Chapter 2 Chapter 2

Chapter 2

1

That afternoon, Lin Chenxin's bank card received an eight-figure transfer.

Her eyes lit up, and without a moment's hesitation, she immediately made a phone call.

"Doctor Jiang, if there's a compatible donor kidney, please schedule my sister's surgery as soon as possible!"

She pursed her lips, as if she were forcing something down or holding something back, her voice hoarse and trembling as she said, "I have the money now."

Those four short words made the middle-aged woman on the other end of the line feel her heart ache.

Years ago, she had personally witnessed Lin Chenxin's mother being covered by a white sheet. Standing in the hospital corridor, Lin Chenxin held one child in her arms and pushed a stroller with another, her youthful face marked by the dazed confusion that follows trauma.

She was so young, her slender shoulders still those of a child in need of protection.

But she quickly pulled herself together, wiping away the tears that hadn't yet fallen, and took her two young siblings to see their mother one last time.

Little did anyone expect that just three days later, the same scene would repeat itself, this time for her father.

Growth comes swiftly and without warning. Life offers no buffer, and hardship gives no warning.

Within two years, her younger sister also fell ill.

This time, it was Doctor Jiang who personally received this girl.

The once youthful and radiant girl had lost her luster in such a short time, yet her eyes remained as bright as ever.

"Doctor, I will find a way to earn money. Please, you must cure my sister!"

Images of the girl from the past two years flashed through Doctor Jiang's mind. She sighed inwardly and spoke softly.

"Alright."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Chenxin looked up at the sunset glow in the sky. The joy welling up from the depths of her heart made her eyes shine with an extraordinary brightness.

At this moment, she felt that no matter what she had done, it was all worth it. The Chen family, the Chen family's eldest young master—none of them cast any shadow over her heart.

Lin Chenxin exhaled a long, weary sigh and turned around, only to suddenly meet a pair of eyes that had been watching her for who knows how long.

Her brows furrowed slightly, then quickly smoothed out as she spoke. "What do you want, Cheng Liao?"

The male student named Cheng Liao stared directly at Lin Chenxin and asked, "How could you get into such an expensive car in public? Do you know what people are saying about you behind your back?"

The sudden accusation left Lin Chenxin thoroughly perplexed.

Cheng Liao was Lin Chenxin's high school classmate; in fact, they were in the same class. He came from an ordinary family and had ordinary looks. Only when grades were posted would people glance at Cheng Liao's name a little longer, but that was it.

Compared to the radiant Lin Chenxin, he was someone rather unremarkable in every aspect.

Yet, after her family's tragedy, he began appearing frequently before her.

On the day of their high school graduation, he stood in front of her and delivered a long, vague, and confusing speech that made her frown deeply.

She bluntly asked if she had given him any reason for misunderstanding. Instead of answering, he went on a monologue, saying he would help her, become her support, and always stay by her side!

Faced with Cheng Liao's increasingly intense attitude, Lin Chenxin directly cut him off. "No need. You can't help me."

Since then, the two had no further interaction. Unexpectedly, they ended up at the same university, even in the same major.

However, Lin Chenxin was very busy. Their paths rarely crossed, and their conversations were few and far between.

Lin Chenxin looked directly into Cheng Liao's eyes and said, "That wasn't just anyone."

Seeing Cheng Liao's expression change abruptly, Lin Chenxin spoke calmly, "That was a car from my future husband's family."

With that, she brushed past his shoulder and left.

Cheng Liao stood frozen on the spot, his expression shifting dramatically. He hurriedly turned to look at Lin Chenxin's back as she walked away, but she didn't look back, soon striding away and disappearing from sight. Only the shadows of leaves swaying in the wind remained on the empty path.

—

The kindergarten gate opened, and a sturdy, lively little boy shot into Lin Chenxin's arms like a cannonball.

Holding her brother, a brilliant smile bloomed on Lin Chenxin's face.

"Chen'an, did you have fun today?"

The little boy's cheeks were flushed red as he looked up at Lin Chenxin and said, "Yes! I ate two bowls of rice at lunch today!"

"Wow, that's amazing."

Lin Chenxin gently stroked her brother's cheek.

The kindergarten principal stood behind them, watching with a warm smile.

Lin Chenxin produced a suitcase and looked at the principal. "Thank you for taking care of this."

"It's no trouble at all. I'm happy to help you."

The principal had beautiful blue eyes and was a dignified, kind-hearted nun.

Seeming to sense something, Chen'an's eyes showed a flicker of unease.

Lin Chenxin crouched down, stroking her brother's head. "Chen'an, for a little while, you'll be staying with Principal Grandma."

Chen'an's eyes widened in shock, and a look of tension immediately appeared on his face, but he remained obedient and didn't interrupt her.

"Your big sister is getting married," she said with a smile.

Behind them, the principal's eyes flickered slightly, her expression one of compassion as she looked at Lin Chenxin, yet she said nothing.

Chen'an tightly gripped Lin Chenxin's clothes, tears glistening in his eyes.

He didn't fully understand what it meant for his sister to get married, but he had a vague, uneasy sense that they were about to be separated.

"Big sister would never leave you. Once I'm settled, I'll come to pick you up. By then, Chenyi should be all better too."

Chen'an's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Really," she nodded earnestly.

"Then I'll be good. I'll wait for you to come get me."

Chen'an's round eyes shimmered with moisture.

Lin Chenxin leaned down and kissed the top of her brother's head.

Over the years, Lin Chenxin did not live on campus; instead, she lived with her younger siblings in a cheap basement.

They had no one else, yet they never lost hope. It was she who raised her twin siblings, taught them to speak, taught them to walk—they were the only family she had left.

She looked up at the Kindergarten Principal across from her and said softly, "Thank you so much."

The principal shook her head, looking at her kindly.

"I'm glad you were willing to trust me."

Lin Chenxin smiled.

Along the way, many people had helped her out.

When she was overwhelmed and unsure how to care for two children, it was her high school homeroom teacher and his family who helped look after her siblings.

When her younger sister fell ill, it was Doctor Jiang at the hospital who was very caring and supportive. When she was at a loss, it was the kindergarten principal who helped look after her brother.

And there was Professor Yu from university. She regretted not being able to pursue graduate studies as he had hoped, but even so, he tried his best to ease her financial burden.

The road had been hard, but she'd also met many kind people.

Watching the principal take the suitcase and lead her brother away—her brother, who kept glancing back over his shoulder as he left—Lin Chenxin stood in place until he had disappeared from view before she finally turned and left.

Her phone showed a photo of her sister's pale, thin little face. Doctor Jiang said her sister was very strong and that once a suitable kidney donor was found, surgery would be arranged. The operation would surely succeed, and her sister would definitely become safe and healthy.

Lin Chenxin put away her phone, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. Then, with a determined look, she strode away.

——

The senior dorm had long been empty, so no one came to see Lin Chenxin off on the day she left.

Only when she walked out of the school gate did Professor Yu call, asking if she had found a job.

She looked ahead at that familiar black car and replied with a smile, "Yes, I have—a job with a generous salary."

Professor Yu was pleased, saying he believed that as long as she was willing to work hard, her talents would never be buried, no matter where she went.

Lin Chenxin smiled.

She worked hard not because she wanted to or because she enjoyed it, but because only through hard work could life become better.

Of course, being someone's wife was a job she was doing for the first time, and she had no experience, but she believed she could do it well.

A moment later, Professor Yu added with concern, "Although I know you're facing financial difficulties, don't compromise yourself too much. You can contact me anytime if you have any problems."

"I won't."

She wouldn't.

Lin Chenxin lifted her chin, a sharp gleam flashing in her eyes.

She would naturally receive compensation commensurate with what she gave.

As for anything else, that would cost extra.

Hanging up the phone, Lin Chenxin put on a proper smile and got into the car.

Behind the spacious school gate, several pairs of eyes watched her departing figure intently. Among them, one pair burned with resentment.

——

——

Lin Chenxin had thought the Chen family was picking her up to arrange the wedding, but instead, everything felt off.

No, it was very off.

From the moment she was picked up, Lin Chenxin hadn't seen anyone else. The entire, spacious Chen residence was utterly silent, with no sounds of celebration.

And so, the wedding began in an eerie silence, like a mysterious and bizarre ritual.

She was dressed in wedding robes and covered with a red veil, then led into the main hall of the inner courtyard.

She had never imagined a traditional Chinese wedding could be so eerie.

This utterly silent wedding had no guests, no witnesses, yet it was solemn, like a ritual unique to the Chen family.

And Eldest Young Master Chen never appeared from start to finish. Under the moonlit, starry night, only the dark shadows of several figures in the main hall were cast on the ground, accompanied by flickering candlelight, like shadowy monsters.

Lin Chenxin pressed her lips tightly together.

There were three people seated in the main hall.

At the head were Mr. Chen and Ms. Liang. To the lower left sat a young woman—Second Miss Chen, just twenty years old. It was said the Chen family also had a young master, only eighteen and still in his third year of high school, who did not appear here.

From the looks of it, Eldest Young Master Chen's wedding didn't seem all that important—or rather, it wasn't as highly regarded as one might have imagined.

She frowned, mentally reassessing the value of this Eldest Young Master Chen.

Standing in the center of the main hall, Lin Chenxin kept her back straight. The red veil covered her face, allowing her to see only the two pairs of legs side by side in front of her through the gap below.

"The Chen family has enjoyed wealth for centuries, always mindful of the family teachings: never tarnish the family's reputation. We do not demand strict self-discipline from you, but you must be respectful and obedient."

A somewhat hoarse voice sounded from above, carrying a sinister chill in the quiet night.

Lin Chenxin's brows moved slightly, and she replied humbly, "Yes."

"Present the tea!"

A sharp voice pierced the night sky.

Lin Chenxin's heart skipped a beat, and a strange unease surged within her.