Chapter 20: No one came to pick me up from home?
The high-speed train smoothly pulled into Xiangjiang Station, and the familiar hustle and bustle and sense of oppression surged in with the crowd.
After exiting the station, Lin Xili habitually took out her phone to call a ride-hailing service.
Looking at the endless stream of people picking up passengers and private cars, Huo Nanchen casually asked:
"No one's coming to pick you up?"
Lin Xili paused slightly while operating her phone, then continued as if nothing had happened.
"Ah, they... are probably busy."
She had long been used to this neglect.
In the Lin family, the only people who truly matter are the eldest brother, Lin Junsheng, and the younger sister, Lin Xuenuo.
She, the second child, has always been a figurehead, almost irrelevant.
What's more, this time she brought back a son-in-law they absolutely looked down on.
They were already being polite by not sending anyone to confront her and demand an explanation; how could they possibly send someone to pick her up?
Huo Nanchen glanced at her but said nothing more.
He keenly caught the hint of loneliness she was trying so hard to hide in her tone, but he chose to remain silent.
The ride-hailing car finally stopped in front of that familiar, imposing yet cold European-style villa.
The maid opened the door and was incredibly surprised to see her, especially when she saw Huo Nanchen, who had an extraordinary air about him and was dragging a suitcase behind her.
"Second Miss, you're back."
Lin Xili nodded and led Huo Nanchen inside.
In the living room, Lin Junsheng, the older brother, and Chen Jinyue, the sister-in-law, were sitting on the sofa.
Chen Jinyue's lower abdomen was slightly protruding as she enjoyed the fruit that Lin Junsheng handed her.
Both of them were taken aback when they saw Lin Xili and Huo Nanchen enter.
Lin Xili introduced Huo Nanchen: "This is my elder brother Lin Junsheng, and my sister-in-law Chen Jinyue."
Huo Nanchen nodded slightly to Lin Junsheng and Chen Jinyue as a greeting.
Lin Junsheng frowned, neither getting up to greet him nor saying anything.
Chen Jinyue looked Huo Nanchen up and down, his eyes filled with undisguised curiosity and a hint of contempt.
The atmosphere suddenly became awkward. Huo Nanchen didn't say anything, his expression remaining calm and unmoved.
"Brother, where are Dad and Mom?" Lin Xili had no choice but to change the subject and ask.
"I'm at the restaurant, waiting for you to eat," Lin Junsheng replied casually.
Lin Xili took a deep breath and led Huo Nanchen toward the restaurant.
Inside the restaurant, the food was already set on the table.
Today's meal looked very ordinary, just a few home-style stir-fries and a soup, so simple it was almost perfunctory.
Lin Xuenuo, the younger sister, was not at the restaurant; she must have gone to confirm the final arrangements for the wedding.
The father, Lin Weihua, sat in the main seat, his face calm and expressionless.
His mother, Song Yuan, sat next to him, her face clearly not looking good. Her lips were pressed tightly together, and her gaze toward Lin Xili and Huo Nanchen seemed to be filled with hail.
Out of politeness, Huo Nanchen bowed slightly to the two elders and said, "Dad, Mom, my name is Huo Nanchen."
Upon hearing the words "Dad, Mom," Lin Xili looked at Huo Nanchen beside her in astonishment. He was actually willing to put on this act for her.
But Lin Weihua and Song Yuan did not respond to him, and their expressions were unpleasant.
Her heart jumped into her throat.
Sure enough, the moment Song Yuan saw Huo Nanchen, her brows furrowed tightly. She opened her mouth, about to speak, when...
"cough."
Lin Weihua suddenly coughed lightly, interrupting Song Yuan's impending question.
He glanced at Song Yuan, his eyes carrying a hint of warning.
Song Yuan swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue, and glared back at her husband with dissatisfaction.
Lin Xili was somewhat bewildered by this unusual calm.
She had imagined countless ways to start, but she never expected such an almost eerie silence.
"You're back? Have a seat," Lin Weihua said.
His gaze passed over Lin Xili and landed on Huo Nanchen, his eyes carrying a scrutinizing look as if he wanted to see right through him.
Huo Nanchen met his gaze calmly, nodded slightly, his attitude neither humble nor arrogant, without any deliberate attempt to please or any stage fright.
He pulled out a chair for Lin Xili, and only after she sat down did he sit down next to her.
This series of movements was natural and fluid, reflecting good manners.
Lin Weihua's gaze followed Huo Nanchen, and he couldn't help but take a closer look at him a few more times.
This young man, though simply dressed, exuded an air of refined elegance and possessed exceptionally handsome features.
Especially his dark, calm eyes, and the standard gesture he used when greeting his elders at the beginning.
He also possesses a natural air of nobility.
This feeling always gave him a strange sense of familiarity, as if he had seen it somewhere before, but he couldn't quite place it.
This sense of familiarity helped him suppress his wife's impending outburst of anger.
His intuition, honed over years of experience in the business world, told him that this young man was probably not as simple as he appeared.
How could a doctor from a small rural town have such magnanimity?
At this moment, Lin Junsheng and Chen Jinyue also came in and sat down to prepare for their meal.
For a moment, no one spoke.
The only sounds were the occasional clinking of cutlery.
Lin Junsheng and Chen Jinyue ate their food in silence, occasionally exchanging a glance with indifferent detachment.
Song Yuanshi would occasionally glance at Huo Nanchen and Lin Xili with critical and resentful eyes, but she held back from lashing out because of Lin Weihua's warning.
Lin Xili was extremely uncomfortable. Although she was also hungry, Huo Nanchen had said that it was okay to skip the iodine restriction occasionally, as long as she didn't eat seafood.
But in this silent atmosphere, she really had no appetite.
This silence left her unable to figure out what her parents were thinking.
Why didn't they question it?
Why not get angry?
What did it mean when his father looked Huo Nanchen up and down like that?
She stole a glance at Huo Nanchen beside her.
He maintained a calm and composed expression, eating his meal slowly and gracefully.
He even picked up a piece of the lightly stir-fried greens from the plate in front of her with his chopsticks, his movements natural.
This subtle gesture made Lin Weihua's gaze deepen even further.
Throughout the entire process, Lin Weihua and Song Yuan never said a harsh word to Huo Nanchen, never inquired about his family background, job, or income, and never subjected Lin Xili to the humiliation and blame he had anticipated.
This is very abnormal.
She would rather they confront her directly than keep guessing.
After dinner, the maid came up to clear the table.
Lin Weihua wiped his mouth with a napkin and said to Lin Xili, "Since you're back, stay here!"
Huo Nanchen nodded politely to Lin Weihua and Song Yuan again, then stood up and asked a maid standing beside him gently, "Auntie, excuse me, could you please take me to the kitchen? I'll cook a bowl of noodles for your Miss Xili."
His words instantly shattered the facade of tranquility in the restaurant.
Everyone was stunned, their eyes all fixed on him.
Lin Xili's heart skipped a beat. She subconsciously reached out and gently pulled Huo Nanchen's hand, then quickly let go, and whispered, "I'm fine, no need to trouble yourself."
Huo Nanchen turned to look at her. "You haven't eaten much, so you get hungry easily. Don't worry, I brought some non-iodized salt."
Song Yuan asked, puzzled, "Iodized salt? What's wrong with her? Does she need to use special salt?"
It seems she forgot. The engagement was called off because of her hyperthyroidism, and it hasn't even been a month yet, and she's already forgotten about it.
Huo Nanchen turned around and said to Song Yuan, "Xi Li has hyperthyroidism and needs radioactive iodine treatment. He needs to strictly abstain from iodine for a month before the treatment. This is a necessary medical preparation."
Hyperthyroidism.
Song Yuan pondered for a moment before remembering, her brows furrowing slightly.
"I thought it was something serious. It's not like it's a life-threatening illness. Why are you being so delicate?"
"Does she expect our whole family to cater to her and change everyone's diet?!"
Huo Nanchen listened quietly until Song Yuan finished speaking before he spoke.
"From a medical perspective, hyperthyroidism is indeed not usually a life-threatening serious illness."
"However, this disease is often accompanied by discomfort such as irritability, palpitations, and tremors."
"At this stage, patients need more understanding, support and care from their families."
He paused slightly, his eyes sweeping over Lin Weihua, Lin Junsheng, and Song Yuan.
"Looking at your attitude and behavior, it is full of indifference, neglect and even blame."
This is hardly the way a wealthy family that values manners and upbringing should treat guests, let alone their own family.
"you……!"
Song Yuan was so angry at his blunt words that her face turned red. She stood up abruptly, her finger almost pointing at Huo Nanchen's nose.
Who do you think you are?
"Does a poor country doctor have the right to lecture our Lin family about our lack of manners?"
"If it weren't for her..."
She glared fiercely at Lin Xili, "If she hadn't been so shameless as to get married to you without consulting you first, do you think you would have been able to enter the Lin family?"
"Mom!" Lin Xili couldn't help but exclaim, her voice trembling slightly.
"Song Yuan!" Lin Weihua also shouted in a deep voice at the same time.
Huo Nanchen did not continue arguing with Song Yuan; he simply glanced at her indifferently.
That look inexplicably made Song Yuan's subsequent insults catch in her throat.
He looked again at the somewhat bewildered maid: "Auntie, could you please tell me where the kitchen is?"
The maid glanced at Lin Weihua, whose face was solemn, and saw him nod slightly. She replied softly, "Okay, okay, Mr. Huo... please come with me."
Huo Nanchen nodded to Lin Xili to reassure her, then calmly followed the maid out of the restaurant and headed towards the kitchen.
Song Yuan slumped back into her chair, muttering under her breath, "This is outrageous! This is truly outrageous!"
Lin Junsheng and Chen Jinyue exchanged a glance, then got up and left the restaurant.
Lin Xili stood still, her five fingers clenched tightly.
Huo Nanchen stood up for her, which moved her but also worried her.
I was moved by his unwavering protection, but worried that it would completely escalate the conflict.
Lin Weihua silently picked up the now-cold teacup, gazing intently in the direction Huo Nanchen had left.
This young man not only possessed an extraordinary demeanor, but also spoke with reason and eloquence, displaying neither arrogance nor servility, and even exuding the aura of someone in a superior position.
He was so knowledgeable and concerned about his daughter's condition that he personally brought her non-iodized salt and even cooked for her himself, regardless of the occasion...
Lin Weihua took a sip of the now-cold tea and said nothing more. He gave Song Yuan a look, and they left the restaurant together.
Lin Xili was left alone in the restaurant.
A dozen minutes later, Huo Nanchen came out carrying a bowl of egg and vegetable noodles that looked plain but smelled delicious.
He walked up to Lin Xili, gently placed the bowl on the table in front of her, and handed her chopsticks.
"Be careful, it's hot."
Lin Xili took the chopsticks, her nose slightly tingling, and said softly, "Thank you."
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