"What are you two dawdling about? Hurry up and come eat!"
While the two of them were fiddling with the porcelain pieces in the room, a sudden roar came from Empress Dowager Ye outside the bedroom, startling the pair.
After exchanging a glance, they hurriedly responded and stepped out of the bedroom, only to bump right into Empress Dowager Ye who was coming towards them.
Just kidding, with my college entrance exams the day after tomorrow, if Mom sees me messing with these porcelain pieces instead of studying, there's no way I can avoid a whack with her shoe.
Likewise, Dad won't fare any better; he might end up sleeping on the sofa tonight.
This incident clearly shows Empress Dowager Ye's status in the family.
At the dining table, the two exchanged a look, both seeing the relief in each other's eyes.
"What are you two up to, acting all sneaky?"
Despite their caution, Empress Dowager Ye with her sharp eyes still noticed something amiss.
The atmosphere tensed up momentarily, but Father Lin reacted quickly, immediately asking Lin Yi:
"You brat, come on, spit it out. Did you get into trouble outside again? Today when your mom and I came back, the neighbors gave us weird looks and were whispering behind our backs. Come clean now, honest confession gets leniency!"
Upon hearing Dad's words and seeing his stern expression, Lin Yi rolled his eyes helplessly. Oh right, better him than me.
They say that the devil is a foot high, but the way is a yard higher, and Dad was impressive, using a sudden shift to turn the topic onto him.
However, Lin Yi was dismissive. With such a forced topic shift by Lao Lin, there's no way Empress Dowager Ye would be fooled. Since Lao Lin sold out his son first, don't blame me for setting up my own father next!
Ha, I'll just tell Mom you were teaching me about antiques with those porcelain pieces, let's see who gets the last laugh tonight.
Just as Lin Yi was organizing his thoughts to get back at Dad, Empress Dowager Ye looked directly at him:
"Your eyes are darting around, hurry up and tell us the truth, don't think you can fool us!"
Although Father Lin and Mother Lin heard congratulatory remarks when they came back, to be safe, Empress Dowager Ye and Lao Lin decided to intimidate their son a little in the kitchen.
After all, past experience taught them that a little intimidation would always make their son confess some wrongdoing.
But hearing Empress Dowager's words, Lin Yi was dumbfounded, was this disaster for no reason? I've been doing good deeds lately, haven't caused any trouble!
"Uh...no, what's going on here?? I haven't caused any trouble, those porcelain pieces..."
"Porcelain what? No need to make excuses! Your mom and I discussed for a long time in the kitchen and concluded that you must have caused trouble! You should have seen the neighbors' looks. Stop lying, your mom and I are not unreasonable, just confess so we can eat."
How could a father not know his son? Hearing Lin Yi mention 'porcelain', Lao Lin knew something was off, and he immediately interrupted before his son could finish, giving him a meaningful glare.
And from that look, Lin Yi understood the special implication from Lao Lin. He didn't need to think much; years of experience told him Lao Lin was suggesting to sacrifice something to save the main interest...
But Lin Yi truly felt wronged, especially after hearing they were reasonable people, he felt a sudden pain in his backside.
Reasonable? Sure, she'd never argued with me when she could act...
And what's up with the neighbors? Did Liu Mei's mom say something?
But it shouldn't be, this afternoon at the building, I gave them enough face, even when Liu Mei said that about me, I didn't say anything?
Since Lin Yi hadn't left the room since he went in, he was unaware that Sun Zhi had publicly mentioned him selling an antique for five million along with owning a four million valued Land Rover.
In his deep thoughts, Lin Yi suddenly thought of something, was it because he declined the principal's recommendation for Fudan that the news spread in the community?
But that's unlikely, even if there are classmates in this building, it shouldn't spread this fast?
Apart from that issue, I really haven't done anything that could make Mom and Dad think it's a problem?
"Ahem, well I really didn't cause any trouble, you're not talking about the school thing, right? That's not how it seems, I only did it because I was confident!"
Finally, Lin Yi cautiously glanced at his mom's expression, probing as he asked.
But, hearing their son's words, Empress Dowager Ye and Lao Lin exchanged glances and nodded, no one knows a child better than the mother, looks like there's unexpected gain!
Exchanging glances, Empress Dowager Ye deliberately said with a stern face:
"Explain the situation clearly!"
Knowing a mother by her child, and reciprocally, understanding a mother by her child, upon hearing Empress Dowager Ye's words, Lin Yi knew it wasn't this matter.
For if Mom really knew about this, she'd have gone straight to actions, not have him repeat it.
Also, Lao Lin would find an excuse to get some tea during such times...
But since he brought it up, Lin Yi didn't plan to hide it, as his current achievements were indeed impressive, and he believed that once his parents understood the truth, they'd support his decision.
Hence, Lin Yi deliberately sat up straight, cleared his throat, and with an air of arrogance, he began:
"Ahem, so here's what happened, this morning our principal invited me to his office,"
Before he could continue, Empress Dowager Ye slammed the table, startling both Lin Yi and Lao Lin:
"What?? Even your principal called you? What monstrous trouble have you gotten into!"
Seeing Empress Dowager Ye's wide eyes, Lin Yi shrank his neck, despite his fearlessness outside, he dared not breathe heavily in front of Empress Dowager.
But this time was different, this time he really hadn't done anything wrong, with right on his side, why fear?
"Wait, wait, Empress Dowager Ye, please let me finish, I really didn't cause any trouble.
Here's the thing, our principal called me over because I performed excellently, and he insisted on giving me the city's only spot for a recommendation to Fudan University.
I thought, how is that possible with my grades, just one spot for Fudan? So your son waved it off, guess what, I directly declined it!
Hey, hey, I'm not finished, Mom, where are you going?"
"I'm going to get the rolling pin..."
...
[To be continued...]