Why did the system take my request to take photos with a cosplayer seriously?

"Duan Biao has lost weight."

"His wife passed away two years ago from pancreatic cancer. His son runs a business elsewhere and doesn't come back often."

Lin Man told her mother, "His own health isn't very good either..."

Lin Zemei didn't open her eyes and sighed softly.

"It's not easy for anyone...it's not easy for anyone..."

Chapter 299: Preparing a Daughter's Dowry

For the next week, Lin Zemei lived a quiet life.

Every day at 5:40, her biological clock makes her open her eyes on time, make her bed, and wash up, just like the days she spent inside.

Breakfast consists of congee and side dishes, while lunch and dinner are cooked by myself.

Having lived a life of luxury in the first half of her life, and spending the second half in prison, Lin Zemei found it quite novel to suddenly put on an apron and pick up a spatula, and even felt a strange sense of peace.

Furthermore, she didn't go to Duan Biao, and Duan Biao didn't come to her either.

Both sides were in perfect harmony and did not disturb each other.

Lin Man didn't visit her often. Each time, she would come and go in a hurry, barely sitting down before receiving a phone call, apologizing, and leaving.

As the year draws to a close, Lin Zemei feels that her daughter is very, very busy...

She didn't force it, and lived her life as usual, occasionally going downstairs to take a walk around the neighborhood and chat with the old ladies downstairs.

Everyone thought she was easy to talk to, and no one knew she had just come out from inside.

Lin Man said she was coming today.

Lin Zemei made a special trip to the market, picked out a sea bass, and bought two pounds of pork ribs.

Her knife skills aren't very good; she cut the scallions and ginger into uneven pieces, and chopped the ribs crookedly, but at least they were all cooked through.

The presentation was a bit lacking, but the taste was alright.

At least she thought it tasted alright.

She served the dishes one by one and checked the time on her phone.

At 11:40, Lin Man said she would arrive around 12:00, which was perfect.

At 11:50, my phone rang.

"Mom, something came up and I have to fly to the US."

Lin Man said urgently on the other end of the phone: "It needs to be settled before the end of the year. They're pressuring me, so I have to leave this afternoon."

Lin Zemei sighed gently, "It's alright, you go about your business."

"Mom, I'm sorry, I originally..."

"Apologize to Mom."

Lin Zemei interrupted, "Be careful on the road, send a message when you arrive."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Zemei sat down at the dining table alone, picked up a piece of pork rib, put it in her mouth, and chewed slowly.

Too much salt...

Suddenly, Lin Zemei had a craving for a cigarette.

After so many years of trying to quit, I'm now having an addiction again.

Lin Zemei put down her chopsticks and was about to get up to go downstairs to buy a pack of cigarettes when the doorbell rang.

Her first thought was that Lin Man had returned, but when she looked through the peephole at the door, she saw a man.

He was dressed in a suit and tie, his hair was slicked back, and he was carrying two gift bags.

Lin Zemei squinted for several seconds before she could find a trace of her former self on that face.

Her nephew... Lin Zhiyuan.

Lin Zemei opened the door, feigning surprise on her face.

"Zhiyuan, what brings you here!"

"Auntie!"

Lin Zhiyuan smiled politely and bowed slightly: "Wishing you an early Happy New Year."

"Come in!"

Lin Zemei stepped aside.

Lin Zhiyuan placed the gift bag on the entryway cabinet, changed his shoes, and went inside.

Have you eaten?

"not yet."

"That's perfect."

Lin Zemei turned and walked towards the kitchen: "I made a few dishes, but they're a bit cold. You'll have to make do with these."

Lin Zhiyuan hurriedly tried to go in to help, but Lin Zemei raised her hand and pressed down on his shoulder.

"Sit down."

"Eh..."

Lin Zhiyuan nodded obediently.

Lin Zemei reheated the dishes and brought them to the table. Lin Zhiyuan had already sat down at the table.

"Mmm...delicious."

"Eat more if it's delicious."

Lin Zemei poured herself a glass of wine: "How is Grandpa's health?"

"It's alright, but my knees are a bit uncomfortable because of the cold weather."

"That's how it is when you get old."

"you do not say."

Lin Zhiyuan sighed, "I was just talking about you a couple of days ago, saying that you were all alone in Xingcheng and that I had to come and visit your aunt."

Lin Zemei did not respond.

She had only been out of prison for a week, how did the Lin family know about her situation?

Lin Zhiyuan continued, "The weather in Xingcheng is damp and cold, and winters are not as warm as in Pengcheng. Why don't you go back for the New Year, Aunt? It will be lively with the whole family, and it will be easier to take care of things."

The words were well-intentioned, but Lin Zemei knew exactly what was going on.

Her father wanted her to go back and stay under the Lin family's nose so that she wouldn't cause trouble outside.

My own father and older brother have never been kind-hearted.

We sent her in back then, and now that she's out, we naturally need to keep an even closer eye on her.

She took a sip of wine and put the glass down.

"Dad is so thoughtful."

Seeing that she didn't respond, Lin Zhiyuan changed the subject.

They chatted about who had a new baby, which relative had immigrated abroad, and so on.

Lin Zemei listened quietly, and had a general idea of ​​what was going on.

Lin Zhiyuan's excessive politeness, even to an abnormal degree, indicates that his father and brother are wary of Lin Man now.

Lin Zemei believed that her daughter did not have that ability, so there was only one possibility: it was because of Ding Heng.

She continued, "Zhiyuan, did you come here just to persuade me to go back home for the New Year?"

Lin Zhiyuan's smile remained unchanged: "I mainly came to see you, Aunt."

"What a pity..."

Lin Zemei changed the subject: "Xiaoman and her boyfriend insisted that I stay in Xingcheng for the New Year."

"Boy friend?"

"Yes, that Ding Heng, have you met him?"

You mean him...?

Lin Zhiyuan was probably drawn in by Lin Zemei's words and genuinely believed that the other party treated him like a real nephew.

"Aunt, there's something I want to tell you."

"You said."

"It's about Xiaoman's side..."

Lin Zhiyuan hesitated and said, "She's with that Ding Heng now, it's a long story."

Lin Zemei noticed the subtle expression on Lin Zhiyuan's face; it was probably the caution that came from having suffered a loss.

"I've met Ding Heng a few times. He's not very old, but his background is quite impressive."

Lin Zhiyuan continued, “Opening an investment company in Hong Kong is like having a third eye; you can make a lot of money! Now my dad and grandpa are guessing that he is probably someone’s illegitimate son or front man.”

We can't afford to offend these spoiled brats, and we can't afford to avoid them either, don't you think, Auntie?

Lin Zemei's face remained expressionless.

Lin Zhiyuan got more and more excited as he spoke, and blurted it out unconsciously.

"Speaking of which, Xiaoman has had a tough time. Being with this rich kid may seem glamorous, but behind the scenes, she's faced countless hardships and has probably suffered a lot of injustices."

“How come you see?”

"Auntie, don't you understand? Xiaoman is now working for that spoiled brat..."

"boom."

Without warning, the beer bottle shattered on Lin Zhiyuan's forehead, shards of glass flying everywhere, beer foam mixed with blood dripping down.