Lin Nuonuo was asked about her time with the crew, and she immediately shed her usual quietness, earnestly sharing everything that had happened there.
“We filmed scenes in a hospital, and we filmed in a big shopping mall. The crew also provided boxed meals. The other actors even treated everyone to snacks and afternoon tea……”
She spoke with bright eyes and animated gestures.
Sitting beside her, Lin Chaojiang found himself unconsciously softening as he watched her.
He was surprised to discover that after that unexpected trip to the set, the child had actually become livelier than before.
Of course, Lin Chaojiang never thought these changes had anything to do with Lin Chen. He simply assumed the experience on set had opened the child’s heart.
“Nuonuo, did you find filming interesting?” He asked.
“Mmhmm.” She nodded, then added, “Filming dramas is very interesting. I learned many things I didn’t know before, and it was very meaningful.”
Hearing her speak with such seriousness, Lin Chaojiang’s smile deepened. He nodded approvingly. “Mm, good. It seems filming is a very good thing.”
Hearing him say that, Lin Nuonuo nodded repeatedly and vigorously.
Standing to the side, Butler Wang’s eyelid twitched.
He thought, When Second Young Master first entered the entertainment industry, the master did not talk like this.
Back then, Lin Chaojiang had been extremely displeased with Lin Chen filming, complaining that he was embarrassing the family and refused to do proper work.
But now that it was Lin Nuonuo, suddenly filming had become ‘a very good thing’?
The double standard was outrageous.
Butler Wang ranted inwardly, though outwardly he still smiled politely.
────ρя
The next day, Lin Zeyu, Gu Mingming, and Lin Zixin returned.
Their trip to B City had been extremely fruitful.
Lin Zeyu met the Zhou family during an event, and thanks to his recent rise in reputation in the charity circle— due to donations and his previous adoption— Old Master Zhou took quite a liking to him.
The Lin Group’s acquisition of the Zhou family’s land was practically a done deal.
As for Lin Zixin, not only had she taken that dance master as her teacher during the banquet, she had also unexpectedly been appreciated by Master Yan Jing, who agreed to guide her in music.
Naturally, Lin Zixin was overjoyed by her accomplishments.
However, her joy faded the moment she saw Lin Nuonuo.
She had assumed Nanny Zhou’s plan had already succeeded. She thought that by the time they returned, she would never have to see this bumpkin again. Yet unexpectedly, Lin Nuonuo was still there!
Back in her room, Lin Zixin finally exploded and snapped at Nanny Zhou, “Why is that bumpkin still here?! Didn’t I tell you to get rid of her?!”
Faced with the little miss’s anger, Nanny Zhou grew tense and stammered, “I-I was about to succeed, but who knew the second young master would suddenly return? I didn’t expect that girl to leave with him……”
Moreover, Lin Nuonuo had been gone for more than two days, all the way until everyone returned.
Lin Zixin was extremely dissatisfied with the explanation, and the result was that she became even more aggressive toward Lin Nuonuo at home and at the dining table.
Gu Mingming saw everything, yet said nothing to reprimand her daughter. She didn’t even consider stopping Lin Zixin.
Then, remembering something, Gu Mingming suddenly turned to Lin Chaojiang. “Dad, we plan to take Nuonuo to the hospital for a check-up tomorrow.”
Instead of being pleased, Lin Chaojiang frowned. “Before, when I told you to take her for an examination because she couldn’t speak, you never went. Now she can speak, so why the hospital?”
He was displeased with how little attention his son and daughter-in-law gave his words.
Gu Mingming herself hadn’t expected the child to be capable of speech. When the servants reported it to her, she had been quite surprised.
Now, hearing Lin Chaojiang’s unhappy tone, she felt awkward.
“We were busy before, so it slipped our minds. Tomorrow’s check-up isn’t for the speaking issue. We’ll check her general health instead, see what nutrients she’s lacking, and supplement her diet properly.” She explained.
In truth, she didn’t care whether Lin Nuonuo could speak. She had arranged the visit because she and Lin Zeyu had contacted a trusted doctor, intending to run a comprehensive examination— confirming that the girl’s organs were developing normally and would, in the future, function properly for Lin Zixin’s needs.
Lin Chaojiang had no idea what the couple was planning. Hearing his daughter-in-law’s explanation, he reluctantly nodded.
Standing silently to the side, Lin Nuonuo’s face was drained of hope.
She already missed her father……
Though she resisted with all her heart, she was still too small to fight back. The next morning, the servants and Lin Zeyu’s assistant bundled her into the car and brought her to the prearranged examination room.
The check-ups were even more complicated than the ones she underwent the day she first left the orphanage.
She didn’t understand any of it. She could only endure the fear and cooperate dazedly.
────ρя
Meanwhile, back on set, Lin Chen suddenly felt an inexplicable discomfort in his chest.
Zhang Qi, who had been watching him read the script, noticed the sudden change in his expression. Not knowing the reason, he asked nervously, “Brother Chen, what’s wrong? Is something wrong with this scene?”
Lin Chen didn’t answer because he himself didn’t know how to explain the sudden surge of unease.
“How many days are left before my scenes are finished?” He suddenly asked.
Zhang Qi froze for a moment, then quickly pulled up the schedule. “Three days of indoor scenes, two days outdoors, then one day of reshoots. Six days total.”
“Mm.” Lin Chen nodded faintly.
────ρя
At the hospital, Lin Nuonuo finally finished the last test and was brought outside by the assistant.
The doctor held the little girl’s special report and gave his conclusion, “Her long-term malnutrition caused slow development, but overall, she doesn’t have any major health problems. All indicators are a good match.”
He paused, lowered his voice, and added to Gu Mingming, “If you’re matching her with Zixin, then you actually shouldn’t provide too much nutrition. Keeping her organ development slightly delayed will ensure optimal compatibility later.”
Gu Mingming nodded, thanked him, and instructed the assistant to take the girl out.
On the way back, she called Lin Zeyu.
“How were the results?” He asked.
“Everything’s normal, and the compatibility is excellent……” She repeated the doctor’s words with slight adjustments, not worrying at all whether the little girl in the backseat understood.
“Zeyu……”
“What?”
“Can’t we send her somewhere else to be raised?” She asked with displeasure. “I really don’t want Xinxin to be unhappy.”
Lin Zixin’s resentment toward Lin Nuonuo was too obvious. Gu Mingming hated seeing her daughter upset.
Lin Zeyu fell silent for a few seconds before replying, “I understand, but not right now. Because of that child, Old Master Zhou agreed to prioritize our bid for the land. Both the Zhou family and our competitors are watching us. We can’t send her away now.”
Not only could they not send Lin Nuonuo away, but they had to treat her well, at least for show.
Unlike his wife’s frustration, Lin Zeyu felt quite pleased. In his view, Lin Nuonuo could one day save his daughter’s life and had already brought the Lin Group substantial benefits. It was a win-win.
Although unhappy, Gu Mingming could only temporarily let go of the idea.
But when they returned home, and Lin Chaojiang asked about the results, she lied, “Her test indicators aren’t very good. The doctor said giving her too much nutrition would put a burden on her body. Before she adjusts, her diet and portions must be controlled carefully.”
Those lines were coached by the doctor. Although Lin Chaojiang found them odd, the official-looking nutrition report convinced him.
He allowed Gu Mingming to arrange ‘special meals’ for Lin Nuonuo.
Thus, Lin Nuonuo’s days once again resembled life in the orphanage.
Fortunately, she didn’t eat much, so she wasn’t left hungry.
And she still had a skill she learned at the orphanage— hiding food.
Her life in the Lin household remained calm.
Because of Gu Mingming’s ‘special care’, Nanny Zhou found no chance to sneak Lin Nuonuo out again.
────ρя
A week passed before Lin Nuonuo saw Lin Chen again.
The moment Lin Chen stepped inside the house, a figure rushed toward him as if welcoming him home.
But that person was not Lin Nuonuo— it was Lin Zixin.
“Uncle, you’re back!” She said brightly, smiling sweetly.
Though she was slightly afraid of Lin Chen, she hadn’t given up her Mary-Sue dream of becoming the pampered family darling.
Thus, whenever she faced her uncle, she did everything she could to show her presence and prove how adorable she was.
In fact, she was even more attentive to Lin Chen than to her own father.
Unfortunately, Lin Chen simply gave Lin Zixin a brief glance before shifting his gaze away, unwilling to act out some harmonious family skit with a niece he barely knew.
His gaze passed over Lin Zixin and landed on Lin Nuonuo standing quietly behind.
At that moment, Lin Nuonuo stood hesitantly a short distance away.
She had also run toward the door the moment she heard her father was back, but Lin Zixin had beaten her to it, so she had stopped awkwardly behind.
Her expression was full of genuine joy.
Unlike Lin Zixin’s crafted sweetness, Lin Nuonuo’s happiness was sincere.
Compared side by side, Lin Chen found the scruffy little girl unexpectedly cuter.
He walked past Lin Zixin and paused in front of Lin Nuonuo.
She looked up at him, lips parting slightly. She had many things she wanted to say, yet didn’t know where to begin.
Lin Chen lowered his head and looked at the silent child for a few seconds, then raised an eyebrow expressionlessly. “You don’t know how to greet people?”
“I……”