Chapter 49

Chapter 49

"Well, well, he’s hot, but why would he shove a light bulb in there?"

Gu Xuebing fell silent as she watched the guy with the weird walk.

"Hmm, looks like a nanny by day, but turns into the old man’s girlfriend at night—talk about double duty."

Gu Xuebing: "!"

"She accused her daughter-in-law of not loving her son enough, so she took matters into her own hands and got involved with her own son. She got pregnant and insisted on having the baby, but it turned out to have special needs."

...

Drama really was the best distraction. Gu Xuebing was totally fired up, her sadness gone in a flash. She grabbed Gu Shaohua’s arm, determination in her eyes. "Sis, I want a divorce from Wen Rui."

Gu Shaohua patted her sister’s hand reassuringly. "Good, I support you."

Lin Tingyue and Ying Ning jumped in. "Same here."

Tears brimmed in Gu Xuebing’s eyes. So what if Wen Rui was gone? She still had them—they had her back.

Later, Gu Shaohua went with Gu Xuebing to meet the lawyer, while Ying Ning and Lin Tingyue caught a movie and grabbed dinner. They agreed to meet again before heading home.

When Lin Tingyue walked into the living room, she noticed guests were over.

Bai Yaxin piped up, "Tingyue, this is Uncle Che and his son Ziming."

Lin Tingyue sat down next to Bai Yaxin and said politely, "Hello, Uncle Che."

"Wait, isn’t there some tea on him?"

Bai Yaxin: "!"

Uncle Che narrowed his eyes at Lin Tingyue and said, "Look at you—how big you’ve gotten."

"Let me guess, next line is 'I used to hold you when you were little'?"

"You know how it is, our families haven’t kept in touch much. Tingyue probably doesn’t even remember me—I used to hold you when you were little."

"Called it!"

Bai Yaxin and Lin Rusong just looked at each other and kept drinking their tea.

The conversation derailed her, and Lin Tingyue forgot all about the gossip. She turned to chat quietly with Fan Qing.

Lin Rusong put his cup down and asked, "Old Che, so what’s this visit about?"

Che Xiuqi hesitated, then said, "Well, we came for two reasons. First, to congratulate you both on finding your long-lost daughter. And second… to talk about their marriage."

Bai Yaxin frowned. "Marriage?"

Not bothered by her tone, Che Xiuqi just kept smiling. "Yaxin, don’t you remember? You and Lan had that deal."

Che Xiuqi’s wife, Wu Lan, had been close friends with Bai Yaxin. Both were pregnant at the same time and ended up in the same hospital for delivery, and they figured it was meant to be.

While walking downstairs together, they joked around—saying if both had sons, they’d be sworn brothers; if both had daughters, they’d be sisters. But if one had a boy and the other a girl, they’d grow up and end up together.

But Bai Yaxin and Wu Lan both knew—it was just kidding around.

In their era, arranged marriages were already out of fashion; especially not the younger generation. They brushed it off with jokes and laughter.

Wu Lan divorced Che Xiuqi ten years ago and immigrated abroad. The Lin family gradually lost contact with the Che family. Bai Yaxin never imagined Che Xiuqi would show up at their doorstep over a casual joke.

Bai Yaxin clenched her fists—her gut told her Che Xiuqi was up to no good.

Eyeing her two daughters? Not a chance!

Bai Yaxin said coldly, "It was just a joke. Why take it seriously?"

Her sharp tone made Che Xiuqi’s face darken. "Yaxin, if even spoken words can be denied, what does that say about the Lins’ reputation?"

He then turned to Lin Rusong. "Old Lin, what do you think?"

Naturally, Lin Rusong sided with his wife and daughters. The man was clearly after his daughters and even dared to glare at his wife.

If he didn’t stand his ground, what kind of man was he?

Lin Rusong replied calmly, "The Lin family won’t let something so trivial affect our reputation. We have no intention of forming a marital alliance with the Che family."

Each reply was sharper than the last. With the Lin family thriving, the couple spoke with confidence.

"You—"

"Pfft, he's really laying it on thick. Does he not know his son is already smitten with his daughter’s best friend?"

Wait, really?

Bai Yaxin grew even more disgusted. "Our Xia Wan and Tingyue will only marry someone with good character, someone they truly love. Your son… doesn’t exactly fit the bill, does he?"

Bai Yaxin studied Che Xiuqi’s expression. If Che Ziming’s character were beyond reproach, Che Xiuqi would only be angry.

But beneath his anger, there was a hint of guilt.

Did he know his son already had someone he loved?

Breaking up a couple is bad enough, but this? Shameless!

"Oh, I see. He fell for his daughter’s best friend at first sight, but with father and son competing for the same girl, it’d be a disgrace if people found out. So he wanted to secure his son’s marriage first, hoping they’d grow closer over time and forget about the best friend. Then he could—"

"Seriously? Does he think women are just doormats?"

Even after all this, they still dared to pester their family. Lin Rusong slammed his teacup down and said sharply, "Che Xiuqi, get out. Now."

Unable to hear Lin Tingyue’s inner thoughts, Che Xiuqi couldn’t understand why Lin Rusong and Bai Yaxin’s attitudes had suddenly turned so resolute. He tried to prolong the act. "Are the Lins really this cold?"

"Excuse me?"

"You’re the shameless one—chasing your son’s girlfriend!"

Seeing his father groveling while the other side remained aloof, Che Ziming couldn’t take it anymore. He stood up defiantly. "Dad, can’t you see they don’t want anything to do with us? I told you I didn’t want to come—I already have Xiaomai!"

"You’re a grown man, perfectly capable and unrestrained. Where was this backbone before? What were you doing then?"

In Lin Tingyue’s eyes, the father and son were two peas in a pod—both hypocrites.

Hearing Che Ziming’s words, Che Xiuqi lunged to cover his son’s mouth. He hissed, "You have no idea what’s at stake!"

At this moment, Zhang Ma came over and said, "Ma’am, sir, there's a Ms. Zou Mai outside who says she's here to see both Mr. Che."

Lin Tingyue's eyes lit up.

"Now things are getting interesting!"

Bai Yaxin said, "Let her in."

"Xiao Mai’s here."

Before Che Xiuqi could stop him, Che Ziming had already rushed out to greet Xiao Mai. Seeing this, Che Xiuqi had to follow suit.

The Lin family tagged along right behind.

On the path, Che Ziming pulled Zou Mai into a tight hug. When Che Xiuqi approached, he raised their intertwined fingers and announced, "Dad, I want you to accept us."

"Ohhh boy, it's not that your dad doesn’t want to—it's that he wants her for himself."

Che Xiuqi’s face fell. "The answer’s no!"

Though poaching his own son’s girl was unethical, since he was the father and Ziming the son, the kid should back off for his old man.

Besides, doesn’t everyone say one should bravely pursue love these days?

"Dad, tell me why not?" Che Ziming was getting worked up. Glancing at the Lin family nearby, he blurted out, "Fine, I know Mai doesn’t have the Lin family’s status, but I’m crazy about her!"

"The answer’s no!"

"Dad, do you want Mai and me to kneel and beg you?"

At this point, Zou Mai tugged at Che Ziming’s sleeve. "Ziming, quit putting Uncle Che on the spot. I only came today to tell you—"

She looked up at him, her eyes red. "We can never be together."

With that, Zou Mai wiped her tears and ran off.

By the time she neared the villa gate, Che Ziming finally came to his senses and chased after her.

The courtyard fell into silence.

Until Lin Tingyue’s thoughts cut through the silence.

"Huh? This isn’t following the script. I remember Zou Mai was called here by Che Ziming to prove their love—why did she say they can’t be together?"

"Oh my god, Zou Mai is actually Che Xiuqi’s biological daughter too!"

"Back then, Che Xiuqi was sleeping with Wu Lan’s best friend. Wu Lan had enough and divorced him, but she never expected he’d actually cheated with two of her best friends!"

Che Ziming cheated? Bai Yaxin had thought he and Wu Lan had a clean breakup.

"The two best friends gave birth in different places. Years later, their daughters—from completely different worlds—became best friends themselves. Zou Mai only just found out Che Xiuqi is her real father."

"So, she and Che Ziming are siblings? No wonder Zou Mai said that."

Even after returning inside, Bai Yaxin and Lin Rusong were still processing.

A father going after his son’s girl, only to discover she’s his own daughter.

What a damn mess!

Most importantly, what was that man Che Ziming thinking—trying to break up our son and daughter, then having the nerve to shove his good-for-nothing son at her two precious daughters?

Get the hell out!

Bai Yaxin held Lin Tingyue’s hand and said, “This is all my fault. If I had known Che Xiuqi thought that way, I never would’ve let him in to begin with.”

Lin Rusong said, “It was me who invited them in. It’s my mistake.”

“Alright, neither of you did anything wrong. Their words are just unpleasant—I’ll simply choose not to listen.” Lin Tingyue said, eyes crinkling with a smile.

“Our dear Tingyue is such a good girl…”

Bai Yaxin was in the middle of praising when suddenly her phone rang.

After hanging up, she said, “That was the Yi family. They’re inviting us to their son’s engagement party in a couple of days and want us to be there.”

Bai Yaxin looked at Lin Rusong, who said, “Our relationship with the Yi family isn’t anything special—we only have some business dealings…”

Before Lin Rusong could finish, both of their attentions were completely captured by Lin Tingyue’s mental commentary.

“The Yi family!”

Bai Yaxin and Lin Rusong immediately sat up straight. Looks like some hot gossip was coming their way!

They hadn’t been particularly into gossip before—but now, the more they indulged, the more hooked they became!

“Actually,” she added with a grin, “calling it a ‘coming-out party’ would be more accurate than an engagement banquet.”