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墨書 Inktalez
"Then please have Zhang Shaoye take Su Yao back to the hotel," Shangguan Yun completely ignored her daughter's request.
"It's okay." She gently touched Lin Yue's arm, "You stay with your aunt, don't worry."
"But..." Lin Yue's eyes were filled with reluctance and concern.
Su Yao smiled slightly at Lin Yue, "I'll message you when I get to the hotel."
"Alright." Lin Yue relented, shooting a glare at Zhang Zihao.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure Su Yao gets back to the hotel safely," Zhang Zihao said with a smile.
Lin Yue accompanied Su Yao to the entrance, while Zhang Zihao tactfully walked ahead.
"I'll wait for your call," Lin Yue gently squeezed Su Yao's hand, her gaze affectionate.
"Don't worry, I'll contact you later," Su Yao lightly squeezed Lin Yue's hand in return.
Lin Yue watched as Su Yao got into Zhang Zihao's car.
The black Maybach slowly drove away, and Lin Yue stood there for a long time, reluctant to leave.
"Lin Yue, come inside," Jiang Rou appeared behind her without her noticing.
Returning to the living room, Lin Yue found Shangguan Yun already seated on the sofa, elegantly sipping red tea.
Lin Zhihong stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, his shoulders slightly hunched.
"Mom, is it really necessary to discuss something important right now?"
Shangguan Yun set down her teacup: "Rou Rou, Chen Er, you should head back." Her gaze swept across them.
Lu Chen hesitated to speak, but Jiang Rou immediately stood up and pulled him toward the door.
Before leaving, Jiang Rou cast a deep glance at Lin Yue, her eyes filled with complex emotions—pity, heartache, and a hint of pride.
The sound of the door closing echoed clearly in the empty living room.
"Mom, what is it? Just tell me," Lin Yue's fingers unconsciously tapped on her thigh.
"What is your relationship with Su Yao?"
Her tone was like she was asking a question she already knew the answer to; she just wanted to hear Lin Yue admit it herself.
Although Lin Yue had mentally prepared herself for this moment, she was still caught off guard by the bluntness of the question.
"Mom, I really like her," Lin Yue met her mother's gaze directly.
A flicker of pain crossed Shangguan Yun's eyes: "How far have you two gone?"
The air seemed to freeze; Lin Yue remained silent, but her expression gave away the answer.
She turned to her husband, her voice trembling: "Zhihong, our precious daughter has already been intimate with Su Yao."
The accusation and heartache in her tone were unmistakable, as if this was the most absurd thing she had ever heard.
Lin Zhihong's shoulders seemed heavier than ever as he remained turned away from them, silent.
“Dad, Mom, what’s wrong with you today?” Lin Yue finally couldn’t hold back her question. “Why are you reacting so strongly to Su Yao and her mother?”
“From now on, you are not to see Su Yao again.”
Lin Yue's eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at her mother. “Mom, on what grounds?”
“Because I am your mother!” Shangguan Yun's voice suddenly rose.
Lin Zhihong finally turned around. “Lin Yue, listen to your mother.” His voice was hoarse and weary. “You two cannot be together.”
“Why? Is it just because she isn’t from the Jiang family or the Lu family?” Lin Yue nearly shouted.
Shangguan Yun looked at her husband. “Zhihong, you tell her. Tell her why she can’t be with that girl.”
Lin Zhihong slowly walked in front of Lin Yue, his eyes filled with deep remorse. “More than twenty years ago, before I met your mother, I fell in love with an actress.”
“Su Yuyan?” Lin Yue murmured, a sense of foreboding creeping into her heart.
Lin Zhihong nodded. “We fell in love at first sight, just like you and Su Yao.”
“And then?” Lin Yue pressed on, her heart racing in her chest.
“When your grandfather found out, he announced my engagement to your mother through the media to stop us from being together. At that time, I didn’t know your mother well; I had only seen her a few times. I resisted and struggled against it, even considering giving up everything for the Lin family, but in the end, I chose responsibility and family.”
“But looking back now, that choice was the best decision of my life.” Lin Zhihong looked at Shangguan Yun with soft eyes. “Because I found my true partner and had you—our precious child.”
“If time could turn back, I would still make the same choice.”
Listening to her father’s words felt like a knife twisting in Lin Yue’s heart. “That’s your generation’s grudge; it has nothing to do with me and Su Yao.”
“Silly child, Su Yuyan despises the Lin family; she despises me.” Lin Zhihong shook his head. “She will never agree to you being together.”
“I am your father; I cannot watch you walk down a path that leads nowhere.”
Suddenly, Shangguan Yun stood up and walked in front of Lin Yue, gripping her daughter’s hands tightly. “Don’t forget, you are the only daughter of the Lin family; you bear the responsibility of continuing our lineage.”
“For the interests of the three great families, you are destined to be with Jiang Rou; this is an unchangeable fact.”
“What about my life? What about my happiness?”
The atmosphere in the Lin family’s living room became so heavy it was almost suffocating.
Lin Yue stood firm. “No one can stop me from being with Su Yao—not even you.”
Shangguan Yun’s face turned pale instantly; her expression shifted from disbelief to disappointment and finally to anger. “Are you crazy? Do you even know what you’re saying?”
“I’m very clear-headed, Mom.” Lin Yue’s voice was steady, contrasting sharply with the turmoil inside her. “For so many years, I’ve lived according to your expectations; this time I want to live for myself.”
Lin Zhihong wearily shook his head, his voice filled with helplessness. “Lin Yue, your mother and I are doing this for your own good. There is an insurmountable past between you and Su Yao.”
“That’s your past, not mine and Su Yao’s!” Lin Yue tried to calm herself down. “Dad, you chose family responsibility over Su Yuyan; that was your choice. I don’t want to be like you.”
Shangguan Yun let out a cold laugh. "Do you really think a relationship like yours can be blessed? Once Su Yuyan finds out, she will be the first to disagree!"
Lin Yue fell silent for a moment before softly saying, "No matter what, we will find a way to be together."
"And then what?" Lin Zhihong suddenly interjected. "What do you plan to do? Lin Yue, are you willing to give up your status as the only heir of the Lin family and the responsibilities of the entire family?"
"Father, trust me, I will take on my responsibilities," Lin Yue said, looking directly into her father's eyes. "But I will not sacrifice my love."
Those words struck Lin Zhihong's heart like a sharp sword, and a flicker of pain crossed his eyes.
"You are too naive," Shangguan Yun said coldly. "Do you think that just because you want to be together, the Jiang family will agree? Marriages between the three major families are not child's play!"
"I know it's difficult," Lin Yue replied firmly. "But I will find a solution."
"There is no solution!" Shangguan Yun nearly shouted. "You and Jiang Rou have been betrothed since childhood; the interests of the three families have been intertwined for nearly a hundred years. Do you think you can just tear it apart?"
"The Lin Group's cooperation projects with the Jiang Family and Lu Family account for 38% of total revenue. Do you understand the consequences if you break off the engagement?" Shangguan Yun's tone was icy.
"Lin Yue, you are not the first person to sacrifice for your family, nor will you be the last. This is your fate," Shangguan Yun stated firmly.
"Lin Yue, if you truly love Su Yao, then do not let her fall into such a complicated and painful situation," Lin Zhihong advised gently. "While you still can stop this, do not meet again."
Lin Yue felt an unprecedented despair wash over her; her face turned pale, her lips began to turn purple, and her breathing became rapid.
Seeing this, Shangguan Yun quickly called for the housekeeper to bring her medication to soothe her emotions.
Meanwhile, in China, Su Yuyan was restless and anxious. Ever since she learned that Su Yao had gone to America, she felt an indescribable fear.
"What on earth is that child busy with? She doesn't even have time to talk to her mother," she murmured to herself.
After much hesitation, she decided to contact Zhang Zihao.
After Zhang Zihao dropped Su Yao off at her room and watched her figure disappear behind the door, he reluctantly returned to his own room. Just as he closed the door, his phone rang; it was Su Yuyan calling.
"Hello, Aunt Su," he answered immediately with a respectful tone. "What can I do for you?"
"Zihao, thank you for taking care of Yao Yao," Su Yuyan's voice came through the phone. "I've been worried about her these past few days."
Her voice carried an air of unease: "This child has always told me everything, but this time she's being secretive about why she went to America with you."
"Don't worry, Aunt. I will take care of Su Yao," Zhang Zihao replied as he leaned back on the sofa. "Actually, we came to America this time to see Lin Yue—she's the owner of Yuexing Capital."
"The owner of Yuexing Capital?" Su Yuyan's voice suddenly became alert. "What happened to her?"
"I heard she has been hospitalized in America; Su Yao is very worried and rushed over," Zhang Zihao said casually.
"Hospitalized?" Su Yuyan's confusion deepened as her voice rose slightly. "Why is Su Yao so concerned about her?"
She knew her daughter too well; Su Yao was never one to bow down and fawn over capitalists.
"What kind of person is Lin Yue?" she couldn't help but ask, feeling increasingly uneasy in her heart.
"To be honest, there is very little public information about Lin Yue; you might not even find a clear photo of her online." He paused before continuing, "I heard it's because she was kidnapped when she was young, so she pays special attention to privacy protection."
"But her parents are quite famous; they appear in financial and fashion news almost every day. You must have heard of them."
"Who are they?"
Zhang Zihao's voice came through, "Her father is Lin Zhihong, the head of the Lin Group, and her mother is the jewelry designer Shangguan Yun—"
"Shangguan Yun?" Su Yuyan suddenly stood up from the sofa, her voice filled with shock and anger.
These two names were the nightmares of her life, her eternal pain, the deepest scars in her heart.
"Yes, Auntie, you really do know them."
There was silence on the other end of the line, long enough for Zhang Zihao to think the signal had dropped.
"Hello? Auntie? Are you still there?" he asked cautiously.
Su Yuyan took a deep breath, trying to suppress the turmoil within her. "What is Su Yao's relationship with Lin Yue?"
She asked what seemed to be the most unlikely question, her voice trembling with fear.
Zhang Zihao hesitated. "Auntie, I shouldn't answer that question for Su Yao; it would be better if you asked her directly."
"Are they... close?" Su Yuyan's voice barely escaped through clenched teeth.
"Auntie, this..." Zhang Zihao stammered, unsure how to respond.
"Never mind, I understand." Su Yuyan suddenly interrupted him, her voice heavy with exhaustion. "Thank you, Zihao."
After hanging up the phone, Su Yuyan nearly collapsed onto the sofa, her face as pale as paper.
"This is impossible, it can't be..." she murmured to herself, her eyes filled with fear and disbelief.
She picked up her phone and shakily dialed a number. "I need to book a flight to Los Angeles immediately; the sooner, the better."
Everything had to be resolved in person.
Meanwhile, Su Yao lay on the hotel bed, tightly gripping her phone as she waited for Lin Yue's reply.
She recalled Lin Zhihong and Shangguan Yun's unusual reactions at the banquet, filled with confusion.
"Lin Yue, what are you going through..." she whispered softly, her eyes full of worry and compassion.
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