Exchanging moves
The old lady’s face turned serious, and she pushed her out the door, insisting on placing it into her pocket. Her tone softened then, her full head of silver hair trembling as she gently grasped her hand.
“Take this, Jingxing, use this money to buy some snacks for Xiaowei. I’m old now and don’t have many desires; I just want to see our family living together in harmony. If you and Yuhang are happy and Xiaowei grows up safely, I’ll be content.”
Ji Jingxing felt a warmth in her eyes and said with emotion, “Mom—”
Mother Song waved her hand: “Go on, take the child and come back early. Don’t forget to come over for dumplings tomorrow.”
After Mother Song returned to the room, Song Yuhang was helping the pale-faced Lin Yan out of the bathroom.
“What’s happened here?”
“It’s nothing, Auntie,” Lin Yan said, lifting her eyes faintly, forehead still beaded with sweat, her palm-sized face as white as paper, yet she forced herself to stand up and walk outside.
“Then I’ll be heading back too.”
Song Yuhang helped her to sit back down again: “Heading back? How can you head back in this state? Sit for a while, I’ll pour you a glass of water.”
Saying this, she dashed into the kitchen, with Mother Song following her.
“What’s going on? Weren’t you alright just now?”
While pouring water, Song Yuhang grumbled softly.
“I couldn’t very well speak up at the dinner table, but her stomach is weak, and she overate, which led to indigestion. That bottle of medicinal liquor of yours must be at least ten years old; I wouldn’t dare to drink it, yet you kept pouring it for her. Now look what’s happened, regardless of whether it’s exquisite delicacies or simple teas and meals, it’s all come back up.”
Saying so and shaking her head, she walked out and brought the water to her lips, carefully helping her drink.
“The medicinal liquor is spicy; if you can’t drink it, then don’t. My mom has no one to drink with her on normal days, so she seized the opportunity with you, didn’t she?”
Lin Yan, sipping the warm water, felt much better, “I can do it myself, let me do it. As long as Auntie is happy, it’s all good.”
Mother Song, listening in the kitchen, felt a sour and astringent pang in her heart, and warm tears welled up in her eyes.
This child is so thoughtful; it’s impossible not to be moved.
“Come, Yanyan, take a digestive tablet. From now on, you must tell Auntie what you can and cannot eat. Also, the bed sheets and duvet cover in the Yuhang room—I just changed them yesterday. Don’t bother going back today; it’s a long way. Just stay and sleep here.”
“Thank you, Auntie.” Lin Yan, upon hearing the first part of the sentence, popped the tablet into her mouth. The second part almost choked her, leaving her face blushing red.
“This… wouldn’t that be inappropriate?”
Mother Song walked into the kitchen and took out some honey and aged tangerine peel to make a hangover soup. After preparing it, she turned on the TV to watch the Spring Festival Gala and said, “What’s wrong with that? Sooner or later, we’re all family. It’s more lively with you here to accompany me. If you leave, Yuhang would follow you anyway.”
Song Yuhang sat between them, wrapping an arm around her mother’s shoulder, and making playful faces.
“Mom, this time you’re really acting like my mom.”
Two elbows jabbed into her stomach simultaneously.
Lin Yan gritted her teeth: “Song, Yu, hang.”
Mother Song retorted, “Being a close mom means you still have to do the dishes!”
Song Yuhang threw her head back in a long howl, collapsing onto the sofa.
In the Lin residence.
“Cough, cough, cough… I can’t eat anymore.” The old man was coughing violently, sitting alone in the vast villa’s dining room.
The room was cold and quiet, and the delicate and abundant dishes on the table had hardly been touched.
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A woman gently patted his back and used a handkerchief to wipe the saliva dribbling from the corner of his mouth.
“Alright, alright, no more eating, I’ll assist the master in returning to rest.”
As she spoke, she and the butler together secured the man into the wheelchair.
Lin Youyuan lifted his eyes to look at her, his voice hoarse: “Don’t fuss about, Old Lin can take me up. You should also get some rest.”
The woman’s eyes flickered, wanting to say more, but the butler, always Lin Youyuan’s confidant, had already pushed the wheelchair away.
Left with no other option, the woman could only stand there, stomping her foot in silent frustration.
A servant approached and inquired, “Madam, do you wish to keep these dishes?”
“What’s to keep? Throw it out for the dogs!” The woman snapped, clutching her handkerchief. The sudden ferocity etched onto her face made the servant recoil a few steps, not daring to look up at her again.
“Yes, madam.”
In the tranquil corridor, laid with an intricately patterned carpet, the wheelchair rolled soundlessly.
Lin Youyuan coughed twice more, his complexion wan and his eyes sunken. Dressed in loose pajamas, the skin that showed was loose and dotted with age spots.
He was visibly aging at a rapid pace.
The butler couldn’t help but feel compassion: “Master…”
Lin Youyuan gestured to stop him mid-sentence: “Did Ge’er come over today?”
Butler Lin shook his head: “No, the young master’s mother is also severely ill, so he didn’t come. However, he sent someone with a congratulatory gift, saying that he will come over to give his New Year’s greetings tomorrow morning.”
A hint of a smile appeared on Lin Youyuan’s lips: “Oh, what is it?”
“It’s an antique snuff bottle, claimed to be a relic of the Qing Dynasty emperors. He went to great lengths searching for over half a year as a gift for you.”
“This child, he’s considerate.” Lin Youyuan leaned on his wheelchair and let out a long sigh, and as soon as he finished speaking, he was seized by a bout of coughing.
“Master…” the butler moved to pat his back.
Lin Youyuan stopped his movement: “Do you think the woman Jin Xia is trustworthy?”
“I wouldn’t dare to speculate about the lady.” The old butler lowered his head.
Lin Youyuan covered his mouth with a handkerchief, and from his throat came a “heh-heh-heh” sound, making it unclear whether he was coughing or laughing.
He didn’t speak, and Lin Youyuan did not ask further.
“Has the young miss returned?”
As Butler Lin continued to push him forward, he shook his head.
Lin Youyuan closed his eyes, allowing himself to be wheeled into the bedroom.
“It’s better she doesn’t return, better that she stays away.”
The expansive villa returned to silence, with the occasional bark of a dog coming from the distant woods.
Jin Xia slipped out the main gate and turned into the neighboring building.
“Didn’t I tell you not to come over?” Lin Ge opened the door to his study, glanced around—the corridor was pitch-dark, not a soul in sight.
He quickly pulled her inside.
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Jin Xia nestled softly into his arms, her fingertips gently teasing his chest.
“That old fart has gotten on my nerves again.”
She spoke with not a small measure of grievance, but Lin Ge pushed her away abruptly.
“Go back, this is not the place for you.”
“But…” Jin Xia stamped her foot in frustration. “When will he finally die? Every day I have to attend to him, bear the sight of his coarse, sagging skin, even bathe him – it makes me want to puke.”
Lin Ge let out a cold snort and moved to his desk to immerse himself in his work.
“A centipede dies but never stiffens immediately – not so fast.”
“But I’ve been doping his medicine for over half a year now and still no sign of improvement—” Jin Xia pouted, circling around to his front, about to sit on his lap when she caught sight of the crystal ball on the desk, her eyes instantly lighting up.
“Wow, this is so pretty!”
She reached out and grabbed it.
Before she could sit down, someone snatched the crystal ball from her hand and shoved her against the wall, gripping her neck.
Lin Ge’s eyes were bloodshot as he tightened his grip on her hand, steadily increasing the pressure.
“Don’t. Touch. My. Things.”
Jin Xia rolled her eyes, her feet flailing wildly against the wall. She never would have imagined that the seemingly frail Lin Ge could possess such strength.
Looking at his face now, it was clear he had lost his usual geniality. His gaze was fierce and icy, as if he were merely pinching an ant to death.
Jin Xia was frightened; she started gasping for breath, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes, desperately slapping at his wrist.
“Cough cough… I’m sorry… I… I was wrong.”
In countless moments, Lin Ge had thought of killing her, making her one of his specimens.
However, when he thought of her remaining usefulness,
the bloody streaks in his eyes visibly faded.
Lin Ge let go, and Jin Xia fell to the ground, sitting with a thud. She trembled all over, staring at him with a mix of shock and fear.
Lin Ge bent down, gently helping her up, and even patted off the dust from her dress.
“Sorry, did I scare you? It’s just that it’s very precious, so I don’t want others to touch it.”
The woman’s eyes were red, and there was still a ring of bruise on her neck where he had choked her. Lin Ge gently massaged it, easing the pain.
“I’m sorry, I was impulsive just now. It won’t happen again, Xiaxia. You have to believe me, I will surely rescue you from this sea of suffering.”
One moment he was fiercely cruel, the next, tender as water. This capricious change was as swift as flipping through a book, sending shivers down Jin Xia’s spine.
She felt as though she had never truly known this man, and an unfounded chill rose within her as she looked at his face.
Lin Ge continued to display his expertise, picking up a cup of water from the table and handing it to her: “I’m sorry Xiaxia, take a sip to calm down. Here, it was my bad mood tonight. You’ve worked hard taking care of Lin Youyuan, and I should be more understanding.”
Jin Xia didn’t dare to linger, pushing his hand away she stood up by herself: “It’s okay, it’s okay, I’ll go back first.”
With those words, she left the room as if fleeing for her life.
Not long after her departure, a dark figure emerged from behind the bookshelf.
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“You don’t kill her, aren’t you afraid she’ll tell Lin Youyuan?”
Lin Ge scoffed coldly, caressing the crystal ball as if it were the softest part of a woman.
“Lin Youyuan is no easy mark. If she tells him, she’ll be even less likely to survive.”
“And you’re not worried that she’ll cut off all ties with you and stop doing your bidding?”
Lin Ge sneered, at this point, there was no longer a need to pretend.
“After drinking that stuff, few people can resist addiction. Just wait and see; she’ll be back for more tomorrow.”
The man in black turned to leave, but someone called out to stop him.
“You did well this time, the money has been transferred to your account.”
A contemptuous smile played at the corner of the man’s lips: “You know, I’m not in it for the money.”
“I know, don’t worry.” Lin Ge stood up and stuffed a gold bar into his hand.
“I’ll help you, just as you’ve helped me.”
LP: EWW!!!
Behold, the confirmation we’ve all been waiting for. Lin Ge, you snake.i can’t wait for Lin yan to chop your di** off
All this shit for money, like he doesn’t have enough. Plus “one of his specimens” it implies there’s more. Even more sure that the skeleton is chunan
All this shit for money, like he doesn’t have enough. Plus “one of his specimens” it implies there’s more. Even more sure that the skeleton is chunan
Behold, the confirmation we’ve all been waiting for. Lin Ge, you snake.i can’t wait for Lin yan to chop your di** off