Chapter 3 I'm done talking, you can hit me now

At that moment, Lin Yuan emerged from the underground garage and stepped onto the first floor. He glanced at Lin Yu standing by the stairs, then turned his attention to the living room.

Lin Tianyang was being helped to the sofa by Old Qin and Lan Lin, looking frail and weak.

When Lin Tianyang saw Lin Yuan, a determined expression flickered across his face. He struggled to sit up and said softly, "Dad..."

Lin Yuan's head snapped toward him. In a few large strides, he came Lin Tianyang's side.

He half-knelt, lifting Lin Tianyang's head gently, and asked in a soft voice, "Don't move, son. What happened to you?"

Lin Tianyang suddenly transformed into a fragile figure, like someone who just experienced a tragedy in a novel. He hiccupped, and a small bubble emerged from his nostril as he whispered, "It was my own carelessness, I fell in the pool"

"Dad… please don't make things difficult for my brother. Don't punish him because of me…"

Lin Yuan abruptly stood up, strode back to Lin Yu, his eyes blazing with fury. He glared at Lin Yu and barked, "You beast! Can't you go a single day without causing trouble?"

He treated his adopted son like a treasure and his own flesh and blood like a beast.

If the adopted son claimed the moon was square, then the moon was square.

No matter how much Lin Yu tried to prove it was round, no one would believe him.

Lin Yuan's booming voice startled Lin Tianyang.

Lan Lin, cradling Lin Tianyang, complained, "Honey, can't you speak more gently? You scared our son."

"I'm fine, Mom… it's all my fault for being careless" Lin Tianyang's voice was so pitiful it tugged at everyone's heartstrings.

"What else do you have to say for yourself?" Lin Yuan began rolling up his sleeves. "If you don't explain yourself properly today, you'll see what happens."

"Father!"

"Don't call me Father, I don't have a son like you."

Lin Yuan raised his hand to slap Lin Yu.

Lin Yu stepped back and raised his hand to block the blow, saying calmly, "Mr. Lin, I have something to say. You can hit me as much as you want after I finish."

Lan Lin, still holding her precious son, chimed in, "Honey, you really need to break this habit of hitting people at the drop of a hat. Last time, you even bruised your own hand."

"Couldn't you use a clothes hanger or a whip instead ?"

Lin Yu smiled then laughed bitterly.

His mother was quite the doting one.

A few days ago, when her bracelet went missing and was later found in Lin Yu's schoolbag, she hadn't hesitated to use a clothes hanger on him.

Lin Yuan paused, slightly taken aback by Lin Yu's words.

This son of his seemed… different. He had a newfound spirit, a far cry from the timid, submissive boy he used to be.

The eldest sister, Lin Xiaotong, and the second sister, Lin Shiyan, also exchanged surprised glances.

In the past, in a situation like this, Lin Yu would have already been cowering, covering his head, and begging for forgiveness.

He would have pleaded desperately not to be driven out of the Lin family.

Lin Yu took a moment to steady himself, then said firmly, "Yes."

"Today's incident was my doing."

"I saw Lin Tianyang standing by the swimming pool. When he saw me coming back, he didn't even call me 'brother.' I got angry and pushed him into the pool."

"You!" Lin Yuan's eyes burned with rage, and he raised his hand to strike again.

Lin Shiyan interjected with a knowing look, "Do you realize you're already sixteen and can be held criminally responsible? Do you understand what intentional injury means? Do you even know the law?"

Hearing this, Lin Xiaotong sighed, shaking her head in disappointment, as if lamenting that iron could not be forged into steel.

Lan Lin's composure cracked after Lin Yu's confession. She cried out, "Lin Yu, have I done something wrong? You can tell me. Why do you have to bully your brother?"

"Is it because I've been unfair to you? Or have I been too strict?"

"I might have been harsh at times, but it was for your own good. If you were even half as good as Tianyang, it would save me so much worry."

Lin Yu quickly cut her off, "Don't… please don't! I remember your kindness. But what I want to say is that the wrongs I've done aren't limited to this."

"Second sister... oh no, Ms. Lin, do you remember the last time you were peeped at while taking a bath?"

"You all thought it was me, and I stubbornly denied it at the time."

"I admit it. I did it."

"You!" Lin Shiyan's face flushed with shame and anger. She pointed at Lin Yu and spat, "You're utterly shameless!"

After finishing, Lin Yu turned to the eldest sister, Lin Xiaotong.

His gaze made Lin Xiaotong's skin crawl. She glared at him and snapped, "You little pervert, did you also spy on me...?"

"Not that," Lin Yu replied calmly, "but the last time you were dating that Young Master Lu, I replaced the watch you gave him with a toad. It scared both you and Young Master Lu. I apologize to you now."

Ignoring Lin Xiaotong's furious expression, Lin Yu bowed deeply to her.

Then he turned to Lan Lin and said, "Mom, do you remember your little poodle?"

Lan Lin was already stunned by her son's shocking confessions. She stammered, "It was only two years old... Did you secretly sell it?"

"Do you know it was like a child to me? I searched for it for two whole months. How could you be so heartless as to do such a terrible thing?"

Lan Lin burst into tears.

Lin Yu remained unmoved and corrected her, "Ms. Lan, you're wrong. I didn't sell that dog. I killed it... and buried it in your garden"

The entire family of five was left speechless.

Even Lin Yuan, who had always seen his son as timid and meek, was shocked by the depth of his cruelty.

Lin Yuan's scalp prickled as Lin Yu turned to face him.

"Father... no, Mr. Lin, it's your turn now. Do you remember the last cooperation with Dingcheng Group regarding the land in the western suburbs?"

"Could it have been you?" Lin Yuan's eyes widened in disbelief. "Do you even have that kind of ability?"

"I messed it up! It was actually very simple, Mr. Lin. I happened to film the scene of you and the vice president of Dingcheng Group making underhanded deals. Then I posted the video online."

Lin Yu looked at Lin Yuan, whose face had turned a sickly shade of purple, and said calmly, "I'm done. You can hit me now."