Chapter 87 False Alarm and Mockery

Chapter 87: A False Alarm and Teasing

Princess and Caesar, who were playing together, sensed the danger and scrambled nimbly out of the way.

However, a small basin of goldfish, not yet in their tank, was knocked over by Caesar as he fled.

Starting with the chicken soup, then the pets, and finally the goldfish basin, it all collapsed like dominoes. Panic spread, and chaos erupted instantly.

Qin Shuyi, who was the first to rush toward Princess and Caesar's direction, slipped on the spilled water and aquatic plants from the basin and fell backward.

At the critical moment, someone broke her fall from behind.

Qin Shuyi heard a "thud."

It was the sound of something hitting the ground.

A familiar scene flashed before her eyes. Qin Shuyi's eyes snapped open, her voice trembling, "Ling Jue?"

The person behind her remained silent.

Ling Jue's instinct was to protect Qin Shuyi.

Every other danger vanished from his mind. When he saw her head falling backward, he felt as if his entire heart had stopped beating.

Fortunately, the person he cared for fell into his arms.

An age passed...

"Ahem." In the silent courtyard, Qin Yuan coughed once. "You two done hugging yet? It's about time to let go."

Ling Jue, who had his eyes closed, opened them but didn't immediately release Qin Shuyi.

He looked up to find over a dozen pairs of eyes from both tables fixed on them.

Ling Jue: ...

The moment she was free, Qin Shuyi immediately turned to check on Ling Jue, only to see his sheepish face.

He stood up, helping Qin Shuyi to her feet. "I'm fine."

That thud was from something else falling and hitting the ground; he was completely unharmed.

Princess and Caesar, oblivious to the chaos they'd caused, each let out a yip. Seeing their owners ignoring them, they ran off again to play together.

Qin Shuyi turned to the embarrassed yet gossipy proprietress.

The proprietress's chicken soup was safe.

Sitting nearby, Zhou Yunhe and Qin Yuan, who were closest to the proprietress when the incident occurred, reacted immediately in the critical moment.

Zhou Yunhe caught the proprietress before she could fall, while Qin Yuan, with a deft move, caught the tipping tray and sent the chicken soup sloshing safely back into the clay pot.

All of this happened simultaneously with Qin Shuyi and Ling Jue's actions.

However, everyone was clearly stunned by their chain reaction, remaining silent for a moment before snapping out of it to tell them to break it up.

Ling Jue: ...

Qin Shuyi: ...

She tugged her hand.

Only then did Ling Jue realize he had been holding her hand since he'd pulled her up.

Under the dawning comprehension in everyone's eyes, Ling Jue let go as if scalded.

Neither spoke, as if their moment had never happened. They each turned away and returned to their respective dining tables.

The minor incident that kicked off dinner thus ended up being just a false alarm.

Xie Muchen chuckled, pushing Ling Jue's wine glass toward him, his eyebrows raised. "Strangers?"

Ji Xiuhang burst out laughing.

Ling Jue shot him a light glance, and Ji Xiuhang mimed zipping his lips shut.

He never wanted to go to South Africa again in his life.

But there was still Fan Chaochao, who always had the killer line.

She threw her arms around Zhao Jinyu's (who was sitting next to her) arm and exclaimed excitedly, "Wow, Brother Jue, you moved so fast just now! I thought you flew over there."

Ling Jue's expression froze.

Zhao Jinyu was shaking with suppressed laughter.

She gave a hard pinch to the arm of Xie Muchen, who was sitting on her other side. Xie Muchen hissed in pain and helplessly adjusted his glasses.

Fan Chaochao's boyfriend, Chen Xiang, smiled, serving her a piece of spare rib. "Just eat your food."

Xia Zhiyue looked at Ling Jue, then at Qin Shuyi at the other table, and hid a small smile.

...

The Qin family side didn't tease them as openly.

Zhou Yunhe patted Qin Shuyi's hand. "Were you scared?"

Qin Shuyi shook her head.

Jiang Yuzhou, full of admiration, gave a thumbs-up. "Aunt, Uncle, you two were totally in sync! That was so cool just now."

Those moves, that reaction speed—top-notch.

Qian Youyou proudly lifted her chin. "Of course! Just look at where Aunt and Uncle usually train. A mere chicken soup is a piece of cake~"

Jiang Yuzhou, for once, didn't argue with her. Instead, he declared boldly, puffing out his chest. "Uncle, can I learn that move you just did?" Even learning one-tenth would be enough; he'd definitely make his annoying friends jealous.

Qin Yuan glanced at his nephew, who, while somewhat muscular, had been pampered all his life. "Rigorous, year-round training—can you do that?"

Jiang Yuzhou: ...

"Farewell." He clasped his hands in a gesture of farewell.

Jiang Yuzhou, whose fighting spirit ignited and extinguished just as quickly, was mercilessly slapped on the back of the head by his father. "You're just embarrassing yourself."

Jiang Yuzhou covered his head, complaining unhappily, "Don't hit me and make me stupid! Getting angry ages you fast. Be careful Aunt Zhou leaves you someday."

Then he received two even heavier slaps. Qian Youyou laughed uproariously.

Qin Shuyi, who still seemed enveloped by the lingering palpitations and the warmth from behind, also relaxed, a smile crinkling her eyes.

Zhou Yunhe watched the lively family, her gaze drifting toward the neighboring table where Ling Jue sat with his back to Qin Shuyi, his aura cold and detached amidst the couples. She sighed inwardly.

...

Ten o'clock.

They had arrived late today, eaten late, and driven for several hours. They hadn't planned any evening activities, so everyone turned in early to rest and recharge.

After showering, Qin Shuyi paused for a moment before the balcony door, fell silent for a few seconds, and then opened the glass door.

Outside, the mountains lay in shadow under a sky full of stars. She lifted her gaze toward the balcony on the left.

There stood a figure who had been there for an unknown length of time.

Ling Jue was still wearing the same clothes from dinner. He wasn't holding his phone or doing anything in particular, just leaning casually against the wall with his long legs crossed, staring into space, looking a bit lonely and forlorn.

Hearing the movement, he turned to look at the woman in her nightgown and shawl, her hair fresh and clean. He didn't seem surprised.

She had always loved enjoying the breeze and watching the stars. When they traveled, she would often spend hours lying contentedly on a lounge chair on a terrace filled with flowers, until he finally couldn't bear it and would pick her up and carry her back to the room.

Tonight's scenery was equally beautiful.

In the quiet night, away from others' prying eyes, the two silently looked at each other from their separate balconies, neither looking away.

After a long while, a faint smile appeared on Qin Shuyi's face. She gently raised her hand, curled her thumb twice, and then pointed at him.

It was the sign language the children at the welfare home had taught them before—

Thank you.

Not just for this time, but for many, many things you have done for me in the past.

How many people in one's life would risk their life for you without hesitation?

Looking at Ling Jue, whose expression suddenly shifted, emotions welling up, Qin Shuyi thought she hadn't lied to him. She truly believed Ling Jue was wonderful.

He had his flaws, but he also possessed many, many strengths—enough to overshadow those shortcomings.

When someone like him repeatedly shielded her from danger without hesitation, how could her heart remain completely unmoved?

But... she smiled helplessly, her eyes tinged with melancholy.

Incompatibility is simply incompatibility.

People have different expectations and requirements for short-term lovers versus long-term partners.

Just as Ling Jue loved extreme sports, thriving on the thrill and danger on the edge of life and death—during their romance, Qin Shuyi saw this as part of his charm. But as a life partner, it would be a cause for constant anxiety.

She didn't want to spend years on end worrying every single day about his safety.

And if she tried to stop him or change him, would he still be happy?

Most importantly, their expectations for the future and for a partner were completely at odds.

She, too, was just an ordinary person—petty at times, possessive, sensitive about a partner's past, and with her own bad temper.

She wanted love, emotional connection, loyalty, exclusivity, and comfort in every small detail of life.

Not holding onto a few seemingly passionate moments and using the name of love to endure the daily arguments that would gradually disfigure each other.

Could they last long-term?

She had no confidence, and Ling Jue had never given her that confidence either.

He was good to her now, but he had been good before too, and yet he had also said things like "just for fun" and "got bored," and had considered marrying Tao Wangxi or other socialites.

If they hadn't broken up, their relationship would likely have remained just that—a good, but ultimately short-lived romance.

Ling Jue, you see, I am this kind of ruthless person.

I care more about my own happiness than I pity or like you.

You and I are flawed in different ways.

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