117: Chapter 117 Family Gathering (Part 1)

"It should be Xiao Yi back." Wu Xiuhua's face was brimming with a happy smile as she spoke, getting up and walking toward the door with light steps.

Xu Qian followed closely behind, her eyes also sparkling with anticipation and relief. She let out a silent sigh of relief and thought to herself, 'Young Master Qin, you're finally back...'

Qin Jianye and Qin Jiange also stood up one after another. The four of them gathered toward the door, all with smiles on their faces, ready to welcome Qin Yi's return.

As the main door opened, Qin Xiaoyue hid behind Qin Yi, her lips curving into a mischievous arc. She was silently planning how she would give her Eldest Uncle and Eldest Aunt a surprise.

"Xiao Yi, you're finally back. What were you busy with all afternoon? You didn't answer my calls or reply to my WeChat messages. Your Little Aunt has already arrived." Wu Xiuhua looked at Qin Yi as he walked in from outside, her voice carrying a hint of complaint amidst her laughter, but her eyes were filled with indulgence.

When Qin Yi heard that his Little Aunt had arrived, a smile immediately blossomed on his face. He quickly looked into the house and saw his Little Aunt, Qin Jiange, looking at him with a smile, her eyes full of tenderness.

Qin Yi quickly smiled and greeted his Little Aunt, "Little Aunt, you're here. I'm really sorry. Something came up unexpectedly this afternoon, and I only just finished."

"Haha, it's fine, it's fine. I haven't seen you in a long time, Xiao Yi. You've really grown even more handsome." Qin Jiange looked at Qin Yi with a beaming smile, her eyes filled with pride and affection.

At that moment, Qin Xiaoyue suddenly jumped out from behind Qin Yi, making a "grand entrance" in front of everyone: "Ta-da! Surprise!"

The four of them were stunned at first. Then, except for Xu Qian, the other three all burst into laughter in unison, looking at Qin Xiaoyue with both indulgence and helplessness.

Wu Xiuhua stepped forward, raised her hand, and playfully patted Qin Xiaoyue's shoulder with a smile, complaining with mirth in her eyes, "Xiao Yue! You child, you're already so grown up, yet you still like to play pranks. You're never serious for a moment. Aren't you afraid of scaring your Eldest Uncle with such a sudden startle?"

"Hehe, Eldest Aunt, you're overthinking it. My Eldest Uncle isn't that easily scared." Qin Xiaoyue smiled and stepped forward to take Wu Xiuhua's arm, looking at the people in the room with a smile as she greeted them in turn, "Hello, Eldest Uncle; hello, Little Aunt..." Suddenly, she saw Xu Qian standing to the side, smiling at her. Qin Xiaoyue frowned and thought for a long time, certain she had never seen this beautiful sister before. So, she asked curiously, "Who is this beautiful sister?"

However, before Xu Qian could speak, Wu Xiuhua beat her to it and introduced her with a smile, "Haha, Xiao Yue, let me introduce you. This is your cousin's girlfriend, Xu—"

Before Wu Xiuhua could finish saying Xu Qian's name, Qin Xiaoyue let go of Wu Xiuhua's arm and took a few steps toward Xu Qian. She took Xu Qian's hand and said very familiarly, "Ah, so you're my brother's girlfriend. I know you; you're Su Mo, right? My brother told me about you. I really didn't expect you to be so beautiful." As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyue looked Xu Qian up and down and continued, "Sister, how tall are you? You must be at least 1.7 meters, right? Sister, you have such a great figure; you truly live up to being the department beauty of Modu University's Music Department! Sister, can you teach me an instrument? You know how to play the Guzheng, right?"

Seeing that Qin Xiaoyue had mistaken her for Su Mo, a flash of embarrassment crossed Xu Qian's face. She lightly bit her lower lip, her face written with awkwardness. Seeing this, Wu Xiuhua also gave a light cough, trying to ease the sudden awkward atmosphere. Qin Jianye and Qin Jiange looked at each other, not knowing how to respond next.

Qin Yi rubbed his nose, his eyes carrying a bit of helplessness. He pulled Qin Xiaoyue away from Xu Qian. Qin Xiaoyue frowned at Qin Yi, rubbing her slightly pained arm as she complained, "Brother, what are you doing..."

"Ahem," Qin Yi coughed lightly and then corrected her, "Well, Xiao Yue, you've got the wrong person. She's not Su Mo. Su Mo and I have already broken up..." When he said this, his eyes unconsciously flickered toward Xu Qian, seemingly observing her reaction.

Qin Xiaoyue blinked, her expression turning from embarrassment to annoyance. She forced a smile at Xu Qian that looked worse than crying. Immediately after, she reached out and pinched the soft flesh at Qin Yi's waist, complaining, "Stinky brother, you're so annoying! You didn't say you broke up earlier, making me embarrass myself in front of so many people..." As she spoke, she even stomped her foot lightly, her face full of dissatisfaction.

"Ouch, alright, alright, my fault, my fault... Let go of your claws..." Qin Yi dodged with a smile, his laughter carrying a hint of indulgence and helplessness. It was clear he was already accustomed to this behavior from Qin Xiaoyue.

Seeing the scene of the two siblings bickering, the embarrassment on Xu Qian's face lessened significantly. She smiled gently, a trace of tenderness showing in her eyes.

At this time, seeing that the atmosphere had finally softened, Wu Xiuhua immediately took Xu Qian's and Qin Xiaoyue's hands and reintroduced them to each other. "Alright, alright, Xiao Yue, stop bothering your brother. It was all a misunderstanding just now. Let me formally introduce you two again." As she spoke, Wu Xiuhua looked at Xu Qian and introduced, "Qianqian, this is your cousin from your Second Uncle's side, named Qin Xiaoyue. She's been a little Essence Spirit since she was a child, never serious for a moment and very outspoken, but she has a good heart." Then, she looked at Qin Xiaoyue and continued, "Xiao Yue, this is your brother's girlfriend, named Xu Qian. Don't get it wrong again in the future."

Hearing this, Qin Xiaoyue stuck out her tongue, her eyes sparkling with a mischievous light. She took the opportunity to step forward and take Xu Qian's arm, saying warmly, "Hehe, then I'll call you Sister Qianqian from now on. Oh, by the way, Sister Qianqian, how did you and my brother meet? Let me tell you, you have to keep a close eye on him. Don't let his serious appearance fool you; he's actually quite wicked at heart. Let me tell you a secret..." As she spoke, Qin Xiaoyue leaned close to Xu Qian's ear and continued in a lowered voice, "You definitely don't know that my brother has spent over ten million on Douyin... I think he must have his eye on some streamer... You have to watch him carefully. Don't let him be like those stinky men, fooling around outside..." As she spoke, she even stole a glance at Qin Yi, her eyes full of teasing.

Hearing this, Xu Qian covered her mouth and chuckled, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and mirth. She clearly found Qin Xiaoyue's words very amusing—to think she would actually expose her own brother's dirty laundry...

Seeing Qin Xiaoyue acting so familiar, Qin Yi leaned in curiously, his tone carrying a hint of both threat and indulgence as he asked, "Xiao Yue, what are you saying to Qianqian? I'm warning you, don't say bad things about me, or watch out, I might stop looking after you..."

"Humph, not look after me? Try it. If you don't look after me, I'll stay at your house and never leave. Wherever you go, I'll follow, so you and Sister Qianqian can't have any alone time!" As Qin Xiaoyue spoke, she deliberately made a face at Qin Yi, her eyes sparkling with playfulness and triumph.

Seeing this, Qin Yi shook his head with a helpless bitter smile. The other three were also amused by Qin Xiaoyue, and laughter filled the entire room, making the atmosphere even more harmonious and warm.

"Alright, alright, now that the introductions are over, everyone stop standing and please sit down," Qin Jianye said with a smile as he began to arrange things.

"Hehe, you guys sit. I have to tour my brother's big house first." As Qin Xiaoyue spoke, she let go of Xu Qian's arm and, like a curious baby, looked left and right, her eyes full of curiosity and a desire to explore.

Xu Qian, however, let out a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted. With a gentle smile on her face, she winked at Qin Yi and then said, "Young Master Qin, why don't you stay and talk with Little Aunt? I'll go with Xiao Yue for a tour."

Qin Yi smiled understandingly and then replied, "Okay, you go ahead."

The others watched with smiles as Qin Xiaoyue and Xu Qian left the living room, and only then did Qin Yi leisurely take a seat.

Afterward, he looked at his Little Aunt, Qin Jiange, with a bit more intimacy in his smile and asked, "Little Aunt, I heard from my dad that my Uncle-in-law and Xiao Yi aren't home? Doesn't the house feel a lot quieter without them?"

"You're telling me," Qin Jiange sighed softly, her brow slightly furrowed, though a helpless smile remained on her face as she continued to complain, "Your Uncle-in-law was transferred to the District Government Secretariat Office in the New District a while ago, and he's been busy every day without a moment's rest. Just yesterday, he went out on an inspection tour with the leadership again. I'll be lucky if he's back in a week. As for Xiao Yi, that child went to his grandmother's house as soon as summer vacation started and won't come back even when called. It's really worrying."

Qin Yi laughed heartily upon hearing this, trying to ease his Little Aunt's worries. "Haha, then isn't it just right for you to have some peace and quiet and enjoy life? If Uncle-in-law and the others were home, wouldn't you have to go back and cook and clean after work? Now you can just relax."

Qin Jiange was amused, the corners of her mouth turning up and her eyes sparkling with laughter. "Haha, that's true. Xiao Yi, I've heard all about it from your parents. You've really made something of yourself. For our Qin Family to produce a young talent like you, we really should burn some high-quality incense in thanks. When I get the chance, I'll have to have a good talk with Liu Yi and tell him to take you as a role model, so that in the future, he can be as successful as you!"

Qin Yi coughed lightly, a flash of humility crossing his face as he waved his hand. "Ahem, it was just good luck. I'm hardly a young talent. Xiao Yi should find another role model; I don't want to give him too much pressure. Hahaha."

While the group in the living room chatted happily, Xu Qian and Qin Xiaoyue were also walking hand-in-hand, touring the rooms one by one.

As they walked, Qin Xiaoyue looked at Xu Qian with a face full of curiosity and pressed, "Sister Qianqian, I'm the same age as my brother, just a few months younger. What about you? How old are you? What do you do?"

Xu Qian smiled slightly, a flash of playfulness in her eyes as she replied, "Me? I sell cars. What about you?"

Qin Xiaoyue shrugged and said somewhat helplessly, "Me? I'm a freelancer! Hehe, before I came to my brother's place, I was a streamer on Douyin. But I don't know if I'll keep doing it in the future..." Her tone carried a hint of uncertainty, as if she wasn't sure about her future path.

"Why? Is it because being a streamer pays too little?" Xu Qian pressed curiously.

Qin Xiaoyue chuckled, a flash of mischief in her eyes as she said, "Sigh, isn't that all thanks to my brother..." Then, she recounted the story of Qin Yi gifting her five-clawed golden dragons to Xu Qian. However, there wasn't a hint of regret in her tone; instead, it carried a bit of pride and teasing.

Hearing this, Xu Qian chuckled while covering her mouth. A flash of memory crossed her eyes, as if she were remembering the scene when she and Qin Yi first met. She responded with eyes full of laughter, "Young Master Qin seems to have a particular fondness for the five-clawed golden dragon..."

Then, Xu Qian also told Qin Xiaoyue about that Friday when Qin Yi was gifting five-clawed golden dragons while buying cars.

Qin Xiaoyue was dumbfounded, her eyes wide as she pressed curiously, "Sister Qianqian, so you and my brother met when he was buying cars at the dealership? And then you became boyfriend and girlfriend?"

Xu Qian nodded somewhat shyly, though she silently sighed in her heart.

She had been asked how she met Qin Yi too many times today. She thought she had become a bit numb to it, but when she thought back, it was still a bit hard to let go.

Thinking about it now, she didn't know what had come over her that day. Could it be that she was truly charmed by Qin Yi's appearance as he lavishly spent 3.7 billion? Thinking of this, Xu Qian silently shook her head, a self-deprecating smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

Unexpectedly, Qin Xiaoyue's imagination took flight as she lamented, "So that means you and my brother fell in love at first sight? Oh my, you guys are so romantic. 'The Dominant CEO Falls for Me'—why do I feel like I'm watching a romance idol drama..."

Xu Qian's brow furrowed slightly as she looked at Qin Xiaoyue, not knowing how to respond. At the same time, she thought to herself: 'This girl is so chuunibyou. Her imagination seems to be on par with my own...'