Lin Chen gazed at Lin Nuan. The phone on the corner of the table vibrated. Lin Chen hung up, switched off his phone, and tapped away the ashes on his cigarette.
He understood what Lin Nuan meant and nodded. "I'll tell Mom when I get back."
Lin Chen reflected on Lin Ran's decision to leave.
He recalled what Lin Ran said to him when he sent her to the airport before she left …
She said, "Brother, I know I shouldn't hate Lin Nuan. I remember eating at Grandma and Grandpa's place last year. Grandma suggested that we celebrate our birthdays together after not seeing Lin Nuan for many years. Mom went to look for Lin Nuan, but Lin Nuan rejected her. She said it would be embarrassing for me if we celebrated our birthdays together at the Lins' house! I know she was considerate for me, but I hate her even more! That's because every single one of my family members is thinking about him … "
Lin Chen remembered that Grandma suggested the two of them celebrate their birthdays together, and Lin Chen agreed!
If Lin Chen had been a little more rational back then and spoken up for Lin Ran, perhaps Lin Ran wouldn't have suffered so much in the Lin family all these years, and she wouldn't have so much prejudice against Lin Nuan and hate her so much. She wouldn't have been so incompatible with Lin Nuan …
"Brother …" Lin Nuan's eyes were wet, and she found it hard to say what she should have said. "In the future, get … get … your parents not to mention me in front of Lin Ran."
Lin Nuan's use of the words "your parents" made Lin Chen feel extremely uncomfortable. His brows furrowed, and his gaze deepened.
Lin Nuan steeled her heart and didn't dare to look into Lin Chen's eyes. She stared at the steaming cup in front of her and said, "Lin Ran is their biological daughter. Lin Ran has always been a person who dares to love and hate, and she's always open to everything. She's definitely not the kind of person who would play dirty behind others' backs. This kind of person … has a sharp tongue, but she's actually very weak and soft inside. She's actually not as tough as you think. She … is easier to get taken advantage of than someone like me!"
Recalling what Lin Ran had said to her in the Lin family's small kitchen, Lin Nuan clenched her teacup tightly. She endured the pain in her stomach and smiled at Lin Chen. "All of you probably think that I'm innocent, that Lin Ran is by your side and I can't see anything when I'm not by your side, so you're more wary of me. But to Lin Ran, this is no different from a death by a thousand cuts!"
"I'm very sorry. This is all caused by my biological father …" Lin Nuan smiled, her nostrils flaring slightly. She couldn't suppress the moisture in her eyes, and her throat felt swollen and painful. "Even if he raised Lin Ran, he can't deny the fact that he helped his biological daughter steal Lin Ran's life! In fact, my biological father should apologize to everyone in the Lin Family. It was his actions that caused everyone to fall into such an awkward and hurtful situation. And in this … the most innocent person is no doubt me, but the most pitiful one is Lin Ran, and then everyone else! "
"I've returned Lin Ran's identity to her, but I haven't returned her kinship!" Lin Nuan smiled with much difficulty.
Outside the French windows behind Lin Nuan, the heavy rain didn't stop.
The rain made the glass splotches, reflecting the lonely chandelier in the private room. The bright and gentle light was kneaded into a hazy warm orange color, outlining the contours of Lin Nuan's thin shoulders.
Lin Nuan's words were heartless, especially the words "your parents" …
But if Lin Nuan didn't make a decision, the Lin Family might lose Lin Ran forever. Once a girl like Lin Ran made up her mind, no one would be able to dissuade her.
"Brother, I'm different now. I have a family! I have Huai 'an! And Tuan Tuan! I have a family, but Lin Ran doesn't. Lin Ran only has you guys! "
The cigarette ash on Lin Chen's fingertips burned and hung in the air …
Lin Nuan was right. It was because Lin Ran was by their side that his parents subconsciously neglected her. They were more concerned about whether Lin Nuan was well-fed and well-clothed like Lin Ran.
"If there's nothing important in the future, I won't go to the Lin Family anymore. Now that I'm married to Huai 'an, my household registration should be the same as Huai' an's. It'll be more convenient no matter what I do …"
It was better to get the pain over with. It was because Lin Nuan couldn't cut off her relationship with her parents that Lin Ran was in more pain. From Lin Ran's point of view, Lin Nuan was indeed detestable …
Just as Lin Ran said, Lin Nuan was like a mistress who knew deep down that being a mistress wasn't right, but she still kept pestering the man who had a family, even though she had already promised the first wife that she would stay far away from her husband!
It couldn't be denied that Lin Nuan, who had the most power to handle the Lin Family matter, didn't handle it well!
It wasn't too late to make up for it.
If Lin Nuan continued to hesitate and cling to the warmth the Lin Family gave her, it would cause Liang Mulan and Lin Jingquan to lose their biological daughter once again. This was something Lin Nuan didn't want to see!
Because in Lin Nuan's heart, Liang Mulan and Lin Jingquan were her parents. She didn't want to see her parents sad.
The cigarette between Lin Chen's fingers burned out. He didn't even take a few puffs before putting it out in the ashtray. The waiter had already knocked on the door of the private room to serve the dishes.
"Let's eat first!" Lin Chen said to Lin Nuan.
In one day, Lin Nuan couldn't eat two meals in a row.
Not wanting Lin Chen to notice anything amiss, Lin Nuan lowered her head and endured the faint pain in her stomach as she ate delicately.
Her phone vibrated, and Fu Huai 'an's message came in …
[Fu Huai 'an: Are you done with work?]
Lin Nuan put down the chopsticks in her hand and replied to Fu Huai 'an.
[Lin Nuan: I'm done. I met Big Brother Lin.]
After eating with Lin Chen, Lin Nuan's stomach pain seemed to be much better, but it was still a little bloated.
She called Uncle Hu and asked him to pick her up at the entrance of the Sunshine Plaza at the intersection of Renmin Road and Qujiang New Road in twenty minutes.
…
Inside the Kaide Corporation's president's office, Fu Huai 'an bit on an unlit cigarette at the corner of his lips. He tugged at his tie with the hand that was holding onto his phone and opened the window with the other hand. Wind mixed with rainwater blew in …
Fu Huai 'an's cold and hard facial features were reflected on the transparent window that was washed by the rain. He frowned and lowered his eyes. He lit the cigarette with the flickering flame.
Old Madam Fu was still sitting on the sofa. She looked at Fu Huai 'an's back view, and her gaze swept across the glass window. She felt nervous as the cigarette on the corner of Fu Huai' an's lips glowed.
She came here to confess to Fu Huai 'an that she had looked for Lin Nuan …
Old Madam Fu was old, but she wasn't muddle-headed. The driver was about to drive into the Fu house, but Old Madam Fu asked him to turn around and come to the Kaide Corporation.
She knew in her heart that some things she told Fu Huai 'an were completely different from what Fu Huai' an heard from Lin Nuan.
Old Madam Fu and Fu Huai 'an didn't have a deep relationship.
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