Chapter 131: Guan Yanqing Stays Overnight

Lin Sangqian was momentarily taken aback. "Why do you say that?"

"When she was talking to you, her eyes darted nervously, as if guilty," Guan Yanqing explained. "And in a short span of time, she glanced into your house secretly three times."

Lin Sangqian frowned.

Aunt Xia had always had a good relationship with her family; why would she act so guilty around her?

"Of course, this is just my personal observation," Guan Yanqing added.

Lin Sangqian smiled gently. "I trust you."

Guan Yanqing was certainly no ordinary man! How could she not believe him?

Besides, she was planning to cling to his influential family!

Unaware of her thoughts, Guan Yanqing was slightly taken aback when she said she trusted him.

Lin Sangqian had already entered the kitchen.

Since Guan Yanqing had come and to soothe the frightened Liao Shuxia, she decided to prepare a grand feast.

There were plenty of ingredients at home, enough for her to showcase her skills.

Braised pork and spicy chicken were indispensable. Lin Sangqian also used the crayfish just delivered by Xu Gaoxuan to make garlic crayfish.

Garlic ribs, braised chicken wings, steamed eggs with shrimp, sweet and sour fish, corn and pork rib soup... one delicious dish after another was laid on the table, making everyone's mouths water.

They dined in the courtyard; the aroma nearly tempted many passersby.

Liao Shuxia drank two large bowls of soup, and her wounded heart felt comforted.

After many days, Guan Yanqing finally tasted Lin Sangqian’s cooking again. The usually reserved man couldn’t help but reveal a few smiles.

A man who seldom smiles, when he does, is like the warm sun in winter—rare, yet deeply cherished.

Zhao Lan’er couldn’t help but say to Lin Sangqian, “Master Guan looks so handsome when he smiles. Why doesn’t he smile more often?”

Lin Sangqian replied, “Does my older brother not look good when he smiles?”

Zhao Lan’er’s face instantly flushed. She quietly reached out and pinched Lin Sangqian’s waist. “You really can’t hold your tongue! Why bring up your brother for no reason?”

“Hehe, you’re blushing.”

Whenever Zhao Lan’er mentioned Guan Yanqing, she simply spoke plainly to Lin Sangqian. But whenever Lin Wenyuan’s name came up, her cheeks would turn bright red, shy and timid.

Lin Sangqian didn’t believe for a moment that Zhao Lan’er didn’t have feelings for Lin Wenyuan.

After the meal, Lin Wenyuan and Lin Beitao washed the dishes, and An Yu, who had just tagged along for the meal, went to help.

An Yu and Lin Wenyuan got along well and even agreed to spar sometime.

Meanwhile, Lin Beitao was mentally planning the upcoming store discount promotion. Lin Sangqian had discussed it with him today; the Dragon Boat Festival was approaching, and she entrusted him fully with handling the event.

She wanted to train him, as she recognized his business acumen.

Once everything was tidied, everyone sat together in the courtyard to enjoy the evening breeze.

Liao Shuxia loved to chatter, so she recounted the strange events from the previous midnight to Guan Yanqing again.

Surprisingly, Guan Yanqing listened patiently until she finished. After a moment of reflection, he said, “I don’t believe in ghosts or spirits, but this matter does sound unusual.”

“Sir, why not stay here tonight?” An Yu encouraged. “It’ll help us investigate the situation.”

“Miss Lin cooks so well; maybe I can even join for breakfast tomorrow!”

He was willing to help with the work.

Guan Yanqing glanced at him.

An Yu thought he had misspoken and quickly shrank his neck.

Then Guan Yanqing nodded. “Since we’re here, we might as well investigate a bit. Is there an empty room in the house?”

Liao Shuxia hesitated briefly, then said, “Yes, yes! My husband’s been away lately. My daughter and I can squeeze together; you can sleep in my husband’s room tonight.”

Guan Yanqing nodded. “Thank you.”

Lin Sangqian hadn’t expected Guan Yanqing to actually stay overnight, but it was good. She was planning to check into the matter tonight; having two older brothers with her was reassuring, and one more person was even better.

After all, Guan Yanqing seemed very reliable.

That night, Guan Yanqing and An Yu stayed at the Lin residence. Lin Wenyuan brought them fresh sheets and bedding.

An Yu didn’t dare share a bed with Guan Yanqing and insisted on sleeping on the floor, and Guan Yanqing let him have his way.

Deep in the night, Guan Yanqing suddenly opened his eyes.

He heard it.

His hearing was sharper than most, so even inside the house, he could clearly hear the crying outside.

Guan Yanqing immediately sat up.

As his close bodyguard, An Yu was naturally alert. When Guan Yanqing sat up, An Yu woke too.

“Sir, what’s wrong?”

“There’s crying outside.”

“Really?” An Yu shivered. “I’ll go check.”

Stepping into the courtyard, the mournful crying grew clearer.

Guan Yanqing followed. His eyes were calm as he stood for a moment, seemingly determining the direction of the sound.

At that moment, candles were lit in the other two rooms, and members of the Lin family came out one after another.

An Yu said, “…You’re all still awake?”

Lin Sangqian exchanged a glance with Guan Yanqing but quickly looked away. “I won’t sleep until we figure out that strange sound.”

“It seems to be coming from the east,” Guan Yanqing said.

“All right.” Lin Sangqian nodded, taking a candle from Zhao Lan’er. “Lan’er, stay home with mom. We’ll go see.”

Since they didn’t know what it was, it was better to have more people.

As for Liao Shuxia, she was utterly helpless with these matters and would likely be too scared to get far, so it was best she stayed home.

Lin Wenyuan and An Yu each held a candle, and the five of them set off from the house in high spirits.

“Be careful!” Liao Shuxia anxiously reminded them. “If things get bad, run immediately!”

“Don’t worry, Mrs. Lin,” An Yu smiled. “With our master here, nothing will happen.”

Even if there were something unclean, Guan Yanqing would surely handle it swiftly.

An Yu and the Lin brothers walked ahead, with Lin Sangqian and Guan Yanqing side by side behind them.

The crying grew louder.

Guan Yanqing glanced at the calm Lin Sangqian and couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you afraid?”

An ordinary girl would have been terrified to tears by now.

But Lin Sangqian was so composed—there wasn’t a trace of fear.

She smiled. “If, as they say, our courtyard is haunted, the crying should come from inside our home. But clearly, it doesn’t.”

Guan Yanqing nodded. “Indeed.”

The night was silent except for their footsteps. Others might have heard the crying, but superstitions kept them indoors.

As they neared a corner, the crying abruptly ceased.

Guan Yanqing and Lin Sangqian exchanged a glance, then suddenly they heard hurried footsteps.