Chapter 104: Choose a Wife

“Don’t be sad.”
Qin Xuan looked at her beautiful face and cleared his throat softly. “Ahem. As the saying goes, there are meadows of fragrant grass across the horizon. Why would you fall for only one blade?”

“I’m not saddened by him,” Su Muqing sighed. “I just suddenly realized how foolish I was.”

“Ha. Who hasn’t had foolish moments?”

Qin Xuan gave a carefree smile.

“Really? Qin Xuan, even you have your foolish moments?” Su Muqing asked, looking straight into his eyes.

“Why not? People grow up only by learning with each fall,” he said, gazing at the darkening sky. “Just as this sky keeps shifting from bright sunshine to sudden storms, life is the same.”

“…”

Su Muqing said nothing.

Qin Xuan stood beside her, catching the fresh fragrance that clung to her like perfume. “Tell me about your life. If you let it out, it may ease your heart.”

“Hm?”

Su Muqing looked a little startled. She had always presented herself as strong and confident, even in front of her brother. But when she thought of Li Shihao, a stab of pain shot through her, and at last she slowly nodded.
Let her be weak, at least this once.

In a soft, melodious voice she began to recount her past, while Qin Xuan listened quietly at her side.

Twenty years ago, Jinling’s layout was nothing like it is now. The Su family had then been only a small business household, not yet risen to prominence.

Only after Su Muqing’s father took the helm did matters improve. The family rose rapidly and carved out influence throughout Jinling. Their jewelry division, media division, and several others began to thrive, laying the foundation for the Su family to become one of Jinling’s three great commercial houses.

Su Muqing and her brother, Su Mubai, were almost born at the same time. Yet because of the old prejudice favoring sons, she had to be the “younger sister” rather than the “older sister,” which unsettled her deeply. From childhood she wanted to show more talent than Mubai and could never quite stand the sight of him.

For years her studies were one clear level ahead of his, which made her proud. After entering university, the two nearly simultaneously began their own ventures and achieved astonishing results.

Then, one accidental discovery, and Su Muqing suddenly understood: much of her entrepreneurial success had come from her brother’s quiet backing.

That was when she finally understood.

Thinking back to all the care Mubai had shown her since childhood made her grow suddenly bitter-sweet. At school, whenever someone bullied her, Mubai was always the first to appear and help her repay them.

No matter when the two siblings quarreled, Su Muqing usually “won” every time—and only then did she understand that Mubai had always been the one yielding.

With a brother as good as that, did she really need to keep competing with him?

So after graduation, Su Muqing stayed on to teach. Mubai, meanwhile, took charge of all the family affairs, determined to build the Su legacy even brighter.

It was around this time that Li Shihao began courting her.
Because of their family backgrounds, they had known each other since childhood, and Su Muqing believed she understood him well. In the end, she accepted his proposal.

Mubai objected fiercely but to no avail, then offered a strange condition:
“Xiaoqing, let’s make a bet. If that fellow truly loves you, he won’t care about just two years. Think of it as a test. If after two years he is still steady and proper, I won’t oppose your being together. How about it?”

Because of that wager, Su Muqing did not let Li Shihao hold her hand even once for two whole years. She had faced that bet with total confidence. And now, she had lost badly indeed.

“Your brother is named Su Mubai,” Qin Xuan said with a smile. “That is rather literary, actually.”

“Tomorrow you can call him Little Bai.”

Su Muqing gave a small smile.

“Little Bai?” Qin Xuan stammered, awkward. He thought that if he had really called him that, the Su–Zhao cooperation might likely fall through.

“My brother is very good-natured. Call him like that if you want; no trouble at all.”

Thinking of her brother brought a faint sweetness into her heart. After talking with Qin Xuan, she truly did feel better.
There are still people in this world who genuinely care for me. Why should I remain sad?

Su Muqing pushed Li Shihao from her mind.

At that moment, a knock sounded at the door.
“Teacher Su, Teacher Su! Are you hungry? Come down and have the midnight snacks!”

They heard Liu Qianqian’s voice and could not help exchanging a smile.

“Come on, Teacher. Let’s go eat something.”

Qin Xuan turned toward the door.

“Ah—wait, don’t—”
Su Muqing felt a sudden urge to stop him, but it was too late.

Qin Xuan walked straight to the door and opened it. Liu Qianqian, bright and demure, stood there. When she saw him, her eyes widened.

“Q-Qin Xuan… how are you in Teacher Su’s room?”

Only then did Qin Xuan remember he had entered from the balcony to Su Muqing’s side, and he felt a bit awkward. He changed the subject. “Well, girl, who made this night snack?”

“Qin Xuan! Don’t call me like a little brat. Say why you’re in Teacher Su’s room.”

Liu Qianqian lifted a little fist with a teasing look.

“This time? I came to fix Teacher Su’s television,” Qin Xuan said, scratching his head.

“Humph. Is that so?”
She tilted her head and looked into Su Muqing’s room, where Su Muqing, in an elegant and confident smile, was now walking toward the doorway.

“Qianqian, don’t misunderstand,” Su Muqing said as she came out, giving a slight wave. “Teacher will go down first. You girls can be as romantic as you want.”

She descended the stairs, graceful and composed.

Liu Qianqian was bewildered, then immediately distracted. “Little Qin Xuan, what did Teacher mean by that?”

“How would I know?” Qin Xuan muttered inwardly, thinking to himself that he and Liu Qianqian were perfectly innocent—at least with him, not a trace of romance. “By the way, who made the midnight snack?”

“It’s Shuixian. She made some desserts.”

“I’m hungry, too. I’ll go down and eat.” Qin Xuan bolted away.

Hee, hee. “You can’t run, Qin Xuan. You’ll have to confess what you did.” Liu Qianqian called after him, laughing, “It’s late, and you happened to be in Teacher Su’s room. Even diving into the Pacific wouldn’t wash this clean.”

“One time you let me into your room and stay the night—you’ll see then.”

“What? You want to stay in my room overnight? No way!”

They argued all the way downstairs. The three other girls were already waiting for them. It was Shuixian’s first time making desserts, so she sat beside the table, visibly uneasy, worried her creations might not taste right.

Qin Xuan sat down at the table and sighed.

Staring at the four women before him—each different in temperament, each beautiful and alluring—he felt oddly uneasy. For a short time it was all right; if it went on, wouldn’t he be stifled eventually? After all, even so, he was still a man of blood and heat.

Was he expected to choose one of them and make her his wife?