Wang Xiujun’s eyes widened. “Third Cousin, my dad is your uncle. He’s your elder. How can you talk to him like that?”
Wang Taihua trembled with anger. “I can see it now. Yi’an doesn’t like me as her uncle. She looks down on me because I’m not successful…”
Wang Yuehua rebuked him sternly, “What nonsense are you talking about? When has An’an ever looked down on you?”
Lin Yi’an said, “An uncle is just an uncle. He’s a relative, not part of my immediate family. I have no reason to look down on you. I just feel sorry for my mom. She’s already in her fifties, yet she still has to worry about her fifty-something baby brother. At your age, parents in the countryside would’ve stopped fussing over their children long ago. I never expected Uncle to still think of himself as the baby of the family, running to his big sister every time something happened…”
Wang Taihua’s face flushed crimson. “You… you…”
‘A baby? Who’s a baby?’
Lin Yi’an turned to Wang Xiujun. “Everyone should be the one to care about their own parents. If you don’t feel sorry for your aunt, then I’ll feel sorry for my own mother.”
Wang Xiujun hurriedly said, “It’s not that I don’t care about Auntie. I…”
Looking at her mother, Lin Yi’an said, “Mom, my brother, my sisters, and I are all grown up now. You’ve reached the age where you should be enjoying life. Stop thinking about everyone else all the time. They don’t lack anything. Love yourself a little more, and treat yourself a little better.”
Wang Yuehua’s eyes instantly reddened. Hugging her daughter tightly, she nodded repeatedly. “Okay, okay. I’ll love myself more. I’ll treat myself better.”
After finally regaining his composure, Wang Taihua called out, “Sis…”
Wang Yuehua looked at him. “What’s wrong? Am I not allowed to think about myself a little more? Am I not allowed to love myself a little more? Am I only supposed to worry about you and never spare a thought for myself?”
Wang Taihua wanted to say that he had never said she wasn’t allowed. He had only come to ask his sister to help them think of a solution. How had the conversation gone this far?
Before Lin Yi’an was found, he had been his sister’s family, her younger brother. Whenever he visited the Lin family, everyone treated him with courtesy. But ever since Lin Yi’an returned, every visit to the Lin residence had become unbearably uncomfortable. That Lin Yi’an was practically his nemesis.
He was so furious that after holding it in for a long while, he still couldn’t force out a single word.
Seeing him like that, Wang Yuehua became even more convinced that she had hit the nail on the head and that his guilty conscience had left him speechless. Her heart turned cold.
“All these years, every time something happened, you came to me. Big or small, how many times have I helped you? When your children didn’t have money for school, you came to me. When your family didn’t have enough to buy a house, you came to me. When it came to your children’s jobs and marriages, you still came to me. Let’s not even mention those things. Even the money you used to open your furniture store was borrowed from me, and you still haven’t paid it back…”
“I’ve treated you with all my heart. I never asked you to dote on me in return, but you shouldn’t be breaking my heart like this.”
Wang Taihua said, “Sis, you’re my sister. How could I possibly…”
Wang Yuehua waved him off. “That’s enough. You should leave. I’m in a bad mood today and don’t feel like entertaining you.”
“Sis!?” Wang Taihua stared at her in disbelief. She was actually asking him to leave?
Lin Yi’an gently rubbed her mother’s back to help calm her down while looking at Wang Taihua. “My mom is upset because of you. If you still won’t leave, are you trying to make her sick?”
Wang Taihua snapped, “Lin Yi’an, stop making things worse.”
Wang Yuehua replied, “Just leave.”
Seeing the look on her face, Wang Taihua had no choice but to leave with his family, no matter how unwilling he was.
After they walked out of the Lin residence, his wife, Xu Youhong, who had remained silent the whole time, finally spoke. “Ever since Yi’an came back, your sister listens to everything she says. At this rate, the rest of us will all be pushed aside.”
Wang Xiujun pouted. “It’s not just Auntie. Uncle, Cousin, and Eldest Cousin all spoil her too. The whole family dotes on her so much they’ve spoiled her rotten. She doesn’t show anyone any consideration when she speaks. She even scolded her own uncle.”
Hearing that, Wang Taihua’s anger flared up all over again. All these years, who had ever dared make him suffer such humiliation? Only Lin Yi’an.
“Let’s go home.”
Wang Xiujun said unwillingly, “Then what about me? You two won’t help me, and if Auntie won’t help me either, what am I supposed to do?”
Wang Taihua replied, “Tonight I’ll call your uncle and talk to him about this.”
Only then did Wang Xiujun brighten up.
Back inside the house, Wang Yuehua held her daughter’s hand and said, “You were right just now. Your uncle already has grandchildren. His family’s life may not be luxurious, but they’re doing better than plenty of people. Why should I still be worrying about him? He really does think he’s some overgrown baby.”
By the time she finished speaking, even she couldn’t help laughing in exasperation.
Then she continued, “Mom will listen to you. From now on, I’ll take good care of myself. In the future, when you get married, Mom will still have to…”
She stopped there with a smile and didn’t finish the sentence. Instead, she changed her words. “Not only will I stop worrying about them, I’ll have to tell your father to stop worrying about them too.”
Lin Yi’an said, “I just want both sides of the family, Mom and Dad, to be happy and have fewer things to worry about.”
Wang Yuehua’s heart warmed. “All right. We’ll be happy.”
Her eldest son and eldest daughter also cared deeply about their mother, but both of them had strong, awkward personalities. They would never say such warm, heartfelt words to their parents.
Her youngest daughter, on the other hand, was gentle and quiet, rarely spoke, yet every word she did say went straight to her heart. How could she not cherish such a thoughtful daughter?
Wang Yuehua gently stroked her hair. “What would you like for dinner? I’ll have the kitchen prepare it for you.”
Lin Yi’an replied, “Something light is fine. You can decide the rest, Mom.”
Wang Yuehua nodded.
Her second daughter, Lin Jingyun, could never stay idle. Bored at home, she had gone traveling with a few close friends. Lin Yi’an wasn’t in a hurry to return to work, so she planned to rest at home for a day and spend some time with her parents.
That evening, Wang Yuehua called Tan Qingwen, only to learn that she had been sent on a last-minute business trip. They could only arrange to meet another time.
The next day, Wang Yuehua took her youngest daughter out shopping. They bought plenty of new clothes and accessories for all of the children. After shopping until they were tired, the mother and daughter had a meal out.
After finishing lunch, the two of them sat in their chairs, sipping tea and resting, when Lin Yi’an received a text message on her phone.
She opened it, glanced at the contents, then looked at Wang Yuehua. “It’s from Zhou Mingshi. He’s asking me out to dinner tonight.”
Wang Yuehua smiled. “You can wear the jewelry we bought today for your date tonight.”
Lin Yi’an nodded. “Okay.”
As soon as the workday ended, Zhou Mingshi left the company on time and got into the car. Looking at Assistant Chen, he said, “Go to the Lin residence and pick up Miss Lin.”
Assistant Chen paused for a moment. “Yes, President Zhou.”
As he started the car, he asked, “President Zhou, did you ask Miss Lin out?”
Zhou Mingshi replied, “Mm.”
Assistant Chen couldn’t help laughing out loud.
Zhou Mingshi asked, “What’s so funny?”
Summoning his courage, Assistant Chen asked, “President Zhou, are you missing Miss Lin?”
‘Otherwise, why would you suddenly ask Miss Lin out to dinner without anyone reminding you?’
Zhou Mingshi simply closed his eyes to rest and ignored him.
Assistant Chen suppressed his smile and focused on driving.
When the car arrived at the Lin residence, Zhou Mingshi got out and greeted Wang Yuehua, “Aunt Wang.”
Wang Yuehua responded with a smile, then turned to her younger daughter. “Go on.”
Lin Yi’an looked at her mother. “Mom, I’m going back to work tomorrow. I’ll stay at the house by the traditional Chinese medicine clinic tonight.”
Wang Yuehua nodded. “All right. I’ll have Lingzhi go over and tidy the place up.”
Lin Yi’an replied, “Okay.”
After getting into the car, Zhou Mingshi looked at Lin Yi’an and only then noticed that she was wearing light makeup today.
“You look beautiful.”
Lin Yi’an smiled faintly. “My mom did my makeup. She said I should wear a little makeup when going out on a date.”
Zhou Mingshi smiled. “Mothers always seem to enjoy dressing up their children.”
Curiously, Lin Yi’an asked, “Does Aunt Tan like dressing you up too?”
Zhou Mingshi relaxed visibly. “She did when I was little. Now the only things she can buy for me are watches, cuff links, and tie clips. That doesn’t really satisfy her desire to dress up her child. After we got engaged, she bought you a lot of jewelry, but she was too embarrassed to give it to you…”
Lin Yi’an let out a soft, surprised, “Oh?”
Zhou Mingshi explained, “She was afraid you’d feel shy. She said she’d wait until after we’re married before giving it to you.”
Lin Yi’an said, “I wouldn’t be shy…”
The moment the words left her mouth, she wondered if it made her sound as though she was eager to receive Aunt Tan’s gifts. A faint warmth spread across her cheeks.
Zhou Mingshi looked at the delicate blush coloring her face in surprise. Then he quietly withdrew his gaze, a smile lingering on his lips.
“When we get back, I’ll tell her. She’ll be very happy.”