Turning Antagonist to Protagonist: He is Both Soft and Fierce-Chapter 249 - 244: The Child Suddenly Becomes a Man

Chapter 249: Chapter 244: The Child Suddenly Becomes a Man

Upon hearing this, Lin Qiao didn’t look at him and simply said, "Give it to me."

Niu Er was like a piece of sticky candy, coming to the shop every few days. He didn’t really do anything, just sat with his legs crossed.

"I won’t give it without some benefit. I came to deliver a letter for you early in the morning and haven’t even had breakfast," Niu Er, familiar as ever, found a spot to sit down and motioned for Lin Qiao to bring him something to eat.

Lin Qiao asked Mrs. Wang Tan to bring him a bowl of noodles. "Give me the letter."

Niu Er glanced at her and gave a cheeky smile. He then took it out and handed it to her, slickly saying, "I’ve even warmed the letter for you. When will you marry me?"

Lin Qiao expressionlessly rolled her eyes at him, then went upstairs, opened the envelope, and soon managed to hide a trace of joy on her face.

Li Guifen, who followed closely, asked anxiously, "What did Tingfan say? Is he doing well? When will he be back?"

"He said the General granted him two months to visit home, and also mentioned staying in Lunan City in the future."

Lin Qiao calculated the journey. Song Tingfan was a month away from home, and the letter mentioned he left in early April. Today was already April 17th. He would return in just over ten days.

Li Guifen couldn’t help but be delighted, "This is good news, Lunan City is good, Lunan City is good."

Lunan City was at most a day’s journey from here, making it much more convenient to visit home or check in.

Seeing the wrinkles from smiling on her mother’s face, Lin Qiao laughed and asked, "What’s so good about it?"

"How is it not good? Lunan City is close, and in the future, you and Tingfan will live there. We can visit you within a day or two,"

"Why move? Just stay here."

"What do you do here? Can you have children living in the kitchen all day?"

Li Guifen gave her an affectionate look and continued, "You promised me that once Tingfan comes back from the army, you will discuss your marriage."

At the time, it was to appease her, but she remembered it. Lin Qiao felt a headache coming on and avoided the conversation, "I’m busy downstairs, I’ll go down now." She finished and descended the stairs.

"Don’t play dumb with me. I don’t care, you agreed, and if you don’t comply, I’ll stand before you with your dad every day." Li Guifen chased after her downstairs.

Seeing her daughter pretending not to hear, she stomped her foot in anger. Just then, a customer called out, "Pour some water."

She quickly responded, "Coming."

Niu Er, while eating noodles, cursed, "What’s wrong with your hand? The tea is right there on the table, acting like a lord."

"Who do you think you are!" the man who spoke earlier glared at him.

"I’m your ancestor, stop yapping, or I’ll beat you up later," Niu Er slurped a big mouthful of noodles, completely unafraid.

Seeing a fight about to break out, Lin Qiao hurriedly mediated, "Niu Er, if you keep talking, go eat outside."

Niu Er shrugged, "Humph" and said, "For the sake of my soon-to-be wife, I won’t fuss with you, but if you bother my mother-in-law next time, I’ll beat you up."

"Don’t talk nonsense, my daughter has nothing to do with you!" Li Guifen didn’t want her daughter involved with Niu Er, even though he was good to her daughter, his conduct was annoying to everyone.

He would even pluck feathers from a chicken’s behind.

Niu Er, still hoping to win her over for Lin Qiao, didn’t argue with her but thought marrying would bring happiness.

After a while, Niu Er swaggered off, and Li Guifen watched him leave, then reminded Lin Qiao, "Don’t stay too close to him; he’s just trying to marry you."

Niu Er was almost thirty, and Old Man Niu, though despising his uselessness, was anxious about his marriage.

"Okay." Lin Qiao nodded, glancing outside where the sky was dim. "It looks like it’s going to rain; we should prop up the awning."

The two took out the cloth awning and propped it with triangular poles. Before they could secure it, a gust of wind blew in, and Lin Qiao was engulfed by the awning, taking a few steps back with the force.

Suddenly, something steadied her waist, and soon the awning came off her head, revealing a man’s rugged side profile, with dark skin...

Another gust of wind interrupted her view, and she hurriedly said, "Thanks, brother." Then quickly resumed propping up the awning.

Soon, a pair of strong hands took over the poles, firmly driving them into the ground.

Following that were flashes of lightning and thunder, a torrential downpour ensued, with bean-sized raindrops stinging upon impact. Lin Qiao barely had time to thank the kind brother, covering her forehead as she rushed into the shop.

"How did it start raining just like that? Now the shoes will be wet on the way home."

Li Guifen brought over two cloths, handing one to Lin Qiao and the other to the helpful man, "Wipe off, fortunately, you were here..."

The more she looked at the man, the more familiar he seemed, like Tingfan. She tentatively asked, "Tingfan?"

"Aunt Lin."

The man’s deep, magnetic voice continued, "Sister-in-law, I’m back."

Upon hearing this, Lin Qiao, who was toweling her hair, whipped her head around to look at him. At first glance, he seemed somewhat unfamiliar—tall, robust, with a clearly defined face that was rugged yet not losing its handsome charm.

Entirely unlike the pure and pretty boy she remembered.

At least she wouldn’t mistake him for a child now.

This is what a mature antagonist looks like.

"Little uncle, how did you come back so quickly?"

Not sure if it was unfamiliarity after years not seeing each other or because the antagonist had changed, she felt unsure about how to warm up.

Song Tingfan naturally noticed but his expression remained unchanged. His deep eyes steadily fixed on her, he calmly said, "Rode back on horseback."

After three years at the border, he had gotten used to not showing emotions. But seeing the woman he’d thought about day and night, the corners of his mouth slightly lifted.

Lin Qiao truly wasn’t used to the "child" suddenly becoming a man. The feeling wasn’t much different from a tiny sprout turning into a century-old tree trunk.

Beside her, Li Guifen was noticeably more delighted, looking Song Tingfan up and down with a broad smile, "Tingfan, you finally returned. You’ve grown taller, stronger, and more handsome. Are you hungry? I’ll make you some noodles."

"Daughter, find some clothes for Tingfan to change into. You can’t just wear a single layer; be careful not to catch a cold."

"Okay." Lin Qiao adjusted herself and then hurriedly went upstairs. As she rummaged through the closet, steady, strong footsteps echoed beside her.

She turned her head, and it was Song Tingfan. As she looked a few more times, he didn’t seem so unfamiliar, "Not sure if these still fit you, just got your letter today, haven’t had a chance to buy anything for you yet."

"Buying tomorrow is just as fine."

Song Tingfan’s heated gaze stuck to the woman bent over searching for clothes.

Lin Qiao found the clothes and turned to hand them to him. Meeting his direct gaze, she inexplicably felt uneasy and slightly shifted her eyes away, "Hurry and change; don’t catch a cold."

"Okay."

Song Tingfan reached out for them, taking the opportunity to study her. She hadn’t changed much, the only noticeable change was that she had filled out a bit.

"I’m heading downstairs."

Lin Qiao glanced at the distance between his head and the ceiling, about half a finger’s width, and for the first time, felt the loft was small.

Watching her leave, Song Tingfan’s gaze swept over the attic. It was still two beds, with one covered in cloth, seemingly unused for a long time.

His eyes finally rested on a red dudou hanging on a rope in the corner. After a moment, he looked away.