The investigation moved faster than anyone expected.
Within forty-eight hours, the money trail had been reconstructed.
Three shell accounts.
Two fake identities.
One careless transfer.
It led directly to Lin Chen's personal assistant.
From there...
Everything unraveled.
...
The news spread quietly through the Lin family.
Chairman Lin stripped Lin Chen's father of every position he held within the family businesses.
Several partnerships were quietly suspended.
His political campaign lost three major investors overnight.
Rumors began circulating.
Supporters started withdrawing.
The campaign that had seemed certain to succeed suddenly found itself strugglin to survive.
...
Lin Chuan heard none of it.
He was sitting in the university library.
"...Interesting."
He scribbled another equation into his notebook before reaching for a thicker textbook.
"Young Master."
One of the hidden bodyguards appeared beside his desk.
"Master Xu requests your presence."
Lin Chuan looked up.
"Now?"
"Yes."
...
The black sedan stopped before the Lin mansion.
As soon as Lin Chuan stepped inside, he noticed something unusual.
The atmosphere was tense.
Several servants stood with lowered heads.
The butler approached quietly.
"They're waiting in the west drawing room."
Lin Chuan nodded.
As he approached the room, voices drifted through the half-open doors.
"...Please."
An elderly voice.
"I know the child has made mistakes."
"I came personally."
"Give him one more chance."
Lin Chuan paused.
He recognized no one.
Inside sat an old man in his seventies.
His back remained straight despite his age.
Beside him...
Lin Chen.
The arrogant omega from breakfast looked nothing like before.
His designer clothes were wrinkled.
His eyes were swollen.
His hands remained tightly clasped in his lap.
Across from them sat Chairman Lin.
Lin Xu stood beside the window.
Neither looked pleased.
The old man noticed Lin Chuan first.
He stood immediately.
"Mu'er."
His expression softened.
"I came to apologize."
Lin Chuan searched Lin Mu's memories.
Second Grand uncle.
Chairman Lin's younger brother.
The only elder who had consistently favored his own branch of the family.
He looked between the two visitors.
Then...
Without saying a word...
He walked past them.
Straight toward the bookshelf.
Picked up a book he had been reading yesterday.
Turned around.
And walked back out.
The room fell silent.
Lin Chen stared.
"..."
"...He ignored us?"
The old man's face became awkward.
He had expected anger.
Expected accusations.
Expected demands.
He had not expected...
To be treated as though he simply didn't exist.
The door clicked shut behind Lin Chuan.
Silence linered for several seconds.
Then...
A soft chuckle escaped someone.
Everyone turned.
Lin Xu.
The smile on his face was faint.
Almost invisible.
Yet undeniably there.
Chairman Lin looked at him in surprise.
"You find this amusing?"
Lin Xu nodded once.
"He handled it well."
The old man frowned.
"He didn't even acknowledge us."
"Exactly."
Lin Xu's gaze remained on the closed door.
"If he argued..."
"He would waste his energy."
"If he accepted the apology..."
"The matter would become complicated."
"But ignoring them..."
His eyes shifted toward Lin Chen.
"...makes his position perfectly clear."
Lin Chen lowered his head.
His face burned.
Being yelled at would have been easier.
Being punished would have been easier.
Instead...
Lin Mu hadn't even considered him worthy of a conversation.
The old man sighed deeply.
"Xu..."
"He's still young."
Lin Xu's expression disappeared.
"He hired people to kidnap Mu'er."
The room became cold again.
"He is fortunate Mu'er wasn't harmed."
The old man opened his mouth.
Then closed it.
There was nothing he could say.
Lin Xu continued calmly.
"If Mu'er chooses to forgive him..."
"I won't interfere."
"If he doesn't..."
His eyes settled on Lin Chen.
"...then no one in this room has the right to ask otherwise."
Lin Chen clenched his fists.
His nails dug into his palms.
Only now did he realize...
The decision no longer belonged to the family.
It belonged entirely to the omega he had looked down upon.
...
Outside the drawing room...
Lin Chuan walked toward the library.
He hadn't ignored them out of pride.
He simply didn't know what to say.
His previous life had taught him something simple.
Some people apologized because they regretted hurting you.
Others apologized because hurting you had become inconvenient.
He wasn't interested in finding out which kind Lin Chen was.
As he reached the library doors, footsteps sounded behind him.
He didn't need to turn around.
The familiar scent of cedar and sandalwood reached him first.
"You left rather quickly."
Lin Chuan looked up at Lin Xu.
"I didn't have anything to say."
Lin Xu studied him for a moment.
Then smiled.
It was small.
Quiet.
Filled with unmistakable approval.
"I know."
For reasons he couldn't explain...
Seeing that smile felt better than hearing a hundred apologies.