"Me, me?" The person next to him stammered, stiffly examining his own delicate face.
Lin Zhenzhen smiled and raised her right hand, gently rubbing the man's nose with her index finger.
"Okay, the dirt is wiped off."
Lin Zhenzhen had an innocent and gentle appearance, and her soft-spoken and gentle actions made Zheng Yue's cheeks burn. She quickly pulled her sister and ran out of the bathroom.
Lin Zhenzhen watched them leave with a smile on her face, then slowly turned on the tap and carefully washed each of her fingers.
While socializing, Zheng Rong kept an eye on Lin Zhenzhen's situation and bumped into the Zheng sisters.
“Brother Zheng Rong…”
"Have you seen your sister?"
"In the restroom," Zheng Feng said softly. Zheng Yue glared at her younger sister.
The system within my consciousness spoke: "It seems the soul you found along the way is a surprisingly good match for this identity."
Zheng Rong narrowed his eyes and urged with a faint smile, "Hurry up and go, your third uncle is looking for you."
After sending the two sisters away, Lin Zhenzhen came out of the restroom.
Zheng Rong immediately stepped forward.
Her wisps of hair on her forehead and cheeks were slightly damp and clung to her skin. Her eyelids drooped listlessly, and her once thick and curled eyelashes were now stuck together in clumps.
"How did it get like this?"
Lin Zhenzhen looked up, her originally round eyes now redder, making them resemble rabbit eyes even more. "I was sleepy, so I washed my face."
Zheng Rong pulled out two tissues: "Don't do that again. Father is waiting for you in the study."
"Remember to tidy up again before you go over." Zheng Rong answered the phone and left in a hurry.
Lin Zhenzhen was tidying herself up in the corner, and she could vaguely feel the scrutinizing gazes of others.
The Zheng family banquet had already begun, and the people here seemed like a scattered group of sand, some holding champagne, others gathered together, wandering around the house.
Yet, to some extent, they were secretly keeping an eye on that girl together.
Her shoulders trembled slightly, as if she were utterly helpless.
"What's going on now?" A familiar voice rang out, Zheng Shengrui's voice full of amusement, "Oh, so it's the Cinderella story?"
Lin Zhenzhen took two steps back, avoiding his hand, and said timidly, "Fourth Uncle."
Zheng Shengrui's eyes were cold as he looked down at her as if she were some insignificant trinket.
"Once you're in the Zheng family, put away your petty ways." Zheng Shengrui's lips curled slightly. "Otherwise, don't come back here."
Lin Zhenzhen bit her lip and remained silent, clearly terrified of him.
Zheng Rong, who was some distance away, suddenly turned his head and called out, "Zheng Yan! Father is waiting for you in the study, why aren't you going over there yet?"
"I'll be right there." Lin Zhenzhen nodded to Zheng Shengrui, jogged away from where she stood, and cast a grateful glance at Zheng Rong as she passed by.
Zheng Shengrui was clearly not interested in communicating with Zheng Rong, and disappeared into the crowd after Lin Zhenzhen left.
"Treat yourself to be happy." Lin Zhenzhen was already standing outside the study on the second floor when she received Zheng Rong's text message.
Without hesitation, she gently knocked on the heavy solid wood door.
"Enter."
“It’s me.” Lin Zhenzhen stepped onto the soft fur carpet and immediately spotted the tall figure standing by the bed.
"It's been a long time since I last visited you. How have you been lately, Father?"
Zheng Youcheng gazed intently at the scenery outside the window. The small terrace in this study had an excellent view; on a clear day, one could even see the distant snow-capped mountains.
But it was nighttime, pitch black, and the lights in the villa area were sparse. Lin Zhenzhen guessed that he was probably watching the people walking in the courtyard.
"Same as always. How about you? I heard from Zheng Rong that your leg is recovering well." Zheng Youcheng's voice was deep and resonant, and you couldn't tell that he was over fifty years old.
“I saw a doctor last week, and I don’t need crutches anymore,” Lin Zhenzhen answered obediently, her eyes secretly taking in the study. This was her second time here, and it was bigger than she had imagined.
"Good girl," Zheng Youcheng said, then suddenly turned around to face her. "It's no wonder I love you so much."
Lin Zhenzhen felt a little uncomfortable with this scene of filial piety and nervously grabbed her hair on the right side. If Lin Qingqing were there, she would scold her loudly and slap her hand away.
"Have you met your family yet? Have you talked to them?"
Lin Zhenzhen thought about her experience in the restroom and nodded, acknowledging that they had indeed had some interaction.
"In the Zheng family, everyone else is fine, but be careful of your fourth uncle. He's a lawless man..."
Lin Zhenzhen quickly agreed. She remembered the incense in her handbag, took it out, and placed it in a stack on the reception table in the study.
"I brought extra this time. You said it would be useful last time, so I took it to the pharmacy and went to a traditional Chinese medicine shop to get more."
"You've put your heart into this." Zheng Youcheng was very pleased; after all, this daughter was still one of his own.
"When you come to the company after the New Year, work under Zheng Rong and learn as much as you can."
"Okay." Lin Zhenzhen felt like she was playing the role of a doll tonight, only able to repeat responses, which mechanically tugged at the skin at the corners of her mouth.
"You should tone it down a bit and not act like you used to."
Lin Zhenzhen stared blankly, wondering when he meant "before," since she had never been someone who could give people peace of mind since she was a child.
But none of that matters; she really needs to make changes.
Finally, the boring banquet came to an end.
Zheng Rong skillfully steered the wheel and asked Lin Zhenzhen beside him, "What are your plans for the Spring Festival?"
Lin Zhenzhen turned her head and stared at him.
Zheng Rong smiled faintly: "I'm going to Sanya to discuss a project. My father isn't at the old house; he spends some time at my wife's parents' house every Spring Festival. You can arrange your own time."
Lin Zhenzhen smiled knowingly: "How can I spend it? I'll just spend it the same way I've spent it in previous years. It's a seven-day Spring Festival holiday, so I'll relax however I want."
"Your father wants you to go anywhere and have some fun for a few days, don't stay in Jinshi."
The system announced: "Host, her 'darkening' level isn't high enough. You can provoke her a little more."
Zheng Rong paused, then emphasized.
"But don't go back to Lianxiang either."
"Okay, I'm not going back."
"It's not very interesting."
Lin Zhenzhen heard herself say this, but the tearing feeling deep inside her came in waves, growing stronger and stronger, as if a prisoner was desperately trying to break through the barrier.
She knew she was about to have an attack.
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