LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 10:
Chapter 10: Dropping Out of School?:
After Jiang Ming left, Minghui skipped over to Lin You, squatting in front of him and propping her chin on her hands. She stared up at him with a silly grin, saying nothing.
Lin You blushed under her gaze, fumbling to divert her attention. He reached into his bag and pulled out the candied haws he had bought on the way.
“I was in a hurry, so I got you this,” Lin You said, handing her the skewers. “I know you like sour things. I tried one; it’s the right balance of sweet and sour. You’ll like it.”
Minghui’s face lit up as she took the candied haws. She stood and smiled. “I knew you understood me best, Brother.”
Her expression turned somber. “Brother… you’re not going back to that house, are you?”
Lin You sighed. Minghui continued, her tone sad. “Brother, we’ve all been so worried about you these past years—Master, Brother Jiang Ming, and me. I’ve heard that rich families have so many rules. Like, you can’t drink soup loudly, can’t talk while eating, and must wait for the head of the family to start eating. Isn’t that exhausting?”
“You shouldn’t go back there. We’re your real family. Here, we don’t have so many rules. We can even squat in a corner with bowls in our hands if we want.”
Lin You’s mood lifted slightly, and he smiled. “I’m not going back. A person with money often complicates simple things to pursue a sense of ritual. That kind of life doesn’t suit me.”
He reached into his bag, pulled out the severance agreement, and handed it to Minghui.
Minghui’s eyes widened as she read it. “Brother, you’re amazing! I heard the Lin family is worth tens of billions, and you just walked away?”
Lin You smiled bitterly. “What choice did I have? I wasn’t their heir. It was never really mine to begin with. You can’t lose something you never truly had.”
Minghui’s eyes sparkled with determination. She bared her little tiger teeth and declared fiercely, “Brother, one day, I’ll get rich—billions, even trillions—and I’ll give it all to you! Let those people regret everything they did to you!”
Lin You chuckled softly at her innocent resolve. Dreams were a good thing, after all. But what about his own dreams? He had already formed a plan and was waiting to discuss it with Xuanzhi.
Minghui stayed with him, chatting for half an hour before Xuanzhi finally called her back to her room to finish her homework. Reluctantly, she obeyed, leaving Lin You alone in the courtyard.
By the time Xuanzhi joined him outside, the moon was already high in the sky. The soothing sounds of chirping insects filled the quiet night, evoking memories of Lin You’s childhood. He remembered countless nights when Xuanzhi hummed lullabies, cradling his siblings while feeding them bottles. Back then, life had felt simple and full of belonging, despite the hardships.
The two sat silently for a while, with Xuanzhi occasionally breaking the stillness with a soft cough. When their eyes met, Lin You opened his mouth to speak, but Xuanzhi beat him to it.
“You’er,” Xuanzhi began, his voice soft but firm. “I’m just a monk. I don’t know how to comfort people or talk about Zen, but I need to tell you a few things.
“First: The world is balanced. If you lose something, you’ll gain something else. To gain something, you must also lose. Think of it as an exchange.
“Second: If you don’t have the power of a Buddha, don’t try to carry the heart of a Buddha.
“Third: What’s meant to be yours will always be yours. No one can take it from you. If it’s not yours, no amount of effort will make it yours.”
Lin You smiled faintly. “Master, I understand. I never expected to fully inherit the Lin family’s wealth and status. I just wanted… a good life.”
His hand instinctively touched the longevity lock hanging around his neck. With a deep sigh, he continued, “For the past ten years, I’ve imagined what my mother might be like. In my mind, she was always gentle, kind, and loving—the most beautiful mother in the world. I thought losing me would have broken her heart.”
“But when I found her, it turned out to be a nightmare. Now, it’s over.”
Xuanzhi sighed, his hand resting gently on Lin You’s. “Perhaps this is a blessing in disguise.”
Lin You returned the gesture, gripping Xuanzhi’s hand firmly. “Master, there’s something I want to tell you.”
“Go ahead,” Xuanzhi said, nodding.
Lin You took a deep breath. “Master, I don’t want to go to school anymore.”
Xuanzhi froze. “What did you say?” His tone sharpened as he stood abruptly. “You want to drop out of school? Just because the Lin family abandoned you? Are you serious?”
Before Lin You could explain, Xuanzhi began looking for something to strike him with. He found a thick dead branch but decided it was too heavy, replacing it with a smaller one about the size of his finger.
“You think I can’t discipline you just because you’ve been away for a few years? How dare you talk about dropping out of school!” He raised the branch, but his face softened at Lin You’s amused smile. In the end, he only tapped Lin You lightly on the back.
“Tell me why,” Xuanzhi said, sitting back down.
Lin You patted the stone bench beside him, gesturing for Xuanzhi to sit. “Master, I’ve thought it through. I’m the eldest in our family. Jueming and Minghui need to continue their education, and the expenses are significant. You’re not in good health, and if I keep going to school, it will only add to the burden.”
“Stop!” Xuanzhi interrupted, waving a hand. His face reddened as he coughed violently. “Don’t even think about it! I’m still alive. It’s not your place to worry about this family!”
Lin You expected resistance but not such a strong reaction. He quickly stood and rubbed Xuanzhi’s back, trying to calm him down.
Their raised voices caught the attention of Jueming and Minghui, who were doing homework inside. They rushed out to the courtyard, concern written all over their faces.
Xuanzhi waved them off, still fuming. “What are you doing here? Finished your homework? Go back inside!”
Jueming clenched his fists. “Master, if Brother drops out of school, so will I. One person in this family going to college is enough.”
Minghui stepped forward, her voice resolute. “Stop fighting! I’m a girl. Back in the day, girls my age didn’t even go to school. I’ll drop out and go south to work. I’ll make enough money in two days for my brother to go to college. That way, our family will still have hope!”