"Xiaolin, please, let them off the hook this once. After all... they've lived with me and Su Yanxue for so long. Just spare them this time, please."
Su Guowei's voice trailed off.
He knew how unconvincing his words sounded.
He also knew that in this situation, nothing he said would matter.
He instinctively turned to Su Yanxue, his eyes pleading.
A bitter pang went through Su Yanxue's heart as she watched her father.
She didn't know if it was from seeing her father grovel, or because of his attitude toward Jiang Yuelian and her daughter.
But she still stepped forward, gently patting her father on the back before turning to Lin Feng.
"Honey, let it go. I don't want to press the matter."
Su Yanxue's voice was soft, as if she were pleading, but it held a firm resolve.
Lin Feng watched this unfold, stunned.
He had planned on using this as an opportunity to make an example of them, to show everyone the price of messing with the people he cared about.
He never expected Su Yanxue to plead on their behalf. That truly surprised him.
"Mr. Lin, if you don't need us for anything else, we'll be going now."
Wang Tianlin and Li Minde were both incredibly shrewd men.
They naturally understood that this had become Lin Feng's private family affair.
Staying any longer would just make things awkward.
"Mm."
Lin Feng nodded curtly, looking coldly at the three of them.
Su Yanxue quickly spoke up, seeing the two off. "Take care, you two."
After Wang Tianlin and Li Minde left, the atmosphere in the room grew heavy.
Lin Feng sat silently on the sofa, not saying a word. He didn't even look at Su Yanxue, seeming like a complete stranger.
Su Guowei steeled his resolve, slowly walked over to sit beside Su Yanxue, and looked at her expectantly.
"Xue'er, please help your sister and stepmother. They've repented now."
"You know they've been rebellious since they were little. Can't you just help them out...?"
His voice was thick with desperation.
He couldn't believe Su Yanxue would be so cruel. He was sure that if she just spoke up, Lin Feng would agree.
And besides, Su Yanxue was his daughter.
He was her father!
Looking at Su Guowei's pleading expression, Su Yanxue felt a sudden, sharp pain in her chest. She closed her eyes, her long lashes trembling as tears began to fall.
"Don't put my wife in a difficult position. I can let them go this once, for her sake. But I have one condition."
Lin Feng's icy voice suddenly cut in, stunning Su Guowei, Jiang Yuelian, and Su Linlin.
Their shock quickly turned to elation.
"Wh-what's the condition? Just tell us!"
Su Guowei asked eagerly, his face filled with delight.
"Send them to prison. I want them to do some serious repenting behind bars!"
Lin Feng's gaze swept over Su Guowei and Su Linlin as he spoke, his voice bone-chilling.
"That..."
Su Guowei hesitated. He knew it was the simplest, most brutal solution.
But these were two women he had once loved more than anyone.
The thought of sending them to prison with his own hands left him deeply conflicted.
But Lin Feng's gaze was locked on to him, showing no sign of compromise.
Gritting his teeth, Su Guowei finally made his decision and looked up at Su Yanxue.
"Xue'er, I know this is a huge blow to you, but she is your stepsister, after all. Please, just forgive them this one time. I'm begging you, can you do that for Dad...?"
Su Guowei's voice was choked with emotion. He really did want to protect his only daughter.
But for the sake of his current wife, he had chosen to compromise.
He knew that if he refused, Lin Feng might actually kill his wife and Su Linlin.
A mocking glint appeared in Lin Feng's eyes.
'This man is truly selfish. Pathetically so.'
'He genuinely wants to make up for how he's failed his daughter, but at the same time, he's just scared. Scared of losing the people close to him.'
"I won't say another word on their behalf. You figure it out."
Su Yanxue's face was pale, but her voice remained chillingly calm.
"Sigh..."
Su Guowei heaved a heavy sigh, his face a portrait of inner turmoil.
"Since you're unwilling to accept that condition, I'll offer a different one."
Lin Feng suddenly spoke up. At his words, both Su Guowei and Su Yanxue's eyes shot wide open.
"What?"
Su Guowei was stunned, not expecting Lin Feng to propose another condition.
"I can let them go, but you must legally disown Su Yanxue. I want official legal documents, not just a verbal promise."
Lin Feng said, his tone as cold as his gaze, which fixed on Su Guowei with a frosty glint.
"I can write an agreement," Su Guowei offered after a moment's thought.
"Hmph. Don't bother. I want legal documents, otherwise this conversation is over!"
Lin Feng waved his hand dismissively, his attitude utterly uncompromising.
"Xue'er, please help us! I'm begging you!"
Su Linlin was sharp enough to know that everything now hinged on Su Yanxue. She threw herself to the ground, clinging to Su Yanxue's leg and wailing.
Lin Feng remained perfectly still, giving Su Yanxue's hand a gentle, reassuring squeeze.
'He hadn't really intended to force them to sever their ties. He was just giving Su Guowei one last chance.'
'If Su Guowei really chose to disown Su Yanxue for those two vipers, then Lin Feng would be more than happy to be free of the trouble.'
'Lin Feng had always been a man who repaid his debts. He would repay kindness many times over, but he would return any harm a hundredfold.'
'He was no saint.'
"Dad, just disown her! Do you have the heart to let Mom and me die?"
Su Linlin shrieked, her voice hoarse with desperation.
"Honey, have you forgotten the sweet days when we first fell in love?"
Jiang Yuelian seized the opening to attack Su Guowei's weak spot.
"Enough!"
Su Guowei roared.
"I'll do it!"
he snarled.
Tears streamed from the corners of his eyes. He wished he could slap himself across the face. 'How could I have been so blind?'
Su Yanxue watched her father, her eyes growing moist. She suddenly took a deep breath, and a moment later, her composure returned.
"Fine," Lin Feng said, standing up. "I accept your decision."
"I'll have a lawyer deliver the legal papers tomorrow. From that point on, you and Su Yanxue will have no legal relationship. Furthermore, I will be completely withdrawing the Brocade Group's investment."
"Those billions were for Yan Xue's sake. Since that connection is gone now, so is the money."
Lin Feng's tone was flat, containing neither threat nor anger. He spoke as if merely stating an objective fact, as if a corporate behemoth like the Su Group was beneath his notice.
But it was this very calmness that made his words all the more terrifying, sending a chill straight through Su Guowei's body.