Chapter 429 Retreat to Advance
“Miss Qin, please take a seat!” Butler Jiang greeted Qin Yan warmly and asked the maid to serve her a cup of tea. “The old master will be out in a while.”
Qin Yan smiled and said politely to the housekeeper, “Thank you, Uncle Jiang. Please go and do your things. I’ll sit here for a while and wait for Grandpa to come out.”
She was engaged to Jiang Tao, so she called these people as Jiang Tao would. Butler Jiang nodded and said with a smile, “In that case, I will retreat first. Please wait here for a while and have some tea. The old master will be out soon.”
“Yes, I understand. Then, Uncle Jiang, you should go and do your thing first.”Qin Yan nodded with a smile.
Butler Jiang was very satisfied with Qin Yan as the young madam of the Jiang family. On top of her family background, she was beautiful and gentle. She was the perfect match for eldest young master. After Butler Jiang left, Qin Yan held her bag tightly with her fair and tender hands. Her fingertips were slightly white, and she drew marks on her branded custom-made bag.
Soon, she heard a sound, and she immediately loosened her hands.
“Haha, is Yan ‘Er here?” Old Master Jiang leaned on his cane and came over with the help of the maids.
Qin Yan was slightly nervous, but on the surface, she was polite and respectful. She stood up from her seat and went to greet Old Master Jiang. “Grandpa, I’m here to see you.” She supported Old Master Jiang from the other side.
After Old Master Jiang sat down, he said, “Yan ‘Er, grandfather is really happy that you came to visit.”
Qin Yan said, “Brother Tao is not at home. As his fiancée, of course, I have to come over to look after grandpa.”
“You are really thoughtful!” Old Master Jiang nodded in satisfaction, his dignified face even carrying a trace of a kind smile.
He was very satisfied with Qin Yan as his granddaughter-in-law.
She had a good family background, beautiful looks, and most importantly, a very kind personality. She was a perfect match for his eldest grandson.
Qin Yan accompanied Old Master Jiang for a while. Suddenly, she revealed a sad and depressed expression. She looked absent-minded.
Old Master Jiang narrowed his eyes. A bright light flashed in his eyes. He asked, “Yan ‘Er, what’s wrong? Is there something on your mind?” Qin Yan shook her head when Old Master Jiang asked. “No, Grandpa. I’m fine.”
Old Master Jiang’s sharp gaze stared intently at Qin Yan’s fair and tender face. He didn’t quite believe her answer.
Old Master Jiang said sharply, “Why do you look so out of sorts? Why do you look so sad? Although I’m old, I’m not blind or deaf. I can tell whether there’s something on your mind with just a glance.” Speaking up to this point, he said sternly, “Tell me. Is it related to Jiang Tao?”
Old Master Jiang was very smart. How could Qin Yan hide anything from him? Regardless, if it were related to Jiang Tao, Old Master Jiang would pay attention to it.
Qin Yan’s face turned pale. She grabbed her bag tightly. Soon after, her eyes turned red, and soon, tears flowed down. She said with an aggrieved and sad face, “Grandpa, can I break off the engagement with Brother Tao?”
Old Master Jiang immediately shouted in an angry voice, “Nonsense! Marriage is a big matter. How can we break it off like child’s play? Qin Yan, what is the meaning of this? What do you take my Jiang Tao and my Jiang Family for?”
Qin Yan’s body trembled, and her face turned a few shades paler. Her expression was aggrieved and innocent, making people feel pity and love for her.
Old Master Jiang’s sharp eyes stared at Qin Yan for a while, and then he asked in a dignified manner, “Yan ‘Er, tell Grandpa why do you want to break off the engagement with Jiang Tao?”
Qin Yan opened her mouth, but she was too embarrassed to say anything. However, her expression was very aggrieved and innocent. Old Master Jiang sighed lightly and said, “Tell me, what is your reason for breaking off the engagement? Don’t worry. Grandpa won’t blame you.” Qin Yan’s tears immediately fell like rain. She muttered, “Grandpa…” She continued, “Brother Tao, he already has a woman he likes. I… I want to fulfill Brother Tao’s happiness.” Her face was full of tears, but it didn’t affect her beauty at all. Qin Yan was famous in the capital for her beauty.
Before coming to the Jiang family, she knew that she had to put on a crying scene, so she didn’t wear any makeup but lipstick. That was the last concession she was going to make.
Qin Yan’s tears flowed out. She looked very delicate and pitiful, but she was beautiful.
However, the only person present was Old Master Jiang
Old Master Jiang’s only interest was the Jiang family, so he naturally wouldn’t notice Qin Yan’s beauty. But he did notice what Qin Yan said.
“What did you say?” Old Master Jiang asked sharply and suspiciously. He stared at Qin Yan’s eyes with an experienced and sharp gaze. He wanted to find traces of deceit.
Qin Yan nodded and said, “Yes.” She hesitated for a moment, not knowing if she should continue. But in the end, she gritted her teeth and said, “Actually, before we got engaged, Brother Tao came to look for me once. At that time, he said… he said he would not get engaged with me. He has a woman he likes. He wanted me to reject the engagement.”
Old Master Jiang slammed his walking stick heavily against the ground. “That bastard!” Old Master Jiang didn’t suspect Qin Yan. Why would she make up a lie to frame her fiance? Plus, would she lie to someone like Old Master Jiang? So the only explanation was she was telling the truth.
Qin Yan slightly lowered her head. A bright light flashed in her eyes.
Then, she raised her head again and looked at Old Master Jiang pitifully and aggrievedly. “Grandpa, I like Brother Tao. But it’s obvious that Brother Tao doesn’t like me. For Brother Tao’s happiness, I’m willing to quit and help Brother Tao.”
Speaking up to this point, Qin Yan took a few steps forward and tugged at Old Master Jiang’s sleeve with some restraint and caution. She cried as she pleaded, “Grandfather, can you… just grant us our wish, okay?”
Old Master Jiang patted Qin Yan’s shoulder and said very decisively, “Yan ‘Er, don’t worry. In grandfather’s eyes, only you are worthy of my Tao ‘Er. As for the other cats and dogs, they shouldn’t even think about stepping into my Jiang family’s door.”
“But… But…” Qin Yan said with some hesitation, “Brother Tao, he…”
Old Master Jiang waved his hand and said in a domineering manner, “He has no right to control his marriage.”
Qin Yan still said with some hesitation, “But Brother Tao’s heart is not with me. In the future, when we get married, we won’t be happy.”
“Love can come after marriage.” Old Master Jiang said stubbornly, “Yan ‘Er, you and Jiang Tao are a perfect match. You don’t have to worry about other things. Just be Jiang Tao’s bride. Grandfather will take care of everything for you.”
Qin Yan knew she was unable to change Old Master Jiang’s mind. She thought for a moment and nodded. “Alright, thank you, grandfather!”
Old Master Jiang patted her shoulder and said, “Yan ‘Er, grandfather is tired.”
Qin Yan immediately said, “Grandfather, I still have something to do. I’ll go back first.” “Okay!” Old Master Jiang nodded.
Qin Yan took her bag and was about to leave, but her hand slipped, and her bag fell. Cosmetics like lipstick and moisturizer fell out.
However, Old Master Jiang was attracted by another thing that fell out of the bag.
A photo!
“Sorry, Grandpa!” Qin Yan bowed and said apologetically, “My hand slipped. I lost my composure in front of you, Grandpa. I’m really sorry!”
She hurriedly picked up the things that fell to the ground. When she noticed the picture that had fallen out, her face instantly turned pale.
She looked at Old Master Jiang’s expression. She picked up the photo and put it in her bag when the old man said, “Let me see that photo.”
