Chapter 19 Why wouldn’t I dare? What do I have to fear!

“To treat your own daughter as a foster child—only people like you could do such a thing. A family like yours disgusts me; I find it repulsive to have ever belonged to you. Have I made myself clear? If you understand, sign the papers quickly. Don’t pollute my ears or sully my eyes any longer. Do you understand?”

Xu Lin, thoroughly impatient at seeing Father Qin’s self-righteous expression, spoke more and more harshly, not caring in the least whether her words hurt them. Yet her words wounded only one person: the old master Qin. Realizing his own fault, he wanted to make amends.

At last, the old master spoke his first words since Xu Lin entered the room: “Child, would you return to the Qin family as a twin? Is that acceptable to you?”

Xu Lin laughed coldly at this, finding it utterly absurd. Even now, they still refused to let go of Qin Fang. How ridiculous—this old man had a conscience, some sense of kinship, but not much! Still, he was a shade better than the rest of the Qin family.

“Old Master Qin, don’t ever tell such jokes again. When you think about it, it’s not even funny, only deeply ironic. Don’t you agree?” Xu Lin’s gaze made the old man lower his head and sigh heavily.

Old Madam Qin, unable to bear seeing her husband put upon, slammed the table and barked, “Sign it! I want to see what good will come to you in the Xu family.”

“Then sign, hurry up! Don’t waste my time,” Xu Lin shot back. “If you don’t sign, you’re cowards.”

“You—!” Father Qin was enraged by her words, thinking this daughter was not only heartless but foul-mouthed as well. She had no respect for elders, no sense of filial piety. No wonder she wasn’t close to him—she hadn’t been raised at home.

Enough, he thought. He gave up the last shred of hesitation and decided to sign. A break is a break, after all; she was never raised here anyway.

Mother Qin signed her name immediately and shoved the document toward Father Qin, urging him to sign as well. She didn’t want to look at Xu Lin a second longer—no matter how she compared her, Qin Fang was always more endearing.

Fangfang would sweetly call out “Mother” every day as soon as she walked in, smother her with affection, and even massage her shoulders and back to cheer her up. And then there was this one—plain to look at, small-minded, sharp-tongued, willful, and selfish. No matter how she looked, there was nothing to like; she found herself despising her own flesh and blood.

With his wife already signed, Father Qin feigned a moment’s hesitation, then scrawled his name as well.

Three copies of the severance document were prepared. Xu Lin stepped forward, pocketed two, and then produced another compensation agreement, asking coolly, “Qin Fang usurped my life, enjoyed my privileges for years, while I was sent to the countryside in her place. Isn’t it reasonable for me to ask for five thousand yuan in compensation?”

“What?” Mother Qin shot up like a startled hen, her eyes full of disbelief. “You want five thousand yuan in compensation? Why don’t you just rob us?”

Old Madam Qin glared at Xu Lin, her eyes almost spitting fire. At the mention of money, her temper flared. “Her? Get anything from us? Five thousand? Not a penny!”

Old Master Qin and Father Qin both looked at Xu Lin, their expressions complicated. They hadn’t expected her to bring this up, nor to ask for so much. Did she even know how much five thousand yuan was—how much it could buy? Greed, they thought, and what little place she had in their hearts was driven out by that sum.

Fortunately, Xu Lin didn’t know this; otherwise, she would have laughed—so she wasn’t even worth five thousand yuan to them?

With a wicked smile, Xu Lin scoffed, “Theft is a crime, Comrade Feng. I’d advise you not to break the law. Besides, if I can earn it by my own abilities, why would I need to steal?”

As if this weren’t enough, she pressed further, “Of course, you’re free not to pay. But then I’ll go to the Youth Office and tell them that Qin Fang is actually the biological daughter of the Xu family, and she should be sent to the countryside instead. I wonder if you’d be willing to bear that?”

Her shameless tone nearly made Father and Mother Qin faint from anger, and Old Madam Qin pounded the table, cursing Xu Lin for turning the world upside down.

“Xu Lin, don’t go too far. You’ve already severed ties with the Qin family. Qin Fang has nothing to do with you,” the old lady scolded.

“Yes, yes, Qin Fang has nothing to do with you now. You’re the one giving up the Qin family—how dare you demand compensation?” Mother Qin chimed in.

Though Father Qin said nothing, his eyes made his meaning plain, which only made Xu Lin laugh softly.

“I may be done with the Qin family, but Qin Fang’s ties to the Xu family remain. Besides, she took the place that was rightfully mine—why shouldn’t I receive compensation? If you refuse, I won’t be blamed for making this public. I’ll put it in the papers and let the community judge. If they all say I shouldn’t be compensated, then I’ll drop it. What do you think of that?”

What did they think? Old Madam Qin’s eyes blazed with fury. If this were published, the Qin family would be publicly shamed. Mother Qin leapt up, pointing a trembling finger at Xu Lin. “Xu Lin, don’t you dare! Don’t you dare!”

“Why wouldn’t I dare? There’s nothing I won’t do!” Xu Lin wiggled her foot, toes poking through her battered shoe. “They say those who have nothing to lose fear nothing. I’m as close to that as it gets—should we test how far I’ll go?”

Mother Qin wanted to retort, but in truth, she didn’t dare. She had everything to lose. If this made national news, the Qin family’s reputation would be ruined, inside and out.

She looked to Father Qin for help, and he, in turn, looked to the old master. Only he could decide. He too feared Xu Lin’s madness; the girl was clearly traumatized and unstable.

It wasn’t long before all the pressure fell on the old master. Old Madam Qin muttered her protests, but dared not make a final decision, knowing full well that those with nothing to lose fear nothing, and the current situation was too precarious—they couldn’t afford any scandals.

If their enemies used this against them, the whole family could fall. So many had been brought down for less in recent years. The Qin family had managed to survive so far; they couldn’t withstand such a blow.

After a long, heavy silence, the old master finally sighed, “Give it to her.”

He rose and shuffled away, his back bent, looking pitifully diminished.

Xu Lin watched him go, her feelings complicated. She hated the Qin family, but she respected heroes. That was why she had not waged outright war against them. Still, if they ever crossed her again, she would show no mercy.

She could only hope that, having severed all ties, the Qin family would stay out of her life forever.

With the old master’s word, no matter how much it pained them, Father Qin, Mother Qin, and Old Madam Qin could do nothing but pay up and count their losses.