Reborn in the 1980s: I became a stepmother in the 1980s Ⅱ

Part 229 Si Nian's true face?

She lowered her eyes, speaking with deep regret, "Mom and Dad, I know I was wrong. Please forgive me."

Her appearance shocked her parents. They had worried she would blame them and say hurtful things, but unexpectedly, Lin Sisi suddenly softened.

Zhang Cuimei looked at her daughter's emaciated figure, tears streaming down her face. "Sisi, what are you doing? Get up! Mom has long stopped being angry with you."

"Don't worry, once your dad settles down here, we will definitely find a way to bring you back. We won't let you suffer anymore."

They thought Lin Sisi would be moved by this, but to their surprise, she shook her head, as if she had suddenly matured. "Mom and Dad, it's okay. I was willful before and made things difficult for you. But now I understand; you don't need to worry about me anymore."

The couple stared at her in shock, their expressions filled with disbelief.

Just a short while ago, Lin Sisi had been stubbornly refusing to accept her situation, even insulting them rather than sit in jail. Now, she was saying she didn't need their help?

Lin Sisi bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes, her voice choked. "These past few months, I've deeply understood my mistakes. This is all I deserve."

"Mom and Dad, I'm not asking you to rescue me. In fact, if I get out now, it would only tarnish your reputation. So, please let me stay here."

"I only ask for one thing."

She looked at her parents with pleading eyes.

The couple paused, puzzled. "What is it? Sisi, if there's anything we can do to help, just say it."

Lin Sisi lowered her head, feeling guilty. "I heard from Dongdong that Si Nian is coming to the city to be a teacher."

Their expressions changed. Zhang Cuimei quickly reassured her, "Don't worry, Sisi. Even though Si Nian is back, you are still our biological daughter, and no one can replace you."

As she thought about her daughter's sudden maturity, Zhang Cuimei wondered if this change was due to hearing about Si Nian's return to the city and their willingness to embrace her as their daughter instead. Guilt washed over her even more.

She had thought that if Si Nian really became a teacher in the city, she would definitely visit. After all, having a teacher in the family could bring many benefits.

Her husband had been increasingly leaning towards Si Nian. Their daughter was clearly afraid of being abandoned again, to the point where she didn't dare ask them to rescue her.

Lin Sisi quickly reassured them. She had considered this possibility, but hearing Zhang Cuimei's words made her realize that they genuinely had this intention.

A cold glint flashed in her eyes as she bit down hard on her back teeth.

Forcing a smile, she said, "It was my mistake before. I shouldn't have let my jealousy towards Sister Si Nian make me resent her and act out like that."

"Mom and Dad, you've spent eighteen years with her, so your bond is definitely deeper than mine. I'm okay with it."

She lowered her head, putting on a look of deep disappointment while trying to appear strong. "But the whole situation with helping Qianqian with her speech actually has a backstory."

"A backstory?" The couple was surprised, not expecting there to be more to this matter.

"Yes, you both know that Si Nian and Qianqian used to have a terrible relationship, right?"

"The last time Qianqian got into trouble, I stepped up to help her with the speech."

"But somehow, Si Nian found out about it and rushed over from the village, insisting on sharing the stage with me."

She looked up at her parents and added, "If she hadn't suddenly shown up to steal the spotlight, that teaching position should have been mine."

The moment they heard this, Si Nian's parents were utterly shocked!

"What!"

"She actually took your spot!"

They never imagined there was such a backstory behind this situation.

Their faces turned pale.

Yes, their daughter had mentioned this incident when she went to support Qianqian. The Fu family had agreed. They all went together to cheer for her. Later, when Qianqian got into trouble, their daughter stepped up to help. Who would have thought that Si Nian would rush over too? If she hadn't shown up, their daughter might have become a teacher by now!

Zhang Cuimei's expression darkened. "This is outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!"

She had always wondered how someone who married into the countryside could suddenly become a teacher. It turned out she had stolen their daughter's opportunity behind the scenes!

Zhang Cuimei had complete faith in her daughter. However, Si Nian's father was harder to convince.

He frowned and said, "It might just be a coincidence. Si Nian might have been helping Qianqian, and it's understandable for her to lend a hand."

Lin Sisi shook her head. "No, Dad, you've been misled."

"Qianqian values this opportunity for the speech so much. There's no way she would give it up to Si Nian!"

"And at that time, Qianqian suddenly had stomach issues, and Si Nian just happened to be there. I suspect..."

She lowered her head. "Of course, I'm not saying it's all Si Nian's fault. It just seems too coincidental. Plus, she's worked at the radio station for a long time and has good relationships with everyone there. On the other hand, Qianqian suddenly bought her job and took this position, which led to a lot of gossip. If that's the case..."

The couple wasn't foolish; they immediately caught on.

It must be that Si Nian pretended to sell her job to Qianqian to win her sympathy, then conspired with her colleagues to set up Qianqian and swoop in for the opportunity!

That's how Si Nian could return to the city in just half a year, and in such a prominent role.

If this was true, then Si Nian's scheming was truly terrifying!

They had thought she had long given up on returning to the city.

The couple felt a mix of anger and frustration.

"This has to be told to Qianqian. We can't let her be deceived."

"Mom, don't rush. Qianqian trusts her right now; she definitely won't believe you. She might even think we're trying to sabotage their relationship. My biggest worry is the Lin family."

"Lin family?"

Zhang Cuimei frowned. "Why are you worried about them?" Her tone was sharp. "They don't think much of you as their adopted daughter."

After raising a daughter for over a decade, there were bound to be feelings. Yet the Lin family had shown no sentiment and refused to forgive her. Otherwise, her daughter wouldn't be in prison now.

Lin Sisi shook her head. "It's okay, I don't blame them. They can hate me; it doesn't matter. I just think it's a pity. If I had gotten this opportunity, I would have ensured both my little brothers got in."

"But now that the chance has been taken by Si Nian, who has no real bond with my brothers, she'll definitely send those two adopted sons instead. I feel sorry for my brothers."

The couple was surprised that she still cared about the Lin family despite her situation. Their feelings were complicated. They also thought Si Nian was foolish; those kids were adopted, not hers.

She could have helped her own family instead of trying to please the adopted sons.

"Those kids might turn against her once they know she's their stepmother," they thought. It was truly foolish.

"Sisi, what do you want to do?"

"Mom, Dad, I just ask that you help me contact the Lin family and say I want to see them..."