Chapter 103: You Are the Culprit

Seeing her like this, Aunt Rong felt a profound sense of heartache. She held the baby tightly in her arms, freeing one hand to gently pat Lin Wanbai’s back. She said nothing; it was a silent gesture of comfort.

Lin Wanbai, however, could not stem the flow of her tears. She waved her hand, turned her back completely, and ducked into a nearby room, locking the door behind her, hoping to compose herself before emerging. Aunt Rong did not disturb her, choosing instead to stand by the door, holding the baby and waiting in silence.

After Fu Xuxing finished arranging the funeral proceedings and changed into fresh clothes, wiping the traces of blood from his neck, he walked upstairs and found Aunt Rong standing by the door. His gaze flickered toward the closed door before he approached her. "Is she inside?"

Aunt Rong nodded. "Perhaps she realized that the old master never got to see the child one last time. Her heart is heavy."

Fu Xuxing reached for the doorknob. Aunt Rong instinctively grabbed his sleeve but quickly let go, her expression tinged with timidity. After glancing at him, she hurriedly lowered her head. "Young Master, please... just let her have some quiet time. She was so deeply attached to the old master, and to lose him without even a final farewell—she must be in such agony. Please, don’t push her too hard."

"After a lesson like this, she will never try to run away again."

Fu Xuxing looked at her sideways. Aunt Rong stiffened, her gaze dropping to the baby's face, which brought her a moment of relief. He said nothing, pulled back his hand, dismissed her, and stood alone at the door.

Aunt Rong did not say another word. She walked to the old master’s room on her own, holding the baby to visit his great-grandfather.

Lin Wanbai leaned against the door, crouched on the floor, and covered her face with her hands. She cried until her head throbbed, only then beginning to calm down. Sitting on the floor, she stared at the window. The horizon was turning a pale, fish-belly white, and a beam of light pierced into the room. She felt hollow, her hands and feet numb.

Perhaps she had cried too much; though her heart was filled with sorrow, not another tear would fall. She felt powerless—so powerless that she didn't want to move at all. She just wanted to sit there, ignoring everything, thinking of nothing, playing the ostrich with her head buried in the sand, pretending that nothing had ever happened.

Her grandfather wasn't dead; he wasn't in a coma. He was still in the study, wearing his reading glasses, practicing calligraphy. Her mother wasn't gone; she was standing beside him, grinding ink, her eyes filled with smiles as she watched the old man write. Lin Zhouye wasn't in prison; he was sitting on the mahogany sofa, holding a teacup, blowing gently on it. He looked up toward the door, his eyes filled with doting warmth.

Then, both her grandfather and mother looked toward her, their eyes filled with affection.

Lin Wanbai closed her eyes and let out a low, soft laugh.

When the sky was fully bright, Lin Wanbai finally unlocked the door and stepped out. Looking up, she saw Fu Xuxing standing at the door. She glanced at him, said nothing, paused for a second, and walked past him toward the old master’s room.

Fu Xuxing followed her, staying close at her heels.

The mourning hall downstairs had been arranged, and the body was ready to be moved. The news of Lin Zhaowei's death had not yet been released, as doing so at this juncture would be unfavorable for Fu Xuxing. Although public opinion was shifting, most people still stood with Lin Wanbai, waiting to see what would happen next. If the news of Lin Zhaowei's death broke now, it would effectively confirm Fu Xuxing’s ill intentions.

Rumors had already surfaced about Lin Jingyu being rushed to the emergency room three times. Though the news had been suppressed, some details had leaked. If both pieces of news broke at once, it would be nothing but harmful to Fu Xuxing.

Gossip is a fearful thing; it can destroy a person completely.

Consequently, the news of Lin Zhaowei’s death was kept under wraps. Liang Yusheng also worked in the shadows, scrubbing the hospital’s daily records regarding Lin Jingyu. The reports of her trips to the emergency room became mere rumors, impossible to verify.

Lin Zhaowei’s funeral was very low-key.

Lin Wanbai said nothing; she appeared surprisingly calm and composed. Most of the time, she stayed beside Lin Zhaowei’s remains. Since the death had not been announced, no one came to pay their respects. Aside from Fu Xuxing, his people, and a few servants, there was no one else.

Liang Yusheng and Liang Yukang arrived on the morning of the second day. Seeing Lin Wanbai and Fu Xuxing, they didn't say a word. Under the circumstances, any words would have been superfluous and would only have made Lin Wanbai resent them more.

Liang Xi had come with them. Once there, she was exceptionally proactive, helping with this and that, even walking up to Lin Wanbai to offer her insincere condolences. Lin Wanbai ignored her, refusing to even look at her directly. She didn't want to deal with anyone here. In her eyes, they were all murderers. How ridiculous it was that these ‘murderers’ would come here to hypocritically pay their respects.

After sitting for a while, Lin Wanbai rose to go to the restroom.

She had just entered when Liang Xi followed her in, immediately locking the door and bracing it shut. Lin Wanbai did not resist, merely looking at her lazily. "I need to use the restroom."

"I know. I just have a few things to say. Don't you want to know how the old master died?"

Lin Wanbai curled her lips, remaining silent, just watching her.

Liang Xi said, "Fu Xuxing killed him with his own hands."

Lin Wanbai showed no reaction.

"But you can't really blame him. He has a severe psychological disorder. He might love you—though I don't consider this love; it’s a sickness. He just wants to possess you, to treat you as his property. He wants to be your only one. In his eyes, only you exist; others mean nothing to him, not even your family. So, anyone who prevents him from having you is an obstacle. He will eliminate them one by one until you have no one left to rely on but him."

As she spoke, she pulled a document from her clothes and offered it to her. It was a psychological evaluation of Fu Xuxing; she didn't know where she had gotten it.

Lin Wanbai glanced at it but did not take it. She didn't know Liang Xi's intention. It seemed as if everyone was trying to prove to her that Fu Xuxing loved her—it was too strange. If it were Liang Yusheng and Liang Yukang trying to make her understand so she wouldn't have misunderstandings with Fu Xuxing, that might make sense. But Liang Xi’s motives were harder to guess.

Regardless, she didn't believe this was an attempt to resolve the conflict between her and Fu Xuxing. Moreover, to bring out such trash at a time like this to prove he harmed her family out of love was truly malicious. She was likely trying to drive her to the brink of suicide.

Lin Wanbai pushed her hand away and said coldly, "Leave before Fu Xuxing sees you. I’m afraid he won't spare you either."

Liang Xi stood her ground. "I think you deserve to know the whole truth." She grabbed Lin Wanbai’s hand, forcibly trying to shove the evaluation results into it.

Lin Wanbai grew impatient and slapped the folded paper against her face. "Have you had enough?" She didn't want to cause a scene; she just wanted to handle her grandfather’s funeral in peace. She didn't want to be tearing each other apart in front of him, spewing useless nonsense!

She wanted her grandfather to leave in peace; she didn't want him to have to watch her being bullied or witness her suffering.

Lin Wanbai glared at her, saying word by word, "Get out. If you dare say another word, I will take these straight to Fu Xuxing! If it’s really as you say, do you think he’ll finish you off right then and there?"

Liang Xi looked at her with pity. "I just wanted you to know the truth, to understand why all this happened. I think you should know. Once you know, you should also know how to resolve it."

"How? Tell me, how should I resolve it?"

Liang Xi stepped forward, staring into her eyes, leaning close to her ear, and whispered, "Don't dream that he will change. After all these years, changing him is easier said than done. The price you'd have to pay to change him is one you cannot afford. There is only one way to end all this suffering. A person as smart as you must know what that way is—unless you want to keep watching the people you care about get hurt."

With those words, she quickly picked up the pages from the floor, tucked them into her coat, and left without a moment's hesitation.

Lin Wanbai closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them again, she saw herself in the mirror, and a voice seemed to echo in her ears: "You are the culprit!"

She shook her head vigorously to cast the voice away.

She stayed in the restroom for a while. When she came out, Fu Xuxing was standing right outside, about to go in. Their eyes met. Lin Wanbai did not look away, staring straight into his eyes. After a long moment, Fu Xuxing reached out, took her hand, and said, "I had the servants prepare some food. There’s still a lot to do, and you won’t have the strength if you don’t eat."

Lin Wanbai did not resist. After a few seconds of silence, she nodded. "I was just about to say I’m hungry."

"Let’s go."

Afterward, they went to the kitchen together. The servants had made a bowl of wontons. Lin Wanbai ate two bowls and then, per Fu Xuxing’s instructions, went upstairs to sleep.

Aunt Rong was in the room breastfeeding the baby. When Lin Wanbai went up, the baby had just fallen asleep. Aunt Rong settled the child on the bed, and Lin Wanbai walked over.

She looked at the baby and sat beside him, her fingers gently brushing his chubby cheek. She remembered when she first saw him; he was so tiny. In just over three months, he had grown quite plump. How fast he was growing.

Aunt Rong sat nearby, and seeing her state, she felt slightly reassured. She thought for a moment and said, "When life feels too hard to bear, look at the baby. The baby needs his mother."

Lin Wanbai gave no response, as if she hadn't heard; all her attention was on the little one. Aunt Rong said no more.

That night, Lin Wanbai kept vigil. It was the final night; the next morning, the body would be taken to the crematorium and then buried. After dinner, she had everyone else return to their rooms to rest. She remained in the mourning hall alone, sitting beside Lin Zhaowei’s remains, talking to him throughout the night.

"It’s been so long since I’ve talked to you. Grandfather, I miss you so much. I never thought you would leave me this way. The house in the countryside has been renovated, but you never got the chance to live there. That large vegetable garden—you didn't get to plant anything in it. It’s such a pity." She slowly leaned down, resting her head beside him, her eyes fixed on her own toes as she whispered, "I always thought I could endure it. This path was my own choice, and even if I were covered in bruises, I wouldn't regret it. I would walk it to the end, even if I had to crawl. But now, I regret it. This path hasn't just hurt me; it has hurt the people who care about me and love me. That is more painful than being hurt myself."

"Grandfather, I might... I might fail your expectations." She closed her eyes, biting her lip hard, tears falling through the gaps.

After a long while, she lifted her head, wiped away her tears, forced a smile, and picked up a photo album from the side to flip through. The entire album was a history of her growth, starting from the moment she was born, right up until her wedding. The last photo showed her in a wedding dress, sitting at a vanity table, smiling brilliantly.

In that photo, she looked happy and radiant. All these photos had been taken by her grandfather. Below the photo was a line written: 'My little treasure, you are married.'

She remembered the day she was married, when Lin Zhouye carried her out. As she turned her head, she saw her grandfather looking back, wiping away his tears.

She buried her face in the album and began to cry again. Throughout the vast hall, her suppressed sobbing echoed.

Fu Xuxing stood on the second floor, watching her the entire time. Whether she was crying or smiling, every expression was captured in his eyes.

The next morning, the hearse from the funeral home arrived. They left at the scheduled time, were cremated at the scheduled time, and buried at the appointed hour. Throughout the process, Lin Wanbai remained calm. When the earth was being shoveled onto the casket, her whole body trembled, and tears streamed down her face. A light rain began to fall from the sky, and the wind blew, disheveling her hair.

Drifting in the wind and rain, she had no one to lean on.

Fu Xuxing walked to her side, draped his arm around her shoulders, and let her lean against him. From now on, they would lean on each other.

After the funeral ended, Lin Wanbai stood there, unwilling to leave. Fu Xuxing did not force her; he held an umbrella and stood by her side to accompany her. The rain grew heavier. He had the others leave, leaving only two bodyguards nearby.

They shared one umbrella, and both were getting soaked. Fu Xuxing did not shield himself; he stood completely in the downpour. When Leisen returned after seeing the others off, he saw the scene and immediately walked over to hold another umbrella for him.

Lin Wanbai showed no reaction and didn't even glance at him. All her attention was fixed on the tombstone, on the photograph of Lin Zhaowei.

I don't know how much time passed, but she seemed to snap out of it. She turned to look at Fu Xuxing and, seeing them standing there holding umbrellas for one another, so neatly aligned, she couldn't help but smile.

She took a tissue from her pocket, thought for a moment, and reached out to wipe the raindrops from his face. Without a word, she wiped him clean, looked into his eyes, and said, "Let’s go back."

Fu Xuxing gripped her hand in his. Both their hands were cold; they could provide no warmth, nor could they spark any.

He said, "Let’s go."

They did not return to Pujiang, but to Yunqi. Lin Wanbai knew why, so she wasn't surprised.

Upon entering the gate, she noticed that the number of bodyguards had doubled. Along the driveway, there was a security guard standing every few meters.

The car stopped at the front door. Aunt Rong came out to open it, smiling and welcoming her home. Lin Wanbai originally wanted to go to the hospital to check on things, but Fu Xuxing said Lin Jingyu was doing fine and didn't plan to take her there, so she said nothing more.

That evening, Fu Xuxing received a call from Lin Zhaowei’s estate lawyer. He requested that all members of the Lin family go to his law firm, as there was a will to be read. However, the family could not be gathered together, and the lawyer, aware of the situation, said, "Then it would be fine if you and Miss Lin came over."

Fu Xuxing did not tell Lin Wanbai about this. The next day, he went alone.

"Xiao Bai is unwell and cannot come out; it will be the same if I come."

The lawyer thought for a moment and said nothing more. He took Lin Zhaowei’s will from the folder, moved it in front of him, and said, "Take a look. This will was drafted last year when Mr. Lin was of sound mind. There is a recording here as well."

He waved his hand. "The recording is unnecessary. I believe this will is authentic and valid."

He scanned it.

The contents of the will were very simple. Lin Zhaowei was a man of integrity; even though he had been wary of Fu Xuxing and Chen Songyuan during his lifetime, his will was entirely fair. He had made an equal distribution of all the assets under his name. As for the shares he held, half were left to Fu Xuxing.

After he finished reading, the lawyer took out a white envelope and handed it to him. "This is what the old master wanted me to give you after he passed."

It was a letter—a letter handwritten by Lin Zhaowei. The lawyer finished his business and left the conference room.

Fu Xuxing opened the letter; it contained only a few short sentences.

[I have no other wish, only that you treat Xiao Bai and her daughter well. One day, everything in the Lin family will be yours. I know you love her. In the storms ahead, I hope you will protect her and stay by her side. May you be happy and healthy, and may your future be bright and successful. — Lin Zhaowei, to be opened by you.]

A strange feeling stirred in the depths of Fu Xuxing’s heart. When Lin Zhaowei was alive, he had been quite strict with him. Whenever Lin Wanbai had any issue, he would be the first to interrogate him, occasionally scolding him, using coercion, or leaning on his power as if he didn't hold Fu Xuxing in any regard.

Yet, in the end, he had humbled himself, writing these words almost as if he were pleading. He hoped Fu Xuxing would take good care of them. He knew Chen Songyuan couldn't be relied upon, but he could see that Fu Xuxing truly loved Lin Wanbai, so he entrusted her to him.

Only by letting him thrive would he be good to Lin Wanbai and spare her from suffering. A husband is the one who accompanies her to the very end.

Fu Xuxing folded the letter, placed it back in the envelope, tidied his things, and went home. On the way, he detoured to buy Lin Wanbai’s favorite dessert; it was said that when you’re in a bad mood, eating something sweet could lift your spirits.

When he arrived home, Lin Wanbai was sleeping. Aunt Rong told him she was in the nursery.

Fu Xuxing went upstairs, pushed the door open gently, and peeked in. He saw Lin Wanbai leaning against the crib, not sleeping, but staring intently at the child inside. As soon as he opened the door, she turned around, alert.

After a second, she smiled at him. "Back so early?"

Fu Xuxing walked over, placed the dessert on the side table, and asked, "What did you do today?"

"Nothing much, just taking care of the baby."

Lin Wanbai said, "I heard someone say that breastfeeding is best before the first year—the nutritional value is high, and it keeps the child healthy. It’s a pity I didn't think of it then and stopped. I regret it a bit."

"It’s not necessary; formula is just as good. He’s growing quite plump, Aunt Rong has been taking care of him well. You don’t need to worry."

Lin Wanbai smiled. "How could I not worry about my own child? It’s a lifelong concern. You don’t worry?"

"I only care about you."

"He is your child, though."

He looked at her, paused for a moment, and said, "I care more about you."

Lin Wanbai blinked and nodded with a smile, thinking to herself that he didn't even care about the child. She wondered if she cared too much about the baby, would he not even spare such a small infant?

She stood up and said, "Let’s go out. Don't disturb the baby’s sleep; let Aunt Rong watch him." She noticed the bag on the table. "What did you buy?"

"The dessert you like."

"Did you go buy it specially?"

"Yes." He nodded.

Lin Wanbai smiled at him, took the bag, and pulled him out of the nursery. She led him back to their room and opened the bag; it was a soufflé. She took a small spoonful and put it in her mouth. The sweetness was just right, not cloying; it was delicious.

Fu Xuxing watched her, feeling as if everything had returned to how it was before she tried to run away, perhaps even better.

She stopped halfway through eating, turned her head to look at him, her gaze wandering before settling on his neck. The tooth marks and scratches were glaring, looking as if he had been brutally mistreated. She cupped her head in one hand, touched her own neck, and asked, "What did you do today?"

Fu Xuxing didn't answer, pointing at the half-eaten soufflé. "Not eating anymore?"

"I’m full."

"You used to eat two every time."

The past and the present could not be compared. Once, this soufflé tasted sweet; now, no matter how sweet it was, it felt bitter.

Lin Wanbai said, "I want to lose weight."

"Eat it."

She paused for a few seconds. She picked up the spoon again and stuffed the remaining half into her mouth, forcing herself to swallow it even though it made her feel sick. She suppressed the urge to vomit; she had never eaten such a disgusting soufflé—it was truly awful.

She had stuffed it in too aggressively, and a bit of cream smeared on the corner of her mouth.

Fu Xuxing stared at her lips. He reached out at the right moment, wiped the cream from the corner of her mouth, put it into his own mouth, and sucked on it, smiling. "Very sweet."

Lin Wanbai instinctively clenched her fists, then quickly relaxed them, restraining the urge to hit him. "It was already sweet."

"I was talking about you."

She was slightly stunned. The next second, he reached out, cupped the back of her head, and pressed his lips against hers, tasting all the sweetness in her mouth.

Lin Wanbai stifled the urge to resist. One hand gripped his arm, supporting her own body. His kiss deepened, then spiraled out of control. Lin Wanbai couldn't stop him, and she had no strength left to try. She simply closed her eyes and let him do as he pleased.

I don't know how much time passed before it finally ended. She let out a soft breath and lay there motionless. Fu Xuxing hadn't left yet; he held her, kissing her eyebrows gently, lingering on her lips for a moment before pressing her into his arms, holding her tightly.

His strong heartbeat echoed in her ears. If Lin Wanbai had a knife in her hand at this moment, she could have plunged it accurately into his heart.

He didn't speak, just held her with great force, then gripped her hand in his palm, his lips brushing her forehead from time to time, as if he were playing with his favorite toy.

The next day, Fu Xuxing did not go out. No matter what they did, they stayed glued together. Most of the time, Fu Xuxing was endlessly doing the things he liked. That day, apart from the two of them, no one else was to be seen in the house.

Lin Wanbai did not resist and offered no complaints; she merely endured.

Just like that, Fu Xuxing accompanied her with meticulous care for three days before returning to work.

The sensationalized 'husband and wife battle for inheritance' gradually subsided after a few photos were released. The news of Lin Zhaowei’s passing was also released at the appropriate time. A financial channel did a special report, releasing only one photo of them holding a low-key funeral, and in the photo, Fu Xuxing and Lin Wanbai looked well.

Fu Xuxing also spoke publicly for the first time, stating that they were fine and that the previous trouble was just Lin Wanbai throwing a tantrum due to emotional instability after giving birth.

This explanation seemed perfectly reasonable.

Lin Zhouye’s case was put on the schedule; he could not escape and was sentenced to six years, immediately sent to prison.

After completing the share transfer procedures, Fu Xuxing went to the Lin Corporation, intending to take the company private and delist it from the stock market. As the absolute majority shareholder, he finalized the proposal.

There were two share transfer documents—one from Chen Songyuan and the other from Lin Wanbai. They both bore their respective personal signatures. Combined with Lin Zhaowei’s will and the shares he already held, he was now the largest shareholder of the Lin Corporation.

He was now the rightful master and could make any decision he pleased at the Lin Corporation.

Afterward, he dealt simply with those who had helped Lin Wanbai. There was only one who got away: An Ning. She had been very alert; when Lin Wanbai rushed to the hospital, she had implemented Plan B and successfully evaded Fu Xuxing’s people.

Beicheng was so vast, a sea of people—as long as she didn't do anything stupid like appearing in public, she wouldn't be easy to find. Besides, Fu Xuxing wouldn't be so fixated on finding her; as long as she could weather this period, it would be fine.

Liang Zhixia was not so lucky. Fu Xuxing took all her assets and then dumped her in an unfamiliar city where she knew no one, leaving her to fend for herself.

As for Liang Xi, under the protection of Liang Yusheng, she was fine. She simply stopped being Fu Xuxing’s secretary and was transferred back to headquarters.

On the day she left, she had one last phone call with Lin Wanbai. She had planted a small servant in the house. While Aunt Rong and the others were looking at the baby, the servant snuck into Lin Wanbai’s room and handed her the phone.

Liang Xi knew Fu Xuxing wouldn't tell her anything, so she told her everything that had happened over these past days, piece by piece. She told her the fate of everyone who had helped her. Not only that, but she had also completely lost the Lin Corporation; all the shares in her name were now in Fu Xuxing’s hands.

Lin Wanbai felt dazed as she listened, but suddenly, as if realizing something, she felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar. She remembered the day Lin Jingyu was in the emergency room, and a nurse had come out to ask her to sign something. That signature was likely a ruse—Fu Xuxing had intentionally stolen her signature.

Ha, to this day, she really had nothing left. Her home was gone, the company was gone, and the friends and confidants around her were all gone. One by one, they had been persecuted because of her.

She was the culprit.

Liang Xi said, "Now, do you believe me? You didn't kill Bo Ren, but Bo Ren died because of you. Lin Wanbai, how many more people do you want to harm?"

Lin Wanbai never said a word; she hung up the phone, handed it back to the small servant, and scolded her to leave. Before the servant left, she stole a glance at her.

Lin Wanbai showed no abnormality, still looking down at her book, calm as could be. Once she turned, the servant reported her reaction to Liang Xi.

Long after the servant left, the book in Lin Wanbai’s hands fell to the floor with a thud. She snapped back to reality, wanting to reach for a cup to drink water, but she couldn't hold it—she didn't even have the strength to grasp an empty cup.

She swallowed hard, raised her hand abruptly, but it didn't fall for a long time. She stared at the teacup on the coffee table, finally closing her eyes, striving to suppress the hatred in her heart.

A moment later, she began to laugh softly. The veins on her forehead bulged, then smoothed out. As she laughed, tears fell. She covered her mouth, not wanting to make a sound. She hunched her back and buried her face in her palms.

After crying for a while, she suddenly sat up straight and stopped crying abruptly. She opened her eyes wide, looking out the window, then wiped her tears away haphazardly. She picked up a small mirror from the table, checked her reflection, used a tissue to carefully wipe her face clean, and smiled at herself in the mirror.

She touched her reflection with her finger. "It’s okay, it will be better soon. Everything will pass."