Chapter Two: Do You Still Remember Your Second Sister?

He suffered an unjust grievance, not even knowing what exactly was missing. No matter how much he pleaded, how hoarse his voice became, no one believed him.

In fact, they only grew to dislike him more.

This time, his father, blinded by fury, could no longer contain himself. Ignoring all else, he grabbed a baseball bat and beat him mercilessly, until he begged for mercy and wailed in pain, his body battered and broken, eventually losing consciousness.

That very night, the Xiao family drove him out in haste. As he left, the faces of the Xiao family members were seared deep into his memory: his mother bowing her head, wiping away tears; Xiao Chusheng with a look of reluctance; and his eldest and second sisters unable to hide their disdain for him.

Dragging his injured body, relying on the fragments of memory in his mind, he staggered step by step back to the orphanage.

Whenever these unbearable memories resurfaced, Lin Yuan’s body would involuntarily tremble, his legs nearly giving out beneath him.

So now, he took a step back calmly, sidestepping the hand Xiao Caiyue reached out to support him. “My home is here; I’m going nowhere else. You are a noble lady of the Xiao family—please don’t suffer here. Kindly leave.”

Withdrawing her hand abruptly, Xiao Caiyue’s brows knit into a tight knot, her voice betraying an uncontrollable irritation. “Father only struck you a few times in a moment of anger and said those things. By now, Mother and I have already persuaded him. As his son, aren’t you grateful that he once gave you a warm home? Why hold such resentment forever?”

Her earnest words sounded as if their family were the true victims.

But to Lin Tian, they felt bitterly ironic.

Let alone the belated apologies, those words hardly counted as apologies at all!

He knew that the suffering he endured during half a year at the Xiao household far exceeded the torment of the previous ten-plus years. Their “kindness” was laughable.

Seeing that he remained unmoved, Xiao Caiyue’s last shred of patience vanished. She snapped impatiently, “To be honest with you, Father’s health is deteriorating rapidly. He just wants to see his own grandson once more. If you still have a shred of humanity and conscience left, you should go see him.”

Having said that, she no longer cared for his reaction. She turned around first and pushed open the car door, sliding inside.

Lin Tian’s heart grew uneasy.

Since being sent back to the orphanage, he naturally had no idea how, over the past two and a half years, the old master had begged his father to accept him back and acknowledge his lineage.

If there was anyone in the Xiao family who had treated him somewhat kindly, it was probably the old master. But, sadly, after only a few meetings, he was driven out.

“Very well, I will do it for the old master’s sake,” Lin Tian thought.

He followed at a measured pace, but stopped short at the car door.

Seeing this, Xiao Caiyue assumed he was still sulking and could no longer suppress her anger. She rolled down the window and shouted loudly, “Do you want me to invite you in?”

Facing her fury, Lin Tian replied calmly, “The door isn’t open.”

Xiao Caiyue was clearly taken aback for a moment and then turned to the driver in the front seat, scolding, “Who told you to close the door?”

The driver, who had been silent all along, opened his mouth but seemed at a loss for words.

It was plainly the young lady herself who slammed the door shut when she got in, after all.

Once the door was opened, Lin Tian swayed slightly and slowly took his seat.

He sat very cautiously, hunched over, occupying only a small space, as if afraid of dirtying the noble car.

Having taken over the family business in recent years, Xiao Caiyue’s emotions had grown increasingly unstable. Seeing him deliberately keep his distance in such a disgusted way only stoked her anger.

“Right from the start, you act arrogant and pretentious, as if I owe you millions. If you don’t want to return to the Xiao family, then go back to the orphanage and remain an orphan. No one’s asking you to come back!”

Lin Tian’s brows furrowed deeply, his body overwhelmed by a strange discomfort, rendering him almost speechless.

Xiao Caiyue’s fury still simmered. Suddenly, she kicked out, unexpectedly sending Lin Tian tumbling out the not-quite-closed car door.

“If you don’t want to ride back, then walk. Think about whether you deserve to throw a tantrum in front of me, think about what you are without the Xiao family, and spare everyone the misery of seeing your deadpan face when you return home!”

With that, she slammed the car door shut and coldly ordered the driver, “Drive!”

The driver glanced at Lin Tian and reluctantly started the car.

As the vehicle sped away, Lin Tian, already weakened by hunger from missing meals, could no longer hold on. His vision blurred, and he collapsed helplessly to the ground.

When he woke again, he was lying on a familiar small bed. Before his eyes was a delicate, adorable face, eyes half-closed, dozing.

“Bai Yun,” he whispered softly.

Startled, Bai Yun opened her eyes and quickly pulled away the steaming small porcelain bowl beside her. “Brother Lin, let me feed you something.”

Lin Tian looked at her thin clothes and her stiff hand holding out the spoon. His eyes reddened suddenly, and his voice choked with emotion. “This is your meal today.”

Bai Yun said nothing, only smiled. Yet anyone could see she was just as hungry.

The orphanage had standard daily rations. When there were fewer children, hunger was less of a problem, with two meals a day. But as the number of orphans grew, the budget for food did not increase.

Lin Tian and Bai Yun were among the older children and naturally gave way to the younger ones, saving their own meals for others.

After a few mouthfuls of plain porridge, Lin Tian said he was full. No matter how much Bai Yun urged him, it was useless.

To avoid waste, Bai Yun ate most of the remaining porridge herself.

After finishing, she saw Lin Tian get up and head outside, finally unable to hold back and asked, “Brother Lin, where are you going?”

He glanced back at her, expression calm. “I’m going to the Xiao family.”

He had not forgotten to see the old master, even if it meant walking all the way there.

Hearing this, Bai Yun lowered her head and pulled two coins out from a patched spot on her clothes. “Take these to ride the bus.”

“No, I can’t take them,” Lin Tian shook his head firmly.

He knew all too well how long she had saved those two coins and was unwilling to accept them. Turning, he strode quickly away.

Watching his departing figure, Bai Yun pressed her lips together in disappointment.

The streets were bright with lanterns and decorations; people gathered in front of their homes, warming themselves by fires and chatting. The biting cold wind cut like blades, striking Lin Tian’s entire body repeatedly.

Drawing a deep breath, he forced himself to suppress the pangs of envy rising within and set off at a steady pace toward the Xiao residence.

Suddenly, a harsh honk sounded behind him.

A glacier-gray Porsche 718 pulled up beside him, the door opening to reveal a stunningly beautiful face. “Hey kid, still remember your second sister?”

Lin Tian slowly lowered his raised foot, his once placid heart beginning to race.

He turned to look at the woman inside the car.

His second sister, Xiao Ruoli.