Chapter 72: The parents' scheming seemed like a divine intervention, rescuing the chaotic...
Sheng Yunshen lay on the bed, peacefully enjoying the darkness before him, the sound of the waves crashing on the white stone beach still seeming to echo in his ears.
A cold, piercing mechanical voice abruptly tore through the darkness, carrying a distinctly wicked amusement: "Hehehe, you seem to be in a good mood. Don't you know what's going on yet?"
After a two-second silence, Sheng Yunshen realized that his world had become very quiet.
The "link" between him and Ling Shu seems to have been severed.
Now he can only hear sounds from inside the room, and can no longer hear Ling Shu's movements or "talk" to her.
It seems that Zero came prepared this time, intending to give him a big shock.
Sheng Yun Shen remained calm: "So what?"
Guiling choked, a hint of sarcasm creeping into his mechanical voice: "The troublemaker's parents are here. They'll take her away and force her to divorce you."
Sheng Yun Shen remained calm: "Oh."
It turned out to be Ling's parents.
They're dreaming if they think they can take Ling Shu away.
-
Let's go back two days.
Mr. and Mrs. Ling, who had been on business trips in Shenzhen, finally had time to return to Beijing for a visit.
As soon as they stepped into the Ling family's house, they were shocked by the mess and thought a thief had broken in. They almost called the police on the spot.
Hearing footsteps, a tipsy Ling Xinyao got up from beside the coffee table, rubbing her eyes as she greeted, "Dad, Mom, you're back?"
Ling's father stared at her for a long time, somewhat unable to recognize her.
Ling Xinyao used to be extremely conscious of her image, always poised and elegant, even her hair was meticulously styled. Now, her hair was disheveled, her eyes were lifeless, and she was casually dressed in a wrinkled nightgown, emanating a strong smell of alcohol from afar.
"Xinyao? What's wrong?!"
Ling's mother walked up to her daughter with heartache, wanting to reach out and hug her, but hesitated, feeling somewhat disgusted.
"careless?"
Her lazy demeanor finally enraged Ling's father. He almost roared, veins bulging on his forehead, his eyes wide with fury, "Look at the state you're in now! You're nothing like my daughter! Get yourself together right now!"
Their business in Shenzhen hadn't been saved yet, and the company was running out of working capital. Ling's parents had called Ling Xinyao many times in the past few days, but couldn't get through, so they rushed back in a panic.
“…Not answering the phone? Oh…the phone…maybe it’s out of battery…” Ling Xinyao mumbled incoherently, her eyes vacantly sweeping over her parents’ angry faces. Clearly, her parents’ scolding had not entered her mind at all.
Seeing that she was unmoved, Ling's father scolded again: "How many times have I told you to either ask Ling Shu for help or to build a good relationship with Li Yin? You haven't managed to do either one, have you? You really disappoint me!"
If the funding doesn't come in, the Ling family might go bankrupt!
The two of them were anxious and upset, but Ling Xinyao looked so dejected that it was infuriating to see.
"Li Yin is currently at the height of his power, and he's almost as powerful as Sheng Yun Shen was in the past. He has a tight grip on the Li family. If you could marry him, you could directly take control of the entire Li family. What an honor that would be! Why don't you try harder?"
As Ling's father repeatedly mentioned Li Yin's name, Ling Xinyao's expression changed continuously, from dazed to angry, unwilling, and desperate. All sorts of complex emotions churned and tangled in her eyes, finally turning into a cold laugh.
Seeing her appearance, Ling's father became even angrier: "It's because you're so unkempt that you haven't been able to get close to Li Yin yet! Where did my obedient and sensible daughter go? Why has she become like this!"
Ling's mother chimed in shrill voice, "That's right, Xinyao, isn't a man like Li Yin a piece of cake for you?"
Ling Xinyao, supporting herself on the coffee table, stood up unsteadily, her cold smile still on her face: "I've disappointed you, I can't do it."
She also attended the Zhao family's full moon celebration that day.
In order to look her best when facing Li Yin, Ling Xinyao even specially invited a professional makeup artist to get up at five in the morning to get ready.
But what's the point of all this?
From beginning to end, she couldn't find a single opportunity to get close to Li Yin or even exchange a few words with him.
Every time she tried to get closer, he would always be distracted by other people or things and drift away from her.
He deliberately avoided her.
Yet he didn't refuse, like a hunter toying with his prey, deliberately watching her anxious yet helpless expression.
Later, Mu Ting appeared and caused a scene. Everyone was busy watching the spectacle, and she never had another chance to get close to Li Yin.
Ling Xinyao was unwilling to give up, so she took advantage of the chaos and quietly followed Li Yin, hoping to find an opportunity to get close to him.
As a result, she saw Li Yin standing in the crowd, gazing at Ling Shu from afar.
Perhaps even Li Yin himself didn't realize that when he looked at Ling Shu, his gaze was so gentle, and the smile on his lips was so melancholy.
Ling Xinyao's eyes stung from the sight, and she almost lost her balance.
Li Yin...
Li Yin actually has feelings for Ling Shu!
So, Li Yin was indeed deliberately teasing her to vent his anger for Ling Shu.
Later, she didn't know how she got home in a daze. From that day on, Ling Xinyao stayed at home and drank heavily every day. When she got drunk, she would jump around and make a scene at home, completely oblivious to the passage of time.
At this moment, facing the reproaches of Ling's parents, she no longer had the pride and arrogance she once had, and simply answered impatiently that she couldn't do it.
A man like Li Yin, once he's set his sights on Ling Shu, would never give her another chance.
No matter how close you get or how much you try to test the waters, you'll only be humiliating yourself.
Ling's father was stunned, staring incredulously at Ling Xinyao's dejected appearance, his brows furrowing tightly. "Xinyao, have you forgotten that back then, so many rich young ladies in Beijing liked Sheng Yunshen, yet he chose you as his fiancée! If you can handle Sheng Yunshen, you can definitely handle Li Yin too!"
Ling Xinyao closed her eyes briefly, concealing the longing that welled up within them.
Yes, the time when she was engaged to Sheng Yun Shen was the most triumphant period of her life.
Back then, she was like an emperor who had emerged victorious from a chaotic battle among heroes, proudly walking through every banquet, enjoying the envious and resentful gazes of the other young ladies.
What glory, what pride!
"Looking back now, the Sheng family was actually quite kind. They treated Ling Shu very well after we forced her into the family."
Ling Xinyao was already very frustrated, and her mother continued to nag beside her, constantly stabbing her in the heart, "It's just a pity that Shu'er is heartless, we can't contact her at all. Back then... sigh, if Xinyao had married into the family back then, we wouldn't be suffering like this now..."
Listening to Ling's mother's complaints, a hint of regret flickered in Ling's father's eyes: "Who would have thought that the Sheng family would be so lucky to actually survive this?"
Ling's mother sighed, "Why don't we go to the Sheng family now and try to see Ling Shu and ask her for help? After all... she's our own child, how could she really hate her parents?"
Ling's father glared at Ling Xinyao again.
If she were more assertive, they wouldn't have had to lower themselves to beg Ling Shu!
He sighed, "This is the only way... Xinyao, come with us. You and Shuer had so many misunderstandings before, apologize to her properly and try your best to get her forgiveness."
Ling's mother nodded: "Yes, Xinyao, apologize to Shuer properly."
Looking at her parents, Ling Xinyao felt that the two people in front of her were both familiar and unfamiliar.
Humans really are creatures that fawn over the powerful and belittle the weak.
In the past, when she looked down on Ling Shu, every time she and Ling Shu had a fight, Ling Shu's parents would stand by her side without hesitation and force Ling Shu to bow her head and admit her mistake.
Now that Ling Shu has gained the favor of the Sheng family, the one who is at fault has instantly become her.
"hehe……"
Ling Xinyao laughed sarcastically and shook her head. "No need to go. Ling Shu and Sheng Yunshen went on vacation and are not at the Sheng family home at all."
"Vacation?"
Ling's parents exclaimed in unison.
They really didn't expect that Ling Shu wouldn't be there.
"What can we do?" Madam Ling stamped her feet anxiously. "We can't count on Li Yin, and Ling Shu isn't in the capital. Who else can help us now?"
Ling's father remained silent, his gaze unreadable, as if he were pondering something.
After several seconds, he slowly said, "Mr. Zhou of Yuanshan Group... has he always liked Xinyao?"
Ling's mother paused, a look of recollection on her face: "Yes! Last month he even gave me two gold bracelets, asking if Xinyao had anyone she liked."
"Dad! Mom! Have you gone mad?"
Ling Xinyao took two steps back in disbelief, her eyes wide, shaking her head repeatedly. "Zhou Mingchao is already forty years old, and he has two sons at home!"
Ling's father sneered: "Yuanshan Group is a big group, and President Zhou is very devoted to you... Besides, his wife has been dead for several years, and his son is being raised by a nanny. You won't have to worry about him after you marry him."
Previously, Ling's mother doted on Ling Xinyao the most, but now that the Ling family was facing a life-or-death situation, she could only offer some advice: "Xinyao, older men tend to be more affectionate towards their wives. If you really don't like President Zhou, why don't you think of something with Li Yin? Or President Liu, or President Wang, that would be fine too!"
Ling Xinyao tugged at the corners of her mouth, her smile incredibly ugly.
General Manager Zhou, General Manager Liu, General Manager Wang...
Heh, they're all the same kind of trash. Her gaze was sticky, like she was appraising an expensive commodity.
As for Li Yin...
If she had a way out, she wouldn't have been forced into this situation.
A thought suddenly flashed through her mind, and Ling Xinyao clenched her fists, her voice turning cold: "Don't count on those old lechers. They're all shrewd and stingy. Even if you sell me, you won't get the price you want."
"You silly child!"
Ling's father probably felt a little embarrassed and hissed, "How can you talk like that? How can you hawk your wares like that!"
Ling Xinyao ignored his protest and continued coldly, "I do have a good idea. If you can pull it off, perhaps the Ling family can weather this storm."
Ling's father and mother exchanged a glance, neither of them speaking, waiting for Ling Xinyao to continue.
These words, though direct, reveal the truth.
Ling's father and mother weren't fools; they understood perfectly well.
They had tried to seek help from the Sheng family, but both Qin Hong and Sheng Yunqi treated them with great indifference and coldness.
The Sheng family is not a reliable source of hope, unless they can win over Ling Shu and get her to ask for help.
Ling Xinyao added, "Even if we can win over Ling Shu, the Sheng family might not agree to her using their resources to help us. There's no way we can get through to the Sheng family."
Ling's father didn't speak, his fists clenched tightly.
Ling's mother looked worried, her brows furrowed tightly.
Ling Xinyao's smile was indifferent and sarcastic: "I have a way to use Ling Shu again, without relying on the Sheng family's power, to help the Ling family overcome its difficulties."
-
Let's go back to the present.
Outside the villa on Liuli Island, Ling's father and mother stood side by side, knocking on the door repeatedly and calling loudly for the person inside to open it.
"Shu'er, your mom and dad have come to see you. Open the door!"
"Your sister is here too! We all missed you!"
It was already dusk, and countless dark clouds had gathered in the once clear sky, pressing down heavily as if they were about to collapse the heavens.
Ling Xinyao stood under the eaves not far away, not knocking on the door with her parents. She looked up at the sky intently and murmured to herself, "...It's going to rain."
As soon as she finished speaking, a bolt of lightning streaked across the sky, illuminating her indifferent face.
A sudden clap of thunder rang in the ears of the three, startling Ling's parents into stopping what they were doing, their faces showing surprise and doubt. Only Ling Xinyao remained calm, stretching out her hand and feeling the raindrops falling on her palm.
The rain came faster than she expected.
In just a few blinks of an eye, the rain poured down, instantly enveloping the entire sky.
Ling's father muttered impatiently, "What kind of weather is this... Is Ling Shu inside or not? Why isn't she responding?"
He was used to a life of luxury, and if the Ling family's situation hadn't been so dire, he would have turned around and left long ago.
Ling's mother tugged at his sleeve and carefully advised, "Husband, don't forget why we came here. Now is not the time to throw a tantrum."
Ling's father sneered, "I know!"
Listening to their conversation, Ling Xinyao's smile grew even more sarcastic. She didn't pull her hand back, letting the heavy rain soak her palms, water droplets dripping from between her fingers.
She could never have imagined that she would one day have to beg Ling Shu for forgiveness.
However, Ling Xinyao is not someone who will give in easily.
She turned to look at the tightly closed door, a smug glint in her eyes.
A few days ago, facing her parents, she suppressed the humiliation in her heart and said, word by word, "Mom and Dad, you probably don't know, do you? Li Yin... likes Ling Shu, but he can't have her, and he's in a lot of pain."
"You all think Ling Shu must be suffering a lot now that she's married to someone in a vegetative state, right? If we can help her escape this misery and marry Li Yin, fulfilling Li Yin's longing, wouldn't Li Yin... be very grateful to us?"
-
"Your ex-fiancée was a ruthless woman; no wonder she was able to win you over back then."
At the same time, in the room, Gui Ling said to Sheng Yun Shen in a sarcastic tone, "She sensed Li Yin's feelings for the troublemaker and instigated her parents to come here and cause trouble, trying to force the troublemaker to divorce you. Sheng Yun Shen, aren't you afraid?"
Sheng Yun Shen remained calm.
"If Ling Shu wants to leave, no one can stop her. But if she wants to stay, no one can take her away."
Gui Ling laughed gratingly: "So, do you think she wants to leave, or wants to stay?"
Sheng Yun Shen remained silent and did not answer.
At this moment... he didn't know.
Ling Shu's reluctance to part with him was so obvious today... perhaps, she really wants to leave.
"You're finally not saying anything?"
“Li Yin… has arrived outside Liuli Island and is preparing to go ashore.”
Lightning flashed across the sky outside the window again, engulfing the entire room in a blinding white light. Sheng Yunshen couldn't see it, but he heard the booming thunder that followed.
Heavy rain has arrived.
His heart felt as if it were shrouded in a downpour, with nowhere to hide.
Li Yin...is here?
His silence pleased Gui Ling: "Oh my, what a lively day!"
-
Outside Liuli Island.
A black Cullinan was parked on the side of the road, the heavy rain pattering against its body.
Li Yin sat in the car, his hands clasped together in front of him.
The assistant was on the phone: "Butler Wang, it's like this... Mr. Li wants to stop Ling Shu's parents, and he'd like to trouble you to inform them to let us onto the island..."
Lightning flashed across the sky, and a blinding white light flashed inside the car.
Li Yin turned his head and looked at the dark sky.
“Yes, we’re already outside Liuli Island… Butler Wang, as you know, those are Miss Ling’s biological parents. They came prepared this time, deliberately causing trouble…”
Seeing that Butler Wang across from him didn't seem to be convinced, Li Yin turned around and patted his assistant on the shoulder, signaling the assistant to hand him the phone.
His voice was steady: "Butler Wang, hello, I am Li Yin."
"Yes, I like Ling Shu, but I have never thought of forcing her. I don't know how Mr. and Mrs. Ling found out about this, but I cannot accept them using this to coerce or threaten Ling Shu. I will go there in person and make things clear to Mr. and Mrs. Ling."
"Ling Shu can choose whatever she wants."
"Also, this is Ling Shu's private matter, and I have a favor to ask... I hope you can keep this a secret from the Sheng family and not let them know about it."
Li Yin's tone was so frank, making no attempt to conceal his feelings for Ling Shu.
He's been very busy lately, but when he heard the person in charge of keeping an eye on the Ling family reporting on the situation, he immediately left the meeting and rushed over.
His feelings for Ling Shu should not be used as leverage by those with ulterior motives to curry favor with him.
Even her parents are not allowed.
On the other end of the phone, Butler Wang was finally persuaded.
The tightly closed door slowly opened.
Li Yin hung up the phone and said to his assistant, "Go in."
The Cullinan started its engine and, braving the heavy rain, slowly drove towards Crystal Island.
-
"Sister Shu, should we open the door?"
The knocking continued to echo in the living room.
Guan Mengxing stood by the door, seeking her opinion, "The rain is getting heavier, and your parents are at the door, they're afraid they'll get wet..."
Ling Shu remained expressionless and sat back down on the sofa: "Open the door."
It wasn't out of sympathy for the people outside, but rather a desire to see what these people were planning to do, barging in overnight.
"yes."
Guan Mengxing and Chen Zui, who was also standing at the door, exchanged a glance and reached out to open the door.
Ling's parents rushed in impatiently.
Ling Xinyao walked slowly behind, her pace neither hurried nor slow.
"Shu'er, what happened to you? We haven't been able to contact you for so long. Do you know how worried your father and mother were?"
Ling's father rushed up to Ling Shu and immediately began to scold her.
Ling's mother followed closely behind: "That's right, Shu'er, you really are too insensible!"
Ling Shu slowly raised her eyes, looking at the two people whose faces were both familiar and unfamiliar.
In the original owner's memory, they were always like this, only blaming and complaining, as if everything the original owner did was wrong.
This seemed to be the first time she had a direct conversation with these parents since she transmigrated here.
Ling Shu remained seated, a slight smile playing on her lips, her tone indifferent: "If you can't get in touch, then don't. You've all wished you didn't have a daughter like me, haven't you?"
Given Ling Shu's personality, she simply didn't have the patience to waste time arguing with this kind of person. These words were spoken on behalf of the resentful and unwilling original owner of this body.
Ling's father and mother exchanged a glance, unsure of what to say next.
Finally, Ling's father coughed and said, "Shu'er, we used to have high expectations for you, but it was all for your own good! Look, if it weren't for your parents' support, would you be living such a good life now?"
Ling's mother nodded: "That's right, you were able to marry into the Sheng family because you are our daughter."
Now that the conversation had begun, the two of them took turns talking, giving Ling Shu no chance to interject.
"You silly child, you never tell your parents what's going on. We have no idea whether you're doing well in the Sheng family."
“You are still young. It’s really unfair to you to marry someone who is in a vegetative state. Your parents didn’t think things through and ignored your feelings.”
"Fortunately, it's not too late yet. You've only been married into the Sheng family for less than three months, so you still have the opportunity to choose again."
"Shu'er, come back with your parents now. We will take care of your affairs!"
After listening for a while, Ling Shu finally understood their purpose. She calmly raised her hand to stop them, saying, "Wait."
Seeing that she remained indifferent, Ling's father and mother felt uneasy and subconsciously stopped talking.
Ling Shu asked, "You came all this way just to make me leave the Sheng family?"
Ling's father and mother looked at each other again.
They finally realized that Ling Shu's personality was very different from before. If it were the daughter from before, who both respected and feared them, she certainly wouldn't have dared to directly ask them the purpose of their visit.
Ling Shu continued, "So, where do you want me to go after leaving the Sheng family? It can't be that I don't have to get married and inherit the Ling family's fortune, can it?"
Even though Ling Shu asked what they were thinking, Ling's father felt his cheeks burning, as if his hidden schemes had been completely seen through and exposed.
He raised his voice awkwardly, "How can a girl not get married?!"
She stared intently at Ling's father's reaction and, as expected, saw his pupils dilate slightly.
Ling Shu looked at Ling Xinyao beside her, pondered for two seconds, and quickly deduced the cause and effect.
She knew Ling Xinyao had been chasing after Li Yin, so she wasn't surprised that Ling Xinyao could sense Li Yin's feelings. But when Ling's parents found out, they came over that very night to persuade her to get a divorce, which had completely crossed her bottom line.
What kind of disgusting parents are these?
The original owner of this body was truly pitiful.
-
In the heavy rain, the Cullinan had already driven to the outside of the Crystal Island villa.
The car came to a stop, and the assistant got out first, opened a black umbrella, and came out to greet Li Yin.
Li Yin stepped out of the car, his long legs crunching on the puddle floor. He slowly straightened up, gazing intently through the rain at the light shining from the villa's windows.
The person he longed for was right there in this house.
Although the occasion wasn't appropriate, the thought of seeing her still made him feel... somewhat excited.
Inside the room, Gui Ling's words were as sinister as a venomous snake crawling: "Heh, Li Yin is already outside the door. The troublemaker has also guessed the parents' intentions. Just when the family was about to start arguing, Li Yin appeared in time. Doesn't it seem like a god descending from the heavens to save the troublemaker from dire straits?"
"And you, you can only lie there."
Are you envious? Are you jealous?
Do you regret it?
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