Chapter 6 Good Stepmother

Su Fanxing gave Lin Tianyu a glance, sitting beside her and heaved a helpless sigh.

Thinking about asking her husband for help was practically a zero possibility.

On second thought, although she truly didn't care what her relationship with the Lin family turned into, it was still her first visit back, and if things became too strained, she would feel the hardship later on.

After struggling internally, she ended up holding back and didn't speak.

Mrs. Lin Sr. saw that Su Fanxing didn't retort and thought her to be an easy target, huffed coldly, and was just about to continue.

Unexpectedly, at that moment, Ji Huan suddenly approached.

Very naturally taking Mrs. Lin Sr.'s arm, her voice was silky soft, with a hint of a smile on her lips.

"Mom, it's Xinuo's first time at the old residence, let's not be too serious about it. We can teach her the rules gradually, there's plenty of time for that," Ji Huan said.

Hearing Ji Huan's words, Mrs. Lin Sr. huffed coldly but eventually didn't continue what she had been about to say.

She went to sit on the sofa with her walking stick, her presence commanding even without anger.

Meanwhile, Su Fanxing was feeling incredibly complicated.

Even though Ji Huan had just helped her out, strangely, she couldn't feel any goodwill from her.

This ambiguous role made her even more uncomfortable.

And then there was...

More rules? Plenty of time? Were these people dreaming, or was she?

From where had these people decided that she was someone who would comply with these antiquated rules?

She glanced inadvertently at Lin Tianyu, and saw that her husband was still keeping out of it, eyes closed, resting.

Indeed, the Lin family, with its abundance of people and money, also had no shortage of lunatics.

As the evening darkened, the Lin family's dinner was ready to begin.

During this time, many members of the Lin family had arrived—direct relatives as well as collateral ones.

Each one dressed in opulent finery, with almost identical expressions, so much so that to Su Fanxing's eyes, they all looked alike, and she couldn't remember who was who—not that she intended to.

At the dinner, Mrs. Lin Sr. sat at the head of the table, Lin Tianyu at her right hand, and Su Fanxing, naturally, took her place at his side.

Going down the two long rows, the table was full of exotic delicacies, nothing missing.

Throughout the meal, Su Fanxing could feel many gazes directed toward her, some curious, but most seemed to be looking for gossip.

After all, Lin Tianyu was physically disabled and bound to a wheelchair for the rest of his life, and no one expected a woman to actually marry into the family like that.

As far as they were concerned, all talk of genuine emotions was mere fantasy; in the end, it was the Lin family's power and influence that she must be after.

"Xinuo, from now on we're all family. Tianyu can be difficult to deal with, so please bear with him. After all, it's incumbent upon the wife," a voice said.

At that moment, Su Fanxing, who was lowering her head to eat a shrimp, suddenly heard this comment and quickly looked up.

She saw an older woman speaking, who appeared to be around Ji Huan's age.

If she remembered correctly, this person was Lin Tianyu's aunt?

Looking at her somewhat mocking expression and considering what she had just said, Su Fanxing chuckled softly, took another bite of her shrimp, and then slowly spoke up.

"Thank you for caring, Aunt. As for what kind of person my husband is, I am fully aware. His temperament and character were my choice, and I like him an awful lot," she replied.

Lin Tianyu, sitting to one side, frowned slightly upon hearing this but his eyes softened considerably.

Was this woman standing up for him?

Ha, even though he was in a tough spot himself, she was still naively thinking she could protect him?

He couldn't care less about the kind of looks Mrs. Lin Sr. was giving him. If it was disdain either way, why bother minding it?

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Su Fanxing picked up a napkin from the edge of her plate and wiped her fingers, continuing to speak.

"But Auntie, why were you so certain about what you said just now? Could it be that you've experienced the same thing?"

At this, not only did the color of the woman's face across from her change, but even the man next to her appeared to stiffen.

Seeing this, Su Fanxing sneered internally, not expecting that she actually guessed it right.

It seems that this woman has long been oppressed by her husband in the Lin family, and now wants her to suffer the same fate? Wishful thinking.

She put down the napkin, disregarded everyone's gaze, and turned her head to speak to Lin Tianyu.

Never mind whether the smile was genuine, at least it looked charming.

"Husband, I know you're not feeling too well today, do you want me to accompany you for a walk in the garden in the front courtyard?"

Perhaps because of the just-given defense, or perhaps because of the lively rebuttal that just occurred, Lin Tianyu, for the first time, gave Su Fanxing a response.

Though it was a refusal, it wasn't without emotion.

At this, Lin Tianze's expression froze, and he began to feel uneasy inside.

"Since that's the case, everyone please enjoy your meal, I'll take a walk outside."

In truth, Mrs. Lin Sr. couldn't wait for Su Fanxing to leave the table, so her proposal to leave was naturally met with joy and no objection.

The best situation, water from the well does not interfere with the river water.

Su Fanxing stood up, walked past the Old Madam's chair, and went straight out.

In the front courtyard's garden, Su Fanxing leaned against the railing, looking at the flowers filling the yard, and found the irony rather striking.

The villa looked serene on the surface, but what about the faces of the people inside?

Peering through the glass, she could not help but let her gaze linger on Lin Tianyu for a moment.

Her husband, how exactly had he endured these years? Hasn't his spine been poked a million times?

She stood dazed for a while, when suddenly she snapped back to reality.

Su Fanxing quickly turned around, shaking her head. Why should she care about this? Could this madness be contagious?

But said or unsaid, the old Lin family's residence truly was beautiful enough to fixate one's eyes on, with just the surrounding flower beds being enough reason to linger.

As the sky gradually darkened, Su Fanxing did not return to her room—why bother with those people when these flowers were so much more delightful?

"Xinuo..."

At that moment, hearing the voice behind her, Su Fanxing was startled and then turned around.

After all, she hadn't quite adjusted to her new identity yet.

The arrival was none other than Lin Tianyu's stepmother, Ji Huan.

Ji Huan was dressed in a haute couture gown, with dazzling diamonds around her neck, every frown and smile oozing allure, no wonder Lin Tianyu's father fell for this woman.

"Auntie."

Su Fanxing responded softly, without too much enthusiasm.

Even though this woman had spoken up for her, strangely enough, she didn't feel a trace of fondness.

And she trusted her instincts, which had saved her many times before.

"Xinuo, don't take it to heart. The Lin family is large; naturally, there's a lot of talk when everyone gathers together, and especially since you're the new bride," Ji Huan said with an extremely gentle smile.

"Auntie is joking. I really don't mind those words," Su Fanxing replied.

Her words were absolutely true, although she didn't know if Ji Huan believed her.

Unexpectedly, the woman didn't linger on the topic further but stepped forward, took her hand, and with a gentle twist, thrust out a metaphorical knife.

"My dear daughter-in-law, how are your adoptive parents doing now?"

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