"Jiejie?" Understanding seemed to have struck Bai Xi all of a sudden as tears welled up in her eyes but she forced a smile to stop her tears from falling. Her voice trembled. "I've always felt guilty for occupying your room all these years but it's mom's arrangement. I..."
Bai Lin interrupted the act. "I'm going to take a shower. Bye."
She then closed the door, leaving Bai Xi outside.
Bai Xi clenched her fingers, piercing her long nails into her palms.
She stared at the door for several seconds and rubbed her eyes forcefully, making the corners of her eyes redder.
When she went downstairs, Zhao Yuan was distressed when she saw her eyes. "What's wrong? Did Bai Lin bully you?"
Bai Xi forced a smile. "No, it's my fault."
Bai Shao threw his phone away to go upstairs for Bai Lin when Bai Xi stopped him.
"Xiao Shao, it's jiejie's first day back. She might still need some time to get used to the family. I'm fine."
After that, no matter what Zhao Yuan and Bai Shao asked, she did not answer and only blamed herself.
After Bai Lin put away her luggage, the Bai patriarch had also returned home. The chef made three dishes and a soup as the welcoming dinner for Bai Lin.
The atmosphere at the dining table was depressing. Their father stared at Bai Lin grimly while Bai Shao and Zhao Yuan's gazes were sharp like they could prick.
Bai Lin was oblivious to all that. She had not eaten anything since she boarded the plane and was famished, beginning to eat voraciously.
Bai Xi sat across from Bai Lin, eating small mouthfuls of rice. She reached out her chopsticks to pick up some dishes but retracted them halfway and continued to pitifully eat her bowl of white rice, as if someone was bullying her and had refused to let her pick up any dish.
Their father frowned, putting down his bowl forcefully, and said unhappily, "Since you're back now, you should change the habits you brought from the countryside and behave more like a wealthy heiress."
Bai Lin paused for a moment before she ate even faster.
Bai Lin took the last chicken drumstick, causing Bai Shao, who did not manage to snatch it, to slam his chopsticks on the table and went on his game. "I've had enough. I'll ask Auntie Wang to make me some more later."
A familiar background music played on the phone. Bai Lin glanced in Bai Shao's direction and saw that it was the current most popular role-playing game, "The World".
"Bumpkin, do you know how to play the game?" Bai Shao asked disdainfully.
Bai Lin burped and shook her head.
As expected, Bai Shao despised this good-for-nothing who only knew how to eat even more. He rolled his eyes and turned to Bai Xi, asking obsequiously, "Jie, let's play together."
Bai Xi's level was much higher than his, and her technique and awareness were also better.
Bai Xi looked at Bai Lin and asked slowly, "Jiejie, do you want to play with us? I'll teach you."
"No," Bai Lin replied.
Bai Shao looked at Bai Lin's arrogant expression and sneered, "So many people have begged my sister to teach them but they don't have the chance. You're really ungrateful."
Bai Lin smiled and went upstairs.
A few minutes later, Bai Shao's howls could be heard from downstairs.
"Motherf * cker! Why is my account blocked?! Hua Ke and Bei An are both sons of a b*tch!"
Upstairs, messages kept popping up on the intranet communication software on Bai Lin's computer.
Bei An: [My lord, you're finally online. Who did you ask me to block just now?]
Bei An: [Have you considered drafting the framework for The World 2?]
Bei An: [Hua Ke and Zhen Xing both came to me saying that they're willing to invest three billion in The World 2. The price can probably be doubled when the framework is out.]
Bei An: [Lin-jie, God Lin, please. Hundreds of millions of players around the world are waiting for you.]
Bai Lin replied unhurriedly: [No.]
She was too lazy to do it.
Bei An: [Jie, you're the only one I respect. You'll get more than a billion in from the investment dividends. Are you sure you don't want to reconsider?]
Bai Lin's fingers tapped on the keys lightly: [No.]
Bei An looked at the profile picture that went dim and sighed silently.
It was as expected of God Lin, the prodigy in the gaming world. How did he dare use mere billions as his negotiation chip? He had been too rash.
...
The next day when Bai Lin went downstairs after a good night's sleep, the rest of the Bai Family were already there.
Bai Shao's game account had been blocked but he had bought another account to play. From time to time, he would strike up a conversation. Bai Xi sat between Bai Shao and Zhao Yuan. The three of them were probably talking about something interesting as they laughed together.
When they saw Bai Lin, the warm and hearty atmosphere came to an abrupt stop. They stopped what they were doing and looked at Bai Lin.
Bai Lin washed the white t-shirt and shorts that she had worn yesterday and changed into the same style, so she looked the same as yesterday. Compared to the Bai Family members who were dressed up neatly despite being home, it felt like they were from two different worlds.
Bai Xi's expression froze. Bai Lin who had just woken up did not suffer from water retention on her face and looked radiant. She did not even need to put on lipstick and was already looking more beautiful than her who had makeup on.
Bai Lin walked down the last of steps while Bai Xi hid her shady thoughts. She smiled and waved at Bai Lin. "Good morning, jiejie."
Bai Lin nodded casually and walked into the kitchen in her slippers.
She trained a lot back when she was a mercenary and had a high demand for food intake. Now that she had retired, her appetite had not diminished.
Bai Xiao's dissatisfaction grew when he saw that Bai Lin went straight to the kitchen ignoring them. Coupled with her behavior yesterday, he ordered, "Bai Lin, come here."
Bai Lin stopped and tilted her head to look at Bai Xiao for a few seconds with her hands in her pockets, unnerving Bai Xiao.
He had no idea how this girl was raised. He could not see any emotion in her eyes, nor did she show any desire for a family.
She was clearly just a bad apple who was inexperienced and naive. What was there to be afraid of?