Compared to Lin An’an’s shock, Lin Jingjing appeared much calmer, but deep down, waves had already stirred within her.
She was not as foolish as Lin An’an; she had already made inquiries before arriving, knowing that her brother-in-law was a handsome and elegant man. Now, seeing him in person, she was still amazed.
Lin Jingjing’s cheeks felt slightly warm as she bowed her head and replied to Lin Xiaoyue, "We heard that brother-in-law returned to the mansion, so we came to pay our respects."
Su Qing glanced indifferently at the two, his slender arm naturally reaching around Lin Xiaoyue’s lower back, effortlessly pulling her into an embrace.
This posture was overly intimate and ambiguous, as well as overly disrespectful.
Lin Xiaoyue hadn’t anticipated Su Qing to be so shameless in front of her sisters and glared at him quietly.
Su Qing seemed oblivious, his deep gaze settling on Lin An’an and Lin Jingjing, "In the letter sent to the Lin Family, I didn’t elaborate; Yue Niang is pregnant. You two must take good care of her in the future."
"Wha... What?" Lin An’an was a bit bewildered. Didn’t the old lady say the eldest sister had been married for years without children? How could she be pregnant?
The blush on Lin Jingjing’s face faded significantly as she looked at Lin Xiaoyue.
Lin Xiaoyue originally didn’t intend to reveal it so early but considering the people she brought over were competing to climb onto her husband’s bed, and might even drug her someday, it was better to announce it. That way, it served as a warning; if anything happens to her child during this period, they couldn’t escape responsibility.
Thinking of the child, Lin Xiaoyue’s hand instinctively touched her lower abdomen.
At three months pregnant, it only suddenly dawned on her today that she was soon to be a mother, a feeling of being ready to do anything for the child was too overwhelming.
Su Qing noticed and withdrew his hand from her waist, covering the back of her hand on her belly with his large palm, smiling softly, his tone unprecedentedly gentle, "Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?"
The dry, warm sensation spreading on the back of her hand made Lin Xiaoyue instinctively lower her gaze, her sight fixed on his elegant five fingers.
His palms weren’t soft, roughened by years of wielding weapons, yet for some reason, they stirred an indescribable feeling within her.
"I’m fine." Unobtrusively pushing Su Qing’s hand away, Lin Xiaoyue faced her sisters’ puzzled gazes, and for the first time, there was a trace of embarrassment on her face as she explained, "It’s said that announcing the good news is unwise before three months, I truly didn’t mean to hide it from the old lady, it was solely for the sake of the child that I didn’t hurry to write back, you two don’t blame me, do you?"
Lin An’an was deeply affected, almost infuriated, but she was unwilling to let such a handsome man be monopolized by Lin Xiaoyue. She quickly stepped forward with a forced smile, "Whatever you want to do in the future, just instruct me, elder sister. The old lady originally intended for us sisters to serve you; now that you’re pregnant, isn’t it exactly the time when you need people?"
"An An!" Lin Jingjing called her.
No matter how fond she was of Mr. Qi, a daughter’s dignity shouldn’t be discarded, starting with such low posture, how could one stand firm in this household in the future?
Lin An’an turned to Lin Jingjing with a smile, "Don’t worry, sister, I’ll take good care of the elder sister."
Lin Jingjing frowned slightly, An An was truly insane, once a stubborn girl at home, now humbled herself for a man, had she ever considered, the more she behaved this way, the more worthless she’d appear in Mr. Qi’s eyes?
—Didn’t she see the couple intentionally being affectionate as soon as they entered?
Clearly, it was done deliberately for them to see!
Lin Jingjing cast a glance at Lin Xiaoyue, her gaze somewhat complex.
In her impression, Lin Xiaoyue was the most brainless among their sisters, lazy and greedy, with a bad temper, often having fits like a spoiled lady.
Having not seen her for a few years, besides her unchanged face, everything else seemed completely different, making her feel a sense of unfamiliarity.
Especially what happened outside the gate earlier, if she hadn’t witnessed it herself, Lin Jingjing wouldn’t have believed that the person who silenced Lin Xiaorou with mere words was Lin Xiaoyue.
Lin Xiaoyue looked at Lin An’an.
It was indeed her idea to have them come to her home for a stay, but she simply wanted to reunite with her sisters, not to have them as concubines for her husband.
Anyone could be taken as concubines, except for the girls from the Lin Family.
Even as merchants, they have the right to find a decent husband and be proper wives.
Becoming concubines of the Su Family, how could that be easy? They’re just momentarily blinded by Mr. Qi’s appearance, eventually, they would see the dark side of the Su Family, and thence regret not knowing where to cry.
Thinking this, Lin Xiaoyue was more determined to prevent her sister flowers from becoming concubines.
She said calmly, "Inviting you here is to be guests, I already have enough maids and nannies serving closely, there’s no reason to trouble Sister An, besides, you’ve been served since childhood, without experience, how could you take care of a pregnant woman?"
Upon hearing this, Lin An’an felt somewhat ashamed and suddenly acted coy, "I just want to spend more time with you, elder sister～"
Lin Xiaoyue smiled, "Just chatting with me is fine, no need to serve with tea and water, otherwise why would we have so many servants?"
Su Qing heard this, turned to look at Lin Xiaoyue, seeming to search for some clue.
Lin Xiaoyue felt a tingling sensation from being stared at, unable to resist glaring at him after sending the sisters off, "Why do you leave me no face in front of my sisters?"
Su Qing didn’t answer, his gaze lingering on her face for a good while before asking, "Are you jealous?"
"..." Lin Xiaoyue was truly baffled, where did he get that idea?
"Otherwise, why don’t you let them stay?"
"I just won’t let them!" Lin Xiaoyue said, "If you want concubines, there are plenty of young maidens outside, why tarnish my family?"
Su Qing: "Weren’t you the one who invited them?"
"...Even if I invited them, my intention wasn’t for them to be your concubines." Lin Xiaoyue retorted through clenched teeth, "In short, don’t even think about it!"
"So you are jealous." Su Qing maintained his position.
Lin Xiaoyue was speechless, "You’re the master, whatever you say is right, if you say I’m jealous, then I am. Happy now?"
She got up to leave, and Su Qing pulled her back.
Lin Xiaoyue was caught off guard, crashing into his broad chest, the scent of masculinity filling her nose.
Before she could react, her chin was already caught by the man’s firm fingertips, his dark eyes staring at her, his thin lips very close, intertwining his breath with hers.
Feeling uneasy all over, Lin Xiaoyue tried not to look at him, but as soon as her gaze slightly moved away, he tightened his grip on her chin, forcing her to face him. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡•𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮•𝕟𝕖𝕥
"What do you exactly want?" Lin Xiaoyue lost patience, frowning directly.
"Do you truly not care if I take concubines?" he asked.
"Isn’t it quite normal for men to have multiple wives?" Lin Xiaoyue said, "Even if I stop it now, eventually new people will come to this mansion, why bother tossing myself around, turning myself into a resentful wife, leaving both you unhappy and me annoyed?"
As she spoke, she gently touched her belly, her expression softening slightly, "Moreover, now that I’m pregnant, unable to serve you, finding someone to replace me is quite good, saving you from discomfort."
Upon hearing this, Su Qing’s brows turned severe, his voice almost grinding out from between his teeth, "Lin Xiaoyue, what happened to that arrogance when you married me back then?"
"Fed to the dogs!" Lin Xiaoyue replied irritably.
Indeed, she was quite proud when she first married, but later, being ridiculed by sisters-in-law, the strikes were too much.
Furthermore, having witnessed the scheming methods of the women in Su Family Mansion, and even watching Su Qing’s biological mother Aunt He lose in house battles and die right under her nose, Lin Xiaoyue was frightened and also awakened.
From then on, she began to rein in her lady-like temper, wanting only to be a virtuous wife, a wife who considered serving her husband and marrying concubines for him as her duties.