Chapter 53 Giving Up the Identity of Crown Prince

Chapter 53 Giving Up the Identity of Crown Prince

Lin Mianmian huddled in the corner of the sofa, her fingertips still bearing the red marks Xie Lin had pinched her during her struggle. Her tears had dried on her cheeks, leaving two faint lines.

She turned her head away, her throat feeling tight and constricted.

Xie Lin sat beside him, a cigarette between his fingers, but he didn't light it.

His peach blossom eyes were lowered, and his long eyelashes cast a shadow under his eyelids, making it impossible to discern his emotions.

The earlier hostility had mostly dissipated, leaving only a heavy sense of oppression, like a boulder pressing down on their hearts.

Just then, a servant's respectful yet somewhat fearful voice came from the entrance hall: "Sir, you're back."

Lin Mianmian's body stiffened abruptly.

In this family, the only man who could be addressed as "Sir" by the servants was Xie Lin's father.

A man who barely managed to secure his position as vice president of the Xie Group with the support of his maternal grandfather, yet he always lived in the shadow of his father-in-law.

The footsteps were steady and powerful, each step landing on the marble floor with an air of intimidation.

Mr. Xie was dressed in a well-fitting black suit, his hair was neatly combed, and he wore his usual fake smile, but his eyes were filled with undisguised calculation.

His gaze swept over the two people on the sofa, lingering on Lin Mianmian's reddened eyes and the lingering hickeys on her neck.

The contempt in his eyes surged instantly, like ice being quenched.

"Come upstairs with me." Xie's father's voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable command. After speaking, he turned and walked towards the study.

Xie Lin stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, and before getting up, he reached out and ruffled Lin Mianmian's hair.

The warmth of his fingertips carried a soothing tone: "Stay here, don't wander off."

Looking at his tall, straight back, Lin Mianmian felt as if her heart was being clenched by a hand. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, it only turned into silent worry.

She knew that Xie Lin's father's visit this time was definitely not for anything else.

He always valued the Xie family's social standing the most, so how could he tolerate an ordinary person like her with no background?

The study door was slammed shut, cutting off all outside noise.

Mr. Xie sat in the leather chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the table, making a rhythmic "tap-tap" sound, as if tapping on people's hearts.

He raised his eyes, his gaze sharp as a knife, piercing straight at Xie Lin standing opposite him.

How long do you plan to keep her hidden?

Xie Lin leaned against the desk, his hands in his pockets, his jawline taut, and said indifferently, "I didn't hide her. This is her home."

"Home?" Xie's father sneered as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world. "Xie Lin, don't forget who you are."

The Xie family's heir is the one Grandpa personally groomed; your marriage has never been your own decision!

He paused, his eyes gleaming with even more calculation. "Grandpa is bedridden now, and the power of the Xie family is temporarily in my hands. Do you think you can still do whatever you want as before?"

These words were like a thorn, piercing Xie Lin's heart.

The true power behind the Xie family has never been Xie Mingcheng, but his maternal grandfather—the legendary old man who built the Xie family business empire from scratch.

But Grandpa is still in a coma.

“I haven’t forgotten.” Xie Lin raised his eyes, a stubborn obstinacy surging in them. “But my woman is not someone else’s to dictate.”

"Lin Mianmian?" Xie Mingcheng's voice deepened, filled with disdain.

"An ordinary person with no background, is she worthy of the position of the young mistress of the Xie family? Are you blinded by greed, or have you been bewitched by her?"

He stood up, walked up to Xie Lin, lowered his voice, and spoke with a tone full of coercion and enticement.

"I have already arranged a marriage for you with the Su family's daughter. As long as you agree, the Su family's resources can be used by the Xie family."

"If you insist on protecting this woman, don't blame me for turning my back on you—at that time, forget about the position of the Crown Prince, you won't even have a foothold in the Xie family!"

Xie Lin looked at his face and felt incredibly ironic.

Xie Mingcheng was never thinking about the Xie family's interests; he only wanted to use the marriage alliance to consolidate his own position and completely control the Xie family.

"I disagree." Xie Lin's answer was firm and unequivocal, leaving no room for negotiation.

"What did you say?" Xie Mingcheng's pupils contracted sharply, clearly not expecting him to refuse so decisively.

He thought that no matter how rebellious Xie Lin was, he would never give up his status as the Crown Prince, nor would he give up the wealth and glory that were within his grasp.

"I said, I disagree." Xie Lin repeated himself, looking intently at Xie Mingcheng, and said each word clearly.

"Whether it's a marriage alliance or the Xie family heir, I don't care about these things."

"Don't care?" Xie Mingcheng's chest heaved with anger as he pointed at his nose and cursed.

"Xie Lin! Do you know what nonsense you're spouting! Grandpa's life's work, are you going to ruin it all in your hands? Do you think you can still have your current status after leaving the Xie family? Do you think you can protect her?"

"My status has never been given to me by the Xie family." Xie Lin's voice was calm yet powerful.

"You know better than anyone what I've accomplished at the company over the years. I can live just as well without the Xie family. And nobody can touch her, including you."

"Good! Good! Good!" Xie Mingcheng said "good" three times in a row, his face turning ashen with anger. He stared intently at Xie Lin as if he wanted to devour him alive.

"You think you're all grown up now? How dare you talk to me like that! Fine, if you want to protect that woman, then don't acknowledge me as your father!"

And forget about the Xie family! From today onwards, you are no longer the heir to the Xie family, and you will not receive a single penny of anything from the Xie family!

Xie's father thought that these words would make Xie Lin back down.

After all, no one can resist the allure of becoming the heir to the Xie family, and no one is willing to break with their father.

But to his surprise, Xie Lin simply raised his eyes, his gaze devoid of any emotion, only a resolute expression.

"That suits me perfectly."

Those four seemingly casual words struck Xie Mingcheng's heart like a heavy hammer.

Xie Mingcheng looked at him in disbelief, as if he were seeing this son for the first time.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found his throat was so blocked that he couldn't utter a single word.

Xie Lin didn't look at him again and turned to walk towards the door.

He paused as his hand rested on the doorknob, his back to Xie Mingcheng, his voice indifferent yet clear: "I never wanted anything from the Xie family in the first place."

“I will protect Grandpa’s hard work, but not in such a despicable way.”

"Also, Lin Mianmian is my bottom line. Anyone who crosses her line will die."

As soon as he finished speaking, the study door was opened and then slammed shut again.

With a "bang," it was as if two worlds were separated.

Mr. Xie stood there, his chest heaving violently. He stared intently at the closed door, his fingers clenched so tightly they turned white, and his knuckles turned blue from the force.

After a long while, he slumped back into his chair, the anger in his eyes fading, leaving only deep resentment and bitterness.

Downstairs, Lin Mianmian was pacing anxiously. The moment she heard the door to the study open, she suddenly looked up and met Xie Lin's deep eyes.

His face was expressionless, but the air pressure around him was frighteningly low.

Lin Mianmian's heart tightened suddenly. She quickly stepped forward, her voice trembling slightly, "Xie Lin, you..."

Before she could finish speaking, Xie Lin pulled her into his arms forcefully.

His embrace was tight, so tight it felt like he wanted to meld her into his very bones, his chin resting on the top of her head.

Her voice was terribly hoarse, yet filled with an unprecedented firmness: "Mianmian, don't be afraid."

Lin Mianmian's nose tingled, and tears welled up instantly.

She could guess what had happened in the study, what Xie Mingcheng had said, and what threats he had made.

"Your father..."

"I've already explained it to him," Xie Lin interrupted her, raising his hand to wipe away her tears.

He stroked her cheek with his fingertips, his eyes filled with obsessive tenderness, "I'm giving up being the heir of the Xie family."

Lin Mianmian's pupils constricted sharply as she stared at him in shock, tears streaming down her face even more profusely: "Are you crazy? That's the Xie family! Grandpa's still in the hospital, your father..."

"I don't care."

Xie Lin lowered his head and kissed away the tears at the corners of her eyes, his voice gentle yet carrying an undeniable resolve.

"I can give up everything, but I can't live without you."

"But……"

"No buts." Xie Lin hugged her tightly, his voice low and hoarse.

"From now on, I am no longer the heir of the Xie family; I am simply your Xie Lin."

Lin Mianmian leaned against his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat, and her tears fell even more fiercely.

It wasn't because I was sad, but because I was moved.

She knew that Xie Lin had given up a lot for her.

Xie Lin looked down at the little woman in his arms who was crying uncontrollably, and the coldness in his eyes melted instantly, leaving only tenderness.

He raised his hand and gently stroked her hair, his voice so tender it could melt your heart: "Don't cry, okay?"

Lin Mianmian sniffed, looked up at him with teary eyes, and asked, "What will we do in the future?"

"Just leave it be." Xie Lin chuckled softly, gently flicking the tip of her nose with his fingertip, his tone relaxed.

But with an undeniable firmness, he said, "With me here, the sky won't fall."

He paused, looked at her reddened eyes, leaned down, and placed a gentle kiss on her lips.

"From now on, I'll take care of you."

Those four simple words were like a reassuring pill, hitting Lin Mianmian's heart hard.

The cicadas outside the window were still chirping noisily, but at this moment, Lin Mianmian felt that the whole world had quieted down.

All that remained was his warm breathing and the powerful thumping of his heart.

She knew that from the moment Xie Lin pushed open the study door, from the moment he said he would no longer be the heir of the Xie family.

There was nothing left to stand between them.

Even if the road ahead is long and arduous, as long as he is by my side, that's enough.

In the study, Xie Mingcheng looked at the two embracing outside the window, his resentment growing stronger.

He picked up a document from the table, which contained information about the Su family's daughter, and a sinister smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

Some things, Xie Lin can't just let go of as he pleases.

Some paths are not ones he can choose just because he wants to.

This war about love and possession, about family and freedom, has only just begun.