After saying this, Old Master Xin got up and left the study.
The old lady's initial questioning had long since subsided. She sat in a chair, her hand resting on her heavy cane, her face grim and silent.
After the old man spoke, no one in the Xin family mentioned Xin Hailan again.
Xin Ying later learned about this from Xin Si Nan. She didn't react much and continued to go to work and come home as usual, living a comfortable life with Lin Le Yao.
Two weeks later, it is unknown what Xin Hailan said to Xin Pengchi on the phone.
Now, even those in Australia aren't in a hurry to find Xin Hailan anymore. It seems like everyone in the family has forgotten about Xin Hailan's existence and completely ignores her.
At the end of the month, Iris finally arrived in City S.
Because Xin Ying had promised to pick up Iris from the airport during their previous phone call, she had dinner with Lin Leyao at home that evening before driving to the airport.
After picking up Iris from the airport and taking her to the hotel, Xin Ying returned to the villa to find Lin Leyao already asleep in the bedroom.
It's been over a month since I finished filming and went home.
Lin Leyao has also resumed her previous routine of going to bed early and waking up early, and usually goes to bed very early at night.
Lin Leyao was wearing champagne-colored pajamas, snuggled up in a warm down comforter, revealing only a small patch of her round, fair cheek, looking very well-behaved.
Xin Ying couldn't help but lean down and kiss Lin Leyao's head.
--------------------
Author's Note:
Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 20:46:08 on April 14, 2022 and 18:25:50 on April 15, 2022!
Thank you to the little angel who threw the grenade: 55157345 (1 grenade);
Thank you to the little angel who threw the landmine: 58123721 (1 landmine);
Thank you to the little angels who watered with nutrient solution: Da Hua (9 bottles); Jiang Qingyue (2 bottles); Lao Bai and 58123721 (1 bottle each);
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 87
After Iris arrived in S City, Xin Ying became even busier.
Besides her work, she also has to entertain guests who come from afar in her spare time.
During this time, Xin Ying would stay at home with Lin Leyao every Sunday off, but this habit was eventually broken by Iris, who came from afar.
This Sunday, while Lin Leyao was still fast asleep, Xin Ying had already left home early.
Xin Ying's popularity on the internet has recently reached a new level.
Paparazzi specifically follow her.
Since Lin Leyao wasn't around, Xin Ying didn't have to worry too much. Therefore, she didn't react when faced with paparazzi following her and let them take pictures without any problem.
She and Iris were quickly photographed and became a trending topic.
Netizens may not recognize Iris, but they can still understand the content captured by the paparazzi.
These past few days, Xin Ying has been going out with this foreign girl as soon as she gets off work. They've visited all the classic amusement parks in S City, as well as many luxury stores, jewelry stores, suburban gardens, and guesthouses.
It's easy to see from Xin Ying's patience in accompanying this foreign girl around that this foreign girl must hold a very special place in Xin Ying's heart.
Lin Leyao woke up not long after Xin Ying left home on Sunday.
During this period, apart from the time Xin Ying was at work, the two were inseparable, and their daily routines became the same.
Last night, Xin Ying had already told her in advance that she would have to get up very early today to accompany Iris to shop in S City.
During this period, Xin Ying would report to Lin Leyao every time she went out with Iris and couldn't get home in time, so Lin Leyao was well aware of Xin Ying's whereabouts.
Half an hour after Xin Ying left in the morning, Lin Leyao suddenly opened her eyes and woke up automatically.
Perhaps because the two of them had been together for so long, and with the other person not around, Lin Leyao couldn't continue sleeping.
She took out her phone and looked at it for a while, and unsurprisingly saw Xin Ying and Iris trending on social media.
Based on Xin Ying's clothing in the photos and the places she mentioned, Lin Leyao could easily guess where the photos of Xin Ying and Iris's outing were taken.
After ignoring the rumor, Lin Leyao quickly logged out of Weibo. She went to the bathroom to wash up and then went to the restaurant, where she saw the breakfast that Xin Ying had prepared in advance.
During this period, Xin Ying would cook for herself whenever she had time.
During Lin Leyao's rest period, she has eaten a lot of food prepared by Xin Ying.
Xin Ying wasn't home today, so Lin Leyao invited Xiao Yan out shopping.
Although they were colleagues at work, they had spent five years together and were not only colleagues but also good friends in life.
The two agreed to meet at the downtown commercial center.
Lin Leyao and Xiao Yan had just met at a coffee shop in the commercial city when Lin Leyao realized that they were being followed by paparazzi.
She's currently living with Xin Ying, and most people don't know her address, so this paparazzi couldn't have been following her from her home. This paparazzi has probably been following Xiao Yan around, looking for opportunities to photograph her movements.
However, since the two of them were out having fun today, they weren't worried about paparazzi, so Lin Leyao didn't pay any attention to the paparazzi and she and Xiao Yan started shopping at the mall.
Lin Leyao and Xiao Yan walked very close together, chatting as they looked at clothes.
"I saw that Ms. Xin was trending on Weibo this morning."
Lin Leyao knew what Xiao Yan wanted to ask, and she smiled and said, "I saw her, I know that girl."
Upon hearing Lin Leyao's answer, Xiao Yan muttered, "It's alright that you know her..."
Xiao Yan's mood did not improve after Lin Leyao's words; she still looked worried. After a while, Xiao Yan couldn't help but say, "Even if you're friends, you can't go out with her every day. It's better to go out alone with her."
“She told me everything before she left, so I know.” After saying that, Lin Leyao couldn’t help but laugh. “Are you worried she’ll cheat on you?”
Hearing Lin Leyao speak so directly, Xiao Yan immediately turned her head and denied it, saying, "I didn't say that, I was just worried about you."
Lin Leyao smiled gently: "You don't need to worry, she's not that kind of person."
Xiao Yan immediately replied, "Everyone says that when they're in a relationship, and yet so many people still get hurt."
Lin Leyao knew that Xiao Yan was worried about her, and she knew that Xiao Yan might not have been optimistic about her relationship from the beginning.
During this period, she and Xin Ying had several rumored relationships that made it to the trending searches. Xiao Yan was both her agent and her friend. She understood her but not Xin Ying's feelings, and often tried to see things from Xin Ying's perspective, which naturally led to many concerns.
Lin Leyao replied again seriously and firmly: "Xin Ying is not that kind of person. She is very good to me, so you don't need to worry."
Seeing the serious expression on Lin Leyao's face, Xiao Yan was stunned for a moment. She quickly came back to her senses and muttered, "You two have only been married for a short time. Your serious expression makes me think you've been married for half your lives. Okay, okay, I won't say anything more. As long as you're happy."
Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Lin Leyao smiled.
She and Xin Ying only started dating after they got married, and they hadn't been together for very long, but based on that time alone, she felt that probably no one in the world understood Xin Ying better than she did.
Even Grandpa Xin probably doesn't understand Xin Ying now.
Lin Leyao knew that Xin Ying wouldn't easily open her heart to someone else now.
Xin Ying still has nightmares every night. She never says anything, but Lin Leyao, who shares a bed with her, can sense it.
When they first got together, Lin Leyao would sometimes be suddenly awakened at night. In the darkness, she could see Xin Ying sleeping on the bed, seemingly trapped in a terrifying nightmare, her whole body trembling and occasionally mumbling the names of strangers.
At that time, she didn't know who these people were, but now she knows that the names Xin Ying uttered in her sleep were those of her family members who had once loved her and hurt her deeply.
Xin Ying had undergone many years of psychotherapy, which is how she met White and Iris.
It's unknown whether, in the eyes of Iris's father and White, Xin Ying has recovered her health and even become a very powerful being.
But Lin Leyao knew that she wasn't as strong as she appeared from the outside.
Because of these secrets she gleaned from their daily interactions, she knew that Xin Ying was finding it difficult to open her heart and fall in love with someone else. Therefore, she could confidently tell Xiao Yan that Xin Ying wasn't that kind of person and there was no need to worry.
However, Lin Leyao often wondered why Xin Ying would choose to marry her, and why their relationship had progressed to this point.
Back then, in the Australian hospital, she was told she was a suitable marriage partner. So what about now? What are Xin Ying's feelings for her now? Is it a little bit of liking, or even love?
On that deep winter night, as the two exchanged rings in the living room of their home, what was Xin Ying thinking?
Lin Leyao was lost in thought, her mind filled with many hypothetical scenarios.
She quickly cleared these assumptions from her mind one by one.
Regardless, she knew her own thoughts; it was enough that she liked Xin Ying.
After looking around for a while, Xiao Yan suggested, "Let's go browse around at another store."
The two then went to a luxury jewelry store.
The two went inside, and a saleswoman came up to help them with recommendations.
Xiao Yan was looking intently at the brand's newly launched bracelet when someone else came into the store.
The two groups were very close, and Lin Leyao looked up and met their eyes.
When Xiao Yan looked up, she saw the person she had just been arguing with, Lin Leyao.
Xin Ying and Iris came to the store to look at jewelry, but they never expected to run into Lin Leyao.
Lin Leyao was wearing a mask and hat, completely covered up, but Xin Ying recognized her the moment she entered.
When Lin Leyao saw her appear, her exposed eyes crinkled with laughter.
Xin Ying also laughed. A faint smile appeared on her indifferent face but quickly disappeared. Iris noticed the change in her expression and couldn't help but pout, silently complaining about the public display of affection.
Neither Xin Ying nor Iris were wearing masks, and they were immediately recognized by the sales assistant upon entering.
Xin Ying didn't want to reveal Lin Leyao's identity too obviously, but the two had a close relationship and their body language was different from others.
Xin Ying noticed that Lin Leyao's mask was a little crooked, so she helped Lin Leyao straighten it and asked in a low voice, "Have you eaten?"
Lin Leyao shook her head, her eyes still smiling.
Xin Ying suggested, "How about we all have lunch together?"
Lin Leyao glanced at Xiao Yan beside her, and Xiao Yan immediately nodded.
Their conversation was briefly interrupted when Iris, standing next to Xin Ying, immediately greeted Lin Leyao: "Yao—we meet again."
Lin Leyao took off her mask and greeted Iris: "Long time no see."
When Iris saw Lin Leyao's face, her eyes lit up, and she immediately said happily, "Yao—, I recently registered for Weibo, and I saw stills from your recent TV series on Weibo. You look so beautiful in ancient costumes!"