Chapter 90: It Was Not the First Time

"..." Lin Xi was held tightly from behind by him; forget about opening the door, her entire body felt shackled, completely unable to move.

"Isn't your assistant at the door?" she asked, puzzled as to why the door couldn't be opened.

Qin Yu didn't answer her, but someone outside soon gave her the answer.

"Lin Xi!"

It was Bai Xu's voice. Lin Xi's mouth twitched fiercely—what exactly were these two brothers trying to do?

Did they plan to take turns at her place late at night for a round of ideological persuasion?

"It's Bai Xu."

With someone at her door, there was no reason not to open it. Although she had plenty of grievances against Bai Xu, he was, after all, her fifth brother; she couldn't really turn him away. He wasn't a stranger.

She tried to explain to Qin Yu, but he remained unmoved, seemingly intent on targeting Bai Xu specifically.

What on earth...

The doorbell automatically disconnected, followed by relentless knocking. Bai Xu had never cared about propriety; when he knocked, he paid no mind to the time or place, and didn't care if he disturbed the neighbors or interrupted her rest.

Each knock was delivered with considerable force.

Lin Xi was already close to the door, so the sound thundered right next to her ear, making her ears ache.

Bai Xu was the sort to never give up until he got what he wanted. If she didn't open the door tonight, he would likely keep banging until dawn.

"He won't leave."

"Pay him no mind."

"..."

After a few minutes of stalemate, Qin Yu pulled her away, "Go wash up and rest."

Lin Xi tugged at her lips, pointing to the door, "With all this commotion, how am I supposed to rest?"

Qin Yu checked the time, then offered her a solution, "You go rest. I'll take him away."

That sounded good.

Lin Xi truly had no energy left to deal with Bai Xu.

"I'll come pick you up on Saturday. We'll go back to the estate together."

Lin Xi had to return to deliver a painting. "Alright."

Just before leaving, Qin Yu hesitated briefly, then wished her good night. Lin Xi was taken aback, but after a moment, nodded, "Good night, Third Brother."

—

Outside the door, Bai Xu was still knocking.

Suddenly, the door swung open from inside. Bai Xu froze, his hand still suspended mid-air, not yet withdrawn. "Why did you take so..."

Before he could finish, he looked up and met Qin Yu's slightly cold gaze.

"Third Brother?" Even Bai Xu, usually unfazed, was startled to see Qin Yu here.

Especially since it had taken so long for the door to open...

Bai Xu raised his brows, glancing past Qin Yu, but didn't see Lin Xi anywhere.

"How long have you been here, Third Brother?"

He hadn't paid attention to whether Qin Yu's car was downstairs earlier, otherwise he wouldn't have been so surprised.

Qin Yu stepped out from inside, not giving Bai Xu a chance to enter, and shut the door directly. Seeing this, Bai Xu's smile deepened.

"Third Brother, you really don't trust me, huh? I wouldn't force my way in."

"Let's talk outside," Qin Yu ignored his banter, heading straight for the elevator.

Seeing this, Bai Xu didn't linger, obediently following and pressing the elevator button.

—

In the car, the assistant closed the backseat door and moved aside with the driver to wait.

The two brothers sat on either side of the backseat.

When Qin Yu took out a cigarette, Bai Xu naturally took up the task of lighting it.

"Third Brother, you came for that matter as well? News travels faster to you than to me."

Bai Xu had only found out that evening, otherwise he wouldn't have come just now.

"But honestly, Third Brother, you really need to have a proper talk with Aunt. It's one thing to go to Lin Xi yourself, but dragging my mother along too? You know about her health."

"Is Aunt too idle at home lately? All she does is dwell on that trivial nonsense. If it gets too much, Third Brother, just find something for her to do."

"If you're too busy, let me handle it."

"Oh, right." Bai Xu paused, a hint of gloating in his tone, "I heard from my mother that this time Lin Xi didn't let Aunt have her way, and my mother could tell Aunt was angry."

He had only seen his mother's message that evening; during the day he had been busy with a case and only now found the time.

"I was planning to talk to you later, but didn't expect you'd get here so early."

It made sense—everywhere in Feiyun, Qin Yu had people.

Even the nominal boss, Cheng Si, was essentially Qin Yu's mobile surveillance.

He guessed Qin Yu had come as soon as he heard the news.

"I'll go back tomorrow and have a proper talk with Mother. There won't be a next time."

—

There weren't many who could get a promise out of Qin Yu, and Bai Xu couldn't help feeling secretly pleased. Usually, he was the one making such assurances.

Qin Yu flicked the ash from his cigarette, his expression clouded and unreadable.

He was also pondering how to avoid this issue.

It seemed, just as Lin Xi had said, that this hurdle would always be there, impossible to overcome.

His mother was not a forgiving person; otherwise, she wouldn't still resent the Lin family couple after all these years, even venting her anger on Lin Xi, the younger generation.

In truth, this matter had been addressed long ago—whether by him, his father, or his grandfather, all had tried to reason with her.

To put it bluntly, the Lin family couple had been gone for many years; there was hardly any need to hold such grudges.

But his mother was stubborn, as if trapped in her own world, unable to tolerate any contradiction.

Especially when it came to matters concerning the Lin family couple.

"What did Aunt hear them talking about?" Qin Yu asked, glancing sideways at Bai Xu.

Though the two brothers usually didn't see eye to eye, at this moment they were on the same side, both standing with Lin Xi, hoping to resolve the issue.

Bai Xu didn't hide anything, giving a candid report:

"She overheard at first, but later Aunt sent my mom away. When she returned, my mother said Aunt looked displeased. When asked, Aunt only said Lin Xi was becoming more unruly, but didn't mention specifics."

He'd asked several times, but his mother only said that Lin Xi had spoken back to Aunt at the café. As for what happened afterward, she hadn't heard.

After their conversation, Bai Xu didn't bother driving himself home, instead hitching a ride with Qin Yu, letting his assistant take his own car.

Both were headed to the estate tonight, and Qin Yu didn't mind him tagging along.

Upon arrival, Bai Xu was the first to get out. As his fingers touched the car door, he suddenly let out an "ah," turning back to look at Qin Yu.

The latter frowned deeply, clearly displeased by Bai Xu's sudden outburst.

"Third Brother, you'd better pay more attention," Bai Xu said with a smile, feigning nonchalance. "If I remember correctly, Aunt's behavior isn't the first time."

"..." Qin Yu's gaze instantly darkened. "What do you know?"

He had always suspected Bai Xu and Lin Xi shared secrets unknown to others, but he'd never probed deeply.

Mainly because Bai Xu's mouth was near impenetrable.

Let alone Lin Xi.

"Plenty," Bai Xu replied evasively, "Which episode would you like to hear, Third Brother?"

(End of chapter)