Chapter 137: Qin Xue's Younger Brother

The arrival of Qin Xue and Wang Ying together left Yang Qing both pleasantly surprised and puzzled. He looked at the two women and asked, "How did you get here? Are you also going to... Jinghua?"

"Yes," Wang Ying nodded, smiling with an elegant tone. "Just like you, I am an invited guest for this International Musical Instrument Exchange."

"Oh?" Yang Qing was stunned. "Are you going to perform on stage too?"

Wang Ying nodded. "Yes, singing an opening piece."

"That's great," Yang Qing said with a smile, then turned his gaze toward Qin Xue.

Qin Xue, who was holding little Qiu'er, caught his eye and laughed. "I'm here to help you look after Qiu'er. I wouldn't be at ease leaving her with anyone else."

"Ahem..." Li Dongning, standing to the side, coughed awkwardly. "Team Leader Qin, my sister isn't exactly an outsider, you know."

"Oh." Qin Xue responded with a simple "oh" and said nothing more, setting little Qiu'er down and taking her small hand.

Li Dongning: "..."

Yang Qing was touched by Qin Xue’s gesture and asked with concern, "But what about your work...?"

"It's fine, I took my annual leave, five days of it," Qin Xue smiled. "If five days aren't enough, I can just apply for an extension."

"I see." Yang Qing nodded without further comment, though his eyes were filled with tenderness toward her.

Checking in, boarding, settling into their seats, and takeoff. At four in the afternoon, the group arrived at Jinghua Airport.

As soon as they stepped off the plane, little Qiu'er’s mouth opened wide in awe, her eyes full of curiosity about everything around her. Qin Xue held her small hand, patiently explaining the things that sparked her interest.

Outside the airport, a capable-looking woman walked straight toward Wang Ying. Wang Ying naturally handed her luggage to the woman, then affectionately kissed little Qiu'er and smiled at Yang Qing. "Qingzi, I'm heading off first. Let's meet tomorrow."

After Wang Ying left, Li Dongning looked at Yang Qing and Qin Xue with a grin. "It seems my arrangements won't be needed, so I'll head home too. Team Leader Qin, I leave Qingzi in your hands. I'll contact him tomorrow."

"Yes," Qin Xue nodded with a smile. Yang Qing rubbed his nose in embarrassment, while little Qiu'er waved her hand happily to say goodbye.

"Sister Qin, where are we going now?" little Qiu'er asked curiously, looking at the scenery around her.

"Hmm, let's go to my place first, rest, and have something to eat. Then I'll take you to explore Jinghua City, how does that sound?"

"Okay! Can I video chat with Xi'er and Xiaobai then?"

"Of course you can."

"Hehe..."

As the two chatted, Yang Qing was left feeling bewildered. He suddenly asked in a nervous, startled tone, "Go... go to your place?! You... you..."

Seeing Yang Qing suddenly grow tense, Qin Xue found him incredibly cute and couldn't resist teasing him. "Yeah, my home is in Jinghua. I told my parents when I left that I was bringing my boyfriend home. They're both waiting for you—you aren't going to bail, are you?"

"I... I..." Yang Qing was so nervous he could barely speak. Little Qiu'er giggled, "Brother, why do you sound just like Dudu?"

Yang Qing: "..."

How could he not be nervous? Meeting the parents so suddenly—he had no mental preparation at all!

Though helpless, the interruption by little Qiu'er eased his tension slightly. He reached for his phone to make a call.

Qin Xue was stunned, asking curiously, "Who are you calling?"

"Brother Bai and his wife," Yang Qing said with a shy, nervous smile. "I want to ask them what I should bring for a first visit to your parents' house. They... they’ve been through this, they’re experienced."

He paused, then looked at Qin Xue. "By the way, are there any special customs I should be aware of in your family? I..."

"Qing..."

Before Yang Qing could finish, Qin Xue interrupted him with a tender voice and took his hand in her soft, slender fingers. "Qing, thank you."

"I should be the one thanking you. Let's go, let's find a supermarket first so I can buy some things."

"There's no need," Qin Xue said, looking at him with immense sweetness. "I was just teasing you. How could I bring you to meet my parents without discussing it with you first, you silly man?"

Yang Qing was instantly dazed. "Then what did you mean by going to your place..."

Qin Xue blinked playfully. "It is my place, but not where my parents live."

"Oh..." Just as Yang Qing was about to speak, a black G-Wagon pulled up right beside them. The window rolled down, and a handsome young man whistled at Qin Xue. "Hey beauty, need a ride? Let me take you for a spin!"

"Whoosh!"

At the sound, Yang Qing’s gaze turned icy, and little Qiu'er grabbed his hand in fear.

Qin Xue’s expression turned frosty as she snapped at the young man, "Get out here, right now!"

Her sharp command startled Yang Qing, but he immediately stepped in front of her and little Qiu'er, eyes alert as he watched the man prepare to step out.

However, the next moment, he froze in disbelief at what he saw.

The young man stepped out of the car, his arrogant, hoodlum-like grin vanished, replaced by an obsequious, fawning smile. "Hehe, Sis, it’s been a while. I was just greeting you, don't be so angry."

After saying that to Qin Xue, he turned to Yang Qing. "Brother-in-law, welcome to Jinghua! Get in!"

He opened the door for the three of them, then hurried to take the luggage from Yang Qing and load it into the trunk.

"Xiaoxue... who is he?" Yang Qing asked, still dazed.

"My younger brother!" Qin Xue glared at the young man and introduced him to Yang Qing: "His name is Qin Hao."

"Oh, I see..." Yang Qing nodded, then stepped forward. "Hello, I'm Yang Qing, and this is my little sister, Qiu'er."

"Qiu'er," Qin Hao looked at the little girl and praised her, "So cute! Haha, let's get in!"

Once inside, Qin Xue and little Qiu'er sat in the back while Yang Qing sat in the passenger seat. Qin Hao drove toward the city center.

During the ride, Yang Qing and Qin Hao didn't talk much; Qin Xue spent the time pointing out buildings and scenery to the curious little Qiu'er.

The car entered a high-end residential complex, and Yang Qing and little Qiu'er followed the siblings into Qin Xue’s home.

"Wow! Sister Qin, your house is so big and pretty! And there’s a spiral staircase!" little Qiu'er exclaimed as soon as they entered.

"The second floor is even prettier. Come, let me take you to see the room you'll be staying in," Qin Xue said, leading the little girl upstairs, leaving Yang Qing standing there in a daze.

"Brother-in-law, have a seat, make yourself at home."

With Qin Xue gone, Qin Hao seemed to lose his restraint, reverting to a bit of his cocky self. After offering Yang Qing a bottle of water, he glanced sneakily toward the stairs and asked with curiosity, "Brother-in-law, how did you manage to chase down my sister? Tell me about it."

"Um..." Yang Qing looked at him, startled, then smiled. "Just call me Qingzi. Actually, your sister and I... it’s fate."

"Fate?!" Qin Hao blinked, not quite understanding. "What kind of 'fate'?"

Yang Qing: "..."

"Maybe you should ask your sister later."

"Haha, no need for that," Qin Hao chuckled, then changed the subject. "What do you do for a living? Do you work at a TV station like my sister?"

"No," Yang Qing shook his head with a smile. "I run a breakfast shop."

"A breakfast shop?!" Qin Hao stared at him in shock for a long time before waving his hand. "Forget it, I won't ask. You won't tell me anyway. What do you want to eat? I'll order takeout."

"Takeout? Well..." Yang Qing hesitated. "Do you have any ingredients here? Or should I just cook a few dishes?"

Qin Hao smiled and nodded. "Yeah, there's food in the fridge. I'll take you."

A moment later, the sound of Yang Qing chopping vegetables filled the kitchen. Qin Hao watched, completely mesmerized, as Yang Qing’s knife danced in a silver blur, slicing through ingredients with rhythmic precision.

He stared for a long time, and once Yang Qing had finished preparing the ingredients with lightning speed, Qin Hao’s eyes lit up with excitement. "Brother-in-law, are you interested in acting in my movie?"

"A movie?" Yang Qing paused, looking at him in confusion.

"Yes, a movie!" Qin Hao said excitedly. "With your knife skills, it’d be a waste not to be a legendary swordsman on screen! I just happen to be a film director, and I just happen to have a script for that! How about it? Interested?"

Yang Qing was left bewildered. He stared at the kitchen knife in his hand, unable to fathom what this had to do with being a legendary swordsman.