Chapter 8

Chapter 8

In the blink of an eye, Lin Zhilan’s birthday arrived.

On this day, Lin Zheng returned.

He had lost a lot of weight, making his bone structure more prominent and giving him a more striking, intense appearance. He looked at me as if I were a complete stranger.

I thought that was perfectly fine. We were strangers to begin with; there was no need to pretend otherwise.

He gave Lin Zhilan a gift.

Lin Zhilan took it with a smile, thanking her father in a soft, gentle voice.

Lin Zheng patted her head. After eating some birthday cake, he headed straight back to his study. I assumed he was pulling out Wen Su’s old belongings again to mourn her.

I had no comment on this “chasing his wife at the crematorium” behavior.

I preferred to cherish the people who were actually still here.

Lin Zhilan wasn’t quite herself today either; she seemed distracted, her mind constantly wandering.

I let out a silent sigh.

I led her to a large workbench and asked her to bring out the broken lipstick. Then, I lit a candle and set out tweezers, a measuring cup, and a lipstick mold.

I poured the broken pieces into the small measuring cup, heated it over the candle, and poured the liquid into the mold. Finally, I put it in the refrigerator to wait for it to freeze and set.

Her tender little face was full of anticipation, her eyes shining with light. She watched with delight as the solid, intact cylinder of lipstick was reinserted into the tube-a brand-new lipstick, perfectly restored.

Excitedly, she threw her arms around my neck and kissed my cheek.

“I love you, Auntie. Thank you.”

That night, she went to sleep clutching the lipstick.

Once she was asleep, I walked to Lin Zheng’s study, knocked, and pushed the door open.

“We need to talk.”

Lin Zheng looked up from a book, his eyes bloodshot.

Wen Su’s departure had been absolute. Before she died, she burned all her photos and notes, and she sold or donated everything related to Lin Zheng.

Lin Zheng had somehow managed to find a book Wen Su had left behind in some forgotten corner-a book filled with her handwritten notes. He now held onto it and read it constantly, as if it were a holy scripture.

What use was this belated display of deep affection?

The dead could no longer see it.

To the living, it was nothing but an eyesore.

His brow was cold and stern, his expression weary.

“What do you want to talk about?”

“That room.”

Lin Zheng reacted instantly. He knew I meant the room where he kept many of Wen Su’s belongings.

He became wary and defensive.

“What are you planning?”

“I want to tell you that as Wen Su’s daughter, Lin Zhilan has the right to mourn her mother. I want you to let her enter and leave that room freely.”

“Impossible.”

I crossed my arms and looked at him, my face full of scrutiny and disdain.

“Lin Zheng, sometimes you are truly pathetic.”

He sat up straight, his gaze turning dangerous.

But I wasn’t afraid of him at all.

A person without desires is naturally strong! I wanted nothing from him.

I pointed toward Lin Zhilan’s room and sneered.

“The most precious treasure Wen Su left behind is right here beside you, yet you turn a blind eye to her.”

“You leave her home alone, making her live with someone she’s only known for a few months.”

“You have no idea how this person she’s only known for a few months treats her, how I teach her, or how I’m influencing her thoughts.”

“You’d rather cling to a pile of dead objects and play the part of the grieving lover. Is your blindness never going to be cured?”

“I’m not here to negotiate with you. I’m here to notify you.”

“If you don’t take the initiative to tell Lanlan tomorrow that she’s allowed in that room, I’ll pick the lock myself.”

“You can’t stay home every day to guard that room, can you? But I can! I’m currently unemployed.”

I slammed the door as I walked out.

The door let out a loud *bang*, vibrating with the force.

After venting my temper, I suddenly remembered that such a loud noise might wake Lin Zhilan. I felt a bit of regret.

Essentially, I still hadn’t fully adjusted to the fact that I was raising a child.

I quietly opened Lin Zhilan’s door. Seeing that she was still sleeping peacefully, I breathed a sigh of relief.

That night, I slept very soundly.

I felt satisfied knowing there was one less thing I needed to do for Lin Zhilan.

I even spent a moment thinking about which tools would be best for picking a lock. If it came down to it, I could just hire someone. A hundred and twenty yuan should be enough to get a locksmith, right?