Chapter 58: Affection Arriving Too Late Is More Worthless Than Grass

Lin Yunhe wore an expression of displeasure: "Fifth brother, I know you still cannot accept Momo's death."

"But you must face the facts eventually."

"You cannot be so selfish. Momo's death has nothing to do with Wanwan. Must you deprive Wanwan of her happiness as well?"

Lin Qinglang took a deep breath.

That was not it at all.

It wasn't that he couldn't bear to see Wanwan happy.

It was simply that she... she was completely different from before.

Could the rest of the family really not see it?

Lin Qinglang gave Lin Wan a long, profound look: "You know very well in your heart."

"Fifth brother..." Lin Wan's heart skipped a beat, and she bit her lip, "I..."

Tears were trembling right at the brim of her eyes.

Had this been the past, Lin Qinglang would have felt heartbroken to the extreme.

Yet now, a couple of extra layers of doubt lingered in his mind.

The kind-hearted Wanwan shouldn't have been so cold-blooded, merciless, and self-serving.

In the past, Lin Qinglang had been blinded by the impulse to protect his younger sister.

With the existence of someone like Lin Mo acting as a "negative example," he had only ever seen Lin Wan as pitiful and wronged.

Thinking about it now, had Momo ever actually done anything to Lin Wan?

Everything had merely been Lin Wan's one-sided account.

"Fifth brother, I'm sorry." Lin Wan stood up, "I know it was my fault. It was me who insisted on going to play at the reservoir back then."

"If not for me, Momo wouldn't have met with tragedy."

"I have nightmares every night, confessing my guilt to Momo in my dreams. I wish so badly that the one who died was me..."

Lin Wan spoke with utmost sincerity: "I beg you not to misunderstand me in this matter."

"Regarding Momo's death, I feel guiltier and more self-reproachful than anyone else."

Lin Yunhe could no longer bear to listen, a trace of anger flashing across his gentle face.

"Enough, number five. You carry your own guilt toward Momo, but you cannot shift all the blame onto Wanwan alone."

Lin Qinglang shook his head and strode away.

He did not want to listen.

He admitted his guilt, but that did not mean the others were innocent.

He would never forgive himself for as long as he lived.

Yet he truly could not stomach watching others continue their lives as if nothing had happened.

Lin Qinglang stepped out of the house and headed straight for the city center.

He sat inside a cafe located right at the entrance of University A.

It was already midday.

As he watched the endless stream of incoming freshmen, holding his phone in hand, he realized he had sent yet another string of messages to Momo last night.

Only, she would likely never see his confessions.

"Excuse me, a black coffee with no sugar." A crisp, aloof voice sounded.

Sitting on the sofa near the window, Lin Qinglang shuddered violently at the sound, turning his head sharply toward the counter.

All he saw was a young woman wearing a soft blouse on top and a light-colored skirt below, standing there to pay.

Her silhouette was slender and delicate.

She wore a wristwatch on her wrist.

He recognized that watch; he had originally intended to buy it as a gift for Wanwan, costing one hundred thousand yuan.

The dim light in Lin Qinglang's eyes extinguished. That person's voice sounded so much like Momo's.

However, Momo could neither afford such a high-end brand nor wear such an expensive watch.

Then, Lin Qinglang watched that person turn around.

His breathing grew ragged.

With a sudden lunge, he stood up and covered the distance in two or three strides, shouting, "Is that you, Momo..."

He longed to rush over immediately and check whether she was warm to the touch.

To see if she was breathing.

To see if she was a living, breathing person!

Or was it merely another hallucination of his?

"Momo!"

"Stop right there." A bodyguard dressed in black intercepted Lin Qinglang, speaking with icy detachment, "Who do you think you are? Stay away from our Eldest Miss."

As her personal bodyguard, Ah Wu grew instantly vigilant upon seeing this disheveled man.

Lin Mo raised an eyebrow, spotting the haggard-looking Lin Qinglang as well.

How bizarre. What was this man doing at University A?

A sudden flash of realization hit Lin Mo. Was he accompanying Lin Wan to school?

He truly doted on Lin Wan, didn't he?

With a half-smile, she said, "Ah Wu, don't be tense. He simply recognized the wrong person."

"Eldest Miss, there are many scoundrels outside."

"Master has given instructions; I am to protect you every step of the way without leaving your side."

Ah Wu refused to step aside, maintaining a stern posture as he shielded Lin Mo.

Lin Mo sighed helplessly: "Pardon him. Our family's bodyguards are rather cold and don't listen very well to my words."

"Please go ahead."

With that, she walked over and took a seat by the window.

Lin Qinglang turned his gaze back to Lin Mo.

The resemblance was striking.

Identical in every way.

"Momo." Lin Qinglang followed her like a soul separated from its body, "I know I was in the wrong before."

"You refuse to forgive me, and you refuse to acknowledge me as your family again."

"I'm sorry. I beg you to give me a chance. I will change... I will never make you sad again."

Lin Qinglang had always been like a proud little beast.

Yet this time, he lowered himself to an almost pathetic degree.

"Just seeing that you are still alive is enough to make me completely content."

A trace of sobbing choked his voice, "As long as you can forgive me, I will do whatever you ask..."

Lin Mo leaned against the sofa, a troubled expression crossing her features.

"My apologies." Her dainty fingers brushed lightly through her wavy hair, "I have no idea what you are talking about."

"If you are attempting to strike up a casual acquaintance, this approach is rather peculiar."

Her attitude carried a natural, deep-seated haughtiness.

Lin Qinglang's eyes reddened: "Momo, I regret it so much. I've been reflecting on myself every single day these past few days..."

"You are Lin, I didn't know..."

"If I had known sooner, I would never have treated you that way. I'm not human, I'm a beast!"

He clenched his fists tightly, his emotions on the verge of total collapse, "Please don't treat me like a stranger..."

Nearby.

Quite a few onlookers cast puzzled glances.

"What's wrong with that guy?"

"No idea, probably begging for forgiveness?"

"Honestly, the guy is quite handsome, and he's acting so humble."

"Pfft, what era is this? Who still falls for the 'prodigal son returning' routine? Look at how aloof the young lady is—a role model for our generation!"

"Anyone can just flap their lips and beg for forgiveness, can't they?"

A wave of murmurs and discussions rippled through the surroundings.

Lin Mo felt deeply annoyed by the noise.

A waiter brought over a cup of coffee: "Miss, your coffee."

Lin Mo nodded slightly.

Seeing her ignore him so completely, Lin Qinglang pressed on: "Momo, I'm begging you. You don't have to forgive me, but please don't be so cold..."

"Will you please just say a word to me?"

"Mister." Lin Mo took a small sip of coffee, the bitter taste spreading across her palate.

Frowning with growing irritation, she said, "I already told you, you've mistaken me for someone else."

"I don't know you, so how can I speak to you?"

"No, you are intentionally refusing to acknowledge me." A desolate look flickered in Lin Qinglang's eyes, "My sins are grave; your refusal to acknowledge me is only right."

"It is our Lin family that owes you. You suffered far too much unfairness within the Lin household."

He lowered his head: "How have you been living out here?"

"It must be much happier than being stuck at home, right?"

Lin Mo paused.

Ah Wu unceremoniously grabbed Lin Qinglang by the collar: "If you continue to harass our Miss, I won't be polite."

"Get lost right now!"

Lin Mo lifted her gaze just in time to watch Lin Qinglang being dragged out of the cafe.

Yet he refused to give up, attempting to force his way back in.

With Ah Wu present, however, he had no chance of getting within half a step of her.

In the end, he could only remain outside, weeping bitterly while gazing at Lin Mo through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows.

His strikingly handsome face was etched with profound remorse.

Judging by the movement of his lips, he was repeating the three words "I'm sorry" over and over again.

Lin Mo let out a cold laugh. Belated affection was worth less than a blade of grass.

"Eldest Miss, shall we head home?" Ah Wu stepped forward to inquire, "The other masters are returning from the capital tonight to see you, so we probably need to head back earlier."

Lin Mo set down her coffee cup: "It's been a long time since I last saw my brothers."

A bitter yet exasperated smile touched her lips: "They must harbor... deep-seated grievances against me by now, surely."