Lin Qiao was stunned, her mind a blank.
Song Tingfan originally wanted to wait a little longer for his sister-in-law, but since Li Guifen had already spoken, he didn’t hesitate, saying in a deep voice, "Yes, there’s absolutely no deception."
"I believe you. I’ll go back and tell your Uncle Lin right away. You just bring so things when you co to visit." Li Guifen did not look at Lin Qiao; whatever her daughter said this ti, she would not change her mind, even if her daughter hated her for it.
Actually, the Lin Family couldn’t decide on Lin Qiao’s marriage, but Song Tingfan could. As long as he consented, Lin Qiao could decide.
Lin Qiao snapped out of it and said urgently, "Mom, what are you saying? Tingfan has his own bride to marry."
In truth, from Song Tingfan’s response, sothing was already certain in her heart.
"Don’t try to tell you still don’t know? The one Tingfan wants to marry is you. He lied because he was afraid you would reject him."
Li Guifen wiped away tears from the corner of her eyes and continued, "What’s wrong with Tingfan? He cares for you deeply, doing your laundry and cooking for you."
This isn’t just about laundry and cooking. Lin Qiao felt a tightness in her chest and forced herself to remain calm, reminding herself not to panic, there might still be a way to change the plot.
"Uncle is good, he’s good in every way, but I’m not worthy of him, I’m a widow."
"That doesn’t count; you and Brother Tingfan don’t have a marriage certificate."
"I don’t care."
Li Guifen and Song Tingfan both spoke simultaneously, the forr first, the latter second.
Lin Qiao glanced at Song Tingfan; she had never thought she would lead him astray. At this mont, she felt a bit frustrated and regretful.
She was silent for a mont, then decided to confront it directly, "I’ve had that experience with soone else."
She didn’t state this to maintain her innocence but just to end Song Tingfan’s thoughts.
He was, after all, soone she watched grow up.
She raised him like a brother, like a child...
There was a mont of silence in the room, Li Guifen looked at her in disbelief, shouting in disappointnt, "Are you trying to drive and your dad to our graves before you’re satisfied?"
Song Tingfan’s hands, hanging at his sides, suddenly clenched tightly, but he still instinctively stood in front of Lin Qiao, "I don’t care."
If one listened closely, one could hear a slight tremble in his voice.
Of course he cared, but compared to being able to marry her, these things were insignificant.
Both Li Guifen and Lin Qiao were taken aback; Lin Qiao found herself unable to breathe, wanting to speak but unable to form words.
The attic was quiet for a while, then Li Guifen stood up, "Tingfan, you bring sothing to the house tomorrow." After finishing, she left the attic.
She, as his mother, was being selfish for once; she would make it up to Tingfan in the future.
The attic was quiet again for a while, the man’s cuffs already creased, showing how tightly his iron-gray fingers were clenched, exposing his inner unease.
"I said I would marry you when I got back."
His words confird that Lin Qiao hadn’t heard wrong, but at that ti, he was only thirteen, how could a thirteen-year-old understand the feelings between n and won? She still clung to a sliver of hope; perhaps he was just unclear about it.
"Uncle, I know you rely on , but this isn’t the kind of affection between a man and a woman. You can’t agree to marry just to repay ."
"You only need to be yourself, do what you love, marry a woman you love, live a life you love."
So she thought he wanted to marry her out of gratitude. Song Tingfan pursed his lips, "It’s not out of gratitude; I want to marry you, to spend my life with you."
"Uncle, this is complicated. It’s hard to explain just with words." Lin Qiao didn’t know how to explain the matters between n and won to him.
Her repeated refusals clearly showed she didn’t want to marry him. Song Tingfan’s eyes flashed with a trace of sadness, quickly calming himself, "I’m not so young anymore; I understand everything."
Hearing this, Lin Qiao stared at him for a while, deciding abruptly, "I won’t marry you. You’re grown up now, I’ll move out tomorrow."
For so reason, saying this made her feel uncomfortable.
Song Tingfan’s chest felt like sothing hit it hard and painfully, leaving him speechless.
After a long while, he questioned, "You said you’d stay with forever, always treat well, rely on in the future, were those all lies?"
These were words Lin Qiao had said before, instantly rendering her speechless, wishing she could slap her past self for not considering he might take them seriously!
"They weren’t lies."
"If they weren’t lies, why are you moving out? Why don’t you want to marry you?" The tall, strong man spoke, his eyes red, and a faint glimr of tears at the corners.
Lin Qiao noticed, and her hardened heart suddenly softened. Even though it was acting, she couldn’t deny she cared deeply for Song Tingfan.
Softening her voice, she reasoned with him, "I’m doing this for your own good, you don’t really understand these things."
"You said they weren’t lies, then, why?" Song Tingfan’s deep gaze fixed on her, repeating his earlier question.
Lin Qiao: "..."
She finally experienced the feeling of being hoisted by one’s own petard.
"I see you as a child... a brother, not the sa as between a man and a woman. I’m older, I understand more."
Lin Qiao paused, then continued, "If I took advantage of your naivety, tricked you into marrying , you’d resent later."
"Then just deceive ."
At Song Tingfan’s words, the room fell silent again. Lin Qiao sat by the bed, pressing her fingers to her temples; this situation was beyond her ntal capacity.
The performance of their roles had gone astray.
This was worse than facing death.
She couldn’t run, couldn’t hide, and couldn’t be too harsh.
The upcoming plot was a headache just thinking about it.
"What about Grandpa and Grandma? They hope you’ll marry a good wife, and you know they’re not in good health, they can’t take a shock. If they find out, they won’t handle it well."
She thought she had grasped a "sharp sword," but in reality, it was just a feather.
"Grandpa and Grandma know." Song Tingfan pursed his lips.
Song Qin and the others know, Li Guifen knows, only she doesn’t know. Lin Qiao, for a mont, didn’t know what to say.
Her ten-year acting career was practically ruined by Song Tingfan.
...
That day, the two returned to the village. Lin Qiao intended to resolve the matter, but back ho, Song Qin and the others were busy preparing food for her, so she couldn’t bring herself to speak.
She decided to discuss it with the Lin Family the next day.
That night, lying in bed and staring at the dark ceiling, she couldn’t sleep. Suddenly, a knocking ca at the door, "Knock, knock, knock."
Lost in thought, she was startled, "Who is it?"
"It’s ."
The deep voice of the man was unmistakably Song Tingfan’s.
At tis like these in the past, Lin Qiao would have opened the door imdiately, but this ti she didn’t. She got up and stood by the door, asking, "What is it?"
There was a pause outside, and then the man’s deep voice spoke again, "I made a bowl of noodles, left it at the door for you, rember to eat it."
Footsteps gradually faded away.
Lin Qiao opened the door. In the moonlight, she could just make out a bowl steaming with heat, feeling complex and timid inside.
She didn’t know what she was afraid of.
At that mont, the man’s voice ca from nearby, "I won’t do anything rash."
Startling Lin Qiao, she turned towards the voice, seeing a tall shadow, pretending to be casual, "Why aren’t you asleep yet?"
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