SWNOVELXO Chapter 8:
Chapter 8: Illegitimate Son:
Lin You shifted slightly toward the roadside and said, “Ms. Lin, you must have mistaken me for someone else. I’m on my way, so kindly step aside.”
Hearing this, Lin Shengnan frowned. “You’re not Lin You? Then how do you know my surname is Lin? Seeing your sister and pretending not to know her—is this what your monk father taught you?”
“You’ve been in our Lin family for four years and still haven’t changed your old habits. You’re truly uneducated.”
These words struck a nerve.
In the past, such accusations would have left Lin You reflecting on his faults, apologizing humbly, and vowing to improve. But now, with his ties to the Lin family severed, he no longer cared about accommodating these self-righteous so-called elites.
“Ms. Lin,” Lin You retorted coldly, “is it well-educated to accuse someone of wrongdoing without evidence? Is it civilized to insult the people who raised me for twelve years? And is it good manners to block someone’s way home?”
He paused, his voice sharp. “If you don’t believe me, call Mr. Lin Yuan and ask him what happened. Then decide whether you should continue standing in my way.”
This response stunned Shengnan.
She had always seen Lin You as meek and submissive, someone who lowered his head and groveled at their feet. This defiant version of Lin You felt completely foreign to her.
Grabbing his arm firmly, she scolded, “You must have stolen something from our family and sold it. That’s why you’re in this sorry state. You’re not going anywhere until you explain yourself!”
Though a woman, Shengnan was over 1.7 meters tall and physically strong from years of military training. Lin You, barely reaching her height and weighing less than 90 kilograms, couldn’t break free from her grip. With one hand holding him, Shengnan pulled out her phone and called Lin Yuan.
The phone rang endlessly without an answer, likely because Lin Yuan was in a meeting with his phone on silent.
Frustrated, she dialed Lan Lin’s number next, but it also went unanswered. Shengnan’s nerves tightened, and she turned to the driver, Xiao Zhao.
“Xiao Zhao, hold this kid down,” she ordered. “I suspect he may have done something to my parents.”
Lin You was left speechless at the absurdity of her assumption.
He knew Lin Yuan was likely busy with work, and Lan Lin had probably taken her precious son Tianyang to the hospital for a check-up. After all, nearly drowning was a serious matter, and Lan Lin’s overprotectiveness wouldn’t allow her to leave it unchecked.
Xiao Zhao glanced at Lin You’s scrawny frame and raised an eyebrow. “With all due respect, how could your brother possibly harm your parents? Maybe try calling one of your sisters.”
Shengnan nodded and dialed Lin Xiaotong. This time, the call was answered on the first ring.
“Katsuo?” came Xiaotong’s surprised voice. “Aren’t you in training camp? How do you have time to call?”
Ignoring the question, Shengnan asked directly, “Where are Mom and Dad? Are they okay? And what about Tianyang?”
Xiaotong, momentarily puzzled, replied, “They’re fine. Tianyang’s fine too—Lin You just pushed him into the swimming pool earlier. Mom took him to the hospital for a check-up, but it’s nothing serious. Why are you asking?”
Shengnan exhaled in relief. “It’s nothing. I just couldn’t reach them and ran into Lin You acting suspiciously. I thought…”
“You thought he did something to them?” Xiaotong chuckled. “Lin You? His wings are just starting to grow. He got scolded by Mom and Dad earlier, so he’s run away from home.”
“Run away?” Shengnan asked, shocked.
“Well, not exactly,” Xiaotong corrected. “He signed an agreement severing ties with the family and then left.”
Shengnan’s face hardened as she glanced at Lin You. “Is this true? Did you really sever ties with us?”
Pulling his arm free from her grasp, Lin You replied evenly, “I’m sorry for not informing you, but it’s not important. The head of the Lin family is Lin Yuan; the rest is secondary. Now, may I leave, Ms. Lin?”
With that, he limped away.
Shengnan stood in stunned silence, watching Lin You’s retreating figure.
She hadn’t spent much time with him since his return to the Lin family. She had been admitted to the military academy the same year he was found and only saw him briefly during holidays. Her impression of him was that of a timid, scrawny boy who always wore a servile expression. She found him unworthy of being her brother.
But now, this version of Lin You was unrecognizable.
As Lin You disappeared into the distance, Xiao Zhao asked curiously, “Shengnan, is that really your brother? Are you sure your family didn’t buy him to give someone a happy ending?”
Shengnan shot him a sharp look before muttering, “Every family has its troublesome children.”
Xiao Zhao smirked. “Have you ever seen a troublesome kid that thin and battered?”
He added seriously, “Tell me honestly, is your family bankrupt? Is that why you can’t even take care of your own children? If you need money, I can ask my third uncle to lend you some. Eight hundred thousand should help.”
Shengnan rolled her eyes. “Our family isn’t bankrupt, and we don’t need your help.”
Xiao Zhao nodded. “Fair enough. I mean, Lin Pharmaceuticals was planning to go public just six months ago. It couldn’t have gone bankrupt that fast. There’s only one explanation.”
“What’s that?” Shengnan asked, narrowing her eyes.
Xiao Zhao grinned. “That kid must be your father’s illegitimate son. That’s why he’s treated differently.”
“But,” he continued, his tone turning serious, “even if that’s the case, there’s a limit to how you treat someone. If you keep this up, someone’s going to die. Look at him—he’s practically skin and bones. Enough is enough. Don’t punish the next generation for the sins of the previous one.”
Shengnan sighed. She knew Xiao Zhao wouldn’t drop the subject without some explanation, but there was no easy way to clarify the situation. “He’s not an illegitimate child,” she said finally. “We share the same parents. He’s been DNA-tested multiple times—it’s indisputable.”
Xiao Zhao’s eyes widened in disbelief. “So, is he fighting with the family? Look at his clothes—they’re clearly too small and worn out. And he’s injured on top of it.”
“Maybe your mother wants to play the empress dowager, ruling from behind the scenes while driving her son to ruin?”
Shengnan shook her head. “I’ve been away for years, only coming home during holidays. I don’t know the full story, but I’ll figure it out when I get back.”
With that, she climbed into the jeep. Xiao Zhao joined her, and they drove back toward the city.