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He felt he was nothing more than a cripple, existing in this world only to inconvenience others; living such a compromised life seemed utterly pointless.

Consequently, he voluntarily moved to the room at the end of the corridor. Day after day, he confined himself here, leading a self-imposed incarcerated life, wishing the entire world would forget him.

Ying Zhao understood the anguish within Lin Yiting’s heart. Moreover, when he held the other's hand, he felt a warmth that he recognized, a warmth only the soul of his beloved could bring him.

Thinking about the plot he had read, where he learned of the premature death of Lin Ze's older brother, the thought of his beloved languishing unto death in such a gloomy room inflicted waves of heartache that he couldn't suppress.

While Ying Zhao was diligently cultivating a pleasant atmosphere with his beloved at one end, the entire Lin mansion was turned upside down searching for him on the other.

Having waited for Ying Zhao for an extended period, Lin Ze decided to look for him in the restrooms.

After searching several locations without any trace of Ying Zhao, Lin Ze felt defeated and reluctantly sought the help of the adults chatting leisurely in the living room.

On hearing about Ying Zhao's disappearance, Lin Ze's parents immediately summoned all the servants. They combed through the vast Lin mansion, but Ying Zhao was nowhere to be found.

At the height of everyone's despair, Lin Ze suddenly recalled that Ying Zhao had once mentioned wanting to explore the corridor's end.

Thoughts of his terrifying elder brother crossed his mind. Could it be that Xiao Zhou had defied him and ventured into the room at the end of the corridor?

Images of his brother's dark and fierce countenance flashed in Lin Ze's mind, filling him with dread. He feared the worst: had Xiao Zhou been harmed by their malevolent elder brother?

At that moment, Lin Ze, still merely a seven-year-old child, couldn't contain his emotions and burst into tears.

Seeing him in such a state, the Lin parents rushed to his side, anxiously inquiring, "Lin Ze, what's wrong? Why are you crying all of a sudden?"

Choking back sobs, Lin Ze recounted Ying Zhao's words to them. The Lin parents and Ying Zhao's parents were instantly reminded of Lin Yiting's bipolar disorder.

Without a moment's delay, they hurriedly made their way to Lin Yiting's room. But upon opening the door, they were met with an unexpected sight: their usually sullen son, now with a hint of gentleness in his eyes.

Ying Zhao was seated comfortably on Lin Yiting's lap, leaning against him with a worn, one-legged rabbit plush toy in his hands.

The sight of Ying Zhao and the familiar plush toy shocked the Lin parents.

That toy was the only plaything Lin Yiting had ever owned and he never allowed anyone to touch it. He had found it in the yard when he was very young.

Lady Lin had wanted to discard the damaged toy, but Lin Yiting reacted furiously. He argued that if a one-legged toy was to be thrown away, then should he, with his crippled legs, be discarded as well?

From that day on, the plush rabbit became Lin Yiting's sole companion. That incident also marked the day he began to shut the world out.

Chapter 28: The Heir's Lame Elder Brother (Part 4)

In truth, the Lin parents didn't harbor any real disdain for Lin Yiting. It was just that his birth coincided with them taking full charge of the Lin estate.

With countless matters to attend to and the complexities of managing a vast family, they were too engrossed in their duties to provide Lin Yiting with ample attention.

By the time they realized the oversight, Lin Yiting had transformed into his current self. They regretted their negligence and yearned to reconnect with their son.

However, by then, it was too late. Lin Yiting had become reclusive, with a volatile temper, easily triggered by the slightest provocation.

Thus, seeing Ying Zhao comfortably seated on Lin Yiting's lap, and Lin Yiting's unprecedented gentle demeanor was a startling revelation for the Lin parents.

Their amazement was short-lived, as Lin Yiting's expression turned cold and menacing the moment he noticed the intrusion.

Sensing the shift in Lin Yiting's mood, Ying Zhao gently patted his arm and jumped down, looking at the newcomers with puzzlement:

"Why did you all rush in here? Brother and I were having a good time."

Lin Ze, standing to the side, overheard Ying Zhao's words. With disbelief, he turned and remarked, "What? You're saying you got along well with my brother?"

Lin Ze's gaze shifted between the two individuals, swallowing hard. After all, the person he feared most in this house was his elder brother, Lin Yi Ting.

In Lin Ze's memories, ever since he could remember, his elder brother had always stayed in this room. He once wished to enter and play with him, but the moment he opened the door, he was met with his brother's icy stare, coldly telling him to get out.

Yet, surprisingly, Xiao Zhou was sitting comfortably on his brother's lap, playing. A surge of admiration for Ying Zhao rose in Lin Ze's heart.

The Lin and Ying families had been long-time acquaintances. The parents of Lin were true friends with Ying Zhou's parents. Ying Zhou's parents had naturally heard about Lin Yi Ting and knew the constant concern the Lin couple felt for their son, who had both a physical disability and bipolar disorder.

Seeing Ying Zhou interacting so harmoniously with Lin Yi Ting, Ying's mother, while surprised, felt a certain joy. This indicated that Lin Yi Ting's emotions could still be managed.

Tears welled up in Lady Lin's eyes. Taking a deep breath, she approached Ying Zhao, crouched down, and with a pleading tone, asked him:

"Xiao Zhou, could you visit us more often? Would you spend more time with this older brother?"

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