I'll be posting every other day as a christmas preset to y'all!!! Keep a watch out for new translations from me until the new year....ily
~Monnie xx
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Noticing Qi Yan's expression, Xue Zimu immediately understood why Qu Fei's attitude became frightened and uneasy. Before when Qi Yan was staring at him, Xue Zimu has thought the other was like a stern teacher, now Qi Yan's expression became more fierce. Almost he looked like he could kill the hostage in the next second, Xue Zimu only felt a little fearful.
No wonder Qi Yan's ruthlessness caused a great clamour of rumours about his abusiveness. This face would frighten others. Qi Yan doesn't have to do anything, just by putting on this frightful look would be enough credible proof for the gossiping masses.
However, because the other party was not as fearful as the rumours say, Xue Zimu except for being startled at first, soon become at ease. After all, in the past he supported Yao Yue's 'blessings', he also faced those genuine devils, who play illegally with human lives. When facing Qi Yan who only look a bit fierce, he wasn't too afraid.
So Xue Zimu, after being slightly dazed, he took the initiative to greet the other party: "......Hello, I am Xue Zimu."
Seeing Xue Zimu was not afraid of him, Qi Yan's expression eased a little. He nodded, and similarly gave a self-introduction: "Qi Yan."
Qi Yan's voice was relatively low and deep, making his entire person appear more composed and prestige. The number of people who heard his voice wasn't many, but Qi Yan was now the focus of the entire audience. Almost everyone saw him nodding towards Xue Zimu and talked to him. For a moment, the sound of inhalation and disbelief spread throughout the entire banquet hall.
Xue Zimu heard a few words from Yao Yue and the Qu Family around him, who oddly turned to look them. He wasn't a part of Jing City's upper-class circle and, didn't know much about Qi Yan's rumours. That is, in his past life Xue Lin added colour and emphasis to these to him, therefore he didn't have any awareness when Qi Yan approached him.
Jing City's upper-class circle was known to everyone, the Qi Family's Second Young Master Qi Yan was a prodigy who could never say a line of 'superfluous words'. Here the 'superfluous words' were not the ones an average person could understand, rather other than Qi Yan speaking during necessary times at work, he rarely opened his mouth. He doesn't exchange conventional greetings or chat with others, also doesn't socially interact. Because of this excessive keeping of one's gravity, Qi Yan has the nickname 'tyrant'.
Of course, in front of familiar friends and family, Qi Yan wasn't this taciturn. But in front of outsiders, unless it was required, Qi Yan won't speak a single word more.
The people coming to this banquet knew of this point, and precisely because they understood it, they were surprised that Qi Yan would talk to Xue Zimu. After being awed, everyone's mood became different, such as Yao Yue being pleasantly surprised, and Qu Fei and Mrs Qu panicking.
Qi Yan's action made Qu Fei and Mrs Qu, and increased their original sense of crisis towards Xue Zimu. Mrs Qu promptly and slyly pushed Qu Fei, exposing his face to Qi Yan.
Qu Fei wanted to marry Qi Yan, even if it is not out of feelings, he was very satisfied with Qi Yan, especially his appearance. But when actually facing the other party, Qu Fei discovered this nickname 'tyrant' was not an exaggeration. Qi Yan's cold and stern expression made Qu Fei completely have no inclination to appreciate his pleasing looks. Instead, he was trembling with fear and almost afraid to breathe.
Hence Mrs Qu couldn't push him forward. Because Qu Fei realised he had called out to the other party but had no response, going up again this time would be humiliating. Moreover, thinking that Qi Yan had heard eighty per cent of his prior mockery of Xue Zimu, Qu Fei didn't dare to move forward. His words were indeed unpleasant to hear, even though he felt it was the truth, saying it at the banquet hosted by the Qi Family was slamming Qi Family's face. Qi Yan was probably not happy.
Seeing this, Mrs Qu only felt she hated iron for not becoming steel, but this time Qu Fei was smart. Qi Yan didn't even divide his sight to others, and after facing Xue Zimu to give a self-introduction, he said: "My mother wants to see you."
"Ah?" Xue Zimu's first reaction was to be at a loss, whilst couldn't help shouting in his heart: Why did another strange thing happen! ! Could it be because this guy looked at me a little more? I obviously didn't do anything ah, so why did he want to look at me! !
"You are unwilling?" Seeing Xue Zimu didn't immediately agree, Qi Yan asked. The pressure of his sight became somewhat stronger.
Although Xue Zimu was not fearful of him, he still seemed to be under great pressure. He promptly agreed. Qi Yan's expression eased, continued to take the dazed Xue Zimu away.
The equally dazed Yao Yue and Qu Fei paused, and saw the backs of Qi Yan and Xue Zimu walking away side by side— then their minds returned. The two people weren't too close but seemed very harmonious. Mrs Qu saw this and realised the efforts she made would probably be smashed with waves. Taking a look at the equally astonished Yao Yue, Mrs Qu resentfully and coldly snorted, dragged Qu Fei and turned to walk away.
Bai Xinlan and Yuan Manhuan were originally on the second-floor watching with great interest in Qi Yan's 'hero save the maiden' deed. But in the end, they saw Qi Yan not even saying a few words before taking the person away. At once they looked at each other in dismay. Immediately after that Bai Xinlan realised something, she glared at Xu Chi, "Xiao Chi, tell me the truth. Did A'Yan really only see this person today?"
"Ah?" Xu Chi was at a loss, "If not?"
Bai Xinlan appeared to be in a great rage, "He only saw him today and wants to bring him to me, I don't even what that child is called! Too unreasonable!"
Xu Chi didn't know how to pick up the conversation, Bai Xinlan continued to complain: "I was going to prepare to be acquainted first then meet my daughter-in-law, in the end, he comes to me like this. What is the difference between this and not even telling his parents in advance and just directly take the daughter-in-law home? This guy is really not satisfied until he angers me!"
Bai Xinlan wasn't really angry, but Qi Yan had always done whatever he wanted since he was a child. Doing things too directly sometimes made he look like he didn't respect anyone. Bai Xinlan always hoped her son could understand a few human affairs, but now the important matter of selecting a daughter-in-law has been messed up, influencing her senior's dignity. It is impossible to say she wasn't choked with resentment. Yuan Manhuan saw this and hastily laughed to console her: "A'Yan, that child won't lie. Now he is taking this person here, it's likely that he really likes him, and it may also be because he is rescuing that child. No matter what is said, this time he can pick out someone he truly likes and it is an extremely good thing. By comparison, other things aren't as critical."
When Bia Xinlan heard Yuan Manhuan's words, she agreed as well. Before, she had arranged so many blind dates for Qi Yan, and Qi Yan gave the other parties so much embarrassment. Afterwards, she had to compensate and apologise. She asked him what he was looking for, but couldn't find anything, making her angry and anxious. This contrast made her anger to be not so grave, after all this time there was no worry.
As Yuan Manhuan comforted her, Bai Xinlan quickly became calm and a little cheerful. She never thought her eldest son would bring the person he liked to her one day.
When Xue Zimu followed Qi Yan to the destination, he saw the broad smiling faces of Bai Xinlan and Yuan Manhuan. Xu Chi stood on the side and secretly measured him up for a while, and gave Qi Yan a derided look.
Qi Yan ignored him, and introduced them, "Xue Zimu." Then signalling to Xue Zimu: "My mother."
"Aunty hello!" Xue Zimu hurriedly bowed and greeted. In the end, he has decided to marry Qi Yan, despite it being an emotionless marriage, he still has to respect his elders.
Bai Xinlan closely looked at Xue Zimu and found this face looked even more dazzling. Most people standing on the side couldn't keep themselves under control, but standing next to Qi Yan's icy 'coffin face', they were really balanced. She felt more satisfied at once. She helped the bowing Xue Zimu up and spoke with a cheerful smile: "No need to be so polite. Let's not stand outside and talk in another place, ok."
Facing Bai Xinlan, Xue Zimu was more or less nervous, especially when Qi Yan, who easily frighten people, was standing by his side. Fortunately, Bai Xinlan didn't mean to embarrass him and asked some questions that weren't difficult to answer. Her attitude was also very cordial. Xue Zimu didn't think there were any problems with his identity since it was Xue Li who left his wife and son to climb to a higher point, not him. In the past, the Qi Family must have carried an investigation before settling on him, so both sides chatted quite harmoniously.
After roughly understanding Xue Zimu's unfortunate life experiences, Bai Xinlan didn't express her opinions on Xue Li, only felt rather sorry for Shu Qing. Qi Yan puckered his eyebrows as he listened.
Xue Zimu saw they weren't dissatisfied with him, instead considered Xue Li as shameful. His heart felt a little pleased but didn't show it.
Although he might have hidden intentions, he really wanted the aid of Qi Family's mountain to put pressure on the Xue Family. After all, compared to the Xue Family, his own strength was not worth mentioning. Of course, with the support of the Qi Family's strength, he could give his all to retaliate. In this lifetime he would lean on his profits from online writing, which will definitely be more than his previous life. If the Xue Family was punished accordingly, he was willing to give all of his money to the Qi Family!
Definitions:
Added colour and emphasis: Embellished
Keeping of one's gravity: Being reserved
Eighty per cent: Most probably (Chinese likes to use numbers to describe probability)
hated iron for not becoming steel: Feeling resentful towards someone for failing to meet expectations and impatient to see improvements
Aunty: This time the author wrote the characters for "wife of father's elder brother" but there is no English equivalent so I just translated to 'aunty'
Not worth mentioning: Worthless