Chapter 147: Subtle Changes
Wu Siyu intended to formally adopt little Linna, but the process was complex, expected to take a month. As long as Linna was willing, the adoption would proceed smoothly.
Her biggest fear was that Linna wouldn’t want to be adopted…
Linna, now six, was starting elementary school. Wu Siyu enrolled her in the same school and class as her daughter, hoping they would bond. Children were innocent and adaptable; with any luck, they would become a family.
“Little Yu, are you a foreigner?”
On her first day at school, Yu Linna was surrounded by curious children. Though there were other pretty children her age, like Huo Ningning, mixed-race children were rare. Her blonde hair and captivating eyes drew their attention.
The children, fascinated by her unusual appearance, crowded around her, some even touching her hair. Blonde hair was a novelty.
“I’m Chinese,” she would reply, though it did little to deter their curiosity.
To them, she was an anomaly, different, special. It was impossible for her not to attract attention.
“Back off! Little Linna is mine! Don’t touch her!”
Huo Ningning, waving her small hands, dispersed the crowd, protectively shielding Yu Linna. This adorable creature belonged to her; no one could touch her.
Though young, Yu Linna understood Huo Ningning’s protective gesture, her heart warming towards her.
They attended the same school, were in the same class, lived in the same house, and might soon share the same parents.
Wu Siyu had confided in Huo Ningning about her intention to adopt Yu Linna. If successful, Yu Linna would become their family. Though surprised, Huo Ningning didn’t object. If it made her mother happy, that was enough.
Besides, little Linna was adorable and beautiful; it was understandable why her mother liked her.
And she herself was quite fond of little Linna.
Elementary school children were carefree, their minds unburdened by complex thoughts. Huo Ningning, still young, often dragged Yu Linna to the hill behind the school after class, spreading a mat on the ground, placing leaves and pebbles on it, creating an imaginary world.
“Let’s play house! We can be a married couple!”
“Okay! Who’s the daddy, and who’s the mommy?”
“I’ll be the mommy! You be the daddy!”
The hill behind the school was usually deserted, a perfect spot for their games. Huo Ningning loved playing house.
“Ahem, honey, you’re home! Dinner’s ready! Do you want to take a bath first, or eat?”
Little Ningning, fully immersed in her role, imitated her parents.
“I’m tired. I want to eat first. Serve me.”
“Okay, honey. Was work tiring today?”
“Very tiring. I want a good meal. Is there a Manchu Han Imperial Feast?”
“Honey, we’re not rich. We can’t afford a Manchu Han Imperial Feast. Just have some vegetables. Vegetables are nutritious and healthy. Too much meat is bad for you. Here, try my pickled eggplant.”
“A dinner without meat isn’t dinner! I want meat! Bring me some meat!”
The playful game took an unexpected turn, Yu Linna’s demand for a lavish meal sounding surprisingly genuine.
“Hey! Little Linna, we’re playing pretend! You’re the husband! Husbands can’t be so demanding!”
“But husbands deserve a good meal after work, don’t they?”
Yu Linna didn’t understand what she had done wrong.
“Let’s switch roles. You be the wife, and I’ll be the husband.”
“Okay.”
Huo Ningning cleared her throat, changing her expression, imitating her father.
“Honey, you’re home! I missed you! You’ve been gone for two months! Our daughter keeps asking for you! How long are you staying this time?”
“Well… I have to leave this afternoon.”
Yu Linna wasn’t good at role-playing, simply going with her gut.
“What?! You’re leaving so soon?! I haven’t even tasted your cooking yet! No, you have to make dinner before you leave!”
“I’m very busy! I have so many projects, so many clients! I have to work to support this family!”
“Hold on! Why is the wife working while the husband stays at home?! What kind of play are you putting on?!”
“Huh? Is that wrong?”
“Of course, it’s wrong! Let’s try again!”
Huo Ningning was exasperated. Why was playing house with Yu Linna so frustrating? This wasn’t how it was supposed to be!
Though her mother was often away for work, she never behaved like the character Yu Linna was portraying. What was she even doing?
“I don’t know how to act…”
Yu Linna didn’t know how husbands and wives interacted; she had no parents, no experience with family dynamics.
“Let’s try again. Honey, let’s take our daughter out this weekend. You’re always working; you never spend time with her.”
“Okay, let’s go out. I want to eat something delicious. How about hotpot?”
“Yay! But why hotpot?”
“Because hotpot has a lot of food! We can eat our fill!”
“Stop! You just want to eat hotpot, don’t you?! What are you even doing?!”
Huo Ningning wanted to flip the table. Why was playing house with Yu Linna always so chaotic? And what kind of wife was she portraying? A gluttonous mooch!
As the sun began to set, Huo Ningning, followed by the little blonde girl, walked home, exhausted. Playing with Yu Linna was always an adventure, her imagination running wild, her ideas often bizarre.
“Ningning, are you mad at me?”
Yu Linna, anxious, fidgeted with her fingers, unsure what she had done wrong. Huo Ningning seemed upset; should she apologize?
Huo Ningning, turning to face her, couldn’t stay angry at that adorable face. She sighed.
“It’s okay. Let’s go home. You must be hungry. Mommy’s probably finished cooking dinner.”
“Really? I’m starving! I want to eat Aunt Wu’s cooking!”
The mention of food instantly brightened Yu Linna’s mood.
On their way home, Huo Ningning bought two candied haws, giving one to Yu Linna, who ate it with such relish, as if it were a gourmet treat, though it was just an ordinary candied haw.
“Is it really that good?”
Huo Ningning, seeing her enjoyment, took a bite. It tasted… normal. She didn’t understand Yu Linna’s reaction.
“Sweet things are the best!”
Perhaps for Yu Linna, free things were the best…
Though still too young to be truly shameless, her freeloading skills would surely develop with age.
“Mommy, we’re home!”
“Welcome back, girls! You’re eating candy before dinner? Go wash your hands! Eat properly later.”
“Okay!”
Huo Ningning, unfazed, finished her candied haw and went to her room. Yu Linna, still wanting more, went to the kitchen, her mouth watering at the sight of the food.
“Hungry? It’ll be ready soon. Go watch some TV in the living room, Nana.”
“Auntie, I’m hungry.”
“Be patient. It’ll be ready soon.”
“Okay.”
Yu Linna obediently went to the living room to watch TV, waiting for dinner.
She was happy, having a home, food, and someone to care for her, free from worries. But this would be the only period of happiness in her childhood.
Huo Qiulin and Wu Siyu welcomed the little girl, but her presence was a financial burden. They weren’t wealthy, Huo Qiulin’s income barely enough to support their family, and Wu Siyu often worked extra jobs.
Though they had received compensation for the orphanage demolition, that money was earmarked for investments, and with their business struggling, Huo Qiulin felt the pressure.
“Honey, why aren’t you sleeping? Oh my god, are you drinking?”
Late at night, Wu Siyu found her husband in the living room, drinking beer alone, a troubled expression on his face. He rarely drank; something was clearly bothering him.
“Go to bed, honey. I’ll be there soon.”
“Is something wrong? Tell me. We can solve it together.”
“…To be honest, my studio… it’s not doing so well.”
“What? But you said you were planning to expand, to start a company.”
“If only it were that easy. I’m not getting any clients, not making any money. It’s a problem.”
Huo Qiulin leaned back on the sofa, his face etched with worry. The pressure of work and family weighed heavily on him. If it weren’t for his wife and daughter, he might have crumbled.
“Is it because I brought Nana home…? Is that why…?”
“No, Siyu, it’s not your fault. I like little Linna. It’s not because of her.”
“But… ever since she moved in, you seem more worried.”
Huo Qiulin remained silent. He couldn’t deny that Yu Linna’s presence added to his financial burden.
Huo Ningning, hiding behind the door, eavesdropping on their conversation, though too young to understand everything, caught a key phrase.
The name “Yu Linna” echoed in her mind, planting a seed of resentment.
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