Chapter 17: The Scumbag's Last Move
Just when Lin Xiao Yan thought the world had settled into a fragile balance, trouble stirred again.
Chen Zehao, trapped under the weight of the investigation, was desperate. Every call he made was met with silence or refusal. Every ally he trusted had abandoned him. But there was one thing left—one move he hadn't tried.
He would go straight for the source: Xiao Yan herself.
That afternoon, Xiao Yan was practicing small challenges for the next episode in their apartment. Hua Yichen sat on the sofa nearby, quietly reviewing scripts. Liang Zhiwei paced slowly, phone in hand, quietly checking emails. Xiao Yan noticed all the movements without looking up. Her twin soul guided her, alert, calculating.
A knock came at the door.
Hua Yichen frowned. "I wasn't expecting anyone."
Before anyone could react, the door rattled. "Open up! Xiao Yan! Mommy! This isn't over!"
Chen Zehao's voice was shrill and panicked, filled with the desperation of someone who had lost everything. Xiao Yan's small brows furrowed.
"Daddy," she whispered softly, "he's here."
Liang Zhiwei moved quickly, putting himself in front of the door. "Step back," he warned, voice low but firm.
Chen Zehao pounded on the door again. "Open up! I'll make sure everyone regrets this! You think you've won? You haven't! That child belongs to me!"
Xiao Yan tilted her head. "That's a lie," she said calmly. "And you know it."
Hua Yichen froze. Liang Zhiwei's hand tightened on the doorknob.
Chen Zehao's shouting grew louder, more frantic. "I know the truth! I know everything! You'll see, you'll all see!"
Xiao Yan stood, her small form perfectly steady. "You're the one who doesn't understand," she said, voice calm and commanding, "that this game isn't yours anymore. You're finished."
For the first time, Chen Zehao hesitated. Xiao Yan's gaze was unyielding, sharp like a blade. In that tiny body, the strength of two souls radiated outward, and he instinctively understood he was cornered.
Liang Zhiwei finally spoke, his voice cold and controlled. "Chen Zehao, leave. Now. Or face consequences you cannot handle."
Chen Zehao froze, then looked back at Xiao Yan, frustration and fear mingling on his face. He had underestimated her from the start—and now he saw it clearly.
With a final shout, he turned and ran, leaving the door rattling behind him.
Xiao Yan watched silently until the sound of his footsteps disappeared. Then she turned to her parents. "That's done," she said.
Hua Yichen exhaled, relief washing over her. "Xiao Yan…"
Liang Zhiwei crouched beside her. "You did well. Very well."
Xiao Yan smiled faintly. "I just made sure no one could hurt us again."
For the first time in years, Hua Yichen and Liang Zhiwei felt completely safe with their daughter—and for Xiao Yan, the tiny loli who had lived through betrayal, danger, and deception, this was only the beginning.
Because the world outside was still watching. And she had plans to make sure their family would never be manipulated or threatened again.
The game wasn't over. But now, Lin Xiao Yan held all the pieces.
If you want, I can continue with Chapter 18, where Xiao Yan starts using her intelligence and twin soul abilities to rebuild her family's life publicly, manage the show's success, and cement her father's trust.
Do you want me to continue with Chapter 18?