After Being Kicked Out, Seven Sisters Turned Against the Family One After Another

Chapter 28: Mud Can’t Hold Up the Wall:

Lin You caught the meaning behind Li Ruochen’s words—she didn’t believe he could gather three million in just one month. To lighten the mood, Lin You pointed to Zhang Xi and said, “Don’t forget, we’ve got the son of a big boss right here. We could kidnap him and demand a ransom from his parents.”

Li Ruochen couldn’t help but laugh through her tears. “Lin You, stop joking at a time like this.”

Zhang Xi, still groggy, muttered, “Go ahead and tie me up. My parents won’t bother saving me. They only care about money. When have they ever cared about me? In their eyes, I’m worth less than their profits.”

Lin You sighed, sensing Zhang Xi’s loneliness. Supporting the two of them, he began walking back toward the school.

As they reached a streetlight, a Rolls-Royce Cullinan sped by, forcing Lin You to pull his classmates to the side. Inside the luxurious car were Lin Shiyan and Lin Shengnan. At first, they paid no attention to the three figures by the roadside, but Lin Shengnan’s sharp eyes caught sight of Lin You. She quickly asked Lin Shiyan to stop the car.

As the car halted, Lin Shengnan stepped out. The two sisters had initially planned to see Lin You the day before but mistakenly went to No. 27 Middle School, only to learn later that he was in No. 16 Middle School. Their visit had been delayed until tonight.

Lin You immediately recognized the Cullinan—it belonged to Lin Shiyan. Memories of his first days at the Lin family surfaced. 

Back then, he had sneaked into the car out of curiosity, only to be scolded harshly by Lin Shiyan and denied food as punishment. She had warned him that if he dared touch her car again, she would send him to the countryside.

When Lin You saw Lin Shengnan get out of the car, he sighed inwardly. Meanwhile, Li Ruochen froze, intimidated by the Cullinan worth tens of millions. For a moment, she thought someone sent by Ming Hu had come to capture her. Seeing a beautiful woman step out of the car eased her fears.

Zhang Xi, however, was mesmerized. Standing before him was a tall, stunning woman with a proud figure, long, slender legs, and an aura of elegance that outshone any school belle. To his astonishment, another equally beautiful woman in professional attire stepped out as well, exuding a gentler but no less captivating presence.

Before Lin Shengnan could speak, Lin Shiyan noticed Lin You’s battered appearance and immediately scolded him. “Lin You, can’t you stay out of trouble? The college entrance exams are three months away, and you’re out here fighting? At this rate, you’ll be lucky to get into a technical school. Look at you—how do you even look like a student? I’ve tried to teach you for four years, but you’re still hopeless. Mud can’t stick to the wall.”

Her sharp words infuriated Li Ruochen. “Which part of him looks like he’s been fighting?” she retorted. “He got hurt saving me and another classmate! And why do you think he can only go to a technical school? If Lin You wanted to, he could get into any university in the country.”

Lin Shiyan finally noticed the tall girl beside Lin You. Despite her youthful features and casual clothes, her commanding presence seemed to overshadow Lin Shiyan, even in her designer outfit.

Lin You stepped in to stop Li Ruochen from arguing further. “Ms. Lin,” he said coldly, “whether I fight or end up in a technical school has nothing to do with you. Did you forget the agreement you signed? If you’re here to mock me, I’m standing right here. Go ahead. If you’re here to collect a debt, I don’t have the money now. But I promise I’ll pay you back in a month, with loan shark interest if that’s what you want.”

Lin Shiyan’s face flushed with anger, but before she could respond, Lin Shengnan raised a hand to stop her. She looked at Lin You, her expression complicated. “Lin You… are you okay?”

Lin You replied with equal complexity. “Ms. Lin, whether I’m okay or not has nothing to do with you. If there’s nothing else, please leave. I’m going back to school. Don’t come looking for me again. A low-end place like No. 16 Middle School isn’t worth dirtying your shoes.”

With that, he turned to support Zhang Xi and Li Ruochen, ready to leave.

Lin Shiyan, frustrated by Lin You’s indifference, shouted after him, “Is that how you speak to your sister? Didn’t your monk of a master teach you basic manners? Do you even know what respect is?”

Hearing her words, Lin You stopped, his anger boiling over. “Ms. Lin, please watch your words. I may lack manners or education, but you have no right to insult my master. He raised me until I was twelve—did that inconvenience you? And as for respect, do you even deserve it?”

Zhang Xi and Li Ruochen were stunned. Zhang Xi hesitantly asked, “She’s your sister? What kind of sister?”

Lin You’s tone was filled with bitterness. “My biological sister. Or at least, she used to be.”

Li Ruochen’s eyes widened. “She’s your sister? Are you joking? She’s wearing clothes worth tens of thousands, and you’ve been eating dried radish at school for two years? What happened—did you commit some grave sin against her, or do your family just hate you?”

Her words stung Lin Shengnan. 

Lin You had lived off dried radish for two years? She thought of the thousands spent on her own nail polish and the tens of thousands on Lin Tianyang’s sneakers. Yet here was Lin You, wearing patched clothes that looked like they’d been worn for years.

The disparity between their lives felt like a slap to her principles of fairness.

“Lin You…” Shengnan began hesitantly, “What you said when you left home… was it true? Did you really eat Mom’s dog? Did you steal Tianyang’s watch?”

Lin You cut her off, his tone icy. “Does it matter? You’re a cop and a lawyer. Shouldn’t you investigate before accusing me? Fine, I did it all. Are you going to arrest me, Officer Lin? Go ahead—I’m standing right here.”

He extended his hands toward her, daring her to take him in.

Before Shengnan could respond, Li Ruochen stepped in front of Lin You, shielding him. “Stealing a watch? Eating a dog? Are you serious? If Lin You were a thief, would he be living like this? And as for eating dogs, don’t you know he’s allergic to dog hair?”