23 – Chapter 23
The Two Daughters of the Lin Family
This incident involving Lin Jinyi was no accident. A Tao had long noticed Wang Ling and her daughter staring at her with those terrifying eyes—outwardly appearing harmonious and friendly, yet secretly brewing some malicious scheme.
Once again feeling the original host’s lingering resentment, A Tao quickly soothed the emotions.
Upon hearing rumors that Lin Jinyi intended to imitate her rose petal baths, A Tao retrieved the poison she had discovered under Wang Ling’s bed—the same substance that had been consistently added to the original host Lin Xiantao’s meals—and sprinkled it over the rose petals.
The servants always wore gloves while collecting petals, but Lin Jinyi’s bathing involved direct skin contact. Moreover, driven by greed, Lin Jinyi soaked for over three hours. Even if the toxins didn’t fully penetrate her body, they were bound to have some effect, weren’t they?
Sure enough, Lin Jinyi fell ill.
She remained hospitalized for many days without returning home.
However, Old Master Lin’s 70th birthday was approaching.
The Lin family held significant status in Rongcheng, and Old Master Lin was a respected figure. According to Lin Weiguang’s wishes, this milestone celebration couldn’t be treated casually—it had to be grandly organized, inviting all the prominent figures of Rongcheng for a lively gathering.
Additionally, since no proper homecoming banquet had been held for the younger daughter’s return, this birthday celebration would serve as the formal introduction of the Second Young Miss Lin to all of Rongcheng.
Old Master Lin naturally agreed, and A Tao raised no objections, so the matter was settled.
When Lin Jinyi and Wang Ling learned of this from the hospital, they immediately grew restless.
Didn’t Lin Weiguang’s actions signify full acceptance of this country-bred daughter Lin Xiantao? He even seemed to value her immensely, clearly elevating her status above Lin Jinyi, who had lived in the Lin household for over a decade!
Yet this country girl had neither knowledge nor refinement—she was merely becoming slightly more presentable in appearance!
If the Lin family’s eldest daughter didn’t appear at such a grand banquet while the second daughter was being introduced, wouldn’t it indirectly signal to Rongcheng’s elite that the non-biological Lin Jinyi was being sidelined? How would she ever marry well after that?
Wang Ling also knew her relationship with her biological daughter was beyond repair after all she had done. Now she could only rely on this adopted daughter.
If her adopted daughter married poorly, Wang Ling’s own future would likely be bleak, especially since Old Master Lin already disapproved of her…
Thus, the mother and daughter conspired—they absolutely had to attend this birthday banquet.
On the day of Old Master Lin’s celebration, Lin Jinyi left the hospital. Though late spring had brought warm weather, she—who would normally have worn a strapless gown to flaunt her figure and beauty while mocking Lin Xiantao as a country bumpkin—was determined to show Rongcheng which daughter truly embodied the Lin family’s elegance!
Instead, she appeared in a black women’s suit and gloves, leaving only her face exposed while covering every other inch of skin.
Even her face required professional concealer and multiple layers of foundation to mask the pitted scars and blemishes.
With her features no longer what they once were, the heavy makeup made her appear stiff under the banquet hall’s lights, even carrying a hint of vulgarity despite her formal attire.Compared to A Tao in her pink dress, she appeared both old-fashioned and peculiar.
The birthday banquet had already begun. Old Master Lin stood on the stage, holding A Tao with his left hand and Lin Jinyi with his right, under the gaze of a thousand guests.
“These are my two granddaughters. Everyone should be familiar with my eldest granddaughter, Lin Jinyi. As for my younger granddaughter, she has only recently returned to Rong City, so many of you may not know her well…”
Old Master Lin spoke eloquently on stage, praising A Tao for half an hour without pause.
The guests below showed no impatience. They had already gathered in small groups, chatting about this Second Young Miss Lin.
“I remember seeing this Second Miss over a month ago. If no one told me she was the Lin family’s biological daughter, I’d have thought she was an orphan fleeing famine—so thin she was just skin and bones, barely human!”
“Indeed, I saw her too. How could she have changed so much in such a short time? Could she have been swapped?”
“Don’t joke about that. Look carefully, you can still see traces of her former self—the flat nose, the small eyes.”
“It’s not as bad as you say. Her nose is alright, and her eyes aren’t that small anymore. Though her features aren’t particularly delicate, her aura and presence are like that of a born princess!”
“Hahaha, true enough. Compared to those identical plastic surgery faces, this natural look is much more pleasing!”
“But the Eldest Miss looks different too—almost uglier? There’s something odd about her, as if she just stepped out of some nightclub…”
“Shh, you shouldn’t say such things recklessly.”
“It seems the Lin family’s marriage threshold will be overwhelmed! With no sons in the Lin family, the inheritance will eventually go to these two daughters. Even when the Second Miss was still homely, the Ji family arranged a marriage with her, didn’t they? Now that the engagement is off and the Second Miss has become so presentable, tsk tsk tsk…”
It wasn’t just the older folks who loved gossip; even the young scions were equally engaged.
“The look in Second Miss Lin’s eyes is utterly enchanting! If her features score 50 points, those eyes alone deserve 100—no, 120 points!”
“With such captivating eyes, it’s a pity her face isn’t more striking.”
“Isn’t Second Miss Lin only eighteen? Perhaps she hasn’t fully matured yet? She’s still quite petite—I think she might grow more.”
“What? Already smitten? Have your father propose then! The engagement between the Second Miss and the Ji family is off, isn’t it?”
“But what about her and Duan Yuan—”
“Ah, what proper young lady would truly marry a mad blind man? I hear he’s sickly too—completely unsuitable!”
“Heh heh heh…”
Ji Sicheng stood below the stage, watching as everyone seemed fixated on Second Miss Lin, their faces filled with excitement and desire. He couldn’t help but feel tense.
Before, Lin Xiantao had clearly liked him. It made no sense that in just over a month, she’d act as if she didn’t know him.
Could she really be interested in that blind man from the Duan family?
The Duan family’s eldest son wasn’t just blind—he was sinister and ruthless, carrying an air of misfortune. He’d caused his mother’s death at birth and several nannies’ deaths in his childhood.
Who would dare marry him?
It would be sheer recklessness!
After pondering deeply, Ji Sicheng soon concluded: Second Miss Lin must still be holding a grudge over his closeness to the Eldest Miss and was deliberately giving him the cold shoulder.
She was probably playing hard to get!