After being kicked out of the wealthy family - Chapter 3: Very Different from the Lin Family

 Here’s the polished version of this chapter:

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Due to traffic, Lin Wu arrived at Shenggui a little late. She had never been there before and wasn't sure how to find Tianzifang, so she went to the counter to ask for directions.

To her surprise, when the staff learned she was there for the Lin family’s banquet, their attitude turned frosty. "I'm sorry, but we can't just let people upstairs. Unless someone from the private room comes down to confirm you’re their guest, we can’t allow you in."

Lin Wu kept her expression neutral. "I wasn’t aware Shenggui had such a policy. Is this a rule set by the Lin family?"

The staff member grew impatient. "Who cares? You should know your place. You're lucky you even got through Shenggui’s doors. Wait if you want, or just leave."

He rolled his eyes and moved on to other tasks, leaving Lin Wu standing alone in front of the counter. Passersby glanced curiously at her as she stood there, her gaze turning cold. Without another word, she turned and walked away.

Just then, her phone rang.

"Hello, Wuwu, it’s Grandpa."

A frail, elderly voice came through the line, breaking into a cough mid-sentence. Lin Wu’s expression tightened.

"Are you okay? Has your condition worsened?"

"No, no," Mr. Lin replied after catching his breath, his tone kind. "I heard from Shenghai and his wife that they’ve prepared a table for you at Shenggui tonight. Wuwu, that means they still care for you. Knowing that makes me feel a little better."

Lin Wu remained silent.

Mr. Lin sounded puzzled. "Wuwu, can you hear me? Haven't you met up with Shenghai and the others yet? You should be at Shenggui by now."

Lin Wu pressed a hand to her temple. "I’m here, just speaking with them outside."

Relieved, Mr. Lin laughed softly, though his cough persisted. "It’s been six years since you all last met. Enjoy the meal together as a family. I believe any distance between you will fade. Wuwu, these old bones of mine won’t last forever. If I can see you happy before I go, I’ll have no regrets."

Lin Wu made a quiet sound of assent, then shifted the conversation to ask about his treatment. Once Mr. Lin began to sound weary, she ended the call.

She lingered in the hall for a while before moving to a nearby seating area. After calling the Lin family several times with no response, she checked the time on her phone, then reached out to Zheng Qi to ask about her grandfather’s condition. With that done, she returned to reviewing old documents on her tablet.

It was nearly ten o’clock when a familiar voice drifted over from the elevator.

The Lin family had stepped out, with Manager Song from Shenggui personally escorting them. They were chatting and laughing, clearly well-fed and content. Lin Wu observed them without expression as she closed her tablet, stood up, and walked over.

In truth, the Lin family had completely forgotten about Lin Wu’s arrival. Manager Song, sensing their disinterest, hadn’t mentioned it either.

Lin Shenghai turned to Manager Song, smiling. "Thank you so much for the hospitality, Manager Song. I’ll bring you a small gift next time."

"Oh, please don’t trouble yourself!"

Though flattered, Manager Song responded politely, but his gaze lingered on Lin Qian with approval. "Mr. Lin, you have a wonderful daughter."

With a daughter like Lin Qian, surely the Lin family would thrive.

Lin Shenghai looked over at Lin Qian with pride, and Fang Ruling, along with the others, exchanged pleased glances, delighted by Manager Song’s words. Were these compliments meant to imply that either he—or perhaps the influential people behind Shenggui—had taken notice of their daughter?

Blushing slightly, Lin Qian lowered her head, but a flicker of movement in front of her caught her eye.

She froze, then glanced up, her gaze locking onto Lin Wu. Everyone else, noticing her reaction, followed her line of sight.

The moment they saw Lin Wu, the group went still.

"Who are you?" Lin Jiangbai asked, squinting as though trying to recall.

Lin Wu held her bag in one hand, her other hand casually in her pocket. "You invited me to Beicheng, but you don’t even recognize me?"

"Lin Wu?" They finally remembered the photos Mr. Lin had shown them, though none had prepared them for seeing her like this.

She stood tall and graceful, the dark silk blouse accentuating her slim shoulders, while the fitted jeans highlighted her long, straight legs. Her presence was striking. With her flawless, porcelain complexion, almond-shaped eyes that slanted up slightly at the corners, and an air of cool intensity, she was both beautiful and formidable.

Manager Song glanced at Lin Wu, then at the Lin family. It was apparent that Lin Wu stood out starkly against the rest of them.

None of them had expected Lin Wu to look so remarkable after six years apart.

Lin Qian was the first to recover, her smile laced with jealousy. "So you’re here, sister. The journey must’ve been tiring."

Her words snapped the others back to attention.

Lin Jiangchuan scowled, "Why’d you take so long to get here? Making us wait forever—who do you think you are?"

Lin Wu’s tone was biting. "Wait for me? Who’s waiting for whom here? You’re quite good at twisting things around."

"Watch your tone!" Lin Shenghai’s face twisted in anger as he took in her defiant attitude. This wasn’t how a daughter of the Lin family should behave.

Lin Wu lifted her gaze to meet his. "Tone? Just saying it as it is. Or have you gone so deaf in six years that you can’t even hear what others are saying?"

"Lin Wu, is that what you picked up in the countryside all these years?" Lin Shenghai, unused to being talked back to, snapped at her.

Lin Qian flinched, instinctively pulling back, but Fang Ruling held her hand and whispered, "Qianqian, let it go. Lin Wu’s always been like this, disrespectful to her elders. It’s no wonder she didn’t inherit the Lin family’s manners; after all, she’s not really our daughter!"

"The Lin family’s manners?" Lin Wu let out a soft laugh. "What manners are those, exactly? Hypocrisy, duplicity, and a lack of sense? I’m actually grateful I didn’t inherit any of that."

Her remark ignited everyone’s anger. Lin Jiangbai glared at her darkly. "You’ve been in the countryside all these years while Grandpa’s here, sick. You’re a disgrace to our family name—a shame to Grandpa."

Lin Wu’s tone was even. "When I was still a Lin, you couldn’t control me; now that I’m not, do you think invoking Grandpa’s name will change that?"

"Why wouldn’t it?" Lin Jiangbai sneered.

Lin Wu’s expression turned colder.

Lin Jiangchuan couldn’t bear looking at her any longer. "Dad, Brother, don’t waste your breath on her!"

Lin Shenghai looked down at Lin Wu, his tone hard. "Fine, let’s make things clear."

"Don’t think your presence here means we want you back in the Lin family—that’s impossible."

"Qianqian is finally back, and we owe it to her to set things right. You can no longer claim to be the daughter of the Lin family. At next week’s press conference, when we officially welcome Qianqian into the Lin family, we’ll publicly announce that you’re no longer related to us. You’d better be there!"

(End of chapter)