Apart from Lin Songhao, who was going to bite off more than he could chew, this journey to Ningbo was quite smooth. The Lin Family had become weak and cowardly in front of Qin Sheng, fearing his family background and power. Qin Sheng then eliminated one of his past enemies even without making an effort, and his hatred faded away.
The Lin Family giving in and the Lins’ apology, especially Lin Changting’s, were all within Qin Sheng’s expectations. However, offering the price of 40% of the Lins’ business to Lin Su was unexpected. It was a reasonable price to pay for treating Lin Su so harshly before.
Qin Sheng informed Qu Fan that he would going back to Shanghai, but didn’t say goodbye to him face to face since he had to deal with something in Shanghai at once. His grandmother had made a couple of phone calls to ask when he would go back, which made Qin Sheng feel so sorry that he was eager to go back as soon as possible.
However, the bodyguards from the Qu Family told Qu Fan the details of the date and time, so Qu Fan waited at the entrance of the highway and stopped Qin Sheng. Once he met him, he said, “Qin Sheng, you should have told me your schedule yourself. How could I let you go without seeing you off?”
“Brother Qu, I’ve troubled you so much these days and didn’t want to do so any further. I have something to deal with in Shanghai, and my sister has been urging me to go, so I didn’t make time for you.” Qin Sheng shook hands with him and told the truth.
Qu Fan beamed at him. “I understand that. Anyway, I have to see you off. By the way, I bought some made-in-Ningbo gifts for your sister, my old classmate. I haven’t seen her in a long time.”
Qin Sheng didn’t refuse them. Qu Fan had helped him a lot and was trying to pave the way to ask for help with these gifts. “Then I’ll bring them to my sister. For your information, my sister is in Shanghai these days, so if you have time, we’d both welcome to see you there.”
Since Qin Sheng made the offer first, Qu Fan accepted it willingly. “Hahaha, that’ll be fine. See you in Shanghai. It’s time for you to go now.”
Qin Sheng nodded and said, “Right,” to Qu Fan, and so did Lin Su.
Qu Fan was a quite sophisticated person who always considered every single detail. When Qin Sheng got in the car, he was told that the bodyguards of the Qu Family would follow him for safety along the way because, after all, Lin Songhao was still out there, waiting for an opportunity to strike. One could never be too careful.
Qin Sheng didn’t reject Qu Fan’s offer, and thought more highly of him now. Qu Fan was ambitious in his mind and sophisticated in action; he was born to become successful.
On their way back to Shanghai, Chang Baji and Nan Gong took turns to drive. Lin Su was drowsy since she didn’t sleep well last night, and leaned against Qin Sheng’s chest, resting. Qin Sheng, however, was thinking about the next chapter after things in Ningbo.
For one thing, he wondered what had happened to the Qin Family, and his sister had to go to Shanghai to deal with it. After all, he should never underestimate a force that was able to give the Qin Family a bite. For another, he was considering if he should stay longer in Shanghai to cope with the Yan Family, settle down the troubles in Hangzhou, or finish his study in Beijing and spare some time to go back to Xi’an for the affair of the Lin Family.
Qin Sheng finally chose the latter because, after all, the most important thing for him now was to rescue Uncle Lin so that he could go back to his family. Since he had been adopted and raised by the Lin Family, he was responsible for this.
Lin Su didn’t wake up until they entered downtown Shanghai. She slept soundly owing to Qin Sheng’s chest, which gave her a sense of safety.
“We’re already in Shanghai, right?” Lin Su was still befuddled.
Qin Sheng nodded and said, “You, lazy kitty, slept really long. You didn’t sleep well last night right?”
Lin Su just smiled and didn’t answer him directly, shifting the topic. “Where are we going now?”
“On the way to our new home in Shanghai.” Qin Sheng was looking forward to Lin Su’s reaction.
Lin Su was not sure what Qin Sheng meant. Though she had settled her problem with the Lin Family and got 40% of the family’s business, the Lin Family had asked for her apartment back and she didn’t have her key, so they had nowhere to stay now other than a hotel. But she didn’t care and just would follow Qin Sheng.
Qin Sheng was taking her to an apartment in Lujiazui, the financial district, which actually belonged to Qin Ran and was close to her own place. This apartment was also rather close to the Qin Family’s enterprise in Shanghai so that they wouldn’t waste too much time commuting. Qin Ran gave it to Lin Su as a gift for her sister-in-law.
Qin Ran was there waiting for them at the moment. She already knew some things about Lin Su, but hadn’t met her yet. So this would be their first meeting, and Qin Ran was well prepared.
Half an hour later, Nan Gong drove them to the Shimao Riviera Garden according to Qin Sheng’s directions. The bodyguards of the Qu Family had gone back to Ningbo when they entered downtown Shanghai.
Qin Ran received a phone call from Qin Sheng and then went to the entrance of the housing estate to welcome them. Qin Sheng saw his sister from a distance and went over to her once he got out of the car. “Sister, you shouldn’t have waited here, it’s too cold now even though its springtime. I’ll worry about you if you catch a cold because of us.”
Qin Ran made a joke though. “Good, I thought that you would never care about me anymore since you have your fiancé now.”
“Sister, you must be joking.” Qin Sheng missed his sister so much even though they just been apart for a few days.
“Shut your mouth now. I’m coming for my sister-in-law-to-be.” Qin Ran ignored Qin Sheng then.
Then she turned to Lin Su, who was not a total stranger to her. Lin Su was dressed in light colors but looked even more charismatic. She wore high heels and was almost as tall as Qin Sheng. Qin Ran was amazed by how matching they were and praised Qin Sheng’s choice of wife. Lin Su would be a glory of the Qin Family.
“Lin Su, you look even more slender since I saw you last time. My brother must feel worried about you. By the way, I haven’t introduced myself. I’m Qin Ran, Qin Sheng’s sister, though we were separated from each other for decades.” Qin Ran was trying to be friendly, even intimate, and didn’t say anything out of courtesy. She had recognized Lin Su as her sister-in-law already.
Lin Su was a bit shy and flash a small smile. “Hello, Sister. Qin Sheng has told me a lot about you. You’re even more beautiful than in my imagination.”
“Lin Su, that’s very nice of you, but you’re more beautiful than me. I can’t imagine how Qin Sheng fished for your attention, it’s quite a fortune of the Qin Family. But Lin Su, if you regret choosing him, please feel free to let me know, and I’ll help you.” Qin Ran held Lin Su’s hand and grinned like a Cheshire cat.
Lin Su was afraid due to the conflict between her family and Qin Sheng, but her worry faded away the moment she met Qin Sheng’s sister. Qin Ran’s joke and friendly face told her everything.
Lin Su was quite relaxed and grounded by Qin Ran’s joke. “Sister, I’ll never ever regret it, but Qin Sheng…”
Qin Ran broke in, “Of course he won’t! Trust me, Lin Su, if he’s not good to you, just tell me and I’ll teach him a tough lesson.”
Qin Sheng couldn’t help saying, “What are you talking about? I don’t have a say now? You two just made up a story, huh?”
Qin Ran and Lin Su couldn’t help laughing.
Then, Qin Ran held Lin Su’s hand and said, “Fine, let’s go home, it’s too cold here. Come on, I’ll show you around your new home. If you have any opinions, just feel free to tell me.”
Nan Gong and Chang Baji left, as they had been working hard over the previous days and were so tired. Qin Sheng had arranged a place for Chang Baji to stay, and Nan Gong, who was always considered as part of their family, was asked to stay in Qin Ran’s place. Qin Ran, Qin Sheng, and Lin Su entered the housing estate then.
This apartment was Qin Ran’s first-meeting gift to Lin Su. It was a big one at about 2,000 square feet, with three bedrooms, a living room, and a dining room. A famous local designer had been in charge of the decoration. Qin Ran, who used to major in investment at university, had bought a couple of housing estates in various cities, targeting housing estates and office building in prime lots.
Qin Ran showed Lin Su around the apartment and asked with a smile, “You like it? What do you think of your new home? If you need anything, just tell me.”
Lin Su was not sure about the very meaning of “new home” and just said, “Sister, it’s very nice of you to let us live here. It’s pretty enough for me.”
“Lin Su, just tell me what you want, I’m your sister-in-law. This place will be your home, so you’re gonna think more about it.” Qin Ran gave her keys to the apartment. “I didn’t have time to prepare a gift for you, so I’m just giving you this apartment.”
Lin Su was astonished. Though she was born into a rich family and had never lacked money, an apartment as a gift was still too much for her. She hadn’t married Qin Sheng and shouldn’t accept such an expensive gift. Lin Su had been living in Shanghai for several years, and of course, she knew the price of this place.
Lin Su gave Qin Sheng a tense glance. “Sister, this is too much… I can’t…”
“Lin Su, but it’s not too much for our Qin Family, especially compared to what you’ve done for Qin Sheng. I saw you in Xiamen, maybe you don’t remember that, but I know quite a lot about you and your experience over the past two years. Thank you for taking care of my younger brother, you deserve this gift,” Qin Ran said honestly.
“Sister, this…” But Lin Su was still hesitating since she hadn’t become a member of the Qin Family yet.
Qin Sheng stopped Lin Su. “Honey, just accept it. My sister is trying to show her friendship with you first. So you take it for both of us, right?”
“You naughty boy!” Qin Ran whined, then turned to Lin Su. “You’ll annoy me if you reject my gift.”
Persuaded by Qin Ran and Qin Sheng, Lin Su didn’t insist on refusing any longer then and took the keys from Qin Ran.
Qin Ran smiled and said, “That’s all right. By the way, has Qin Sheng told you that I’ve been asking you for help recently?”
Lin Su nodded. “Mmm, he told me. Sister, when will we begin?”
“If you can, we’ll begin tomorrow.” Qin Ran didn’t hesitate to tell her.
Obviously, the problem should be dealt with immediately, so Qin Ran could barely wait to work on it. Lin Su nodded. “Fine. I’ll go tomorrow.”
They chatted a few words in the living room, and then Qin Sheng asked Lin Su to check the new home and find out what they needed to buy later. Qin Sheng was going to meet his grandmother now.