Chapter 80: Say No More, I Understand Everything!

"What did you say?" Long Wuhen's tone was devoid of joy or sorrow, her expression free of grief or anger. She resembled a machine processing instructions, delivering a preset answer after a logical assessment.

Qin Chuan's lips twitched. If this had been Lin Wanyu, she would likely have responded in a frosty tone, saying, "You're the one who's sick; your whole family is sick," or "Are you looking for trouble?"—sharp retorts, all.

If it were Liu Qingcheng, she might beckon to him coquettishly, her eyes brimming with allure as she teased, "Brother Chuan, how did you know I caught your lovesickness?" or "Only you can cure me, Brother Chuan—come, let's have some fun!" Her words would be full of flirtatious charm.

If it were Lan Jin, she would probably widen her sparkling eyes, sway her arms, and whine, "Brother Chuan, can you really bear to see me wasting away?" or, more straightforwardly, "Daddy, save me..."

Wait a second...

Why am I thinking of Lan Jin?

His mind was becoming a world unto itself. Qin Chuan hurriedly cast aside these random thoughts and explained, "I mean you have a psychological disorder. If it's not treated soon, it could develop into misanthropy or depression, with consequences too dire to imagine."

"So, what does that have to do with you hitting my brother?" Long Wuhen countered.

Qin Chuan opened his mouth, sensing that this "female robot" was caught in a loop, triggered by his evaluation of her physical condition.

Before he could reply, Long Wuhen pressed further, "I heard you took it upon yourself as a brother-in-law to educate my brother?"

Qin Chuan rubbed his nose, slightly embarrassed. "I was flustered at the time and chose my words poorly. I should have said soon-to-be brother-in-law; then there wouldn't have been a problem."

"That would indeed be fine. So, why did you hit my brother?" Long Wuhen brought the conversation right back to its origin.

If it weren't for Long Wuhen's impassive expression and her earnest pursuit of an answer, Qin Chuan would have suspected her of intentionally tormenting him.

But if one listened closely, there was a subtle difference. The earlier questions were merely inquiries into his reasons for hitting Long Wudi; now, there was a faint hint of anger in her tone—a first for Qin Chuan, who had never before detected genuine emotion in Long Wuhen's voice.

"Well, at least now you finally resemble a normal person," Qin Chuan thought.

He proceeded to recount the events, and Long Wuhen listened intently, her face unchanging, betraying not the slightest emotion.

Seeing this, Qin Chuan's resolve to break off the engagement grew stronger. How dull life would be with such a woman!

"What a pity—such breathtaking beauty wasted," he lamented inwardly. If judged solely by appearance, even Lin Wanyu paled in comparison. Yet, Lin Wanyu's icy demeanor was still far more interesting than Long Wuhen's.

When Qin Chuan finished his account, Long Wuhen nodded seriously. "From what you've said, he deserved it."

"You're his biological sister, aren't you?"

Though Qin Chuan agreed with her judgment, he couldn't help but voice his doubts, given the familial bond.

"Yes," Long Wuhen replied, succinct and direct.

Qin Chuan was momentarily speechless. Long Wuhen was almost too rational—cold to the point of being heartless. Imagine marrying such a woman: dullness aside, if a husband made a mistake, the wife would rationally declare to outsiders, "He deserves to be cut off; such a man isn't worth keeping." The mere thought was chilling.

"You think I'm heartless?" Long Wuhen suddenly asked.

Qin Chuan touched his face, wondering if his feelings were that obvious.

Long Wuhen answered first, "It's quite obvious."

A flicker of unease passed through Qin Chuan. Could she read minds? In so many web novels, the heroine could overhear the protagonist's thoughts and act unpredictably.

While Qin Chuan was lost in speculation, Long Wuhen explained, "Don't be so nervous. I can't read minds; I simply deduce from micro-expressions."

Her explanation did nothing to ease Qin Chuan's discomfort. In fact, it made him more wary. She could accurately deduce his thoughts from subtle facial cues—too clever for her own good. Such a person wasn't fit for a boyfriend, let alone a husband.

He then began a new round of relief: dull, heartless, and so intelligent it was unnerving. Living with her would be like standing naked before her every day—how could anyone feel relaxed and happy?

Following this train of thought, Qin Chuan suddenly realized something was amiss. Why did he feel as if he was being led by the nose?

As soon as this notion arose, Qin Chuan quickly tightened his emotional control, mentally reviewing every detail of his encounter with Long Wuhen. The conclusion was clear: she was deliberately guiding him toward breaking off the engagement.

"Miss Long, I suppose you've known my identity for some time," Qin Chuan decided to probe.

Long Wuhen nodded calmly. "We are engaged, so are you here to fulfill the marriage contract?"

"In light of your earlier behavior, I suddenly feel..." Qin Chuan paused deliberately, watching Long Wuhen's expression closely.

Sure enough, a fleeting trace of surprise and anticipation crossed her exquisite features, confirming Qin Chuan's suspicions.

"I suddenly feel that having such a clever wife as Miss Long would mean our children would surely be prodigies. With the vast resources of the Long family to nurture them, they might even surpass their parents."

"Don't you think, Miss Long, that with genes as outstanding as ours, failing to have a few more children would be a loss for all humanity?"

Long Wuhen's beautiful eyes flashed with astonishment. After her series of deliberate prompts, Qin Chuan's micro-expressions had clearly shown apprehension.

"Why the abrupt shift to such resolve?"

"Is there something he's hiding?"

"No, I must probe further."

Long Wuhen quickly devised a plan, then gave a textbook professional smile. "Mr. Qin, what you say is not without merit, and I have no objections. But the Long family has strict rules: all younger women must marry within the family. If you wish to fulfill the engagement, you would have to be a live-in son-in-law. You must know, Mr. Qin, that in a family like ours, a son-in-law is not easily accepted and is often ostracized. Out of respect for your teacher and my father’s connection, I truly would not want to see you suffer such indignity..."

"Miss Long, I understand," Qin Chuan cut her off.

"Actually, being a son-in-law isn't so bad. You know I studied medicine from a young age. If it weren't for our engagement, my ceiling would be as a humble physician in the traditional medicine department. But as the Long family's son-in-law, it's different. I could brandish the Long family's banner outside, and at home, I could prepare medicinal meals, cook, and take care of you and our children. Such a life sounds delightful!"

Qin Chuan's face radiated sincere joy, and the machine-like Long Wuhen finally began to crack.

"He really seems to long for the life of a son-in-law!"

With that thought, Long Wuhen's expression darkened. She fervently hoped Qin Chuan was just playing along, but his sincere, almost suffocating smile unsettled even her tranquil heart.

"I must use my trump card! I refuse to believe he can endure this as well!" Long Wuhen clenched her delicate fist, her resolve set.