Chapter 249

Chapter 249

Shared Preferences

As long as it was someone he loved, it didn’t matter where the girl was from. But farm work? That seemed far too laborious. It was better to study hard and find a less demanding job.

Lin Nannan watched as Lu Yuan and Lu Ming were scolded, her lips curling into a smile. She turned to Lu Hang and said, "Nothing beats being home."

Seeing their playful squabbling made everything feel lively and warm—nothing could compare.

Lu Hang didn’t respond, only gave her hair an affectionate tousle. He knew she still carried lingering awkwardness with the Lin family, and achieving this kind of harmony with them was impossible.

Humans are funny that way. Logically, Lin Nannan, unfamiliar with the Lu family, should have been more guarded. But because the family had shown her kindness, care, and love, she had easily opened her heart to them, fully embracing them as her own. She wouldn’t stand for anyone badmouthing the Lu family.

As for the Lin family—if they had reached out to Nan Nan when she was in Beijing, perhaps the resentment wouldn’t have grown so deep. But as things stood, Nan Nan would never be truly close to them. At most, their relationship would resemble that of distant relatives or acquaintances, meeting occasionally while keeping things civil but distant. It would never be like now, where she had shed all her defenses, glowing with happiness from within, her face lit with a warm, genuine smile.

Lu Hang had figured this out from observing Lin Nannan’s behavior, so he didn’t interfere. He respected her choices. What he didn’t realize was that it wasn’t that Lin Nannan didn’t want to reconcile—it was that she wasn't the same person anymore.

She wasn’t the original Lin Nannan, so she couldn’t forgive the Lin family on the original Lin Nannan's behalf, nor could she accept their attempts at making amends…

After the laughter and teasing, there was still unpacking to do. Zhang Xiaofeng picked up a length of soft yellow cloth printed with small flowers and held it up against Lin Nannan. "Nan Nan, I’ll make you two long dresses with this. This will be gorgeous on you!"

"Mom, you know how to make long dresses?" Lu Yuan asked in surprise.

"Of course I do!" Zhang Xiaofeng replied without hesitation.

Lu Yuan sulked. "Then why didn’t you make me one when I wanted to wear a dress before?"

"Back then, we were too busy! When would I have had time to make you a dress?" Zhang Xiaofeng shot back, making Lu Yuan wonder if she was adopted.

Lin Nannan found it amusing and teased Lu Yuan, "How about we wear matching dresses? Would you like that?"

"Matching?" Lu Yuan’s attention was instantly captured, her anger fading.

"Yes! We’ll have Mom make identical ones, and we’ll wear them together. We'll be the talk of the village!" Lin Nannan teased.

Lu Yuan thought of the gossipy villagers and immediately brightened. "Yes! Mom, I want a dress just like Sister-in-law’s!"

Zhang Xiaofeng waved off her silly daughter's antics and said to Lin Nannan, "She spends all day in the fields—she doesn’t need a dress. I’ll just make her a dark-colored outfit."

"But I want one, Mom! Please?" Lin Nannan wheedled.

When her own daughter whined, Zhang Xiaofeng could steel herself against it. But with Lin Nannan, she had no resistance and could only agree.

Lu Yuan made a show of complaining for a while but was quickly silenced by Zhang Xiaofeng, not daring to complain further.

The items for the family were set aside, while the gifts for the two aunts—two bolts of fabric and some food each—were carefully packed by Grandma Lu. She planned to have Lu Ming deliver them the next day.

Though Lin Nannan had napped in the car, she was still exhausted from the journey. After watching the commotion for a while, she grew tired, and the couple turned in early.

Once they were in their room, the rest of the Lu family discussed Lin Nannan’s background again, marveling at people's cruelty.