nycdaug Chapter 290 Meeting
Chapter 290 Meeting
A few days later, the group met at a restaurant.
Xiao Siyuan helped Xi Ningzhi into the restaurant, with Xiao Siyue following closely behind.
Zhou Qingran had already arrived when they entered the private room.
Inside the private room sat two men and two women. Xiao Siyue only recognized Zhou Qingran. As for the other woman, Xiao Siyue guessed that she was her half-sister, Zhou Lan.
Zhou Lan wore a white ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) and had light makeup on her face. She looked both pure and delicate, the kind of woman many men would find attractive. However, this did not include the few men present, who did not even glance at her.
After they came in, Zhou Lan kept her eyes fixed on them.
As for the other two men, they should be Zhou Qingran's brother Zhou Qingqi and her fiancé Qin Yan.
Zhou Qingran was the first to stand up and greet them.
"Young Master Xiao, Ningzhi, Siyue, you've arrived."
The three nodded in response to Zhou Qingran.
"Please sit down first, let me introduce you." Zhou Qingran helped Xi Ningzhi sit on the stool with her other arm.
"This is my older brother, Zhou Qingqi."
Zhou Qingqi nodded to Xiao Siyue, then said to Xiao Siyuan, "I have long heard of the extraordinary bravery and achievements of the Third Young Master Xiao at such a young age. It is my honor to meet you today."
"Young Master Zhou is too kind. I have long heard of your superb martial arts skills." Zhou Qingqi learned his martial arts from his uncle. Although he has not yet taken up an official post, he is already famous. It is said that he could shoot an arrow through a willow leaf from a hundred paces away when he was seventeen years old, and he was extremely strong. He was a born warrior. Now he is nineteen years old.
Although he was already a military officer, his martial arts skills were indeed incomparable to his. After all, he started learning martial arts too late back then. His current status was all due to his experience on the battlefield and his actual training.
After exchanging a few compliments, Zhou Qingran continued her introduction.
"This is Qin Yan, the son of the governor of Yinzhou."
Xiao Siyue and Xi Ningzhi's scrutinizing gazes fell on Qin Yan. Qin Yan was extremely handsome, dressed in a dark green robe, with a tall and upright posture, gentle and refined, and a perfectly appropriate smile on his face.
When Zhou Lan was introduced, everyone's expressions didn't seem very good, and their smiles looked somewhat fake.
Seeing the distant expressions on everyone's faces, Zhou Lan lowered her head, bit her lip, and then smiled and bowed gracefully to everyone.
The group sat down, and Xiao Siyue listened quietly to the three men chatting the whole time, her gaze occasionally falling on Qin Yan, Zhou Qingran, and Zhou Lan.
Although Qin Yan and Zhou Qingran are engaged, they are not close. Although Qin Yan will take care of Zhou Qingran from time to time, there is no tenderness in his eyes, as if he is just doing it to complete a task.
Although she had a smile on her face and spoke in a gentle tone, it was unnatural. Xiao Siyue compared Xiao Siyuan and Xi Ningzhi. Their seemingly simple actions revealed sweetness in every way, and their interaction was very natural.
However, this cannot be compared. Xiao Siyuan and Xi Ningzhi have known and been in love for several years and are now in the closest marital relationship, which is incomparable to Qin Yan and Zhou Qingran, who are engaged after only knowing each other for a short time.
Looking at Zhou Lan, her gaze was mostly fixed on Qin Yan. Every time Qin Yan spoke with Zhou Qingran, jealousy would show in Zhou Lan's eyes, and she would vigorously twist the handkerchief in her hand.
It seems she really has her eye on Qin Yan, but it's unclear whether she's attracted to him personally or just his family background.
As for Qin Yan, he didn't glance at Zhou Lan once throughout the entire conversation, except when he was chatting with Xiao Siyuan and Zhou Qingqi.
"Ah!" A sudden scream drew everyone's attention.
Zhou Lan covered her hands, looking at Zhou Qingran with teary eyes.
"What's wrong?" It was Zhou Qingqi who spoke. He looked at Zhou Lan coldly, wondering what kind of trouble Zhou Lan was planning this time.
"No...it's nothing." Although Zhou Lan said it was nothing, tears streamed down her face, revealing her slightly red hands.
"Oh, don't make a fuss over nothing." Zhou Qingqi completely ignored her tears.
"Big brother, I... I didn't mean to, I just accidentally burned my hand and couldn't hold it in."
"Then let the maid take you back first," Zhou Qingqi said.
Zhou Lan was surprised that Zhou Qingqi would say such a thing; it was completely different from what she had expected.
She looked at Qin Yan again, only to see him staring at her indifferently, without saying a word of concern. This shouldn't be happening; Qin Yan should be concerned about her injuries. Why is he acting like this?
Zhou Lan was at a loss for how to react.
"Why aren't you moving? Aren't you injured? Then hurry back and find someone to treat your injuries."
"Big brother, it's nothing, just a minor injury. You don't need to go back," Zhou Lan quickly said, as she didn't want to go back at all.
If he wasn't going back, so be it; Zhou Qingqi ignored him completely.
Continue talking to Xiao Siyuan and the others.
Zhou Lan looked at Qin Yan with a resentful gaze. She had been too focused on Qin Yan and Zhou Qingran and hadn't noticed that she had knocked over the teacup in front of her, which was why she had been burned.
What's wrong with Qin Yan today? Before, she clearly felt that Qin Yan treated her the same way he treated Zhou Qingran, so why didn't Qin Yan even glance at her today?
Zhou Lan was a little anxious. Qin Yan was the person with the best family background she had met since coming to the Zhou family. Moreover, he was handsome and wouldn't look at her strangely. She had to seize the opportunity and marry him.
She didn't want to stay in the Zhou residence anymore; no one there cared about her, and her status was even lower than that of the maidservants around Zhou Qingran.
Why is Qin Yan Zhou Qingran's fiancé? What about her? What is she supposed to do? Nobody remembers her. She's only a year younger than Zhou Qingran.
She didn't want to marry a powerless minor official or become a concubine to an old man with many wives and concubines.
She wanted to be Qin Yan's wife.
She had considered trying to curry favor with the sons of nobles and dignitaries in the capital, but she simply didn't have the opportunity to meet them, and she was also aware of her own limitations—it was beyond her reach.
Qin Yan is different. They already intended to form a marriage alliance with the Zhou family, and she is also a daughter of the Zhou family, so why can't they?
Moreover, Qin Yan is only the son of the governor of Yinzhou. If she marries him, no one will ever mention her background again once she arrives in Yinzhou.
With this in mind, Zhou Lan's gaze hardened. She absolutely could not let Zhou Qingran and Qin Yan's marriage go through; she was determined to marry Qin Yan.
Zhou Lan looked at Zhou Qingran with a fierce gaze. "Sister, please don't blame me. I just want to live a better life."
You are the legitimate daughter, and even without Qin Yan, you can still marry into other prominent families in the capital. But I can't. I can only cling to Qin Yan; he is my only lifeline.
Xiao Siyue noticed Zhou Lan's gaze and thought that she should warn Zhou Qingran later that Zhou Lan might be a threat to her.