Chapter 2: The Live-In Son-in-Law

At the villa entrance, Xiao Yi didn't rush inside. He stood where he was and waited for Qin Jintong.

When she came up beside him and reluctantly lifted her pale right arm, Xiao Yi finally hooked his arm through hers. Together they stepped over the rice grains and copper coins scattered before the threshold and went in.

In the place of honor in the living room sat two people, Qin Jintong's parents, Qin Zhenshan and Wen Yalan.

Qin Zhenshan wore a crisp Zhongshan suit, his back straight, his square face stern even at rest as he watched the two of them approach with calm eyes.

Beside him, on a solid wooden chair, sat Wen Yalan. She wore a plain silk qipao with a faint ink-wash mountain pattern, and the fitted cut perfectly outlined the mature, lush body of a woman in her forties. Because she was seated, her full breasts hung heavily in front of her, taut and ready to burst, while her slender waist curved in a delicate line, sharply contrasting with the fleshy hips pressed into the chair.

Her plump, snow-white thighs were completely hidden by the hem of the qipao, only a sliver of pale, delicate skin showing through the side slit. On her feet were a pair of beige hand-embroidered cloth shoes.

When she saw Xiao Yi approaching, that well-preserved face of hers, already marked by a few traces of age, curved into a faint smile. When her gaze settled on the Zhongshan suit in particular, she couldn't help nodding approvingly.

Standing at the couple's side was a professional woman with a high ponytail and a delicate white oval face.

She wore a white blouse with a black business skirt, the outfit showing off her tall, long-limbed figure to perfect effect. Her chest was full and high, her waist narrow, and the two straight, long legs wrapped in sheer black stockings were especially eye-catching.

She was Qin Jintong's adopted sister, Qin Ruowei.

After Xiao Yi reached the front, he went straight down on his knees.

A servant brought over a red-glazed lidded tea bowl with a dragon-and-phoenix design. Xiao Yi took it and first offered tea to Qin Zhenshan.

"Dad!"

Qin Zhenshan sat in the master's chair and did not take the tea right away. Instead, he stared at Xiao Yi's face for several seconds, his eyes flickering slightly, as if he could see someone else through that face.

"Zhenshan!"

Wen Yalan frowned slightly and called out to him softly.

Only then did Qin Zhenshan look away. He took the tea bowl, lifted the lid, took a small sip, and said with a double meaning, "Now that you've entered the Qin family, don't think about anything else. Live well with Jintong."

"I will, Dad!"

Xiao Yi nodded and answered.

Qin Zhenshan said nothing else. He picked up a red envelope from the side and handed it over.

Xiao Yi accepted it with both hands. "Thank you, Dad!"

Qin Zhenshan gave a quiet "Mm," his face showing no emotion.

Then Xiao Yi picked up the other cup of tea and offered it. "Mom!"

"Ah!"

When Wen Yalan heard that address, the smile on her face deepened. She took the tea bowl and drank a sip. The more she looked at this son-in-law, the more pleasing he seemed. Before Xiao Yi even had a chance to stand up, a thick red envelope was already stuffed into his hand. "Take it quickly."

"Thank you, Mom!"

Xiao Yi smiled and accepted the red envelope, then stood up.

Wen Yalan immediately took his hand and patted it lightly, looking more and more satisfied. "From now on we're all one family, so don't be so formal. Jintong has been spoiled rotten since she was little by me and her dad. She's got a temper and a stubborn streak, so you need to give in to her a little."

"Mom."

Qin Jintong immediately looked displeased.

Wen Yalan shot her daughter an annoyed glance. "What? Did I say something wrong?"

Qin Jintong pressed her red lips together and simply turned her face away, looking as if she couldn't be bothered to argue.

Xiao Yi, however, smiled when he saw that. "Mom, don't worry. Jintong is so beautiful that I can't spoil her enough. How could I bear to let her suffer?"

As he spoke, Xiao Yi turned slightly and very naturally reached out to put an arm around Qin Jintong's slender waist. Instantly, he clearly felt her body tighten. Her high heel shifted half a step to the side on instinct, but Xiao Yi pulled her back at once, holding her even tighter, his fingers even lightly stroking her there.

Qin Jintong turned her face, her phoenix eyes glaring coldly at him. Her look made it seem as if she wanted to hack him apart on the spot, but in front of her parents, she could only force herself to it.

Xiao Yi acted as if he had noticed nothing. With his arm around her waist, he smiled and said, "Jintong and I will work hard and do our best to let you and Dad hold your grandson as soon as possible."

As soon as he said that, Wen Yalan's smile bloomed even brighter. "That's what you said. By then I won't even bother with the company anymore. I'll retire right away and stay home to help you raise the baby!"

As she spoke, she seemed to already see a chubby little grandson babbling in her arms, and her smile smoothed out the fine lines at the corners of her eyes.

Qin Jintong, on the other hand, had a cold expression on her pretty face. If not for the setting, the thing she most wanted to do right now was kick this bastard straight out of the living room.

Qin Ruowei, standing nearby, saw this and let her red lips curl into a tempting arc. She stepped forward and also took out a large red envelope to hand over, saying softly, "As your big sister, I've prepared a little something too. I wish you and Jintong a happy wedding and a lifetime together!"

Xiao Yi took the red envelope and smiled. "Thank you, Sister Ruowei!"

"No need to be so polite!"

Qin Ruowei gently shook her head, her ponytail swaying behind her and bringing a different kind of tenderness with it. Smiling, she said, "Xiao Yi, if there's ever anything you need help with, just say the word! We're all family, so there's no need to be formal."

"Then I'll remember that."

Xiao Yi smiled and followed up, "If I ever really need to trouble Sister Ruowei, don't get sick of me."

"I'd be delighted," Qin Ruowei said with a small smile. "Otherwise it would always feel like you were treating me like an outsider."

"That's true."

Wen Yalan took up the thread with a smile. "Your Sister Ruowei has opened several restaurants near Jiangcheng Music Academy. Aren't you about to start school? If you get together with classmates or have any event later on, just go there."

"Mom's right."

Qin Ruowei smiled lightly and said, "Anyway, it's close to the school. Send me a message ahead of time and I'll have the manager keep the best private room for you!"

"Thank you, Sister Ruowei."

Xiao Yi nodded with a smile.

"All right, Mom, can we be done now?"

Just then, Qin Jintong, who had been held around the waist by Xiao Yi the whole time, finally spoke. She raised her snow-white wrist to glance at the time, her delicate brows faintly knitted. "The introductions are done, the red envelopes are handed out, and I still have things to take care of this afternoon."

As soon as she said that, the atmosphere in the entire living room grew a little stiff.

Xiao Yi turned his head and looked at her socialite-style outfit, his eyes flickering.

Wen Yalan immediately glared at her. "What could possibly be more important than getting married?"