Volume 1 Chapter 5: The Stranger in the Family Portrait

Lin Shao gently patted his daughter’s head.

"Very well. We are done with that man, the Lin family wants nothing more to do with him!"

"And as for Qin Tianlang and the Qin family, I will make sure they pay the price. A daughter of the Lin family is not to be bullied."

"There is no need," Lin Qiao said, shaking her head. Whether they were good or bad, she no longer cared. She wasn't concerned with the Qin family's fate; she simply didn't want the Lin family to waste their energy on people who were no longer relevant. "Please, don't waste your efforts on revenge."

"Fine! Fine! Whatever you say, we will do." Lin Shao had already transformed into a doting father; he would agree to anything Lin Qiao asked.

Ye Shulan watched her daughter from the side and asked softly, "Qiaoqiao, who gave you your name?"

"I chose the surname 'Lin' myself when I was at the orphanage." It felt like destiny that out of all the surnames, she had gravitated toward 'Lin.' "As for 'Qiao,' I hoped to be like a sturdy tree—able to grow tall and strong without having to lean on anyone else."

A wave of melancholy washed over Lin Qiao as she recalled the origin of her name. For several years, she had relied on Qin Tianlang, failing to be the independent tree she had aspired to be. She had let the director of the orphanage down.

Ye Shulan was so choked with emotion that she could not speak. When she lost her daughter, she hadn't even had the chance to name her. In the places where Ye Shulan could not see, her daughter had grown up through such hardship.

Lin Shao comforted Ye Shulan with a pat. "We have found her now; it is a joyous occasion. We should be happy." He began to explain to Lin Qiao how, years ago, due to having too many enemies, she had been stolen away by rivals the moment she was born. "Qiaoqiao, there hasn't been a single moment in all these years that we weren't looking for you. Now, our family is finally reunited. From now on, your mother and I will protect you well and never let you suffer the slightest grievance."

Outside the living room, Lin Zhunian suspiciously questioned Lin Guifan, "Are we really just going to let Qin Tianlang off the hook like this?"

Lin Guifan calmly adjusted his cuffs and said nonchalantly, "Father agreed to it, but I never did." He added, "Qin Yi is, after all, our sister's biological son; we just shouldn't go too far."

Lin Zhunian’s eyes lit up. This old fox! He knew it! With the Lin family’s protective nature, how could they ever let that scumbag off so easily? With his eldest brother taking the lead, Qin Tianlang was in for a rough time.

***

Lin Qiao’s belongings were quickly retrieved from her rental apartment by bodyguards. Looking at the meager luggage, the Lin family felt a pang of heartache. At the Lin estate, every family member had rooms upon rooms of walk-in closets, with the latest seasonal styles from top luxury brands delivered for them to choose from. Yet, for Lin Qiao, that one small suitcase held everything she owned after all these years.

Ye Shulan led Lin Qiao to the second floor of the estate and pushed open a door. It was a massive bedroom—a single room larger than the spacious flat Lin Qiao and Qin Tianlang had shared in the city.

"We had Steward Wang prepare this in a hurry," Lin’s mother said, holding Lin Qiao’s hand. "It’s a bit rushed. In the future, you can tell me what style you like, and I’ll have it redecorated for you."

Lin Qiao clutched her mother’s hand and quickly said, "Thank you, Mom. There is no need to redecorate. I really like it." And she truly did.

Having grown up in an orphanage, she knew that place couldn't be her home forever. After she married, Qin Tianlang moved out of the Qin residence and bought a flat in the city with her. Lin Qiao had thought that was home, but whenever Qin Tianlang gave her the cold shoulder, she felt an underlying, restless insecurity. She had been like a floating duckweed without roots, but now, she had finally found a real home.

On her first night at the Lin estate, Ye Shulan slept with Lin Qiao. Lin Qiao leaned on her mother’s shoulder and told her stories of her past. She always chose the interesting parts, talking about the scholarships she had won and the awards from her photography activities. Ye Shulan knew well that her daughter was burying the bitterness in her heart, so she cheered and praised Lin Qiao. In the end, she couldn't help but pull her daughter into her arms, heartbroken.

"You’ve suffered so much all these years. Mom arrived too late." Her daughter should have been raised like a precious pearl, cherished in the palm of their hands.

Lin Qiao didn't say anything more; she just hugged her mother tighter. "It's so good. I finally have a mother."

Ye Shulan was getting on in years, and after the day’s intense emotional highs and lows, she soon fell asleep. Lin Qiao held her mother’s hand under the covers, lost in memory.

After she married Qin Tianlang, she had been bullied by his mother, Cheng Ru, simply because she was an orphan without parents. Cheng Ru had demanded she pick flowers for her in the pouring rain, claiming, "Flowers gathered at this time, having absorbed the rainwater, are at their most beautiful."

Lin Qiao had had her first fierce argument with Cheng Ru on that rainy day. The next day, she had developed a fever and started bleeding. In those countless moments of helplessness and grievance, she had often thought about how wonderful it would be if she had a family to back her up. A threatened miscarriage had forced her to lie in bed for a full six months, unable to move; her legs had become so swollen that they would leave a dent at the slightest touch. In the end, she couldn't carry the pregnancy to term, and she gave birth to Qin Yi prematurely.

She had grown up without a mother herself, and yet, at the age of just graduating from college, she had had to learn how to be a good mother to Qin Yi. For years, she had naively entered into marriage with Qin Tianlang. She had wanted a family so badly. She wanted the three of them—her, Qin Tianlang, and Qin Yi—to live a good life. Later, she only wanted to live a good life with her child. Then, she realized her sacrifices were nothing more than a joke.

But now, she had family who loved her, and things would only get better. Her family gave her the confidence she had lacked; she would never let herself be wronged again.

***

The next morning, Lin Qiao slept in for once. When she woke, Ye Shulan was no longer in the room. When she reached the first floor, Steward Wang greeted her with a smile.

"Good morning, Miss. What would you like for breakfast? I shall have the kitchen prepare it."

"Anything is fine. Thank you, Steward Wang."

"The kitchen has many professional chefs on call 24 hours a day. Whatever you wish to eat, the kitchen can prepare it immediately. May I ask what your preferences are?"

Lin Qiao hesitated. For so many years, she had only ever cooked the dishes that the Qin family—father and son—preferred. It was the first time anyone had asked her what *she* liked to eat. She was stunned to realize that she didn't even know.

Ye Shulan walked over then, and after hearing what the steward had asked, she instructed, "Starting today, have the chefs prepare a different style for every meal to see what Qiaoqiao likes."

"Very well, Madam. I shall see to it at once," the steward replied.

Had this been before, Lin Qiao would have shyly refused. But after last night, she had made up her mind: she would no longer wrong herself; she would learn to love herself properly. She hugged Ye Shulan. "Thank you, Mom."

After breakfast, Lin Qiao accompanied Ye Shulan to the greenhouse to soak up the sun. The greenhouse was filled with rare and exotic flowers. As Lin Qiao was admiring them, her father arrived with her brothers.

Lin Shao handed a black card to Lin Qiao. "This is an unlimited black card. From now on, use this for all your expenses." Knowing her personality, he emphasized, "You are not allowed to avoid using it. I am giving you a task: every month, you must spend at least..." He paused, pondering for a moment, and then stated a figure.

Lin Qiao was shocked wide-eyed at the amount. Beside them, Lin Zhunian jumped up, saying, "Dad! You doting father, that’s way too biased!"

Lin Shao looked at Lin Qiao. "Qiaoqiao, as the daughter of the Lin family, the first thing you must learn is how to spend money. Can you do that?"

Lin Qiao glanced at her mother and saw Ye Shulan looking at her with a smile. She took the card and nodded in agreement.

Ye Shulan smiled and said, "Mom has prepared a gift for you as well. It’s already in your bedroom—it’s a building in the city center. Whenever you want to stay in the city, you can stay there."

Lin Guifan handed an envelope to Lin Qiao. She opened it to find a photograph of a small island. "Qiaoqiao, this is a private island I bought for you. Whenever you’re bored, you can take the family’s private jet and go there for a vacation."

Lin Zhunian didn't want to be outdone. "I have a gift for my sister, too." He handed her an album. "This is the first album by a future star. I didn't even give a copy to Mom and Dad; this is the only one in existence." He scratched his head, looking a bit embarrassed. "Please don't look down on it."

"Thank you, little brother. I love it." Lin Qiao took it with care. How could she look down on it? She could feel the overflowing love from her family.

As they walked through the estate, they arrived in front of a building. Lin Zhunian eagerly introduced it, "Dad is especially fond of photography. This building houses all the masterpieces he’s collected, as well as family photos."

Lin Qiao thought to herself that it was no wonder she had a natural passion for photography; perhaps it was in her family genes. The moment she entered, she saw a massive family portrait hanging on the first floor. Beside the Lin brothers, there was another young woman standing next to her mother. The girl looked to be about the same age as Lin Qiao, with an air of heroic spirit.

Seeing the portrait, Lin Qiao couldn't help but feel curious. "Who is this girl?"

The Lin family fell silent in unison.