With Old Master Lin’s arrival, the rest of the Lin family moved to the front to greet their headmaster. The atmosphere grew livelier when people recognized the two won accompanying him-- his daughter and granddaughter, both of whom they had not been seen in years.
"Oh my, it’s Lin Yin’s daughter! The last ti I saw her, she was just seven years old. She’s grown into such a beautiful young woman. She takes after you, Lin Yin!"
"You’re right. She’s like a perfect reflection of her mother. So graceful and lovely."
"If she had been living here, I’m sure all the young n would have eyes only for her!"
The madas from the extended family gathered around the pair, showering them with complints.
Lin Dayun smiled shyly, while her mother, Lin Yin, shook her head playfully at her cousins.
"Co on, don’t praise her too much," Lin Yin replied with a lighthearted laugh. "I have beautiful nieces in this family as well. How would they feel if they heard this? My daughter is lovely in her own way, but so are they."
The madas chuckled awkwardly. "You’re right. Everyone in the family is good-looking. We’re blessed with great genes."
Old Master Lin overheard their chatter and shook his head with an amused smile. Only his daughter, Lin Yin, had the grace to remain humble and deflect empty flattery.
He turned his gaze to his granddaughter, Lin Dayun, who was quietly smiling at her aunt. Her composed and demure deanor stood out amidst the commotion.
Old Master Lin’s smile deepened. It seed his granddaughter had inherited her mother’s humility.
If only everyone in the family possessed his daughter’s virtues, perhaps there wouldn’t be so much animosity among them.
And if only he could keep his daughter and granddaughter from leaving the country back then, this family might be harmonious.
What a pity. However, he still didn’t regret his decision that ti.
Old Master Lin saw the first branch approaching.
Lin Baozhi and his wife greeted the mother-and-daughter pair warmly. The rare sights of siblings welcoming each other and reuniting after years apart happened before him, which made Old Master Lin paused and smiled to watched them from afar.
Lin Yin, his daughter, bore no ill will toward her brothers, and this was one of the traits Old Master Lin admired most about her.
On the side, Lin Baozhi embraced Lin Yin tightly.
"It’s been a long ti, little sister. I’ve been asking you to visit us, but you never ca. If it weren’t for the announcent, would you even have bothered? Your brother misses you."
Out of all his siblings, Lin Yin was the only one Lin Baozhi didn’t feel guarded against. Perhaps it was because she posed no threat to him, allowing him to see her as a true sibling.
Lin Yin returned the hug with a smile. "I missed you too. You know why I couldn’t visit often." As she spoke, her tone shifted, and she shot a glance toward Lin Ginxian.
Lin Baozhi smirked knowingly. "You couldn’t bear the sight of a tainted child in the house."
"Exactly. My daughter and I were ready to return after hearing the news that the child had been outcast. But we couldn’t co sooner—Dayun needed to finish her studies first. Yet now, I see that child here. Did Father bring her back?" Lin Yin kept her irritation restrained as her eyes flicked toward Bei Sangyun’s table.
"Of course not," Lin Baozhi said, her tone dripping with malice. "The fourth branch brought her."
Lin Yin was stunned. "Li i and Lin Ruo? Them? How is that possible? Didn’t they despise that child the most?"
"I’m not sure what’s changed, but they’ve grown close. I’ll fill you in on the details later," Lin Baozhi replied, his expression dark.
As Lin Baozhi updated Lin Yin on everything that had transpired in her absence, Lin Zhe ca forward to greet Old Master Lin.
Old Master Lin patted his eldest grandson’s shoulder. "You’ve done well all these years and proven yourself. I’m proud of you. Regardless of the outco later, I want you to keep believing in yourself. This family relies on you and needs you."
"I’ll respect your decision, Grandfather. No matter the result, I’ll continue to support the family," Lin Zhe said with flawless politeness, his voice steady and composed.
There was no visible trace of disappointnt or resentnt on his face—only an impeccable calm that seed almost practiced. The corners of his lips curled into a faint smile, perfectly asured, as if carved onto marble.
Old Master Lin smiled warmly, gripping his shoulder. "I believe in you, my eldest grandson."
Lin Zhe returned the smile. Yet as he stepped aside, a brief flicker of cold mockery flashed in his eyes—gone before anyone noticed.
The fifth branch then arrived to greet Old Master Lin. Lin Zhe made way with a polite smile, masking any inner thoughts.
Everyone paid their respects to Old Master Lin and acknowledged Lin Yin and Dayun. Then, the fourth branch approached.
Lin Sanju stepped forward and was t with a firm hand on his shoulder from Old Master Lin. The elder offered words of encouragent, and Lin Sanju listened carefully.
"I’ll always stand with the family, no matter what the outco," Lin Sanju replied solemnly, earning a nod of approval.
But Old Master Lin’s eyes drifted past the group, searching for soone. When he didn’t see the person he had been hoping for, his expression darkened.
"Only the three of you?" he asked in a sharp, annoyed tone.
Li i glanced at her husband, and Lin Ruo quickly stepped in to explain. "My daughter wanted to send you her regards, but she’s still too ashad to co and greet you in person. Please excuse her."
Given Lin Sunji’s expulsion from the heir competition five years ago, it was understandable that she wouldn’t be enthusiastic about eting the family and revisiting the regretful past.
Old Master Lin nodded, his expression unreadable. "And... anything else?"
Lin Ruo hesitated, caught off guard. Was there sothing else?
Lin Sanju imdiately understood the underlying question. "...Do you want ’her’ to co and greet you, Grandfather?"
"Who said I want her to co?!" Old Master Lin’s tone sharpened. "She ca to watch the ceremony, didn’t she? As a guest in this house, shouldn’t she at least have the decency to greet the host?"
Li i and Lin Ruo exchanged uneasy glances, finally realizing who Old Master Lin was referring to.
Lin Sanju smiled cautiously. "How about after the event, Grandfather? She’s probably still observing from the sidelines. I’m not making excuses for her, but I hope you can give her so ti."
"Hmph. Four years is a long ti. It’s not as if we’re begging her to co back." Old Master Lin’s face hardened with disappointnt. "How could she cut off her family so coldly?"
Lin Sanju glanced at his parents, silently pleading for help. But diplomacy with their father wasn’t their strong suit either.
Li i and Lin Ruo were stuck in the middle—they supported Bei Sangyun, yet they also didn’t want to offend Old Master Lin.
Before anyone could respond, Lin Dayun, standing close by, gently hugged her grandfather’s arm.
"Grandpa, are you upset? I haven’t t this elder sister, but Cousin Sanju is asking so nicely on her behalf. I’m sure she has her reasons."
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