Back at the Bai family villa, Aunt Feng's eyes welled up with tears upon seeing Lin Yun and Lin Feng. "Madam, Elder Master."
Lin Yun walked up with a smile and hugged Aunt Feng. "Sisi, you've worked hard."
Taking care of Han'er might not have been too difficult, but taking care of him at the Bai residence would undoubtedly be especially taxing. When Han'er was brought over, she was supposed to accompany him, but Old Madam Bai forcefully prevented it, saying very unpleasant things.
She had said that a woman like herself, whose husband was dead, wanting to live with Bai Qian was malicious.
In reality, Bai Qian was the one with malicious intentions.
Ever since Bai Qing passed away, her health had been poor. This was the real reason her brother had asked her to stay at the Lin family to recuperate, as he was worried about her. At that time, Sisi had bravely stepped forward, saying she would guard Han'er in her stead, and she was truly grateful to her.
Hearing Lin Yun's comforting words, Feng Sisi's tears instantly fell. "Madam, I'm sorry, I didn't take good care of the young master."
Lin Yun was slightly startled, her face immediately turning as pale as plain paper. "Han'er, what happened to Han'er?"
Feng Sisi was startled by Lin Yun's complexion and quickly said, "Madam, please don't panic. It's alright, Young Master Bai Han is fine. The eldest miss has already settled him in the hospital, and he is well."
Lin Yun's expression improved slightly upon hearing this.
Bai Xi knew that Feng Sisi's mention of not taking good care of him referred to Bai Han being abused by the household servants and Bai Qian, and almost being sold off as "spare body parts": "Aunt Feng, what's past is past. From now on, we'll all be together, and everything will be alright."
Feng Sisi choked out, "Mhm."
While Aunt Feng busied herself settling the rooms for the Lin family, Bai Xi took her mother to the room she shared with her father.
Lin Yun opened the door and looked at the room, which was exactly the same as it used to be. In an instant, it felt as if she had returned to the time when Bai Qing was still alive, and her eyes turned red.
Bai Xi was slightly taken aback and then stepped forward to comfort her. "Mom, I'm sorry, I thought you would like it."
She had only intended to keep the house the same as before, to give her mother and brother a sense of warmth, but she had overlooked the fact that their father was no longer with them. Her mother's happy memories were all closely tied to her father.
Lin Yun, with reddened eyes, shook her head. "I like it very much. Seeing this place makes it feel like Bai Qing has returned to me."
Bai Xi: "..."
In fact, if her mother were to meet someone she liked again, she wouldn't mind her forgetting the past and starting a new life, instead of being heartbroken every day, which had led to her current frail health and occasional fainting spells.
Frailty? Fainting?
"Mom, we'll go see brother tomorrow. You should also get a full body check-up at the hospital."
Lin Yun shook her head. "Mom's health is fine. Xi'er, you shouldn't waste money like that. The Bai family needs to be reorganized, Lin Xin and Lin Qi still have their studies to complete, and your brother's illness requires a lot of money. With the whole family to support, there are many places where money is needed."
Bai Xi raised an eyebrow. "Mom, actually, our family has no shortage of money right now."
She was truly very wealthy, to what extent she couldn't really say; she was afraid of scaring Lin Yun if she told her.
Lin Yun immediately became serious. "How can you be so proud, child? Which family doesn't lack money? Although you've achieved some success in the dark division, that money was earned with your blood and life!"
Bai Xi knew that Lin Yun was simply concerned about her. "Mom, money is just a thing, you are the most important. Besides, a check-up won't cost much. If you don't go, I'll always be worried and distracted at work. You know, our work doesn't allow for distractions."
Hearing this, Lin Yun immediately became anxious, her eyes filled with worry and seriousness. "Alright, I'll get checked. You must concentrate at work!"
Bai Xi nodded. "Okay, then Mom, you rest up. I'll go back to my room, and we'll go see brother together tonight."
Lin Yun immediately said, "You come back here."
Bai Xi was slightly taken aback, not understanding. "Is there something else?"
Lin Yun pointed at Bai Xi's collar. "You never liked high-necked clothes since you were little. When I tried to put them on you, you would just tear them off. After that, I stopped buying them for you, and you've never chosen to wear high-necked clothes yourself as you grew up. How is it that after not returning for a night, you're wearing a high-necked outfit?"
Bai Xi: "?"
She only remembered that she had never bought high-necked clothes, but she didn't dislike them, did she?
"Mom, you're overthinking. I just... I don't know why, but I suddenly like them?"
Lin Yun put on an expression that said, 'A mother knows her child best.' "Then pull the collar down so I can see."
Bai Xi: "..."
Seeing that Bai Xi didn't move, Lin Yun sighed softly. "There's a trace of foundation on your collar."
Bai Xi glanced down slightly. Indeed, the white collar was stained with a hint of skin tone.
What brand of foundation did Lin Xin buy? It's not very long-lasting!
Lin Yun said indifferently, "Xi'er, you're not wearing makeup, yet you've applied foundation on your neck. As someone who has been through it, how could I not know what that means?"
Bai Xi: "..."
Mom, are you Sherlock Holmes?
She thought this, but her expression remained unchanged.
Seeing that Bai Xi still wasn't confessing, Lin Yun continued, "You're an adult, and Mom shouldn't interfere so much. Mom isn't an old-fashioned person and won't be like your uncle, strictly guarding everything. Mom believes in prevention being better than cure. However, Mom still hopes you can learn to protect yourself. Boys and girls have different physiological structures, and this kind of thing... girls are easily at a disadvantage!"
"Navigating through a hundred flowers without a single petal sticking" might sound exciting.
But in reality, for women, the price of such things was much greater physically than for men.
Bai Xi wasn't foolish and naturally understood what her mother meant. She wanted to explain, but didn't know how.
That night, she had indeed inexplicably gotten intimate with a man, thinking she was dreaming. Although they hadn't gone all the way, in a certain sense, she had done what her mother considered wrong, an irresponsible act towards herself.
If she hadn't been constantly on missions, she would have developed a poker face. She said, "Mom, I do have a boyfriend, but it's not suitable to meet the parents yet. As for other things, I will be careful..."
Was this considered the second time she was forced to conjure a "friend" out of thin air?
Lin Yun looked at her daughter seriously and then nodded. "Mhm, I believe you. If you feel the time is right, you can bring him back anytime, and we'll have a meal together."
She still cared very much about who her daughter's future husband would be.
Bai Xi nodded and turned to leave.
The moment Bai Xi left, Lin Yun began to ponder again, who exactly was her future son-in-law?
As dusk fell, Bai Xi took her mother and Aunt Feng to the hospital.
Although Han Mo had said earlier that her brother's condition had stabilized considerably, they still needed to be cautious.
Thinking of Han Mo, chaotic images from her memory flashed through Bai Xi's mind again, and she inexplicably felt a slight warmth in her body. Although adult dreams were not controlled by the brain, Han Mo in her dreams... seemed quite captivating.
But the moment she thought that there was someone else, and likely a... the dopamine secreted in her body instantly turned into cholesterol.
Lin Yun noticed the strange expression on her daughter's face and quickly asked with concern, "Xi'er, what's wrong?"
Bai Xi's expression was incredibly calm. "Nothing, brother is in the ward just ahead."
Lin Yun couldn't help but sigh. "Children grow up, and their thoughts become more complex."
Aunt Feng quickly said, "Madam, don't worry, the eldest miss is very outstanding."
Lin Yun sighed. "It's precisely because she's so outstanding that I always worry she'll be dragged down by someone."
A good relationship can elevate a woman, while a bad one can destroy her. Her exceptionally outstanding daughter must not fall due to personal relationships.
Just then, Bai Han's anxious voice was heard from the ward: "Stop crowding around me! Go save Doctor Han quickly! He's been kidnapped, go save him!"