Chapter 2

As expected, someone with quick legs had gone to report it. Before long, the Women’s Federation director arrived with the Public Security officers.

The director, with shoulder-length short hair, looked very capable.

She walked over to Lin Jiayi, gave her a gentle smile, and said,
“Child, don’t be afraid! Tell Auntie everything, Auntie will help you get justice. We live in a society ruled by law, we can’t be bound by outdated ideas.”

Lin Jiayi used all the acting skills she had accumulated over her lifetime today.

Trembling slightly, she lifted her head, timidly and cautiously glancing at Yang Xueqin across from her.

“Auntie, you’re so gentle! Just like my mother. Can I really tell you everything?”

Such a simple sentence, paired with her performance, made several women present unable to hold back their tears. Let alone the Women’s Federation director.

Although in most households daughters were not treated as well as sons, this was the military compound. Yet, to find someone suffering as much as Lin Jiayi—it was hard to imagine.

The director wiped her tears, then smiled at her and said,
“You can, as long as you tell Auntie the truth, Auntie will definitely help you get justice.”

Lin Jiayi had been waiting for this sentence. She knew she couldn’t completely eliminate those two annoying people today, but at least she could make them suffer some punishment and slowly deal with them later.

“I… Auntie, I don’t want to stay at home anymore. Both of them bully me. I miss my mom and dad… woo woo… For so many years they’ve withheld the money my dad sent for me, abused me, exploited me—I really can’t take it anymore!”

If earlier she had only moved hearts, now she made them cry outright.

The director never expected that in a military compound, someone would dare treat a child this way. This was her dereliction of duty!

“Child, listen to Auntie. This is your home, you don’t need to leave. We’ll find a way to contact your father and have him come back as soon as possible. No matter what, Yang Xueqin is still your stepmother, your father’s legal wife. We can’t just drive her out—”

Before she could finish speaking, a loud, forceful voice came from the back of the crowd.

“She is not my legal wife. Please drive her and her daughter out!”

A tall, broad man stepped out of the crowd, carrying two large military duffle bags, his sharp gaze locked onto Yang Xueqin.

Yang Xueqin shuddered. She only ever saw this man during New Year each year, and they had never even shared a bed. She instinctively feared him.

They had never registered a marriage certificate. She had only moved in to look after the child. The only reason she dared treat Lin Jiayi this way was because the old lady favored her, and Lin Dong was rarely home.

But who would have thought she’d be this unlucky? Lin Dong actually appeared suddenly—didn’t that mean she was finished?

“Miss Yang Xueqin, you were merely hired to look after my daughter as a nanny. How dare you do this? On what grounds? That money was what I sent for my daughter. Hand it over.

Then take your daughter and leave my home. Don’t ever come back. Since the Public Security comrades are here, what do you say?”

Lin Dong’s words carried weight and authority, each one a heavy blow. Yang Xueqin didn’t dare talk back. She could only obey, planning to find the old lady later to recover her ground.

She obediently went inside to fetch the money.

Yao Qingqing was stunned. She had always thought her mother was married to Lin Dong—that was why she felt superior to others. But now she was told her mother was just a nanny? How could she accept that?

She turned and ran inside to find her mother.

Only then did Lin Dong turn around. Looking at the girl leaning in the director’s arms, the once resolute man suddenly had red eyes.

This was his daughter? After all these years, what had he been doing? How would he face his late wife now?

At the same time, Lin Jiayi was observing Lin Dong. She had originally thought he was a scumbag who indulged that mother-daughter pair. Now it seemed she had misunderstood. This meant she could communicate with him properly, saving herself a lot of trouble.

The two of them sized each other up in silence.

After a long time, Yang Xueqin reluctantly came out, holding a small box.

“Here, this is all the property left in the house.”

If not for Lin Dong’s strength, she wouldn’t have handed it over so easily. Clearly, she was extremely unwilling.

Lin Dong opened the box, quickly checked the cash and tickets inside. The amount matched, more or less. He closed the box and placed it in his bag.

Of course, the difference wasn’t much. Yang Xueqin usually didn’t spend much and had never expected this money to be taken away. She had kept it as her private stash. Now, seeing Lin Dong’s attitude, she didn’t dare withhold much.

Seeing that the father had returned and the issue resolved, the director left with the Public Security officers.

Before leaving, she reminded Lin Jiayi to reach out to her if needed.

With the police and the director gone, the onlookers no longer dared to stay to watch the spectacle. One by one, they found excuses to return home.

Only four people were left standing at the doorway.

Lin Jiayi smoothed her clothes, then looked at Yang Xueqin and Yao Qingqing, saying,

“What a pity. You two are being driven out like this before I even had the chance to take revenge.”

Yang Xueqin and Yao Qingqing shivered under Lin Jiayi’s gaze. Was this girl possessed? Since when did she dare speak like this?

Yao Qingqing’s face turned green with rage. She didn’t care that Lin Dong was standing there.

She raised her hand to strike Lin Jiayi.
“You cursed brat, you jinx! How dare you talk to me and my mother like this? Aren’t you afraid your grandma will beat you to death when she comes back?”

Yes—Yao Qingqing’s biggest support wasn’t her mother, Yang Xueqin, but Lin Jiayi’s grandmother, Zhang Yun. Yao Qingqing was always “filial” to the old woman, obedient, clever, and sweet-tongued. The old lady had always doted on her the most.

But before Yao Qingqing’s hand could touch Lin Jiayi, Lin Dong stopped her mid-air.

“When I’m not home, is this how you treat my daughter? Do you think I’m dead?”

His sharp, furious tone genuinely frightened the mother and daughter. Even Lin Jiayi herself felt a little uneasy.

Wait—that’s not right.

In the book, Lin Dong had never come home midway. His sudden appearance was already strange. And now, the way he acted—it was as if this pair had murdered his family. It all seemed off.

Wait… murdered family?

Could it be that this Lin Dong wasn’t the same Lin Dong from the original book?

“Yang Xueqin, pack your things and leave my house immediately! If you don’t get out now, I’ll hit you.”

Yang Xueqin didn’t dare delay. The old lady wouldn’t return for another three days. No matter what, she’d have to endure until then.

The mother and daughter packed quickly—just their clothes, necessities, and the money and tickets Yang Xueqin had secretly hidden. Nothing else. Clearly, they thought they’d be back in a few days.