Zeng Xiaoya paused for a moment before continuing, “I think his parents are actually dissatisfied with me deep down, especially when they compare me to Miss He.”
“I know Miss He often goes to Senior Lin’s home to cook for him and tidy the house. Whenever his parents come to the city, it is Miss He who hosts them, buys groceries, cooks meals, and accompanies Senior Lin to take them to the hospital.”
“She also takes them out for fun and buys them many gifts. Miss He does everything so well that Senior Lin’s parents are very satisfied with her performance.”
“I have repeatedly rejected Senior Lin. I believe he will soon completely let go of his feelings for me because his parents will intervene.”
Father Lin and Mother Lin prefer He Yuehua much more.
Zeng Xiaoya’s analysis is correct. Now both Father Lin and Mother Lin are urging their son to accept He Yuehua and give up on Zeng Xiaoya.
In their view, no matter how good Zeng Xiaoya’s family background is, she is busy with work and has no time to look after the family or their son.
When they come to the city, Zeng Xiaoya has no time to accompany them, let alone prepare three meals a day like He Yuehua, take them sightseeing everywhere, and buy them lots of things.
Zeng Xiaoya has never given them any gifts.
Several years ago, when Mother Lin was ill and hospitalised, the incident Zeng Xiaoya mentioned, she only bought a bag of apples to take to Mother Lin’s ward.
Zeng Xiaoya does not think she did anything wrong. She was merely Senior Lin’s junior. Visiting her senior’s sick mother and bringing a bag of apples was quite sufficient.
As for giving gifts to please Father Lin and Mother Lin, Zeng Xiaoya has never done so, nor does she need to. She does not love Senior Lin, so why should she try to win over his parents?
It is enough for everyone to remain polite and courteous.
“But your family background is still a great attraction to them. Xiaoya, if you ever need my help, just say the word. I would be more than happy to assist you.”
“You helped me so much with the house renovation. I owe you a huge favour and have been worrying about how to repay you.”
“Let me pretend to be your boyfriend to deter Dr Lin. I promise I won’t hold you responsible afterwards. I don’t have a girlfriend anyway, so I have nothing to lose. How could I possibly hold you responsible?”
He was actually hoping to turn the pretence into reality, break through her defences, and make her fall in love with him.
Zeng Xiaoya smiled and said, “No need. As long as I don’t respond to Senior Lin, he will give up sooner or later. He is no longer young, and he is the child his parents are most proud of. How could they allow him to keep pestering me?”
He Yuehua would not let Senior Lin continue pestering her either.
He Yuehua, in her own way, has gradually seeped into Senior Lin’s life.
“Let’s not talk about that anymore, or it will affect my mood for work this afternoon. Zhanyue, you will head back to work soon too, right? Senior Lin doesn’t know your real identity and always says you are just someone who lives off your brother and sister-in-law.”
“Let him think whatever he wants. He is not an important person to me, so there is no need to explain so much.”
“If he doesn’t know my real identity, he blames me, thinking I am the reason he cannot pursue you successfully. If he did know my identity, he would say I am bullying him by relying on my status.”
Even without revealing his identity as the eighth young master of the Zhan family, he could still defeat Dr Lin.
“I am really sorry that Senior Lin came looking for you.”
Zeng Xiaoya apologised again.
“It’s fine. I am not angry at all. On the contrary, I am quite happy because Dr Lin felt threatened by me, which indirectly proves I am an excellent man.”
Zeng Xiaoya could not help but laugh.
The drive took only ten minutes, and they soon arrived at the hospital.
Zeng Xiaoya told Zhanyue he could just drop her off at the entrance, but Zhanyue insisted on seeing her inside. He watched her enter the outpatient department before driving away.
Over on the other side, Dr Lin was feeling down.
Only when his parents had finished packing their clothes and came out of the room did he hide his low spirits, so they would not think he was unwilling to accompany them out.
“A Jian, we are ready. Let’s go and pick up Yuehua. By the way, didn’t you bring two sets of spare clothes?”
Mother Lin asked.
“One set is enough for me.”
Mother Lin turned and went to the balcony outside, gathered a set of clothes for her son, folded them simply, and stuffed them into the travel bag she and her husband were using.
