Qin Feng: "Even assuming what you said is true—that you and Mr. Li Hanqing joined forces and managed to retreat unscathed from Zhuyuan Village—your older brother still wants to ask you: is there truly no one you fancy right now?"
Even in the apocalypse, given the standing of the Qin Family within the Dawn Survivor Base, Qinchuan had no shortage of suitors; plenty of people would have been more than willing to be with him.
Therefore, just as he had before the apocalypse, Qin Feng checked in on his younger brother's romantic life every few days.
What the older brother, Qin Feng, said was precisely what Qin Yu had been thinking. He nodded repeatedly and affirmed, "As long as it's someone you truly love, feel free to bring them back so your mother, your brother, and I can meet them. If the young lady is willing, we can set out a few banquet tables just like in the old days and invite close acquaintances for a casual meal to make things official between the two of you."
In these perilous end times where every meal was a struggle and survival hung by a thread, every surviving young woman had no shortage of suitors. Qin Yu had no idea whether his boy would actually manage to bring someone home in the end.
With a beaming smile, Qin Yu envisioned the potential little grandchildren he might have a few years down the line, feeling immensely happy. No matter how high-ranking and powerful he was, once he returned home he was simply an ordinary father, and naturally he would worry about his children's major life milestones.
Qin Feng, however, was not as optimistic as the old man. He had noticed that upon hearing their conversation, Qinchuan's facial expression involuntarily betrayed a trace of bitterness that he usually kept deeply hidden.
Logically speaking, if his younger brother Qinchuan had someone he liked, given his personality, he would have generously brought that person home rather than remaining even more silent than usual when the topic was brought up.
Something was definitely amiss. Could it be that the person his brother liked had a problematic background, and Qinchuan knew that he, his father, and his mother wouldn't approve of bringing them back?
Or perhaps his brother was still nursing a one-sided crush and hadn't managed to win the other person over yet—in other words, he wasn't confident in securing the relationship.
As expected of someone who navigated various social circles dealing with all sorts of people, Qin Feng's mind raced through myriad possibilities in just a short span of time.
Qin Feng: "Little brother, is there some difficult situation you haven't mentioned to us? We are all family. Go ahead and speak your mind—rest assured, we will definitely help you weigh your options."
Qinchuan: "..."
*I can't even fully figure out my own heart yet; what could you possibly help me weigh? I'm afraid I'd end up startling you all to death!*
While fiercely roasting his older brother internally, Qinchuan pondered how on earth he should articulate the confusion in his heart.
This was indeed a rare opportunity to figure out his true feelings. They always said that onlookers see clearly while those involved remain lost; although he considered his friendship with Li Hanqing untainted, he was also terrified that someone might swoop in and steal Li Hanqing away while he wasn't paying attention.
Qinchuan was terribly conflicted. Rationally, he knew they were just friends; emotionally, however, things felt just a little bit off—it felt like more than just ordinary friendship.
Trapped in this constant back-and-forth tug-of-war, he had an excruciating headache. Fortunately, Li Hanqing possessed a cold and aloof temperament; no one could easily melt that block of ice, which bought him time to properly figure out what he actually felt.
Qinchuan: "Dad, Brother, the truth is... I don't even know what I'm feeling inside."
?????????
Upon hearing Qinchuan's words, both Qin Yu and Qin Feng were left with heads full of question marks.
Qin Feng happened to have taken a mouthful of water and hadn't swallowed it yet. Hearing that his younger brother—who was usually so composed and seemingly had everything under control—could actually feel lost, he accidentally choked.
Qin Feng: "Cough, cough... What are you saying? Did I mishear you? Aren't you usually quite decisive? How can you still be unclear about your own heart?"
Seeing Qin Feng's current state, Qinchuan chuckled a bit mischievously, but then, recalling the profound confusion in the depths of his own heart lately, he immediately reined in his smile.
Qinchuan: "How should I put it? My reason tells me that Li Hanqing and I are just friends, and that I haven't developed any feelings beyond friendship toward him. At the same time, though, I don't want him to get too close to anyone else; that makes me feel very uncomfortable inside."
The moment Qinchuan's voice trailed off, Qin Yu's expression instantly turned serious. He asked in a solemn tone, "Qinchuan, is what you're saying true?"
Qin Feng put away the smile he habitually wore year-round, poured a cup of water for the old man to moisten his throat, and then gazed sharply at his younger brother Qinchuan.
Qin Feng: "Dad, drink some water, have some water first. And Qinchuan, do you know what you're saying right now?"
Unfazed by their solemn facades, Qinchuan replied calmly, "Brother, I'm serious. I wanted to ask you guys earlier, but I just hadn't found the right opportunity."
Pouring himself a cup of tea to quench his thirst, Qinchuan continued, "I don't know whether I'm just afraid that a powerhouse like Li Hanqing defecting to another faction would affect the Qin family's leverage within the base, or if I truly harbor different feelings for him. I..."
Speaking under the intense aura of Qin Yu and Qin Feng's serious scrutiny, even Qinchuan couldn't help but feel a bit overwhelmed.
Yet he didn't want to hide his true inner thoughts in front of his family, nor could he utter the falsehood that he felt no jealousy toward Li Hanqing whatsoever.
Why was it that even after the apocalypse arrived and he had awakened his own supernatural abilities, his strength still fell short of Li Hanqing's, always remaining a notch below?
Most of the time, Qinchuan could effectively suppress the faint malice lurking deep within his heart toward Li Hanqing.
However, as he returned to the survivor base that served as his family's stronghold and his ability levels gradually increased, Qinchuan inevitably felt a lingering sense of resentment.
And yet, to say that he viewed Li Hanqing purely through the lens of calculation wasn't quite right either. Despite his lingering grievances, Qinchuan had never truly harbored any genuinely malicious intentions—which was precisely why he felt so torn and conflicted.
Seeing his younger son—who had always been decisive and straightforward since childhood—now wearing such a tangled and defeated expression, Qin Yu pushed everything else aside and directly assumed the role of a spiritual mentor.
Qin Yu: "Whether it's a friendship of three or a movie for three, there's always someone who doesn't deserve to have a plotline. Many people think they will be the exception, until they finally have to admit that the world of emotions has never once been rational."
Raising an eyebrow, Qin Yu said meaningfully, "Given your status, you've never lacked various men and women surrounding you all these years. Most of them harbor their own agendas rather than offering genuine sincerity. It's rare for you to take the initiative to make a friend, so feeling anxious about your friend being snatched away when you lack prior experience is completely normal."
At this point, Qin Feng—who had remained silent for quite a while—also spoke up to show his agreement.
Qin Feng: "Dad is completely right. It's totally normal for you to feel anxious about someone else snatching your friend away when you've finally taken the initiative to befriend someone; you don't need to dwell on it too much. As for those other subtle thoughts in your mind—whenever personal gains and losses are involved, everything starts to look entirely rational."