Lin Xichen was wearing a camel-colored sweetheart neckline sweater with a white shirt, a pair of slacks, and white sneakers. He had an erect bearing, beautiful facial features—rosy lips, white teeth, delicate cheeks, and a Roman nose—and black hair that was slightly curly, looking very handsome.
He touched his sister’s head. “Ruixi, did you listen to Mommy?”
Lin Ruixi nodded her head hard, with a great deal of respect for her elder brother. They were born only a few minutes apart, but Lin Xichen appeared relatively mature and sensible.
Whereas Lin Ruixi was innocent and cute like a girl next door.
Lin Xinyan had already put their dinner on the table. “Dinner’s ready. Wash your hands and come eat.”
He Ruize came over and reached out to pick Lin Ruixi up, but Lin Xinyan stopped him. “Ruize, you go eat. I’ll wash them.”
“I’ll help you.” He Ruize didn’t feel bitter toward Lin Xinyan because of the topic earlier.
“Dr. He, let Yan do it. You should have a seat first,” Zhuang Zijin came over and said politely.
He Ruize had no choice but to sit down at the dining table first, whereas Zhuang Zijin took a bottle of wine, walked to the dining table, and pulled out a chair to sit down.
She glanced at the bathroom and made sure that Lin Xinyan could not hear her before looking at He Ruize and saying, “I thank you for all these years on behalf of Yan.”
Then, she poured a glass of wine for He Ruize and herself. The wine didn’t burn the throat as much as the Chinese spirits did, and it was relatively mild. After drinking the wine in the glass, she said, “I hope she can be with you, but she is stubborn, and now she only focuses on her two children. Therefore, you should get married if you find someone suitable, as you are no longer young.”
“Auntie, I was hoping you can persuade her for me.” Glancing at the wine in front of him, He Ruize didn’t drink it.
Of course, Zhuang Zijin had already persuaded her.
She had always been satisfied with He Ruize. He took care of Lin Xinyan and took her away during her most difficult times.
It could be said that without He Ruize’s help, Lin Xinyan could not become who she was now.
She was grateful and satisfied with He Ruize.
But Lin Xinyan refused. What could she do?
Zhuang Zijin smiled bitterly. “I persuaded her, but she won’t listen.”
She also understood why her daughter was like this. After all, she had given birth to two children, whereas He Ruize came from a good family and had a good character. Even if he didn’t mind, her daughter might mind.
She knew how important a woman’s innocence was to her husband.
He Ruize picked up the glass of wine on the table, emptied it, and slammed it down on table. “I won’t give up.”
I’ll wait until she accepts me.
“Well, I think you should. She’s as stubborn as a donkey, and not worth waiting for—”
At this time, Lin Xinyan was walking over while holding Lin Ruixi in one hand and Lin Xichen in the other.
Zhuang Zijin stopped midsentence and stretched out her hand to pick up Lin Ruixi from Lin Xinyan’s arms. “Come, I’ll hold you.”
“I want mommy.” Lin Ruixi wrapped her arms around Lin Xinyan’s neck, unwilling to let go. She was closer to Lin Xinyan.
Lin Xinyan was usually busy, and had little time to take care of her, so how could she let go since there was a chance for her to take dinner in her mommy’s arms?
Zhuang Zijin glanced at her, pretending to be upset. “Look at your brother.”
Lin Xichen climbed onto a chair and sat by himself, eating by himself. Upon hearing Zhuang Zijin talking about him, he raised his head to look at his sister, and said solemnly, “Ruixi is still young.”
Speechless, Zhuang Zijin thought, you are only a few minutes older than her.
His display of maturity beyond his years had people smiling.
Lin Xinyan sat down with Lin Ruixi in her arms.
After eating, He Ruize wanted to go back, so Zhuang Zijin took the little one from Lin Xinyan’s arms, and said, “You go and see Dr. He off.”
Lin Xinyan stood up readily, and said with a smile, “Ruize, I will see you off.”
Even if she could not accept He Ruize, she was grateful to him.
Over the years, he had indeed helped her a lot.
“Alright.” He Ruize smiled.
The two walked out of the house one after another, with Lin Xinyan walking behind and closing the door.
“Have you ever thought about going back?” He Ruize asked tentatively.
Lin Xinyan shook her head. “No.”
She was telling the truth, as she was satisfied with her life now.
He Ruize lowered his head. “I may not have time to come and see you these coming few days.”
It was due to his work, and on the other hand, he had to go back to China, so he had no time to come.
“Go ahead. I’ll be fine here.” When she went to work, Zhuang Zijin could take care of her children at home.
“Okay.” He Ruize reached out to put his arm around Lin Xinyan’s shoulder, then he licked his dry lips. “Your mom just spoke to me.”
Lin Xinyan glanced at his hand around her shoulder. “What did my mom say?”
“She asked me to give up on you, probably because she thinks I am too old, and is afraid that I will be alone for life,” He Ruize said lightly.
Lin Xinyan chuckled. “It’s true that you’re old and should get married.”
He Ruize looked at her. “Can’t you really try to be with me?”
The smile on Lin Xinyan’s face suddenly froze. She knew how good He Ruize was.
It was not that she never thought about it, but she promised Madam He.
“You deserve someone better—”
“But in my eyes, there is no one better than you.” He Ruize suddenly paused and clasped her shoulders to look at her face-to-face. “My love for you isn’t that of brotherly and sisterly, but romantically.”
Lin Xinyan didn’t know how to respond to him at all.
“I…”
“Shhh.” He Ruize leaned closer, his hot and humid breathing close at hand. Lin Xinyan froze.
She was an adult and naturally knew what He Ruize was going to do.
Just when He Ruize was about to kiss her lips, she turned her head, and Rui Ze’s lips were pressed against her cheeks. He was not angry and said with a smile, “All right. Try first to see if you are allergic. If you’re not, let me kiss your lips next time.”
Lin Xinyan was rendered speechless.
“Ruize—” Lin Xinyan wanted to make it clear to him that she really couldn’t be with him.
“We’re still possible,” He Ruize interrupted her. He was not young anymore and didn’t want to wait any longer.
Lin Xinyan lowered her head. “I have to work tomorrow, so I will go home first.”
“Okay.”
Lin Xinyan turned around and went back. Zhuang Zijin was tidying up the kitchen when she heard the door opening. Knowing that it was Lin Xinyan, she said, “They don’t want me to bathe them today, and want you instead. Do you have time?”
“Yes.” Lin Xinyan went to the bathroom to fill up the tub with warm water and bathed her two kids.
Lin Ruixi pointed at the pink bottle of shower gel, and said, “Mommy, I want to use this.”
She stood naked in the tub, and moved around, splashing water everywhere.
Lin Xinyan pointed at her. “I will get it for you only when you stop moving around.”
The little one pouted, feeling unhappy.
Meanwhile, Lin Xichen was doing okay, and didn’t trouble Lin Xinyan. Lin Ruixi was the demanding one, as Lin Xinyan’s clothes were soaking wet after bathing her.
Lin Xinyan wrapped her in a bath towel, and took her to bed, before taking out a pair of pajamas with pink baby elephant, and putting it on for her.
She bounced around on the bed.
Lin Xichen really couldn’t stand her being so noisy, so he said calmly, “Be quiet.”
His words were more effective than those of Lin Xinyan, as Lin Ruixi climbed up to him and said softly, “Xichen.”
Looking at them, Lin Xinyan sighed with a smile. This girl only listens to Lin Xichen.
“Xichen, take care of your sister while I take a bath.”
“OK, mommy, don’t worry.” Lin Xichen promised, patting his chest, “I will surely take good care of her.”
Lin Xinyan reached out and rubbed his hair before turning around and taking her clothes to the bathroom.
After a shower, she came back to tell them stories and put them to bed.
In the morning, after Lin Xinyan had breakfast and was going to work, Lin Xichen came over, and said, “Mommy, can I go to work with you?”
“Huh?”
