Chapter 213

Page Sixty-Eight: Bell Ringer

When Lin Yuhuang and Lin Ziyè returned to this reception room, Aunt Lin had already spilled all his secrets. This tall middle-aged man clearly knew about it as well, his brows gathering a tangible gloom.

“—My abilities exceed his calculations. He can’t deal with me. My son and my sister still stand by Ling Shàojié’s side. As a lone individual, he is helpless.”

He wouldn’t call in the security guards outside to deal with us; even if they came, they wouldn’t be able to handle it.

“Have you figured everything out? Xiàlù, could you repeat it for me?”

Compared to Lin Yuhuang, who looked troubled, Lin Ziyè, dressed in traditional attire due to the coming-of-age ceremony, seemed carefree despite his own plan failing. In the end, he achieved what he wanted.

“…Although there were some parts I didn’t understand, things are pretty much like this.”

“The maid… Is she…? So, was the stepmother really my biological mother?”

After hearing Xiàlù’s concise explanation, Lin Ziyè’s lips curled into a bitter smile.

But then he slapped his forehead and corrected himself, “No, wait. She is also my mom, right? Dad, don’t you think you should acknowledge Shàojié’s sister? Since one of my mothers is your doppelgänger, you should take responsibility. She is your daughter in blood, no doubt.”

Lin Ziyè spoke confidently, with a righteous reason, making Lin Yuhuang feel conflicted.

Ling Shàojié saw the dilemma on his face and shook her head, saying indifferently, “Ziyè, you don’t need to help me say anything. Today, I’m not here for any status… Since the truth is clear, there’s nothing more between us in the future.”

Her words were melancholic yet carried a sense of detachment, as if she had truly let go. Her state of mind had changed.

“Shàojié…”

Aunt Lin took her hand.

“Even if he doesn’t want you, I won’t reject you. Why don’t you come live with me afterward? There’s no need to stay in the attic of the café anymore.”

Listening to these heartfelt words, perhaps feeling he should say something, Lin Yuhuang adjusted his tie.

“Cough, cough, I’ll return the house and rent you paid over the past two years to you… That was always meant for you.”

Aunt Lin’s raised eyebrows radiated an imposing aura, like a fierce deity.

“Just this?” She sneered bitterly.

Lin Yuhuang rebutted, “Hàndàn, don’t make things difficult for me. You know I can’t recognize her. How would I explain that to our father? Should I tell him she’s my illegitimate child? Or that she’s the child born before Xīmí got married?”

Exposed, Lin Yuhuang seemed to give up.

“You know the situation at home better than I do. I don’t mind having another daughter, but would the family agree? I can’t make this decision now. You need to give me more time…”

“People often become the worst version of themselves. Without Xīmí, you don’t even have the resolve to change the Lin family?”

Aunt Lin shook her head in disappointment and looked at Ling Shàojié.

“Girl, I’ve been hiding the truth from you because I feared you couldn’t accept it.”

“Aunt, I’m grateful for your shelter, but you should have told me earlier instead of fabricating lies. After all, I’m not a tool for your revenge against the Lin family.”

“I was afraid you lacked direction, living aimlessly. And his actions, don’t you hate him? You need a reason to live.”

To Aunt Lin’s explanation, Ling Shàojié said, “Aunt, today isn’t just Ziyè’s coming of age. Some truths, I can discern myself.”

“…I’m sorry, I have my own selfish reasons, but I do see you as a niece.”

Aunt Lin apologized to Ling Shàojié.

Lin Ziyè transformed back into Ling Xiǎoyè. The ancient costume didn’t hinder her newly full chest. She pounced onto her sister like a spoiled child, leaving her at a loss.

“Sister, Dad doesn’t want you, so I’ll be your younger sister! But when I’m male, I’ll be your older brother, no—ow!”

Xiàlù grabbed her ear and dragged her away from the senior student.

“Really, you’re such a blockhead, don’t you see the atmosphere!”

Atmosphere?

The reception room was still under low pressure.

Even though the truth was revealed, there was no chance of reconciliation between Ling Shàojié and Lin Yuhuang. They would remain strangers in the future.

But no.

I can’t accept that outcome.

I asked, “Uncle Lin, could we take a look at your ring? Though I don’t understand its principle, I know someone who can figure it out… Simply put, your doppelgänger is still salvageable.”

“Xīmí?”

“Yeah, have you thought about why Ziyè saw that maid-like apparition? That’s proof she hasn’t vanished.”

“I know, I know she’s still alive.”

So, the person who insisted that Xīmí wasn’t dead was indeed Lin Yuhuang.

“It’s just that she can’t appear… That maid outfit was bought by Xīmí, but she never wore it. Since she disappeared, it has stayed in her closet. Everything else she owned, I kept,” Lin Yuhuang continued.

I didn’t know how he felt about his somewhat casual doppelgänger, but he surely must have been shocked when he found out Xīmí was pregnant. After all, the techniques used by Master didn’t correct inner feelings, and Xīmí’s personality and Lin Yuhuang’s were very similar initially, requiring time to change.

Like Lu Zi and Lu Li, they still show masculine traits.

Maintaining a male mentality while getting pregnant… On a soul level, this is akin to a queer relationship, especially since the other party is an unknown man who left Xīmí while she was pregnant.

There are too many rotten people in this world.

—”Maybe he didn’t know she was pregnant? Probably just playing around, not expecting consequences.”—

At the time, Xīmí was quite popular with the elders, which would have ruined Lin Yuhuang’s plans. As a result, he had to marry another version of himself, carrying a child that wasn’t his.

What kind of bizarre experience was this for Lin Yuhuang?

—”Would you like to marry me too?”—

…Sister, it’s best not to joke like that.

Lin Yuhuang unbuttoned his collar and took off a silver chain with a plain ring pendant, similar to the stainless steel ring on Lin Ziyè’s hand.

“This one.”

He handed the warm pendant ring over.

According to Cherry Sauce, the state of the doppelgänger could be seen from the ring, but it was uncertain whether it could be repaired.

“Let me borrow it for a bit, I’ll check the situation.”

—”Why don’t you call your master first and ask?”—

The barrier in the reception room was lifted. The master’s phone was always answered quickly, like an elderly person waiting by the phone for their children.

—”It’s redundant to say ‘like.’ That’s exactly what an elderly person does, while Mù Xī and Dog Sister are busy studying and running the store, they don’t have time to stay in the underground temple all day.”—

“Oh! Xiǎo Kǎi, why are you calling me today!”

The voice on the other end sounded particularly cheerful, but it wasn’t a child’s voice. It seemed the master hadn’t turned into a loli today.

“There’s something I want to ask.”

“I knew you wouldn’t call if there wasn’t anything.”

A deep sigh from the other end, followed by, “Go ahead, what is it?”

“Here’s what happened…”

I told the master about Lin Yuhuang’s situation.

“He should be the trial indicator from back then. As for the female Taoist priest, it was just an excuse.”

So, it was a believer developed by Brother Zhú?

Unfortunately, he lost his qualification for the divine test himself.

This is like a company going bankrupt, leaving users (guests) without after-sales service.

“Can the master fix the doppelgänger?”

“I can’t.”

“…You can’t even do that? Master is so useless!”

“Don’t say it so bluntly! I just lack power! But if you find the mysterious girl A, who inherited all of Běihǎi’s techniques, she should be able to solve this. After all, the bell ringer needs to untie the bell.”

“You’re asking too much…”

I couldn’t help but sigh. If only finding her was that easy.

“Additionally, repairing the ring carries risks. The doppelgänger is already in a precarious state, and this might be seen as defying fate.”

“Does this count as defying fate? The ring is just a tool, isn’t it?”

“But essentially, it’s about fixing Lin Yuhuang’s other near-death body, right? Of course, this is just my guess. Even Lord Háilìlùyà doesn’t understand what Heaven’s Path thinks.”

In any case, solving this requires finding our mother.

I felt a headache.

I hung up and returned to the reception room.

“I have news. Senior Student, you must help me more now. The one who can save the doppelgänger is the person I asked you to find.”

I tossed the ring pendant to Ling Shàojié, who frowned.

“You mean the mysterious girl A?”

“Yes, she’s the female Taoist priest Uncle Lin met back then. Though she’s not a real Taoist, only she can fix the ring.”

This condition made Ling Shàojié uneasy. She smiled bitterly, “But without Queen’s clues, I don’t know where to start… But I’ll try to think of something.”

“I’ll also think of ways. I won’t rely entirely on you… I didn’t expect we’d have to find her in the end.”

Mysterious Girl A’s existence is tied to her mother’s life. She will certainly search more diligently now.

“Is there anything we can do?”

Ling Xiǎoyè covered her red ear from Xiàlù’s pull and nudged Lin Yuhuang with her elbow.

“Remind him, Dad, you must have some intelligence network. Even for your doppelgänger, you should help.”

“…Are you looking for someone who looks like Miss Lingmèng?”

“Yes, as far as I know, she occasionally appears in the Balance Commercial District.”

Ling Xiǎoyè showed her ring.

“I met her in the pedestrian street. She gave me this ring, but unlike yours, taking it off won’t break the transformation.”

“No problem, I also want to meet that female Taoist priest again. If it’s around the commercial district, I can help. I’ll arrange it later…”

Lin Yuhuang agreed immediately after a brief thought.