The antique girlfriend of a chaebol heir

The lunch turned out to be surprisingly peaceful.

There was no throwing of chopsticks, no sarcastic remarks, no farcical scene of flipping the table. Shen Ci quietly finished a bowl of rice and drank half a bowl of soup, only occasionally responding with a few words, like an ordinary, well-behaved daughter.

When Shen Xiaoming carried the bowls and plates into the kitchen, his steps were almost unsteady.

The tap was running, and he mechanically wiped the dishes, his ears perked up, constantly watching the living room. Every two dishes he washed, he couldn't help but glance back—

The first time I turned around, I saw my daughter and Lin Ruojin sitting at opposite ends of the sofa, with a considerable distance between them.

When she turned around a second time, she saw Lin Ruojin seem to have said something, and her daughter turned her head and actually chimed in.

The third time he turned around, the plate in his hand almost slipped into the sink—

His daughter, who used to be so fiery and easily angered, was now sitting on the same sofa as Lin Ruojin, relaxed and even... chatting?

Shen Xiaoming blinked hard and pinched his thigh.

It hurts.

It's not a dream.

In the living room, Lin Ruojin held a glass of warm water and looked gently at the girl beside her: "Youyou, university is about to start. Have you prepared everything you need for school?"

Shen Ci searched through the original owner's memories for a moment.

During the original owner's three years of high school, Shen's father spared no expense, hiring private tutors one-on-one, without interruption on weekends and holidays.

The original owner was quite ambitious and achieved good grades, gaining admission to the best university in the city—Puhua University. Unfortunately, her score only reached the minimum admission line, and she was assigned to the less popular Chinese Language and Literature major.

When the admission notice came, the original owner was upset for several days because of the major, thinking, "What's the use of studying this? How much money can I make in the future?" This worried Shen's father so much that he even got a few more gray hairs.

Lin Ruojin was aware of all this.

She carefully chose her words, her tone sincere: "Chinese Language and Literature is actually a very good major, especially for girls. Taking the civil service exam or becoming a teacher are both excellent career paths with stable jobs and high social status..."

If the original owner of this body were present, she would have exploded upon hearing this. She would have felt that Lin Ruojin was mocking her...

But Shen Ci just listened quietly, her expression calm.

Lin Ruojin's words were all genuinely for her benefit, without a trace of sarcasm. She saw pure kindness in the other woman's gentle eyes.

"Aunt Lin is very knowledgeable," she leaned forward slightly, her tone carrying a sincere tone of inquiry, "Could you give me a detailed introduction to what this major specifically entails?"

Lin Ruojin's fingers tightened slightly as she held the cup.

She froze for a moment, as if she couldn't believe what she had just heard.

The girl in front of me still had the same eyebrows and eyes, but the reckless and aggressive spirit that used to linger in her eyes had completely disappeared, replaced by a calm and reassuring demeanor.

—They've become too easy to communicate with.

Lin Ruojin steadied herself, put down her cup, and softened her tone: "Chinese language and literature, as the name suggests, consists of language and literature. In terms of language, modern Chinese, classical Chinese, and an introduction to linguistics are the foundation; in terms of literature, there's ancient literature, modern and contemporary literature, foreign literature, literary theory..."

"The Chinese Language and Literature program at Puhua University may differ slightly from other universities, leaning more towards calligraphy culture and emphasizing the integration of calligraphy with traditional culture. Major courses include classical literature, calligraphy and painting, and the study of rubbings from ancient stone inscriptions..."

She spoke eloquently, explaining everything from the curriculum to career paths, from postgraduate studies to the advantages of taking the civil service exam, her words clear and well-organized, as if she knew them inside and out.

Shen Ci listened attentively, nodding occasionally and interjecting with a question that was always to the point.

At this moment, she was somewhat relieved that the original owner's college entrance examination score was not satisfactory.

If she were admitted to a popular major in this era, such as computer network engineering, her future studies would be even more difficult.

"Aunt Lin, you know so much."

After Lin Ruojin finished speaking, Shen Ci smiled and her eyes showed genuine approval. "Now that you mention it, this major is much more interesting than I imagined."

Her eyes were clear and sincere, without the slightest hint of perfunctoriness.

Lin Ruojin was stunned.

Having worked in government agencies for many years, she had seen too many insincere and fake smiles, and knew all too well what was politeness and what was sincerity.

But at this moment, she saw a long-lost, pure gratitude and respect in Shen Ci's eyes.

Like a gentle spring breeze, it unexpectedly brushed against her constantly tense heartstrings.

Lin Ruojin was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled, a smile that carried a hint of relief and satisfaction: "My younger brother is a professor of Chinese Language and Literature at this university. Over the years, I've been exposed to it and have learned a bit about it."

She paused, her gaze softening. "If you don't mind, I can have him make a reading list for you so you can take a look beforehand and be prepared."

"That would be wonderful." Shen Ci's eyebrows curved slightly. "Thank you for your trouble, Aunt Lin."

In the kitchen, Shen Xiaoming had wiped the plates three times, and they were so shiny you could see your reflection in them.

He stared blankly at the scene in the living room, his eyes suddenly stinging with tears.

He never dared to dream that his family would have such a day.

Lin Ruojin is a decisive person; she does what she says she will do.

She immediately took out her phone from her bag, dialed a number, and got up to walk to the balcony.

Shen Ci vaguely heard her lowered voice: "...Yes, it's your department at Puhua University...The young lady is quite ambitious and wants to learn more about it beforehand...Send me the reading list on WeChat later..."

On the other end of the phone, Lin Ruojin's younger brother, Lin Ruochen, had just finished a department meeting. He stood by the window in the corridor, holding his phone, his eyebrows slightly raised.

He knew his sister all too well.

She was a rose with thorns from childhood to adulthood. She skipped grades in school and rose through the ranks after starting work, becoming a department head in her thirties.

Her family once thought she would remain single for life, but who would have thought that last year, through an introduction, she would suddenly meet a businessman in his forties.

Lin Ruochen was initially skeptical, thinking that merchants were profit-driven and prone to being mercenary. However, after meeting him once, his opinion changed—Mr. Shen spoke gently, had a scholarly air about him, and was not at all greedy.

Besides, he knows his sister too well.

Lin Ruojin is a well-known person who is obsessed with good looks. Although Mr. Shen is not young, he is tall and straight with handsome features. When he smiles, the fine lines at the corners of his eyes add to his mature and gentle temperament.

It perfectly matches my sister's aesthetic.

Unfortunately, this relationship faced a huge obstacle—Mr. Shen's daughter.

Every time my sister mentions that girl, her tone is filled with helplessness.

Both are willful and capricious, easily angered, and every time they meet, tensions run high.

Lin Ruochen originally thought that, given her sister's personality, this relationship would probably fizzle out. After all, no matter how much her sister liked Mr. Shen, she would never lower herself to be a miserable stepmother.

Unexpectedly, today my sister took the initiative to ask him for advice on that girl's studies.

—Has the road taken a turn for the better?

Lin Ruochen suppressed a host of questions in his mind, but a smile involuntarily crept onto his lips. He cleared his throat, his tone slightly teasing: "Sis, when are you going to bring Mr. Shen home so the elders can meet him?"

"Stop being so cheeky," Lin Ruojin said with a laugh. "Hurry up, send me the book list and stationery list in a bit."

"Understood."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Ruochen leaned against the windowsill, looked down at his phone screen, and suddenly smiled.

He was actually looking forward to the start of the school year.

He also wanted to see for himself the "little devil" his sister had mentioned.