Chapter 10: Don't Act in My Presence
On the other side, watching Ling Yeli’s expression turn increasingly guilty, Ling Lin’s eyes dimmed instantly.
How could this happen? Didn’t Ling Yeli used to be the one who loved mocking Ling Lu the most? It wouldn’t have been an exaggeration to say they quarreled over small matters every three days and big ones every five.
So, what was this current performance of his?
A sharp sense of crisis surged in Ling Lin’s heart.
No, this couldn’t go on!
She had painstakingly waited for Ling Lu to leave the Ling family. At such a critical juncture, she absolutely could not let the Ling family members bring her back.
Seeing the gap in the door narrowing while Ling Yeli remained dazed, Ling Lu hurriedly tried to wedge her hand into the opening just as the door was closing.
"Ah!"
Ling Lin let out a sharp cry, her eyes instantly filling with tears.
"What’s wrong? Linlin, your hand!"
Everything happened too quickly. By the time Ling Yeli reacted, Ling Lin was already clutching her hand, tears streaming down her face, appearing to be in extreme pain.
"Second Brother, Xiaolu was just in a hurry. She definitely didn’t mean it. Please don’t blame her…"
Ling Lin spoke with shallow breath, cold sweat beading on her smooth forehead.
Seeing this, Ling Yeli’s brows furrowed tightly, his heart filled with distress. He turned his head toward Ling Lu, his eyes flashing with a fierce light, and shouted.
"Ling Lu!"
"Yes! I did treat you poorly in the past! You lived in the storage room at the Ling house for three years, and I didn’t know. I failed you! As your biological brother, I was wrong!"
"But what did Linlin ever do wrong? She is kind-hearted and simple-minded. We have all witnessed how she treated you these past three years!"
"If you have grievances, you can take them out on me! But how could you intentionally crush Linlin’s hand? A finger to the heart—do you know how much that hurts? How can you be so heartless! I actually thought about how I would..." *properly make it up to you later.*
Ling Yeli didn't finish the last few words.
He had wasted his pity on Ling Lu, never expecting that she would remain so incorrigible and inherently vicious!
Hearing this, Ling Lu arched an eyebrow, looking at Ling Yeli with unconcealed impatience.
"That’s enough from the two of you. If you want to act, go to a stage; don’t come here to perform for me."
I have to say, Ling Lin’s acting was quite good.
The door hadn’t even touched her, yet she could manage a look of heart-wrenching agony. Anyone who didn’t know better would think she had broken her hand.
As for Ling Yeli, he was just a fool.
He could have seen through her lie if he had just paid attention to her hand, yet he chose to believe from the start that she was the one harboring malice. He was truly beyond help.
"You!"
As soon as she finished, Ling Yeli’s face turned a mixture of blue and white with rage. He pointed at Ling Lu’s nose, ready to lash out, but Ling Lu forcefully interrupted him.
"In the past, I didn’t realize the hearts of you Ling family members were made of iron—no matter how much I tried to warm them, they stayed cold."
"I treated you with all my heart, and that was me being blind and pathetic. But it was my own choice, and since the Ling family ended up despising me, I deserved it. I accept that."
Ling Lu’s tone was extremely calm as she said this, as if she were speaking about someone else.
"But now, I no longer want to circle around you. I just want to live my own life."
"Stop putting on this show of a 'prodigal son returning' or having a change of heart. It truly makes me sick to watch."
Ling Lu’s gaze was like a clear mirror, exposing the filth in their hearts so they had nowhere to hide.
The Ling siblings were stunned, feeling as though that gaze had stripped them bare, and a sense of guilt inevitably welled up inside them.
With that, Ling Lu didn't give them another look and slammed the door shut right in front of them.
Ling Yeli didn't know how he made it back. Along the way, Ling Lu’s words still echoed in his ears.
Every word and sentence struck his eardrums like bricks, ringing with a deafening impact.
Ling Lu wouldn’t be coming back to the Ling family.
Ling Yeli thought about it for a long time before reaching this conclusion, while a dull, persistent ache spread through his chest.
A voice in his head kept telling him that it was a good thing Ling Lu wasn’t coming back. At the very least, his precious sister Linlin wouldn't be bullied by her anymore.
But why, then, did the pain in his chest show no signs of stopping?
Ling Yeli had no answer.
When the car pulled into the Ling family villa, Ling Yeli walked inside to find the whole family already gathered around the dining table, laughing and chatting.
Ling Lu’s departure seemed inconsequential to them—or perhaps, no one cared at all.
Lin Yueru caught sight of the two of them from the corner of her eye, stood up, and walked toward Ling Lin with a smile.
"Why are you back so late? Haven't had dinner yet, have you? We’ve been waiting for you."
Ling Lin offered a forced smile, glancing at the crestfallen Ling Yeli, her words stuck in her throat.
On the surface, she appeared lighthearted, but inside, she was seething with jealousy.
What kind of love potion had Ling Lu fed Ling Yeli?
Usually, the moment she cried out in pain, he would rush over to show his concern and care. Why was he so unresponsive this time? He was clearly absent-minded.
Was it because of Ling Lu?
Ling Lin gripped her palms so tightly her knuckles turned white. The hatred she felt for Ling Lu was overflowing!
It’s all Ling Lu’s fault! Why did she have to come back? Why!!
Wouldn’t it have been better if she had stayed in the orphanage until she died? Why did she have to show up and insert herself into her family?
She should have died in that orphanage! She should have died there a long time ago!!
"Why are there only the two of you? Is Ling Lu still behind, having not come in yet?"
Lin Yueru seemed to suddenly remember something and asked.
Ling Yeli remained silent for a while, then spoke in a strained voice.
"She refused to come back with me..."
Ling Canghai, who had been fiddling with a purple clay teapot, suddenly froze. His face darkened instantly.
"Didn't you tell her that I’ve stopped pursuing her past mistakes?"
"I told her..."
"Bang!"
The teapot was thrown violently to the floor, shattering into pieces.
"Fine! That brat Ling Lu has truly grown wings; she dares to disobey me now!"
"If she’s not coming back this time, she should never think about stepping foot into the Ling house again!"
Lin Yueru hurriedly walked over to Father Ling, gently patting his back, and urged him softly.
"Why are you doing this? Don't get worked up. You have high blood pressure; the doctor said you can’t get too excited."
"Ling Lu suffered grievances in the Ling family before, so she must be holding a grudge. Once her anger fades, we’ll go coax her, and she’ll naturally come back."
"Exactly, Dad, what is there to be angry about?"
Ling Yanye popped a piece of food into his mouth, speaking in a cavalier tone while he chewed.
"Isn’t Ling Lu just trying to make a scene to get attention? Why bother with her?"
"If you ask me, Mom, you shouldn't indulge her either. Since she’s cut off her partnership with Star Shine, the moment she runs out of money, she’ll come crawling back on her own! All we have to do is wait."
"Isn't that right, Big Brother?"
Ling Jinmo had remained silent the entire time, but judging by his expression, he clearly agreed with Ling Yanye.
Ling Yeli looked at the family members he lived with day after day and suddenly felt they were complete strangers.
Why hadn’t he noticed before that whenever they mentioned Ling Lu, their faces were always filled with contempt and disdain?
But was Ling Lu really so unforgivably wicked?
With a complicated look, Ling Yeli glanced at everyone and said wearily, "I won't be eating dinner. I have no appetite. I'm going upstairs."