Chapter 37: Lost in the Night

With a heart full of frustration, Wei pressed hard on the accelerator and sped northward, wanting to leave behind the season tainted by Qin Chuan, that troublesome companion. Wei felt utterly exhausted.

Yet what happened next only worsened his mood. He watched as Qin Chuan and Lan Jin exchanged flirtatious glances, forcing him, a single man, to be bombarded by their public displays of affection the entire journey. Wei’s heart felt even heavier.

After about an hour, the business van came to a steady stop in front of a vintage manor.

"Miss, Mr. Qin, we've arrived."

Wei quickly stepped out and opened the doors for the two of them.

Qin Chuan had barely set foot on the ground when he noticed dozens of people already waiting by the manor’s entrance. A red carpet was laid out, and two huge red lanterns hung above the main doors.

In the crowd, Qin Chuan’s gaze was immediately drawn to Li Qingcheng. Partly because her striking beauty and poise made her stand out wherever she went, and partly because her attire tonight was exceptionally vibrant.

Li Qingcheng wore a red cheongsam, her graceful, curvaceous figure outlined perfectly by the dress. Roses and butterflies, delicately embroidered on the silk, complemented her enchanting charm—a sight so mesmerizing it seemed to draw one in, body and soul.

"Brother Qin Chuan, your presence here truly brings honor to the Li family!"

Li Qingcheng greeted him warmly as she approached, her graceful and elegant steps mesmerizing all who watched. Especially when she smiled—there was a natural allure to her that made one’s heart race and throat dry.

"Brother Chuan, your eyes are practically falling out," Lan Jin whispered beside him in protest, giving his waist a playful pinch.

"Appreciating beauty is human nature—a reflex of the senses. How could I possibly be blamed?" Qin Chuan replied, making excuses as he awkwardly rubbed his nose.

He had to admit, Li Qingcheng was born to wear a cheongsam. Tall, slender, and exquisitely featured, she showcased the dress’s elegance to perfection. If he were to nitpick, perhaps the slit on her dress could be a little higher—but that, he mused, was a suggestion best reserved for a more private conversation with Li Qingcheng herself.

Lost in his thoughts, Qin Chuan was startled as Li Qingcheng came close and, before he could react, gave him a brief yet understanding hug.

Just as they parted, she leaned in and whispered a warm breath against his ear, a delicate fragrance enveloping him.

“Woman, you’re playing with fire,” Qin Chuan warned her softly in that instant.

Li Qingcheng giggled, clearly unbothered by his warning.

"Brother Qin, please, come inside!" Li Qingcheng gave a slight bow, gesturing invitingly with her right hand.

Qin Chuan was just about to enter when he felt a sudden tug on his left arm. Turning, he saw Lan Jin clinging to his arm, pouting, "Brother Chuan, I want to look around outside first."

Here it comes.

She strode over with an air of dominance.

A show of force.

The phrase flashed through Qin Chuan’s mind, but he didn’t let the situation trouble him. After all, Lan Jin hadn’t refused to enter the Li manor; she simply wanted to explore outside first.

Lan Jin was his shield, after all—he had to consider her feelings. A flat refusal would be unkind. But to agree outright would be to trample on the Li family’s hospitality, especially when they had welcomed him with such ceremony.

Yet such a small dilemma was nothing for the ever-resourceful Qin Chuan. Wearing a sincere, warm smile, he said, "On such a beautiful night, Miss Li, why not show us around the manor grounds first? I’ve heard your family’s chefs are unparalleled, so a walk might help me work up an appetite for tonight’s feast!"

Li Qingcheng was momentarily taken aback. She had been pondering how to offer Qin Chuan a graceful way out without offending her family, hoping to appear understanding and considerate—so very unlike Lan Jin’s “unreasonable and willful” demeanor. The contrast would be obvious.

But Qin Chuan’s response was even more skillful. He neither refused Lan Jin’s request nor slighted the Li family, cleverly praising their chefs and providing a dignified reason to stroll outside before entering. Most importantly, he invited Li Qingcheng to join them, preserving the Li family’s honor. Even though the formalities were delayed, no one could object.

"Of course, Brother Chuan! There’s a crescent lake just outside the manor—this season, the night view is breathtaking."

With that, Li Qingcheng stepped forward and gracefully linked her arm through Qin Chuan’s right, the movement so natural that any onlooker would assume deep intimacy.

Not to be outdone, Lan Jin tightened her grip on Qin Chuan’s left arm, so much so that he could feel the soft pressure from both sides.

Wei, following behind, was left dumbfounded and awestruck by Qin Chuan’s finesse. If it had been him, he surely would have offended one of the women.

Watching the amazed expressions around him, Qin Chuan thought their perspectives were simply too limited.

“Everyone admires my effortless solution to this delicate situation, but in fact, by fostering a sense of competition and urgency between these two women, I ensure they both seek my favor. Thus, as they vie for my attention, I alone reap the rewards—just like now, enjoying the simple life of being embraced on both sides.”

With a radiant smile and a gaze that seemed to survey all from above, Qin Chuan silently exulted, “They’re all playing the first level, while I’m already at the second.”

Escorted by the two women, Qin Chuan strode forward with an air of utter detachment. As they admired the moonlit lake, he couldn’t help but marvel at the feedback his arms received—each giving him their own little evaluation.

In the end, the data was clear: Lan Jin still had some room for growth, while Li Qingcheng, though elegant and lovely, was perhaps sacrificing comfort for beauty—those "adhesives" are not meant for long-term use, after all!

By the time they had completed a lap around the crescent lake, whether the night was beautiful or not, Qin Chuan couldn’t say—he’d spent the entire walk evaluating data, losing himself in the process. As for Lan Jin and Li Qingcheng, they’d entirely forgotten about the night’s beauty, demonstrating instead a fierce contest for favor.

When the three finally returned, arm in arm, to the manor’s front gate, the Li family was still waiting, all smiles and without a trace of complaint or resentment.

Whether they were secretly cursing him, Qin Chuan neither knew nor cared. In his mind, he was grumbling, “Why on earth aren’t these fools waiting inside?”

As they approached, Li Qingcheng gestured to a middle-aged man in a traditional Tang suit at the front of the group and introduced, “Brother Chuan, this is my father, Li Zhennan, the current head of the Li family.”

"Good evening, Uncle Li!" Qin Chuan greeted politely.

Li Zhennan laughed and replied, "Calling me 'uncle' is far too formal! Xiao Chuan, you are Qingcheng’s fiancé—only a certificate and a wedding stand between you and becoming the Li family’s son-in-law. So, you should call me 'Dad' instead!"