Bai Ji gave him a push. “The child and I are nearly crushed by your parents!”

She had lived with the Lin family for a year and knew their dynamics well.

Even though Old Man Lin didn’t show up in person, he was undoubtedly the one pulling the strings behind the scenes.

Lin Yongcheng said, “I’ll go back today and split from the family. The four of us will live on our own. You won’t have to step foot in the Lin family’s house again.”

Bai Ji stared at him intently. “Really?”

She indeed didn’t want to return to the Lin family’s home anymore.

Before, she endured it for the sake of her daughter’s upbringing.

But after everything that happened yesterday, her disgust reached its peak.

Lin Dayang had caused her little daughter to be born prematurely and subjected her to much suffering.

The Lin family didn’t even offer an apology and was already rushing to find a replacement wife for Lin Yongcheng.

If not for the blood ties between Lin Yongcheng and the Lin family, Bai Ji would have gladly severed all ties forever.

Lin Yongcheng promised, “During festivals, I’ll take Xiao Zisu to visit them. Other than sending them off when the time comes, you won’t need to step foot there again.”

Bai Ji playfully pinched his arm. “Don’t say such things!”

How could a son casually talk about sending his parents off to their final rest? If outsiders heard that, they’d certainly call him unfilial, tarnishing his reputation.

“I know what I’m doing.”

Lin Yongcheng was never blindly filial.

His wife was the one to accompany him for a lifetime.

As for his parents, he would ensure their retirement funds were provided and held no guilt toward them.

After chatting for a while, Lin Yongcheng turned his attention to their younger daughter.

The baby, wrapped in a swaddle, looked frail and pitiful.

Lin Yongcheng felt a pang of heartache as he reached out to touch her face.

Xiao Zisu stood on tiptoe and smacked his knee with her little hand.

“Little sister is sleeping. Don’t disturb her!”

What a little spitfire—she immediately turned Bai Ji’s earlier words back on Lin Yongcheng.

Lin Yongcheng shifted his focus to his elder daughter.

He bent down to lift her up and gently pinched her delicate little nose. “Xiao Zisu has become so responsible, even taking care of her sister.”

Xiao Zisu puffed up proudly. “Of course! I’m the big sister now.”

Lin Yongcheng’s face finally lit up with a smile.

“Yes, Xiao Zisu is the big sister now.”

“But little sister is the youngest. You should call me Big Zisu now!”

“You little one, trying to act all grown up?”

By the time Xiao Baiguo woke up, it was almost dark.

After Bai Ji fed her, Lin Yongcheng took the swaddle and cradled her.

Seeing Xiao Baiguo staring at him, he softly cooed, “Why is my little treasure staring at Daddy? Do you recognize me already?”

Xiao Baiguo was just curious.

In the novel, “ruthless” wouldn’t even begin to describe the villain father.

He was an absolute beast—cruel and heartless, exploiting his wealth and showing no warmth even to his parents.

The female lead’s family was tormented by him, garnering all the hatred, but he still managed to get away scot-free in the end.

Yet here he was, grinning foolishly like a doting dad, completely lacking the air of a villainous overlord.

Xiao Baiguo lost interest after a few glances and closed her eyes to sleep again.

…

While the atmosphere in Bai Ji’s household was harmonious, the Lin family’s mood was noticeably tense.

Old Man Lin’s furrowed brows seemed sharp enough to crush flies. Even the favored grandchildren stayed silent, sensing the grim expressions on their grandparents’ faces.

As night fell with no sign of Lin Yongcheng’s return, Old Man Lin scowled. “Don’t wait any longer. Start dinner!”

Thinking about the package Lin Yongcheng had taken to Bai Ji’s house, Old Man Lin felt a pang of regret.

The things that came back from the province were never ordinary.

That large bundle had already made it into their yard but was still taken to Bai Ji’s.

It felt like a piece of meat snatched from his mouth, and the one who did it was someone he despised, which made him even angrier.

Madam Lin was angry too, though she was also a bit uneasy.

“The third one has been gone for so long. Who knows what the Bai family is saying about us?”

“What’s the point of their opinions? Everything we did was for his own good. We’ve been scouting matches for him all day. If he had any conscience, he wouldn’t have let the Bai family rope him in.”

“But what if—”

“What if what? Does he dare disown us?”

Madam Lin dared not say more after being shouted at.

She picked up a spoon and began serving food to the family.

Lin Yongjia, Old Man Lin’s most favored son, had inherited his father’s cunning nature.

Outwardly reserved and honest, he was scheming in his own way, often using his parents to fight his battles.

“Father, the third one’s temper has always been bad. It’s dark now, and he still hasn’t returned. Surely, the Bai family is slandering us. If he vents his anger on Dayang…”

He left his sentence unfinished, letting Old Man Lin draw his own conclusions.

The mentioned Lin Dayang quickly looked to his grandfather. “Grandpa, I’m scared.”

“With Grandpa here, what are you afraid of?”

Old Man Lin, already simmering with anger, grew even more furious at his grandson’s words.

But recalling Lin Yongcheng’s temperament, his rage immediately subsided.

He had no regrets about driving Bai Ji and her daughters away.

However, Lin Yongcheng’s prolonged absence forced him to acknowledge the depth of his son’s feelings for Bai Ji—a realization that was hard to swallow.

Old Man Lin turned his intense gaze to Lin Dayang. In life, choices always had to be made.

After a few seconds of silence, Old Lin spoke again, “If he truly doesn’t want a divorce, then let’s give Lin Dayang to the third house. Looking at his wife, she’s so unlucky; even if nothing happened with Lin Dayang, she doesn’t seem like someone who could have a son. Giving her a son would be a favor.”

The eldest daughter-in-law, Li Xiaofen, immediately got anxious. “Father, Lin Dayang…”

Lin Yongjia pushed her gently, signaling her to be quiet.

The third son had abilities of his own, and with a steady job, Lin Dayang was already five years old, old enough to remember things.

He was raised close by.

What difference would it make to transfer him to the third house?

The third son had no children of his own, and the only heir to the stable job was Lin Dayang.

Later, the third son would have to rely on Lin Dayang to take care of him in his old age.

He would also have to help get the eldest son a job, so both of the eldest sons could live as city people.

This kind of good thing was only seen by that foolish woman.

Lin Yongjia was eager for Lin Yongcheng and Bai Ji to not divorce, and quickly made his statement.

“Lin Dayang made a mistake, so compensating the third house with a son is reasonable. As long as he takes good care of Dayang in the future, I have no objections.”

Father and son exchanged words, making the arrangements for Lin Yongcheng clear.

The second son, Lin Yongye, raised an eyebrow at his wife, a bright smile in his eyes.

He laughed at the old man for being so biased and also mocked Lin Yongjia for overestimating his ability.

They didn’t even think about it.

Could the third son listen to their arrangement with his temper?

The second house kept its distance, as if they were hearing a joke.

And indeed, it was a joke.

…

Lin Yongcheng came back just in time.

He arrived in the evening.

As soon as he entered the hall, he was met by Old Lin’s angry face. With a heavy thud, he slammed the chopsticks down. “You still know how to come back?”

He came back alone, without the bicycle, and without the big package.

Old Lin felt a pang of anger.

Lin Yongcheng looked at him coldly. Using this method to take the initiative was something Old Lin liked to do.

As his son, did Lin Yongcheng not know his tricks?

This look was quite imposing, at least Old Lin’s wife didn’t dare to speak up.

The third son had always had a temper and was a man with his own ideas.

He was different from the other children, especially after returning from the army.

Those who had seen blood had a certain murderous aura about them.

One glance from him was enough to make someone like Old Lin’s wife, who had never seen the world, feel a bit uneasy.

Lin Yongjia also shrank his neck.

He awkwardly smiled and greeted, “The third son is back!”

Lin Yongcheng nodded, “I’m back.”

Then, with a scream, he overturned the dining table, creating a cacophony of crashing sounds. Pots, bowls, and plates were scattered all over the floor. The family’s dinner was ruined.

Old Lin’s wife wailed, “Third son, what the hell are you doing? Just smashing the dinner table like this? How can I have a son like you!”

Old Lin was so angry he rolled his eyes and yelled, “Third son! Your father is still eating, and you dare to flip the table?”

Lin Yongjia and his wife hurried to try to rescue their dinner.

As they got up, Lin Yongcheng grabbed the chair they were sitting on, and before they could react, he hurled it at them.

Old Lin and his wife watched as their beloved eldest son was knocked unconscious.

Blood flowed down Lin Yongjia’s forehead.

Finally, the elderly couple came back to their senses.

“Third son! What are you doing?”

“Third son, put the chair down!”

Put it down? Just one hit!

His wife and child almost died. What’s wrong with venting his anger? If not for the fact that Lin Dayang was only five, he would have hit him too!

Lin Yongcheng picked up the chair again and, amidst the screams of the adults and children, gave Lin Yongjia several hard blows, knocking him to the ground.

The sound of the chair hitting the bones was clear.

All the children in the room were scared and crying.

Lin Yongcheng showed no mercy. They were only scared. Whether his little daughter could survive was still uncertain. How could he not hate them?

“Lin Yongjia, my wife and child were almost killed by your son, and you still have the nerve to sit down and eat? Do you think I’m dead?”

“You’d better watch Lin Dayang closely, or get ready to collect his body!”

He wasn’t crazy enough to kill five-year-old Lin Dayang.

But the necessary intimidation had to be there.

This little brat had been spoiled by the old couple and had no sense of boundaries. He treated his two sisters like slaves.

If he wasn’t scared into submission today, he might bully his two daughters later.

Such a hidden danger should be dealt with early!

Lin Yongjia couldn’t get up. Old Lin’s wife cried and cursed, and Old Lin also pointed at Lin Yongcheng, cursing him. The women and children were all crying.

The elderly were old, the weak were weak, and only Lin Yongye could mediate the situation.

“Third son, don’t kill anyone!” He hurriedly grabbed the chair from Lin Yongcheng’s hand.

Lin Yongcheng was still holding the chair and kicked Lin Yongjia twice. No one dared to approach, and the old couple could only curse their ungrateful son.

“Good-for-nothing! I’ve been struggling outside, and you let your son bully my wife and children? Now you’re lying there like a dead dog. If you’re so bold, get up!”

“Get up! Don’t lie there like a useless thing.”

Lin Yongjia’s whole back was in agony.

His head had taken a hard blow, and his brain felt numb. He was floating like he was in a dream.

Even if he wasn’t dazed from the beating, he didn’t dare to get up. The third son had been a soldier, and his physique was far better than his own. Would he get up and ask for a beating?

Lin Yongjia lay there, his eyes staring blankly.

Old Lin’s tears streamed down.

“Lin Yongcheng, you beast! I should have drowned you back then!”

“Are you trying to make me die from anger? You little beast, I don’t have a son like you!”

Lin Yongcheng, full of murderous intent, let out a cold laugh. “Alright, you said it! You don’t have a son like me, then I’ll leave right now!”

He said it, and he walked away. Old Lin panicked.

“Third son, come back!”

Lin Yongcheng stood in the yard, turned around, and the mockery in his eyes was obvious.

“Talking nonsense, I haven’t even walked out, and you’re already backing out?”