But Lin Chen was on an overseas business trip to attend a conference, and Lin Ran had insisted on going with him. She said she"d never been to Switzerland before and wanted to have some fun there!
And now both of them wouldn"t be able to make it back for Lin Jingquan"s birthday!
Lin Jingquan wore home clothes and read a book while lying on the deck chair in Liang Mulan"s gla.s.s-walled greenhouse on the rooftop. Liang Mulan was pruning her precious bonsai trees. Ji Yun"s caretaker sat with her on the swings in the warm greenhouse. Ji Yun"s eyes were still lifeless…
Lin Jingquan held his book in front of his chest and sighed. "I don"t blame Lin Chen for being busy with matters regarding the company. I understand that he sometimes can"t help but be tied down by work. But Lin Ran followed him to have fun and isn"t coming home today either! She"s just too unreasonable…"
Liang Mulan was tr.i.m.m.i.n.g the branches of a bonsai tree with small golden scissors. She chuckled and said, "How old are you, Mr. Lin? Why are you acting like a kid and making a fuss about such a trivial matter?"
"Fifty-nine…" Lin Jingquan answered her seriously.
Liang Mulan carefully cut off a small leaf as she focused her gaze on her precious bonsai tree. She chided Lin Jingquan, saying, "You"re not that old, and it"s not your 60th birthday yet. If the children are busy with their own stuff and can"t come back, then so be it! Why are you so angry? When you were young, you didn"t go back home to celebrate Mother and Father"s birthdays either. Once, on Father"s birthday, you even took me, Xiao Chen, and Nuan Nuan on holiday to Spain. Isn"t this just the pot calling the kettle black?"
Lin Jingquan was rendered speechless.
Liang Mulan had pointed out that he had done the same when he was young, and now he was demanding his children do the things he didn"t do. Lin Jingquan"s ears turned red.
"Besides…" Liang Mulan put down the scissors in her hand and misted the bonsai tree with a small spray bottle. "This year, Nuan Nuan is bringing Huai"an back with her to celebrate your birthday. It"s not like all of your kids aren"t by your side, so what do you have to be unhappy about?"
"I"m not unhappy!" Lin Jingquan sighed and turned to look out the window. "I just feel like it wasn"t easy for Lin Ran to think things through. If she interacts more with Nuan Nuan, the two sisters might just become best friends in the future."
Liang Mulan yearned even more for Lin Nuan and Lin Ran to become best friends, but she knew that things like that couldn"t be rushed…
It was already a surprise to her that Lin Ran gave in to such an extent.
Golden rays of sunlight shone into the greenhouse through the transparent gla.s.s walls. They reflected in Liang Mulan"s eyes and caused them to appear golden.
"You can"t rush things like this!" Liang Mulan turned back to glance at Lin Jingquan. "Ran Ran only did this much because of Sister Ji Yun. We should take things slow… Time will reveal a person"s true colors. Ran Ran now understands that Nuan Nuan was also innocent back then. One day, she"ll come to realize that Nuan Nuan is a good girl and a perfect best friend!"
"Honestly, I think that deep down, Xiao Ran doesn"t hate Lin Nuan. You see… the last time you had a fall, the first thing Ran Ran did was call Nuan Nuan. She could have called Xiao Chen or me, but she called Nuan Nuan!"
Lin Jingquan sat up from the deck chair and casually placed his book on the small round table beside him meant for tea and cake. He got up and walked over to Liang Mulan, seeing her pick up her scissors to prune the next bonsai tree. Lin Jingquan picked up the spray bottle and helped Liang Mulan mist the bonsai tree that was just pruned.
A fine mist was squirted out from the nozzle of the spray bottle, and there seemed to be rainbows under the light.
Liang Mulan"s smile grew brighter and more beautiful. "I"ll see how many of the kids will definitely be able to celebrate your 60th birthday together next year! Don"t be difficult about it this time…"
"How am I being difficult? You make me sound exactly like the kids…" Lin Jingquan had a stubborn look on his face. "I just feel that it"s a pity. Xiao Ran and Nuan Nuan could have used this as an opportunity to bond…"
"Ran Ran…" Ji Yun suddenly opened her mouth and called out Lin Ran"s name.
Liang Mulan and Lin Jingquan turned back to look at Ji Yun. They didn"t know if she"d responded because she heard Lin Ran"s name.
"Sister Ji Yun?" Liang Mulan was so surprised that she forgot to put down the scissors in her hands.
"Ran Ran, Ran Ran loves red floral dresses the most!" Ji Yun foolishly smiled to herself and looked down at her hands as if she were holding a dress that Lin Ran liked.
Liang Mulan wanted to say something, but the light gradually faded from Ji Yun"s eyes.
"She probably heard us mention Xiao Ran…" Lin Jingquan said.
Liang Mulan nodded. "Sister Ji Yun really gave all her love to Xiao Ran! Thank goodness Nuan Nuan has an open mind. Otherwise, never mind receiving love from her biological mother, imagine how awful she must feel when her biological mother doesn"t recognize her!"
Lin Jingquan glanced at his wife, whose eyes had reddened. "Doesn"t Nuan Nuan still have you? You"re Nuan Nuan"s mother too! You dote on her…"
Just as Lin Jingquan stopped speaking, a servant came up to inform them that Lin Nuan"s car had arrived.
Upon hearing this, Liang Mulan quickly put down her scissors and wiped her hands with a towel at the side. "Let"s head downstairs then! I"ve prepared some e"jiao mutton soup for her downstairs. I wonder if it"s ready yet…"
Lin Jingquan put down the spray bottle. He was about to head downstairs with Liang Mulan, but he noticed that mud had gotten onto his trousers and said that he"d get changed first.
…
The car stopped at the gate, and Lin Nuan stepped out of the car and opened the trunk. She saw Liang Mulan step out of the manor before she had a chance to take out the present.
Liang Mulan looked inside the car but didn"t see Fu Huai"an…
"Mom!" Lin Nuan called out to Liang Mulan as she took out the gift that Fu Huai"an had prepared, as well as the present she had prepared.
The Lin family"s servant was sharp, taking the presents from Lin Nuan and taking them into the manor.
"Auntie!" You Nainai greeted Liang Mulan.
Liang Mulan smiled and nodded. "Let"s head inside! It"s too cold out here…"
Liang Mulan was very polite to You Nainai, as she knew that You Nainai remained by Lin Nuan"s side to protect her. After hearing that You Nainai was the only female bodyguard on the bodyguard rankings, Liang Mulan felt a sense of admiration towards her from the bottom of her heart.
"This way, Miss You…" the servant asked You Nainai to enter the manor.
You Nainai felt awkward, as she was just a bodyguard and not a guest. She turned back to look towards Lin Nuan.
"Go in first!" Lin Nuan smiled and said to You Nainai before she bent down to reach into the backseat of the car and take out her handbag.
You Nainai nodded and entered the manor with the servant.
Liang Mulan held onto Lin Nuan"s arm as they walked into the manor. She asked, "Is Huai"an still busy?"
"Yeah. He still has a video conference. He said that he"d come over as soon as he"s done…"
Lin Nuan nodded and walked over to Ji Yun, bending down to adjust the blanket on her lap. When she looked back up, Ji Yun"s eyes looked as empty and distant as ever.