"Alright, alright, this is really something," Jiang Shuqin fumed with anger. "What an achievement! First, he marries into a family, and now he's being kept by someone!"
"Mom, could there be some misunderstanding here?" Lin Qingwan asked with a frown.
"What misunderstanding could there be? He's flown up the branch and turned into a phoenix, looking down on our family now," Jiang Shuqin sneered.
Lin Chang's expression was equally grim. His own son had willingly allowed himself to be kept by someone. If this got out, where would the Lin Family's reputation stand? Even if they cut ties, people would still gossip behind their backs!
Lin Chang took out his phone, ready to call Lin Xuan.
As he scrolled through his contacts, his hand suddenly paused. He asked in a low voice, "Do any of you have Lin Xuan's number?"
Jiang Shuqin remained silent.
Lin Qingwan was stunned.
Lin Qingyan pursed her lips. She had long since blocked and deleted Lin Xuan's number. How could she possibly have it? Before, Lin Xuan would constantly call her, and it had driven her up the wall.
Not a single person in the Lin Family had Lin Xuan's phone number.
Madam Wang spoke up, "I have the young master's number."
Using Madam Wang's phone, Lin Chang entered Lin Xuan's number into his own phone and dialed.
"Hello, the number you have dialed is currently busy. Please try again later," came the cold, automated voice from the phone.
Lin Chang then tried calling from Madam Wang's phone, and this time, it went through.
Lin Chang's face darkened.
Lin Xuan had dared to block him!
"Madam Wang," Lin Xuan answered the call quickly.
"Lin Xuan, are you being kept by someone?" Lin Chang asked through gritted teeth.
Lin Xuan was momentarily taken aback. So, it was his biological father calling. He sneered, "Chairman Lin, I've already signed the severance agreement, and it's been witnessed by a third party. Do I need to remind you that we no longer have any relationship? My affairs are none of your business!"
Without another word, Lin Xuan hung up.
Lin Chang was so angry that his chest heaved violently.
Jiang Shuqin leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, and coldly mocked, "Now that Lin Xuan has found a backer, he thinks he's invincible. He doesn't need the Lin Family anymore, so naturally, he won't listen to you."
Lin Qingyan curled her lip in disdain, "Those wealthy women who keep men are just playing around. They lose interest quickly. Does Lin Xuan really think he can cling to her forever?"
"Just wait. It won't be long before she gets tired of him, and then he'll come crawling back to the Lin Family."
She herself often enjoyed flirting with young, handsome men. No matter how much she liked them, she would quickly grow bored and move on to the next one.
Jiang Shuqin said coldly, "Fine. I want to see how long he can keep up this act!"
For some reason, Lin Qingwan felt suffocated hearing their words. And the fact that not a single person in the family had Lin Xuan's number—not even her.
She remembered that she used to have his number.
Lin Xuan used to call her often, but she had warned him not to bother her anymore. She had work to do and no time for him. After that, Lin Xuan had stopped calling her.
Once, while cleaning out her contacts, she had casually deleted Lin Xuan's number.
They were family, the closest of kin, yet not a single one of them had his number.
At the dinner table, Lin Li served Jiang Shuqin some food, "Mom, don't overthink it. Big brother is just young and impulsive. Once he faces setbacks, he'll realize that the Lin Family is his true support."
"Lin Li, you're such a good and sensible child," Jiang Shuqin said with a loving gaze.
"You're my mom. It's only right that I take care of you," Lin Li said considerately.
Lin Chang deliberately put on a stern face, "You only care about your mom. What about your dad?"
"Dad, here's your favorite braised pork," Lin Li said helplessly, placing a piece of pork into Lin Chang's bowl.
Only then did Lin Chang's face soften into a smile.
Lin Qingyan held up her bowl, "What about me? What about me? Little brother, you can't play favorites."
Lin Li also served Lin Qingyan a piece of her favorite sweet and sour fish.
Lin Qingyan's eyes curved into a smile, "Little brother is so thoughtful."
They were all enjoying themselves, a picture of harmony.
Sitting in her room, Lin Qingwan watched the scene, her heart inexplicably heavy. The treatment Xiao Xuan and Xiao Li received in the Qin Family was worlds apart...
Xiao Li was the family's darling, while Xiao Xuan was someone everyone in the Qin Family could bully...