Chapter 98 First Meeting: Zuo Qinghuan and Wanshu's Grandfather
Chapter 98 First Meeting: Zuo Qinghuan and Wanshu's Grandfather
"Hello, I'm Qin Yu, Wanshu's older brother." Qin Yu looked remarkably like his father, though he didn't quite have the same presence as Qin Teng or Qin Wanshu. He did, however, share Qin Teng's height and was impeccably dressed in a tailored suit. While not strikingly handsome, he possessed a certain charm stemming from his confidence and competence – qualities that often define an attractive man.
"Do you need something?" Zuo Qinghuan had never met Qin Yu before, but she found Wanshu's older brother much more pleasant than her younger one. At least on the surface, Qin Yu was polite and didn't have the superior attitude so common among those from wealthy families.
"My grandfather would like to meet you. Would you be free to visit the Qin family now?" Qin Yu asked courteously, his eyes subtly assessing the woman his sister had chosen. She was different from what he'd imagined – much younger, with strikingly beautiful eyes and a uniquely innocent charm that gave off a sweet, girl-next-door vibe. It was somewhat surprising that Wanshu would be drawn to someone who seemed so youthful. Qin Yu had always pictured his sister with someone more mature, someone with a quiet elegance and intellectual depth.
Three months had passed since Zuo Qinghuan's hair had started to grow out, but it barely reached past her ears. Combined with her makeup-free look that day, she easily resembled a high school student, which explained Qin Yu's surprise.
When Zuo Qinghuan had left the house that morning, even Qin Wanshu had sighed. If they were seen out together, people would undoubtedly mistake them for belonging to different generations.
Zuo Qinghuan hesitated about meeting the head of the Qin family. The thought of facing such a powerful figure filled her with apprehension.
"Don't worry, my grandfather is a reasonable man. He won't give you too much trouble. Besides," Qin Yu added, "shouldn't you be trying to earn his approval for Wanshu's sake?" After all, gaining the Qin family's acceptance for their most cherished daughter wouldn't be easy.
"Alright, I'll go with you," Zuo Qinghuan replied after a moment's consideration. She couldn't rely on Wanshu's protection forever. At the very least, she needed to make an effort for her partner's sake, even if the idea of facing the Qin patriarch made her nervous and uneasy.
"Wanshu is my sister, and she's always been very deliberate in her decisions. If she chose you, there must be a reason. As her brother, I may not fully understand or agree with her choice, but I will respect it," Qin Yu said, his expression unreadable as he glanced at Zuo Qinghuan in the rearview mirror.
"Thank you," Zuo Qinghuan replied with a slight smile. The fact that he wasn't opposing her was a form of support in itself.
"Women are naturally delicate and need protection. You seem even more delicate than Wanshu. How will you provide her with a sense of security?" Unlike Qin Teng, Qin Yu felt a strong sense of responsibility. He believed it was a man's duty to protect the women in his life – his mother, sister, and future wife were people he felt obligated to shield. Seeing someone as seemingly fragile as Zuo Qinghuan, he couldn't help but worry. How could she protect his sister? Even though he knew Wanshu wasn't as weak as she appeared, as her brother, he still felt she deserved someone stronger.
"A person's strength isn't determined by their appearance," Zuo Qinghuan replied. Recently, she had been reflecting on the concept of "being as still as a wooden chicken," trying to cultivate inner resilience.
"Is your inner strength sufficient, then?" Qin Yu asked.
"Perhaps not yet, but I'm working on it," Zuo Qinghuan answered earnestly. She knew Qin Yu meant well.
"If you're not strong enough now, my grandfather might break you in no time," Qin Yu said, feeling a bit concerned for her. After all, his grandfather was a master of psychological tactics, and few could withstand his pressure. Wanshu was one of the rare exceptions, but Zuo Qinghuan clearly didn't have the experience to face him yet.
This was Zuo Qinghuan's second time entering the Qin family estate. The grandeur of the architecture was even more impressive than she remembered, but she was too preoccupied to appreciate its beauty this time.
Qin Yu led Zuo Qinghuan into Qin Zheng's study, a room filled with antique furniture. The polished antiques gleamed, reflecting the owner's passion for these ancient artifacts.
"Grandfather, Miss Zuo is here," Qin Yu announced to Qin Zheng, who was carefully polishing a blue-and-white porcelain vase.
Since Qin Zheng had his back to her, Zuo Qinghuan couldn't see his face. From his posture, he didn't seem like an 85-year-old man – more like someone in their sixties. His back was straight, showing no signs of age, and he appeared to be in excellent health.
"Alright, you may leave," Qin Zheng said without turning around, his tone calm and measured.
"Understood," Qin Yu replied before exiting the study and quietly closing the door.
Zuo Qinghuan felt a knot of anxiety tighten in her chest. She had no idea what to expect. What would he say to her? If he asked her to leave Wanshu, how should she respond?
Qin Zheng carefully placed the porcelain vase down before finally turning to face Zuo Qinghuan. For a brief moment, he seemed lost in thought, but he quickly regained his composure.
"Are you Zuo Qinghuan?" Qin Zheng asked, his tone surprisingly gentle.
"Yes, I am," Zuo Qinghuan replied. On the way here, she had imagined countless scenarios of her meeting with the Qin patriarch. She had expected him to disapprove of her, and if he didn't outright insult her, that would be a relief. His gentle tone only made her more uneasy.
"You remind me of an old acquaintance," Qin Zheng said, his tone conversational.
Zuo Qinghuan offered a polite smile, unsure how to proceed. She had never interacted with someone of his age and status before, especially not someone with such immense authority in both politics and business. The pressure he exuded was palpable.
"There's no need to be so tense. Just treat me as an elder," Qin Zheng said with a smile. Zuo Qinghuan's reaction was something he had witnessed countless times. In fact, the more uneasy someone appeared, the easier it often was to influence them.
Zuo Qinghuan tried to calm her nerves and approach the situation as calmly as possible.
"Of course, you're Wanshu's grandfather, so you're my grandfather too," Zuo Qinghuan said, boldly playing along with Qin Zheng's unexpected kindness.
A fleeting hint of displeasure crossed Qin Zheng's expression. He would never acknowledge her relationship with Wanshu so readily, but he had to admit, this girl wasn't naive.
"Do you like tea?" Qin Zheng asked.
"Wanshu loves tea, so I've grown to like it as well," Zuo Qinghuan replied, deliberately mentioning Wanshu in an attempt to gauge Qin Zheng's reaction. The more polite and courteous he was, the more uncertain she felt.
Qin Zheng, having seen it all, was well aware of her little game.
"That's good. Please, have a seat. Let's just chat informally," Qin Zheng said as he poured tea for both of them. The fact that the Qin patriarch himself was serving her tea made Zuo Qinghuan even more apprehensive. She had no idea what he was planning.
But Qin Zheng's demeanor suggested this was going to be a long conversation over tea. Zuo Qinghuan had no choice but to pick up the teacup he had poured for her and take a small sip.
"Can you tell what kind of tea this is?" Qin Zheng suddenly asked.
Zuo Qinghuan shook her head. Although she had been learning about tea recently, she wasn't yet skilled enough to identify every variety by taste.
"I remember when Wanshu was ten, she could identify almost any tea," Qin Zheng said, his tone filled with affection and pride when speaking of Wanshu. But Zuo Qinghuan knew this was just the beginning of their real conversation.
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