The smoke from the steaming tea rose, filling the study with its rich aroma.
Lin Ginxian was left alone in the room. Ignoring the tea on the table, he walked over to one of the hidden compartnts on the shelves. From it, he retrieved a half-full bottle of expensive wine.
He often drank when he needed to think deeply, so he always kept a bottle in this secret place. The last ti he had taken a drink from it was when he was reviewing the information Bei Sangyun had given him.
To think he would drink from the sa bottle because of his daughter once again.
Lin Ginxian admitted to himself that he was not a good father and that he was a violent man.
Violence was his outlet for frustration. Since childhood, he had coped by breaking things, smashing everything in sight. This was why he never intended to be a father. How could a man flawed in both mind and heart be responsible for another life?
Bei Sangyun’s existence was sothing he had neither planned for nor wanted. Perhaps that was why, when he first learned of her, he treated her in the only way he knew how.
He made her useful, like a subordinate at his beck and call. Just as his father had done, he gave affection and praise only as rewards, and punishnt for failure and mistakes.
This was his iron rule.
As Bei Sangyun had said, he never treated her as a daughter, only as a tool.
Lin Ginxian downed the wine, trying to quench the complex emotions in his heart that could no longer be vented by smashing things.
...
As the middle child of the great Lin family, Lin Ginxian’s existence was easily overlooked. He was not particularly outstanding, so most people forgot about him unless he made a noise or did sothing terrible to draw attention.
He was a quiet child, but also very violent from a young age. He was one of those children who could not express his feelings well through words or actions. The only way he knew to show he was upset or that he had reached his limit was by smashing things around him or hurting the people who worked under him.
Only by doing these things did he gain a sense of ’life’ and superiority.
This twisted nature grew unchecked because no adults were there to watch over him or stop him.
Old Master Lin was very stern and had high standards. He wasn’t satisfied with any of his sons and encouraged competition among them from a very young age.
Only by competing could they excel and gain the little affection their father threw their way. As a result, Lin Ginxian and his brothers grew even more twisted, with no chance of changing back.
But Lin Ginxian knew his own faults. As a flawed human being, he recognized that he wasn’t capable of being responsible for other people’s lives. Thus, he persistently declined the fiancée his father chose for him.
Perhaps because he had no good mories as a child, nor any happiness in the bond called ’family,’ he had no desire to build a family or have children. He remained a bachelor.
However, this plan changed when one day, a pretty and ambitious maid seduced him, leading him to make ’that’ mistake.
He had experiences with a bunch of won, and he knew what to do to avoid impregnating his partner. But that maid tricked him. After that eventful night, which he dismissed as a one-night stand, the maid ca to him three months later with a growing belly.
She told him the news with anticipation, claiming he was the father. As she excitedly talked about their child’s future and the life they would have together, Lin Ginxian felt as though his soul had left his body.
He... couldn’t be a father.
He despised the idea of being a father.
Unlike what the maid expected, Lin Ginxian wasn’t the least bit happy. He coldly told her to have an abortion and leave the mansion.
Feeling responsible for ruining that maid’s life on a whim, Lin Ginxian gave her enough compensation so she would never reveal that they once had a child.
At the ti, he thought she had aborted the baby. But it was only eight years later that he learned the baby had grown into a little girl living in a small countryside village.
If the old man hadn’t changed his will to pass the family position and inheritance to his grandchildren, Lin Ginxian would never have thought to look for or recall the fate of that child.
Butler Xin found her, and Lin Ginxian still rembered how that little girl looked when she was first brought in.
Her eyes were twinkling with anticipation, curiosity, nervousness, and... yearning. Her gaze was so heavy that Lin Ginxian couldn’t face her.
She was the baby he had abandoned, the one he believed had died years ago. And seeing her standing in front of him made his blood run cold.
How could he be responsible for this child?
How could he be a father to this child?
Lin Ginxian didn’t have an answer. So he did what he was best at.
He asserted his ’superiority’ over the child and used her for the purpose she was brought in for. Unknowingly, Lin Ginxian followed in his father’s footsteps, offering only small crumbs of affection when necessary, and in the process, twisting his own child into soone beyond repair.
*****
Bei Sangyun returned to her room, her mood unstable. She had thought she wouldn’t be affected by that man after all this ti.
But it turned out that her past self hadn’t fully disappeared. It had rely hidden within her new self, still hurting.
If not, why would she be so deeply affected by those re words?
Bei Sangyun took a deep breath to calm her nerves. She desperately wanted to leave this place. She would bring Maid Ye Zhai and Driver Chen to her house. Then, she would bring Grandma Bei as well.
Although her power wasn’t yet strong enough to take on the Lin family head-on, she was confident she could free herself from them.
The fourth branch was handling the front, Lin Ginxian was no longer her concern, and that old man wouldn’t act recklessly after witnessing what she could do.
"Perhaps it is ti to leave this damn family," Bei Sangyun muttered.
She acted quickly, informing Maid Ye Zhai and Driver Chen of her decision.
"I won’t force either of you to follow . The decision is entirely yours." Bei Sangyun then discussed compensation and severance pay for those who wished to leave. She offered a generous sum.
After a decade of service, Bei Sangyun was willing to give them a substantial amount in severance pay. Of course, if they continued to work for her, she would significantly raise their monthly wages.
The two didn’t need to think it over and imdiately agreed to go with Bei Sangyun.
She gave them ti to wrap up their affairs inside the Lin mansion while she headed to the fourth branch’s building.
Before she left, she had to speak with these people.
.....
The fourth branch’s residence was lively and bustling. Ever since they learned that Bei Sangyun had arrived at the Lin mansion, the family of four—Li i, Lin Ruo, and the twins, Lin Sunji and Lin Sanju—had kept themselves busy.
Li i began cooking with the help of the maids, eager to showcase the skills she had learned from her cooking and parenting classes to their boss.
Lin Ruo hurriedly organized the docunts and deals he wanted to discuss with Bei Sangyun.
Lin Sanju busied himself in his room, doing who knows what, while Lin Sunji imdiately dolled herself up.
When Bei Sangyun entered the fourth branch’s premises, the family of four welcod her in an orderly and warm manner.
"It’s been a long ti since you dropped by. I’ve prepared your favorite dishes. Co, let’s eat together," Li i greeted her with a smile.
Bei Sangyun glanced at the sun outside—it hadn’t set yet. Wasn’t it too early for dinner?
Even Lin Ruo comnted, "It’s too early for dinner. How about I invite you to the study while we pass the ti? I have several things I wish to discuss with you."
"Co on, Mom, Dad. It’s not like we’ll be eating here tonight. Have you forgotten it’s family dinner night? We’re all supposed to eat in Grandfather’s dining room, right?" Lin Sunji couldn’t help but roll her eyes at her overenthusiastic parents.
She stepped forward, showing off her beautiful curls to Bei Sangyun. "We’re both girls, so she should spend ti with ."
It had been several days since she last saw Bei Sangyun. Both Fei Chuan and Bei Sangyun hadn’t been to school. Fortunately, most students were attending their own review centers, so it wasn’t too suspicious for the two of them to suddenly disappear together.
But Lin Sunji knew these two had been together all this ti. With everything that happened with the Fei family, she suspected they might be living together.
If not, why hadn’t Bei Sangyun been at the Lin mansion?
Lin Sunji was curious, and she had many questions. She wanted to interrogate Bei Sangyun and satisfy her curiosity. Were the two planning to get married? When? How?
Or was Bei Sangyun already pregnant? Would she be two people by the ti she graduated?
A hand pushed Lin Sunji back. "You’re just going to ask her useless questions." Lin Sanju turned to Bei Sangyun, "I have an idea why you’re here. Let’s go."
Lin Sanju motioned for Bei Sangyun to follow him to his room, leaving the other three speechless.
Bei Sangyun nodded and followed him.
Li i was disappointed. "...But the food...."
Lin Ruo sighed in pity. "I had so many things I wanted to discuss." All those businesses...
Lin Sunji glared at her brother’s back. "Girl talk is more important than boring business talk, you monkey!"
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