In the Lin family, the kitchen was considered a man’s domain women didn’t cook.
Lin Tianxin clung tightly to her mother’s arm, acting especially clingy.
Lin’s mother patted the back of her hand, her eyes full of doting affection. She lightly tapped her forehead with her fingertip. “You child, you’re already a daughter-in-law of the Lu family and still this clingy. When you have your own child in the future, will you still cling to me like this?”
Lin Tianxin snuggled closer into her arms, rubbing her nose against the familiar cotton fabric of her mother’s clothes, her voice soft and sweet. “I’ll always be Mom’s little padded jacket. Of course I’ll love my own child, but I’ll always cling to you.”
She didn’t even know if she was already pregnant. Maybe after last night’s intense passion, she might already be carrying Lu Ye’s child.
Or maybe not her body had always been delicate; it might not be easy for her to conceive.
Her fingers gently traced her mother’s wrist, feeling the steady pulse beneath. Warmth filled her heart only when her mother had been on her deathbed in her past life had she dared to be this openly close. Now, every moment together felt too precious to let go.
“You sweet talker.” Lin’s mother laughed, smoothing the loose strands of hair on her forehead. Noticing the redness at the corners of her eyes, she sighed softly. “Why are you so teary after coming back? Is it because Lu Ye isn’t home and you feel lonely staying at the Lu house?”
“Not at all.” Lin Tianxin shook her head quickly, changing the subject. Looking up at the faint lines at the corners of her mother’s eyes, she smiled. “It’s actually better when Lu Ye isn’t home.”
Inwardly, she added: If Lu Ye were home, she probably wouldn’t even have gotten out of bed yet. With his stamina and build last night, even while restraining himself, the veins in his arms had bulged, and she still ended up crying for quite a while.
Lu Ye was both rough and shameless forcing her to cry out, then silencing her with kisses, his hands leaving not a single spot on her body untouched.
Especially her waist and chest marked with his fingerprints.
From the kitchen came the clattering of pots and pans, mixed with Lin Guangzhuo’s loud complaints: “Dad, your knife skills are terrible! These potato shreds are thicker than chopsticks!”
Lin’s father’s low laughter followed. “You brat, stop nitpicking. If you burn the dish later, see how I deal with you.”
Leaning against her mother’s shoulder, listening to the familiar lively noise, Lin Tianxin couldn’t help but smile.
She tightened her grip on her mother’s hand and said softly, “Mom, I’ll come back often to keep you company go shopping with you, eat with you, okay?”
Lin’s mother patted her hand, her eyes full of satisfaction. “Alright, alright. As long as you’re doing well and come back to visit often, that’s enough for me. But married couples should live together. I still think you should go with him to the army if Lu Ye is there to take care of you, I’ll feel at ease.”
Lin Tianxin immediately pouted and burrowed deeper into her mother’s arms, sounding playfully aggrieved. “Mom! You’re taking his side! You just wanted me back, and now you’re already pushing me to go with him. Don’t you love me anymore?”
“You silly girl, always talking nonsense.” Lin’s mother laughed, pinching her cheek. “How could I not love you? It’s because I care about you that I want you to live well with Lu Ye. If you stay alone at the Lu house, your father and I will keep worrying. If you’re by his side, someone will look after you we’ll be at ease.”
Just then, the sound of a car horn came from the courtyard gate, followed by her sister-in-law Su Qing’s gentle voice: “Dad, Mom, we’re back!”
Lin Tianxin’s eyes lit up. She jumped up from the sofa and ran to the door. Her elder brother Lin Qihai stood there in a crisp shirt, holding an old hen. Su Qing held his arm, carrying their one-year-old son, Lin Nian’an.
“Big Brother! Sister-in-law!” Lin Tianxin ran over happily, first taking the small bag from Su Qing, then looking at her little nephew’s delicate face, her heart melting. “Nian Nian, do you remember your aunt?”
Little Nian’an blinked his big round eyes, staring at her for a few seconds before suddenly reaching out his chubby hands, babbling as he leaned toward her.
Lin Qihai smiled warmly upon seeing his sister and patted her shoulder. “Why did you suddenly come back? Didn’t Lu Ye come with you?”
His temperament was calm and steady, unlike Lin Guangzhuo’s loudness. His question was full of concern.
Su Qing chimed in as well, handing the child to Lin’s mother and holding Lin Tianxin’s hands while looking her over. “You look well life at the Lu family must be good? Your mother-in-law treats you alright?”
“Big Brother, Sister-in-law, I’m doing very well,” Lin Tianxin said with a smile, warmth evident in her expression. “Lu Ye went on a mission. I missed Mom and Dad, so I came back.”
From the kitchen doorway, Lin Guangzhuo shouted, “Perfect timing! Come in and sit dinner’s almost ready! We made Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs, Tianxin’s favorite!”
Lin’s father wiped his hands and came out, taking the hen from Lin Qihai. “Weren’t you supposed to bring some meat for the in-laws? Why did you bring a whole chicken back?”
Su Qing smiled. “My mother raised several chickens and insisted we take one back. I told her it wasn’t necessary, but she wouldn’t listen.”
Lin’s father smiled. “Your mother put in a lot of thought. I’ll keep the chicken and stew it tomorrow.”
Looking at Su Qing, Lin Tianxin noticed her wheat-colored skin unlike the fair complexion of city women, she looked healthy and full of vitality.
In her previous life, when the Lin family was exiled, Su Qing, coming from the countryside, had taken great care of her parents. But they had lived in a cowshed, with poor conditions and not enough food. Her nephew had fallen ill and died during that time.
Su Qing couldn’t accept it and gradually lost her sanity.
Lin Tianxin felt deeply guilty toward this kind-hearted sister-in-law and her nephew.
Seeing Su Qing’s simple and gentle smile now, Lin Tianxin’s nose suddenly stung. She tightened her grip on her hand.
In her past life, her sister-in-law had suffered so much with the Lin family, losing all the vitality she once had. Her nephew’s death had been a lifelong pain, and at that time, Lin Tianxin had been too overwhelmed to even offer proper comfort.
Her eyes reddened quietly as she swore inwardly: in this life, she would protect her brother, sister-in-law, and nephew. She would never let that tragedy happen again.
She had to find a way to avoid their exile in advance. As long as she dealt with Xu Su, she could change both families’ fate.
In Lin’s mother’s arms, little Nian’an wriggled and reached out again toward Lin Tianxin, babbling, drool dripping from the corner of his mouth sticky but adorable.
Lin Tianxin quickly composed herself, smiling as she took him carefully, supporting his small body. “Good little chubby boy. Shall Auntie take you to see the flowers on the balcony?”
The little one giggled, his soft hands grabbing at her face, the gentle touch making her heart melt.
Looking into his clear eyes, she silently vowed: An’an, this time Auntie will protect you and make sure you grow up healthy.
The aroma from the kitchen had already spread sweet and sour ribs mixed with the fresh scent of stir-fried vegetables, making everyone’s appetite stir.
Lin Guangzhuo came out carrying a plate of golden crispy chicken wings. Seeing Lin Tianxin holding the child, he shouted, “Tianxin, give An’an back to Mom and wash your hands it’s time to eat! Today’s all your favorites!”
Lin Qihai walked over, noticing the redness in her eyes. “What’s wrong? Is something on your mind?”
Calm and perceptive, he had already sensed something was off.
Lin Tianxin shook her head, handing the child back to her mother and forcing a smile. “Nothing I just haven’t seen An’an in so long, I missed him. Big Brother, let’s eat. I’m hungry.”
She pulled Su Qing toward the dining table.
At the table, Lin’s father placed a piece of sweet and sour ribs into her bowl. “Try it your dad’s cooking hasn’t gotten worse, right?”
Not to be outdone, Lin Guangzhuo piled several chicken wings into her bowl. “And mine too better than Dad’s!”
Lin Qihai placed a piece of lean meat into Su Qing’s bowl and served Lin Tianxin a bowl of soup. “Drink more soup build up your strength.”