Chapter 4, Section 4: What a huge pot!

After Fu Yansheng finished reading the documents in his hand, he looked up and saw Lin Zhao cautiously opening the door and peeking inside.

Lin Zhao thought that the sound of her opening the door had disturbed Fu Yansheng, and was about to apologize.

Then he noticed Fu Yansheng's gentle expression, and then he chuckled and asked, "Why are you standing outside instead of coming in?"

"I was afraid of disturbing Brother Fu's work." Lin Zhao chuckled, opened the door and came in, then obediently closed it again, and stared at Fu Yansheng without moving.

Lin Zhao stood there, her eyes shining, as if asking Fu Yansheng if there was any work she needed to do.

Fu Yansheng put down his pen, tilted his head slightly to look at Lin Zhao, who was standing upright, and found it amusing, but his face remained completely still.

Outside the door, the assistant manager lowered his voice and quietly asked Fu Yansheng in the office if he could go to the conference room.

"I'm going to a meeting. You can stay in the office for a while and play. If you need anything, you can ask your assistant to get it done."

Fu Yansheng stood up, smoothed out the wrinkles in his suit, and looked at Lin Zhao.

Lin Zhao nodded obediently upon hearing this.

Watching Fu Yansheng leave the office with a calm and aloof expression.

After confirming that she didn't have any work, Lin Zhao sat down on the sofa, took out her phone, and started browsing Weibo.

The news about the Lin family was still trending on social media, and Lin Zhao only glanced at a few highly-rated comments, all of which were speculations about him.

Some even said that his departure was a strategic retreat to persuade the Lin family to keep him.

After all, as long as Lin Zhao stays in the Lin family, given the Lin family's past favor towards her, she will inevitably receive a considerable share of the family fortune.

Moreover, Lin Rong, the current head of the Lin family company, is a brother-obsessed individual.

Therefore, no one thought that Lin Zhao would really give up everything in the Lin family.

Lin Zhao couldn't help but wonder if others would call him an idiot if they knew he really didn't want anything from the Lin family.

Although the Lin family ranks in the lower middle among wealthy families, they still possess assets that an ordinary family could not earn in hundreds of years.

However, there are quite a few people who call themselves stupid, so Lin Zhao doesn't care.

Lin Zhao lay sprawled on the sofa, languid and with her mind blank.

Lin Zhao didn't care that her phone screen was off, and she completely relaxed.

His eyes were lifeless, his chin was resting on the sofa armrest, and he was lying face down with an unfocused gaze.

"Young Master Lin, someone downstairs is looking for you. They say they're from the Lin family." The assistant left at the assistant's office knocked lightly on the door, then opened it and spoke softly.

Although it is unknown whether Lin Zhao has broken ties with the Lin family, she is still nominally a member of the Lin family.

So after thinking it over, the assistant decided to tell Lin Zhao.

Hearing the sound, Lin Zhao turned her head to look at the door. On her delicate face, her big, round eyes were looking at her assistant obediently.

The assistant was momentarily stunned, and the tips of her ears instantly turned red.

He knew that the young master of the Lin family was good-looking, and he could see him often, but this was the first time he had seen him like this.

He was well-behaved and clean, with eyes that looked at people so captivating that one would gladly offer their heart to the young master.

"Huh? The Lin family?" Lin Zhao thought for a moment, realizing that only her brother could be coming to find her.

But he told his brother yesterday that he didn't need to come looking for him.

How come they've found me downstairs at the Fu Group building? They didn't even send me a message.

Lin Zhao didn't know, but she still obediently thanked her assistant.

Lin Zhao watched his assistant leave the office before slowly sitting up. Then, looking at his reflection in the glass window, he smiled and showed his tiger teeth.

After confirming that she felt radiant with sunshine at that moment, Lin Zhao jogged to take the elevator.

At the front desk on the first floor, Lin Zhao looked for a while but couldn't spot Lin Rong. Lin Zhao was just about to send a WeChat message to ask Lin Rong.

Suddenly someone tapped me on the shoulder.

Lin Zhao was startled and instinctively turned around.

"Are you Lin Zhao?" The man withdrew his hand, frowning, his expression not very pleasant.

Lin Zhao was stunned when he saw this person. There was no other reason than that the person in front of him looked seven parts like Lin Rong, with fierce eyebrows and eyes, pursed lips, and a somewhat gloomy appearance.

With just one glance, Lin Zhao guessed the identity of the person in front of him.

The true young master of the Lin family.

But Lin Zhao didn't know why the person in front of him had come to see him.

Lin Zhao answered blankly, "Yes, I am."

"My name is Lin Xian, the 'Xian' in 'leisurely as the clouds and wild cranes.' Let's chat." Without waiting for Lin Zhao's reply, Lin Xian walked directly out of the Fu Group building.

Lin Zhao didn't even have time to reply. Seeing Lin Xian leave quickly, she felt a little lost, but still followed him.

"How did you recognize me?" Lin Zhao asked curiously, wondering how Lin Xian could recognize him so quickly.

Lin Xian had never met him before, so how did he recognize him at first glance?

Upon hearing this, Lin Xian glanced at the handsome, well-behaved, and noble-looking young man beside him.

The boy probably didn't realize that the moment he appeared in the hall, he exuded an aura that set him apart from the people around him.

It was the kind of temperament that came from someone who had been pampered since childhood, carefree and never had any worries, that made people involuntarily focus their attention on him.

However, Lin Xian did not answer this question.

They took Lin Zhao to a nearby coffee shop. It was during working hours, and there weren't many people around.

Lin Xian ordered a coffee, ignoring Lin Zhao.

After the waiter served the coffee and left, Lin Xian finally spoke.

“My older brother told me to be tolerant of you, because you will be the youngest brother in the family.”

Lin Xian spoke in a calm tone, as if he were talking about his own affairs.

Lin Xian took a sip of coffee.

A bitter taste rose in his mouth. No matter how much coffee he drank, he couldn't get used to the taste. However, he needed to drink coffee to stay awake when working the night shift, otherwise he would lose a whole day's wages if he dozed off. So Lin Xian gradually got used to the bitterness.

Lin Xian's life was not easy after he was replaced. His father was an alcoholic and would take his anger out on Lin Xian when he was drunk. His mother was weak and, since Lin Xian was not their biological child, she did not care about him.

Food and clothing shortages were common. Lin Xian achieved excellent results in the college entrance examination, but the couple was afraid that if Lin Xian went to study in another city, he would become unruly and they would not be able to keep him.

They refused to pay Lin Xian's tuition fees and even secretly took away Lin Xian's scholarship.

Fortunately, Lin Xian lived up to expectations, worked part-time to earn money, and earned enough to cover his school fees in one summer vacation. After that, he lived off the scholarships and bonuses he applied for from the school.

Compared to Lin Zhao, Lin Xian's first twenty-three years were quite miserable.

Therefore, when Lin Xian heard that he was not the child of those parents, he breathed a sigh of relief.

He can finally stop rotting away in this house, and maybe he'll have parents who really like him.

Lin Xian never expected that he was actually a child of the Lin family.

I shouldn't have spent those twenty-three years.

Thinking of this, Lin Xian looked up at the young master with a noble air in front of him.

"I know the Lin family doesn't like me because I didn't grow up to be the way they wanted me to be."

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhao felt her breath catch in her throat.

Looking at the person in front of him who resembled Lin Rong by seven points, Lin Zhao knew perfectly well that he had taken Lin Rong's place.

No one is immune to wishful thinking about their parents.

She felt that when she returned home, her parents would like her because of their blood ties, and that she would be a treasure that had been lost and found again in this family.

But all of this should be based on the premise that there is no other treasure in the house.

"I won't go back to the Lin family. That's your home." Lin Zhao's heart was heavy. She forced a smile, her tone filled with apology.

"Lin Xian, I'm sorry."

"I've enjoyed twenty-three years that didn't belong to me, so rest assured, I won't take over your home or your future."

Lin Xian didn't detect the slightest reluctance in Lin Zhao's tone.

All that remained was a sense of relief. Lin Xian looked up and met Lin Zhao's eyes, which held a purity and clarity akin to the essence of a jungle hidden behind a distant mountain mist.

Her gentle eyes held an apology, contrary to Lin Xian's expectations that Lin Zhao would choose to return to the Lin family as soon as he spoke.

Not at all.

On the first day Lin Xian returned, Lin Rong said that Lin Zhao was well-behaved, obedient and sensible, and that Lin Zhao would be the youngest brother in the family. He also said that Lin Xian would definitely fall in love with Lin Zhao after meeting him.

Lin Xian dismissed Lin Rong's words. He thought very badly of Lin Zhao, believing that Lin Zhao left so that the Lin family would take the initiative to find him and he wouldn't be kicked out.

He would be reluctant to leave, reluctant to leave everything in the Lin family.

We shouldn't give up so easily.

Although the Lin family was a middle-to-lower-class family, Lin Zhao grew up in such an environment and was so exquisite and beautiful.

After leaving the Lin family, the pampered young master was like someone who had fallen from the clouds to the mortal world.

Without haute couture clothes and a comfortable environment, Lin Zhao might even be coveted by others.

Lin Zhao doesn't care?

Seeing that Lin Xian didn't speak, Lin Zhao took out her phone and opened her WeChat QR code:

"I'm still at work. I'm sorry for what happened. If you need any help, you can contact me directly."

Lin Xian gave Lin Zhao a deep look, trying to see through Lin Zhao's insincerity, but he couldn't see it at all.

Lin Xian's resentment towards Lin Zhao lessened somewhat.

Although Lin Zhao was the one who benefited from the switch, she was completely unaware of the truth of the matter from beginning to end.

Moreover, Lin Zhao left the Lin family after learning about this matter.

Lin Xian knew that his anger seemed somewhat absurd.

Lin Xian opened his phone and added Lin Zhao on WeChat.

"Lin Zhao".

*

"Lin Zhao, do you know what you're saying?" Lin Rong took a deep breath. His obedient younger brother's first act of rebellion was actually about something like this.

Lin Rong wanted to offer some advice: "After the family reunion banquet, everything will be made public. Zhao Zhao, I've said you'll always be my brother."

“Brother, if Lin Xian had grown up in the Lin family, he would have been more outstanding than me. You are related by blood, and he would have been your best younger brother.”

Lin Zhao's voice was low, and his tone was admonishing.

"In my twenty-three years, I have seen a world that does not belong to me, obtained high-quality living conditions, and received superior learning resources, but originally all of these belonged to Lin Xian."

"Therefore, a family reunion banquet is a must."

This is not merely the Lin family's recognition of Lin Xian.

Lin Xian understood Lin Zhao's meaning.

I understand that Lin Zhao has already made her own decision.

Lin Zhao will not be returning to the Lin family.

"Zhaozhao, do you want to sever ties with the Lin family?" Lin Rong felt a little flustered at the thought that the child she had raised since childhood wanted to break off ties with the Lin family. Her tone was cold, clearly showing that she was angry.

Lin Zhao had just entered the office when she heard this and stopped, blinking.

"No! I just feel we should make it up to Lin Xian. He'll definitely feel uncomfortable going back to the Lin family. There wasn't even a family reunion banquet, so he'll feel like you don't value him. He'll be very sad!"

What does this have to do with severing ties?

Lin Zhao's eyes were full of innocence; she couldn't understand Lin Rong's thought process.

He tried hard to explain his thoughts.

But Lin Rong was determined to believe that Lin Zhao wanted to sever ties with the Lin family.

What a huge pot!

As soon as Fu Yansheng entered the room after the meeting, he heard Lin Zhao hurriedly explaining to Lin Rong on the other end of the phone that she did not intend to sever all ties with her brother.

Lin Rong listened to Lin Zhao's hurried explanation, a slight smile playing on his lips, before saying he didn't believe her.

Lin Zhao pouted, feeling that Lin Rong was teasing her.

"Zhaozhao, what do you want to eat for lunch?"

Fu Yansheng walked behind Lin Zhao and glanced at the contact name on his phone: Lin Rong.

Then he said casually.

A note from the author:

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On September 18th, we pay tribute to the people's heroes, never forget national humiliation, and strive for self-improvement!

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Today's mini-drama:

Lin Xian (feigning pitifulness): I know the Lin family doesn't like me because I didn't grow up to look like they wanted me to... [pitiful]

Lin Zhao: It's okay! I'll help you! (Turns to her brother) [Okay]

Lin Rong (loudly spreading rumors): What! My brother actually wants to sever ties with me!!! [Clown]

Lin Zhao (stunned): ??? I didn't, I didn't, don't talk nonsense!!! [Question mark]

Fu Yansheng (coming over upon hearing the sound): Is Zun Du fake? [Let me see]