LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 14:
Chapter 14: It’s Insignificant to Begin With:
After finishing their meal, Lin Shengnan and Lin Shiyan lounged on the sofa, watching TV and casually chatting. Somehow, their conversation circled back to Lin You.
Lin Shiyan’s face twisted with disdain. “I’m absolutely against bringing Lin You back. Just think about it—he’s only sixteen and already dared to peek at his sister in the shower. What’s going to happen when he grows up?”
Hearing this for the second time, Shengnan frowned and asked, “Did Lin You admit to this himself?”
“Of course, he did! That little pervert disgusts me. Every time he looks at me, his eyes shine just like the men who ogle me all day long.”
Shengnan thought for a moment. “So, today, he admitted to two things—torturing and killing Mom’s dog and spying on your shower?”
“That’s not all!” Lin Shiyan’s anger flared. “He also admitted to stealing Mom’s bracelet, Tianyang’s watch, and replacing the watch I planned to gift Mr. Lu with a live toad. That stupid prank ruined my relationship with Mr. Lu!”
She continued, her frustration mounting. “And to top it off, he interfered in Dad’s business. The cooperation deal with Dingcheng Group failed because of him.”
Shengnan was stunned. This string of admissions defied logic. For most criminals, confessing is a slow and difficult process, yet Lin You seemed to be confessing everything outright.
Why would he do that?
Even with her basic understanding of criminal psychology, none of the theories she’d learned could explain Lin You’s behavior. Deep in thought, Shengnan resolved to investigate further.
“Let’s go to Lin You’s room,” she said. “Maybe we’ll find some useful clues.”
Both sisters were used to relying on evidence—Shengnan as a quasi-policeman and Shiyan as a lawyer. They stood up and walked toward the elevator.
As they approached, Shengnan asked, “Which floor is his room on again? I forgot.”
Shiyan pressed the button for the basement and replied, “The basement.”
“The basement?” Shengnan was surprised. “Why the basement? Is his room under renovation?”
“He’s always lived in the basement,” Shiyan said nonchalantly. “Look at how filthy he is every day. Where else could he live?”
Shengnan remained silent as the elevator descended.
When they reached the basement, they stepped into a space housing three rooms: a bathroom, a billiards room, and a home theater. Two larger rooms were for Wang Ma and Lao Qin, though Lao Qin rarely stayed overnight.
The smallest room, tucked under the stairwell and barely six square meters, belonged to Lin You.
When Shengnan opened the door, she froze.
The room was spotless. A small, 1.2-meter bed was against the wall, its blanket folded neatly like a soldier’s, with sharp corners and precise edges. It was clear that Lin You was a meticulous person.
A simple, forty-centimeter-wide desk stood opposite the bed, leaving only a narrow aisle between them. On the desk were a metal lamp and a small bookshelf holding a few extracurricular books. Above the desk, hanging prominently, was a family photo. Lin You wasn’t in the picture, yet he kept it in the most visible spot, suggesting how much it meant to him.
Above the bed, the sloped ceiling of the stairs accommodated a small wardrobe, about 1.6 meters tall. The open wardrobe held a single sports sweatshirt—something Shengnan recognized as a gift from Lan Lin when Lin You first joined the family.
That was it. The entire room contained nothing else.
Shengnan’s chest tightened. “Lin You has lived here for four years?” she asked, her voice trembling. “Our house is over a thousand square meters, and he’s been confined to this tiny space? Is this what you call fairness?”
She pointed to the worn sweatshirt. “Don’t tell me this is the only set of clothes he’s had in four years.”
Shiyan hesitated, her voice uncertain. “I think… maybe… there’s more? I’m not sure.”
“No wonder he always looks so shabby,” Shengnan said bitterly. “His clothes are so faded.”
Then, almost defensively, Shiyan added, “Even so, it’s his own fault. If he were half as obedient or capable as Tianyang, things wouldn’t be like this.”
Shengnan let out a heavy sigh. “Does that justify the way we treat him?”
Shiyan snapped, “That doesn’t excuse him torturing Mom’s dog, peeping on me, or stealing from the family.”
Shengnan fell silent, conflicted. For the first time, she felt a pang of guilt.
The sisters climbed back to the first floor without another word and returned to the sofa. A heavy silence hung between them. Shengnan gazed out the window at the yard, her eyes landing on the swimming pool. The urge to find out the truth about Lin You gnawed at her.
Her military training had taught her discipline and rationality. But if her investigation revealed that Lin You was innocent, it would mean the entire family had wronged him—a reality she wasn’t ready to face. If someone had to bear the weight of the family’s problems, it would be Lin You.
To her, his existence seemed insignificant.
Night fell, and the Lin family gathered. Lin Yuan, who usually returned home late, arrived early. The eldest sister, Lin Xiaotong, also came back, and Lao Qin brought Tianyang home from school. The house buzzed with activity.
When Tianyang saw Shengnan, he lit up. “Fourth sister! It’s been so long—I missed you so much!”
Shengnan instinctively reached to ruffle his hair, only to realize he had grown too tall—over 1.8 meters. Smiling, she patted his shoulder instead. “Tianyang, guess what I brought you?”
She pulled out a carefully wrapped package from a box beside her.
Tianyang’s eyes sparkled with anticipation. Over the years, he had received countless gifts, some worth millions. Surely this would be something extraordinary—maybe even the Bugatti sports car he had been dreaming of.
Everyone watched as Shengnan unwrapped the package, revealing a foot-long…?saber?