Song Xinyan’s face stiffened. Even her “grievance” tears froze in place.
It looked as if she no longer knew how to continue acting.
Lin Ting also deliberately stopped speaking at that moment.
He allowed the suspense to deepen.
“Then that’s great. Let Eldest Young Master Lin explain—how exactly did that bracelet fall into the water?” Song Xinyu deliberately raised her voice.
She wanted everyone to hear it.
At the same time, she also wanted everyone to doubt it—since Song Xinyu sounded so confident, could it be that she had truly been wrongly accused?
Shu Jing, on the other hand, looked at Song Xinyu with strong displeasure, thinking she was the type to falsely accuse others first.
Song Xinyan panicked, but only slightly. She fully embodied the attitude of someone guilty yet unafraid.
Just as Lin Ting was about to continue speaking, she stepped forward first.
“Yes, it really has nothing to do with my sister.”
“It was all my fault. I was the one who impulsively wanted to gift the bracelet to my sister. I didn’t expect things to turn out like this—it was my mistake. Please don’t misunderstand my sister. I was also the one who accidentally dropped the bracelet into the ground.”
Even after Song Xinyan voluntarily admitted fault.
Everyone still felt there was nothing wrong.
As the elder sister, it was not unusual for her to look after her younger sister. It made perfect sense.
Lin Ting looked deeply at Song Xinyan. She truly understood how to shift meanings.
A sincere gift and a gift made with hidden intentions were two completely different things.
Clearly, everyone assumed Song Xinyan had given it sincerely, and no one blamed her at all.
Especially Aunt Jing, who tightly grasped Song Xinyan’s wrist. “Xiao Yan, I knew it—you always treat your sister well. But look how she treats you! She even tried to bite the hand that feeds her.”
Song Xinyan lowered her head cooperatively, showing a deeply hurt expression.
In contrast, Song Xinyu crossed her arms and stood calmly.
Even after being publicly accused by Mother Lin, she did not seem to care.
Instead, she said lightly: “Wonderful. Truly wonderful. My dear sister has put on quite a performance.”
Mother Song immediately snapped. “Song Xinyu, what nonsense are you talking about again?”
“Elder sister explained nothing earlier, nothing later, but only explained after Lin Ting came out that she accidentally dropped the bracelet. Then just now, when Aunt Jing was about to slap me, why didn’t you protect me? Instead, you only knew how to cry?”
Lin Ting raised his brows slightly. She counterattacked.
“You… what nonsense are you saying…” Mother Song, clearly the biggest supporter of the elder daughter, immediately exploded in anger and wanted to teach the younger daughter a lesson for daring to speak nonsense in the Lin household.
However, Song Xinyu stepped behind Lin Ting.
As the future mother-in-law, Mother Song could not act rashly at once.
Yet Song Xinyu continued: “What do you mean ‘what nonsense’? As a mother, your eyes are only on your elder daughter, aren’t they? Both of us are your daughters, so why do you only defend her and never listen to my explanation?”
This left Mother Song speechless.
She looked around, concerned about others’ opinions, and could only awkwardly smile to cover it up. “That’s not true. I care for both daughters equally.”
“It’s not like that, sister. I was just too panicked earlier and didn’t react in time.” Song Xinyan tried to smooth things over.
But anyone who listened carefully could tell how absurd that excuse was.
Even Lin Ting found it ridiculous.
Disdain appeared in his eyes as he spoke.
“No need to explain anymore.”
His voice was cold and carried strong authority.
“Song Xinyan, apologize to Song Xinyu. From beginning to end, you were the one who insisted on giving her the bracelet. She already said she didn’t need it, yet you forced it on her. You wanted to be a good elder sister, but you never once respected her opinion. Also, before transferring it, did you even get my mother’s permission?”
Lin Ting’s reasoning was extremely clear, and everyone seemed to suddenly understand.
【Rare indeed. Cannon Fodder Brother actually spoke for me.】
Lin Ting: …… I have a name, and I do not like that title.
Everyone also immediately realized that Lin Ting was standing up for Song Xinyu.
Look—he was even standing in front of her.
In truth, no one had expected Song Xinyan to apologize, because subconsciously they all assumed the younger sister was at fault.
After all, her reputation was so bad it was beyond description.
“….” For a moment, no one knew how to respond.
Mother Song was the first to step forward to defend her elder daughter.
“Apologize? What for? Did Song Xinyu apologize for stealing her sister’s fiancé? Xiao Yan only wanted to give her the bracelet—what’s wrong with that? It was her own sensitivity that made her refuse it! What, should we kneel before her now?”
“That’s right! If anyone should apologize, it should be Song Xinyu!” Mother Lin also firmly stood on Song Xinyan’s side.
In her eyes, Song Xinyan was kind-hearted and always considered her sister.
But her younger sister was like the snake in the Farmer and the Snake story—ungrateful and biting back.
“Enough, stop arguing!” Old Master Lin finally spoke, stopping the commotion.
He ordered everyone to return to their meal and not bring up the matter again.
Naturally, the apology also ended in silence.
【As expected. Our cannon fodder situation is always this miserable…】
Song Xinyu shrugged and left.
Instead, Lin Ting remained standing there, growing more and more frustrated.
“Our cannon fodder…”