Huang Quan looked at Ye Qin with a smile, using her eyes to signal him, “You can talk to my older brother yourself.”
Nangong Mian was still cautious about men close to Huang Quan after the incident with the servant at their residence. Huang Quan knew this, which is why she didn’t introduce the two of them earlier. She wanted her older brother to feel at ease, and she knew that having Ye Qin explain himself would be the best way.
When Ye Qin saw her smile, he smiled back, which momentarily left Nangong Mian speechless. Ye Qin’s smile was simply too charming!
Nangong Mian instinctively looked at Huang Quan and saw her looking at them with a playful expression. This made him realize that he couldn’t let the two of them get too close.
Huang Quan was already fifteen years old, approaching the age for marriage, but their parents, older brother, and second brother were all absent. She couldn’t marry someone this early. Nangong Mian decided that he would stay by Huang Quan’s side, watching over her and deferring any discussions about her marriage until their parents returned.
Ye Qin, unaware of Nangong Mian’s intentions, wanted to make a good impression on him as Huang Quan’s older brother. He introduced himself in a mild tone, saying, “I’m Ye Qin, a new student at the academy. I had a health issue earlier, and Huang Quan saved my life. To repay her kindness, I plan to stay with Huang Quan to assist her…”
“Stop!” Nangong Mian interrupted. “My sister is beautiful and kind-hearted, and helping others is just second nature to her. You don’t need to feel indebted. A simple ‘thank you’ is enough. There’s no need to stay with her and be at her beck and call.”
Ye Qin: “…” I never intended to be at her beck and call. Thanks!
The dean observed the three of them, but remained silent, simply watching.
Huang Quan panicked when she heard Nangong Mian suggesting that Ye Qin should leave. She quickly moved closer to the two men, grabbed Ye Qin’s hand, and held it tightly. She looked at Nangong Mian earnestly and said, “Big brother, he’s my first friend at the academy, and you should let him stay.”
She couldn’t let him go. If he left, where would she find her source of comfort? Her condition required Ye Qin’s presence as much as he required her.
Nangong Mian’s eye twitched, and he said, “You’ve only known him for a day, or rather, only for a while, less than half an hour!”
Huang Quan said, “I feel a deep connection with him.”
“Nonsense!” Nangong Mian gritted his teeth. “He’s a man!”
To feel a deep connection with a man? Why not call it love at first sight? What the hell!
Huang Quan glanced at Ye Qin and gave him an apologetic look.
Ye Qin’s eyelid twitches, instantly sensing that something was not right.
And indeed…
Huang Quan turned to Nangong Mian and said, “Third brother, there’s no need to worry. I see him as a brother.”
Ye Qin: “…”
A brother!
Nangong Mian looked at Huang Quan in bewilderment. The dean quickly lowered his head to suppress his laughter, but his shoulders twitching gave him away.
Ye Qin gave the dean a cold look.
The dean felt Ye Qin’s gaze and quickly raised his head, trying not to laugh. He bit his lips to hold back his laughter, indicating he wasn’t really laughing.
“Big brother, Ye Qin’s condition is quite difficult to deal with, but I can help treat him,” Huang Quan said to Nangong Mian. “You also said that I’m kind-hearted, and I can’t stand by and watch someone in need.”
Nangong Mian: “…”
Was he shooting himself in the foot by getting involved in this? He refused to admit defeat!
Nangong Mian looked at Huang Quan, puzzled, and said, “Quan Quan, I didn’t know you could save people.”
Huang Quan’s gaze flickered, and she replied, “Big brother, something happened, I’ll tell you all about it later.”
