Chapter 44 The Uninvited Guest She pushed open the heavy glass door, and a familiar face appeared…
On a busy afternoon, sunlight slanted through the gaps between the tall buildings and into the car window.
Inside the car, Lin Yuwei rubbed her temples, leaning back wearily in the back seat. The client meeting had lasted three hours, but the other party kept wavering between several proposals and couldn't make a decision. She had no choice but to reschedule for next week and head back to her studio.
Pushing open the glass door of the studio, the familiar aroma of coffee wafted out, and the familiar feeling of returning to her own studio made her feel very at ease. However, the next second, Lin Yuwei noticed something unusual: the room was too quiet! Usually at this time, the team's discussions would be at their most heated, with the sounds of keyboards clicking, arguments, and laughter rising and falling.
At this moment, there was only the low sound of keyboard typing and mouse clicking. Everyone seemed to be extremely focused on their screens, and even the air seemed somewhat stagnant.
Just as she was feeling puzzled, she glanced around and met the suggestive look that her assistant, Xiao Li, was giving her from his workstation. Lin Yuwei frowned slightly, waved to Xiao Li, signaling him to come over, and then walked towards the private office inside.
She had just placed her tote bag and slightly heavy laptop on the desk when the quick-witted Xiao Li hurried in and gently closed the door behind her.
"Teacher Lin, you're back just in time!" Xiao Li lowered his voice and reported concisely, "There's a guest waiting for you in the conference room. He's been here for a while, without an appointment, but said... he has something important to discuss."
Xiao Li looked troubled, lowering his voice to almost a whisper: "It's a lady, surnamed Lin." He paused, carefully observing Lin Yuwei's expression, and added, "She said she's your mother. She seemed quite... serious, with a strong presence, not like an ordinary client. So I asked her to wait in the conference room."
These words caused a moment of silence in the office. Everyone in the studio knew that although Lin Yuwei was the boss, she was about the same age as everyone else and had a friendly personality. During lunch breaks, when eating or ordering milk tea, they could talk about anything, from the latest movies to difficult clients to their own love lives.
But there is one area that she never touches, and no one dares to easily test: her family, especially her mother. Lin Yuwei always cleverly avoids related topics, a subtle avoidance that carries an inviolable sense of boundary.
At this moment, the sudden arrival of the mysterious, never-mentioned mother exudes an unusual aura.
Lin Yuwei's heart sank suddenly, as if pulled by an invisible hand. The fatigue from work was instantly replaced by a more complex emotion: surprise, a little impatience, and a hint of tension and aversion as if her private territory had been invaded.
"Okay, I understand. Make me two cups of tea and take them to the conference room." Lin Yuwei's voice returned to calm, but with a protective coldness. Xiao Li nodded in agreement and left.
Lin Yuwei stood still, took a deep breath, and mustered some courage. She raised her hand to straighten the collar of her shirt and the slightly wrinkled cuffs, then quickly tidied the stray hairs at her temples in the reflection of the glass window. Only then did she turn around and walk towards the conference room facing the street as if facing a formidable enemy.
She pushed open the heavy glass door, and a familiar yet unfamiliar figure stood with his back to her in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the bustling traffic and tiny crowds below. The glow of the setting sun shone on the person's straight back and meticulously styled hair, outlining an elegant and noble silhouette.
Hearing the door open, the person turned around.
Lin Yuwei saw her mother, Lin Yulan, whom she hadn't seen for eight years. Lin Yulan was wearing a very well-tailored Chanel tweed suit, with a full pearl necklace around her neck and earrings that matched perfectly.
Time has etched its marks on her face, but her meticulously maintained features and taut jawline still exude an imposing presence. Even as she ages, it is not hard to see the stunning beauty she once possessed.
Lin Yulan's eyes, sharp as a hawk's, with a cold light that scrutinizes everything, instantly pulled Lin Yuwei back to her teenage years when she was judged and controlled by her.
"Mom." Lin Yuwei's voice was as calm and even as possible, with a deliberately distant tone: "Why did you come? You should have called me beforehand." She walked to the conference table but did not sit down.
Lin Yulan's gaze, critical and discerning, swept quickly across the conference room's decor, furniture, and furnishings before finally settling on her daughter, giving her a thorough once-over: "Come and see the business my daughter has built." Her tone was flat, revealing neither joy nor anger: "After reading the reports, I thought it would be huge, but it's actually smaller and more delicate than I imagined." This statement sounded like a description, yet it carried a subtle, undeniable understatement.
She paused for a moment, then gave the order directly: "Come home for dinner this weekend! I have something to tell you." It wasn't a discussion, it was a notification, the kind of tone that Lin Yuwei had been most familiar with since childhood, one that brooked no argument.
Lin Yuwei instinctively put on a psychological defense and almost reflexively declined, saying, "I might have an important client meeting to follow up on this weekend. It was already arranged, so I'm afraid..."
"Cancel it!" Lin Yulan interrupted her, her voice still not loud, but carrying an unquestionable authority of someone who had long held a superior position and was used to giving orders, as if her words were the final decision: "The company isn't big, but you're acting like a big shot. Now you even need to make an appointment in advance to have a meal with your mother?"
Lin Yulan's gaze suddenly sharpened, like a cold and sharp blade, slowly scraping across Lin Yuwei's face, trying to find any trace of resistance or concealment: "Or," her tone abruptly changed, carrying a cold interrogation, "are you still holding a grudge against me for what happened back then?"
The phrase "those things from back then" was like a pebble thrown into a still lake, instantly creating silent yet intense ripples between the two. It was as if the oxygen in the air had been invisibly sucked away, and the meeting room instantly became suffocating. Lin Yuwei and Lin Yulan looked at each other, both with tense emotions on their faces, a mixture of old grievances and present confrontation, ready to erupt at any moment.
Just then, there was a gentle knock on the glass door of the conference room, the crisp sound breaking the almost frozen atmosphere perfectly.
The door was pushed open, and Zhou Xubai happened to return from outside, his suit jacket casually draped over his arm, his tie slightly loosened, and a slightly travel-worn yet still composed and gentle smile on his face: "Yuwei, I'm back. The meeting just now..."
He stopped mid-sentence, his gaze falling on the unfamiliar woman in the room, who possessed an extraordinary air and a face somewhat similar to Lin Yuwei's but even more imposing. Zhou Xubai, ever astute, immediately showed a hint of surprise and inquiry, his tone shifting to humble politeness: "...Oh, forgive my intrusion, but who is this lady?"
Lin Yuwei took a slight breath, as if she had grabbed a piece of driftwood, and stood next to Zhou Xubai, introducing him: "This is my mother." She then turned to her mother, her voice steady but with a hint of tension: "Mom, this is Zhou Xubai, my art consultant, and one of the partners in this studio."
Zhou Xubai stepped forward, bowed naturally, and gracefully extended his hand. His smile was warm and appropriate, and he had a perfect sense of propriety: "Auntie, hello. I've heard so much about you. Yuwei has often mentioned you. It's an honor to finally meet you today." His demeanor was composed and natural, carrying the good manners and comfortable respect that are unique to scions of a prominent family and deeply ingrained in their bones.
Lin Yulan's gaze swept over Zhou Xubai quickly yet politely. Seeing his expensive, well-tailored shirt and trousers, and his calm and humble demeanor, her critical and sharp eyes finally softened slightly. She extended her well-maintained hand and gently shook his hand, then pulled away immediately: "Mr. Zhou."
Before coming here, she had roughly learned about the backgrounds of the people around Lin Yuwei. Upon hearing Zhou Xubai's name, she went straight to the point and asked, "Mr. Zhou from the Zhou Group, are you...?"
"It is indeed my father." Zhou Xubai replied with a smile, his attitude neither humble nor arrogant. He frankly acknowledged his identity without making an excessive fuss or showing off, appearing sincere and composed.
"I see." Lin Yulan's face finally showed a genuine look of satisfaction, and her tone softened considerably, even becoming somewhat affectionate: "No wonder you look so handsome and have such an extraordinary air about you. Mr. Zhou, if you have time, why not join us for a casual meal at our home this weekend?" This was no longer just polite talk, but a clear acknowledgment and invitation.
Zhou Xubai turned his gaze to Lin Yuwei at the right moment, his eyes gentle yet with a clear question, returning the decision to her, his demeanor respectful and considerate.
At this moment, Lin Yuwei was overwhelmed with mixed feelings: complex emotions she had been suppressing towards her mother, an urgent desire to escape the awkward situation, and a subconscious yearning for someone to mediate and smooth things over, which she herself was unaware of. All these emotions intertwined to form an invisible driving force.
Finally, meeting her mother's gaze, which still held scrutiny and expectation, she nodded with difficulty and almost imperceptibly.
“Of course, it’s my honor.” Zhou Xubai smiled and readily agreed. His cheerful response immediately eased the tense atmosphere in the room.
On the weekend, Zhou Xubai drove to pick her up on time. He had specially prepared a beautifully packaged, expensive health supplement and a bottle of fine vintage red wine as gifts: "Don't be nervous." He gently patted the back of her hand, his voice steady and strong: "I'm here for you."
After driving for several hours, Lin Yuwei finally returned to her hometown after many years. The Lin family villa was still as luxurious as she remembered, yet deserted.
When they arrived, it was almost noon. As soon as they entered, they saw the table full of exquisite dishes, and the silver cutlery gleamed coldly under the chandelier. Lin Yuwei thought that after so many years, she would be very emotional, but in fact, she did not seem to feel the longing for home that everyone was talking about.
Lin Yulan went downstairs with enthusiasm and started lunch. During the meal, she inquired in detail about Zhou Xubai's family background, his overseas study experience, and his career plans in the Zhou Group. She showed great interest in the Zhou Group. Zhou Xubai responded calmly, and his speech and behavior were impeccable, perfectly demonstrating the upbringing and demeanor that a scion of a prominent family should have.
When it comes to her biological daughter, Lin Yu-wei, Lin Yu-lan's conversation always revolves around her studio, with her tone always carrying a hint of sarcasm, implying that she is "not doing her job properly" or "doing things on a small scale."
"I heard you've partnered with that Venustech?" Lin Yulan suddenly asked, her tone casual as if she were scooping up a spoonful of soup, but her eyes were sharp: "That tech company that's been making headlines lately?"
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