Chapter 122

The boys in the back row heard this, and in an instant their whole bodies went limp.

Ling Yue heard his low muttering, as if he were talking to himself: "I knew it, she's not, how could she be my mom, she herself even said I'm not……"

It seemed only this could give him a hint of comfort—not that he wasn't good enough, but that she simply didn't like her; in her eyes, everything he did was wrong.

By the time Ling Yue brought him home, it was already midnight; she hastily tidied a guest room and looked at Lin Yang: "You can rest here today, and tomorrow I'll take you to school."

Hearing the two words "school," Lin Yang's eyes flickered: "School?"

Lin Yang looked at him: "Don't you want to keep going to school?"

"Because giving up on yourself is the stupidest thing to do, your grades are excellent; I'll take you to Jing Shi No. 1 High School, I can sponsor you, and you can repay me after you start working."

"All right, rest now; tomorrow there might be another tough battle to fight."

Lin Yang blinked slightly; he wasn't stupid, even quite smart, and instantly thought of that one million—aside from not knowing he was fake, he knew Lin Yan's character all too well; would she let him study in peace?

Impossible!

Moreover, there was that one million; this was the first time he'd heard of such a contract—twenty years, one million—this isn't a contract, it's an old-time indenture!

Without Ling Yue, he could never have imagined what his future self would become.

Lin Yang pulled the covers over himself, lay in bed, his mind racing with these scenes and conjectures; he closed his eyes and forced himself to sleep.

In less than a day, his world had been turned upside down.

After breakfast, Ling Yue led him straight to Jing Shi No. 1 High School; because of the previous investigation, the school's leadership had been almost entirely purged.

Except for a few innocent ones, like the new director of education, who wasn't dismissed but instead received commendation from above.

So, Ling Yue still felt confident.

Even without confidence, she glanced at the message on her phone and gave a faint smile.

Before the towering iron gate of Jing Shi No. 1 High School, crowds of returning students filled the area; since it was the first day of term, Ling Yue and Lin Yang were lost in the throng, hardly noticeable.

They headed straight for the principal's office.

After hearing the visitor explain their purpose, the new principal was startled, then reacted immediately, warmly greeting them and summoning other teachers; his friendly gaze made Ling Yue unable to resist feeling creepy, she rubbed her arm as if she'd touched gooseflesh.

No wonder they were so enthusiastic; for the school at this moment, Lin Yang was a lifeline—such an outstanding student, for a school whose reputation had suffered, Lin Yang was their last lifeline!

The homeroom teacher didn't know what to say.

In an instant, the principal looked at him kindly, his eyes lighting up instantly, comparable to a five-hundred-watt bulb.

His eyes full of expectation: "Little student, you're Lin Yang, right? Don't be nervous, don't be nervous, what's there to be afraid of? Relax first, and we'll keep talking."

As he spoke, he poured a cup of tea: "Have some hot water first."

Lin Yang never imagined that one day he would find comfort from a stranger.

Thanks to the teachers' help, the residence procedures were completed quickly; Ling Yue finally felt a weight lift off her mind—at the very least, Lin Yang now had a place to stay and could escape Lin Yan's entanglement.

Ling Yue thought, her eyes deepening; if today went smoothly, perhaps Lin Yan would never appear again.

The next moment, the principal's office phone rang suddenly; the guard's gruff voice came through the receiver, unbearable even to the handset: "Something's happened to the principal—parents are blocking the gate, demanding to see their child! They're still shouting, and I can barely hold them back."

No sooner had the words ended than a woman's sharp cry sounded from the other end; Ling Yue frowned, though she'd only met her once, her memory was excellent, so she immediately recognized it as Lin Yan.

Ling Yue couldn't hide the cold smile in her eyes; she wasn't surprised, but rather felt that it had finally come.

At the school gate.

With Lin Yan at the center, a vacuum formed around her as countless parents and passersby gathered, pointing and gossiping.

Lin Yan didn't care at all, giving the guard a cold smile: "I'll say it again—are you letting me in or not?"

The guard, an old slickster, glared at her: "Just wait—without the principal's permission, even if you shouted until the heavens cracked, I wouldn't open the door. Look around, which parent is like you? Our school doesn't let outsiders come and go as they please; we're responsible for the students."

After his speech, many parents nodded in approval.

The only one truly angry was probably Lin Yan herself; she rolled up her sleeves: "Let me in! My son Lin Yang is inside—if you won't let me in, I'll make him drop out!"

Those nearby heard this and sucked in a cold breath; some students were so frightened they froze: "Lin Yang?"

"He's our school's senior, his grades are excellent, teachers say he's a promising prospect for Jing Shi University!"

"Hiss!!!"

Upon hearing this, the parents were stunned: "A child who studies this well, you want him to drop out? If it were my family, I'd rush to offer sacrifices at the ancestors' graves—truly, blue smoke would rise from the tomb!"

"Is this person mentally ill, or is she the child's stepmother?"

As everyone chatted, Lin Yan's face turned black as night; the talk of stepmothers and wickedness made her so angry her face seemed about to twist.

She squeezed her eyes, tears spilling instantly: "What nonsense are you spouting? I'm doing this for his own good—I've painstakingly raised him, how can you say such things about me?"

"We simply can't afford to keep him in school; what's wrong with letting him drop out to share the burden? I'm his mother—he ought to support me!"

At that moment, someone caught sight of the scene on campus and shouted: "Lin Yang is here!"

"And there are teachers, the principal, so many people!"

The crowd startled and turned; the school gates swung open, the principal leading a group of teachers appeared before everyone, and beside him stood a tall, slender youth in uniform—none other than Lin Yang.

Ling Yue stood nearby, her memory of that woman etched deeply.

Lin Yan looked at them in disbelief: "You—what do you intend to do?"

Looking again at Lin Yang, he wore a neat, crisp uniform that set off his handsome, refined features; even Lin Yan herself couldn't help but glance at him twice.

On what grounds?!

The more this happened, the more unwilling she became—could it really be that someone is born both smart and noble?

Then the principal spoke first: "Lin Yang's parent, we understand your feelings; the child's burden is too great, so after a unanimous decision by all the teachers, we will waive all tuition for Lin Yang and provide a meal subsidy!"

"What do you think of this arrangement?"

Such excellent conditions made even the neighboring students' parents envy them—though only envy, since they knew their own children could hardly compare in academics.

This is what they deserve.

Lin Yan, who had just been about to keep shouting, suddenly froze—this had blocked her excuse. Immediately she reacted, looking at the principal: "I don't agree!"

"I insist he drop out to share my burden—hurry up and let me take him away."

The principal furrowed his brows; even Ling Yue was furious at her tantrum, but what could she say? To directly say, "What right do you have to do this? Lin Yang isn't even your son?" Lin Yang was still standing nearby, and Ling Yue would absolutely not overstep her bounds.

She was thinking, her gaze falling on the boy.

Lin Yang seemed to feel it, suddenly smiling at her; Ling Yue was slightly startled, not knowing how to describe it, and at that moment she saw a determination in his eyes.

"Are you determined to destroy me before you'll be satisfied?"

He couldn't understand why she would torment him like this; even if he wasn't her biological son, after eighteen years, even raising a dog would have produced some feeling, right?

But all she gave him was endless oppression and madness!

"If you want me to drop out of school, do you know this tuition is earned by me working day after day on a construction site? You keep saying I should be responsible, but why have I heard that I'm a child you stole, you call me a white-eyed wolf, what have I done to disappoint you?"

"I just want to go to school, I just want to study properly; I don't want you to sell me off with a single sentence—twenty years, one million bought out—and I remember it all clearly."

Lin Yang looked at her sadly, and she flusteredly stepped back, saying, "Fake, it's all fake—where did you hear this? Nonsense!"

The onlooking crowd, upon hearing this, were already utterly shocked; after the twenty-year, one-million figure came out, they were dumbfounded.

"Holy shit, no wonder she's so vicious—not even biological, not even picked up, she stole someone else's child! This is a child trafficker, right?"

"This poor kid—twenty years, one million, a modern-day indentured servant?"

"It turns out there are still people who can't even manage to study."

"This is hateful—this is child trafficking, they ought to be arrested! I'm calling the police!"

The previous school leaders, astonished, looked at the shocking-speaking youth; earlier someone had wondered why it was Ling Yue who brought him, a stranger, rather than Lin Yang's mother, but now the case is solved.

No one expected he harbored so much inside.

The gaze toward Lin Yang was both pitying and admiring.

No one knew just how long he had endured, living under such a mad mother and still maintaining top-of-his-class grades.

The discussion sounded like a one ** ferocious wave crashing against the chest; Lin Yan's brain short-circuited, and only after a while did she react: "What nonsense are you spouting? I know you look down on our family's poverty, but how can you say that?!"

Lin Yang didn't speak; from beginning to end, he looked at her with a plain, water-like gaze, with no trace of expectation or despair, as if she were merely a passerby.

At that moment, she felt as if she had lost something; soon, the one million occupied her whole mind—that was one million, and it could still defuse the time bomb beside her.

She forever remembered how wealthy that family was, their riches could be called heavenly; if they found out—

Thinking of this, Lin Yan involuntarily shuddered.

That greedy yet timid look fell into Ling Yue's eyes; she didn't know whether to call her foolish or wicked—she wouldn't really think that just by continuing to make a fuss, Lin Yang would give in, would she?

She wouldn't really think that a single tantrum would get her the outcome she wanted, would she?

She curled a smile and, before Lin Yan could launch another attack, said only one sentence: "You don't really think no one knows what you did, do you? Eighteen years ago you snatched him, tearing his parents' hearts out; you might have escaped for a moment, but you can't escape forever."

As Ling Yue's words fell, as if in response, a loud horn blast sounded; Lin Yan's face instantly turned pale, she turned her head, and a police car appeared before the onlooking crowd.

Cheng Ziming and a few colleagues stepped out of the car, their crisp uniforms in Lin Yan's eyes frightening her into frantic retreat: "What child-stealing? He's the one I picked up, a white-eyed wolf—I don't care about him anymore! I can't handle him!"

As she spoke, she tried to flee, but the onlooking crowd from all sides formed a ring, trapping her tightly, watching helplessly as the police drew nearer.

Whoosh—

A pair of silver handcuffs were taken out; Cheng Ziming looked at her: "We've received a report that you illegally trafficked children and are involved with black forces; please come with us to the station for investigation."

"I didn't! Officer, I didn't!"

With a "click," the handcuffs snapped onto Lin Yan's wrists; the cold sensation brought her back to her senses instantly, she was so frightened her legs went weak, and she frantically explained: "Officer, I've always been law-abiding, I've done nothing wrong, I've done nothing at all!"

Cheng Ziming: "Whether you did it or not, the precinct will naturally clear your name; first come back with us for investigation."

She suddenly realized, looking at Ling Yue: "It's you! Is it you?"

Ling Yue said nothing; the fate of such a person is obvious at a glance. She turned to Lin Yang: "Aren't you supposed to be living on campus? Have you prepared your bedding and daily necessities?"

Lin Yang blinked, shook his head, and said: "No."

Ling Yue: "Then that's settled; I'll first take you to buy towels, toothbrushes, bedding, and other daily necessities."

Lin Yang opened his mouth, about to say something, but Ling Yue cut him off directly: "These things, you can pay me back once you're working."

As she spoke, she suddenly laughed: "Maybe you won't even have to wait until you're working—your biological parents have been looking for you all along."

The boy lowered his lashes at her words: "So what then?"

After this incident, although he believed Ling Yue, he had completely lost hope in the notion of family affection; eighteen years had already passed.

Lin Yang gathered his thoughts: "I just want to study well now; thank you for always helping me, thank you."

As a poor student, he has nothing to offer now; the only thing he has is his gratitude.

Ling Yue couldn't stop him; the boy bowed deeply to her three times in respect.

As they walked farther away, they completely left Lin Yan behind; the school gate returned to normal, but news about Lin Yang spread further and further, though he himself was basically unaffected. …

After returning, Ling Yue actively provided leads for the kidnapping case; after all, eighteen years had passed, and back when surveillance wasn't widespread, investigating a person's movements was like finding a needle in a haystack.

Moreover, Lin Yan had traveled a long distance to another unfamiliar city.

Ling Yue pondered for a moment: "Lin Yang's biological parents should be in the south, well-off; Lin Yan once worked as a maid in their home, and they called her Qin Ma."

"Right, their home should have a huge osmanthus tree, very old."

……

The clues were given by Ling Yue in full detail; on the other side, at the police station, Lin Yan had already been scared out of her wits, but she hadn't lost her mind—she knew how heinous her actions were, she would go to jail, and that family would certainly not let her off!

So Lin Yan refused to admit it to the death.

On the other hand, the Zeng Ge related to her was rooted out by the police; all his talk about rich young masters and missies was nonsense, his true identity being a big boss in the underworld.

Ling Yue's report of black‑market involvement was indeed correct.

Lin Yan's case was still under review, but Lin Yang, with the police's help, had transferred his household registration out, becoming an independent household; seeing the red booklet, his eyes reddened.

Soon he threw himself back into intense study; the only thing he could do was study, study hard.

Afterward, Ling Yue didn't pay attention, but from their recent meetings, seeing Lin Yang's appearance, she was sure he would achieve his wish!

In the early morning, a long queue had already formed in front of the pet consultation shop; as the wind blew, a corner wind chime dinged, the cute little copper bell swaying.

"Wow, so pretty."

The babyish voice drew Ling Yue's attention; it was a little girl in a light‑blue puffy skirt, being held in her mother's arms, while beside her stood a father carrying a large box.

Apart from the little girl, everyone's attire was very solemn.

This was Ling Yue's last consulting client.

Dad placed the box in front of Ling Yue, opened it, and inside was a yellow‑margined turtle the size of a rice bowl.

The onlooking crowd jumped in shock: "Wow, such a big turtle!"

"The color is quite antiquated; it looks really dignified."

"Look at this polished shell; some would even believe it's an antique."

Ling Yue could tell this yellow‑margined turtle had been carefully raised for a long time; it was very beautiful.

Its shell resembled carved rosewood — not as flashy as other turtles, yet especially noble and dignified; at that moment it lay motionless in the plastic box.

Under everyone's gaze, the turtle seemed to sense something, slowly extended its neck, then retracted.

"Let me die; don't torment me anymore."

Ling Yue heard the turtle's heartbeat, her brows furrowed instantly; she looked at the man, whose eye sockets were red as if he'd been crying a long time, and he said: "This is the only pet my father left behind before his death; I took it over just a few days ago, and then something happened."

"At first it refused to move, then suddenly it stopped eating and drinking; I want to consult, boss — can you keep it alive?"

Ling Yue remained silent, and a turtle keeper already spoke: "Could it be going into hibernation?"

"Turtles, when they sense low temperature, refuse food and start hibernating; yours isn't like that? It looks like it doesn't want to move either."

Who would have thought the man shook his head: "I also know turtles hibernate; this turtle, I bought it when I was in junior high; later I had no time to keep it due to school, left it for my dad to care for; when I was little, I raised it together with my dad; I've seen it hibernate before, and even built a nest for it."

He turned to the turtle keeper: "So I know it's definitely not hibernation; it's voluntarily fasting, and I took it to the hospital for examination; besides malnutrition, there's no other problem. The malnutrition is also due to it not eating turtle food on its own."

"Boss, please help me check; this is the only thing my father… left for me."

As he spoke, he suddenly burst into tears; Ling Yue gazed deeply at his face, then suddenly brought up another matter: "Your father, when did he pass away?"

The man blinked slightly, then blurted out without hesitation: "A week ago, I was away; I was just a bit short, I still didn't make it in time; I didn't even see his last face, I'm unfilial!"

He cried uncontrollably; his wife comforted him from the side; only their naive daughter spoke up, asking Mom: "Why is Dad crying?"

The wife blinked: "Because Dad, there is no Dad anymore."

Upon saying that, the surroundings fell silent; the sentiment "children wish to support but parents are not waiting" — many people quietly wiped tears.

Ling Yue, however, tightly furrowed her brows, looking at the man whose face was red from crying, "Not right.",,,.