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Chapter 169: Chapter 169: Did You Get Beaten Up Last Night?

Lynn Winslow, oblivious to his approaching hand, continued, ”Besides, I told you I wasn’t in pain before. It’s not like you didn’t know.”

Lynn Winslow froze when Ian Sterling’s hand finally closed around hers.

”What are you doing?”

”Mm,” Ian Sterling nodded, his eyes sparkling.

Lynn Winslow frowned. ”What do you mean, ’mm’? What are you trying to do?”

”Yes. I do.”

It dawned on Lynn Winslow what he meant. A corner of her mouth twitched as she said coolly, ”Could you say that again? I don’t think I heard you clearly.”

Seeing her expression, Ian Sterling pressed his lips together and didn’t dare say more. Lynn Winslow snorted coldly, shook off his hand, and lay down with her back to him.

”I’m warning you. If you so much as lay a finger on me tonight, I guarantee you won’t see me again until after my grandfather goes back to Morelia.”

Ian Sterling whined, ”Why?”

”Don’t ask. If you have to ask, you’re asking for a beating.” Lynn Winslow turned her head to glare at him. ”Try me, if you don’t believe it.”

”...” Ian Sterling was silent for a long time, then let out a loud huff and turned his head away from Lynn Winslow.

Suppressing a laugh, Lynn Winslow turned back to her phone, pointedly ignoring Ian Sterling’s deliberate huff and his childish tantrum.

They didn’t fall asleep until it was bright daylight. In the morning and at noon, the housekeeper and Nina Norton came to call them for meals, but Ian Sterling sent them away. The two of them slept until the afternoon.

When they woke up, both of their faces were a bit puffy. As soon as they came downstairs, Nina Norton was startled and quickly had the housekeeper bring ice for them to use as a cold compress.

Nina Norton held a towel-wrapped ice pack to Lynn Winslow’s face, carefully rolling it over her skin, while her own son was left to deal with his puffiness by himself on the side.

”How did you get so puffy? What time did you go to sleep?”

Lynn Winslow wasn’t sure. Ian Sterling said, ”In the morning, I think. A little after five.”

”Maybe what we ate last night was a bit salty, and we stayed up late, that’s why we’re puffy,” Lynn Winslow said with an embarrassed smile. Nina Norton gave Lynn’s forehead a gentle, doting poke.

”Don’t do this again. It’s so bad for your health.”

”I know,” Lynn Winslow said with a grin, leaning closer to Nina Norton. Nina protested, stopping her. ”Don’t move, don’t move! We’re not done yet.”

Lynn Winslow had no choice but to sit still obediently.

Ian Sterling had already given up. His back still ached a little, and he wasn’t planning on going out anyway. His family had seen him at his most embarrassing when he was a kid and couldn’t control himself, so there was no point in trying to hide.

But he never would have guessed that just as Lynn Winslow left to return to the Powell family, his second older sister—the one he clashed with most—would walk in.

Nina Norton was overjoyed to see Selene Sterling. She went up to her and asked in surprise, ”Sweetheart, why are you back so suddenly? You didn’t tell Mom, I could have gone to pick you up.”

”No need to pick me up, Mom. Did you miss me?” Selene Sterling threw herself into Nina Norton’s arms, and as she did, she caught sight of Ian Sterling covering his face and trying to get to the elevator to go back to his room.

”Well now, who’s this? Too afraid to show your face?” Selene Sterling pulled back and teased in a snide tone.

Nina Norton never interfered in these petty squabbles and verbal spars, so she just smiled from the sidelines and enjoyed the show. Whether it was her daughter or her son, neither was a pushover. As long as things didn’t get serious, it would only end in a draw. But if they ever truly went at it, her youngest son had an unruly streak that none of the other four could hope to match.

”Me, afraid to show my face? You’re kidding. Why would I be afraid to show my face?” Upon hearing that, Ian Sterling straightened up, turned around, and glared at Selene Sterling.

Selene Sterling stared at his face, paused, then burst out laughing.

”How did your face get so puffy?! HAHAHAHA! Did you get beaten up last night?” Selene Sterling completely lost her composure, leaning on Nina Norton’s arm, laughing so hard she couldn’t stand up straight.

Ian Sterling cursed under his breath, turned, and strode into the elevator, feeling incredibly annoyed.

’I should have just used the ice to get the swelling down earlier. It’s too late now.’

Because Selene Sterling was back, the whole family gathered at the Sterling residence. Even Zoe Sterling’s future husband, Nigel Abbott, was at the dinner table.

Every time Selene Sterling looked up and saw Ian Sterling’s cold expression, she wanted to laugh. But she was afraid of going too far and truly angering him, which would ruin dinner for everyone.

Spencer Sterling hadn’t been around in the afternoon, so he didn’t know what had happened. Seeing his youngest daughter, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time, he asked, ”How long are you staying this time?”

”I’m not planning on leaving again. My world tour is over, anyway. A variety show here asked me to be a judge, and I accepted. It starts next month, in Adria City,” Selene Sterling said to Spencer Sterling, trying to suppress her laughter and sound serious.

Spencer Sterling nodded in satisfaction, fully approving of his youngest daughter’s decision. Nina Norton smiled and put some food on Selene Sterling’s plate. ”Now that you’re home, you should get a good rest. In two days, it’s Mr. Jennings’ birthday. You all will come with me.”

Selene Sterling agreed, sizing up Ian Sterling’s face while gnawing on a pork rib.

Zoe Sterling asked curiously, ”Why do you keep staring at Finn?”

”Nothing, just admiring his good looks.” The words had barely left her mouth when Selene Sterling couldn’t hold it in any longer and snorted with laughter.

Ian Sterling slammed his chopsticks down and said coldly, ”I’m done eating.”

Nina Norton tried to stop her pouting youngest son, but Ian Sterling had already walked to the entryway and was putting on his shoes.

”Where are you going?”

”I’m going to find Lynn.”

With that, he left without a backward glance. Selene Sterling finally let go and burst into a roar of laughter.

Nina Norton tapped the tip of Selene Sterling’s nose and said helplessly, ”You, honestly. Happy now? You’ve chased your little brother off.”

Selene Sterling pouted. ”Aren’t I just giving him an excuse to go find Lynn?”

Ian Sterling had his driver take him to the Powell family’s home. The Powells were just about to eat dinner.

Lynn Winslow was surprised to see him and got up to walk over. ”What’s wrong?” she asked.

”My second sister came home, and she wouldn’t stop laughing at my puffy face.”

His tone was both aggrieved and displeased. Lynn Winslow raised her hands to cup his face, studying it carefully. She shook her head and said, ”It’s not puffy anymore. You look great.”

”It was still puffy when she saw me.” Ian Sterling bent down to hug her, leaning his full weight against her. He ventured tentatively, ”I didn’t get to eat my fill. Can I have dinner here?”

Lynn Winslow stood on her tiptoes to stroke his hair and said gently, ”Of course, you can.”

”Then can I stay here tonight? In your room?” He quickly added, afraid Lynn Winslow would refuse, ”My sister is such a bully. If I go back, she’ll definitely keep making fun of me.”

Lynn Winslow smiled, pursing her lips. His little scheme was so obvious it was practically written on his face.

”You can.”

Completely satisfied, Ian Sterling let go, straightened up, and planted a kiss on Lynn Winslow’s forehead.

”Is there anything you feel like eating? I can have the chef make it right now.” Lynn Winslow took his hand and led him toward the kitchen. ”My grandfathers went out together and aren’t back yet,” she added as they walked.

”I’m good with anything.”

Although he said that, Lynn Winslow knew how picky he was, so she personally ordered several dishes from the chef that she knew Ian Sterling liked.

Just then, a chaotic noise came from outside. A sharp female voice was particularly distinct, and Lynn Winslow frowned.