"What's wrong? You don't look so good."
Lin Yu returned to the dining table and sat down.
Liu Hongmei asked with concern.
Lin Dazhi also put down his newspaper and glanced back at him.
Of course, Lin Yu wasn't going to say what he had just seen.
He knew very well that if he let Lin Dazhi find out that Lin Yi's realm had already reached 1-star, he might just turn around and use all the family's money to support Lin Yi instead.
Lin Dazhi's intentions were very clear.
He just wanted to find someone who could take him to live in the New District in the future.
To escape this miserable Old District and live a life of comfort.
Ever since Liu Hongmei had married into the Lin Family with Lin Yu in tow, Liu Hongmei had been whispering in Lin Dazhi's ear every day.
She made him firmly believe that the one he could count on in the future was Lin Yu, not Lin Yi.
"When there's a stepmom, there's a stepdad."
There was no lie in that statement. Lin Dazhi had slowly transferred all his expectations onto Lin Yu.
He even firmly believed that his own biological son's talent was lacking.
And that he would have a hard time getting into a Martial Arts University in the future.
Lin Yu's talent, on the other hand, held great potential.
Over time, he had subconsciously come to believe that the one who could take him to the New District was definitely Lin Yu.
'So, if I let Dad find out that Lin Yi's talent is no worse than mine... no... that it's even better than mine, will his attitude change?'
'Will he place all his hopes on Lin Yi instead?'
Lin Yu wasn't willing to gamble with his own future.
'The family's money is only enough to support one person.'
'And that person has to be me, absolutely not Lin Yi…'
"It's nothing. It's probably related to the tonic. After drinking it just now, my Qi and Blood feels a little unsettled.
Mom, Dad, don't worry. It'll stabilize in a bit!" Lin Yu quickly explained.
Hearing his explanation, Liu Hongmei and Lin Dazhi were both relieved.
A little while later, Lin Yi, having finished washing up, walked over.
The moment his gaze met Lin Yu's, Lin Yu, for the first time ever, lowered his head, a guilty look on his face.
Seeing his expression, Lin Yi couldn't help but smile.
He walked to the dining table and sat down. Today's breakfast was fried dough sticks and soft tofu pudding.
Apparently, Liu Hongmei had gone to the market early in the morning to buy it.
Lin Yi didn't say a word, just picked up a fried dough stick and started eating.
He had noticed over the past two days that as his realm improved, his appetite had grown significantly.
Especially now; he felt like he could devour a whole cow.
His stomach was already completely empty, and he was unbearably hungry.
He ate one fried dough stick after another.
Soon, half of the dozen or so fried dough sticks on the table were gone.
Lin Dazhi's brows furrowed as he watched Lin Yi reach for another fried dough stick.
He quickly snapped, "That's enough! The whole family hasn't eaten yet, and you're going to put all these fried dough sticks into your own stomach?"
Hearing this, Lin Yi shot Lin Dazhi a glance.
He took another fried dough stick anyway and said, "Old Lin, you can't even spare a few dough sticks for me?"
"Lin Yu is enrolled in a Martial Arts Hall and drinks tonics. His daily expenses are way higher than mine. I really have to ask, am I even your biological son?"
Lin Yi's words left Lin Dazhi speechless.
His face turned red as he glared at Lin Yi.
Just as he was about to erupt in anger, Liu Hongmei quickly spoke up with a smile.
"Let him eat, let him eat. Old Lin, really, the boy is still growing. Isn't it normal for him to have a big appetite?"
"Xiaoyi, there are still a few steamed buns left from last night. If you're not full, I can go heat them up for you?"
Liu Hongmei was always playing the peacemaker.
In reality, her heart was the most venomous.
'If she weren't the one instigating all this, would Lin Dazhi have given up on me?'
However, none of this mattered to Lin Yi anymore.
'Once I earn enough for the registration fee, my next step is to rent a place and live on my own.'
'To escape this twisted family.'
'After the Martial Arts Exam, if I can get accepted into a Martial Arts University…'
'…I can finally cut ties with them for good…'
"No need, these fried dough sticks are enough for me. Don't go to the trouble.
Oh, right, Lin Yu hasn't eaten yet, has he? Why don't you go heat up the steamed buns for him? I'm afraid there won't be enough fried dough sticks left!"
After Lin Yi finished speaking with a smile, another fried dough stick was already in his stomach.
He then grabbed another one, completely ignoring the sullen expressions on Lin Dazhi's and Liu Hongmei's faces.
And today, Lin Yu, breaking character, didn't mock Lin Yi at all.
When there were only two or three fried dough sticks left, Lin Yi drank up the rest of the soft tofu pudding.
Only then did he take out a napkin to wipe his hands, grab his schoolbag, and say, "I'm off to school!"
With that, Lin Yi headed straight for the entryway.
With a BANG, the main door slammed shut.
Only then did Lin Dazhi speak, his face dark. "This Lin Yi is getting more and more outrageous!"
"He ate the entire family's breakfast all by himself!"
"Who are these last three fried dough sticks supposed to be for?"
After he spoke, Liu Hongmei's expression also turned ugly.
In truth, she had prepared the fried dough sticks and soft tofu pudding for Lin Dazhi and Lin Yu today.
Because Lin Yi usually didn't even like eating these things.
Even when he did, one fried dough stick and a bowl of soft tofu pudding were more than enough.
Who would have thought he would eat so much today?
He ate all the breakfast meant for everyone else.
"Forget it. What's eaten is eaten. There are still steamed buns in the pot. I'll go heat them up for you," Liu Hongmei said with a sigh.
As she finished speaking, Lin Yu stood up.
"Mom, you guys eat. I don't have an appetite. I'm going to school!"
Saying this, he grabbed his schoolbag and also headed for the entryway.
The moment the door closed, Lin Dazhi's brows knitted tightly. "Xiaoyu's acting a bit off today!"
"Tell me about it. He was fine just a moment ago. How did he become like a different person all of a sudden?" Liu Hongmei also found it strange.
When they got up this morning, Lin Yu had been in excellent spirits.
How much time had passed? Lin Yu seemed like a completely different person from before.
It made both Lin Dazhi and Liu Hongmei extremely worried.
"Maybe the pressure is too much. After all, he's in the elite class now. The demands are definitely different than before, and the workload will be heavier!"
"But I have faith in Xiaoyu. He can overcome these difficulties!"
"Our family's future, our hopes of living in the New District, are all riding on Xiaoyu!"
Lin Dazhi said with a light chuckle.
Liu Hongmei, however, glanced up at him.
"Old Lin, you need to get a move on. I heard Xiaoyu say that third year is about to stop classes to prepare for the Martial Arts Exam. Anyway, Lin Yi isn't planning on taking the exam!"
"There's no point in him attending the rest of his classes. Why don't you just find him a job now and make him go to work?"
"Our family's situation is what it is. With one more person earning money, it can open up another path for Xiaoyu. Don't you think?"
After Liu Hongmei finished speaking, Lin Dazhi nodded. "Hmm, you have a point. I'll go look today and see if I can arrange a job for him!"