Chapter 12 Seeing the man who flirted with her

It wasn’t surprising that Lin Qiyue was so stunned—after all, she had transmigrated here as a university student who hadn’t even graduated yet. Back in her time, she always scrimped on living expenses, and her clothes were usually made by her grandmother to wear to school.

“Try them on and see if you like them. The shop assistant said if they don’t fit, you can exchange them,” Lan Yuchu reminded her, feeling a bit awkward. Since he’d already bought them, she couldn’t just reject them outright.

“Okay, I’ll try them now.” Lin Qiyue went back to the room and tried on all three dresses. They were all quite pretty. Her slender arms and legs looked great in the dresses—they complimented her complexion and made her look more refreshed.

After trying them on, she changed back into her usual clothes and came back out.

“How is it?” Lan Yusui had expected her to come out wearing one of the dresses, but was surprised when she saw she’d already changed back.

“They’re nice. I really like them. Aren’t we going to the movies?” Lin Qiyue said with a smile. She didn’t love them, but since Lan Yuchu had bought them, of course she had to say she liked them.

Seeing her reaction, Lan Yuchu finally relaxed.

He thought to himself, since he bought something for his sister, it wouldn’t be right not to get something for Lin Qiyue too. He was about to go back and buy the two dresses she had looked at earlier, but was stopped by his sister, who said those dresses looked too old-fashioned—girls their age preferred modern and trendy styles.

On the way home, he had actually been worried she wouldn’t like them.

After tidying up, they all left together to see the movie.

When they got to the cinema, it was more upscale than expected, and the lighting was dim—just enough to see clearly. Lan Yuchu had bought seats together, along with sodas and snacks.

Soon, the movie began. It was a romance film from earlier times, centered around people sacrificing everything for their beliefs and fighting for the right to choose their own futures.

It was actually quite touching. Lin Qiyue had thought it might be dull or outdated, but when she paid attention, she found it genuinely moving.

Everyone in the film was chasing hope and a better life, never forgetting the blood their ancestors had shed for today’s peace and stability. Though the era of the “Gang of Four” was still ongoing, it would only last another year—it would pass quickly.

When the film ended, it was already past 4 PM. Lan Yusui came out with red, teary eyes, still moved by what she’d seen.

“That was so touching! So beautiful!” she said, crying and wiping her tears.

“It’s just a movie, why are you crying so hard?” Lan Yuchu was confused why she was so emotional.

Lan Yusui rolled her eyes at her dense second brother and snapped, “If you can’t say something nice, just don’t say anything.”

Lin Qiyue saw how heartbroken Lan Yusui was—she had been holding back her tears in the theater, and now she got scolded by her brother after crying freely outside.

“Men don’t understand a girl’s heart. Don’t talk,” Lin Qiyue couldn’t help but defend her.

Lan Yuchu scratched his head, confused but silently taking mental notes.

Since it was already late in the afternoon, they originally planned to eat out, but then thought their parents would be coming home for dinner. So they headed to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy groceries and cook at home.

Coincidentally, they ran into the man who had tried to assault Lin Qiyue on the day she transmigrated.

The woman beside him didn’t look like his wife—she was very young and clearly disgusted with him.

“Well, well, Lin Qiyue! Fancy seeing you buying groceries? How rare,” he sneered, completely ignoring the presence of Lan Yuchu and Lan Yusui beside her.

He leered at Lin Qiyue, a nasty smirk on his face. Last time he hadn’t succeeded, but Shen Qingmiao had talked to him and told him to wait a bit—sooner or later, Lin Qiyue would be his plaything.

Lan Yusui walked up from behind and saw his disgusting gaze, immediately pulling a face of disgust.

Lan Yuchu heard his voice, which reminded him of that day by the lake. Frowning, he stepped in front of Lin Qiyue protectively.

His intimidating expression startled the sleazy man.

“Next time, don’t stare at someone else’s wife. Gross,” Lan Yusui added scornfully, not bothering to hide her disgust.

The man had no choice but to slink away in embarrassment.

Lin Qiyue looked at the greasy, ugly man and felt completely sickened.

But… his facial features looked very much like her sister-in-law’s son—same nose and eyes. The resemblance was striking.

Shen Qingmiao’s eldest son, Yangyang, had inherited her looks—maybe that’s why he didn’t turn out ugly.

Could it just be a coincidence? Lin Qiyue couldn’t help but frown. If her guess was right, then the child Shen Qingmiao was carrying now—could it be his, not Lan Chuhe’s?

In the original novel, it was mentioned that Lan Chuhe’s feelings toward Shen Qingmiao were lukewarm, not as loving as they seemed.

Lan Yuchu noticed the change in Lin Qiyue’s expression, and it further confirmed that the man by the lake that day had been this one.

“You okay?” he gently patted her shoulder.

Snapping out of her thoughts, Lin Qiyue’s expression turned awkward. “I’m fine. Just tired.”

Lan Yuchu didn’t ask further. He was now certain that man had tried to assault her, and to protect her reputation, she had jumped into the lake.

Her expression earlier had shown fear—she was terrified he’d find out.

Clearly, that man needed to be dealt with. Otherwise, he’d be a lingering shadow in her life.

After buying groceries and returning home, Lan Yuchu took charge of cooking. Lin Qiyue helped him, and Lan Yusui cleaned and prepared the vegetables.

But Lin Qiyue was distracted—she kept thinking about how to confirm whether Yangyang and the child Shen Qingmiao was carrying were really Lan Chuhe’s or not.

She was so lost in thought that she didn’t even hear Lan Yusui calling her.

“I said, Second Sister-in-law, are you going to help or not?” Lan Yusui looked up to see Lin Qiyue completely spaced out, lost in another world.

Lan Yuchu saw her like that and couldn’t help but feel a pang in his heart.

Ever since they returned, Lin Qiyue had been quiet, clearly preoccupied.

“Second Sister-in-law?” Lan Yusui called out loudly, confused.

“What?” Lin Qiyue snapped out of her thoughts, finally realizing they had been talking to her. Their confused expressions showed they’d been watching her.

Lin Qiyue quickly made up an excuse: “Oh… I’m just a little tired. What did you say just now, Yusui?”

“I said, help wash these vegetables. It’s almost time for dinner, and Mom might be home to eat today,” Lan Yusui repeated, this time with more emphasis.

“Oh, coming!” Lin Qiyue walked from beside Lan Yuchu to the sink.

Seeing how quiet she was, Lan Yuchu felt a pang of guilt. She’d probably suffered a lot under her eldest sister-in-law’s bullying over the years, and he felt like he had let her down.

After washing the vegetables, Lin Qiyue went to collect the clothes she’d washed earlier that afternoon. The weather was hot and the fabric was light, so everything had dried quickly. She remembered the skirts Lan Yuchu had bought her earlier and figured she might as well wash those too.

“Yusui, didn’t you also buy a skirt? I’ll wash it with mine,” she offered.

“I left it in my room, the door’s open—just go in and get it,” Lan Yusui replied while continuing her work.

Lin Qiyue didn’t think much of it and went to get the skirt. At that moment, Shen Qingmiao returned home with her son.

As their eyes met, Shen Qingmiao didn’t even try to hide her displeasure. She pulled a few hundred yuan from her pocket and shoved it toward Lin Qiyue—without saying a single word. One could imagine how much she must’ve endured to get that kind of money.

Lin Qiyue looked down at the money, and a realization hit her.

If Shen Qingmiao’s family hadn’t given her the money, and Lan Chuhe certainly wouldn’t have, then there was only one other possibility—the greasy old man from earlier, He Weiguo.

If Yangyang was his child, it would make sense for him to give her money for the child’s sake. Or perhaps, Shen Qingmiao had made some sort of promise that convinced the man to hand over the money willingly.

Either way, if Lin Qiyue could stick close to her, she’d eventually see her meet with that man again—and the truth would come out. After all, if Shen Qingmiao didn’t succeed, her younger sister wouldn’t be able to get a job at the textile factory.

The more Lin Qiyue thought about it, the more she believed this woman would stop at nothing to achieve her goals.

“She acts like someone owes her millions or something!” Lan Yusui grumbled, clearly unimpressed by Shen Qingmiao’s attitude.

Now that the money had been returned, Lin Qiyue simply slipped it into her pocket and went back to her chores.

By the time the laundry was done, the food was ready too.

That’s when Qian Xiuying came home from work.

Her son had returned on leave, so she hadn’t been too busy these past few days and had left work a bit early.

“Grandma~!” Little Yangyang spotted her and ran out into the yard to greet her.