After being kicked out of the wealthy family - Chapter 1: The Mysterious Man

Chapter 1: Strange Man

It was early August, and the heat still lingered.

In a train carriage bound for Beicheng from the countryside, Lin Wu’s long, pale fingers slid across her tablet screen as she calmly reviewed its contents.

A young man’s voice came through her earphones.  

"Boss, the information we just sent includes the recent movements of everyone in the Lin family, including Lin Qian, who was just found."

Lin Wu acknowledged with a quiet hum.

She was originally the daughter of the Lin Group in Beicheng and had two older brothers, six years her senior. Although, by all accounts, she should have been adored, Mrs. Fang Ruling, her mother, had suffered a difficult delivery. Every time Fang saw her, she was reminded of the pain and gave Lin Wu no affection. The rest of the Lin family treated her little better.

At twelve, her mother could no longer bear her presence and convinced her father, Lin Shenghai, to send her to the countryside, to the place where the Lin family had grown up before they found wealth, to live with her grandfather.

Six years passed without a single message from the Lin family, as if they had forgotten she existed.

Two days ago, her grandfather, who had been in Beicheng for medical treatment, called to inform her that the Lin family was asking for her return. Lin Wu doubted that they suddenly felt a sense of obligation toward her.

Her grandfather revealed that the Lin family had recently discovered that, due to a mix-up at birth, she was not their biological daughter.

This revelation had shocked the Lin family. Fang Ruling, especially, seemed to have been overwhelmed by newfound maternal love and became desperate to find her biological daughter.

Eventually, they found Lin Qian, the real daughter, and decided to hold a grand press conference to announce her identity—and formally sever Lin Wu’s ties with the family.

Since the Lin family had never contacted Lin Wu directly or had her number, they had reached out through her grandfather.

Lin Wu's gaze lingered on a photo of Lin Qian displayed on her tablet, then swiped to see a recent family photo—one that, after 18 years, she would never be part of.

As she thought about this, a loud bang broke the silence as the carriage door was pushed open.

Lin Wu turned her head. A tall figure appeared in the doorway, and before she could see his face, he collapsed to the floor. The sharp scent of blood filled the air.

"Boss, what’s going on?" asked the voice in her ear, suddenly concerned.

"It’s nothing. Zheng Qi, tell the team to keep investigating and forget about the Lin family." Lin Wu ended the call, set down her tablet, and looked back.

Several large, menacing men appeared at the door, and one shouted, "Boss, he’s here! Get him!" 

Noticing Lin Wu, one of them pointed threateningly. "Stay out of this, or you’ll regret it."

The man on the floor remained motionless. Lin Wu looked at them calmly. "I hate being pointed at."

“Hey, what's your problem? Get lost!” 

The men stormed in, crowding the small carriage. Their muddy boots stained the floor.

“You’ve made a mess of my space.” Lin Wu’s eyes grew cold.

One of the men turned to her, raising his hand. "You little—" He stopped mid-sentence, realizing his wrist was firmly gripped by Lin Wu.

His expression shifted, alarmed. “Secondly, I hate people touching me,” Lin Wu stated. She raised her leg, kicking him out of the carriage, knocking the others back with him.

The others scrambled up, ready to retaliate, but Lin Wu gave them no chance. With quick precision, she subdued each one, leaving them groaning on the floor.

The flight attendant rushed over, eyes wide. "Ms. Lin, this..."

Lin Wu was the only passenger in this carriage. "Inform the conductor. He’ll know what to do," she replied. She stepped back inside, closed the door, and looked at the man who was now awake.

"Who are you?"

The man’s features were striking—strong brows, a sharp nose, and lips finer than most women’s. His face had the kind of beauty that would catch anyone off guard.

When he lifted his eyes to meet Lin Wu’s, the danger in his expression softened, and a faint, lazy smile played on his lips.

“A doctor,” he said.

Lin Wu crossed her arms, leaning against the door skeptically. Where did a doctor like this come from?

The man coughed and continued, “Really, I’m a very good doctor. Someone wanted me to perform surgery on him, I refused, and he held a grudge.”

Lin Wu’s nose caught a faint scent of antiseptic mixed with pine and cypress.

She listened to the hurried footsteps approaching from outside, ensuring all was quiet. She picked up her bag, turned to the man, and said, “If you want to live, head back to your own carriage.”

With that, she left him behind and moved into the next empty carriage.

Her phone buzzed softly. It was Zheng Qi, asking if the situation on the train had been handled and if she needed assistance.

Lin Wu thought for a moment before replying, "No need."

For the past two years, she had taken care to conceal her identity while investigating an old matter. Few people knew of her return to Beicheng. This incident must have been a coincidence.

Lin Wu straightened her things and lay down, closing her eyes as silence returned. She heard the sound of the man next door opening and closing doors before his footsteps faded.

She turned over and drifted into sleep.

At four in the afternoon, the train arrived at its destination.

The driver sent by the Lin family was already waiting, alone.

His tone was less than friendly. “You’re lucky. Mr. Lin and Mrs. Lin are dining at Shenggui tonight. They weren’t going to invite you, but the eldest miss persuaded them.”

Lin Wu raised an eyebrow. “Shenggui?”

The driver nodded proudly. “That’s right!”

Shenggui was the most exclusive private club in Beicheng, famed for its low-key luxury decor and ironclad exclusivity. Its owner held powerful connections, making Shenggui unshakable, despite any rivals’ attempts.

Shenggui’s strict VIP policy was a mark of status among Beicheng’s wealthy, even attracting top government officials.

The Lin family had only gained wealth in the last decade, far from the old-money elite. However, their collaboration with Yunke Group, an international financial giant, had bolstered their standing significantly.

With this newfound fortune, they had managed to squeeze their way into Shenggui, though only just.