Approval

If Qin Lin dared to say she didn't have any particular feelings, Xu Xin's opinion of her would have plummeted straight to rock bottom, beyond saving.

Qin Lin's frankness had greatly improved Xu Xin's opinion of her.

"Xu Xin, I've said everything I needed to say. The decision is yours now. If you don't agree, I'll accept that, and I won't hold it against you. You're his older sister, so naturally he'll listen to you. At least he won't get hurt, and that's enough for me," Qin Lin said.

Although she was also a War General Level warrior at the Limit Martial Arts Hall, her position there was nothing special. To her, the Xu Family was still an imposing giant.

Her years as a warrior had taught her that many things in life didn't go as planned. Sometimes, you had to make a clean break when the time came; otherwise, you'd only make a mess of things.

Even when it came to matters of the heart, she wouldn't drag things out. That was simply her nature.

She was an adult. She knew that liking someone didn't mean she had to possess them. There was also restraint and wishing them well.

Hearing Qin Lin say that, Xu Xin could tell she was serious and had long prepared herself for rejection. No wonder she used to be a warrior. She's decisive, thorough, frank, and easygoing. Even men might not measure up to her.

It was fair to say that Qin Lin had made a wonderful impression on Xu Xin. She seemed like a strong woman, with a firm heart and an iron will.

From the moment they sat down until now, Qin Lin hadn't shown the slightest timidity, reluctance, or anxiety, and she hadn't begged.

Even knowing Xu Xin's identity—that she was the Xu Family's heiress—Qin Lin hadn't acted timidly.

Qin Lin had expressed her feelings through her words, without the slightest attempt to win Xu Xin's sympathy or pity.

It's impossible not to like a woman like this. Xu Xin had to admit that Qin Lin had real charm and wasn't merely beautiful.

Her inner beauty matched her outer beauty.

"Teacher Qin, can I ask how old you are?" Xu Xin took a small breath.

"Twenty-seven," Qin Lin replied.

That's almost ten years older than Xiao Qing, Xu Xin thought, then continued, "Have you ever had a boyfriend, Teacher Qin?"

"No," Qin Lin said, shaking her head.

Xu Xin was a little surprised. She hadn't expected Qin Lin never to have had a boyfriend. With her looks, it was obvious that men must have pursued her. "How many years have you been teaching at the university, Teacher Qin?"

"Four years now. I became a warrior when I was nineteen and joined the Limit Martial Arts Hall. I spent the next four years taking missions and killing monsters. Then some things happened, so I retired, got my teaching certificate, and came here to teach at the university." Qin Lin gave a brief account of her past.

She'd kept it simple, but Xu Xin could imagine that those years spent on missions couldn't have been easy.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have suddenly retired.

"Teacher Qin, Xiao Qing is my younger brother. I treat him like my own little brother. I protected him too much when he was young, and he's only really started growing up recently."

"He's gentle by nature; I know that better than anyone. He's also especially smart. In high school, he always scored 700 points, not a point more or less. But when the college entrance exam came, he only got 600."

"He even said it was so he could go to the same high school as me... Isn't that silly? Adorably silly. He's starting to grow up now, and I think it's time to let go, but I still can't help worrying."

"Sometimes I wonder what kind of girlfriend would be right for Xiao Qing. Maybe someone gentle would be best? But after thinking it over, I don't think so. Sometimes he can be a little silly, absent-minded, and lazy."

"But he can also be a bit of a schemer. So I think he might be better suited to a more assertive girlfriend. She could keep him in line and give him a chance to put those little schemes to use." At that, Xu Xin paused and looked at Qin Lin.

By now, Xu Xin's meaning was clear: she didn't object to Qin Lin liking Xu Qing.

"I understand. Those are things I like about him too," Qin Lin said with a nod.

"Teacher Qin, there's one more thing I should tell you. Xiao Qing is smart, but he's also very slow on the uptake. You're an adult, so you know how to hold back, but that might actually be a bad thing. Being more direct could work better."

"Of course, I don't know whether Xiao Qing will accept you. That'll depend on your own efforts, Teacher Qin." With that, Xu Xin stood up and left.

As she opened the door, Xu Xin looked back. "There are many things about Xiao Qing that you don't know. I hope you'll let him tell you about them himself. And finally, Teacher Qin, I wish you success."

The office door closed, and Xu Xin left.

Qin Lin sat there for a while before breaking into a smile. "Does this mean I've passed the family approval stage?"

"No wonder she's the Xu Family's heiress. She speaks so well, I almost got nervous," Qin Lin said with a laugh. She could tell that Xu Xin understood what it meant to like someone and might have someone she liked herself.

That was probably why Xu Xin hadn't stopped her and had told her so much.

It also showed how much Xu Xin cared about Xu Qing. Just as she'd said, she treated him like her own little brother.

Still, after speaking so openly with Xu Xin, Qin Lin felt much more at ease. At least she hadn't been rejected.

If Xu Xin had really looked down on her, accused her of being an old cow eating young grass or of trying to climb her way into the Xu Family, she would surely have felt hurt.

Fortunately, Xu Xin hadn't. She had the grace and poise befitting an heiress.

"I hope Xu Qing won't look down on me," Qin Lin said, finally feeling a trace of unmistakable nervousness and apprehension.

By then, Xu Xin had already left the teaching building.

She glanced back. "Compared with girls who only want to marry into a powerful family and girls who don't understand anything, Teacher Qin is much better. Xiao Qing, I hope you won't blame your sister for meddling."

At that moment, Xu Qing had no idea Xu Xin had gone to talk to Qin Lin, much less that she wanted to bring the two of them together.

Though "bring them together" wasn't quite right. She'd only given Qin Lin a chance. Whether anything came of it was up to Qin Lin and Xu Qing themselves.

That afternoon, Xu Qing was alone in the dormitory.

Since they had no classes, Chen Dabao and Zhao Quan had gone out after their morning lessons.

There was no need to guess what they were doing. They'd surely gone somewhere to have fun and were already having the time of their lives.

Xu Qing quickly packed his things, then sat down to wait for a message from Qin Lin.

Lying on his bed, Xu Qing stared at the ceiling and thought back over everything that had happened recently. Is she really picking on me? But she's never said anything bad about me. She even helped me this time...

Xu Qing felt that he couldn't quite figure Qin Lin out. He didn't understand why she was so nice to him. Was it just because he was her student?

Could she like me...? No, no way. How could that be? Xu Qing, you're so full of yourself. Besides, I don't even know what it means to like someone.

Maybe she treats me like a younger brother, just like Sister Xin does? That's possible. I am pretty handsome, after all...