Falling After Marriage - Chapter 24

Chapter 24: She is the Antidote, and She is the Secret

The following day.

The early summer morning had not yet shed the night’s coolness. Sunlight, carrying a warmth that didn’t scorch the skin, streamed through the window. People running errands buzzed with life amidst the mundane, while those enjoying life were languid.

The Yunxing Convalescence Center was built on the mountainside of Cui Ping Mountain. The shell-shaped main building, constructed against the slopes, was a landmark in Zhouhai.

This vast center was established years ago: Gu Shinian provided the construction, Lin Jin invested the capital, and Chi Jue organized the medical team, forming a private rehabilitation enterprise.

The center’s top floor housed only one private, exclusive suite. The spacious reception room featured a massive, semi-circular panoramic floor-to-ceiling window, providing excellent natural light and offering a bird’s-eye view of the endless coastline scenery.

Lin Jin wore an Egyptian-style, off-the-shoulder long dress that accentuated her elegant collarbone, capable of holding dewdrops, and her slender frame.

She walked barefoot on the comfortable, soft cashmere carpet, like a cold, glamorous queen emerging from the desert—charming, noble, and mysterious.

Standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, her gaze swept over the beautiful coastal scenery, but she seemed uninterested, her face etched with weariness. Her fingertips twisted the stem of a high-stemmed glass; the smooth red wine sloshed within, mirroring the uneasy dream of the previous night.

The empty reception room was suddenly punctuated by the sound of high heels tapping the wooden floor, their rhythmic impact shattering the surrounding silence.

“You haven’t come to see me for a long time. Are you doing well recently?” The woman in the white coat had neat, shoulder-length short hair, the strands near her temples lightly fluttering with her steps. Her greeting carried a hint of helplessness.

Lin Jin turned her head towards the sound, then rested her head on her shoulder, greeting languidly: “Long time no see, Doctor Qin. If I were well, I wouldn’t be here to see you, would I?”

Her posture while sipping the red wine was elegant, yet subtly hinting at an inescapable dependence on alcohol. Feeling unsatisfied, she drank it all down, finally quenching her dry craving.

Qin Congyi was an expert in treating mental illness, highly authoritative in her field, and the attending physician hired by Gu Shinian from abroad.

She also managed the entire Convalescence Center, so she occasionally saw Lin Jin for psychological treatment.

Qin Congyi was slightly relieved by Lin Jin’s pleasant and friendly tone. She sat down on the soft reception sofa, sighing helplessly: “Drinking first thing in the morning. It seems Director Lin has something on her mind. It’s not hard to guess: you definitely haven’t taken your medication on time.”

“Alcohol, solves a thousand worries.” Lin Jin drew out her words dramatically, shrugging dismissively: “Honestly, your medicine doesn’t do much. It’s the same whether I take it or not.”

Qin Congyi was already used to the odd temperaments of her two bosses. Both were cunning, volatile, and ruthless figures, each with their own quirks, which made them a persistent headache.

In comparison, Lin Jin’s illness was slightly easier to manage, but it was still a serious case of Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) stemming from childhood trauma.

The cruelty left over from her childhood distorted her world. Her small, former self was like a crumpled, warped doll, wrinkled, ragged, and pitifully scorned.

She was easily emotionally triggered by certain specific events and objects. Once triggered, she could easily become manic or self-harming.

Potent medication combined with psychological counseling could completely alleviate the symptoms of PTSD. However, this person refused advice, neither taking her medication on time nor giving up heavy drinking. Over time, even the best treatment plan became useless.

Lin Jin casually sat down next to Qin Congyi, playing with the empty wine glass: “I didn’t plan on doing therapy today. I just came to check on my half-dead father.”

Qin Congyi nodded understandingly. She never discussed emotionally triggering topics with patients, so she changed the subject: “Any fresh, good news lately?”

Lin Jin scraped her canine tooth along the rim of the glass. Suddenly remembering the stubborn puppy who refused to bow, her eyes sparkled with excitement: “Of course. And it’s a huge joy.”

Qin Congyi could sense her genuine smile and prompted her: “If you don’t mind, could you share what good thing it is?”

“No. She is a secret I don’t want to show anyone.” Lin Jin refused the guided therapy question, appearing somewhat possessive.

Cheng Sangluo was like her hidden treasure, to be carefully guarded and locked deep in a corner of her heart known only to her. Even the topic of sharing made her anxious about potential loss.

Qin Congyi smiled without comment, naturally ending the discussion.

Her consultation time was billed by the minute, and she didn’t linger unnecessarily. She stood up to leave: “Director Lin, if you have no other requests, I won’t interrupt your enjoyment of the wine. But I still want to advise you: you must take your medicine, quit drinking, and properly treat your illness.”

Lin Jin was pouring herself another glass of wine. Hearing this simple advice, her smile widened even more brightly: “The same goes: alcohol, solves a thousand worries.”

With that, she leaned languidly into the sofa and raised her glass to Qin Congyi: “Don’t worry. I have a cure. It works wonders.”

Yes, Cheng Sangluo is her best antidote.

Qin Congyi raised an eyebrow and countered: “If you have an antidote, then why are you still drinking to drown your sorrows?”

The doctor always managed to pinpoint the crux of the problem. She knew inner demons were the hardest to eliminate, so her question carried doubt.

Is it an antidote, or is it poison? Who knows?

The smile on Lin Jin’s lips stiffened slightly. The question wasn’t hard to answer: because the antidote was untamable, she needed alcohol as a primer.

She put down her glass, ready to check on the person downstairs: “Walk with me for a bit.”

“My pleasure.” Qin Congyi politely stepped aside. Following her, she gently advised: “Everything takes time. Let things slow down, and your emotions will naturally relax. Promise me, be calm when you see your father in a moment.”

“Tsk,” Lin Jin scoffed: “I can’t control things like emotion. Otherwise, why would I take medicine or see a doctor?”

The specialized nursing ward at the Convalescence Center wasn’t as sterile as a hospital; one couldn’t even smell a hint of pungent disinfectant.

The room’s decor was in warm tones, giving the occupant a cozy, home-like feeling that seemed to alleviate the sensory effects of illness.

It was morning rounds time. A group of professional nursing staff gathered around the bed, busy assisting the bedridden man with his morning routine.

Several attending physicians stood nearby, discussing the day’s medication schedule based on his physical condition.

The electric double doors were extremely quiet, opening smoothly and silently.

It was evident that everything here, from the services to the quality, was the best money could buy.

Lin Jin’s expression was as cold as ever. Such an aloof attitude made it hard to believe she had specially come to visit her severely ill father.

“Director Lin, good morning.” The attending physician bowed in greeting, about to report the patient’s condition.

Lin Jin waved her hand to stop him immediately, instructing: “Everyone out first.”

After the group left, she pulled up a chair and sat down, offering her father a fake smile: “You look well. Seems like you’ll live a while longer.”

Lin Zhen clutched a handkerchief. Her callous words provoked a fit of uncontrollable coughing.

His lungs were in the end stage of fibrosis; doctors had given him less than two years to live.

This disease was torturous. The patient couldn’t live without an oxygen tank. Forget getting out of bed to walk, merely speaking a few extra words would leave him breathless. His final days were destined to be trapped in the small confinement of a hospital bed, devoid of sunlight.

He was long used to his daughter’s cruel attitude, so he didn’t show much emotional fluctuation.

This man never genuinely smiled and concealed his thoughts deeply. Even emaciated and attached to an oxygen tube, he still carried an imposing aura of authority.

Meeting his daughter was a rare event. Lin Zhen’s expression was not affectionate; his raspy voice only inquired about business: “How is your company doing recently?”

“You shouldn’t need me to answer that, should you? Someone should be reporting to you constantly. Senyao is currently thriving. Does this result disappoint you?” Lin Jin countered with a smile, neither servile nor arrogant. “That’s right, you must care. After all, it hasn’t developed into the flimsy failure you predicted, right?”

Lin Jin didn’t need her father’s approval. She simply wanted to showcase her success. The difficulty of her solitary struggle to achieve success would coalesce into harsh slaps.

These slaps landed on Lin Zhen’s face, shattering the past assertions that his daughter would fail.

Perhaps left speechless, he coldly snorted and changed the subject: “Hmph, your brother is more sensible than you. At least he visits me every now and then. An outsider would think I only have one child.”

“Your son is the primary heir. If he didn’t pretend to dote on you and humor you, how would he gain your favor?” Lin Jin’s words were brutally honest, directly tearing away the veil of pretense, then sprinkling salt on the wound: “I never expected anything from you as a father, so don’t expect anything from me as a daughter. It’s probably better for you to pretend you only have one child. Seeing me less might even extend your life by a few days.”

Lin Jin crossed her legs, swinging her pointed foot leisurely. As she spoke, her fake smile grew colder. Her gaze fixed on her father’s face, anticipating a more intense reaction.

The shrewd and calculating Lin Zhen knew everyone’s intentions. His emotions were stable, so he didn’t show the reaction Lin Jin expected: “I know exactly what kind of people you and your brother are. Do you know why I think your brother is stronger than you?”

Lin Jin suppressed her smile, narrowing her eyes as she countered: “Stronger than me? The illegitimate son you poured your heart into cultivating just lost a huge deal recently. Coincidentally, that project was snatched up by Senyao. So, how can you say something so laughable?”

Lin Zhen sighed deeply. Although the company was managed by Lin Sheng, he was still the largest shareholder behind the scenes. Therefore, he would hear about all the major and minor company affairs.

“Never mind. Whether your brother fails and you succeed, it’s merely a matter of one hand gaining and the other losing. Either way, success is the Lin family’s success.” Lin Zhen’s statement neither blamed his son nor acknowledged his daughter’s contribution.

He had to admit that Lin Jin inherited his strengths; her business acumen far surpassed Lin Sheng’s, but fundamentally, he refused to acknowledge this fact publicly.

He closed his eyes to rest, his tone still even: “If you had only understood how to please your elders, you wouldn’t have had to walk every step by yourself.”

“How can you say ‘one hand gaining and the other losing’ so nonchalantly? Are you shameless at your age?” A deep, hateful resentment flashed in Lin Jin’s eyes, quickly followed by a mocking smile: “If I understood how to please you, I wouldn’t be Lin Jin.”

“Do you know what ‘Gu-raising’ is?” Lin Zhen spoke succinctly, revealing the cold-bloodedness of a father in just a few words.

The path he laid for his children was full of thorns, lacking mutual support, only the primitive natural selection of the fittest. It seemed this was the only way to select the best candidate to lead the vast family enterprise.

However, in this long-standing conflict, he had never been fair; favorable winds always blew toward Lin Sheng.

Lin Jin raised an eyebrow in a half-smile. Her look was that of someone viewing a monster, finding it unbelievable that such a person could be a father.

Lin Zhen opened his eyes, staring straight at his daughter, uttering a distorted set of beliefs: “Regardless of ‘legitimate’ or ‘illegitimate’ son, you and your brother are both the Lin family’s bloodline. We flourish and decline together. I never interfere in your disputes because I want to see who can ultimately take over this enormous family business. I admire your courage and investment vision, but I also dislike your relentless focus on past grievances. You ask me where Lin Sheng excels? He excels because his methods are more ruthless than yours.”

Lin Jin clenched her jaw. Being acknowledged by her father for her capability wasn’t a cause for joy, because the acknowledgment ultimately implied she was still inferior to Lin Sheng.

“The Lin family is the Lin family, and I am me. There is no ‘flourish and decline together.’ Even if your so-called massive family business ultimately goes to Lin Sheng, I won’t be envious in the slightest.

Fine. You want to compete over ruthlessness, do you?

After you close your eyes, I will destroy everything you hold dear: your meticulously groomed son, and the family business you worried over your entire life. Consider it a belated burial offering for my mother.

Also, I have one small wish: I will personally pull out your oxygen tube.

Of course, I’m not in a hurry, because right now, I prefer you to lie here soberly, enduring a living hell day after day.

Please be sure to live a long, long life, so you can fully savor the pain.”

Lin Jin delivered this malicious blessing through gritted teeth, word by word—a bloodless assassination of the heart.

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