Chapter 34: The Scene Was Too Beautiful

Qin Chuan, quick on his feet, reached out to help Lin Jiancheng up before anyone else could. “Uncle Lin, if there’s anything you need, just say the word. There’s really no need for this. Even if we can’t be family by marriage, we can still be brothers!”

Looking at Qin Chuan’s radiant smile, Lin Jiancheng couldn’t shake the feeling that something was a bit off. Still, the words were pleasing to hear; if one wanted to nitpick, it was only that his own seniority had suddenly been lowered.

But Lin Jiancheng thought, what harm is there in being brothers? Throughout history, many scholars and gentlemen have formed close friendships regardless of age. This way, he could draw closer to Qin Chuan while sparing his daughter from a forced marriage—a solution that killed two birds with one stone.

With this thought, Lin Jiancheng smiled and said, “You’re right; from now on, let’s address each other as brothers.”

“It’s a deal!” Qin Chuan’s smile grew even brighter.

He imagined the scene: Lan Jin calling him ‘Dad’ while Lin Wanyu called him ‘Uncle’—the image was just too delightful. The more Qin Chuan thought about it, the more he looked forward to it.

“Brother Lin, if you need anything, just say so. As long as it’s within my ability, your brother here will never refuse to help.” Qin Chuan patted his chest in assurance.

Watching her husband and Qin Chuan become sworn brothers, Li Yulan felt a bit embarrassed and uneasy. She wondered what her daughter would think when she learned she’d somehow gained an uncle out of nowhere.

Lin Jiancheng, unaware of his wife’s thoughts, went straight to the heart of the matter.

“Brother Qin, I get the sense you’ve come today to break off the engagement. Wanyu’s attitude is clear enough. Since you two can’t stand each other, ending the betrothal is the best choice.”

Lin Jiancheng paused, then changed tack: “But now, for some reason, the Lin family elders have suddenly become very invested in this marriage. My father has even issued a harsh ultimatum: if Wanyu refuses this match, our branch will be expelled from the Lin family.”

Li Yulan sighed at this, and Lin Jiancheng looked even more troubled.

Qin Chuan knew well how strong clan ties were in Binhai. Expulsion from the family was the harshest punishment imaginable—no wonder the Lin couple had surrendered the engagement token.

“And then?” Qin Chuan prompted.

Lin Jiancheng explained in detail, and only then did Qin Chuan grasp the full picture.

In the vast city of Binhai, the Lin family was at best second-tier. The patriarch, Lin Zongyuan—Lin Wanyu’s grandfather—had long dreamed of elevating the family to the top rank.

Yet, beset by pressures from all sides, the Lin family had failed to advance, leaving Lin Zongyuan vexed. But upon learning of Qin Chuan’s reappearance in the world, Lin Zongyuan’s ambitions were rekindled.

He knew full well the unfathomable depth of Qin Chuan’s master’s abilities. After all, a casual prescription from that mysterious elder years ago had brought the Lin family to its current standing.

As the final disciple of such a master, how could Qin Chuan be ordinary? Even if Qin Chuan had nothing else to offer, the backing of his enigmatic sect alone would be a tremendous boon for the Lin family’s growth.

Of course, the Lin couple knew all this. But with the engagement token in their hands, they kept Qin Chuan’s background from Lin Wanyu, which was why Qin Chuan had assumed the family opposed the match.

The truth was that the couple and Lin Wanyu were against the marriage, while the older generation was fervently in favor. When faced with disagreement, Lin Zongyuan threatened expulsion and took possession of the engagement token.

Not wanting her father to be implicated or herself to be shackled by an arranged marriage, Lin Wanyu struck a bargain with Lin Zongyuan: she’d take charge of the Lin Group for three months, and if she could increase the company’s value tenfold, she’d make her own decisions about marriage. If not, she would submit to the elders’ will and marry Qin Chuan as promised.

At this, Qin Chuan frowned slightly. “Brother Lin, I know nothing about business. I’m afraid I really can’t help.”

“Brother Qin, what I need is for you to make an introduction.” Lin Jiancheng’s voice was solemn.

Qin Chuan grew more puzzled and gestured for him to go on.

Lin Jiancheng got to the point. “Here’s the thing. I heard from a friend that in half a month, the eldest daughter of the Long family from the capital will be hosting a banquet in Binhai, ostensibly to seek business partners. If you could connect Wanyu with her, all her problems would be solved.”

“You mean Long Wuhen, the eldest daughter of the Long family in the capital?”

Qin Chuan asked tentatively.

Lin Jiancheng nodded, a subtle smile appearing on his lips.

Suddenly, everything became clear to Qin Chuan—so this was the connection Lin Jiancheng wanted. But how had he learned about Qin Chuan’s relationship with Long Wuhen?

As if reading Qin Chuan’s mind, Lin Jiancheng turned and went into the study, returning shortly with a scroll in hand.

“Take a look at this,” he said, smiling as he handed Qin Chuan a marriage contract.

Qin Chuan opened it, and nearly wanted to dig a hole in the floor out of sheer embarrassment—for the bride’s name on the contract was none other than Long Wuhen.

Qin Chuan glanced at Lin Jiancheng out of the corner of his eye. The bookish gentleman’s face now bore a sly, teasing expression, as if to say: Even this you managed to mess up? You’re quite something!

Truly, embarrassment had reached new heights.

He couldn’t help but rub his forehead and bow his head. He could only imagine what Lin Wanyu must have felt when she first saw the contract—did she think he was flaunting his many fiancées, with no shortage of options? Still, the fact that Lin Wanyu resisted tearing it to pieces showed her remarkable self-control; anyone else would likely have shredded it on the spot.

“No wonder Lin Wanyu has never shown me a kind face. Being jilted is humiliating enough, but I even managed to raise the stakes with a blunder that looked like deliberate provocation. Who wouldn’t be angry?” Qin Chuan thought to himself, shaking his head.

After a while, Lin Jiancheng smiled and said, “Brother, I know you meant no offense. I’ve explained it to Wanyu many times. I suppose you just have too many marriage contracts to keep track of—no need to take it to heart.”

Hearing these words, Qin Chuan felt his face burning. Why did this sound more and more like gentle mockery?

“Brother Lin, I’ll help you with this. I was planning to break off the engagement anyway, and since Long Wuhen is coming to Binhai, it saves me the trouble of making a special trip to the capital.”

Lin Jiancheng was overjoyed. If they could truly connect with the Long family, the Lin Group’s value would skyrocket beyond tenfold.

Yet he still wondered why Qin Chuan was so determined to end the engagement. The Long family’s eldest daughter was famed for her beauty and status—was she still not worthy of Qin Chuan’s heart? If so, what kind of woman could win him over?

Setting aside such idle thoughts, Lin Jiancheng said solemnly, “Thank you, brother.”

“No need for thanks—it’s the least I can do.”

Qin Chuan paused, then added with a smile, “But if you really want to show your gratitude, you should have your lovely daughter say it herself. That would be more sincere.”

“…”