Chapter 1: The Lin Family

August.

River City.

The cicadas shrilled incessantly, and waves of heat rolled through the air. Even though it was already evening, the warmth still clung to the breeze.

Inside the flower shop, Lin Ting selected a few red roses.

While waiting for the shop assistant to wrap the bouquet, she overheard a hushed conversation among a few customers nearby.

“Have you heard? The Lin family brought their illegitimate daughter home.”

“Where did you hear that? What illegitimate daughter? That’s the eldest daughter of the Lin family, perfectly legitimate. I heard them call her ‘Lin Ting’ the other day—she’d been missing for years, and was only just found recently. The police brought her back.”

“No, that’s not it. There’s another illegitimate daughter—just a few months younger than the one who was brought back.”

“What?! Another illegitimate daughter? Just a few months younger… doesn't that mean he cheated while his wife was pregnant? How despicable... After so many years, why suddenly bring the illegitimate daughter home? And right as the missing daughter returns?”

“The illegitimate daughter’s boyfriend is the second son of the Shen family. Clearly, the Lin family just wants to climb up the social ladder. Especially since their eldest daughter was missing for so long—who knows what she went through out there, or if her reputation is still intact. The Lin family must think she won’t be able to marry well, perhaps not at all, while the illegitimate daughter’s landed the Shen family. Which is more valuable, I wonder?”

“Ay, such a fate… To go missing so young, who knows what hardships she suffered all those years, and now, after finally coming home, she has to deal with all this. Truly unfortunate…”

...

“Your flowers are ready,” the shop assistant said.

“Thank you.” Lin Ting accepted the bouquet and thanked her, entirely ignoring the subject of their discussion.

She was strikingly beautiful, one could even say stunning.

Her skin was smooth as porcelain, her jet-black hair cascading to her waist. Graceful, arching brows, lips tinged the color of cinnabar.

Her almond-shaped eyes sparkled with clarity and allure. Despite her bold features, when she smiled, her eyes curved like crescent moons, lending her a sweetness that softened her beauty.

The shop assistant couldn’t help but look at her a few more times. “We hope to see you again.”

Lin Ting nodded with a gentle smile, paid, and left the flower shop.

The shop was near the Lin residence; most of its customers were neighbors from the vicinity.

She returned to the Lin house from the florist.

No sooner had Lin Ting stepped into the living room than the housekeeper came running.

“What’s the matter, Aunt Meng?” Lin Ting asked.

“Miss Lin Shan is here,” Aunt Meng replied, “and the second young master from the Shen family as well. Madam was so upset she took the little master and went back to her mother’s.”

Lin Shan was the illegitimate daughter whom the Lin family now intended to acknowledge.

She had always borne the Lin surname, living with her mother, and all their living expenses had been covered by Lin Ting’s father, Lin Jinchuan.

For all these years, Lin Jinchuan had supported them in secret.

The current Mrs. Lin was not Lin Ting’s birth mother; she was Lin Jinchuan’s later wife. They had a son together, now seven years old.

Lin Ting’s expression didn’t change. She glanced around the living room but saw no one.

“They’re in the study,” Aunt Meng added.

Lin Ting nodded, took her flowers, and went upstairs to her room.

As she reached the top floor, Lin Shan was just coming out of the study.

“Sister, you’re back?” Lin Shan called out, walking toward her.

Lin Ting glanced at her, said nothing, and headed to her own room.

Seeing that Lin Ting was about to go in, Lin Shan quickly hurried over and blocked her way. “Sister, did you buy those flowers yourself?”

Lin Ting looked at her.

Lin Shan smiled sweetly, “I love roses too. Every time my boyfriend comes home, he brings me a bouquet. But soon, he won’t be just my boyfriend—we’re getting engaged next week.”

The barely concealed boast in her tone made Lin Ting say, “Step aside.”

Lin Shan pretended not to hear, and went on, “Sister, roses only have meaning if your boyfriend gives them to you. If you buy them for yourself… it just seems like nobody wants or loves you.”

Lin Ting suddenly laughed, thinking this was the funniest thing she’d heard since coming back. “Did evolution leave you behind or something?”

“Sister, don’t be upset, I didn’t mean anything by it.” Lin Shan immediately put on a pitiful expression. “I just wanted to give you a kind reminder. You just came back and everyone’s talking about you. If you buy roses now, people will think no man is giving them to you, so you have to buy them yourself.”

Lin Ting was astounded by her logic. “Only someone with a brain as shriveled as yours would think that. Besides, no one’s gossiping about me—the talk is all about the illegitimate daughter.”

Lin Shan’s face turned ashen.

Lin Ting continued, “Don’t tell me you’ve reached the point where you need a man’s permission to buy a flower. Is life that hard for you?”

“Sister, I really was just trying to help,” Lin Shan protested, looking even more aggrieved. “Is it my fault I’m an illegitimate child? Did I ever choose this?”

“Of course it’s not your fault,” Lin Ting said. “It’s your father’s. Blame him. As for whether you had a choice—I don’t know; before you showed up, no one even knew you were an illegitimate daughter.”

Lin Shan was speechless.

Lin Ting had no interest in prolonging the exchange. She brushed past her and continued toward her room.

Lin Shan turned and glared at her back, unable to hide the malice in her eyes.

There could only be one daughter in this house!

Suddenly, Lin Shan raised her hand and slapped herself.

The sound was loud and sharp.

With the slap came her cry.

Curious, Lin Ting turned to look.

Lin Shan, clutching her face, took two steps toward her and stopped.

Just then, the study door opened.

Lin Jinchuan and Shen Haochen, Lin Shan’s boyfriend, walked out.

Tears immediately fell from Lin Shan’s eyes.

Lin Ting was astonished.

“What’s wrong, Shanshan?” Lin Jinchuan asked.

Crying, Lin Shan replied, “Dad, I’m fine. I just touched on something that upset my sister. It’s my fault.”

Lin Ting was left speechless once again.

She felt as if Lin Shan was lowering her IQ by association.

She'd never encountered someone playing at such a low level before.

Meanwhile, Shen Haochen walked to Lin Shan’s side, but his eyes lingered on Lin Ting’s face for a moment.

“What are you up to!” Lin Jinchuan turned to Lin Ting, voice stern. “She’s your sister—no matter what she said, you shouldn’t have hit her.”

“I didn’t hit her,” Lin Ting replied, looking innocent.

“Still lying!” Lin Jinchuan snapped. “No manners at all. How did I end up with a daughter like you? You’re a disgrace to the Lin family.”

“Dad, please don’t say that, my sister didn’t mean it.” Lin Shan pleaded, “She’s been through so much outside all these years, never went to school. It’s normal for her manners to be rough. We can teach her, she’ll learn eventually.”

Lin Ting looked at her and sighed. “It’s a miracle people like you exist. You should patent yourself.”

“How can you talk like that? You hit your sister and still think you’re in the right. And to think she’s still speaking up for you! Is this how an elder sister should act?” Lin Jinchuan roared. “Do you know what people are saying about you? Do you know how much trouble you’ve caused the Lin family?”

“Whose sister am I?” Lin Ting looked at him, her eyes cold as she spoke softly, “She’s an illegitimate child—the Lin family hasn’t even acknowledged her. If you want to talk about trouble for the family, you’re the one who should be reflecting.”

“Sister, it’s all my fault, it’s all my fault. Please don’t argue with Dad, don’t argue with Dad.” Lin Shan sobbed harder. “I’ll leave right now, I’ll go right away.”

But despite her words, she didn’t move.

Lin Ting said, “Go on, then.”

“This is not your place to give orders!” Lin Jinchuan, feeling his authority challenged, raised his hand to strike Lin Ting.

Holding her bouquet in one arm, Lin Ting deftly caught his swinging hand with the other.

Seeing that the slap hadn’t landed, Lin Shan stepped forward to grab Lin Jinchuan’s arm.

Lin Ting let go of his hand and, in one swift motion, slapped Lin Shan across the face.

“Ah!” Lin Shan staggered sideways, nearly losing her balance, and was only steadied by Shen Haochen’s support.

This time, the cry was unmistakably genuine.

Lin Jinchuan was stunned, momentarily at a loss.

“That was me,” Lin Ting said. “That was my handiwork—this is what my slap looks like.”

At her words, both Shen Haochen and Lin Jinchuan looked at the marks on Lin Shan’s face.

Comparing the two, it was obvious the earlier one had been self-inflicted.

Lin Shan, a beat late, covered her face and continued to cry, “Sister, as long as it makes you feel better, as long as you and Dad don’t fight, you can hit me as much as you want, until you’re satisfied.”

Lin Ting, unable to keep her disgust from showing, said, “Get out of my sight, you paramecium. Don’t nauseate me.”

Shen Haochen protested, “That’s far too harsh—Shanshan’s in tears, don’t you have a heart? We’re all family…”

Lin Ting cut him off. “You can get out too.”

Lin Jinchuan stared in disbelief. “Lin Ting, you have no manners at all!”

She spared him a glance—since he was old, she let it go—and turned to her room.

“Stop! I told you to stop!” Lin Jinchuan shouted after her.

Lin Ting entered her room, closed the door, and shut out his voice completely...