They all want to control me!

Chapter 83 Making a Child

Just as everyone was stunned, Jiang Qiaoqiao gently pinched the soft flesh on Lin Ran's waist.

Lin Ran realized that Jiang Qiaoqiao had said before he came in that she would help him successfully recognize his godmother.

So that's how it's recognized? Awesome.

I got ripped off; I should have asked beforehand.

Just like with loans, you must carefully read every number before signing, otherwise you'll end up with a predatory loan and have nowhere to turn for help.

Lin Ran learned from his mistakes, but the key issue now is how to deal with the current situation. The elders of the Jiang family are all observing him with curious and scrutinizing eyes.

"Yes, Qiaoqiao and I...we were indeed together for a while."

Lin Ran didn't give a definitive answer, but said that there was room for things to change, no matter how good things were or how good they were.

The elders on both sides immediately understood, but Jiang Qiaoqiao's maternal grandmother didn't think so. She smiled and beckoned Lin Ran over.

"Go ahead, my grandma is very kind," Jiang Qiaoqiao whispered in his ear, standing on tiptoe.

Of course, this scene was seen as an intimate display by everyone else.

Jiang Qiaoqiao's grandmother's smile widened.

Su Lingle's expression shifted, her fists clenched and unclenched, her face alternating between pale and flushed. She wanted to step forward and clarify the relationship between the two, but she was afraid that clarifying the relationship would be detrimental to Lin Ran.

Jiang Qiaoqiao, you wicked woman, did you set this up too?! I really want to fuck you!

Because of Lin Ran's tall stature, handsome face, and sweet voice, Grandma Jiang was very happy. She patted the back of Lin Ran's hand with her rough hands and asked about his family background.

Lin Ran didn't think that a behemoth like the Jiang family wouldn't investigate her, so she told them everything honestly, even mentioning her childhood sweetheart relationship with Su Lingle.

It was clear to the naked eye that Grandma Jiang's eyes were becoming increasingly satisfied.

Elders like honest men, and if they are tall, handsome, well-educated, and from a respectable family, they like them even more.

Compared to the younger generation's more pragmatic approach to dating and marriage, the older generation doesn't value money as much; instead, they care about whether the two people love each other.

Of course, it's also possible that the elderly have enough experience to know that strong relationships are more important than money over the years.

Jiang Qiaoqiao tidied her hair behind her ear, placed her hands on her lower abdomen, and stood quietly to the side with clear eyes.

As her grandmother recounted the story, she would occasionally chime in with a comment, seemingly having completely shed her former little witch persona.

"A disguise! This is a disguise! Lin Ran, you can't believe it! This wicked woman has a black heart!"

Su Lingle's eyes widened, her heart filled with anxiety. If this weren't the Jiang family's home ground, she would have been stamping her feet in frustration long ago.

After chatting with Lin Ran, Grandma Jiang invited the younger generation from both sides to come over and get to know Lin Ran as well.

After that, the formal part of the birthday banquet began.

Grandma Jiang, leaning on her cane, slowly walked out of the house and went to the main hall.

The place had been decorated to resemble a birthday banquet, resplendent in gold and jade, with guests clinking glasses and exchanging toasts. In the center of the hall stood a massive seventy-layered birthday cake, quite a sight to behold.

The birthday banquet host was a retired veteran host from the provincial TV station. With just a few words, he enlivened the atmosphere, and everyone, young and old, smiled.

Grandma Jiang said a few words of thanks to everyone who came to celebrate.

To Lin Ran's surprise, Grandma Jiang also asked him and Jiang Qiaoqiao to go up and say a few words.

It wasn't just Jiang Qiaoqiao; it included him.

Jiang Qiaoqiao's eyes were slightly glazed over; she hadn't expected this situation. She said in a low voice:

"No, this wasn't part of yesterday's rehearsal."

"Can we not go?" Lin Ran already knew the answer, but still asked unwillingly.

"No," Jiang Qiaoqiao said. "Grandma is the head of the household, and we all listen to her."

With your seniority, you win.

Su Lingle popped up to deliver the finishing blow:

"You messed up, didn't you, Jiang Qiaoqiao? I knew you wouldn't come up with a good idea. Now look what's happened. In front of Jiangning's social elites, the two of you going on stage together is tantamount to admitting your relationship. It'll be hard to 'break up' after the birthday banquet."

She even chuckled gloatingly twice.

Jiang Qiaoqiao glanced at her: "What are you so happy about? I'm not the only one who suffered losses."

"Huh? Who else could it be..."

Su Lingle's face suddenly froze, as if she had thought of something. Her eyes immediately became panicked. She looked around and, not seeing any familiar faces in the crowd, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"This is terrible..."

A sense of foreboding rose in Lin Ran's heart: "Su Lingle, you wouldn't be up to something behind my back, would you?"

"Haha, well, that..." Su Lingle scratched the back of her head, looking like she didn't know how to explain.

"I know," Jiang Qiaoqiao said, crossing her arms, "but I won't tell you. You can ask her yourself after the birthday banquet. In terms of sheer audacity, she's no less than me."

"..."

That's a really high compliment.

Okay, okay, they're all bad women, doing dirty tricks behind my back.

Human hearts are too complicated; I miss the simple girl, Tao Zhiyao.

The two stood up and went up on stage to give their birthday wishes.

After stepping off the stage, Lin Ran saw Su Lingle run to another table to talk to Aunt Jiang's daughter, Xiaoya, occasionally glancing over here.

Lin Ran's ominous feeling grew stronger as she fled so quickly. What was she hiding from me?

The birthday banquet lasted three hours.

Afterwards, Grandma Jiang led the two to a separate small room, opened a red wooden box on the table, and inside were two jadeite glass-type safety buckles.

Lin Ran had seen the price of glass-type jadeite in jewelry stores, starting at 100,000 yuan, with no upper limit.

She called Jiang Qiaoqiao over first.

Jiang Qiaoqiao was very obedient. She walked over and bent down to let her grandmother put the red string on her neck and put the peace buckle on.

Then Grandma Jiang put it on Lin Ran as well.

The two stood together, a handsome couple, their safety buckles swaying gently in front of their chests, radiating a warm glow under the lights. Walking down the street, anyone who saw them would think they were a happy couple.

Grandma Jiang nodded, and said wistfully:

"No amount of money, status, or power is as good as two people living a peaceful and happy life together. Peace is a blessing, peace is a blessing..."

She was referring to Jiang Qiaoqiao's parents, who died in an accident.

Jiang Qiaoqiao lowered her head and pursed her lips. Only those who have experienced the loss of their parents can understand how happy a child is to have their parents by their side. That feeling is like having a backbone, with the tree canopy to shelter them from the wind and rain, and the soil to anchor their roots. But losing parents is like a dandelion drifting in the wind, swaying and unable to find peace.

Grandma Jiang patted Jiang Qiaoqiao's shoulder, took her cold little hand, then took Lin Ran's warm hand, placed their hands together, and said:

"One person's hands are cold, but two people's hands are warm when they are put together. I don't have many wishes at this age. I just hope that you two will stay together for life and support each other until old age."

Jiang Qiaoqiao nodded emphatically.

Lin Ran agreed as well.

Although it's wrong to deceive the elderly, and the two weren't in the relationship Grandma Jiang thought, sometimes a white lie is more important than the cold, harsh reality.

Telling a lie now is no problem.

…………

The birthday banquet has ended.

On the way home, the atmosphere was somewhat heavy. Each of the three was preoccupied with their own thoughts, and no one spoke.

Aunt Zhao drove Lin Ran and Su Lingle to their rented apartment.

As she got off the bus, Jiang Qiaoqiao suddenly said, "That safety buckle and red string were obtained by my grandmother from the Nanyue Temple, the largest temple in the south. Whether they are real or fake, wearing them won't do any harm."

"I know, I'll wear it every day," Lin Ran said with a smile.

"Okay, I'll call you tonight." Jiang Qiaoqiao gave him a deep look, as well as Su Lingle who was standing anxiously beside her, and closed the car door.

As Cullinan disappeared around the corner, Lin Ran's smile vanished instantly. He dragged Su Lingle back to their rented apartment, locked the security door, and cut off their escape route.

"Tell me, what have you been hiding from me?"

"Well, that..." Su Lingle smiled awkwardly, poking her chest with two fingers, turning her head away, not daring to look Lin Ran in the eye, and stammered, "It's nothing important... it's just... a tiny little thing about making a baby."