“Can I see mommy now?” When Lin Ruixi was picked up by Zong Jinghao and brought to the hotel, she asked that question because she thought that they had arrived at the destination and could meet Lin Xinyan right away.
Zong Jinghao was a little nervous, but soon recollected himself and said, “She’s playing hide-and-seek with us and wants us to find her. We haven’t found her yet for now.”
Lin Ruixi said with her pouting lips, “Alright.”
Baicheng wasn’t a large city. Even though it’s a county town, it looked more like a town that belonged to a prominent family, namely the Bai family.
Although the hotel wasn’t five-star, its environment, cleanliness and services were pretty good.
Shen Peichuan was carrying Lin Xichen who wasn’t awake yet, while a few people were carrying their luggage behind.
“This is already the best hotel in Baicheng. Would you be uncomfortable with it because it’s too small?”
When did Zong Jinghao ever stay in such a hotel before?
“Isn’t this a nice place?” Lin Ruixi blinked her eyes and asked as she didn’t understand why Mr. Shen said so.
Zong Jinghao took her firmly into his arms so that she couldn’t listen to their conversation. After Lin Ruixi opened her eyes widely to look at Zong Jinghao’s face, her eyes slowly squinted and seemed like a pair of crescent moon.
“Daddy, you’re so handsome.” She immediately buried her face into his chest after finishing speaking.
Zong Jinghao was inexplicably pleased by his daughter’s sweet compliment. He had never smiled ever since Lin Xinyan was missing, yet his lips quirked because of his daughter.
“Then, do you love daddy?”
The little girl answered without hesitation, “I do.”
Zong Jinghao kissed his daughter on her hair. Even though the fragrance of shampoo had worn off because she hadn’t taken a bath for two days, he still felt that his daughter smelled nice.
Once they reached their room, Shen Peichuan put Lin Xichen down on the bed and checked the surroundings. He had reserved all rooms on this floor as he knew that Zong Jinghao would need a serene environment.
Lin Ruixi was jumping up and down when she asked, “Daddy, are you going to help me take a bath?”
Zong Jinghao nodded and said, “Yes.”
She ran towards him to wrap his legs with her arms, looked up at him and said, “Daddy really is like mommy.”
Zong Jinghao held out his hand to lift her chin up and asked, “How is it that we are alike?”
“Because whatever I want, mommy will agree to it.” Once she finished speaking, the little girl let go of him and bounced up and down again.
On the other hand, Bai Yinning’s back was scalded and had several blisters. It wasn’t severe, and the doctor had come and provided some treatments for him.
Liu was standing beside the door like a child who was lowering her head because she knew she did something wrong. She seemed to have cried a lot as her eyes looked red.
Lin Xinyan sat on a chair next to the bed and said, “Thank you.”
If he didn’t ward her off in the nick of time, she would be the one lying on the bed instead.
“You really want to thank me?” Bai Yinning was lying on his side on the bed.
Since the doctor had applied some dressings on his back, he couldn’t sleep on his back, or else he might tear the wounds where the blisters had just been removed.
“Of course.” As Lin Xinyan was afraid that he would give some unreasonable requests, she immediately added, “It should be something that I’m able to do.”
Bai Yinnning smiled lightly and said, “No worries. I won’t ask you to marry me.”
Lin Xinyan’s lips quirked slightly.
He looked at her and said, “Can you get a glass of water for me?”
When Lin Xinyan was about to reach out her hands to take the jug on the desk, Liu who had been standing by the door rushed towards her and said, “I’ll do it.”
She wanted to make amends.
Bai Yinning looked at her calmly and said, “Liu, why do you still appear bumbling?”
When Liu wanted to explain for herself, he stopped her from speaking when he said, “Go to shut yourself away and ponder over your mistakes. Don’t appear in my house without my permission.”
“But…”
“But what?” His voice was slightly cold.
“Who’s going to take care of you?” Liu wished to stay and immediately said, “Young master, I’m so sorry and it’s all my fault. Please let me take care of you.”
“Liu, I’m injured now and can’t be angry. Do you really want to infuriate me?” He said with an even deeper voice.
Since he usually looked mild-mannered, Liu was somehow shocked by his coldness now. She didn’t dare refute him and chose to obey his order and leave the room.
“You frightened her. She didn’t do it on purpose.” Lin Xinyan wanted to speak for Liu when she added, “She cares a lot for you.”
As Bai Yinning didn’t want to continue this conversation, he deliberately changed the subject by saying, “Do you want me to die from dehydration?”
Lin Xinyan had no choice but to stop talking and take the jug to fill a glass with water for him.
Suddenly, Bai Yinning’s phone on the table rang. Since Lin Xinyan knew that it’s inconvenient for him to move, she handed the phone over to him and said, “Your phone.”
Bai Yinning looked at the screen and noticed that it was the hotel manager’s call. He answered the phone call and put it near his ear.
“Young master, there’s a group of people who seem to be from the upper crust and have reserved all rooms on a floor.”
Bai Yinning instructed him before that whenever he saw non-locals in these few days, he had to report to him.
That’s why he immediately called Bai Yinning to inform him about the arrival of several non-locals.
He looked up at Lin Xinyan who was filling the glass with water but said to the person over the phone, “Do you know where they are from?”
“From B City. They brought along two kids, bar anyone from entering the entire floor, and don’t require any service from us. Whenever they need something, they will just send some men to come downstairs to pick it up, and so we can’t have any contact with them at all. Are they the ones you are looking for?”
Since Lin Xinyan was missing, someone would definitely be looking for her. He therefore instructed the hotel management to pay attention to any non-locals so that he could identify the ones who looked for her as early as possible.
“I understand.” He couldn’t be sure yet if they were here to look for Lin Xinyan.
After hanging up the phone, Lin Xinyan handed the glass over to him.
He put down the phone, took the glass of water and said casually, “Some non-locals came to the hotel, and the manager reported it to me.”
Lin Xinyan wasn’t doubtful at all, and merely thought that he was trying to start a conversation with her.
If he really had some useful information, he probably wouldn’t tell her anyway.
After Bai Yinning finished up the glass of water, Lin Xinyan wanted to take it from him. However, as Bai Yinning didn’t withdraw his hand when Lin Xinyan held the glass, she accidentally touched his hand with her fingertip, and immediately withdrew her hand.
Bai Yinning’s gaze fell upon the part of his hand where she touched. It was as if her warmth lingered for a while, yet it was too light, short-lived, and didn’t really make a deep impression on him.
“I suppose I’m not poisonous, but why are you so afraid of me?”
Lin Xinyan clasped her hands as her face turned solemn, and said, “I’m not afraid of you. To be honest with you, I’m already married. So, whether it’s you or any other men, I’ll always keep a distance.”
Lin Xinyan used her marriage contract with Zong Jinghao now as the pretext.
If she says that she has children, Bai Yinning might either be surprised or don’t believe her at all. But this time…
He relaxed himself, buried half of his head in the pillow and said, “How old are you? And you’re already married and have children? Did you actually say it on purpose because you’re worried that I might drool over you?”
“An 18-year-old person is considered an adult. Since I’m already 24 and about to be 25, is it really strange that I’m married and have children?” Lin Xinyan held back her uneasiness.
She doesn’t really want to talk about it.
It wasn’t a wonderful past for her.
What’s wonderful was that she now has two adorable kids.
Bai Yinning could feel that Lin Xinyan’s voice was slightly shaky, faster and more solemn, unlike her usual voice that always remained calm and steady.
His gaze fell upon Lin Xinyan hands that were clasped as he laughed softly and said, “What kind of a person are you married to? He didn’t even buy you a wedding ring. Why don’t you divorce him, and I can buy one for you.”
Lin Xinyan lowered her head when she heard it. Her hands looked empty and only had a jade bracelet on her wrist which was given by Yuxiu to her.
“I didn’t wear it”. She pretended to be calm.
The marriage between Zong Jinghao and her was carried out to achieve their respective purposes and lasted for merely a month. Why would they have the time to get wedding rings?
Bai Yinning just didn’t believe that she’s married and had children.
But he was still in some doubt about it since the non-locals came to the hotel today.
He looked at Lin Xinyan and was lost in thought.
As Lin Xinyan didn’t want to be alone with him, she said, “Take some rest. I will go back to my room.”
Lin Xinyan stood up once she finished speaking and walked towards the door slowly by placing one hand on the wall for support.
“Lin Xinyan.” Bai Yinning suddenly stopped her.
Lin Xinyan looked back and asked, “What is it?”
“I find the jade bracelet on your arm very beautiful. Where did you buy it from?”
