Chapter 33 Baby's Birthday
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released its interview notice, scheduled for one week after the Lantern Festival.
Lin Ke began preparing for the interview intensively. She couldn't neglect her professional knowledge, and she spent a lot of time on each aspect, including answering frameworks, accumulating materials, and repeatedly practicing mock interviews.
Si Yuming started work on the eighth day of the Lunar New Year. It seemed like there was a lot going on at the company. He left early and returned late every day. Si Yun also disappeared mysteriously during the day, and it was unclear what she was doing.
After moving to the old house, Si Xiaotie, who used to be so boisterous, had Qin Mancheng to keep him company, which made Lin Ke feel much more at ease.
However, there are also quite a few things that can be distracting at times.
Lin Qiliang called her because of Lin Jialang. She and Si Yuming had discussed it and realized that they couldn't handle the matter. So, she politely indicated on the phone that they couldn't help much and advised them to think about how to deal with it. But Lin Qiliang just sighed repeatedly on the phone.
That day, a message popped up on her WeChat, and she barely recognized the chat box, which she hadn't exchanged messages with in two or three years.
Zhu Li: [Keke, is it convenient for you? Auntie would like to treat you to a meal.]
Lin Ke considered it for a while and replied that she agreed.
This matter absolutely needs to be dealt with.
We arranged to meet at a nearby coffee shop. When I arrived, Zhu Li was already there, still impeccably dressed, with an expensive platinum bag on the table.
Zhu Li is the kind of person who is very tactful and has strong social skills. She can always take care of everyone in any situation. Zhu Li deserves a lot of credit for Lin Qiliang's ability to make a comeback and earn a lot of money back then.
Therefore, although Zhu Li and her stepmother were not close, they always maintained a good public image, and the neighbors all praised her for being lucky to have such a stepmother.
Lin Ke sat down, and Zhu Li smiled and said, "You're here! What would you like to drink? Auntie will order for you."
"No need, I'll just have water."
"Okay, then."
Zhu Li didn't say any more pleasantries and went straight to the point: "Keke, you should know why I'm here today."
Lin Ke nodded.
Zhu Li looked over and sighed inwardly.
They all have the same father, so how come my children aren't even half as good as theirs? Lin Ke has brought home countless awards since she was a child, but Lin Jialang and Lin Jiayan only bring news from their teachers. The siblings either skip class or sleep in class and don't do their homework. They are a complete handful.
Putting aside their talent, their luck was worlds apart. How did she manage to marry into the Si family by sheer luck, while Jia Lang...?
Thinking about this, she felt resentful again; Jialang was such a clueless child.
But what could she do? After all, he was her own flesh and blood. Zhu Li lowered her stance and said, "Keke, could I beg you to help with Jialang's matter?"
The woman across the street looked over.
Zhu Li continued, "We've tried to persuade her, scolded her, and even imprisoned her, but Jialang just won't listen. She insists on giving birth to this child, saying it's fine if we don't get married, she'll raise it herself. If we don't agree, then it'll be a tragedy for both of us."
Lin Ke couldn't help but laugh as she listened.
"Auntie knows that what she did was wrong, but your dad and I are helpless. Keke, you know what kind of personality Jialang has. If she really puts a knife to her neck, no one can stop her."
Zhu Li leaned over and took her hand, which was resting on the table. "So, Auntie came here today to beg you if you could ask Yu Ming to contact the Wei family so that our two families can sit down and have a proper talk. The child definitely needs to be aborted, but Jia Lang is stubborn right now, so we need to think of a delaying tactic."
Lin Ke didn't quite understand what he meant. "Do you mean you'll get a beating after she marries into the family? Or are you giving her hope, only to have the same result in the end?"
Zhu Li's face stiffened.
Lin Ke withdrew her hand and calmly stated her position: "Auntie, we will not interfere in this matter. To put it another way, given the Wei family's current attitude, do you think she can have a good life after marrying into the family? I heard that Jia Lang's boyfriend is a rich playboy. Do you think he will change his ways for Jia Lang?"
“If Lin Jialang insists on having this child, I don’t think it’s impossible. I think raising a child isn’t a big problem for the Lin family right now. But if Lin Jialang wants to use this child to threaten the Wei family, you should advise her to give up this idea as soon as possible. These families won’t care about an illegitimate child.”
“Auntie, you know what the best way to handle this is. If you really can’t bring yourself to do it, then you’ll ruin her life.”
Lin Ke smiled at this point. How could she know Zhu Li's true thoughts? What if she really hoped her daughter would marry into the Wei family and live a life of wealth and honor? Wouldn't all she be saying now be pointless?
That's enough. "In short, you don't need to come looking for me anymore. Whether I help or not, I'll end up being the executioner anyway."
Lin Ke got up to leave, and after taking a few steps, she heard a voice behind her that sounded almost desperate, "You think I don't understand these things? But what can I do? She's my daughter. If I don't help her, who will..."
daughter.
I didn't understand when I was a child, but now that I have a daughter myself, Lin Ke is probably better able to speak from this perspective.
She spoke each word clearly and in a deep voice: "You parents are fully responsible for Lin Jialang's current situation."
......
Si Xiaotie celebrated her fourth birthday in early February.
The weather was sunny and the temperature was rising slowly, as if there were signs of spring's arrival.
Four years ago today, the northern part of the city was covered in snow, making the city look as romantic as a castle.
After nearly twenty hours of labor, a baby girl weighing six pounds and four ounces was born. Her loud cries were her way of greeting her unfamiliar parents.
At seven o'clock that morning, Lin Ke was awakened by a series of urgent knocks on the door. Then, the little girl couldn't wait to push the door open, come in, and climb into bed.
Then, hands on hips, he stood between the two adults and announced loudly, "Dad! Mom! Today is baby's birthday!"
Lin Ke rubbed her eyes and couldn't help but laugh: "I know, I know, Si Xiaotie is four years old today, happy birthday, baby."
"Hehe." Si Xiaotie tripped and fell into his mother's arms. "Thank you, Mom!"
Si Yuming also said to her, "Xiao Tie, happy birthday."
"Thank you, Dad!"
Si Yuming glanced at the clock on the bedside table, threw off the covers and got out of bed. As he put on his bathrobe, he said, "Xiao Tie, Dad has work today and might be home late tonight. You, Mom, and your brother wait for Dad, okay?"
If it was a job he couldn't refuse, the man got dressed, bent down, kissed the little girl, and said, "Sorry, baby."
"You have to come back!" Si Xiaotie held up his little finger. "Pinky promise!"
"Pinky promise."
After Dad left, the mother and daughter took a sweet nap together. When they woke up, Si Xiaotie received her first gift from her brother—a small rabbit made of clay, which was specially painted pink.
Si Xiaotie was delighted with the little rabbit and was about to go find her aunt when Qin Mancheng stopped her, saying, "My mom has gone to work."
"Why?"
Lin Ke, who was in the kitchen preparing to heat up milk for Si Xiaotie, also noticed it.
Since Si Yuming took over the company, Si Yun has stopped touching company business. At least in the past few years, Lin Ke has never seen her go to the company. Now she's actually going to work?
She thought about it for a while and decided it was a good thing.
Si Yun, who used to not work, was the number one figure in the Beicheng rich heiresses circle. Everyone relied on her to organize gatherings, and even minor conflicts in the circle would be mediated by her. With her strong abilities and wide network, Si Yun was popular wherever she went.
But since the incident with Qin Ru, her personality has changed a lot. The irritable Lin Ke that her aunt mentioned has not appeared. However, in the few days that they lived together, she often saw her sitting alone, lost in thought or drinking alone, looking gloomy and depressed.
It's good that she's working now; at least it helps her get out of the shadow of her divorce.
So Si Yuming has been busy with this matter these past two days?
Si Xiaotie didn't understand any of that and dragged his brother to go out and play bumper cars. Qin Mancheng was a little embarrassed and refused, saying, "Xiaotie, I have to do my homework today."
This winter break, because his younger sister stayed at their house, his mother didn't take care of his piano practice, calligraphy practice, or homework, so he hasn't done a lot of homework. School starts in a couple of days.
Lin Ke brought out breakfast and asked, "Manman, you're only in first grade and you already have winter break homework?"
"No, it was my mom who enrolled me in math and English classes."
"I see."
Si Xiaotie, with wide eyes, chimed in, "Xiaotie wants to go to math Olympiad classes and English classes too!"
Lin Ke tapped her on the head, "Can you count from one to ten yet? Do you even know what advanced math is?"
Si Xiaotie has only been in kindergarten for one semester. She and Si Yuming have discussed it and decided to let nature take its course. She can learn whatever she likes and won't learn what she doesn't like. Having a smart Qin Mancheng at home is enough.
"I got it!!" The girl was very dissatisfied and started counting on her fingers again: "One, two, three, four, five, six... um... seven, eight, nine, ten."
Then, stretching out its ten little arms, it proudly straightened its back and exclaimed, "Hey, ten!"
Lin Ke smiled and praised her, "You're really amazing, Si Xiaotie." Then she said gently to Qin Mancheng, "Go on, Manman, come out and rest when you're tired."
"Um!"
As soon as her brother left, Si Xiaotie wanted to follow, but Lin Ke grabbed her by the back of the collar and pulled her back, saying, "Sit down and have breakfast."
The little girl pouted and obediently sat down to eat her breakfast.
He'd barely taken a couple of bites before he started chattering, "Mommy, when is Daddy coming back?"
"...He just started working."
"When shall we go buy a cake?"
"It's already ordered. I'll pick it up this afternoon."
"Could we go earlier?"
"Can."
"Mom, when are we going to eat cake?"
"Eat after dinner."
"But I don't want to eat dinner, I want to eat cake."
"no."
"Mother......"
Lin Ke poked her in the air with her chopsticks, pretending to warn her seriously: "Si Lezhen, if you don't eat your breakfast properly, you can forget about eating cake."
The girl lowered her head in a second, picked up the milk and drank half of it in one gulp, then grabbed a fried dumpling and stuffed it into her mouth, muttering, "Mommy... can I eat cake now...?"
Lin Ke laughed, "Okay, eat slowly."
"Hmm~"
After picking up the cake early at noon, Si Xiaotie finally behaved a bit.
But around three or four in the afternoon, she started making a fuss again, urging her father to come home.
Qin Mancheng played with her for a while to distract her, but the garage was still empty after the aunt finished cooking at six o'clock. The little girl started to feel sad and sat at the door like a little stone block, staring in the direction of the gate.
Lin Ke suggested we eat the cake first, but she refused, her tone very firm: "I want to wait for Daddy."
By seven o'clock, the little one was already listless.
She messaged Si Yuming, who said it would probably take a while, and if she couldn't wait, she should eat first, and he would hold a ceremony for his daughter when he got back.
Lin Ke estimated the time and made a decision.
If she gets tired of waiting at home, then let her wait somewhere else.
"Baby, let's go pick up Daddy."
The girl's eyes lit up immediately. "Okay, hurry up!"
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Author's note: See you tomorrow~ 100 little red envelopes~
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