Volume One, Chapter Nine: The First Encounter with the Fake Heiress

Lin Qiao’s face flushed as she leaned against the cold door behind her, with a burning-hot man standing right in front of her.

“Mr. Qin, please stay calm.”

Lin Qiao tried to awaken his reason.

The man gasped for breath, pulled out his phone, and handed it to Lin Qiao.

Through gritted teeth, he forced out the words, “Call... my family doctor.”

Panicking, Lin Qiao took the phone and dialed the number for Qin Chen’s family doctor.

The doctor arrived quickly. After administering the medication, he packed up his medical kit and left.

Qin Chen’s eyes gradually cleared, the effects of the drug slowly fading under the suppression of the strong injection.

Lin Qiao sat on the nearby sofa, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the edge of her garment.

Recalling everything that had happened just outside the door, her cheeks burned with embarrassment once more.

She had only shared that one night with Qin Tianlang; for the past four years, Qin Tianlang had never touched her again.

This was Lin Qiao’s first time being this close to another man.

The man’s low, magnetic voice broke the silence.

“Miss Lin, I owe you thanks today.”

A faint smile lifted the corners of his mouth, but the warmth never reached his eyes, which remained distant.

As he spoke, he pulled out a blank check and handed it to Lin Qiao.

Her burning face slowly cooled.

Lin Qiao did not accept the check.

“Mr. Qin, there’s no need. Anyone in my place would have helped.”

“If you must thank me, then please consider tonight as if it never happened.”

Lin Qiao did not want to be involved with anyone from her ex-husband’s family; today’s events had been unavoidable.

Qin Chen’s gaze lingered on the small beauty mark beneath Lin Qiao’s eye, momentarily distracted.

Seeing her tilt her head slightly, waiting for his response, he withdrew his gaze and said, “Sorry, I was momentarily distracted.”

After a moment of thought, Qin Chen asked again.

“I wonder, Miss Lin, what is your connection to the Lin family?”

Lin Qiao resembled her mother, much like Ye Shulan, but the Lin family was always protective, and ordinary people rarely had the chance to meet Lin’s matriarch.

Not wanting to reveal her identity, Lin Qiao shook her head, “How could I possibly have any relation to the Lin family?”

“I see, I must have been overthinking.”

He slowly took back the check, his eyes darkly fixed on Lin Qiao.

“Miss Lin said she wishes for nothing to have happened. Since that is your wish...”

His voice carried a teasing laughter and a casual tone that sent a chill down the spine.

“Then as you wish, Miss Lin.”

……

Studio

Today marked the first day of official shooting, and Lin Qiao arrived at the studio early.

She took a few test shots and asked the staff to upload them to the computer for review.

When the staff connected the device, a frown appeared on his face. “Error writing data.”

He tried a few more times, but soon the computer went black.

“The memory card is infected with a virus!”

Lin Qiao exhaled, confirming her suspicion.

Yesterday, when Xu Mingyue left so calmly, Lin Qiao had been watching her closely.

Seeing her dismantle the camera in frustration and pull out the memory card had already raised her suspicions.

Qin Chen entered the studio and stood beside Lin Qiao.

He was so close that Lin Qiao could feel the warmth radiating from his body.

She took a small step back and explained the current situation and her doubts about yesterday to him.

“I’ll investigate the memory card issue thoroughly,” Qin Chen instructed.

“Arrange to bring another computer immediately, and replace both the camera and the memory card with new ones.”

Soon, the new computer and camera were set up, and Lin Qiao continued her shoot.

Qin Chen sat nearby, watching Lin Qiao, a complex expression flickering in his eyes.

……

After the shoot, Qin Chen approached and handed her a bottle of water.

“Miss Lin, thank you for your hard work.”

Lin Qiao took the water and thanked him.

“Miss Lin, you have great talent in photography. Would you be interested in being the Qin family’s photography tutor?”

“Who would I be teaching?”

“A little boy, my young nephew.”

Lin Qiao, having been married for four years, was quite familiar with the complex relations of the Qin family, but she had never heard of any nephew besides Qin Tianlang.

She declined politely, “Mr. Qin, I’m sorry, but I have no experience tutoring and worry I wouldn’t teach the child well.”

Although she had accepted cooperation with the Qin family, she did not want to get involved in any personal relationships with them.

Qin Chen was not offended by the refusal.

He continued deliberately, “My little nephew is pitiful; he lost his parents at a young age. He enjoys photography and is very cute. If you saw him, you’d definitely like him.”

He spoke with hidden meaning, “Perhaps he might even surprise you.”

For some reason, hearing that the nephew had lost his parents tugged tightly at Lin Qiao’s heart.

In a moment of impulse, she agreed to Qin Chen’s proposal.

……

Lin Qiao finished the shoot for Qin Jewelry and rushed home immediately.

Though only gone for one night, she missed her family deeply.

Entering the living room, she saw a girl pulling a suitcase.

Lin Qiao recognized her as Lin Yunxi.

Just like in the photos, her brows held a strong, heroic spirit, and she appeared very straightforward and bold.

Lin Yunxi heard footsteps behind her, turned around, and recognized Lin Qiao as well.

She grinned brightly.

“Sis!”

Lin Qiao breathed a sigh of relief.

She had been quietly anxious about how to get along with Lin Yunxi.

Seeing her in person confirmed that she truly had a lively and open nature.

Lin Yunxi casually pulled out a crumpled plastic bag and handed it to Lin Qiao.

“A gift for you.”

Lin Qiao opened it and found raw gemstone jewelry inside.

They were just casually wrapped in the plastic bag.

“Don’t be disgusted.”

“How could I be? They’re beautiful.”

Lin Qiao examined the gems; their clarity was excellent. At an auction, they would surely drive many people wild.

Lin Yunxi placed her hand on Lin Qiao’s shoulder.

“Sis! From now on, you’re mine! I’ll take care of you!”

Lin Zhounian arrived upon hearing the commotion and quickly slapped her hand away, “What do you mean, ‘yours’? Sis isn’t just yours!”

Lin Yunxi made a face and hid behind Lin Qiao, “Nuh-uh! You can’t boss me around!”

Lin Qiao liked this younger sister very much.

That night, Lin Yunxi insisted on sleeping with Lin Qiao.

Hand in hand, Lin Yunxi asked question after question out of curiosity, and Lin Qiao answered each one.

Travel fatigue soon made Lin Yunxi’s eyes heavy.

She leaned affectionately on Lin Qiao’s shoulder and, without realizing it, spoke her heart aloud.

“It’s so nice, I have a sister again.”

Another sister?

Lin Qiao was momentarily stunned, about to ask, but Lin Yunxi had already fallen asleep.