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Chapter 128: Chapter 128: A Little Lipstick Should Be Fine, Right?

It was already past five when Ian Sterling woke up. Summer nights were short, and the sky was already bright.

A month of his new routine had him subconsciously starting to get out of bed to wash up, but he came to his senses when he felt Lynn Winslow in his arms.

Lynn hadn’t been sleeping deeply. The moment he moved, she woke up, her arm stirring as she took hold of Ian Sterling’s hand.

”Baby,” she murmured softly, ”you’re awake.”

Ian Sterling hummed in response and turned on his side to kiss her.

It was a very light kiss. Unlike last night, this one held no other intentions, only warmth and tenderness.

”We slept in. Are you hungry?”

Lynn Winslow shook her head. ”Not really.”

”Shall we go get some breakfast?” Ian Sterling let her go, placing a kiss on her palm.

The novelty of being with him hadn’t worn off for Lynn. Right now, she was willing to go along with anything he said. Ian Sterling must have guessed this because, as they were having breakfast together, he brought up visiting the Sterling family today.

”I haven’t been to see my parents since I got back. My mom will definitely be upset if I don’t go. Will you come home with me a little later?”

Lynn was taken aback for a moment. ’I had originally wanted to wait a bit longer, until after our trip.’

But since Ian had brought it up, she agreed. After accepting, she called Mrs. Sterling and asked her to prepare gifts for visiting the elders.

Ian Sterling said, ”I’ll prepare them.”

”That won’t do.” Lynn Winslow frowned. ”I’m the one visiting your family, so of course, I should be the one to prepare the gifts.”

So Ian Sterling didn’t argue with her.

After their meal, they walked home together. As they were walking along the street, Ian Sterling suddenly turned toward a glass window on the side, frowning as he touched his hair.

”Does this really look good?” ’It feels so weird,’ he thought. Even after a month, he still hadn’t gotten used to his new hairstyle.

Lynn looked at the reflection with him, then turned her head to size him up. ”It does look good. It’s just a different style from before.”

”I’m not used to it. Maybe I should get extensions.”

”No need. Hair grows fast; it’ll be long again before you know it.” Lynn tugged him along, saying disdainfully, ”You’re a grown man. How are you more concerned about your appearance than I am?”

Ian Sterling took a few steps forward and wrapped his arms around Lynn from behind, deliberately pressing against her as they walked. ”Isn’t it your fault?” he said as they moved. ”You’re always telling me I’m handsome. What if I become ugly and you don’t want me anymore?”

”As if. If I dared to dump you now, wouldn’t you hunt me down at my house?” Lynn rolled her eyes. With him pressing down on her shoulders, every step was a struggle.

”Why do you make me sound like some kind of bandit?”

”Aren’t you?”

”I am not.”

The number of pedestrians on the street gradually increased. Seeing the couple clinging to each other so affectionately, with such outstanding and well-matched faces, people couldn’t help but stare a little longer.

Lynn complained that he was heavy and told him to get off, but Ian Sterling wouldn’t listen. They bickered all the way back to Calyx Hall.

Lynn was covered in sweat, so the first thing she did when she got home was take a shower. She didn’t have many clothes here, and even fewer that were suitable for visiting elders.

Ian Sterling changed and waited for her in the living room on the first floor. He also sent a message to his family group chat, telling them they had to make time to come home.

Everyone except for Selene Sterling, who was still abroad, replied that they would be home before noon.

When Lynn came downstairs after her shower, Ian Sterling was preparing a better meal for Kiki. Lynn leaned against him, looking down at his busy hands with a smile. ”You’re so much more patient than I am.”

”I have to suck up to him, don’t I? What if he doesn’t protect me next time?” Ian Sterling scoffed, recalling the time Zachary Quincy and the others had tried to bully him, and how Kiki had acted so fiercely toward them.

Lynn rubbed his earlobe. Once he was done, they headed back to Amberly Bay together.

Lynn went upstairs to change and do her makeup while he waited for her. Meanwhile, Mrs. Sterling and the maids were loading things into the car.

”Should I do your makeup?” Lynn asked after finishing her own, blinking her eyes with a mischievous smile.

Ian Sterling had a look of resistance, but Lynn was already approaching him, lipstick in hand.

”If you won’t do full makeup, at least you can wear some lipstick, right?”

”Fine.” Ian Sterling parted his lips slightly to make it easier for Lynn to apply the lipstick.

Lynn had originally wanted to tease him and had picked out a bright red lipstick, but seeing how cooperative he was, she switched to a dusty rose color.

After applying it, Lynn clucked her tongue a few times and praised, ”Ah, I don’t even know how to compliment you anymore.”

Ian Sterling leaned closer to the mirror for a look. He pressed his lips together. ’It feels a bit strange.’

But Lynn didn’t give him a chance to wipe it off, dragging him downstairs.

Mrs. Sterling had just finished loading the items with the maids. When she looked up, she happened to see Ian Sterling. She felt something was off, and after frowning and taking a closer look, she realized his lips didn’t have their usual rosy color.

She looked at Lynn and, sure enough, saw the amusement in her eyes.

The two of them got into the car. Ian Sterling glanced back and saw that even the back seat was filled with gift boxes. A quick glance revealed they were all from well-known luxury brands.

”Did you really have to get so much?”

Lynn looked down at her phone and said casually, ”You think this is a lot?”

Ian Sterling sighed helplessly, started the car, and asked her, ”Have you decided where you want to go for our trip?”

”Not yet.” Lynn pouted and sighed. ”How about a coastal city?”

”Sure.” Ian Sterling had no objection to that.

They were now more intimate and their interactions were more mundane than before their breakup.

When they arrived at Aerie Garden, Nina Norton was bickering with Spencer Sterling over nothing more than the placement of a potted flower.

”I want to put it here! I designed and decorated this entire house, what do you know?” Nina Norton stood with her hands on her hips, frowning as she glared angrily at Spencer Sterling.

Spencer Sterling was also displeased. ”It’s too garish here. Just because the flower itself is beautiful doesn’t mean you can force everyone else to tolerate it.”

Connor Sterling had slept at Aerie Garden last night. He was currently sitting on the sofa reading his emails, completely ignoring his parents’ argument.

He didn’t want to get involved, but Nina Norton insisted on dragging him into the fray.

”Put it wherever you want, just stop arguing. Miss Winslow will be here soon, and it will be embarrassing.”

Hearing this, Nina Norton shot a glare at both father and son, huffed coldly, and turned to go upstairs, only to run into Ian Sterling and Lynn Winslow, who had just walked in.

Her dissatisfaction vanished in an instant, replaced by a warm and gentle smile as she stepped forward to take Lynn’s hand.

”Lynn, you’re finally here.”

Ian Sterling looked at Spencer Sterling, who hadn’t had time to wipe the displeasure from his face, and asked, ”Were you guys arguing?”

When Nina heard this, she pouted and huffed. ”I said I wanted to put that bouquet on the dining table, but he refused, saying it was an eyesore.”

”Then just put it there,” Ian Sterling said, casually looking away. The butler was already leading the maids in with the gifts Lynn had brought.

Watching the endless stream of gifts, Nina said, ”Lynn, you’re being too formal.”

But Lynn just smiled. ”It’s my first time visiting, so it’s only proper. I also brought some jewelry and bags for you, my sister-in-law, and my two older sisters.”

Nina Norton linked her arm through Lynn’s and led her into the living room to introduce her second son.

”This is Finn’s second older brother. You can just call him Second Brother, too.”

Lynn’s eyes curved into crescents as she said graciously, ”Hello, Second Brother.”