Turning Antagonist to Protagonist: He is Both Soft and Fierce-Chapter 95 - 90: Does Sister-in-law Like Him More?
After a while, Lin An and Lin Ping were done playing and came down. Lin Qiao reached out for Song Tingfan’s arm, blinked and said, "Little Uncle, sit."
Seizing the chance to appease him, she did it as much as possible, hoping to make him dizzy with joy.
Song Tingfan stared at her blankly, taking a while to react. He bashfully shook his head and said, "Madam, I won’t play."
He was already twelve years old, a young man, and swings were for kids.
"Little Uncle, be good, play for a while."
After Lin Qiao waited for him to sit down, she gently pushed him. Seeing the young boy turning his head to stare at her in a daze, she gave him a warm smile.
She secretly clicked her tongue twice, feeling that the image of a good sister-in-law had been reinforced at least a bit more.
However, with that smile, Song Tingfan’s heart was pounding wildly, almost as if it would leap out.
Excitement, joy, and a hint of indescribable emotion stirred within him.
He thought Madam’s smile with Mr. Cheng wasn’t as nice as the smile she gave him.
Could it be Madam liked him more...
His eyes gradually curved into crescents, "Madam, it’s fun."
Pure childish delight, Lin Qiao chuckled and dotingly said, "If it’s fun then play a little longer, I’ll accompany you to play next time."
Song Tingfan’s eyes lit up, delighted at the thought of Madam accompanying him to play. "Okay," he agreed cheerfully.
He didn’t like playing on swings, but he liked Madam accompanying him.
As long as Madam was there, he was happy.
...
The Lin Family came to pick up the kids late at night. Lin An and Lin Ping had fallen asleep on Song Tingfan’s bed.
Lin Qiao lit a fire and the room suddenly brightened. Li Guifen and Mrs. Lin Xu came to pick up the kids.
Both wore grim expressions, suggesting something serious had happened.
Lin Qiao asked softly, "Is it serious?"
Knowing she’d been tired lately, Li Guifen didn’t want her to worry and shook her head, "Nothing much, it’s been resolved."
Seeing she didn’t want to elaborate, Lin Qiao didn’t press further, changing the topic, "Haven’t eaten, right? I’ll heat up the food for you."
"No trouble, dear, we’ve eaten." 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺
Li Guifen, looking at her, remembered the gambling den’s thugs today, and couldn’t resist warning, "Dear, don’t leave the village lately."
The gambling den folks were wicked, and even tried to take the grandsons as debt payment today. Had it not been so, the younger daughter-in-law wouldn’t have been so infuriated as to hit her elder brother.
Lin Qiao nodded, "Xiao Ping and Xiao’an are already asleep, I’ll bring them back tomorrow."
Though Mrs. Lin Xu had changed her view of her sister-in-law quite a bit, she still felt uneasy, "Sister-in-law, don’t trouble yourself, I’ll carry them home."
Understanding her intent, Lin Qiao didn’t argue, "Alright."
Once they left, she locked the courtyard gate and glanced at the shadow standing at the entrance, and said warmly, "Little Uncle, go to sleep."
"Afraid of the dark? Want Madam to stay a while?"
She knew Song Tingfan wasn’t afraid, but the words needed saying.
A good sister-in-law’s concern must not be lacking.
Song Tingfan wasn’t afraid, but wanted Madam to stay a bit. He pinched his sleeve, curbing his stuttering habit when lying, "Afraid."
The response caused Lin Qiao to pause momentarily, her mistake unanticipated. She replied offhandedly, "Then Madam will stay a while."
Originally planning to stay only until he slept, she suddenly found herself waking up to the early morning.
She was in Song Tingfan’s bed.
Not the first time, she didn’t dwell on how she yet again slept in the opposite’s bed.
As she left the room, Song Tingfan was just heading out with a cloth bag for school.
"Little Uncle, did you eat?"
"Yes,"
Song Tingfan obediently added, "Madam, the food is kept warm in the pot, water is heated in the clay jar."
"Little Uncle, I’ll walk you to school." Lin Qiao swiftly pinned up her hair before washing her face with clear water.
Song Tingfan stood obediently waiting, his gaze inadvertently landing on her hair, adorned only by a simple wooden hairpin.
He remembered the silk flower gifted by someone yesterday, cautiously saying, "Madam, why don’t you wear the silk flower?"
He thought Madam would surely look nice wearing the silk flower.
Suddenly asked, "Madam, don’t you wear the silk flower?" Lin Qiao didn’t quite understand his intention, "Hm? What’s wrong with the silk flower?"
"Madam looks nice with the silk flower." The young boy blushed, his expression sincere.
It turned out he meant she looked nice with the silk flower. Since he said it looks nice, she’d wear it. She agreed to all of the opposite’s requests.
Lin Qiao indulged him, "Little Uncle says it’s nice, so Madam will wear it." She then went inside to fetch the silk flower.
The silk flower was deep blue, with a yellow center, the colors somewhat garish.
But truth be told, attractive people look good wearing even a rag.
Once she wore it, the silk flower didn’t appear garish anymore, instead surprisingly beautiful.
And she herself was even more so, radiant like azaleas.
Unaware, Lin Qiao adjusted the silk flower, unable to see it herself, she looked up towards the young boy, "Little Uncle, is it on properly?"
Song Tingfan stared blankly, his eyes fixed, failing to respond to her.
Seeing his daze, Lin Qiao perplexedly said, "Little Uncle?"
Called a second time, Song Tingfan returned to his senses, hurriedly averting his gaze, blurting, "Looks good."
Though she asked if it was on properly, he said it looked good. Lin Qiao, smiling, teased him with a glance, "Little Uncle, what’s on your mind, just brushing Madam off?"
Without waiting for him to answer, she added, "Little Uncle, let’s go, we’re nearly late."
...
Returning from school, she passed by the river when a gossipy woman stopped her, asking about yesterday’s Lin Family affair. "Madam Tingfan, has the matter with your cousin-in-law been settled?"
"I don’t know, went out to sell vegetables yesterday." Lin Qiao shook her head.
Regardless of her genuine ignorance, even if she knew, she wouldn’t disclose.
These women were like paparazzi in the entertainment industry, catching any scoop to spin unfounded tales.
No one dared not believe them.
Since she rose to fame playing the scheming role, rumors of absurd scandals abounded, even being accused of pretentiousness and posturing when eating cold noodles by the roadside.
"Why don’t you ask? After all, it’s your maiden family." The woman’s tone nearly accused her of heartlessness.
Lin Qiao internally raised a brow, pretending to miss her insinuation, pointing toward the clothes floating away on the river, "Auntie, your clothes are drifting away, let’s chat when you have time."
Tend to your own matters before meddling in others’.
Many caught her implication, but her words spoke otherwise, instead quite amicable.
The woman was initially flustered, then realized and stood, chasing her clothes along the riverbank, "Dahua, help catch my clothes!"
The manner of her actions was quite comical, eliciting laughter from many.
...
In the morning, the Lin family’s matter was discussed, by afternoon, the gambling den people came again, now violently breaking down Lin’s door with clubs.
With Lin Family men at town supporting Mrs. Lin Xu’s older brother, only Li Guifen, Mrs. Lin Wu, and two children remained at home.
The two children cried immediately with fright.
Without thinking, Li Guifen shoved Old Lin Xu, urging her inside.
With forced calm, she said, "Eldest daughter-in-law, take Ping’er and An’er inside, don’t come out."
