Lin Haoyu tried to recall, but found no memory, so she asked without hesitation, "I don't know you. Who are you?"
"My name is Xie Mingshan. Sister, we haven't met before, but now we have. What's your name?" Xie Mingshan took Lin Haoyu's hand.
The corner of Lin Haoyu's mouth twitched. "Lin Haoyu."
Xie Mingshan: "Sister Lin."
Lin Haoyu: "…" Anyone listening would think they were reenacting Baoyu and Daiyu, but she wasn't Sister Lin, and Xie Mingshan wasn't Brother Bao.
"Mingshan, stop your nonsense." Mrs. Xie, who had finished exchanging pleasantries with Sun Shuhui, spoke up to chide Xie Mingshan.
"Haoyu, you're so beautiful. Be friends with me, won't you?" Xie Mingshan reluctantly released Lin Haoyu's hand.
So the first half of that sentence was the real point.
Lin Haoyu felt like making a snarky comment, but Xie Mingshan meant no harm—her gaze was purely one of admiration and awe. So she gave a small smile and said, "Now we know each other."
Xie Mingshan was delighted. "Then we're friends! Haoyu, you're in Hong Kong—how come I've never seen you before?"
Lin Haoyu: "I wasn't in good health before, so I didn't go out much."
Seeing this, Mrs. Xie said to Sun Shuhui, "Fourth Madam Lin, why don't we find a place to sit and chat? How about going to the nearby beauty and wellness center for a spa?"
Sun Shuhui immediately smiled and said, "I was just saying I'd take our sixth sister out for some fun. This works perfectly—let her experience it too."
Mrs. Xie asked a few questions about Lin Haoyu's health, then said with a smile, "Dr. Xue truly has remarkable skill when it comes to health restoration. I discussed it with my son and we invited Dr. Xue to our home to help Aunt Ci recuperate. Aunt Ci's health has indeed improved considerably, and her appetite has grown a bit too."
"Oh, you made the absolute right choice inviting Dr. Xue! Dr. Xue has been treating our sixth sister for over ten years. He specializes in this field—he's a true professional." The smile on Sun Shuhui's face became more genuine as she chatted with Mrs. Xie about Dr. Xue.
"Aunt Ci is our grandmother Ci—she's our family's greatest benefactor." Xie Mingshan explained to the puzzled Lin Haoyu.
Lin Haoyu recalled what Sun Shuhui had said earlier about the Xie family's leader being abandoned and then taken in by someone, so she didn't ask further. Xie Mingshan didn't seem inclined to elaborate either, instead chattering away about what Lin Haoyu usually did and what she liked, offering to take her out and give her gifts.
"You're too enthusiastic—I can't handle it." Lin Haoyu decided to be direct with Xie Mingshan.
Xie Mingshan was taken aback, looked at Lin Haoyu a few times, then burst out laughing. "Haoyu, you're different from everyone else. I like you more and more. I definitely have to invite you out next time."
Lin Haoyu couldn't quite figure her out, but she had no expectations of Xie Mingshan, and the girl seemed agreeable enough, so she just chatted along casually.
Lin Haoyu and Xie Mingshan found more and more common ground as they talked, chatting all the way to the beauty and wellness center. Xie Mingshan's head was full of knowledge about food, drink, and entertainment, which truly opened Lin Haoyu's eyes.
Sun Shuhui thought it over and decided not to let Lin Haoyu do the spa: "Let's wait until you're fully recovered. Today, just take a look around. Mommy won't do the full package today—I'll just get a facial and come out to keep you company."
Lin Haoyu curiously surveyed the establishment's decor. "Mommy, I'll listen to you. Go ahead—Mingshan said she'll keep me company."
Sun Shuhui thanked Xie Mingshan, then left with Mrs. Xie following the receptionist.
Another female staff member stayed behind and, in a pleasant, gentle voice, introduced the various beauty and wellness treatments to the curious Lin Haoyu—what effects they could achieve. The offerings were diverse: acupuncture, cupping, herbal applications, massage, and more. The main selling point was to make clients feel completely renewed from head to toe, then simply gorgeous. The clientele coming and going were numerous, all dressed in a way that screamed wealth and status, so the prices were shockingly high.
"We're still young—no need to come to the beauty center often. Once or twice a month is enough." Xie Mingshan said with an air of experience.
"What did it feel like when you did it?" Lin Haoyu asked her.
Xie Mingshan thought for a moment, then answered seriously, "The experience was good. This beauty and wellness center ranks in the top three in all of Hong Kong. Their specialty is traditional Chinese medicine wellness. According to the owner, many of the prescriptions were passed down from the imperial palace—the owner's ancestors were imperial physicians."
Lin Haoyu couldn't verify the truth of that, so she said, "Oh, quite a long history then."
Whether it was true or not, if it worked, it was good. Rich people weren't fools—if this place weren't good, why would it have so many customers? There were plenty of male clients too.
Just then, a man and a woman walked in through the entrance. Lin Haoyu had only meant to glance over casually, but when she saw it was Lin Kangzong, her eyes flew wide open. Lin Kangzong coming to a beauty center wasn't strange—he'd always been particular about his appearance, and occasionally treating himself to a wellness session was normal. Having a close female companion by his side wasn't strange either; the man had kept up with a woman for several years.
None of it was strange. Lin Haoyu blinked—nothing to be surprised about. It was just that running into Lin Kangzong here was a bit sudden for her.
Lin Haoyu had no intention of going over to greet Lin Kangzong. She sat motionless on the sofa in the lobby. The sofa was soft and plush, comfortable to lean back into. She didn't want to get up. Hehe.
Lin Kangzong was passing through when his female companion pointed out Lin Haoyu to him. He stared at her, his brow furrowing deeply.
"Big brother, what a coincidence." Lin Haoyu raised an eyebrow, completely sunk into the sofa, unable to get up.
Lin Kangzong's brow remained tightly knit. "What are you doing here?"
"Mommy brought me out to play. I'm waiting for her and the others with my friend." Lin Haoyu turned to look at Xie Mingshan, who was sitting close beside her.
Lin Kangzong followed her gaze, and upon seeing Xie Mingshan, his face tensed for a split second before breaking into a courteous smile. "Miss Xie."
Lin Haoyu hugged her arms in exaggerated shock and rubbed them. Had Lin Kangzong been possessed by a ghost or something?
Xie Mingshan gave a cold, faint smile. "Young Master Lin."
Having been snubbed, Lin Kangzong's face turned cold as he left with his companion.
Lin Haoyu was speechless. Lin Kangzong was a master of changing faces—did he come here just to offend people?
But what Lin Kangzong did had nothing to do with her, Lin Haoyu. She didn't care.
"Aren't you afraid I'll be upset?" Xie Mingshan looked at Lin Haoyu with curiosity.
Lin Haoyu gave her a strange look. "We just met." There was no real bond between them.
Xie Mingshan burst out laughing. "Haoyu, you're nothing like Lin Haoxin or Lin Haofei. You're not like anyone else either."
"Are you close with them?" Lin Haoyu asked casually.
Xie Mingshan said, "Not really. But I was high school classmates with Lin Haofei, and we have some mutual friends. I'd see her often at private gatherings. As for Lin Haoxin, our paths crossed at public events."
"I see." Lin Haoyu wasn't particularly interested. She flipped through the brochure—there were so many activities she was tempted to try, but she hadn't forgotten her mother's warning. This time, she could only look with regret.
"Hey, that girl earlier—she's your eldest brother's long-term girlfriend, right?" Xie Mingshan asked curiously.
Lin Haoyu looked up. "Is she?"
Xie Mingshan: "You didn't know?"
Lin Haoyu: "There's a lot I don't know."
"Right, I forgot you were cooped up at home recovering. But I'm curious—since Young Master Lin has been with her for so many years, doesn't he plan to marry her? The second young master had an arranged marriage, so the eldest should be free to pursue love, right? Or do your family elders disapprove of his marriage?" Xie Mingshan was brimming with gossip.
"You know more than I do." Lin Haoyu knew Lin Kangzong was a scumbag, but she didn't reveal the elders' plans.
Xie Mingshan looked disappointed. "So you really don't know."
"Mm."
Lin Haoyu went to the restroom and unexpectedly ran into Lin Kangzong's companion, who was touching up her makeup. She hadn't gone to do any activities—she'd just accompanied the young master Lin Kangzong here?
"Sixth Miss, hello."
"Mm, hello. You are?" Lin Haoyu noticed the other woman's eyes were red—had she been crying?
"My name is Zhang Mengqi. I'm Kang—the eldest young master's secretary." Zhang Mengqi offered a perfectly measured smile.
Lin Haoyu looked up at Zhang Mengqi. She was a beautiful woman. "Miss Zhang."
Lin Haoyu and Zhang Mengqi walked out of the restroom one after the other, and just then Sun Shuhui came over. Zhang Mengqi suddenly grew tense but tried to appear natural. Sun Shuhui glanced at Zhang Mengqi, then waved her hand, and Zhang Mengqi clicked away on her high heels.
Sun Shuhui stared at Zhang Mengqi's retreating figure for quite a while, leaving Lin Haoyu utterly confused. "Mommy, what are you looking at?"
Sun Shuhui chuckled. "Sixth sister, someone's about to move up a generation."
Lin Haoyu: "Huh?"