Chapter 117
The entire blood donation station was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Cheng Xia could even clearly hear the faint sound of Ji Ran swallowing beside him.
Even in the wealthy circles, where shocking scandals were practically a specialty, a story as bizarre as the Lin family’s was still exceedingly rare.
Everyone present had truly had their eyes opened today. Even the well-traveled parents from the Song and Ji families were looking at the Lin family with unmistakable fascination.
Meanwhile, no one in the Lin family except Lin Juezhou knew that in this short span of time, their entire background had already been stripped bare without a sound—
and broadcast live on the spot.
I’m a little confused. Does this scandal mean that… none of Father Lin’s three children are actually his biological kids??
Yes, that’s exactly what it means—and the only one who was biologically his (questionable) was switched out by his own hands and became the one who wasn’t. [what a ridiculous joke.jpg]
I’m stunned. This is too insane. Let me process for a second. [soul leaving body ing.jpg]
This is thrilling—seriously, it couldn’t be more thrilling!!!
I hereby declare this the most outrageous scandal of the year. No objections, right? [doge.jpg]
I vote yes with both hands and both feet. This is way too wild, hahaha.
All I can say is, birds of a feather really do flock together. Both Father Lin and Mother Lin are unbelievably bizarre. The fact that they’ve stayed married this whole time, from a certain perspective, is practically a public service.
Once they learn the truth, the worldview of the three Lin brothers is going to completely collapse, isn’t it? Their father isn’t their real father, and as for their mother… Lin the second brother has it the worst. Even his mother isn’t really his mother. [shaking head sigh.jpg]
Like parents, like child. Now I finally understand why Lin Mubai is so enthusiastic about meddling in other people’s relationships. Turns out he learned it from his parents’ example.
No wonder President Song was so insistent on having them do a paternity test. He must have already known!
Does President Song have some kind of grudge against the Lin family?
No idea about President Song, but Xiao Qiao definitely does. I’ve followed Xiao Qiao through so many scandals, and this is the first time I’ve ever seen him look this happy, hahaha.
Lin Mubai was extremely sensitive to the gazes directed at him, and he noticed at once the looks coming from the Song and Ji families.
Those naked, direct stares made him feel as if every last shred of dignity covering him had already been ripped away.
He could not stop himself from shivering. He wanted to pretend nothing was wrong, but the trembling at his fingertips exposed his panic all too clearly.
System! System!!! he screamed in his mind. I’m ordering you to help me! I don’t care what method you use!
His voice shook, and by the end it even carried a pleading, choking tone. Help me, please! I’m begging you!
Unfortunately, faced with Lin Mubai’s desperate call for help, the System of Universal Adoration still gave him the same answer: It’s too late, Host. I’m powerless now.
Lin Mubai wanted to go mad, but the last bit of reason he still possessed would not allow it.
There were cameras all around. If he lost control now, it would be the same as destroying his very last hope with his own hands.
—What if, what if he had only been switched at birth?
Ji Ran had been switched at birth too, and he was doing fine now, so he could be fine too, right?
Lin Mubai could only comfort himself like this, praying for a miracle.
What he did not know was that his bloodless face and the occasional flashes of ferocity leaking through had already been captured by the cameras in perfect clarity.
And beside him, Lin Chen’s expression was no better.
He could not accept being saddled with the identity of an “illegitimate bastard.” To him, that represented filth, disloyalty, and disgrace—
In Lin Chen’s mind, no dirty word in the world was enough to fully describe someone born that way.
It was precisely the kind of identity he had always despised most. Even Lin Zhiqiao—though he knew they were brothers—had once been called by that same sort of word by him, simply because their parents refused to acknowledge Lin Zhiqiao’s status.
And now, he himself had become the real “bastard.”
Lin Chen’s face shifted from green to red and back again. He looked at the mother he had always loved deeply and respected, and for the first time could not stop himself from cursing her in his heart.
Mother Lin had long since lost her bearings completely. Only a weak, stiff expression remained plastered on her face.
As for Lin Juezhou… he had already lost all control over his facial expression.
Among everyone in the Lin family, only he could hear Lin Zhiqiao’s inner thoughts, and only he had learned the full truth beforehand.
To him, this was no different from a club smashing down on his head. It was pain and despair too heavy for him to endure.
The paper cup in his hand had already been crushed out of shape. He could only barely keep himself upright by leaning against the wall, his entire body exuding the deadened hopelessness of someone watching the end of the world arrive.
Father Lin, on the other hand, looked the best out of all of them.
Sensing Song Fengshi’s gaze resting on him, Father Lin even returned it with a friendly smile that carried a faint hint of ingratiation.
Song Fengshi narrowed his eyes and curled his lips into a smile that was impossible to read.
Lin Zhiqiao took in the whole exchange and very nearly turned into a shrieking goose in his own mind, his shoulders trembling as he held back laughter.
He could hardly wait to see Father Lin’s expression once he learned the truth.
Everyone remained in that strange state until the blood draw was over. Song Fengshi had even sent a private car over, and all of them were taken directly to a medical institution.
The medical staff had clearly already received Song Fengshi’s instructions and made all the necessary preparations in advance.
As soon as the Lin family arrived, the staff began collecting DNA samples from them.
“The DNA of both parents needs to be compared,” Song Fengshi reminded them. “There’s a possibility of a switched child.”
The doctor nodded to show he understood.
Father Lin’s sample was collected smoothly, but when it came to Mother Lin, they met with faint resistance.
The doctor sighed helplessly. “Mrs. Lin…”
Before he could finish, Father Lin stepped forward and placed a hand on Mother Lin’s shoulder. “Yuxian.”
He said nothing more, but Mother Lin trembled all over, and most of the strength in her body instantly drained away.
Lin Chen had intended to say something, but after hearing the threat hidden in Father Lin’s tone, his lips moved a little before he ultimately said nothing.
Lin Mubai tried to hide himself behind his older brother, but clearly failed—the doctor saw him anyway.
Lin Mubai’s resistance was even stronger than Mother Lin’s.
He grabbed Father Lin’s sleeve and looked up at him, his voice thick with tears. “Dad, I don’t want this.”
His brows were knit together, his eyes shimmering with moisture, his whole expression and tone full of pleading. “Even if there really was a mix-up back then, I’m still your son. I only want to be your son. I love you—”
“And I love you too.” Father Lin seemed as if he had been touched, and raised a hand to rub Lin Mubai’s head.
Joy instantly flared in Lin Mubai’s heart. He thought his father had already been persuaded.
Father Lin had always doted on him most ever since he was little, practically granting whatever he asked for. As long as he showed this kind of expression, his father had never refused him anything.
This time seemed no different.
As long as they did not do the paternity test, then he would remain Father Lin’s biological son forever!
If this had happened before, perhaps Lin Mubai would not have cared so much about being “a young master of the Lin family,” because he had always aimed for something greater.
But now, with both his career and public opinion at dangerous lows, he could no longer afford another blow to his reputation, nor could he bear the consequences of losing Father Lin’s favor—or the favor of everyone in the family.
He did not have much left anymore!
Father Lin’s apparent softening filled him with hope. Just as Lin Mubai was about to keep talking, Father Lin withdrew his hand. The affection on his face remained, but the words coming from his mouth made cold terror spread through Lin Mubai’s whole body.
“Dad doesn’t want this either,” Father Lin said in a warm voice. “But I don’t want to be kept in the dark. Mubai has always been the most obedient. Since you were little, you’ve always understood Dad best. This time will be the same too, right?”
Lin Mubai’s expression froze. Looking at the smile on Father Lin’s face, he suddenly felt it resembled a venomous snake in the jungle—strange and terrifying.
In the end, the doctor successfully collected Lin Mubai’s DNA as well.
Soon, only one person remained: Lin family’s second son, Lin Juezhou.
But when it was Lin Juezhou’s turn, Father Lin unexpectedly spoke up. “Juezhou doesn’t need to do it. His blood type matches. I trust him.”
Mother Lin lifted her tear-filled eyes. Faced with this sudden trust, she looked moved.
—That’s right. So what if Lin Chen and Lin Mubai were not Father Lin’s biological children?
As long as Lin Juezhou was still their real son, then she would always remain the mother of the Lin family, and the wife of Lin Man. That would never change.
Mother Lin gradually calmed down.
She had to seize this opportunity to make Lin Man understand that Lin Juezhou was their biological son, the Lin family bloodline she had personally borne for him!
Thinking of this, Mother Lin instead spoke up to persuade him, “Since we’re already here, we might as well do his too.”
Madam Song, enjoying the drama immensely, chimed in from the side, “Exactly. Even if the blood type matches, doing the test would still be more reassuring. Besides, since Xiao Shi already spoke up, the cost is fully covered. Since you’re already here, wouldn’t it be a shame not to do it?”
