The Birth of a Villainess

The next day.

As the wedding was getting closer, Lin Xiaofei decided to visit the Lin residence. Lin Xiaomeng has been sending her letters and she hasn't had the chance to send a reply. Her grandfather seemed to have lost his patience and was about to storm through the gates of the Qu residence and bring her back to the Lin residence.

Once she stepped out of the carriage, her grandfather's scarred face was the first thing she saw. She didn't even get to step down the ladder prepared for her to come down when she was pulled in his arms.

"Fei'er! Where have you been? Don't you know how much your grandfather missed you?!" Lin Xiaomeng tightened his hold on Lin Xiaofei and almost crushed her in his embrace.

"Grandfather, c-can you loosen your hold on me first before I answer you?" Lin Xiaofei tapped his arm.

Lin Xiaomeng felt ashamed of his display of affection and let her go and accusingly said, "It is because of that thief! If not for him, I wouldn't need to ask where you are and I don't have to worry about you!"

Ever since the day Qu Xing Xu took his granddaughter to the Qu residence, Lin Xiaomeng was deeply concerned about her safety. No one but him would worry about her and every night, he couldn't sleep thinking that Qu Xing Xu would harass her.

Honestly, if it weren't because the empress was planning to bestow a marriage decree to Lin Xiaofei, he would've never agreed letting Qu Xing Xu take her as his wife.

And who would've known that just after a day, no one sent a royal decree to the Lin residence, and the plan of the empress to marry Lin Xiaofei to Prince Jing didn't happen?

Lin Xiaofei didn't know if she should laugh or cry. With Lin Xiaomeng calling Qu Xing Xu a 'thief'no one would believe if she told them that when the duke asked for her hand, her grandfather was already acting chummy and even called him his grandson.

"I am fine, grandfather. No need to worry as I am living comfortably inside the Qu residence. The Duke was also quite considerate to take care of the things that I needed there." Lin Xiaofei didn't know why but she suddenly felt the need to make Qu Xing Xu look good in front of her grandfather.

It wouldn't be good if ger grandfather decided to question the two of them and try to break off the marriage now that the empress was not a problem.

"Hmph! I still can't forgive that thief didn't even try to send a word to me that your wedding day was moved! If I had known, I would announce it gladly to the world and have everyone attend it." Lin Xiaomeng told her as he led her to the Lin residence.

"The duke is a busy man. He has things that he needed to take care of and having the wedding move on the day of the first full moon this month was his decision." Lin Xiaofei explained it to the older man as they arrived to the main hall. The other Lin family members seemed to not have arrived yet or perhaps, they weren't informed that she came thus they weren't able to come and welcome her.

There weren't any major changes in the Lin residence. Other than the fact that Lin Yueyi was now betrothed to the heir of Count of Yan, Huaishao.

"Speaking of which," Lin Xiaomeng suddenly said after they sat down, "Why would Qu Xing Xu move the date? Why is he in such a hurry? Did something happen?"

Lin Xiaofei shook her head, "Nothing bad has happened. However, he thought that it would be better if we move the date of marriage." She paused and scanned the hall before she continued, "I am now living in the Qu residence and it wouldn't be long before everyone knew of it. If he doesn't marry me the earliest, it would only ruin the Lin family's name."

"And your reputation will be questioned." Lin Xiaomeng added when she didn't mention her being implicated with this situation.

It may seem to appear as if Lin Xiaofei was concerned about the Lin family's image, but in truth, she was never worried about her reputation nor did she ever cared.

However, she still nodded to her grandfather's words since the old man already said it.

Lin Xiaomeng sighed and leaned back to his chair. "If that is what you two have decided to do then, I won't say anything. Although, I would like it if you two discussed this with me." He said while feeling sour after he didn't get a word from them.

After deciding that he would handle all the preparation for the wedding, Qu Xing Xu told Lin Xiaofei that the wedding would take place the day after tomorrow.

It felt so surreal but it seems that she would be having a husband again. The only difference was that she was smarter this time to not get over her head and let her heart be blinded once again.

When her grandfather directed the topic to how she was doing inside the Qu residence, the other Lin family members finally arrived.

And they weren't alone.

Two men came with her uncles. Wu Jing Yan was also with them along with Lin Yueyi and Lin Hua Lou.

They all wore a smile on their face and when they all saw Lin Xiaofei sitting on one of the chairs inside the hall, a surprised expression broke into their faces.

"Fourth Young Miss!"

"Fourth cousin!"

Both Lin Hua Lou and Wu Jing Yan called out in surprise at seeing her in the main hall. They didn't hear that Lin Xiaofei came to visit the Lin residence. They only heard a commotion was going on in the main hall while they were in the garden, and because they were curious what exactly happened for the main hall to be so lively, they decided to come.

But they never thought that they would see Lin Xiaofei sitting in front of them.

"First Madam and Second cousin." Lin Xiaofei greeted them back with a nod before her eyes landed on her uncles, "First and Second uncle, it is a good day to see you all doing well."