CHAPTER 261: CHAPTER 248: YOU MISSED MY PAST

Lin Zhenxin beckoned the waiter over, took out some money from her bag, handed it to him, and pointed to the flower shop across the street, asking him to go buy a bouquet for her.

The waiter took the money and left quickly.

Soon, he returned with an inconspicuous bunch of heather.

"This heather, you once placed it in front of my father’s grave; its flower language is loneliness and betrayal."

"Now, I give it back to you."

Lin Zhenxin’s voice was calm and indifferent, filled with a sense of distance.

"I protected Bainian and Nuoxin because their uncle was kind to me. The reason I didn’t look for you immediately after I came back... you’re right, it’s because my feelings for you are complicated!" Susan He finally admitted her feelings towards Zhenxin.

"But you are my daughter. No matter what happened before, this is an undeniable fact. I want to take you back to New York. With my current status, no member of the He family would dare look down on you! Zhenxin, I..."

"Do you understand that I won’t go back to New York with you unless I’m dead."

Saying more was useless; Lin Zhenxin no longer wanted to say anything unnecessary.

"No matter what happened before, no matter whose daughter I am to you, it doesn’t matter to me anymore!"

"What do you mean by saying this?" Suddenly, Susan He grabbed Lin Zhenxin’s wrist.

What does it mean, not being her and whose daughter?

"What do you mean, don’t you understand?" Lin Zhenxin spoke with a hint of sarcasm.

"Did you hear it from Tu Wanzi?" Susan He’s expression instantly turned cold, her face took on a cruel look.

Lin Zhenxin looked at her silently, trying to withdraw her wrist.

But Susan He held on tightly, making it impossible for her to do so.

"No matter what you’ve heard, you are my biological daughter, born with Lin Jusheng!"

Susan He said this firmly, without a trace of hesitation.

"I came back once before, wanting to take you away, but..."

Recalling the irrational argument, Susan He’s face was filled with pain.

Her heart was not made of stone.

"The child in your belly, you can give birth to it, but you and Li Yanan aren’t a good match, I can find you a better man, how about Bainian? He..."

Before Susan He finished speaking, Lin Zhenxin flung her hand away fiercely.

Almost simultaneously, Lin Zhenxin splashed a cup of warm water onto Susan He’s face!

With a splash, without any hesitation!

When Lin Zhenxin returned home, she had already forced herself to organize her emotions.

Upon seeing Li Yanan, she was stunned, and then a pang of heartache emerged.

There were clear scratches on his jaw, a few streaks, although they didn’t mar his handsomeness but were ultimately distracting.

Li Yanan was patiently coaxing grandma.

Clearly, grandma’s condition was much better than before.

When he looked up, he met her gaze, a slight smirk appeared on his lips, yet he didn’t care much about the wound on his jaw.

"Come with me." Lin Zhenxin said, then turned and entered the bedroom.

Li Yanan paused, then stood up and followed into the room.

Lin Zhenxin crossed her arms, leaning against the French window connecting to the balcony.

When Li Yanan came in, sunlight spilled onto her from outside, giving her an indescribable warmth.

He gripped the doorknob with one hand, and there was a moment of silence.

Lin Zhenxin happened to turn her head, her hair, previously tied up, now fell in soft waves behind her.

"What’s wrong?" Li Yanan closed the door and walked up to her.

Lin Zhenxin had so much to say to him...

——I already know about the past you wanted to hide.

——She wants to take me away, she wants to separate us.

Lin Zhenxin didn’t know how to begin speaking these words.

Slowly approaching him, Lin Zhenxin wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face childishly into his embrace.

"Tired." In the end, all the words boiled down to just this one sentence.

Li Yanan naturally understood this wasn’t what she originally wanted to say, but he didn’t force her, allowing her to lean on him.

"Does it hurt?" Lin Zhenxin raised her hand, gently brushing over the scratches grandma had left on his jaw, asking softly.

"It hurts." The jaw didn’t hurt, but other places throbbed terribly.

"I’m sorry, grandma..." Before she finished talking, Lin Zhenxin’s eyes widened suddenly.

He actually guided her hand to cover...

Her palm felt hot, and she hurriedly withdrew it, her face flushed crimson.

There was a brief silence between the two, but this time, it was Li Yanan who first smirked.

He liked seeing her with such an expression.

"Grandma is fine, just a temporary emotional outburst, her blood pressure rose a bit, but overall she’s okay."

Li Yanan pulled her back into his arms with a serious tone.

Lin Zhenxin only felt something pressing against her, making her uncomfortable, and she didn’t dare to move recklessly.

"I want to eat... dumplings with Zhenxin filling."

Suddenly, he said from nowhere.

Lin Zhenxin only then remembered that she had once asked him what kind of dumpling filling he wanted for New Year.

"Uncle Li is really shameless..."

She suppressed her laughter; the gloom in her heart dissipated a bit.

"Hmm, I’ve had thick skin since I was young."

"Phooey."

Lin Zhenxin reached out to pinch his nose, deciding not to bring up the conversation with Susan He again.

Since he didn’t want her to know, she’d pretend she knew nothing...

In the hotel.

He Bainian sat expressionlessly as the doctor disinfected and bandaged his hands.

Given the large wounds, each hand was stitched up in several places.

After handling the injuries, the doctor packed up and left.

The room was left with him alone.

Looking at the bloodstained bandages and medical waste on the coffee table, He Bainian suddenly felt disheartened.

Perhaps, he shouldn’t have come back to city J this time.

But if he hadn’t come back, how would he have realized he was so gravely mistaken?

How would he have met that girl who shouldn’t have belonged to him?

One mistake led to another, and eventually, it was already too late.

"Brother..." He Nuoxin spoke timidly, cautiously sitting down beside him.

He Bainian remained silent, not even looking at her.

He had already been hurt deeply by He Nuoxin.

"Don’t ignore me... I know I was wrong... Brother..."

He Nuoxin reached out, not daring to touch him, just shedding tears continuously.

"If you truly realize your mistake, go back to New York and don’t cause Yanan and Zhenxin any more trouble!"

He Bainian’s voice was cold, with no trace of the gentleness he once gave her.

He Nuoxin’s expression twisted for a moment, but seeing He Bainian’s hands, she finally nodded.

"I understand, I’ll go back..."

The New Year was approaching day by day.

Susan He hadn’t come looking for Lin Zhenxin again, but Lin Zhenxin often thought of the look she gave her after she splashed her with water that day.

She was forced by her words at that time.

It seemed like the power of the He family was substantial as news regarding He Nuoxin was suppressed after that press conference.

But Lin Zhenxin didn’t care.

Because her pregnancy symptoms were becoming more severe.

Even the slightest smell of cooking oil at home would make her nauseous, and she couldn’t even drink chicken soup anymore.

Aunt Xu grew a little anxious.

Seeing Lin Zhenxin return to her former thin self, she tried to think of ways to make her eat more whenever she had a slightly better appetite.

That day, Li Yanan returned, with a package of dried fruit in hand.

After acquiring shares of the Li family, the merger and coordination were going on smoothly.

Li Yanan was very busy, as the Chinese region president of T.N.C Group, the burden on him was unimaginably heavy.

But even so, every day when he came home, he would bring some tasty snacks for Lin Zhenxin.

Lin Zhenxin had fallen asleep on the sofa.

She was clutching a parenting book. After learning she was pregnant, Li Yanan specifically had his assistant buy it for him.

Over a dozen of them, and he had already read through them all.

He shushed Aunt Xu, who came out from the kitchen, and then reached out to carry Lin Zhenxin horizontally from the sofa.

But just as he picked her up, his brows knitted tightly.

She had gotten lighter again.

Although it’s normal for pregnant women to have a poor appetite, Li Yanan still felt some concern.

After taking a few steps, Lin Zhenxin’s long eyelashes fluttered, and she woke up.

"Thirsty..." she mumbled softly.

Li Yanan didn’t say anything, placing her down from his arms, and then got her a cup of warm water.

Lin Zhenxin, half-asleep, accidentally pressed the remote on the sofa when she sat back down, causing the TV screen to flicker.

It switched to the local news channel.

The news was being broadcast.

Li Yanan went to his room to change out of his suit, but suddenly, the sound of a shattering glass erupted from the living room.

He quickly walked out of the bedroom, only to find Lin Zhenxin’s face had turned pale as she stared at the screen...

Li Yanan first approached, looking her over to make sure she was alright.

Only after confirming did he turn his gaze to the television.

At this moment, the TV was broadcasting a wanted notice.

The police had retrieved an unidentified male corpse from the river by the city walls.

The face and body were swollen beyond recognition. All ten fingers were cut off.

The wounds were jagged, clearly not caused by a single injury.

According to the notice, the male corpse’s teeth were all knocked out, making identification impossible for the time being.

Even though the face was pixelated, Lin Zhenxin couldn’t help the nausea surging from her stomach and rushed towards the bathroom.

Soon, the sound of retching could be heard.

Even after the wanted notice ended, Li Yanan’s eyes remained glued to the TV.

Even at a glance, he recognized the identity of the corpse.

Presumably, Zhenxin had such a strong reaction because she recognized it too.

It was Lu Dawei.

Soon, Li Yanan came to Lin Zhenxin’s side.

After she finished vomiting, there were still tears in her eyes, making her appear lost.

Li Yanan pulled out a tissue and helped Lin Zhenxin wipe it off, his fingers long and well-defined, still looking as handsome as ever.

"It wasn’t me." A hoarse voice sounded.

Lin Zhenxin looked up, just staring at him.

"I want to eat stir-fried crayfish..." Suddenly, she said something completely unrelated.

"Okay, I’ll take you to eat." Li Yanan reached out, seeing the wetness in her eyes, knowing she was indeed frightened.

His warm palm covered her cheek, his gaze somewhat profound.