Beside them, a man and a woman in their forties looked extremely distressed.
"Qinghan, listen to your mother. I can't bear to part with Jingsi either, but if you send Jingsi to a good family, you can stop worrying and marry Young Master Zhang from the Zhang Group. You will have a better life..." Yang Yu looked at Qin Qinghan and advised her with a bitter heart.
Yang Yu was the wife of Qin Zhi, Qin Guannan's second son. Over the years, she had endured far too much humiliation and shame for Qin Qinghan's sake. Her daughter was violated and she gave birth to the offender's child amidst everyone's ridicule and curses.
Therefore, Yang Yu not only hated the rapist, but also resented the granddaughter who should not have been born into this world. She had even thought of secretly abandoning the child.
Qin Qinghan fed the little girl a bite of vegetables, then looked up and said, "Mother, I accept my miserable fate, but letting Jingsi leave me - I'd rather become destitute.
Seeing Qin Qinghan remain stubborn, Qin Zhi beside her sighed. "Qinghan, although Jingsi is clever and sensible, she is after all the daughter of a rapist. You can't support her your whole life!"
Hearing this, Qin Qinghan's expression changed instantly. She frowned. "Dad, how can you say that? I know Jingsi's biological father is a villain, I don't even know what he looks like or his name, but Jingsi is my daughter that I brought into this world. She has one wicked father, do you want her to have a heartless mother too?"
As she spoke, tears of distress fell from Qin Qinghan's eyes again. No one could understand the humiliation she had endured all these years.
Violated, shunned by friends, misunderstood by family. Endless shame and curses were all she got, she even knew her life was ruined by that man.
She had despaired, even thought of ending her life, but Jingsi's birth rekindled hope. So she bore all the shame, just wanting to raise her daughter, even though she hated the rapist for destroying her life.
The little girl's lips tightened. Young as she was, she was exceptionally clever. She could sense that apart from her mother, everyone scorned her.
Jingsi pulled out a tissue and held it out to Qin Qinghan, choking back tears. "Mommy, Jingsi has upset you again. It's all Jingsi's fault. Please don't send Jingsi away, Jingsi will be obedient."
Hearing her daughter's words, Qin Qinghan's tears flowed even more. She hugged Jingsi tightly, choking with sobs. "No, no, Mommy will never abandon Jingsi."
"Quiet down, everyone. Next, Elder Qin has an announcement," said a middle-aged man who had just stood up from the main seat.
This was Qin Fei, Qin Guannan's eldest son. Qin Fei had a son named Qin Shou, who now shot Qin Qinghan's family a mocking look.
Although Qin Qinghan was a fallen woman, she was still one of the greatest beauties in Haishu City. If she wasn't his cousin, even he would have wanted a taste.
The restaurant instantly quieted down. Qin Guannan in his Tang costume slowly stood up, then smiled. "Today is my birthday banquet. Thank you all for honoring me with your presence. I am using this occasion to announce a marriage for my granddaughter, Qin Qinghan."
Qin Guannan looked towards a scholarly looking man of around thirty at the next table. "Young Master Zhang, I must thank you for not minding that my granddaughter is damaged goods. I now entrust her to you."
Zhang Ge hurriedly stood up. "Elder Qin, what are you saying? To be joined with the Qin family is a blessing I have awaited for three lifetimes. However..."
Zhang Ge's gaze moved towards Qin Qinghan in the corner. Her stunning beauty made him momentarily dazed. He had long admired Qin Qinghan. Today, under Elder Qin's arrangement, he would finally obtain this beauty.
But when Zhang Ge saw Jingsi next to Qin Qinghan, his eyes instantly showed disgust. "Elder Qin, my father said that although we Zhangs can accept Qinghan's past, this child...cannot enter the Zhang family."
As soon as Zhang Ge finished speaking, the fury in Qin Qinghan's eyes could no longer be suppressed. She had opposed this marriage from the start. Her grandfather was using coercive means to force her to marry Zhang Ge.
She knew she was doomed, so as long as he treated Jingsi as his own, she was willing to endure it all. But if he couldn't accept Jingsi, even if she had to become destitute, she would not agree.
Qin Guannan smiled at Zhang Ge. "Don't worry. I've promised your father that the child will not follow Qinghan into your Zhang family. I'll find a foster family for her."
"Thank you, Elder Qin," Zhang Ge hurriedly thanked Qin Guannan, unable to conceal the anticipation in his eyes.
Although Qin Qinghan was drugged and raped, her beauty was famed throughout the land. Having such a woman as his wife - just thinking about it made his blood boil.
As soon as Qin Guannan finished speaking, Qin Qinghan's expression turned furious. She stood up and said to Qin Guannan, "Grandfather, I have no say over my own fate. But I have one condition - if Jingsi leaves me, I will leave the Qin family."
"Insolence!" Qin Guannan slammed the table furiously. "Haven't you brought enough shame to the Qin family? Young Master Zhang is willing to overlook the fact that you're damaged goods. The Zhang Group is willing to tolerate you. You should be grateful!"
Qin Guannan said to his grandson Qin Shou, "Go, take that little bastard away from her and send her to a foster family."
Hearing this, Qin Shou licked his lips. "Leave it to me, Grandfather."
Seeing Qin Shou stride over, Qin Qinghan turned pale with fright. She hurriedly hugged Jingsi, who burrowed into her arms in terror.
"Grandfather is doing this for your sake. Hand her to me," said Qin Shou. He reached Qin Qinghan and roughly grabbed Jingsi's arm, yanking hard.
"Let go of my daughter, let go..." Qin Qinghan frantically pounded Qin Shou's arm, but her delicate strength was like an itch to the tall, sturdy man.
"Can't take a hint, huh? Then face the consequences," said Qin Shou angrily. Exerting great force, he yanked Jingsi away. Losing balance, Jingsi's petite body was flung two meters away and crashed down.
Qin Qinghan was also knocked into her mother Yang Yu. As she tried to get up and rush to Jingsi, Yang Yu pinned her down tightly, crying, "Qinghan, this is for your own good. Don't let this child drag you down for life!"
"Did you hurt yourself?"
Just as Qin Shou was about to pick up Jingsi and leave, he turned and saw a muscular yet handsome man squatting down.
The man helped Jingsi up, asking gently.
Ye Fengwu's sudden appearance instantly silenced the restaurant. Even Qin Qinghan watched the strange man holding her daughter with a pale face.
Although she was in pain, Jingsi choked back her tears and shook her head at Ye Fengwu. "I'm not hurt."
"What's your name?" Ye Fengwu made his voice as gentle as possible. This little girl was so cute and pitiful.
"My name is Qin Jingsi," Jingsi obediently replied.
Ye Fengwu smiled. "What about your mommy and daddy?"
Jingsi shook her head. "I don't have a daddy. That's my mommy."
She turned and pointed at Qin Qinghan, still pinned by Yang Yu.
Jingsi continued, "They all say my daddy was a bad man, but Mommy says he was a hero."
"Who do you believe?" Ye Fengwu asked.
"I believe Mommy," Jingsi answered without hesitation.
Ye Fengwu's lips curved up. A good mother would never cast shadows on her child, even if she hated the father.
Ye Fengwu really liked this little girl, but he still couldn't confirm if she was his and Qin Qinghan's daughter.
Professor Qin suddenly sneered, "Hero, it's really a joke. Your father was a violent criminal, yet he is called a hero."
As soon as he mentioned "violent criminal", Ye Fengwu's originally gentle expression instantly turned ice cold. His gaze became so icy that it was terrifying, as if he had turned into a ferocious hungry wolf.
This sudden change in demeanor made Professor Qin shudder instinctively and take a step back.
Ye Fengwu then slowly said, "Isn't your mother's name Qin Qinghan?"
Hearing this, Qin Zhi pursed his lips and nodded, "Uncle, do you know my mother?"
"I knew it..." A hint of tenderness flashed across Ye Fengwu's icy gaze, as well as a deep sense of guilt. But this guilt instantly turned into bone-chilling murderous intent.