"I know I was wrong, big sis! Please stop talking, it makes me feel awful!" Lin Chuan finally lowered his head, not daring to speak.
"Little Chuan, it’s not that I’m saying things to break you up. If you really don’t genuinely like the girl, then you should let her go early! I do not want my brother to end up being a mommy’s boy or a jerk! If you actually do something to hurt that girl, I’ll be the first to not forgive you!" Lin Xue continued to advise him earnestly.
We cannot allow this brother to go down the path of becoming a jerk; that would be dangerous.
"I do like her!" Lin Chuan whispered, "If I didn’t like her, why would I bring her to my second sister’s and third sister’s wedding?"
"Then cherish her properly! Don’t let her feel that she has to humbly cater to you just because she made the first move in your relationship! Do you hear me?"
Lin Chuan finally nodded until his neck ached, thoroughly schooled by his big sis. Later, even his girlfriend was curious about why he had changed so much.
Lin Xue was very busy every day, so much so that by the time she got home, it was already late, and each day when she returned, Little Linbao was already asleep beside her grandmother.
She could only gently go over to kiss her and hold her, without carrying her back, afraid she would wake up, and also fearing she wouldn’t be able to take care of her the next morning if she had urgent work to deal with at the company.
On this day, as usual, after spending a while admiring her precious daughter, she prepared to head home and sleep with her husband.
Just as she stepped out of the courtyard gate, footsteps sounded behind her.
"Who’s there?" Lin Xue quickly turned her head, inquiring sharply.
In this dark and shadowy situation, security was not tight, so it was best for her to be cautious.
"Big sis... it’s me!" She heard the footsteps nearing, followed by Lin Shuang’s voice.
"Xiao Shuang? Why are you still awake so late?" Lin Xue asked in surprise.
"I was waiting for you, wanting to talk to you!" Lin Shuang approached, looking a bit unnatural.
This child used to be very articulate and especially cheerful, but gradually she turned into this state where she’s nervous even while talking to people.
Lin Xue had also chatted with her multiple times, but she would only say nothing’s wrong and refused to say more.
Lin Xue was busy, sometimes neglecting certain things.
Siblings sometimes lack communication with each other.
"Alright! Let’s go back and talk! It’s dark out there! I even forgot to bring a flashlight!" She took Lin Shuang’s hand and headed towards her own home next door.
Having her childhood home next door was truly a special kind of bliss.
Once home, Lin Xue took out lots of snacks for Lin Shuang, along with the ever-popular soda.
"Xiao Shuang, have some snacks while we talk!" Lin Xue sat next to her, both sitting in the living room.
"Big sis, it’s already so late; I don’t want to waste your time. I think it’s better if I quickly say everything so you can rest sooner!" Lin Shuang took a deep breath.
"Alright! You seem so serious, what exactly is it?" Lin Xue also set down the snacks in her hand, listening intently.
"Big sis... my uncle reached out to me... saying my grandmother passed away and asked me to go mourn." Lin Shuang spoke, lowering her head.
"Uncle? How come I didn’t know you were keeping in touch with your mother’s side?" Lin Xue was somewhat puzzled by how suddenly an uncle appeared. How come she hadn’t mentioned keeping in touch with those relatives?
Actually, she felt a bit angry; if her sister connected with family, she should mention it to her big sis, even though she was the one who took the sister in. She wouldn’t oppose her keeping in touch with her family.
Lin Shuang noticed her big sis looked angry and didn’t know what to say, keeping her head down and shoulders shaking.
"Don’t cry yet! Speak clearly! So why did you come looking for me today?" Lin Xue attempted to control her emotions, "How long have you been in touch with them?"
Lin Shuang still cried but opened up, "It was uncle who asked someone to find me, been in touch for over two years, and I’ve even visited grandmother and grandfather..."
Lin Xue exploded; such a significant matter, she hadn’t mentioned in the slightest. Capital City was so far away, and she even visited alone?
"So, come on! Once someone has passed, you should go back, right? Then why ask me? You decided not to tell us a long time ago?" Lin Xue’s face already looked quite unpleasant.
"I’m scared you’ll be mad, scared that my siblings will be mad, scared that mom and dad will be mad and ignore me!" Lin Shuang whispered.
"Mad! I’m mad you thought of our family like what? Mad that you hid things from us! When I decided to take you in, I said it! From then on, we were family! But you don’t treat us as family! You’ve acknowledged your family but said nothing! Now you’re crying and telling me all this, for what?"
Lin Xue was genuinely angry; this child used to be so sensible, changing slowly over time! Now even when something happens, she doesn’t talk to the family.
"I..." Lin Shuang began to feel aggrieved "I was just afraid that once I confessed, you would kick me out! Every time my aunt sees me, she would say I’m so lucky to be taken in by you and should cherish it, fearing one day I’d upset you and be sent away again! Classmates also say I’m just an adopted child, meant to return to the life I originally belonged to someday..."
"Lin Shuang!" Lin Xue angrily stood up "You’re such a piece of work! I always thought you’re the most well-behaved and sensible among the sisters, but you infuriate me like this! You..."
Lin Xue suddenly clutched her abdomen and crouched down, just as Zhang Yuan, who came out to check on the commotion, witnessed.
He disregarded anything else and immediately rushed over to support her "What happened, wife?"
Lin Shuang was scared stiff, her face turning pale; see, she predicted she would anger her big sis. Now what? She might as well obediently listen to her uncle, and wouldn’t infuriate her family.
"Stomach pain..." Lin Xue painfully managed to utter.
"Let’s go! I’ll take you to the hospital!" Zhang Yuan didn’t dare delay, immediately picking her up and running outside.
Lin Shuang quickly followed; unsure whether she should go, fearing that her big sis might get angrier seeing her, yet not going might mean brother-in-law couldn’t manage her big sis alone.
Zhang Yuan sped all the way to the hospital, his face pale from his wife’s frightened expression.
Only after getting her into the emergency room, did his hands tremble slightly.
"What was it that you did to upset your big sis?" Zhang Yuan caught his breath and asked Lin Shuang, who stood head-down.
"Brother-in-law! Can you lend me some money, please?" Lin Shuang suddenly made a decision, asking in a hushed voice.
"What do you need money for? Doesn’t your big sis give you enough allowance every month? Is something wrong? Tell brother-in-law! Brother-in-law will help solve it!" Zhang Yuan immediately recognized she must be hiding something from them.
"Brother-in-law, just lend me a little money! I can manage it myself..." Lin Shuang continued to hang her head, fidgeting with her hands, not revealing the truth.
"Your big sis gives you quite significant pocket money! What is it that you still need money for? How much do you need?" Zhang Yuan pursued questioningly. Earlier, the wife’s angry expression was quite heated.
"I..." Lin Shuang hesitated for a long time before deciding to tell him "Brother-in-law, I acknowledged grandmother and grandfather, along with a few uncles, two years ago. They’ve been asking me for money, a ten thousand yuan... If I don’t give it, they’ll come to you for it... I’m scared!"