Chapter 6: Sister Is Adopted?
Old Master Lin immediately broke into a smile, his face full of wrinkles, “Ah, Meng Meng, good girl, come, sit here.”
He beckoned for her to sit on the sofa, “The butler uncle should have explained everything to you, right?”
Lin Ru Meng nodded, “He explained it clearly.”
“That’s good. Do you want to meet your father, mother, and older brother?”
Lin Ru Meng hesitated, “Will Dad, Mom, and Brother… not really want to see me?”
“How could that be? You are their biological daughter and sister.”
“But…” Lin Ru Meng pursed her lips.
“I haven’t seen Dad and Mom for such a long time. And… I heard my sister is very outstanding, so they probably like her more.”
At the mention of Lin Yuejiu, Old Master Lin gave a cold snort, “She’s not your sister. Your mother only gave birth to one daughter — you.”
“Oh.” Lin Ru Meng smiled.
“I thought she was also Mom’s daughter.”
“She’s not.”
Lin Ru Meng asked curiously, “Then Grandpa, who gave birth to her?”
“She…” Old Master Lin’s face showed clear reluctance when bringing up Lin Yuejiu, “She was adopted by your father and brother. Back then, when you were abducted by human traffickers, your mother was so heartbroken she had to be hospitalized. Worried for her, your father and brother went to an orphanage and found a child to replace you, so that your mother would be alright.”
“So… Sister is adopted?”
“Yes, it was all because of you, Meng Meng.”
Lin Ru Meng stared wide-eyed in confusion, “Because of me? Why?”
“They were afraid something might happen to your mother — that if they only found you years later, you wouldn’t be able to see her again. So they adopted a child to stabilize her emotions.”
“Ohhh… so that’s how it was. Then… does Sister know she’s adopted?”
Old Master Lin explained, “How could she know? She was only seven when she was adopted. What could a child that age possibly understand?”
“I see.”
“Meng Meng, do you want to see your father, mother, and brother? Grandpa can bring them here right now, alright?”
“I want to… but I’m afraid Dad and Mom won’t recognize me…”
Old Master Lin struck his cane against the floor, “I’d like to see which of them would dare!”
Then, worried he might scare her, he softened his tone, “Meng Meng, don’t worry. You are their biological daughter, connected by blood.”
He turned to the butler, “Hurry and bring them here. And…” He paused, frowning, “Don’t let Lin Yuejiu come.”
“Yes, sir.”
—
Lin’s mother, Lin Zhi, was currently on a video call with Lin Yuejiu.
“Jiujiu, are you getting used to living at school?”
“I am. The facilities here are very complete.”
“Really? Let Mom see your surroundings.”
Obediently, Lin Yuejiu held up her phone and gave a panoramic view of her dorm room, “See? Everything’s here.”
“How could school compare to home?” Lin Zhi frowned.
Lin Yuejiu smiled, “It’s fine, Mom. I’m used to it, and I’m not alone either.”
Chen Qianxi popped into the frame, greeting Lin Zhi and her husband, “Hello, Uncle and Auntie, I’m Jiujiu’s roommate!”
“Hello, hello. Do you stay at school long-term?”
“Yes, Auntie.”
“Then please take care of our Jiujiu. It’s her first time living at school. If she has any strange habits, please bear with her.”
“Mom, what strange habits do I have?” Lin Yuejiu pouted in protest.
Lin Zhi laughed, “You have no strange habits? You have plenty — you don’t like green peppers, you don’t like bitter melon…”
“…I’ll admit the green peppers, but bitter melon — I think most people don’t eat that.”
From the side, Lin Zhi’s husband chimed in, “And you don’t eat eggplant either.”
“…”
Lin Yimo also joined in with a smile, “Likes eating potato chips, always wants to eat fruit late at night, and goes to bed really late.”
“…Are you guys here to check on me or to gang up on me?”
From the other side, Lin Yuejiu could hear Chen Qianxi’s laughter.
Mother Lin smiled. “Of course we’re here to check on you, Jiujiu.”
Mother Lin received a phone call. After answering, her expression turned a little strange. She whispered something to Lin Yimo, whose expression hardly changed. He moved Mother Lin’s phone away so Lin Yuejiu couldn’t hear their conversation.
Then, Mother Lin said to her, “Jiujiu, something came up. Mom will call you again tomorrow, okay?”
Lin Yuejiu, being sensible, didn’t ask anything. “Okay, Mom. Bye.”
After hanging up, Chen Qianxi came over and hugged her, “Your family is so nice. You all seem so close.”
Lin Yuejiu smiled but didn’t say anything.
Meanwhile, after ending the video call, Mother Lin turned to Father Lin. “Is it true?”
“The call came from the old master’s butler, so it should be true.”
Mother Lin fell silent.
“Let’s go,” Lin Yimo was the first to speak.
Both Father Lin and Mother Lin looked at him.
“We’ll have to meet eventually, right?”
Father Lin sighed. “Let’s go.”
The three of them headed to the old house. On the way, Mother Lin sat restlessly.
Lin Ji held her hand. “Don’t worry.”
“When I see that child, Meng Meng, what should I say? Will she dislike me as her mother? After all, I’ve been away from her for so many years.” Mother Lin’s eyes were filled with sadness.
“Don’t dwell on it. What happened back then was beyond your control. The fact that we found her and can be reunited is the best thing.”
Lin Yimo kept his eyes on the road ahead without speaking.
They soon arrived at the old house.
The butler was already waiting at the door. “Please, come with me.”
The three followed him inside, gradually walking into the courtyard. Mother Lin’s heart was pounding with unease—until she saw the girl. The unease melted away, and tears streamed down her face.
“Ru Meng…”
The old master gestured for her to go forward. Lin Ru Meng obediently stepped up, lips pressed together, hesitating for a moment before calling out, “Mom.”
Tears fell like rain from Mother Lin’s eyes as she pulled the girl into her arms. “My good child, my Ru Meng…”
Perhaps reminded of the time she was abducted by traffickers, Lin Ru Meng began crying as well.
Father Lin watched the mother and daughter crying together, feeling a mix of emotions.
Lin Yimo quietly observed the scene, also surprised.
They really looked alike—so much like their mother. And when he saw her, he too felt a sense of familiarity. Even though it was their first meeting, there was an inborn connection. Lin Yimo thought, This must be the bond of blood.
The old master, watching, was finally satisfied.
After crying enough, Mother Lin wiped away her tears. “Come, let Mom introduce you. This is your dad, and this is your older brother.”
Lin Ru Meng glanced at them and obediently called, “Dad, Brother.”
Father Lin responded with a choked “Hey,” his voice trembling as he patted her head, eyes glistening with tears.
Lin Yimo simply gave a soft “Mm.”
The old master smiled with satisfaction. “Alright, I won’t disturb your reunion. Go home.”
The four of them didn’t linger. In the car, Mother Lin kept asking Lin Ru Meng about her past. Lin Ru Meng was well-behaved—she answered every question honestly.
She spoke sweetly, and when she saw Mother Lin’s expression turn a bit sad, she quickly told them not to worry. She said she was doing well now, and that finding her real parents and brother was the greatest gift heaven had given her—it made her whole life worthwhile.
Mother Lin was amused and laughed.
Father Lin and Lin Yimo didn’t laugh outright, but the corners of their mouths did lift ever so slightly.
