Outside the club, several paparazzi crouched in the shadows, lurking not far from the entrance.
They had received a tip that the popular young actress Mo Xiaoxiao would show up there tonight with several male friends.
If they managed to photograph Mo Xiaoxiao, they would have enough material for a tabloid article. And if they caught a shot of her being intimate with some man, then they could basically secure half a year’s salary.
The group stared intently at the private club’s entrance.
Unfortunately, from dusk to nightfall, Mo Xiaoxiao never appeared.
“Could the intel be wrong?” One paparazzo muttered.
“It shouldn’t be. We really did catch Mo Xiaoxiao’s car going in earlier.”
“Did she catch wind of it and sneak out another way?”
It wasn’t impossible.
If the celebrity had been tipped off and left quietly, then today’s stakeout was wasted.
Just when they were falling into despair, a figure suddenly appeared at the entrance.
“Eh? Look, isn’t that Lin Chen?” One paparazzo said excitedly, pointing at the camera screen.
The others crowded over immediately. “It really is.”
“We didn’t get Mo Xiaoxiao, but I can’t believe we actually caught Lin Chen.” One man said with a grin.
Stumbling upon Lin Chen was an unexpected bonus.
Although Lin Chen wasn’t a top-tier celebrity, he had been surrounded by endless scandals for years, which meant his gossip value was nothing to scoff at.
“What’s Lin Chen doing in a place like this so late? Meeting some beauty?” Someone guessed. But after searching the nearby area, they saw no other familiar faces besides Lin Chen’s.
“What’s that he’s carrying?” They were too far away to see what he held.
“Don’t worry about it, just shoot first and check the original photos later.” The leader said.
Whatever Lin Chen was carrying, he already had the headline in mind, ‘Lin Chen Seen at Club Late at Night, Suspected Meeting with Multiple Women!’
Lin Chen had no idea he had already become material for the paparazzi’s performance quotas.
────ρя
Back at the Lin family’s villa, Lin Chen carried Lin Nuonuo out of the car and all the way into the house.
He was just deciding whether to hand her over to the servants or simply drop her onto the living room sofa when Lin Nuonuo woke up.
Realizing she was already home, Lin Nuonuo blinked in confusion.
“Eh? We’re back?” She rubbed her eyes, looking up at Lin Chen as if asking how she had gotten home from the previous place.
Seeing her dazed expression, Lin Chen frowned and couldn’t help lecturing her.
“You slept like a little piglet.” He said with clear disdain.
Hearing that, Lin Nuonuo immediately protested.
“I’m not a piglet!” She blurted out.
If she were a piglet, then her father would be……
Seeing her puffed-up little face, Lin Chen couldn’t help laughing, though he still straightened his expression and added in the same disdainful tone, “You didn’t have a shred of alertness while sleeping. One day, someone might sell you off, and you wouldn’t even know.”
Thinking of how she had slept so soundly in a place like a club, following someone she wasn’t even familiar with, Lin Chen truly felt speechless.
But what he did not know was that she slept so soundly only because she was with him.
“No one’s selling me……” Lin Nuonuo mumbled another small rebuttal.
This time, Lin Chen didn’t answer her. He simply tossed out, “Go to sleep”, and headed upstairs.
Seeing him go up, Lin Nuonuo quickly followed.
When they reached the second floor, she automatically started to follow him toward his room, only to freeze under one cold glare from him.
“Uh…… goodnight, Dad.” She gave him a guilty little smile and waved.
Hearing that title again, Lin Chen’s brow twitched.
“How many times do I have to say it? I’m not your dad.”
But today, it was as if Lin Nuonuo had decided to go against him on purpose. Stubbornly, she said, “You are Dad.”
His brows knit even tighter.
He stared at her for a moment, suddenly remembering Wei Jinchi’s words back at the club. Was this kid feeling mistreated by Lin Zeyu’s family, so she was trying to win his favor? Taking him as a lifeline?
Did she think he could change her situation in the Lin family?
Or did she genuinely believe he was better than Lin Zeyu?
“I’m not a good person.” Lin Chen said with a cold laugh.
He had never thought himself kinder than Lin Zeyu.
He said that because he wanted the child to understand reality and stop trying to please or curry favor with him.
But unexpectedly, Lin Nuonuo solemnly nodded. “I know. You’re a scumbag.” She said with complete seriousness.
She knew his reputation was awful— playing with multiple women, taking advantage of fans, unfaithful, two-faced, cheating……
To be called that by a child…… Lin Chen was speechless.
“Who told you that?” He was sure he had never done anything that deserved such a dramatic title. How had he become a scumbag?
He felt indignant.
“Um……” That’s what the internet says. And the novel as well.
However, she decided to say, “Even if you’re a scumbag, you’re still my dad!” Lin Nuonuo beamed at him with pure sincerity.
Lin Chen: “……” Thanks. But it’s not comforting at all.
And he couldn’t understand. Why was she so fixated on calling him ‘dad’?
She still couldn’t be stuck in her previous drama role, right?
Unable to figure out the child’s thoughts, Lin Chen finally gave up on this pointless tug-of-war and walked away.
────ρя
Lin Chen had cleared his schedule because of Old Master Ye’s birthday banquet, so over the next two days, he happened to stay at home since he currently had no filming or events.
For Lin Nuonuo, those two days were the happiest she had ever lived— aside from her brief days on set.
Not only could she eat all three meals with her father, but she could also speak to him from time to time.
Even though most of the time they were doing their own things and were barely talking, just being near her father made her heart burst with joy.
Unfortunately, that happiness ended on the third day.
Because Lin Chaojiang and the others returned from K City.
Their trip seemed to have gone very well. Though no one knew exactly what the Lin family or Lin Group had gained from the Ye family, Lin Chaojiang was clearly in a good mood.
He even gave Lin Chen a rare pleasant expression, not scolding him for embarrassing them at the Ye residence.
At dinner, since Lin Zeyu had a social engagement that night, no one talked about business. Instead, they brought up Lin Zixin.
“I looked into the oil-painting teacher Grandpa recommended for Xinxin. He’s a very renowned master in the field.” If Old Master Ye hadn’t recommended him, someone of that level would never lower himself to teach a child.
Gu Mingming explained.
Hearing that, Lin Chaojiang nodded. “So what’s your plan?”
“I discussed it with Zeyu. We want Xinxin to go to K City twice a week to learn from the teacher.” Gu Mingming said, then added, “It’s Grandpa’s heartfelt arrangement, and it’s a great opportunity to receive the teacher’s guidance.”
Of course, she didn’t mention the more important reason.
She and Lin Zeyu had discovered that the teacher’s real identity was far from simple. If Lin Zixin could form a connection with him, it would greatly benefit her future— and the Lin family as well.
But Lin Chaojiang’s concerns differed.
“Twice a week? Wouldn’t that affect Xinxin’s studies?” He asked.
Before Gu Mingming could answer, Lin Zixin jumped in, “It won’t, Grandpa! Schoolwork is so easy for me!” Second-grade knowledge was nothing to her.
“I want to learn from that teacher. Please let me go.” She wasn’t passionate about painting, but she had overheard her parents’ private talk yesterday. If she were to be the best, then everything she had must also be the best.
Hearing that, Lin Chaojiang smiled kindly. “Grandpa just worries it might be too much for you.”
“It’s not! It’s super easy. I have already learn so many different things, but my grades never suffer. My teacher even said I’m especially smart and talented!”
Talking about school lit her up with pride.
Lin Nuonuo continued sitting quietly at the side.
Most of what Lin Zixin described were things Lin Nuonuo had never experienced. Curiosity and a faint longing appeared in her eyes.
Everyone’s attention was on Lin Zixin, so no one noticed Lin Nuonuo’s expression.
Except Lin Chen.
“Doesn’t this kid go to school?” He suddenly asked.
Everyone froze.
Only when they followed his gaze did they realize he was asking why Lin Nuonuo didn’t attend school.
These past two days, Lin Chen had been hanging around the house during his filming break, while Lin Nuonuo had truly done nothing but trail him around like a little shadow.
“You mean Nuonuo……” Gu Mingming’s eyes flickered.
To them, Lin Nuonuo was nothing but an ‘organ bank’. They had never considered her schooling.
“Her health isn’t good, and she hasn’t had a proper education before. She just arrived here, so school can wait.” Gu Mingming said casually.
But Lin Chaojiang didn’t agree.
“Nuonuo is the same age as Xinxin. She should be in school.” He had neglected the matter before.
“This……” Gu Mingming hesitated, then said, “Let’s bring in a few tutors to teach her at home.”
Another excuse.
Lin Chen cast her a cold glance. “What, is the child not fit to be seen?”
Gu Mingming’s face stiffened.
She had only been trying to brush the issue aside. She didn’t know why her brother-in-law had been going against her all day.
“Staying home all the time is no good. She should go to school.” Lin Chaojiang said.
At least at her age, attending school would help her learn and grow.
For once, he and Lin Chen held the same opinion.
“Tomorrow, Butler Wang will take Nuonuo to visit some schools.” Lin Chaojiang instructed.
But before his voice faded, Gu Mingming added, “It’s a small matter. No need to trouble the butler. Zeyu’s secretary can handle it tomorrow.”
Since she said so, Lin Chaojiang said nothing more.