Chapter 29: Facing the Sea, with Spring Blossoms
After returning home, Lin Haoran took a shower and headed straight to his bedroom, turning in early for the night.
Having lived in this world for nearly a month, he had already fully adapted to his new identity. The uneasiness and unfamiliarity he had felt when he first arrived had quietly faded away.
The next morning, it wasn't until a little after nine o'clock that he finally emerged from his bedroom, stretching lazily and yawning, his face filled with anticipation for the new day.
The Lin family villa was exquisitely designed, with four stories above ground and one basement level.
Lin Haoran's room was located on the very top floor—a spacious attic suite full of character.
His parents preferred the warmth and convenience of the second floor, while his eldest brother, Lin Haoning, had originally occupied much of the third floor. As the youngest child of the family, Lin Haoran naturally settled on the fourth floor.
Although both of his elder sisters had long since married and moved out, their bedrooms on the second floor had been carefully preserved, as though waiting to welcome them home whenever they visit.
His eldest brother's room had likewise been left untouched after moving out. Lin Haoran had never considered living in any of their rooms.
He didn't mind being on the highest floor in the slightest.
In fact, he loved it.
The reason was simple.
Connected to the fourth floor was a spacious rooftop terrace.
Its location was perfect, overlooking the vast open sea with an unobstructed panoramic view.
The terrace had been beautifully decorated with over a dozen colorful potted flowers and plants. A comfortable reclining beach chair sat beneath a finely crafted parasol.
Lin Haoran treasured this terrace.
It had practically become his own private sanctuary.
Apart from the Filipino housemaids occasionally coming up to clean, hardly anyone ever disturbed him there.
Whenever he wanted to escape the noise of everyday life and enjoy a moment of peace, he would come to the terrace and lie back in the lounge chair.
Closing his eyes, he let the sea breeze gently brush across his face, carrying with it the salty scent of the ocean mixed with the fragrance of flowers.
It almost felt as though he could hear the sea breathing, becoming one with nature itself.
In his previous life, countless people had dreamed of a life described as "facing the sea, with spring blossoms."
Yet in this world...
Lin Haoran had unexpectedly made that dream a reality.
While eating breakfast in the first-floor dining room, his mother gently reminded him,
"If you don't have anything important to do this morning, don't rush out. Your second sister is bringing your nephew over later."
Lin Haoran smiled and nodded.
He didn't have any pressing matters today, so waiting at home for his second sister was perfectly fine.
After breakfast, he headed into the villa's backyard.
There, Li Weiguo, Li Weidong, and his father's personal bodyguard, Old Zhang, were already drenched in sweat as they went through their morning training.
As the senior among them, Old Zhang occasionally offered guidance and shared his experience with the two brothers.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves overhead, scattering patches of golden light across their sturdy figures.
According to Lin Haoran's memories, whenever it was the weekend and his father had no urgent business to attend to, Lin Wan'an usually chose to stay home and spend quality time with his wife.
Old Zhang had faithfully protected Lin Wan'an for over ten years.
His presence had long become an inseparable part of the Lin household.
Time had not diminished his vigilance or abilities; instead, it had only made him steadier and more composed.
The villa was equipped with various fitness equipment specifically so the bodyguards could maintain peak physical condition and respond to any emergency.
Ever since becoming Lin Haoran's bodyguards, Li Weiguo and Li Weidong had also maintained a strict daily training routine.
"Good morning, Young Master."
"Good morning, Young Master!"
Seeing Lin Haoran, all three men stopped what they were doing and greeted him respectfully.
"Morning to you too," Lin Haoran replied with a smile.
"Go ahead and continue. Don't mind me."
He then began exercising by himself.
His routine wasn't nearly as intense or professional as the bodyguards', but it was relaxed and comfortable.
Just as he was immersed in his workout, a maid hurried over.
"Young Master, the Second Miss has arrived. Madam asked me to come and fetch you."
Hearing that, Lin Haoran immediately stopped exercising.
"Alright, I'm coming."
As soon as he entered the living room, laughter and cheerful conversation filled the entire space.
"Uncle!"
A chubby little boy suddenly rushed out from the crowd and charged happily toward him.
Lin Haoran's smile immediately brightened.
He strode forward, scooped the boy up effortlessly, spun him around once, and laughed.
"My little nephew! It's only been a short while since I last saw you, and you've already grown so much stronger!"
At the same time, his gaze shifted toward the elegant woman seated gracefully on the sofa.
She looked to be just over thirty years old.
Her features were gentle, and her figure was pleasantly full and graceful.
She was his long-unseen second sister—
Lin Yiyi.
"Second Sister, it's been a long time."
Holding his nephew in his arms, Lin Haoran greeted her warmly.
"You little rascal." Lin Yiyi pretended to glare at him as she smiled.
"I heard from Mom that you've been back from England for three whole months, yet you never once came to visit your second sister.
"How heartless!
"I've spoiled you all these years for nothing."
Though her words sounded like a complaint, her bright eyes were filled only with affection and doting love.
In Lin Haoran's memories, both his second and third sisters had always adored him.
As the youngest child in the family, he had practically grown up under their constant care and affection.
As for his eldest brother, Lin Haoning...
In his memories, he had originally been a caring older brother as well.
However, ever since getting married and starting his own family, something about him had gradually changed.
The closeness and warmth they once shared had slowly faded away, leaving behind an unfamiliar distance.
Still carrying his nephew, Lin Haoran walked over and sat beside them on the sofa, quietly listening as the family chatted about everyday matters.
Among wealthy families, marriages traditionally emphasized equal social standing.
Naturally, his second sister's marriage had been no exception.
Several years earlier, she had married into Hong Kong's prominent Zhu family.
The Zhu family controlled Hengguang Real Estate Group.
Their family was even more powerful than the Lins, with Hengguang Real Estate boasting a market value exceeding HK$300 million, making them a significant force in Hong Kong's business world.
After lunch, his second sister stayed downstairs to chat warmly with their parents about family matters.
Meanwhile, Lin Haoran carried his five-year-old nephew upstairs to the fourth-floor terrace to play.
Some time later, his second sister came upstairs.
Smiling gently at her son, she said,
"Sweetheart, why don't you go downstairs and keep Grandpa and Grandma company for a while?
"Mommy needs to talk to your little uncle about something."
"Second Sister," Lin Haoran asked curiously, "did you want to discuss something important with me?"
After the maid led his nephew downstairs, Lin Haoran brought out two comfortable chairs from inside.
The siblings sat side by side on the terrace, gazing out at the shimmering sea stretching endlessly into the distance.
A gentle ocean breeze drifted across them, carrying with it a coolness that filled the quiet afternoon with peace and tranquility.
Author's Note:
Please continue following the novel. Thank you very much for your continued support, everyone!
(End of Chapter)
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