Volume 1 Chapter 3: Birthday

When the nurse finally brought out the medical report, Cheng Nianhua and Lin Qianyu were still in disbelief.

“No, how could she possibly have so many injuries? It’s impossible, absolutely impossible!”

Lin Qianyu looked at his mother’s pale face with deep concern, then shouted angrily at Lin Zhiyu, “Lin Zhiyu, do you have a heart? Mom has been so worried about you, and now you’re still pretending. You even went so far as to forge the medical report!”

After a brief moment of stunned silence, Lin Zhiyu frowned and stared coldly at Lin Qianyu.

The nurse standing nearby was utterly speechless.

Meanwhile, Lin Qianyu helped his mother to her feet. “If you don’t want us to take her, then just go back on your own!”

With that, he turned and left with Cheng Nianhua.

The nurse rolled her eyes angrily at their attitude.

“How can someone treat their own family like this!”

Saying this, she gently came over to tend to Lin Zhiyu’s wounds.

Lin Zhiyu smiled faintly, touched by the kindness.

After the dressing was done, she returned home. It was already eight o’clock in the evening.

The Lin family villa was brightly lit, filled with cheerful laughter.

“Huanhuan, after you finish the cake, quickly open your presents and see if you like them.”

“As long as it’s from Mom, Huanhuan likes it,” Lin Yihuan said sweetly.

Lin Qianyu feigned dissatisfaction from the side, “So you don’t like the gifts from your brother?”

“I like them too!” Lin Yihuan said hurriedly, “I like the gifts from Dad, Mom, and brother equally!”

Everyone in the room burst out laughing.

The lively atmosphere inside had nothing to do with Lin Zhiyu. She stood at the door for a couple of seconds, then pushed it open and said calmly, “Dad, Mom, Brother.”

The joyful mood instantly froze, turning cold and awkward.

Lin Zhiyu didn’t intend to engage in conversation. After greeting them, she headed upstairs.

Lin Yihuan suddenly smiled as she stepped forward, biting her lip. “Sister, you’re finally back. I remember we share the same birthday. Have you had any cake yet?”

Lin Zhiyu stopped in her tracks but turned around with an expressionless face. “What do you think?”

Was she being deliberately provocative or trying to show off?

The three adults’ expressions grew even more awkward.

Cheng Nianhua hurriedly said, “Yes, Zhiyu, it’s your birthday too. Come on, let’s have some cake together.”

Lin Zhiyu’s gaze fell on the cake.

A beautiful eight-inch pink rose cake shaped like a heart, radiating a girlish charm.

But most of the cake had already been eaten, smeared all over their faces, noses, even their hair. The remaining portion sagged lonely and pitifully on the table, messy and sparse.

They used to celebrate her birthday like this too, the whole family setting aside all pretenses to joyfully throw cake around, turning the house into a mess.

Only now, the attention had shifted to someone else.

Lin Zhiyu lowered her eyes. “No need.”

Everyone glanced at the sad cake in silence.

Only Lin Qianyu’s anger flared at her words, scolding, “Lin Zhiyu, I warn you, since you’re home, don’t pretend to be polite but then refuse to drink, playing mind games here!”

Mind games?

Lin Zhiyu couldn’t help but laugh aloud.

Did he expect her to eat the cake they all touched? If she sat down to celebrate her birthday properly, they’d be unhappy again.

She cast a cold glance. “I’m not playing games. I sincerely wish you all have fun.”

With that, she turned her back on them and went upstairs.

The lively atmosphere in the room fell silent.

Lin Yihuan’s eyes gleamed with triumph, but she bit her lip and looked back at the others sadly.

“Dad, Mom, Brother, please don’t be angry. Sister’s safe return is what matters. Maybe because it’s my birthday, everyone forgot about her and she feels unhappy. I’m going to check on her.”

For some reason, Lin Qianyu, who had just mocked Lin Zhiyu, said nothing.

Lin Yihuan went upstairs.

At this moment, Lin Zhiyu was already in her room.

Uninhabited for three years, the room was thick with dust and faintly stale.

But the furnishings remained unchanged from three years ago. On the bedside table were still the dolls Lin Qianyu had once given her.

She glanced at them and began packing her things.

This time, she had no intention of staying in the Lin family home.

While packing, a timid voice came from the door.

“Sister, are you still mad at me? Mad that I made you take the blame back then?”

Lin Zhiyu didn’t turn around or pause her hands.

As she truly started gathering her belongings, she realized how many gifts she had once received.

A fox doll, a fountain pen, a sapphire necklace, a silver bracelet, even the little gold lock from her birth—all carefully preserved.

She looked once more before coldly averting her gaze.

Behind her, Lin Yihuan bit her lip, jealousy flickering in her eyes. She stepped forward and gently grabbed Lin Zhiyu’s shoulder, voice soft, “Sister, what are you doing?”

Lin Zhiyu frowned and pulled back, replying coldly, “I’m alone here. You don’t have to pretend.”

In the entire Lin family, only Lin Zhiyu had seen Lin Yihuan’s true nature.

Yet Lin Yihuan raised an eyebrow and smiled. “What are you talking about? I’m just concerned about you.”

Concern? A mocking kind of concern?

Lin Zhiyu said coldly, “This room doesn’t welcome you. Leave.”

Lin Yihuan’s delicate brow arched higher. She toyed with the little gold lock, then suddenly leaned toward Lin Zhiyu, eyes full of malice.

“Trying to kick me out? Do you think you still have the right to do that? Lin Zhiyu, it’s your own fault for being so clueless and coming back today, making everyone unhappy!”

Lin Zhiyu’s brow furrowed deeply; her eyelid twitched involuntarily.

The next moment, Lin Yihuan pretended to be pushed and suddenly fell backward with a painful cry.

“Sister, I just want to care for you. Please don’t be angry!”

“What did you do to her?”

A furious voice echoed from downstairs, followed by hurried footsteps racing up.

Lin Zhiyu understood immediately.

Lin Yihuan was playing the same game she had three years ago. She watched expressionlessly and even sat down on a nearby stool.

“Enjoying yourself?” she asked mockingly.

Before Lin Yihuan could answer, Lin Qianyu was the first to storm into the room.

Lin Yihuan’s eyes reddened instantly; looking both aggrieved and restrained, she grasped Lin Qianyu’s arm anxiously.

“Brother, sister didn’t mean to do it. Please don’t blame her.”

But Lin Qianyu, seeing her on the floor with red eyes, lost all reason and cursed at Lin Zhiyu.

“Lin Zhiyu, you’ve brought your bad habits home, haven’t you? How dare you push Huanhuan! If you don’t want to be here, then get out now!”