Lin Tingyue and Lin Xiawan had been dropped off by Uncle Zhang, who told them to call him when they wanted to go home so he could pick them up.
Now that Lin Yuhuan was also heading back, Lin Tingyue and Lin Xiawan could just ride with him, saving Uncle Zhang the trouble of making another trip.
The man in the back seat was noble and elegant, a perfect match for the jewelry in the trunk. Lin Tingyue tried to strike up a conversation with this model-like big brother: "Big brother, why were you at the jewelry store?"
Lin Yuhuan turned to look at Lin Tingyue. He had never been close with his siblings since childhood and didn't really know how to interact with them. Now that he knew Lin Tingyue wasn't his biological sister while Lin Xiawan was, he felt even more at a loss.
After some thought, he replied less coldly: "I was inspecting the jewelry store today. Mom found out and called me, asking me to take you both home."
[Ah, but why do I feel like big brother's presence earlier was more like he came to kill someone?]
Lin Xiawan couldn't help but glance sideways at the man leaning against the car window, steady and reserved.
Lin Yuhuan cleared his throat lightly, "Then the manager messaged me saying you were surrounded by some shady characters."
[Shady characters? No no, it was big sister and little brother!]
Lin Yuhuan: "…"
Lin Tingyue stared at the suddenly silent Lin Yuhuan and asked: "Big brother, what's wrong?"
Lin Yuhuan raised a fist to his lips and said: "Fortunately, both of you are fine."
[Not just fine, we even got to eat some explosive melons! This trip was totally worth it.]
Just as the car passed by a fruit store, Lin Yuhuan looked at the emerald green watermelons and had an idea: "How about we buy some watermelons to eat at home?"
Lin Tingyue: "Huh?"
…
Lin Rusong returned right after Lin Yuhuan and the others. Bai Yaxin had Zhang Ma prepare to serve the meal and said to Lin Tingyue: "Tingyue, go call your second brother down for dinner."
Lin Tingyue replied obediently: "Okay."
Thus she sharpened her knives and headed for second brother.
Lin Rusong quietly approached Bai Yaxin, pointed at Lin Tingyue's retreating back, and asked: "Is this really okay?"
Bai Yaxin didn't even look up, "What's the problem? Tingyue likes to play, just let her have her fun. If Xiawan wants to play too, she can join."
Lin Xiawan shook her head.
Play what?
Second brother?
Completely unaware of what they were discussing, Lin Tingyue had already arrived at the first-floor elevator – indeed, wealthy families have elevators. She couldn't understand why everyone insisted on using the stairs.
Especially second brother – every time he took the stairs, his retreating figure looked utterly miserable and dejected.
[Please analyze the function of the stairs here.]
Lin Shengyan's room was on the third floor. Lin Tingyue raised her hand and knocked. Lin Shengyan opened the door with messy bed hair and zero regard for his image. The moment he saw Lin Tingyue at the door, he instantly woke up, his throat tightening: "What is it?"
Should he tell this sister that he really couldn't handle any more blows?
Lin Tingyue chuckled twice: "Second brother, your look is… quite unique."
[To the extent that fans would immediately unfollow if they saw it.]
Lin Shengyan immediately ran his hands through his hair, looking warily at Lin Tingyue, "Get to the point."
"Mom sent me up to call you down for dinner."
[Even though the goddess won't eat with you, you still need to eat by yourself.]
Lin Shengyan: "…"
Truly impossible to guard against, utterly impossible to guard against!
When Lin Shengyan followed Lin Tingyue downstairs, he simply put on his hat, plugged in his earphones, and turned the music volume to maximum. He thought this would help him avoid hearing Tingyue's inner thoughts, but…
Who could tell him why it became dual-channel audio!!!
Tingyue's voice merged with the music he was playing… seriously unbelievable, as if someone was providing background music for Lin Tingyue.
At that moment, a particularly intense song happened to play randomly, making even Tingyue's voice inexplicably intense.
Lin Shengyan: "…"
Lin Shengyan resignedly took off his earphones and continued walking, but was stopped by Tingyue.
Lin Tingyue reminded him: "Second Brother, there's an elevator."
Lin Shengyan sneered: "It's only the third floor, why take the elevator?"
【Of course because I'm lazy! If I can sit, I'll never stand; if I can lie down, I'll never sit; if I can take the elevator, I'll never take the stairs!】
Lin Shengyan: )
Lin Tingyue, what exactly are you so proud of? Being this lazy is truly rare.
In the end, Tingyue took the elevator while Lin Shengyan still chose the stairs.
【I've attained enlightenment, Master! Second Brother wants to show me that his devotion to his goddess is as unwavering as his determination to take the stairs without hesitation – eternal and unchanging.】
【Stairs really are useful – they make it more convenient for Second Brother to maintain his devoted second male lead persona.】
Genius, you can be discharged now, Lin Tingyue. Lin Shengyan gritted his teeth, really wanting to ask: Would falling down the stairs kill you?
Tingyue arrived before Lin Shengyan. By the time Lin Shengyan reached the dining room, everyone was already seated, all staring at him intently.
Lin Shengyan stiffened for a moment before saying: "Sorry to keep everyone waiting."
【Second Brother, no one was waiting for you. We were waiting for the final main course.】
Lin Shengyan turned around to see Zhang Ma passing by him, placing a seafood platter right in the center of the table.
The seafood platter looked tempting and indeed more appealing than him.
Lin Shengyan: "…"
Bai Yaxin couldn't help laughing as she smoothed down Lin Shengyan's sticking-up hair. "Lin Shengyan, since you rarely come back, make sure to eat more later."
Lin Shengyan grunted in agreement, thinking to himself that whatever Tingyue liked to eat later, he would snatch it all!
Bai Yaxin was very happy today with both her sons and daughters present. During the meal, she even drank a little wine. The only thing bothering her was: "I wonder how A-Ru is doing."
Lin Rusong had only just heard about this matter and frowned: "How did it escalate to cutting off relations?"
Bai Yaxin sighed: "You don't know… I was furious, let alone A-Ru… Well, it's just too complicated to explain."
Bai Yaxin could understand Zhao Ru. Zhao Ru's parents passed away a few years ago, leaving her younger sister as her only relative. If her own son actually had such feelings toward his aunt…
Bai Yaxin couldn't imagine it and felt a chill. She began to worry, "I know A-Ru's character well. We've been playing together since we were five. How could she give birth to someone like Mingning?"
Lin Tingyue caught the key point.
【That's right, Aunt Zhao is so good, but Yun Mingning isn't like her at all. Could it be that Yun Mingning isn't Aunt Zhao's biological son?】
Ding – the sound of Bai Yaxin's spoon falling into her bowl.
Seeing this, Lin Rusong quickly said, "Ah-Xin, you're really something. If you wanted me to serve you soup, you should have just said so."
Lin Rusong took Bai Yaxin's bowl and served her another bowl of soup. Looking at his children who were watching, he said, "Pretty observant, right? Back when your mother and I got together, it was all thanks to me…"
Once Lin Rusong started talking, he couldn't stop. Bai Yaxin couldn't help but glare at him, and only then did he quiet down.
【Mom and Dad are really loving towards each other. In contrast, Aunt Zhao's situation isn't so good.】
Bai Yaxin pricked up her ears. What did she mean by "not so good"?
Lin Tingyue was scrolling through her phone. Bai Yaxin placed two abalones on Lin Tingyue's plate.
"Thank you, Mom."
【Wuwuwuwu Mom is so good to me. Aunt Zhao is also very good to me—she gave me a beautiful necklace. Since Mom and Aunt Zhao are such good friends, I should tell Mom about Aunt Zhao raising someone else's son.】
Huh?
Bai Yaxin stared blankly. Was Yun Mingning really not Zhao Ru's biological child?
Everyone at the table exchanged uneasy glances.
Lin Tingyue, unaware of the tense atmosphere, continued scrolling through her phone while biting her fork.
【So Aunt Zhao's husband is a phoenix man. That explains it. Aunt Zhao married beneath her station, and with the Zhao family's help, the Ming family gradually improved their circumstances. But such phoenix men are inherently greedy—they're never satisfied.】
【Aunt Zhao thought her husband was sincere towards her. Over the years, they've treated each other with respect. Back when Aunt Zhao had a difficult childbirth and was hospitalized, she actually gave birth to a girl. That wretched man, worried that the Zhao family wouldn't pass their wealth to a granddaughter, sent the girl away and replaced her with a relative's son.】
【Seriously? If they're not giving it to their granddaughter, would they give it to you, a live-in son-in-law?】
Bai Yaxin nearly snapped her spoon in half. When Zhao Ru had her difficult childbirth, her parents happened to be on a business trip abroad. Bai Yaxin had rushed to the hospital upon receiving the news to accompany her.
She and Zhao Ru's husband had been busy running around the whole time. After Zhao Ru successfully gave birth, Bai Yaxin had stepped away briefly to retrieve some soup Zhang Ma had brought to the front of the hospital building. She never expected—never expected that wretched man would seize the opportunity to pull such a stunt.
How dare he bully her best friend like this! Bai Yaxin gritted her teeth, wishing she could tear that hypocrite Yun Yongchang to pieces right then and there.
But she restrained herself, preparing to listen further.
【After Aunt Zhao's parents passed away, the Zhao family was left with only two daughters. The family's assets were split equally between them. That wretched man plans to stage a car accident, making it look like Aunt Zhao died accidentally, so he can swallow her half of the inheritance as her son-in-law. Oh my god, how is this any different from devouring a family with no male heirs?】
Reading this, Lin Tingyue lost her appetite for the abalones.
【I have to help Aunt Zhao!】
【Huh?】
Lin Tingyue looked up and saw Bai Yaxin push back her chair, stand up, and storm out of the dining room.
Her demeanor somewhat resembled that of her elder brother when he had returned from the jewelry store earlier.
Is this what they call mother-son resemblance?
Lin Tingyue thought Bai Yaxin would return, but instead, she saw her grab her purse and head straight out.
Puzzled, Lin Tingyue asked, "What's wrong with Mom?"
Lin Rusong gently explained for Bai Yaxin, "Your mother feels that for something as important as severing mother-son ties, she should be there to support your Aunt Zhao."
Lin Tingyue nodded.
【Is this what they call heartwarming friendship between best friends?】
["Mom's good, Aunt Zhao's good, the damn man's bad!"]
But the next moment, Lin Rusong also stood up.
Lin Tingyue: "?"
She asked, "Then what about you, Dad?"
Lin Rusong said, "Your mother and I have always been inseparable."
For heaven's sake, Yun Yongchang actually dared to kill his wife—what if he targeted Bai Yaxin?
Lin Yuhuan and Lin Xiawan shared the same concern.
So in the end, the entire Lin family went to the Ming residence.