As she spoke, she rolled up her sleeves, revealing a few bruises on her arms. They didn’t look severe, but they were enough to evoke sympathy. “I don’t have a single cent on me. I spent last night freezing under the bridge, and today I just couldn’t take it anymore, so I came to find Tianxin. We used to be so close… how come now you won’t even let me stay one night?”
On the surface, it sounded like a plea for sympathy, but it was actually an insinuation that Lin Tianxin was ungrateful.
Lin mother glanced at the bruises on Xu Su’s arms, then at Lin Tianxin, her eyes flickering with a hint of hesitation.
Lin Tianxin inwardly sneered. Those marks were obviously self-inflicted Xu Su had used this trick to gain sympathy many times in the past life.
But outwardly, Tianxin kept a troubled expression and said softly, “Xu Su, it’s not that I don’t care, but I have my own family. There really isn’t room for you to stay. I also have an older brother who isn’t married yet. If you moved in, what would people say about him finding a wife?”
Lin Guangzhuo silently agreed a hundred times. Ah, his little sister really cared, even thinking so considerately about him.
“What’s wrong with that?” Xu Su immediately replied, her voice quivering with tears. “I’m just a helpless orphan with nowhere to go so what if I stay one night? Does the Lin family’s rules forbid saving someone in need?” She said this deliberately to Lin mother, hoping to appeal to her sense of face and force her hand.
Lu’s mother’s expression darkened slightly, her tone colder. “Miss, you should know your limits. The Lin family values rules, yes, but also reason and decency but reason and decency are not to be manipulated. You claim to be desperate, yet you choose to come on Tianxin’s homecoming day. Are you really in trouble… or do you have other motives?”
Xu Su’s crying paused at Lu mother’s words, then she cried even harder. “I’m not! I’m just… just so scared, and with no friends, I instinctively came to Tianxin! Auntie, I beg you please pity me, just let me stay. I’ll do anything, wash your clothes, cook your meals I won’t eat or stay for free!”
Lin Guangzhuo’s expression darkened. “Don’t push your luck! I already said we’d take you to the police station shall I take you there?”
“No!” Xu Su’s neck stiffened, but her tears kept falling. “I only trust Tianxin. I know she won’t abandon me.”
With that, she actually plopped onto the ground, legs stretched out, throwing a tantrum-like pose.
Lin father frowned, his expression growing darker.
Lin mother glanced at the standoff and then at Lin Tianxin, and slowly spoke: “Tianxin, maybe ”
“No.” Lin Tianxin knew her mother wanted to soften and let Xu Su stay, but she wouldn’t let the past repeat itself.
In her previous life, leaving Xu Su in the house because of family compassion had led to her family being implicated and sent away. This time, she would drive Xu Su far away.
“Mom, my second brother isn’t married yet. If Xu Su stays here, what will the neighbors say?” Tianxin’s voice was low, but each word hit the mark. “They’ll say we took in a stranger. If word gets out, my brother’s marriage could be affected who would take responsibility for that?”
Lin Guangzhuo nodded. “Tianxin’s right. I’m still planning to marry. We can’t let people gossip.”
Xu Su didn’t expect Tianxin to use this as a shield. Panicked, she got up and tried to grab Lin mother’s hand. “Auntie, just one night I promise I won’t run away. No one will know!”
“No one will know?” Lin Tianxin sneered, her eyes scanning Xu Su’s shoes, which were still clean but dotted with mud. “You said you came from under the bridge, but this mud is from under the old locust tree in the alley. The mud under the bridge is dark brown it’s completely different. Where exactly did you come from?”
Xu Su instinctively recoiled.
Lu’s mother, ever perceptive, immediately chimed in: “Looks like the young lady isn’t telling the truth. Guangzhuo, how do the police deal with people who lie with ill intentions?”
Lin Guangzhuo straightened, putting on a stern face, his voice firm. “According to regulations, anyone who deliberately hides their whereabouts or fabricates lies to entangle others will be taken to the station for questioning. Their identity and motives will be verified. If suspicious circumstances are involved, strict measures will be taken!”
Her words hit Xu Su like a rock. Her face darkened. How had the Lin family become so smart? And Lin Tianxin wasn’t she always obedient? What was happening today?
Xu Su feared dealing with the police above all. Once taken to the station, her true identity and intentions would inevitably be exposed.
“I’m not lying!” Xu Su forced herself to defend. “I just passed by under the old locust tree, that’s why I got this mud on my shoes…”
“Passing by?” Lin Tianxin pressed on, her gaze ice-cold. “You claim to have spent the night freezing under the bridge, yet there’s no trace of grass or dew from under the bridge. Your hair looks messy, your clothes are torn, but you’re in good spirits. A frail girl sleeping under a bridge all night wouldn’t dare close her eyes how could you be so energetic?”
In her previous life, Xu Su had fooled her with this same pitiful act. Only after her whole family was sent away did she realize Xu Su was not only a spy but had long colluded with outsiders, using her family as cover to relay messages. She would never give Xu Su an opening again.
Lin mother now sensed something was off. Her earlier softness disappeared completely; she looked at Xu Su with a wary eye.
Lin father’s face turned iron-gray. He spoke sternly, “Miss, it really isn’t convenient for you to stay here. If you continue to insist, we’ll have no choice but to follow what Guangzhuo said.”
Xu Su was silenced by Tianxin’s relentless questioning. Her carefully maintained pitiful act broke down completely, a flash of resentment crossing her eyes.
Realizing that persisting would only lead to being taken to the station, she gritted her teeth, glared at Lin Tianxin, covered her face, and stumbled out of the yard.
Once the gate was securely closed, Lin Guangzhuo exhaled and said loudly, “This girl… she’s clearly trouble! If Tianxin hadn’t been so smart, we might have been fooled today!”
Lin mother patted her chest, still shaken. “Good thing your mother-in-law was here, and Tianxin was careful. I almost…”
Lu’s mother waved her hand, smiling. “We’re family no need for such formalities. Tianxin may look gentle, but she’s sharp. I like that about her.”
She took Lin Tianxin’s hand, patting it lightly, full of approval.
Lin Tianxin felt relieved and squeezed Lu mother’s hand back. “Mom, you reacted quickly otherwise, I really wouldn’t have known what to do.”
With the Xu Su drama over, the atmosphere in the house warmed again. Lu mother and Lin mother chatted on the sofa, moving from fabric patterns to daily household matters, talking like true sisters.
Lu mother shared childhood mishaps of Lu Ye, and Lin mother recounted Tianxin’s mischief, laughter echoing occasionally.
The kitchen was lively too. Lin father cooked, Lin Qihai assisted, and Lin Guangzhuo handed dishes. The father and sons bustled around the stove, the aroma of cooking oil filling the air a true sense of homely warmth.
“Dad, is the braised pork done? It smells amazing!” Lin Guangzhuo peeked around. Lin father patted the back of his head. “What’s the rush? Let your mother and auntie taste first.”
Lin Qihai sprinkled some scallions into the pot, glancing at his brother: “You’re just greedy. I’ll give you extra pieces later.”
Sister-in-law Su Qing held little Nian’an in the rattan chair, watching the harmonious scene with a tender smile.
Little Nian’an, excited by the lively scene, waved chubby hands and giggled.
Lin Tianxin went over, teasing her little nephew, feeling her heart soften as his tiny hands grasped her fingers.
Sunlight streamed through the window, falling warmly on everyone’s faces.
Tianxin looked at this scene her mother-in-law and mother chatting happily, her father and brothers busy in the kitchen, her sister-in-law holding the child and she felt the peace she had dreamed of in her previous life.
No schemes, no tragedy, just family by her side, and peaceful days.
Lu mother, noticing her gaze, smiled. “Look at this scene. Once Lu Ye comes back, he can show off some cooking skills too. Then we’ll just wait to eat.”
Lin Tianxin couldn’t help but smile, imagining Lu Ye cooking in an apron, her cheeks slightly flushed.
Yes when Lu Ye returns.
When he comes back, she will tell him about today, how wonderful the family is, and… she realized she was looking forward to living her life with him more and more.
From the kitchen came Lin Guangzhuo’s shout: “Dinner’s ready!”