Compared to the big family gathering earlier, what Le Yiqiu and Lin Xianing truly worried about was this private meeting.
Some matters could be addressed far more bluntly than they had been at lunch.
Meeting Lin Xianing’s parents felt far more solemn than seeing anyone else.
The two of them went back first to grab the gifts they had prepared for her parents. Then they followed behind Lin Xiaming as he led the way to the small courtyard where Father Lin and Mother Lin lived.
In addition to gifts for the elders, they had also brought some for the younger relatives, sisters-in-law, and cousins. Xiang Meng and Xiang Shang had already delivered theirs.
But the gifts for the elders needed to be presented by both of them together.
Father Lin and Mother Lin’s small courtyard was only a five-minute walk away. As they traveled down the path, Le Yiqiu’s mind kept replaying scenarios of how the meeting might unfold.
Oh no! She had forgotten to ask Lin Xianing whether she should address her parents as “Dad and Mom” or “Uncle and Auntie.”
She glanced at Lin Xiaming, who was walking ahead with his back held ramrod straight, and tugged lightly on Lin Xianing’s hand.
Lin Xianing blinked in confusion, assuming Le Yiqiu was simply nervous. She comforted her with a soft smile. “It’s okay. I’m right here.”
Le Yiqiu leaned close to Lin Xianing’s ear. She was a touch taller, so from behind, it looked as though she were nibbling on her lover’s earlobe. “It’s not that,” she whispered, shaking her head. “When we see your parents in a bit, what should I call them? Dad and Mom too?”
The last time she had met Wu Yu, the woman had insisted she call her “Mom.” But what if Father Lin didn’t like it?
“Call them Dad and Mom,” Lin Xianing reminded her.
Lin Xiaming, walking ahead, overheard the little couple’s murmuring. He pursed his lips and quickened his pace.
Le Yiqiu was rather curious about this prospective brother-in-law of hers. He was so young, yet he had started his own business—and succeeded at it.
She had played several games from Cicada Cry Game Company.
There was one battle royale shooter, a handful of casual card and board game apps, and even a gacha title.
Cicada Cry might not have been around for long, but they had already released quite a few games.
As someone who loved gaming and had tried plenty of titles, Le Yiqiu had recently been passing the time either with photography or firing up new releases. She had sampled all the hottest games out there lately and only kept two on her phone. One of them was from Cicada Cry.
It was solid in every department—a great way to kill time during downtime. And she just couldn’t help dropping money into it now and then.
A portion of Lin Xiaming’s earnings had come straight from her wallet.
Le Yiqiu pondered whether, at lunch, Lin Xiaming had truly been speaking up for her sake—or if there was something more to it. She couldn’t quite figure it out. But he and Lin Xianing were blood siblings, so he probably wouldn’t side with an outsider against her.
Besides, while Lin Xianing had told her plenty about other family members, she hadn’t shared much about Lin Xiaming specifically. Whenever the topic of others came up, Lin Xianing had always added, “That’s just my personal take. You’ll have to meet them yourself to really know.”
The group soon arrived at Father Lin and Mother Lin’s small courtyard. Her parents were seated in the living room, sipping tea.
When they spotted the newcomers, Wu Yu set her teacup down first. “Xiaxia, Yiqiu—come sit.”
“Son, you didn’t eat your fill earlier, did you? I’ve asked Sister-in-law Xiang to whip up some snacks in the small kitchen. Go pad your stomach a bit.”
“Sister-in-law Xiang, bring out the dishes.”
While welcoming the young women to sit, Wu Yu shooed Lin Xiaming off to eat.
Le Yiqiu carefully observed everyone’s expressions. Other than greeting them alongside Lin Xianing, she didn’t speak up lightly.
Lin Xiaming, standing to the side, lightly furrowed his brow. “I’m not hungry.”
“How could you not be? I saw you barely touched your chopsticks back there.”
Lin Xiaming was forced to go eat. Lin Xianing’s expression remained utterly neutral, giving nothing away.
Le Yiqiu’s gaze followed Lin Xiaming’s retreating back. She had just noticed something—while Wu Yu spoke those words, her eyes had been fixed on Lin Xianing.
Why? Le Yiqiu quietly took stock of the family.
Lin Manhe was inscrutable. Wu Yu wore a face full of maternal affection. Lin Xiaming looked annoyed, his brow furrowed.
Lin Xianing’s lips were pressed into a thin line as she watched it all with cold eyes.
Only once Lin Xiaming had settled at the dining table did Father Lin—Lin Manhe—speak up. “Don’t indulge him so much. A grown man can handle skipping a meal.”
Lin Xiaming paused with his chopsticks midair, then dug in.
Wu Yu shot Lin Manhe a glare at once. “Don’t listen to your dad. Eat up, quick.”
She turned her head. “Xiaxia, what you did at the restaurant during lunch went too far.”
Aside from their initial greetings upon arrival, these were the first words Wu Yu directed at Lin Xianing—and they were a rebuke.
Le Yiqiu’s brows shot up in mild surprise. She had always assumed Lin Xianing had a good relationship with her family.
Lin Xianing didn’t respond right away. Instead, she glanced toward Lin Manhe first. He was focused on savoring his tea, seemingly oblivious to their conversation.
Only then did she reply. “Did it? In that case, I hope Eldest Uncle Lin, in a fit of anger, tells me never to set foot in the Lin Family again.”
She would welcome the break. The Lin Family wasn’t the one from Grandma’s era anymore—no one to keep these people in check. Now it was all power grabs and dirty tricks without restraint.
Back when Grandma was alive, she had held everyone down, maintaining at least a facade of harmony.
Eldest Uncle Lin had inherited the family headship only because he was born two years earlier. He lacked the ability to suppress the wolves with ambitions lurking among the Lin ranks.
To keep up the illusion of unbroken family prosperity, his favorite ploy was organizing these gatherings. Everyone assembled to watch him play the lord of the manor.
If you played along, you’d sit there silently like Lin Manhe, cooperating wordlessly. If you didn’t—like Third Uncle—what could Eldest Uncle Lin do about it?
Lin Xianing wished the man would grow a spine for once and ban her outright. It would spare her all this scheming and backstabbing with the Lin lot.
They might not tire of it, but she certainly did.
Her words landed, and the smile vanished from Wu Yu’s face. “Xiaxia, what nonsense is that?”
“As a Lin Family member, the family comes first. How could you not come back? That would be forsaking your ancestors.”
Lin Xianing let out a mocking laugh. “I’m just saying I won’t come to the Lin Family—not that I’m never visiting your house or changing my name. How is that forsaking my ancestors?”
Le Yiqiu was astonished by Lin Xianing’s sheer firepower in this family setting.
Parents, relatives—no matter who came at her, she fired right back.
There was none of the shy, fumbling awkwardness she showed when they were alone together. It was like she had transformed into someone else entirely.
Le Yiqiu’s eyes sparkled. What a cool woman. She had always known Lin Xianing was a powerhouse, but she hadn’t realized her verbal battles were this fierce too.
Out in the world, she slayed gods and Buddhas alike without flinching. At home, she turned into a gentle, adorable kitten—one that would puff up and spit at the slightest tease.
Le Yiqiu adored that contrast. Just how many more surprises did this woman have up her sleeve?
Thud!
Lin Manhe slammed his teacup down hard on the coffee table, drawing every eye.
Even Lin Xiaming, eating in the distance, set down his chopsticks.
“Xiaxia,” Lin Manhe said, his tone mild but laced with a father’s instructive authority, “some things call for mercy when mercy is possible.”
“Your second brother and fourth brother were rude to little Le. Giving them a lesson was fair enough.”
“But threatening them with prison in front of everyone? Their offense wasn’t that grave.”
“How are you supposed to face your brothers and sisters now? Will they even dare get close to you anymore?”
Lin Manhe glanced at Wu Yu. “And you shouldn’t have spoken to your mother that way.”
Shouldn’t have? Le Yiqiu opened her mouth to speak but felt Lin Xianing press her hand, signaling her to stay out of it.
Lin Xianing let out a self-deprecating chuckle. “Sorry. I have no interest in playing the saint of the Lin Family—or coveting the family head position—so I’m not about to repay evil with kindness.”
She seemed to be implying something deeper, but Le Yiqiu didn’t catch it. She simply squeezed her hand, offering silent support.
At that, Lin Xianing’s tone turned icy and resolute. “I’ve said it before: as family, I can yield to them. But no one touches my bottom line.”
“Whoever does, don’t blame me for wiping them out completely.”
Right—she had no designs on being family head. Why bother preserving her image?
A few harsh words? She might let that slide, but only if they were aimed at her.
Target Le Yiqiu, though? Total annihilation. So what?
The kindly look drained from Lin Manhe’s face. “You two should head back and rest. Ancestral Hall worship at three—don’t forget.”
Since the Minor New Year had begun, the Lin Family made daily offerings at the Ancestral Hall. All direct branch members had to attend.
On New Year’s Day itself, they would head up the mountain to the tombs—the resting place of generations of Lin ancestors.
They ascended the mountain twice a year: Qingming Festival and New Year’s. Both were for ancestral rites.
The rest of the time, the Ancestral Hall sufficed—no need for the trek.
Every one of those gatherings turned into a battlefield of overt rivalries and covert schemes. It was utterly exhausting.
Lin Xianing’s dream was to become a great actress while competently managing her own businesses. That was plenty.
She wanted no part in the Lin Family’s rotten intrigues. Yet they kept dragging her in—and now they were dragging in the people she cared about.
With Lin Manhe issuing a dismissal, they had no reason to linger.
Lin Xianing rose and took Le Yiqiu’s hand. As they left, she added, “Those gifts were bought by Le Yiqiu.”
Then she led Le Yiqiu away from the courtyard.
Le Yiqiu felt puzzled. It seemed like Lin Xianing’s relationship with her parents wasn’t great?
Or was it just a clash in how they handled things, a brief spat that made everything look worse than it was?
She parted her lips to ask, but seeing Lin Xianing’s sour expression, she thought better of it and held her tongue.
The two quickened their steps back to their own small courtyard. Xiang Meng took one look at Lin Xianing’s blank, unhappy face and shot Xiang Shang a meaningful glance.
Xiang Shang nodded and stepped out.
Xiang Meng approached the tea table and poured two cups of tea. “Did you argue with Sir and Madam again, Miss?”
Again? Le Yiqiu tilted her head. She picked up the steaming cup from the table and took a sip, feeling the warmth spread through her body. Only then did she shrug off her coat and settle onto the sofa.
Lin Xianing grunted an “Mm.” “Xiang Meng, tell Kang Han the plan starts now.”
“Yes, Miss.”
“And the businesses you and Xiang Shang oversee—sever ties with the Lin Family as quickly as possible.”
“Understood.”
Just then, Xiang Shang came back in carrying a tea bowl. Xiang Shang set it on the tea table and lifted the lid, releasing a puff of white vapor.
