---

Chapter 26 Misunderstanding Cleared

Lin Tingjun had grown up with a red, orthodox upbringing. Respecting others’ privacy was basic common sense. He had always practiced it, and in over twenty years of life, this was the first time he had broken that rule—and he’d been caught.

He was at a loss, not even knowing how to face it.

“Sorry. I shouldn’t have invaded your privacy.” Lin Tingjun’s apology was stiff. Both emotionally and rationally, peeking into someone else’s personal letters was wrong. But in his mind, his mistake stopped there.

“But, I’ll say this again: put away any thoughts or motives you shouldn’t have. My father brought you here out of gratitude, but that doesn’t mean our family is here to be toyed with.”

“Learning is a serious matter. I hope you’re studying to expand your knowledge and broaden your vision, not for some other reason.”

“And don’t waste your efforts on me—I’m not interested. My only goal is to serve my country.”

He had used this rejection speech countless times before. It was tried-and-true. Every time, it worked.

“Anything else?” Xu Jingchu plucked a stalk of foxtail grass from the ground and twirled it between her fingers, her casual attitude making her look anything but sincere.

“Yes.” Lin Tingjun, taking it as his last attempt to help her, added, “What my mother said to you was for your own good. Filial piety and blind obedience are not the same. I hope when you repay your parents’ kindness, you learn to maintain the right balance.”

“Thank you, Tingjun-ge. Don’t worry, I have a very clear head about this.” Mentioning her family wiped the smile from Xu Jingchu’s face.

She could never forget her past life—already critically ill, yet her mother hadn’t even cared to ask after her. All she wanted was money: money for a house, for renovations, for appliances because everyone else had them; money for her nephew’s schooling, for piano lessons…

Her mother even said, “You and Yuejin don’t have kids. Do you think his family will take care of you? You’ll have to rely on Xiaobao to support you in old age.”

Xu Xiaobao supporting her? What a joke. The scene of Xu Jianguo, Xu Xiaobao, and Wang Yuejin squabbling over her assets at her sickbed was still vivid in her memory.

Her illness had been treatable, but none of them had cared. They fought, even came to blows, and the only thing they agreed on was to give up on treating her.

Lin Tingjun noticed how Xu Jingchu’s expression shifted—her smile gone, replaced by a severe, even sharp look. She seemed like a completely different person.

They said June weather and a child’s face could change in an instant. Apparently, a woman’s face could too. Almost as if… some kind of demon had suddenly possessed her.

No, no, believe in science—none of that superstitious nonsense. It had to be another trick she invented to catch his attention.

“Tingjun-ge, since you’ve spoken so sincerely, let me also make my stance clear. I know how to handle matters with my family. You and Auntie Zhang mean well—I can tell the difference.”

“As for the letters you read, I can’t control how my mother thinks, but the reason I replied that way was to buy myself time to study in peace.”

“Otherwise, if she came making a scene at the Lin household, not only would your parents lose face, but they’d probably have to spend even more money on me. I’ve already troubled you all enough—I don’t want to trouble you more.”

“Yes, I do have my own selfishness. I was afraid if my mother made trouble, Uncle Lin would arrange a job for me. Then I wouldn’t have the time I have now to study.”

“I genuinely want to learn. I genuinely want to ask you questions. But claiming I wanted to use that as an excuse to get close to you and marry you? That was just me lying to my mom.”

“I’ve made myself clear today. Believe it or not—it’s up to you. Think it over.”

“Tingjun-ge, that’s all I have to say. If you don’t eat those dumplings now, they’ll get cold. Either eat at the cafeteria or dump them into your lunchbox. I need to head home and study.”

Xu Jingchu rattled everything off like pouring beans from a jar.

Lin Tingjun couldn’t immediately tell truth from lies. The letters were her version of events. This explanation was also her version. No one could prove it true, no one could prove it false.

Maybe this was just a more elaborate scheme to make him trust her, lower his guard, and then slowly reel him in. But… she had sounded so righteous, her gaze so firm.

“Come on, Tingjun-ge, deal with the dumplings and let me go home. Aren’t you busy with experiments anyway?” Xu Jingchu nudged him, snapping him out of his daze.

“Alright, alright.” He still couldn’t read this girl at all.

“By the way, I told Uncle and Auntie that you suddenly came back to school on Saturday because something urgent came up. Don’t let it slip next time you call.” She reminded him.

A handsome man and a pretty girl walking side by side on campus made for a striking sight, turning many heads. Noticing, Xu Jingchu quickened her pace to distance herself from him, worried he might misunderstand.

She… really wanted to draw a clear line with him? She… truly had no ulterior motives, no designs?

It should have been a good thing, yet a strange feeling crept into Lin Tingjun’s heart. He brushed it off, telling himself it was only because so many eyes—both girls’ and boys’—were watching them today.

“Wait here. I’ll go to my dorm and dump the dumplings into my lunchbox.” Lin Tingjun gestured for her to stay put.

“Okay.” Xu Jingchu stood tall in the breeze, smiling openly.

It was rare to see a girl waiting downstairs at the boys’ dorm, though for Lin Tingjun’s building, it wasn’t unheard of. Occasionally, girls would linger to “bump into him.”

But today’s girl was different—especially pretty. Not the kind of beauty achieved with careful makeup and dressing, but one in a simple yellow top, black trousers, and two ponytails. No powder, no lipstick. Natural, fresh, like a lotus out of clear water.

Sigh. Lin Tingjun’s peach-blossom luck just kept getting better.

A few extroverted boys walked over to chat with her. “Hey, miss, you waiting for Lin Tingjun? That guy’s tough to chase.”

“You’ve misunderstood. I am waiting for him, but I’m not chasing him—I’m his sister.” Xu Jingchu smiled gracefully.

Sister?! No wonder she was so pretty. Must be the genes. If she was really his sister, and Lin Tingjun didn’t make a move, then maybe someone else could…

“Um… Sister Lin, how old are you?”

“You came to find Tingjun, right? He’s probably in the lab. Want me to call him for you?”

Hearing she was his sister, they grew even more enthusiastic.

“No need, my brother’s upstairs—he’ll be down soon.”

Just then, Lin Tingjun arrived to see the little crowd around her, everyone chatting happily.

Surrounded by men again! Hadn’t the last incident with those hooligans taught her a lesson? Lin Tingjun quickened his pace.

“Here’s your lunchbox. I’ll walk you home.” He shoved the box into her hands.

“Wow, so cold to even his sister. Guess being good-looking really lets you do whatever you want.”

Lin Tingjun ignored them and said to Xu Jingchu, “Let’s go, I’ll take you to the bus stop.”

Being personally escorted to the bus stop? Xu Jingchu couldn’t help the quiet delight in her heart. This trip had definitely been worth it.

---