Chapter 40: You Are the Older Sister

Having developed a fondness for her, Lin Wanrong, who appeared so timid before her eyes, seemed exceptionally endearing. Lin Jinyan lifted a smiling face, stepped forward, and said gently, "Sister Wanrong, I am already feeling better."

Lin Jinyan's words caused Lin Wanrong to instantly lift her lowered head as she saw her approaching, her eyes widening. "Eldest Miss... you can just call me by my name."

Lin Jinyan said with a beaming smile, "You are my cousin after all, how could I not call you by your name? I used to call you Sister before. Don't call me Eldest Miss from now on; just call me Jinyan or Yan'er."

Lin Wanrong lowered her head, her hands restlessly rubbing her cuffs as she whispered, "That won't do. You are the Eldest Miss of the Lin Manor; I cannot call you by your name."

Lin Jinyan took Lin Wanrong's hand. Despite being two months older, Lin Wanrong was still half a head shorter than her.

Sensing Lin Wanrong's slight trembling, Lin Jinyan's smile grew even gentler. "You are also a young lady of the Lin Manor. Since you are older than me, you are my sister. How could I not call you by your name?"

Lin Wanrong stared blankly at Lin Jinyan. Seeing her own reflection in Lin Jinyan's clean eyes, she felt so dazzled that she wanted to weep.

For the first time, someone from the Lin family had told her that she, too, was a member of the Lin family.

Coming back to her senses, Lin Wanrong lowered her head and said uneasily, "I am not like you... there is only one young lady in the Lin Manor. I knew you fell into the water... and was a bit worried. When I heard Gui'er say you were well, I wanted to come see you... Now that I have... I should head back. Otherwise, Mother will be unhappy if she sees me."

Lin Jinyan said in a playful tone, "Thank you for coming to see me, Sister Wanrong. If you aren't in a hurry to go back, would you like to accompany me back to Yanyu Pavilion?"

Lin Wanrong looked up, her large eyes filled with disbelief. "I... can I go?"

Lin Jinyan smiled. "You are my sister, why wouldn't you be able to come to my courtyard?"

A spark of light flashed in Lin Wanrong's eyes, but it quickly dimmed as she shook her head. "I must go back. I will come another day."

Lin Jinyan pressed further, "Which day? Is tomorrow okay? May I wait for you to have breakfast?"

Lin Wanrong said awkwardly, "I... I don't know if I can come out tomorrow morning. You don't need to wait for me."

Lin Jinyan continued to press, "Then what about lunch? If you can't make it for lunch, dinner will be too late, so Yan'er will wait the day after tomorrow instead."

Lin Wanrong became flustered. "You... you have just recovered from an illness and shouldn't go hungry. You don't need to wait for me."

Lin Jinyan feigned a look of disappointment. "Alright then. Does Sister Wanrong not like me?"

Lin Wanrong hurriedly waved her hands and shook her head. "No, no, I like you very much. I will come tomorrow."

Lin Jinyan immediately regained her smile. "Then it's a deal. I will wait for you for breakfast tomorrow. Go back now, Sister Wanrong. I'll head back too. You must come, okay?"

Having said that, she left with Yutong and Manao, giving Lin Wanrong no chance to back out.

Watching the receding figures, Lin Wanrong felt troubled. She muttered with a furrowed brow, "Why did I agree to that?"

She turned toward the West Courtyard with a look of annoyance, but after a few steps, her pace became light and her face was filled with smiles.

On the way back, Manao spoke up, "Miss Wanrong is also a pitiable person."

Lin Jinyan replied, "Yes. We are both ladies of the Lin Manor... yet I have the love of my grandparents and father, while she has nothing. In the future, when you see her, please treat her with kindness and respect."

"Yes."

Upon returning to Yanyu Pavilion, Lin Jinyan gathered all the servants in the courtyard and announced that Manao would henceforth be working at Yanyu Pavilion, instructing Nanny Zhou to arrange living quarters for her.

(End of Chapter)