiative in the upcoming discussion about ending the engagement. Lin Wanyu might not know his background, but the Lin family elders surely did. If they, for the sake of maintaining ties with his mentors or out of greed for the immense benefits marriage could bring, forced Lin Wanyu to agree, that was not an outcome Qin Chuan wished to see.

While Qin Chuan adored beautiful women, he believed marriage should follow the right path.

“Come, let’s sit and eat while we talk,” Lin Jiancheng said, pouring Qin Chuan a drink. Qin Chuan took the cup with both hands in thanks.

Li Yulan sat beside her husband. Now that she understood what had really happened, her worry for her daughter subsided, and she gazed at Qin Chuan with even greater warmth. As the old saying goes, a mother-in-law grows fonder of her son-in-law the more she looks at him. Li Yulan found this so very true, though a moment later, something else occurred to her, and she turned away with a quiet sigh.

As the meal went on, Qin Chuan and Lin Jiancheng chatted amiably. Li Yulan noticed that no matter what topic her husband brought up, Qin Chuan could speak at length, and when it came to current affairs and news, he even offered unique insights.

How Li Yulan wished this harmonious scene could last forever. But such hopes were not to be.

Suddenly, Lin Jiancheng’s tone shifted, and the pleasant atmosphere evaporated. “Mr. Qin, you came today regarding the engagement, didn’t you?”

Qin Chuan nodded and asked in return, “I’m also curious as to what you and Auntie think about this engagement.”

Li Yulan looked to her husband. After a brief pause, Lin Jiancheng replied, “To be honest, Mr. Qin, my attitude is simple: if Wanyu is willing, that’s enough. If she’s not, I don’t want anyone to force her.”

Qin Chuan’s eyes narrowed. There was a lot of meaning behind Lin Jiancheng’s words. It seemed his earlier concerns were not unfounded—other elders in the Lin family might be pressuring Lin Wanyu to marry him.

“So the token isn’t in your hands, Uncle?” Qin Chuan probed.

Lin Jiancheng sighed, “Three days ago, my father and uncles took it away.”

A cold gleam flickered in Qin Chuan’s eyes. Lin Jiancheng had put it gently; it was surely more than just “taking”—more likely, he had been forced to hand it over.

“Mr. Qin, I know I may not be in a position to ask, but I must beg you to do Wanyu a favor,” Lin Jiancheng said, moving as if to kneel.