"Is that okay?"
Old Madam Zheng gazed at Evan Lin's face, her features deeply etched with the wrinkles of age.
Her eyes were gentle, but also tinged with an indescribable nervousness.
This grandson was so outstanding that even Old Madam Zheng couldn't help but speak to him with gentle care.
Oh, come on! Our Little Evan is Master Lin of Seacrest now—he must be busy. You can't be so selfish, old lady.
Old Master Zheng, seeing Evan Lin silent, stepped in to smooth things over.
He was also worried that Evan Lin might object to Old Madam Zheng's request for him to stay.
After all, the more capable a person is, the more precious their time becomes.
"You talk about me, but who is it that's always muttering 'Why hasn't Little Evan come home yet?' in my ear?"
Old Madam Zheng shot a dissatisfied look at the old man beside her.
Old Master Zheng was momentarily speechless, unable to refute her words.
"I don't have anything urgent right now, so I'll stay here tonight."
Evan Lin spoke up.
He meant to say it more gently, but the words still came out a bit awkward.
Maybe it's just his temperament—no matter how much he tries to act tender, it's still hard for him.
He can only really show a bit of youthful softness when he's around Faye Zheng.
But neither Old Master nor Old Madam Zheng minded Evan's tone. Hearing his words, Old Madam Zheng broke into a broad smile: "Good, good, good! You'll sleep at home tonight."
"I'll go tidy up your room right now. You go out with Faye and take a walk around the estate."
Old Madam Zheng couldn't contain her inner delight.
While she hurried off to prepare Evan's room, Old Master Zheng went to call Zheng Liancheng and Zheng Hanshan, letting them know Evan had come home.
As for the situation with Zheng Lianyi and Locke, it wasn't really brought up.
"I really have to thank you today."
Faye Zheng and Evan Lin walked through the Zheng family estate. It was almost autumn, and most of the flowers in the back garden had already withered. The grass and trees were tinged with yellow.
With the vitality of spring and summer gone, even the cicadas that chirped through deep summer were mostly silent, leaving only the weak calls of the early autumn cicadas shedding their shells.
"There's no need to thank me. If anything happened to the Zheng family, my mom would definitely be upset too."
Evan Lin shook his head. "For my mom's sake, I'd step in no matter what. But you really don't need to look so nervous every time you see me."
So nervous.
Hearing that, Faye Zheng was momentarily stunned.
She lowered her head, unconsciously fiddling with the corner of her clothes. "Honestly, I just don't really know how to face you."
"Is it because I'm so outstanding that you're afraid you'll fall for me?"
Evan Lin spoke lightly.
His words were calm, but Faye Zheng's heart instantly raced.
This was the thing Faye Zheng least wanted to face. Ever since witnessing Evan Lin's strength and steadiness—the kind of maturity no boy their age should have—it struck straight at her heart.
The longer she spent with Evan Lin, the harder it was for her to even look at other guys.
No matter how outstanding, every guy was just trash compared to Evan Lin.
Most importantly, every time Faye stood beside Evan Lin, she felt a deep sense of safety.
It was as if there was nothing in the world he couldn't do.
"I know this isn't right."
Faye Zheng nodded, her voice barely above a whisper.
"You can treat me as your older brother."
Evan Lin thought for a moment, then spoke.
If this had been back when he first met Faye Zheng, Evan really had no patience or good temper for her spoiled heiress attitude.
But after several incidents—whether Faye was willing to risk herself for the Zheng family, or refused to reveal Evan's identity to Northwest Lord Tao, or refused to drag Evan into danger this time—Evan's attitude toward her changed a lot.
At least she's not a bad person.
Her character isn't bad.
Plus, given her relationship with Faye and Autumn Zheng, Evan didn't mind showing her a bit more kindness.
"Big brother?"
Faye Zheng hesitated. "But... I think I'm a bit older than you?"
Faye Zheng spoke carefully.
"I can still be your older brother."
Evan Lin shook his head. "I don't want such an immature older sister."
"Tch."
Hearing Evan's words, Faye Zheng suddenly felt much lighter, her mood brightening considerably.
If it was a sibling relationship, Faye could finally face her feelings directly.
"Oh right, Fang Qiuji's daughter, Yolanda Fang—I ran into her at Oceanport University of Foreign Studies a while back."
Faye Zheng suddenly remembered and spoke up.
She turned her head to look at Evan Lin beside her.
"Yeah? What did she say?"
Evan Lin nodded, walking slowly through the Zheng family estate. This was where Joy Zheng had lived as a child. Over the years, the Zhengs could have moved somewhere better, but they never did.
Even the last time Faye came home, her room's furnishings hadn't changed, and it was cleaned daily.
All of this was told to Evan Lin by Joy Zheng after they returned to Minghai. That's partly why Evan was willing to help the Zheng family.
"She asked me about you. I was curious—aren't you two friends?"
Faye Zheng asked, "At least I feel like her relationship with you should be better than mine with you."
"Hasn't she ever called you?"
Faye Zheng said curiously, "Actually, I really like Yolanda Fang. She has a good reputation at school."
"Her father, Fang Qiuji, was hit hard by what happened last time. But a skinny camel is still bigger than a horse—the family fortune is still there. Yet she doesn't put on airs, always cheerful with everyone."
"We had a meal together. She smiled and thanked the waitress, picked up litter off the street, and everything seemed so natural. But when she asked about you, I felt like she wanted to say something but held back."
Faye Zheng rambled on.
"Yeah, I've been pretty busy lately, so we haven't really kept in touch."
Evan Lin nodded, recalling what Lin Yan had told him before.
The two girls kept pushing Evan back and forth, neither wanting the other to get hurt, both understanding each other's feelings.
Why did he feel like he was just some package being passed around?
Evan Lin shook his head; the thought amused him.
But Yolanda Fang...
She used to be such a carefree, bold girl.