Chapter 241

Chapter 241

Can’t Be Kept

As family matters crossed his mind, Lin Kangsheng remained preoccupied with the documents in his hand, absentmindedly speeding up his pace. Then, as he turned a corner, he suddenly spotted a figure and couldn’t stop in time, exclaiming, "Look out!"

Both Lin Nannan and Lu Hang reacted swiftly, sidestepping in the same direction and narrowly avoiding a collision. Lin Kangsheng, with someone’s support, barely kept his balance.

"Thank you!" After expressing his gratitude, Lin Kangsheng turned to apologize but found himself staring into Lin Nannan’s indifferent eyes; he froze, stunned.

"I’m sorry, just now—you?" he blurted out once he recognized her.

Lin Nannan hadn’t expected to encounter a member of the Lin family here either. Noting his attire, she realized he worked at the institute and nodded slightly, dismissing him like a stranger before turning to leave. However, Lin Kangsheng called out to stop her.

"Nan Nan, I have nothing to do with Zhang Ling. I was raised by my grandparents." Worried that she might resent him as Zhang Ling’s stepson, Lin Kangsheng, on impulse, couldn’t help but explain.

Lin Nannan was slightly taken aback but still replied calmly, "I won’t drag others into this, but I won’t be close to you either."

Her words left Lin Kangsheng momentarily speechless. Then, anxiously, he added, "Aunt and the others have been hoping to meet you. Lin Min is even planning to move out of the family home. They had no idea about what happened back then. Even if you don’t like them, they’re still your family. Don’t you want to accept them at all?"

"No." Lin Nannan’s voice stayed firm, without the slightest hesitation. She turned and walked away.

Lu Hang glanced at Lin Kangsheng before quickly following her, while the rest of the group brushed past Lin Kangsheng, hurrying after them.

The scene made Lin Kangsheng, who had worked at the institute for years, realize just how important Lin Nannan was—important enough to merit this level of security even here. Yet, how had someone raised in the countryside mastered such remarkable skills?

He wasn’t upset, merely curious.

Since none of his family had seen this side of Lin Nannan, he suddenly felt fortunate to be working here.

If the Lin family knew about his slightly smug thoughts, they’d probably want to beat him up.

Lin Nannan brushed off the brief encounter from her mind without another thought.

Upon meeting the director, she immediately tossed the blueprints she had drawn onto the table and said, "Find someone to check them over. I’ll explain anything unclear. I want to go home."

Watching her no-nonsense attitude, the director sighed and nodded at once.

He knew he couldn’t keep her.

Lin Nannan’s visit was entirely due to the Lin family’s involvement. Otherwise, she could have waited until the new institute was completed to conduct her research at leisure—benefits that would no longer belong to them.

As the director called for someone, he considered trying to get closer, hoping it would make future requests easier. But his subordinates gave him no chance.

During Lin Nannan’s seclusion, everyone had speculated she was working on something groundbreaking. The moment news of her arrival spread, all relevant personnel had gathered, leaving the director no opportunity to establish connections.

Unaware of the director’s intentions, the other researchers crowded around Lin Nannan’s blueprints, impressed but confused.