Reading Xiao Xuan's Diary

If Lin Xuan wanted to expose anything, he had no evidence.

Simply saying it out loud—something so unbelievable—no one would believe him.

Thinking this, Lin Li's tense heart settled again.

"But if Xiao Xuan really does come," Lin Qingwan said, unable to shake her unease as she reminded them once more, "remember what I said—all of you need to treat him well."

"Mm." Lin Li nodded obediently.

Lin Qingwan trusted Lin Li. Xiao Li had always been sensible since childhood.

But then...

Her gaze fell on Lin Qingxiu.

"Got it." The reply was half-hearted.

Lin Qingwan frowned.

Unable to rest easy about Lin Qingxiu, she pulled her toward the stairs.

"Come with me for a moment."

"Eldest Sister, what are you doing?" Lin Qingxiu scowled.

Lin Qingwan didn’t answer. Instead, she turned back and asked, "Yan'er, is the diary with you?"

"Yes," Lin Qingxiu nodded. "It's in my room. I’ll go get it for you."

She hurried upstairs.

Lin Li frowned.

Diary?

What diary?

Curious, he followed them up.

"Eldest Sister, here you go." Lin Qingyan handed the diary to Lin Qingwan.

She had flipped through it countless times.

Every word inside was now etched into her memory.

Lin Qingwan took the diary, then passed it to Lin Qingxiu.

"What’s this?" Lin Qingxiu frowned, puzzled.

"Xiao Xuan’s diary," Lin Qingwan answered.

At the mention of Lin Xuan’s name, Lin Qingxiu’s first reaction was resistance.

"I won’t read it." She pushed Lin Qingwan’s hand away.

"I don’t have time for Lin Xuan’s diary."

Lin Qingxiu plopped onto the sofa, annoyed.

Every time she crossed paths with Lin Xuan, trouble followed.

That car accident was one thing—now this patient’s treatment was another!

"Third Sister," Lin Qingyan couldn’t help speaking up, "there’s a lot recorded in here. You really should read it."

"I can’t be bothered."

Lin Qingxiu crossed her arms and scoffed.

Lin Li clenched his fists.

A diary—Lin Xuan had actually left behind a diary!

"Eldest Sister, can I take a look first?" Lin Li asked.

"Of course."

Lin Qingwan nodded and handed it to him.

Lin Li flipped through the pages.

The darkness in his eyes deepened.

Lin Xuan was truly cunning!

He left, yet deliberately left this diary behind in the Lin household.

Was he trying to make the family feel guilty so he could return?

"Eldest Sister," Lin Li forced a smile, "I never knew Ge had such a hard life before. It’s all my fault—I stole his place."

"Xiao Li, how could it be your fault?" Lin Qingwan reassured him gently. "Even without you, Xiao Xuan would’ve been taken away back then."

She truly saw Lin Li as her own younger brother.

Ever since Xiao Xuan returned, Xiao Li had been walking on eggshells in the family. It pained her to see it.

"Li'er, you are part of the Lin family. Don’t overthink it," Lin Qingwan continued soothingly.

"Mm." Lin Li nodded, moved. "Thank you, Eldest Sister."

"Eldest Sister, Second Sister, have you both read Ge’s diary?" Lin Li asked.

"Yes," Lin Qingwan nodded. "I’ve read it."

"Only after reading it did I realize how different Xiao Xuan was from what I imagined—and how much he suffered in our family."

"Xiao Xuan never had a single good day with us. We failed him, and I wanted to make it up to him, but he never gave me the chance."

Her eyes grew moist.

So that’s how it was.

Lin Li tightened his grip.

No wonder Lin Qingwan and Lin Qingyan’s attitudes toward Lin Xuan had changed so drastically—it was because of the diary.

Lin Qingwan’s gaze returned to Lin Qingxiu, who still wore a look of disdain.

"Xiu'er, you must finish reading this diary today!"

Otherwise, with her temper, if Lin Xuan really attended the wedding, she might humiliate him.

That was the last thing Lin Qingwan wanted.

Lin Qingyan added, "Third Sister, I know why you hate Xiao Xuan so much. Read this diary—I believe it can change your mind."

"Fine, I’ll read it." Lin Qingxiu scoffed. "Let’s see what nonsense Lin Xuan wrote in here."

Lin Li’s hand trembled.

Lin Qingwan and Lin Qingyan’s attitudes toward Lin Xuan had completely reversed after reading the diary.

If Lin Qingxiu read it too, then—

If only he’d known about the diary earlier, he would’ve destroyed it.

No matter how unwilling he was, he had no choice but to hand the diary to Lin Qingxiu now.

Lin Qingxiu started with an indifferent attitude.

But as she read the first few pages, her frown deepened.

Lin Qingyan watched her expression, reminded of her own reaction when she first read it.

Without this diary, she might have misunderstood Xiao Xuan forever.

"Third Sister, skip to this part."

Lin Qingyan flipped to the page about Lin Qingxiu.

"We’ve misunderstood Xiao Xuan so much," she said, her voice trembling.

She turned away, wiping her tears with a tissue.

Lin Qingxiu still felt nothing but contempt for Lin Xuan.

If he suffered so much, why didn’t he speak up? Whose fault was that?

She began reading the page Lin Qingyan had pointed out.

[I’m so happy—Third Sister is taking me out today! She said she’ll buy me new clothes.]

Lin Qingxiu’s grip on the diary tightened, her eyes darkening.

This was Lin Xuan’s third day back.

Their parents and two older sisters were busy, so they told her to take him shopping.

Reluctantly, she agreed.

On the way to buy clothes, the car accident happened.

Lin Xuan abandoned her and ran.

From that day on, she never gave him a single kind look.

She had been kind enough to take him shopping, yet in a life-or-death moment, he left her behind.

She refused to acknowledge such a heartless younger brother!

Having read this far, Lin Qingxiu impatiently moved to toss the diary aside.

Lin Qingyan grabbed her wrist.

"Third Sister, keep reading."

Lin Qingxiu scowled. "Eldest Sister, Second Sister, I don’t understand why you’re forcing me to read this. Li'er’s wedding is the day after tomorrow—shouldn’t we focus on that instead of wasting time on something so trivial?"

"Keep reading," Lin Qingyan repeated firmly.