Married The Crybaby Childhood Crush First, Then Fell in Love - Chapter 6

Yan Qiu picks Lin Wanqing up for lunch and drops her back at the academy in the afternoon. Throughout the class, Lin Wanqing worries that Yan Qiu might misunderstand her as a woman who is promiscuous.

She sends a WeChat message to Yan Qiu: Lin Wanqing: Sister, I have never dated anyone, I have no relationship history. I hope you won’t misunderstand. Lin Wanqing: Storm of tears emoji.

The message goes unanswered until the class ends, leaving Lin Wanqing even more upset. Yan Qiu had taken the roses her senior classmate gave her, and Lin Wanqing knows without a doubt they were tossed into a dirty corner trash can. Lin Wanqing has always been sensible about relationships; she aims for continuous learning to build independent capital.

Lan Xiaoxiao approaches her, “We haven’t finished the cutting assignment the teacher gave us, want to go together?” Lin Wanqing puts her phone away, preoccupied, “Sure.” Lan Xiaoxiao sips her milk tea, “Talking to your friend again? You were on your phone the whole class.” Lin Wanqing quietly hums in affirmation, “I’m worried my friend misunderstood me.” Lan Xiaoxiao: “Misunderstood what?” Lin Wanqing: “Misunderstood that I have many girlfriends outside.” Lan Xiaoxiao: “???” You found yourself a mom, not a real friend, why is she controlling your dating life?

…

Meanwhile, Yan Qiu places the fully bloomed red roses into a ceramic vase in the corner of her office.

Yu Fei puts the due diligence report for a downstream company on the boss’s desk. “These flowers are lovely. Should we order roses for the office in the future?” Yan Qiu cleanly snips one flower with scissors. The bloom rolls twice on the carpet. “Do you think they’re pretty?” Yu Fei: “Very beautiful. They are rare this season, and they still have dew on them, so they must have been air-freighted.” Yan Qiu says indifferently: “They were sent to Lin Wanqing by a love rival.” Yu Fei: “These flowers are truly hideous and smell awful.” The employee who walked in with her is stunned by Yu Fei’s sycophantic behavior—she deserves her promotion and raise. Yan Qiu: “…” Yu Fei: “Boss, the audit report for the Lin family’s company is back. It generally meets the requirements, and partner reviews are good. However, some of their tactics are too opportunistic. Using those unsavory means to pass inspections could lead to hidden dangers.” Yan Qiu smooths her brow, her fingers gently caressing the soft rose petals. The overly strong scent of the roses clashes with the sparse, cool pine and cedar scent of the office’s incense, yet creates a strange feeling of seductive entanglement. Yan Qiu smiles: “My father-in-law is pushing hard. Approve the investment.” Fifty million is mere pocket change to her. Yu Fei: “Boss, I think we should reconsider.” Yan Qiu: “What do you think they’ll do after receiving this investment?” Yu Fei considers, “Build two more production lines, supply major luxury brands, and expand brand influence?” Yan Qiu crushes a rose in her palm, the dark red juice flowing across her palm, down her fair wrist, and onto her forearm. It’s a sight that makes one thirsty. “Wrong. Mrs. Qiao will skim a cut behind her husband’s back. To balance the books, she will use inferior materials to negotiate with big brands, mixing the good with the bad when selling.” Yu Fei shudders. The boss isn’t trying to help the Lin family; she’s accelerating the company’s downfall. It appears she is marrying Miss Lin with high-priced sincerity, but the Lin family is inviting a wolf into their home.

The secretary leaves the office as instructed. Yan Qiu takes out the necklace hanging around her neck. Inside the hollow crystal tube is a strand of Lin Wanqing’s hair that she dropped in the car last time. Yan Qiu greedily tries to catch Lin Wanqing’s familiar scent from the single strand of hair. Her legs are aching again. She usually doesn’t let the physical therapist touch her legs, fantasizing about how comfortable it would be if Lin Wanqing’s soft, boneless fingers were to touch her scarred legs. Yan Qiu’s throat bobs. She smears the dark red floral juice on the corner of her mouth. The scene is decadent and mad.

…

In the empty classroom, Lin Wanqing and Lan Xiaoxiao are making gloves while looking at the tutorial on a tablet. Lan Xiaoxiao complains endlessly: “Does anyone really wear gloves in any season other than winter these days?” “The textbook needs an update.” Lin Wanqing recalls the first time she saw Yan Qiu, who was wearing a long black glove on one hand. The black color made her fingers look even more appealing. Without much adornment, she possessed the untouchable aura of a medieval noblewoman. Lin Wanqing blushes: “Wearing gloves is quite common.” Lan Xiaoxiao: “?” Blink if the teacher is holding you hostage.

Lan Xiaoxiao grows increasingly frustrated, following Lin Wanqing’s steps, covering the lace fabric with pattern paper, and cutting out the shapes. “It’s not that hard, wow, have I become a straight-A student?” Two minutes later, she sees a friend at the door and goes out to greet them. When she returns, she sees Lin Wanqing has already finished one exquisite glove and embroidered a small rabbit on the cuff. Lan Xiaoxiao: ??? All she has in front of her are a few pieces of broken fabric. Wait, didn’t you say you were going to teach me? Lin Wanqing glances at her, “It’s very simple,” You need me to teach you this? Under the scholarly look of disdain, Lan Xiaoxiao feels humbled like a dog. Lin Wanqing hands her the finished glove, “Sew the needle in here, and then…”

A knock sounds on the empty classroom door. A man in a black suit, with a stern face, stands in the doorway, holding two delicate wooden boxes. Lan Xiaoxiao looks up: “Qingqing, look, he looks like a bodyguard from a rich family in a novel.” “I have something to attend to, you continue first.” Lin Wanqing’s hand trembles. The edge of the other glove, which was almost complete, tears open, turning it into a complete scrap. Lan Xiaoxiao: “Ah, oh… Hurry back.”

Lin Wanqing hides the smile in her eyes, steps out of the classroom, and closes the door. Lin Wanqing watches the driver cautiously, “What do you want with me?” Driver: “Mrs. Qiao has a set of jewelry to present to Miss Lin, as an apology for the previous conflict.” The driver opens the wooden box, revealing a dazzling gem necklace and earrings. It’s a style Lin Wanqing and her sister once saw in a shop window. It wasn’t expensive. She liked the design and wanted to look at it longer, but her sister impatiently dragged her away. She once planned to save money and quietly buy it. When her mother found out about the savings, she took it all, claiming it was for tuition. Lin Wanqing didn’t understand why her mother favored her sister until now. She realizes that as an illegitimate daughter, she was shameful, and her mother regretted giving birth to her.

Lin Wanqing says flatly: “I don’t need it. Please take it back.” Driver: “I apologize, but if you don’t accept it, I can’t complete my task. You and Mrs. Qiao are mother and daughter; there’s no such thing as an overnight grudge. Mrs. Qiao is doing all this for your own good. Please be more understanding and forgiving.” Lin Wanqing looks calmly at the driver, not understanding why her mother, who was always harsh to her, would suddenly send a necklace. She also doesn’t know that her mother had been rebuffed by Yan Qiu. Lin Wanqing doesn’t want another penny from that family. Her mother’s condescending show of weakness and her desire to maintain so-called kinship only bores her. She has already married Yan Qiu; she is done with that family. When Lin Wanqing doesn’t smile, she looks cold, keeping people at a distance. She protects her inner softness and vulnerability well. “If I throw these two boxes down from here, can you complete your task?” Lin Wanqing’s classroom is on the fifteenth floor. Below is an empty construction site full of crushed stones. The driver is speechless, and finally leaves with the gift boxes, helpless.

Lan Xiaoxiao is gossiping when Lin Wanqing returns: “Who was that person outside? He looked so fierce.” Lin Wanqing smiles faintly, “I’m not sure, maybe he got lost.” Lan Xiaoxiao doesn’t press further, fighting a deadly battle with her glove assignment.

Lin Wanqing loses the will to continue cutting. Her eyes are slightly red, tears well up and tremble, and her nose is a faint pink. She quietly wipes away the tears from the corners of her eyes and covers her face with her hands, moving like a little rabbit drooping its ears and washing its face with its paws. She pretended to be fierce in front of the outsider, but she was terrified inside. Her mother probably wants to appease Yan Qiu by pleasing her. She doesn’t know Yan Qiu’s attitude towards this.

Lin Wanqing opens her phone on an impulse and sees the latest WeChat message from Yan Qiu. Yan Qiu: My fiancée has the right to pursue her own happiness. If she meets someone she truly loves, I won’t stand in the way.

Lin Wanqing’s heart skips a beat, touched in its softest spot. Yan Qiu isn’t as fierce as the outside world says; she is a very gentle elder sister.

…

That night, Yan Qiu looks at the utterly hypocritical message she just sent, her expression dark and unfathomable. She receives a little rabbit hearts emoji from Lin Wanqing. She has been displaced, lost her parents in a car accident, and struggled through intrigues, all just to have Lin Wanqing. Even if the little rabbit has someone she likes, she will lock her in a cage and not let her leave her side for a single step. Using chains, threats, and the ultimate gentle means to trap her by her side. That is Yan Qiu’s way.

Yan Qiu fondles a pair of black gloves, with a small rabbit embroidered on the edge. One of the gloves has a slight flaw, but it doesn’t affect its use and can be made perfect with a little mending. The butler knocks: “Ms. Yan, the milk is warm.” The butler places a glass of milk with a sedative on the coffee table. The butler worries: “Please rest early.” The clock points to three in the morning. Yan Qiu has always suffered from insomnia. Besides mental reasons, the pain in her legs makes it impossible for her to sleep peacefully.

But tonight is different. Yan Qiu doesn’t drink the milk with the sedative. She holds the glove handmade by Lin Wanqing, clutches it tightly, and lies in bed. The glove still retains Lin Wanqing’s subtle, pleasant scent, like the soft fur of a small rabbit, warm from the sun, a comforting aroma. She gazes lingeringly at the black lace glove, her lips lightly touching the icy silk embroidery, and tucks it into the quilt… She sleeps exceptionally well tonight.

…

With the deadline approaching, Lin Wanqing and Lan Xiaoxiao frantically search for the damaged glove from yesterday. Lan Xiaoxiao is anxious: “I clearly left it in the locked drawer in the classroom yesterday. No one has ever stolen anything from there.” Half-finished homework gone without a trace, Lin Wanqing has a headache, “I’ll check the surveillance.” In the monitoring room, the two open the footage from after they left. They only see the doorknob slightly turning. Just as they are about to see the true culprit’s face, the screen suddenly goes black. Lin Wanqing: “…” Lan Xiaoxiao: “Shock! Innocent female college student’s personal item stolen, the truth is spine-chilling!” Lin Wanqing: “Shut up.”