Su Qingning's mother stared at her, her expression so astonished she looked as if she were seeing an alien. After a moment, tears suddenly streamed down her face.

"Su Qingning, I'm your mother! How dare you speak to me like that for an outsider?"

At these words, Su Qingning seemed to realize she had gone too far. The tears she had just managed to hold back began to flow freely once more.

"Mom, of course I know you love me more than anyone in this world, and that you're the one who treats me with the most heartfelt sincerity," Su Qingning sobbed. "But Mom, Lin Xiao is my husband. You've seen how kind he's been to me since we married. I know what happened tonight was a huge shock, but you can't insult him like this. He didn't do anything wrong!"

Su's mother fell silent, letting her tears flow without restraint.

Lin Xiao looked at Su Qingning with profound gratitude. Honestly, he hadn't expected her to defend him so vehemently, much less argue with her own mother for his sake.

Seeing the mother and daughter at an impasse, Lin Xiao quickly interjected, "Mom, I know you're just worried about Qing Ning. That's why you said those things in anger. But please, don't worry. I will never let her fall into such a dangerous situation again. I swear!"

Perhaps it was this soft approach, which wasn't quite an apology, that Su's mother found so agreeable. Or maybe Su Qingning's words had finally moved her. In any case, she stopped her aggressive remarks.

She handed the scroll in her hands to Su Qingning, her expression somber. "This was the gift your father prepared for your twenty-second birthday. Unfortunately, he left this world before he could give it to you. I'm giving it to you now, to make up for that gift from him."

Su Qingning immediately burst into tears. She threw herself into her mother's embrace and began to sob uncontrollably.

"Mom, I'm so sorry. My attitude was terrible. Can you forgive me?"

Tears welled in her mother's eyes. She gently caressed Su Qingning's back. "You're my daughter. How could I ever stay angry with you? It's just that… since your father passed away, these past three years have been too hard on you. I don't want to see you suffer anymore."

Su Qingning was so choked with tears she couldn't speak.

Lin Xiao was about to comfort her when he suddenly felt a fluctuation of Profound Energy.

Could Deng Bingzhong have helpers?

He swiftly looked toward the source of the energy. Under the moonlight, a young man in his early twenties was standing beside the car his mother-in-law had arrived in, quietly observing the mother and daughter.

The young man was handsome, with an extraordinary demeanor.

His cultivation has already reached the peak of the Heaven Level, meaning he's about to break through to the Martial King Level. For someone his age to reach such a realm... He's still trash in my eyes, but his talent is clearly extraordinary.

As if sensing Lin Xiao's gaze, the stranger looked over. Their eyes met. The young man's gaze was coldly arrogant and profound.

Lin Xiao offered a slight smile.

The other man shifted his gaze away, his face expressionless.

For some reason, this guy seems hostile toward me.

After crying for a while longer, the mother and daughter finally calmed down.

"Mom, who brought you here?" Su Qingning asked.

Her mother came back to her senses and looked toward the man by the car. "Qing Ning, do you remember Brother Qin from next door to your grandmother's?"

Su Qingning paused. "Mom, are you talking about Qin Shaojun?"

Her mother smiled. "Yes, that's him!"

"But didn't he go to some sect to train?"

"He did, but he's back. He's the one who drove me here!" Su's mother said, waving the young man over.

He walked over quickly, a brilliant smile on his face. "Sister Qing Ning, long time no see!"

Su Qingning stared at him blankly for a moment. "Are... are you Brother Shaojun?" she asked tentatively.

"What, you don't recognize me anymore?"

Su Qingning chuckled. "I almost didn't! You've changed so much!"

Qin Shaojun smiled back. "Well, it has been seven years. You've changed a lot, too. You've become even more beautiful."

"When did you get back?"

"This afternoon. I was actually about to look for you when I ran into Auntie just as I was leaving," Qin Shaojun explained.

"Thank you," Su Qingning said quickly.

"Sister Qing Ning, that sounds a little distant. But what happened here?"

"It's nothing. It's all over now," Su Qingning replied. Clearly, she doesn't want too many people to know what happened.

Qin Shaojun smiled. "Alright, if it's in the past, then it's fine. Auntie mentioned you opened a bar?"

Su Qingning nodded.

"In that case, could I invite myself for a drink?"

"Of course!" Su Qingning agreed readily.

"Alright, let's go! We can head to your bar for a couple of drinks!" Qin Shaojun laughed and started toward the car.

"Wait a moment!" Su Qingning called out suddenly.

"Is there something else, Sister Qing Ning?" Qin Shaojun asked with a smile.

"I forgot to introduce you. This is Lin Xiao, my husband!" Su Qingning's voice was exceptionally tender.

Qin Shaojun was taken aback for a second before his smile returned. "Oh, hello. My name is Qin Shaojun." He extended his hand.

"Hello, I'm Lin Xiao."

After a brief handshake, the group of four headed for Su Qingning's bar. Su's mother rode in Qin Shaojun's car again. Although she had reconciled with her daughter, she still hadn't warmed up to Lin Xiao, and he didn't try to curry favor with her either.

On the way back, with Lin Xiao driving, Su Qingning asked curiously, "Lin Xiao, how did you know I was here?"

"Actually, after you left, I followed you. You weren't in a good state of mind, and I was afraid something might happen to you," Lin Xiao said with a smile.

It was the truth. Though he had let Su Qingning go, he had secretly trailed her.

A tremor went through Su Qingning's heart. She never imagined he would be so worried that he would follow her. A great wave of warmth instantly enveloped her. She couldn't help but glance at him, her peach-blossom eyes turning red. But these were tears from being deeply moved.

Lin Xiao saw it all, and his heart ached for her. He said gently, "If what Shen Jingzhe said made you unhappy, then I apologize. But honey, you have to believe me, I absolutely did not take any liberties with her. Besides, with such a beautiful wife at home, why would I bother with her?"

Su Qingning's fair face instantly flushed crimson. She pouted her small, rosy lips. "Hmph. Smooth-talker. As if I'd let you take any liberties with me!"

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