At the First Military District Hospital in Yue City, Old Master Si had been waiting early in the morning.
As soon as the police arrived, he immediately went forward to meet them.
Pei Huaiyuan was sent straight to the emergency room.
Before being taken in, he was already in a semi-conscious state.
“Girl, I represent the organization in thanking you!”
Old Master Si held her hands with both of his, his firm eyes filled with gratitude.
Lin Yunchu was slightly moved by his attitude. This was the purest form of care and protection from an organization toward its comrades.
“Grandpa Si, this is what I should do. He has arrived safely, so I’ll head back first.”
“Alright. Go back and rest well. I’ll treat you to a meal later.”
“Okay.”
Lin Yunchu politely said goodbye.
After leaving the military hospital, Lin Yunchu went straight to Pang Xiaoyan’s photo studio.
“You woman, where did you run off to? Yesterday your adoptive mother came here looking for you. After she couldn’t find you, she went around spreading rumors again—saying you were wandering everywhere and messing around. And that Lin Keke little white lotus? As soon as your mother spoke, she immediately acted all pitiful and said, ‘My sister must be in a bad mood, that’s why she didn’t tell us where she went. I just hope she doesn’t run into bad people!’”
“She made it sound so bad. I directly called her a little white lotus, and she turned pale from anger.”
“They’re trying to gain the upper hand in my place? No way!”
Pang Xiaoyan spoke angrily to Lin Yunchu.
“You’re amazing, Xiaoyan!” Lin Yunchu gave her a thumbs-up.
“But wait—why are your clothes so dirty? Where did you go last night?”
Only then did Pang Xiaoyan notice the mud stains and faint blood marks on her clothes. “What happened to you? Why is there blood on your clothes?”
Lin Yunchu went into the back room and said seriously, “Xiaoyan, I can’t explain this right now. Ask Brother Pang to hurry up and develop these photos for me—preferably by tomorrow. Also, tell him not to look at them if possible. And if he does, don’t tell anyone else.”
Pang Xiaoyan rarely saw her so serious and became tense. “Yunchu, did something big happen?”
“Yes. Something very big.”
“The photos—just looking at them might make people lose sleep. You’re about to get married soon, don’t look at them.”
“Oh right, are my last batch of photos ready?”
“My brother said they’ll be done tomorrow.”
“Alright. Thank you. I’ll come back tomorrow.”
“Oh, and change your clothes. If you go back like this, your adoptive mother will definitely be smug.”
“Thanks.”
Lin Yunchu did not stand on ceremony. She changed into one of Pang Xiaoyan’s outfits and returned to the Lin family home.
The whole family was there.
Wang Xiujun and Lin Keke sat on the sofa watching TV, while Lin Zhifeng sat nearby on a chair with his legs crossed reading a newspaper.
A harmonious family of three.
When they saw her come in, they glanced at her coldly, then looked away again.
They completely ignored her.
The atmosphere was oppressive and suffocating.
Originally, Lin Yunchu had planned to exchange a few insincere words with them, but seeing this, she skipped it entirely.
She went straight back to her room.
She had only been gone one night, yet the room was already filled with random clutter—extra fertilizer bags, old clothes, boxes that were either useless or “might be used someday.”
Her clean, tidy room now looked like a garbage dump.
They were so eager to drive her out.
“Like father, like son; like mouse, like hole. A country-bred child really has no manners. Coming back and not even greeting her elders. Sigh, wasted effort, wasted effort!”
Wang Xiujun’s sarcastic voice came from the living room.
Lin Yunchu walked out.
“As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together. I suppose I’ve just been influenced by you all for too long.”
“Lin Yunchu, you’re becoming more and more outrageous! Your father and I raised you all these years. You don’t report where you go, and when you come back you don’t greet us—now you’re even being sarcastic?”
“Where were you yesterday? Did you go find Old Master Si?”
Seeing her calm attitude, Wang Xiujun asked coldly.
Yesterday she had brought Lin Keke to see Old Master Si. He had met them.
She had tried to hint at replacing the marriage, but instead he had said:
“Whether a child is born or raised, they are still your child.”
She understood his meaning clearly—he was warning them that Lin Yunchu was still part of the Lin family, and the bride he wanted was still her.
She then tried to say Lin Yunchu wanted to return to her biological parents, but Old Master Si only said that nurturing kindness is greater than heaven, and that she would still be filial if they treated her fairly.
Now thinking back, it was obvious—Lin Yunchu must have gone to complain to Old Master Si.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have implied they were unfair or favored Lin Keke.
“I didn’t go find him yesterday,” Lin Yunchu replied.
Wang Xiujun’s expression eased slightly.
Lin Keke also relaxed.
As long as she hadn’t gone behind their backs to find Old Master Si, there was still room for change.
“But I did see Grandpa Si today,” Lin Yunchu said with a faint smile.
Both of their smiles froze instantly.
Lin Keke clenched her fists, almost wanting to smash her face.
She was clearly playing with them—worse, she had secretly gone to see Old Master Si anyway.
“Sister, don’t you know it’s useless even if you go to Grandpa Si?” Lin Keke said softly, pretending to be kind. “We already went. Si Zhiyan was there too. He clearly said he won’t marry you.”
“Is that so?” Lin Yunchu asked lightly.
“Lin Yunchu, have you forgotten what you promised us a few days ago?” Wang Xiujun snapped.
“I haven’t forgotten,” she replied calmly. “I said I would return to my biological parents’ side, and I will. As for Si Zhiyan not marrying me—then so be it.”
Lin Keke couldn’t understand her at all. She said she wouldn’t marry him, yet kept going to see Old Master Si.
And the key issue was that Old Master Si clearly liked her.
If he insisted on forcing the marriage, wouldn’t everything they had done be for nothing?
“Sister, why do you never tell the truth?” Lin Keke said tearfully, her eyes instantly filled with tears, looking pitiful and wronged.
Seeing this, Wang Xiujun became angry again. “Lin Yunchu, why are you bullying Keke again?”
“I’ve had enough,” Lin Yunchu said coldly. “How am I bullying her? Which word did I say that you didn’t hear? Did I scold her? Did I hit her? She cries like a cat meowing at the slightest thing—how is that my fault?”
“Your attitude is what’s bullying her! I think I’ve been too good to you before, which is why you’re so ungrateful now! You eat our food, live in our house—and not only are you ungrateful, you keep upsetting Keke. Remember, Keke is the real young lady of this family. She is the true owner here. If you can’t get along with her, then don’t live in our house!”
Wang Xiujun’s eyes were vicious, her voice sharp.
She was trying to drive her out.
Lin Yunchu suddenly laughed.
“Then I won’t live here, I won’t live here at all!”