Chapter 76

The summer sunlight filtered through the cracks in the bamboo leaves and spilled into the courtyard. Three or four dragonflies floated on the pond, tired from flying and resting on the lotus leaves. She looked outside for a while, then turned back.

"What's wrong?"

The woman sitting across from her opened her eyes and looked at her.

"..."

She shook her head and placed her hand back on the strings of the guqin.

"Ruoxi."

The woman called her name.

"Hmm..."

She responded softly.

"Don't you want Lin Yin Ge to decline like this?"

"..."

She hesitated for a moment and lowered her head.

"Yes, sister..."

...

Lin Ruoxiao glanced at her, didn't say anything more, stood up and walked towards the door. She walked through the long corridor and arrived in front of the hall.

...

...

"Father."

She knocked on the slightly ajar door.

"How is Ruoxi doing?"

Father, with his back turned to her, sat in the center of the large hall, hunching over, tightening the loose strings with pliers.

"..."

"What's wrong?"

He turned his head and looked at Lin Ruoxiao standing at the door.

"Nothing."

She thought for a moment and said so again.

"Is that so?"

He looked at her for a moment, then turned his head and continued playing with the guzheng.

"This child hasn't touched the qin for many years. I didn't expect that in less than a week, she would recover to this level."

"Yes."

"Indeed..."

He said and put the pliers aside.

"The heir to Lin Yin Ge can only be her."

"..."

"By the way."

He seemed to think of something.

"Those people who came to find her yesterday..."

"They won't come again."

Lin Ruoxiao said softly and looked up.

"That's good. Ruoxi won't make any progress by being with them."

He sighed and continued speaking.

"How did the school handle it?"

"I have prepared the school transfer application. Once we receive any news from Jinshan Music Academy, we can transfer."

"Yes, have you told Ruoxi about this?"

"Not yet."

"Then..."

"Don't worry, I will take care of Ruoxi's matters."

"..."

After a moment of hesitation, he nodded again.

"You've worked hard."

...

"The president, there are people at the door who want to see you."

The old man sweeping the floor came in and whispered.

"Who?"

"A man and a woman, they said they came to see Ruoxi."

"..."

He hesitated for a moment, glanced at Lin Ruoxiao next to him, and waved his hand.

"Tell them to go back, say that I'm not feeling well."

"But..."

The old man seemed somewhat reluctant.

"Is President Lin here?"

A man's voice.

He looked up as the person walked in.

"You have something?"

He stood up and looked at the person he had seen just yesterday.

"You must be President Lin?"

A smile immediately appeared on the person's face.

"I've heard so much about you~"

"..."

Lin Father still wore a cold expression.

After a while, he spoke in a slightly low voice,

"If you're here to see Ruoxi, please leave. She won't see you."

"No, no, it's not me who wants to see the beloved~"

He said, moving to the side.

"..."

Raina Nan, who had been standing behind him, hesitated and took a step forward.

With some unease, she glanced at Samson Nan.

He narrowed his eyes and nodded gently.

"Well..."

"Are you Raina Nan, right?"

She was about to speak, but was interrupted.

Lin Father pinched his chin and looked at her pensively.

She didn't answer, but her silence was taken as confirmation.

"I've heard about you from Ruoxi."

He said, picked up the teacup on the table, and took a sip.

"Tell me what's the matter."

"I hope you can let Ruoxi go back to school."

She gathered her courage, looked up, and stared at him.

"......"

Mr. Lin paused for a moment, the tea in his cup swayed, and after a moment, it became calm again.

......

"Raina Nan~"

At this moment, Lin Ruoxiao beside her spoke up, walking towards her.

"Don't worry, Ruoxi will definitely go back to school."

She said with a faint smile.

She took out a piece of paper with text printed on it and placed it in front of her.

"Jinshan Music High School..."

Raina Nan was stunned, looking at the prominent words in surprise.

"Ruoxi wants to transfer schools?"

Jinshan Music High School, she had heard of this famous music school in the city.

"That's right."

"......"

Seeing Raina Nan remaining silent, she continued to speak:

"Our Lin Yin Pavilion, although not a prestigious family, has inherited the family business passed down through generations of the Lin family."

She turned back, looking at the plaque above the hall.

"And this legacy has now fallen into Ruoxi's hands."

The smile disappeared from Lin Ruoxiao's face.

"This is the path Ruoxi has to take, she has no choice."

Her deep pupils stared at Raina Nan from a distance.

An inexplicable sense of oppressiveness made the air heavy.

"But..."

Raina Nan hesitated, about to speak.

"Even so, do you still want her to come back to you?"

"......"

She was speechless for a while.

Unable to refute...

Upon careful consideration, she somewhat understood what Lin Ruoxiao meant by the "obstacle" earlier.

Perhaps, for Ruoxi, this is the best decision?

She had so many things to say before coming, but now she suddenly couldn't say a word...

......

As she thought about it, a big hand pressed on her head.

"Brother..."

She lifted her head slightly, looking at his profile.

"Leave the rest to me."

He said softly, with a faint smile.

......

Turning his head, he looked at Lin Ruoxiao again.

"Well, is there anything else this brother wants to say?"

Lin Ruoxiao's mouth curled up, curiously looking at him.

"My sister seems nervous~ There are some things that haven't been explained clearly, so I'll add a couple of sentences."

He smiled lightly and continued:

"According to what sister Lin said, you want Roxy Lin to be the successor of your Lin Yin Pavilion, right?"

"That's right."

"Oh... then may I ask if this is her own wish?"

He walked slowly, appearing to be lost in thought.

"Is it important whether it's her wish or not?"

"OK, let's take a step back."

He said, glancing at Lin Ruoxiao's fingers.

"I noticed just now that sister, you also have thick calluses on your fingers. May I ask if you also play the piano?"

"So what..."

Lin Ruoxiao said, unconsciously hiding her hand behind her back.

"Oh? Then I have to ask, if you also play the piano, as the eldest daughter, why isn't it you who inherits Lin Yin Pavilion?"

"......"

Mr. Lin behind her was startled, raising his head.

Once he said these words, a tremor finally appeared on Lin Ruoxiao's face.

"This is our family's matter, it has nothing to do with you..."

"Innate talent."

He interrupted her, his gaze fixed on Lin Ruoxiao without wavering.

"Compared to your sister with mediocre aptitude, does your younger sister have more talent?"

"......"

Lin Ruoxiao looked at him in astonishment.

How did he know all this?

"So, you... or should I say Mr. Lin"

He turned his head slightly, casting a glimpse at Mr. Lin sitting beside him.

"Just naturally think that Roxie Lin is the savior of Lin Yin Pavilion?"

"Lin Yin Pavilion has always been for the capable. Why can't my younger sister, who possesses natural talent, be the one?"

Lin Ruoxiao furrowed her brows slightly, questioning him.

"Even if she's unwilling?"

"..."

"It doesn't matter."

"It doesn't matter... This is the second time you've said that, Sister~"

Samson Nan shook his head and looked at her with a wry smile.

"If you still have the consciousness of being a 'sister,' then let me tell you, it does matter."

"What do you mean..."

"What do I mean? Do you think a sister who ignores what her sister is thinking can still be called a 'sister'?" His cold gaze made people uneasy.

"..."

Lin Ruoxiao unconsciously took a step back.

"What? Are you preaching to me? In the role of a 'good brother'?"

"I dare not. I didn't say that. But..."

He said, approaching Lin Ruoxiao.

He lowered his head and looked at her.

"At least I can live up to my little sister calling me 'brother.' But what about you?"

"..."

"On one hand, you talk about lofty reasons for the Lin Yin Pavilion, and on the other hand, you ignore your sister's feelings and make her do something she doesn't want to do. What a 'good sister' you are."

"I..."

Her eyes flickered with a moment of hesitation.

"Then let me ask again, do you know how your sister is doing at school, sister?"

"..."

She was stunned for a moment.

"You don't know, do you? Let me tell you. Your sister hid everything about our family—where we live, what our family does, and even the fact that she has a sister. Every time a friend asks, she has to rack her brain to come up with a bunch of excuses. All this is because of you, sister."

"How do you know about..."

"I naturally know."

Samson Nan raised his voice.

"At least, as a brother, I am the same as you..."

"..."

"When my sister is unhappy, I will comfort her. When she does something wrong, I will teach her a lesson. When she can't speak a single word nervously like she is today, I will stand up for her!"

He spoke with a calm tone that carried impatience.

"This is the instinct of being a brother. Do you understand?"

His tone was more like an interrogation.

"..."

Raina Nan stood behind him, silent, not saying a word.

"..."

Lin Ruoxiao lowered her eyelids, lowered her head slightly, and her bangs hung over her forehead, covering her eyes.

No one knew what she was thinking.

The grand hall became silent, without a sound.

"Big sister..."

At this moment, a voice came from behind.

She turned around and found that Roxie Lin was already standing at the door.

"Ruoxi?"

Lin Ruoxiao was taken aback, her gaze fixed on her.

Roxie Lin stood not too far away from her.

She hesitated.

She was her sister whom she had been living with day and night, but for some reason, she suddenly felt a sense of unfamiliarity.

In the remaining memories, her smile became blurry...

She even forgot what her smile looked like...

"Sister?"

Roxie Lin's voice awakened her again.

She widened her eyes as if afraid that if she blinked, that person would disappear like a mirage.

"Ruoxiao!"

A loud voice pulled the lost Lin Ruoxiao back.

"Father."

Lin Ruoxiao finally came to her senses, and her body trembled slightly.

"Don't forget what you promised."

He stared at Lin Ruoxiao intently.

"I know what to do."

This time, she didn't look back at him. She lowered her head and whispered.

After taking a deep breath, she walked towards Roxie Lin.

She passed between Samson Nan and Raina Nan, and stood in front of her.

"..."

"What, what's wrong..."

Roxie Lin looked at her nervously.

"Sis... Huh?!"

Before she could react, Lin Ruoxiao hugged her tightly.

"Sister?!"

Roxie Lin almost lost her balance, leaning backwards and taking a step back.

"Ruoxi."

Lin Ruoxiao spoke softly in a voice only she could hear.

"..."

"..."

Roxie Lin couldn't see her expression, but felt her neck becoming wet.

Did she cry?

"..."

She saw Samson Nan standing behind Lin Ruoxiao, his profile showing a hint of a subtle smile.

"Sister, are you crying?"

"..."

She didn't speak.

After a while, she bit her lip and quietly said, "I'm sorry."

"..."

Roxie Lin was stunned, hesitated, and reached out to touch her head.

It was the first time she saw her sister shed tears...

"Sister."

She leaned closer to her ear.

"Welcome back."

"..."

Upon hearing these words, Lin Ruoxiao's body seemed to lose all strength, as if the power had been cut off.

"Sister, you're so heavy!"

Roxie Lin patted her back with some discomfort.

But she refused to let go, wordlessly embracing her.

...

"Ruoxiao, you!"

Lin's father couldn't sit still any longer, stood up, and walked towards them.

"Mr. Lin."

Just as he took a step forward, he was stopped.

"Perhaps it's time for them to let go of this burden."

"..."

He stopped in his tracks and looked at Samson Nan beside him.

"Or... are you going to put an end to their lives for the sake of Lin Yin Ge's reputation?"

Samson Nan looked at the two sisters embracing each other and whispered.

"..."

Lin's father stood still, looked up at the three characters engraved on the plaque above the hall, "Lin Yin Ge".

After a while, he turned around.

And walked toward the back door of the hall.

...

Raina Nan looked at them, seemingly pondering something.

"Let's go."

He flicked her forehead with his finger.

"The rest is their family's business."

"Yeah..."

She regained her senses, covering her forehead, muttering softly.

The two of them walked past them.

They didn't speak, so as not to disturb them.

"Thank you."

When she walked by her side, Roxie Lin spoke softly.

Her face buried in Lin Ruoxiao's shoulder, unable to see her expression clearly.

"Ruoxi, I'll be waiting for your return."

Raina Nan whispered.

"Yeah."

She nodded, then turned her head slightly, showing half of her eye.

Slightly reddened eyes still had traces of tears.

"Nan gege..."

She looked at him, as if wanting to say something.

"Yeah?"

"Nothing... never mind."

Murmuring, she buried her head in Lin Ruoxiao's shoulder again.

"..."

Samson Nan was taken aback for a moment.

After a while, a faint smile appeared on his face.

Silently, he walked past her.

...

Lin Ruoxiao finally lifted her head and watched as the figure walked out of the hall, gradually getting further away.

...

"Shorty."

"Yeah?"

"How was my performance just now?"

"Okay."

"I'm asking if you admire me more now?"

He said, nudging her with his shoulder.

"..."

She thought for a moment.

"It's alright..."

"Is there a reward?"

"No."

"Hey, is it too much to ask you to call me 'gege'?"

"..."

She hesitated for a moment.

"Well then... ge..."

"Wait, I want the shy limited edition."

"Go die!"

Her face turned red in an instant.

She kicked his shin and walked ahead by herself.

"Ouch! For, for the sake..."

He held his foot and limped along behind her.

...

Watching them, Lin Ruoxiao understood a little bit.

The reason Roxie Lin had said she envied Raina Nan.

However...

"What's wrong with that guy..."

She finally let go of her hands that she had been holding tightly.

"He came to our house and talked so much, thinking he's someone..."

"Nan-gege?"

"Yeah."

She pouted with some dissatisfaction.

"Nan-gege is also doing it for our own good," Roxie Lin said helplessly.

"That's easy for you to say, but it still bugs me... He said so much, but he's just a siscon!"

"If Nan-gege hears you say that, he would be angry, you know?"

She smiled bitterly, looking at Lin Ruoxiao.

Only then did she realize that this elegant sister also had such a side to her.

"But well, I'm not qualified to say anything about him..."

"What?"

"Nothing, nothing."

She panicked and turned her head away.

"Sister, there's a piece of music..."

Roxie Lin thought for a moment, then looked up at her.

"I want to play it for you."

She said, standing up and walking towards the guzheng that her father had left in the hall earlier.

...

Lin Ruoxiao's lips curved upwards, nodding.

The hall was quiet, not a sound to be heard.

In a daze, she watched as Roxie Lin played with the strings of the instrument, as if she had returned to ten years ago.

The hall was filled with excited spectators, waiting for the rumored genius girl.

But this time, she wasn't backstage. She was sitting right in front of her, listening to the piece she didn't finish listening to ten years ago.

...

"Contestant number nine..."

"Roxie Lin."

"Eightfold Robe."

...

This time, will it be able to deliever properly?

My voice.