Chapter 38

How complicated is the human heart? Some say the two things most difficult to face in this world are the sun and the human heart. There is no perfect person in this world; everyone has flaws in their nature. Some people, when faced with certain things, have their flaws exposed, while others never encounter such things and thus become regarded as morally perfect by others.

Just like Qi Liangqin now, he's so virtuous, diligent, like the most considerate man in the family.

But his virtue goes beyond the ordinary. He's more filial to Yan Qiuping, more eager to work, more gentle.

It's all because he harbors a secret desire—a desire for victory. He wants to beat Shen He.

This is just a hidden thought, perhaps he himself doesn't have a clear understanding of it, but he's being driven by this thought. He both sympathizes with Shen He and envies her, seeing her as a rival. He's like an insect, flapping its beautiful wings, trying to attract attention and spread its own scent as much as possible.

Beneath his soft exterior lies a heart that is both provocative and quite aggressive.

Perhaps it was due to the persuasion, but Madam Yan's attitude towards Shen He had softened considerably. During the meal, Shen He stood up to toast everyone one by one. With each toast, she said a few words—honestly, they were moving, elegant, but not pretentious. It felt sincere, and everyone was left with the impression of a warm, amicable farewell.

When it was Qi Liangqin's turn, Shen He said, "I regret not having met you sooner. I really like you, and I hope you and Songwei won't end up like us. I hope you can have a long, lasting relationship."

Although this might have been a polite remark, Qi Liangqin was still flattered. When they clinked glasses, he deliberately lowered his glass halfway, showing humility. He had also wanted to say something touching in return, but after racking his brain for a long time, he couldn't think of anything suitable. He wasn't really close to Shen He, and there weren't any emotional ties between them.

Shen He didn't stay long after the meal and was preparing to leave. Madam Yan said, "Oldest, see her off."

Yan Bozong picked up Shen He's suitcase and walked her to the door. Shen He stood at the entrance to say her goodbyes to the Yan family. The usually domineering Madam Yan showed a hint of sadness, saying, "I wasn't very kind to you in the past, don't hold it against me."

"I have my faults too. Thank you for your understanding," Shen He replied.

The two women embraced, and Madam Yan held her hand, saying, "Sigh… you…"

Shen He smiled, her eyes moistening.

No one rushed to go back inside. Aunt Chun and Madam Yan stood in the corridor chatting, while Yan Songwei and the others continued to send Shen He out the gate. Qi Liangqin quietly walked behind, listening to Yan Yuan speaking softly with Shen He. The summer wind was warm, the sun especially scorching. Ahead, the large swimming pool shimmered, a vast expanse of blue. With the heat of summer, the pool was about to become lively.

They sent Shen He to the gate, and Yan Bozong had already driven the car over. "You all go back," he said.

Shen He also said, "Go back, it's so hot out here. Let's stay in touch."

Yan Yuan nodded, waving at Shen He. Yan Songwei turned around and saw Qi Liangqin waving a little reluctantly. He laughed, and Qi Liangqin awkwardly lowered his hand, feeling a bit embarrassed.

He thought that when it came to parting, he should at least put on a show of sadness. But in reality, Shen He felt no different from an ordinary guest to him. He had been busy entertaining, and then forced himself to politely send her off. He couldn't wait to get back to his bed and get some rest.

Unexpectedly, it wasn't just him thinking this way—Yan Yuan was thinking the same. As soon as Shen He walked out of sight, she let out a sigh of relief. "Finally, she's gone."

Yan Songwei said, "Little girl, now you really don't have a sister-in-law."

Yan Yuan smiled and pointed at Qi Liangqin. "Without a big sister-in-law, there's still a second one."

"When your second sister-in-law leaves, will you feel so relieved?"

Yan Yuan replied, "Second Brother, I warn you, getting divorced won't be as easy for you as it was for Oldest Brother. You have no idea how much Mom likes Liangqin."

That was true. Madam Yan had praised Qi Liangqin quite a lot today. It was unclear whether it was sincere praise or if it was because of Shen He.

Yan Bozong went to see Shen He off, probably also stopping by her family's place, and didn't return until after dinner. Qi Liangqin was sitting in the yard, enjoying the evening breeze. When he saw Yan Bozong walking over, he quickly stood up and greeted him.

Yan Bozong responded indifferently, so Qi Liangqin sat back down. To his surprise, Yan Bozong walked toward him and said, "Shen He asked me to thank you."

"Huh?"

Qi Liangqin sat on the swing, looking up at the tall Yan Bozong. Under the streetlights, Yan Bozong looked down at him and said, "You didn't leave her sitting awkwardly alone in the living room."

Qi Liangqin replied, "Tell her not to mention it. Everyone else had something to do, I was the only one with time."

Yan Bozong didn't say anything more, turned, and walked away, his steps somewhat heavy. A faint scent of alcohol lingered in the warm summer air.

Because Madam Yan had imposed a curfew, Yan Songwei had to return home by 10 p.m. every night. After a few days, Tan Qingqing became unhappy. She felt that Yan Songwei only came to her bed after work, and by the time he returned, it was already late at night, leaving her with a feeling of unease and sadness.

"Can't there be one exception?" Tan Qingqing said. "At least one day a week, let me wake up in your arms and see you as soon as I open my eyes."

"Baby, I want that too, but my mom's been watching closely. Just wait a little longer," Yan Songwei replied.

"I don't care, I just want you to stay with me. Yesterday morning, I missed you so much I almost cried," Tan Qingqing said, starting to cry. Yan Songwei had no choice but to hold her and comfort her, "Baby, when you cry, my heart hurts too."

"You don't even have a heart," Tan Qingqing sobbed. "Your conscience has been eaten by the dog."

"My heart's with you," Yan Songwei teased. "If the dog ate it, it's because you didn't watch over it."

"Stop sweet-talking me," Tan Qingqing pushed him away. "All you men are the same. You said you'd marry me this year, don't forget that."

Yan Songwei leaned in and smiled, "What if I forget?"

Tan Qingqing immediately bit his hand. Yan Songwei gasped in pain, "You really have the heart to bite me."

His fair skin was marked with a purple bite mark. When they went back to eat, Yan Yuan immediately noticed it.

Yan Yuan purposely asked, "Second Brother, what happened to your hand? Who bit you?"

Yan Songwei pretended not to hear, so Yan Yuan smiled and looked at Qi Liangqin. Qi Liangqin hurriedly denied, "It wasn't me!"

At this, Madam Yan's expression darkened. Yan Songwei awkwardly laughed and said, "If it wasn't you, who else could it be?"

In the end, Yan Songwei was scolded by Madam Yan. In an attempt to help them improve their relationship, and also for Yan Bozong's relaxation, Madam Yan ordered both brothers to clear two days in their schedules to go as a family to climb Bixia Mountain.

Bixia Mountain was located in the southern part of the city. It wasn't very high, but the mountain was lush and beautiful, especially cool in the summer. It was a favorite weekend getaway for the city's residents. There was an ancient temple on the mountain, said to be over a thousand years old, with a flourishing incense offering. A few years ago, some wealthy merchants in the city donated funds for its renovation and even built a new temple at the base, inviting several famous monks to come. Yan Songwei told Qi Liangqin that Madam Yan had visited many temples, but the one she trusted the most was this one on Bixia Mountain. When she was just starting her business, things weren't going smoothly, and she faced many challenges. After making a wish at this temple, her life turned around and her business began to thrive. From then on, Madam Yan became a devoted follower of this temple, and when the renovation took place, she contributed greatly.

Now that Madam Yan was older and wealthier, she naturally believed more in these things. She felt that her life was nearly perfect, with the only regret being the marriages of her three children. The eldest had divorced, the second was married to a man but remained restless, and the youngest was still single, in desperate need of a good marriage.

The whole family was going to the mountain today. Besides giving the second couple some time alone, she was also planning to pray at the temple, killing two birds with one stone.

"Does the Queen Mother of the West also manage relationships? Isn't that the job of the Matchmaker?" Yan Yuan laughed.

Madam Yan glared at her sternly, "Don't talk nonsense!"

Qi Liangqin, who was about to laugh, quickly lowered his head upon seeing Madam Yan's serious and stern expression. Yan Songwei was driving, and Yan Bozong sat in the passenger seat, leaning back as if he had fallen asleep.

"Did the eldest sleep late last night?" Madam Yan asked.

Yan Bozong did not turn around, lying there as he replied, "I was just hanging out with Wang Peng and the others yesterday."

"Wang Peng is back?"

"He's been back for over half a month."

"He's about thirty, isn't he? Is he married?"

"No."

Yan Yuan laughed and said, "Didn't everyone say that Wang Peng was the least likely to get married? I see his girlfriend changes every time in his circle, he hasn't settled down yet."

"Although he hasn't gotten married, he already has kids. I saw Mrs. Wang the other day, playing with her grandson. The kid must be about three years old by now, and he's really beautiful, looks like a mixed-race child."

After saying that, Madam Yan let out a long sigh, a bit loud and prolonged, clearly meant for them to hear. The three members of the Yan family pretended not to notice, and Madam Yan turned to Qi Liangqin with a smile, asking, "Xiao Qin, do you like kids?"

"I do," Qi Liangqin said without hesitation. "Children are always cute. My neighbor's child used to be really close to me. Sometimes, just seeing his pictures would make me smile, I think he's just so adorable."

"Yes, kids are so cute. People who like kids usually have good hearts, unlike these three. When they see kids, they look like they've seen ghosts."

Yan Yuan hurriedly said, "I also like kids, just not my own. I like other people's kids, but the thought of having to raise my own... I can't even imagine it."

"Neither Yan Songwei nor the eldest like kids?"

"Kids are so noisy, what's there to like?" Yan Songwei said while driving. "When I have kids, I won't be the one to raise them."

"You don't need to raise them, just focus on having them," Madam Yan said. "I'm not expecting your elder brother to do that. Who knows when he'll remarry? So, I'm putting all my hopes on you and Xiao Qin."

"You don't need to get married to have kids, like Wang Peng," Yan Yuan teased.

Madam Yan snorted coldly, "I'd rather have the eldest follow Wang Peng's example."

Madam Yan truly had a strong desire to have grandchildren, and she never hid that wish.

At the foot of Bixia Mountain, there was a hotel where they stayed. They arrived around eleven in the morning, and the weather was already very hot. As soon as Qi Liangqin entered the air-conditioned room, he didn't want to leave, but then he saw Yan Songwei had changed into new clothes and was holding a bag, ready to go out.

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to play rafting with my elder brother. Do you want to come?"

Rafting, Qi Liangqin had only seen it on TV in competitions. Madam Yan said, "Of course, you must go. Yan Yuan will also go. You young people should play the things young people play, don't always follow me around."

By calling the young couple along, she wanted them to spend more time together. Even if Qi Liangqin didn't want to go, she would order him to go.

Inside Bixia Mountain, there was a place called Qianfeng Gorge, the best place for rafting in the surrounding area. The rafting route was two kilometers long, with towering ancient trees and cliffs on both sides. The water flow was fast and dangerous, and you didn't have to paddle much. It was thrilling and exciting, a paradise for rafting enthusiasts.

Qi Liangqin put on his life jacket and boarded the tandem raft. He was with Yan Songwei, and Yan Bozong was with Yan Yuan. The two teams entered the water, one after the other.

Despite being a woman, Yan Yuan was an experienced rafter and obviously wasn't a beginner, completely enjoying herself. But Qi Liangqin was different.

Qi Liangqin couldn't swim. Although the water wasn't very deep and he was wearing a life jacket, the current was so fast, and the slope was steep. With big rocks everywhere, he was genuinely scared.

But he was too embarrassed to show his fear and didn't want to scream like the other girls around him. So, he tightly gripped the paddle, pursed his lips, and looked at Yan Songwei.

The splashing water soaked him all over, and it was still somewhat cold. He grabbed Yan Songwei's calf tightly, afraid that he might be thrown off the raft. The kayak was speeding down the river without needing to paddle, and Qi Liangqin closed his eyes, constantly thinking about why he had agreed to join this. He felt like he was bringing trouble upon himself.

Yan Songwei laughed heartily, "Why are you so scared?"

"I can't swim."

"It's okay, you're wearing a life jacket, and besides, you've got me here."

"Will we hit a rock?"

"Hahaha!" Yan Songwei laughed and pulled him close as the kayak reached a dangerous rapid, almost tipping them over. Qi Liangqin turned pale and held onto Yan Songwei tightly. Water splashed down, soaking him completely. It felt like an eternity before the kayak's speed slowed, and he quickly freed one hand to wipe his face, only to see Yan Yuan paddling and smiling at him, "You two don't need to hug so tightly!"

Qi Liangqin wiped the water from his face and looked over, noticing Yan Bozong was smiling faintly. Only then did he realize that he had thrown himself into Yan Songwei's arms. He quickly loosened his grip, feeling like he had been caught in the act of infidelity. It was a strange feeling.

When they reached a gentler section of the stream, the water spread out, and Yan Songwei finally loosened his hold on Qi Liangqin, beginning to paddle. "You're too skinny. You need to put on some weight, your bones are digging into me."

"I was up to 115 before, but I got sick last time and lost some weight," Qi Liangqin paddled along but didn't get the technique right. Yan Songwei said, "Forget it, let me paddle."

"Let's work together and see if we can overtake my elder brother and Yan Yuan," Qi Liangqin said, rolling up his sleeves.

The two of them coordinated their efforts for a while, and their rhythm gradually synchronized. The kayak sped up a little, and Yan Songwei laughed, "Let's see if we can catch up to them before the next rapid."

"Two big men, and you can't catch them?" Qi Liangqin felt a surge of excitement and a strange emotion.

He wanted to overtake Yan Bozong and Yan Yuan, wanted to show off in front of Yan Bozong, wanted him to notice him.

It seemed that people who have a crush always fear being noticed but also long for it. Sometimes, the excitement and impulse come out of nowhere, and when you examine them, it's hard to figure out where they came from. This was his first time rafting, and he knew to use brute force, but it worked. The two of them paddled together and overtook Yan Bozong and Yan Yuan just before they reached the dangerous rapid.

"Nice job, you two are pretty good!" Yan Yuan shouted with a laugh.

Yan Bozong warned, "There's a rapid ahead, be careful!"

Yan Songwei, who was experienced, proudly said, "We'll wait for you behind!"

The two kayaks entered the waterfall area, and the boats tilted downward. Qi Liangqin excitedly raised his paddle and called out "Whoa, whoa" as they descended. White waves splashed on his face, and before he could close his mouth, he swallowed a large gulp of water. Perhaps the force of the waves was too strong; the paddle he was holding flew backward and almost hit Yan Songwei's face. Yan Songwei quickly tilted his body to the side, but just at that moment, Qi Liangqin also leaned in the same direction. With the power of the water, the kayak tipped over.

People behind them cried out in shock, and Qi Liangqin hadn't reacted when he was submerged by the water. He was terrified, swallowed another mouthful of water, and seemed to have flipped upside down. His lower body was still caught in the kayak, but his mouth filled with mud, and he was tossed around by the rapid. Struggling with all his strength, he broke free from the wildly shaking kayak and suddenly emerged from the water, seeing only blurry figures and white foam. He hadn't even had time to take a breath when the current swept him away.

It only took a few seconds, and he slammed into a large rock, but it didn't hurt. Just as he was about to grab onto the rock, he realized it was futile. He was soon swept away again. At that moment, someone grabbed his arm, and without thinking, he held onto the person. Though his body was still sliding down, the speed slowed significantly. The person above him shouted, "Hold your head!"

It was then that the person realized Qi Liangqin was holding his waist, and so, he pulled him into his arms. They collided a few more times, but it seemed like they hit each other. The two fell into a deep pool in the calmer area, and the person finally let go of Qi Liangqin's head.

Qi Liangqin, still in shock, looked up and saw a drenched handsome face with a bloodstreak, panting as he looked at him.

Qi Liangqin couldn't speak. Yan Bozong, gasping for breath, asked, "Are you okay?"

Qi Liangqin shook his head. "I'm fine."

Yan Bozong hooked his arm around him and swam toward the safety boat. He seemed exhausted, breathing heavily, with water still dripping down his chin. Qi Liangqin then realized that maybe he was too heavy, and Yan Bozong might be struggling. He tried kicking his legs but heard Yan Bozong say, "Don't move."

He immediately obeyed. The safety boat came over, and Yan Bozong lifted him up. Qi Liangqin scrambled onto the boat, quickly lying down to help Yan Bozong up.

Yan Bozong grabbed his hand and climbed up. He collapsed beside Qi Liangqin, clearly exhausted. Qi Liangqin suddenly remembered Yan Songwei. "Where's Songwei? He…"

"He's fine," Yan Bozong said, still panting.

Yan Songwei was an old hand at this and knew the water well. Though he had hurt his head, he had managed to grab onto a large rock. A nearby safety officer had pulled him up just in time.

It was Qi Liangqin, the idiot, who had floundered like a lamb about to be slaughtered, before the current swept him away. Without thinking, Yan Bozong had jumped in after him.