bacchusnovels Chapter 334 Nuonuo is Jealous: Dad Only Likes My Younger Brother
Chapter 334 Nuonuo is Jealous: Dad Only Likes My Younger Brother
The boisterous first birthday party finally came to an end. Guests gradually dispersed from the downstairs hall, and the servants were quickly tidying up. In contrast to the hustle and bustle of the first floor, the private lounge area on the second floor was remarkably spacious and tranquil. Crystal wall lamps cast a soft, warm glow, illuminating the thick cashmere carpeted passageway with a cozy and bright ambiance.
Lin Zhou carried the sleeping Lin An in one arm and walked slowly up the stairs. The little guy had really been in the spotlight today, and he was exhausted. He was fast asleep on his father's broad shoulder, occasionally smacking his lips.
"Young Master, all the gifts from the guests have been counted and put into storage." Old Chen followed behind in a low voice, holding a thick list in his hand.
Lin Zhou didn't even turn his head, he just waved his hand casually.
"Let's leave them for now. Tomorrow, Qingge will pick out a few that look good to put in the living room. Lock the rest in the basement safe; don't leave them out in the way."
Old Chen nodded, his gaze falling on the sleeping young master in Lin Zhou's arms, his eyes full of affection.
"The young master's first birthday celebration today was a huge surprise for everyone. Several entertainment company executives were still talking about it as they left, saying they wanted to sign our Lin family's future superstar twenty years in advance."
Upon hearing this, Lin Zhou snorted coldly, but a smile he couldn't hide appeared on his lips.
"They're dreaming. Even if my son, Lin Zhou, were to enter the entertainment industry, he would start his own company and become a financial tycoon. How could he possibly work for someone else?"
The master and servant were talking in hushed tones when Lin Zhou reached the door of the nursery.
He was just about to hand his son over to the nanny who had been waiting for him when he caught a glimpse of another door at the end of the corridor, slightly ajar. It was Nuonuo's princess room.
A faint rustling sound came from the room.
Lin Zhou raised an eyebrow, a hint of doubt creeping into his mind. At this hour, Nuonuo would usually be washed up and in bed listening to bedtime stories, so why was she still making a fuss today?
He slowed his pace and walked over. Through the crack in the door, he saw a scene that instantly tugged at his heartstrings.
Nuonuo was squatting on the carpet with her back to the door, her little bottom sticking up. In front of her was the little yellow duck backpack she usually only took to kindergarten. The little girl was stuffing her plush toys, crayons, and several bags of strawberry gummies that she hadn't eaten yet into the backpack.
On top of it was the old rag doll that the younger brother had heartlessly abandoned during the baby's first birthday celebration earlier that day.
"Nuonuo, what are you doing with your schoolbag in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?"
Lin Zhou pushed open the door and walked in, his tone somewhat amused. He thought his daughter was playing some kind of pretend game about running away from home again.
Hearing the familiar voice, Nuonuo didn't rush into his arms like a little cannonball as usual.
The little girl didn't even turn her head; she just quickened the pace of stuffing things into her hands. She zipped up the backpack, her thin arms struggling to slip through the shoulder straps, and managed to carry the bulging backpack on her back.
"None of your business!"
Her soft, muffled voice had a strong nasal tone.
Lin Zhou then realized something was wrong. The relaxed expression on his face instantly vanished, and he took a few steps to his daughter and squatted down.
"What's wrong? Who made our young lady Lin angry?"
Lin Zhou freed one hand, wanting to pinch his daughter's chubby cheeks.
Nuonuo suddenly took a big step back, avoiding his touch.
She looked up, her once clear and bright eyes now brimming with tears. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and glistening teardrops clung to her long eyelashes, making her look as if she had suffered a great injustice.
Lin Zhou's heart suddenly ached. This decisive man in the business world was most afraid of seeing his wife and daughter shed tears.
"Sweetie, what happened? Tell Daddy, and Daddy will teach him a lesson for you!"
Lin Zhou grew anxious, raising his voice several decibels. Startled, Lin An in his arms shifted uncomfortably.
Nuonuo stared intently at her younger brother in Lin Zhou's arms, and tears finally streamed down her face.
"You're a complete liar!"
Nuonuo sniffed and pointed her chubby little finger at Lin Zhou.
"You used to say that Nuonuo was the only treasure in this family. But today, you're all only looking at that little monkey!"
Lin Zhou was stunned, his brain racing as he tried to sort out this sudden family conflict.
"Today is your younger brother's first birthday party, so naturally everyone is paying more attention to him. How can that be considered lying to you?"
Lin Zhou patiently explained, trying to soothe the five-year-old child's disappointment with adult logic.
"But he stole my microphone!"
Nuonuo cried out in grievance, her tears flowing even more fiercely.
"That's what Mom uses for singing, and it's my favorite toy. Not only did he take it, but you also praised him, saying he'll be a superstar someday!"
The little girl became more and more upset as she spoke, her chest heaving violently.
"I left the doll there, hoping he'd be my little follower. But he didn't even glance at it!"
"He doesn't like me at all! You and Mom only like him now!"
The immense sense of loss that came from being the only child in the family for so long and then suddenly having all the attention taken away from them completely erupted at this moment.
Looking at his daughter's tear-streaked face, Lin Zhou felt a surge of intense guilt.
He then realized that he and Su Qingge had indeed neglected Nuonuo's feelings today.
Amidst the cheers and praises of a large crowd, they were so focused on enjoying the surprise of their son's first birthday celebration that they forgot about their daughter standing in the corner, eagerly anticipating her younger brother choosing his gift.
"Nuonuo, that's not true. Mommy and Daddy love you just the same."
Lin Zhou wanted to go forward and hug her, but he was still holding the sleeping Lin An in his arms, so his movements seemed a little clumsy.
Nuonuo watched her father's slightly stiff movements as he tried to hug her younger brother, and the bitterness in her heart was magnified.
She wiped away her tears, stubbornly turned around, and walked towards the door.
"I want to go back to my grandpa's house! I want to find my grandpa!"
"I'm just an extra person in this house anyway. You three can just live your lives happily!"
This little girl usually watches a lot of prime-time soap operas with Su Qingge, and now she can even recite the lines perfectly.
Lin Zhou was both annoyed and heartbroken. He stood up and tried to pull his daughter away, but Nuonuo slipped past him like a slippery little eel.
"Lin Nuonuo! You stop right there!"
Lin Zhou was genuinely panicking. It was the middle of the night, and it was snowing outside. If this girl really went out and caught a cold, Su Qingge would skin him alive.
Nuonuo ignored him completely, carrying her heavy little yellow duck backpack, and ran quickly towards the stairwell on the carpet.
Old Chen, who was in the corridor, was so frightened by what he saw that he quickly went to greet him.
"Oh my little darling, what are you up to? It's freezing outside, where are you going?"
Old Chen spread his arms to try and stop Nuonuo.
Nuonuo deftly ducked and slipped under Old Chen's arm, running madly towards the stairs without stopping.
"Grandpa Chen, get out of my way! I'm running away from home!"
Lin Zhou carried Lin An out of the room and chased after them. The man, who was usually quick and agile, didn't dare to take big steps because he was worried about the baby in his arms.
Watching his daughter's resolute little back, Lin Zhou completely abandoned his pretentious fatherly demeanor.
He turned to look at the nanny who rushed out of the nursery after hearing the noise.
"Aunt Liu! Come and take over!"
Lin Zhou let out a low growl and without hesitation, shoved the Lin family's crown prince, whom he had just cherished, into Liu Ma's arms like a hot potato.
The sudden feeling of being suspended in mid-air startled Lin An awake, and the little guy burst into tears.
But this time, Lin Zhou didn't even glance at his son.
He loosened his suit tie, strode after him with long strides in his expensive leather shoes.
"Lin Nuonuo, if you dare to step out of this door even half a step today, I'll buy your maternal grandfather's house and turn it into an amusement park!"
Lin Zhou rushed to the stairwell in three strides, and finally grabbed the strap of the little yellow duck backpack just before Nuonuo stepped down the first step.
"Why are you running away! You really think I can't handle you?"
Lin Zhou, panting heavily, picked up his daughter along with her schoolbag.
Nuonuo's feet were dangling in the air, and she thrashed about like an angry little turtle.
"Let me go! Go find your precious son! Why are you grabbing me?!"
The little girl cried and loudly accused him.
"Why are we arresting you?"
Lin Zhou reached out and pulled her tightly into his arms, resting his chin on her fluffy head, his voice filled with undisguised heartache.
"If I don't arrest you, do you really expect me to let you go out begging in the middle of the night?"
"Listen carefully, even if he becomes the King of Heaven in the future, you will always be the ancestor of this family."
"If you don't like him, tomorrow Dad will have a solid gold cage made and lock that kid up for you to play with like a monkey, okay?"