What responded to Lin Yu was complete silence in the room.
Lin Yu naturally hadn't expected Xu Mo to give her any response. She carefully surveyed the room's layout, placed her suitcase to one side, then turned and walked into the bathroom.
"What's going on? She's not Lin Yiqian?" In another room Lin Yu didn't know about, the Xu family members were on high alert, their gazes intensely fixed on the screen before them.
"Although she looks quite similar, she's indeed Lin Yu, Lin Yiqian's sister—the Lin family's eldest daughter who was supposed to marry into the Zhou family today." Xu Huan, Xu Mo's cousin and the only son of his second uncle's family. By coincidence, he attended the same university as Lin Yu and was her junior in the same major.
Seven years ago, Lin Yu was a junior majoring in business administration. She was known as D University's campus beauty, a famous ice queen.
Xu Huan knew Lin Yu not only because of her reputation, but also because his good friend Gu Ran was infatuated with her.
However, at this moment, seeing Lin Yu appear at the Xu family home with his own eyes, Xu Huan didn't feel happy at all. On the contrary, he immediately guessed what had happened, gritting his teeth: "It seems we've been deceived!"
The other Xu family members' faces immediately darkened. Just as they were about to get up and settle accounts with the Lin family, they saw Lin Yu's figure appear on the screen again.
Carrying a basin of warm water out of the bathroom, Lin Yu didn't avoid suspicion as she dampened a towel and carefully began wiping Xu Mo's face and hands: "Although I know there are usually people specifically assigned to take care of you, from now on, would Young Master Xu be willing to entrust this task to me?"
Lin Yu's voice was very low, forcing Xu Huan to deliberately turn up the monitoring equipment's volume to ensure all the Xu family members present could hear clearly.
After hearing Lin Yu's words, all the Xu family members looked stunned and confused. If not for the fact that the Xu family's investigation couldn't be wrong, they might have suspected that the person who drugged Xu Mo was Lin Yu rather than Lin Yiqian!
"Actually, I was supposed to marry another man today. But they cried and begged me to marry into the Xu family in place of the culprit who made you like this. And I actually agreed. Isn't that ridiculous?" Lin Yu smiled self-mockingly, then returned to her previous composure. "But I don't regret coming to the Xu family! At least, you won't harm me, right?"
Hearing Lin Yu's soliloquy clearly, none of the Xu family members spoke. They stared thoughtfully at the screen for a moment, then all looked toward Grandfather Xu.
Xu Zhentian, the head of the Xu family, a legendary heroic figure. He was the one who had issued orders to suppress Boyang Enterprise. He was also the one who had forcibly demanded that Lin Yiqian marry into the Xu family to care for Xu Mo. However, this marriage wasn't what it seemed. What he wanted was for Lin Yiqian to pay the price she deserved for her actions!
But now, the Lin family had actually gone against their word and secretly switched the person? Did they think the Xu family couldn't tell the difference? Or did they believe that marrying Lin Yiqian off to the Zhou family would gain the Zhou family's protection, allowing them to oppose the Xu family?
Regardless of which it was, Xu Zhentian would never let it slide! This matter was far from over!
Lin Yu met Xu Zhentian an hour later.
During that hour, Lin Yu had first helped Xu Mo wipe his face and hands, then took out a professional textbook and began reading to him.
Originally, Lin Yu had planned to read quietly to herself, but catching sight of Xu Mo on the bed from the corner of her eye, she suddenly changed from silent reading to reading aloud. She'd heard that Xu Mo was a business genius—he should also enjoy books on this subject, right?
"Hello, Grandfather Xu. My name is Lin Yu." Without a moment's hesitation, Lin Yu introduced herself.
She had indeed agreed to marry into the Xu family in Lin Yiqian's place, but she hadn't agreed to live in the Xu family under Lin Yiqian's name. Even if it was only for two years, she couldn't tolerate it. Moreover, from the moment she stepped through the Xu family's gates, Lin Yu had never intended to leave.
"Not Lin Yiqian?" Xu Zhentian narrowed his eyes, his gaze full of oppressive force as he stared at Lin Yu.
"That's right, not Lin Yiqian, but Lin Yu." Lin Yu didn't back down, her expression quite composed.
"Why?" Although he had already guessed from Lin Yu's earlier words, Xu Zhentian stubbornly demanded a definitive answer.
"Because I want to survive." Not surprised by Xu Zhentian's question, Lin Yu spoke honestly.
Xu Zhentian let out a cold laugh: "Then what makes you think our Xu family would agree to protect you?"
"I'm willing to trade my entire life with you! I'll willingly take good care of Xu Mo until the day I die, or he dies!" Lin Yu was determined to burn her bridges. The worst outcome would be nothing more than the Xu family's fury and going to the Zhou family to exchange Lin Yiqian back.
"Your entire life? Don't you think such a price isn't worth it?" Xu Zhentian raised an eyebrow, the coldness in his tone diminishing considerably.
"You must give something to get something. Trading my entire life for the Xu family's protection—I think it's worth it." Having experienced a scumbag like Zhou Quan, Lin Yu no longer believed in love, nor did she expect it. Rather than starting over, she'd rather spend her life watching over Xu Mo!
After studying Lin Yu intently for a moment, Xu Zhentian turned around and left.
This could be considered tacit approval, right? Watching Xu Zhentian walk out of the hospital room, Lin Yu silently turned her head, her gaze falling on Xu Mo lying in bed, finally feeling a sense of security.
Who said she wasn't worried? She had been nervous to death! Slowly opening her unconsciously clenched hands and looking at the cold sweat in her palms, Lin Yu couldn't help but show a bitter smile.
"Grandfather, we're just letting it go like this?" Having heard every word of the conversation between Xu Zhentian and Lin Yu, Xu Huan could understand Lin Yu's predicament in agreeing to the substitute marriage, but he was still extremely dissatisfied with Lin Yiqian's carefree happiness.
Xu Zhentian didn't directly answer Xu Huan, instead instructing Xu Mo's father, Xu Yelei: "Make arrangements for Lin Yu to live in the room next to Xu Mo's."
"Dad?" Xu Yelei was shocked. Were they really just going to let Lin Yiqian off like this?
"Grandfather!" Xu Huan was equally stunned, quickly glancing at Xu Mo's room and lowering his voice: "Even if Lin Yu is a thousand or ten thousand times better than Lin Yiqian, we still can't..."
"Go do it!" Leaving behind an unchangeable command, Xu Zhentian put his hands behind his back and walked expressionlessly into the monitoring room.
Neither the Lin family nor the Zhou family, both immersed in the joy of their union, knew about the changes on the Xu family's side.
It must be said that Lin Yiqian, having removed her heavy makeup and put on carefully crafted, delicate makeup while deliberately acting silent and aloof, really did look just like Lin Yu. Combined with her intentional imitation, she hadn't revealed a single flaw until entering the bridal chamber. At least, the groom Zhou Quan hadn't noticed anything amiss.
Watching anxiously as things settled into place, Lin Hongxin and Sun Wanting exchanged a smile. Early the next morning, they quickly took out the household registration book and ID card to find Zhou Quan and handle the marriage registration.
Zhou Quan hadn't expected that after one night's sleep, everything would be turned upside down. His grandfather had arranged Lin Yu for him, and he had also set his sights on the Boyang shares that Lin Yu would inherit. But now they were telling him he had married the wrong person? The person he had slept with was Lin Yiqian?