Chapter 44: Probably More Than Just Friends

From the moment Bai Cheng'an arrived at the Lin family home, he was worried Lin Ruanruan wouldn't be able to stay there. Hearing what Yanyan's mother said now, he wasn't too surprised.

"But if she doesn't stay here, where can she go?"

Lin's mother hesitated, glancing at Lin Ruanruan, still wanting her to stay.

"A widow living at home brings bad luck. In-laws, Yanyan is carrying your family's blood," the woman pulled Yanyan closer, her sharp voice immediately silencing Lin's mother.

"Exactly, she hit me as soon as she got back. She can't stay here."

Yanyan touched her still swollen cheek, half-leaning on her mother.

"I already feel a bit uncomfortable in my stomach. Maybe I've already disturbed the fetus."

Lin Ruanruan's forehead throbbed. This woman hadn't mentioned anything about disturbing the fetus when she got slapped earlier.

When she ran out of the Lin family home, her steps were vigorous. She hadn't worried about disturbing the fetus then.

Now, as soon as her mother mentioned she was pregnant, she immediately claimed it disturbed the fetus...

"Yanyan, are you really pregnant? When did this happen? How come you never mentioned it?" Lin Qiu, hearing she might have disturbed the fetus, was no longer concerned with the strangeness of the situation and quickly went to support her.

Yanyan coldly shook off his hand and leaned closer to her mother.

"I just found out a few days ago. I haven't had a chance to tell you yet. But your stuttering second sister immediately came back and picked on me. No, no, I can't take it, I'm dizzy."

Her small hand pressed to her forehead, she half-closed her eyes, looking as if she might faint at any moment.

Lin Ruanruan touched her nose. It turned out women could be so disgustingly pretentious.

The last time she pretended to be weak in front of Bai Cheng'an, was she also this fake and annoying?

"Dizzy? If you're dizzy, go rest in the room. Lin Qiu, quickly go and get a doctor."

Lin's mother panicked immediately, forgetting her intention to keep Lin Ruanruan, and urged Lin Qiu to get a doctor.

"No need to get a doctor," Yanyan loudly stopped him.

Lin Ruanruan, seeing her panic, understood immediately.

This woman wasn't pregnant at all. This act was just to get her kicked out.

"Still... still... get the doctor," she pushed Lin Qiu, urging him.

"I said no! You stutter so much. Now I'm dizzy, and you want to send Lin Qiu away. Are you planning to bully me again when he's gone?" Yanyan grabbed Lin Qiu's hand, preventing Lin Ruanruan from pushing him out.

Afraid that Lin Qiu would fetch a doctor and expose her lie, she was visibly flustered.

"Don't move, don't move." Lin Qiu, worried she'd disturb the fetus again, hurriedly supported her.

By now, Bai Cheng'an had stood up from his chair and walked over to Lin Ruanruan.

"Oh, didn't her husband die? Who's this then? A new lover?" Yanyan's mother sneered, looking at the tall, rugged man, then at Lin's father.

"Yanyan said the Fu family's boy just died less than a month ago. This stuttering girl already found a new lover? Were they involved before the Fu boy died? This could get her drowned in a pig cage!"

Her cloudy eyes darted between Lin Ruanruan and Bai Cheng'an, suggestively, as if she had seen them in an intimate act.

"In-law!"

Since scolding Lin Ruanruan earlier, Lin's father had been silent. Hearing Yanyan's mother now, he finally couldn't hold back.

He spoke in a low voice, his eyes coldly glaring at the mother and daughter.

"What, did I say something wrong?" Yanyan's mother wasn't intimidated by his anger. She raised her voice even higher, making sure the nosy people outside could hear.

"They're just friends," Lin's father gritted his teeth, defending his daughter.

"Friends? Are you kidding me? Who brings a friend to their parental home?"

One sentence...

This left the Lin family speechless.

In their mountain village, there was no concept of men and women just being friends.

Lin's father, already feeling guilty, hadn't really asked about the young man's background. Now, being cornered by Yanyan's mother's words, he was both angry and embarrassed but couldn't find any words to explain. He could only glare at Bai Cheng'an.

"Dear in-law, my Ruanruan isn't that kind of person," Lin's mother gently defended.

"Who knows what kind of person she really is? The most unpredictable thing in this world is the human heart," Yanyan's mother, sensing her advantage, slowly walked to the dining table.

She glanced at the greasy dishes and couldn't help but swallow her saliva.

"Look at your family. My Yanyan is carrying your child, and you eat meat without waiting for her. Frankly, I didn't think much of your family, but you had Lin Qiu, such a good child, who my Yanyan is fond of."

Sitting in the chair Lin Ruanruan had just vacated, Yanyan's mother clicked her tongue. She belittled the Lin family while praising Lin Qiu, trying to appear generous and reasonable.

Lin Ruanruan clenched her fists and stepped forward, intending to throw this unreasonable woman out.

"Ruanruan, stay there." Lin's father noticed her movement and quickly stopped her.

"Father." Lin Ruanruan looked at him, filled with defiance.

"Ruanruan, Yanyan's mother is an elder. If she criticizes you, just listen. If it's true, we change; if it's false, we forgive her for being old and confused," Lin's father calmly said, standing up from his chair.

"Lin, what do you mean?" Yanyan's mother widened her eyes. "Are you saying I'm old and blind, mistaking your daughter?"

Lin's father remained silent, only giving her a calm look.

"I'm telling you now, these two definitely have an affair. If not, I'll become a vegetarian from now on," Yanyan's mother declared.

Lin Ruanruan: ...

Bai Cheng'an glanced at Lin Ruanruan, a bit uneasy.

"I'm not one to talk much. As long as no one bullies my daughter, I won't go to the authorities to report anyone for adultery," Yanyan's mother said, raising her head defiantly and looking at Lin's father.

Although Lin Ruanruan didn't want to stay at the Lin family today, being threatened like this still made her feel terrible.

Seeing her father, full of anger but having to endure, made her feel even worse.

"Go ahead and report. Who... who cares," she said coldly.

"Ruanruan, stop talking," Lin's mother quickly pulled her hand and softly coaxed her.

"I have no affair with Miss Lin. Please, don't spread false rumors," Bai Cheng'an said, frowning at the domineering woman in the Lin family.

"If you say there's no affair, then there's none? If there's no affair, why did you come back with her?" Yanyan's mother rolled her eyes. "Even if there is an affair, it's no big deal. She's widowed, you're single; you can get married. Why come back to harm others?"