Turning Antagonist to Protagonist: He is Both Soft and Fierce-Chapter 258 - 253: The Betrothal Gift Won’t Be Returned

Chapter 258: Chapter 253: The Betrothal Gift Won’t Be Returned

At this moment, Song Rong, Song Qin, and Mrs. Fan returned with their baskets on their backs. Usually having nothing much to do, they went into the mountains to find herbs and exchanged them for some silver coins.

Song Qin waved at Lin Qiao, "Why are you standing in the yard? Even though the sun has set, it’s still hot. Qiao’er, you quickly go inside, don’t faint again."

Last year, when the sun was too strong, she fainted after doing laundry and hanging the clothes.

"Grandma, it’s nothing."

Lin Qiao shook her head, guessing it wasn’t because of the strong sun, but because the shop was too busy those days, and she couldn’t handle it physically.

Hearing that she had fainted before, Song Tingfan quickly grabbed her arm and led her into the main room. Lin Qiao swayed a bit, finding it both funny and exasperating, "It’s nothing, really."

"Let’s go to town tomorrow to check it out." Song Tingfan had originally planned to take Grandpa and Grandma to town for a check-up, but hadn’t expected his sister-in-law’s health to be poor as well.

For a moment, he felt a bit guilty and self-reproachful.

"Really no need, I’ve already checked, nothing serious." Lin Qiao naturally wouldn’t joke about her own health. She went to see the doctor later, who said she was deficient in blood and needed to eat more to help with it.

Song Tingfan used a tone that brooked no argument, "We have to go."

Lin Qiao: "..."

Alright then, the child has grown up, and it’s not her turn to make decisions anymore.

But was he serious or just joking with what he said earlier?

The more she thought, the more her head hurt.

A lot had happened over the three years, but nothing was explained in the dream, only that he was recognized by a general during a war and then started down the path of rebellion.

At that time, it was understandable for his mind to be a bit twisted.

Now it shouldn’t be like that.

No, she needed to find an opportunity to ask him; nothing had happened yet and there was still room for resolution.

At night, after washing up, Lin Qiao passed by Song Tingfan’s room and saw him reading by the oil lamp. She hesitated but decided to choose another time to talk to him.

Just as she was about to leave, a deep male voice sounded from inside the room, "Qiao’er."

Startled, Lin Qiao stiffly turned to look into the room. The man was looking at her, clearly calling her.

Ahem... ahem... he called her what?

Qiao’er??

Not calling her "sister-in-law", but "Qiao’er". This child sure had no regard for seniority.

But she dared not say anything, ahem, pretending not to hear, she entered the room, glancing at the book he was reading, still the one she bought him years ago, the pages slightly curled, clearly often read.

"Little Uncle, why haven’t you slept yet? Reading at night strains your eyes, you should read in the morning instead."

"I was waiting for you." Song Tingfan stood up, rummaged in the cupboard for a while, and quickly handed her a wooden box.

Lin Qiao took it, puzzled, "What is it?"

Upon opening it, there were several silver accessories inside - hairpins, bracelets, earrings - mostly with lotus patterns.

She was stunned for a moment, "For me?"

"Mm, picked them up occasionally on trips to the city." The city nearest to where Song Tingfan served in the army was still three to four days’ journey away. Usually, they could only go when going into the city to buy supplies.

During those times, he would seize the opportunity to buy something and have people bring it back home.

He had saved them all up, intending to hand them to her personally when he returned.

These were the tokens he had saved over the years.

Lin Qiao didn’t know what he was thinking, but her heart was somewhat moved, "The child was not raised in vain, he knows how to care for this young ’old mother’."

Then she shook her head, "A hairpin would be enough, the rest you keep for your wedding." She said, returning the box to him.

These pieces of jewelry were probably not cheap, likely worth at least dozens of taels of silver.

"She already has them." Song Tingfan didn’t take it back.

Lin Qiao smiled and pushed it back to him, "Even if she has some, the more the merrier. Women love these things; giving her more would make her happier."

Just as she was about to retract her hand, her wrist was grabbed by a large hand, the calluses rubbing uncomfortably against her skin.

"As long as you like it."

Song Tingfan pressed the box back into her hand before withdrawing his own.

Hearing his words, Lin Qiao felt something off in her heart, wondering if he might have feelings for her?

Just as this thought emerged, she quickly suppressed it.

It couldn’t be; he was simply fond of her.

She accepted the box, beginning to ponder how to broach the subject with him, advising him not to kidnap someone.

Seeing her accept the tokens, Song Tingfan had a glint of satisfaction in his eyes, speaking in a deep voice, "No returns allowed."

"Okay, no returns."

Lin Qiao had no idea these things were tokens for betrothal; she simply thought she was not rejecting his kind gesture.

Then she considered her wording and got to the main point, "Little Uncle, there’s nothing wrong with liking someone, but you can’t act rashly."

Meeting his deep gaze, she immediately added, "You can’t kidnap the girl. If she doesn’t agree to the proposal, we could change our approach, treating her better and buying things for her. Even a stone can be warmed over time."

Still worried about what he said in the afternoon, Song Tingfan’s lips twitched into a little smile before regaining composure, "Would that work?"

"Yes, it would work, definitely. A girl’s heart is soft. If you’re truly good to her, she’d surely realize it."

Lin Qiao spoke sincerely, fearing he wouldn’t believe her, quickly offering an example: "Look, you give me things, and it makes me happy, and when I’m happy, I want to treat you even better." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Her happiness was enough even if she didn’t know his true intentions. Clearly amused, Song Tingfan replied, "Alright, I won’t kidnap, I’ll just be even better to her."

At long last corrected, just as Lin Qiao was about to sigh in relief, he added, "If she still doesn’t agree, I’ll kidnap her."

Lin Qiao: "..."

All her words were for nothing.

Now a bit curious, what kind of girl could make this villain even think about kidnapping?

She was definitely the heroine,

She’d bet fifty taels on it.

Even if she was the heroine, you couldn’t just kidnap people, otherwise, wouldn’t that be cruel?

For the sake of a beautiful story, she sternly said, "Little Uncle, kidnapping is wrong; you mustn’t do that."

The woman’s earnest demeanor was somewhat adorably naive, and Song Tingfan’s gaze lingered a moment longer before speaking seriously, "The general said it doesn’t matter what method you use as long as you win in the end."

Indeed, he learned ’corrupt’ thinking in the army, and Lin Qiao was momentarily at a loss for words, "..."

Then Song Tingfan added, "As long as I can marry her, whether by kidnapping or snatching, I’ll do it," watching her frozen reaction, holding back a laugh.

Lin Qiao found herself tongue-tied, "..."

She opened her mouth but didn’t know what else to say, everything was in disarray; the villain had grown up and was completely out of her control.

"Little Uncle, this is not right, as your sister-in-law I won’t allow you to do this. If you’re worried the girl won’t agree, leave it to me to handle."

In an effort to soothe his anxious heart, she promised with a raised hand, "Rest assured, I’ll handle it, haven’t I always been trustworthy with you?"

The last sentence was said with a hint of guilt.

Song Tingfan hesitated for a moment before shaking his head, "You’ve never lied."

After much persuasion, he reluctantly nodded, and she finally breathed a sigh of relief, uttering a few more words before returning to her own room.

Listening to the sound of the door closing next door, Song Tingfan couldn’t help but let out several low laughs.

Alright, it will definitely work.

If not, he would still resort to force.