Chapter Seventy-Six: Mother-in-law Fell Victim to a Great Deception

Chen Yang hurried over to Su Xiaoling, smiling as he said, “Let me see, what’s going on?” But Su Xiaoling cast him a disdainful glance. “I want Snow to see it. Why are you butting in?”

Chen Yang replied calmly, “Don’t forget, I’m in that photo too. I’m the leading man, after all.”

“Leading man? If anything, you’re just basking in Snow’s glory,” Su Xiaoling retorted.

But such jibes from Su Xiaoling didn’t bother Chen Yang in the slightest. After all, it was just a little woman’s pettiness—if he got upset over such minor things, he’d never hear the end of it. Besides, Chen Yang had a big heart and genuinely didn’t care about Su Xiaoling’s snark. In fact, sometimes he found it rather amusing to banter with her.

“That’s not fair,” he said to Su Xiaoling. “Come on, let me have a look!”

While Su Xiaoling was distracted, Chen Yang suddenly snatched the phone from her hand, chuckling, “You said you wouldn’t let me see it, but in the end, here I am!”

Su Xiaoling was so angry she jumped up from the sofa. “You rogue! Give it back right now!”

“What did you say? I’m a rogue? If I’m a rogue, aren’t you indirectly insulting your sister too? After all, your sister married a rogue, didn’t she?” Chen Yang laughed.

Su Xiaoling was trembling with anger. “Stop talking nonsense and give me back my phone!”

“Fine, fine, here you go. Look at you, getting all worked up over nothing.” Chen Yang handed the phone back, but Su Xiaoling was still fuming.

“Chen Yang, you’ll get yours,” she glared at him.

“I already have mine,” Chen Yang grinned.

“You… thick-skinned!” Su Xiaoling stamped her foot in frustration.

At that moment, Qin Muxue approached and looked at Chen Yang. “Alright, that’s enough from you. Xiaoling, that’s enough from you too.” Then she turned to Su Xiaoling. “He was just teasing you.”

“But he bullies me,” Su Xiaoling protested.

“Chen Yang, apologize to Xiaoling,” Qin Muxue said.

“My dear Xiaoling, I’m sorry,” Chen Yang said quickly. After all, a true man knows when to yield, and it wasn’t a big deal.

Su Xiaoling’s anger lessened a little. Then Qin Muxue took the phone from her and looked at it. Sure enough, it was the photo from last night, showing her and Chen Yang watching the fireworks, taken from behind and posted online by a photographer. There were already over five thousand comments below, all saying the photo was stunning.

After scrolling through some comments, Qin Muxue couldn’t help but smile. “Who would have thought I’d have my moment of fame, too?”

“Snow, is that really you and Chen Yang?” Su Xiaoling asked.

Qin Muxue nodded. “Yes, a photographer happened to snap it last night. I never expected it would get so much attention online.”

Su Xiaoling couldn’t help but laugh. “Interesting. When my piano school opens, I’ll do some promotion on TikTok as well.”

“Of course you should,” Qin Muxue said, “but it’s best to hire professionals for that. Promotion isn’t as simple as it seems.”

Su Xiaoling nodded quickly and stuck out her tongue. “Alright, I know.”

Qin Muxue nodded seriously.

They started discussing plans for Su Xiaoling’s piano school. While they were talking, Han Qin and Qin Guoshan emerged from the bedroom together. Han Qin said, “Muxue, Xiaoling, your father and I are going to Guanshan Temple at noon to pray. We might be back late tonight. If you don’t want to cook dinner, just eat out.”

“Mom, you’re going to pray?” Qin Muxue asked earnestly.

Han Qin replied with devout sincerity, “Yes, to pray for our family’s safety and peace.”

“Master Wang, the city’s famous appraiser, will be there too. I want to ask him for some advice,” Qin Guoshan added with a smile.

Qin Muxue didn’t think much of it and said softly, “Alright, be careful on the road.”

Han Qin smiled. “Don’t worry, your dad and I will be together.”

The conversation was light and easy, but none of them noticed Chen Yang standing off to the side, the hint of a cold smile tugging at his lips.

Guanshan Temple? Why Guanshan Temple again?

Chen Yang knew his mother-in-law, Han Qin, was a devout Buddhist, but this was the first time he’d heard she was going specifically to Guanshan Temple to pray. He wondered if she’d been there before and he just hadn’t known.

But after what he’d witnessed last night at Guanshan Temple with Xiao Rongfei—so-called Master Xuanchan spouting exaggerated warnings just to swindle money—Chen Yang was genuinely worried that with his mother-in-law’s impulsive nature, she might easily fall for their tricks.

He laughed and said, “Mom, it’s fine to go pray, but don’t buy anything on impulse.”

“What do you know? If I see something destined for me, why shouldn’t I buy it?” Han Qin shot back disdainfully.

Chen Yang shook his head with a wry smile. “Just don’t believe any nonsense about impending disasters or such.”

“Oh, you think you know so much? What could you possibly understand?” Han Qin sneered.

She had no intention of listening to him. After all, she’d been a believer for years—she certainly didn’t think Chen Yang knew better than she did. She didn’t see herself as wasteful; if she encountered something fated at Guanshan Temple, what harm was there in spending a bit on it? She believed in these things—so what if she spent some money? Why did anyone have to criticize?

Having made up her mind, she turned to Qin Guoshan. “Let’s go, Lao Qin.”

Qin Guoshan nodded and quietly followed her out.

Chen Yang watched them leave, shaking his head helplessly. He thought to himself, With my mother-in-law like this, she’s bound to get taken in.

But he had no intention of telling her what happened with Xiao Rongfei at Guanshan Temple. He knew her stubborn faith—if he told her that Master Xuanchan was a con artist, she’d probably explode at him. So for now, he’d keep quiet and wait to see how things unfolded.

“Alright, Chen Yang, let’s go to work,” Qin Muxue called to him.

Chen Yang nodded and smiled. “Okay, let’s go.”

Qin Muxue turned to Su Xiaoling. “Xiaoling, do your best with the piano school. If you need any help, just ask.”

“I know, Snow. Thank you.”

“No problem,” Qin Muxue replied with a gentle smile, then left for work with Chen Yang.

The workday passed swiftly, and before long, it was over. Chen Yang worked late to finish some tasks. By the time he got home, it was already after seven.

But as soon as he walked in, he was surprised to see a teardrop-shaped, jade-green pendant hanging around Qin Muxue’s neck. He frowned immediately.

At that moment, Han Qin was speaking earnestly to Qin Muxue. “Xiaoxue, you need to wear this pendant from now on. Don’t take it off—it’s good for you, understand?”

Qin Muxue looked conflicted. “Mom, did you get this from Guanshan Temple?”

“Of course. It cost me fifty-five thousand yuan,” Han Qin said, spreading all five fingers of her right hand.

“How much?” Qin Muxue’s brows knitted tightly at the sum, her voice rising.

Han Qin, knowing her daughter worried about money, smiled lightly. “It’s alright, Xiaoxue. It’s for your own good. I’d spend any amount for you.”

“But what good can it possibly do? Mom, that’s your retirement money! You spent over fifty thousand on a little jade pendant that might not even work—what are you thinking?” Qin Muxue was anxious.

Han Qin wasn’t wrong; Qin Muxue did care about money—a lot.

Han Qin kept smiling. “It’ll work, trust me. It’s definitely useful.”

“What use is it?” Qin Muxue said, unconvinced.

Han Qin’s expression grew serious. She leaned in, about to whisper the reason, when Chen Yang’s laughter came from behind her. “Mom, are you about to tell Muxue that if she doesn’t wear this thing, she’ll suffer some terrible misfortune?”