Lin Haoyu couldn't avoid this gathering of the Lin siblings. In the past, when her health was poor, she was never included in such gatherings. Now that she had mostly recovered, Sun Shuhui and Lin Lizhen would not allow her to be absent.
Lin Haoyu had no intention of skipping it. It was rare for all the siblings to come together—it would be like satellites colliding with Earth, sparks flying everywhere. She had been bored stiff while recovering, so this was the perfect chance to join in the fun.
Lin Kangrui, who had been grumbling about being bored, was shoved into going by Sun Shuhui, who also assigned him the important task of looking after his elder sister Lin Haoyu.
Sun Shuhui earnestly instructed them: "You two just go to make up the numbers. Watch how the cousins from the first and second branches fight among themselves. If they try to drag you into it, ignore them. It won't reach you anyway."
Sun Shuhui was a contradictory person. On one hand, she was disappointed that her children weren't more ambitious; on the other, she was terrified that the first and second branches would drag them into trouble. She didn't want them joining the inheritance struggle, but she was undoubtedly a loving mother who protected her children.
"Got it." Lin Kangrui looked thoroughly annoyed.
Lin Haoyu put on an obedient expression: "Mommy, I'll listen to you."
Lin Kangrui let out a disdainful snort.
Sun Shuhui glared at Lin Kangrui, then hugged Lin Haoyu and called her a good daughter.
Lin Kangrui was forced to obediently follow Lin Haoyu to the gathering. Lin Haoyu wasn't surprised to find that Lin Haoxin and Lin Haofei had already arrived. The two elder sisters sat facing each other, each wearing an expression more aloof and elegant than the other. As for the three male cousins from the first and second branches, there was no sign of them. Where was the liveliness of a sibling gathering?
The moment Lin Haoyu and Lin Kangrui appeared, Lin Haoxin immediately stood up, a warm smile on her face: "Haoyu and Kangrui are here! Come sit over here—I've prepared tea snacks you both like."
Lin Haofei sneered at Lin Haoxin: "So fake!" Then she turned to Lin Haoyu and her brother, her face instantly switching to a smile: "Sixth sister, seventh brother, come sit beside me. It's rare for everyone to sit down together today. Would you like something fresh? I've already instructed the kitchen—whatever you want, they can make it and send it over right away."
Lin Haoyu was momentarily stunned, then found it both amusing and exasperating. Just to outdo each other, Lin Haoxin and Lin Haofei had actually lowered themselves to curry favor with the fourth branch's siblings. Lin Haoyu felt no sense of being flattered. Even Lin Kangrui, who was easily fooled by his sisters, understood that the two cousins weren't sincere, so both of them reacted with indifference.
"Grandmother asked Fourth Sister and Fifth Sister to arrange the gathering. Kangrui and I will follow whatever Fourth Sister and Fifth Sister arrange." Lin Haoyu said with a faint smile.
When Lin Kangrui saw Lin Haoyu about to sit down, he instinctively reached out to steady her. Then he immediately regretted it and angrily slapped his own hand.
Lin Haoyu noticed this and laughed inwardly. She casually pulled Lin Kangrui to sit on the same sofa as her.
In the first round, Lin Haoxin and Lin Haofei had achieved nothing. The two exchanged another round of murderous glares before temporarily calling a truce.
"Sixth sister, I heard Grandmother hired a new tutor for you?" Lin Haoxin was still focusing her attention on Lin Haoyu. There was no way she would be the first to speak to Lin Haofei—whoever spoke first lost!
Lin Haoyu thought about her studies. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly, then quickly relaxed: "The previous tutor couldn't find time, so Grandmother chose another one for me."
Lin Haoxin smiled: "It's a student from Hong Kong Chinese University, right? I might know them."
Lin Haoyu mentioned the tutor's name, and Lin Haoxin did indeed know her. She immediately said it was her junior, and told Lin Haoyu that if she had any problems with her studies, she could come to her, and she could also help communicate with the junior about Lin Haoyu's academic progress.
"Thank you, Fourth Sister. I'll come to you if anything comes up." Lin Haoyu said politely. Her studies were actually fine. Although Hong Kong's textbooks differed from the mainland's, knowledge was universal. She had the original owner's memories, which made learning twice as efficient and lightning fast.
Lin Haoyu had tried her best to slow down, but the study habits she'd developed over many years in her previous life carried over to this one. Once she started studying, she had to give it her all. She couldn't relax even a little, couldn't fool herself in the slightest, and couldn't change that. And since the original owner had once collapsed from studying too hard, she certainly couldn't treat her academics carelessly. Fortunately, she wouldn't burn the midnight oil—she just studied according to her daytime plan, and once she was done, she put the books away without lingering.
"Sixth sister, Fifth Sister still hopes you can get into Hong Kong University. Hong Kong University is better—even just its history program is something Chinese University can't compare to. I have many friends at Hong Kong University. If you want to learn more about it, Fifth Sister can take you there to visit and meet some new friends." Lin Haofei raised her chin triumphantly.
Lin Haoxin said unhurriedly: "Hong Kong University has a long history and is indeed Hong Kong's pride. But Hong Kong Chinese University is no slouch either—its facilities are very advanced. Grandfather has deep ties with Chinese University and has sponsored many students in the design department to continue their studies."
Lin Haofei couldn't stay triumphant anymore.
Lin Haoyu's gaze swept over Lin Haoxin with a hint of surprise. Reading between the lines, compared to Lin Haoxin, Lin Haofei was clearly a notch below in caliber. Lin Haoxin's decision to attend university wasn't merely for academic pursuits—it was also to build connections, and perhaps she'd even considered what would please Lin Zhenhua.
Lin Zhenhua placed great importance on his descendants' education. Among Lin Haoyu's generation, while not every one of them possessed a naturally brilliant mind, the Lin family had hired renowned tutors when the children were young, layering solid and sturdy stepping stones even for ordinary intellects. One by one, they'd all gained admission to prestigious schools. Lin Kangzong and Lin Kangyao had graduated from top foreign universities, Lin Kangjie was about to graduate from a prestigious American university, and Lin Haoxin had originally been expected to follow her elder brothers' path and study abroad—but she chose to stay in Hong Kong. Lin Haofei, in order to keep a close watch on Lin Haoxin, also remained in Hong Kong. Even Lin Kangrui, who skipped classes and got into fights, had respectable grades—otherwise, Lin Zhenhua would have long since taken the stick to him.
So even being born into the Lin family didn't spare you from the rat race. But the competition among wealthy heirs was a race with hope on the horizon, not the soul-crushing grind of the working class staring at a dead-end future.
Lin Haoyu picked up the freshly squeezed juice beside her and raised it toward Lin Haoxin and Lin Haofei—a toast to the queens of the grind. Haha.
Lin Haoxin and Lin Haofei were baffled, but they'd never understood Lin Haoyu anyway, so they didn't ask. Just then, Kang, Zong, Yao, and Jie walked in one after another, breaking the quiet of the room.
"Oh dear, a whole minute late—my apologies to my three little sisters and Seventh Brother. I just got a call from your future Second Sister-in-law, and she refused to hang up," Lin Kangyao said with a grin, settling gracefully onto the sofa across from Lin Haoyu and her brother. He looked them over. "Sixth Sister, now that you're in good health and full of vitality, you're getting prettier by the day. And Seventh Brother—have you been skipping class lately? Be careful Grandfather doesn't find out."
Lin Kangyao hadn't forgotten Lin Haoxin and Lin Haofei either. He showered them with a barrage of flattery, all smiles and charm. In an instant, the room was lively, filled with Lin Kangyao's voice—so much so that Lin Kangzong and Lin Kangjie, who had entered together with him, seemed to fade into the background.
"Third Brother, you came all the way back specifically for Second Brother's engagement—are things okay with your school and your professor?" Lin Haofei steered the conversation elsewhere.
Lin Kangjie's expression brightened considerably. "My thesis passed. When I go to the States, you can all come attend my graduation ceremony."
Lin Haofei's face lit up with joy. "That's wonderful! Third Brother, after you graduate and come back to Hong Kong, you're staying for good, right?"
Lin Kangjie said with measured composure, "That's right. Then I'll be able to contribute to the family as well."
"Congratulations to Third Brother on graduating successfully. Though I've already promised your future Second Sister-in-law a trip after the engagement, so I won't be able to attend your graduation ceremony—what a shame." Lin Kangyao not only didn't dampen the mood but offered his congratulations with apparent sincerity.
Lin Kangjie finally deigned to look directly at Lin Kangyao. "I didn't see Second Brother yesterday, so allow me to offer my congratulations on your engagement in person today." The sarcasm was dripping.
Lin Kangyao seemed not to notice the veiled mockery in his words, his smile unwavering. "Haha, congratulations all around—the Lin family is blessed with joy upon joy."
"Big Brother, you're the eldest of us all. Do you have anything you'd like to say to us?" Lin Haoxin dragged Lin Kangzong into the conversation.
Lin Kangzong, who had been sitting bolt upright like a statue, wore a sour expression. "I've got nothing to say. You all have your own agendas anyway—none of you truly accept me as your big brother."
Lin Haoyu, quietly enjoying the drama, lowered her head and surreptitiously pulled out a handkerchief, pressing it firmly over both corners of her mouth. Hold it in—don't laugh out loud!