35: Three million

In an instant, countless terrifying thoughts flashed through Lin Yao's mind, each one chilling her to the bone.

She recalled her brother's destitution in the container, the viciousness of debt collector Brother Wang, and the stack of brand new banknotes she had discovered… All the clues now pointed to the most despairing answer.

"What… what exactly are you doing?"

Lin Yao's lips lost all color. With a choked voice, barely audible to just the two of them, she questioned him again.

She stared intently at Lin Yu, hoping to see a trace of panic on his face, a hint of embarrassment at being exposed.

But there was none.

Lin Yu merely glanced calmly at the marks on his arm, then slowly pulled down his sleeve, covering the alarming skin.

He thought carefully for a moment.

This question had to be answered.

But the answer could not be the truth.

"This is… proof of becoming stronger."

He wasn't lying; he simply phrased it in a way she couldn't understand.

"Becoming stronger?"

Lin Yao was on the verge of collapse; she couldn't accept this answer.

"What kind of becoming stronger requires this?! Brother, don't lie to me! Are you… are you short on money? If you're short on money, you can tell me, tell Mom and Dad! We're family! Why would you… why would you do something like this?!"

Her voice uncontrollably grew louder, and tears welled up in her eyes.

"What's going on? Yao Yao, why are you shouting?"

Mother Lin walked out of the kitchen, carrying a plate of sliced fruit, and Father Lin put down his newspaper and looked over.

Lin Yao's body stiffened, and the rest of her words caught in her throat.

She couldn't say it.

She couldn't voice those terrifying conjectures in front of her parents.

Lin Yu stood up, walked to his sister's side, and gently patted her shoulder.

"I haven't done anything bad."

His touch was light, yet it carried an undeniable, reassuring strength.

"Trust me."

Father Lin and Mother Lin exchanged glances, both sensing that something was amiss from the other's reaction.

Having lived most of their lives, how could they not perceive the tense atmosphere between their two children?

Father Lin stood up and walked over to stand in front of his son and daughter.

He didn't press them about the argument they had just had. Instead, he took a bank card from his pocket.

It was a very ordinary savings card.

Father Lin handed the card to Lin Yu.

"Xiao Yu, take this."

Lin Yu looked at the card but didn't move.

Mother Lin also walked over. She wiped her hands, and her eyes were a little red.

"Your dad is right, take it. The password is your birthday."

Lin Yao was stunned. She looked at her parents' serious actions, then at the card, momentarily forgetting her earlier fear.

"Dad, Mom, this is…"

"There's three million in it."

Father Lin spoke, every word clear and heavy.

Three million!

Lin Yao's head buzzed.

Lin Yu's body also trembled slightly.

"Over the years, besides the house we live in, we've sold off all other assets that could be sold without affecting our lives," Mother Lin's voice was soft, yet it struck the two children's hearts like a hammer. "We've inquired, and with all the loans you've accumulated outside these past few years, plus the various interests, this amount should be enough to pay everything off."

"Pay off the debt." Father Lin looked at his son, the son he was once so proud of, later deeply disappointed by, yet ultimately still held dear in his heart. "Don't drift around alone out there anymore; there's a place for you to live at home."

"Yes, Xiao Yu." Mother Lin's tears finally fell. "Come home. No matter what, family is always together. Whatever hardships there are, we'll face them together."

Silence fell over the living room.

Only Mother Lin's suppressed sobs could be heard.

Lin Yao was completely dumbfounded.

She looked at her parents' faces, no longer young, even somewhat haggard, and at the bank card they offered, which carried everything their family had.

So… Mom and Dad knew everything.

They knew how much debt her brother had, and how hard he had struggled these past five years.

They spoke of cutting ties, of harsh words, but behind the scenes, they were, in their own way, preparing a final retreat for their son.

Lin Yao could no longer hold back her tears; they rolled down her cheeks in large drops.

Lin Yu lowered his head.

Three million.

This was his parents' life savings.

They should have used this money to enjoy their retirement, to travel, to live the life they wanted.

But now, they were unhesitatingly handing it all over to him, their "unfilial son."

To make him "come home."

This money was too heavy.

So heavy that even he, who already possessed a million-fold amplification and could easily create billions in wealth, felt a suffocating pressure.

This wasn't just money.

This was all of his parents' hopes for the rest of their lives.

He couldn't refuse.

In this situation, any refusal would be trampling on and insulting this love.

Lin Yu slowly reached out his hand.

His fingertips touched the cold card.

Then, he took it, holding it in his palm.

The card's temperature seemed to instantly warm from his body heat.

"Dad, Mom."

Lin Yu looked up. There was no excitement or guilt on his face, as his parents might have expected, only an unprecedented calm and solemnity.

"Thank you."

He didn't say, "I'll pay you back," nor did he say, "I don't need it."

He simply accepted it.

Because he knew very well that from this moment on, what he carried was not just his own future.

But also this family's.

Father Lin saw his son accept the card, and the taut lines on his face finally softened a little. He heavily patted Lin Yu's shoulder.

"It's good to have you back."

Mother Lin, even more, broke into a smile through her tears, nodding repeatedly.

"Yes, it's good to have you back, it's good to have you back…"

Lin Yao watched this scene, wiped her tears, and the huge stone in her heart concerning the needle marks seemed to be temporarily suppressed by this mountain called "family."

No matter what her brother was doing, as long as he was willing to come home, there was still hope for everything.

Lin Yu placed the card into the inner pocket of his suit, close to his chest.

That heavy family meeting ended silently after Lin Yu accepted the bank card.

Father Lin and Mother Lin seemed to have had the heaviest stone lifted from their hearts. Amidst their fatigue, there was a long-lost sense of peace. After a few words of caution to rest early, they each returned to their rooms.

Only Lin Yu and Lin Yao remained in the living room.

Lin Yao's eyes were still red. She pulled Lin Yu, and without a word, they returned to her room.

Pink walls, a desk piled with study materials, and a cute rabbit desk lamp. Everything was much the same as when Lin Yu left five years ago.

"Brother."

The door closed, cutting off the living room light. Only the warm glow of the desk lamp remained in the room.

Lin Yao's emotions surged again.

"You've already taken Mom and Dad's money, when are you moving back in?"

Lin Yu sat on his sister's desk chair, looking at her.

"For now, I'm still living outside."

"Why?!"

Lin Yao's voice instantly rose. She couldn't understand. "The family's debts are all paid off! Why do you still need to live in that broken container?! Didn't you say you were playing a big game? Is the game over now?"

"Not yet," Lin Yu's answer was calm and direct.

"Then what exactly are you doing?!"