Married The Crybaby Childhood Crush First, Then Fell in Love - Chapter 19

Lin Wanqing caught a whiff of bitter orange blossom in the damp, rainy air.

She turned her head to see Yan Qiu’s wheelchair parked not far away.

The cold expression on Yan Qiu’s face stung Lin Wanqing. Yan Qiu maneuvered her wheelchair to stop at the side door.

Lin Hui: “President Yan, please be accommodating regarding the factory matter. We will investigate the flow of funds…”

Yan Qiu interrupted: “You shouldn’t be here.”

Lin Hui and Qiao Lihua’s smiles froze. “We had no choice; it doesn’t look good for Wanqing with the Lin family in this state.”

Lin Hui tried to continue explaining, but Yan Qiu stopped him with a gesture of her finger.

“My assistance to the Lin family is limited to investment. As an investor, I have the right to trace whose pockets the funds went into.”

The couple’s faces turned pale. Just as they were about to speak, Yan Qiu waved her hand, instructing the bodyguards at the door to chase them away.

“The Elder Master is resting at this hour; keep the noise down.”

Lin Hui hadn’t expected Yan Qiu to completely disregard their in-law relationship. The middle-aged man’s characteristic look of humble, greasy servility was extremely ugly.

“Just let me see the Elder Master, just once!”

The sound of their voices faded further away, and the rain outside the covered corridor grew louder.

Yan Qiu’s deep eyes gazed at her indifferently, a look that made one feel they were drowning in the excessive moisture.

Lin Wanqing: “I apologize.”

Yan Qiu caressed her icy hand, placing it on her own cheek.

The trembling fingertips were cute and helpless, and the pink knuckles were perfectly suited for playing with in one’s hand.

Yan Qiu: “Why apologize?”

Lin Wanqing: “They are my parents, after all. Since they did something wrong…”

Since they did something wrong, it was only natural that she should bear the consequences.

Yan Qiu shook her head: “It has nothing to do with you. You just need to play the role of my wife well.”

Lin Wanqing could visibly see that Yan Qiu was not in high spirits. She reflected on whether she had said something wrong, but she couldn’t figure it out.

She was self-aware; wasn’t being a tool-person good enough?

…

Lin Wanqing respectfully walked half a step behind Yan Qiu. When they reached the main house, an elderly maid was waiting at the door.

Maid: “Miss Lin, the Elder Master has asked to see you.”

Lin Wanqing looked at Yan Qiu helplessly, frightened: “Sister.”

Yan Qiu: “The Elder Master won’t make things difficult for you. Go ahead.”

Lin Wanqing was trembling like a frightened rabbit. No matter how amiable the Elder Master appeared, it couldn’t mask the sense of authority he exuded.

Lin Wanqing and the maid entered the main room.

The Elder Master was sitting in a grand armchair and smiled kindly when he saw Lin Wanqing. “Come, sit.”

Lin Wanqing straightened her back and perched on the Huanghuali round-backed chair. She handed the gift she was carrying to the Elder Master.

Elderly people are prone to lethargy and lack of focus; sandalwood oil could serve as a good remedy.

The Elder Master fiddled with the perfume bottle. “You are thoughtful. Few people send me perfume; you are the first.”

Lin Wanqing was nervous but handled the situation deftly: “Sandalwood incense can invigorate mental energy, as well as have a calming, meditative, and concentration-enhancing effect. It is an essence made from the heartwood of at least a sixty-year-old sandalwood tree, blended with tranquil and iris notes to soften the overall fragrance, making it suitable for daily use.”

The Elder Master raised an eyebrow: “You are quite knowledgeable about this.”

Lin Wanqing had originally prepared to fabricate stories, expecting the Elder Master to inquire about her relationship with Yan Qiu, but unexpectedly, he discussed future business development.

Lin Wanqing majored in fashion design, and she had great prospects for entering the fashion industry in the future.

The Yan family had significant influence in this field and could provide Lin Wanqing with ample resources.

Lin Wanqing answered fluently, and the Elder Master nodded in satisfaction. Unconsciously, two hours had passed.

The Elder Master chuckled, “Stay here tonight. Qiu’s legs and feet always ache when it rains; go and look after her more.”

Lin Wanqing agreed.

Before she left, the Elder Master gave her a large red envelope, a meeting gift on behalf of Yan Qiu’s deceased parents.

As Lin Wanqing emerged from the room, she saw Yan Qiu waiting for her by the door.

Yu Fei chuckled: “The Boss was worried you were being hard-pressed by the Elder Master since you took so long to come out.”

Yan Qiu: “Yu Fei, I think you’re too idle. Go busy yourself at the company.”

Lin Wanqing felt warm inside. “I was not hard-pressed. The Elder Master is very kind. Thank you for your concern, Sister Qiuqiu.”

Yan Qiu turned her wheelchair toward her room. As she passed Lin Wanqing, she said in a low voice,

“We are merely in an agreement of marriage. Why would I be concerned about you?”

Lin Wanqing paused where she stood, stunned, with a question mark in her mind.

Following Yan Qiu into her private courtyard, all the steps here had been converted into ramps for wheelchair access.

The rain outside intensified; it was very late, and the scent of winter sweet blossoms in the courtyard was crisp and cool.

After showering, Lin Wanqing brought a wooden tub filled with hot water and asked the maid for the traditional Chinese medicine packet Yan Qiu usually used for soaking.

Yan Qiu sat on the edge of the bed in her pajamas. Her body looked fragile; without the crisp daytime clothes, she appeared much softer. Her long hair draped over her shoulders, masking the intensity in her eyes.

Lin Wanqing knelt on the floor, gently lifted one of Yan Qiu’s feet, and slowly placed it into the wooden tub.

“It’s raining outside; soaking your feet will help dispel the dampness.”

Yan Qiu’s eyelashes fluttered. “You don’t have to do this. I will tell the Elder Master tomorrow that you were looking after me.”

Yan Qiu’s voice was hoarse, so soft it almost melted into the sound of the rain.

“I am willing to look after you, Sister. You have been very good to me.”

The girl’s knees were slightly red. Her hands touched Yan Qiu’s foot, pouring the bitter medicinal water onto the scarred legs.

The bone-deep pain caused Yan Qiu’s muscles to spasm.

Yan Qiu’s fingers gripped the bedsheet tightly, and a vein popped up on her forehead. She would not show her vulnerability in front of Lin Wanqing.

From her position, she could see Lin Wanqing’s loosely tied neckline, revealing a patch of snowy-white chest. It didn’t look sensual at all, flickering in and out of view with the silk fabric.

The girl’s downcast eyes and her obedient movements while massaging her legs and feet were charming, touching the softest part of one’s heart.

Lin Wanqing looked up at her: “Does it hurt?”

“No.”

Yan Qiu’s attention was completely off her legs. The girl’s neck was long, steamed a pale pink by the hot air.

Yan Qiu: “You are very good at serving others. Do you do this often?”

Lin Wanqing’s hands continuously massaged Yan Qiu’s calf muscles, enduring the hot water, for over an hour. During this time, she kept adding more hot water.

Her delicate hands were stained with the scent of the herbal medicine, and both hands were scalded red.

Yan Qiu: “That’s enough. Get into bed and rest.”

Lin Wanqing wrapped Yan Qiu’s damp feet in a towel, placed them on her own lap, and wiped them dry repeatedly before finally applying a layer of moisturizing cream.

The girl knelt on the floor, her posture docile and gentle, making one want to tease her even more.

Was this level of service also just because of the agreement?

Lin Wanqing looked at her with reddened eyes: “Should I sleep on the sofa tonight?”

Yan Qiu: “You are my newlywed wife. Of course, you sleep in the bed.”

Lin Wanqing sat on the bed awkwardly. Yan Qiu said, “My legs get very cold at night. You can warm them for me.”

The lights were turned off, and the entire room fell into darkness. The sound of the rain outside the window became even more pronounced.

Lin Wanqing pressed Yan Qiu’s gradually chilling knees against her warm thighs. Lying on her side, she let out a slight gasp from the cold.

In the middle of the night, Lin Wanqing’s breathing gradually became steady. Yan Qiu, who was supposedly in a deep slumber, opened her eyes, showing no sign of sleepiness.

Her hand slipped inside the silk pajamas…