15: The end times are coming.

"Mo Chi, are you looking for me?"

Lin Ran swayed her hips as she walked toward him, putting on an appearance of delicate pity mixed with forced coquettishness.

He was wearing a long black trench coat, which only served to accentuate his already tall figure, making him look even more slender and imposing. His stunningly handsome face exuded a distant indifference, yet it only made people want to get closer.

That kind of aura, that feeling, was enough to make her blush and her heart race with just one look.

She reached out to grab his sleeve, but he immediately sidestepped her, moving away as if she were something dirty he needed to avoid.

This blatant disgust and aversion instantly drained the color from Lin Ran's face.

Even though he hadn't uttered a single word, she could feel immense insult and loathing from him!

Seeing this, the expectant smile on Lin Zhiyuan's face froze instantly.

Lin Ze and Lin Xu were very indignant. Although Shen Mo Chi had power, why should he treat Ran Ran like this? She was so kind and wonderful!

Just as the two were about to stand up for their sister, the villa gate opened.

Lin Wan ran out cheerfully and rushed straight into Shen Mo Chi's embrace.

Shen Mo Chi instantly changed from the coldness and indifference he showed them.

His eyes were filled with deep affection.

He strode forward, opened his arms, and held the petite girl close. Fearing she was cold, he wrapped her inside his large trench coat.

"Mo Chi, you're here."

"Mm, Wanwan, were you wronged?"

Lin Wan inhaled the pleasant scent of him mingled with the cold wind and shook her head.

"Not at all. They are just some irrelevant nuisances."

"Good."

The four of them saw this scene and understood everything.

Lin Zhiyuan was filled with disbelief.

The one with a good relationship with Shen Mo Chi wasn't Ran Ran, but Lin Wan!

He hadn't even glanced at Lin Ran, who had walked right up to him moments before!

But facing Lin Wan, even as a man, he could see that the intense love was completely undisguised!

For the first time, he felt a pang of regret.

If he had known this, perhaps he shouldn't have said those heartless words to Lin Wan just now.

After all, this was also his biological daughter.

Shen Mo Chi was formidable, not just because he was a genius in business, nor solely because of the Shen family's immense power. Besides those factors, it was rumored he also had a mysterious, powerful backer!

Lin Zhiyuan forced an awkward smile.

He adjusted his clothes, walked up to them, and adopted a look of paternal affection.

"Wanwan, when did you start seeing Mo Chi? Why didn't you tell your father? You really don't know how to behave."

"Mo Chi, I apologize. My daughter is still young and doesn't know better. She just made a mistake, and when I scolded her a couple of times, she said those childish things out of spite."

"You Child, what irrelevant people? I am your father."

Lin Wan was almost choked with laughter by his shamelessness.

Wanwan.

Besides childhood, this seemed to be the first time he had called her Wanwan since she returned to the Lin family.

When she first came back, her heart was filled with resentment and unwillingness.

Every time she heard him affectionately call Lin Ran, Ran Ran, it caused her intense pain.

When he called her name, it was always laced with unfamiliarity and dissatisfaction. Lin Wan.

Perhaps children from unfortunate original families were always this sensitive. She had tried to communicate and express herself to him, but he had told her she was making a big deal out of nothing?

Now... hehe.

One second he told her to die and sever ties, the next he changed his tune. He was utterly shameless.

Shen Mo Chi kept his arm around Lin Wan.

He looked down at her, as if he hadn't heard Lin Zhiyuan's words.

It was already a great effort of restraint on his part not to teach them a lesson, all for Lin Wan's sake.

He didn't know why, but the moment he saw these Lin family members, an overwhelming surge of anger and killing intent became uncontrollable.

It was as if they had done something that caused him agonizing heartache!

He attributed all of this to his heartache for Lin Wan.

Therefore, not immediately attacking them was already his greatest concession for her sake; how could he possibly pay attention to Lin Zhiyuan!

That hypocritical man who abandoned his wife and Child.

He had just said such cutting words to Wanwan!

Lin Wan looked at Lin Zhiyuan's ashen face—as if he had eaten excrement—and felt a surge of satisfaction, a feeling perhaps better than killing them immediately!

Suddenly, she felt a cold gaze upon her.

She turned her head to see Lin Ran glaring at her with a sinister expression, her fists tightly clenched.

Her eyes held an indescribable viciousness and ferocity.

Like a venomous snake tightly fixing its gaze on someone.

Lin Wan looked at her, her lips curving into a wide smile, her eyes full of provocation and showing off.

Then, she reached out and laced her fingers with Shen Mo Chi's.

As expected, Lin Ran's face contorted even more.

Shen Mo Chi leaned close to her ear and whispered softly,

"Wanwan, there are people with cameras nearby. They were brought by them, probably trying to find leverage against you. We can't make a move right now."

"Should we go inside now?"

Lin Wan couldn't help but sneer. So this was the Lin family's scheme. They probably suspected her but lacked evidence.

So they were causing a scene here this morning, using provocation to force her to admit something, giving others a reason to search and investigate her!

Truly overthinking and disgusting!

However, this action inadvertently saved their miserable lives for now. Seven days left; she could wait!

"Fine, let's go inside first."

Seeing them about to leave, Lin Ze, who had been silent, could no longer hold back and rushed forward, blocking the two.

Lin Wan initially thought he was going to stand up for his Ran Ran again, but he looked as if he wanted to speak but hesitated.

"Spit it out, or get lost!"

"Wanwan, why did things turn out like this? We are family, biological siblings. Come home with your brother, okay!"

Just now, when Lin Wan threw herself into Shen Mo Chi's arms, that sweet and dependent smile suddenly reminded him of his sister from childhood.

Back then, their parents hadn't divorced yet, and as the eldest brother, he genuinely doted on his sister.

Lin Wan always wore little dresses and followed behind him, calling out 'Brother' in a childish voice, full of dependence that melted his heart.

But at some unknown point, that quirky, kind, and lovely little sister had turned into this selfish and heartless person.

Yes, ever since their mother passed away, she had changed after returning to the Lin family.

She hated Ran Ran and Aunt Xu, forbidding him from being nice to her, acting like a Child guarding its food, fighting for everything.

Since she returned, he hadn't seen that kind of smile from her.

Lin Ze felt a pang in his heart, suddenly wanting to salvage everything.

"Wanwan, what happened in the past doesn't matter. Brother doesn't blame you. Everything can start anew. I believe you were just temporarily confused, right?"

"Everyone will forgive you, as long as you admit your mistake and change."

"Heh heh heh, hahahahahahahahaha..."

A moment later, a low laugh erupted, and then Lin Wan's laughter grew louder and louder until she doubled over, tears streaming down her face.

Shen Mo Chi supported her waist, his deep eyes sharp and cold, like a knife piercing Lin Ze.

What an overly self-important fool!

"Mo Chi, do you think this is funny? Hahaha, it's hilarious! You want me to admit my mistake and then forgive me? That's laughable!"

"Should I... also thank you for giving me the chance to return to the Lin family? Ah? Hahahaha..."

She once again recalled how, in her previous life, when she was finally captured by Lin Ran, the two of them unhesitatingly pressed her down hard so that their Ran Ran could chop off her limbs.

That bone-deep pain, every time she recalled it, made her wish for death!

Lin Xu, who was comforting Lin Ran nearby, touched the scar near his eye, his gaze full of gloom.

"Lin Wan, what are you so smug about! Eldest Brother is being lenient with you, and you're ungrateful! I'll say it again: why don't you just die! You will never compare to even one of Ran Ran's fingers!"

Lin Wan's smile abruptly stopped. She restrained Shen Mo Chi from stepping forward.

She walked step by step to Lin Xu, stared into his eyes, and spoke in a voice audible only to the two of them:

"Lin Xu, remember this: you won't live many more days in this world. Cherish them. When the time comes, you'll know which one of us dies first!"

When his gaze met hers,

Lin Xu's rage-filled desire to hit her instantly quieted down. He even trembled slightly.

No matter how bad things got before, she had never given them such a look.

Ice-cold, piercing, emotionless, like looking at a deceased stranger.

Lin Xu involuntarily took two steps back, his whole body seeming to collapse.

Lin Wan let out a mocking laugh and turned to Lin Ran, whose eyes were sinister,

"You too. You will die a very, very terrible death."

Shen Mo Chi came over and took her hand, and then the villa door slammed shut heavily.

Returning empty-handed, the group walked back in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.

The two personnel who had followed them to complete the mission also felt contempt.

This family was truly delusional. Lin Wan, such a delicate little beauty, even if she possessed incredible ability, it was impossible for her to secretly take so many things from the villa within four hours.

Moreover, the row of luxury cars had also disappeared at the same time.

The surveillance footage clearly showed that she had only driven away in her own car.

But Lin Zhiyuan and the others insisted that Lin Wan had stolen everything.

The team had no leads on the case and even suspected the Lin family staged the theft to divert assets.

After all, they had searched the scene repeatedly and found absolutely no clues!

If these people hadn't persistently nagged them today, insisting they would find a way to make Lin Wan confess and threatening to report them if they didn't comply, they wouldn't have come!

Now it seemed Lin Wan hadn't stolen anything; on the contrary, she was a poor victim in the Lin family!

Her father wasn't a father, her brothers weren't brothers! And she had a stepsister who stirred up trouble!

This incident made them even more highly suspect that this was a farce orchestrated by Lin Zhiyuan himself!

He must have staged it to transfer assets in advance to prevent trouble for the Lin family company! They must report the truth to the team when they returned and let them handle it!

Lin Wan sat on the sofa, hugging her knees, her gaze somewhat vacant.

Although she truly hated them to the core, their actions still affected her mood.

After all, they were once her blood relatives. In childhood, they had loved each other.

Being cursed so viciously—she wasn't a piece of wood, how could she be completely unaware and unaffected?

She really hated this emotional fluctuation. She wondered why she couldn't just be a cold and vicious person.

Shen Mo Chi held her, naturally feeling sympathetic. He understood her feelings too well.

"Wanwan, I'm here. It's okay."

Lin Wan smiled faintly and leaned into his embrace.

"Mo Chi, I'm fine. It's just these few minutes. I am truly utterly disappointed in them; I don't have a shred of feeling left. Moreover, I will definitely kill them! Will you think I am vicious?"

Lin Wan had never told Shen Mo Chi about her fate after the Apocalypse arrived.

"Of course not. We can't choose our blood relations, and sometimes we can't even control our feelings. But that's not a reason for others to hurt us wantonly. It's just an eye for an eye. If you wish, I can make them disappear tonight!"

"No need. I must end them myself! To have a final break with the past!"

...

Three days later, the week-long light rain finally stopped.

But the sky was pitch black and gloomy, even showing strange shapes.

Shen Mo Chi's affairs were basically settled.

So, they had been together constantly since that day.

Lin Wan stood on the balcony, looking at the sky.

"Mo Chi, the Apocalypse is probably coming early."