The sisters all turned to look at Lin Ge, their faces filled with disbelief.
Was this really the same Lin Ge who had always humbled himself and walked on eggshells, terrified of being abandoned by the family? When did he start to change? Could it be that he felt his old groveling tactics were no longer effective and had decided to try a different approach to grab their attention?
Yes, that must be it!
Lin Xinyi recalled how just two days ago, Lin Ge had scampered over, looking like he was offering up a treasure, saying he had learned a new recipe that could protect her voice and improve her skin. He had insisted that he would make it for his third sister one of these days. At the time, she had impatiently mocked him, asking why he was making such a fuss before he had even cooked it, and telling him to wait until it was done and showed results before coming to claim credit. She still remembered how the joy had vanished from his face the moment she finished speaking, replaced by a stiff smile as he apologized repeatedly, promising to make it for her to taste once he had no classes on the weekend.
Lin Xinyi asked tentatively, "Lin Ge, you aren't actually serious, are you?"
The fifth sister, Lin Qingyi, curled her lip and interjected, "I think he’s just pulling a stunt to get out of being punished for stealing!"
The eldest sister nodded. "Playing hard to get, shifting the focus—he’s quite crafty! In an ordinary family, he might have fooled everyone, but in this house, who isn't sharper than him? Trying to escape punishment like this… it’s probably going to be difficult."
The fourth sister, Lin Zhenyi, had majored in psychology in college. She stared unblinkingly at Lin Ge’s face, trying to discern whether this display was real or fake.
Seeing Lin Ge voluntarily draft a severance agreement, Lin Qingyang was secretly overjoyed. Outwardly, however, he continued to play the peacemaker while actually adding fuel to the fire: "Brother, don't go against Mom and Dad! If you just admit you took Mom’s necklace, they will surely forgive you. But now, not only do you refuse to admit your mistake, you’re pulling a stunt like this—how can you expect Mom and Dad to stop being angry?"
Sure enough, as soon as Lin Qingyang finished speaking, the expressions of Lin Rude and Huang Huijuan grew even gloomier and uglier. In the eyes of the couple, Lin Ge was now a rebellious teenager deliberately challenging their parental authority. If they didn't suppress his temper now, they feared he would be even harder to manage in the future.
"Lin Ge, we’re giving you one last chance. Admit your mistake, and we can pretend nothing ever happened! If you don't, once we sign this agreement, you will never be a member of the Lin Family again!" Huang Huijuan urged him earnestly.
Deep down, although she did not particularly care for this biological son who had been found only after years of being lost, she had never actually intended to drive him out of the house. After all, kicking one's own son out would severely damage the Lin Family's reputation. She said this entirely to frighten Lin Ge into backing down.
Unfortunately, Huang Huijuan had not anticipated that since Lin Ge was the one who had proposed the severance agreement, he was naturally not afraid of leaving the Lin Family. He had planned to leave the family anyway; it was only a matter of time. He had originally intended to stay quietly until after the college entrance exams, but it seemed these people didn't even want to grant him half a year of peace. Perhaps, leaving now was exactly the right time.
"I don't want this chance. You should sign it as soon as possible—it will be better for everyone," Lin Ge said calmly.
Lin Rude had not expected Lin Ge to be so headstrong, insisting that they sign the agreement. Infuriated, he stopped caring whether this was a ploy or not. *Fine, sign it! It must be signed! If I don't teach this little brat a lesson today, I’ll be damned—I’ll take his name!*
"Fine, you said it yourself! After this is signed, you will have nothing more to do with the Lin Family. I won't care about what you eat, drink, or use anymore! Don't come back begging me later!" Lin Rude said bitterly, scribbling his name on the paper with a flurry of strokes.
"There are three copies. Sign them all; each of us gets one," Lin Ge said, flipping the other two sheets onto the table.
Seeing that things had reached this point and that Lin Rude had already signed, Huang Huijuan realized the matter was settled. Her eyes turned red. "Lin Ge, your wings have grown strong, haven't they? You’re ready to fly off on your own? We were only trying to discipline you, and you’re leaving home because of it? This is something you’re insisting on yourself..."
"Yes, it is my own choice to leave. You aren't driving me away," Lin Ge interrupted her impatiently. "Isn't your real fear just that my leaving will look bad for you? Don't worry, I won't go around saying things. Besides... haven't you never even announced my existence to the outside world? Even if I said something, no one would believe me!" A mocking smile appeared on Lin Ge's face.
The sad expression on Huang Huijuan’s face froze. When they had first brought Lin Ge back, they had agreed that they would only announce his identity to the public once he turned eighteen. He was not even eighteen yet.
Lin Ge picked up the paper Lin Rude had signed and held it out to Huang Huijuan. "Please sign as well, Ms. Huang. This is, after all, what you wanted."
He wouldn't even call her "Mom" anymore.
This farce had been stirred up by Huang Huijuan in the first place. If she hadn't listened to Lin Qingyang’s slander and judged Lin Ge for the theft without any investigation, how could things have reached this point?
Huang Huijuan had never been treated with such disrespect. Forced into a corner by her own biological son, she said with a tremor in her voice, "Fine! Fine! I’ll sign—just don't come back regretting this!" She snatched the paper and pen and signed her name with a few quick strokes.
Seeing this, Lin Ge picked up one copy, tucked it into his pocket, and said calmly, "Very good. From this moment on, I have no connection to the Lin Family."
"Brother, please, don't leave home! Mom and Dad finally found you—you’re breaking their hearts!" Lin Qingyang reached out as if to grab Lin Ge. "Brother, are you still angry about the other day? Is that why you want to leave? I apologize, okay? Please, don't go..." Lin Qingyang’s eyes turned red, his face a mask of sorrow and reluctance.
Lin Ge side-stepped the reach, saying with disgust, "Stay away from me, so you don't fall over and try to blame it on me again!"
"What has gotten into you, Lin Ge? You are the one insisting on leaving the Lin Family—why are you taking your anger out on our brother Qingyang?" Lin Qingyi stepped up beside Lin Qingyang immediately. "And don't think you can just leave like this. I need to see what you've packed! You aren't trying to take Mom’s necklace with you, are you?"
As Lin Qingyi finished, everyone's gaze shifted eerily toward Lin Ge’s suitcase.
"Fine. Go ahead and search it, so there won't be any misunderstandings later."