Chà Chà Novel

Amused, Qin Fan took advantage of the housekeepers’ distraction to brush a light kiss over Lin Huaiqing’s lips.

“Be good. Don’t be afraid.”

It was the first time Qin Fan had kissed him in front of others, and in the Qin family’s ancestral home, no less.

Thick-skinned as Lin Huaiqing could be, his cheeks still flushed. His eyes turned shy, and he lowered his head.

Suddenly, a measured series of footsteps interrupted the tender moment.

Qin Feng entered through the front doors, his arm around a stunning woman with flowing long hair.

They made a handsome couple, a match seemingly made in heaven. Anyone who saw them would have to admit that they looked perfect together.

“You’re back, Brother.”

Qin Fan rose to greet him.

Lin Huaiqing stood as well. Keeping his emotions in check, he greeted him.

“Young Master Qin.”

Everyone present except Lin Huaiqing himself was surprised. Even Qin Feng had not expected him to change so much in such a short time.

Whether he had become more composed or simply more calculating was hard to say, but he was no longer someone who wore every emotion on his face.

“Well, if it isn’t Young Master Lin. It’s been a few days. You look rather worn out. Has that head injury healed?”

“Thank you for your concern, Young Master Qin. It’s been almost completely healed for some time.”

As the tension between them grew increasingly palpable, Qin Fan hurriedly stepped between them.

“Brother! Didn’t you ask me to come home today because you had something important to announce? Huaiqing happens to be here too, so stop keeping us in suspense. Tell us!”

While the brothers were talking, Shen Jingyi quietly sat down beside Lin Huaiqing and struck up a conversation.

“Young Master Lin, do you remember me? We met at the bar last time.”

He might forget anyone else, but he could hardly forget the heroine! With a beauty of her caliber sitting beside him, who could stay calm?

“I remember. Of course I do. I’m really sorry about what happened last time. My friend and I…”

“You don’t need to apologize to me. I’m the one who feels bad that Qin Feng misunderstood and hit you afterward. He has such a temper, hitting people without finding out what happened first. Let me apologize on his behalf.”

Lin Huaiqing had never encountered a situation like this. He was so flustered he could barely get the words out.

“No, no, Miss Shen. I… I’m fine. You don’t need to apologize.”

Besides, he really had been the one to approach Shen Jingyi and make trouble. Yet here she was, apologizing to him.

She truly was a sweet, innocent heroine who brought warmth to the whole world!

Did a male lead like that even deserve her?!

“Young Master Lin, you don’t seem much older than me. How about I call you Brother Huaiqing from now on? We’ll all be family, so you can just call me Jingyi!”

“F-Family?!”

Lin Huaiqing was deeply shocked.

Young lady, who said we were family? That was not something to joke about!

“Yes. Since Brother Fan brought you here, doesn’t that mean he already considers you family? Qin Feng told me Brother Fan has never brought anyone home before. You’re the first, Brother Huaiqing!”

Lin Huaiqing was about to explain when Qin Feng called Shen Jingyi away.

Tch! As though he might corrupt her.

“Are you hungry? We’ll be eating soon.”

Qin Fan had just returned from the kitchen, a faint smell of cooking oil lingering on him.

“Not really. Come here. Let me ask you something. Why did you bring me to your family gathering?”

Could Shen Jingyi really be right? Was he here to meet the family?

Their contract lasted only a year. Was this truly necessary?

“Now that you’re here, just relax. You’re acting so nervous. Don’t tell me you’re afraid of my brother?”

Qin Fan knew exactly how to push Lin Huaiqing’s buttons. The question left him with nothing to say. He merely stiffened his neck and replied:

“Hmph! Him? I’m not afraid of him!”

“Good. Sit here for a while. If you get bored, watch some television.”

Smiling, Qin Fan patted his head as though he were a child and switched on the television.

Then he disappeared.

“He really is treating me like a child!”

Muttering to himself, Lin Huaiqing decided to take a proper tour of the Qin family home.

Calling it a tour was no exaggeration. Like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden, he wandered around marveling at the decor.

The second floor had countless rooms. He wondered which one belonged to Qin Fan.

The third floor housed an enormous indoor swimming pool. Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows lay a garden, although there was little to see in the depths of winter.

When he reached the fourth floor, he had barely stepped into the corridor before Qin Feng’s furious roar rang out from nearby, echoing down the hall.

“Qin Fan! I think you’ve fucking lost your mind! There are so many women in the world. Why couldn’t you choose any of them? Why do you insist on getting tangled up with him?”

Lin Huaiqing took a deep breath. He realized the brothers were arguing because of him, but he had no intention of leaving.

He wanted to know what Qin Fan was thinking too.

Bringing him to see Qin Feng was practically walking into a trap. Who didn’t know that Qin Feng despised him more than anyone?

“Brother, I know you hate Lin Huaiqing. But that doesn’t stop me from liking him. Growing up, I often saw him making trouble for you, but he never went too far. You, on the other hand—you hit him far too hard! Did you know you gave him a concussion?”

“He deserved it! If he dared to attack me, he should have expected that outcome!”

Knowing he could not change his stubborn brother’s mind, Qin Fan decided there was no point in continuing the standoff.

“Whatever you say, Lin Huaiqing is the only person I want in this lifetime. You’ll be carrying on the Qin family line anyway, so Mom and Dad won’t have a problem with me. That’s all there is to it!”

With that, Qin Fan turned and left, taking the elevator downstairs. Qin Feng remained where he was, staring after him.

“Pah! Fucking disgusting!”

Having witnessed the whole exchange, Lin Huaiqing could not decide whether he felt comforted or unsettled.

Qin Fan’s love for Lin Huaiqing was indeed profound. Unfortunately, he was not the original owner. He was merely a substitute who had come to complete a mission in his place.

Once the year was up, the system would determine that his debt had been repaid and transport him out of this world.

Whether feelings were involved would make no difference.

“Huaiqing, where did you go? I’ve been looking everywhere.”

The moment Lin Huaiqing came downstairs, Qin Fan caught hold of him and asked with concern.

“I was just looking around your house.”

“You didn’t see anything, did you?”

“I did. I saw your indoor pool. It’s huge. And it’s heated!”

Lin Huaiqing put on an expression of complete ignorance, allowing Qin Fan to relax a little.

“Don’t worry. I’ll take you home as soon as we’ve eaten.”

“Mm… I’m not in a hurry. Why don’t you show me your room?”

“All right…”

Meanwhile, Qin Feng came down the stairs with a thunderous expression.

Shen Jingyi immediately noticed something was wrong and hurried over.

“What’s happened? Who upset you this time?”

“Where are those two filthy bastards?”

“You mean… your brother and Young Master Lin?”

For a moment, Shen Jingyi was at a loss for words.

“Who else? The Qin family might as well have raised that brother of mine for nothing! Can you believe it? He actually brought him home!”

Although they were a couple, Shen Jingyi disagreed with many of Qin Feng’s views.

“Enough! Leaving aside what century we’re living in, what gives you the right to interfere in your younger brother’s personal relationships? Just because you can’t understand Lin Huaiqing, you beat him into a concussion? If you ask me, Qin Fan has been remarkably patient. Otherwise, he would have really held you accountable!”