Li Xinghao’s mouth hung half-open as he murmured in shock, “Oh my god, with that face, there’s no need for a paternity test.”
Behind them, Li Wuyou’s eyes flashed with a trace of resentment. She stepped forward and said weakly, “That’s wonderful. Now you can finally be reunited as a family. I should return to where I belong.”
The two brothers’ expressions changed drastically, and they quickly tried to comfort her. “Wuyou, what are you saying? Even if our biological sister returns to our family, you’re still part of our family. No matter what, we won’t let you go!”
Instead of being comforted, Li Wuyou cried even harder. “But I’ve taken my sister’s place. I should step aside.”
Li Xiao’s heart ached. “Daughter, Mom and Dad will make it up to Zhiyin, and we won’t let you suffer either. Don’t overthink it.”
The two brothers spoke in unison, “That’s right, don’t worry!”
Li Zhiyin watched this scene and let out a mocking laugh. “Who said I’m going home with you?”
They were stunned, but before they could speak, a clear female voice rang out—
“Sister? Brother-in-law? What are you all doing here?”
Li Zhiyin turned around and saw Shen Lianyan walking out of the company.
Behind her trailed a line of elite bodyguards as she made her way toward them in a grand manner. When she saw Li Zhiyin, her expression changed.
Shen Lianyan’s gaze at Li Zhiyin was as if she had seen an old acquaintance who shouldn’t be here.
Li Zhiyin took a large stride toward Shen Lianyan. “I know you’re looking for an heir. If you don’t mind, I’d like to become your adopted daughter!”
Shen Lianyan: “?”
Li Xiao’s face darkened as he scolded, “Li Zhiyin, what are you doing? Your parents are right here. What do you mean by calling someone else your mother?”
Shen Shiyi’s face paled. “Daughter, what are you saying? Mom is already here. Just come home with me.”
Li Wuyou sobbed tearfully. “Sister, have you lost your mind?”
Li Yanlang and Li Xinghao were furious. “Li Zhiyin, are you crazy? Mom and Dad are right here. Who are you putting on this pitiful act for?!”
Li Zhiyin ignored them completely. She bowed ninety degrees to Shen Lianyan and declared loudly, “I have no parents! I grew up in the Slums! I can endure hardship! And I’m willing to strive for better! I have no formal education, but I did well in school. You can investigate!”
Shen Lianyan was too shocked to speak.
But a glint of insight flashed in her eyes.
Could it be that this child has also experienced Rebirth?
Is that why she came straight here to find her and asked to be taken in as a daughter?
Beside them, a flicker of satisfaction passed through Li Wuyou’s eyes. She tugged at her brother’s hand and cried, “Brother, please talk some sense into her. Is she resenting me for taking her place and rebelling against Mom and Dad as revenge?”
Li Yanlang’s face turned ashen. “After all, she wasn’t raised by us from childhood. She’s trying to make us feel sorry for her, isn’t she? Full of bad intentions, and her acting is terrible—she can’t even fake it convincingly!”
Suddenly, Li Zhiyin began to take off her clothes!
They were about to stop her when they saw that after removing her T-shirt, she was still wearing a thin tank top underneath.
Her body was covered in scars, with various overlapping marks!
There were even several shocking cigarette burns!
The Li family’s expressions changed drastically, utterly stunned.
How could there be so many scars?
What had she endured over the past eighteen years?
Shen Shiyi’s eyes widened as tears fell in large drops.In her previous life, she had spent an entire year with Li Zhiyin without ever knowing her daughter bore so many scars!
Shen Lianyan stared in astonishment at the stubborn expression on Li Zhiyin’s face.
The cold evening breeze swept over her thin little tank top, raising goosebumps all over her skin.
As if oblivious to the chill, she introduced herself seriously: “As you can see, I am not someone who cannot endure hardship. Although I have no formal education, I have always earned money by fighting underground. I am an excellent fighter! Everyone in the Underground City knows the name Li Zhiyin. I can become your mercenary, your most outstanding blade!”
“Whether you want me as an assistant, a successor, or to use me, please consider me!”
Li Zhiyin bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle once more!
“I will definitely not disappoint you!!”
The entire room fell silent.
Shen Lianyan reached out and touched the cigarette burn scars on Li Zhiyin’s back: “Who did this?”
Li Zhiyin’s eyes dimmed as she answered honestly: “My father.”
Shen Lianyan found it hard to believe, looking at the five or six cigarette burn scars piled on top of each other.
It seemed they were all inflicted at once.
Her lips tightened with pity: “It must have been very painful?”
Li Zhiyin straightened up: “It hurt at the time, but it’s fine now.”
Her bright eyes sparkled with a hopeful light: “Because they are already dead.”
Shen Lianyan was taken aback. Seeing her so indifferent, a dense, aching sorrow crept into her heart.
Li Xiao stared at the scars on Li Zhiyin’s body, his brow tightly furrowed, fists clenched fiercely: “How dare those people treat her like this! I will make them pay!!”
Shen Shiyi was even more distraught, covering her heart as she wept uncontrollably.
The two older brothers gazed blankly at each scar on her body, murmuring in a daze: “She has suffered so much…”
Only Li Wuyou, who usually cried the most, showed no expression, staring intently at the scars on her body as if trying to bore a hole through them.
Amidst this heavy atmosphere, the handsome man beside Shen Lianyan suddenly took off his suit jacket and draped it over Li Zhiyin’s shoulders.
Caught off guard, Li Zhiyin glanced at the small black and gold name tag on the suit.
Mo Sinian.
She said gratefully: “Thank you.”
Mo Sinian gave her a deep look before stepping back to Shen Lianyan’s side.
Shen Lianyan looked at him in shock, as if she had seen a ghost.
Meeting Shen Lianyan’s gaze, Mo Sinian turned his head away somewhat awkwardly.
Shen Lianyan withdrew her teasing look and turned back to Li Zhiyin: “I agree—”
“Daughter, come home with Mom. I had no idea you had suffered so much!” Shen Shiyi suddenly grabbed Li Zhiyin’s hand!
Li Zhiyin’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly as she cast a cold glance at Shen Shiyi.
Shen Shiyi spoke to her remorsefully: “Mom will definitely make it up to you. I will never let you suffer again!”
Not only that, but even Li Xiao looked at her with sympathy: “Yes, child, you must be our flesh and blood. But just to be safe, let’s do a paternity test first. Then you can come home with us, and from now on, we will be a family.”
Although the two older brothers said nothing, their expressions softened as they looked at her with pity.
Li Wuyou stood sorrowfully to the side, glancing at Li Xiao and then at Shen Shiyi. With tears in her eyes, she walked up to Li Zhiyin: “Sister, since you have suffered so much, I will call you sister.”
She took Li Zhiyin’s hand: “I am willing to trade places with you, return to your home, and make up for the eighteen years of your life.””That won’t do!” Li Xinghao stepped forward urgently. “Zhiyin’s former home is clearly not a good place. Going back would mean suffering for you! You can’t go back. You must stay here. Both of you are our sisters!”
Li Yanlang looked at Li Wuyou with relief. “Wuyou, we know you’re sensible, but swapping children wasn’t something you did. You’re innocent. Don’t worry, you don’t have to go home. We’ll still treat you well.”
Li Xiao pulled Li Wuyou to her side and patted her shoulder. “You are Father’s daughter, and Zhiyin is also Father’s daughter. Rest assured, we will treat you both equally.”
Li Wuyou’s eyes were misty with tears. “Really?”
Except for Shen Shiyi, the other three nodded firmly.
Li Zhiyin raised an eyebrow, watching this heartwarming scene.
In her past life, she saw scenes like this every day.
Once in the morning, once at noon, and once in the evening.
It was enough to make her sick.
She curled her lips into a mocking smile. “Can’t you people understand human speech?”
They were taken aback.
Li Zhiyin lifted her chin, looking down at them with disdain. “I only have one set of parents, and they are already dead. Beyond that, I have no other parents. So please don’t delay me from claiming my adoptive mother, alright?”