Chapter 143 The Inquisition

Chapter 143: The Family Tribunal

"Tomorrow, I'll pick you up for work~ Mwah mwah mwah~"

Qin Shuyi was nearing the front gate when she saw two heads pop out from inside, one on each side, mimicking Ling Jue's words in a teasing, exaggerated tone.

Immediately after, a financial magazine *thump-thumped* against the back of each of their heads.

Zhou Tinglan ignored the two making faces and waved Qin Shuyi inside. "Dinner's ready."

Qian Youyou pouted. It wasn't like they were eavesdropping.

That car had been parked outside their house for over ten minutes, not moving. When the housekeeper tipped them off, of course they had to come out and check if it was a thief.

It was his own fault for not keeping his voice down.

Qin Shuyi, the one being teased, wasn't annoyed. She smiled and asked Qian Youyou, "Is everyone home today?"

Jiang Yuzhou leaned in and whispered, "Yeah, Aunt Zhou even arranged a video call with Auntie and Uncle. They're preparing for a full family tribunal."

Well, Auntie was indeed a real woman of action.

Sure enough, after dinner and a short break, around eight in the evening, the family was once again called by Zhou Tinglan to gather in the living room.

Zhou Yunhe and Qin Yuan, who were abroad, were also connected via video call.

Previously, everyone had thought Qin Shuyi was just having a fling and would break up soon, so there was no need to inform the parents.

But this time, Ling Jue had made such a big splash. Both parents had met him during their last visit, so there was no reason to exclude them now.

Qin Yuan and Zhou Yunhe seemed to be in a tent. They had already been chatting with her sister and brother-in-law for a while and now greeted the three kids coming downstairs.

Qin Shuyi knew exactly why this family meeting was happening and took the initiative to explain.

"We got back together. We just reconciled last night."

Who knew Ling Jue couldn't hold it in?

She had actually planned to wait a few days before telling the family.

But she had to admit, knowing he had clarified his past rumors publicly scored points in her book.

Aunt Zhou Tinglan looked at her, her gaze penetrating. "Is it serious this time?"

Everyone else looked over too.

Qin Shuyi nodded. "We agreed to give it a serious try. I'm not sure if we'll make it to marriage, but we'll work towards that goal."

On the screen, a look of understanding crossed Zhou Yunhe's face, and she smiled softly. "Did you reject Dr. Chi Yu because of him?"

Actually, back at the farm stay, she had already noticed that Shuyi was different with that boy.

She was used to thinking and judging rationally, but feelings sometimes defied logic.

Qin Shuyi shook her head. "No. I rejected Chi Yu simply because I didn't like him."

She had been genuinely getting to know Chi Yu back then, but liking someone was too mysterious. It either was there or it wasn't.

She could list a hundred of Chi Yu's virtues and a thousand of Ling Jue's flaws, but love doesn't transfer based on someone's good or bad qualities.

Zhou Yunhe nodded. "So now, you want to turn the one you like into the one who's suitable?"

Qin Shuyi ran her fingers along the rim of her teacup and answered frankly, "Rather than change, I'd say 'working on our compatibility' is more fitting. Mom, you've said it yourself, a person's core personality is hard to change, but respect and understanding can overcome the obstacles created by individual differences. I want to see if he and I can go further."

Qin Yuan, who had been silent until now, suddenly asked, "Then do you think the issues that caused your last breakup have been resolved?"

Qin Shuyi paused, finding it a bit difficult to answer. "Half and half?"

Regarding the most basic attitude towards the relationship, both of them have gotten our priorities straight.

But as for some smaller details, she wasn't sure if they might repeat past mistakes.

Love and getting along have always been two different things entirely.

"I heard he had many romantic rumors before," Qin Yuan said, cutting her off as she started to speak. "I know those rumors were inaccurate, but it still indicates one thing: he has the means and the freedom to be unrestrained and indulgent. He has more choices and fallback options than ordinary people. Shuyi, are you prepared for the possibility of getting hurt?"

Just like in warfare, the commander making the decision must be prepared for the worst-case scenario.

Not step into a deep pit holding onto illusions.

The fear isn't getting hurt; it's losing the courage to get back up after being hurt.

Qin Shuyi looked at her father through the screen.

"Dad, I've already asked myself that question when I decided to reconcile. I can bear the consequences, even the bad ones."

She pressed her lips together. "I understand your concerns, but I also believe in Ling Jue. He's not perfect, he has a past, but he's not a person of low character.

Even if we were to separate one day, maybe because we're incompatible, or maybe because the love fades, he wouldn't intentionally hurt me."

Ling Jue was competitive, but he also had his own pride; he wouldn't do something tasteless.

Qin Yuan didn't speak, but he saw the determination on Qin Shuyi's face.

After a moment of silence, he nodded. "In that case, I respect your choice."

Qin Shuyi smiled, her voice softening. "Dad~"

Qin Yuan helplessly pointed a finger at her forehead through the screen. "Tell him, it's not that I believe in him, but that I trust your judgment."

With her sister and brother-in-law on board, Zhou Tinglan and her husband Jiang Shiheng had other concerns.

Jiang Shiheng understood the complexities of wealthy families better.

"Being Ling Jue's wife won't be easy. If you're together, you might have to bear a lot of pressure in the future."

His wife's niece marrying into the Ling family would be beneficial, not harmful, for the Jiang family's development.

But he knew this family valued kinship deeply. More than the potential benefits of their marriage, Jiang Shiheng was worried about whether Qin Shuyi would be happy, as Tinglan would surely be heartbroken for her.

Moreover, having watched this girl grow up all these years, she was almost like Youyou and Xiao Zhou in his heart.

Qin Shuyi understood Jiang Shiheng's good intentions, but...

"Uncle, before I am Ling Jue's wife, I am Qin Shuyi first. If I feel unhappy, I'll be the first to run away."

She said it playfully, and Jiang Shiheng laughed.

He forgot. The women of the Zhou family were all naturally open-minded.

That's really not a problem.

Zhou Tinglan spoke even more bluntly.

"When you marry someone, you marry their family. Ling Jue's family doesn't seem to value family affection and have a good atmosphere. Can you adapt to that?"

She had no idea what Qi Manjun was like.

But objectively speaking, she thought well of Qi Manjun.

It's just that she'd heard she was decisive, meticulous, beautiful, but seldom smiled. As an aunt, she worried whether someone like that would be easy to get along with.

As for Ling Mufeng, she simply looked down on him.

This man had quite a few romantic escapades in his youth, and since he managed to alienate his wife, he must not have been a good husband.

Moreover, Zhou Tinglan had vaguely heard that it was he who had previously put out feelers about selecting a marriage partner for Ling Jue.

Qin Shuyi thought for a moment, "I've interacted with Ms. Qi; she's a very good person. As for his father..."

She was silent for a moment. "Ling Jue doesn't seem to get along with him very well."

Her impression of Ling Mufeng came from that encounter at the cemetery and Qi Manjun's account.

Ling Jue never used to talk to her about his family, and the time since getting back together had been too short to learn more.

She didn't know how bad his relationship with his father was.

Jiang Yuzhou, however, was blunt and carefree, "Isn't that simple? If you can't get along, then don't. Just have him come live with our family."

In his view, Ling Jue didn't seem like someone who would be bound by family ties.

As soon as he said it, the elders all looked at him.

That... might actually work?

Worst case scenario, he could bring his mother along too.

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