A Real Heiress Quits (GL) - Chapter 23.1

Yu Xinyue froze for a few seconds. Recalling the scene of their first meeting, a sudden realization dawned on her.

She gripped Qin Qing’s hand firmly and said to the old man, “Please rest assured.”

The girl’s palm was hot, like the sun.

Qin Qing closed her eyes lightly, her eyelashes trembling slightly. Being with Yu Xinyue felt like burying one’s body in a quilt that had been dried under the sun all day—warm all over, as if bathed in spring sunshine, exceptionally peaceful.

Yang Fang broke into a smile, his eyes slightly reddening.

Qin Qing opened her eyes. “Don’t always worry about me; I can take care of myself.”

Yang Fang gave a bitter smile. “How can I not worry? When you come out, Miss… everyone is very concerned.”

Qin Qing and Yang Fang locked eyes; they understood each other implicitly but kept their thoughts hidden.

At that moment, the old grandfather who had just played the piano with Yu Xinyue came over and handed her a business card. He was an overseas Chinese who had recently returned to the country and currently taught at an Ivy League university. Having lived abroad for many years, his local accent remained unchanged; the thick accent even made communication somewhat difficult.

Yu Xinyue could have communicated with him flawlessly in English. However, she simply tilted her head and listened intently to the old professor’s thick home-town accent.

The old professor was full of praise for her. “I have heard the piano playing of so many people, but I didn’t expect to hear music that truly touches the soul right here on my ancestral Chinese soil. If you want to go overseas for further musical studies, you can contact me.”

Yu Xinyue tucked the business card away carefully, as if cradling a burning dream, her heart thumping.

There was a smile in Qin Qing’s eyes. When the child spoke of her dreams, warm sunshine climbed into the corners of her eyes and brows, and her eyes shone remarkably bright, like a little sun. It was dazzling. Anyone could see that this child sincerely loved music.

Except for Yin Hongfei.

Yin Hongfei’s gaze fell on that business card, and his eyes darkened. Why were there always people leading the child away from “proper” business? If she went to study music, what would happen to the Yin family estate?

He now had to admit that Yu Xinyue was very talented in music—even Yan Yuan was full of praise. But so what? Could the admiration of these people feed her for a lifetime or allow her to live the life of a pampered young lady? She still had to rely on the Yin family to support her. Besides, music was something you could just play in your spare time; there was no need to make it a primary career.

Yin Hongfei still wanted to command Ji Zhaohua to go back. However, Ji Zhaohua was not intimidated by him at all, her sharp tongue rebuffing him until he was speechless. He then tried to persuade Yu Xinyue to go home, even playing the emotional card of their grandmother just returning to the country. He didn’t expect that the child, who used to be so obedient, was now too lazy to deal with him and simply ignored his requests.

A sinister fire smoldered in Yin Hongfei’s heart, but he couldn’t lash out in front of Qin Qing. This wasn’t the Yin house.

Yang Fang rubbed his waist. “These old bones… walking a few steps has really exhausted me. I’m tired and thirsty; I’m truly not what I used to be.”

Qin Qing stood up. “I’ll go get something to drink.”

Taking the opportunity while Qin Qing went to the counter, Yang Fang flashed a triumphant smile and sent an invitation to Yu Xinyue: “Little friend, how about accompanying this old man for a short walk?”

Yu Xinyue understood immediately. He had deliberately sent Qin Qing away because he had something to say to her. This matter definitely concerned Qin Qing.

Sure enough, Yang Fang scrutinized the girl from head to toe, dropping his previous kindness for a look that was even somewhat stern. A few seconds later, he withdrew his gaze. “This is the first time I’ve seen Miss care so much about a person. Little friend, what is your name?”

“Yu Xinyue.”

“A very good name.”

By then, the two had walked outside, facing a vast expanse of emerald-green lawn. Yang Fang crouched down halfway, looking into the child’s clear eyes. “Xinyue, have you seen the news? Miss’s sister passed away a few days ago.”

Yu Xinyue nodded.

Yang Fang sighed. “Miss used to love painting, with a passion like yours for the piano.”

He saw at a glance that the girl meant something extraordinary to Qin Qing—she wasn’t just a child she happened to meet on the road. The light flowing in Qin Qing’s eyes when she looked at Yu Xinyue was like her looking at her former self, who had a sincere and profound love for painting. She pitied the girl just as she pitied her former self—the self who could only curl up and sob quietly when all her canvases were burned and her palettes smashed.

Yang Fang patted the girl’s head, his eyes gentle. “Xinyue, persist in your passion. Don’t worry about how your relatives try to block you. In this world, some people carry the names of those closest to you, yet they hurt you the most. So, follow the voice in your heart. Your path is yours to walk. If you need any help, you can come to me.”

Yu Xinyue’s eyes widened, feeling somewhat lost and bewildered by such a kind and benevolent elder. “But, why help me?” Was it just because she knew Qin Qing?

Yang Fang smiled and ruffled her hair. “Because you are cute and likeable.”

Yu Xinyue actually felt a bit shy and lowered her head in embarrassment. She had never heard anyone praise her like that; it was quite embarrassing.

Yang Fang stood up. “Besides, these words have been weighed down in my heart for ten years. I’ve always regretted not being able to say them earlier.” He felt very guilty for not being able to give Qin Qing even a tiny bit of support back then, even if it was just a little, even if it would have been useless.

Yu Xinyue asked, “Why did Qin Qing stop painting?” She prayed her guess wasn’t true.

Yang Fang sighed, shook his head, and said nothing more before leaving.

Yu Xinyue stood in the sun for a few minutes, looking at her own black shadow. An indescribable feeling welled up in her heart—a bit sour, a bit bitter, weighing heavily on her chest. Even the joy of receiving the professor’s invitation couldn’t dispel this strange emotion.

When she turned to go back, she bumped into Yin Hongfei striding toward her. Yin Hongfei had finally caught an opportunity to say a few words to Yu Xinyue. “Xinyue, Grandma called a while ago saying she missed you. Aren’t you going back to see her?”

Yu Xinyue refused flatly: “No.”

“Don’t you miss her? How can you be so unfilial?”

Yu Xinyue didn’t even bother giving him a glance. “Grandma won’t miss me; it’s for In Jianghan again. Solve your Yin family matters yourselves; don’t make a fool of yourselves in front of outsiders.”

Yin Hongfei was quite angry. “What do you mean? What do you mean ‘Yin family matters’? Aren’t you a member of the Yin family?”

Yu Xinyue: “Of course I’m not. Mr. Yin, my surname is Yu.”

These words remarkably stirred a hint of guilt in Yin Hongfei’s heart. “Xinyue, have you been angry about this all along? It’s just a surname. Hanhan is your sister after all, you…”

Yu Xinyue had had enough of this face; looking at it any longer made her feel nauseous. She turned to leave.

Yin Hongfei blocked her. “How did you become so unreasonable?” At this moment, he actually missed the silent but obedient child from before—at least she had been well-behaved.

Yu Xinyue caught a glimpse of Ji Zhaohua jogging over out of the corner of her eye, and the corner of her mouth curled up. Previously, she stayed in the Yin house for her aunt; now that her aunt was alive and well, why should she care about these people?

She looked up and stared at Yin Hongfei without blinking. “Because you are no longer worthy.”

No… no longer worthy?

This short sentence made Yin Hongfei dizzy with rage. The fire he had suppressed for a long time flared up instantly. The sunlight was as fierce as fire, making him feel as if his whole body was smoking. He was about to explode.

“Say that again?” Yin Hongfei roared.

Yu Xinyue frowned in disgust and kindly reminded him, “This is a public place. Can’t you lower your voice?”

Only then did Yin Hongfei notice that after his roar, contemptuous looks were being cast from all directions. He was like a clown on a stage, having a fit of impotent rage. He patted his face, which was flushed with anger, and said painfully, “How could you say something like that just now? The Yin family has raised you for so long—is this how you repay us? Are we some kind of irreconcilable enemies to you, eh?”

“Or do you think that after climbing onto Guangyun, you’ve become someone great? Starting to talk to me like this…”

“She didn’t climb onto me.”

The speech was suddenly interrupted by a cold voice from behind. Yin Hongfei’s heart went cold; he stood stiffly, not even daring to turn around.

Qin Qing’s face looked as if it were covered in frost, her deep black pupils moving slightly as her gaze swept over Yin Hongfei. Even on a sunny day, he felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, breaking out in a cold sweat.

Qin Qing walked over and took Yu Xinyue’s hand, as if making a declaration: “I was the one who wanted to get to know her. She is right—you are not worthy of being her relative.”

As she spoke, she glanced at the manager who had come over at the sound. The manager understood immediately and said to Yin Hongfei, “Sir, making noise is prohibited here.”

Yin Hongfei felt as if his entire body was smoking—like a kettle on a gas stove, whistling and puffing white steam. The fire in his heart burned until his internal organs were about to melt into a lump, and his mind was filled with the words “not worthy,” his mouth twitching incessantly.

Fearing the matter would escalate further, the manager pressed a bottle of wine into his hands, calling it compensation from the shop—the implication was that he was being kicked out. Yin Hongfei was wealthy, but compared to Qin Qing, he was truly not worth mentioning. The manager, having been around for so many years, could see that clearly.

Yin Hongfei was proud and had never suffered such humiliation. The contemptuous looks from all around made him even more ashamed. As he walked out of the manor, his steps were somewhat weak, looking utterly soul-shaken. A doorman saw his abnormality and wanted to step forward to help, but was shoved away violently.

“Get away!” The little doorman shivered in fear.

“What’s wrong with that gentleman?”

“I don’t know. He looks decent enough, but why is he so lacking in manners?”

Yu Xinyue was led back to her original seat, staring at Qin Qing in a daze. Qin Qing thought the child was frightened and felt a bit of regret, wondering if she had been too brash. What was the use of helping the child vent her anger for a moment? That man was her uncle after all; if Yin Hongfei truly took it out on her because of this, how would the child cope?

Qin Qing was secretly annoyed. She rarely acted as mercilessly as she just had, but just now, for some reason, seeing the man roar at Xinyue made her blood boil. She couldn’t stand to see this child suffer even a bit of grievance.

Unexpectedly, after brooding for a long while, Yu Xinyue spoke a sentence that was completely beyond her expectations: “Sister, can I touch your bracelet?”

Qin Qing froze for a moment but said nothing, which was a silent permission.

A bright red cord was tied around her snow-white, slender wrist. The Maneki-neko (fortune cat) had a simple and honest smile, its porcelain glaze glowing softly in the sun. Yu Xinyue gently stroked the red cord, her movements careful, as if afraid of hurting something.

The quality of cheap goods from a two-yuan shop wasn’t great. After being in the rain once, the red cord had started to fade slightly, turning a bit white. But Qin Qing didn’t seem to have noticed.

Warm fingertips inadvertently touched the delicate arm. Qin Qing’s heart tightened; it felt as if the temperature was penetrating her skin and reaching the deepest part of her chest.

The girl’s body temperature was so intense she felt a bit scorched, yet she also longed for it. Who wouldn’t long for something so brilliant, intense, and sparkling?

Ji Zhaohua returned and the first thing she saw was her child “pervertedly” touching someone’s snow-white arm. Her eyes widened, and she was so startled the coffee in her hand almost slipped to the floor. Yan Yuan stood beside her at some point, sighing, “Kids these days are so precocious; the times have changed.”

Ji Zhaohua was so angry she wanted to bash his head. “Who’s precocious? Who’s precocious? What do you know about the feelings between women!”

Yu Xinyue snapped back to reality, withdrew her hand, and smiled sweetly at Ji Zhaohua: “Aunt.”

The slight tremor in her milky voice made Ji Zhaohua’s heart skip a beat; she immediately ran over and pinched the girl’s cheek. Yu Xinyue’s cheek was deformed by the kneading. “…” Why was it that after all these years, Ji Zhaohua’s habit of kneading people could never be changed!

But then she immediately realized—”all these years” only existed in her own memories.

Ji Zhaohua noticed something was wrong and looked around. “Where’s Yin Hongfei?” In the time she took to go to the restroom to touch up her makeup, this “dog of a man” had vanished.

Qin Qing: “He left first.”

Ji Zhaohua breathed a sigh of relief. “Good, good.” Once that guy was gone, even the air felt fresher.

Qin Qing was somewhat surprised—wondering why people as incompatible as Ji Zhaohua and Yin Hongfei would get married—but thinking of herself and Ji Fu, she couldn’t help but cast a sympathetic look at Ji Zhaohua.

She could almost see her own fate in Ji Zhaohua. Someone like Ji Fu was even more unbearable than Yin Hongfei.

After Yin Hongfei left, the atmosphere of the chat became light and pleasant. The air was filled with a happy vibe. Qin Qing briefly explained what had happened earlier, and Ji Zhaohua couldn’t help but clap her hands.

The Yin family truly didn’t deserve her; their favoritism was off the charts, yet they thought they had sacrificed so much. If they truly cherished their own child, how could they not even give her the family name, all for the sake of In Jianghan’s so-called “happiness”? It was ridiculous; if Yu Xinyue’s mother knew her daughter was being treated like this, she might not even be able to rest in peace.

Qin Qing expressed her concern: “I’m afraid he might take the opportunity to cause trouble after you go home.”

Ji Zhaohua laughed. “It’s fine, it’s fine. I know Yin Hongfei’s character—at most, it’ll be impotent rage; he won’t do anything.” She poked the marble tabletop indignantly. “Smelly man, just thinking about it makes me angry.”