Volume One, Chapter Four: The Broken Engagement

Cheng Nianhua and Lin Yuwen, Lin Zhiya’s father, hurriedly arrived as well. Lin Yuwen’s face stiffened, and he barked angrily, “Lin Zhiya, what exactly do you want now that you’re back?” Cheng Nianhua looked at her with painful eyes, her gaze heavy with a new strictness. “Hurry up and apologize to Huanhuan!” Lin Qianyu’s breathing was heavy, his dark eyes filled with unmistakable anger and disgust.

Facing the three pairs of eyes fixed sharply on her, Lin Zhiya suddenly found herself at a loss for words. She didn’t want to explain what had happened earlier, nor did she want to say that she never intended to stay at home. Most of all, she didn’t want to argue anymore. What use was it? Those who didn’t believe her would only see her words as scattered fragments easily blown away by the slightest breeze.

Lin Zhiya’s lips twitched wearily, then finally, as they wished, she said, “I’m sorry. I accidentally pushed you.” Her beautiful eyes locked onto Lin Yihuan, who was surrounded by the three.

Lin Yihuan sobbed softly, her eyes red like a little rabbit’s. “It’s okay, sister. I know you didn’t mean it. I don’t blame you.” Now Lin Zhiya had nothing more to say. She smiled faintly and fell silent.

Lin Qianyu patted her back in comfort. “Huanhuan, don’t cry. Didn’t you want that limited-edition bag from the C family? I’ll have it delivered to the house tomorrow.” Lin Yuwen and his wife chimed in, “Yes, and that jewelry you’ve wanted for so long at auction—dad will bid for it tomorrow.”

The three of them were in a festive mood, coaxing and giving gifts, finally drawing a smile through Lin Yihuan’s tears. Yet though they were all in the same room, the joyous atmosphere had nothing to do with Lin Zhiya. She felt like an outsider locked outside the television, surrounded by cold darkness, expressionless as she watched the happiness playing out on the screen. All she cared about was when this act would end, so she could go on packing.

Originally, she planned to leave tomorrow, but now, she couldn’t stay even a moment longer. She had to leave tonight.

Just as she thought this, Lin Qianyu suddenly shot her a cold look. “Just watching happily like that? You apologized, but aren’t you going to show it?”

Lin Zhiya was pulled abruptly from her thoughts. Looking into the cold eyes of the three before her, she smiled faintly and nodded. “Of course I will.”

She turned and fetched the box, holding it out to Lin Yihuan all at once.

“These gifts are for you. Don’t cry anymore.”

The large box opened gently, revealing its contents to everyone’s eyes: jewelry, accessories, bags, and even childhood toys—those broken but memory-filled treasures.

Lin Qianyu noticed the translucent jade bracelet with floating flowers—it was the gift Lin Zhiya had wanted for her eighteenth birthday. They had scoured both home and abroad for the finest jade, apprenticed under a master carver, and personally crafted the bracelet. Though not exquisite, and even somewhat crude given the jade’s quality, Lin Zhiya always treasured it as a precious keepsake.

Cheng Nianhua saw the little cat cup she had given Lin Zhiya in childhood, made together on their first trip outside, from a porcelain workshop. Although the colors darkened after firing and it wasn’t pretty, Lin Zhiya loved it and kept it safe in her treasure box.

Lin Yuwen spotted the priceless thin-shelled jade teapot he had flown overseas to purchase just for her.

Each gift brimmed with beautiful memories from the past.

Yet now, Lin Zhiya was personally presenting these mementos, these memories, to someone else.

The faces of Lin Yuwen and Lin Qianyu darkened, while Cheng Nianhua’s eyes filled with tears.

Lin Yihuan clenched her delicate fists inwardly but bit her lip, her voice soft. “Sister, these gifts were from our parents and brother to you. How can you not cherish them? You should take them back.”

But Lin Zhiya almost forcefully pressed the box into her hands.

“I already said these are apology gifts for you. How could I take them back?”

Giving her a chance to back down, Lin Qianyu grew furious and stepped forward, grabbing her wrist with a grip that nearly seethed with restrained rage.

“What do you mean by this? Using it as a show of defiance, a way to vent your dissatisfaction?”

Venting dissatisfaction? Only those who are cared for can do that. Right now, she was simply returning things to their rightful owner. So why was he so anxious?

Lin Zhiya raised her head slightly to meet his gaze, her brows furrowing as her delicate hand moved. “What dissatisfaction could I have? These gifts are priceless, and giving them to her shows my sincerity, doesn’t it?”

“Besides, as you said, these things belong to Lin Yihuan. Now I’m just returning them to their owner.”

The eighteen years of life had been stolen from her. She had suffered enough punishment. What reason was there to keep those things?

Lin Qianyu knew her words made sense, but looking into her cold, distant eyes, his anger twisted into an unspeakable fear.

Since leaving the Shen family this time, she seemed truly changed.

“Sister, please don’t say that,” Lin Yihuan’s voice grew even softer, tinged with the edge of tears. “I know it hurt you to take the blame for me back then, but you’ve hurt me enough already. Please don’t hurt Mom, Dad, or brother.”

Lin Qianyu’s heart snapped back to reality at the pitiful sobbing voice, his fear vanishing. He sneered and forcefully threw Lin Zhiya aside.

“I warn you, don’t throw any more tantrums. Otherwise, we’ll really make you leave this family. Let’s see how you survive then!”

Lin Zhiya couldn’t match his strength and fell to the ground, her tailbone tingling with sharp pain. Her face paled instantly.

Cheng Nianhua wiped her tears. “Yes, Zhiya, since you’re home, just behave. We’re still a family, just like before.”

A tantrum? Just like before?

Lin Zhiya’s tailbone hurt so much she could barely speak, yet she couldn’t help but laugh. Her chest trembled, and all that remained in her eyes was scorn.

“Do you mean ‘just like before,’ when after Lin Yihuan’s crime, I’d go back into the devouring Shen family and take the blame for her?”

The three faces changed sharply.

Cheng Nianhua looked tormented and tearful again. “Zhiya, don’t think like that…”

Lin Qianyu was furious to the point of wanting to curse.

But Lin Zhiya struggled to her feet and interrupted them both with an utterly calm voice.

“Of course, besides these gifts, there’s one more thing.”

“I have officially asked Lu Zhaochuan to dissolve our engagement. That engagement belonged to Lin Yihuan from the start, and now—I’m returning it to her as well.”

“Does that show enough sincerity in my apology?”

At that moment, a loud bang came from outside the door.

Everyone turned to see Lu Zhaochuan dropping the gifts, his dark eyes unblinking as he stared at her, as if brewing a merciless storm.