Stepsister

"I never imagined you'd developed such a sharp tongue while living in the mountains! Even my Stewardess can't say a word against you anymore?"

Zheng Shi walked leisurely to the main seat, and her eyes became somewhat sharp as soon as she sat down.

She instructed Nanny Fan, "Pour me a cup of tea."

Nanny Fan immediately instructed the maid to make tea.

Zheng Shi slowly looked at Lin Yunwan.

Lin Yunwan gave a slight curtsy. Knowing that she was about to perform a proper greeting, Zheng Shi said coldly, "Just call me Madam." She didn't want to hear her stepdaughter call her Mother! Just hearing it made her feel uncomfortable.

"Madam."

Zheng Shi responded calmly and said to her, "Since your father has sent someone to bring you back to the manor, we will let bygones be bygones regarding the past."

What's up?

Lin Yunwan frowned, unable to recall any unresolved issues between the original Miss Lin and her stepmother.

Master Lin didn't leave her any message!

"Yes."

Knowing nothing, she simply gave a casual reply.

Zheng Shi then gave some further instructions, all based on the rules she had established. "... After returning home, don't wander around aimlessly. Home isn't like the countryside where you live, where there are no restrictions."

"Although there are gates connecting the east and west Courtyards to Courtyard, they are now separate households. Don't go and disturb our relatives."

"I'll take you to meet my relatives another time when we have the chance."

That's really strange!

She had just returned to the manor, the perfect time to reunite with her relatives, but Zheng Shi refused to take her along.

This is such a blatant disregard for Miss Lin, the Di Daughter!

What exactly happened that Zheng Shi so disgusted with Miss Lin...? Miss Lin was at home more than ten years ago. Was a child really worth such hatred from stepmother?

But she wasn't there to enjoy herself at the Lin family, so she didn't need to get too close to the Lin family's relatives.

Lin Yunwan continued, "I will follow Madam's arrangements."

Seeing that she was obedient, Zheng Shi snorted, "That's more like it!"

She said indifferently, "We'll talk about the rest later..." She didn't forget to give her stepdaughter a warning. "You're not young anymore. The master and I will find you a good marriage as soon as possible. You need to behave yourself!"

A girl's marriage is in the hands of her stepmother; it determines her future for life.

If you don't listen to your stepmother, you're really headed for death.

Lin Yunwan pursed her lips, hidden beneath her veil. Fortunately, she wasn't really Miss Lin, Zheng Shi had no say in her marriage.

But Miss Lin's stepmother is definitely not someone to be trifled with...

I've heard that Miss Lin is a timid person; she'll probably be terrified if she encounters stepmother like this.

"Madam, I'll take my leave."

Lin Yunwan also didn't want to have anything to do with the Zheng Shi anymore.

Zheng Shi didn't really want to see her either; she didn't even let her remove her veil... afraid of seeing a face she had finally managed to forget, and feeling disgusted again!

Before she could dismiss Lin Yunwan, a beautiful figure burst in.

Before she even entered, her voice rang out. "How dare you come back!"

Lin Yunwan and Xiruo turned around together. A young girl of marriageable age, dressed in the same style as Zheng Shi, wearing red and purple, with gold or jade in her hair.

Her clothes were also extremely luxurious!

She looks exactly like Zheng Shi's biological daughter, and indeed she is Zheng Shi's Di Daughter, Lin Yunjiao.

"Jiao'er, this is your Eldest Sister."

Lin Yunjiao simply brushed past Lin Yunwan without calling her "sister" or bowing.

There is a strict hierarchy among elders, even among girls!

Although Lin Yunwan came from the countryside, she was several years older than Lin Yunjiao. As the younger sister, she should take the initiative to greet her older sister!

Lin Yunjiao didn't even bother to greet Zheng Shi, and sat down directly beside Zheng Shi, behaving very casually.

What a pampered girl! The Lin family couple have spoiled her rotten!

Lin Yunwan didn't really like this unruly behavior, but she wasn't the real Miss Lin, so there was no need for her to teach Lin Yunjiao a lesson.

She gestured to Zheng Shi, indicating that she was about to leave.

After Lin Yunjiao sat down, her eyes remained fixed on this Eldest Sister.

She blinked, her voice still clear and bright. "Why are you leaving? Who said you could leave?"

Lin Yunwan paused slightly.

When Nanny Fan brought in the tea prepared by the maid, she was somewhat embarrassed when she saw Lin Yunjiao arrive.

Should the tea be served to the Madam first, or to the Second Miss?

Lin Yunjiao wouldn't let such a small matter bother her; she naturally instructed Nanny Fan, "Give me tea."

Zheng Shi waved his hand, indicating he didn't mind.

Nanny Fan gave the tea to Lin Yunjiao first, and then went to brew a new bowl for Zheng Shi.

Through the veil, Lin Yunwan could vaguely see Lin Yunjiao's actions; she was truly a spoiled young lady! Her parents had pampered her beyond belief!

Lin Yunjiao took a sip of tea, then sat down next to Zheng Shi, and asked Lin Yunwan with great ease, "Didn't you hear me talking to you?"

Xiruo frowned.

That's incredibly disrespectful!

She clenched her fists, trying to be as patient as possible with this impolite Second Miss.

Lin Yunwan said calmly and gently, "You should call me 'elder sister' first."

Lin Yunjiao taken aback.

Dream on!

She grew up in this family, and for over a decade, who has she ever called "older sister"? She's always been the oldest!

She didn't want to respect this Eldest Sister from the countryside; she wanted to be the one who was respected.

Are you worthy?

Lin Yunwan smiled, "There is an order of seniority, and such is the law of etiquette. What do I lack in terms of respect?"

Lin Yunjiao blushed, first with embarrassment, then with rage. "You haven't forgotten what you did after being gone for over ten years, have you?!"

She grew angrier and angrier, finally standing up to face Lin Yunwan: "You almost killed me back then! How dare you come back!"

Killed?

Lin Yunwan was shocked. Calculating the sisters' ages, Lin Yunjiao wasn't even born when Miss Lin left the manor. How could she have caused this little sister's death?

"Lin Yun Wan, you... you really forgot?!"

"It happened so long ago, I really don't remember."

Lin Yunjiao said angrily, "Think carefully about why you were kicked out of the manor by Father!"

Although Lin Yunwan did not remove her veil, she stood motionless in place.

It seems they really have forgotten.

Lin Yunjiao couldn't help but remind this annoying older sister in front of her, who said arrogantly, "When you were four years old, you got up in the middle of the night and bumped into my mother, almost causing me to not be born! Do you know that?! You murderer!"

Lin Yunwan and Xiruo stunned.

What kind of logic is this?

Lin Yunjiao continued, "You're so young, and my mother has been so kind in raising you. You're so wicked! You actually took advantage of being sick to deliberately bump into my mother's stomach! Did you think that by pretending to have a headache, Father wouldn't punish you? Humph! You tried to prevent me from being born, and Father won't let you get away with it."

Lin Yunwan was speechless.

A sick four-year-old child got up in the middle of the night and bumped into Zheng Shi, an adult woman.

It's still hard to say who hit whom!

"You finally remembered?"

Lin Yunjiao said defiantly, "If Father hadn't been so soft-hearted and allowed you to have your head wound healed before sending you away, you would have paid with your life!"

Bloody hole...

Lin Yunwan felt a pain in the back of her head.

What kind of life did Miss Lin have in the Lin family when she was a child?

Why are you still wearing a veil? Take it off right now!

Lin Yunjiao almost reached out herself; she wanted to see what kind of ugly thing this older sister, who had lived in the countryside since childhood, had become.

She's definitely not as pretty as him!