Nightmare

"Big sister," Lin Qingxiu said worriedly, "If Lin Xuan finds out about this, will he be devastated?"

"Lin Xuan already knows," Lin Qingwan replied, pressing her lips together.

"What was his reaction?" Lin Qingxiu pressed urgently.

"He was very calm, almost indifferent about it," Lin Qingwan shook her head.

Lin Qingyan clenched her fists.

For something so important, he didn’t even care—didn’t that mean Lin Xuan truly had no attachment left to the Lin family?

"Yan'er, Xiu'er," Lin Qingwan said, her voice choked with emotion, "Let’s not bring up Lin Xuan returning to the Lin family anymore. Maybe for him, the Lin family is just a shackle, not worth coming back to."

Lin Qingyan and Lin Qingxiu fell into silence.

It was true.

Lin Xuan was thriving outside.

The Lin family held nothing for him to miss.

And their mother’s deep-seated prejudice against him—why would he even want to return?

To endure her cold stares and endless taunts again?

"Big sister," Lin Qingyan said hoarsely, "What can we do to make it up to Lin Xuan?"

"I don’t know."

Lin Qingwan shook her head, her mind a mess, unable to think clearly.

"I’m going back to my room," Lin Qingwan said.

She just needed to be alone.

After Lin Qingwan left, Lin Qingxiu and Lin Qingyan sat on the sofa in silence, their eyes filled with pain.

Upstairs, in Jiang Shuqin’s bedroom.

Jiang Shuqin sat on the sofa, wiping away her tears alone.

She had her reasons for abandoning Lin Xuan.

Yet her daughters were all blaming her—none of them stood by her side or tried to understand her!

"Mom."

Lin Li pushed open the door and walked in, sitting down beside Jiang Shuqin.

"How are you holding up?" Lin Li asked with concern.

Jiang Shuqin looked up at him. "Xiao Li, do you think what I did to Lin Xuan was cruel?"

"No," Lin Li shook his head. "I know you had no choice. I believe in you."

He held Jiang Shuqin’s hand, comforting her. "Mom, don’t take it too hard. The way my sisters questioned you today—they just haven’t come to terms with it yet."

"Li'er, you’re the only one who truly understands me," Jiang Shuqin said tearfully.

In this family, Lin Li was the only one who unconditionally stood by her.

Once again, Jiang Shuqin felt immensely grateful that she had brought Lin Li home and raised him as her own.

"Mom, it’s what I should do," Lin Li continued, holding her hand. "You’re a good mother. Even a vicious tiger wouldn’t harm its own cub—how could you, after giving birth to him, hurt him for no reason?"

"Mom, don’t be upset."

Lin Li handed her a tissue. "Here, wipe your tears."

"Okay." Jiang Shuqin took the tissue and dried her face. "I won’t cry anymore."

For the next few hours, Lin Li stayed by Jiang Shuqin’s side, keeping her company.

The atmosphere in the Lin household was suffocating.

Night Garden.

Su Hua hadn’t been teasing Lin Xuan as much lately—just light flirtation, nothing more.

Lin Xuan wondered to himself.

Had Su Hua changed? She wasn’t dragging him to bed—that wasn’t like her at all.

But this was good.

It gave him time to focus on other things.

Su Hua was still asleep, clinging tightly to Lin Xuan’s waist, nestled against him in a dependent embrace.

Lin Xuan’s consciousness, however, was in his mental space.

He pondered over Su Hua’s treatment while strategizing how to completely defeat the Shadow organization.

Lately, Shadow had been bombarding Su Hua with messages.

She had grown increasingly insecure.

Even in her dreams, Lin Xuan’s gaze was full of disgust.

He looked at her coldly.

"Su Hua, you’re disgusting. Vile."

"Did you know? I never truly loved you. The kindness I showed you this past year was just an act—because I knew I couldn’t escape you."

"Building my company, opposing the Lin family—it was all an excuse. My real goal was to grow stronger, to break free from your control."

"The day you can no longer keep me locked away, I won’t keep pretending. I’ll leave you, find another woman, and start a family."

"Su Hua, I don’t love you..."

In an instant, the dream shifted.

Now, Lin Xuan stood with Qin Ruoyao and their son, the three of them gathered around a cake, radiating happiness.

Su Hua couldn’t fit into that picture.

"No, don’t!"

Tossing in her sleep, Su Hua shook her head, drenched in sweat.

"Xuan, don’t leave me! I won’t allow it! You can’t be with another woman—you’re mine!"

In the dream, Lin Xuan sneered. "No, I’m not yours. How could I ever love someone like you?"

Zhao Long from Shadow appeared beside her.

"Spirit, come back. Return to Shadow. You belong in the darkness—the outside world isn’t for you..."

A blink later, Su Hua found herself falling into an abyss—endless black, no light, only blood and slaughter.

"Xuan, Xuan..." Su Hua whimpered, tears streaming down her face. "Please, don’t leave me."

"I’ll change anything you don’t like, just tell me."

If Lin Xuan left, the light in her world would vanish. She had endured the darkness for too long—she couldn’t go back.

Her tears soaked the pillow beneath her.

Hearing her distress, Lin Xuan pulled his consciousness back from his mental space.

"Su Hua."

"Su Hua."

He gently shook her.

But she was still trapped in the nightmare.

In her dream, she raised a gun and fired at Qin Ruoyao—only for Lin Xuan to jump in front of her.

The bullet pierced his heart.

With a deafening thud, Lin Xuan collapsed, lifeless.

"Xuan—!"

With a scream, Su Hua jolted awake.

Her entire body was drenched in sweat, her clothes clinging to her skin.