Chapter 1 The Lin Family

"Break your legs, then give you a crutch, and then tell you that you can't even walk without me, so you should be grateful!"

Lin Yu stared at the sentence in his diary, his mind reeling.

Hadn't he died?

How could he be reading this again?

No, how was he even holding this diary?

This sentence was something he had scribbled on the first page of his notebook three months ago. But now, after his death, how was it possible for him to see it again?

Was this... rebirth?

"Lin Yu!"

A sharp, piercing shout echoed from downstairs.

"How long are you going to hide up there?

You dare to do it but don't dare to face the consequences?"

Lin Yu recognized the voice instantly, it was his second eldest sister. Hearing her confirmed it: he had indeed been reborn.

Lin Yu closed the notebook and shook his head, a bitter smile tugging at his lips.

He turned his head, taking in the familiar room. Memories of his death flashed through his mind, and he let out a quiet, humorless laugh before stuffing the notebook into his bag.

"Does staying silent solve anything?"

His second eldest sister, Lin Shiyan, shouted again from downstairs, her voice sharp and accusing. "You're getting bolder, aren't you? You even dare to hit people now, huh?"

Lin Yu pinched the bridge of his nose, shaking his slightly foggy head. Fragments of the future he'd glimpsed at the moment of his death resurfaced. He sighed softly and muttered, "It's time to end this."

The root of all this was Lin Tianyang, the Lin family's beloved adopted son.

Yes, after Lin Yu had been kidnappedas a child, the Lin family had adopted a boy and named him Lin Tianyang.

His biological parents and his seven elder sisters doted on this so-called younger brother as if he were a priceless treasure. They coddled him, fearing he might melt in their mouths or slip from their hands. If he asked for the moon, they'd give it to him.

And Lin Tianyang lived up to their expectations. He was top of his class, well-behaved, and effortlessly charming, earning the admiration of everyone in the Lin family.

The Lin family was a prominent local dynasty, and Lin Tianyang had been groomed from a young age in the refined etiquette of the elite. He was polite, poised, and carried himself with an air of nobility.

When Lin Yu was finally found, he had already spent twelve years wandering outside, taken in by a monk.

Having lived in a temple since childhood, often going hungry and surviving on scraps, Lin Yu was sallow and emaciated. Standing next to Lin Tianyang, they looked like they belonged to two entirely different worlds.

In the five years since joining the Lin family, the most common remarks Lin Yu heard were:

"Are you a starving ghost? 

"Why do you eat like you're fighting for your life? "

"And stop smacking your lips, it's disgusting."

"Ugh forget it, I've lost my appetite!"

After being scolded like this by his sisters, Lin Yu became overly cautious during meals, terrified of displeasing them. Over time, he ate less and less.

Once he adjusted his eating habits to meet their standards, they shifted their criticism to his appearance.

"Please don't tell anyone at school that you're from the Lin family. We're embarrassed. 

"A country bumpkin like you is so annoying. I don't even know why we brought you back in the first place."

From then on, Lin Yu left for school early, slipping out of the house while the rest of the Lin family was still asleep.

Lin Tianyang had a private car to chauffeur him to school, while Lin Yu had to take the bus.

Lin Tianyang's monthly allowance was 50,000, while Lin Yu's was a meager 300.

After paying for basic school materials and lunch meals, Lin Yu had almost nothing left. Sometimes, to save a dollar on bus fare, he would walk to school.

Eventually, Lin Yu had to take on odd jobs outside to scrape together some extra money.

Once, when Lin Tianyang found out, he went straight to their father, Lin Yuan, and tattled. Lin Yuan was furious, accusing Lin Yu of humiliating the family and threatening to send him away.

Yes, the Lin family was always looking for an excuse to get rid of Lin Yu, as if he were some stray they'd picked up off the street.

After being found, Lin Yu had been cautious, careful, and desperate to fit into the Lin family. He tried to please everyone, even Lin Tianyang, who had stolen his life. But all he got in return was endless criticism and disdain.

Due to prolonged malnutrition, Lin Yu sometimes sneaked into the kitchen at night to rummage through the fridge for leftovers to quiet his growling stomach.

When he was caught, the usual response was:

"Stealing food again, are you? 

If you can steal food today, you'll be stealing valuables tomorrow."

"You can tell how someone will turn out by the time they're three. You're already over ten years old, you're hopeless in this life."

"Our Lin family has such a vast business. Do you think we can't afford to feed you? 

You don't eat properly during meals, and then you sneak around stealing food afterward. 

Is that what your monk father taught you?"

"Look at Tianyang. If you were even half as good as him, we wouldn't have to worry so much."

And just like that, Lin Tianyang became an insurmountable mountain looming over Lin Yu's life.

Every time Lin Yu made a mistake, he was met with the same refrain

"Look at your younger brother Tianyang…!"

The cause of his death was a stomachache.

Since starting his third year of high school, Lin Yu had been suffering from stomach pain for over a week. He wasn't sure if it was due to the stress of schoolwork or years of irregular meals. At first, he thought he could tough it out, but the pain only grew worse.

Finally, he had no choice but to tell his mother, Lan Lin.

But her response was cold and dismissive

"Stop making excuses to skip school. Your stomach hurts? Why? Tianyang eats the same things as you, and he's fine."

"I think you're just trying to avoid going to school. Don't think I don't see through your little tricks. Get up and go to class. Don't make me angry."

Helpless, Lin Yu clutched his stomach and dragged himself to school.

He collapsed just as he reached the school gate.

The school contacted Lin Yu's parents, and Lan Lin answered the call. Her response was brief and callous: "What a nuisance."* Then she hung up.

She arranged for the driver to take her to the school, but just as the car pulled out of the garage, she received a call from Lin Tianyang.

Lin Tianyang was also in his third year of high school, attending a prestigious private school, while Lin Yu went to Ronghua High School, the worst in Hangzhou.

With the college entrance exam just days away, Lin Tianyang's school had given the students a three-day break to relax. Lin Tianyang had invited a few classmates to visit Xishan and called Lan Lin to join them.

"Mom, are you free to take me to Xishan? I've invited some classmates, and their mothers are coming too."

Lan Lin had just gotten into the car when Lin Tianyang called. Without a moment's hesitation, she told the driver, "Lao Qin, take me to the young master's school."

Lao Qin hesitated. "Aren't we going to Ronghua High School? The eldest young master needed to go to the hospital…"

"Don't mention that rebellious son. He's faking it! He is most likely just trying to squeeze more money out of me? I gave him three hundred yuan just two days ago. Has he already spent it all?"

"This kind of behavior can't be encouraged. What did you say earlier? Ronghua High School? Isn't he at Hongzhi High School? That boy, there's not a word of truth in his mouth. He lies all day long."

Lao Qin frowned and corrected her. "Madam, Hongzhi High School is the junior high school the eldest young master attended. He's in high school now, at Ronghua High School."

"That boy didn't even bother to tell the family he changed schools. Never mind. Just take me Xishan let me go meet Tianyang."

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Lin Yu waited, but no one from the Lin family came, so he was rushed to the hospital by the school staffs but it was too late.

Deep down, he had longed for his mother to hold him, for his father to look at him with pride and say,

"My son is hardworking. He's a true member of the Lin family."

He had hoped his sisters would take his hand and proudly introduce him to others:

"This is my younger brother. He may not be perfect, but he's kind and thoughtful."

But none of that happened. Instead, he died alone.

If this was how it was going to be, why was he reborn at all? Why should he rely on the Lin family's crutch?

In this new life, he vowed never to compromise again.