Chapter 23: Why is this woman so strong?
Lin Yuejiu blinked. “You never told me your brother’s name, so how could I ask?”
Xu Nianshen: “…”
Xu Nian, watching from the side like an amused spectator, was intrigued to see his normally cold-tempered younger brother at a loss. He asked her, “He’s never mentioned me before?”
Lin Yuejiu answered honestly, “Very rarely.”
“Then that one rare time, what did he say about me?”
Lin Yuejiu glanced at the Xu Nianshen beside her, her expression unchanged. Choosing her words carefully, she said, “He said you…”
“What did he say?”
“He said you… were ugly.”
Xu Nian: “…”
The living room fell silent.
Lin Yuejiu leaned toward Xu Nianshen and whispered, “Should I… not have said that?”
Xu Nianshen gave her a look with no change in expression. She understood perfectly: You knew and you still said it?
Lin Yuejiu: “…”
Xu Nian smiled, though his voice sounded like he was grinding his teeth. “Ugly? Are you sure your eyes are clean when you say that?”
Xu Nianshen: “I saw very clearly.”
Xu Nian, expressionless: “Oh, then you must be blind.”
Xu Nianshen was about to retort when Lin Yuejiu quickly stopped him. Facing Xu Nian, she said, “Brother Xu Nian, don’t listen to his nonsense. He must’ve just looked at your face too much growing up and got tired of it. I think you’re very handsome.”
Xu Nian’s expression eased a little. He shot his brother a sidelong glance. “See? That’s the difference between someone who knows how to treat people and someone who doesn’t.”
Xu Nianshen, still calm: “Doesn’t change the fact that you’re ugly.”
Xu Nian, unfazed: “As long as Jiujiu thinks I’m good-looking, that’s all that matters.”
Xu Nianshen: “…”
“What are you three talking about over there? Hurry and bring the dishes over, it’s time to eat!”
Lin Yuejiu was about to get up when Xu Nian and Xu Nianshen said in unison, “You sit. We’ll do it.”
Lin Yuejiu blinked. “Okay.”
Once they brought the dishes over, Mother Xu warmly beckoned her to come eat. Lin Yuejiu accepted the bowl and chopsticks she handed over and asked, “Where’s Uncle Xu?”
“He’s on a business trip, not home.”
Once everyone was seated, Mother Xu kept picking food for Lin Yuejiu. “Here, Jiujiu, have some of this… and this too. Try some of this soup. Look at you, you’ve gotten thinner lately. You haven’t been eating properly at school, have you? From now on, come over to Auntie’s on the weekends. I’ll make you good food, okay?”
Hearing her words, a steady warmth flowed into Lin Yuejiu’s heart, filling her chest with a feeling that was both warm and comforting.
She smiled. “Okay.”
Xu Nian also chimed in. “You can come here during holidays too. Big brother will take you out to have fun. Don’t just bury yourself in studying all the time—work and rest in balance.”
“By the way, you don’t have my WeChat or phone number yet, right? Here, let’s add each other now. If you ever want to hang out, just message me and I’ll come pick you up right away.”
Lin Yuejiu agreed to everything and exchanged contact information with him.
Just then, a steaming cup of hot water was passed to her.
She turned her head and met Xu Nianshen’s gaze. His usually emotionless eyes now held a trace of a smile.
Lin Yuejiu smiled back slowly.
This… feels so nice.
After dinner, Xu Nian even pulled Lin Yuejiu to play a few rounds of Aeroplane Chess.
After a few games, Lin Yuejiu stood up. “It’s getting late, I…”
Mother Xu quickly grabbed her hand. “Oh, it’s already so late. Why don’t you just sleep here tonight? We have a guest room. I’ll have someone get it ready for you right now.”
Lin Yuejiu originally wanted to refuse, but when she heard the last sentence from Xu’s mother, she swallowed the words she was about to say.
“Mm.”
“Then… I’ll go out for a walk?”
“Sure, go ahead.”
Xu Nianshen stood up. “I’ll go with you.”
Lin Yuejiu glanced at them still playing Ludo, her slender brows slightly raised, a trace of amusement in her eyes. “You just want to escape from here, right?”
As soon as Xu Nian heard that, he immediately pulled his brother back down into his seat. “Go where? We haven’t decided the winner yet!”
Xu Nianshen: “…”
Lin Yuejiu’s lips curved in a smile. “I’ll just go alone. The sooner I go, the sooner I’ll be back.”
Xu Nian’s attention was still on the board. “Call if anything comes up.”
“Alright.”
Lin Yuejiu walked out, strolling slowly. Thinking about the way those two brothers got along, she couldn’t help but smile. Xu Nianshen and his older brother really were complete opposites.
Without realizing it, she walked all the way to the Lin family’s house. When she noticed, she immediately turned around to leave, but the housekeeper happened to come out and, out of habit, called out: “Miss… Miss Lin.”
Hearing the voice, Lin Yuejiu turned her head and gave a polite smile. “Hello.”
“Miss Lin, you are…?”
“Taking a walk. Just passing by. I’ll be leaving now.”
“Elder sister?”
Lin Yuejiu stopped again and turned her head. Lin Rumeng was now looking at her in surprise and delight. “Sister, how come you’re here?”
“Did you know Grandpa’s birthday is tomorrow and came over on purpose?”
Lin Yuejiu paused for a moment—Grandpa Lin’s birthday tomorrow? She truly hadn’t known.
“…I was just passing by.”
“Well, since you’re here, why not come in together?”
Lin Yuejiu declined. “No need, I still have things to do, I’ll be going now.”
“Studying? You can study anytime. But Grandpa’s birthday is rare—come in together!”
Before Lin Yuejiu could say anything else, Lin Rumeng forcefully pulled her inside.
Dragged in and struggling the whole time, Lin Yuejiu: “…”
Why is this girl so strong? How come she can’t pull free?
After struggling to no avail, Lin Yuejiu even ended up with a red mark on her arm.
Because his precious granddaughter had just returned last year, Grandpa Lin hadn’t hosted a banquet for his birthday. Instead, they were celebrating here, the whole family gathered in the garden.
When Grandpa Lin didn’t see Lin Rumeng, he asked, “Where’s Mengmeng? Where’s my darling granddaughter?”
“Grandpa, I’m here!”
Hearing her voice, Grandpa Lin’s face lit up in a smile—until he saw who she was pulling along. His expression immediately darkened. “Who told her to come?”
Dragged in without the slightest ability to resist, Lin Yuejiu heard this and thought: “…”
You think I wanted to come? If my strength were bigger than this girl’s, I wouldn’t have stepped in here even if you begged me.
Lin’s father and mother froze when they saw it was Lin Yuejiu.
After Lin Rumeng finally let go, the forcibly “present” Lin Yuejiu helplessly rubbed her forehead, then put her hands properly in front of her and politely said, “Grandpa Lin, happy birthday.”
Grandpa Lin’s face stayed stern. “I am not your grandpa, and I don’t need your blessing.”
Lin Yuejiu smiled faintly. “In that case, I’ll be leaving now.”
“Elder sister!” Lin Rumeng called out. “Weren’t you the one who wanted to come in? How can you leave after just one birthday wish? At least have some cake first.”
When Grandpa Lin heard that she had come in of her own accord, his temper flared. “You wanted to come in yourself? Didn’t you sign the severance of parent-child relationship without hesitation before? And now you’ve taken the initiative to show up? What, was the one million I gave you not enough? I didn’t expect you to be so greedy. We Lin family raised you for so many years for nothing!”
