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

Chapter 33: The Scapegoat:

Lin Shengnan glared at the mustached man and demanded, “Is your Dingcheng Group above the law? Do you think you can take lives as you please?”

Without waiting for an answer, she moved forward to arrest him.

The man with the mustache smirked, stepping back. “Which branch are you from? Let me tell you, even the municipal bureau leaders have to show respect to our boss. I suggest you think carefully. It’s not easy to pass the police exam. Don’t ruin your career over this.”

A soldier at heart, Shengnan despised threats. Without a word, she lunged at him to make the arrest.

Seeing that intimidation didn’t work, Mustache waved to his men. Immediately, forty to fifty thugs surrounded Shengnan. Lin Shiyan, who had been following closely behind, turned pale with fear. She shouted, “We’re from the Lin Group! Mr. Gu from Dingcheng is friends with my father, Lin Yuan.”

Mustache shot her a disdainful look. “Lin Yuan? He’s nothing. Keep talking, and I’ll take care of you too.”

Lin Shiyan, who was accustomed to privilege and deference, froze in shock. This was the first time someone had openly dismissed the Lin family. She stood rooted, unsure of what to do, as she watched her sister being surrounded by a gang of armed men.

Desperate to help, Shiyan pulled out her phone and pointed it at Mustache. “I’m a lawyer! I’m recording your violence, and I’ll sue you into oblivion.”

Mustache sneered. “If you can walk out of here with that phone, I’ll take your last name.” He signaled two of his men. “Get that phone.”

The two thugs quickly advanced on Lin Shiyan.

Seeing this, Shengnan shouted from the fray, “Touch my sister, and I swear you’ll regret it!”

But the men ignored her and snatched the phone from Shiyan, who stood trembling and helpless. They handed the phone to Mustache, who smashed it on the ground and stomped on it until it was reduced to shards.

Meanwhile, Shengnan fought fiercely, taking down seven or eight men in just two minutes. But the sheer number of thugs, coupled with their weapons, proved overwhelming. A stick struck her shoulder, causing her to stagger and almost fall.

Not far away, Lin You and Zhang Xi finally reunited with Zhang Xi’s parents, Zhang Hongqi and his mother. The family hugged each other tightly, crying in relief.

When the tears subsided, Zhang Xi’s mother, remembering the fake car accident, inspected Zhang Xi’s legs anxiously. After confirming he was unharmed, she turned her focus to the restaurant explosion, torn between relief and despair.

Lin You, seeing the family together, decided it was time to leave. He pulled Li Ruochen’s hand and started to walk away. Zhang Xi, noticing this, broke free from his parents and grabbed Lin You’s arm. “Lin You, I know you’re not an ordinary person. You must have a way to help us. Please, help my family.”

He added desperately, “I’ll give you 30% of the shares of Sihai Restaurant. No, make it 50%. If that’s not enough, you can take the majority.”

Despite his usual naivety, Zhang Xi showed he understood the stakes.

Zhang Hongqi, confused by his son’s pleading, asked, “Who is this?”

“This is Lin You,” Zhang Xi explained, his face still swollen. “My classmate and desk mate. He even worked at our restaurant. Don’t you remember?”

It wasn’t until now that Zhang Hongqi recognized Lin You, though the bruises and blood on Lin You’s face made him almost unrecognizable.

Lin You sighed and said, “Mr. Zhang, it’s a miracle you’re alive. Don’t think about compensation or shares right now. I can only save you from this disaster. Your future is beyond me.”

Hearing this, Zhang Xi panicked. Tears streaming down his face, he fell to his knees. “Lin You, we’ve sat next to each other for more than two years. I know how smart you are. Please, save my family.”

Lin You, startled, tried to pull him up, but Zhang Xi refused to budge.

“You get up,” Lin You said. “A grown man kneeling like this? It’s embarrassing.”

Zhang Xi remained firm. “If you have a way, I’ll do whatever you say.”

Lin You glanced at Zhang Hongqi, who, seeing his son’s determination, nodded. “Tell us.”

Lin You spoke calmly, “Go to the Public Security Bureau and surrender. Right now, it’s the only way to save your life.”

Shocked, Zhang Hongqi asked, “What do you mean?”

Lin You explained, “This explosion is too big for any single person or group to control. As the restaurant owner, you’ll be held accountable whether you like it or not. The blame will fall on you.

“Whether it’s fair or not, you’ll be the scapegoat. And let me tell you, a dead scapegoat is a hundred times better than a living one. If you surrender now, you might still have a chance.”

Zhang Hongqi broke into a cold sweat, realizing the gravity of the situation. He nodded shakily. “You’re right. I’ll go surrender at the Chengdong Branch right away.”

He turned to his wife, helping her into their car. Before leaving, he looked back at Zhang Xi, tears streaming down his face. “Son, I’m sorry. All these years, we only cared about making money and didn’t spend enough time with you.”

Choking back sobs, he continued, “I’ll transfer 5 million to your account. Find a safe place to hide until we come back.”

Moved by his father’s words, Zhang Xi cried as well. “Dad, Mom, don’t worry about me. I have Lin You. I’ll be fine. I’ll stay at school where no one will bother me.”

Turning to Lin You, he asked cautiously, “Right, Lin You?”