4: Chapter 4 The Pretentious Young Master

Lin Yu continued to carry his suitcase downstairs. Seeing that Lin Qingshan and Su Xiumei remained silent, the butler grew anxious.

"Young Master, you have always been the Master and Madam's most beloved son. They can't bear to see you leave!"

As the butler spoke, he moved forward to stop him.

But Lin Yu's attitude was exceptionally resolute. "The Lin Family has raised me for twenty years; I am truly content and cannot ask for more."

These words finally moved Lin Qingshan and Su Xiumei.

After all, he was the son they had raised for twenty years. Even if he wasn't their biological child, there was a deep bond.

"Xiao Yu, didn't we agree before? We are only bringing A-Xiao back; we aren't trying to drive you away."

Su Xiumei said with heartache.

Lin Qingshan chimed in, "That's right, Xiao Yu. You will always be our son."

But Lin Yu still shook his head. "Everything I have originally belonged to him. If I stay, there will come a day when The Lin Family can no longer tolerate me."

Playing the victim, Lin Yu directed the conflict toward Lin Xiao.

"How could that be?"

Looking at Lin Yu's dejected appearance, a thought couldn't help but cross Su Xiumei's mind.

For the past twenty years, their family had lived quite happily.

Although Lin Yu was a bit mischievous outside, he had always been very obedient at home.

If Lin Xiao's return were to shatter this original peace...

...then was their insistence on finding Lin Xiao really the right choice?

Amidst their hesitation, Lin Qingshan and Su Xiumei heard Lin Xiao's inner thoughts again.

[Heh, keep acting. Go ahead, keep it up.]

[Such clumsy acting, and only Dad and Mom would fall for it.]

[He's already certain that Dad and Mom won't actually let him leave. That suitcase is empty; it's all for show... Heh, he won't even commit to the full performance. How perfunctory.]

Acting?

Lin Qingshan frowned and glanced at Su Xiumei.

Having been married for nearly thirty years, the two shared a tacit understanding.

By now, Lin Yu had come downstairs.

Su Xiumei went up to him and reached out to take the suitcase from Lin Yu's hand.

Lin Yu was surprised and quickly pulled the suitcase behind him.

Although it was only for a moment, Su Xiumei still felt the weight of the suitcase.

It was empty.

Even if it wasn't completely empty, there must be very few things inside.

As Lin Yu yanked it, a faint rattling sound could be heard from inside.

Realizing his little trick might have been discovered, Lin Yu immediately said loudly, "Master Lin, Mrs. Lin, since I am not your biological son, I will not take anything from this house."

With that, he painfully took several luxury car keys out of his bag.

You should know, these were his favorite things in daily life.

To make his parents regret, he was going all out!

Su Xiumei and Lin Qingshan were originally displeased, but seeing Lin Yu actually willing to give up his favorite cars and hearing his distant way of addressing them, their hearts softened again.

Had they misunderstood?

Before they could think further, Lin Xiao took a step forward and snatched the car keys from Lin Yu's hand.

"You..."

Lin Yu felt a tightness in his chest from anger, but he forced himself to endure it.

He squeezed out a difficult smile. "These were all birthday gifts from Master Lin and Mrs. Lin. I hope my younger brother doesn't mind them."

Lin Xiao pretended not to understand Lin Yu's sarcasm and said with a smile, "Since these were bought by Mom and Dad, how could I mind?"

[Are you kidding? How could I mind? These cars will fetch a lot of money if I resell them!]

[I have to start planning for myself. After all, it won't be long before The Lin Family goes bankrupt!]

Lin Xiao's inner thoughts instantly terrified Su Xiumei and Lin Qingshan!

Their Lin Family was no small clan; their major industries were ranked among the top five in the Capital.

Furthermore, Su Xiumei's maternal family was a century-old prestigious clan.

If anyone had said before that The Lin Family would go bankrupt, they would have definitely scoffed at it.

But since a moment ago, not a single one of Lin Xiao's inner thoughts had been wrong.

This made it truly difficult for them to accept.

While they were hesitating, a sound came from the entrance foyer.

A tall young woman wearing a black trench coat walked in.

She looked around at everyone present, her gaze finally landing on Lin Xiao and the car keys in his hand.

Her eyes were full of disdain and disgust as she snorted coldly. "Snatching someone else's things as soon as you get back—you really are from the countryside!"

"Chuge!"

Su Xiumei frowned.

Her eldest daughter had always been blunt and protective of her own.

She seemed to have misunderstood the situation, thinking Lin Yu was actually being bullied.

Lin Xiao also looked up.

He saw that Lin Chuge was stunningly beautiful, with exquisite makeup and long curly hair cascading over her shoulders.

Standing at 172cm, her long, slender legs and overall presence exuded the proud aura of someone in a high position.

However, her expression was somewhat cold, making her difficult to approach.

[As expected of The Lin Family's heir!]

[As expected of the Capital's 'Ice Beauty' CEO!]

[What a pity, though. She's actually the female lead of a tragic novel. Later on, not only will her best friend and a scumbag team up to swindle her of money and her virtue, but she'll also have her heart and kidneys harvested, and die while pregnant with quadruplets—one corpse, five lives. Tsk, tsk, tsk... how tragic!]

Upon hearing this voice, the Lin couple and Lin Chuge herself were stunned.

Tragic novel female lead?

Heart and kidneys harvested?

And "one corpse, five lives"—did that mean Lin Chuge was pregnant with four children?

The Lin couple pricked up their ears in silence, wanting to hear more of Lin Xiao's inner thoughts.

Although Lin Chuge also heard the voice, she thought she was hallucinating.

She did indeed have a fiancé, introduced by Lin Yu. His family background was fine, and his character and ability were decent; they were a well-matched pair.

But in this society ruled by law, how could organs be taken away so casually?

And her best friend—they had been friends for over ten years and had gone through hardships together. It was impossible for her to betray her.

Just then, Lin Chuge noticed her parents' expressions had turned into ones of shock and worry.

Could it be that they heard that voice too?

"Dad, Mom, did you also hear..."

"Chuge!"

Lin Qingshan reacted instantly, immediately giving her a look and interrupting, "Now that you're back, hurry and help Xiao Yu take his things upstairs. Xiao Yu is already so old yet still throwing a childish tantrum. As his older sister, you should talk some sense into him."

Su Xiumei chimed in, "That's right. Xiao Yu has listened to you since he was a child. You should persuade him!"

Seeing her parents making eyes at her, Lin Chuge had no choice but to temporarily suppress the questions in her heart.

Seeing this, Lin Yu wanted to continue his act of leaving.

But he was glared back into silence by a cold look from Lin Chuge.

The Lin couple was right; since childhood, he hadn't feared his parents, only this eldest sister.

Left with no choice, he obediently carried the suitcase back upstairs, not daring to mention leaving again.

Lin Xiao felt a bit of regret.

Fortunately, he was mentally prepared, knowing The Lin Family had deep feelings for Lin Yu and wouldn't actually let him leave.

But this was fine too.

Lin Yu was a time bomb; keeping him where he could be watched was safer than leaving him outside.