It was not a large house, but the decoration was homely. There was a rectangle table in the dining room where a family of four were seated.
The atmosphere at the table was suffocating as Zhuang Zijin did not agree with Lin Xinyan’s return. If she were to return, she had to marry He Ruize.
Only naive little Lin Ruixi knew nothing about anything. She sat on Lin Xinyan’s lap and wanted her mother to feed her.
“Mommy, I want egg custard.” Lin Ruixi said, pointing her little finger at the smooth egg custard.
Lin Xinyan scooped it with a spoon and fed it into her mouth.
Like a frustrated adult, Lin Xichen looked at his naive sister and sighed.
Lin Xinyan picked some vegetables for him. “No frowning for kids.”
Lin Xichen sighed again.
Why did this boy sigh even more after telling him not to?
“Lin Xichen, please behave.” Although her words were reprimanding, she did not have a serious look. She could not bear to scold him or reprimand him harshly.
“You still have the mood for food?” Lin Xichen retorted.
“What are you going to do about your work if you don’t convince grandma?” Lin Xichen was worrying more than Lin Xiyan.
“Children should not be worrying about adult matters. Eat and study well. That’s what you should be doing.” Zhuang Zijin poured a bowl of soup. “Eat your food. Don’t butt into adult matters.”
Lin Xichen did not agree with her words. “I’m part of this family; I have the right to talk. Grandma, mommy, let’s raise hands to vote.”
“Who do you think this boy had been learning all these talks from?” Zhuang Zijin did not know whether to cry or laugh.
He had lots of ideas in his little head.
“Raise your hand to vote.” Lin Xichen repeated determinedly.
“You really want to go back?” Lin Xinyan realized that her son seemed to be insisting on going back.
She thought her children had gotten used to the routine here and would not want to change places. Lin Xichen’s attitude surprised her.
“Mommy’s hometown is also my hometown. I just want to see how mommy’s hometown looks like.” Lin Xichen said with a serious face.
Although Lin Xinyan wanted to say yes, she had thought about what Zhuang Zijin would feel. Therefore, she did not.
Lin Xichen was smart. He knew that Lin Xinyan wanted to be respectful to Zhuang Zijin. Zhuang Zijin still had the final say for this matter.
He put down his spoon and ran beside Zhuang Zijin. He pulled on her sleeve and lightly shook it. “Grandma, my amazing grandma, just say yes.”
Zhuang Zijin did not.
Lin Xichen continued to act cute. With a soft and cute tone, he begged, “Grandma, grandma, my amazing grandma.”
“Grandma, grandma, my amazing grandma.” Lin Ruixi followed her brother.
The voices of Lin Xichen and Lin Ruixi were soft and cute like babies. They sounded sweet.
Zhuang Zijin’s heart melted from their voices.
If she did not say yes, it felt like she would be sorry to the children.
Therefore she said, “We’ll vote by raising hands.”
Lin Xichen raised his hand first. “Hands up for those who want to return.”
“Mommy.” Lin Xinyan did not move and Lin Xichen winked at her. She looked at Zhuang Zijin, who did not seem angry, then raised her hand.
“Ruixi—”
“No bribing.” Zhuang Zijin interrupted Lin Xichen.
Lin Xichen pouted, and looked at his sister’s raised hand.
Lin Ruixi had seen it as a game. As mommy and Xichen had raised their hands, she also wanted to raise hers.
Three against one.
Zhuang Zijin had lost.
She was not angry. Instead, she said solemnly, “I really don’t know if this is the right choice.”
“Don’t worry, grandma, I’ll protect my mommy.” Lin Xichen guaranteed as he patted his chest.
Zhuang Zijin caressed her grandson’s head and sighed. He was still a child after all, what did he really know?
Yet he was a filial son, and that was worth treasuring. “The risk that your mommy went through giving birth to both of you was worth it.”
Lin Xichen blinked. He had heard uncle mentioned that his mother went through a lot to give birth to him and his sister.
“I won’t let anyone bully my mommy.” As if he had decided on something, Lin Xichen was determined.
Zhuang Zijin felt that she had said too much. He was just a child. She carried him into her lap and said, “Xichen is the man of our family.”
“Of course.” Lin Xichen raised his chin and said proudly.
After convincing Zhuang Zijin, the atmosphere at the table had lightened up. Lin Ruixi curled in Lin Xinyan’s embrace sleepily, her head drooping every moment. Lin Xinyan carried her up and away from the dinner table. The little girl seemed to sense that Lin Xinyan was leaving, and she opened her eyes. “I want to eat.”
Lin Xinyan was speechless.
This girl was already sleepy, yet she could not give up on her food.
Lin Xinyan could only sit back down. After a few mouths, the girl fell asleep.
Zhuang Zijin told her daughter to bring the girl to rest while she cleaned up the table.
Lin Xinyan nodded. Lin Ruixi had not showered yet. It was better that she took care of her, in case the girl woke up and made a fuss while showering.
It seemed like Lin Ruixi had not slept during the day. She was now in a deep sleep. Lin Xinyan had washed her face, hands, and legs, yet she had no signs of waking up.
“Mommy, I think Ruixi was born in the year of pig.” Lin Xichen lamented.
She could eat well and sleep well.
Lin Xinyan rolled her eyes. “What are you talking about? If your sister is a pig, so are you. Don’t forget that you share the same womb.”
Lin Xichen sat by the bedside and took out his tablet to play a puzzle game. He lowered his head as he said, “I’m born in the year of snake. My teacher said snakes are cold-blooded animals.”
Lin Xinyan turned her head over and looked at her son’s delicate features. His head was bowed as he focused on his game. She felt grateful towards his teacher although some things that Lin Xichen learnt was too mature for his age.
“Do you like your teacher very much?” Lin Xinyan asked.
“Of course.” Lin Xichen answered without a moment of hesitation.
Lin Xinyan patted him on his head.
At this moment, her phone on the bedside table rang. Lin Xichen was close to the phone, so he took the phone and handed it to Lin Xinyan. “Mommy, you have a call.”
Lin Xinyan reached out and took the phone. On the screen was LEO’s number.
It could only be Mrs. William.
Back then, Mrs. William had been great to Lin Xinyan.
Although she had her graduation certificate, she did not have any working experience. She would not have been taken into a company like LEO.
Mrs. William had said she saw the younger version of herself in Lin Xinyan, and that was why she took her in.
And it was because of this that she had the chance to be here today.
She felt the utmost respect to Mrs. William.
“I’ve already arranged for Qin Ya to return first. She will arrange everything there for you. You’ll just need to go back.”
“I understand.”
Lin Xinyan tucked the blankets for her children and walked towards the window. It was pitched black outside the window.
Yet it was bright in her heart.
Like what Zong Jinghao had said, what did she have to be afraid of if she had already let it go?
She straightened her back. She had a career. Her children were growing well. Zhuang Zijin’s mental illness was well controlled. Everything was going on fine. Living at another place would be the same after all.
“Lin, do you hate me?” Mrs. William asked after a long silence.
“No.” Lin Xinyan answered honestly.
She had never been discontented. She was just confused at the start as to why she would break the rule. Yet after she knew about her story with William…
It became impossible to feel discontented.
Mrs. William sighed, as if she wanted to say something else. She did not. She hung up the phone.
