Chapter 81: Stimulation

When Lin Wanbai returned home, it was nearly midnight.

The dosage they’d used was heavy; those people wouldn’t wake until the following day at least.

She drove slowly, aware of her unstable emotions and the danger of losing control. At times like this, driving recklessly was perilous. She forced herself not to dwell on anything, focusing solely on the road ahead, keeping her speed to a mere twenty or thirty miles per hour.

Yet Lin Yao’s words kept haunting her, tangled around her ears.

She never asked, but Lin Yao was always willing to speak—and spoke plenty.

She said, “Sister, you hurt me first. You knew we loved each other; why did you have to tear us apart? Thankfully, fate had eyes—I didn’t die in the shipwreck, Ah Xing’s efforts weren’t wasted, and I woke up in the end. Even heaven saw clearly; it knew we loved each other, knew we were pitiful, so it couldn’t bear to separate us and let me live again. You say he loves the wrong person because he doesn’t know the truth.”

“But do you know? My shipwreck happened because he refused to give up, searching for me relentlessly—what else is that but love? Tell me, what else could it be?! He didn’t love me just because I helped him; he loved me, the person, nothing else mattered!”

“Whether you believe it or not, this is the truth! Do you think Fu Juxing is still the man he used to be? Do you think you really know him? Do you believe capturing me can threaten him? This time, I’m lucky enough to have survived; I won’t let you split us up again! I’ve died once already—I’m afraid of nothing!”

Lin Wanbai had always believed Lin Yao’s supposed death was a ruse, that they’d conspired long ago, never boarded the ship—or boarded, then spirited her away, hiding her for three years.

But it turned out she was wrong!

Lin Yao did board the ship as planned, intending to go to the Hidden Kingdom.

She truly encountered a shipwreck, nearly died. By some miracle, she survived. She genuinely had no idea that, for three years, Fu Juxing had done so much behind the scenes—searching for Lin Yao right under her nose, sparing no effort, until he finally found her.

Lu Mian had told her he’d tracked down that house in Green Garden—the same room beneath the secret passage where Lin Wanbai had caught Xu Yinxue. He’d seen someone moving medical equipment out; the room was now emptied, not a trace left behind.

Xu Yinxue had been a medical student living upstairs, with a hidden passage in her wardrobe. Combined with Lin Yao’s claim of being unconscious for a year, no one expected she’d ever wake. Only Fu Juxing kept vigil, clinging to a slim hope, risking discovery to bring her back to Beicheng and hide her, waiting for a miracle.

Thus, it could be deduced that Lin Yao had been lying downstairs at the time. Xu Yinxue had no real connection; Lin Yao was the one involved.

She’d been so close to uncovering the truth.

It was more painful than her earlier conjectures—this was real, unwavering love. As Lin Yao said, she’d thought Fu Juxing loved her because she’d helped him, but that wasn’t it; he didn’t care about who saved or supported him.

It was a pure love, untainted by anything else.

Lin Wanbai felt pitiful. For the first time, she realized how base she’d been, trying to leverage morality, seeking Fu Juxing’s gratitude, mistaking it for love. She truly was guilty of that.

She drove into the garage, feeling as though she’d waded through the depths of the sea, her whole body cold, her strength drained, sitting in the car, unable to move.

Uncle An had been waiting nearby; the central control was locked, so the doors couldn’t be opened from outside.

He peered through the window, noticing her abnormal expression, hurriedly knocked on the glass, anxiously calling her name. But Lin Wanbai sat motionless, as if she hadn’t heard.

After knocking for a while, Uncle An remembered there was a spare key, went to the cabinet, found it, unlocked the door, and opened it. “Miss, are you alright? Don’t scare me!”

Her complexion was ghastly, her expression dazed, as if her soul had fled.

Uncle An called her name three times before she finally stirred, lifting her eyelids with a vacant gaze. He reached out, took her hand—her palm icy cold—and helped her out of the car. “Xiao Bai, don’t frighten Uncle An. If you’re uncomfortable, you must say so. Should we go to the hospital, or call the family doctor? I really can’t rest easy seeing you like this.”

His hands were warm, the heat slowly passing to her, and Lin Wanbai gradually recovered. She gripped his hand, murmured, “I’m fine, really, just overly tense. Are they still asleep?”

“No worries, I’m watching them. The dosage was high; unless they were prepared, they won’t wake anytime soon. Besides, you saw them drink the whole glass of juice—no need to be concerned.”

She nodded, but that “unless” lingered.

As Lin Yao had said, she’d thought she knew Fu Juxing—but she really didn’t. There was still so much she didn’t know.

Entering the living room, Fu Juxing was just as she’d left him, lying on the sofa, deeply asleep. She walked over, stood beside him, scrutinized his face for a long time, carefully examining to see if he’d truly been drugged or was merely feigning.

If he was pretending, why?

She stood there for half an hour before heading upstairs for a hot shower.

Uncle An, sensing her emotional state, called a maid to accompany her out of caution, since she was pregnant and needed extra care.

Fortunately, nothing happened.

Apart from the initial shock, Lin Wanbai remained calm and composed throughout, never losing control. After her bath and drying her hair, she asked the maid to carry Fu Juxing upstairs, observing every step of the process.

On the stairs, a maid nearly stumbled, Fu Juxing almost falling, yet he remained deeply asleep, unmoved.

Once he was settled, Lin Wanbai sent Uncle An off to rest.

Uncle An hesitated, “It’s fine, I’ll wait outside—call me if you need anything.”

“No need, nothing will happen. You’ve cared for Grandpa all this time, you’ve become thinner. You should rest now—it’s late.”

“But…”

“I’m truly fine, don’t worry.”

Uncle An looked at her, saw her determination, and relented. “Alright, I’ll go to my room. Call if anything happens.”

“Mm.”

Watching Uncle An descend, she glanced at the man on the bed, then took a blanket from her room and went to check on Chen Songyuan in the study.

He was still slumped over the desk. She turned on the computer, saw nothing unusual—just company reports and plans.

His phone lay on the table; she unlocked it with a single attempt—the password was Lin Jingyu’s birthday.

She checked all his messages, calls, and WeChat, finding nothing suspicious. Of course, she believed it wasn’t that there was nothing—he simply hid it well, leaving no trace, meticulous to the extreme.

A man intending to cheat, if determined not to let his wife find out, will go to any lengths; as long as the mistress doesn’t stir trouble, he might never be discovered.

But now, Lin Wanbai would never trust him again.

She put the phone back, draped the blanket over his arm, and shut the computer before leaving.

She didn’t return to her room, instead heading to the living room to wait for Lin Jingyu.

It was already past midnight and she still hadn’t come home.

Lin Wanbai called her—her phone rang, but no one answered. She tried three times with the same result.

Turning, she called Lin Jingyu’s assistant—again, no answer.

That was odd.

Her brows furrowed, sensing trouble. She scrolled through her contacts, found a few senior employees’ numbers, and called each in turn. Regardless of the late hour, urgency took precedence—she trusted these old hands would understand.

Three calls later, each person told her there hadn’t been any dinner engagement today, and Lin Jingyu hadn’t returned to the company in the afternoon.

Old Zheng spoke on the phone.

Lin Wanbai’s heart tightened, unconsciously gripping her phone. “Are you sure? Could you simply not know?”

“How could I not know about dinner engagements? Your mother always brings me along for such occasions. If you’re doubtful, ask others.”

“I trust you, Uncle Zheng. Sorry for disturbing your rest.”

Old Zheng had already gotten up, stepped into his living room, rubbed his eyes, checked the time. “Xiao Bai, is something wrong? I found it odd too—couldn’t reach your mother earlier today, and now you call so late. Did something happen to her?”

“No, just checking. She might be with Grandpa. Please rest.”

After hanging up, Lin Wanbai was in a hurry—she couldn’t let word spread that something might have happened to Lin Jingyu; that would only worsen the company’s situation.

She gripped her phone tightly, her heart racing, her mind spinning rapidly. Suddenly, she seemed to realize something, turning sharply to look up the stairs. Why had everything gone so smoothly? Was it because—

They were constructing alibis. If anything happened to Lin Jingyu, no one would suspect them!

She clenched her teeth, called Yang Ruyue. “Force Lin Yao to tell me where my mother is! Go there first—I’ll be there soon.”

She hung up, went upstairs to change.

Before leaving, she glanced one last time at the man lying on the bed. The coldness in her heart—no one could understand. Disappointment and pain were insufficient to describe it.

Lin Wanbai drove out of Pudong, heading as fast as possible to where Lin Yao was confined.

She’d placed her in an old house in the old district.

Parking, Yang Ruyue was already at the car, helping her out, and together they hurried upstairs—the building had no elevator, only stairs.

Lin Wanbai, heavily pregnant, ascended with Yang Ruyue watching anxiously, fearing something might happen. On the third floor, the door was open; they entered.

Lin Yao sat on the sofa, arms folded, expressionless, assuming a posture of superiority.

Yang Ruyue helped Lin Wanbai to a seat.

Before Lin Wanbai could speak, Lin Yao declared, “If you want to ask me, I don’t know. Even if you come yourself, you won’t get anything out of me.”

She definitely knew.

No matter whether the mastermind was Fu Juxing or Chen Songyuan, Lin Yao knew.

Lin Wanbai had reason to suspect they were all in league.

She didn’t bother with subterfuge. “Will you talk?”

“Talk about what?”

“Are you going to talk?” She repeated, her gaze fierce, no longer the gentle, lively Lin Wanbai of the past.

Lin Yao glanced at her, unafraid, chin raised. “Let me go and I’ll tell you.”

“You talk first.”

Letting her go was out of the question.

If they cared about her, she could be used for countless things. Only a fool would let her go!

Lin Yao laughed. “Do you think I’m stupid?”

“My patience is limited. I advise you to speak immediately, or I might do something I can’t predict.” Lin Wanbai’s face was pale, one hand clutching the sofa arm, eyes fixed on Lin Yao.

Lin Yao raised an eyebrow. “You’re the one anxious, not me. I’ve stated my terms—whether you agree is up to you.”

Lin Wanbai looked at her, at her confident, arrogant expression, and found it absurd. Recalling her old self, she thought herself just as ridiculous.

Is this what they call, ‘the kind are easily bullied’?

She snorted. Too bad, she wasn’t as kind as they imagined.

She didn’t mind being wronged, lied to, or deceived—but her family couldn’t be harmed.

That was her bottom line.

Besides, what had her family ever done to deserve this? If there was any wrongdoing, it was hers—her selfishness in splitting the two up. Why not target her directly?

Lin Wanbai stared at her. After a long silence, she suddenly raised her hand and slapped Lin Yao hard across the face. “You don’t have to talk, that’s fine. But if anything happens to my mother, you won’t get away with it! Do you really think I’m so easy to bully? In the end, I’m Chen Songyuan’s daughter, Chen family blood—I don’t have their flaws? The tricks you pull, you think I can’t do the same?!”

She curled her lips into a smile. “You don’t want to talk? Fine, I have plenty of ways to make you! I hate you so much I wish you’d die again! I truly don’t mind seeing you die a second time, and I have many ways to make your death look like an accident.”

Evidently, these words didn’t intimidate Lin Yao. Her expression didn’t change, still smiling, meeting Lin Wanbai’s gaze. “Is that so? Then try it.”

“Alright.”

Lin Wanbai nodded, turned to the bodyguard. “Take her to the room.” She added, her gaze sweeping over Lin Yao’s head, “Shave her hair, then bring in a tattoo artist to tattoo four words on her face.”

“Yes.”

On command, two bodyguards dragged Lin Yao into the room. Yang Ruyue fetched shaving tools and called a tattoo artist to come overnight.

Lin Wanbai stayed in the living room, leaning against the sofa, her body trembling, her belly aching slightly. She covered her stomach, patting it gently, softening her tone. “It’s alright, sweetie. Mama’s just handling a small matter. I believe you’re a brave little one; you’ll help Mama, won’t you?”

From the room came Lin Yao’s shrieks.

Brief, soon muffled.

Lin Wanbai lifted her eyes, her face unmoved.

Yang Ruyue, halfway through shaving Lin Yao’s hair, opened the door as the tattoo artist arrived, updating Lin Wanbai. “Half her hair is shaved. She’s crying, but hasn’t said anything.”

“Shave it all. It’s just hair.”

“Alright.”

Yang Ruyue brought the tattoo artist inside, following Lin Wanbai’s instructions to tattoo the words “I am a wretch” on Lin Yao’s face, and add a flower to her forehead for aesthetic balance.

Yang Ruyue continued shaving while directing the tattoo artist.

Lin Wanbai walked to the doorway, hand on her belly, watching their work without entering.

Seeing her, Lin Yao became agitated, struggling in the men’s grip, her hair mostly gone, her face and body covered in shorn locks.

Her features were contorted, but Lin Wanbai watched calmly, unmoved, without a trace of pity or remorse.

She knew that deep inside, a villain lurked—one she could control, who wouldn’t emerge easily. She could maintain her boundaries.

But if anyone pressed against her edges, she’d retaliate without mercy.

Lin Yao was hysterical, making Yang Ruyue’s task difficult.

Lin Wanbai signaled to pause; everyone stopped. She walked over, took a basin of water, poured it over Lin Yao’s face, washing away the hair. Then she tore the tape from her mouth.

“Will you talk?”

Lin Yao clenched her teeth, glared at her, finally dropping the pretense. Her chest heaved. “Do you think I’ll submit to you like this? I’m telling you, you’re finished! Completely finished!”

She started shouting, screaming for help.

But in this area, there was no one around for miles.

Lin Wanbai raised her eyebrows. “Alright.”

She stepped aside. The others pinned Lin Yao down, Yang Ruyue shaved the last strands clean.

The tattoo artist prepared his tools and pigments.

Two guards held her down on the bed.

Lin Wanbai ordered, “Start with the word ‘wretch.’ Make sure it’s impossible to remove.”

When the tattoo artist brought the pen to Lin Yao’s cheek, she finally broke, shouting, “Stop! Stop! I’ll talk! I’ll talk!”

He halted, looking to Lin Wanbai.

She nodded, and he stepped back.

The guards kept her restrained.

At that moment, Lin Yao’s appearance was completely transformed. Yang Ruyue, ruthless to the end, had even shaved her eyebrows—her head utterly bald.

Lin Wanbai said, “Speak. And be honest.”

Lin Yao gasped, biting her lip, breathing deeply. After much hesitation, she closed her eyes. “She’s at the Jiyue Hotel.”

“More specifically.”

“I won’t say any more!” She began to sob, crying bitterly. “I can’t betray Fu Juxing and Dad! I can’t!”

Lin Wanbai left at once, instructing Lu Mian to infiltrate the Jiyue Hotel’s management system, check the surveillance, and quickly locate Lin Jingyu.

Now it was a race against time—every minute’s delay could mean disaster.

She could only hope she wasn’t too late!

Lin Yao’s sobs echoed in her ears. Without Lin Wanbai’s command, Yang Ruyue and the others did nothing more.

Lin Wanbai sent people ahead to the hotel, awaiting Lu Mian’s report.

About two hours later, the sky outside was beginning to lighten. Lu Mian finally sent word—confirmed Lin Jingyu was at the Jiyue Hotel, but cautioned, “You’d better go alone, or only bring those you trust most.”

Clearly, something was amiss.

“Alright.”

Lin Wanbai took her car keys, brought Yang Ruyue along.

By the time they arrived at the Jiyue Hotel, dawn had fully broken.

Jiyue was an ordinary four-star hotel, located in a remote area, not many guests.

At this hour, even fewer people. Lin Wanbai was wary, entering through the back door, fully disguised.

The room was on the eleventh floor, room 1119.

Lu Mian said the surveillance had been wiped; from yesterday till now, the hotel’s cameras were out. Anyone entering or leaving during this period was untraceable. He suspected it was tied to a scandal.

He’d seen clients pull such tricks before—manufacturing infidelity to force someone out, reducing settlement payouts. The pattern fit, so he advised Lin Wanbai to go alone, so fewer people would know if anything happened.

As her car reached the hotel entrance, she noticed a man at the door, holding a camera.

Following Lu Mian’s logic, she suspected reporters might already be gathering nearby.

She was still a step too late. Had she realized sooner, she could have avoided this.

Lin Wanbai called Liang Zhixia, now in the entertainment industry, hoping she’d know some inside gossip.

“Ask your agent what it would cost to break explosive news that draws every paparazzo to it. I’ll pay whatever it takes—just make sure my identity is hidden!”

“I’m not sure I can—”

“Do your best!”

Realizing the seriousness, Liang Zhixia didn’t ask further, immediately calling her agent.

Lin Wanbai walked to room 1119; Lu Mian was waiting, handy at lock-picking, needing no hotel staff to open the door.

The moment the door opened, the smell inside told her things were bad.

Lu Mian and Yang Ruyue stayed at the entrance, observing, while Lu Mian went downstairs to keep watch, preventing a flood of reporters.

On the bed lay two people, a man and a woman, disheveled. The woman was, unsurprisingly, her mother Lin Jingyu, but the man shocked her—it was Yuan Wei!

Seeing this, Lin Wanbai couldn’t help but laugh.

Yuan Wei was Fu Tianyi’s husband; Fu Tianyi belonged to the Fu family. If Yuan Wei was implicated, so was Fu Tianyi.

Anything involving the Fu family must be connected to Fu Juxing.

His revenge had not ceased.

He hadn’t forgotten a single member of the Fu family.

She went to the bathroom, filled a cup with cold water, and splashed it on Yuan Wei’s face.

Yuan Wei woke instantly, sitting up in fright, staring at her by the bed. He was terrified—never would he have imagined that the first person he’d see upon waking would be Lin Wanbai, and in this situation, her presence was most inappropriate!

Lin Wanbai was calm, fixing her gaze on him. “Get dressed and leave, right now! Unless you want trouble!”

There was no time to investigate or blame—she needed one of them out immediately! If the paparazzi caught any hint, both Yuan Wei and Lin Jingyu would be ruined.

Yuan Wei tried to explain, instinctively wrapping himself in the blanket. “Xiao Bai, listen—”

“You don’t need to say anything—nothing at all!” Lin Wanbai’s forehead was taut with veins. She’d struggled all night to keep her emotions in check.

She hadn’t slept, running from here to there, there to here, biting back tears, holding herself together. If that thread snapped, she wouldn’t be able to stay calm.

Her eyes brimmed with suppressed tears.

Yuan Wei sensed something was amiss, said nothing more, nodded, got up, grabbed his clothes, and rushed to the bathroom to dress.

Meanwhile, Lin Jingyu was slowly waking, her brows tightly knit.

Yuan Wei finished dressing. “I’ll go now.”

“Better disguise yourself—there may be paparazzi outside.”

“Alright, thank you.”

He opened the door, where Yang Ruyue stood, making his face change.

Lin Wanbai assured him, “She’s my confidante—don’t worry, she won’t say a word about today.”

Yuan Wei’s face was somber as he nodded and hurried away.

Shortly after, Lin Jingyu fully awoke. Lin Wanbai handed her a hot towel, asking nothing.

Lin Jingyu looked uncomfortable, still dazed, not fully conscious.

Lin Wanbai wasn’t anxious—at least now, even if the paparazzi came, they couldn’t catch both people in bed.

She boiled water, waiting as silent tears spilled down her cheeks.

In the quiet space, her stifled sobs sounded especially clear.

Yang Ruyue, standing at the door, heard and looked over, seeing her pregnant figure, feeling a pang of sorrow.

Though she didn’t know all the details, she could guess—the Lin family was in chaos.

Pregnant, running about at night, scheming and counter-scheming—it was nerve-wracking just to watch.

From the start, Lin Wanbai had been calm and quick-witted, knowing how to act. But none of it was easy, nor unshocking.

Of course it was stressful, of course it was shocking.

But in this situation, she couldn’t break down.

No matter the pain and turmoil, she could only grit her teeth, swallow blood and tears. She had to endure, or else the family would collapse.

She couldn’t let it collapse; if it did, she’d have to die to atone.

Meanwhile, Lin Jingyu’s memory slowly returned, replaying last night’s events in her mind. She trembled uncontrollably.

As she’d awakened last night, she sensed something was wrong, drugged with something filthy. She suffered for ages, lost her reason, then a man entered. The room was dark; she didn’t know who he was, had no clarity to figure it out.

She only knew she needed rescue.

She held her forehead, icy cold, unable to speak.

Lin Wanbai wiped her tears, poured the boiled water into a cup, cooled it, and finally walked over. “Mom, have some water.”

Her voice was gentle, remarkably calm.

Lin Jingyu was stunned, as if just noticing her. She looked up slowly; seeing Lin Wanbai’s soft smile, tears spilled, and she quickly covered her mouth, turning away.

After a while, she choked out, “You—you go out.”

Lin Wanbai wouldn’t leave. She sat down, placed the cup on the bedside, laid a hand on her leg, smiling. “It’s all handled. You don’t need to worry.”

Unable to control her emotion, Lin Jingyu kept her head turned, shoulders shaking.

Lin Wanbai said no more, eyes downcast, staring at her own fingers—her palm bore blood marks, with blood under her nails, though she hadn’t felt pain.

She didn’t even know when she’d gouged herself.

Time ticked by. Yang Ruyue glanced at the clock, reminding her, “Xiao Bai, it’s time to go home.”

Lin Wanbai checked her watch—almost six. It was indeed time.

“Mom, let’s go home together.”

“I’ll shower first.”

She hung her head, took clothes, and went into the bathroom. She washed quickly, and when she emerged, she was composed again.

Before she could speak, Lin Wanbai advised, “Don’t confront them yet—it’s not time.”

Lin Jingyu paused. That was her thought as well.

The two were weak; rushing to clash would do them no good.

She smiled, patted Lin Wanbai’s shoulder, nodding. “We’re thinking alike. You go home first—I’ll stay a bit, see if there are any other surprises.”

Lin Wanbai nodded. The immediate crisis was over.

On the way home, Liang Zhixia sent a message—an explosive story about a popular actor, married, though he’d always claimed to be single and had paired with rising stars. The news would draw huge attention, plenty of material to dig up.

She replied with a hug emoji and put her phone away.

Back home, it was after six.

She dragged herself upstairs, opened her bedroom door, and found the man on the bed was gone.

Surprised, she heard the bathroom door open. Fu Juxing came out, seeing her, showing little reaction.

He simply said, “You’re back.”