Chapter 39

When Lin Yuxi arrived at Yu Jiaxiao’s company to deliver soup, Yu Jiaxiao was sitting at her desk, sporting two dark circles under her eyes, typing away at the computer, reworking the one hundred and eighty-first version of a proposal. 

After typing for a while, she clasped her hands together and prayed to all the gods, ancient and modern, that her boss would have no sex life in this lifetime and the next. 

This wasn’t Lin Yuxi’s first visit. When the colleagues in Yu Jiaxiao’s office saw her, their lethargy instantly lifted. 

“Lin, the beautiful lady, has come to feed us delicious food again?” 

“I brought some fish soup for Xiao Xiao.” Lin Yuxi placed the thermos filled with fish soup and the lunch she had bought on the way down. Instantly, several necks stretched out to see. 

Yu Jiaxiao glided over in her chair, and as soon as the thermos was opened, the entire office went silent. 

“Wuwuwu, why isn’t there a beautiful lady bringing me food?”  

The little chubby guy next to Yu Jiaxiao twisted his face and said, “Who could possibly marry such a beautiful and virtuous wife? Do I have any chance in this lifetime?” 

Lin Yuxi replied, “You do.” 

The chubby guy looked shocked, his eyes lighting up like bulbs. “Really?” 

Lin Yuxi smiled and said, “This soup is made by our family’s aunt. She’s divorced and has no kids. If you need, I can help you introduce her.” 

Chubby guy:  

Yu Jiaxiao’s team leader came over holding a spoon, extending it toward her bowl while pretending to ask, “Yu Jiaxiao, have you finished revising your proposal?” 

“I’ve barely started; you just gave me the go-ahead half an hour ago!” Yu Jiaxiao slurped the soup, hugging the thermos to guard it fiercely. “Hey! You’ve already taken three sips; don’t you have any shame?” 

The office was lively, and although Lin Yuxi wasn’t hungry, she opened her mouth and ate the beef that Yu Jiaxiao offered her. 

“What are you doing this afternoon?” Yu Jiaxiao asked. “Why not stay with me at the office? Qiqi didn’t come today. Just put on a mask and sit in her place; our boss’s dog eyes definitely won’t notice.” 

Lin Yuxi was speechless. “Am I that free? I took a day off to come work at your company.” 

She laughed heartily. “I miss you! I’ve been so busy lately that my head’s spinning. It’s been days since I last saw you. I called you last night, and you didn’t answer. Where were you?” 

“I went to sleep,” Lin Yuxi said, suddenly opening her arms to hug her. 

Yu Jiaxiao almost immediately put down her food and hugged her back, saying sweetly, “Love you, love you! Love you to death!” 

Lin Yuxi rubbed her head. “I know.” 

Even the team leader couldn’t bear to watch. “You two should just be together. When same-sex marriage becomes legal next year, I’ll vote for you.” 

Yu Jiaxiao scoffed, “If she liked girls at all, you think her husband would stand a chance?” 

Lin Yuxi laughed and stood up. “You keep eating. I have to go somewhere.” 

The Qi Yue Mansion used to be a well-known high-end residential complex in Lin City. However, after twenty years, the new buildings had aged, and what once was a premium property had also weathered the rapid changes of the city, with its exterior walls bearing the marks of time. 

Due to its previous high-quality positioning, Qi Yue Mansion still housed many retired officials. 

When the complex was built, its extensive green space became a selling point. Now, the transplanted trees had grown lush, and the surrounding area boasted complete facilities, from kindergartens to middle schools, hospitals, and supermarkets. 

Therefore, even though it had fallen from the high-end market, the housing prices here remained the ceiling in the vicinity. 

Lin Yuxi pressed the doorbell, and footsteps quickly approached from inside. A woman called out, “Who is it?” while opening the door. 

Upon seeing Lin Yuxi, her expression first showed surprise, then shifted to a complex mix of guilt, helplessness, regret, and even a hint of sadness. 

“Auntie,” Lin Yuxi greeted. 

“Yuxi, you’re back,” her aunt Ye Wei said, her hands covered in flour as she seemed to be making dough. She awkwardly wiped her hands on her not-so-clean apron and hurriedly stepped aside to let Lin Yuxi in. “Come in quickly.” 

“I won’t go in today,” Lin Yuxi said at the door. “I came to tell you that this house is my parents’ inheritance, and I plan to reclaim it.” 

Before her aunt could say anything, Lin Yuxi continued, “You and Uncle should find a place to move out as soon as possible.” 

Her aunt immediately began to cry. “Yuxi, you know my situation. My back hurts so much I can’t even sit up. I don’t know how much longer I can keep this job. The salary is so little each month, and I have to cover the household expenses. Plus, I need to provide living expenses for your brother. He’s in college now, and the cost of living there is high. Three thousand a month isn’t enough. Your uncle is unreliable, and I…” 

Lin Yuxi’s expression was devoid of much emotion as she looked at her aunt: “I’ve heard this many times before. I’ve shown you understanding; otherwise, I would have reclaimed this house three years ago.” 

“Yuxi, you’re pushing us to a dead end!”  

“There are many people in this city without houses; they won’t die. If you hadn’t moved in back then, would you really have not survived to this day?” 

“Do you still dare to come here?” Her uncle Zhao Jianhui emerged from inside the house, pointing at Lin Yuxi and cursing loudly. 

“I’ve never seen such an ungrateful wolf! When your parents died, if it weren’t for us taking care of you, you wouldn’t even know where you’d be now! Not only are you ungrateful, but you also live in luxury with your rich husband and drive fancy cars without thinking of us, yet you come back every day to collect debts. Your husband is so wealthy with so many houses; isn’t that enough for you?” 

“If you’re talking about taking care of me for a few months and then tossing me into an orphanage while seizing my family’s house,” Lin Yuxi replied, “then I really have nothing to be grateful for.” 

“What do you mean your family’s house? We’ve lived here for so many years; what the hell does it have to do with you?” 

“Shut up…” Her aunt tried to pull him back, but the man shoved her aside, his strong voice echoing throughout the building. 

“Don’t think I won’t dare to do anything just because you have support! Get out of here! You’re like a harbinger of death. Let me tell you, your parents died because of you!” 

The last sentence made Lin Yuxi’s face go cold, and she stopped wasting her breath on them. 

“One period of time. If you still refuse to leave by then, I will take legal action.” 

Her aunt wiped away her tears. “Yuxi, do you really have to do this…” 

“Stop crying! Go away and don’t waste my time here!” 

Zhao Jianhui roughly pushed her aside and blocked the door, shouting at Lin Yuxi: “Who are you trying to scare? Just because you say this house is yours, it’s yours? Don’t think I don’t know the law; I’ve consulted a lawyer. If you want this house, you first have to prove you’re the daughter of Lin Sheng and Ye Qiang! 

“Their daughter has been missing for a long time, and the police have a missing persons record. You’re just a namesake orphan; who can prove it for you?” 

He felt invincible, relying on the fact that Lin Yuxi’s parents had died early. He had occupied the house for nearly twenty years; who could take it back from him? 

Lin Yuxi knew he was shameless, but she didn’t expect him to be this shameless. 

Back when he and her aunt were together, he seemed refined, and many said he was a kept man. Even her grandmother disagreed with her aunt marrying him. 

Blinded by love, her aunt fought with her family to elope with him, not realizing that the once-sophisticated man was essentially a rogue. 

Years passed, and he had become a middle-aged man with a bloated face and a repulsive appearance. 

Lin Yuxi stood calmly in front of him: “The news of the Zhou family adopting Lin Sheng’s orphan was reported back then; the Zhou family is the best proof.” 

“That was so many years ago; who knows if they randomly adopted a child and said she was Lin Sheng’s daughter? Besides, the Zhou family was all about hype and reputation; can hype be evidence? Go to court and see if the judge recognizes it!” 

Lin Yuxi smiled slightly. “That’s okay. If the judge doesn’t recognize the news, he should recognize the results of a paternity test.” 

“Do you think I’m a three-year-old child? Your parents have been dead for nearly twenty years; go get a test with a ghost.”