"Oh no!" Yu Xue'na's face was filled with worry. "Xiao Lin, why didn't you tell me earlier that you passed the exam?"
"Auntie, what exactly is going on?" Endymion Lin grew increasingly uneasy.
Yu Xue'na opened her mouth to speak, but suddenly noticed Tan Bingbing standing beside him. She paused, visibly surprised, then asked, "Xiao Lin… are you with Bingbing right now?"
"Ah, we just happened to bump into each other," Endymion quickly explained.
"In that case, come to my place now," Yu Xue'na said, clearly trying to avoid discussing anything in front of Tan Bingbing.
"Alright, Auntie. I'll be right there," Endymion nodded. He wasn't stupid—he understood that whatever Yu Xue'na needed to say, it couldn't be shared with outsiders.
"One more thing—before you arrive, no matter who contacts you, don't answer!" Yu Xue'na added firmly.
Though puzzled, Endymion agreed.
After ending the call, he parted ways with Tan Bingbing and hurried toward Notting Tower. Tan Bingbing wanted to follow but understood well enough that Yu Xue'na had something important to discuss privately.
"What could it be?" she wondered, watching his hurried silhouette disappear. She had known Yu Xue'na for a long time, yet had never seen her so anxious.
A faint unease stirred in her heart.
When Endymion arrived at Notting Tower, Yu Xue'na was already waiting anxiously at the entrance. Though it was nighttime, many people were still coming and going. Before he arrived, several onlookers had begun whispering in disbelief—were their eyes playing tricks on them? Why else would Yu Xue'na be waiting out front like this?
The moment she saw him, she grabbed his arm and led him straight into her private elevator, vanishing from the public's view. And once again, Endymion became the target of countless jealous curses from watching men.
"Auntie, what's going on?" Endymion couldn't hold back any longer once they entered her bedroom.
"No one from the Lin family has contacted you yet?" Yu Xue'na seemed slightly relieved. "Good, looks like they're not moving that fast."
But just as she said that, Endymion's wrist communicator began to beep.
He glanced at the screen and saw a face both unfamiliar and deeply familiar.
Unfamiliar—because he hadn't seen this man in four years. Familiar—because this man was none other than his father: Lin Qingming, head of the Lin family.
"Don't answer!" Yu Xue'na said sharply, snatching the device from his wrist and walking to the doorway before accepting the call.
"Brother-in-law, what's the matter?" she asked irritably, clearly unhappy. "I'm busy."
"Xue'na? Why are you answering?" Lin Qingming frowned. "Where's Xiao Lin?"
"Xiao Lin? He's not here. He lent me his communicator," she replied with a look of feigned surprise. "Didn't you know?"
"Xue'na, your little tricks won't fool me," Lin Qingming said with a faint smile. "Just let him speak with me."
"Brother-in-law, I don't know what you're talking about. Anyway, I'm busy. If you want to talk to Xiao Lin, try Notting Academy," she replied casually, pretending to end the call.
"Xue'na, you should understand—when the Lin family wants to find someone, there's nowhere they can hide." Lin Qingming's tone was calm. "Since he doesn't want to speak with me now, then pass along the message. He must return home before the seventh of next month."
"Oh? If he comes to me, I'll let him know." Xue'na stayed in character to the end.
"I won't bother you further then. But let me give you one last piece of advice: you can protect him for a time, but not forever," Lin Qingming said, then disappeared from the screen.
Yu Xue'na's legs suddenly gave out. She collapsed to the floor.
Endymion rushed forward and caught her just in time. "Auntie! Are you okay?" he asked anxiously.
"I'm fine…" she said weakly, still cradled in his arms.
Holding her soft, elegant figure, Endymion couldn't help but feel a strange sensation stir within him. But he quickly forced it away. Gently, he lifted her and placed her on the bed.
"I'll go get you some water," he said, about to stand.
"No need." She shook her head and forced herself upright, leaning against the headboard. Then, she gazed at him with tender affection.
"Don't worry, Auntie. I'll be fine," Endymion said softly. Though he didn't yet know all the details, it was clear that whatever was happening was tied to Lin Qingming's sudden reappearance.
"Xiao Lin, do you know how much I hoped you wouldn't pass the exam and would be expelled from Notting Academy?" Yu Xue'na's voice was bitter. "That way, you could come here and become a mech designer like me. The Lin family wouldn't acknowledge you, but at least you'd be safe."
She smiled sorrowfully. "But why… why did you have to pass now, of all times? Why won't the damned Lin family just let you go?"
"Auntie, do you know why Lin Qingming wants me to return home?" Endymion asked. He refused to call that man 'father.' In his eyes, Lin Qingming didn't deserve the title.
"Xiao Lin, have you heard of the Lin family's Trial?" Yu Xue'na asked quietly.
"Trial?" Endymion shook his head. "No, never heard of it."
"Every member of the Lin family is supposed to know," she sighed. "You're an exception, I suppose. Once a member turns eighteen, they are required to participate in a month-long family trial, arranged by the elders."
She paused, then continued, "Originally, if you still couldn't pilot a mech, the family wouldn't have included you. But now you've officially earned a mech warrior's certification—and just turned eighteen. That makes you eligible. And more importantly… the trial is mandatory."
Now Endymion understood. The Lin family hadn't completely abandoned him. They had still been keeping tabs. The moment he passed the test, word had reached the family—and Lin Qingming had come calling.
Still, he didn't quite see the problem. "Auntie, even if I do have to take this trial, isn't it just a challenge? It's not that big a deal, right?"
"What if I told you this trial is extremely dangerous?" Yu Xue'na's voice turned grave. "That death is a real possibility. Would you still think it's no big deal?"