Chapter 117: The Gathering

Qin Miaoyu glanced at the two photos on Sister Zheng Suning’s phone. A genuine dilemma: one was pink, the other blue.

She couldn’t help turning to her second brother, wondering how he would decide. Liang Siyuan did not hesitate in the least.

“Let’s not rush the nursery yet,” he said. “We can buy the baby some other things first—pink, blue, yellow, orange, every color you like. When the baby grows, we’ll see what it prefers, and then decide on the room colors. For now, leave it as it is.”

Zheng Suning immediately abandoned her hesitation.
“Right. After we know what the baby likes, we can paint it that way.”

From behind, Qin Miaoyu gave her brother a sly thumbs-up.

Watching Qin’s stolen smile, Zheng Suning shifted her mood at once.
“Miaoyu, tomorrow you should take a good look. These boys are all excellent—handsome and good-natured. Your brother and I have both checked them. There’s no problem at all with any of them.”

Qin folded her hands together and pleaded, “Second Sister-in-law, mercy!”

Taking pity on her adorable display of pretend helplessness, Zheng Suning relented with theatrical kindness.
“Fine, I was only teasing you. Go make a few new friends. If you like someone, good. If not, just say you passed them. And if it really bores you, then the two of us can hang out together.”

Qin Miyao reached for Suning’s arm. “I know, Sister Suning is the best. Not like my second brother.”

The next morning at nine o’clock, the sunlight was perfect as Qin Miaoyu went with her brother and Zheng Suning to Jingxin Club. Jingxin Club was divided into indoor and outdoor sections; their destination was the outdoor section, mainly a golf course.

They arrived early. Only a few people were there so far, all of them friends of Liang Siyuan, all known to Zheng Suning, so Liang went ahead and introduced Qin Miaoyu to them.

“This is my younger sister, Qin Miaoyu.”

Though her surname differed from Liang’s, none of them showed any surprise. They already knew something about the Liang family through Liang Siyuan, so when he introduced her they warmly greeted her. Qin responded to each with a soft, composed manner; their compliments quickly became sincere.

After introductions, Liang called the group over to play, and asked Qin Miaoyu and Zheng Suning to sit aside and watch.

Qin had no understanding of golf at all, and she found it not at all interesting. She would have preferred to chat with Sister Suning. Suning, by the way, was also not very interested, and neither of them even looked toward the fairway.

From a distance, the golfers could still see what the two were doing.
One of Liang’s friends laughed, “Siyuan, she really is your own younger sister—almost even more close to you.”

Liang smiled in return. “Yes. Closer than that.”

It was funny in a way. Liang Siyuan and Liang Sixuan had never had a close relationship from childhood, yet he had always envied the sibling bond between his elder brother and Liang Sixuan. For years, even though he kept his distance from Liang Sixuan on the surface, he still truly cared for her. Lately, though, he felt he had given enough.

Qin Miaoyu was different. Though she was a sister he had come to recognize later in life, she had somehow made the Liang family feel closer to him, and their relation only deepened. What had slowly come to seem like effort wasted on Liang Sixuan did not feel wasted at all when spent on Qin.

Affection is often like that, whether it is family, friendship, or love: devotion from only one side can rarely endure forever.

His friends exchanged a relieved look. At one point, Liang Siyuan had agreed to a costly compromise to spare Liang Sixuan from marrying into the Su family. In the end, of course, she still married into the Su household, but his friends, who understood how long they’d known Liang, felt he had no reason to go so far for a sister who was neither truly close nor, if they were honest, grateful.

Several of them had grown up with him and knew well how Liang Sixuan had once gone out of her way against Liang Siyuan.

One of them, Yan Han—the most handsome among this group—said, “I never expected the little sister to be this kind of girl. I’ll call my little fool of a brother. Maybe she’ll fancy him for his looks.”

Had Qin Miaoyu not been injured by love, Liang probably would have disliked hearing that. But as things stood, perhaps a handsome face might pull her out of her shell. Yan Han’s brother Yan Chao was no dull one-eyed boy with charm to spare, but a candid, sweet-faced sort of handsome fool. If Miaoyu could like him, he might suit.

“Then call your brother over,” Liang said.

“Sure. I’ll call him right away—let him come fast so nobody gets ahead of the other,” Yan Han replied.

Qin and Zheng were at that moment talking about the latest wedding list and going over decoration details when a unfamiliar voice cut in:
“Sister Suning, what are you two talking about? Can I join in?”

Qin turned—and saw a very handsome young man. His eyes were clear and open, like those of a college boy still untouched by the world.

Zheng Suning recognized him immediately. She pointed toward the course.
“It’s Yan Chao, Yan Han’s brother, the handsome one among that bunch.”

Hearing this, Yan Chao smiled and flashed two little canine teeth. “Sister Suning—no, I’m actually the brother at home who’s even more handsome than that one. Nice to meet you. I’m Yan Chao.”

Qin nodded politely. “Hello. I’m Qin Miaoyu.”

Suning asked, “Wasn’t your brother not going to call you? Why did he suddenly summon you?”

Yan Chao looked directly at Qin without blinking. “My brother said there’s a beautiful young lady here. I should come quickly—before someone else makes a move.”

Qin felt her face warm at his frankness.
“Alright, little rascal, what are you rambling about? Are you going to play with your brother and the others? If you’re not playing, sit here with us.”

He replied at once, “No, I won’t. I’ll just stay and talk with you.”

So the three of them sat together. Since Zheng knew both Qin and Yan Chao, she bridged the gap between them and the conversation soon grew relaxed and warm. Unnoticed, more and more people gathered on the golf side.

When Liang Siyuan saw the place had nearly filled, he took a fake “half-time” excuse and walked over to where they were sitting, and others followed. Taking the chance, Liang introduced Qin Miaoyu once more to the rest.

Most of the arrivals were Liang’s friends or friends of friends, so their manner was mostly friendly. Still, Qin did not miss it: two particular looks at her made her distinctly uncomfortable.