“Little sister, you’ve suffered all these years. Don’t worry, Mother and your brothers will cherish you!”

A carriage was making its way to the Minister’s Manor.

The boy speaking was Lin Shaoyang, her newly met third brother.

She was originally a transmigrator, and as soon as she arrived, this so-called “brother” took her from a remote village back to the grand Lin Manor in the capital.

The reason?

She had been mistakenly swapped at birth.

The truth had only recently come to light, and now, they had come to bring her home.

As she sat in the carriage, she suddenly realized—this scene was eerily familiar.

In a novel she had read, the original owner of this body was the true daughter of the Minister’s Manor, mistakenly switched at birth and raised in the countryside.

When she was finally brought back, she thought she would have a good life.

But the fake daughter put on a dramatic act—crying, throwing tantrums, and even threatening suicide.

In the end, the three older brothers and their mother doted on the fake daughter endlessly.

The true daughter was eventually driven to her death.

“Mm.”

Lin Yuxin withdrew from her thoughts and lowered her head, responding softly in an obedient manner.

[Cherish me? If I’m not mistaken, the moment we get home, that fake daughter will use some pity act to make them abandon me. This ‘dear brother’ sure has nice words, but with how their whole family blindly worships that fake, they’d probably help Lin Qianqian count money even if she sold them all!]

Sitting across from her, Lin Shaoyang clearly heard this entire inner monologue.

He glanced around to make sure no one else was present before looking at his sister with an odd expression.

He had been hearing these unexpected thoughts the entire trip.

After testing a few times, he realized something—these thoughts were coming from his sister’s mind.

He could hear her thoughts.

Yet, there was not a single good word about him or their family.

Lin Shaoyang felt frustrated.

They had only just met, so why did his sister have so much resentment toward their family?

But he pretended not to hear, keeping his expression neutral as he sat quietly.

At that moment, the carriage stopped.

Lin Shaoyang smiled gently at his sister.

“Little sister, we’re home. Come down.”

He jumped off the carriage first, then turned and extended a hand to help Lin Yuxin down.

Lin Yuxin accepted his help and stepped off the carriage.

At the entrance of the Lin Manor, a noblewoman stood with a few servants behind her.

She was breathtakingly beautiful and exuded grace.

The moment Zhao Hanya saw Lin Yuxin, she rushed forward, her eyes brimming with tears.

She gazed at Lin Yuxin with deep sorrow and murmured,

“My child… my poor child, you’ve suffered so much!”

Lin Yuxin stared at this beautiful woman—her birth mother.

Seeing her pain, Lin Yuxin felt a little uncomfortable inside.

“Mother, I’m fine now.”

She gently placed a hand over Zhao Hanya’s, comforting her sweetly.

“Good, good, let’s go inside first.”

Zhao Hanya wiped her tears, held Lin Yuxin’s hand, and led her forward.

Before they even reached the main gate, a servant girl rushed toward them in a panic.

Lin Yuxin’s lips curled slightly.

[It’s happening.]

Lin Shaoyang was taken aback.

What’s happening?

Even Zhao Hanya was momentarily stunned.

Who just spoke?

“Madam, it’s terrible! The young miss got emotional earlier and accidentally fell, hitting her head. She’s unconscious now! Please, Madam, come quickly!”

The servant girl sobbed as she reported to Lin Mother.

“What?! Hurry and get a doctor! Why are you still standing here?!”

Zhao Hanya instantly panicked and was about to rush toward Lin Qianqian’s courtyard.

[Lin Qianqian sure is dedicated. To give me a warning, she’s actually gambling with her own body. Should I put on an act too? Maybe roll on the ground and cry? Then I can escape while they’re distracted… Once I’m out, the world is mine! Hahaha!]

Zhao Hanya suddenly halted mid-step.

This time, she was certain—someone was speaking.

Lin Shaoyang’s expression turned strange.

His sister’s thoughts were just… too much. Running away?

No way.

Subtly, Lin Shaoyang took a step behind Lin Yuxin, blocking any possible escape route.

Lin Yuxin remained unaware that her thoughts had been completely exposed.

She lowered her head and continued thinking.

[Sigh, this poor mother. She raised her husband’s illegitimate daughter for so many years, treating her like a treasure. Meanwhile, Lin Qianqian has known about her true identity all along. Who knows what she says behind her back?]

Zhao Hanya’s face instantly turned pale.

She looked at her newly returned daughter.

Now, she knew exactly where that voice was coming from.

It was Lin Yuxin’s inner thoughts.

But… was it true?

Was Lin Qianqian really an illegitimate child?

Regardless, Zhao Hanya no longer felt the urgency to check on Lin Qianqian.

If what Yuxin said was true, she needed to investigate properly.

Suppressing her emotions, Zhao Hanya turned to the servant and snapped,

“What are you still standing here for? Go get the doctor! Do you want your young miss to die?!”

“Madam… aren’t you going to see the young miss?”

The servant hesitated, confused by the madam’s change in attitude.

“She knew Yuxin was coming home today, yet she still ‘accidentally’ got hurt? What exactly is she trying to do?”

Zhao Hanya’s voice was sharp.

“Y-Yes, Madam!”

The servant girl trembled and scurried away to fetch the doctor.

Zhao Hanya turned and firmly took Lin Yuxin’s hand, her voice warm.

“Come, follow Mother.”

Without waiting for a response, she led Lin Yuxin away.

Lin Yuxin was still processing what had just happened.

[Wait! This isn’t following the original plot at all! Weren’t they supposed to abandon me and rush to see their precious Lin Qianqian? I was planning to slip away once they left!]

Realizing she had lost her perfect escape opportunity, Lin Yuxin was frustrated.

Walking ahead, Zhao Hanya remained calm, but she unconsciously tightened her grip on Lin Yuxin’s hand.

The courtyard Zhao Hanya brought Lin Yuxin to was called Xuanlin Pavilion.

Before marrying, Zhao Hanya had been the treasured daughter of the nation’s Grand General. She was talented in both literature and martial arts—until she met a scumbag.

Zhao Hanya led Lin Yuxin to sit down and gazed at her with motherly affection.

“Yuxin, you’ve suffered so much over the years. But now you’re home. From now on, Mother will make it up to you. Oh, and you have three older brothers—this is your second brother. Your eldest brother is Lin Chenxi, and your third brother is Lin Junxian. They will all take good care of you.”

“Yuxin hasn’t suffered. Mother, please don’t worry.”

Lin Yuxin lifted her head, smiling sweetly as she answered obediently.

[This mother is so beautiful! What a pity she married that scumbag father. A woman like her deserves better.]

Zhao Hanya chuckled softly.

This girl… she likes beautiful people?

“Little sister, you can come to me for anything. I’ll always help you! Oh, tomorrow, let me take you shopping so you can see the capital!”

Lin Shaoyang eagerly chimed in.

“Alright! Thank you, Second Brother.”

Just as the atmosphere turned warm, an unwelcome voice sounded from outside.

“Mother, I feel terrible that my accident today delayed sister’s homecoming. As soon as I felt a little better, I rushed over. Please don’t be mad.”

Lin Yuxin instantly recognized her—the fake daughter, Lin Qianqian.

[Oh, she came quickly. Time to see this ‘eternal green tea’ in action.]

Lin Shaoyang frowned. Green tea? Like the drink?

Zhao Hanya, however, narrowed her eyes.

How had she never noticed Lin Qianqian’s scheming before?