Chapter Seventy-Nine: They Are Not So Selfless

Is it him?
Is it her?
Lin Sangqian never imagined she would meet again the young man she had seen at the Fortune Inn.
Guan Yanqing likewise did not expect to encounter once more the clever little girl he had met at the Yu family’s house.
The chilled drinks and potato chips, as well as all these dishes—she made them herself?
Truly remarkable.
Their gazes met only briefly before they both looked away.
Everyone settled down, lively and cheerful as they began to eat.
“Ahem.” At this moment, Yu Jingxiao stood up, raised his cup, and said, “I think today we should give our heartfelt thanks to the person who prepared this wonderful food—Miss Lin. What do you all think?”
“That’s right!” Guo Er agreed. “I’d heard Big Brother’s daughter’s cooking was delicious and didn’t believe it. Watching her work today, I must eat my words. I’ve never tasted food this good!”
Lin Sangqian was almost embarrassed by their praise.
“Come, let’s toast Miss Lin!”
The others all raised their glasses in turn. Lin Sangqian stood up graciously and drank a cup of peach oolong tea.
Lin Hongda and Liao Shuxia looked at their daughter, their faces full of pride.
They remembered the time she had given a speech at a prestigious university, and they had sat in the audience.
This feeling was very much the same as back then.
Their daughter had always been their pride.
The meal continued, and under Yu Jingxiao’s astonished gaze, Guan Yanqing finished two full bowls of rice.
“Zicheng, you…” Yu Jingxiao was so surprised his jaw nearly dropped. “I never thought I’d see the day you’d eat like this.”
He had thought perhaps Lin Sangqian’s food might satisfy Guan Yanqing.
But he never expected him to eat so much—and of his own accord!
Even Guan Yanqing himself was astonished.
For the first time in his life, he found these dishes truly delicious.
At last, he understood what people meant by “fine cuisine.”
His eyes drifted unconsciously to Lin Sangqian, who was chatting with Zhao Lan’er, a smile lighting up her face.
After the meal, everyone pitched in to tidy up before taking their leave one after another.
Yu Jingxiao and Guan Yanqing were the last to go.

He couldn’t help but nudge Guan Yanqing, whispering, “Don’t you want to say something to Miss Lin?”
“What would I say?” Guan Yanqing asked.
“For example, invite her to come back with you and be your personal chef or something?” Yu Jingxiao suggested. “It’s rare to find someone who can cure your peculiar habits. Shouldn’t you hurry and bring her home?”
Guan Yanqing’s gaze fell on Lin Sangqian, who was standing at the door talking to Guo Er.
Her smile was bright and playful, full of a young girl’s mischief and cleverness.
After a while, he smiled and said, “She wouldn’t agree.”
“How do you know if you haven’t asked?” Yu Jingxiao was baffled.
Though Guan Yanqing had only met Lin Sangqian twice, today he had already learned quite a bit about her from the others’ conversation.
“She may be young, but she is very independent. She likes money, but more than that, she wants to carve out her own place in the world,” said Guan Yanqing. “She won’t tie herself down to one spot, serving others forever.”
So, no matter how high a price he offered, Lin Sangqian would likely never accept.
“You’re overthinking it.”
Guan Yanqing shook his head. “Let’s go.”
“Well, it’s fine. We’ll just stay on good terms with her and come for meals often. Is that shameless of me?”
The guests had all left, and the Lin family was about to retire to their rooms for the night.
Just then, there was a sudden knock at the door.
“Who could it be? Did someone forget something?” Lin Beitao muttered, walking over to open the door.
Standing outside was Lin Shuimei.
“Cousin…”
“What are you doing here?” Lin Beitao’s expression darkened. “How did you know we were here?”
“What a thing to say! We’re family. Why shouldn’t I come and see you?”
As she spoke, afraid Lin Beitao would close the door, Lin Shuimei hurriedly squeezed inside.
“What are you doing? Get out!” Anger flashed in Lin Beitao’s eyes. “Who let you in?”
Lin Shuimei had gone to great trouble to follow Lu Chengren and the others here and had no intention of leaving so easily.
Lin Beitao, still young and lacking in courtesy, was so angry he gave her a push.
Caught off guard, Lin Shuimei fell hard, landing on her backside.
“What’s going on, Beitao?” The others came out to see what had happened.
“Uncle, Aunt!” Lin Shuimei rushed to Lin Hongda and Liao Shuxia.

“Stop right there.” Liao Shuxia took a step back. “Don’t put on a show in front of me—it won’t work.”
Lin Sangqian leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching coldly.
“Please, have a little mercy.” Lin Shuimei’s eyes filled with tears. “My mother wants to sell me off as a concubine to some rich old man. I had no choice but to run away.”
At these words, Lin Hongda and Liao Shuxia exchanged a glance.
It was, indeed, just the sort of thing Lai Ruyu would do.
But… what did that have to do with them?
Had it been anyone else, even a complete stranger, they would have helped if that person had nowhere else to turn.
Wasn’t Zhao Lan’er a perfect example?
But Lin Shuimei—she was another matter.
Her life or death was no concern of theirs.
They hadn’t forgotten how these so-called relatives had once bullied their family.
Neither the couple nor Lin Sangqian was so saintly as to forgive and forget.
“I’m still your niece. Can you really bear to watch me be ruined by an old lecher?” Lin Shuimei wept.
“Your mother had the heart to sell my little sister. Why shouldn’t we?” Lin Wenyen replied coldly. “Besides, it’s not us selling you. If you really feel wronged, go to the authorities.”
“She’s still my mother. How could I report her?” Lin Shuimei protested. “I just hope you’ll take me in for a while.”
“No.” Lin Yanbei answered flatly.
Lin Shuimei, seeing his firm refusal, grew angry. Her gaze fell on Zhao Lan’er. Suddenly, she pointed at her and cried sharply, “You can take in a stranger but not your own niece?”
“Who says Lan’er is a stranger?” Liao Shuxia pulled Zhao Lan’er into her arms. “She’s my goddaughter. You don’t deserve the comparison.”
Lin Shuimei’s face turned red and white by turns.
At that moment, Lin Sangqian, who had been silent, suddenly spoke.
“Fine. Come with me, then.”
Everyone looked at her in astonishment.
Lin Hongda and Liao Shuxia were even more surprised, knowing their daughter well—Lin Sangqian was not one to pity Lin Shuimei.
Could it be… she had a plan in mind?