Chapter 2: Nanxun, Be Obedient!

Lin Zhenghe nodded and stepped out of the car.

But Lin Nanxun gazed timidly at the unfamiliar surroundings, too frightened to get out. Seeing this, Lin Zhenghe could only try to coax her gently.

“Be good, Nanxun. Come with your uncle for a look around. I’ll take you home afterwards.”

At the mention of going home, the sadness on her young face eased a little. She finally ventured out of the car, but only dared to follow closely behind her uncle.

Lin Zhenghe led the way into the villa, and Lin Nanxun followed cautiously, unable to set her worries aside. She asked anxiously,

“Is Aunt still angry?”

When her uncle had taken her out, she thought she’d heard her aunt say they were never to return. The thought made her uneasy.

Lin Zhenghe’s expression shifted, but he nodded nevertheless.

Seeing him nod, Lin Nanxun breathed a little easier, though the large, unfamiliar house still filled her with fear. She clung to her uncle’s clothes, not daring to glance at the servants around them, afraid that if she let go, she’d be abandoned.

Just as Lin Zhenghe was about to head upstairs, a servant following them reached out to stop him, politely reminding him,

“Mr. Lin, please go to the second floor to see the master. This young lady may rest with me.”

With these words, the servant looked toward the girl who had followed Lin Zhenghe so closely since they’d arrived, her behavior somewhat unusual.

“Uncle…” Lin Nanxun was startled, gripping his sleeve tightly in fear.

Lin Zhenghe nodded, then turned to her with a smile.

“Be good, Nanxun. Wait here for me. I’ll come get you as soon as I’m done.”

With that, he took a lollipop from his pocket and handed it to her.

Lin Nanxun looked at the lollipop in his hand but shook her head, still afraid.

Seeing this, Lin Zhenghe’s face grew stern, and he said seriously,

“If you don’t behave, Aunt won’t let us go home. Then we’ll have to sleep on the street.”

At the mention of sleeping on the street, her expression changed immediately.

She didn’t want to sleep on the dirty streets…

She quickly reached out and took the lollipop.

“I’ll be good!”

Seeing her so obedient, Lin Zhenghe sighed, hugged her, then turned and walked up the stairs.

“Miss Lin, this way please,” the servant said, gesturing politely.

Lin Nanxun watched her uncle ascend, then clutched the lollipop tightly and followed the servant away.

…

The servant brought Lin Nanxun to a room and poured her a glass of juice.

She sat on the sofa, clutching her lollipop, not daring to move. Her bright eyes were full of unease.

She waited a long time, but her uncle never came.

After a long while, she finally summoned the courage to look up at the unfamiliar servant who watched her, and spoke in a soft, timid voice,

“Where is my uncle?” Why hadn’t he come to get her?

The servant glanced at her pure, childlike face and the lollipop gripped tightly in her hand. His expression shifted, as if he recognized something different about Lin Nanxun, and hesitated, unsure how to answer.