Qin Manshu seemed to calm down a little at this moment. She looked at Jiang Shichu for a while before smiling and saying, "I was just joking."

“You think this is a joke? What do you consider a joke? It should be something that both you and I find funny, but right now I don’t find these words funny, nor do I think this is a joke.” Jiang Shichu said after a long silence, “You can not accept my feelings, but at least don’t trample on them like this.”

Qin Manshu didn't speak. She looked at Jiang Shichu as if she were looking at a younger brother. Jiang Shichu also didn't speak. She drove Qin Manshu back to the Qin family home.

Before getting out of the car, Qin Manshu whispered, "I'm sorry, Shichu, I never meant to hurt you."

Jiang Shichu smiled and said, "It's nothing. I'm used to you not considering my feelings. After all, I'll still come back in a few days without any complaints. It's not that you can't live without me, but that I can't live without you."

Qin Manshu didn't speak. She had only taken a few steps when Jiang Shichu called out to her, "By the way, your snacks."

Qin Manshu smiled and said, "I ordered it for you. I noticed that this is the only meal you've touched twice. I think you must really like it."

She left after saying her last words.

Jiang Shichu sat in the car, and a few seconds later he took the exquisite paper bag from the back seat and put it in front of him. The pastries inside were very delicate, with the outermost layer being caramelized almonds that were fragrant and crispy. Each piece was made with a variety of ingredients, and the charcoal-roasted nuts were very fragrant and crunchy.

A candy behind the stick.

So every time he was about to give up, it was as if something was holding him back, extinguishing all his anger. He was pitifully humble, knowing full well that Qin Manshu probably wouldn't even glance at him because of his sycophantic behavior, but he couldn't care less.

Qin Manshu returned to the Qin family.

At this moment, a guest arrived at the Qin family; it was Yu Jingchen.

Yu Jingchen was actually a guest at the Qin family. When Qin Manshu heard this news, her expression changed slightly, but she had no choice but to bite the bullet and return to the Qin family.

Grandma Qin was chatting with Yu Jingchen. Yu Jingchen was good at pleasing elders, and many of his conditions were exactly what Grandma Qin wanted to hear, so Grandma Qin and Yu Jingchen were having a good chat.

When the old lady heard the news of her granddaughter's return, her smiling face immediately darkened, and when she saw Qin Manshu, she said coldly, "Where did you go at noon today?"

Qin Manshu remained silent, but Old Madam Qin immediately exposed her, "Don't think I don't know where you went. Did you go to the Ye family, or with Jiang Shichu? How come you're still with Jiang Shichu? Although Shichu is a good boy, he was born into a family like that, so he's definitely not suitable to be with you. It's already good enough that you give him some face and see him occasionally. But lately, you've been inseparable from him every day. Aren't you afraid of what people will say? That a small family that made its fortune with the Qin family has actually taken a fancy to the eldest daughter of the master family!"

She used the name of a small household, and even the name of the host family.

The old lady's concept of hierarchy was deeply ingrained. Jiang Shichu's family had always relied on the Qin family and helped them with their affairs. Jiang Shichu's grandfather was also a high-ranking member of the Qin family. However, the Jiang family later established its own household. The old man was kind and provided funds, and the Jiang family has now developed into a respectable family. But in the old lady's eyes, this was just a small household that she had relied on when she was young. Even if it had developed and managed well, it could never compare to the Qin family.

Grandma Qin always kept a close eye on her granddaughter's marriage. She hoped that the husband she chose for Qin Manshu would not only have status and position, but also be able to help the Qin family's pharmaceutical business continue to grow.

Yu Jingchen seemed to be able to see through Old Madam Qin's thoughts. Today was also by chance, and he happened to be near the Qin family. He had talked with Qin Manshu before, but Qin Manshu had not been heard from since. However, Yu Jingchen was indeed interested in Qin Manshu's background. He was even more interested in Qin Manshu's family situation. The only person who could still manage the family at present was Old Madam Qin, who was nearly 100 years old.

Yu Jingchen had previously learned some inside information about the Qin family's matriarch. Driven by curiosity and a purpose, Yu Jingchen naturally wouldn't miss this opportunity to visit. After learning that Qin Manshu was not there, Yu Jingchen had other ideas and took the initiative to talk to the old lady Qin, even expressing that he thought Qin Manshu was a good person.

The old lady was already choosing a future husband for Qin Manshu. During this time, she heard Yu Jingchen mention some new hospital management models and thought he had a lot of ideas. She became even more interested after learning about the matters related to Yu Jingchen taking over the Yu family and creating the highest business record for the Yu Group.

Because of her relationship with the Ji family, Old Mrs. Qin couldn't like Ye Qingcheng. She didn't care about the things between Yu Jingchen and Ye Qingcheng. In fact, she was even more satisfied after hearing that Yu Jingchen and Ji Shuli had no interaction. As they talked, she became more and more dissatisfied with Qin Manshu. Thinking about Qin Manshu's hypocritical behavior, a long-suppressed anger rose in her chest.

When Qin Manshu returned, Old Madam Qin was even more furious. "Do you think that now that I'm not in charge, the Qin family is yours? Let me tell you, Qin Manshu, I'm not dead yet, and the Qin family's shares are still in my hands. Although you're temporarily in charge of the Qin family, this family is not yours!"

Yu Jingchen seemed surprised that the old lady would be so disrespectful to her granddaughter, saying such harsh words in front of outsiders after Qin Manshu's return.

Qin Manshu lowered her head and listened respectfully to her grandmother's scolding. As the old lady got angrier, she became increasingly angry and said furiously, "Didn't you tell me before that the eldest young master of the Yu family was not satisfied with you? Now that the eldest young master has come to tell me that he thinks you are very good—what's going on? When did you learn those scoundrels' tricks and dare to lie to me? I'm not dead yet, Qin Manshu!"

He got angrier and angrier as he talked, and eventually he even slapped Qin Manshu hard across the face.

Although the old lady was old and not as healthy as before, she still had strength. The slap made Qin Manshu's face turn red. Only then did Yu Jingchen realize that the Qin family seemed to be even stranger than he had imagined. The old lady was normal in front of him, but now she was like someone who had swallowed a bomb. She couldn't control her temper and was so angry that she didn't even see the guest off and just turned and left.

Only Qin Manshu and Yu Jingchen remained in the hall.

After a moment of silence, Yu Jingchen apologized to Qin Manshu, "Miss Qin, I'm so sorry. I didn't know your family was in this situation, nor did I know you had those words with your grandmother earlier—"

Qin Manshu touched her face. Just when Yu Jingchen thought Qin Manshu would get angry and lash out at him, she unexpectedly smiled and sat down in the old lady's original seat to pour tea for Yu Jingchen. She said gently to Yu Jingchen, "Mr. Yu, Grandma is getting old and does things according to her own whims. She was angry with me and went upstairs. Let me entertain you in her place."