Chapter 80

Chapter 80

Lin Tingyue hung up the phone. Lin Yuhuan asked, "Something wrong?"

"Yeah," Lin Tingyue replied. "Mr. Ying called and invited me to dinner at their place on Saturday."

She added, "His parents suggested it."

"Weren’t you just there yesterday?"

Lin Tingyue thought for a moment. "Maybe it’s something important."

"Even if not, a free meal’s always nice."

Lin Yuhuan: "…"

Turns out his sister wasn’t just a penny-pincher but a total foodie—and noticing how clueless she was, well…

After helping the Ying family so much yesterday, it made sense that they’d want to thank her with a meal. But Ying An being the one to call? That was... interesting.

Lin Yuhuan pursed his lips. Since his sister hadn’t noticed anything yet, why should he worry?

"Here we are."

Lin Yuhuan dropped Lin Tingyue off at the entrance of the University for the Elderly, then parked the car and walked back.

It was Lin Tingyue’s first time here. Her eyes were wide with curiosity as she took everything in. She peeked into one classroom where the teacher was lecturing passionately at the front, while an old man in the back row folded paper airplanes, totally checked out.

And he wasn’t the only one!

Lin Tingyue cringed—it was like staring into a mirror.

"Some people just never grow out of hating school, huh?"

Lin Yuhuan remembered that Lin Tingyue had never liked studying. Back in school, she’d always been a solid B student.

Now here she was, all grown up.

Lin Tingyue asked, "Big brother, which class is Grandpa in?"

Right—they were here to pick up their grandfather.

Snapping out of it, Lin Yuhuan said, "Should be right up front."

They kept walking when suddenly they heard a loud argument ahead. One voice was full of energy—unmistakably their grandfather’s.

Lin Yuhuan and Lin Tingyue exchanged a glance and instinctively sped up.

As they reached the doorway, they saw two elderly men standing with hands on hips, yelling so hard spit was flying.

Lin Tingyue froze. "Is this really happening?"

The fight escalated as they started airing each other’s dirty laundry.

Old Man Sang scoffed. "Spare me. Still cleaning up that son-in-law disaster? What’s with the death stare? I’m just saying what everyone knows—or are you gonna try silencing me? Good luck with that crowd!"

Old Man Lin was red-faced with rage, slamming his cane so hard the floor seemed ready to crack. Seeing the smug look on the other man’s face, he shot back, "At least my daughter just refuses to marry. Your second son basically handed you a bonus grandson!"

That hit like a grenade. The crowd lost it. Old Man Sang saw red. He snarled, "Get lost! I won’t even start on your skeletons."

"Is it that you don’t want to say it? You just don’t get it! If you’re so tough, don’t back down—I’ve got way more where that came from!"

Old Man Sang hightailed it out of there, and the teacher in the classroom breathed a sigh of relief, seriously worried the two old-timers would keep going at it and end up fighting.

Not to mention elderly folks aren’t exactly in peak condition, but these two old men also came from distinguished families. If their children came looking for trouble, it could even get the school shut down.

After his victory, Old Man Lin was feeling pretty smug, but then he unexpectedly spotted Lin Yuhuan and Lin Tingyue. His face went stiff.

Though Old Man Lin was difficult to get along with, he still cared deeply about his reputation. Getting caught like that by his grandkids totally embarrassed him. He cleared his throat, flustered, and asked, "What are you two doing here?"

Lin Yuhuan and Lin Tingyue stepped forward to support him. Lin Yuhuan said, "Dad has some matters to attend to, so he asked Tingyue and me to pick you up."

Old Man Lin replied slowly, "Oh."

Then, stiffening his neck, he added, "Keep today’s nonsense to yourselves."

Lin Tingyue was barely keeping a straight face. Hearing her brother agree, she quickly nodded along.

Still, she was a little curious about how the argument had started.

"Wait, they both thought the other sucked at chess?"

Lin Tingyue was cracking up, and even Lin Yuhuan cracked a smile. Feeling playful, Lin Tingyue blinked and asked, "So, Grandpa, are you still going to play chess with him tomorrow?"

Rubbing salt in the wound, Old Man Lin was furious—how could he even think about playing chess now?

He declared, "I’ll eat my hat if I ever play chess with him again."

Lin Tingyue neither agreed nor disagreed.

"Grandpa’s keeping up with the times, huh."

Old Man Lin had impulsively decided to stay at his eldest son’s place for a while. Every visit was just an excuse to make trouble.

The moment Bai Yaxin heard he was coming, she was already dreading it—not like she could say no.

But to her surprise, this time, the old man was on his best behavior???

He ate what he was served without a peep, stayed in the tidied-up room without complaining, and was downright sweet to everyone in the family.

When Lin Rusong came out after washing up, he saw his wife beaming like the sun.

Amused, he leaned in and asked, "What’s going on?"

Bai Yaxin grabbed his hand and said, "That senior college really did the trick, huh!"

Seeing his wife happy, Lin Rusong was delighted too. He said, "I think so too. I’ve already talked to the teacher—Dad’s going back next semester."

Bai Yaxin stretched lazily, leaning against Lin Rusong’s shoulder. "I don’t know why, but I feel like a weight’s been lifted."

Little did they know, it was because Old Man Lin had been caught misbehaving at school by Lin Tingyue and Lin Yuhuan. Afraid they’d rat him out, he decided to behave himself.

Just as Old Man Lin lay down, he received several phone calls.

The calls pretended to check on him, but in reality, were just worried he was up to his old tricks again.

Was he really such a handful?

Displeased, Old Man Lin tossed his phone aside—only for it to ring again almost immediately. Grumbling, he snatched it back up.

The name Lin Jiasi flashed on the caller ID, and suddenly the phone burned in his hand. Old Man Lin held it for a moment, his hands trembling before finally hanging up.

Now he was queasy all over again!

Her dad wouldn’t pick up, so Lin Jiasi had no choice but to call her sister-in-law. When she found out that Grandpa had just thrown up, her tone couldn’t hide her glee, muttering something about him being scared for life after one bad experience.

The next morning, it was still Lin Yuhuan and Lin Tingyue who took the old man to his senior classes.

He wasn’t happy. He grumbled, “Have Chengyan take me.”

Was he already stirring up drama after just one night?

Bai Yaxin replied patiently, “Chengyan’s on set. Won’t be back for two or three months.”

She thought that would end it, but instead, he turned to Lin Xiawan. “Then have Xiawan take me.”

Anyone but Tingyue and Yuhuan!

“Xiawan can’t either. She has to work later.”

“Then—”

“Grandpa,” Lin Tingyue added more porridge to his bowl. “You playing chess with Grandpa Sang today?”

Old Man Lin wasn’t deaf to the threat. These kids were running wild—thanks to Bai Yaxin and Lin Rusong coddling them!

The old man huffed but caved. As Lin Yuhuan and Lin Tingyue helped him out, Tingyue glanced back and gave Bai Yaxin an OK sign.

Bai Yaxin exhaled. “Close call.” She dropped a peeled egg into Lin Xiawan’s bowl.

Yuhuan was headed there regardless, and Tingyue just wanted to tag along—that’s why Bai Yaxin agreed. Why rope Xiawan and Chengyan into this?

As she ate, Lin Xiawan wondered: did Tingyue have dirt on the old man?

University for the Elderly.

They say enemies cross paths. And sure enough, as they reached the entrance, Mr. Lin ran right into Grandpa Sang.

Old Man Lin scowled, while Sang grinned and leaned in. “A smile shaves years off, ever heard that? Don’t be such a sourpuss.”

Mr. Lin eyed him suspiciously. *[Lin Tingyue thought]* “You off your meds?”

“Grandpa might not be likable, but he’s a master at conversation.”

Sang’s grin faltered. “I’m a clockwork pill-taker. How could I mess that up?”

“So then why—”

“Ah, we’re one foot in the grave already. What’s with all the fighting? Just relax, live longer.”

“Hmph.”

Get out-argued and then preach ‘chill out’—since when did that fly?

Seeing Mr. Lin still stiff and wary, Sang cut to the chase. “We’ve got happy family news today.”

“What news?”

"My youngest daughter, who was previously led astray by your Jiasi and refused to get married, recently came back. Her sister-in-law pleaded with her relentlessly, and finally managed to convince her. Today, her sister-in-law is accompanying her on a blind date. I think I’ll soon be cradling a grandbaby."

"Are you sure she wasn’t just worn out from the pestering?"

Old Master Lin understood now—this wasn’t a friendly gesture at all. It was clearly rubbing it in his face.

Wasn’t Sang Qin’s whole speech just a slight against Lin Jiasi?

And while his daughter had now "repented," Lin Jiasi was still out there living wild.

If this wasn’t gloating, what was???

Old Master Lin immediately pushed Sang Qin away, frowning as he said, "Don’t count your chickens before they hatch."

Sang Qin was also getting annoyed. "I was trying to be nice with you. Why are you lashing out?"

Old Master Lin sneered. "Some ‘good news’—more like salt in the wound."

"How wasn’t it? Who lost sleep over Lin Jiasi not getting married?"

"My worries are none of your business."

"Right, I’m off the hook now. I just thought I’d help you lighten up too."

"Don’t bother," Old Master Lin said stubbornly. "Kids’ll find their own way. I’ve accepted that."

"Spare me the act."

"What’s that attitude of yours!"

Lin Yuhuan glanced at Sang Qin. He had been holding Old Master Lin back, and now he stepped between the two of them. What could have been ten more rounds of arguing was interrupted by a phone call.

Sang Qin’s face lit up when he saw the caller ID. He waved his phone at Old Master Lin. "This must mean it worked. Admit it, old Lin—my way worked."

But after answering the call, Sang Qin went pale.

"Huh? What’s wrong? Did the blind date not go well?"

"Oh! Turns out the guy on the blind date had eyes for the sister-in-law, not his daughter!"