"Xiao Chuan..."
Under Qin Chuan's sharp gaze, Sister-in-law Wu Yanyan was the first to feel flustered.
There was no helping it. In this family, Qin Chuan's position was truly unshakeable. Everything the Qin family had now was due to his hard work alone.
Without this youngest brother-in-law, there wouldn't be such good days today. Therefore, facing Qin Chuan, Wu Yanyan, despite being the eldest sister-in-law, was very cautious. Perhaps this was her cleverness.
Li Ya did not speak, but her beautiful eyes were also fixed on everyone.
"Xiao Chuan!"
Qin Gang sighed. He worked with Qin Chuan and was well aware of his younger brother's abilities and sharp judgment.
But even so, Qin Chuan had only been home for a few minutes before keenly discerning from his parents' expressions that something was wrong at home. This still made him startled.
Such formidable observational skills were truly unmatched.
"It was I who told Dad and Mom not to tell you, and also instructed the second son not to call you, because I knew your affairs outside were more important, and we couldn't be a burden to you because of minor matters."
Qin Gang explained.
Qin Chuan scanned the room calmly and generally believed this to be true.
"Tell me, what exactly happened?"
Mother Qin was the first to break down in tears: "It's all because of that unfilial second son of yours. He called and said he was probably tricked by someone, and the one million you gave him was lost without a trace..."
"That's a full million! Including the previous time, over 1.7 million, almost 1.8 million. Even if our family had endless money, we couldn't afford him to fritter it away like this!"
Qin Shuren's brows furrowed even deeper into a knot, and he angrily banged on the table, scolding, "This ungrateful thing! I knew he was ambitious but incompetent, unable to achieve anything."
"Yet he acts so proud, his self-esteem so strong, yet he refuses to learn from the third son!"
"I think it would be better if he died outside, so as not to implicate our entire family and make us all uneasy."
Slap!
Before his words even finished, he received a smack on the back of his head. Mother Qin glared with fierce eyes, her expression menacing.
"He wasn't born from you, so of course you don't feel heartache. You only put in the effort for those few minutes, sow the seeds, and then abandon all responsibility, living a carefree life."
"And we mothers, who hasn't carried these children for ten months, then raised them with constant care? How can you, a heartless wretch, say such a thing?"
Scolded by Mother Qin, Qin Shuren was extremely embarrassed and didn't dare to utter a sound, because those were truly words spoken in anger. He wouldn't normally say such things.
"The children are here, be mindful of your language!"
Qin Shuren muttered softly.
Qin Chuan and Li Ya, sitting not far away, along with the eldest brother's family, all felt a bit awkward. Especially the two women, Li Ya and Wu Yanyan, their faces flushed, heads bowed, looking at the tableware.
Mother Qin's words earlier were indeed quite explicit...
Mother Qin also realized this, but words once spoken are like spilled water, impossible to retract. She could only continue to put on a tough facade and look towards Qin Chuan.
"San'er, is your work outside finished this time?"
Qin Chuan nodded, "It's temporarily concluded."
"Then are you busy? Mom means, ever since your second brother went to that Jinling City, none of us family members have visited. Now that so much of his money has been scammed, look..."
Mother Qin's words trailed off, but her meaning was very clear: she wanted Qin Chuan to go and see.
"Xiao Chuan, your mother and I mean, if that money can be recovered, that would be best. But if it really can't be recovered, then your second brother must return unharmed."
Qin Shuren quickly said.
"From now on, he's absolutely forbidden to go to that Jinling City again. If he dares to mess around, I'll break his legs!"
Qin Chuan stood up and refilled the elders' tea.
"Dad, Mom, don't worry. I'll leave for Jinling City tomorrow and guarantee I'll bring Second Brother back."
Receiving Qin Chuan's promise, Father and Mother Qin's faces immediately lit up with immense joy. Although their youngest son was the youngest, he was the one they worried about the least.
This youngest son's capabilities were their lifelong pride.
"Quick, eat! Eat! The food is getting cold..."
Father and Mother Qin quickly urged everyone to eat.
After lunch, they first sent their parents back to the supermarket, and then Qin Chuan and his eldest brother went outside for a smoke.
"Xiao Chuan, I'm going tomorrow too!"
Qin Yang directly expressed his thoughts.
Qin Chuan smoked, then thought for a moment and nodded, "Alright, there's a gathering with the brothers tonight, Big Brother, you come too."
Qin Yang grunted in agreement.
"Then that's settled. I still need to go to the electronics factory and the decoration company."
"You hurry up and get busy. Leave the matter of notifying the brothers to me."
Qin Chuan drove Li Ya to the decoration company first. Unexpectedly, Chen Jinyu was not there, seemingly out to discuss business.
Qin Chuan sat for a short while, roughly inquiring about the current situation of the decoration company, and then drove to the electronics factory.
At Xinhua Electronics Factory, Qin Chuan's Tiger Head Ben immediately caused a great stir upon its arrival.
Their young boss, who always appeared and disappeared mysteriously, had returned. This was big news. Before the car even stopped, a dense crowd of employees had already gathered around.
In the car, Li Ya saw Qin Chuan's popularity and felt envious, but more so, proud.
As Qin Chuan got out of the car, he casually took two packs of cigarettes from the back seat and handed them to everyone to share.
Then, with a smile, he greeted everyone.
Upstairs in the office building, a group of executives who had rushed over upon hearing the news were also very excited, chattering non-stop around Qin Chuan.
"Where is your factory director?"
Qin Chuan asked.
"She's here, in the office."
Qin Chuan bid farewell to the enthusiastic crowd and, carrying gifts, took Li Ya upstairs. Pushing open the factory director's office, Ye Meiyun was already sitting on the sofa, having prepared tea and waiting.
After a long time, this mature older sister was as elegant and noble as ever, her demeanor reserved. Her face was delicately made up, and every move exuded an alluring aura, like a ripe peach ready to be picked.
Her gray uniform perfectly accentuated her curves, and her wide hips made a deep indentation as she sat on the sofa.
Upon seeing Qin Chuan and Li Ya enter, Ye Meiyun smiled and said, "Our chairman is back. Please, have a seat. I've already prepared tea for you early."
Qin Chuan turned to Li Ya and said, "Did you hear that? I told you long ago, Sister Yun would definitely tease me first when we met. I was right!"
Li Ya giggled softly, covering her mouth.
Ye Meiyun gave him a charmingly coquettish eye-roll, then stood up and pulled Li Ya to sit beside her, admonishing, "Sister, you must not be deceived by this man's small gifts and sweet talk!"
"The more handsome and richer men are, the more philandering they become."
"In the end, it's always us women who suffer..."
Qin Chuan's lips twitched slightly. He felt that Ye Meiyun was scolding him, as she probably already knew about his two-timing behavior.
Li Ya glanced at Qin Chuan with her beautiful eyes and said softly, "Thank you for your guidance, sister. I will keep a close eye on him..."
Qin Chuan dared not let the two women continue talking and quickly handed over the gifts he was holding.
"Sister Yun, quickly look, see what I brought you!"
"These gifts are all from Korea!"
Hearing that the gifts on the table were from Korea, Ye Meiyun's eyes instantly lit up. She sniffed haughtily, "It seems you have some conscience after all. Let me see what gifts you brought."
"Sister Yun, didn't you say you can't be bought with a man's small gifts?"
Li Ya couldn't help but tease.
"Hmph, I don't like him, what am I afraid of!"
Ye Meiyun said righteously, and had already begun opening the gifts.