Chapter 62

Lin Qinghuan stuck out her tongue at Ye Fengyun and ran happily toward the matriarch’s room.

The butler glanced at Ye Fengyun, then chose to set aside his prejudice and led him to the old lady’s quarters.

Inside the room, several maids knelt trembling on the floor. The matriarch sat at the edge of the bed. Though her body was gaunt and her hair ashen, her eyes still radiated a commanding presence that made it impossible to meet her gaze.

“I once believed I could trust you all,” she said, her voice cold, “but I never imagined that the one who would harm me would come from within my own family.”

Her eyes swept the room before finally settling on Lin Ye.

“Eldest, explain to me what’s going on here.”

Lin Ye’s body jolted, and cold sweat broke out instantly. Though the matriarch was now little more than skin and bones, with one foot in the grave, the fear she commanded was still ingrained deep within him—he dared not look at her directly.

“Mother, what are you saying? Surely you don’t suspect me?” he stammered.

The matriarch narrowed her eyes and retorted, “Do you really think I’m just asking?”

Lin Ye turned pale with fright, immediately dropping to his knees as cold sweat streamed down his face.

“Mother, even if you gave me ten thousand lives, I wouldn’t dare lay a finger on you! I’m your son! Your own flesh and blood!”

Her tone grew even icier. “So you think I’ve wronged you?”

Without hesitation, Lin Ye began banging his head against the floor, tears and snot streaming down his face as he slapped himself hard across the cheeks.

“Mother, I’m your son—your own son! I wouldn’t dare commit such a heinous crime even if you killed me!”

Lin Ye’s performance was so convincing that even Ye Fengyun almost believed him. After all, without any evidence for now, stubbornly denying everything would serve him well.

Just then, Ye Fengyun smiled and said, “Didn’t you buy that pendant by the bed?”

Lin Ye’s body stiffened.

The matriarch looked toward Ye Fengyun, narrowing her eyes. “Young man, let me discipline my son. You stand quietly.”

Her aura was intimidating, but Ye Fengyun was entirely unfazed.

“Old woman, remember, I’m the one who saved your life,” he replied with obvious displeasure.

“You impudent brat!”

The matriarch’s brows drew together suddenly, and everyone in the room except Ye Fengyun flinched in terror.

She raised a hand, pointing at Ye Fengyun with authority. “Mind your manners when you speak to me.”

“If I wanted to be disrespectful, I wouldn’t just use words.”

Ye Fengyun’s temper flared as well. He had spent so much effort saving her life, and yet she still acted high and mighty—if it weren’t for his professional ethics, he wouldn’t care whether she lived or died.

The Lin family looked at Ye Fengyun in astonishment.

This young man—how did he dare?

After a long moment of staring into Ye Fengyun’s eyes, the matriarch finally nodded in silence. “It seems it’s my family who’s been lacking in manners. Butler, offer him a seat.”

The butler was surprised. Ye Fengyun had spoken so rudely, yet the matriarch was granting him a seat?

But he did not dare delay and immediately fetched a chair for Ye Fengyun.

The chair was upholstered in genuine leather and felt exceedingly comfortable.

Ye Fengyun crossed his legs, watching with great interest as the frail old woman berated the burly Lin Ye.

“What is the meaning of that pendant? Eldest, I want a clear explanation today,” the matriarch demanded.

Cold sweat poured down Lin Ye’s face as he hurriedly replied, “I—I don’t know. My second brother gave it to me when we traveled to Miaojiang together. He’s going abroad, so he gave me the gift and asked me to bring it back for you.”

Thinking quickly, Lin Ye shifted the blame onto his younger brother, who had yet to return from overseas.

Lin Qinghuan frowned, muttering inwardly, Liar. How could my father possibly harm Grandmother?

The matriarch narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing Lin Ye for a moment before saying, “Everyone, get up.”

With no evidence for now, she could not issue an order outright, so she let the matter rest temporarily. But suspicion toward Lin Ye had already taken root, and she was preparing to conduct a thorough investigation of the entire Lin family.

Once the family matters were settled, the matriarch, supported by the butler, walked toward Ye Fengyun, who still sat with his legs crossed.