Lin Haoxin, who had set up the stage for her eldest brother, was embarrassed, but her expression quickly returned to normal: "Big Brother, don't say such angry words. You're the eldest brother to all of us, and that can never change no matter what. Second Brother, don't you agree?"
Lin Kangyao chuckled: "Big Brother, our family has double blessings. You should be happier instead of sulking all day. If your work is too tiring, I can share the burden for you."
Lin Kangyao's words were like pouring oil on fire, igniting Lin Kangzong's powder keg. Lin Kangzong shot up from the sofa, grabbed Lin Kangyao by the collar, and shouted angrily: "Lin Kangyao! Do you have to oppose me at every turn to be satisfied?"
"Big Brother!" Lin Haoxin panicked and quickly looked at Lin Kangyao. "Second Brother! Both of you, calm down. We're brothers in the same family—there's no room for division. Big Brother, Second Brother didn't mean it that way. Second Brother, what's wrong with you today? Did you swallow gunpowder?"
Lin Kangjie jumped in: "In my opinion, Big Brother has every right to be angry with Second Brother. Even from abroad, I know Second Brother did something to wrong Big Brother. Even if Big Brother lays hands on Second Brother, he deserves it." He wore a gleeful, schadenfreude-filled expression, as if he couldn't wait for Lin Kangzong and Lin Kangyao to come to blows.
Lin Kangzong and Lin Kangyao, who had been about to back down, froze at these words. Neither was willing to be the first to lower their head and yield. Lin Haoxin shot a furious glare at the ill-intentioned Lin Kangjie, her anger all directed at him: "Third Brother, what are you playing at? If you keep your mouth shut, no one will think you're invisible here, right?"
Lin Kangjie, treated this way by Lin Haoxin, immediately flared up: "Who gave you the right to speak here?!"
"Lin Haoxin, you can't tell right from wrong! I should be asking what malicious scheme you're up to!" Lin Haofei sided with Lin Kangjie, her eyes bulging as if she wanted to devour someone.
Lin Haoyu was dumbfounded. Things had changed too fast—how had it turned into a fight?
Lin Kangrui quietly nudged Lin Haoyu and furtively pointed toward the door—how about we make a run for it?
"Sixth Sister, come help Fourth Sister talk some sense into them. I really can't do anything more." Lin Haoxin caught sight of Lin Haoyu from the corner of her eye and immediately pushed her forward.
Now there was no way to leave!
"Fourth Sister, how am I supposed to mediate? Everyone suddenly started throwing hands and feet, and it gave me quite a scare," Lin Haoyu said, quick on her feet. She had no intention of getting involved. Pressing a handkerchief to her forehead, she slumped weakly against the sofa, her voice airy and faint. "I thought a gathering of siblings would be warm and affectionate, but it's no different from a brawl. How frightening. If this is how it's going to be next time, then I won't come anymore…"
"Hey, are you okay?" Lin Kangrui was first startled by Lin Haoyu's appearance, thinking she was genuinely unwell, his face full of worry.
"Don't be so loud—you're giving me a headache." Lin Haoyu pinched Lin Kangrui's palm, gave him a quiet look, then continued pressing the handkerchief to her forehead.
Lin Kangrui, whose concern had been wasted: "…"
Hmph, that scheming Lin Haoyu!
Lin Haoxin and the others stopped their standoff and gathered around to check on Lin Haoyu's condition.
"Sixth Sister, should I have Dr. Xue come over right now?" Lin Haoxin asked.
Lin Haoyu glanced at her with displeasure: "I already have an appointment with Dr. Xue at ten o'clock. Once our gathering ends, he'll come to take my pulse. So Fourth Sister didn't know—you don't care about me."
Lin Haoxin was a bit embarrassed, but only slightly. She wasn't genuinely concerned about Lin Haoyu's health—she was afraid Lin Haoyu might actually cause trouble. But even if something did happen to Lin Haoyu, it wouldn't matter; to her, it was of no consequence.
"I just mixed up the time for a moment. Sixth Sister, you really must take care of yourself, alright? Don't make Fourth Sister worry about you, okay?" Lin Haoxin wore a look of deep concern.
Lin Haofei mocked her: "There's no outsider here, Lin Haoxin. Who are you putting on a show for? You never cared about Sixth Sister before, and now you're rushing to fawn over her. Sixth Sister, you should stomp her face into the ground and see if she can still smile at you."
Lin Haoxin wasn't angry and shot back: "You're so sharp-tongued. I'd say you've swallowed gunpowder too, Haofei."
"You!" Lin Haofei was speechless with rage. "You're hypocritical and shameless! Shameless!"
Lin Haoxin said helplessly: "Alright, alright, Haofei, stop throwing your tantrum." As if Lin Haofei were a spoiled child.
This enraged Lin Haofei so much she jumped up and cursed.
The gathering ended in discord—how could any sibling bond be fostered like that?
"Why aren't you angry?" Lin Kangrui kicked his legs as he walked, asking Lin Haoyu irritably.
Lin Haoyu turned to look at him: "Why should I be angry?"
Lin Kangrui was puzzled: "Lin Haoxin used you. Don't tell me you're too stupid to see that."
Lin Haoyu had just feigned illness to dodge the bullet, but she had indeed played into Lin Haoxin's hands by cutting off the brewing conflict. She asked him: "Have you been used by her before?"
"Hmph! That person is the worst—using this one and that one every day, her eyes full of nothing but scheming, never-ending." Lin Kangrui looked gloomy, recalling his own experience of being played.
"I'm not happy about being used by her either." Lin Haoyu took it in stride—getting angry only hurt herself. She had directly ripped off Lin Haoxin's mask back then, but Lin Haoxin had a thick skin and managed to smooth things over with a few words, even putting on a smiling face to show concern for her. That girl's mental fortitude was unbeatable.
Lin Haoxin was truly emboldened by her position. She didn't give Lin Haoyu or Lin Kangrui a second thought, treating them however she pleased. It really lived up to Lin Haofei's accusation of shamelessness—the eldest branch did hold a significant advantage in the Lin family, which was why Lin Kangzong and Lin Haoxin were so proud, even arrogant.
"Don't waste your feelings on her. We just won't play her game. If she pulls that again, we'll flip the board entirely. After all, those who want nothing can't be controlled." Lin Haoyu's mindset was very laid-back—that's just how someone who didn't plan to fight over the family fortune thought.
Lin Kangrui was very displeased. "They look down on us!"
Lin Haoyu smiled. "What? You want to rise up and fight the eldest and second branches?"
Lin Kangrui immediately shook his head. "I don't want to be a boss like Grandpa."
"Then what do you want to be?" Lin Haoyu asked casually.
Lin Kangrui looked around like a thief, then stared at Lin Haoyu. "Promise to keep it a secret, and I'll tell you."
Lin Haoyu grew curious. "I promise to keep it a secret."
"I'm going to be a singer—a world-famous singer. I'm going to be a superstar!" Lin Kangrui puffed out his chest proudly, radiating pure teenage bravado. "Awesome, right?"
Then he waited nervously for Lin Haoyu's reaction.
Lin Haoyu blinked and gave him a thumbs-up. "That's a big dream. Impressive."
Which was harder—fighting for the Lin family fortune or becoming a world-famous superstar? Lin Haoyu couldn't tell which was more difficult.
Lin Kangrui was stunned. "Why aren't you telling me I'm wasting my time or going down the wrong path?"
"Hmm?" Lin Haoyu remembered that this was the 1990s, not the future where rich second and third generations flocked to the entertainment industry to make money. Back then, most people in showbiz came from poor backgrounds, and few wealthy kids went into it—and those who did mostly treated it as a hobby. If Lin Zhenhua ever found out about Lin Kangrui's dream, he'd definitely bring out the family discipline and ground Lin Kangrui so hard he couldn't even leave the house.
Lin Haoyu shook her head. "What I think doesn't matter. What you want matters most—you're the one who wants to be a superstar. But Dad and Mom will be easy to handle; Grandpa won't be."
Lin Kangrui's eyes lit up. "You support me! You support me! You support me!"
"Do I support you? Fine, count me in." Lin Haoyu didn't crush his dream—this kid's eyes were way too bright.
"Yay!" Lin Kangrui jumped up, as if trying to reach the sun, and punched the air. "You wait—from now on, you'll be the sister of a superstar!"
Lin Haoyu joked, "Alright, I'll wait for you to make big money and take care of me."
Lin Kangrui said with great bravado, "Deal! I'll make big money and take care of you!"
Lin Haoyu paused, then smiled. "Lin Kangrui, you're a really good little brother."