Chapter 257

Chapter 257

The Lin Family from the Capital Arrives

Lu Ming and Lu Yuan took Lin Nannan to buy Lunar New Year firecrackers, and Yin Xu also sent over some better ones. But Lin Nannan wasn’t happy at all—she realized she missed Lu Hang even more.

"Can you find Zhang Shengguo?" Lin Nannan asked Yin Xu.

Yin Xu knew she was asking because of Lu Hang and nodded. "I know some things, but since he was the one who took Lu Hang away, even he might not be easy to reach."

Lin Nannan pursed her lips. She knew this was the case, but she still felt disappointed.

Not knowing anything was making her restless. Especially since Lu Hang had once faced life-or-death situations, and those behind it still hadn’t been found—it made her uneasy. She even considered going out to look for him herself.

"Once the Lantern Festival passes, I’ll help you look into it," Yin Xu said sympathetically, seeing she'd stayed at the lab through New Year's just to keep busy and distract herself from thinking about Lu Hang.

Lin Nannan nodded. She realized she knew very little about Lu Hang’s situation. Even though Zhang Shengguo had connections to Zhang Dabang, she couldn’t reach him.

This made her feel she wasn’t strong enough yet—otherwise, such problems wouldn’t exist.

Just as Lin Nannan was struggling with these thoughts, the capital's Lin family, who had been absent all this time, suddenly arrived—and in the middle of the New Year festivities, enduring the late winter cold.

Zhou Cuiwei came from a good family and had been protected by the Lin family during the most dangerous times, so she had been spared the worst. But this trip was harder than any before, especially with the cold weather leaving her visibly ill.

Lin Nannan was at the research institute when Lu Yuan came to fetch her. The moment she heard the Lin family had arrived, she frowned, her face devoid of happiness.

"What are they here for?" She had zero interest in going, her tone impatient.

Lu Yuan knew her sister-in-law didn’t want to acknowledge the Lin family, but they had come sincerely and humbly, just wanting to see her and learn about her past. This made it hard for their parents to turn them away—after all, you don't hit someone who comes smiling.

"They just came to see you. They didn’t ask you to acknowledge them or go back with them. Sister-in-law, that Ms. Zhou seems sick—she looks pale. Maybe you should go see her. It wasn’t easy for them to come at this time," Lu Yuan persuaded.

Lin Nannan, as stubborn as always, refused to listen. "I didn’t ask them to come!"

Lu Yuan was exasperated until Yin Xu stepped in to help.

"Even if you don’t acknowledge them, you should make things clear. If they insist on staying, it’ll be awkward for them to remain in the village. It’s better to go and settle it," Yin Xu advised.

He was getting a headache. Lin Nannan’s temper was something only Lu Hang could handle—otherwise, she was nearly impossible to persuade.

This was clear from how stubborn she was during research disagreements…

"I’ve already made myself clear to them. They’re the ones who insisted on coming," Lin Nannan said firmly, making Yin Xu and Lu Yuan exchange helpless glances.

Finally, Lu Yuan had no choice but to play her trump card. "Sister-in-law, if you don’t go back, I don’t know what will happen when Grandma or Mom comes looking for you."

Lin Nannan listened to Lu Hang and respected the elders in the family, so at this point, only Grandma or the others could get through to her.

In the end, Lin Nannan, under pressure, had no choice but to follow Lu Yuan back.

Ma Da followed at a distance, but Lin Nannan’s frosty attitude made Lu Yuan wish she wanted to keep her distance…

"Sister-in-law, do you really dislike them that much?" she asked cautiously.

Lin Nannan looked at her, and Lu Yuan braced herself before continuing, "I think they’re quite nice. And it’s not like they abandoned you on purpose. Your replacement reportedly found her birth parents and has already left the Lin family."

"What does that matter? The one who lived a good life was never the Lin Nannan who lived in fear in the village," she murmured bitterly.

Had they waited any longer, she wondered if the real Lin Nannan could have waited for her family.

Who knows if the real her could ever forgive those relatives if she saw them!

After all that suffering, how could a simple 'sorry' ever make up for it?

Her words left Lu Yuan silent, at a loss for words...

The two walked home in silence. At the doorstep, Lin Nannan faintly heard crying from inside—a voice she faintly recognized—Old Mrs. Zhou’s.

"I truly never imagined... that was the flesh of my flesh, the treasure our family had longed for! Thinking of the suffering she endured, my heart is shattered!" Zhou Cuiwei struck her chest in remorse, weeping bitterly. "How could they be so cruel to a child?!"

Lin Zhaoyou supported his wife beside her, his expression equally grim.

He didn’t cry, but his eyes reddened, clearly struggling to accept it.

The Lin family’s daughter should’ve had it easy, yet she suffered torment here—even forced to marry a paralyzed man just because others refused. Thankfully, Lu Hang had recovered, or else they’d have lost their minds.

Zhang Xiaofeng’s heart ached as she muttered, "Back then, I only pitied the child for having no one to care for her, never thinking to lend a hand..."

Had she known earlier that the girl was her daughter-in-law, she would have protected her long ago, never allowing the Lin family to mistreat her so.

"It’s a miracle that child even survived!" Old Mrs. Lu sighed deeply at the thought.

Zhou Cuiwei only cried harder upon hearing this, leaving Pan Xiaoping somewhat exasperated. Were her sister-in-law and mother-in-law trying to comfort or further wound the woman? Couldn’t they see how heartbroken she was?

"Nan Nan’s doing great now—she’s thriving. The Lin Donglai family is eaten up with regret, and even the villagers want nothing to do with them. That Lin Qingqing? She’s in a pitiful state—shunned because of Old Mrs. Lin’s disgrace, then married off by Lin Donglai with a dowry, only to be scorned by her in-laws for her 'bad name'..." She chose her words carefully, hoping to calm her.

Instead of being comforted, Zhou Cuiwei gritted her teeth. "How does this fix what my baby went through?! They’ll pay for every bit of it!"

"Exactly. Arresting Old Mrs. Lin alone is far from enough. Everyone in the Lin family who knew must face justice!" Lin Zhaoyou agreed.

The Lu family didn’t say a word on the matter—after all, Lin Donglai’s family had reaped what they sowed. They could only hope Lin Zhaoyou and his wife would bring them to account.

Lin Nannan listened at the door, her heart aching with a bitterness she knew wasn’t hers.

She truly had no feelings toward the Lin family. All she wanted was to stay here and live peacefully with the Lu family.

"Nan Nan, you're back." The door opened as Lu Yuan pushed it in, and everyone turned to see Lin Nannan standing there. Old Mrs. Lu quickly called out to her.

Zhou Cuiwei and her husband, upon seeing Lin Nannan, shot up in excitement.