It was truly chilling how Lin Qingyang, even at such a young age, knew how to bide his time. By the time he grew up, no one in the Lin Family was a match for him; they all became mere tools for his schemes without even realizing it. In the end, all the Lin Family assets naturally fell into Lin Qingyang’s hands, just as he had desired. Only then did he reveal his true face, discarding the Lin Family members once they no longer held any utility. By that point, the family’s regret came far too late.
All of this was witnessed by Lin Ge, whose soul drifted through the Lin house for ten years after he had passed away in his previous life. Yet, none of this had anything to do with him anymore. Even after his rebirth, Lin Ge had no intention of dealing with the messes of the Lin Family. If all they could see was Lin Qingyang, why should he bother to be sentimental? If they wanted to be blind, that was their own business. He only needed to live his own life well from now on.
Upon reaching the ground floor, Lin Ge headed to the kitchen to find something to eat. Just as he reached to push the kitchen door open, it swung outward. Mother Lin, the cook, appeared before him. She was a distant relative from Father Lin’s hometown who had come to the Lin Family to work the year Lin Ge was born because her own family was impoverished. Having watched Lin Ge grow from birth, she remembered him as a bright and adorable child, though tragically, he was lost at the age of two. The incident had been sudden; human traffickers had snatched him away. Mother Lin had always felt a deep sense of guilt, believing that if she had been more attentive, little Lin Ge would never have been taken. Consequently, when Lin Ge was finally found and brought home, she was more moved than anyone else.
"Young Master Lin Ge, you’re finally awake! You must be hungry. I’ve specially simmered some millet porridge for you. Have a bowl!"
As it turned out, Mother Lin had noticed that Lin Ge hadn't come down for lunch, so she had prepared the porridge to settle his stomach. Lin Ge took the bowl she offered and thanked her: "Thank you, Mother Lin!"
Mother Lin wore a kind, maternal smile: "Eat slowly, there’s plenty more in the pot."
The golden millet porridge was cooked until soft and thick, emitting a rich, appetizing fragrance. Lin Ge sat at the dining table, slowly savoring the meal while sighing to himself. Here he was, surrounded by a large family of relatives, yet none of them treated him as well as a stranger. When he had returned to his room that morning, he had vaguely heard his father telling Mother Lin that since he showed no respect for his elders, he shouldn't be allowed to eat today. Yet, Mother Lin still knew to care for his health, fearing he might starve.
And what of his own family? They only knew how to scold and punish him! What use were these biological parents? What use was his own older sister? They treasured a deep-scheming, manipulative brat while treating their own son and brother with nothing but disdain. A family like this? They weren't worth keeping! Lin Ge pondered; he needed to start planning his own path forward.
***
The birthday banquet for Lin Qingyang was as lively as ever. Every prominent figure in the Haishi business world had been invited to celebrate the young master of the Lin Family. Beneath the brilliant crystal chandeliers, the banquet hall glowed, filled with the aroma of fine food and a boisterous, festive atmosphere. Whether they were sincere or merely putting on a show, everyone wore a joyous smile.
Many guests held tall flutes of red wine as they approached Father Lin to exchange pleasantries, then showered Lin Qingyang—who stood by his father's side—with extravagant praise. After all, flattering someone cost nothing, and praise made everyone happy. Finally, they would offer their birthday wishes to Lin Qingyang, completing the standard social ritual.
Seeing so many people fawning over their son, Lin Rude and his wife beamed, their moods exceptionally buoyant. Even though Huang Huijuan’s head still ached slightly, it could not dampen her spirits. When Lin Ge was first lost, his parents had indeed gone to great lengths to find him. But later, after they had Lin Qingyang, and as time passed, their efforts had waned. Eventually, they had come to terms with the idea that they would never find their biological son. After all, a child that young, cast out into the world—who knew if he were dead or alive?
Consequently, they had groomed Lin Qingyang entirely as the heir to the Lin Family. From a young age, Lin Qingyang was not only obedient and sensible but also excelled academically. It was this academic brilliance that had captured the hearts of the Lin parents. They poured every resource into him as if money were no object.
Standing nearby, Lin Qingyang’s nominal aunt and uncle—his actual biological parents—were also overjoyed. They secretly delighted in the situation while lavishing praise on Lin Rude and his wife for having such an outstanding son, insisting it was due to their excellent upbringing. This flattery left the couple feeling utterly dazed with pride. Seeing the respect they commanded before friends and relatives, Lin Rude and Huang Huijuan doted on Lin Qingyang even more.
The eldest sister, Lin Shunyi, walked up to Lin Qingyang and looked at the brother she had grown up with, her face softening into a gentle smile. "Here, this is the birthday gift you’ve been waiting for. I hope you like it!"
She handed a small, exquisite gift box to Lin Qingyang. Every year, the gifts from his sisters never failed to impress him. Thus, despite the small size of the box, he knew better than to judge the value by its dimensions. Lin Qingyang opened it in front of his sister, only to find a Lamborghini car key.
"Wow, Big Sister, you're the best! Thank you so much! But I haven't turned eighteen yet, so I can't drive it legally!" Lin Qingyang said, acting slightly spoiled.
The other wealthy heirs nearby looked at him with envy. *How pretentious!* "Oh, I have a luxury car, but I'm not eighteen yet." Just listening to that was enough to make one’s blood boil!
"Even if you aren't eighteen and can't drive yourself, you can have a driver take you in your own car! Then you won't have to squeeze into the same car as Lin Ge. Didn't you always complain that your schedules didn't match up?" his sister said, her eyes filled with doting affection.
In her eyes, this brother was perfect; he had truly won her heart. As the eldest, she gave all her tenderness to her younger siblings. She was willing to give them everything—everyone except Lin Ge. It wasn't entirely Lin Shunyi's fault; she had received an elite education, surrounded by wealthy peers who exuded an aristocratic air. Although Lin Ge was her biological brother, he hadn't lived with them for years, and having come from an orphanage, he was little more than a stranger to her. Furthermore, when he first returned, Lin Ge had been so timid and servile that he naturally failed to catch her eye.
Upon hearing his sister's words, Lin Qingyang’s eyes flickered with a guilty look, but he simply smiled and remained silent. He certainly wasn't about to tell his sister that he had essentially been using the car for himself the whole time, and that Lin Ge rarely ever sat in it.