Lin Nuonuo’s next scenes with Lin Chen were the parts where Mo Hai brought Mo Bei to the big city for medical treatment, back when Mo Bei’s illness had not yet reached its late, severe stage.
The atmosphere was no longer as heavy as in the earlier scenes.
Lin Nuonuo no longer had to lie in bed all the time. She could sit with Lin Chen in the garden near the hospital to watch others fly kites, drift into the hospital lobby to watch TV for free, or be led by the hand as they strolled beneath the inpatient building……
All of these, of course, were the scenes written in the script.
Even so, Lin Nuonuo’s own heart remained thrilled. The entire day, her face had worn a smug little grin that never once faded.
To the point that off-camera, Lin Nuonuo also followed right behind Lin Chen as cheerfully as ever, calling ‘dad’ this and ‘dad’ that.
At first, Lin Chen tried correcting the way she addressed him.
Unfortunately, his correction ended up being overheard by the director and the production staff.
In the end, the director had no choice but to gently remind him not to fuss too much about how Lin Nuonuo addressed him.
If word spread that he refused to let her call him ‘dad’, and someone posted it online, once certain people blew it up or maliciously twisted it, netizens might think there was discord within the crew, maybe even use it to smear the show.
So, as the drama’s hidden investor, all for the sake of reputation and ratings, Lin Chen had no choice but to let Lin Nuonuo be.
Only, because of his indulgence, someone seemed to have grown even bolder.
Like now.
Lin Chen had simply stepped out between scenes to make a phone call, yet Lin Nuonuo trailed after him like a little shadow.
“Dad, Sister Yunshan treated everyone to milk tea. I grabbed a purple sweet potato flavor and a purple rice Oreo flavor. They said these two are the best.” Holding two cups of milk tea, Lin Nuonuo presented them like treasures.
After being ‘missing’ for two days, the female lead, Xie Yunshan, had finally returned to the set.
As for abruptly leaving the crew to participate in the recording of a popular variety show, she naturally could not offer much explanation.
But her team was smart, and as soon as she returned, they grandly treated the entire crew to afternoon tea.
People tended to soften when fed, and besides, Xie Yunshan’s popularity was sky-high, with a huge online fanbase. Given her status, no one in the crew dared say anything.
Only Lin Chen frowned at the two cups of milk tea in Lin Nuonuo’s arms.
Seeing the way she held them like precious treasure, his frown deepened.
All that…… over two cheap cups of milk tea.
“Pathetic……”
Pretending not to notice the contempt in his eyes, Lin Nuonuo continued waving the milk tea before him.
“Dad, which one do you want? Purple sweet potato or purple rice Oreo?”
When he did not respond, she looked up at him again. “Or do you want to try both?”
Glancing at the cups in her arms, she finally spoke as if making a major sacrifice, “Alright then, I’ll give you both. You can just tell me what they taste like after you finish drinking.”
“…….” Seeing her look like she had just given up her most cherished possessions, Lin Chen’s mouth twitched.
Then, holding his phone, he bypassed both the milk tea and the child and walked back toward the set without expression.
“Dad, you don’t want them? You don’t like either flavor? There are other flavors. I can go grab more for you. Dad, can you walk slower? Wait for me. Dad, the milk tea is over there……”
She followed closely behind him.
His call was still connected.
From the receiver came Wei Jinchi’s amused voice, “Who’s that? That little girl from the other day? The one your brother adopted?” He asked, then chuckled as Lin Nuonuo’s voice came through. “Impressive. In just a few days, you’ve turned Lin Zeyu’s daughter into your own. She’s even calling you ‘dad’ now.”
“Just a scripted relationship.” Lin Chen’s voice was cold and curt. “Don’t pretend you didn’t know.” His tone carried clear disdain.
Wei Jinchi paused.
Honestly, he really didn’t know.
He had only invested in this drama on Lin Chen’s behalf. He had barely skimmed the script delivered by the production team.
“But you’re not filming right now, are you?” Wei Jinchi said. “All this ‘dad, dad’ stuff…… She sounds very fond of you.” He kept teasing.
More than fond, the kid sounded downright attached.
Lin Chen was speechless.
“Anything else?”
“No, I just wanted to remind you that you still need to fight for what’s yours with the Ye family.”
Lin Chen went quiet for a few seconds.
Wei Jinchi hadn’t called to talk about work, but to share inside news. The Ye family’s old patriarch, Lin Chen’s maternal grandfather, planned to announce the family’s successor and distribute certain assets at his birthday banquet.
“You think I care about that pocket change?” Lin Chen shot back.
Wei Jinchi was stunned for a moment, then sighed. “Fine, whatever you want. But still……” Just as Lin Chen was about to hang up, Wei Jinchi added, “That kid is adorable, and she likes you quite a lot. Ever thought about keeping her for yourself? Your brother stole your inheritance. You can steal his kid. Very fair, right?”
Only good manners kept Lin Chen from telling him to get lost.
Glancing at Lin Nuonuo beside him, he simply replied, “Too ugly”, and hung up.
Lin Nuonuo, not realizing that ‘too ugly’ referred to her, trotted forward the moment the call ended.
“Dad—” She began, but stopped when Lin Chen suddenly halted and looked down at her. Her words caught in her throat.
“What is it?” He asked coldly.
“Um……” Honestly, there was nothing important. She was used to talking to herself and had not expected him to respond. “Well……” She thought for a bit. “Dad, do you still want the milk tea?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t care for things bought by others.”
“Oh.”
“Then…… Dad, can we buy some tonight instead? Uncle Xiao Qi said there’s a street near our hotel with lots of delicious food.” She added.
At her words and at the sight of her hopeful face, Lin Chen laughed mockingly.
“You won’t be here tonight.”
“Huh?” Why?
“After the last scene, the Lin family’s driver will come pick you up.” His tone was blunt and merciless.
Lin Nuonuo’s role had always been small. After two concentrated days of shooting, her part was finished. As agreed with the Lin family, the driver would come for her afterward.
Lin Chen strode back toward the set, leaving Lin Nuonuo standing alone in the wind with two cooling cups of milk tea.
……
Lin Nuonuo’s final scene was filmed on location.
The content showed Mo Hai bringing Mo Bei to the city. They got off the train, walked through bustling streets, crossed commercial districts, got lost, asked for directions, and nearly got swindled by a pharmaceutical dealer.
Although the shoot was short, the scene had frequent transitions and high performance requirements.
Fortunately, Lin Chen did well.
But what truly shocked the director and crew was Lin Nuonuo’s performance. Though she had few lines, she captured Mo Bei’s nervousness, unease, panic, fear, and stiff curiosity perfectly. Her instinctive tendency to edge closer to Lin Chen became the highlight of the scene.
What they did not know was that her reaction was not entirely acting.
Lin Nuonuo had grown up in an orphanage. Life there was simple and monotonous, with little exposure to the outside world. Her only real ‘eye-opening’ moment had been the day she was taken to the Lin household.
So when the crew brought her to such a bustling commercial street, she reacted just like a country bumpkin entering a city.
Thus came what the director praised as her ‘breakthrough performance’.
By the time she returned from the location shoot to the set, the Lin family’s car was already waiting nearby.
Seeing the familiar black sedan, Lin Nuonuo instinctively hid behind Lin Chen and Zhang Qi.
She didn’t want to go back……
But resistance was futile. Lin Chen eventually dragged her to the car.
Following Lin Chen’s glance, Zhang Qi placed Lin Nuonuo’s ‘luggage’ inside as well.
She had brought nothing with her in the first place. Her so-called luggage was just the few outfits Lin Chen had casually bought her, and a half-finished bottle of mineral water.
Those clothes had only been retrieved because she begged hard enough for Lin Chen to let Zhang Qi fetch them from the hotel.
“We’ll be heading back now.” The driver said after settling Lin Nuonuo inside.
“Mm. Go.” Lin Chen nodded, giving Lin Nuonuo one last look.
She was clinging to the car door, looking pitifully at him as if she were being sold off.
He felt not the slightest guilt.
Realizing she had run out of excuses to stay, she finally gave up struggling.
“Dad, when will you come back?”
He did not answer. Instead, he corrected her again, “It’s ‘uncle’.”
“Oh.”
“I’m leaving. Come back soon.” She said, waving at him.
Even as the car pulled away, she kept her face pressed to the window, eyes full of reluctant longing.
In contrast, Lin Chen felt entirely calm— relieved, even.
At last, he had gotten rid of a major nuisance. No more child taking over his suite, and no more chatter ruining his work at night.
With that thought, his lips curved into a pleased smile.
But the pleasure lasted only until he returned to the hotel.
Back in the room, with no child chattering in his ear, no little noises here and there, he suddenly found the silence…… unsettling.
……
Elsewhere, after an hour-long drive, Lin Nuonuo returned to the Lin family’s villa.
By then, Lin Chaojiang had already returned from M City.
Seeing her brought home, he did not pursue the matter of her sneaking off to follow Lin Chen. Instead, he asked her with a smile how her two days on set had gone.