Chapter 10: My Woman

Under Wang Cuiying’s anxious gaze, Qin Yi let out a light laugh.

“Control? Control you, or control her?”

Wang Cuiying was so furious that she struggled to catch her breath. Being publicly humiliated by a junior, and then having no face left to save when confronted directly—she was utterly defeated.

Her face flushed, a mix of blue and red, and her eyes glared with a hatred that seemed ready to tear Su Wan apart.

“Hmph, a yellow-haired girl whose hair hasn’t even fully grown in, dares to lecture me now? Xiao Yi, are you really content to be controlled by her?”

Su Wan sneered coldly. Unable to argue against Wang Cuiying’s words, she instead tried to drive a wedge between her and Qin Yi.

In truth, her feelings for Qin Yi had never been deep.

She wasn’t afraid of any attempts to sow discord.

“Auntie, this is a new society now. Men who hit their wives are just powerless bullies in their own homes. Oh, by the way, have you gotten used to being hit at home, so the first thing out of your mouth is about hitting and scolding?”

“At your age and still living like this, really pitiful, tsk tsk~”

Su Wan stood in front of Qin Yi’s wheelchair, using her body to shield him—not because she feared he would suffer, but because she was afraid he might throw another bowl in frustration.

She felt protective.

Though Su Wan was not short, she was so thin she seemed fragile. Standing before the broad-shouldered Wang Cuiying, the contrast made her appear even more delicate.

Yet despite her slight frame, her presence clearly towered over Wang Cuiying’s in spirit.

Hearing Su Wan’s words, Wang Cuiying’s anger exploded.

“You— you little bitch, you’ve only been married here a few days, and you dare speak to your elders like that?”

When someone is furious, their words lose coherence; this was especially true for Wang Cuiying, who refused to be reasoned with.

All she felt was overwhelming anger.

But no matter what she said, Su Wan always found the perfect comeback, leaving her fuming. She angrily slapped Qin Quan’an.

“You good-for-nothing! You watch your mother get insulted and don’t even stand up for me!”

“Mom, you insisted on coming here yourself…”

Grandma Qin felt a surge of warmth in her heart. Wanwan was truly impressive—every word struck right at Wang Cuiying’s sore spots, hitting her exactly where it hurt.

She found herself growing more and more fond of this granddaughter-in-law.

Qin Quan’an’s voice was soft, but everyone caught every word. Wang Cuiying immediately collapsed onto the floor, throwing a tantrum.

“This is so unfair!”

With a sharp “crack!” the sound of a bowl smashing on the floor next to Wang Cuiying’s leg broke the commotion into silence.

The one who smashed the bowl was Qin Yi, who stared fiercely at Wang Cuiying.

“Will you leave on your own, or do I have to make you?”

“You— you little brat, how dare you speak to your elders like that, with no manners at all!”

Su Wan responded coolly,

“Manners should be shown to those who deserve them. Auntie, do you have any manners?”

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

“Get out! Coming into my home to cause trouble, bullying my grandmother, bullying my woman in front of me— I’m paralyzed, not dead!”

When Qin Yi said this, his words dripped with deadly intent, leaving Wang Cuiying speechless.

Qin Quan’an, both angry and ashamed, pulled Wang Cuiying to her feet.

“Mom, isn’t this embarrassment enough?”

“For whose sake? I’m doing this for you! You…”

“I don’t want you to do this for me. Let’s go, Mom…”

Qin Yi’s expression was cold and solemn. Qin Quan’an half dragged, half pushed Wang Cuiying away.

Su Wan glanced at the remaining scraps on the table—there was almost nothing left. She embraced Grandma Qin.

“Grandma, it’s okay now.”

Grandma Qin gave a relieved smile.

“Wanwan, I always knew you were right. I was wrong before. I was afraid I couldn’t care for Xiao Yi, so I agreed to let Wang Cuiying and Quan’an help take care of him. I was selfish, wanting to find him a wife to help with his legs…”

As she spoke, Grandma Qin glanced at Qin Yi’s expression and quickly stopped herself.

Su Wan looked at Qin Yi, feeling a twinge of envy despite his loss of parents and misfortunes.

At least he had someone who loved him and wholeheartedly cared for him—his grandmother.

Whereas she, despite having biological parents and a brother, had no one who truly cared for or supported her.

After all the commotion, none of the three had any appetite left.

Back in the room, Qin Yi shed his fierce demeanor and became the silent Qin Yi again.

Su Wan brought him several kinds of medicine and a cup of hot water.

“Take your medicine.”

Qin Yi looked at Su Wan. For some reason, what came to mind was how thin she was just now, yet she faced Wang Cuiying fearlessly, matching her blow for blow.

He had only ever seen her gentle and soft side before, never this fiery spirit.

Unexpectedly, his usually resolute face broke into a smile.

When Su Wan carried the hot water inside, she found him dazed, foolishly smiling—the tough, iron-willed man now simply staring blankly.

“What’s so funny?”

“Cough, cough, nothing, nothing.”

Qin Yi awkwardly tried to cover it up.

“Legs.”

Su Wan put down the basin and carefully lifted Qin Yi’s legs into the water, massaging them slowly.

Whether it was psychological or real, Qin Yi felt a strange tingling sensation as her hands worked over his legs.

Watching Su Wan’s serene expression, he finally spoke.

“If someone bullies you next time, fight back. Don’t let them think you’re easy to push around.”

“If they can bully you once, they’ll do it a second time.”

Su Wan wanted to laugh inwardly. What did he take her for? She would fight back, yes, but it depended on the situation. If she knew she couldn’t win, she would meekly back down.

Just like when she was bullied countless times at school.

She glanced at Qin Yi, still smiling.

“What if someone breaks into the house?”

“What’s there to fear? I’m here.”

Su Wan’s hand paused, a strange feeling stirring inside her. No one had ever said that to her before.

No one had ever protected her like this.

All her life, she had been alone.

Taking care of herself, guarding herself.

Hearing Qin Yi say that made her a little unsettled.

Even after lying down to sleep, that indescribable feeling lingered.

It was such a good feeling to have someone protecting her.

It made her feel safe.

Listening to Qin Yi’s steady breathing beside her in the dark, Su Wan blushed, her mind drifting to the old healer who had treated her leg.

Not just Su Wan, Qin Yi also lay awake.

After losing his parents, he had built himself into a fortress. His grandmother was growing old, and he had always wanted her to enjoy her twilight years in peace. Yet now, he had only brought her worry and trouble, even humiliation.

If his legs were okay, those people wouldn’t dare make a sound.

In the end, it was because his legs were ruined.

They bullied him and mocked him because they knew he was powerless.

But he had heard the doctor today—it was impossible.

He felt an inexplicable irritation but, recalling the mission day, he did not regret it.

Sacrificing his legs to achieve a good outcome was worth it.

The night passed without dreams. The New Year was drawing closer, and the festive atmosphere grew stronger.

That morning, Grandma Qin came in to bring water to Qin Yi, who looked at the empty bed.

“Grandma, where’s Su Wan?”

“Wanwan went out early this morning.”

“Where did she go?”

“She didn’t tell you?”

Both were stunned.

They had assumed Su Wan had told someone but realized she had not said a word.

Where had she gone?

Qin Yi’s face darkened—the bitterness of not even being told a single word.