“Patient Lin Pengcheng in Room 302—he made it through without any major danger. All vital signs are under control for now, so he’ll stay in the hospital for further observation. Make sure to strictly follow the doctor’s orders. Watch his diet closely—cut down on carbs and fats. Diabetes isn’t some minor illness. The complications can get really nasty.”
The doctor, dressed in a white coat, closed the chart with a snap. Though his face was mostly covered by a mask, the seriousness in his tone came through loud and clear.
“Got it.”
The only bed in the ICU held a middle-aged man who responded without opening his eyes. His voice was rough, with that scratchy, smoky edge from years of smoking. He sounded weak—probably just woke up from a coma—but even in that frail voice, you could still feel the calm authority of someone who’d been in charge for a long time.
The group of people gathered around the bed quickly thanked the doctor, all smiles and politeness as they saw him out.
The only person sitting in a chair by the bed was a middle-aged woman, dressed in what looked like simple clothes, though a closer look would tell you they were expensive. Her eyes were a little red, like she’d been crying.
She gently patted the back of Lin Pengcheng’s hand, her face full of worry.
“Oh god, I nearly had a heart attack when I got the call saying you suddenly passed out.”
Lin Pengcheng was an only child, but his parents’ generation had a bunch of kids.
Back when the family’s property was being demolished, everyone got their fair share of the payout. But among all of them, only Lin Pengcheng and his wife were well-educated—and instead of spending the money, they poured it all into their business and hustled hard together.
The demolition compensation wasn’t exactly pocket change, but it wasn’t a fortune either.
While the rest of the family practically burned through their shares, Linhong Trading caught a lucky break with the times and quickly built up assets worth over a hundred million.
There’s a saying: when one person makes it big, even the chickens and dogs rise with him.
Back when there was no money, they were distant relatives you barely even saw at weddings. But the minute they got rich, everyone started showing up like bees to honey.
Lin Pengcheng had a pretty old-school mindset. He cared a lot about family legacy and blood ties. So even though he knew all these people were just trying to cozy up to him, he never took it too seriously. He still gave them some support here and there—after all, they shared the same blood.
But even among family, there’s always those you’re closer to.
These days, the one person in the whole Lin clan who stayed the closest to Lin Pengcheng was his cousin Wu Yingxia.
Wu Yingxia was the daughter of his father’s sister.
They used to play together as kids, so their bond ran a little deeper than the rest.
As soon as she spoke up, the other relatives standing around the bed, all trying to get in his good graces, quickly chimed in too, one after another, fussing over him like they really cared.
Lin Pengcheng frowned, clearly annoyed by the noise.
Wu Yingxia picked up on it instantly. Without missing a beat, she shot to her feet and politely ushered everyone out—everyone except her own son.
As the noisy crowd finally cleared out, the tension on Lin Pengcheng’s face eased almost right away.
Wu Yingxia sat back down next to the bed, let out a heavy sigh, and said, “Pengcheng, I’m telling you, you’ve really got to take better care of yourself. The kids’ mom passed away so early, and no one else in this big house can help carry the weight. If you fall, then what?”
She glanced over and saw that Lin Pengcheng didn’t respond. So she deliberately looked around the room and asked, “Where’s Lin Shen? How come he’s still not here?”
Even before she said his name, Lin Pengcheng had already been thinking about his stubborn, reckless son. But the moment she brought him up out loud, his face instantly darkened.
With a cold snort, Lin Pengcheng scowled and said, “Like he’d even know.”
“What? He doesn’t even know yet?” Wu Yingxia looked genuinely shocked as she quickly pulled out her phone. “Then I’ll give him a call.”
“Don’t,” Lin Pengcheng snapped. “Just seeing him pisses me off.”
Wu Yingxia froze, her finger hovering right over the dial button. She didn’t know whether to call or not. After hesitating for a second, she chose to listen and slowly lowered the phone.
“Xiao Shen’s still fighting you on this?” she asked.
Lin Pengcheng had only one son, so naturally, the entire Lin family’s eyes were glued to that one heir.
If the father and son got into a fight today, the whole clan would be talking about it by tomorrow.
Lin Pengcheng’s wife had passed away early, and he’d thought more than once about getting remarried.
But every time he even hinted at it, Lin Shen would blow up, claiming his mom had sacrificed so much to build this home and that no other woman would ever be allowed to step inside.
And Lin Shen knew all about the emotional cheating Lin Pengcheng had done during his marriage.
So his stubborn streak really showed when it came to this. It was like trying to move a mountain.
Even the boldest gold diggers didn’t dare test their luck. No one wanted to risk him showing up at their door in the middle of the night with a kitchen knife.
When Wu Yingxia brought up Lin Shen, Lin Pengcheng didn’t even want to answer. He shut his eyes like he was done with the whole conversation—out of sight, out of mind.
Seeing this, Wu Yingxia let it go.
She turned to her son, who had been standing quietly by the bed the whole time, and scolded him, “Don’t just stand there like a statue. You have no sense at all. Go get your uncle a pot of hot water.”
The young man nodded right away and obediently carried the kettle out of the room.
Still lying with his eyes closed, Lin Pengcheng casually asked, “Haohuo’s in his third year of college now, right?”
Wu Yingxia immediately nodded, full of enthusiasm. “Yes! He’s getting ready for grad school now. I keep telling him that his uncle works so hard, so he has to study well and do his best—so that once he graduates, he can help you out.”
“Mm.” Lin Pengcheng gave a flat hum in response, his voice slow and steady. “Once he finishes school, I’ll make arrangements for him. Compared to others his age, he’ll definitely be starting way ahead.”
“Ai!”
Wu Yingxia beamed with joy and nodded over and over again.
Just then, the door to the hospital room swung open.
Thinking it was her son back with the hot water, Wu Yingxia was about to lay it on even thicker with a few more compliments. But when she turned around, it was Lin Qianqian who walked in.
“Dad.”
She casually dropped her bag on the bedside table, gave Wu Yingxia a lukewarm nod, then turned to the bed and said, “Why were you drinking with Uncle Wang and the others again? We’ve told you so many times—you can’t drink. Why won’t you listen?”
Getting scolded by his daughter in front of others made Lin Pengcheng’s face darken with annoyance.
“It’d been a long time since we caught up. I just had a couple more than I should’ve.”
Lin Qianqian didn’t care one bit about her father’s expression and kept nagging him. “Cut back already. If you want to catch up, have tea. Same thing, right? Just stay away from alcohol.”
Hearing that, Wu Yingxia gave a small polite smile and, trying to sound like the wise elder, said, “Now, now, Qianqian, don’t speak to your father like that. It’s been years since he got together with his old friends. A little drinking won’t hurt.”
Lin Qianqian frowned and shot back, her tone sharp, “How many times has he landed in the hospital because he can’t control what he eats or drinks? You really think it’s nothing? What if something serious happens? Are you gonna take responsibility? In the end, it’s still us kids who have to deal with everything.”
Wu Yingxia was completely thrown off by that, left standing there speechless.
“Qianqian,” Lin Pengcheng cut in with a hint of reproach. “I didn’t raise you to talk to your elders like that.”
Lin Qianqian didn’t respond, nor did she apologize. She just turned her body, sat by the bed, and stared out the window with her back to Wu Yingxia.
No matter how much Lin Pengcheng favored sons over daughters, Lin Qianqian was still the eldest daughter of the Lin family—spoiled from birth and used to getting her way. If she didn’t like someone, she never bothered to hide it. Her tone had always been sharp, her attitude blunt.
And she knew exactly what kind of person Wu Yingxia was. That woman loved whispering in her dad’s ear, and the engagement Qianqian had been saddled with? That was all thanks to Wu Yingxia scheming behind the scenes to cozy up to both sides.
So of course she never gave her a friendly face.
Wu Yingxia knew what kind of temper Lin Qianqian had and could tell the longer she stayed here, the more awkward things were going to get. As soon as her son came back with the hot water, she made up an excuse and quickly slipped out.
Just a moment ago, Lin Pengcheng looked like he wanted to be left alone by the whole world. But now, out of nowhere, he asked, “What’s Lin Shen been up to lately?”
Lin Qianqian replied, “Still breathing.”
Lin Pengcheng immediately shot back, “Lin Qianqian, watch your tone.”
Hearing that, Lin Qianqian let out a long sigh, straightened up, and turned to face her dad. “I can’t watch him every second, Dad. I’ve got school and work too.”
“That’s what you call work? Just a bunch of noisy young people running around all day,” Lin Pengcheng said with disapproval. “I sent you to study music so you’d grow up with class and elegance—so you’d marry into a good family. Not to make a spectacle of yourself out there.”
The more Lin Qianqian listened, the angrier she got. But it didn’t feel right to argue with someone who was lying sick in a hospital bed, so she turned her head and stayed quiet.
With a stern face, Lin Pengcheng said, “Keep a closer eye on your brother. Tell him not to push it too far. My patience has limits.”
“Ever since Mom passed, who’s ever been able to control him? If you’re done putting up with it, then stop,” Lin Qianqian said, holding back her irritation and trying to keep calm. “Isn’t that aunt of mine always trying to shove her son into your face? If you hate your own son so much, just treat hers like he’s yours. That way, at least you’ll get some peace.”
Lin Pengcheng’s expression turned serious. “Don’t talk nonsense. How could I possibly do that?”
“Exactly,” Lin Qianqian said, throwing her hands up, beyond exasperated. “You know you’ll have to hand this family over to him sooner or later. So what’s the point of all this constant fighting?”
Lin Pengcheng snapped, his voice sharp. “He’s the one fighting me, not the other way around. Is it wrong for me to just want him to act like a normal person?”
Lin Qianqian couldn’t help raising her voice. “And how is Lin Shen not normal? You think that cousin of mine who just left is so well-behaved and thoughtful? That’s all just an act for you. Do you even know how much of a mess his personal life is?”
“Who doesn’t have a personal life?” Lin Pengcheng shot back, completely unbothered. “Once he’s married, he’ll settle down. That’s how it works.”
Lin Qianqian sucked in a breath so hard it nearly froze the air around her. Her blood pressure spiked, and she almost rolled her eyes right out of her head.
She whipped out her phone and texted the nurse, grabbed her bag from the nightstand, and said, “I’ve got stuff to do. I’m leaving.”
Just before the door closed behind her, Lin Pengcheng’s angry voice rang out from inside the room.
“Keep your brother in line!”
But Lin Qianqian didn’t leave the hospital right away. Instead, she made her way to the fertility department. Pulling out her phone, she called one of her girlfriends and asked her to get in touch with a friend who worked at the hospital.
After waiting outside the department for five or six minutes, her phone suddenly vibrated.
It was a call from an unknown number.
She answered, but no one spoke. Just as she was about to ask who it was, someone walked right up and stopped in front of her.
“Hello, Miss Lin?”
A clear, pleasant voice came from just above her.
Lin Qianqian looked up, her gaze trailing from the tips of his shoes upward, and saw a young man in his twenties. He was wearing the typical doctor’s white coat over a pair of gray straight-cut pants.
A surgical mask covered most of his face, but the eyes that peeked out were stunning.
The moment their eyes met, Lin Qianqian felt her heart skip a beat—no mistaking it.
Recalling her friend’s description, she asked cautiously, “Doctor Bai?”
“Yes,” Dr. Bai nodded, then gestured down a hallway. “This way, please.”
Lin Qianqian slung her bag over her shoulder and followed him through another corridor before turning into a small office. Dr. Bai pulled open the curtains and motioned for her to sit. He got straight to the point. “I heard you’re here for a paternity test.”
“Ah… yeah, that’s right.”
Lin Qianqian had been so focused on the doctor that it took her a second to snap out of it. She looked down and pulled two sealed rectangular plastic bags out of her purse. Each one contained a bundle of hair—one jet black, the other a lighter tea-brown shade.
She placed the bags on the table and asked, “Do I need to bring any documents? If you need copies of the ID cards or household registration or anything like that, I might have to come back another time.”
“No need,” Dr. Bai said. “That’s only if you’re doing a legal test. But from what I understand, you’re just trying to find out if two people are biologically related?”
“Exactly. I don’t need anything official for court,” Lin Qianqian replied.
Dr. Bai picked up the bags and examined the hair under the light. “Then it’s pretty simple. Ever since I started working here, I’ve had plenty of people ask for help with this through various channels. It’s just a matter of running the test.”
As he said that, his gaze shifted to Lin Qianqian’s freshly dyed smoky gray curls. “You’re not testing yourself, are you, Miss Lin?”
“Nope.” Lin Qianqian shook her head. “The hair belongs to someone else. He grew up in an orphanage. Said he might’ve finally found some blood relatives and asked me to help him out.”
Dr. Bai nodded, his eyes crinkling like he was smiling behind the mask.
“I see. By the way, Miss Lin, your hairstyle’s really pretty. I couldn’t help but take a second look when I called you earlier.”
Lin Qianqian’s heart did a little flip. She took a small breath and glanced away awkwardly. “Thanks.”
Dr. Bai carefully put the bags away and said, “The results should be ready in two or three days. I’ll contact you once it’s done.”
“Okay. Thanks so much, Dr. Bai.”
Figuring he probably had a busy hospital schedule, Lin Qianqian stood up. “I’ll get going then.”
Dr. Bai stood up first and, like a gentleman, opened the door for her. “I’ll walk you out.”
The two of them walked side by side to the elevator. Lin Qianqian kept her eyes fixed on the floor number display above, too nervous to glance over at him.
Just as the elevator was about to reach their floor, Dr. Bai suddenly spoke up. “This might be a little bold, but I’d still like to ask.”
Lin Qianqian turned toward him, blinking.
“Miss Lin… do you have a boyfriend?” he asked.
“No,” she replied instinctively. Then, after a beat, she added, “Uh… but I do have a fiance.”
Dr. Bai said, “I see.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, the elevator dinged.
The doors slowly slid open, and Lin Qianqian swallowed hard, then quietly added, “It’s a family-arranged engagement. I’ve only met him once, at the engagement banquet. We …”
But before she could finish, the doors opened fully. She gripped her bag tightly and stepped inside without finishing the sentence.
*
Yingtian Mountain and Ningchang were in the same province, about 300 kilometers apart. But because Yingtian Mountain was in a remote area far from the city, there were no trains. The only way to get there was by taking a long-distance bus to the nearest small town, then switching to a tourist coach headed for the scenic area.
Though its snowy landscape was pretty famous, Yingtian Mountain’s winter temperatures were brutally low—definitely not the season most people would pick for a vacation.
When Lin Wangye arrived at the ticket office, there were still a good number of tourists around—just not a huge crowd. If it weren’t for the tour groups, he probably wouldn’t even need to wait in line for tickets.
At over 1,500 meters above sea level, hiking all the way up on foot was a serious physical challenge.
Best-case scenario: three days of being bedridden. Worst-case? You’d need someone to carry you back down.
So visitors to Yingtian Mountain usually took the sightseeing shuttle up to the mountainside, where there was a small town-like area halfway up the peak with places to stay, eat, and shop.
From there, tourists could hike to various scenic spots.
One of the top attractions was Yingfu Temple. But getting there meant climbing the steepest and longest part of the mountain trail—completely on foot.
After taking in the snow-covered scenery along the way, Lin Wangye and the others got off the bus at the mountainside village.
“We’ve been riding in the bus all day, so let’s skip the hike for now and just explore the area a bit,” Lin Shen said, grabbing Lin Wangye, who had started running off like a wild puppy. Then he added, “Tomorrow morning we’ll catch the sunrise, and then it’s straight to Yingfu Temple. Anyone who chickens out is a loser!”
To be honest, most of the trip so far had been on the bus. They hadn’t walked more than a few steps.
But Lin Shen had this stubborn, ‘don’t back down till you’re on the edge’ kind of vibe. He’d already set the tone by throwing down the gauntlet early.
Lin Wangye, being in full vacation mode, couldn’t sit still for a second. While Lin Shen was distracted, he slipped away again.
“Let’s go, let’s go! Drop off our stuff at the hotel first, then come back out and play!”
There were several hotels to choose from at the halfway point—some nice chain ones, others more affordable like guesthouses. Without hesitation, Lin Wangye headed straight for the fanciest option: a four-star hotel.
Since the four of them had agreed to split all costs evenly, Lin Shen was worried Xu Suiyan might hesitate. So while Lu Chengxuan went to pick up the room keys, Lin Shen walked over, slapped Xu Suiyan on the shoulder, and tapped the ground with his foot, grinning: “Relax. It’s on the Lu family. We don’t have to pay a thing.”
Just as he said that, Lu Chengxuan came back holding the room key cards.
“Wait, why’s there only one key card?” Lin Shen raised an eyebrow. “If you tell me you only booked a room for yourself, I swear I’ll jump off this cliff right now.”
Lu Chengxuan gave him a sideways glance and said coolly, “It’s a suite.”
“You’re so damn cool.”
Lin Shen gave him a thumbs-up, then slung an arm around Lin Wangye’s shoulders and headed toward the elevator.
But when they reached the top-floor suite, Lin Shen was stunned.
Because the suite had only two bedrooms—one with two twin beds, the other with a king-size bed.
Which meant, no matter what, it was gonna be 2v2.
Just the thought that he might end up rooming with Lu Chengxuan had Lin Shen on the verge of a mental breakdown. He instinctively reached out to drag Lin Wangye back—
But his hand grabbed nothing but air.
He turned around to see Lin Wangye had already bolted into the king-size bedroom and wrapped himself in the blanket like a burrito.
Xu Suiyan followed right after.
And even closed the door behind him!
*
Author’s Note:
A quick FAQ for questions that keep popping up:
1. Yes, this story is set in a parallel universe. The two timelines exist independently.
2. Lin Wangye is a variable in this current timeline—you can think of him as a bug in the system.
3. The pre-rebirth storyline will continue to unfold as originally intended. Lin Wangye won’t be going back.
Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters. (๑>ᴗ<๑)
