Chapter 11: Trapped Inside the House

Lin Residence.
Small sitting room.

After Lin Jinchuan told Lin Ting that she was not allowed to appear at tomorrow’s family recognition banquet, Lin Ting asked, “You called me back just to talk about this?”

“Do you have a problem with it?” Lin Jinchuan replied. “Do you know the power and status of the Shen family? Not only them, but behind them are the merchants of the capital. Many influential people will attend tomorrow’s banquet. Even Shang Moting might show up.”

Lin Ting looked at his expression.

Lin Jinchuan said, “Do you know what kind of reputation you have? If you show up at an event like this, how will others see you? How will they see the Lin family? How will they see your sister?”

“So what? Are all the people attending tomorrow some kind of new species? Besides looking with their eyes, can they look with anything else?” Lin Ting asked.

“You!” Lin Jinchuan was about to slam the table, but his hand froze mid-air.

Lin Ting guessed he might have hurt himself earlier, so he stopped this time.

“Look at yourself now!” Lin Jinchuan gritted his teeth.

Lin Ting didn’t want to argue further. “Since you’re done, I’ll leave. Don’t worry, I won’t go tomorrow. I don’t really care what the Lin family thinks.”

She stood up to leave.

“Did I tell you to go?!” Lin Jinchuan immediately shouted.

Lin Ting looked at him.

“I haven’t finished speaking! Sit down!” Lin Jinchuan said.

Lin Ting didn’t move.

“Sit down!” Lin Jinchuan shouted again.

Lin Ting thought for a moment and then sat down.

Just as she sat, Lin Shan entered, saying, “Dad, there are guests at home.”

Lin Jinchuan glanced at Lin Shan, then at Lin Ting. “Wait here.”

Lin Ting stared at the teacup on the table, saying nothing.

She didn’t look back at Lin Shan.

After Lin Jinchuan left and closed the door, she heard the sound of the door locking.

Lin Ting turned her head.

She saw Lin Jinchuan and Lin Shan standing outside.

Lin Shan wore a triumphant expression.

Lin Ting: “...”

No one had actually come to see Lin Jinchuan.

They had conspired together.

“After tomorrow night, we’ll let you out,” Lin Jinchuan said. “For now, just stay put inside.”

Lin Ting looked at the smart lock on the door.

“Sis, don’t blame Dad. Tomorrow isn’t just important for me, it’s important for the whole Lin family. Nothing can go wrong,” Lin Shan said. “This is the safest way.”

“I said I won’t go,” Lin Ting replied.

---

“How can I trust you?” Lin Jinchuan said. “You’re staying at the Interstellar Hotel, just downstairs from the venue. Who can guarantee you won’t cause trouble?”

Lin Ting snorted softly.

They purposely had her come back just to lock her up at home.

“Dad, let me talk to my sister,” Lin Shan said. “I’ll try to persuade her. She’ll understand.”

Lin Jinchuan glanced at Lin Ting, snorted coldly, and left.

Lin Ting glanced at Lin Shan but didn’t want to deal with her, so she turned her head and looked at the tea leaves on the table.

“Sis, Dad is doing this for the Lin family. Only if the Lin family thrives can we thrive,” Lin Shan said.

Lin Ting sniffed the tea leaves, then pushed the tea canister far away. “He’s already gone. No need to pretend.”

Lin Shan was silent for a moment, then laughed softly, her voice much calmer. “What I said was the truth. Only if I marry into the Shen family smoothly will the Lin family’s status rise. Then it’ll be easier for you to find a husband.”

“So, it’s still for me?” Lin Ting asked.

“Exactly. So just stay quietly inside,” Lin Shan said. “Tomorrow, the housekeepers will be off; only you will be here. Don’t think about making the housekeepers help you escape. Besides, they don’t know the password.”

Lin Ting looked around.

Apart from the tea leaves and water on the table, there was no food in the room.

Lin Shan stood outside the glass door, watching Lin Ting’s back. Seeing her silence, she paused and then said, “That girl Yin Xing... isn’t she still underage?”

Suddenly mentioning that name.

Lin Ting’s expression flickered, her eyes turning cold.

She turned to look at Lin Shan.

Seeing Lin Ting’s cold and sharp gaze, Lin Shan couldn’t help but smile.

Since knowing Lin Ting, she always seemed indifferent, as if she desired nothing, as if everyone else was greedy while she stood pure and aloof.

It was truly infuriating.

She preferred to see people nervous and troubled.

“What are you trying to do?” Lin Ting asked calmly.

“That depends on you,” Lin Shan’s smile deepened. She hadn’t felt this pleased in a long time. “If you stay quietly tomorrow, nothing will happen to Yin Xing. But if you break the glass and run, I can’t guarantee what will happen to that little girl.”

Lin Ting looked at Lin Shan with a detached expression.

Lin Shan took out her phone, tapped a few times, then showed it to Lin Ting.

Lin Ting’s gaze fell on the phone.

It was full of photos of Yin Xing.

Some close-up, some distant.

The last one was of Yin Xing’s living room.

Lin Ting clenched her trembling fingers, then looked at Lin Shan again.

Lin Shan smiled. “You know what to do.”

After saying that, she happily walked away.

Watching her leave, the light in Lin Ting’s eyes gradually dimmed.

---

Lin Ting immediately took out her phone.

She removed the case, unfolded the phone, and tapped the screen a few times.

Switching the system.

She typed on the keyboard, hacking into Lin Shan’s phone.

Soon, she found the person who had been sending Lin Shan the photos.

A man.

Thirty-five years old.

Named Li Yu.

Lin Ting quickly located him.

He was currently inside the apartment complex where Yin Xing lived.

Or… possibly inside Yin Xing’s home.

Lin Ting’s eyes narrowed.

Only inside Yin Xing’s home would it be least likely to attract attention.

Her eyes were slightly red, her face pale, and her breathing trembling uncontrollably.

She immediately made a call.

As soon as the other party answered, she said, “Brother, Xingxing is in danger. There’s a strange man in her house. She might already be controlled and unable to call for help.”

“Got it. I’m on my way,” came the immediate response.

She hung up.

Lin Ting watched the time on her phone, tapping her fingers on the table—five minutes passed, ten minutes, fifteen minutes.

The phone rang.

“Brother,” Lin Ting answered quickly.

“Sis, it’s me, Xingxing,” came Yin Xing’s voice.

Hearing her voice, Lin Ting exhaled sharply. “Are you hurt?”

“No,” Yin Xing said. “That man tied me up in the bedroom but didn’t harm me. Brother Qin Lu arrived quickly too.”

“He lives next door to your complex,” Lin Ting said. “If he’s not fast, what’s the use?”

“What kind of talk is that?” Qin Lu said.

Lin Ting smiled. “Move Xingxing to another place. Complain to the neighborhood committee—what kind of security is this if anyone can just get in? Also, have someone send that man to Jiangcheng tomorrow.”

“Okay,” Qin Lu said. “I’ll have him sent tonight.”

“Mm.” Lin Ting said, “Bye.”

After hanging up, Lin Ting put the phone case back on, grabbed a chair, and smashed the glass door...