QTIMP -Chapter 270 Character Persona – Vicious (Part 33)

No sooner had Lan Qing finished speaking than the door was suddenly shoved open from outside, followed by a furious roar.

“Lan Qing, that’s complete fucking bullshit!”

A man built like a bear stormed in. He grabbed Si Qiu by the arm and immediately looked ready to throw down with Lan Qing.

Si Qiu rubbed her temples in exasperation. She really didn’t understand it. Weren’t soldiers supposed to spend years away from home without returning? How had this guy come back again?

Still, she couldn’t just stand by and watch the two of them fight.

So she shouted sharply, “Both of you, stop right now! If you don’t want to stay, then get out!”

The two men immediately froze.

Lan Qing straightened his collar.

Wen Luo, however, turned toward Si Qiu with a pitiful expression.

He was terrified that she might have agreed to that bastard’s proposal. At that moment, he felt incredibly fortunate that he had returned in time.

If he’d come back even a little later, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Si Qiu sighed.

“You just got back?”

As she spoke, her gaze fell on the large bundle tossed near the doorway.

“Yeah. I came here straight from the train station. I haven’t even had time to tell my family I’m back.”

Si Qiu took half a step back and examined him carefully.

“You’re injured?”

Wen Luo’s heart leaped with joy. He took it as proof that Si Qiu cared about him. She had noticed he was hurt the moment she saw him.

Maintaining a reserved appearance, he nodded.

“Just minor injuries.”

“So you’re back to recover? How long can you stay?”

“That’s right. I’m here to recuperate. Probably around twenty days.”

Si Qiu tilted her head and looked past him at Lan Qing.

“Brother Qing, Brother Wen Luo probably hasn’t eaten yet. Go see what’s left in the kitchen and make something for him.”

Lan Qing pointed at himself in disbelief.

When he received a confirming look from Si Qiu, he could only marvel at her genius way of thinking.

How had she come up with the idea of ordering one romantic rival to cook for another?

Wasn’t she worried he might poison the guy?

Despite all the complaints running through his head, he obediently went to make food.

After all, he couldn’t very well let Si Qiu do it.

Watching the door close behind him, Wen Luo couldn’t suppress the triumphant grin on his face.

He pulled over the large bundle and opened it. A pile of miscellaneous items spilled out, and he enthusiastically introduced them one by one.

He paid no attention at all to the wound that had been aggravated during the earlier confrontation.

Si Qiu stepped forward and grabbed his hand.

She made him take off his padded jacket, then led him over to the sofa.

“Brother Wen Luo, you must be exhausted after just getting back. Sit down and rest.”

The two sat on the sofa together.

Ironically, neither knew what to say.

In the end, Si Qiu decided to speak first.

“Brother Wen Luo, about Lan Qing, he—”

Before she could finish, Wen Luo’s lips sealed hers.

Si Qiu didn’t resist, which only made him more excited.

Yet despite his excitement, he merely nibbled at her lips.

Only when the tip of Si Qiu’s tongue tentatively brushed against him did Wen Luo finally react. He parted her lips and deepened the kiss.

When the kiss finally ended, Wen Luo pulled her into his arms.

“Qiuqiu, I may not know exactly where I stand in your heart compared to Lan Qing. But that guy and I have been friends for twenty years.”

“Do you think I don’t know what kind of person he is? How could he possibly ignore such a perfect opportunity?”

At this point, he paused and gently stroked Si Qiu’s back.

“Qiuqiu, even though I expected this from the beginning, I don’t want to hear those words come out of your mouth. I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to bear it.

Just know this: whatever he can do, I can do too. And what he can’t do, I can still do.”

The door opened again.

Lán Qīng came in carrying a bowl of noodles and set it down heavily on the coffee table.

Then he looked mockingly at Wēn Luò, who was still holding Si Qiu.

This guy clearly had no intention of letting go.

“Wēn Luò, what do you mean by ‘I can do what he can’t’? Are you deliberately putting me down? If I couldn’t handle things, do you think you’d even have the chance to contact Qiūqiū?”

Feeling slightly embarrassed, Si Qiu tried to leave Wēn Luò’s embrace.

Who knew the man would only push his luck further and pull her directly onto his lap?

“You wish. But do you dare?”

Not only did Wēn Luò say it, he even raised the bowl of noodles toward Lán Qīng in a mock toast.

The blatant provocation made Lán Qīng laugh in anger.

All the frustration he had suffered in his life seemed to come from these two people.

Yet despite all his intelligence and schemes, he was completely helpless when facing them.

Narrowing his eyes, he threatened,

“Do you believe I’ll send you back right now?”

Si Qiu had no interest in participating in the competition between men.

She pushed Wēn Luò lightly, stood up, and said,

“I’m going to put on another layer of clothing.”

Then she picked up a wide wooden box from the coffee table and returned to the bedroom.

After Si Qiu left, Wēn Luò stopped responding and simply lowered his head to eat his noodles.

Back in her room, Si Qiu sat before her dressing table.

She could vaguely hear the two men talking outside, though she couldn’t make out the details.

There was a reason she had chosen these two men from among so many suitors.

With beauty as extraordinary as hers, there was no way she would settle for an ordinary man.

Since that was the case, she naturally intended to choose carefully.

Whether it was family background, ability, or appearance, both men had passed her rigorous standards.

She absolutely refused to get the short end of the deal.

Placing the surprisingly heavy wooden box before her, Si Qiu gently unfastened the clasp.

Inside were several exceptionally fine pearls.

There was also a piece of tortoiseshell—the shell of a sea turtle—which in ancient times was commonly used for jewelry and eyeglass frames.

After examining everything one by one, she picked up a smaller box.

Opening it, she found a stone-like object with an oval shape and dreamy violet hues.

Si Qiu carefully inspected it for a while before confirming its identity.

It was an abalone pearl.

Simply put, a pearl formed inside an abalone.

Such pearls cannot be cultivated artificially and are extremely rare.

Meanwhile, outside in the living room, Wēn Luò finished the bowl of noodles in just a few bites.

He watched as Lán Qīng packed everything back into the bag and carried it into the room across the hall, which served as both a study and a walk-in closet.

Wēn Luò immediately stood and followed him.

The door closed behind them.

The two men faced each other.

“You can’t stop me. I knew her before you did. She’s both affectionate and heartless. Even if there weren’t me, there would be someone else. She loves herself too much. She’ll always follow her own heart unconditionally and will never accept anyone’s restraints.”

Lán Qīng gazed deeply at Wēn Luò and suddenly felt his throat go dry.

A bitter smile appeared on his face.

“I’ve known that for a long time.

What you overheard before—my desire to get a marriage certificate—wasn’t entirely about keeping admirers away.

Part of it was also to protect her from public criticism.

I’ve already handled everything on my family’s side.

If she married me, there would be no pressure regarding marriage or children.

But have you thought about your own family?

Everything on my end has already been settled.

If you can’t settle things on your side, she won’t agree to let you get close to her either.”

Lán Qīng thought those words would at least make Wēn Luò hesitate.

Unexpectedly, the man immediately broke into a mischievous grin.

“This time, I came back seriously wounded.”