Transmigration; Married to My Ex-Fiancé's Uncle-Chapter 326; Lin family 5
She looked back at Lin Yueling, her eyes glistening slightly.
"The relationship is entirely innocent," Shuyin said, her voice trembling just enough to sell the sincerity. "But why does it sound like a crime coming from your mouth?"
Lin Yueling’s mouth opened, then closed. She looked to her mother for support.
Chen Madam stepped forward, her smile tight and brittle. "Darling, your sister is simply concerned for your reputation. Surely you understand how this might look to others...."
"Others?" Shuyin repeated, her voice rising slightly, as if the word itself confused her. "Who would know? Who would care? We’ve lost our home, we’re exhausted, the children are traumatized, and all I’m asking for is a room large enough for us to rest without being separated. Is that truly so scandalous?"
She turned back to her father, and her expression crumpled just slightly, not into tears, but into something more devastating: quiet, dignified hurt.
"Father, if it’s too much trouble, we can leave. I don’t want to cause problems in your home. We’ll find a hotel....."
"No," Lin Feng said quickly, too quickly. His eyes flicked to Lu Yuze, who stood silent and imposing, his expression unreadable. "No, that’s not necessary. We’ll... we’ll find something suitable."
"There must be a larger room," Shuyin pressed gently. "Something with two beds? Perhaps farther from the main family quarters, so we don’t disturb anyone with the children’s nightmares?"
Lin Feng hesitated.
Chen Madam opened her mouth, likely to protest, but Lu Yuze chose that moment to speak.
"Mr. Lin," he said quietly, his voice carrying effortless authority. "I appreciate your hospitality. But Miss Shuyin is correct. The children require stability after recent events. If a more suitable room is available, I would be grateful. If not..." He let the sentence hang, the implication clear.
If not, we’ll leave. And you’ll have rejected your daughter and offended me in one move.
Lin Feng’s face went through several expressions in rapid succession, frustration, calculation, resignation.
"The west wing," he said finally, his voice tight. "There’s a suite at the far end. Two beds, more space. It’s... It’s farther from everything, but if privacy is what you need....."
"That sounds perfect," Shuyin said quickly, her expression brightening with relief. "Thank you, Father. You’re so understanding."
Lin Feng didn’t look understanding. He looked trapped.
But he nodded stiffly and turned to lead them back down the hallway.
As they walked, Lin Yueling fell into step beside Chen Madam, her voice a harsh whisper that still carried. "Mother, this is insane. She’s planning something. You saw how she manipulated him...."
"I know," Chen Madam hissed back. "But we can’t refuse. Not with him here." She jerked her head subtly toward Lu Yuze. "We play along. For now. And we watch her."
Shuyin heard every word.
And smiled to herself in the dim hallway light.
---
The suite at the far end of the west wing was, as Lin Feng had said, more spacious. Two beds, a sitting area, a private bathroom, and, most importantly, distance.
Lin Feng unlocked the door and stepped aside, his expression carefully neutral.
"Will this suffice?"
Shuyin stepped inside, her gaze sweeping the room. It was perfect. Isolated. Quiet. Far enough from the family quarters that they could speak freely without being overheard.
"It’s wonderful," she said, turning to her father with genuine-seeming gratitude. "Thank you so much."
"I’ll have the servants bring fresh linens," Lin Feng said. He looked at Lu Yuze. "And if you need anything else, Mr. Lu...."
"This is more than adequate," Lu Yuze said. "Thank you for your hospitality."
Lin Feng nodded once, sharply, and left without another word.
Chen Madam and Lin Yueling lingered in the doorway for a moment longer, their eyes cataloguing everything, the layout, the beds, the distance between them.
"Rest well," Chen Madam said, though her smile didn’t reach her eyes. "We’ll see you at dinner."
The door closed behind them with a soft click.
And finally, they were alone.
Shuyin let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding and turned to face Lu Yuze.
"Well," she said. "That went well."
Lu Yuze’s mouth quirked. "You manipulated your father, scandalized your sister, and secured exactly the room you wanted. I’d say it went perfectly."
"They’re suspicious now," Shuyin said.
"They were always going to be suspicious," Lu Yuze countered. "At least now we have the advantage of a position."
He was right.
Shuyin moved to the window, pulling back the curtain slightly to look out over the darkened gardens below. The same gardens she’d played in as a child. Before everything fell apart.
Behind her, she heard Yuyan claim one of the beds, and Chen Xiao’s soft footsteps as he moved to sit on the floor near the other.
This strange, fragile family.
In the house of her enemies.
The door closed behind Chen Madam and Lin Yueling with a soft click.
Finally, they were alone. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶
Shuyin let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding and turned to survey the room properly. Two beds, as promised. A sitting area with a worn but comfortable-looking couch. A window overlooking the gardens. And most importantly, distance from the family quarters.
"Yuyan," she said, her voice shifting from the fragile daughter back to something more authoritative. "Can you take Chen Xiao to the bathroom? Get cleaned up. Lu Yuze, can you instruct Ting Fei to buy us clothes and other basics? We can’t keep wearing these."
She gestured to her own singed, ruined pajamas, then to the children’s rumpled clothes.
"Yes, Mother," Yuyan said immediately. She held out her hand to Chen Xiao, who looked up at her with those dark, watchful eyes before taking it silently.
They disappeared into the bathroom together, the door closing behind them with a quiet click. A moment later, Shuyin heard the sound of running water.
Lu Yuze moved toward the door, already pulling his phone from his pocket, when a knock echoed through the room.
He reached the door in two strides and opened it.
