The barrage appeared too suddenly, a blinding red flash that nearly overwhelmed Shi Ning. At that very moment, Xu Chang had already placed the pill in Grandpa Qin’s open hand.
“Grandpa!” Shi Ning cried out, her voice sharp with panic. She lunged forward, striking Grandpa Qin’s hand with a loud snap. The small, dark Chinese patent medicine pills scattered and rolled across the polished floor.
Xu Chang’s fury erupted. He clenched his fist, his eyes blazing as he glared at Shi Ning. “Why did the young lady knock over the old man’s medicine?”
Shui Qianlan and Qin Hongyi frowned, their disapproval evident.
Shi Ning blinked her wide, innocent eyes, feigning concern. “There was a fly just now. I helped the old man swat it.”
Old Man Qin, still basking in his good mood, waved a dismissive hand. “Xiao Xu, it’s just medicine. Don’t make a fuss; just get it again.”
Xu Chang shot Shi Ning a scathing glare before retrieving another set of pills for Grandpa Qin.
But as the pill neared Grandpa Qin’s mouth, Shi Ning knocked it away again.
Xu Chang’s composure shattered. “What does the young lady mean? You’ve made the old man’s health worse, and now you won’t give him medicine. Are you trying to murder him?” His voice was low, guttural, filled with barely suppressed rage. He clenched his fists, the veins on his biceps bulging, exuding a palpable murderous aura. That large fist looked capable of crushing Shi Ning’s small head in a single blow. Terrified, she quickly darted behind Grandpa Qin. “I, I’ll help Grandpa hit the mosquito,” she stammered.
Shui Qianlan’s expression hardened. “Dad, I think Shi Ning’s change of attitude this time must have an impure purpose. Ever since she married here, the whole family has been in turmoil. Let her divorce He Ye.”
Qin Hongyi, however, looked at Shi Ning with a thoughtful expression. “I think Xiao Ning isn’t pretending this time. Is there another reason?”
Shi Ning’s mind raced. Shui Qianlan, seemingly gentle, clearly disliked her. Qin Hongyi, elegant and graceful, but his relationship with his wife seemed strained. And Xu Chang, a retired international mercenary with a scar and a murderous gaze, fiercely loyal to Mr. Qin yet always threatening to kill her. Then there was Dr. Hu, who looked like a typical honest man. Shi Ning was utterly confused, unable to decipher who was genuinely good or bad. Forget it, she thought, I’m just a stupid, bad, vicious female supporting character. I’m essentially blind. I’ll just have to dig for clues in the comments later.
“No, I really just helped Grandpa swat flies and mosquitoes,” Shi Ning insisted, stepping out from behind Mr. Qin. “But since Dad asked, I think it’s okay for Grandpa to take less medicine. Medicine is three-quarters poison.” She continued, spinning her tale, “You’ve been taking it for three years, and your health hasn’t improved. It’s bitter. Why don’t you take it next time?”
Dr. Hu interjected, “Grandpa is in poor health now, and he should still take medicine.”
Xu Chang echoed, his concern clear, “Grandpa, you should follow the doctor’s advice. The young lady doesn’t know medicine and can’t delay your health.”
Shui Qianlan’s eyes narrowed on Shi Ning. “Didn’t the doctor say that if you don’t take medicine, there’s a risk of cerebral infarction and stroke? Are you still stopping him from taking medicine? I think you just want to kill him and make the Qin family without a backbone, so that you can stir up more trouble…”
Qin Hongyi cut her off, his voice low and firm. “Say less!”
Shi Ning was in no mood to argue with Shui Qianlan; the situation was too critical. There was an ominous feeling that the plot demanded Grandpa Qin’s death today, and that she would be the indirect cause.
A sudden idea sparked in Shi Ning’s mind. She looked at Old Man Qin, her face flushing, and launched into a bold fabrication. “Grandpa, He Ye and I are trying to get pregnant. The smell of this medicine makes me uncomfortable.” She lowered her voice conspiratorially. “It must be that the baby in heaven doesn’t like this smell. If he dislikes it, why doesn’t he come to reincarnate?” She pleaded, “Can you take this medicine later, after you’ve had your meal?”
At the mention of “preparing for pregnancy,” Mr. Qin’s cloudy eyes lit up with startling intensity. Without even consulting the doctor, he quickly waved his hand. “Take the medicine away! Take it farther away, in case it affects my great-grandson who is about to be reincarnated?” He added emphatically, “Clean up the ground! Spray disinfectant and perfume!” Then, he turned to Shi Ning, his face eager. “What flavor does my great-grandson like? Fruity or floral?”
Shi Ning was speechless. She was just talking nonsense, there was no actual “preparing for pregnancy” going on; it was purely to prevent Mr. Qin from taking the suspicious medicine.
Xu Chang stared, dumbfounded. This is also okay? The old man is truly losing his mind!
But Mr. Qin was a man of his word. If he decided not to take the medicine now, he wouldn’t. Xu Chang could only withdraw, reasoning that it was still possible to administer it later. Shui Qianlan frowned, her gaze fixed on Shi Ning, trying to understand how she had so easily swayed the old man. Qin Hongyi looked at Shi Ning with a lingering, unasked question in his eyes before closing his mouth.
Shi Ning, wanting to discuss the serious matter with Mr. Qin, glanced at Shui Qianlan and Xu Chang. “Grandpa, my mother-in-law doesn’t like me, and Housekeeper Xu is also disrespectful to me. I don’t like them, can I let them be busy?” She added, “I want to play chess with Grandpa. I don’t like them looking at me with defensive and disgusted eyes.”
Mr. Qin had no objection. He looked up at them. “You all go. Xiao Xu, remember two hundred words.”
Xu Chang bristled internally. No need to remind me specifically!
Qin Hongyi and the others left, each lost in their own thoughts. Mr. Qin produced a Go board and pieces, asking Shi Ning, “I didn’t expect you to play chess. What kind of chess do you want to play?”
Shi Ning replied, “Checkers.”
Mr. Qin looked at her, exasperated. “…At least you could say Gobang.”
With no one else in the yard, Shi Ning turned to Old Master Qin, her face serious. “Grandpa, I just didn’t let you take this medicine on purpose.”
“I know, you just said you were preparing for pregnancy…”
Shi Ning interrupted him. “No, that’s nonsense. The medicine just now is poisonous! Grandpa will die if he takes it, and he can go to the crematorium for one-stop service tonight.”
Old Master Qin stared at her in stunned silence.
Shi Ning felt a fresh wave of grievance. “Grandpa just promised Qin Heye that he would trust me, but now he doubts me!”
Old Master Qin sighed. “I saw your excited expression and thought you wanted to ask me for one-stop service at the crematorium.” He handed her the white Go pieces. “Let’s play Go.”
“Grandpa,” Shi Ning persisted, “just say whether you believe me or not?”
Old Master Qin nodded. “I believe it. And I’ll ask Xiao Xu to take the medicine for testing in a while.”
Shi Ning shook her head vehemently. “You can’t let Butler Xu go. I think everyone in the old house is very suspicious!”
Old Master Qin looked up, staring at her intently. “Then wait for He Ye to come back, or you take it for testing, and then tell me the results.”
Shi Ning was genuinely surprised. “You just believe me like that?”
“Yes,” Grandpa Qin affirmed. “He Ye told me to believe you. Anyway, as long as you turn your elbow inward, you will still be Grandpa’s good granddaughter-in-law.” He pointed at the chessboard. “It’s your turn.”
“Woo woo.”
Suddenly, a soft sobbing filled the air. Grandpa Qin looked up and saw Shi Ning crying. He froze. This little ancestor, why is she crying again! He was more panicked than he’d ever been carrying a gun on a battlefield. How was he going to explain this to his grandson?