Chapter 65
Hearing Lin Zhao’s words, Chu Xihuan really wanted to laugh, but at the same time, her nose also stung. She held Lin Zhao’s waist tightly and hummed in agreement.
She thought, it would be hard for her not to be on Lin Zhao’s side.
Hearing Chu Xihuan’s agreement, Lin Zhao’s lips curved into a smile.
Actually, she was not that resistant to the child anymore, especially after knowing her name.
Before she came back, Chu Xihuan had named her Chu Lin. Wasn’t that a proof that Chu Xihuan had always been thinking of her?
For the next few days, the two of them enjoyed their time together. However, just because they were living a peaceful and comfortable life didn’t mean that everyone else was. At least, the members of the Lin clan were now like rats crossing the street, becoming the talk of the town and being despised by most people.
Perhaps in the past, even if the actions of the Lin clan had been exposed, it would not have caused such a big controversy. But the Lin Zhao of today was no longer the powerless and helpless orphan of the past. At that time, no one would stand up for her. But now, Lin Zhao had transformed, and the power she held was no longer comparable to before. Even if it was out of a desire not to please but not to offend, in such a situation where they didn’t have to pay anything, they were happy to verbally attack the Lin clan.
And those who wanted to please Lin Zhao did not make things easy for the members of the Lin clan. In just two days, the industries of the Lin clan had suffered a large-scale run, and if there was not enough clan industry to support them, and no one capable of gathering everyone together, this clan was not far from falling apart.
Originally, Lin Yongchang’s prestige in the clan was very high after he had annexed Lin Zhao’s mother’s industry. But with a series of subsequent events, his prestige had gradually declined. Now, the entire family was about to decline in his hands, and he was about to become a sinner in the eyes of all the clansmen.
He had wanted to come and find Lin Zhao several times, to ask her why she had gone back on her word when she had already promised to let them go. But he had come up empty every time. The clansmen were also clamoring to divide the family, and were ashamed to mention their identity as members of the Lin clan outside, which made him lose the heart to come and find Lin Zhao again.
As for Lin Zhao and the others, they had already brought the prepared gifts back home. According to Chu Xihuan’s idea, since it was very chaotic outside at the moment, it would be better to stay at the Chu residence for a few days and go back after things had settled down.
Lin Zhao naturally had no reason to refuse Chu Xihuan’s proposal. On the contrary, she was very excited. After all, she had been curious about Chu Xihuan’s residence at the Chu residence for more than a day or two. Now that she had the opportunity to see it and even stay there, she was almost bubbling with joy.
However, on the day she came to the door, the situation she had to face was still very tense.
Chu Xihuan was still as leisurely and relaxed as she had been on their first homecoming visit, while Lin Zhao sat up straight, a little afraid to even look at Ye Liuxiang and Chu Xuanzhuang in the main seat.
At this moment, the whole family was sitting together. Chu Lin had originally wanted to go to Chu Xihuan’s side, but she was held in Chu Ningyi’s arms and was signaled to go over later.
The two of them might be scolded later. What if she was scared by going over too early?
Chu Lin didn’t understand. She ate the sugar cake her mother had specially brought for her and looked at Chu Xihuan and the others with a pitiful expression, as if she had been abducted by Chu Ningyi, eagerly waiting for her mother to come and save her.
Chu Xuanzhuang was the first to snort coldly. “Oh, you still know how to come back. I thought you looked down on this family,” he said sarcastically.
Lin Zhao’s face grew even more embarrassed. “N-no, how could that be?”
Seeing her stuttering and unpresentable appearance, Chu Xuanzhuang was even angrier. After so many years, she hadn’t grown at all! He didn’t know what Chu Xihuan saw in her! She had even run away, and she was still waiting for her.
He wanted to say something more, but he was suddenly interrupted by a hand from Ye Liuxiang. He turned to look and saw Ye Liuxiang give Lin Zhao a warm smile. “It’s good that you’re back. Just live a good life in the future.”
Ever since she had known the whole story of why Chu Xihuan had married Lin Zhao, Ye Liuxiang even had a hint of pity for her. After all, she still knew her daughter’s personality. She was a domineering person, and Lin Zhao could only be bullied by her. And in that matter, her daughter was in the wrong. Now that they could make up, she naturally couldn’t add any more obstacles to her daughter’s relationship.
Chu Xuanzhuang was speechless.
It was clear that Ye Liuxiang wanted him to shut up and not speak.
The family’s financial power was in Ye Liuxiang’s hands, so her words had weight in this family.
Hearing Ye Liuxiang’s words, Lin Zhao’s eyes immediately lit up. The heart that had been scared by Chu Xuanzhuang also relaxed a lot. Looking at Ye Liuxiang, she felt as if she were shining all over.
Seeing this situation, Chu Ningyi was relieved and put Chu Lin, who was in her arms, down. Then, she saw her stumble toward Chu Xihuan, not at all reluctant!
Chu Ningyi’s heart was broken. This little one was too ungrateful! She had been with her for a few days.
Seeing Chu Lin come over, Chu Xihuan quickly reached out to support her, afraid that she would fall.
“Niang, eat…” Chu Lin handed the sugar cake to her mouth.
Chu Xihuan ruffled her head and took a small bite. Seeing that she had eaten, Chu Lin’s face broke into a bright smile. She then turned to look at Lin Zhao, who was staring at her, still a little shy, but she also handed the sugar cake in her hand to her.
“Muqin, you eat too~”
Although her pronunciation was a little strange, Lin Zhao still understood that she was calling her “mother.”
Her eyes widened slightly, a little in disbelief, and her face was very hot, but she couldn’t help but smile.
“Alright, I’ll eat too,” Lin Zhao said, bending down and also taking a bite like Chu Xihuan. She felt that the sugar cake tasted even sweeter.
She had originally thought that it would be harder for Chu Lin to accept her than for her to accept her, but she never thought that she would be willing to call her “mother” now.
Ye Liuxiang’s heart also relaxed a lot as she watched their interaction. It seemed that Lin Zhao was still the same to Chu Xihuan, and it was good that they had a child now. When they were old, they would still have a child to take care of them.
As a mother, Ye Liuxiang was willing to see her child choose the life she wanted and be happy, but she still couldn’t help but worry about their future. At this moment, in Ye Liuxiang’s eyes, this was very perfect.
Ye Liuxiang was afraid that Chu Xuanzhuang would say something unlucky again, so she gave him a look to make him shut up completely. Then, the family was harmonious, and they just treated the past as if it had been completely turned over, and no one mentioned it again.
During lunch, Chu Lin sat between Lin Zhao and Chu Xihuan, and then she saw her mother frequently serving her mother food, while she, sitting in the middle, could only watch the food fly back and forth in front of her.
She looked down at the little food left in her bowl and thought with some confusion that her mother seemed to have forgotten to serve her food.
Just as she was still struggling to think, a pigeon leg suddenly appeared in front of her. She looked up and followed the hand that was holding the food, only to see her mother, who she had been a little afraid of, looking at her with a gentle expression.
Mmm, this doesn’t seem so scary.
“Thank you, muqin~” Chu Lin said in a small voice. At the end, as if she felt that it was not enough, her lips curved into a faint smile at Lin Zhao.
Lin Zhao’s hand holding the chopsticks tightened to control the ripples in her heart.
She’s so obedient.
Lin Zhao felt that her reasons for not accepting her had lessened a little.
“It’s ‘muqin’,” Lin Zhao taught her in a low voice. The two terms for “mother,” she had directly mispronounced two characters. It was a little difficult.
Chu Lin blinked her innocent eyes at her, her eyes fixed on her lips as she spoke, and she mimicked her previous appearance. “Muqin…”
Lin Zhao was speechless.
“Mu~qin,” Lin Zhao taught her again.
Chu Lin’s eyes curved into a smile. “Muqin~”
Lin Zhao was choked and stared at her. Seeing her little appearance was quite cute, so… forget it.
Muqin is muqin. Anyway, I know what it means.
Chu Xihuan watched the interaction between the two of them from the side, a faint smile on her lips, a comfortable feeling in her heart as if she were soaking in warm water.
After finishing the meal, Lin Zhao held Chu Lin and followed beside Chu Xihuan, and the two of them went to the courtyard where she had originally lived.
The three siblings of the Chu family all had their own courtyards, and even though Chu Xihuan had been moved out for several years, her courtyard was still preserved and had been specially cleaned and swept every day. This time, Chu Xihuan could just move in directly with Lin Zhao, without having to wait for the cleaning.
When they arrived at Chu Xihuan’s courtyard, Lin Zhao’s eyes were very bright. She was interested in everything and tried to piece together the scene of Chu Xihuan living here in the past.
Chu Xihuan found her behavior a little amusing. She came up and wrapped her arms around her waist from behind, resting her chin on her shoulder. “Do you like it? If you like it, you can stay here for a while,” she said with a smile.
At this moment, Lin Zhao was looking up at the pear blossom tree in the courtyard. Even though it was not yet in bloom, Lin Zhao still thought it was very beautiful.
Hearing Chu Xihuan’s words, Lin Zhao’s face was a little red. She should have been very excited to come in, but there was one point that Lin Zhao tried to ignore, but she couldn’t help but have to.
She lowered her head and gently caressed the hand that Chu Xihuan was holding, biting her lip.
“Xihuan…” she called Chu Xihuan’s name.
“Hmm? What’s wrong?” Chu Xihuan’s tone was still filled with a smile.
“That person, has she also been here,” Lin Zhao’s tone was a little muffled.
Chu Xihuan was speechless.
**
Author’s Note:
Xixi, have you rested well? [Let Me See]
