Reborn as a Rich Woman in the Eighties
Chapter 377 - 376: What Virtues and Abilities

Chapter 377: Chapter 376: What Virtues and Abilities

Lin Xia said with a light smile, "It’s fine! Let’s talk inside!"

At this time of day, the neighbors were usually up, and anything said outside could easily be overheard.

"Is everything okay with the family and the store?" Lin Xia asked next, her concern was always on her mind when she was away from home, fearing something bad might happen.

"It’s fine! Second Brother helps open and close the store every day," Lin Qiu told her with a beaming smile.

"That’s good to hear!"

At the mention of Second Brother, Lin Xia’s eyes dimmed slightly.

She was preoccupied with the pain of her separation from Lu Zheng, and now that she knew Second Brother had feelings for her and had remained single because of her, how should she interact with him?

Lin Xia, after washing her hands and face, kept her description to Lin Qiu and Lin Dong brief and simple about Lu Zheng’s family situation.

Of course, she only mentioned the good parts. As for what Shao Meirou and her sister had said when they visited her at the hotel, she didn’t utter a word about it.

Bringing up such matters would only make her younger brother and sister angry and upset, so why bother?

Besides, she didn’t want them to know about Second Brother’s feelings for her.

Lin Qiu and Lin Dong listened and both sighed with relief internally; they had been worried sick these past few days.

Especially Lin Dong, who, after returning from school on Friday evening, learned that Lu Zheng’s mother had visited a few days before;

She not only had come to the family’s clothing store but also visited their greenhouses and the cosmetics shop.

And after hearing Lin Qiu describe the woman’s attire, appearance, and demeanor, Lin Dong deeply felt that Lu Zheng’s family was out of the ordinary.

This time, he was concerned about what kind of situation his big sister would face while staying with Lu Zheng.

Lin Xia had been talking for a while, and seeing that they seemed reassured, she finally asked, "What’s for breakfast? I’m starving!"

"It’s ready! Sister! I’ll get it!" Lin Qiu hurried to the kitchen.

Lin Xia and the others had barely started breakfast when they heard noises at the main entrance, Jiang Mingyuan had come over to their house.

Lin Xia was preparing herself mentally, she needed to behave as usual, not showing any difference due to knowing about Second Brother’s feelings for her.

"Lin Xia is back?" Jiang Mingyuan’s eyes brightened; every day after collecting the money from the store, he would drop by the house to deliver the keys and check on Lin Qiu.

He knew Lin Xia was particularly worried about this younger sister, and even though someone was keeping her company, Jiang Mingyuan felt it was better he checked in regularly.

Lin Xia greeted him with her usual smile, "I just arrived this morning! Second Brother! Have you eaten? You’ve been such a big help these past few days!"

Only she knew deep down that some things are better left unknown.

Now that she knew, she couldn’t feel as carefree as before.

"Don’t mention it! Not yet!" Jiang Mingyuan didn’t stand on ceremony and simply pulled up a chair to sit at the table.

Lin Xia instructed Lin Qiu, "Get Second Brother some bowls and chopsticks!"

Jiang Mingyuan observed Lin Xia’s expression, "How was it at Lu Zheng’s place?"

Lin Xia nodded with a smile, "Not bad! Met quite a few of his family members, including his grandpa and grandma!"

"Oh! That’s good!" The smile on Jiang Mingyuan’s face faded a bit, and he casually asked, "Did Lu Zheng return to his unit?"

"He went back! They’re busy now!" Lin Xia didn’t know if it was her imagination or her own assumptions;

But she always felt there was an indescribable mood between them now, face to face. Not wanting to continue on this subject, she asked, "Second Brother! How’s business at the store?"

"Not bad!" Jiang Mingyuan’s keenly felt Lin Xia’s avoidance in her gaze.

A jolt went through him—could it be that she’d encountered something?

Or knew something?

Did Lu Zheng tell her?

After they finished eating, Jiang Mingyuan offered to drive Lin Xia to the cosmetics shop to open up for the day.

On the way, Lin Xia pressed her lips together gently and carefully turned to steal a glance at Jiang Mingyuan’s profile.

Under the morning light, his sharply defined face had a different kind of charm.

She had always known that after these past few years of trials, her second brother’s appearance and demeanor had changed significantly.

Out of the corner of his eye, Jiang Mingyuan noticed Lin Xia’s gaze and smiled, "Lin Xia! You’ve been acting off since you came back. What happened?"

Lin Xia hung her head and fiddled with her fingers, "Nothing happened!"

How could she possibly tell her second brother about that incident that was too coincidental to be coincidental?

All she could do now was play dumb.

"It doesn’t seem like it! We’ve known each other for more than a day or two, and I understand you quite well!" Jiang Mingyuan kept an eye on the traffic and paused before speaking, "Is it Lu Zheng’s family... What’s the situation there?"

"His family is nothing like mine! But they’re all pretty easy to talk to!" Lin Xia didn’t want to say too much to Jiang Mingyuan.

"Oh!" Jiang Mingyuan could tell Lin Xia was holding back from him, and he thought he could understand why.

He changed the subject, "By the way, Lin Xia! After you guys left, I went to the store and saw Lin Yu and her relatives whispering behind your back. It seemed they were up to no good!

So, I told the two people at your store to be extra vigilant! I also had some buddies swing by the area in the evening..."

He had seen how much heart and soul Lin Xia had poured into that store.

If something were to happen, one fire could destroy it all!

Even if they caught the person responsible later, some losses just couldn’t be recovered.

Lin Xia felt touched inside. Her second brother always silently looked out for her, silently took action for her.

Without ever expecting anything in return.

What had she, Lin Xia, done to deserve such treatment from him?

For a moment, Lin Xia felt a flood of emotions inside.

She thought that playing dumb wasn’t a solution, that she should sit down and have a proper talk with her second brother.

She liked Lu Zheng, and now they were in a relationship.

So, for her second brother’s feelings, all she could say was sorry.

But second brother was several years older than her. How could he keep waiting, year after year?

She had seen how anxious Aunt Zhao was about her second brother’s prospects for a partner.

Lin Xia made up her mind.

"Second Brother! After we open the store for a while, let’s go to your place and talk!"

"Sure! I was going to give you the past few days’ earnings anyway, I’ve been keeping it all with me.

I’m worried about leaving it at your house too—it’s not safe!" Jiang Mingyuan, sensing Lin Xia’s resolve, seemed to have a premonition but could only face it calmly.

The car arrived at the storefront.

Ding Ling was straddling the back seat of a bicycle. Seeing Lin Xia sitting in the passenger seat, she squinted and smiled at her.

"Sister Lin! You’re back!"

"Yeah! Just got back! You guys have worked hard these past two days!" Lin Xia got out of the car and cheerfully spoke to her.

After opening up, Lin Xia asked about the store’s situation and if there were any issues with the goods she had sent from the provincial city.

Once she confirmed everything was in order, Sun Xiaoli came to work at the store, so Lin Xia stepped out with Jiang Mingyuan.

At that moment, Qian Jie and Mother Chen came to open their store.

The four of them crossed paths.

Lin Xia acted as if she didn’t see them and immediately got into the passenger seat, Jiang Mingyuan walked around to get into the car as well.

Qian Jie, seeing Lin Xia had returned, scornfully curled her lip.

Truth be told, she had seen the Jeep from a distance.

These past few mornings and evenings, it had always been this man driving it.