Today marked the fourth day that Lin’s mother was away from home, and the girl finally received a call from her.
Perhaps it was because her mom had finally remembered her…
Lin Xinyuan thought.
During the call, Lin’s mother first asked about everyday matters, like whether she had eaten breakfast properly.
Only then did she explain why she couldn’t come back yet—something about dealing with some things recently, being busy for the past few days, but it would be mostly settled within two days, and then she could return.
“I understand…” Lin Xinyuan’s tone was calm, showing no unusual emotion.
“Mm…” Lin’s mother responded, pausing for a moment before hesitantly speaking, “Xinyuan… before we end… can I ask you something?”
“Okay.”
Her mother took a deep breath and slowly asked, “If… just if, your dad and I got a divorce… how would you feel?”
The girl’s eyes were unfocused.
After a long moment, she said, “I don’t know…”
Hearing this, her mother paused before continuing, “Then… would you be willing to stay with me?”
“Sure.” Lin Xinyuan’s answer seemed without hesitation.
This response made her mother sigh with relief. “Alright, let’s leave it at that for now. I’ll definitely be back in the next couple of days. Bye.”
After saying this, she quickly hung up, as if something urgent had come up.
“Goodbye…”
Putting down the phone, Lin Xinyuan’s previously vacant expression suddenly cleared.
She smiled quietly.
“How wonderful…”
Her smile was strangely unsettling at this moment, muttering softly—no one could tell what she was marveling about.
From her mother’s words just now, she naturally sensed that her parents’ divorce was inevitable.
Honestly, it didn’t even need to be salvaged…
After all, there had never been much affection between her parents to begin with…
Her mother’s trip to Leishi City, though she hadn’t been told the specifics, was likely connected to this divorce.
But it didn’t matter anymore.
Things had come to this point.
Reluctant to admit it, Lin Xinyuan had once harbored a faint hope for this already broken family.
That was only because the recent reconciliation with her mother was so confusing, leading her to believe her father might understand her too.
But the truth was clear now.
From the day she first heard their quarrels… she had already given up…
Though she felt a bit disappointed that her father couldn’t accept her, overall, Lin Xinyuan was in a relatively good mood.
Her mother’s question on the phone earlier had made her meaning quite clear.
For Lin Xinyuan, it was already good enough that her mother hadn’t abandoned her; she didn’t even expect the family to be like her cousin’s.
As for the future…
It would probably be just her on her own…
Once she entered society, she would eventually leave her mother’s side, and maybe her mother would find new happiness after the divorce…
“Sis!”
In the afternoon, there was a knock at the door.
The girl looked away from her phone screen and walked over to open it.
Standing outside was her cousin, Lin Xinyu.
“Ready?” Lin Xinyu asked, scanning the girl and brightening up as he said, “Uh… Sis, you look really pretty today!”
He meant it sincerely.
Today, his cousin did look good… actually, it was impossible for her not to.
Even with just a simple women’s coat and jeans, she still looked stunning.
It had to be said—people who are good-looking can pull off anything…
“All set.” Lin Xinyuan tugged at the hem of her coat and smiled faintly at her cousin.
Her mood was quite good now, even giving her cousin a compliment in return, “Yuguo, you’re handsome too.”
Hearing this, Lin Xinyu inwardly delighted.
Although he thought his looks were decent, how one sees oneself and how others see you were always different, especially when it was his little sister complimenting him.
He felt a little light-headed but quickly calmed himself down, remembering he had to maintain his brotherly dignity, “Ahem… enough chit-chat. Let’s go!”
Lin Xinyuan nodded, locked the door, and followed her cousin, who was carrying a basketball in his left arm.
The morning call from her mother seemed to have lifted her spirits quite a bit.
When her cousin asked if she wanted to watch him play basketball at noon, she thought it over and agreed.
There was nothing much to do at home anyway.
Besides writing and watching videos, going out for a bit was good…
They were headed to Ma County First Middle School, where Lin Xinyuan’s uncle worked.
Opposite the school’s side gate was a Public Sports Field, open to the public.
Lin Xinyu and his friends had arranged to meet there.
The school wasn’t far from their neighborhood—probably less than a kilometer—so it only took them a little over ten minutes to arrive.
It was late December, and there was still some time before the middle schoolers’ winter break.
Whether it was lectures, studying, or noise, the sounds drifting from the nearest teaching building inside the school gate reached their ears clearly, even outside where the siblings stood.
Listening to the youthful energy from the students, Lin Xinyu sighed, “I almost feel like I’m back in a high school classroom… gotta say, time really flies… makes me a bit nostalgic…”
The girl beside him didn’t have much to say, “Mm, it’s okay…”
Unlike others, Lin Xinyuan had no strong feelings about her middle school days, especially those three years of junior high…
High school was just the same—dull studying every day…
Of course… that probably had a lot to do with her introverted personality back then.
Now looking back, the only thing worth remembering from high school was a homeroom teacher who actually cared for her.
Oh, and the time she got a bonus when she was admitted to Tianbei University…
“Yo, Old Fish is here!”
Following her cousin through the entrance, a shout rang out from afar.
She looked over and saw four boys walking over from the basketball court.
These were Lin Xinyu’s friends.
But what surprised Lin Xinyuan was how uniformly they all called her cousin “Old Fish.”
“Old Fish… who’s this?” A burly boy asked, eyes shining as he glanced at the girl beside Lin Xinyu.
They had already noticed her when she first came in.
The other three boys were similar—curious about this pretty girl.
It was understandable, given Lin Xinyuan’s striking appearance combined with a faintly sickly aura that clashed with the energetic atmosphere here…
Being stared at like this, even knowing they were her cousin’s friends, made Lin Xinyuan somewhat uneasy.
She slowly moved behind her cousin, trying to avoid their gaze.
“Oh… this is my sister. She’s here to watch me play, so don’t mind her.”
Lin Xinyu’s vanity instantly swelled.
On the surface, he sounded indifferent while introducing her, but inside, he was thrilled.
Hahaha, let them be jealous!
My sister is the cutest!
Thinking this, he glanced back and saw Lin Xinyuan obediently hiding behind him.
This scene made him feel his shoulders grow even broader.
Upon hearing Lin Xinyu’s words, the others became excited.
They had thought she might be his girlfriend. Finding out she was his sister made things easier!
They exchanged glances, their eyes narrowing slightly as if sizing each other up, before their expressions softened into warm smiles directed at Lin Xinyu.
Seeing his friends like this, Lin Xinyu’s mouth twitched.
He knew exactly what they were thinking and felt a little annoyed.
He understood his sister’s situation, but you never know what could happen…
He immediately said, “Let’s go, let’s go. Time’s running out. If we don’t play, I’m going home!”
With that, he pulled his friends along. “It’s getting late.”
Hearing this, the four boys, who had been about to protest, immediately quieted down.
They knew what mattered most! Leaving now would mean nothing, but playing meant they could see a beauty and enjoy the view.
And if they played well…
Heh heh heh heh heh…
Each wore a different expression but all were secretly excited just imagining that scene!
So they all prepared themselves, ready to show off their skills for Old Fish’s little sister…