Chapter 29: The Original Male Lead Intimidates Lin Xiaodou

Seeing how much money Lin Xiaodou had spent, Lin Xuefei’s eyes burned with jealousy. Although the Lin family was wealthy, she didn’t shop often—on average, she bought new clothes only once a month. What Lin Xiaodou had bought in one go was enough to last her an entire year. How could she not be upset?

When they returned home, Lin Xuefei stormed off to her room without a word. Usually, Wu Ya would show some concern for her, but today she was in no mood to care about anyone else.

Compared to these two, Lin Xiaodou, who came back loaded with purchases, was in excellent spirits. “Aunt Chen, tonight I want potato and chicken stew!” With such a skilled cook at home, Lin Xiaodou no longer felt like making meals herself in her own space.

Aunt Chen cheerfully agreed, “Of course! As it happens, we just slaughtered a chicken today!” Lin Xiaodou gave her two hairpins as gifts for her granddaughter, which Aunt Chen accepted with a beaming smile.

Back in her room, Lin Xiaodou sorted through her purchases. A few larger items would be delivered later by the department store.

By dinnertime, Lin Zhengmin had also returned. His expression was sour. Even Lin Xuefei’s usual sweet talk failed to please him, and she left the table in a huff before finishing her meal.

After dinner, Lin Zhengmin finally spoke to Wu Ya about what happened that day. “Lin Xiaodou’s adoptive mother claims that she’s become unhinged lately, attacking anyone she meets. She even deliberately set them up, which ended with her foster father and elder brother going to jail.”

Lin Zhengmin’s brow furrowed deeply as he spoke. If Lin Xiaodou was truly as terrifying as they said, he’d have to reconsider letting her take the blame for Xuefei. He didn’t want a ticking time bomb in the house; it was too dangerous.

At this, Wu Ya rolled her eyes dramatically. “She doesn’t seem crazy at all. She’s shrewd—today alone she spent over 1,500 yuan of mine!”

Lin Zhengmin asked, “How did she spend so much?” Wu Ya recounted everything that had happened that day in detail.

Lin Zhengmin shot her a dissatisfied look. “Before you left, I reminded you again and again to get along with that girl. Why do you never listen? No wonder Xuefei is upset. Now, thanks to all this commotion, everyone knows about the mix-up with our children. How do you expect Xuefei to hold her head up?”

He was deeply frustrated to have married such an oblivious wife.

“Xuefei, Xuefei—it’s always about Xuefei!” Wu Ya’s eyes reddened. “You have no idea what I went through today, and as soon as you come home, all you do is scold me. Not a single word of concern!”

Seeing his wife’s anger, Lin Zhengmin sighed and responded with forced patience, “Of course I care for you, but you know how much Zhang Tianjun’s family benefits ours. My fondness for Xuefei is partly because of that, and besides, she did grow up with us...”

“I understand,” Wu Ya said. “But today was just so humiliating. If only Xuefei hadn’t hit anyone, none of this would have happened.”

Lin Zhengmin replied, “What’s done is done. We can only look ahead and find a solution. There’s no use dwelling on the past.”

“Oh.” Wu Ya still felt heavy and stifled.

Lin Zhengmin could tell she was getting lost in her own thoughts again, so he said nothing more. The couple sat together in silence, each lost in their own concerns.

That night, no one noticed when Lin Xuefei, who’d been holed up in her room, slipped outside. When she saw Zhang Tianjun, she threw herself into his arms and began to sob uncontrollably. “Tianjun, I feel so awful...”

---

While everyone else endured a difficult night, Lin Xiaodou slept soundly. She woke up on time the next morning. Aunt Chen made soup dumplings again, preparing two extra baskets this time. Lin Xiaodou relished the juicy dumplings, polishing off three baskets in no time.

It was only after she finished that the others trickled into the dining room. As soon as Lin Xuefei sat down, she smiled and remarked, “Sister, you have such an appetite! Did you never eat well in that other home?”

Lin Xiaodou smiled back. “Exactly. Your birth mother is a malicious and stingy woman—she often didn’t let me eat, so of course I never had anything good.”

The smile froze on Lin Xuefei’s face. She had developed an instinctive aversion to hearing the words “birth mother.” Whenever Lin Xiaodou mentioned it, it always seemed laced with malice. If she had a choice, she’d never want such parents—poor and worthless, beneath her contempt.

In the past, if Lin Xiaodou had spoken to Lin Xuefei like this, Wu Ya would have immediately stepped in to defend her. But now, still simmering with anger, she couldn’t be bothered.

Seeing her mother’s indifference, a trace of hurt flashed in Lin Xuefei’s eyes.

Lin Zhengmin interjected, “Enough. It’s too early for this kind of talk.”

After breakfast, Lin Xuefei quickly regained her usual vigor. With a sweet smile, she took Lin Xiaodou’s hand and said, “Sister, today let me show you around the neighborhood and help you get familiar with the area.”

“Sure!” Lin Xiaodou knew she wasn’t really being kind, but she didn’t mind. She was curious to see what little tricks Lin Xuefei had up her sleeve.

Once outside, Lin Xuefei enthusiastically introduced the nearby streets. “That’s Uncle Li’s house up ahead, and if you turn left over there, that’s Professor Wang’s place...” They walked for about twenty minutes.

Suddenly, Lin Xuefei bent over, clutching her stomach in pain. “Oh, my stomach hurts! Sister, you go ahead and explore around here—I need to use the public restroom over there.” Without waiting for a reply, she dashed off.

Moments later, a group of people rounded the corner, led by a tall, handsome young man. He looked at Lin Xiaodou with obvious disdain. “So, you’re the Lin family’s long-lost daughter? I’m Zhang Tianjun, Xuefei’s fiancé. I hear you’re always bullying her and stealing her things?”

Zhang Tianjun? The overbearing male lead from the novel? Lin Xiaodou was surprised to meet him so soon. She studied him closely—he was indeed quite handsome, though he had one flaw: his nostrils were a bit too prominent. The way he looked down on her, nostrils flared, she could even see his nose hair.

Unable to help herself, Lin Xiaodou burst out laughing. A male lead with visible nose hair hardly fit the image of an aloof, domineering hero.

Zhang Tianjun was furious. “What are you laughing at? Are you feeling guilty?”

Lin Xiaodou replied, “Yes, I’ve only been back a day and already caused so much trouble that even you’ve heard about it. I’m really, really scared.”

Zhang Tianjun’s face darkened. He hadn’t expected this ugly girl to be so quick-witted. “It’s good you’re afraid. Lin Xuefei is my woman—you’d better not bully her again!”

Lin Xiaodou snorted, about to retort, when a frail young man ran over and whispered something in Zhang Tianjun’s ear. His expression changed slightly.

“I’ll let you off for now because I have business to attend to,” he said coldly. “But if you make Xuefei cry again, you’ll regret it. Remember that!” With that, he led his group away.

Lin Xiaodou raised an eyebrow. Was that it? Luring her outside just to have the male lead threaten her—a childish trick. Did Lin Xuefei really think this would scare her?

Still... Lin Xiaodou frowned thoughtfully. That frail young man who spoke to the male lead just now—why did he look so familiar?