Lin Haoxin came looking for her after Lin Kangrui left: "Sixth Sister, I heard Grandfather met with you alone. Congratulations—this is a good thing. I was just wondering when Grandfather would see you."
Lin Haoyu smiled. "Fourth Sister came all this way just to congratulate me?"
Lin Haoxin was candid, her eyes fixed on Lin Haoyu with barely concealed curiosity. "Grandfather is always busy. We rarely get to see him on ordinary days, let alone meet with him alone. He only does that for very important matters."
Lin Haoxin didn't believe that Grandfather Lin Zhenhua would meet Lin Haoyu alone without good reason. If it were to check on how Lin Haoyu's health was recovering, Lin Haoxin would only scoff at that. The Lin family would hire good doctors and use good medicine to treat Lin Haoyu, but Grandfather Lin Zhenhua certainly didn't have much affection for her.
There were many young people in the Lin family's younger generation, and Lin Zhenhua's focus was mainly on the family business. Whatever energy remained went into cultivating the male heirs. So something must have happened—but Lin Haoxin couldn't find out what, so she could only come probe Lin Haoyu for information.
"Sixth Sister, what did Grandfather talk to you about?" Lin Haoxin thought it over, then skipped the beating around the bush and went straight to the point. She'd hit a wall with Lin Haoyu last time and knew this sixth sister wasn't someone to mess with. Lin Haoyu could flip the table at any moment; she had too many concerns to do the same.
It must be nice to have no worries, but Lin Haoxin's mind turned—the slacking fourth branch couldn't compare to their first branch.
Lin Haoyu had nothing to hide. "Grandfather didn't say anything to me. I just went and chatted with Grandmother about the charity auction."
Lin Haoxin was stunned. "That's it?"
"Mm. Could Grandfather possibly discuss some big matter with me?" Lin Haoyu asked with an amused smile.
That couldn't be.
Lin Haoxin studied Lin Haoyu carefully and couldn't tell if she was lying. She paused, then said, "Now that Sixth Sister has recovered her health, you can't slack off anymore. The family will arrange things for you just like they did for me and Haofei. You might not be used to it at first, but you'll get used to it once you settle in."
Lin Lizhen knew Lin Haoyu's situation inside and out and had already made arrangements for her. Lin Haoyu could handle it for now—getting into university wasn't hard for her. Easy peasy. She could coast along for a few more years, hee hee.
"Sixth Sister, you know that eventually we'll have to marry for the family's benefit, right?" Lin Haoxin's gaze landed on Lin Haoyu's flawless, beautiful face. She had to admit, Lin Haoyu's face was truly stunning. When she sat quietly like this, she was as beautiful as a painting.
Lin Haoyu blinked. "I know."
Lin Haoxin smiled. "Good. Actually, I thought Grandfather called you about marriage arrangements. Seems I was overthinking it. Sixth Sister, you're several years younger than me—you've got plenty of time."
"Oh? Is Fourth Sister preparing to get married too? Who's my future fourth brother-in-law?" Lin Haoyu's eyes lit up.
Lin Haoxin shook her head. "No. If I'm getting married, I have to wait until Eldest Brother, Second Brother, and Third Brother are married first."
Disappointed at not getting any gossip, Lin Haoyu asked again, "Fourth Sister must have a boyfriend now, right?"
Lin Haoxin still said, "No."
Lin Haoyu looked skeptical. Lin Haofei was dating in secret—how could Lin Haoxin not have one?
Lin Haoxin was tight-lipped, but Lin Haoyu got the answer to that question from Lin Haoxin's mortal enemy, Lin Haofei—she did have one.
It was easy to get Lin Haofei to talk, especially about anything related to Lin Haoxin. Lin Haoyu feigned curiosity and asked, and the reactive Lin Haofei opened her mouth and sold Lin Haoxin out completely: "Lin Haoxin has so many schemes in that belly of hers. She's had boyfriends since middle school—several of them. She always picks the ones who are down on their luck, the fair-skinned, clean-cut types. Hmph, she's always playing the damsel-rescuing-hero routine…"
Lin Haoyu let out a silent whoop. She never would have guessed that the dignified and gentle Lin Haoxin had such unique taste and so many tricks when it came to romance.
"Fifth Sister, you have a boyfriend too, right?" Lin Haoyu looked at Lin Haofei innocently.
Lin Haofei jumped up immediately. "I don't! I'm single right now!"
"Fifth Sister, I don't believe you," Lin Haoyu paused, then said slowly, "That day at the Guan family's custom shop, I saw you with a guy wearing sunglasses—"
Lin Haoyu's mouth was covered by Lin Haofei's hand. "Mmph mmph?"
"I'll let go, but you can't go spreading this around." Lin Haofei's gaze was wary.
Lin Haoyu's eyes sparkled as she nodded obediently, and Lin Haofei slowly released her hand.
"Fifth Sister, having a boyfriend isn't something you can't talk about, is it? The elders at home don't restrict us from dating." Lin Haoyu was eager to dig deeper. She was even more curious about the identity of that sunglasses-wearing guy with dyed hair. Why was Lin Haofei so nervous? Was there something suspicious about him?
Lin Haofei said, "Anyway, you can't tell anyone. Swear it to me."
"I can promise not to tell anyone. But your boyfriend looks a bit familiar—is he someone I know? I feel like I've seen him in some tabloid before?" Lin Haoyu watched Lin Haofei's face keep changing and almost burst out laughing.
Lin Haofei's eyes widened in shock, then her face slowly flushed red, and she covered her face with both hands.
Lin Haoyu was surprised. "Fine, if you don't want to talk about it, forget it."
"No, there's nothing I can't say. His name is Dong Xing, and he's an actor." Lin Haofei's gaze drifted briefly toward Lin Haoyu before she continued after a long pause, "Anyway, you'd find out sooner or later. Dong Xing—he made his debut in R-rated films."
"Pfft!" Lin Haoyu coughed, watching Lin Haofei's face remain flushed red, quickly understanding which kind of "R-rated" that was.
She had to admit, male charm was captivating—at least that Dong Xing had captivated Lin Haofei.
Having reached the peak of embarrassment, Lin Haofei saw Lin Haoyu's reaction and instead calmed down, mocking her: "Hmph, you're just an inexperienced little girl who wouldn't understand these pleasures. Dong Xing is very good in that regard. I'm going to enjoy myself before the arranged marriage—play boldly while I can. You just focus on being a good girl."
Listening to these scandalous words, Lin Haoyu didn't know what expression to make. All she could say was, truly worthy of the Lin family—everyone carried Lin Zhenhua's philandering genes.
Having regained the upper hand, Lin Haofei grew even more smug: "I don't want to break up with Dong Xing yet. You'd better not say anything, or I'll make trouble for you."
Lin Haoyu retorted: "You're the one hugging and cuddling with him in public without fearing exposure, and you're worried about whether I'll keep it secret? Do you really think I'm the only one who knows you're dating Dong Xing?"
"Lin Haoxin—she definitely knows! I'm going to find her!" Lin Haofei's eyes widened, then she clacked away on her high heels.
"Haha." Lin Haoyu laughed, her eyes curving into crescents. She'd had her fill of gossip—so Lin Haoxin and Lin Haofei's love lives were this colorful.
Lin Haoyu turned back to gossip with Sun Shuhui, who looked utterly unsurprised and said: "If Sixth Sister meets a boy she likes, she can date him. Otherwise, by the time your grandfather arranges your marriage, you won't have a chance to date at all."
Lin Haoyu laughed: "That'll have to wait until I'm in college."
Sun Shuhui: "That's right. Make more friends your age in college, and you'll need to settle down after marriage."
Oh, Mom was pretty open-minded—Lin Haoyu was delighted.
"Fifth, keep an eye on Sixth. It's her first time at this kind of event." Lin Lizhen arrived discreetly at the charity auction with Lin Haoyu and Lin Haofei, instructing Lin Haofei.
At this moment, Lin Haofei, dressed in full formal attire, showed none of her usual emotional volatility. She responded with poise and propriety: "Yes, Grandmother." She looked very reliable.
Lin Haoyu felt like she was seeing Lin Haoxin.
"Stop looking around—you look like you've never seen the world." Lin Haofei walked behind Lin Lizhen with Lin Haoyu, keeping constant watch over her, afraid she'd embarrass herself.
Lin Haoyu slowly turned to look at Lin Haofei and whispered: "Fifth Sister, I really haven't seen the world."
Lin Haofei shut her mouth.
"I'm just looking, not doing anything. It's perfectly normal for me to do this." Lin Haoyu said with a beaming smile.
Lin Haofei gave a small huff: "Fine, look all you want. Just don't make any overly dramatic gestures, so people don't think you're ill-mannered and ruin the Lin family's reputation."
"Haoyu? Is it really you!" Xie Mingshan made a grand entrance, exclaiming loudly and drawing countless eyes, but she paid them no mind, heading straight for Lin Haoyu.
Lin Haoyu was delighted to see Xie Mingshan and took the initiative to grab her hand: "Mingshan."
What rules and etiquette? What could be more important than being relaxed and free? The Lin family didn't amass their fortune through such formalities.
Lin Haoyu and Xie Mingshan felt like old friends reuniting, happily linking arms and chatting away. They both agreed that this charity auction was a bit boring—more of a social networking banquet than a charity auction.
Lin Haofei's eyes went wide. What on earth had happened that she didn't know about? When had Lin Haoyu become so close with Xie Mingshan?