Chapter 77: Each Taking a Step Back

"Ping'an..."

Qin Xingwan murmured the name in a low voice.

When the child was born, everyone was full of joy and anticipation, even brainstorming names together; in the end, they chose the two characters "Ping'an" (Peace), giving him the most simple of blessings.

Yet, in just a short half-month, the people she loved were all gone.

Qin Xingwan was immersed in the sorrow of the past, her fingers gently stroking Ping'an's cheek.

The eyebrows... the eyes...

They were all very much like that person.

The cell phone rang with a jingle; it was a call from Grandma.

As soon as Qin Xingwan picked up, Grandma's anxious voice came through.

"Wanwan, did you see Peace?"

Qin Xingwan's heart trembled; how did Grandma know?

"Grandma..."

"Qin Jianguo told me you saw Ping'an." Qin Nainai's voice was full of excitement and joy. "How is the child? Has he grown up?"

She couldn't wait to see the child. "Will you bring him for Grandma to see?"

Qin Xingwan's throat felt dry and painfully constricted.

Qin Jianguo had mentioned Ping'an to Grandma, but he hadn't mentioned that Ping'an was ill.

He was warning her.

How truly ruthless.

"Wanwan?" Grandma Qin didn't hear a response for a long while and couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"

Qin Xingwan snapped back to reality, closed her eyes, and tried her best to keep her tone normal. "Ping'an has a cold these past few days and isn't feeling well. Once he's better, I'll discuss it with Wen Lvzhong."

She didn't dare tell Grandma about Wen Ping'an's illness.

Qin Nainai asked hurriedly, "Is it serious?"

Qin Xingwan looked at the child sleeping soundly on the hospital bed and lowered her voice to soothe Grandma. "It's not serious, he's just a bit listless. Wen Lvzhong is watching the child closely, so I don't have a chance to bring him out for now."

"The child's health is what's important, Grandma isn't in a rush," Qin Nainai said quickly. "Just, when you have a moment, take a couple of photos for Grandma to see."

"Okay."

The call ended, and Qin Xingwan went outside the door.

She called Qin Jianguo.

Qin Jianguo had been waiting for her call; once he picked up, he didn't wait for Qin Xingwan to speak and asked first, "You should have considered it by now, right?"

He was certain Qin Xingwan would agree.

Qin Xingwan looked at the sky in the distance, her tone icy. "Qin Jianguo, have you forgotten who is by Grandma's side right now?"

Qin Jianguo's expression changed.

"If you dare to upset Grandma, then wait for his wrath."

Qin Xingwan loathed that Qin Jianguo used Grandma to threaten her; before, she had been wary of Grandma being upset, but now with Old Master Chu there, a scheming petty person like Qin Jianguo wouldn't dare to truly upset Grandma.

Qin Jianguo was very angry because he discovered that Qin Xingwan was becoming increasingly ill-mannered, actually calling him by his name directly.

"Yun Shu is now A Li's younger sister and the Old Master's god-granddaughter; she will protect me." Qin Jianguo was very confident and proud.

Qin Xingwan's tone was very calm. "Then you can try it and see whether the Old Master or Chu Li is the one who calls the shots in the Chu Family."

"You..." Qin Jianguo was so angry he was fuming.

Qin Xingwan could always manipulate him with precision.

Thoughts raced through his mind.

Qin Xingwan was the granddaughter the old lady loved most, and since Wen Ping'an was Qin Xingwan's daughter, she would surely be favored by the old lady as well.

If he really made things difficult for Qin Xingwan, the old lady would be unhappy.

Qin Xingwan knew that her words had already shaken Qin Jianguo; he didn't dare offend Grandma.

She let out a small sigh of relief; in truth, she was only bluffing.

She didn't dare gamble with Grandma's health.

But Qin Jianguo had too many schemes; he wanted this and he wanted that.

However, Lady Qin and Qin Yunshu were not so easy to manipulate, so the matter of the matching test still relied on Qin Jianguo.

She softened her tone. "I know that you arranging a blind date for me was Cheng Mingzhu's idea. I won't make things difficult for you either; you bring Lady Qin and Qin Yunshu to do the matching test, and I will listen to your arrangements and go on the blind date."

A step back for each, and everyone is happy.

Qin Jianguo hesitated for a moment before agreeing; this was indeed the best method, and he had also fulfilled his promise to Cheng Mingzhu.

Qin Xingwan set the time. "Tomorrow morning at nine, you all come over for the matching test, and afterwards, I will go on the blind date."

She hung up the phone, her mouth tasting bitter.

What kind of cold-blooded family would negotiate terms on such a life-and-death matter?

Qin Jianguo told Lady Qin and Qin Yunshu about the matching test. "We are going to the Yiyuan tomorrow."

Lady Qin refused. "I'm not going."

Qin Yunshu was puzzled. "Dad, didn't you promise Mingzhu that you would make Big Sister get married?"

Qin Jianguo was the head of the family; he was cowardly outside, but at home, he was an authority who cared very much about his face.

"Xingwan has already knelt and repented; she is our daughter after all, and that child also has the blood of our Qin Family flowing in him. Besides, she has already agreed to the blind date. This matter ends here; everyone is going tomorrow."

Lady Qin glared fiercely at her useless husband. "Qin Xingwan is not on the same side as us at all; don't believe her."

Had he not been fooled by her enough already?

Qin Yunshu also said, "That's right, Dad, don't believe her; she has no good intentions."

Qin Jianguo would not listen to a woman's words, "It is decided just like this."

He went to the study.

Lady Qin cursed her husband's uselessness in a low voice, then pulled Qin Yunshu's hand and said, "What should we do?"

Qin Yunshu sighed and said, "I have to ask Mingzhu for her opinion on this matter."

She took her mobile phone and went to the balcony.

A few minutes later, she returned to the living room.

"Mingzhu said she will make arrangements."

Lady Qin felt relieved.

Since her second daughter was not of one mind with her and only thought of that old good-for-nothing, then she would also act as if she did not have this daughter.

Having Yun Shu was enough for her.

At nine o'clock the next day, Qin Jianguo appeared at the Yiyuan with his wife and daughter.

Qin Xingwan was waiting for them at the entrance in person.

Lady Qin did not have a good expression when she saw her, and she cursed in a low voice, "Disgraceful."

Qin Xingwan acted as if she had not heard.

Qin Yunshu bit her lip and looked behind her, "Sister, why don't I see Lawyer Wen?"

She asked this on purpose to let Qin Jianguo know that the relationship between Qin Xingwan and Wen Lvzhong was not very good.

Qin Jianguo was disappointed as expected.

Qin Xingwan could not be bothered to deal with them and took them upstairs.

After the examination was finished, Qin Jianguo gave Qin Xingwan an address, "This is the restaurant agreed upon with the other party; remember to go."

Qin Xingwan agreed.

The matching results would not be out until tomorrow, so she still had to be obedient for the time being.

Two o'clock in the afternoon.

Qin Xingwan arrived at the location according to the address Qin Jianguo gave her; it was a rather nice restaurant.

She found the other party.

A man in a suit and leather shoes, whose appearance was quite good and somewhat refined.

Seeing Qin Xingwan, he stood up very gentlemanly, "Miss Qin."

Qin Xingwan touched her bag and sat down opposite him, "Hello."

The man asked about Qin Xingwan's tastes, being polite and proper.

No matter how one looked at it, he was a good person.

Yet Qin Xingwan remained vigilant in her heart; she did not believe that the blind date arranged by Cheng Mingzhu and Qin Yunshu could be anything good.

Qin Xingwan said politely, "I don't have much of an appetite, so I'll be leaving first."

Qin Jianguo had told her to come on this blind date, and since she had met the person, she had completed the task.