"Since Sixth Sister didn't come to fetch me herself, I was afraid that if I suddenly sought you out, it might disrupt your recovery. Next time, remember to come find your Fourth Sister." Lin Haoxin said with an imperceptible smile.
Lin Haoyu replied, "Sure! As long as Fourth Sister isn't busy then, I'll definitely come find you to take me out to play."
Lin Haoxin paused, her gaze fixed on Lin Haoyu's face. Did Sixth Sister truly understand the meaning behind her words, or was she deliberately playing dumb? If it was the latter, then Sixth Sister wasn't as innocent and naive as she appeared.
Lin Haofei was nearly furious. She shot Lin Haoxin a dark glare—Lin Haoxin always stepped on her to steal the spotlight, making her look tongue-tied and brainless!
"Is everyone here?" Lin Lizhen walked in, a kind smile on her face. "What are you all chatting about?"
Before Lin Haoyu could react, Sun Shuhui took her hand and pulled her up to greet Lin Lizhen. She discreetly lifted her eyelids and saw the mother-daughter pairs from the First and Second Branches standing ramrod straight, their expressions reverent as they looked at Lin Lizhen.
This display was truly like daughters-in-law and granddaughters of ancient times receiving the family matriarch. This grandmother certainly knew how to put on airs. Lin Haoyu couldn't help but silently complain, though her face betrayed nothing.
"Grandmother, we were just saying that Sixth Sister has recovered, so we should take her out with us to have fun and meet people," Lin Haoxin said, stepping forward intimately to support Lin Lizhen's hand, a winning smile plastered on her face. "Sixth Sister has been cooped up at home recuperating all year, so she doesn't know many people. As her Fourth Sister, I absolutely must take good care of her."
Lin Lizhen patted Lin Haoxin's hand. "You're a thoughtful Fourth Sister."
Lin Haofei refused to be outdone. "Grandmother, I asked Dr. Xue about it. Sixth Sister's health isn't completely recovered yet. I was thinking we should wait until she's fully better before taking her out. That way we can rest easy, and Sixth Sister will be happy too."
Lin Lizhen smiled and took Lin Haofei's hand, praising her, "Haofei, you've thought this through carefully."
Lin Haofei shot Lin Haoxin a triumphant glance and raised her chin smugly.
Lin Haoyu, who had suddenly become a tool in their competition for favor: "…"
She understood now—caring about her was a pretense; getting praised by Lin Lizhen was the real goal.
Lin Haoxin and Lin Haofei each supported one of Lin Lizhen's arms as they walked her to the sofa, then promptly claimed the seats closest to her on either side.
Lin Lizhen waved her hand and turned her head toward Lin Haoyu. "Haoyu? Come here, let Grandmother have a look at you."
Since her two cousins showed no sign of moving, Lin Haoyu had no choice but to walk over and stand before Lin Lizhen, saying with a smile, "Grandmother."
Lin Haoyu had seen Lin Lizhen on the day she transmigrated, but there had been so many people that she'd only gotten a rough glance at the family. Today was the first time she truly saw Lin Lizhen. Without a doubt, Lin Lizhen was a pampered matriarch of a wealthy family. Though advanced in years, she still carried her own elegance, and her aged eyes constantly revealed the sharp intelligence of their owner. When Lin Haoyu met Lin Lizhen's gaze, she felt as though she were being seen straight through.
Lin Lizhen's eyes flickered slightly as she looked at Lin Haoyu, all her surprise carefully concealed. She reached out and took Lin Haoyu's hand, speaking with warm amiability, "Haoyu, come sit beside Grandmother. You young ladies should dress up pretty—it makes you look so lively."
Lin Haoyu was taken aback, her heart beginning to race. Lin Lizhen suddenly being so affectionate toward her felt strange. She had no idea what this grandmother was thinking.
"Sixth Sister, take my seat so Grandmother can get a good look at you." Lin Haoxin graciously gave up her spot, not a trace of reluctance on her face.
Lin Haoyu smiled at Lin Haoxin and gathered her skirt as she sat down.
Lin Haoxin sat beside Lin Haoyu and said, "Among us three sisters, Sixth Sister is the prettiest. Now that your health has improved, your looks are becoming even more striking."
Everyone's eyes landed on Lin Haoyu. If looks could materialize, she'd probably be pierced by countless needles.
"Fourth Sister, if you ask me, everyone in our family is good-looking. I just take after my mommy and daddy." Lin Haoyu gave a composed, demure smile.
Lin Lizhen finished scrutinizing Lin Haoyu's features and nodded with satisfaction. "Jiahao and Shuhui are indeed handsome people, so it's no wonder they produced such beautiful children in Haoyu and Kangrui."
Although Lin Haoyu and Lin Kangrui were the youngest of the younger generation in the Lin family, the siblings were indeed blessed with exceptional looks. The genes from Lin Jiahao and Sun Shuhui were simply too powerful. Lin Jiahao had always been the best-looking of the Lin family, and Sun Shuhui, despite her humble origins, had relied purely on her face to become the most beautiful Miss Hong Kong—a stunning beauty who had once caused a sensation across the entire city. Lin Jiahao was a sucker for good looks, which had forced Lin Zhenhua and Lin Lizhen to agree to his marriage to Sun Shuhui.
Lin Haoyu and Lin Kangrui were even better-looking than their parents, which showed just how outstanding their features were. The two were still young and hadn't fully grown into their looks yet. As for Lin Haoyu, she had spent the whole year cooped up in her room recuperating. Today, after Sun Shuhui dressed her up, she stood there radiant and dazzling, every smile and frown breathtakingly beautiful.
Overjoyed, Lin Lizhen slipped the translucent green jade bracelet off her own wrist and put it on Lin Haoyu's. Startled, Lin Haoyu tried to refuse, but Lin Lizhen pressed her hand down. "Xiao Liu, wear it. This is your grandmother's token of affection. Shuhui, we'll take Xiao Liu to see Celestial Master Zhang another day and have him do a reading for her."
Sun Shuhui was overjoyed. "Alright, thank you, Mother. I was just telling Xiao Liu we should go to the temple to pay our respects."
Lin Lizhen said, "A trip to the temple is due. Xiao Liu's health has improved, thanks to the blessings of the gods and Buddhas. We'll add a bit more to the offering when we go."
"Dr. Xue said Xiao Liu can make a full recovery. Jihao and I are beyond happy…" Sun Shuhui seized the opportunity to say a great deal to Lin Lizhen, every word sincere, and Lin Lizhen surprisingly listened patiently to the end.
Lin Haoyu blinked. Her recovery had nothing to do with gods or spirits—it was all thanks to the transmigration god. Still, since she'd come back from the dead, she supposed she ought to show some respect to the supernatural. Keep a respectful distance, as they say.
The eldest and second branches were reduced to mere backdrop, their expressions souring.
Lin Haoyu's eldest aunt, Feng Anhua, seized the right moment to interject: "Mother, Fourth Sister-in-law, Haoyu's recovery is a joy for the whole family. I have a jade Buddha that was blessed at the temple—I'll give it to Haoyu, hoping it brings her good fortune."
Lin Haoyu's second aunt, Sun Fengyi, followed quickly: "I don't have a fine jade Buddha, but I do have a gold Buddha. Gold brings good luck—someone like Haoyu should wear a gold Buddha."
Both aunts were giving gifts for free, and Lin Haoyu accepted them happily. "Thank you, First Aunt, Second Aunt. With all this good fortune and luck, I'm sure I'll make a full recovery."
Hearing this, Feng Anhua and Sun Fengyi felt their jade and gold Buddhas hadn't been wasted, and smiles spread across their faces.
For a moment, everyone was harmonious and cheerful, like a warm, loving family.
Lin Lizhen held Lin Haoyu's hand and asked her many questions, then suddenly said, "Once Xiao Liu is truly well, do you plan to attend secondary school, or continue having a private tutor come to the house?"
Lin Haoyu's expression froze. She'd felt she was overlooking something, and her grandmother's reminder made it click—she was seventeen, and she hadn't finished secondary school!
Lin Zhenhua and Lin Lizhen placed great importance on their descendants' education. The original body had been frail and sickly, but that didn't mean she could skip learning. She'd never attended school; the Lin family hired private tutors to teach her at home. She was registered at a school, and during graduation exams, teachers came to the house to proctor her tests. She'd earned her primary school diploma—meaning her highest qualification right now was primary school. Hong Kong didn't split secondary school into junior and senior levels; it was a six-year system.
Lin Haoyu felt restless. She did want to be a laid-back slacker, true, but in her past life she'd fought her way into a top-tier university. She simply couldn't accept ending this life with only a primary school education. So, she'd take the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education exam and go to university again. And there was no way she could skip school—the Lin family wouldn't allow it.
"Grandmother, let's have a private tutor, picking up where I left off," Lin Haoyu decided quickly.
Lin Lizhen said with satisfaction, "No rush. Wait until you're better to study. I remember your grades were quite good—take next year's exam."
Lin Haoyu forced a smile. So her grandmother had already decided for her—she never had a say in the first place.
Lin Haoyu had barely returned with Sun Shuhui when Feng Anhua's jade Buddha and Sun Fengyi's gold Buddha arrived right behind her. Then Lin Lizhen sent the steward over with a box of gorgeous gold jewelry, so dazzling it nearly blinded Lin Haoyu. The steward said it was from Lin Zhenhua.
"Your grandfather wouldn't bother with such trifles—it must have been your grandmother's doing," Sun Shuhui said the moment the steward left.
Lin Haoyu's lips curved up high as she stood before the mirror, holding up the new gold jewelry. Who said gold was tacky? These pieces were absolutely stunning!
Her grandmother, Madam Lin Lizhen, certainly knew how to win people over. After accepting that box of gold jewelry, the lingering irritation of being arranged for vanished completely.
Gold truly corrupts the heart. Thinking this, Lin Haoyu switched to another exquisitely designed gold necklace.
Hmm, she hoped the corruption would come even stronger, hehe.