When Lin Yu came downstairs, there were three people sitting in the living room: Lin Hongxin, Sun Wanting, and Lin Yiqian.
Seeing Lin Yu's attire, all three were stunned for a moment. They felt that something was off about Lin Yu today, but couldn't quite put their finger on what it was.
Sun Wanting was the first to snap out of it, walking over with a smile full of affection: "You sleepyhead, we've all been waiting for you to have breakfast!"
Lin Yu didn't respond immediately, instead staring at Sun Wanting for a long while before softly humming in acknowledgment.
Feeling inexplicably guilty under Lin Yu's stare, Sun Wanting swallowed the words that had reached her lips. Never mind, she'd speak after breakfast.
Today's breakfast was probably the most flavorless meal the three of them had ever eaten. For some reason, Lin Yu kept giving them those unsettling looks that made their hearts pound, leaving them restless and uncomfortable all over.
After the meal, Lin Hongxin didn't rush off to work, nor did Sun Wanting hurry out for her beauty treatments. The two sat on either side of Lin Yu. Meanwhile, Lin Yiqian dropped to her knees in front of Lin Yu with a "thud."
"Sister, please, I'm begging you! Save me! If you don't save me, I'll really die!" Desperately clinging to Lin Yu's legs, Lin Yiqian cried her heart out.
"Xiao Yu, you're Yiqian's real sister, please save Yiqian! Just this once, Mom is begging you too!" Grabbing Lin Yu's hand, Sun Wanting looked grief-stricken, tears streaming down her face in an instant.
"Xiao Yu, well, this matter really shouldn't involve you, and Dad knows he shouldn't have the nerve to ask this of you. But you are part of this family after all, and Dad only hopes that when you can help, you'll give your sister a hand and not personally push your sister toward a dead end..." Lin Hongxin's eyes reddened as he spoke, sighing as he looked at Lin Yu.
"How do you want me to save her?" Looking at Lin Yiqian kneeling before her and listening to Sun Wanting and Lin Hongxin's act, Lin Yu's voice was calm, decisive and cold.
"Xiao Yu, don't worry! The culprit who caused Xu Mo's car accident is your sister, not you! As long as you marry in Yiqian's place, the Xu family won't make things difficult for you." Sun Wanting said urgently.
The exact same words as seven years ago. Lin Yu turned her head, locking her gaze on Sun Wanting's face: "Really?"
"Really, really! How could Mom lie to you? You're Mom's biological daughter, Yiqian's real sister!" Not giving Lin Yu a chance to refuse, Sun Wanting shouted at Lin Yiqian, "Hurry up and thank your sister for saving your life!"
"Sister, thank you! Really, thank you so much! In this lifetime, even if I have to work like an ox or horse for you, I'd be willing!" Lin Yiqian joyfully stood up and hugged Lin Yu, laughing with delight.
Work like an ox or horse? How utterly ironic! Lin Yu calmly pushed Lin Yiqian away and nodded: "Alright."
Xu Mo, the eldest son of the Xu family—throughout D City, there wasn't a soul who didn't know this precious figure. Outstanding family background, handsome appearance, tall stature, formidable abilities... blessed by heaven, he was undoubtedly fate's greatest favorite.
However, just half a month ago, Xu Mo was in an unexpected car accident and became a vegetable. Even today, he still lay in a hospital bed.
The reason Lin Yiqian was so panicked was naturally because Xu Mo's accident was connected to her. More precisely, if not for Lin Yiqian, Xu Mo might very well have avoided this disaster.
In fact, Lin Yiqian's infatuation with Xu Mo was no secret in the Lin family, so Lin Yu knew about it too. But what Lin Yu hadn't expected was that Lin Yiqian would actually drug Xu Mo when her pursuit failed.
Hallucinogens—a name Lin Yu had never even heard before. But it was precisely this substance that prevented Xu Mo from taking timely measures or calling for help when he discovered his brakes had failed. Ultimately, things developed to an irreversible point.
The Xu family was D City's top power, and they uncovered the truth in just a few days. So after easily dealing with the enemies who had sabotaged Xu Mo's brakes, Lin Yiqian became the next target of the Xu family's fury. And Boyang was in grave danger.
Seven years ago, despite her deep sisterly bond with Lin Yiqian, Lin Yu hadn't agreed to help Lin Yiqian by marrying into the Xu family. But this time, Lin Yu had changed her mind. Even being a living widow for life was better than marrying that scumbag Zhou Quan!
Moreover, Lin Yu, having returned from seven years in the future, knew better than anyone that the Xu family wasn't as terrifying as everyone thought.
Angry? Certainly. Resentful? Definitely. But the Xu family had only confined Lin Yiqian for two years before releasing her. And without registration or consummation, Lin Yiqian had essentially just worked as a nanny in the Xu family for two years before gaining her freedom.
Trading Lin Yiqian's two years for Xu Mo's lifetime as a vegetable... in Lin Yu's view, the Xu family had been incredibly, incredibly generous.
The marriage between Lin Yu and Zhou Quan had been arranged when Lin Anyan was still alive. Both the Lin and Zhou families were fairly satisfied with this match, and even after Lin Anyan's death, the wedding date hadn't changed.
Three days passed in a flash. On July 7th, both Lin Yu and Lin Yiqian were getting married.
A long wedding procession, grand and magnificent, carried the happily smiling Lin Yiqian toward the joyous Zhou family home. Lin Hongxin and Sun Wanting accompanied her, under the pretext of "not letting the Xu family discover the deception."
On the other side, the Xu family had merely sent a single black car with glaring white flowers tied to its body. Was it low-key, or was it humiliation? Everyone understood perfectly.
Lin Yu wore no wedding dress, nor did she apply heavy makeup. She remained bare-faced, walking alone with her suitcase as she slowly entered the Xu family gates.
At the Xu family home, Lin Yu was naturally an unwelcome presence. No one greeted her, nor did anyone show her any friendliness. Lin Yu hadn't even been told which room was hers or had a chance to put down her luggage before being led to Xu Mo's room.
Xu Mo's room was primarily black and white, without excessive ornate decorations—simple and elegant. And Xu Mo, who had been brought home from the hospital that morning, lay motionless on the bed.
Watching the door close behind her, Lin Yu stood silently beside the bed, staring intently at Xu Mo for a long time before saying softly: "Hello, Xu Mo. My name is Lin Yu—Lin with double wood radicals, Yu from 'sangyu.'"
"Before today, you probably never heard my name. Or perhaps you had heard of me but didn't know me personally. In fact, I had only heard your great reputation and seen you in various reports, but we'd never spoken a single word to each other. So today is our first formal meeting. Although you probably can't hear me now, I still very much want to say that I'm very pleased to meet you." Lin Yu wasn't good at making small talk with people. But facing the unconscious Xu Mo, it seemed that no matter what she said or did, there was no need to hold back.