At the used car market, Lin Chen quickly found his ideal pickup truck. With its high ground clearance and sturdy tires, it was an off-road pickup convenient for transporting goods.
Since he still had shopping to do, he didn’t bother the bodyguards to accompany him, and the three of them said their proper goodbyes.
Lin Chen bought a lot of things at the mall, drove back to his rented apartment building, and only carried some upstairs to give to the neighbor’s child, telling him he was moving.
The child seemed reluctant to let him go, nodding, “Is it because of those bad people?”
Lin Chen smiled and said, “No, it’s because I’ve made a fortune.”
“Wow!” The child’s mouth instantly formed an “O” shape. No wonder there were so many snacks this time.
Lin Chen didn’t have much stuff to begin with, so he quickly packed up and left, not even wanting to stay overnight, lest that mad dog Lu Zhibai come back for a surprise attack.
Following the address given by the bodyguard, Lin Chen drove to the house in the suburbs. The bodyguard had told him it was an ordinary, vacant three-story house in a sparsely populated, remote area, which the master had never lived in.
If Lin Chen hadn’t needed it, that house probably would never have been unearthed.
Upon hearing this, Lin Chen assumed it was a detached house. He thought that since the house was abandoned and uninhabited, he might as well go and look for a place for Si Ang himself to liven things up.
But when he arrived, he was surprised to find it was a high-end villa area. Seeing the imposing gate, he didn’t dare go in.
“Excuse me, are you a friend of Mr. Si Ang?”
Lin Chen was about to turn away when the security guard at the booth unexpectedly approached him, bowing very politely: “Mr. Lin Chen!”
Lin Chen had never received such treatment before and quickly nodded: “Yes, I am.”
The villa complex gate immediately opened for him, and the security guard got into his car and enthusiastically led him inside.
Lin Chen entered the villa and saw how tidy it was, assuming it was maintained by gardeners and servants. He couldn’t afford such a house, and his thoughts of turning back resurfaced.
Then the security guard said, “We heard you were coming to stay, so our property management hurriedly tidied it up. Are you satisfied?”
So it was the property management that did the tidying?
Lin Chen praised, “It’s very well done, I’m very satisfied!” He wanted to live there himself, and hearing there were no servants, he was fine with it.
The security guard was exceptionally kind; he not only helped move his things but also patiently taught Lin Chen how to live in a luxury house, otherwise Lin Chen might not have known.
After unpacking his belongings, Lin Chen stood by the second-floor bedroom window, drew back the curtains, and looked out. Behind the house was a garden, the large lawn not very green in winter.
Further beyond that were groves of trees, very close to nature. Indeed, expensive things besides being expensive really have no flaws. Lin Chen sighed.
It was getting dark. Lu Wuyou waited and waited in the detention cell. Instead of his family getting him out, he received a call from his older brother, Lu Zhibai.
“Wuyou, we’re trying our best to get you out, but it might not be so soon. Just wait patiently.”
What did that mean?
Lu Wuyou couldn’t believe it. It was just administrative detention so his family should be able to find connections to get him out quickly.
“Brother, what happened? Is Dad unwilling to give gifts?” He really didn’t want to stay in the detention cell for even a second longer!
Lu Zhibai was also unsure, and said dejectedly, “They said we offended someone. Do you know who those two men with Lin Chen are?”
Those two men had a thuggish air about them, and didn’t look wealthy.
Lu Wuyou said innocently, “I don’t know. Brother, I really don’t know.”
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have taken the picture.” Lu Wuyou cried, “I just saw them interacting intimately, and so ambiguously… Isn’t that a bit inappropriate?”
“I just wanted to take a picture and discuss it with you when we got home. After all, Third Brother is a member of the Lu family; it wouldn’t sound good if word got out.”
Hearing his younger brother cry, Lu Zhibai said with heartache, “Don’t cry, it’s not your fault. It’s all Lin Chen’s fault for being shameless! It seems he’s really hooked up with some big shot to dare to be so arrogant.”
Lu Wuyou was quick-witted. He didn’t want to fight Lin Chen for the time being; he just wanted to leave this awful place first: “Big Brother, why don’t you go find Third Brother and sound him out? At least find out who’s behind him. We have no grudge against them; maybe they’ve been deceived?”
As long as they could make contact, the other party should be willing to give the Earl’s Mansion some face.
Lu Zhibai also wanted to know who was behind Lin Chen. He absolutely didn’t want to see Lin Chen actually curry favor with some powerful figure: “Yes, I won’t let him have his way.”
Not long after, Lin Chen received another message from the neighbor’s child, telling him that Lu Zhibai had come again.
Lin Chen thought for a moment: “This time, just tell him I’ve made a fortune and moved.” It would be best if those despicable people were furious.
The child said: “I told him, and his face was very ugly!”
Lu Zhibai went to Lin Chen’s old house and learned from others that Lin Chen had indeed climbed the social ladder. He was enraged.
He was furious that Lin Chen was shameless, and actually resorted to such a despicable act of using his looks to please others. If word got out, it would bring shame to the Earl’s mansion!
When he returned to the Lu family and told them, the rest of the Lu family was in an uproar, their first thought being the Lu family’s reputation.
Count Lu En, enraged, cried out, “That beast!”
Shen Qiuyi cursed, “Heavens! He may be shameless, but I have my pride! If word gets out, how can we face anyone?”
The Lu family would become the laughingstock of high society.
Lu Zhibai seized the opportunity to say sarcastically, “You said you wanted to bring someone like that back? Look what you’ve done to Wuyou! Look what you’ve done to us!”
Shen Qiuyi was filled with remorse: “It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have still held onto hope for him.”
Then she looked at Count Lu En. Whether or not she acknowledged Lin Chen wasn’t her decision; it was her husband’s.
Count Lu En did love Lu Wuyou, but he wasn’t entirely without affection for his own son. However, Lin Chen was far too unruly, and he was furious: “Since he’s gone so far, don’t blame us for being ruthless.”
“From now on, don’t show him any mercy. I’ll pretend I never had this son.”
Lu Qinian heard his father’s words as soon as he entered the room, but he had nothing to say. Lin Chen’s actions had once again shattered his worldview; he was truly wicked.
He desperately wanted to find Lin Chen right now, grab him by the collar, and berate him for defying his own blood relative—had he lost all conscience?!
However, he couldn’t find Lin Chen and was at a loss.
After much thought, they came up with an idea: they could go to Lin Chen’s teacher.
Lin Chen settled in, made himself a simple meal, then took the animal feed and containers to the garden and placed the food outside the iron fence.
He knew that living here would definitely attract many small animals… and even large ones.
Before, he was too poor to feed them, but now, with a fortune in hand, Lin Chen thought for a moment and went back to get two frozen chickens he had planned to eat himself.
If animals really did come to eat them, he would prepare more in the future.
Back in his room, Lin Chen received a call from a professor at Tyron University. After a few pleasantries, the caller asked, “Where are you now?”
Lin Chen’s guard immediately went up: “What can I do for you, Professor?”
The professor chuckled and said, “Well, I have something I’d like to ask for your help with. Could we go out for dinner tomorrow?”
This professor from Tyron University had been a benefactor to the original owner of this body, and since the professor had personally called to say so, Lin Chen couldn’t refuse.
He thought for a moment and then agreed: “Okay.”
Whatever, it might be a trap; he’d consider it repaying a favor for the original owner.
Before going to sleep, Lin Chen received a message from Si Ang.
The other person asked, “Have you moved in yet?”
Lin Chen: “Yes, the house is great. It’s very comfortable, thanks Ang-ge.”
Si Ang: “Parker came home, and it seems he’s looking for you.”
Lin Chen, quick to understand, said, “Then, should I go visit him in a couple of days?”
Si Ang: “You can come tomorrow and take care of him for a few days, I’m busy.”
Lin Chen knew Si Ang was probably busy since he just returned to the company, but tomorrow wouldn’t work; he had an appointment.
“My university professor wants to see me tomorrow, and said he needs my help. I don’t know what it is, and I don’t know if I can finish it in two days.”
Si Ang: “He has so many students, why would he need your help?”
Lin Chen: “I also feel something’s off. Maybe it’s the Lu family who asked him to contact me, I’m not sure.”
“Where are you meeting?” Si Ang asked.
There was nothing he couldn’t say, so Lin Chen revealed, “Woyun Pavilion.”
The next morning, Lin Chen left home at the appointed time and drove to Woyun Pavilion. In the private room his teacher had reserved, sat a refined and cultured middle-aged man—Professor Zhang, who had been kind to the original owner of this body.
“Professor Zhang, I’m sorry I’m late.”
Professor Zhang chuckled, “It’s alright. It’s hard on you to get up so early during winter break.”
Lin Chen sensed Professor Zhang was a good person, but his wariness remained. He sat down and said, “Is there anything I can help you with?”
Professor Zhang poured his student a cup of tea and said, “It’s like this, a kind gentleman wants to sponsor a research project I’ve been working on.”
“However, his condition is… he wants to meet with you.”
“I’m sorry, Lin Chen, he asked me not to tell you beforehand. You know how much I value this project; I’m sorry.”
Lin Chen found himself not surprised at all: “Professor Zhang, it’s alright. I’m the one who caused this trouble; I should be apologizing.”
Professor Zhang’s eyes were complicated, and he said worriedly, “He said he has no grudge against you. Besides, I’m here watching over things; it’ll be fine.”
As he spoke, Count Lu En and Lu Zhibai walked in one after the other. Their eyes were coldly fixed on Lin Chen, whom they hadn’t seen for many days.
Count Lu En said sternly, “Lin Chen, drop the charges against Wu You.”
Lin Chen remarked, “You two truly are father and son; even your orders are identical.”
Are you treating him like clay, to be molded at will?
Or rather, you don’t respect him as a human being at all.
“What kind of attitude is this?” Count Lu En asked coldly.
Lin Chen replied, “The attitude you would show a stranger.”
He was puzzled; these people clearly needed his help, yet they were so eager to steal his lines.
“You…” Count Lu En, mindful of Professor Zhang’s presence, suppressed his temper and said, “Alright, let’s talk this over.”
He gave his son a wink, and Lu Zhibai then looked at Professor Zhang and said, “Professor Zhang, the following matters concern the Lu family’s privacy. Please move next door so my father and Lin Chen can speak.”
Professor Zhang then realized that the person seeking Lin Chen was actually Count Lu En. He dared not disobey, but was also very worried about Lin Chen: “But…”
Lin Chen said, “Professor Zhang, please go ahead. They’re after me. Don’t get involved.”
Professor Zhang felt extremely guilty upon hearing this.
He was an academic; he hadn’t thought this far ahead in order to secure the sponsorship.
If he encountered something like this again, he would never do it again.
“Then… I’ll go ahead. Lin Chen, be careful,” Professor Zhang said helplessly.
“Okay, don’t worry,” Lin Chen said calmly, even taking a sip of his tea.
After Professor Zhang left, Count Lu En impatiently asked, “What conditions do you want? Money? Or to reveal your identity?”
Lin Chen smiled sarcastically, “Fifteen days of administrative detention, and it’s worth so much? Looks like you really care about him.”
Lu Zhibai looked at him with disgust, saying, “Do you think you’re like him? Does Wuyou deserve our care?”
Lin Chen: “So, you must be very upset that I don’t agree to the revocation? Then keep being upset.”
“Lin Chen!” Count Lu En pointed at him, shouting angrily, “He’s your brother! How can you be so cold-blooded?”
Lin Chen sneered, “He pushed me into the water and he’s not cold-blooded? For a year, he’s staged every single incident claiming I bullied him, isn’t that cold-blooded? You’ve pretended to be deaf and blind, wrongly accusing me every time, isn’t that cold-blooded?”
These grievances were spoken on behalf of the original owner of this body, but he felt nothing.
Lu Zhibai clenched his fist, his voice filled with malice, “Shut up! What right do you have to slander Wuyou? You have to admit what you did!”
Lin Chen: “That’s right, so he’s sitting safely in the detention cell now. After all, you have to admit what you did.”
“You bitch, how dare you say that?!” The thought of his beloved younger brother in detention ignited Lu Zhibai’s fury, and he lunged forward, ready to slap Lin Chen.
Lin Chen didn’t hold back either, picking up a teapot and smashing it at him: “You got away with half-drowning me back then, and now you want to hit me?!”
Lu Zhibai dodged, then bent down to grab a chair.
Outside the door, the waiter said anxiously, “Sir, this tea room is already occupied, you can’t go in…”
He stopped mid-sentence, seeing a colossal beast baring its fangs. The waiter, who had been specifically instructed to guard the door was immediately terrified and dared not stop it any longer.
A hand urgently pushed open the tea room door, and a deafening roar of a lion echoed through the room.
It was Parker. He had heard the battle signal in Lin Chen’s voice and rushed in, lunging straight at the human holding the chair to attack Lin Chen.
“Parker, calm down!”
Lin Chen commanded. He knew that harming a companion beast was a serious crime, especially Si Ang’s companion beast; he couldn’t afford any mistakes.
Lu Zhibai, suddenly seeing the lion he so desired, was both shocked and terrified. He held the chair and refused to move.
Lin Chen’s counterattack was also interrupted, but he only paused for a moment before delivering a resounding slap to Lu Zhibai.
It was retribution for the original owner’s actions.
After the slap, the resentment suppressed in his heart seemed to vanish.
Lu Zhibai’s face turned to the side after the slap. Upon realizing what had happened, his eyes flashed with a murderous glint, his anger blazing as he wanted to strike Lin Chen.
However, a massive lion blocked Lin Chen’s path. Its cold, beastly eyes fixed on him, making it a miracle he hadn’t already given up.
This was… Si Ang’s lion?
Lu Zhibai turned his head, his eyes darkening, and sure enough, he saw Si Ang standing in the doorway.
The man was handsome and tall, as arrogant and unruly as rumored. He didn’t even glance at them, but looked at Lin Chen and said, “Come here.”
Lin Chen walked over and said somewhat nervously, “Thank you, Brother Ang.”
Si Ang looked him up and down, his eyes filled with concern. He frowned and asked, “Are you hurt?”
Lin Chen shook his head: “No.”
He leaned close to Si Ang’s ear and whispered, “If you hadn’t come, I would have already beaten him to a pulp.”
This wasn’t a lie. Lin Chen had practiced Sanda. He had deliberately provoked Lu Zhibai to attack, intending to teach Lu Zhibai a lesson today.
Anyway, he had nothing to lose, and it wouldn’t be him who would be embarrassed in the news.
“Really confident,” Si Ang scoffed.
The Lu father and son that were ignored as if they were invisible, watched this scene with suspicion. The important figure Lin Chen had hooked up with was Si Ang?
Count Lu En seemed thoughtful, then tentatively asked, “Mr. Si Ang, what is your relationship with Lin Chen?”
Si Ang then looked at them as his fingers smoothed Lin Chen’s disheveled collar, “Lin Chen, what do you think?”
The atmosphere was undeniably ambiguous.
But Lin Chen knew that Si Ang was trying to establish his authority. He cooperated by moving closer and loudly replied, “Brother Ang is my good brother. Besides Brother Ang, I have no other brothers.”
Si Ang raised his hand, patted the back of Lin Chen’s head, and glanced at the Lu family father and son: “Did you hear that? Don’t get close to him again. Lin Chen has nothing to do with you.”
Author’s Note:
Si Ang: Let me introduce you, my younger brother…