Chapter 107 Indispensable

Qu Lianyi also turned her gaze away from the woman with the child.

She chuckled softly, "Muye is so busy, he might not have time."

Ming Qingwan said coquettishly, "If you come over, even if Brother Muye is busy, he will definitely have to have dinner with you!"

"What about you?" Qu Lianyi said, "It wouldn't be right for us to leave you alone when we go out to eat."

Ming Qingwan was stunned.

Looking into Qu Lianyi's eyes, she quickly realized that Qu Lianyi was saying this on purpose.

Or rather, Qu Lianyi saw through her intentions and knew that she wanted to use her to get closer to Pei Muye.

But Qu Lianyi wouldn't give her that chance.

Ming Qingwan smiled awkwardly: "I'll go with you. If Brother Muye has time, you can go eat, and I'll go home by myself! If he's busy, then the two of us can eat, okay?"

Qu Lianyi smiled and said, "That's the only way."

Lin Xiyin watched from a distance as Ming Qingwan and another woman left, and only then did she breathe a sigh of relief.

How come I keep running into Ming Qingwan everywhere?

Fortunately, Ming Qingwan didn't come over to say those disgusting things to her this time.

The little guy played all morning and was tired, his cheeks were flushed. Lin Xiyin called Aunt Zhao and told her she wouldn't be coming home for lunch.

She invited Xiao Ruoyi to eat out.

As Lin Xiyin hailed a taxi at the entrance of the botanical garden, she thought to herself that she should buy a new car.

Besides, I've been back for so long, it's time to... go back and visit the Lin family.

Three years ago, the fact that she and Pei Muye had divorced could not be kept secret from Lin Yiming and his wife.

The two of them gave her a good scolding.

Even after they got the divorce certificate, they still forced Lin Xiyin to apologize to Pei Muye, beg for forgiveness, and get the marriage certificate back.

When they realized that things were beyond repair, they were furious and told Lin Xiyin to get out and never come back.

During the years Lin Xiyin was abroad, every time Lin Yiming and his wife called home, they would immediately hang up as soon as they heard her voice.

She had no choice but to send some money back home every now and then.

No matter what, they are their parents, and she has an obligation to support them.

There was also the matter of Lin Zihao. Lin Xiyin was very angry at the time, but the matter was eventually dropped.

Lin Xiyin found it ironic that when Lin Zihao gambled away his house and incurred debts, they seemed to understand and accept it.

They were furious about Lin Xiyin's divorce, as if Lin Xiyin had done something heinous.

Lin Xiyin found it very ironic.

So later, she didn't contact them much, only sending them money during holidays.

But now that she's back from abroad, she should go back no matter what.

I just don't know if Lin Zihao has kicked his gambling addiction after three years.

Lin Xiyin felt that Lin Zihao had already lost the house, so he had nothing left to lose and should behave himself.

During the meal, Xiao Ruoyi said, "That's not necessarily true. They say it's easier to change mountains and rivers than to change one's nature. People who are addicted to gambling find it very difficult to quit."

Lin Xiyin said, "But he has nothing left to lose."

Xiao Ruoyi smiled and said, "Isn't there still the house where your parents live?"

Lin Xiyin was taken aback: "Impossible, right?"

Xiao Ruoyi said, "Back then, Pei Muye paid for Lin Zihao's house. If you ask me, that house should have been in your name, or at least your parents' names. But your parents gave it directly to Lin Zihao. I've never seen parents who are so harsh on their own child but so good to other people's children."

Lin Xiyin did not speak.

Xiao Ruoyi added, "They dote on Lin Zihao like it's their own eyeball. Isn't it normal for them to give their own apartment to Lin Zihao?"

After thinking about it, Lin Xiyin realized that it wasn't impossible.

Although he didn't know why his parents were so good to Lin Zihao.

To say it's because of male chauvinism is absurd.

After all, Lin Zihao is not their son.

How can you favor someone else's son while neglecting your own daughter?

After lunch, Lin Youxing returned home and took a nap.

Lin Xiyin thought about it and decided to go home in the afternoon.

After returning to China, she called her parents more than once, but they refused to answer each time.

After that, I was extremely busy with the project.

I only just found the time.

But when she arrived at her doorstep, Lin Xiyin felt a sense of trepidation, as if she were returning home.

She mustered her courage and knocked on the door, but when the door opened, a young woman with a large pregnant belly came out.

She was about the same age as Lin Xiyin, with her hair in a bun, and looked at Lin Xiyin with a puzzled expression.

Who are you looking for?

Lin Xiyin paused for a moment before asking, "Isn't this... Lin Yiming's house?"

"No, this is my home." The woman frowned, thought for a moment, and then said, "But this name sounds familiar..."

Lin Xiyin asked, "Did you buy this house or rent it?"

"Bought... Ah, I remember now, the person who sold us the house, I think their surname was Lin!"

Lin Xiyin forced a smile: "Thank you."

Coming downstairs, Lin Xiyin was surprised to find that what Xiao Ruoyi had said had actually come true.

If it weren't for Lin Zihao, Lin Xiyin couldn't imagine what else could have led her family to the point of selling their house.

The money she sent over the years has basically covered Lin Yiming's medical expenses.

Therefore, it's impossible that the house was sold because of medical treatment.

Moreover, if that were the case, they wouldn't ignore her calls.

After thinking it over, the only one who fits the bill is Lin Zihao.

In recent years, Lin Xiyin has been calling either Lin Yiming or Lu Xuemei.

This time, she dialed Lin Zihao's number.

After going abroad, she changed her phone number, but kept all the numbers of her relatives and friends.

Perhaps her number was unfamiliar; it was her first time calling, and Lin Zihao didn't answer.

Lin Xiyin thought it was good that it could be opened.

She sent Lin Zihao a message and waited for his reply.

Even so, Lin Zihao didn't call back for half an hour.

He called out hesitantly, "Sister, is that you?"

Lin Xiyin spoke coldly, "It's me. Where are you?"

Half an hour later, Lin Xiyin met Lin Zihao downstairs where Lin Yiming and the others had moved.

"My uncles and the others live here now."

Lin Xiyin looked up.

The surrounding residential areas are old and dilapidated, with outdated facilities; they are typical old and run-down neighborhoods.

House prices have already come down, especially in older neighborhoods, where prices have dropped by almost half.

Lin Xiyin couldn't help but ask, "What are the prices of houses here now? When were they bought?"

Lin Zihao hung his head: "It's rented."

"Rented?"

After her initial surprise, Lin Xiyin couldn't help but take a deep breath.

Lin Xiyin glanced at him.

Lin Zihao lowered his head even further.

Once upstairs, Lin Zihao simply took the key and opened the door.

Once inside, he asked, "Uncle and Aunt, look who's here?"

Lin Yiming's health was deteriorating, and the hospital had no good solutions.

Lu Xuemei has also aged a lot.

Lin Xiyin stood at the door, her chest heaving and aching, and her eyes reddening.

No matter how much they scolded her, how much they chased her away, or how much they said they never wanted to see her again, they were still her parents.

This is an inseparable family bond.

When Lin Yiming and his wife saw Lin Xiyin, they were also stunned.

Lu Xuemei burst into tears.

Lin Yiming was incredibly thin, his brows furrowed, and he asked, "What are you doing here?"

"Dad, Mom..."

Lin Xiyin spoke, her voice choked with emotion.

"So you finally know how to come back?" Lin Yiming said, "I told you not to get a divorce, but you wouldn't listen! You even went abroad after the divorce, do you still care about me and your mother?!"

"Alright, that's enough." Lu Xuemei walked over and asked her, "Are you leaving again this time?"

Lin Xiyin shook her head: "I'm not leaving."

Lin Xiyin realized that no matter what, she and her parents seemed unable to get close anymore.

She didn't ask about the house, and no one explained it to her.

Lin Xiyin didn't know how she felt.

She is clearly the daughter of this family, clearly her parents' biological child, but here she feels like a stranger.

"What are your plans for the future?" Lu Xuemei asked. "You spent a lot of money going abroad, right? Are you able to find a good job now?"

Lin Yiming said, "I told you not to go, but you wouldn't listen. It's not that easy to make it abroad. You've seen the situation at home; there's no way we can help you."

Lin Xiyin lowered her head and remained silent.

Some of my classmates who worked on the project together sent money home, but what did their parents say?

There are many places to spend money abroad, so there's no need to send money home.

He even asked his classmates if they had enough money so he could send it abroad.

Where are her parents?

They wouldn't answer her calls, they didn't care if she lived or died, and now that she's back, they're saying these things.

Lin Xiyin really wanted to ask, was she their biological daughter?

Why are they so indifferent to her?

Lin Xiyin didn't sit for long; feeling very depressed, she got up to leave.

Lu Xuemei escorted her to the door before exchanging a few words with her.

"Don't blame your parents for being heartless; it's just that what you've done has disappointed us greatly."

"Zihao is our only son, and we will have to rely on him to carry on the family line."

“Daughters are like water spilled from a bowl. You married into a good family but didn’t cherish it. Now look at the state you’ve become. In the end, only Zihao will stay by our side to take care of you.”

Lin Xiyin, unable to bear it any longer, spoke up: "Did I tell you to sell the house? Did I tell you to live here?"

"Xiyin, how can you talk like that?" Lu Xuemei's gaze was full of displeasure: "I've already said that Zihao is now the only bloodline of the Lin family, and we're counting on him to carry on the family line!"

"Am I not a descendant of the Lin family?" Lin Xiyin looked at her, her eyes red.

Lu Xuemei said, "You're a girl, how can a girl carry on the family line..."

Lin Xiyin smiled, tears welling up in her eyes.

Lin Xiyin didn't say another word and turned to leave.

After she left, Lu Xuemei sighed, "Actually, she had it pretty tough too..."

Lin Yiming said, "Don't think about those things. If we don't treat her like this, let her give up. Once she knows we sold the house, do you think she'll let it go? What if she doesn't let us take care of Zihao? Are you just going to stand by and watch Zihao get bullied by those people?"

Lu Xuemei looked at Lin Zihao with exasperation: "Zihao, you'd better behave yourself from now on!"

She looked at Lin Yiming again: "There's no need to make things so tense with her, is there?"

Lin Yiming said, "What's there to be afraid of? Anyway, she's still giving us money. Besides, you don't want everyone to know we have a divorced daughter, do you?"

Lu Xuemei sighed, "She's really disobedient. I've raised her for nothing!"