Chapter 31: I Like Beautiful Things

Silly girl? Impossible! Absolutely impossible! I am clever as ice and snow, sharp-witted, beautiful both inside and out—how could something as trivial as breaking down an idiom stump me? Lan Jin banished all stray thoughts, focusing her full attention on the four characters of “gentle smile.”

“Where would be the best place to split it?”
“And judging from Qin Chuan’s expression, how can such a lovely idiom carry a hint of... lewdness?”
“No matter how you break the idiom apart, none of the syllables even remotely resemble anything indecent!”
Lan Jin launched into a brainstorming frenzy.

After about two minutes, she uncovered its hidden secret. Her alluring face flushed so deeply it seemed she might burst into tears.

“You’re just filthy,” she murmured, her little fist lightly tapping Qin Chuan’s chest, the gesture as teasing as a scratch.

Oddly enough, if any other man dared flirt like this, Lan Jin would have unleashed a cascade of verbal violence, with her bodyguards ready to add their fists and feet to the mix. Yet when Qin Chuan did it, all she felt was a rush of heat in her cheeks and a flutter in her heart. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t muster a shred of disgust. The realization troubled her deeply—she even wondered if she’d sunk too deeply into her role.

“He’s my best friend’s man.”
“Strictly speaking, he’s my brother-in-law.”
“As the younger sister, how can I let myself get caught up in feelings for my brother-in-law?”
“Sister-in-law and brother-in-law... that does sound exciting... No, no, Lan Jin! What on earth are you thinking?”

The more she thought, the more embarrassed she became, her cheeks burning so fiercely that Qin Chuan stared at her in confusion.

“All I did was make a simple joke, why is she so flustered?”
Qin Chuan was baffled.

It’s said a woman’s heart is as unfathomable as the ocean’s depths, and he was experiencing it firsthand—he couldn’t guess what she was thinking at all!

“The soup is ready. Hurry and drink it! Afterward, accompany me to the Lin family.” With that, Qin Chuan headed to his room.

Lan Jin, still puzzled, called after him, “What are we going to the Lin family for?”

“To call off the engagement,” Qin Chuan replied, succinct and direct.

Lan Jin trembled, quickly pressing, “Brother Chuan, there’s something I’ve always wondered. Lin Wanyu is an outstanding beauty—she has the looks, the figure, the family background. Why are you so determined to break off the engagement?”

She silently added: With your usual appetite for women, shouldn’t you be less decisive in calling it off?

“Do you think I’m that shallow? Are looks, figure, and family background my top priorities?”
Qin Chuan puffed out his chest, looking righteous and solemn. “Remember, your father is a noble man, a pure man, a moral man—a man who’s risen above base desires.”

“Then why don’t you choose an ordinary-looking girl with a beautiful heart?” Lan Jin pressed relentlessly.

“Because I like pretty girls,” he answered.

Lan Jin was utterly defeated by Qin Chuan’s twisted logic.

Watching his figure disappear from sight, Lan Jin took a bowl of the nourishing soup back to her room, eager to warn Lin Wanyu in advance.

She sipped the soup, its sweetness lingering on her tongue. Strangely, she suddenly felt a subtle resistance to the task of warning her friend.

“This isn’t right! I’m clearly Wanyu’s undercover agent—why am I feeling this damned reluctance?”

A flush of shame rose in her chest, as if an undercover master had been turned by the enemy.

She quickly banished her distracting thoughts and dialed Lin Wanyu’s number.

“What’s wrong, Jin?” Lin Wanyu’s cool voice came through.

Lin Wanyu wasted no time: “Qin Chuan just told me he’s coming to call off the engagement.”

“What?” Lin Wanyu was stunned. After leaving the International City Tower earlier, she’d gone straight home. When she pressed her father, he finally explained the engagement.

One side held the engagement contract, the other the token. If either wished to break it off, both must exchange their items for it to take effect. So, to call off the engagement, Qin Chuan had to come to the Lin family for the token.

Originally, Lin Wanyu had been eager to dissolve the betrothal, but being rejected twice by Qin Chuan left her with a strange sense of dissatisfaction.

“Am I not good enough?”
For the first time, Lin Wanyu doubted herself, but she quickly dismissed the thought.

“No, it’s not that I’m not good enough—it’s that Qin Chuan is blind.”

“Why should I bother with someone so clueless?”
“But what’s with this damned sour feeling?”
Her emotions were so tangled that even her breathing grew uneven.

“Wanyu, don’t be upset. If you just clear up the misunderstanding, I’m sure Qin Chuan won’t break it off.” Lan Jin hesitated, then quickly added, “Of course, if you’re too embarrassed, I’ll explain everything for you. After all, that thing was just something I bought as a joke.”

“No need,” Lin Wanyu refused immediately, then realized her words could be misinterpreted and clarified, “Nor will I explain. I want to dissolve the engagement too. But this time, I’ll throw the token right in his face.”

Lan Jin remained silent. She knew her friend was too proud to explain or clarify any misunderstanding, but tossing the token in his face—wasn’t that a bit extreme?

“Wanyu, shouldn’t we try a gentler approach?” Lan Jin suggested, almost against her will.

Lin Wanyu paused, surprised. “Jin, why are you siding with Qin Chuan? Was his way of tossing the engagement contract at me gentle?”

By the end, Lin Wanyu felt aggrieved. All she wanted was to give him a taste of his own medicine—how could her best friend not understand her?

“Wanyu, that’s not what I meant, I...” Lan Jin faltered, feeling she’d misspoken. She didn’t know why, but the words had just spilled out.

“Fine, I understand. That’s enough!” Without waiting for a reply, Lin Wanyu hung up.

Lan Jin stared blankly, at a loss. A moment later, she dialed again, only to hear the phone had been switched off.

“Wanyu is angry!”

Lan Jin began to panic, though she didn’t feel she’d done anything wrong—maybe, just maybe, she’d been a bit double-standard in her advice?

“It’s all Qin Chuan’s fault. If he hadn’t cured me and made me nourishing soup, I wouldn’t have spoken up for him, and I wouldn’t have made Wanyu angry.”

She quickly found the root of the problem. She wanted to barge into Qin Chuan’s room and vent her frustration, but after a few steps, she suddenly stopped.

Yes, she chickened out!

Lan Jin felt that no matter if it was a battle of words or fists, Qin Chuan would crush her. She had no hope of gaining the upper hand—in fact, she might end up sacrificing her ninety-something pounds for nothing.

Just as she was lost in thought, a rhythmic knock sounded at the door, followed by Qin Chuan’s cheerful voice.

“Are you done with the soup? If so, come with me to the Lin family.”

Lan Jin hesitated, then feigned a weak tone, “Brother Chuan, I suddenly don’t feel well. Maybe you should go by yourself.”

She really didn’t know how to face Lin Wanyu right now. She planned to visit in a few days and apologize, clearing up all misunderstandings.

“Alright! Remember to finish all the soup!” Qin Chuan didn’t push her, turning to head downstairs.

“Mr. Qin, what are you going to the Lin family for?” Lan Weimin asked, puzzled.

Qin Chuan didn’t hide it: “To call off the engagement.”

Lan Weimin’s spirits soared, unable to suppress a laugh.

“I’m calling off the engagement—why are you so happy?” Qin Chuan asked, annoyed.

Lan Weimin waved a hand, explaining, “I’m happy because of Lan Jin.”

“Lan Jin? What does she have to do with it?” Qin Chuan grew even more confused. Had Lan Jin not told her family she was just acting as his shield, playing along?

Pretending, still pretending! And she’s convincing, too.

Lan Weimin just smiled without answering. His granddaughter wouldn’t have to marry beneath herself, so naturally, he was very pleased.