Lin Tingyue hadn't noticed the change in the atmosphere and continued eating enthusiastically with the fruit platter in her arms.
Damn it, even the fruit in a rich family's house tastes this good. I could eat another hundred platters.
Lin Xiawan paused. Had she just heard Lin Tingyue's voice? But when she looked over, she found Lin Tingyue busy eating fruit, her cheeks bulging, with no chance to speak at all.
Ooh, I want to live here forever.
There it was again. Lin Xiawan raised her head warily and stared fixedly at Lin Tingyue. It really was Lin Tingyue's voice, but she could see perfectly clearly that Lin Tingyue hadn't spoken.
Where was that voice coming from? A chill ran through Lin Xiawan.
Lin Tingyue noticed Lin Xiawan's gaze too. Lin Xiawan was different from Lin Tingyue: Lin Tingyue had a sweet look, while Lin Xiawan was cool and aloof. When she wasn't smiling, her gaze seemed coated in frost. Lin Tingyue quietly shrank into a corner of the sofa.
Why is Lin Xiawan looking at me like that? Young miss, please rein in your divine powers. I really won't fight you for anything anymore.
Lin Xiawan's composure cracked. She said coldly, "Lin Tingyue, don't think I'll believe you just because you're acting all obedient."
"Huh?"
Gulp. That was the sound of a cherry going down into her stomach.
What am I pretending? Next to a few million, I'm not worth mentioning at all. These cherries are delicious. Chew, chew, chew.
Lin Xiawan stood up, seemingly at the end of her patience. "Lin Tingyue, no matter how you act, I won't believe you."
"Huh?"
Lin Tingyue looked up at Lin Xiawan, and the plot concerning Lin Xiawan suddenly drifted through her mind.
It couldn't be helped. Who told the vicious supporting female character in this novel to have the same name as her? When she saw how the vicious supporting female character ended up, a shudder ran through her whole body, and she decisively took the online commenters' advice and memorized the entire novel.
She now knew this novel like the back of her hand.
Sis, you're still here giving me a hard time and suspecting me of pretending, when your fiancé is the one pretending. He doesn't love you at all. He only likes your money. He wears one face in public and another behind closed doors. He's already got a foot in two boats. Don't you know?
Lin Xiawan: !
Lin Xiawan did have a fiancé. They had been university classmates and had a very good relationship. They had already been planning to get engaged before Lin Xiawan was reunited with her family.
But when Lin Xiawan's true parentage came to light, the Lin family held a grand banquet to welcome her back, and the engagement was temporarily put on hold.
Just two days ago, Bai Yaxin had discussed it with her, and they had settled on an engagement date.
Now, hearing Lin Tingyue say this... impossible. When she and Cheng Xuan met, Cheng Xuan hadn't even known she was the Lin family's young miss. How could he have been after her money?
Besides, when Lin Tingyue learned that Cheng Xuan was her fiancé, she had even set her sights on him.
This was all nothing more than one of Lin Tingyue's tricks.
Although that was what she thought, Lin Xiawan still wavered slightly. After all, Lin Tingyue hadn't spoken, and what she was hearing seemed to be her inner voice?
Looking at how oblivious Lin Tingyue was, could Lin Tingyue use her thoughts to deceive her?
But she couldn't start suspecting Cheng Xuan just because of this. Back at university, everyone had looked down on her. Only Cheng Xuan had brought her charcoal in the snow.
If not for Cheng Xuan... she might not have made it this far.
Meanwhile, Lin Tingyue had just recalled how the vicious supporting female character had deliberately approached the real heiress's fiancé to make trouble for her.
A wave of revulsion swept through Lin Tingyue.
What a filthy man. Stay away from our family.
Lin Xiawan: "..."
Chapter 2
Over the next two days, Lin Xiawan discovered that she wasn't the only one who could hear Lin Tingyue's thoughts. Lin Rusong and Bai Yaxin seemed able to hear them too.
The three exchanged looks. Bai Yaxin asked tentatively, "Xiawan, you too..."
Lin Xiawan nodded.
Bai Yaxin was at a complete loss. "Could this be some new kind of illness?"
But looking at how lively Lin Tingyue was, she didn't seem ill at all. Besides, Lin Tingyue had been growing increasingly well-behaved lately.
Could this illness be why Lin Tingyue had become obedient?
Bai Yaxin thought that she could teach her daughter slowly. She certainly didn't want Lin Tingyue becoming increasingly obedient through being ill.
She had to take Lin Tingyue to the hospital for a checkup.
Just as Bai Yaxin was about to step forward, Lin Rusong stopped her. He said, "Doesn't this look like a supernatural ability, any way you look at it?"
Bai Yaxin had thought Lin Rusong had made some major discovery. At his words, she, who was always composed and elegant in front of the children, couldn't help rolling her eyes. "Lin Rusong, what on earth are you thinking? Are you planning to send Tingyue to a research institute too?"
Lin Rusong hurriedly apologized to Bai Yaxin, but she wouldn't forgive him. Lin Xiawan, who had been watching quietly from the side, said, "Mom, Dad, let's observe for a few more days first."
But in fact, she had already tried. No matter how she told Lin Tingyue, whether by typing messages or writing letters, nothing worked. Lin Tingyue could neither hear nor see any of it.
Lin Xiawan understood now. Whatever was happening to Lin Tingyue wasn't something they could interfere with through human means. They could only observe for now.
Bai Yaxin and Lin Rusong agreed. Meanwhile, Lin Tingyue's thoughts were drifting into their ears.
What? This cup actually costs three million???
What? This painting costs five million???
What? Ten million? What gives!
Oh, my granny in heaven. Every inch really is worth its weight in gold for rich people, huh.
It didn't seem to have much of an impact. It was just a little noisy (?)
Bai Yaxin nudged Lin Rusong's arm. "Why don't you transfer Tingyue some more pocket money? Why do I get the feeling she doesn't have enough to spend?"
Lin Rusong nodded. Bai Yaxin added, "Since you're sending money to Tingyue, you need to send some to Xiawan too."
Lin Rusong nodded again. Lin Xiawan was about to refuse, but Bai Yaxin patted the back of her hand. "Your father and I already owe you twenty years. You and Tingyue are both my children. Of course I'll treat you equally."
Lin Xiawan's eyes grew a little hot. She said, "Okay, Mom."
As for Lin Tingyue, as long as she didn't come looking for trouble, given her current state, they should be able to coexist peacefully.
Before long, the day of Lin Xiawan and Cheng Xuan's engagement banquet arrived.
Although the Lin family had only recently welcomed Lin Xiawan back, Lin Rusong and Bai Yaxin had been so high-profile about it that everyone now knew the Lin family had two daughters.
Naturally, a daughter of the Lin family's engagement banquet had to be a grand affair, so Lin Xiawan's banquet was particularly splendid.
Meanwhile, Lin Tingyue, who had to compete with Lin Xiawan over everything, seemed completely uninterested in those celebrities and businesspeople.
She wore her usual little white dress, and the headband she wore made her look sweet and cute. She plunged headfirst into the assortment of desserts.
Lin Tingyue's best friend, Fan Qing, was stunned. Holding up her skirt, she walked over to Lin Tingyue and nearly blacked out at the sight of the desserts on her plate. Fan Qing asked, "Yueyue, what are you doing?"
"Eating lovely, sweet cake." Lin Tingyue turned to look at Fan Qing. Oh no, she didn't recognize her. She chose her words carefully. "You are?"
Fan Qing: "?"
I don't recognize her, but she's so pretty. Pretty lady, let me snuggle up to you!
Fan Qing had been about to ask angrily whether Lin Tingyue had knocked her brains out in her fall, but hearing that voice left her feeling wonderful, body and soul. "I'm Fan Qing. Remember now?"
Fan Qing?
It's my best friend with the great personality and good looks!
Fan Qing frowned. She hadn't seen Lin Tingyue open her mouth just now, yet she had definitely heard Lin Tingyue's voice.
What was going on?
Could what she had just heard have been Lin Tingyue's thoughts???
"Yueyue..." Fan Qing was just about to take Lin Tingyue's hand and tell her about this when she heard
a commotion behind her. Lin Xiawan and Cheng Xuan had appeared.
Lin Xiawan wore a red velvet qipao with a pearl necklace around her neck, setting off her cool features. Now, a faint joy touched those aloof features as she looked at Cheng Xuan beside her in his white suit.
Lin Xiawan really is beautiful. As expected of the real heiress.
Ummm, that person next to her counts as a man, I suppose.
Everyone froze for a moment. Where had that voice come from?
Those who knew what was going on all looked at Lin Tingyue.
Lin Tingyue: "?"
Why are you looking at me? Watch the show.
A show? Could there be a good show today?
Everyone watched the stage eagerly.
Just as they were about to exchange engagement rings, Lin Xiawan suddenly hesitated. Cheng Xuan asked, "What's wrong, Xiawan?"
Cheng Xuan's gaze remained gentle and affectionate as he looked at Lin Xiawan, but when she continued not to move, he inevitably grew a little anxious.
Had Lin Xiawan figured it out?
Impossible. Cheng Xuan shook his head. He had kept Lin Xiawan completely in the dark. He had even bought several phones specifically to prevent Lin Xiawan from checking his phone.
But who would have thought that Lin Xiawan trusted him and had never once looked through his phone?
How could Lin Xiawan, who trusted him so wholeheartedly, have noticed anything amiss?
He was about to become the son-in-law of a wealthy family. Then his rise to riches and glory would be just around the corner. Cheng Xuan stared fixedly at the ring in Lin Xiawan's hand.
After the long stalemate, the people below the stage lost patience first, especially the Cheng family's relatives.
The engagement banquet was hosted by the Lin family, and most of the guests had come for them. But this did concern two families, after all, so quite a few members of the Cheng family had come too.
Cheng Xuan's father said, "What's going on?"
Lin Tingyue was delighted.
What do you mean, what's going on? Your precious son has a foot in two boats. Our Lin family doesn't want filthy trash like that.
A foot in two boats?
Everyone looked at Cheng Xuan in shock, while Cheng Xuan, the subject of the discussion, was utterly bewildered. Keeping the smile on his face, he said, "Xiawan, what's wrong? Mom and Dad are watching. Let's continue the ceremony."
Oh my, if Cheng Xuan's other boat called him right now... hiss, I can't imagine how good a show that would be.