I Want a Mirror

"What do you want?" Lin Li asked, his voice trembling.

"Of course, it's because you offended someone you shouldn't have. We're here to teach you a lesson," one of the shadow guards replied.

With that, the shadow guard grabbed Lin Li's arm and dragged him out of the car.

Thud!

Lin Li's body hit the ground hard.

"Ah—!"

Glass shards pierced his skin, sending waves of pain through him as he writhed on the ground.

"Lin Li, enjoy what’s coming next," a shadow guard wearing sunglasses and a mask said coldly.

Young Master Lin had been expelled from the Lin Family because of Lin Li, and now, Young Master Lin was their idol.

Since Lin Li had dared to treat Young Master Lin like this, they were going to make sure he suffered.

"Who the hell are you?" Lin Li glared at them, gritting his teeth.

"Who else? Your granddaddy," the shadow guard sneered.

Without wasting another word, they shoved a burlap sack over Lin Li's head.

And then the beating began.

Fists and kicks rained down on Lin Li mercilessly.

One shadow guard picked up a shard of glass and stabbed it into Lin Li's body.

"AAAAAH—!"

Lin Li screamed in agony, rolling on the ground.

The sounds of his suffering filled the air.

Lin Li remembered—there was only one week left until the Jiang Family’s recognition banquet. His face couldn’t be injured.

Desperate, he shielded his face with his hands, trying to protect it from the blows.

The shadow guards despised Lin Li, and their attacks grew even more brutal.

Soon, Lin Li lay on the ground, barely breathing.

"According to the young lady’s orders, she probably wants to leave Lin Li for Young Master Lin to deal with. We shouldn’t kill him. Let’s just send him back," one shadow guard suggested.

"Fine."

The others nodded, preparing to load him into the car.

"Wait."

Su Shier stopped them. He removed the burlap sack and examined Lin Li—his body was covered in bruises and swelling, but his face only had a faint redness, completely unharmed.

"Looks like Lin Li really didn’t want his face damaged," Su Shier mused, stroking his chin.

"In that case, how can we let him have his way?"

Su Shier clenched his fists and started punching Lin Li’s face.

"AHHH—!"

Lin Li, who had been barely conscious, screamed again in pain.

"Please… don’t hit my face. I’ll give you anything—money, whatever you want—just spare my face!" Lin Li begged weakly.

The Jiang Family’s recognition banquet would be attended by the most powerful elites.

If he showed up with a battered face, they would mock and speculate about him endlessly.

"Oh? So your face is that important to you? Then I’ll make sure to hit it even more."

Su Shier continued punching relentlessly.

Lin Li’s face swelled grotesquely, his eyes surrounded by dark bruises.

Su Shier inspected his handiwork.

"Perfect," he said with satisfaction.

Even Jiang Shuqin, who doted on Lin Li the most, wouldn’t recognize her own son right now.

"Now we can send him back to the Lin Family."

The Su Family’s shadow guards had principles—after dealing with someone, they always sent them home.

They drove a black van straight to the Lin Family’s villa, dumped Lin Li at the entrance, honked a few times to alert the household, and then sped off.

"There’s something outside. Let’s check it out," a servant said.

They unlocked the gates and stepped out.

When they saw what was lying there—

"AH—!"

They stumbled back in horror.

Jiang Shuqin had just returned from a spa treatment. Seeing the servants frozen in place, she stopped her car and snapped, "What are you standing around for? Move!"

"Madam," one servant stammered, "there’s… there’s a man. His face is swollen and bleeding… he looks terrifying."

Jiang Shuqin frowned. "Some random person? Just drag him away. Don’t block my way."

"Yes, Madam."

The servants struggled to haul the unconscious man to the roadside.

"Mom—"

A weak voice called out.

Just as Jiang Shuqin was about to drive off, she froze.

That voice… sounded like Lin Li’s.

Her heart pounded violently—something felt terribly wrong.

"Has the young master returned yet?" she asked the servants.

"Not yet," they answered.

"It’s already past eight or nine. Why isn’t he back?" Jiang Shuqin muttered, her frown deepening.

Worried, she pulled out her phone and called Lin Li.

A familiar ringtone echoed from nearby.

Jiang Shuqin’s eyes narrowed. "Where is that coming from?"

"Madam… it seems to be from this man’s pocket," a servant said, pointing at the figure on the ground.

"Mom… help me…" Lin Li stretched out a trembling hand.

Jiang Shuqin’s gaze locked onto the watch on his wrist—the one she had given Lin Li.

And those clothes… they were what he had worn when he left.

Could this… be him?

Jiang Shuqin flung the car door open and rushed out.

"Li’er!"

She cradled Lin Li in her arms, her eyes red with fury and grief.

The servants were stunned.

This unrecognizable, brutally beaten man… was their young master?

"Who did this? WHO DARED TO HURT MY SON LIKE THIS?!" Jiang Shuqin snarled.

"Madam, we don’t know. A car dropped him at our gate, and we didn’t recognize him at first," a servant explained.

"Investigate! Pull up the security footage! And call the police!" Jiang Shuqin ordered through clenched teeth.

Whoever had done this would pay.

"I’ll handle it right away," the servant said, rushing off.

An ambulance arrived soon after, taking Lin Li to the hospital.

The Lin Family waited anxiously outside the emergency room.

The moment the doctor stepped out, they swarmed him. "How is he?"

"Don’t worry. The patient only suffered superficial injuries. Nothing life-threatening," the doctor reassured them.

The family exhaled in relief.

At least it wasn’t serious.

Lin Li was moved to a regular ward. When he woke up, his first words were frantic:

"A mirror! Get me a mirror!"

"Li’er, why do you need a mirror?" Lin Qingwan asked, confused.

"I SAID GET ME A MIRROR! DIDN’T YOU HEAR ME?!" Lin Li roared.

Lin Qingwan flinched at his outburst.

"O-okay, I’ll get one right away."

She hurried off and returned with a mirror.

Good night, everyone.

Special thanks to "Northwood Frostwind" for the character summons and the showmanship.

Also, thank you to Hua Qi, Little Panda, 6 Lazy Capybara, and other lovely readers for the gifts.

UwU