The next morning, the Lin residence had already become lively before the sun was even high.
Servants moved back and forth faster than usual.
The flowers in the living room had been replaced with fresh ones, the curtains were opened wider to let in more light, and even the room fragrance had been sprayed too strong, leaving a sharp scent in the air.
Father Lin was coming home today.
Lady Su wore a soft ivory dress that had clearly been chosen with care.
Her hair was styled neatly, and her morning makeup looked more flawless than usual.
On the other side of the living room, Lin Xue kept checking her reflection on her phone screen while fixing the ends of her hair.
Qingyu stood in her room, listening to all the commotion without much reaction.
She had changed early that morning.
A white blouse and a simple long skirt made her look fresher.
Her face was still pale, but she no longer looked gravely ill like she had a few days ago.
On the small table beside her bed, the warm herbal drink Auntie Yue had brought was still giving off thin steam.
Qingyu drank it.
The bitterness was light, followed by warmth spreading through her chest and stomach.
After several days, this body had begun accepting herbs more smoothly.
She drew in a slow breath and adjusted the flow of qi inside her body, just enough to calm the Dragon Point so it would not feel too active.
She could not look too different.
Too much improvement would only attract attention.
From downstairs, the sound of a car entering the front yard reached her ears.
Qingyu opened her eyes.
At last, Lin Qingyu’s father had arrived.
A few seconds later, the front door opened.
The heavy, steady footsteps of a man sounded from the foyer.
“Dad!”
Lin Xue immediately ran forward.
Lady Su followed with the gentle smile she had prepared perfectly since morning.
Qingyu walked out of her room and stopped at the end of the second-floor stairs.
From above, she could see the man who had just entered very clearly.
Lin Feng was not very old.
His face carried the exhaustion of someone used to moving between meetings, business trips, and company pressure.
His suit was neat, his hair a bit messy from the long journey, and faint shadows beneath his eyes showed a lack of sleep.
His eyes were sharp, though exhaustion had worn away most of their warmth.
He gave Lin Xue a brief hug before patting her shoulder gently.
“You’ve grown taller,” he said with a small smile.
Lin Xue immediately laughed in a spoiled manner.
“Dad only noticed now?”
Lady Su approached and helped take the coat from his hand.
“You must be tired.”
Lin Feng gave a small nod.
“The flight was more tiring than usual.”
Lady Su touched his arm, the gesture looking natural, though too measured to feel truly sincere.
“Have you eaten breakfast?”
“A little on the plane.”
Then, in the middle of their conversation, Lin Feng’s eyes moved toward the stairs.
Qingyu was still standing there.
For a brief moment, something shifted in his expression.”
His gaze stopped for a fraction of a second, like someone suddenly realizing something had changed in a place that had become too familiar to him.
“Qingyu,” he called softly.
Qingyu descended the stairs one step at a time with steady, unhesitating steps.
She paused on the last step before walking closer.
“Father.”
Only one simple word.
Yet the living room suddenly felt much quieter.
Lady Su quickly smiled to cover the tension.
“Qingyu has improved a lot these past few days.
I’m truly relieved.”
Lin Feng did not answer right away.
His gaze remained on Qingyu.
He noticed her neater hair, the color in her face that was no longer quite so pale, and the way she stood without needing to hold on to anything.
“You can walk by yourself now?”
Qingyu nodded.
“I tried to rest more.”
A small trace of relief appeared on Lin Feng’s face before he could hide it.
“Good.”
His hand lifted and touched the top of Qingyu’s head for a brief moment, like a father who had long forgotten how to behave around his own daughter.
Qingyu stayed still.
The touch was light, but something still moved faintly inside her chest.
Lin Qingyu’s memories of her father were not many.
Most were only brief fragments: small gifts brought back from business trips, the sound of footsteps late at night, or a large hand that had once carried her when she was little.
Lin Feng turned his face away for a moment, holding back something that had almost surfaced in his eyes, before looking at Qingyu again.
“I brought someone with me,” he said.
The front door, which had not been fully closed, opened again.
A young girl entered while carrying a small bag in her hand.
She looked nervous.
Her clothes were simple, her hair tied neatly, and the way she stood was too straight, like a new student afraid of making a mistake.
“This is Xiao Lan,” Lin Feng said.
“Starting today, she will help take care of Qingyu.”
The room fell silent for a fraction of a second.
Lady Su was still smiling, but the smile no longer reached her eyes.
“Oh?” she said lightly.
“We actually already have enough servants in the house.”
Lin Xue also turned her head fast.
A new servant… specifically for Qingyu?
“I’ve already decided.”
Lin Feng’s replied was not loud, but clear enough to leave no room for argument.
Xiao Lan immediately bowed.
“Good morning, Sir, Madam.
Good morning, Miss Lin Xue… and good morning, Miss Qingyu.”
Her voice trembled at the end.
Qingyu observed the girl for a few seconds.
She was probably not much older than Lin Qingyu.
But her eyes looked alert and quick to read the situation around her.
“Good morning,” Qingyu replied with a small nod.
Then she turned to Lin Feng.
“Thank you, Father.”
This time, Lin Feng truly looked a little surprised.
Qingyu rarely spoke that much in the living room.
She often avoided even eye contact.
His daughter still seemed quiet.
But something about that quietness had changed.
Xiao Lan glanced at Qingyu for a split second before hurriedly lowering her head again.
Lin Xue narrowed her eyes faintly.
Her dislike was immediately obvious.
Lady Su continued maintaining her calm expression while gripping the edge of her dress a little tighter.
“Xiao Lan,” Lin Feng said again, “Auntie Yue will explain the house rules to you later.”
He turned slightly.
“Auntie Yue.”
The woman immediately appeared from the direction of the kitchen.
“Yes, Master.”
“Please prepare a room for Xiao Lan.”
“Yes, Master.”
Xiao Lan bowed again.
“Thank you, Master.”
Auntie Yue gave the girl a small gesture, signaling her to follow toward the back.
Before leaving, Xiao Lan glanced at Qingyu again.
Curious, yet cautious.
Once they left, Lady Su immediately moved closer to Father Lin again with her gentle smile.
“You must be hungry,” she said.
“I already asked the kitchen to prepare your favorite dishes.”
Lin Feng nodded.
“Let’s eat together.”
A few minutes later, they moved to the dining room.
Today, the table was much fuller than usual.
Warm soup, steamed fish, stir-fried vegetables, honey-sauce chicken, and several other dishes were neatly arranged along the long table.
Qingyu sat to Lin Feng’s left, Lady Su sat to his right, and Lin Xue sat beside her mother.
Since sitting down, Lin Feng had unconsciously glanced at Qingyu several times.
He did not seem impressed merely because of her new appearance, but because of the small, difficult-to-explain changes in her.
Qingyu ate more than usual.
She ate quietly, her movements calm and steady.
Her back was straight.
There was no longer any refusal to eat because of illness.
“You’ve started to have an appetite again,” Lin Feng suddenly commented.
Qingyu lifted her gaze.
“My body feels better.”
“Good.”
Lady Su smiled while scooping soup.
“I told you the same yesterday.
Qingyu really has improved a lot.”
Lin Feng nodded, but his eyes had not left Qingyu.
Then, without warning, he said,
“Tomorrow, I’ll take you to the hospital.”
Qingyu’s hand paused briefly above the table.
Lady Su immediately turned toward him.
“For what?” she asked too quickly before smiling again.
“I mean… Qingyu is already much healthier now.”
“I want the doctor to examine her condition directly,” Lin Feng replied.
“I don’t want to only hear reports.”
His tone did not allow the subject to be redirected.
“I want to see her progress myself.”
The words landed heavily on the dining table.
Lin Xue also fell silent.
Lady Su smiled faintly, but her jaw had begun to tense.
“Of course,” she finally said.
“If that will put you at ease.”
Lin Feng then turned toward the back.
Xiao Lan had just returned and was standing not far from the dining room entrance.
“You’ll come along tomorrow,” he said to her.
Xiao Lan was startled.
“Y-yes, Master.”
“Help Qingyu while we’re at the hospital.”
“Yes.”
Qingyu caught the slight change in Lady Su’s expression when she heard that.
She looked like someone slowly losing control over her own house.
From the corner of the room, Auntie Yue stood quietly as usual.
But when their eyes briefly met, the woman gave her a small nod.
Qingyu looked back at her father.
“Alright, Father,” she replied softly.
This time, a small smile appeared on her face.
Very faint, almost invisible.
But enough to make Lin Feng fall silent for several seconds.
And enough to make Lady Su secretly clench the fabric of her dress beneath the dining table.