Rebirth: The Time-locked Girl
Chapter 216 The truth is revealed, shareholders’ meeting! [2 more updates]

Chapter 216: 216 The truth is revealed, shareholders’ meeting! [2 more updates]

Heaven knows how agonizing these hours had been for him, no matter what, today he had to have a clear answer.

"Lin Wenli, what’s the matter with you? Who are you showing that cold face to?" Lin Huaijin asked suspiciously, "Don’t frighten your sister. Eat first, and we can talk about whatever it is later."

"Uncle, let Wenli speak first," Ye Wanlan had already anticipated what Lin Wenli was going to say, "Wenli, what do you want to ask me?"

Lin Wenli was somewhat nervous, his fingers tightly clutching his clothes, and it took a long time before he finally managed to voice the question in his heart: "Sis, those four years, it wasn’t you, right?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Huaijin reprimanded: "Lin Wenli, what kind of way is that to speak? I’ve told you your sister has already mended her ways, so stop looking at her through her past."

But Lin Wenli ignored Lin Huaijin, his eyes fixed on Ye Wanlan.

Ye Wanlan raised an eyebrow: "Why would Wenli suddenly ask such a thing?"

"Today I heard about a novel that has been a bestseller on major platforms both domestic and international; it even ranked first on Global Center’s book charts," Lin Wenli said slowly, "The story’s protagonist is taken over by a foreign soul, and from then on, their life becomes a complete mess."

Lin Huaijin listened, utterly baffled: "What’s going on here? Why are we suddenly talking about a novel?"

Once he finished speaking, Khor Peiqing’s expression changed drastically, her gaze suddenly turning towards Ye Wanlan.

"So I’m wondering—" Lin Wenli’s breathing grew erratic, and his voice became increasingly muffled and difficult, "did... did something similar happen to you back then, that it wasn’t you during those four years, right?"

Under Lin Wenli’s gaze, Ye Wanlan nodded lightly.

"Boom!"

At that moment, the walls around Lin Wenli’s heart crumbled completely. He leaned back in his chair, exhaling deeply.

With that, everything made sense.

The sudden change in Ye Wanlan’s personality was because another had trampled on their sincere kindness; the one who had dropped out of school to become a model wasn’t her either.

Both she and they were complete victims.

Lin Wenli felt as if a large hand was squeezing his heart, leaving him struggling for breath: "Sis, why didn’t you tell us? Being so wronged, you, you..."

Wouldn’t it hurt?

Ye Wanlan remained composed, shaking her head: "Back then, if I had spoken up, what would you all have thought?"

Lin Huaijin hesitated for a moment before replying hurriedly, "Gone mad? Become mentally ill?" He quickly added, "Ah Lan, I’m not talking about you."

"I know, Uncle," Ye Wanlan simply smiled, then looked towards Lin Wenli, "And you, Wenli?"

Lin Wenli pursed his lips and said softly, "Make up a laughable, stupid, utterly ridiculous lie to absolve oneself of guilt. I wouldn’t just not believe it, I would actually despise you even more."

"That’s true," Ye Wanlan wasn’t angry; her smile was faint, "That’s why I didn’t say anything because at that time, you didn’t trust me. No matter what I said, it would only push you all further away."

Khor Peiqing fell silent.

Of the three, she was the most disappointed and disgusted with Ye Wanlan.

If Ye Wanlan had really claimed someone else had taken control of her body to do such things, she wouldn’t have believed a word and would have tried everything to commit Ye Wanlan to a psychiatric hospital.

That’s what any rational person would think.

When someone close changes drastically, a normal person would think something had gone wrong with them, but who would consider that another soul had taken over their body?

"But now that Wenli has asked me proactively, it shows he believes me. At this point, whatever I say, you’ll all believe," Ye Wanlan lifted her head, enunciating each word, "Uncle, Aunt, Wenli, the person from the past four years wasn’t me. To this day, I still don’t know who took over my body."

After saying these words, she felt as if a heavy weight had lifted from her shoulders.

After all, this was her inner demon.

She had considered revealing the truth to her closest ones someday in the future, but she hadn’t expected Lin Wenli to bring it up first.

Even though Wen Chaosheng’s method hadn’t flushed out the Transcendent Woman, letting her family accept this fact was worth everything.

This matter also had a huge impact on Lin Huaijin and Khor Peiqing. Both found it hard to fathom that such things could happen in this world and fell silent for a while.

Ever since noon, once Lin Wenli had this idea, he had been preparing himself mentally.

He stood up for Ye Wanlan, "Dad, Mom, I believe what my sister says is true. You have to believe her, Dad?!"

The last call peaked in tone, startling Lin Huaijin so much he nearly fell to the ground.

"You little rascal, you scared me to death," Lin Huaijin clutched his heart, "I’m young and strong, but your father is nearly fifty. Let me catch my breath; I didn’t say I didn’t believe, I’m the one who believes the most."

"Then where were you during those four years when she took over your body?" Khor Peiqing asked for the first time, somewhat urgently, "Did you get hurt?"

Ye Wanlan gently shook her head: "I was still in my body, just unable to control it, akin to a soul forced into a cage."

During those four years, she could only listen and watch, unable to do anything.

But she had never thought about giving up; every moment, she tried everything to take back her body.

Lin Wenli’s heart trembled, "Then why would she specifically want to steal your body? And why did she use your body to do those disgusting things?"

"Who knows?" Ye Wanlan said nonchalantly, "Maybe ruining my life makes her happier."

"How outrageous! That’s utterly detestable." Lin Huaijin said furiously, "She knows that if she does this, outsiders won’t blame her but will tarnish your reputation instead."

He wished he could dismember the Transcendent Woman a thousand times over!

Khor Peiqing extended her hand and gently touched Ye Wanlan’s face, softly saying, "Ah Lan, these four years have been tough on you."

After a moment of silence, Ye Wanlan also spoke softly, "Auntie, I’m quite well now."

From that moment on, all the remaining issues between the family members were resolved.

"It’s like something from a science fiction novel has really happened." Lin Huaijin sighed, "If you didn’t experience it yourself, who would believe it?"

Ye Wanlan nodded slightly, then suddenly added, "However, I think Grandma must have realized it long ago."

Lin Huaijin was puzzled, "Huh?"

"After all, Grandma was once the core disciple of the Lin Family Main House and skilled in the Heavenly Music Method, exposed to a world much broader than ordinary people." Ye Wanlan said with a slight smile, "And with Grandma’s noble and kind heart, it’s quite normal for her to have guessed this."

When she regained control of her body and met Lin Weilan’s gaze, she knew that Lin Weilan had understood everything.

"Why didn’t your grandmother tell me a word about it," Lin Huaijin complained, "I’ve been kept in the dark for so long. Even if I wouldn’t believe it, she should have at least told me."

"Uncle, it’s all in the past now," Ye Wanlan picked up her chopsticks, "You’ve waited for me for so long, you must be hungry. Let’s eat first."

"Yes, let’s eat first. Ah Lan and Wenli are still growing, so they can’t miss out on nutrition," Khor Peiqing added.

After taking a sip of porridge, Lin Wenli lowered his voice, "Mom, I’m lucky to have you."

Khor Peiqing was puzzled, "Why do you say that all of a sudden?"

"If it weren’t for your intelligence, my IQ might have been even lower than my dad’s." Lin Wenli sighed softly, "Thankfully, you’ve boosted my IQ."

"Lin Wenli!" Lin Huaijin shouted, "Don’t think I’m deaf. I can hear everything you’re saying!"

Lin Wenli remained expressionless.

He had said it long ago, his dad was so straightforward and naive.

**

The next day was Saturday, and Lin Huaijin drove to the Lin Family Old House.

He also took this opportunity to talk to Lin Weilan in the study about the issue of Ye Wanlan’s body having been taken by someone else.

"Oh?" Lin Weilan’s eyes suddenly shot open, filled with a sharp light, "I thought you’d never know about this in your lifetime. How come all of a sudden..."

"It’s all thanks to Wenli," Lin Huaijin said, "Mom, you can’t blame me. I still feel like it’s a fantasy. Luckily, it’s Ah Lan. If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t believe it."

"However, Huaijin, you are truly kind-hearted," Lin Weilan said with a slight smile, "Not knowing that Ah Lan’s body was taken by someone else, yet you were able to trust her again. There are very few people who can do that."

Lin Huaijin: "...Mom, why do I always feel like you’re calling me stupid?"

"Great wisdom can bring great hurt. Sometimes, it’s better to be a bit muddled," Lin Weilan mumbled, "Knowing too much is not always a good thing."

Lin Huaijin was even more confused: "Mom?"

"Alright, seeing that the conflict between you and Ah Lan has been resolved, I can rest assured," Lin Weilan smiled, "There’s still a long life ahead. I hope you can share weal and woe."

She could feel that her body was getting worse.

More than forty years ago, from the time she made that decision, she knew her time was running out.

Things preordained by heaven simply couldn’t be changed.

Her greatest wish was to hope that her descendants could grow up healthy and happy, and have smooth sailing lives.

"Huaijin, I’m a bit tired," Lin Weilan gestured, "I’m going to rest for a while. You go out first."

**

Two days later, at Shengshi Group Company headquarters.

In the boardroom.

All the shareholders had arrived and were seated.

Sheng Ronghua sat at the head of the table, repeatedly glancing at his watch: "Today is the last day of the wager agreement. Why hasn’t my dear brother arrived?"

Is it possible that he knows I’ve gotten the contract and he’s been scared off?

Today, he was going to make Sheng Huaiqian leave Sheng Family!