"I think we have to take this step by step. If we directly tell Mom that Lin Coen is Dad's real son, it will be too much for her to handle. Her health isn't good, and if she can't take the news well and ends up in the hospital, it'll be a disaster. It's better to first tell her about Dad's infidelity. Once she has time to process that, we'll find a chance to tell her about Lin Coen. What do you think, Second Sister?"
Lin Ruan furrowed her brows, deep in thought. "It doesn't seem like there's a better way. We can't keep this from Mom forever, and the longer we delay, the worse it will be for her. More importantly, we can't just stand by and watch the Lyn family fortune fall into the hands of an outsider—especially a mistress's child."
Lin Xia nodded solemnly. "Then it's decided. I'll talk to Mom after dinner tonight. There's enough evidence—she won't have any choice but to believe it."
Meanwhile, Yang Mo, who was focused on his test papers, received yet another call from Lin Ying. Initially, he had no intention of answering, but after several persistent calls, he reluctantly picked up.
"I'm outside your school. Come back with me. We have something to ask you," Lin Ying said firmly.
Yang Mo scoffed. The audacity. Since when did she think she could order him around? "No. I'm in class."
Lin Ying took a deep breath, realizing her tone had been too forceful. She softened her approach. "I'm sorry. I just... I just want to know what else you know about the Lyn family."
A sneer curled at Yang Mo's lips. "So, you got the results already."
"Yes. I never imagined Lin Coen was actually our dad's real son… I'm sorry, Yang Mo. In the past, I—"
"Stop." Yang Mo's voice was cold, cutting through her sentence. "I'll say it again—don't call yourself my sister. You don't deserve it."
Memories surfaced in his mind—memories of how he had once desperately tried to win Lin Ying's affection. She used to come home late from work, and he would wait up, making her tea, even washing her feet just so she would acknowledge him as her brother. One night, she casually mentioned wanting cake. He had run across several streets in the middle of the night just to buy one, only to be scolded for picking the 'cheap' kind.
She had always treated him like a subordinate, calling on him to do things she could have easily asked a maid to do. And when Lin Coen falsely accused him of theft, Lin Ying didn't say a word in his defense. Instead, she had looked at him with disgust and indifference, dismissing him as a "wild child with dirty hands."
The moment he had announced his departure from the Lyn family, she had been delighted.
And now, she had the audacity to ask for his help?
Lin Ying knew she had hurt him too deeply for mere apologies to mend anything. So, she resorted to her old tactics. "If you don't come out, I'll come looking for you every single day. And you know I'll do it. If you really want nothing to do with me, well… tomorrow, I'll take a loudspeaker and announce in front of your school that you're my brother."
Yang Mo scoffed. "When did the high and mighty Miss Lyn turn into such a scoundrel?"
"Scoundrels will be scoundrels," Lin Ying replied shamelessly. "You come back with me, and I promise I won't force you into anything."
Yang Mo pondered for a moment before finally agreeing. It wasn't because he forgave the Lyn family—far from it. He simply wanted to take this opportunity to make things crystal clear so that they would finally stop bothering him.
"Wait for me at the entrance," he said before hanging up.
Hearing his agreement, Lin Ying felt an unexpected surge of joy. It wasn't just her—Lin Xia, Lin Ruan, and even their mother were all eagerly looking forward to Yang Mo's return. In their hearts, they had begun to see him as the only true brother they had.
Not long after, Yang Mo walked out of his school with his backpack slung over one shoulder. Lin Ying's car was parked conspicuously by the roadside. Without a word, he opened the backseat door, got in, and immediately urged the driver to leave. He didn't want his classmates to see him associated with the Lyn family.
Noticing his expression of resistance and disgust, Lin Ying felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her initial excitement.
"Why are you still using that old, worn-out school bag?" she asked after a moment of silence.
Yang Mo didn't even glance at her. "It's old, not broken. Why replace something that still works?"
Lin Ying flinched at the underlying meaning behind his words. She had never once considered Yang Mo's quality of life in the past. Now, for the first time, she realized just how different their worlds had been, even while living under the same roof.
The rest of the ride was spent in silence. Lin Ying tried to start conversations, but Yang Mo merely closed his eyes, pretending to sleep. His purpose was clear—return to the Lyn family, speak his piece, sever ties once and for all, and leave.
Half an hour later, the car rolled to a stop in front of the grand Lyn family villa. As they pulled into the driveway, a gardener was seen pushing a weed killer machine to maintain the pristine lawn. The sight was strangely fitting—a family that looked picture-perfect on the outside while rotting from within.
Yang Mo took a deep breath before stepping out of the car. This would be the last time he set foot in this house.