Chapter 378 - 376: Lin Su

Chapter 378: Chapter 376: Lin Su

Gu Nuan Nuan nodded to herself. ’It seems Lin Qiao’s father really knows how to read a situation. Even when faced with such a massive, mouth-watering cake, he kept his head on straight. He was able to give it up so decisively, realizing that the richer and more powerful the family, the more vicious the fight over inheritance becomes.’

’I’m sure that after what he said, even if Lin Qiao’s uncle was wary of him before, most of those suspicions have now been dispelled.’

’Then again, it’s not surprising for Lin Qiao’s father to act this way. Isn’t it because he knows how to read a situation and when to advance or retreat that Grandpa and Eldest Uncle have come to trust him more and more over the years, treating him with special regard?’

"This is for the best."

Having figured things out, Gu Nuan Nuan put away Lin Qiao’s "deed of sale" and smiled at her. "Honestly, if you were really going to leave, I’d be very sad to see you go. It might be easy to find someone capable, but finding someone who’s both capable and as trustworthy as you... that’s truly difficult."

"Hmph, so you finally see my value, huh? In that case, you’d better treat me even better from now on, got it?" Lin Qiao said with a mischievous grin.

"Point out one way I’m not good enough to you." Gu Nuan Nuan shot her an exasperated glare. "I couldn’t possibly treat you any better. Any better and you’d ascend to the heavens, wouldn’t you?"

"What’s so great about ascending to the heavens? If you dare treat me poorly, I’ll go on strike just to show you," Lin Qiao declared, her almond-shaped eyes wide.

"Looks like you’ve really eaten a bear’s heart and a Leopard’s gall!" Gu Nuan Nuan pounced on her and began to tickle her. Lin Qiao laughed and tried to dodge, but there was no escape. In an instant, her stomach ached from laughing, and she begged for mercy until Gu Nuan Nuan finally relented. After the bout of playful roughhousing, Lin Qiao’s hair was a total mess, and she quickly grabbed a comb to fix it.

"Oh, right, I heard from my grandma today... what’s the deal with your cousin, the one who’s about to become my cousin-in-law? Did they really fall in love at first sight?" Gu Nuan Nuan asked, watching Lin Qiao braid her hair. She suddenly remembered how her grandmother had been full of praise for Zhang Laodi’s fiancé and couldn’t help but wonder what Lin Qiao thought.

"They did, they did! You weren’t home to see it, it was so amusing. My second cousin came with us to your grandparents’ villa. Because your family has taken such good care of ours over the years, my grandparents insisted on visiting to thank them. Since they were going, my uncle, my second cousin, and my eldest cousin naturally came along too."

Lin Qiao’s hands were incredibly deft. Without even looking in a mirror, she re-plaited her hair into a fishtail braid in just a few moments, then scurried back to sit by Gu Nuan Nuan, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she spoke.

"You missed it! The moment my second cousin laid eyes on your cousin, he was completely dumbstruck. Nuannuan, I’m not exaggerating one bit. I was right there and saw it all, clear as day. Heh, he was just frozen there for at least five minutes. Then he started showering her with all sorts of compliments and said on the spot that he wanted to marry her. Your cousin Laidi was startled, of course, but my second cousin is exceptionally handsome and the sweet talk just kept pouring out of him. I doubt most girls could hold out against an assault like that."

Gu Nuan Nuan was speechless. She suddenly recalled Lin Qiao saying there were ten children in her generation, half of them girls. A thought struck her, and she asked curiously, "How does your uncle have so many kids? A full six of them?"

"I think... I seem to remember overhearing them say my second uncle was married twice, which is why there are so many." Lin Qiao scratched her head. "I’m not too clear on the details. I think his first wife died from complications in childbirth when she had my second cousin."

"Oh." Gu Nuan Nuan nodded. ’A bit hasty,’ she thought, still harboring some doubts about their decision to marry. But she wasn’t particularly close to her cousin Laidi, so she didn’t press the matter and let it drop.

Gu Nuan Nuan ended up meeting Lin Qiao’s second cousin, Lin Su, in person much sooner than she’d expected.

After politely declining the invitation from Lin Qiao’s parents to stay for dinner, Nuannuan returned to her grandparents’ home. At the gate, she saw an unfamiliar car parked next to her eldest uncle’s. She paused to listen and immediately heard a young man’s unfamiliar laughter coming from inside the house.

Stepping into the living room, she saw that her family had evidently returned. However, aside from her cousin Laidi, the other women were nowhere to be seen. She didn’t need to ask; they were surely in the kitchen.

The coffee table and floor were piled high with shopping bags and gift boxes of all sizes. Gu Nuan Nuan’s eyes immediately landed on a man about her age sitting next to her cousin Laidi. This had to be Lin Su. He was, as described, quite handsome. That, combined with his coffee-gray silk shirt, crisply pressed trousers, and the diamond-encrusted cufflinks at his wrists... he exuded an aristocratic air that seemed perfectly capable of captivating young women.

He wasn’t her type, though. ’A rather feminine, androgynous kind of beauty,’ she thought, a little put off by it from the first glance. What displeased her even more was the flicker of stunned admiration and interest she clearly saw in his eyes the moment they made eye contact. The look vanished so quickly, his expression returning to normal almost instantly, that she might have missed it if not for her keen senses. She couldn’t help but frown to herself, the encounter leaving her with the distinct impression that he was a flirt.

"Darling, this pretty young lady must be the cousin, Nuannuan, that you were talking about?" Lin Su stood up before anyone else could speak, first turning to smile at Zhang Laodi before flashing a wide grin at Gu Nuan Nuan. "It’s true what they say, hearing about you doesn’t compare to meeting you in person."

"That’s right, this is Nuannuan." Seeing Gu Nuan Nuan, Zhang Laodi also looked pleasantly surprised. She stood up, answering Lin Su first before beaming at her cousin. "I heard Grandma say you were back when we got home, but I was disappointed I couldn’t find you. Perfect timing! I was shopping in the provincial capital today and saw a silk scarf that looked so beautiful, I thought it would be perfect for you."

As she spoke, she dove into the large pile of bags and boxes, rummaging through them. She quickly found a long, elegantly wrapped gift box and, presenting it like a treasure, opened it in front of Nuannuan. Inside was a red silk scarf with a "Prosperity Blooms" floral pattern.

"It’s beautiful. Thank you, Cousin. And you too, Cousin-in-law," Gu Nuan Nuan said politely as she accepted the gift.

"It’s just a small trinket, nothing worth mentioning. Once your cousin and I are back from our honeymoon, we’ll be sure to get you several even better presents." Lin Su’s smile was perfectly gracious.

"That’s right, we’ll be back the month after next, and then I—we’ll bring you more gifts then. Nuannuan, if there’s anything you want, you can tell me now. I’ll definitely remember."