Chapter 52: Live-in Son-in-law

Chapter 52: Live-in Son-in-law

The Lin family's messy affairs were no secret. Most people living on the same street as Lin Chang'an were well aware of them.

Lin Chang'an's father was out of his mind, not only using his own salary to support someone else's child but also trying to control Lin Chang'an's earnings.

The son Miao Liyun brought with her sold off the keepsakes left by Lin Chang'an's mother just to buy ice cream. That’s when Lin Chang'an finally snapped.

Despite this, the stepson was good at sweet-talking and had Lin Chang'an's father wrapped around his finger, which ultimately led to Lin Chang'an being forced to move into a single dormitory.

With just a few words, Xie Feifei laid bare all the Lin family’s dirty laundry.

Feeling humiliated, Miao Liyun didn’t argue further and fled like she was escaping from the scene.

Once they were outside the department store, Jiang Yu looked confused.

"Last time, you also stood up for Lin Chang'an. Do you have a thing for him?"

Xie Feifei’s round face turned bright red, and she quickly denied it. "No, I don’t! Don’t make things up. I just heard about the Lin family’s situation and felt I had to speak up!"

Jiang Yu raised an eyebrow. "If you don’t, then why are you so flustered? Your face is all red."

Xie Feifei glared at her, but eventually gave in under her teasing gaze.

"Fine, I admit, I do have a bit of a crush on him. What do you think about me asking him to be my live-in son-in-law?"

Jiang Yu: "...Live-in son-in-law?"

In her mind, she pictured Lin Chang'an’s pale, refined, and scholarly face—he did seem like the type who could live off someone else.

Xie Feifei nodded seriously. "It’s not that my parents want me to find a live-in son-in-law. I’ve thought it through, and I believe staying by my parents’ side to take care of them is the best choice for me."

Finding a live-in son-in-law seemed like the best option for her.

Plus, she had a bit of a crush on Lin Chang'an. If his father didn’t want him, she’d be happy to take him in.

Jiang Yu didn’t have any advice. "You should just go and ask him if he’s willing."

Xie Feifei’s brows furrowed. "I don’t have the courage to."

"Then have your dad ask him."

Xie Feifei: "..."

The two parted ways at the department store and headed home.

However, halfway home, Xie Feifei was intercepted by none other than Lin Chang'an.

"I heard you want me to be your live-in son-in-law?" Lin Chang'an stood with one foot propped up, staring at her intently.

Coincidentally, just moments ago, when Xie Feifei was arguing with Miao Liyun in the department store, he had been there, watching the whole scene unfold.

His feelings were mixed. He barely knew Xie Feifei, so why had she gone out of her way to stick up for him?

As soon as they stepped outside, he overheard her telling her friend that she wanted him to be her live-in son-in-law.

Xie Feifei’s round face turned as red as a tomato. How had he already found out what she had just said?

"You were listening in!"

Lin Chang'an snorted, "You guys were so loud, did you really think I needed to eavesdrop? I could hear you all the way from the Friendship Store across the street."

Xie Feifei blinked at him in surprise, "We were that loud?"

Lin Chang'an chuckled. Her round face looked so soft, he almost wanted to pinch it.

"Come on, admit it—were we that loud?"

Xie Feifei lowered her head and mumbled, "Yeah..."

Lin Chang'an nodded. "I’m in! But I’ve never been a live-in son-in-law before. What’s the process? Do I need to formally ask for your hand? When do we get married? The kid will take your last name, right? Anything else I should know?"

Xie Feifei felt like her head was spinning, like she was hearing things.

"Wh-what did you just say?"

"I said I’m in. What are the terms for being a live-in son-in-law?"

Lin Chang'an seemed a bit impatient. She looked a little dazed, like she didn’t quite believe what was happening.

Xie Feifei’s heart raced with excitement. She hadn’t really expected this, but now it felt like an incredible surprise.

"Lin Chang'an, are you sure? This is a live-in son-in-law arrangement, and the kid will take my last name."

Lin Chang'an nodded, a bitter smile playing on his lips. "My family name isn’t worth passing down."

Xie Feifei could tell that he had completely given up on the Lin family.

She took a step forward. Even standing on tiptoe, she barely reached his shoulders while he sat on the old bicycle.

After a moment of hesitation, she gently patted Lin Chang'an’s buzz cut.

"If you’re willing to marry me, my parents will be your parents, and I’ll take care of you!"

She patted her chest, speaking with determination.

Lin Chang'an looked at her for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

"Okay."

……

Jiang Yu hadn’t expected that after Xie Feifei announced just yesterday that she wanted Lin Chang’an as a live-in son-in-law, they’d already be dating.

"Wow, that’s fast! Have you talked to your parents yet? Do they agree?"

Xie Feifei still had a sweet smile on her face, clearly smitten.

"My parents agreed for us to start dating, and if it feels right, we can set a wedding date."

Things moved so quickly because Xie Jinchan had known Lin Chang’an before and had a good impression of him.

Huang Ying had heard a lot about the Lin family and thought that if they could bring in a live-in son-in-law, it would be a good choice as long as the person’s character was solid.

They decided to start dating and see where things went.

Jiang Yu, who didn’t know much about Lin Chang’an, suggested, "You should put everything in writing to avoid any misunderstandings later."

There were plenty of cases where people initially agreed the child would take the mother’s last name, only to change their mind later.

Xie Feifei beamed even more brightly, "He said the same thing, and my parents suggested we take care of it during the wedding."

Jiang Yu looked taken aback, "Guess I was overthinking it."

"No, I know you were just trying to help," Xie Feifei said, holding her hand, feeling a warmth in her heart.

After chatting for a bit, Xie Feifei suddenly asked, "Have you submitted any articles in the last couple of days?"

Jiang Yu shook her head, "I already told you, I haven’t submitted anything recently."

"That’s weird. I saw an article in the newspaper under Xiao Jiang’s pen name," Xie Feifei said, remembering clearly from the paper she read before leaving home.

Huang Ying no longer handled that section and hadn’t been paying much attention to it.

Jiang Yu frowned, "That’s impossible. I haven’t submitted anything in the past few days."

Xie Feifei speculated, "Could someone be using your pen name without your permission?"

The two discussed it and decided to go to the newspaper office to ask what was going on.

When they arrived at the newspaper office, Li Ling’s face changed dramatically when she saw Jiang Yu, and she turned to run in a panic.

Xie Feifei grabbed her by the collar.

"Sis Ling, why are you running? You look guilty—did you do something wrong?"

Li Ling forced a smile, "Feifei, you’re kidding, right? I just remembered I had some work to finish, so I was in a rush."

Xie Feifei eyed her suspiciously, "Is that so?"

At that moment, Jiang Yu’s suspicions grew, remembering that Li Ling had handled the distribution of the admission tickets last time.

"We need to see Editor Huang. Can you call her for us?" Jiang Yu asked.

Li Ling nodded quickly, "Feifei, let go of me first, and I’ll go get her."

As soon as Xie Feifei let go, Li Ling bolted toward Duan Yuzhen’s office.

If this got exposed, she’d be implicated too.

Xie Feifei saw right through her, "My mom’s office isn’t in that direction. She’s definitely hiding something."

She then asked someone else to fetch Huang Ying.