Chapter 773: Chapter 773: I’m Already 21 Years Old!
Originally, she thought the Huo Family was in business and should be considered a wealthy family.
Her understanding of a wealthy family probably meant having assets in the billions, making her a minor heiress.
Little did she know…
After spending a few days with them, she could feel that the Huo Family was comparable in status to the Rong Family. However, it was only through Lin Qi’s words that she realized the Huo Family was a super-rich household in Beijing.
This was somewhat unexpected for her.
Ten years of hard studying.
Her biggest childhood dream was to be a freeloader. As she grew up, she felt that this dream was difficult to achieve, so she had to study hard.
But in the end…
She actually achieved her childhood dream overnight!
When Yinyin heard Huo Tinghan say he would take care of her, she felt touched, but she still smiled, “However, I also want to become as excellent as my brothers.”
Lin Jinmo said, “Yinyin, you are already excellent enough.”
Lin Qi said, “My sister doesn’t want to win by lying down; she wants to earn her life on her own. As expected of my daughter, she’s ambitious!”
She encouragingly patted Yinyin on the shoulder, “Mom respects you. From now on, Mom will give you a monthly allowance of 200,000 yuan, which can be seen as a good way to sharpen your skills.”
Yinyin: “…Thank you, Mom.”
It seemed that whether it was Mom and Dad or the three brothers, they seemed to have no concept of money.
An allowance of 200,000 yuan was already an astonishing amount.
However, this wasn’t the most eye-opening thing for Yinyin.
In the afternoon, Lin Qi took her precious daughter to dive straight into a shopping center, instantly starting a shopping spree.
Clothes from Chanel, bags from Hermes, jewelry from Van Cleef; whenever Yinyin looked at anything for a moment longer, Lin Qi would elegantly swipe the card.
In just an afternoon, the mother and daughter spent over a million yuan at the shopping center.
When Huo Tinghan came to pick them up to go home, on the way, Yinyin secretly took a peek at the bill.
Not knowing was fine, but once she saw it, it was simply shocking.
In the evening.
Huo Tingdong took Yinyin to the airport.
Her adoptive parents were waiting at the boarding gate.
They held an envelope in their hands.
Inside was a check and a bank card.
Huo Tingdong gave them a million yuan and declared that from now on, Yinyin would have nothing to do with them and that there was no need to meet again.
The couple was still in a state of shock even now.
How could they have known the daughter they had raised for so many years was actually the heiress of a super-rich family in Beijing? Initially, they were worried the Huo Family would hold them accountable, but to their surprise, Huo Tingdong only declared that they were not allowed to meet or disturb his daughter’s life again and gave them a sum of money.
A million yuan.
To them, it was an astronomical number, and ironically, it was the same amount promised by that nouveau riche in Yan City as a dowry.
They had never seen so much money in their lives, so they forced Yinyin to marry that nouveau riche’s son for this million yuan.
Unexpectedly, they obtained this money in such a way!
This sum was enough to ensure they were well-provided for in their later years, or to return to Yan City and invest in a small business, or to buy a villa for retirement, or to use part of it to help their son find a wife.
In short… all this came too suddenly, like a dream.
They still felt a bit disoriented until now.
Yinyin walked up to them, looking at them.
The couple awkwardly stood up, not knowing what attitude to take towards her.
Yinyin sighed and walked up to her adoptive mother, saying lightly, “This is the last time I call you Mom; because over the years, you’ve sort of fulfilled some parental duties.”
She never held grudges, only remembered kindness.
She still remembered that when she was aggrieved outside as a child, her adoptive mother once comforted her and took her to buy snacks at the supermarket.
When her brother bullied her, although her adoptive father wouldn’t comfort her, he would scold her brother.
Anyway…
Part on good terms.
Yinyin said, “I believe my dad gave you a sum of money, hoping it can help you live a good life.”
Her adoptive mother’s lips quivered, “Yinyin…”
Yinyin interrupted her, “My name is not ‘Liang Yin’; it’s ‘Huo Zijin.’ I’ve returned to my real home, and you should return to yours. I wish you a safe journey.”
With that, she opened her arms to give them a hug.
Her adoptive mother, filled with guilt, hugged her sadly, “I’m sorry…”
Her adoptive father also came forward, remorsefully saying, “I’m sorry, Huo… daughter, this is also the last time I’ll call you ‘daughter.’ You’ve suffered following us all these years.”
Yinyin gracefully hugged him, “From now on, take care of yourselves!”
She watched the couple pass through the boarding gate before slowly turning to leave.
Back home, Yinyin returned to her room in a daze, looking at the room filled with shopping bags, the “trophies” Lin Qi had bought her after an afternoon of shopping.
In one night, she had transformed from a down-and-out Cinderella to a treasured little princess. She needed to adjust her mindset.
She was going back to school the next morning.
After packing her backpack, she went to Lin Qi’s room.
“Mom, I need to talk to you.”
Lin Qi was taken aback but then sat down on the bed, “No rush, sit down and talk slowly.”
Yinyin obediently walked over, sat down opposite her, and, after preparing her remarks, gradually and tactfully said, “Mom, I know… You’re happy that I’m back, and so are Dad and the brothers. I’m touched by how well you’ve treated me and the long-lost warmth I feel. But… I grew up in a very ordinary family and am used to a life of penny-pinching. No matter what I do, I’m used to budgeting carefully and planning for the future. I know Dad is very rich, and the brothers are too, but… a 200,000 monthly allowance is still way too high for me. I’m afraid it might upset my mindset. So…”
Lin Qi became nervous, “I overlooked that. Ever since you were found, I’ve been living in surprise, anticipation, and nervousness, surprised by your return, anticipating your integration into your rightful home, and nervous, fearing we wouldn’t take adequate care of you.”
Yinyin laughed, “So thoughtful, but Mom… maybe it’s because you and Dad are so happy that I can come home, but maybe because I was too young when I went missing, not even five, your love and attention for me stayed at that age, so much so that you forgot I’m already 21.”
21 years old…
Only then did Lin Qi realize that she had always thought of Yinyin as the little girl she was at four and a half.
When Yinyin went missing, she wasn’t even five, so, in her mind, she was still that five-year-old girl, ignoring that she was already an adult who could stand on her own.
Lin Qi lowered her head, feeling a pang of compassion.