Wang Yuehua patted her on the shoulder. “You can go out with your own group of friends. Yi’an and Jingyun have their own plans.”
Yi’an had a gentle, quiet temperament and got along well with everyone in the family. Yet, her own maternal relatives and youngest daughter didn’t get along very well. It was also her own fault. Over the years, she had spoiled her maiden family, allowing them to become increasingly demanding.
Wang Xiujun lowered her head and pressed her lips together without speaking. Ever since Lin Yi’an had been found and brought home, her place in her aunt’s heart had plummeted. Her aunt’s eyes and thoughts were filled only with Lin Yi’an. Even her usually stern eldest cousin and eldest cousin sister doted on Lin Yi’an.
She knew Lin Yi’an was her aunt’s biological daughter and the biological younger sister of her eldest cousins. After finally finding her, it was only natural that they cherished her. But she had been with them for so many years. Their attitude toward her had changed so drastically before and after Lin Yi’an returned. Why did no one ever stop to consider how she felt?
Lin Yi’an looked at her father and mother. “Dad, Mom, Dr. Li has finished her studies and is back. She’s seeing patients at the traditional Chinese medicine clinic now, so I’m planning to go back to Changping tomorrow to spend some time with Mom, Dad, and Grandma over there.”
Before Wang Yuehua could speak, Wang Xiujun blurted out impatiently, “Third Sister, you’ve finally got some time off. Instead of staying with Aunt and Uncle, why are you always thinking about your adoptive parents over there? Aren’t you afraid Aunt will feel hurt?”
Lin Yi’an raised her head and looked at her coldly. “My parents over there picked me up from the snow and raised me with the greatest care, devoting everything they had to me. Going back to spend time with them won’t make Mom and Dad sad. On the contrary, they’ll be glad that their daughter isn’t an ungrateful person.”
“Or are you saying that, in your eyes, your aunt and uncle are the kind of people who repay kindness with resentment? That after someone else raised their daughter for them, they’d treat those people like enemies and forbid their daughter from visiting the parents who brought her up, caring only about themselves?”
Wang Xiujun’s face instantly flushed crimson. She didn’t even dare look at her aunt and uncle’s expressions as she hurriedly explained, “I… I didn’t mean that. I… I was just worried about Aunt and Uncle…”
Wang Yuehua cut her off. “That’s enough. If you really care about your uncle and me, then talk less. Stop trying to compete with your Third Sister all day long. You’re always chattering away. My head aches from listening to you.”
Ever since Yi’an came home, it was obvious that she remained closer to her adoptive parents. It would have been impossible for Wang Yuehua to say she felt no jealousy at all. But she was a rational woman and understood exactly how much Yi’an’s adoptive parents had sacrificed to raise her.
What’s more, Yi’an was their only child. There was no way she could simply abandon them.
If Yi’an had become the kind of person who forgot her adoptive parents the moment she found her biological family, they would have been the ones to feel uneasy.
So not only could Wang Yuehua not show the bitterness hidden in her heart, she also had to encourage Yi’an to treat her adoptive family well and take good care of them.
Her eldest brother, Lin Su, looked up and said, “Xiujun, you’ve already graduated from university. Aunt has mentioned you several times. She said you never go home anymore and stay at our house all the time. Whenever your parents miss you, they can’t even find you. It’s time you moved back home and spent more time with Uncle and Aunt.”
Lin Manqing leaned back against the sofa. “There’s no need to wait. Tomorrow is a good day. Move back tomorrow. Uncle has made quite a bit of money these past few years and even bought a bigger house. There’s plenty of room.”
This time, Wang Xiujun truly panicked. Her eldest cousin and eldest cousin sister rarely voiced an opinion, but whenever they did, her aunt and uncle almost always agreed with them. She didn’t want to move back home. Her older brother was married now and had a young son. Her parents’ hearts revolved entirely around her brother, sister-in-law, and little nephew.
Besides, while she lived with her aunt’s family, Wang Yuehua gave her spending money every month. If she moved back home, her aunt definitely wouldn’t continue giving her an allowance, and her own parents barely paid any attention to her. The more she thought about it, the bleaker her future seemed…
She hurriedly looked at Wang Yuehua. “Aunt, my brother’s married now, and I have a little nephew. The house is really crowded. Let me stay a little longer. Once I find a job, I’ll definitely move out. If I stay here, I can spend more time with you and Uncle.”
If she could stay one more day, then she’d stay one more day. She truly didn’t want to move back. If she’d known Lin Yi’an would react so strongly, she never would have tried to curry favor with her aunt and uncle by butting into the conversation.
Wang Yuehua looked toward her eldest son and eldest daughter.
With an expressionless face, Lin Su said, “You just said An’an should stay home with her parents. Well, you’re Uncle and Aunt’s daughter. They need their daughter with them too. Your aunt and uncle have three children. They don’t lack children to keep them company.”
Wang Yuehua nodded. “Your eldest brother is right. You can’t stay here keeping me company all the time. You should go home and spend time with your parents too. They tell me all the time how much they miss you. Don’t make them feel hurt or think about me every day instead of them. They’ll start believing I’m trying to steal their daughter away.”
Before An’an was found, she had still had Manqing. She would never have competed with her younger brother for his daughter. She simply doted on Xiujun a little more because she was her niece. But that affection could never compare to what she felt for her own daughter.
Wang Xiujun was about to speak again when Wang Yuehua cut her off. “That’s enough. There’s no need to say anything else. It’s settled.”
Seeing her aunt’s firm attitude, Wang Xiujun had no choice. No matter how unwilling she was, she couldn’t refuse.
Lin Jingyun sat to one side, secretly gloating. She had long since grown tired of Wang Xiujun. Just because her eldest aunt was Wang Xiujun’s biological aunt, she carried herself like she was one of the masters of the Lin family. Sometimes, she acted even more like a true Lin family heiress than the three actual Lin daughters. If it weren’t for her eldest aunt’s sake, Lin Jingyun’s words would have been far less polite.
Now, at last, she was finally moving out.
After dinner, Wang Yuehua entered her youngest daughter’s room. Lin Yi’an was leaning against the headboard, reading. Seeing her mother come in, she looked up from her book and smiled.
“Mom.”
Wang Yuehua sat beside her and said, “I had Aunt Wang pack some things for your parents and your grandma to take back with you. Don’t forget to tell them that the company’s been especially busy lately, so I can’t go with you this time. When National Day comes around, your father, your brother and sister, and I will all go back together to visit them.”
Lin Yi’an smiled as she leaned into her mother’s embrace. “I’ll tell them. Mom, they’re the parents I love most, and so are you. You’re all the family I love most. You’re all my family, and I love every one of you equally.”
Smiling, Wang Yuehua gently stroked her daughter’s silky black hair. Her heart softened as she said, “I know. I didn’t take Xiujun’s words to heart. Do you think I don’t know what kind of daughter I have?”
Her youngest daughter was willing to grow close to them, open her heart to them, and even comfort them. That was already more than enough. As for whether they were the ones she loved most in her heart, it didn’t matter. All Wang Yuehua cared about was that this was the daughter she had finally found after so many years, and that she could cherish her properly.
Lin Yi’an gave a soft hum of acknowledgment.
The mother and daughter chatted for a while longer before Wang Yuehua stood up and said, “Get some rest early. You have a long trip tomorrow.”
Lin Yi’an nodded. “Okay.”
After Wang Yuehua left, Lin Manqing came into the room. “Yi’an.”
“Big Sis!”
Lin Manqing climbed straight onto the bed and leaned against the headboard beside her sister. Looking at her, she asked tentatively, “Have you been in touch with Zhou Mingshi lately?”
Lin Yi’an shook her head. “No. He’s busy, so I don’t want to disturb him.”
The moment she heard that, Lin Manqing knew that neither of them had contacted the other. She let out a silent snort inwardly, but smiled as she said, “Ever since your engagement, his grandfather has gradually been handing the Zhou Group over to him. He really is busy, so it wouldn’t be appropriate to bother him.”
Lin Yi’an nodded in agreement.
Looking at her well-behaved younger sister, Lin Manqing grew even more dissatisfied with Zhou Mingshi. How could a man whose heart was occupied by nothing but work ever be worthy of her little sister?
Lin Yi’an looked up and noticed her sister frowning. “Big Sis, don’t worry. I don’t mind an arranged marriage, and I don’t dislike Zhou Mingshi either. He’s handsome, carries himself with grace, and the way he speaks and conducts himself is never unpleasant. I admire him quite a bit. We’ll get along just fine.”
Lin Manqing looked at her younger sister. She spoke of admiration, yet her eyes remained perfectly calm, without the slightest ripple, let alone the bashfulness a young woman would normally show when talking about her fiancé.
Suddenly, she smiled. “I understand.”
After saying that, she got off the bed and slipped on her shoes. Before leaving the room, she said, “I’ve prepared some gifts for Uncle, Aunt, and Grandma Lin. Don’t forget to take them with you tomorrow.”
Lin Yi’an smiled. “I won’t.”