“Why are you asking so many questions?” Lin Jianjun shot his son a fierce glare.
Although Lin Guodong now held a high position and was the undisputed head of the Armored Brigade, in front of his retired old man, he still had to tuck his tail between his legs and behave like a son.
Lin Guodong’s lips moved, but he swallowed the question he’d been about to ask.
When he stopped asking, Old Master Lin Jianjun started talking on his own.
“Our Lin Family has served in the military for generations. Even if he doesn’t become a soldier, as long as he carries on the family line, he’ll have fulfilled his duty to the family.”
After a pause, he added, “Once he settles down and has someone to care about, he’ll be more grounded. By then, even if he wants to lounge around at home and live off his parents, we won’t interfere. As long as he doesn’t get into trouble or cause problems, and lives a quiet, steady life, we’ll thank our lucky stars.”
“If this grandson alternate account is a lost cause, then we’ll just raise a secondary alternate account.”
“I’ve arranged everything. The moment he steps through the door, we’ll send him straight to a matchmaking date! If they hit it off, they’ll get engaged right away and married next month! By this time next year, I’ll have two great-grandsons in my arms, and I’ll personally raise them both into pillars of national defense!”
Lin Guodong was dumbfounded. After a long pause, he looked up at his father. “And… whose daughter is she?”
Lin Jianjun laughed heartily. “Old Li’s granddaughter. We know her family inside and out. When he gets home, you can bring it up.”
Seeing his father looking so confident, Lin Guodong didn’t dare argue. He could only mutter inwardly and hope his son wouldn’t pull any more stunts.
…
Half an hour later.
The military bus transporting discharged soldiers slowly pulled up outside the entrance to the military region’s residential compound.
The instant the bus doors opened, Lin Yi clutched his canvas duffel bag and quickly got off.
The familiar red-brick walls, the compound gate with its military-family sign, and the old locust tree he’d climbed since childhood—all of it was exactly as he remembered.
But he sure as hell didn’t want to come back! He really didn’t!
“Damn System, you had to wait until I actually left the military to activate? What the hell!”
“And Dad, Grandfather—couldn’t you have tried one more time? You could’ve called! Called! Held up my Household Registration and application form! You really could just watch me leave the military?”
“Unbelievable!”
Lin Yi sighed helplessly.
Life really was unpredictable.
He stared at the familiar front door. He didn’t want to go in. He truly didn’t.
But now that he was home, he couldn’t just refuse to go inside.
Fine. He’d find a way to get back to his military unit. The System’s mission was right there in front of him; there was no way he’d miss this chance.
He walked up to the door and rang the bell. It opened soon after.
His mother, Wang Xiulan, stood behind the door. The moment she saw him, her eyes reddened. She hurried over and grabbed his arm, her voice full of heartache. “Son… you’ve lost weight.”
She wiped her tears. “Mom made your favorite braised pork. Come in and eat.”
Lin Yi felt a warmth in his heart. All his frustration and impatience temporarily faded.
He followed his mother inside. The moment he reached the living room, he sensed that something was very wrong.
Grandfather Lin Jianjun sat in the middle of the sofa, holding a teacup, his face dark. He didn’t even look up when Lin Yi came in.
His father, Lin Guodong, sat in the armchair beside him, smoking. His expression was just as grim, and his eyes were full of disappointment.
“You’re back.” Lin Guodong spoke first, his tone cool. “I thought you’d spend a few more days wandering around outside before you bothered coming home.”
Lin Yi opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but his mother tugged at his arm.
As Wang Xiulan helped him with his luggage, she tried to smooth things over. “Dad, Guodong, let’s eat first.”
Lin Jianjun still said nothing. He merely snorted heavily, set down his teacup, and got up to walk toward the dining room.
Lin Guodong stubbed out his cigarette and stood too. As he passed Lin Yi, he shot him a cold glance.
Lin Yi knew exactly what was going on: his grandfather and father were angry.
He had enlisted three times and left the military three times. Once Grandfather’s old comrades-in-arms and his father’s comrades learned about it, they would absolutely mock the two of them mercilessly.
But it didn’t matter. Enlisting three times and leaving the military three times wasn’t the end of the story. He was determined to enlist a fourth time!
The dining table was laden with Lin Yi’s favorite dishes: braised pork, sweet-and-sour ribs, steamed fish—all lovingly prepared by his mother.
Lin Yi sat down and started eating without a care in the world.
Nothing beat his mother’s cooking!
Wang Xiulan kept putting food in Lin Yi’s bowl, her eyes full of concern.
Watching Lin Yi wolf down his food, Lin Jianjun and Lin Guodong grew even angrier.
You brat! You came home and didn’t even think to apologize first—you just started eating?
After a long silence, Lin Guodong set down his chopsticks and cleared his throat. “Now that you’re back, I’ll make this clear.”
“You’re going on a matchmaking date tomorrow. It’s your Grandpa Li’s granddaughter, Li Shuwan. You met her when you were little. Her family and ours are a perfect match. After you two meet, you’ll get married this year and have a child next year. Once the child’s born, you can do whatever you want. Your grandfather and I absolutely won’t interfere.”
Wang Xiulan quickly chimed in. “That’s right, Xiaoyi. I’ve met Shuwan. She’s gentle and sensible. I’m sure you two will get along.”
Lin Yi narrowed his eyes.
No wonder his father and grandfather had agreed to let him leave the military this time. They figured this account was a lost cause and wanted to raise a secondary alternate account.
He spat out the bone in his mouth. “Dad, Grandfather, I’ve made up my mind. I’m going to enlist again and return to my military unit.”
There was no way he’d go on a matchmaking date—not even if it killed him. He might as well use the System’s activation as an excuse to get out of it.
His words shattered the calm at the dinner table.
Wang Xiulan’s chopsticks clattered onto the table, her face filled with disbelief.
Lin Guodong’s face turned livid. He slammed a hand on the table, his voice rising sharply. “Lin Yi! Are you crazy? Are you treating all of us like fools?!”
He pointed at Lin Yi, trembling with rage. “You enlisted three times and left the military three times! And now you’re telling me you want to go back to your military unit?”
“Do you know what people at the military region say about me? They say I raised a fine son—one who treats the military like his own home, coming and going as he pleases! And don’t get me started on the things you did in the military. You know damn well what you did!”
“And your grandfather—he’s never had anyone talk behind his back in his entire life. He’s always held his head high. He finally retired, and now he’s about to end up with a reputation for disgracing himself in his final years. His old comrades-in-arms laugh at him whenever they see him!”
“Your grandfather has never made a mistake in his life. But because you wanted to leave the military, he held onto your file. He’s regretted it for more than half a year, convinced he let down the military and the country!”
“And now you’ve got the nerve to say this? What, now that you know your grandfather and I agreed to let you leave the military, you’ve changed your mind? You think we’ve put you through enough, so now you want to put us through the same thing?”
“I’m telling you, forget it! Keep dreaming!”
Wang Xiulan tried to hold him back, but she couldn’t.
Lin Guodong was practically beside himself with rage. The veins on his forehead bulged, and his hand stayed on his belt, ready to pull it off and put on a show of fatherly love and filial devotion.
Lin Jianjun’s face darkened too, his brows furrowing into a knot. “You begged and cried to leave the military before, saying you’d rather die than stay. Fine. Your father and I agreed and let you leave. Now, the moment you walk through the door, you say you want to go back. Xiaoyi, what on earth are you thinking?”
Of course he knew what kind of person his grandson was. He simply didn’t want to go on a matchmaking date and was trying to dodge it by saying he wanted to return to his military unit.
But he couldn’t understand it. There were plenty of ways to avoid a matchmaking date, so why was Lin Yi insisting on going back to his military unit?
It made no sense. Lin Yi clearly didn’t want to return to his military unit.
Facing his father and grandfather’s fury, Lin Yi’s gaze was unwavering. “I’m not crazy, and I’m not deliberately going against you. I’m going back to my military unit. Whether you agree or not, I’m going back.”
“You!” Lin Guodong was so furious he could barely speak. His pointing hand trembled. “Fine! Very well! If you dare enlist again, you’re no son of mine! I will never agree, and I will never let you go out there and disgrace yourself again!”
“You may have no shame, but your grandfather and I do! You, you, you—just wait and see what I do to you!”
“Dad, I’m enlisting again.” Lin Yi refused to back down. “Even if you don’t agree, I’ll do everything I can to get back to my military unit. No one can stop me.”