Chapter 72 Brother-in-law [VIP]

At Fengshan Villa, Xi Qingning, who was making a phone call in the open-air flower hall, was completely dumbfounded and shocked after hearing this.

"No, are you serious?!"

The sudden increase in volume seemed to startle what was behind the bushes, followed by a loud thud as something heavy fell to the ground.

Xi Qingning looked sharply in the direction of the sound and hurriedly said to the person on the other end of the phone, "It's urgent, we'll talk later."

After hanging up the phone, I walked towards the bushes.

Who could be there?

Please, it can't be that little brat Xi Qingsong. If he overheard her and Lao Fu pretending to be dating, he won't keep it a secret.

However, judging from the recent commotion at home, the other party may also use this as leverage to ask her to plead for leniency in front of her parents.

After passing the neatly trimmed bushes, the scene that comes into view is Qingran bending down to pick up a watering can.

"Oh, it's you here." Xi Qingning's composed expression relaxed slightly.

Qingran straightened up and nodded: "Is there something you need, Sister Qingning?"

Xi Qingning glanced at the watering can in his hand: "It's nothing. Are you getting used to living at home?"

Qingran said, "I'm used to it. Everyone has their own things to do, so I take advantage of the free time to come out and water the flowers."

He reverted to his attire from when he first met Fu Qingyan: a simple t-shirt and jeans, exuding a clean and refined air, like a verdant bamboo shoot that had just sprouted leaves after being cleansed by spring rain.

Xi Qingning has always been more patient with good-looking people, especially since Qingran hasn't offended her yet, and she has a pretty good impression of Qingran.

What is your bank account number?

Qingran was taken aback: "What?"

Xi Qingning didn't explain, but said in a very domineering way, "Give me your bank account number."

Qingran did as instructed in a daze, and then saw Xi Qingning operate her phone a few times, and then her phone "dinged" to receive a message notification.

He clicked to check and found it was a transfer notification for 500,000 yuan.

“Sister Qingning…” He stared at her in astonishment and confusion, his beautiful face showing a hint of bewilderment.

Xi Qingning coughed twice and said, "Cough cough, take this. Also, regarding my matter with Fu Qingyan, whether you heard it or not, no matter who asks you about it, it's all a bet, understand?"

"Okay, you can continue watering the flowers. I'm leaving now."

As the woman's figure disappeared, the blank expression on Qingran's face was gradually replaced by interest.

He told the system: "[Xi Qingning is a good person, I can get along with her.]"

The original owner's parents didn't even remember transferring pocket money to him, but Xi Qingning did. Regardless of how much of it was hush money, the transfer was genuine.

The system nodded in agreement: [The female lead is so generous!]

The demon and the ruler tacitly avoided mentioning that Fu Qingyan had offered money but was refused.

The heavy weight in his hands reminded Qingran of his purpose in coming out, so he put away his phone and slowly began to water the flowers.

After returning to the Xi family home, he stopped delivering takeout.

It wasn't out of consideration for the Xi family's reputation, but rather because he didn't have much to spend after solving his food and lodging issues. Plus, Xi Qingning had just given him a lot of pocket money, so he wasn't short of money and had no motivation to earn more.

While watering the flowers, Qingran recalled the contents of the phone call she had just overheard.

Fu Qingyan said he would visit today.

That was fast.

Even without the phone call that exposed him, he would still find a way to get the man to come to the Xi family home as a guest.

From this perspective, it saves him the trouble of figuring out a solution.

Fu Qingyan should have some idea about his identity by now, right?

However, since they hadn't seen the person in person, a sliver of doubt remained in their hearts.

It's okay, this doubt will soon be dispelled.

[Host~]

[Hmm?]

The system raised a question that had been lingering in its mind.

[Why doesn't the host have a relationship like most people's?]

Take Fu Qingyan as an example. The host clearly knows that the relationship between Fu Qingyan and Xi Qingning is fake, but he pretends not to know.

But he wouldn't pretend forever; he would soon reveal his true colors, just to see Fu Qingyan change his expression.

It really couldn't understand the point of going through all that trouble. Why couldn't they just clear up the misunderstanding and get together smoothly?

Qingran also analyzed her own thoughts and then said, "A relationship without any ups and downs is very dangerous."

He had seen too many examples in the original world of demons and cultivators who grew up smoothly under the protection of their families, only to be crushed by a single failure.

This experience seems to have similar implications for relationships as well.

[And without these ups and downs, how would I know he truly loves me, right?]

The system, which had been pondering the matter, immediately understood upon hearing this.

[These are all excuses; the host just has a twisted sense of humor!]

Qingran smiled without saying a word.

Turning the corner, there was a pile of hydrangea petals that Xi Qingning had plucked out out of boredom while making a phone call. Blue, pink, and purple petals were scattered haphazardly on the ground.

Just like his bright and colorful mood at this moment.

It seems that he has been in a good mood ever since he entered the small world to train.

[Zero Zero, nice to meet you.]

Just as the system was wondering if it was being brushed off by its host, it immediately became overjoyed and chuckled, "[I'm also very happy to meet my host~~~]"

The host is capable and hassle-free; it only needs to lie down and collect energy in each world.

Like the cannon fodder counterattack division next door, I heard that several hosts over there killed the protagonist, causing the world to collapse.

Look how considerate its host is; even knowing there's no need to maintain the plot, it won't kill the male lead.

At most, I'll just toy with the other person's feelings.

*

While Qingran was talking to the system, Xi Qingning, who had left, called Fu Qingyan again to confirm and ask him if he was serious.

Having calmed down a bit, Fu Qingyan said the time could be rescheduled, either tomorrow or the day after, and he would invite the Xi family to dinner.

Xi Qingning: ? ? ?

If the other person hadn't been away, she would have loved to crack open the man's skull to see if there was something wrong with him. When had Old Fu ever been so concerned about her family's affairs?

"Something's not right with you," she said perceptively, but didn't immediately think of Qingran.

Could it be that people suddenly become gossipy as they get older?

Fu Qingyan tacitly acknowledged that something was amiss, but offered no explanation, only saying that he should remember to tell him the time so he could reserve a table in advance.

Xi Qingning: "Then let's do it the night after tomorrow. I have something to do tomorrow."

If you can't figure it out, then don't think about it. The other party will eventually slip up.

Later, she found Xi Zhenye in the study and told him that Fu Qingyan was inviting his family to dinner the day after tomorrow, asking Xi Zhenye to make time for them.

Xi Zhenye was overjoyed to hear this.

"You mean Mr. Fu—no, you mean Qingyan invited our family to dinner? Is it to discuss marriage?"

Xi Qingning asked again: "???"

She denied it without batting an eye: "No, I've never been with him. The rumors that we were dating were just because I lost a bet and used him as a shield."

She wasn't stupid enough to tell her dad directly that she was dating Lao Fu.

After rumors started circulating outside, she found Xi Zhenye and asked to join the company.

When Xi Zhenye tentatively brought up her and Lao Fu, she said that she had a very good relationship with Lao Fu, and that Lao Fu appreciated women who had their own careers.

With a skillful use of subtle language, she successfully removed her father, this obstacle in her path.

Moreover, her father can't just kick her out of the company now, because she holds important projects that are crucial to the company's development!

Xi Zhenye was surprised that his daughter dared to deceive him with a fake relationship and still questioned Xi Qingning's statement.

But no matter how much he questioned it, he still had to go to the dinner party.

The next morning, Qingran learned from Xi Zhenye that they were going out for dinner the following night.

"Your future brother-in-law is hosting the dinner. Our whole family will be there. Don't be nervous. When you see him, remember to be polite and greet him warmly."

Qingran's eyes flickered, and she nodded quietly in agreement.

*

Time quickly passed to the evening of the 5th, and Fu Qingyan set a time to host a dinner party.

The entire Xi family was present, and apart from Qingran and Xi Qingning, they all looked their best and were dressed impeccably.

However, Xi Qingsong was not so willing.

Compared to the rest of his family, he was quite ordinary-looking; his eyes weren't big enough, his nose wasn't straight enough, and his mouth wasn't pretty enough.

Even if she dresses up meticulously from head to toe, she can only be described as not ugly.

He harbored a great deal of resentment towards his brother-in-law.

"Why didn't he ever invite our family to dinner before? He only invites us as soon as Xi Qingran comes back. Does he look down on me?"

He muttered something under his breath as he set off.

Qingran, whose name was mentioned, stopped and turned to look at him.

Xi Qingsong was startled and instinctively wanted to roll his eyes, but he managed to hold back.

No, he's in the wrong, he can't confront Xi Qingran directly.

So he lifted his foot and walked past without looking to the side.

Looking at his retreating figure, Qingran said leisurely, "This can only mean that the other party has a keen intuition and knows who the real Xi family member is."

Xi Qingsong's hands, which were hanging by his sides, suddenly clenched, his anger breaking down.

ah! ! !

It was Labor Day, and there were many vehicles on the road. The two cars carrying the Xi family of five quickly merged into the vast traffic.

Inside the black car, Fu Qingyan looked out at the bustling traffic and felt a long-lost sense of tension.

He drove to the restaurant he had booked half an hour early.

Upon entering the private room, a waiter handed him a menu, but he waved his hand, indicating that he would order later. He then poured himself a cup of tea and began a long wait.

About twenty minutes later, the faint sound of hurried footsteps came from outside the door. Fu Qingyan, who was staring blankly at the teacup in his hand, suddenly looked up and looked towards the door.

A moment later, the door to the private room was pushed open from the outside, and the waiter bowed and reached out to reveal the person behind him.

"Oh, Mr. Fu, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting!" Xi Zhenye greeted him with a smile and entered the room with Feng Xiuyan, who was holding his arm.

Next came Xi Qingning, dressed smartly; Xi Qingsong, trying to appear calm; and Qing Ran, whose cool and aloof demeanor still captivated him at first glance.

The man put down his teacup and stood up, his gaze fixed on Qingran.

It really was you, baby.

Xi Zhenye noticed this strange scene, and after a moment of embarrassment, he called Qingran over and sighed as he introduced her:

"You must have heard about this from Qingning, right? That's right, this is my long-lost child, Qingning's real younger brother, Qingran."

With his back to Fu Qingyan, he gestured to Qingran with his eyes, signaling her to call for help.

Qingran stood in front of the man, the soft light illuminating his delicate eyebrows and eyes, revealing every detail. Below, his rosy lips parted, and a clear, melodious voice emanated from them.

"Hello brother-in-law, nice to meet you. I am Qingran, the younger brother of Sister Qingning."

These words made the man clench his teeth, and his forehead twitched slightly on his usually composed face.

"Huh? Qingran, did you hear Dad talking nonsense?" Xi Qingning exclaimed in surprise from behind, and quickly came over with a smile to smooth things over, "I'm not dating Lao Fu, we just made a bet before, you don't need to call him brother-in-law."

Without mentioning how disappointed and angry Xi Zhenye and his wife were after learning the truth.

After Xi Qingning finished explaining, she found that no one was paying attention to her. The two parties involved, Qingran and Lao Fu, stared at each other with their eyes downcast. The atmosphere was strange, and that weird feeling in her heart came back again.

Her gaze swept between the two of them, and she asked jokingly, "Did you two know each other before?"

Fu Qingyan didn't expose Qingran's lie. He glanced deeply at the person in front of him before changing the subject and gesturing for Qingning and everyone else to sit down.

There were six people in the private room, and each of them had a different expression.

This is a private room decorated in a Chinese style. To the left of the entrance is a screen painted with vigorous old plum blossoms, and to the right, through the floor-to-ceiling windows, you can see a beautiful night view.

In the middle is a long table that can just accommodate six people.

The group sat down on either side of the long table, with Xi Zhenye and his wife and Xi Qingsong on one side, and Fu Qingyan and his siblings Qingran and Qingning on the other.

Based on their relationship, Xi Qingning and Fu Qingyan should be sitting together at this point, and Qingran should sit next to Qingning.

The man casually reached out and pulled Qingran to sit down beside him.

The waiter was then reminded and went to take the order; no one paid any more attention to this small detail.

Beneath the seat, the man gripped Qingran's struggling left hand tightly, his fingers rubbing against her bare wrist.

With a smile, she said, "Congratulations, Uncle and Aunt. It's a joyous occasion for father and son, mother and son to reunite. Please be sure to send me an invitation when you hold a banquet to introduce Qingran another day."

Can Xi Zhenye say he hadn't thought about this? No.

He masked his embarrassment with a smile and assured them, "Definitely, definitely."

Today's meeting was a huge shock to him; Fu Qingyan had never actually dated Qing Ning before!

He wondered why Fu Qingyan hadn't visited before, perhaps because he thought the Xi family had become wealthy late and was a small, insignificant family, and therefore didn't dare to talk much with members of the Fu family.

But given his relationship with the heir of the Fu family, Qing Ning was confident and not in a hurry.

It turned out that it was all fake!

Xi Zhenye was filled with pent-up anger and deep disappointment at losing his chance to rise to the top. The thought of his competitors who had heard the rumors and might be mocking him in private made his face flush even more.

A mix of complex emotions swirled together, causing a slight distortion in his facial expression.

Fu Qingyan smiled faintly, his gaze sweeping over Xi Qingsong, who was sitting quietly beside him.

After receiving Qingning's call that day, he did not return immediately, but still went to Xujia Village.

However, instead of looking for Qingran's adoptive parents, he inquired about Qingran's living conditions at home from other villagers.

The answer I received was unexpectedly bad.

Endless insults and occasional beatings—this was the environment Qingran lived in.

Should he be thankful that this terrible experience didn't leave a mark on Qingran's personality?

Thinking of this, the man's dark eyes became even more unfathomable, like a bottomless abyss that devours people.

"The food is served, let go."

A hushed voice came from beside my ear.

"Young Master Fu is right, it's a good thing that father and son have reunited. I'm so happy today, Young Master Fu, you have to have a drink with me..." Xi Zhenye across from me tried to establish a connection.

“I’d rather accept your offer,” Fu Qingyan said, taking the wine glass that was handed to him. “Uncle, just call me by my name.”

A white porcelain cup, about the size of a thumb, is filled with fine white liquor.

The man took a small bite, and as he looked down, his peripheral vision caught a glimpse of the hand holding chopsticks beside him, where a bright red mark around the wrist was extremely unsightly.

He frowned slightly.

Halfway through the meal, Qingran, who wasn't participating in the conversation, finished eating, put down her chopsticks, stood up, and said, "Excuse me, I'm going to the restroom."

He deliberately slowed his pace after leaving the private room.

[Zero Zero, let's make a bet, how many minutes do you think Fu Qingyan will follow us out?]

The system hasn't had a chance to participate yet, so there's no need to answer, because the answer is "immediately".

Footsteps approached quickly from behind, and her wrist was grabbed. The person pulled Qingran in another direction without giving her a chance to refuse.

This time the force was very light.

The fire escape door opened and closed, and Qingran, who had no power to resist, was pushed against the smooth tiles. The man in front of her took off his glasses and leaned down to kiss her.

Qingran tilted her head to one side.

“Baby,” the breath on her neck was rapid and hot, “I’ve never dated Qing Ning.”

Fu Qingyan patiently explained, "The relationship was fake, and the bet was fake too. Qingning asked me for help to get into the company, and the terms were that she would pretend to be your dad's boyfriend for a while, and I agreed."

"Apart from that, I have no emotional entanglement with Xi Qingning."

If he had known that he would later fall in love with Qingran, and that Qingran and Qingning were siblings, he would never have agreed to it.

"I know."

The man suddenly raised his eyes.

Qingran downplayed the issue, saying, "I overheard Qingning talking to you on the phone the day before yesterday."

Fu Qingyan breathed a sigh of relief. Now that Qingran had heard it, she would no longer suspect that he was lying to him.

He lifted the hand with the red mark and kissed the wrist, asking gently, "Did I hurt you just now?"

This hand looks better when it's wearing a bracelet.

Qingran watched his movements, pulled her hand away, and lowered her eyelashes: "But you two have such a past after all. The romance was fake, but the relationship was real."

“Sister Qingning is my own sister.” He raised his clear eyes: “And you were once my brother-in-law.”

"I'm not." Fu Qingyan closed his eyes.

"Even if it was true in the past, it will never be true now or in the future!"

He sensed the hesitation in Qingran's words, and his eyes, now deep and thoughtful, opened as he gently stroked her face: "Don't reject me."

Qingran pursed her lips and remained silent until the man leaned in to kiss her again.

He tried to turn his head, but the hand holding his cheek stopped him. In his panic, he managed to stammer, "I need to go to the bathroom."

The man paused, then pressed down on his flat stomach with one hand.

"Hmm." Qingran gave a short "hmm," then frowned and glared at him: "Are you a pervert?!"

Fu Qingyan raised his dark eyebrows: "It's obvious."

Ms. Wen's education was a failure; he was never a gentleman. On the contrary, he was despicable, hypocritical, and selfish.

Even if the person in front of him was his ex's brother, it wouldn't make him hesitate at all.

"Honey, don't have too high moral expectations of me."

The man lowered his eyes and kissed him.

A note from the author:

Thanks for the lightning strike, thanks for the watering, chirp!

Not having enough to eat, he threw a landmine.

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