Lyn Ruan paused for a moment, her thoughts clouded with hesitation. "It... he's the only outsider in our family," she muttered unconsciously. Even now, she hadn't realized how naturally she still referred to Yang Mo as an outsider.
Lin Xia, sitting beside her, hesitated before voicing her thoughts. "Is it possible that it was Little Ken?"
Ruan's eyes widened in shock. "You mean... Cohen stole from you?" She clapped a hand over her mouth, disbelief washing over her features.
"It's just a guess," Lin Xia admitted. "But think about it. We've always favored Cohen. It never crossed our minds that he could do something wrong, so it was easy to blame Yang Mo for everything."
Ever since Lin Xia learned the truth about the events of the past, her perception of Lin Cohen had shifted entirely. "If he could lie about something as serious as saving someone's life, then stealing a bracelet and framing someone else for it wouldn't be beneath him."
Ruan fell into deep thought. "Now that I think about it, when I questioned him earlier, his eyes flickered, and his hands fidgeted. Those are classic signs of lying." She bit her lip. "And just now, Cohen deliberately mentioned that Yang Mo called our mother 'Auntie.' I think he did it to provoke Dad."
Had this been in the past, Lyn Ruan would never have questioned Cohen's motives. But now, without the veil of favoritism, she saw things much more clearly.
"Ruan, I'm starting to believe that Yang Mo was telling the truth all along. Cohen was after the Lin family's fortune, while the brother we scorned was the one who genuinely cared about us," Lin Xia whispered, her voice cracking. "Yang Mo... he even saved my life. And how did I treat him in return?"
Tears rolled down her cheeks—something rare for Lin Xia, who had always prided herself on her composure.
"He saved my life years ago... and today, he saved my hand. And yet, I..." She covered her mouth, suppressing a sob. "I'm truly despicable."
She thought back to Yang Mo's expression when they met earlier that day. His cold, distant gaze. The way he refused to acknowledge their bond.
"He won't forgive me," she whispered.
Ruan placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Big Sister, don't be sad. I... I feel the same way. If what you say is true, then what we've done to him is inexcusable."
Lin Xia inhaled sharply and steadied herself. "Tomorrow, I want to meet him. I need to apologize in person."
Ruan nodded. "I'll go with you. Maybe he's calmed down after all these days."
"Should we call Schwang?" Lin Xia asked hesitantly.
"She has medical papers to organize tomorrow. It's better if just the two of us go," Ruan reasoned. "By the way, do we still have surveillance footage from our house? I want to check on the bracelet incident."
Lin Xia's expression hardened with determination. "It's been almost a year, but we can ask Uncle Li tomorrow."
"Will Yang Mo agree to meet us?"
"Yes. 12:30, in front of the school," Ruan confirmed.
Lin Xia exhaled in relief. "Good. Once we meet him, we can talk properly."
She hesitated, then reached into her purse and pulled out a card. "I was planning to give him some money. I've put $30 million on this card—$20 million for his medical treatment, and $10 million as compensation."
Ruan blinked in surprise. "That's a lot."
"It's nothing compared to what we owe him," Xia murmured. "When I visited his foster parents, I saw how poor they were. I couldn't believe anyone lived in such conditions. This money won't make up for everything, but at least it'll help."
A moment of silence passed before Ruan sighed. "We share the same mother. Whether or not Yang Mo forgives us, I won't make the same mistakes again."
She stood up and smiled faintly. "Big Sister, you haven't eaten yet, right? Let's have dinner before heading to the school."
Lin Xia nodded and tucked the card into her bag. Then, the two sisters left together.
At precisely 12:30, the limousine pulled up in front of the school gates. The sight of an expensive car and two stunning women instantly drew a crowd. Many students took out their phones to snap photos.
"Good thing I'm wearing sunglasses," Ruan muttered. "Otherwise, I'd be recognized for sure."
She hurriedly slipped back into the car, trying to avoid attention.
Soon, Yang Mo emerged from the school gates. His slow, deliberate pace reflected his calm indifference, but when he noticed the gathering crowd, he frowned slightly. Without hesitation, he made his way toward them.
Seeing him, Lin Xia felt a rush of emotions. She hurried to his side. "Let's find somewhere more private to talk. You don't like being watched, do you?"
Yang Mo considered her words before nodding. "Fair enough."
Without another word, he got into the car. The two sisters sat in the front while Yang Mo remained silent in the back. The tension was thick, neither side willing to speak first. Lin Xia drove straight to a quiet western restaurant in the city center.
Once seated, Xia broke the silence. "Yang Mo, what would you like to eat?"
"No need. I ate at school," he said flatly. "Just tell me what this is about."
The atmosphere grew awkward again. Lin Xia hesitated before speaking. "Do you remember saving someone from the river a few years ago?"
Yang Mo raised an eyebrow. "I've saved a few people. Which one are you referring to?"
"A woman," she clarified.
Yang Mo leaned back and took a sip of tea. "I think so. Can't remember the details. Why do you ask?"
Truthfully, he hadn't paid much attention to the people he rescued. Every summer, children and careless swimmers often drowned in the canal, and he had saved multiple people over the years. He had never expected one of them to be Lin Xia.
And yet, here she was, looking at him with guilt-ridden eyes.