81: Absolute freedom

Lin Yu's movement as he stood up was not fast.

In fact, one could say it was somewhat slow.

He simply and calmly straightened the slightly wrinkled corner of his clothes, then stood upright.

Yet, this simple action instantly froze the boisterous atmosphere in the entire seventh-floor hallway, an atmosphere that had been on the verge of boiling over.

Everyone's gaze, like iron filings drawn by a magnet, was fixed on the young man who had just risen.

This... madman?

President Qian of Baisheng, President Li of Tianqing, and the company representatives holding contracts worth hundreds of millions, their impressions of Lin Yu were still stuck in the absurd rumors from five years ago.

Obsessed with Waste Card, abandoned by all, willingly fallen.

The Lin Yu they imagined should have been a gaunt, frenzied, or at least a vacant-eyed, dispirited failure.

However, the young man before them bore no resemblance whatsoever to their imagination.

He was tall; due to the medicine, Lin Yu was in good condition, and his figure was quite upright.

He wore the simplest T-shirt and jeans, but there was an indescribable cleanliness and composure about him.

His face was handsome and clear, without the slightest hint of weariness from life's struggles; instead, he was excessively calm.

Very much like a normal person.

This... is this really the Lin Yu who had been mad for five years?

Some young reporters, new to the industry for only a few years, after a brief moment of stunned surprise, their eyes gleamed with interest.

They quietly raised their cameras, aiming at this legendary figure.

"He is Lin Yu?"

"The epic profession Myriad Card Creator from five years ago?"

"He looks... quite normal, actually."

Whispers began to rise from the back of the crowd.

"Lin Yu!"

President Qian was the first to snap out of his shock; he pointed at Lin Yu and shouted gruffly.

"This doesn't concern you! Let your sister make her own decision!"

He was afraid that this mad brother would say something shocking and completely ruin the deal.

Even if this deal was likely a trap.

Mother Su also reacted immediately; she plastered a "concerned" expression on her face and frantically called out to Lin Yu.

"Xiao Yu! You absolutely must not be muddled!"

"This is Yao Yao's lifelong matter! You already... you can't ruin your sister again!"

Her words were spoken with "sincere emotion," but the implications were clear.

However, Lin Yu didn't even look at them.

He didn't even spare a glance for the clamoring bigwigs and "caring" relatives.

He only looked at his sister.

Looking at the girl with a tear-streaked face, bewildered and helpless, who saw him as her only reliance in the world.

Lin Yu spoke.

"Is it hard to choose?"

His voice was clear and steady, not loud, yet it distinctly overshadowed all other noise.

This question made Lin Yao slightly stunned.

And it also stunned everyone present.

Is it hard to choose?

Nonsense!

On one side was eighty million with no strings attached, but very possibly a huge trap.

On the other side was a contract worth over a hundred million, with a higher price, but with humiliating terms like a "physical examination."

How could one choose?

For a girl who had just come of age, this was practically the hardest choice in the world!

But Lin Yu asked, is it hard to choose?

He really was crazy!

President Qian almost burst out laughing.

Mother Su shook her head repeatedly, looking heartbroken, as if to say, "This child is utterly beyond saving."

Lin Yu ignored everyone's reactions; he continued to look at his sister and said unhurriedly.

"Actually, in your heart, you already know how to choose."

"It's just that you yourself don't dare to be sure."

Lin Yao's body trembled almost imperceptibly.

She looked up, staring blankly at her brother.

Is... is that so?

She herself already knew how to choose?

Lin Yu shook his head.

"It's not hard to choose."

He looked at Lin Yao and said clearly, word by word.

"You don't have to choose what's right."

"Nor do you have to choose what's most beneficial to you."

"You just need to choose the one you most want to choose."

"Choose the one that makes you most comfortable, least disgusted."

These words completely baffled everyone present.

What does he mean, don't have to choose what's right?

What does he mean, choose what's most comfortable?

This is deciding a contract worth over a hundred million! It concerns the future of a mythical-level professional's entire life! It's not buying cabbage at a market!

He really is crazy!

President Qian of Baisheng could no longer hold back and pointed at Lin Yu, cursing loudly.

"Lin Yu! Haven't you been a good-for-nothing for five years yourself? Now you want to drag your sister into a pit of fire too?!"

"You lunatic! Idiot!"

Mother Su also grew anxious; she rushed forward, trying to grab Lin Yao again, but Lin Yao instinctively dodged her.

"Yao Yao! You absolutely must not listen to your brother's nonsense!"

"He's already crazy! His mind isn't normal! If you listen to him, your life will be ruined!"

She beat her chest and stamped her feet, looking utterly heartbroken, as if Lin Yu were some heinous criminal.

However, Lin Yu was deaf to these curses and "advice."

He simply looked at his sister, continuing to speak in that terrifyingly steady tone, uttering words that were enough to cause cognitive dissonance in everyone.

"Consequences?"

"You don't need to consider them."

"Money? Resources? Future development?"

"You don't need to consider any of these."

"Because..."

Lin Yu paused, and then gave the final answer.

"I'm here."

I'm here.

Just two simple words.

Yet they seemed to contain a terrifying power, as if words could become reality.

Not a promise.

Not comfort.

But a statement.

A statement of a predetermined, unquestionable fact.

What was the purpose of these five years of dormancy?

What was the purpose of enduring the disdain, mockery, and abandonment by all during these five years?

It was for this moment.

To be able to calmly tell his only sister, when she faced the world's greed and malice, feeling helpless and lost:

Go choose.

Choose freely.

Choose what is in your heart; no need to weigh pros and cons, no need to consider consequences, no need to bow to anyone.

Because for all your choices, whether right or wrong, good or bad.

Your brother will always be there to support you.

This was his true purpose in spending five years, sifting through tens of thousands of A Small Pebble to find the Ghost Card.

This was the true power that Card Innovation combined with Unlimited Duplication brought him.

Not the Lightning Spell that could easily destroy a parking lot.

Nor the massive amounts of potions that could stack extreme attributes.

But freedom.

An absolute freedom that could disregard all rules.

Lin Yao's body no longer trembled.

She looked at her brother, the brother who had become blurred, strange, and even somewhat terrifying in her memory.

At this moment, he seemed to transform back into the boy from many years ago, who would stand in front of her when she was bullied and tell her, "Don't be afraid, I'm here."

He was the boy she could absolutely trust.