Chapter 469

Chapter 469

Trouble

This matter is tangled in ways we can’t foresee, so it’s best to tread carefully.

The Lin family has influence, but most of them are gentle and kind-hearted; they’re no match for how cutthroat the others are. Thus, this situation requires careful planning.

Zheng Min dug in her heels, and the Lin family had no choice but to let her go. In the end, she left with reddened eyes.

To outsiders, it seemed she had been wronged, but in reality, she’d staged it herself—just to make people believe she was unwelcome in the Lin family and was eaten up with resentment.

To avoid suspicion, the rest of the Lin family kept up appearances, carrying on as usual, making no visible changes.

On the surface, nothing about the Lin family had changed, but in truth, they had secretly taken measures to protect the children. However, their targets still hadn’t stepped outside the Lin estate, which troubled them.

Since Du Du was just a kid, staying indoors wouldn’t raise suspicion, so everyone kept her at home, too scared to let her out.

As for Lin Nannan, upon learning that someone was targeting the Lin family, she began laying low at home, much like when Lu Yuan was around.

Having just arrived in the capital, others were unfamiliar with her temperament, so she adapted effortlessly, doing whatever she damn well pleased—completely unlike the others, who stuck to routine.

A few days later, by the time A Jian and A Da made it to the capital, Zheng Min was at her breaking point.

They contacted no one, instead posing as migrant workers seeking work in the city and renting the place next to Zheng Min’s.

No one had arranged it—they deliberately sought her out and paid a slightly higher price. Who was gonna turn down extra cash?

As for how Zheng Min would meet them, it was even simpler: they hopped the fence.

The first time Zheng Min saw A Jian, she was startled. Only after learning he was arranged by Lin Nannan did she relax, explaining how the noose was tightening and hoping for a swift resolution.

Though she had chosen to involve herself, facing unpredictable and dangerous individuals still unnerved her.

"Just yell if shit goes down—we’re right next door," A Jian said after they got the lay of the land. Since they couldn’t intervene directly, this was the best arrangement for now.

Perhaps emboldened by knowing she had protection, Zheng Min grew bolder, even daring to negotiate for benefits with her adversaries—leaving A Jian and the others next door exchanging WTF looks.

If she had this much game, what did she need their protection for?

Zheng Min wasn’t causing trouble. She’d fed them a line, claiming that after visiting the Lin family, her sincerity had earned her a brief moment holding Lu Du Du. Though fleeting, it signaled progress, and soon, she’d be able to bring the child out.

This was music to the ears of the ones hiding in the shadows, quelling their impatience once more. It bought time, cooling their heels a while longer, and giving Lin Nannan and the others more time to prepare.

...

Whoever was pulling the strings played the long game, like a predator in the dark, waiting to pounce on its prey—the Lin family.

They could wait, but Zhang Ling couldn’t.

She had thought her life was over, a lost cause, until she was rescued.

Having suffered little hardship, and with her looks, she’d landed on her feet, using her charms to secure a comfortable life with a patron.

But upon learning that the Lin family thrived while her own daughter had vanished from the capital, her hatred for them became uncontrollable.

Her daughter should have inherited everything from the Lin family, yet now she was cast aside, denied even a foothold in their affairs. This fueled Zhang Ling’s loathing, and now all she wanted was to watch the Lin family burn—preferably with a few deaths, so they could taste the agony of outliving their own.

Knowing the rest of the Lin family was untouchable, she set her sights on Lin Kangsheng.

She'd never cared for this stepson, yet she knew his situation inside out.

Lin Kangsheng's wife wasn’t an easy target either, as any move against her would alert the enemy. However, abducting Lin Kangsheng's daughter was feasible—after all, the child was being raised at her maternal grandparents' home, an ordinary household in a chaotic neighborhood where a missing child wouldn’t raise much suspicion.

Though Zhang Ling appeared to be living well, she lacked people to command. After badgering relentlessly and pulling every trick she had, she finally scrounged up two lackeys.

But just as her plan fell into place, Lin Youyou was taken back by the Lin family, leaving Lin Kangsheng’s father-in-law injured and hospitalized...

When the Lin family heard the news, they were filled with dread. Watching Lin Youyou playing with Lin Shuang, they went pale, too shaken to speak.

"If Mom hadn’t pushed for a family dinner, Youyou wouldn’t have come back. If she had encountered those people, how could her elderly grandparents have protected her? Youyou could’ve been snatched..." Zhou Cuiwei’s hands trembled as she spoke.

No one could blame her for reacting this way—the situation was truly terrifying.

Had anything happened to Lin Youyou, Lin Kangsheng and his wife would have been driven mad.

Though busy, the couple adored their child no less than anyone else in the family.

The old lady almost passed out cold from the shock, but Lin Nannan swiftly gave her a life-saving pill, helping her recover. Now she just sat there, slumped and silent.

"Mom, it’s alright. Don’t worry!" Lin Zhaoyou rushed back upon hearing the news and sat beside the old woman to comfort her.

The old lady blinked, exhaled deeply, and said, "I’m terrified... What if something had happened to Youyou?"

"Youyou is safe now," Zhao Zhi called the child over and whispered a few words to her. Youyou then threw herself into the old lady’s arms, singing out, "Great-grandma, I’m hungry! I want meat!"

Clueless about the danger, Zhao Zhi made up an excuse to distract the old lady, fearing she might dwell on the incident and worsen her health.

Sure enough, the old lady perked up immediately.

Great-grandma Lin, still dazed, instantly regained her spirits at her great-granddaughter’s words and ordered, "There are steamed buns in the kitchen. Grab some for the kids to munch on!"

"I’ll get them!" Feng Xi volunteered.

The steaming buns came out, and the children cheered. Even Lu Dudu, who had just started teething, drooled at the scent, making everyone chuckle and breaking the tension with laughter.

"Mom, don’t overthink it. Youyou’s grandfather isn’t in mortal danger, and Youyou is safe—that’s the best outcome. If you worry yourself sick, we’ll fall apart!" Zhou Cuiwei said anxiously.

The kids’ antics snapped the old lady out of it, and she relaxed and regained her composure.

"We must capture Zhang Ling. She knows everything about us, while we know nothing about her. If this continues, it’ll end in disaster!" The thought of her great-granddaughter nearly coming to harm filled the old lady with hatred and regret for not having dealt with Zhang Ling decisively in the past.