Saira said considerately, "Brother, you must get Zuri a ticket. Then we can all go to the concert together."
Christian felt both comforted and heartbroken as he looked at his thoughtful and considerate sister, Saira, who always thought about Zuri.
"No need to trouble yourself," Zuri said as she put down her chopsticks.
"Zuri, are you upset?" Saira felt a bit hurt by Zuri's rejection.
Saira bit her lip, reluctantly handed over the concert ticket, and said, "Then take this ticket."
Zuri inwardly sneered at Saira's act.
Christian saw everything, and it pained him. When did his Saira become so cautious and eager to please someone who didn't appreciate it? The thought of the grievances and pain Saira had endured while he was away made his heart ache.
Since their parents didn't protect her, he would take it upon himself to guard his sister from now on.
"Saira, if she doesn't appreciate it, you don't have to give it to her," Christian said. He wanted to get along with Zuri, but her behavior was unacceptable. Both were his sisters, yet one was considerate and lovable, while the other lacked any manners. Anyone would choose the former over the latter. As for the latter, he couldn't bring himself to treat her as a sister.
"Zuri," Aaron called out in a displeased tone.
Dalia sighed and said helplessly, "Zuri, I know you're upset, but this has nothing to do with Saira. You are sisters and should love each other."
Zuri looked at the table full of disapproving faces, then at Saira's slightly lowered eyes with a hint of hidden smugness, and found it both amusing and ridiculous.
She hasn't learned her lesson yet!
"I already have a diamond VIP ticket. Keep that VIP ticket for yourselves," Zuri said, standing up.
She took two steps and then turned back, looking at Christian with a slightly pitying expression. "As the future heir of the Lin family, you couldn't even secure a diamond VIP ticket. This is worth reflecting on. The sad part is, you're still so complacent about it."
Christian felt utterly humiliated by her words.
Seeing his embarrassment, Zuri didn't stop there.
"As an important heir, you shouldn't spend all your time on trivial family matters. You should go out and see the world, expand your network. That's what you should be doing."
Aaron, who had thought Zuri was immature just moments ago, now felt a bit disappointed in Christian. Zuri had just returned and could already achieve something Christian couldn't, showing her potential.
Aaron grew fonder of Zuri, and as his gaze touched upon Saira's humiliated and flushed face, and Christian's angry and frustrated expression, his brow furrowed slightly. It seemed he shouldn't let Christian and Saira stay too close anymore to avoid Christian being influenced by such pettiness.
Christian, humiliated by Zuri's reprimand, didn't realize that Aaron was already dissatisfied with him. He also didn't know that in the future, his position as the Lin family's heir would be lost, and the Lin family's business empire would crumble.
The best way to get revenge on someone is not to eliminate them directly but to utterly destroy what they care about. Right now, Zuri was powerless, but as the saying goes, "A dam can collapse from an ant hole."
Bit by bit, she would erode and devour, and the Lin family would eventually fall.
In the study of the Lin family's mansion, Aaron sat on the sofa, his sharp eyes scrutinizing Christian. "Christian, you're not a child anymore. Starting tomorrow, you'll intern at the company. The company is far from home, so you'll stay in the apartment downtown. Spend weekends socializing with friends. Don't worry about the family's affairs."
"Dad! How could you listen to that little girl's words? What does she know?" Christian was furious, more so with anger.
"I had planned this long ago. It's not because of Zuri," Aaron replied. His words did nothing to ease Christian's mind, instead making him feel Aaron was siding with Zuri.
With the return of his biological daughter, it seemed they were ready to abandon him.
A seed of resentment quietly took root between father and son.
"You should spend less time with Saira. You are siblings," Aaron continued.
Christian felt exposed and embarrassed, angrily shouting, "Dad, did Zuri say something to you? Saira and I are siblings; it's not what you think."
"Good, then," Aaron said, a dark look flashing in his eyes. "Now leave."
Aaron's order was final. Christian knew there was no room for negotiation.
As he opened the door, he saw Saira standing there, panic-stricken.
"Saira," Christian called out to her.
Saira stopped, her eyes red with guilt and sadness. "Brother, I'm sorry. It's all my fault. I got you into trouble. I'll go beg Zuri to ask Dad to let you stay."
Christian gently wiped away her tears and said, "No need. Begging her will only make her more arrogant. No matter where I am, I will always be your strong support. Don't be afraid, your brother is here."
"Brother," Saira said, moved, as she threw herself into his arms.
Christian felt her warmth and scent. His hand, initially hesitant, finally embraced her tightly.
"What are you doing?" Dalia's voice suddenly came from behind them.
The siblings quickly separated.
Dalia's eyes swept over Christian, then landed on Saira's tear-streaked face.
"What happened?"
"Mom, can you ask Dad to let Brother stay at home?" Saira pleaded.
Dalia originally wanted Christian to stay at home, but seeing her children hugging like that was inappropriate.
"Your brother is an adult now and should be out in the world. The family business needs him," Dalia said tactfully.
Saira's heart sank.
At that moment, both Saira and Christian felt abandoned by their parents. They looked at each other, feeling an even stronger bond, seeing each other as their only support.
In this family, they no longer had a place.
"Mom's right. I should be independent. I'll visit often, so don't cry," Christian said, playfully pinching her nose.
His affectionate gesture was unsettling to Dalia.
"It's late, go to bed."
The next morning, Zuri came downstairs for breakfast as usual, but as she reached the door, she heard a sweet voice.
"Zuri is up, come have breakfast."
Zuri looked at Saira's beaming face. That insincere smile was rather unsettling.