Chapter Thirteen: Unmasking Lin Pinting’s Facade and Revealing the Lin Family’s Secrets

Originally, Pingting Lin intended to reveal her sincerity, but as soon as these two interrupted, her intentions were twisted into something sinister.

Madam Ji smiled warmly as she watched the commotion between the two.

No matter how her own child caused a scene, they were always adorable in her eyes. As for the emotions of the one who had deceived her, she simply did not care.

Observing Madam Ji’s expression, Pingting’s eyes flickered with a trace of grievance.

She had tried so hard to win her favor, yet now the woman refused to listen to a word she said.

Suppressing her feelings, Pingting forced a faint smile and said, “Auntie, perhaps I was careless with my words. If I offended you in any way, please forgive me.”

Suzhi Han found this obedient Pingting truly unfamiliar.

She much preferred the arrogant and overbearing Pingting, as at least that version was more genuine.

Besides, her acting was poor; all her emotions were hiding in her eyes, no matter how much she thought she was concealing them.

Madam Ji was reluctant to continue this conversation, and frankly, there was nothing left to say.

Everything was a lie—what was left to discuss?

“Pingting, I always thought you were a kind and good girl, but now I see I was mistaken. You act kind in front of me, but with others, you are completely different.”

“I despise hypocrisy more than anything. You know, I used to like you quite a bit, but now, forget it—we won’t have anything more to do with each other.”

Madam Ji’s words shattered Pingting’s last hope.

Suzhi Han watched as Pingting’s eyes instantly reddened, tears streaming as if they were unending.

Tsk! That’s quite a performance, isn’t it? Are there two faucets hidden in those eyes?

Moreover, she looked genuinely heartbroken—it couldn’t be acting; her skills were not that good.

Song Yu never expected such a swift change in a woman’s expression. He glanced at Suzhi Han, silently asking what to do next. Suzhi Han shrugged, indicating she had no idea either.

Pingting was truly distressed and frightened. She slid down from the sofa onto the floor, looking up at Madam Ji with eyes full of pleading.

“Auntie, I really didn’t mean to deceive you. I had no choice. I truly love Han Ji and want to marry him, but what I want most is to escape my family.”

“If I can’t marry Han Ji, then my parents will treat me like a tool, marrying me off to someone who can benefit the Lin family. That’s what happened to my aunt.”

“She’s living a life that’s no life at all, beaten and scolded every day by my uncle. I don’t want to become another aunt.”

Pingting’s words grew more sorrowful and desperate.

Had Suzhi Han not known her background, she might have been fooled too.

However, Madam Ji was unaware of these details. Seeing her so pitiful, she was moved with a pang of sympathy.

Marrying Han Ji was out of the question, but helping her a little was not impossible.

Seeing Madam Ji’s expression, Suzhi Han decided to expose Pingting’s true nature.

“Miss Lin, there’s still one thing you haven’t told us—how exactly did your aunt marry your uncle?”

“And the Lin family is a well-known, prestigious household, right? So why would your uncle dare to mistreat your aunt? Your aunt brought benefits to your family—did no one help her?”

As soon as Suzhi Han spoke, Pingting’s expression instantly changed, her gaze becoming evasive.

Song Yu, munching nearby, watched intently, thoroughly entertained.

This was truly captivating!

Seeing Pingting’s guilty look, Madam Ji realized she had almost been deceived again.

She laughed bitterly, “Pingting, Pingting, do you really think I’m that easy to fool?”

Suzhi Han and Song Yu exchanged a glance, both certain of one thing.

She was far too easy to deceive. When they returned, they would inform Han Ji to have someone keep a closer eye on Madam Ji.

“I originally felt sorry for you and was even willing to help, but you really took me for a fool, didn’t you?”

Pingting panicked, replying, “No, that’s not what I meant. I don’t understand what Miss Su is implying.”

“I was very close to my aunt—she’s six years older than me, and I was the one she cared for most in the family.”

Suzhi Han retorted, “So you took advantage of her trust to drug her drink, which led to her involvement with that man, forcing her into that marriage.”

Madam Ji and Song Yu’s faces darkened upon hearing this.

They knew of Aunt Lin, who was often spoken of as a pitiable figure.

Aunt Lin had married at just twenty-two, and everyone knew that.

Pingting had drugged her aunt at only sixteen—a mere girl capable of such cruelty was terrifying indeed.

Song Yu shuddered, rubbing his arm as goosebumps rose.

Fortunately, he avoided women altogether. He truly thought those men who dallied around outside were incredibly reckless, risking their lives without fear.

Being drugged was bad enough; if poisoned, that would be a death sentence.

If Pingting could harm her own relative like that, she would be merciless to others.

Pingting’s hidden secret had been completely uncovered. She had no idea how Suzhi Han knew.

Only her parents and Suzhi Han knew; even her aunt was unaware.

Her aunt believed it was a drunken indiscretion, never suspecting Pingting’s hand.

“It’s not like that, it’s not like that! My parents forced me! I never wanted to drug my aunt!”

“They forced me! If I hadn’t, my family would be in trouble, and I wouldn’t have this good life. What else could I do? I don’t want to live a hard life!”

Pingting’s speech became a chilling mix of laughter and tears.

Madam Ji took several steps back, frightened.

Suzhi Han stared coldly at her, saying, “Don’t pretend to be crazy. Playing the fool won’t work.”

“You could leave the Lin family if you wanted to. Just give up the title of Miss Lin and the privileges it brings, and like your cousin, you could escape your family.”