Chapter 19: A Long-Term Strategy

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

She didn’t expect Lin Nuan to agree so readily.

By right, a dynasty like the Lin Family should be one that Lin Nuan would never want to leave. In fact, she should be grasping onto her mother for any opportunity to stay.

Lin Ran even saw Lin Nuan’s departure that year as a long-term strategy. She was retreating for the sake of advancing.

“What game are you trying to play now?” Lin Ran narrowed her eyes, sizing Lin Nuan up defensively.

Without waiting for Lin Nuan’s response, Lin Ran looked at Lin Nuan as if she had suddenly reached a grand enlightenment, “So you do want to marry Lin Chen! You want to get back into the Lin Family this way? Oh, Lin Nuan… after living with Lin Chen as brother and sister for twenty years, you actually came up with such an indecent idea…”

“Lin Ran!”

A deep voice called out from behind Lin Ran.

An indecent idea…

It insulted both Liang Mulan and Lin Chen, not just Lin Nuan.

Lin Ran straightened up stiffly before turning back to look at Lin Chen.

Lin Chen’s tall figure was standing by the staircase, his hands in the pockets of his pants that covered his long, slender legs. He glanced towards Lin Ran with a piercing coldness and with repressed anger in his features—his presence was thoroughly intimidating.

“No matter when or where Lin Nuan will forever be a part of this family. Nobody can change that.”

Lin Chen’s imposing presence left Lin Ran somewhat cowed. That was the first time she’d seen Lin Chen with such a grim look on his face. She bit her lip, not daring to respond back.

“My fiancé is still outside. I’ll go invite him inside first.”

Lin Nuan said matter-of-factly and went downstairs, brushing shoulders with Lin Chen.

Lin Chen stood there watching Lin Nuan’s figure disappear downstairs. The veins in his clenched fists began to pop as he fixed his gaze on Lin Ran.

“You’re a part of this family, but so is Lin Nuan…” Lin Chen said in a heavy tone, “I think that Father and Mother just wanted to see the two of you get along like sisters.”

“I—”

“Even if you can’t manage to do that, there’s no need to be that cruel.”

Lin Chen didn’t even give Lin Ran the chance to reply.

Lin Ran stood there completely mute, her face drained of color. She had always respected and somewhat feared her big brother Lin Chen.

And after hearing such harsh feedback coming from him, Lin Ran couldn’t hold back her tears.

“If this family didn’t want to welcome me, you shouldn’t have let me come back in the first place!” Lin Ran cried as she ran back to her room, slamming the door shut.

Liang Mulan heard the commotion and came out of her room. She saw Lin Chen standing at the staircase and asked, “What’s the matter?”

“Baby Ran is throwing a tantrum at me…” Lin Chen answered blankly.

Liang Mulan knew it was because Lin Nuan had come back.

“Baby Chen, Ran Ran…”

“Mother, you don’t need to explain, I get it,” Lin Chen interrupted her and glanced at his watch, “I need to go.”

“Baby Chen, Nuan Nuan brought back her fiancé—check him out for me.”

Liang Mulan was somewhat nervous. When a daughter brought her fiance back home for ‘inspection’, that was always the case.

“I just came home to copy a document. There’s still a meeting in the office, so I have to leave first…”

Lin Chen concealed his sentiments well within his deep eyes. He had always been a composed and unpredictable man. Even his own mother and his father sometimes felt distant from their son.

When Lin Chen came downstairs, he spotted Lin Nuan in the living room making a phone call to Fu Huai’an, her back facing him. Lin Chen took a long glance at her slender, tall figure, and left the mansion without a word. Standing outside the front door, he lit up a cigarette.