Chapter 48: Grief Sweeps the Crowd After the Exposure

Lin Hen held the memory card and inserted it into the computer.

The computer was connected to the large screen behind him.

"Second brother!"

"Second bro!"

The members of the Lin family below grew anxious.

The guests were also utterly confused, having no idea what was going on.

"Second brother!" Lin Yunhe frowned as he rushed forward, grabbing Lin Hen by the arm. "Don't be impulsive! This video has nothing to do with today's events."

However, when he met Lin Hen's desolate gaze, he couldn't help but lose his focus for a moment.

"What on earth is wrong with you?"

The memory card was loading.

Lin Hen looked at Lin Yunhe, his eyes filled with deep regret. "Big brother, what is wrong with *us*?"

"How have we treated Momo over these past eight months?"

"Do you truly feel no remorse in your heart?"

"The blood flowing through her veins is the exact same as ours!"

Lin Yunhe's breath hitched. He loosened his grip. "I know. Have you watched what's inside this card?"

Lin Hen closed his eyes, gritting his teeth.

The video began to play.

Down below, Qin Lian and Lin Tiancheng also watched the screen, eager to learn what had happened the previous night.

A hint of curiosity flickered in Lin Wan's eyes.

She couldn't remember a single thing about last night's memories.

The guests, murmuring among themselves, gradually quieted down.

Even the Mu family's parents and elders watched from the audience, wanting to see what kind of game the Lin family was playing this time!

The video opened with a group of young men and women playing at the reservoir.

Some people in the audience found it amusing; were they really brought here just to watch this?

Yet, as time passed, the video began to fill with flashes of lightning and rumbling thunder!

A torrential downpour broke out from the skies!

Through the curtain of rain, everything became blurred.

The water in the reservoir began to churn and rise, waves crashing fiercely against the edges.

Everyone in the venue grew tense.

Xiao Ru couldn't help but grip Mu Bai tightly by the arm. "Son, y-you guys last night..."

In the video, the inflatable boats had all capsized.

Several people could be vaguely seen struggling in the water, crying out for help.

Xiao Ru let out a gasp, her face turning deathly pale.

The others also clutched their chests, worrying for the people in the video.

Suddenly, one figure pulled another closer to the shore.

Mu Bai's eyes rimmed with red.

It was Lin Mo!

She was so small and frail, yet no one could have imagined she possessed such immense strength.

Even though she was drenched from head to toe, her pale little face still carried an expression of unyielding determination.

The first person to sink had been Mu Bai. When he was dragged ashore by Lin Mo, he was already completely unconscious.

Mu Bai lowered his head abruptly, finding it almost too painful to keep watching.

He knew the ending...

Xiao Ru fell silent, a strange sensation stirring in her heart.

She glanced sideways at her son, wanting to say something, but the words failed her.

She only saw her son with his head bowed, tears streaming down his face!

"Son..."

In the video, after saving Mu Bai, Lin Mo without a moment's hesitation leaped back into the water.

The wind and waves whipped about mercilessly, howling aloud.

The peals of thunder never ceased.

The surface of the water looked like the gaping maw of a deep, ancient abyss.

Terrifying beyond measure.

Countless hearts tightened on Lin Mo's behalf.

Some kind-hearted souls even averted their eyes, no longer daring to watch.

Lin Mo was so slender and delicate!

Yet she single-handedly, through sheer force of will, made the perilous trip back and forth seven times, saving seven people!

On the final trip, she pushed someone onto the shore.

And she herself was swept away by a giant wave.

She never appeared again.

Many in the audience were already weeping openly.

"Oh my god, why did this happen?"

"Isn't this girl Lin Mo?"

"She was completely different from the rumors. Such a kind-hearted little girl—why was her fate so tragic?"

Some of the elderly guests had cried until their eyes were red.

A muffled, low sound of weeping echoed through the hall.

And these were merely strangers!

Mu Bai stumbled on his feet, raising his remorseful eyes to look at his mother.

Xiao Ru's expression was one of unbearable pain. "Son, this young girl..."

"Mom." Mu Bai shook his head, tears streaming freely as his voice dropped to a hoarse whisper. "Today's banquet can be canceled. She's already dead."

"She is never coming back."

"Just like eight months ago, she saved me once again."

"Only... she doesn't always have such good luck..."

"It's all my fault. I was the one who planned this." Overwhelmed with anguish, Mu Bai raised a hand and clutched at the fabric over his chest. "I failed her. I don't deserve someone so good."

He hunched his shoulders, as though bearing the weight of a thousand mountains.

Xiao Ru's eyes also grew red. "Son, you truly failed her. If we hadn't gone to the reservoir, she wouldn't have..."

In an instant, all the prejudices and contempt the Mu family had held toward Lin Mo vanished completely.

From the bottom of their hearts, they respected this young girl.

Had it not been for her, their Mu Bai would no longer be alive.

It was just that she had saved so many others, yet could not save herself!

Mu Bai truly was at fault.

Xiao Ru turned her face away. "Since she was also our prospective daughter-in-law, we should light an everlasting lamp in her honor."

As for the Lin family, every single person felt a complex turmoil of emotions.

Lin Yunhe's lips trembled, unable to form any words.

Hearing about it from the search and rescue personnel was one thing; seeing it all with their own eyes was entirely another.

He closed his eyes, guilt and regret crushing his heart.

As for Lin Hen, he was already doubled over, his grief beyond containment.

Lin Ting wore a dazed expression, his noble, aloof face devoid of even a shred of color.

Lin Jianchen was too ashamed to lift his head.

Lin Qinglang slumped directly onto the floor, covering his face as he wept bitterly. "Why didn't I believe her words? Why wasn't I kinder to her?"

Now, there was no chance left.

Qin Lian's hands trembled violently; had Lin Tiancheng not supported her, she likely would have collapsed.

A hundred things rushed to her lips, only for her to realize she had no right to say a single word.

She truly did not deserve to be Lin Mo's mother.

"Eighteen years."

"I never once fulfilled my duty as a mother for even a single day."

Qin Lian looked at Lin Tiancheng. "Do you think Momo will come back to claim my life?"

Lin Tiancheng shook his head, letting out a heavy sigh.

Most likely, she would never want to see them again.

The only person who felt no sorrow was Lin Wan.

She stood coldly to the side, her expression frosty. *Lin Mo, oh Lin Mo, even in death you have to be so dramatic.*

*Making everyone feel guilty so they will never forget you!*

Lin Wan clenched her fists, sneering inwardly. *Lin Mo, even if you used your life to orchestrate this, you still guessed wrong about one thing.*

*And that is that time can heal all wounds.*

*I will take your place—completely take your place. Rest in peace on your journey.*

Meanwhile, at City A's airport, countless people thronged the arrival hall.

The clock struck eight sharp.

A group of people shoved their way through the crowd, domineeringly taking the front position.

Some passengers looked annoyed, but upon closer inspection, they saw a dozen top-tier handsome men, every single one exuding an intense, intimidating aura that marked them as dangerous figures not to be trifled with.

Moreover, the man in the lead was holding a bouquet of deep red roses.

"Strange, are these people here to pick up the CEO of Yaoming Group?"

"Doesn't look like it to me. Looks more like they're here to hold up a bank."

"I agree."

Suddenly, someone called out, "They're coming!"

Everyone whipped their heads toward the exit gate.

There, a young woman with voluminous, wavy hair walked out from the passageway.

She wore a red slip dress that hugged her slender waist.

Around her swan-like neck hung a ruby necklace—understated, yet it only served to accentuate her skin, which was as flawless as white jade.

A pair of legs that put the spring waters of the Seine to shame.

However, she wore a face mask and dark sunglasses.

Even without seeing her face, anyone could tell she was an absolute stunner!

The man in the lead walked straight up to her, a wicked, flamboyant smile playing on his lips. "Welcome back, my little princess."