Wang Xiujun, like a Sichuan opera performer, changed her expression in an instant.
She forced an awkward smile. “Yunchu, you child, you always make Mom worry so much. When I worry, my tone and temper get a little bad! Don’t be angry, alright?”
Lin Yunchu let out a cold laugh.
She ignored her completely.
Lin Keke glared at Lin Yunchu so hard she wanted nothing more than to slap her a few times.
Just moments ago she had been splashed with soup and food, and now she was openly ignoring both Wang Xiujun and her.
Old Master Si said nothing, only quietly observing the mother and daughter. He became even more certain of one thing—ever since Lin Keke returned, Wang Xiujun had clearly been mistreating Lin Yunchu a lot.
When there was no biological child around, she treated someone else’s child even better than her own.
But once her own child returned, she began mistreating the child she had raised.
“Xiao Wang, I was just discussing this with Yunchu. Since Zhiyan happens to be home, I invited her to stay at our place for a few days.”
Normally, inviting a young lady to stay at one’s home would be something the women of the Si family would handle. But circumstances were different—the old lady had passed away, his eldest daughter-in-law was on a business trip, and his second daughter-in-law had taken the little grandson back to her maternal home for a banquet. So he had no choice but to speak up himself.
Given Wang Xiujun’s attitude, Yunchu clearly could not stay here.
Taking her to the Si family home would also allow her to spend more time with Si Zhiyan.
Then, whether or not the marriage certificate was issued, she could still join the military family.
“…”
Wang Xiujun and Lin Keke were both shocked and immediately felt something was wrong.
Just what kind of spell had Lin Yunchu cast on Old Master Si for him to value her so highly?
“Yunchu going alone would be inconvenient. Why not let Keke go with her? They’re sisters; they can look after each other.”
Wang Xiujun quickly pushed Lin Keke forward.
“Grandpa Si, let Keke visit your home. I won’t go. I’m quite comfortable staying at the hotel. Besides, my friend is getting married in two days, so I need to help her.”
Lin Yunchu politely declined.
“You’re staying in a hotel?” Old Master Si asked.
A cold sweat broke out on Wang Xiujun’s back.
“Xiao Wang, an adopted daughter is still a daughter. A child you raised yourself—no matter what happens—you must treat her well. One must be kind.”
Old Master Si said earnestly.
“Yes, yes,” Wang Xiujun quickly agreed.
Each sentence sounded gentle, but to her ears, it felt like hammer blows.
There was no direct accusation, yet every word was an accusation.
She even felt that Old Master Si might use this as an excuse to call off the engagement.
“We treat Yunchu just like our biological daughter. She said she wanted to experience living in a hotel, so we let her stay out for a few days,” she said awkwardly, forcing a smile.
While speaking, she kept signaling Lin Yunchu with her eyes.
They had kicked her out, yet now she wanted her to give them an exit?
Lin Yunchu smiled sweetly and nodded. “Yes. Grandpa Si, my mom treats me very well. She said I can stay in a hotel as long as I want, and she’ll cover all the expenses. Right, Mom?”
Wang Xiujun’s smile froze, but she had no choice but to swallow her own words.
“Yes.”
“Thank you, Mom. I really like the Garden Hotel. I’d like to stay three more days. Please help me extend the payment later.”
Wang Xiujun stared at her as if she had swallowed a fly.
She had fallen into her trap again.
And the worst part was—it was a trap she herself had dug.
Lin Keke was so anxious she was nearly exploding, but with Old Master Si present, she could only hold it in.
Old Master Si was very satisfied with Wang Xiujun’s “attitude,” and the more he looked at Lin Yunchu, the more he liked her.
This girl was not foolish—she was very clever.
He had originally worried she might suffer losses, but now it was hard to say who would end up losing.
Soon after, he stood up and said goodbye. “Yunchu, it’s getting late. Go back to the hotel and rest early. If anything comes up, you can always come to Grandpa Si.”
After Old Master Si left, Wang Xiujun glared at her angrily.
“Mom, please help me pay the bill,” Lin Yunchu said with a half-smile.
Wang Xiujun stormed to the nearby Garden Hotel and paid forty-five yuan at the front desk.
Lin Keke’s face turned green with anger.
Earlier she had been humiliated and now, after changing clothes, she returned with her mother—only to end up losing another forty-five yuan to Lin Yunchu.
Forty-five yuan.
That was more than a month’s salary for most people.
She was supposed to be the Lin family’s real young lady, yet the one living in a hotel and spending fifteen yuan a day was Lin Yunchu.
“Don’t think that just because Old Master Si is backing you, you’re something special! This money wasn’t given for nothing. I’m giving you one chance—handle your job matter properly in the next two days. Otherwise…” Wang Xiujun’s eyes turned cold and murderous.
“Okay, thank you,” Lin Yunchu replied, pretending to tremble.
“And when you’re in front of Old Master Si, don’t say anything unnecessary! If you interfere again in the Lin–Si marriage, I won’t let you off!”
“Mom, I really didn’t interfere,” Lin Yunchu said pitifully. “Just now, Grandpa Si invited me to his house and I immediately refused. He also mentioned the marriage, and I clearly said I would not marry Si Zhiyan. If you don’t believe me, you can ask him.”
“That’s more like it.”
As long as she didn’t interfere and refused the marriage, Si Zhiyan would belong to Lin Keke.
“Handle the job tomorrow.”
“Alright.”
Only then did Wang Xiujun leave with Lin Keke.
“Mom, Grandpa Si likes Lin Yunchu so much… I feel uneasy,” Lin Keke said anxiously as they walked.
“What if he insists on it and directly takes their household registration book to the army to apply for the marriage certificate?”
Wang Xiujun patted her hand. “That’s impossible. Her household registration book is still at home. Without it, they can’t get the certificate.”
But Lin Keke still wasn’t reassured.
“Mom, I still feel like she’ll affect us.”
“As long as Old Master Si keeps favoring her, it will be hard for me and Si Zhiyan to get married.”
“He did meet me, but he doesn’t come to see me. It’s hard to build any relationship with him.”
“I know,” Wang Xiujun said coldly. “But this can’t be rushed. Once she transfers her job to you, I’ll have my ways to send her back to the countryside. If she doesn’t go… heh.”
She gave a cold laugh.
She had countless ways to deal with her.
If she didn’t handle the job transfer tomorrow, she would deal with her tomorrow.
If she did, she would wait until afterward.
Either way, she would not let her off.
Did she think she had taken advantage of her?
She would make her learn what it meant to spit back everything she swallowed.
“Go home first. I still have something to take care of at the hospital.”
After separating from Lin Keke, Wang Xiujun turned into a quiet alley.
She was going to find someone—someone who could help her deal with Lin Yunchu.