Chapter 18 I Choose to Sever Ties Completely

Seeing that Mrs. Qin was about to launch into her own lecture, Xu Lin couldn't help but roll her eyes again. She quickly cut off Mrs. Qin, turning to confront the old matriarch directly.

“You've all investigated how the Xu family raised me, haven’t you? You know perfectly well what kind of upbringing I received. Upbringing? Do you even possess such a thing? Did the Xu family?”

Xu Lin’s cold, mocking gaze fixed on the old lady. She’d intended to leave them some dignity, but her patience had run out. Xu Lin decided to tear away their facade without mercy, speaking bluntly:

“I told you to make a straightforward choice—is it really so difficult? Or are you plotting something? Yesterday you sent the elders to talk while you two hid behind the scenes—what were you probing for? Must I spell out every detail for you? All of you here are people of some standing. If I expose everything, your dignity won’t survive it, will it?”

Narrowing her eyes with a sardonic smile, Xu Lin wondered whether she should drag the entire family down and rub their faces in the dirt. Did they truly take her for a fool?

First they’d sent the old ones to test her boundaries, hoping to pressure her into accepting the role of an adopted daughter in the Qin family. Today the father and mother appeared, and if she guessed right, they’d begin with complaints, then lament their hardships, and finally reproach her for being unreasonable—why couldn’t she step back and accept Qin Fang? After all, wasn’t Qin Fang innocent too?

Whether they truly pitied Qin Fang or simply had ulterior motives didn’t matter. What mattered was that they wanted everything: dignity, substance, reputation, and benefit. If she returned as an adopted daughter, Qin Fang’s status would remain unchallenged, and the Qin family’s interests untouched. News of them taking in a poor girl would win them praise. And in the future, Xu Lin could even serve as a tool for marriage alliances, offering another benefit for the Qin family.

But why should she accept this? She’d received nothing from them—why should she pay any price for them?

Even if, by some chance, she outshone Qin Fang one day, or Qin Fang’s reputation suffered, the Qin family would always have a backup plan. No matter how things unfolded, the Qin family would never lose. The only one who’d be hurt was Xu Lin herself.

Understanding this, Xu Lin had no patience for their empty words. She wanted only to hear their decision.

Having traversed countless worlds as human and demon alike, Xu Lin could see through anyone at a glance. To play such tricks before her was laughable.

Her piercing gaze made the four heads of the Qin family visibly uneasy. The old matriarch, flushed with anger, smashed her cup and berated Xu Lin for her ingratitude, calling her unfit for serious company.

Qin’s mother glared with a face dark as thunder, her eyes full of accusation, as if Xu Lin had committed some grave sin.

Xu Lin’s gaze swept across the four faces—anger, hatred, resentment, and silence—yet not a trace of familial affection could be found.

So, what was she expecting? Xu Lin asked herself. She’d vowed never to hope for family warmth, and yet her heart still twisted with pain. But she quickly regained her composure.

She’d given them a chance, but they hadn’t cherished it. That proved just how shallow their blood tie was.

Since that was the case, why persist? Xu Lin’s eyes swept the room once more, finally settling on the old master. He was a hero—a man worthy of respect—but even heroes, growing old, have their selfishness. Their positions differed, so she didn’t blame him, but she would no longer acknowledge him either.

Let them draw their lines, sever their bonds; as long as the Qin family no longer troubled her, they could go their separate ways in peace.

Feeling the weight of her gaze, the old man bowed his head in silent acquiescence. Xu Lin then turned to face Qin’s father.

“If you refuse to choose,” she said coolly, “then I will.”

All four pairs of eyes fixed on her.

From the old lady’s look, Xu Lin could read only contempt—as if to say, see, in the end you’re still backing down, still compromising. The old master seemed relieved, his eyes hopeful, wishing she would yield. Xu Lin scoffed inwardly. Qin’s father’s gaze remained as complicated as ever—who knew what was stirring inside him? Qin’s mother, meanwhile, wore her usual look of disdain.

But now that Xu Lin had seen through it all, their looks could no longer hurt her. With a faint, mocking smile and a voice calm but resolute, she pronounced her verdict: “I choose to sever all ties.”

The old master’s face fell in disappointment, tinged with an air of inevitability.

The old lady and Qin’s mother sneered, as if mocking Xu Lin’s overreaching. Qin’s mother even drawled with scorn, “You’re trying to force us into compromise by retreating? Let me tell you, that’s impossible.”

“Must you do this?” Qin’s father, with that complicated gaze, looked at her, reproachful. “Linlin, you’re too willful, too selfish. Can’t you try to understand us? See things from our perspective? What’s so bad about becoming the Qin family’s adopted daughter? Everything Qin Fang has, the Qin family would give you too. Once you return, we’ll send you to school, and when you graduate, we’ll find you a job. What more do you want?”

Xu Lin rolled her eyes—she’d predicted everything they’d say, and had no interest in hearing such nonsense. Yet Qin’s father said it all, wearing that “it’s for your own good” expression that made her skin crawl.

“Comrade Qin,” she replied icily, “I’ve made my choice. I suggest you recognize your own position. There is nothing between us now.”

She took out the severance papers—three copies—and set them on the table. “There’s nothing more to say. Sign them.”

“You—! Why can’t you listen to reason? After you sever ties with us, what can you possibly gain from the Xu family? You really want to slave away for them?” Qin’s father gritted his teeth, unable to comprehend her stubbornness. What was so great about the Xu family?

Qin’s mother looked eager to sign, and even the old matriarch seemed relieved, as if a troublesome burden had been cast aside.

Watching their expressions, Xu Lin felt only irritation. Qin’s father was either dense or willfully ignorant. She shot back sharply, “My dealings with the Xu family are none of your concern. Can you just sign already? Whatever the faults of the Xu family, at least they treat their daughter as family—they’ll plot and scheme for her benefit. But what about you? You knew full well your own daughter was suffering, and what did you do?”