He carried me the whole way, turning a five-minute walk into twenty.
When we reached my house, I saw a familiar figure waiting.
“Suyin, why are you so late... Oh, Yichen, you’re here too...”
It was my stepmother, Aunt Mei. When she saw me get off Lin Yichen’s back, her smile faltered.
I nodded at her politely, about to go inside when Lin Yichen grabbed my hand.
“I’ll pick you up tomorrow at nine.”
I frowned. Wasn’t tomorrow Saturday?
Lin Yichen added with a gentle smile, “I’ll help you review your lessons tomorrow.”
I grinned and agreed, watching him leave before stepping inside.
After changing into my house slippers, Aunt Mei appeared beside me as if out of nowhere, her overly eager smile making my skin crawl.
“Suyin, why did you come home with Yichen today? Didn’t I tell you it’s better to keep your distance from him? Have you forgotten what I told you before?”
I busied myself with my things, responding perfunctorily, “It’s been so long, I can’t really remember.”
She was relentless, leaning in closer. “Suyin, do you really want to spend your whole life being watched and controlled?”
I nodded. “Mm-hmm. Anything else? If not, I’ll go upstairs now.”
Without waiting for her reply, I headed straight to my room.
After working on my homework for a while, I felt thirsty and went downstairs to pour a glass of water. As I passed Aunt Mei’s room, I heard voices inside. Curiosity got the better of me, and I crept closer to listen.
“Mom, I have to be with Yichen. I can’t let that wretch Liang Suyin steal him from me,” Zhao Wenqing’s voice hissed.
“I know, sweetheart. I don’t know what’s gotten into that little brat today, suddenly clinging to Lin Yichen. But don’t worry, as long as you have everything arranged, I’ll get Liang Yanwei to break off Suyin’s engagement to Yichen. She won’t be able to marry him even if she wants to.”
I looked down at the steaming cup in my hands and chuckled softly.
What made her so sure my father would side against me?
Back when my father married Aunt Mei, it was only to give me company. I knew better than anyone that he never loved her. Over the years, he’d come to see through her schemes.
It was Aunt Mei and her daughter who were naïve, thinking that just because we were wealthy, we were also fools. (Well, except for the old me in my previous life.)
I quietly returned to my room, cup in hand, and went to bed early.
The next morning, I got up at eight and got ready. At nine sharp, I left the house, but instead of seeing Lin Yichen, I ran into Zhao Wenqing and Chen Haoyu.
I slammed the door shut.
Moments later, there was a knock.
“Suyin, we wanted to invite you to the library. Haoyu’s great at math—he can help you study!”
I replied impatiently, “No, thanks.”
A little while later, I heard the sound of a motorcycle outside. Peeking through the curtains, I saw Lin Yichen waiting for me.
I dashed outside, ignoring Wenqing and Haoyu completely.
Ten minutes later, I arrived at the library entrance—only to realize I hadn’t brought a single book.
I glanced at Lin Yichen’s backpack, then at my empty hands. The joke was on me.
“Where are your books?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
I nearly cried. “I… I forgot them.”
I couldn’t exactly admit that I thought his invitation was just an excuse to go on a date.
Lin Yichen studied my face, then reached out and gently brushed my cheek with his finger.
“You put on a bit too much foundation. Be more careful next time.”
Inside the library, Lin Yichen sat beside me and pulled out his math textbook, patiently explaining problems. I fought to stay awake all morning, and when the clock finally struck noon, I grabbed my jacket and made a break for it.
“Lin Yichen, I need lunch. I’m starving. Please, have mercy!”
I caught a cab home, and as soon as I walked in, the smell of braised ribs filled the air.
Sure enough, my father, Liang Yanwei, was sitting in the living room, and Aunt Mei was busy in the kitchen. Cooking was the only thing she did well.
I tossed my jacket aside and leapt into my father’s arms.
Ever since I started dating Chen Haoyu in my last life, my father had been deeply disappointed in me. We hadn’t spoken before my death.
“Dad, I missed you so much,” I said, nuzzling into his chest.
He seemed surprised, then patted my head. “What do you want to buy this time?”
I pouted. “Can’t I just be affectionate with my dad without wanting anything?”
Just then, Aunt Mei brought out the last dish from the kitchen. “Dinner’s ready! Suyin, I made your favorite ribs.”
I pulled my dad to the table, eager to eat.
During dinner, I kept piling food onto my father’s plate, leaving Aunt Mei with nowhere to put her chopsticks.
In my previous life, I’d always gone against my father, never listening to him, which only deepened his disappointment.
This time, winning over my dad was my second step to turning my life around.
“My, my, Suyin’s grown up. She knows how to take care of her dad now,” Aunt Mei chimed in, trying to join the conversation.
I ignored her, and my father just smiled politely.
The meal was awkward for Aunt Mei—she couldn’t get a word in, nor could she get any food.
After eating, I went upstairs, only to remember I’d left my phone on the sofa. As I came back down, I overheard Aunt Mei talking to my father.
“Yanwei, I think Suyin’s acting strange today. She must want something from you.”
I stopped on the stairs, curious to see what she was up to.
“Hm?” my father replied, still eating.
Aunt Mei continued, “Yanwei, I won’t hide it from you. Suyin told me yesterday she really doesn’t want to marry Lin Yichen, but she’s too scared to tell you herself. She asked me to talk to you.”
My father frowned but said nothing. He knew I used to dislike Yichen, but he always assumed that as long as the engagement wasn’t broken, we’d eventually reconcile.
Aunt Mei pressed on, “Yanwei, even though Yichen is a great kid, if Suyin doesn’t like him, there’s nothing we can do…”
“Who told you I don’t like him?” I cut in, startling them both.
Aunt Mei’s face turned ashen. “Suyin… why are you here?”
I smirked, sitting down next to my father. “This is my home. I can go wherever I want. Who are you to tell me otherwise?”
Aunt Mei looked even more flustered. I’d never spoken to her so bluntly before.
“Suyin…”
“And for the record, I never told you I didn’t want to marry Lin Yichen.”
She tried to protest, but I interrupted her again.
My father’s face lit up, and he grabbed my hand. “Suyin, is that really how you feel? I thought you didn’t like Yichen.”
I squeezed his hand back. “Dad, I was wrong before. I thought you arranged the engagement for your own benefit. So many people want to marry into the Lin family, and I was the only one who didn’t appreciate it. I was so foolish.”
We hugged, both of us tearing up. Aunt Mei quickly found an excuse to leave.
But I wasn’t letting her off that easily.
“Aunt Mei, you heard me, right? Don’t make decisions for me again. Otherwise, who knows what I might say next time.”
She paused, glared at me, then hurried off.
With everything settled, I retrieved my phone and went back to my room for a nap.
Chapter 04
*