Volume One, Chapter 9: The Fierce Clash

Leaving these words behind, Shen Du did not linger any longer and strode out of the laboratory. His assistant and the doctor followed close behind him, a large group sweeping out in a grand procession.

The laboratory suddenly felt much emptier.

Lin Zhiyu did not want to stay there any longer either, so she hurried out as well. Once outside, she discovered that Shen Du’s assistant was actually waiting for her.

"Miss Lin, this is what the boss asked me to give you. Inside are the car keys and the keys to the house. The boss has matters to attend to tonight and likely won't be returning, so you are free to stay there whenever you like."

After the assistant politely delivered this message, he boarded the black car waiting nearby.

Soon after, there was nothing left in front of Lin Zhiyu. Only the white car and the keys in her hand remained.

She frowned, thinking it over, and suddenly realized she really had nowhere else to go. She had always craved freedom above all else, but now that this freedom had suddenly appeared before her, it made her feel slightly dizzy and disoriented.

However...

Lin Zhiyu remembered that today was about the time to change the dressings on her wounds. Moreover, the commotion at the Lin family estate yesterday had caused many of her wounds to tear open. Her body was her own, and she needed to get them re-bandaged.

With that thought, Lin Zhiyu got into the car.

She had a driver’s license; Lu Zhaochuan had forced her to get it back then. That summer, after she had finally finished her academic responsibilities, all Lin Zhiyu wanted to do was lie around at home. But Lu Zhaochuan had seen some news somewhere about a daughter who had married far away and, after being abused, had driven off in the middle of the night to escape. He had nagged her incessantly, insisting that she must learn to drive, otherwise, she wouldn't even be able to run away in the future.

Although she had resisted at first, she eventually couldn't stand his nagging and learned to drive. Throughout that entire summer, for every hour she spent learning, Lu Zhaochuan spent it right by her side, even canceling plans with his friends that they had made before the break. Fortunately, she had managed to pass the test.

But now...

Lin Zhiyu looked at the steering wheel in front of her, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

"Lu Zhaochuan, the thing you forced me to learn has ultimately become the way I use to distance myself from you all..."

She sighed deeply, steadied herself, and drove onto the road.

The journey was much smoother than she had anticipated. It seemed that ever since she left the Lin family, everything had become much easier. Her previously suppressed mood improved significantly.

She drove familiarly to the doctor’s office, intending to have him check her wounds and see if she needed a new prescription for ointment, as the healing progress varied across different areas.

"You're here? You're recovering quite well," the doctor, who had been busy with medical records, said with a smile upon seeing Lin Zhiyu. He had a deep impression of this young girl. When she first arrived at the hospital, hovering between life and death, even he, with his many years of medical experience, had doubted she would survive. Yet, she had relied on her own sheer willpower not only to stay alive but to be discharged.

"Yes, I thought I'd come by today and let you look at my wounds. Some areas have healed quite a bit, and I..." Lin Zhiyu began with a smile, her tone light and her expression much brighter than before.

"Lin Zhiyu!"

Before she could finish her sentence, a cold, furious voice rang out from behind her.

Lin Zhiyu’s body stiffened; before she could even react, someone grabbed her by the wrist. She turned in pain, only to be violently grabbed by the throat by Lin Qianyu, who had come up behind her.

Pinned against the door, Lin Zhiyu felt her breathing grow increasingly difficult, her face turning crimson.

"Lin Zhiyu, how dare you show your face at this hospital? You’re here to gloat, aren't you! If it weren't for you, how could Huanhuan still be in a coma? How could our family have someone as heartless and vicious as you? Has your conscience been eaten by a dog?"

Lin Qianyu was on the verge of an explosive rage, staring at her with a savage expression.

"What are you doing? Let go at once! This is a hospital!" The doctor, realizing the situation was spiraling out of control, rushed over to intervene. But Lin Qianyu was too strong; there was no breaking free.

"Qianyu, let go! She is your sister! Zhiyu must have had her reasons, just let her go and listen to what she has to say!" Cheng Nianhua also rushed over to try and stop him.

"Reasons? Does she look like someone suffering with that rosy complexion? Didn't she say she was cutting all ties with the Lin family? Yet today, she has the audacity to come here and show off. I’m going to purge the family of her today!" Lin Qianyu tightened his grip, with no intention of letting go.

He could never have imagined that the once obedient and sensible sister he knew would turn into this cold, unfeeling person. It was truly terrifying. Had he really misjudged Lin Zhiyu all those years ago?

Lin Qianyu hated himself; he resented himself for not seeing through Lin Zhiyu’s true nature sooner, which had led to Huanhuan’s misfortune. Yet, when he saw Lin Zhiyu’s breathing grow shallow, he subconsciously panicked.

Just as Lin Qianyu was about to loosen his grip, he felt a sharp pain in his arm. He suddenly flung her away and stumbled back two steps.

Lin Zhiyu collapsed to the floor, coughing violently. She gasped for air, finally feeling as though she had come back to life. In her hand, she was clutching the keys the assistant had given her. The sharp end of a key was stained with bright red blood, a shocking sight.

Clutching his bleeding arm, Lin Qianyu stared at Lin Zhiyu in disbelief. "You actually dared to strike me! You must be insane!"

"Qianyu! Oh heavens, doctor, doctor, please bandage my son! He's bleeding!" Cheng Nianhua pulled at the doctor, her body trembling uncontrollably. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she watched the scene, unable to fathom how such a happy family could have fallen into this state.

Lin Zhiyu wobbled to her feet. She stared at Lin Qianyu with a heavy, solemn gaze. Only after she had regained some composure did she speak firmly.

"If you dare to hurt me again, I will call the police. Lin Qianyu, you sent me to the hell of the Shen family for three years of torment; I wouldn't mind sending you to the police station for a little while."

"Zhiyu, what has happened to you? You weren't like this before. Why have you become this way? You used to be so sweet. Listen to your mother, apologize to your brother, and then apologize to Huanhuan. We can be like we were before, can't we?" Cheng Nianhua grabbed Lin Zhiyu’s hand, her tone bordering on a plea.

"Mom, at a time like this, why are you still thinking about her? She said she isn't part of the Lin family anymore, why are you still holding on! I, Lin Qianyu, do not have a sister who is a white-eyed wolf!" Lin Qianyu pulled Cheng Nianhua behind him, glaring at Lin Zhiyu with eyes wide with rage.

"That's for the best. I hope you remember what you said. From now on, the Lin family and everything concerning Lin Yihuan have nothing to do with me."

Lin Zhiyu left these cold words behind and turned to leave.

"Wait!"