"How do I look?" An Hao asked with a smile as she noticed the sparkle in his eyes.
Qin Jian’s lips curled into a faint smile, "My wife, indeed, is the most beautiful!"
An Hao’s face flushed with shyness at his sweet talk, "I’ve said we are not yet married, don’t call me that! If people hear it outside, they’ll laugh at us!"
"What is there to laugh at? They are actually just envious," Qin Jian said with a smile in his eyes, "Think about it, here I am at thirty, able to marry such a young and beautiful little wife. If anyone says they aren’t envious, that would be a lie."
"Ah, how come I never realized how cheesy you were in my last life?" An Hao blurted out something she shouldn’t have in her happiness, and realizing her slip, she stuck out her tongue, "I misspoke."
Hearing this, the smile deepened in Qin Jian’s eyes, "So you were dreaming of marrying me even in your last life? Seems like I must have treated you pretty well back then."
An Hao nodded gently, not just well, but extremely well!
She couldn’t guarantee that this life’s rebirth wasn’t the result of his silent dedication, his intent to exchange her realizations and remorse to make up for his unfulfilled feelings in the previous life.
Qin Jian smiled and reached out his hand, "Come on, let’s go home and have dinner! Let’s celebrate you getting into university, and also celebrate my mom’s birthday!"
"Okay." An Hao placed her hand in his palm, letting him lead her wherever he wished.
As soon as Qin Jian and An Hao entered, they saw Li Junping standing in the yard with her hands on her hips, directing the father and daughter who were working in the courtyard.
Qin Feng, who was picking vegetables, got annoyed by her nagging and slammed the green vegetables onto the small square table, "Mom, are you ever not annoying? If you have issues with An Hao’s family, go vent to her! Why keep muttering to me and Dad!"
Li Junping was already displeased, and hearing Qin Feng speak like that, she reached out and pinched her ear, "You unruly girl! You’ve gotten bolder and bolder, talking back to me is a daily occurrence now, isn’t it? And this Qin Jian, they say a man forgets his mother when he takes a wife, but he hasn’t even taken a wife yet and he’s already forgetting his mother!"
"Enough, enough!" Qin Ru Hai raised his head from where he was busy chopping wood and spotted An Hao and Qin Jian at the door.
A frown creased Qin Jian’s forehead, his lips pressed tightly together.
Meanwhile, An Hao stood next to Qin Jian with an awkward expression on her face.
Qin Ru Hai quickly stood up and nudged the fuming Li Junping with a gentle kick, saying, "That’s enough, stop it! Qin Jian and An Hao are here."
"Don’t you lie to me," Li Junping glared at Qin Ru Hai and said, "Your heart is all for your future daughter-in-law now. Just look, is it not because she is young and beautiful? Look at your son and yourself, totally bewitched. Do you think a young wife is that easy to provide for? It’s all money! Money! Money! Hasn’t your son’s money all gone into An Hao’s pocket!"
Qin Jian, standing at the doorway, listened as Li Junping’s words grew more and more unreasonable, and he couldn’t let her continue, cutting her off, "Mom! Stop listening to the village gossip every day. If you have any questions, just ask me directly!"
His voice suddenly rose, surprising Li Junping.
She turned around and, seeing An Hao and Qin Jian at the door, quickly changed her demeanor and greeted them with a cheery smile, "You stinky boy, you’re finally back! An Hao, come in quick! We’ve been waiting for you for so long."
She changed her face so quickly that even her own daughter Qin Feng couldn’t stand it, "Mom, you could go perform in a Sichuan opera face-changing act!"
"Shut your mouth!" Li Junping gave her a stern look.
Qin Feng rolled her eyes in frustration, "Sometimes I wonder if I’m really your daughter. Could it be that you picked up the wrong baby at the hospital!"