This Is Only the Beginning

"I beg you, spare Li'er," Jiang Shuqin pleaded with difficulty.

Butler Wang instinctively glanced at Lin Xuan.

At this moment, Lin Xuan's face was expressionless, filled only with bitter irony.

"Just as I expected. Jiang Shuqin would beg the Jiang family for Lin Li's sake," Lin Xuan remarked mockingly.

Jiang Shuqin was a proud woman who would never easily lower her head or admit fault.

After her falling-out with the Jiang family, she had left and never looked back.

All these years, she had never once mentioned that she was Jiang Liangjun's daughter. Even Lin Qingwan and her sisters likely didn’t know who their grandfather was.

Yet, even after Lin Li betrayed her, she still knelt before the Jiang family to beg for mercy.

In front of Lin Li, Jiang Shuqin truly played the role of a devoted, self-sacrificing mother.

Butler Wang asked worriedly, "Young Master Lin, are you alright?"

Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow and replied indifferently, "Why wouldn’t I be?"

His heart had died long ago in his past life.

The affection of the Lin family meant nothing to him, and Jiang Shuqin’s favoritism had no bearing on him.

"That’s good," Butler Wang sighed in relief, seeing Lin Xuan’s detached demeanor.

"Now that the show’s over, let’s go," Lin Xuan said coolly.

He needed to return to Night Garden quickly.

Hua was waiting for him.

"Understood."

Butler Wang followed Lin Xuan out of the banquet hall.

The crowd in the hall was entirely focused on Lin Li and Jiang Shuqin, so no one noticed Lin Xuan’s departure.

Grandpa Jiang’s eyes flickered slightly.

But his eyes were closed, and Jiang Shuqin failed to notice the shift in his expression.

She assumed he remained unmoved.

She continued pleading, "Father, I beg you. Li'er is my only son. So many times, when I was on the verge of breaking down, it was him who kept me going."

"Li'er can’t be ruined."

"If you spare him, I’ll do anything you ask."

Jiang Shuqin even kowtowed to Grandpa Jiang.

By now, Grandpa Jiang had steadied his emotions.

He opened his eyes and said coldly, "You kneel and beg for a morally corrupt adopted son. Jiang Shuqin, you’ve really outdone yourself."

"No! Li'er isn’t corrupt! Pretending to be a Jiang grandson was just a momentary lapse in judgment. Besides, didn’t he say he was only standing in for me to fulfill filial duties for you? He never once claimed to be your real grandson, so he didn’t deceive you!" Jiang Shuqin still tried to defend Lin Li.

"Hmph—"

Grandpa Jiang’s face twisted in disdain. "You actually believe that nonsense? Jiang Shuqin, you’ve regressed."

With Lin Li’s masterful acting and Jiang Shuqin’s blind favoritism, who knew how much suffering Xuan had endured in this family?

He blamed himself. Had he known Xuan would be treated this way in the Lin household, he would have taken him in long ago.

Jiang Shuqin bit her lip, seething with humiliation at Grandpa Jiang’s words.

Even now, Jiang Liangjun still thought he could lecture her.

If not for Li'er, she would have stormed out long ago.

Grandpa Jiang gave her one last look.

"Fine. I’ll give Lin Li one more chance. But from this moment on, Jiang Shuqin, our father-daughter bond is severed. If you ever come begging for help again, the Jiang family will turn you away."

"Fine! As long as you spare Li'er, I’ll never seek you out again!" Jiang Shuqin agreed without hesitation.

Once Li'er was safe, she would never have anything to do with the Jiangs again.

She had no intention of ever asking them for anything.

Cutting ties completely? So be it.

She didn’t care.

"Security, escort them out," Grandpa Jiang ordered.

Lin Li, still weak-kneed, remained slumped on the floor.

Jiang Shuqin helped him up. "Li'er, let’s go home."

"Alright."

Limping, Lin Li leaned on Jiang Shuqin as they walked out.

Resentment burned inside him.

He had thought he could secure the Jiang family’s backing, but now all his hopes were dashed, and he had been humiliated in front of everyone.

Lin Li shot Jiang Shuqin a dark look.

If she hadn’t severed ties with the Jiangs, he would have been a legitimate member of the family.

None of this would have happened.

Jiang Shuqin was a fool. The Jiangs were thriving, yet she had insisted on cutting them off instead of clinging to their power.

Jiang Shuqin suddenly felt an eerie gaze on her, sending a chill down her spine.

Frowning, she turned—only to see the cold fury in Lin Li’s eyes.

Noticing her stare, Lin Li quickly masked his expression with guilt.

Jiang Shuqin relaxed.

She must have imagined it.

Li'er would never look at her like that.

Lin Xuan waited outside for his ride.

He checked his watch and frowned. "Why isn’t the car here yet?"

Butler Wang replied respectfully, "Young Master Lin, it should arrive soon."

"Mm."

Lin Xuan nodded and pulled out his phone.

Just then, Lin Li and Jiang Shuqin spotted him.

Lin Li clenched his fists.

This was all Lin Xuan’s fault!

He had known all along that Lin Li was impersonating him as the Jiang grandson. He had orchestrated everything—making Lin Li think he couldn’t attend the recognition banquet, then exposing him publicly!

Jiang Shuqin’s face twisted in rage. She stormed over and raised her hand to slap Lin Xuan.

Lin Xuan caught her wrist and shoved her away.

"Lin Xuan! How dare you treat me like this!" Jiang Shuqin snarled.

Lin Xuan smirked. "Why wouldn’t I? Who are you to me? What right do you have to discipline me?"

Jiang Shuqin’s face darkened.

How could she forget? Lin Xuan was an ungrateful wretch.

Even though she was his birth mother, he had never respected her.

"Lin Xuan," she spat, "when you were in the Lin family, Li'er treated you so well. Yet you schemed against him again and again. Do you have no conscience?"

Lin Xuan: "I don’t. My conscience was eaten by dogs."

"Jiang Shuqin, everything I exposed about Lin Li was true. I didn’t frame him. I just made sure everyone saw him for what he really is."

His tone was taunting.

"Mrs. Jiang, you’re so worked up about me exposing Lin Li’s misdeeds. Could it be… you already knew how disgraceful his actions were?"

"Lin Xuan, you—you—!" Jiang Shuqin’s chest heaved with fury.

"Jiang Shuqin," Lin Xuan said with a smirk, "Starlight Group’s bankruptcy, Lin Li’s ruined reputation, even him becoming a eunuch—this is just the beginning for you two."

[Author’s note: Sorry for the delay. I’ve been coughing badly—probably from eating too many lychees and chicken. I’ve learned my lesson, no more cravings!

Goodnight, everyone!

Thanks to Xinchu Nianfu, Eternal.Cheng, Zhou Yuxi, Grape Peeler, Little Panda 06, and others for the gifts!]